Disclaimer: I own no part of this story except for the plot and spell work. J. K. Rowling owns everything else, including dozens of hours of my life that I am dedicating to this story.
When Darkness Surrounds Us All
Chapter 2: Remembering the Dead
Hermione heard the cold, cruel voice laugh in triumph as Ron's lifeless body hit the ground. Her eyes suddenly filled with tears. She couldn't fathom the thought of a life without Ron. He loved her and she loved him. It wasn't supposed to turn out this way.
"He can't be gone, it's just not possible!" Hermione found herself saying.
Hermione only dimly heard the confrontation between Dumbledore and Voldemort as she quickly ran to Ron. She took his head in her lap caressing the face of the man that had loved her so completely. She knew that he was dead, but she couldn't yet fathom his loss. She had felt this before during their first year at Hogwarts when she had thought Ron had been killed during the deadly chess game, but the feeling wasn't this strong. Their relationship had grown so much since their first year. Hermione had begun to rely on him on a daily basis and now the he was gone she didn't know if she could continue.
Dumbledore lowered his wand in despair and looked around at the chaos of the dark alley. He half-heartedly muttered, "Enervate,"while pointing his wand at Tonks and Kingsley who then began to stir. Dumbledore turned to Moody and muttered a quick heal spell that would at least allow him to get back to headquarters. Dumbledore then sat down against the wall and took his head in his hands. Dumbledore's steel resolve against Voldemort began to break down as he thought about the loss yet another fine man who had fought against evil constantly. It was yet another death the Dumbledore would have to face when the war finally ended.
Dumbledore began to shed silent tears not only for Ron, but also for all those who would be left behind in the aftershock of his death. Dumbledore knew that Harry would be struck the hardest. He and Ron had never been apart and Harry would want to go with Ron where he was going now, but Harry's resolve against Voldemort could not falter. Dumbledore would have to keep him focused because, now, only he knew the final line of the prophecy.
"…Neither can live as the other survives, and if the one shall perish, with him shall perish the hope of the world. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…"
Dumbledore remembered the day when Sibyll Trelawney had made this prophecy. He had met her in the Hog's Head to evaluate her as a teacher for Divination at Hogwarts. He hadn't expected to have her make a prophecy in the middle of the crowded room. She was overheard of course, but Voldemort's spy was thrown out of the bar before he had heard the prophecy in its entirety. That incomplete prophecy is what got Lily and James killed. That prophecy is what marked Harry as Voldemort's eternal enemy, when Voldemort marked him as his equal by trying to kill him that fateful night sixteen years ago.
Dumbledore knew that Harry would have still fought against Voldemort even if he had not had the prophecy made about him. Harry was just unselfish when it came time for him to do something. He would have, and will always, fight against the Dark Arts, and will do it alone because he doesn't want anyone else to get hurt because of him. Dumbledore knew that, now, after this failed mission, Harry would seclude himself from his remaining friends so that they might not be killed because of him. "He doesn't know that it was not his fault that Ron died, but mine."
Dumbledore had told only one person of the world's fate if Harry was to ever fail. However this was not Harry, but his best friend Ron. It wasn't that Dumbledore thought that Harry couldn't handle the truth, but that it was yet another worry that the young boy did not need, especially already knowing that he would have to kill or be killed by Voldemort.
He knew that Ron had done his best not only to keep Harry alive, but also to keep the fate of the world from being controlled by Voldemort. When Dumbledore had told Ron about the prophecy he had agreed, not only to protect Harry, but also to make sure that Hermione would be kept safe as well. Dumbledore glanced at Hermione who was cradling Ron's head in her lap. He knew that she would also have an extremely tough time getting over Ron, especially with the relationship that had been blooming between the two young lovers. She would also be left behind, another victim of the grief that only the loss of a loved one can bring.
Dumbledore now regretted telling Ron of the prophecy and knew that it his fault that the young boy had died. Dumbledore wished that it had been his sacrifice that had saved Harry not that of a boy who was just beginning his life.
"Looks like little Potter's bunch isn't as invincible as he believed it to be Dumbledore." Lucius Malfoy said in a sneering voice.
Dumbledore, briefly unable to control his emotions, started to pull out his wand to curse Lucius but stopped as he pulled himself back under control. Still, a pain-wracked voice still echoed through the alley.
"CRUCIO!"
Lucius' cries of pain echoed through the alley for a moment, but they quickly stopped. Dumbledore looked to where Harry had been sitting. He was now standing, slightly trembling, with his wand still pointed at Lucius Malfoy.
Lucius summoned the courage and again began to speak in a silky voice, "What's the matter Harry? You can't even summon enough hate because of the death of that stupid boy to make my pain last? You are a weak-minded fool. You embrace the thoughts and feelings of love, and look at what it gets you. The hurt is almost more than you can bear isn't it Harry? The Dark Lord knows this and is waiting for the right moment to attack. A moment where you are unguarded by this fool who thinks that he can actually protect you from the Dark Lord. The Dark Lord is so much more powerful than…"
Lucius's voice suddenly cut off as Dumbledore pointed his wand at him and muttered, "Silencio". He knew that Harry was stretched to the limit as it was anyway and he wasn't sure what the boy might do if he was pushed much further. Dumbledore then sat back down against the wall next to Harry and put a comforting arm around the boy. He knew that it wasn't wise for him to show others that their relationship was one other than Headmaster and student, but he couldn't stand to see the son that he never had so struck with grief.
Tonks took one look at Dumbledore's expression and knew something was wrong. As her eyes finally locked on Harry, who had resumed crying, and Ron's dead body being cradled by Hermione. She let out a slight gasp and also began to weep for yet another who had been killed by Voldemort. It was cruel that Ron was to be taken from this world so soon and leave the lives of those who had loved him torn apart.
Kingsley also let out a small gasp as he saw Dumbledore and the dead boy, but quickly got up and made sure the captured Death Eaters were restrained. After checking the restraints for the seventh time, he knew that he was merely trying to prolong the inevitable. He slowly turned and walked to Tonks and began to comfort her.
Hermione neither heard nor saw any of this. Every inch of her body was searching for some sign of life from Ron. She felt guilty leaving Harry there, who was also trying to cope with the loss of Ron, but she could not tear her eyes from Ron's face. His handsome face was still frozen in the look of surprise that had crossed his face when he had died, but there was something different about it, something she hadn't noticed before.
"He looks…happy. Why would he be happy when he knew he was about to be killed by Voldemort? I know that he wanted to protect Harry, but there wasn't any guarantee that Harry was going to live even after his sacrifice. Ron…why did this happen? Why did it have to turn out this way?"
Hermione let out a howl that filled the air. She heard several dogs begin to bark as they heard the pained howl permeate the night's silence. Hermione, her voice now raw, could do nothing but hold Ron and cry.
"There's nothing left for me in this world," Hermione thought to herself, "My parents are dead, my only best friend left is marked to be dead, and Ron, the only person who I have ever loved, is dead."
With a pang of sorrow Hermione began to remember all the adventures the three had been on. Memories flashed through her mind in quick succession, each more powerful than the last. The troll on Halloween—Harry saving Ginny from the basilisk—Harry and Hermione's successful attempt at saving Sirius and Buckbeak—Seeing Harry return from the Triwizard Tournament clutching Cedric's dead body—Her dating Victor Krum in hopes of Ron being able to see her as more than a friend—When Ron had finally asked her out—The first kiss that the two had shared not but a week before her parents' murder—Ron and Harry being there for her when she had received word of their deaths—the day Ron told her that he loved her.
Hermione winced at the last, and most painful, memory. She knew that she would never love someone as completely as she had loved Ron. The two had spent countless hours together and Hermione didn't think that she would ever find anyone that could replace Ron in her heart.
A hand landed on her shoulder and Hermione looked up at Moody's solemn face.
"He died a hero Hermione, if that means anything at all to you. As Aurors, we can hope for nothing more than to die knowing that you did your best."
Hermione tried to smile at Moody's attempt to console her, but the thought died as grief once again threatened to overcome her. Looking for any distractions, Hermione began to look around at the destroyed alley.
Hermione saw Dumbledore trying to help Harry, who was sobbing uncontrollably. She knew that he needed the support of another teenager, one who could understand what was going through his head. Hermione wanted to help him, but she knew that she would only break down in tears with him.
"If only Ginny were here, she could calm Harry down."
Hermione winced at the thought of Harry and Ginny together. She knew what Harry was trying to do and she had appreciated Harry's concern for Ginny, but she knew that he was wrong. He was fighting a battle on two fronts now, one with Voldemort and one against his heart, and Hermione knew that he wouldn't be able to make it through both battles alive. Only with Ginny, and the rest of his friends, would be able to give him the hope he needs to survive his final encounter with Voldemort.
Ginny had started to confide in Hermione ever since she made the mistake of confiding in Riddle's diary instead of an actual person. She started to tell Hermione everything, but most of the time she was talking about Harry. Much like Hermione had felt about Ron since they had first seen one another, Ginny had loved Harry since she had first come to school. Her love for him had only increased when Harry had rescued her from Riddle and the basilisk. She had dated other guys after Harry hadn't shown any interest in her, but it hadn't done any good. Ginny just couldn't get her mind, or her heart, off of Harry. When Harry had finally started to show an interest in being something other than friends with her during his sixth year she had been ecstatic. He didn't actually ask her out until the following school year, but it didn't bother her as she knew that she would wait forever for him, even if he had no intentions of being with her.
Hermione remembered how heartbroken Ginny had been when Harry had broken up with her. She had run straight to Hermione and began telling her everything that had happened. She told Hermione about the fight that they had about whether or not she could help him.
Ginny hadn't seemed as concerned for herself, but rather for Harry's well being. She had said, "He doesn't think that he has anything to live for. He has nothing to hold on to in life now that he has given up on love as well. Voldemort has already won this war."
Hermione had done her best to comfort Ginny, but she knew that the girl was still distraught. Hermione had spoken with her right before they had first left on this mission. Ginny was pretending to be happy around Harry and it seemed to be doing the trick because he didn't really notice. Hermione had talked to her about it later on.
Ginny loved Harry completely and knew that he loved her, but it pained her to see the look on his face when he looked at her. The ever-constant wince that appeared anytime she entered the room was evidence of the struggle that he was going through. She knew how difficult it was for him to try to protect her when his heart was telling him that he was wrong. She knew of it because she was facing the same problem. Since Harry had broken up with her, she had tried to be happy. She had always tried to have a smile on her face when he was around so that he might think that she was actually happy, but it was too hard to do and she didn't want him to have to go through it any more than she wanted to continue doing it. She had been planning on talking about it with him the night before the three left on their mission, but she didn't want to give him yet another worry.
"Ginny…she, and the rest of the Weasleys, still don't know about Ron. I just don't know if I am the one that should tell them."
Dumbledore seemed to be reading Hermione's mind as he said, "Harry—Hermione, it is time that we left. We will take Ron's body back to Grimmauld Place where I will break the news to Arthur and Molly. You two need to get some rest now. You can report in to Minister Fudge when you feel you are ready."
"Yes sir," Hermione was able to get out. She tried to catch Harry's eyes, but he just stood up while averting her eyes and didn't say a word.
Hermione looked down at Ron's handsome face as her last tear fell. She knew that she would never love someone as much as she had loved Ron. She lowered her head to give him one last kiss goodbye. Her lips touched his and nearly started to cry again as she felt how cold and stiff his lips were. She reluctantly stood up feeling as if she was leaving her future lying there in the alley.
"Oh well, it doesn't matter anymore. Any future that we would have had is gone now, as are the pieces of my broken heart."
Hermione looked up as Dumbledore began to issue orders to the rest of the group.
"Kingsley, you and Tonks stay here and wait for the Ministry, they are on their way. Tell them nothing of the fate of Harry and his friends. Moody, would you please help Miss Granger and I get Ron's body back to Grimmauld Place."
Kingsley and Tonks nodded and returned to the Death Eaters. Moody limped forward and grabbed Ron's cold, stiff wrist.
"Harry, are you coming with us?"
Harry still chose not to respond but only nodded slightly as a response to the question.
"Portus" Dumbledore said while pointing his wand at an oldcardboard box lying in the dumpster that Harry and his friends had hidden behind. The strange group all grabbed hold of the box and felt the jerk at their navel as the Portkey began to take them to the secret headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix.