Haunted Memories
-Chapter Three-
Coming to terms with a shadow
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters within J.K. Rowling's story.
Hermione tossed and turned in her bed as the hours wore on. It was always hard to sleep. She had been fine for the last few years, but talking to Remus brought back memories, ones which she would have liked to forget. Sighing, Hermione stretched and threw the covers back. Walking towards her balcony she looked across the grounds, starting from the Quidditch pitch, Hermione remembered all the times she sat there with her friends, cheering on Ron, Harry and Ginny. She remembered seeing Gryffindor win the tournament cup over the years and she smiled with tears in her eyes.
"Ron…Ginny. I miss you guys."
Raising her head, Hermione stared at the stars which were surprisingly bright that night. Hermione turned her head from the Quidditch pitch and sweeped over the lake. There she remembered the part of the battle that haunted her most.
The day of the battle, Hermione had been in the library with Ron and Harry going over strategies and how to protect the young students as the professors held back the first wave of deatheaters. Harry was itching to run out there and help, but Professor McGonagall had held him back.
But in the midst of their planning, with immense feedback from Ron, Hermione heard the cries of castle's students. "Hurry! They're getting in!"
Hermione had but one minute before seeing Harry rush off, Ron following along. Feeling a bit lost, she ran after her best friends and wondered whether her professors were alright. Half way there, Hermione heard a scream pierce through her heart.
"Ginny!" Screams came from other parts of the hallways and Hermione ran with a strength she never knew she possessed. Pushing aside young first years and issuing them into classrooms, Hermione passed a few professors and numerous wounded. That was when she reached the front doors where Harry was battling with a frightening fury. Searching the area, Hermione's eyes widened as she saw Ron clutching his sister's cold body. Ginny's pale face was accentuated by her crimson red hair. Her limp body held nothing of Ginny's usual confidence and energy. Tears welled in her eyes as she ran towards her friend.
"Ginny." Ron looked up, his eyes red, his face twisted with hatred. "Hermione, take care of Ginny."
Standing up, Ron gently set his sister's limp body into Hermione's shaking arms. He turned around and without stopping said, "Live, no matter what happens Hermione, because I won't forgive you if you die."
Hermione tore her eyes away from Ginny's dead ones. "Ron, don't! Stay here. Please."
The reality of the situation never sunk in. Ginny was dead. She was dead! And here was Ron going out to battle. "Please…"
"Hermione, I'm helping Harry." With that, Ron ran off into the midst of the battle.
It seemed like hours before Hermione finally stood, she cradled Ginny carefully and brought her friend into a nearby empty classroom. Transfiguring a nearby bookshelf into a large bed, Hermione placed her dear friend onto the furniture and looked at the sleeping beauty one last time. "Ginny…I'm going to have to help your brother. Please forgive me."
Then she was at the lake. The fight had turned in their favor. The deatheaters, were backing off and Harry was heading the fight along with Ron, McGonagall and a whole contingent of the Order. But then Voldemort appeared. His Dark Mark appeared in the sky at his arrival and the deatheater's morale rose higher. Not only that, the dementors headed the attack. With the dementors on his one side, and the deatheater's on the other, Voldemort advanced towards Hogwarts, taking down any who stood in their way.
The lake…the lake surged with an unknown power as the two forces fought. Hermione stood beside her friends. Once during the battle, she saw Neville run towards Luna, where she had been stunned twice in the back. Neville defended their friend and threw a few of his own curses towards his offenders. Then the inevidable happened. Voldemort had fought his way towards Harry and before Harry could act, he smiled slyly and threw the killing curse. Hermione saw the bright green light, blinding her eyes for a moment.
"Harry! Harry?" she stumbled towards her fallen friend and to her horror, she found herself looking into the pale face of Ron Weasley. Hermione fought back tears as she looked around. Harry was on the floor stuggling to get up as he looked about him in confusion. Ron had saved Harry by pushing him out of the way.
The rest was blurred from Hermione's mind as she stared at her boyfriend in her arms. She embraced him with steel arms and tried to warm his cooling body.
Hermione pressed her forehead against the cool glass of her windows. Turning back towards the lake, she wiped her tears dry. Walking out onto her balcony, Hermione closed her eyes against the wind. Summer was coming and the wind was starting to warm her body. She smiled slightly as she felt the wind brush through her hair and crisp air surround her. Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione swore she saw a shadow flit though the Forbidden Forest, but when Hermione turned back, she saw nothing out of the ordinary. Shaking her head tiredly, Hermione closed her eyes for a brief moment before heading back into bed and hopefully to sweeter dreams.
I would like to thank excessivelyperky for all her great ideas. Without your help, I could never get over my writer's block and you've encouraged me to post the next chapters so thank you.