Disclaimer: I don't own any of them -sobs-
A/N: Thanks to all those who reviewed, I really appreciated your comments. A special thanks to saFire flamE who beta my work dis time :p and before I babble your head off, may Angel's Luv aka. Only Secret presents to you....
Pain
The bitter rain poured, as if crying out her anguish. Her misery. Her guilt.
Hermione apparated in front of 12 Grimmauld Place. The house was silent. A regular house. One, on a normal day would never have suspected that this was the Head Quarters of the Order of Phoenix. If Hermione, herself, was in any calm state of mind, she would have laughed at the irony of the situation, for the current occupants worked against all the house stood for.
Her arms were killing her as was her healing leg. Harry's build may be lithe and light, but for her, it was a burden to her body. She dragged her weary body towards the door and banged furiously.
"It's me. Hermione." She shouted desperately as Harry's blood began to soak through her already-wet clothes. "Please open the door..."
She did not even finish her sentence as the door shot open revealing Molly Weasley. She looked angry yet relieved. But seeing the collapsed Harry in Hermione's arms, she gasped.
"Oh no." she whispered before shouting into the house as she quickly pulled the two figures in and closed the door. "Remus, Severus! Hermione's here! Harry! Harry's hurt! Fred, George!"
The house bustled with life as Hermione slumped to the floor. In all her pain, she still heard the heavy footsteps stomping down the stairs and some more rushing over from kitchen area. Within seconds, a sea of red swarmed her. She felt the weight of Harry leave her.
It was until she, herself, was carried to her room in 12 Grimmauld Place with Molly and Ginny starting to tend to her wounds that Hermione's pain-fogged mind began to work again.
"Ouch." She yelped suddenly at the sharp pain in her leg.
"Yes..." Molly said as she inspected her injured leg. "I am no expert. But I believe you broke it...again."
"What were you thinking, 'Mione?" a clearly upset Ginny asked.
"I don't know...I-" Hermione said helplessly. Of course, she knew...but how could she explained to them? The pain, the despair she felt.
Suddenly the door slammed opened. Bill Weasley, pale under the dim lights, shouted from the doorway.
"Mom, we need you with Harry. We don't know what to do!"
Ginny rushed out of the room, hurrying to the room that Harry occupied.
"But..." Mrs. Weasley hesitated. "Severus and Remus or even your father should know what to do..."
"Well," Bill said sarcastically, "Turns out they don't really."
"But..."
"Mrs. Weasley. I'm okay. I can tend to my wounds. I know how to." Hermione reassured from her position on the bed. "Go to Harry. He needs more help than me."
Without another word, Mrs. Weasley left the room with Bill behind.
After a moment of silent, Hermione gingerly sat herself up, preparing for the impact of touching the floor. She slowly moved herself to the edge of bed and stood up, ignoring the urge to cry out in pain. She limped towards the door and closed it firmly. She then moved to the mirror so she could see her wounds more clearly.
As she gently healed her wounds, she sank into a deep trance.
She met him today.
It was the moment she dreaded everyday since they parted.
Tonight, meeting him again had aroused the pain, the thorn in her heart that she had grown accustomed to suddenly throbbed more painfully. It was as if he had pushed the thorn even deeper into her heart.
His betrayal...no, the path he chose.
The power that he wanted more than anything in the world. Even more than their love.
Fate was so cruel, to make them meet again.
She feared and hated him for who he was now...but she loved him for who he once was.
He couldn't kill her today...maybe it was of the surprise of finally meeting or maybe of the love, the weakness, he had for her. But one day, when the surprise ends, and the love vanishes, and he becomes stronger, he would surely raise his wand at her.
Was that not true?
Her heart did not want to believe, but...
Tears rolled down her cheeks, reminding herself of the fact, not the possibility, but a fact -creating a clean path on her blood smeared face.
Maybe Fate was trying to tell her that it was time.
Time to end their affair. Time to end either of their roads. Time to pull the thorn out and let her heart heal.
Yes. It was time to let herself free.
It was time to move on. To end it once and for all.
Or was it?
xxXxx
"Oh Harry! I'm so sorry...I just couldn't stay there any longer." Hermione sobbed into her hands. "I didn't mean for any of that to happen. I just can't stay in Hogwarts. I don't know why I went to Diagon Alley first. I'm so sorry...I never wanted you to get hurt..."
Harry was shock, to say the very least. Aside from the initial shock of waking up and finding a hysterical Hermione by his bed, this was the first time he, or anyone, had seen the weary girl in the body of a woman cried. The first time since the departure at the end of their seventh year. They never knew why she cried. But it was the last time she shed tears in front of anyone.
Harry froze, not sure what to do at first. He then wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He whispered comforting words and wrapped his arms around his sister. His guide. His sword arm.
Even when Hermione calmed down, they stayed in the embrace. Many would question Ginny of the close relationship between Harry and Hermione, asked whether she was worried about the interference of another woman, but Ginny would smile and shake her head. She knew, Ron knew and more importantly, Harry and Hermione knew their place with each other. They each shared a unique bond with the other. Harry and Hermione were two kindred spirits. They were beyond lovers. Lovers will not describe the relationship they have. They were comrades. They were brother and sister. They were the sword and the shield.
Nothing will change that. Nothing can change that. Not even death.
"Do you know who attacked me that night?" Harry asked, breaking the comfortable silence.
Hermione pulled out of the warm embrace. Her face...Not the lost and vulnerable girl she was only moments ago, but the woman, the warrior, the final victor. Her eyes shone with something Harry could not describe fully...it was sadness, determination, resolution...and triumph as well as...freedom. A freedom that did not seem to exist in this war.
It was raining. The wind howled outside, but the windows were closed and the fire was blazing in its berth. Yet the room seemed suddenly cooler.
"Yes." She said softly. "And I will kill him. To end it once and for all."
A/N: Thanks for reading again. Please review...and please try not to flame me (I have rather tender feelings -smiles shyly-) I'm working on my other fics too...but I will update as soon as possible.