Edited: I edited Hermione's conversation with Remus in order to make more sense with future chapters.

…

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE – STONE COLD

Hermione crept along the shadows with Ron and Harry, making a dash for the Whomping Willow, Hermione under a disillusioning charm. She had done her best to fight for the light and disguise her true intensions. She used the tactics Severus had taught her, deflecting spells cast her way to the Death Eaters, werewolves, and others in the Dark Lord's ranks. But the damages to the light were heavy and no one was quite sure who was winning. And then Harry had a feeling, and now they were here, following shadows through the passage way to the shrieking shack. They stopped at Harry's signal and the sound of voices, Harry recognized one right away, and Hermione knew the other, their eyes met slowly over Ron's head, who was stilling trying to figure it out. The trio crept forward, avoiding the squeaky floorboards and found a place to see into the room, just barely.

Hermione slapped a hand over her mouth. She knew Severus was bargaining for his life, knew that tone in his voice. And she knew, just as she was sure Severus did, that Voldemort was not going to concede. Harry's eye flicked to Hermione and back to the scene. "Nagini, kill."

Hermione stopped breathing, wrapping her other hand tightly around the stone of her necklace, still, thankfully warm. But the horrid sounds of Nagini attacking Severus and his body falling to the floor made her belief in the necklace flicker. Her focus on the sounds only broke when the boys pulled her forward, Ron whining a do we have to? and Harry shoving him forward. They stumbled into the room where Severus slumped against a wall, his hands at his sides. Hermione's brain caught up with her body and she rushed forward, falling to her knees next to Severus, her hands flying to his throat. Severus' eyes followed her the whole way, the light in their dark depths a low gleam. His fingers found hers on the floor, overlapping weakly. "Tell him."

"I will, Severus, I will don't worry."

Severus nodded weakly then turned his gaze to Harry, beckoning him closer. "Take them," he mumbled, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. Harry fumbled to catch the tears in a vial and Hermione tightened her grip on Severus' neck.

"What are those?" Hermione asked, scooting closer frantically.

"Just in case." Severus moved his eyes from Harry to Hermione's face.

"We need to be sure." Hermione agreed, her own tears starting to form.

Severus dipped his head only slightly before turning his attention back to Harry who – to his benefit – looked very much like he wished he could help. "You have… your mother's eyes," he breathed raggedly, his own fluttering shut and his grip on Hermione's hand loosened. Harry rocked back on his feet, capping the vial of memories. Hermione moved forward, pulling on Severus' arms and gripping his cheek, mumbling desperately to him. Someone grabbed her arm, but she shook them off, trying anything to get Severus to open his eyes again. She didn't even hear the voice until Ron grabbed her arm, "Hermione, listen!" Hermione finally turned her head away to hear Voldemort's magnified voice demanding Harry's surrender.

Hermione glanced at Severus then turned to face Harry. "Look, there's something you need to know before you go out there."

…

They won. It had been a crazy night and morning, and a horrifying moment when Hermione had been genuinely certain Harry was dead, truly dead. But it had been a wonderful ruse. There were more dead than Hermione cared to count. But they won. The true thing that dampened their victory was the cold marble pressed against her sternum. There had been no light from it, no flicker of warmth. Hermione fingered the marble, squeezing and releasing it as if she could bring it back to life, as if she could bring him back to life. Once they had won and they were certain there were no other followers of Voldemort around, Hermione had gone back. She had never run so fast in her life, but Severus was already gone, the only thing left on the floor was blood. She knew she had to find him, but tonight was about the bodies they still had, about Fred and Lavender, Colin and Tonks, and all the others. It was about the wounded who needed help and the families torn apart.

None of the funerals in the coming weeks were easy and although Hermione had tried, there was no evidence or signs of what happened to Severus and the cold stone never grew warm. After a month Hermione didn't know where else to look and started to believe that maybe one of Voldemort's many monsters dragged his body away. That was the only thing that could explain his missing body.

…

Hermione stood in front of the long mirror in her bedroom, adjusting her dress and her hair. She sighed. She wasn't in the mood for celebrations, although she hardly ever was anymore. But today was important, so she had carefully applied her makeup, magicked her hair tame, and bought the loveliest dress she could find. She grabbed her purse from her bed and left the cabin, locking it and checking her wards before apparating to the Burrow. Wedding tensions were in full swing with Molly hollering at everyone and waving her wand maniacally, Arthur was doing his best to do what was needed but as always, was a bit distracted. The boys were running around like mad, half dressed, joking around more than they were helping. It took a full hour to organize everyone and get the trellises set up outside. Hermione helped outside, it was quieter, only a handful of people who also didn't look particularly in the mood to celebrate. Finally, it was all ready and Hermione sat in the front row, across the aisle from the Weasleys with Remus, Teddy, McGonagall, and Hagrid. Harry walked in looking stunning in his suit and somehow had gotten his hair tamed. Everyone watched him with smiles as he made his way to the front where the ministry agent stood waiting. There was a pause before the music started, ethereal and floating through the air and Ginny appeared at the back of the aisle, her arm linked with her father's. Everyone stood as Ginny passed them, and at the front of the room Arthur kissed her cheek tearfully before releasing her to join Harry.

The ceremony was brief and beautiful, and left tears on quite a few faces, including Hermione's. People switched up the place under the latticing from rows of chairs to tables and a space for dancing, gathering round the large buffet table where Molly's food appeared. Hermione hung back, waiting for the crowd to disperse. Two seats away, Remus sat, his eyes locked on something not there, Teddy wobbling on his lap. Hermione got up and sat in the seat beside him. "Remus."

Remus pulled himself from his thoughts, looking at Teddy before his eyes found Hermione. "Hermione, good to see you again."

"You as well," Hermione reached for Teddy's small hand, her index finger latched on to by the infant. "How are you these days?"

Remus shrugged with a smile, "Honestly, not too bad. It's tough of course, I barely had time to imagine doing this all with… with Tonks and now I'm doing it alone." Remus paused, his eyes roamed the room and his smile flickered back into place. "Well, not necessarily alone."

Hermione chuckled, "The Weasleys."

"The Weasleys," Remus confirmed. "And what about you?"

Hermione shrugged. "I'm okay, the cottage is perfect, it was nice of Minerva to help me out so I could pay for it."

He nodded, looking down at Teddy. "She is a good woman like that, but you really helped her in rebuilding the castle and persuading parents to let their children return. Hermione, are you still looking?"

"Twice a month." Hermione said evasively. She knew what people thought of her escapades to find Severus, some criticized her, some pitied her. She reached for the green stone that hung around her neck.

"Hermione, it's been six months. Have you found anything?"

She shook her head. Remus had been more supportive than Hermione had originally suspected, but after the trials that post-mortemly decided that Severus was a spy for the right side and awarded him an Order of Merlin, he had been particularly sympathetic. Hermione never watched the memories Severus gave Harry, although Harry had suggested and Ron had pushed it. She had heard the whispers of course, since by the end of the trials almost everyone had heard some version of the stories. "I keep hoping but even the magical trail disappears after a time."

"Will you keep searching?"

Hermione shrugged, swallowing back tears. "I don't know if I can stop, but I do know by now that someone else was there, I think someone took… him."

Remus nodded, reaching across the space between him to take her hand. "If you need any help-"

"I know." Hermione smiled at Remus, squeezing his hand back.

Hermione enjoyed the reception. After she and Remus got their food, Hermione decided to put her own problems aside to laugh and dance with her friends, late into the night until most of the guests had gone home to bed and Harry and Ginny started edging towards the shadows. Hermione tumbled into her cottage in the wee hours of the morning, giggling at the antics of her friends she had just left with a crack of apparation. She locked the doors and fixed her wards, shuffling her way to the bed and flopping down on it face first. For a moment, she swore the necklace grew warm against her skin, but it was only the effects of the champagne.