Disclaimer: Not mine…not ever…sigh…

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Chapter 39: Letting you go

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Saturday morning presented itself with sunshine and a fresh layer of snow on the grounds of Hogwarts and the street of Hogsmead. Currently Hermione and Sirius were wrapped up warmly in each others arms, neither really wanting to get up and face the cold December morning.

A sharp knock at the door disturbed the serene silence of the room. "Are you guys awake?" came Harry's voice from beyond the wood. "Come on, its time to go to Hogsmead."

Hogsmead trips this year had been non-existent after the attack but Dumbledore had relented to allow a bit of Christmas shopping and even then it was only for fifth years and above.

Sirius groaned and pulled the covers in tighter. "At least I'm getting parental experience I suppose," he murmured sleepily. "I'll be more prepared for this in the future."

Hermione's eyes snapped open in shock at Sirius' words.

"What?" he asked at her inquisitive look.

Hermione relaxed against him and smiled contently. "Nothing."

Sirius raised and eyebrow clearly missing the impact of what he had said. "Right…"

"Hey are you guys in there? I really don't want to open this door."

Sirius chuckled and reached for his wand, waving it to open the door, revealing a warmly dressed Harry.

"I cannot believe you two are still in bed, come on up, time for Hogsmead."

"But it's so warm in here," whined Sirius.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "And to think you are the oldest in the room," she remarked climbing out of bed, her long flannelette pajamas protecting everything but her feet from the cold as she headed for the bathroom.

Harry laughed at Sirius' put out look. "Please get up," he pleaded. "I'll steel your sheets," he warned a little more confident since he'd seen Hermione emerge from the bed in what he constituted as appropriate bedroom attire for the pair.

Sirius however was well aware of his Godsons thoughts, he had, after all, been best friends with his father. "Who says I'm wearing as much as Hermione? She is a lovely bed warmer."

Harry blushed but Hermione walking out of the bathroom heard the last comment and yanked the sheets away revealing Sirius as warmly dressed as Hermione had been.

Hermione walked over to the closet and pulled out her cloak. "If you don't hurry my dear Bugs we will leave without you."

"Bugs?"

"Its ok, I'll catch up later," Sirius answered Hermione pulling the sheets back up around him, there was something that Hermione needed to do with Harry first and he didn't want to intrude.

Hermione nodded and leant down for a kiss before leaving with Harry.

"Do you guys really have to do that in front of me?" he asked as they walked down the hall.

"Do what?"

"Kiss."

"Why, does it make you feel uncomfortable?" Hermione asked a worried frown gracing her features.

"Not normally, just when one of you is in a bed," he answered with a small blush.

Hermione smiled, it was an odd kind of smile that made Harry cock his head.

"What?" he asked.

"There's some Ron in you," Hermione answered with a smile as they made their way out of the entrance doors to join the other students.

"Thanks, I think," He said with a smile. "Oh and Hermione?"

The curly haired witch turned to face him.

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Bugs?"

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Hermione and Harry sat quietly in the Three Broomsticks sipping warm Butterbeer.

"I'll take you to see him if you want to," Harry said breaking the silence.

Hermione nodded. "Please."

Harry nodded and Hermione saw his eyes flicker toward the door and a familiar warmth appear in their green depths, it was familiar all right, just not in Harry's eyes. The only time Hermione had seen it was when James saw Lily walk into a room.

She raised an eyebrow and turned to see Ginny enter, some snowflakes from the street being picked up and being swept to their doom in the warm little tavern.

She turned back to face Harry who was met with a knowing smirk.

"What?" he asked trying unsuccessfully to cover up the small blush rising up his cheeks.

Hermione smiled into her Butterbeer. "Nothing."

Harry stared at her suspiciously for a moment before turning back to his own drink. "It's only Ginny."

"Right," Hermione replied laughing slightly, "only Ginny."

Harry's ears turned red making Hermione laugh louder, she had missed this, as much as she had wanted to stay in the past she was glad of where she was now.

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Half and hour later Hermione and Harry were standing at the gate of the small Hogsmead cemetery, Harry reached out and opened the gate heading up the familiar path to his best friend, Hermione close on his heels. The atmosphere had changed, the warmth and lightness that had been with the pair in the Three Broomsticks had frozen in the crisp air of the December morning like raindrops desperate to reach the earth but getting snapped up in winters icy grasp.

Harry stopped in front of a granite headstone, Hermione moving to stand beside him.

"Ronald Weasley," she read out loud, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"Beloved Son and Brother of his loving family. Blood Brother of Harry Potter," Tears were now streaming down Hermione's face and her voice caught as she read the next line.

"Perpetual Defender of Best Fri-friend Hermione Gra-a-nger."

Harry slipped his arm around Hermione shoulder as she sobbed, silent tears streaming down his own face.

"I had so much to say," Hermione whispered, gasping and looking up at the crisp blue sky. "But after all these years I've lost my words."

Harry tightened his arms around her, the pair drawing comfort from each other.

Hermione broke away from Harry and knelt next to the headstone brushing off the layer of fine white snow that had covered the top. She reached into her robes and pulled a white lily, placing it gently along the top of the cold grey stone.

"Goodbye Ron, I love you."

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About thirty meters away from the grieving pair a black haired wizard stood in front of two headstones.

'James 'Prongs' Potter. Husband, Father, Best Friend' read one of the cold grey pieces of stone the other almost equal 'Lily Potter. Wife. Mother, Friend of Many'.

Sirius blinked back his tears and memories threatened to overtake his mind as he heard the familiar foot falls of Hermione and Harry heading in his direction.