The Love I Live For - Chapter 8 - The True World

Hermione sat in a chair next to Remus Lupin, not saying a word, with her arms folded over her stomach. She was staring at the ground, in an almost dead way. There was no sound, except for the usual screams. Remus had a blank look on his face, one of extraordinary sadness. He reached out and touched her arm.

"They'll find him. Don't worry." He said quietly. Hermione remained silent. It had been 6 months since she had seen Harry, and she was slowly losing hope.

"How can you say that?" she said in a hoarse voice, " 'Don't worry'? I'll always worry," she chuckled softly, " I'd be worrying about him even if I knew where he was."

Remus paused, thinking about what to say next, without hurting her feelings.

"I don't know what you want me to say, Hermione." He said after his pause. Hermione said nothing, so he got up, and left the room. Hermione continued staring at the floor, not blinking. There were screams coming from outside. Finally, Hermione stood up, walked across the room, and grabbed a knapsack before walking out of the room, also. She began walking down the hallway, and stopped at a door. She knocked twice.

"Come in."

Hermione opened the door and walked in. Ginny Weasley was sitting at a desk, frantically gathering materials from the drawers and room around her. She looked up with an upset face.

"Come on, Ginny. It's getting worse outside and Ron wanted to meet us at 4:30 to leave and it's already," she checked her watch, " 4:08. You don't have time to take everything with you." Said Hermione in an exasperated choice.

"I know, but I don't know if we're coming back here, so I don't want to leave anything." Explained Ginny
Hermione sighed and crossed the room. She slowly kneeled down next to Ginny.

"We'll come back. I know we will." She closed her eyes, "I just don't want to leave. What - what if Harry comes back here?"

"Hermione -" Ginny began

"No, don't say it. I don't want to hear it." Hermione stood up and picked up her bag again, "Come on Ginny, let's go."

Hermione walked to the door and put her hand on the doorframe, waiting for Ginny to follow. Ginny gathered a few final things, put them in her own bag and followed Hermione out the door. They walked together in silence for awhile, before stopping at another door and entering. There were a group of people standing there, all carrying bags and knapsacks. Hermione and Ginny crossed the room. Albus Dumbledore was sitting at a desk, ignoring the chaos all around him. He had a long piece of parchment on the desk and he was reading it. When Hermione and Ginny reached him, he looked up and made two check marks on the parchment.

"I see you've made it here all right." Said Dumbledore, facing the parchment again, "Have everything?"

"Yes. Have you seen Ron and Draco?" asked Ginny

"I saw your husband and Mr. Weasley a few minutes ago. They were going to make sure that no others were left in the houses, and that everything was accounted for." Replied Dumbledore.

"Okay, thank you." Ginny gave a nervous smile.

"Are we leaving soon?" asked Hermione, apprehensively. She look around, pausing to look out the window, "They sound like they are getting closer."

"We will leave as soon as Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Weasley return." Said Dumbledore quietly. Hermione and Ginny nodded. They turned and faced the small crowd. There were many people that they knew, mostly from school. They saw, and waved to Lavender Brown, who was now Lavender Finnigan, (She had married Seamus). Hermione saw Remus Lupin, and she glared at him for a moment before continuing to see who was there. They also saw Neville, who was standing very nervously with his parents. He had each by an arm, making sure that they stayed together. There were also countless others, all waiting for Ron and Draco to return. They stood there for what seemed like hours, mostly in silence, except for the screams, and whooshing sounds. Finally the door creaked open, everyone held their breath, because they were afraid that it was going to be someone they did not want. They didn't have to fear, it was Ron and Draco, right on time. They were leading three people. A mother, father, and a small child. The child looked frightened, and Draco ushered them in. He cleared his throat.

"That's the last of them, Dumbledore." He said.

"You're sure of it?" asked Dumbledore.

"Yes, sir," replied Ron, "We checked every last house. We looked through the remains of the other houses, too. Just in case there were some." he looked around " survivors."

"And?"

Ron and Draco both turned their eyes towards the ground; Ron took off the cap he had been wearing. Draco finally spoke.

"There were no survivors, sir." He said in a croaky voice. He looked up at Ginny and walked across the room. He gathered her in a big hug.

"It'll be alright." Ginny whispered.

"So much death." he said, "and so much destruction. I only wish there was something I could do to stop it. I feel like I'm responsible for this all."

"Draco." Ginny said sternly, " You are not your father," she grasped him firmly by the shoulders, "You are not responsible for things your father has done."

" I know. But I feel like I am."

Draco and Ginny continued talking for awhile. Hermione stood a few feet away, watching them with tears in her eyes. She stood with her arms folded, leaning against the wall, just watching them. Ron came over, saw where she was staring and put his hand on her shoulder.

"You can't do that." He said, quietly. She looked up.

"I can't do what?"

"You can't be jealous of them, Hermione. No matter where Harry is, I know that he still loves you, and he's doing everything in his power to get back to you." He said, glancing between her and Draco and Ginny.

"Thanks, Ron." She said, hugging him. "That means a lot to me."

"Of course," he said over another scream from outside, "what are friends for."

He gave her one last hug and walked away. He started talking to Dumbledore and Hermione resumed staring at Draco and Ginny. She felt happy for her best friend, but she wished that Harry was there, so she felt jealous. Finally, Dumbledore stood up, cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Attention! Attention everyone! We are going to leave now. I have arranged two portkeys to take us to the safe places. Now, if everyone would please gather round. One finger will do."

He passed one portkey to Draco and held onto the other one himself. Everyone gathered around both portkeys, putting at least one finger on them. Dumbledore counted down.

"3. 2. 1."

Hermione felt the familiar tug below her naval and they all disappeared.

- - - - - -

Harry sat in his favorite red arm chair, staring into the fire. He
was tapping his fingers impatiently on the arm of the chair. He
sighed, looking frustrated.

"Ewan!" he called, "Come here, please."

There came the sound of quick footsteps in the hallway, the door
opened, and Ewan stepped in.

"Yes, my Lord?" he said timidly, "What can I do to serve you?"

Harry sighed, "First of all, I am not your Lord, as I continue
to tell you." Ewan looked towards the floor, "And second, you don't
need to serve me, as I also continue to tell you. I just need a
favor."

"Y-yes, my Lord? What shall I do?" replied Ewan, shakily

"I need to find out when I'm going to get out of here." Harry
said, looking around, "You see. my wife.. I don't know if she is alive
or dead, but. if she is alive." Harry took a deep breath, "She is
pregnant, Ewan. And her due date is coming. I want to be there for
her."

Ewan looked around nervously, wringing his hands, "Yes, I know,
Sir."

"Then you can do something?" said Harry excitedly.

"N-no, sir. I'm afraid not. You are to stay here." Explained
Ewan.

"For how long?"

Ewan did not answer, but continued wringing his hands and
looking around nervously. He was shifting around uneasily.

"Well?" prompted Harry

"Forever, sir." Said Ewan finally, "You are to stay here.
forever."