It is so long before the mind can persuade itself that she whom we saw every day and whose very existence appeared a part of out own can have departed forever- that that brightness of a beloved eye can have been extinguished and the sound of a voice so familiar and dear to the ear can be hushed, never more to be heard. These are the reflections of the first days; but when the lapse of time proves the reality of the evil, then the actual bitterness of grief commences.

-Victor Frankenstein

Frankenstein: Or, the Modern Prometheus

By Mary Wollstonecroft Shelley

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WARNING: Short chapter. Tissues may come in handy in this chapter as well…

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Brightness of a Beloved Eye
Chapter 12: Snow White

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The days passed after the Final Battle. The Hogwarts grounds were bloodstained for days, nearly a week. There were only a few remaining death eaters to take into Azkaban and Draco and his company were honored for turning to the Light side and helping turn the tide for the battle. But Draco could care less about any of that crap.

He was holed up the Head tower with Hermione spelled to look immaculate, beautiful, perfect. Her eyes were closed, her lips rosy red and her cheeks pink. She lay on her bed, her hands placed on top of each other and dressed in her finest robes of snow whitetrimmed witha very light blue lace.

Draco spent his days sleeping next to Hermione, caring for her as if she was still alive. He wrapped his arms around her body every night, refusing the acknowledgement of her cold body to seep through his brain. He would take care of her every day, washing her with a sponge or changing her clothes for her.

He was a man possessed and obsessed for her.

Finally, after a week, Harry and Ron came up to see him, since they had to take Hermione and give her the burial she deserved.

They reached Hermione's room to see Draco holding a book, sitting in a chair next to the bed, reading to her, as if she was asleep.

"Draco…"

Harry started, but Draco got up abruptly and walked over to the pair, shushing him as he shut the door.

"Shh… you don't want to wake Hermione up. She's sleeping."

Ron looked at Harry in horror. Harry could only shake his head and feel pity for Draco.

"Draco. You know she's gone. Sh-she died a week ago. You know that."

Harry tried to reason with Draco, but he wouldn't listen. He started to ramble.

"No! Don't say that. She's your best friend. She's only asleep. You know, like that ridiculous fairy tale she loved so much, Snow White and the ten elves or something. Only asleep. Voldemort was the witch. He only hit her with a sleeping curse. She'll wake up. I kiss her every night. Just to make sure she'll wake up. But it's not time yet. She's still sleeping. Only sleeping."

Ron shook his head slowly and felt his tears coming from behind his closed eyelids. But it was Harry who spoke.

"Draco! Stop this madness! I know you're… upset… over her death. But we all are! We need to let her go. YOU need to let her go. Please, we all need the closure that… burying her… will give us. Please, Draco."

"No… no, no, no, no, no. She's NOT dead. She's not. I refuse to believe it. Refuse, refuse, refuse to believe it."

After a while of silence, Draco suddenly burst out with words.

"Fine! You think she's dead, take her! But you'll be sorry when she gets up! She'll be so angry at you!"

Harry looked at Ron sadly and motioned forward into Hermione's room.

They opened the door and saw her laying on the bed, peaceful and beautiful. Dressed in another of her white robes, lips painted red, skin pale white, hair still a gleaming brown. Harry almost broke down in sobs, but Ron steeled him and whispered the spell to levitate her with them to the Gryffindor common room.

Ron went ahead with Hermione's still body, but Harry stayed behind to convince Draco to go with them. Draco eventually agreed, but only to stay for a while. Hermione expected him to be home in a few hours.

Harry and Ron were originally bringing Hermione to the Gryffindor common room to make her up, but since Draco had seen to that everyday, they put her in the coffin they'd made for her. They both lifted it outside to the edge of the Forbidden Forest where a cemetery was placed for the defenders of the Light that had perished. They set the coffin down under a huge willow tree on the side of the cemetery. The willow had always been her favorite tree.

Everyone in Hogwarts turned out for her funeral. Even the Aurors had come to Hermione's final resting place.

Tonks clung to Snape, crying silently, as he, even, shed a few tears for the "Gryffindor know-it-all". Luna was by Harry's side, supporting him as he supported her during her father's death. Ron stood with Lavender, his heart crying, even though his eyes remained dry. Everyone watched Draco with careful eyes. They all knew he must be suffering the hardest. To lose someone you loved before having sufficient time with her, losing half of your soul, death would be more welcome.

Draco left after Dumbledore said the final words and everyone saw Hermione one last time. He scoffed and muttered to himself, saying how much Hermione would kill them for putting her into the ground. He walked to the edges of Hogwarts and apparated away.

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Authoress's Notes:
I'm afraid I've made Draco a little too crazy. But, when one does not realize the severity of the situation, I'm sure they can retreat that far into their minds just so that reality would not reach them. I've also made him a lot more… talkative. But, just chalk that up to insanity. Which, it pretty much is.

If no one understood: Hermione has died, of course, and Draco has gone insane, refusing to believe she's dead. He believes she's only sleeping and he's going back to her. Where? You'll have to wait a few days for the next chapter to find out.

Until next time, remember to REVIEW.

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Kristina Chang --