Short and sweet. I wrote this quickie on the way home from work today while on the train. For some odd reason, I was compelled to write a Harry and Hermione one-shot. I know. I know. That's not what I do. Don't ask me why, I have absolutely no idea.
Anyway, this is my first and possibly ONLY Harry and Hermione fic that I will write so be gentle. I just saw it in my head and needed to write it.
And for the record...I did orginally think to do this fic with Draco instead of Harry, but it totally wouldn't have worked. Read it and you'll probably see why. It's super short, and will probably take you all of 6 minutes to read. Why 6? It sounded a little more interesting than saying the typical 5 minutes. Whatever. Take a read and let me know what you think.
I own nothing. Yadda, yadda, yadda – hence the reason I'm in debt. meo
Interlude
They knew they would surely be separated once the battle had begun. They were never meant to be – that much was spelled out from the first. It was to be her and Ron and though unclear in the beginning, it was to be him and Ginny. You couldn't un-write what was already written in stone. That was the ending that was supposed to be…and would be…if luck went their way and they all survived it.
It was now or never. Ron and Ginny went first to lay down cover fire. Hexes flying and thankfully, rarely missing their mark…Harry had taught them well.
Before Harry went in search of his foe, Hermione tugged him back. She was apprehensive about many things - dying, living…what was to come in the next few moments.
"I won't say goodbye," she said softly. "I can't Harry. It would seem like giving up somehow."
"I can't say it either."
"But there is one thing you know we must do. I won't be able to live with myself, if something happened and I didn't…we didn't…"
He took a step forward and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "I know," he whispered.
Harry took her in his arms, a fierce embrace that they both drew strength from. He pulled back and looked deep into her amber eyes and saw everything he, himself, was feeling; fear, anger, violence, love, hate, friendship…a longing that would never be but needed to be acknowledged for at least one single moment. Too many emotions swirled around them, enveloping them. Anxious feelings about what would happen to them in the next hour or two or three. Anxious about what would happen…right now. Between them.
A lone tear streaked down her pale skin. He quickly caught it, wiping it away. "Don't," he begged. "No tears, not now…not while I need you to be strong for me…with me," he quickly corrected. She nodded silently in reply then shook her head clearing all melancholy thoughts from her mind. She would be strong for him…with him. They had to be in order to get this done.
Harry nodded. "That's better, that's the Hermione I need," he said with a small smile. Cradling her face with both hands, he pulled her lips to his. Holding him tightly, she kissed him with everything she had. Any strength he could draw from her, she would gladly give. Anything. Everything. Her very heart and soul if he wanted it. Anything that would help him accomplish his goal today.
But the hour grew late, they both knew, it was time. They had their moment, and it was all that it was meant to be. Their moment in time to always cherish and remember no matter what happened next. No matter who they were with when the battle was finished. Their lips reluctantly parted. Both breathing hard they embraced one last time before they joined the others. She turned first toward the direction Ron and Ginny had gone, but stopped abruptly and turned back to him.
"Now go," she said, "and win."