Chapter 4 – Goodbye
Hermione and Ron ascended up what was left of the main staircases. All around them was wreckage and ruin of the place that they called home for ¾ of the year.
"What if he…" Ron started to question before Hermione snapped, "He has NOT gone to the Forbidden Forest! He would never leave us like that, not knowing, only guessing."
"Hermione's right I wouldn't leave without saying goodbye," Harry interjected when he saw the look on Ron's face, the one he always got before starting an argument.
"Harry!" they both exclaimed at his sudden appearance. Ron ran to his best mate and gave him a one armed hug, but Hermione hesitated. She knew that look, a look of resignation in his eyes. She knew time was running out, and he had made his decision.
"I thought you went to the forest," Ron exclaimed, glad that he hadn't lost another 'brother'.
"I'm going there now," Harry stated leaving no room for argument as he walked towards Hermione.
"No… You can't give yourself up to him!" Ron, unable to believe or accept what he was hearing.
"What is it Harry? What is it you know?" Hermione asked, already somewhat aware of what his answer was probably going to be, but she wished with all her heart that her theory was wrong and that Harry would prove her wrong. Something she despised but in this case she prayed to all gods known to mankind that she wasn't right, just this once.
Harry sighed, looking Hermione square in the eyes, "There's a reason I can hear them, the horcruxes… I think I have known for a while, and I think you have too."
The tears were welling up in her eyes. Hermione's breathe started to catch in her throat.
'No! Why did I have to ALWAYS be right.' She thought trying to suppress her growing hysteria.
"I'll go with you," Hermione pleaded with Harry. The first friend she ever had in the wizarding world- someone she considered family – someone worth dying for.
"No! Kill the snake and then it's just him." Harry replied looking down at the Sort Hat attached to Hermione's belt. She rushed forward and swung her arms around him, holding him so tight, because she knew it would be the last time she would see him alive.
"Why didn't you tell me? That he was on our side… That he helped you." Harry whispered into Hermione's ear so Ron wouldn't overhear and start asking questions that they didn't have time to explain.
"Because Dumbledore made me promise to never reveal the best side of him, to anyone." Hermione sniffled back.
Harry looked at Ron over Hermione's shoulder, trying to express through his eyes everything he wished he had time to say to his best mate. Harry had to pry himself from Hermione's firm grip, turned quickly and walked away. He knew that if he had made eye contact with her, she would somehow find a way to convince him to stay, something he wanted to do so much but knew he couldn't. He had to die. To save and protect his friends, because his death would mean that they could have the chance to live.
Harry took one last glance back at the entrance of the Great Hall as he passed it. There were people kneeling beside the dead and injured, comforting one another. He saw Ginny holding a younger girl who appeared to be injured, he felt a sudden urge to go over to her, lift her up in his arms and kiss her so passionately that even the thought of it was sending shivers up his spin.
The hour was almost up and Harry still had to make his way to the Forbidden Forest and actually find where Voldemort was waiting. Harry swung the Cloak over himself and continued walking.