Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything associated with it…J.K. Rowling does. All I own is what little bit of sanity remains inside the randomness that is my mind.

The Parting

"How could you do this to me?"

"Love, please…don't make this harder than it has to be."

"'Harder than it has to be?'"

"Sweet –"

"'Harder than it has to be?!'"

Silence stretched out, it's icy grip closing around them both, chilling the tears streaming down her face and freezing the ones that he refused to let fall.

"You said you loved me."

A whisper, nothing more. Something that stirred the silence, yet was even more silent. Screaming with an unheard pain…a type of agony, if you will. One that a person could not possibly understand if they had not yet experienced it. An agony that tears at your heart, relentless in its attack…eternal in its torture. It waits until the very last moment, biding its time, waiting for you to believe yourself safe in your overwhelming numbness. And then…you've been torn out of reality and thrust into a hellish dimension that is endless and unforgiving. Sure, you'll eventually trickle back into the real world. But it takes time…and it hurts. Sometimes, it hurts worse than it did when everything first began. The tears never stop, and even though you might find reasons to smile, there is still that dull ache buried deep within you. It happens when you lose someone you love.

"I do love you."

"Then why?"

"It's going to help everyone. It may prove to be –"

"I don't care what it proves to be!"

"Sweetheart –"

"No!"

She stood up, glaring at him. Then, before either of them had time to even blink, she was clinging to him, begging him not to go…not to leave her.

"You promised!"

"I know."

"Why?"

He knew that she was no longer asking him. He understood her anger. He understood why she was in so much pain…because he felt the same way.

"Hermione, I swear to you, I am going to come back." When she didn't respond, he put his hands on either side of her head and forced her to look at him. He stared into her eyes, all seriousness and honest pouring from him and surrounding her.

"I swear to you that I will come back. I am not going to leave you, Hermione."

"I don't want you to go." Tears were streaming down her face now, and her lip was quivering. She looked like the child she had been when he had first met her.

"I don't want to lose you, Remus."

RLHG xoxox RLHG xoxox RLHG xoxox RLHG xoxox RLHG

(Early the next morning…about 4:00 a.m.)

"Don't do it."

"Love, you know I have to."

"…I'll miss you."

"I love you so much, Hermione."

"I love you too, Remus."

"I'm going to miss you so much." He held her, burying his face in her hair. "You smell good."

"You're mental, you know that?" She smiled at him, laughing weakly.

"I love you."

The words left their mouths at the same time. Someone waiting nearby cleared their throat, and Hermione hated that person for breaking the precious moment between her and Remus.

Remus smiled sadly, "I'd better go."

He kissed her then. It was a kiss that was full of passion and longing. It was full of the sadness and pain that hung over the two lovers…and it was filled with their love. Remus refused to let it be a goodbye. Instead, he let it be a promise.

Hermione's heart and mind screamed at her not to let him leave…but her body wouldn't listen. She watched as he turned and walked towards the wrought-iron fence, and away from her. He paused to turn and look at her, and then, in a loud crack, he was gone.

a/n – So, that was my first one-shot….Whatcha think? Well, you know the drill… There's the little review button. Go on…click it! Come on…you know you want to. Just. Click. The. Button! …please?