Chapter 2
As she laid there after another sleepless night the memories came flooding back to her. Silent tears streamed down her face. The times back at Hogwarts last year where they finally admitted their feelings. If only they had done it sooner. They could have had months or even years. Now that is just another torturous dream of something that could never happen. She laid there as the sun rose high in the sky, she was determined not to move until she was dragged out into the cold, harsh place of reality. Here she could be anyone, anywhere with anybody. "Hermione it's time to get ready" a gentle voice said from somewhere beside her. Today was exactly 1 week after her heart shattered, today was the day it all becomes real, the loss finally setting in. It was his funeral.(for you slow one's Ron died and it's his funeral) "Come on 'Mione I'll help you let's go" Ginny said as she gently grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the covers. "Why do things like these happen?" Hermione asked as she walked with Ginny down the stairs. "I don't know, I just don't know" Ginny said as tears threatened to fall again just thinking about it. Hermione only talked to the Weasley's and Harry, she didn't say a word when they left the Burrow.
As they got to the kitchen everyone was already there. They all had the same sullen look on their faces. "Good Morning 'Mione!" Harry said in fake happiness as he walked over to her and enveloped her in a hug. Harry frowned as he felt every single bone through her skin. "You should eat more" Harry said as he pulled away. "I don't feel like it right now thanks though." Hermione said in a sweet, quiet, innocent voice. "How're you doing?" Fred asked as Hermione sat down beside him. "Fine, some moments are hard but other moments are harder so fine." Hermione said with a fake smile. Fred exchanged glances with George, both knowing that it was all an act. "Good morning children!" Mr. Weasley piped up as he walked in the room. A series of okay's and ah's filled the room. "Well it's about 8:15 we should all be getting ready" Mr. Weasley said his smile only faltering a little, trying to be strong for everyone.
Hermione and Ginny walked slowly up the stairs turning into Ginny's room on the 2nd floor. They both had outfits tailor made for this because they didn't want to have to pick them out. (See after the war all the Weasley's were almost considered royalty in the wizarding world so they were no longer poor.) Both had black skirt suits with black nylons and black chunky high heels. All the women in attendance were to wear a black hat with a black veil over the front out of respect. It was Mrs. Weasley's idea that way if any makeup ran no one would be able to see it. It was also said that this was supposed to be a completely muggle experience. Hermione would have thought that was a good idea for anybody else's funeral but his. As soon as they were ready they went down to wait with everybody else.
Up in Fred and George's room, Fred was pacing back and forth as George fumbled with his tie. "How am I supposed to take care of her if she keeps telling that she's fine?" Fred asked as he plopped down on his bed. "I don't know but have you seen how much weight she's lost?! I mean she was never fat but she looked healthy now she must weigh less than 95 pounds!" George said with a worried look. "I now but what am I supposed to do?!" Fred exclaimed with a sigh. "I don't know but Ron must've thought that you could figure out something if he told you to take care of her" George said as he sat down beside his other half. "SHIT!" Fred exclaimed out of frustration. "I know but we're all here to help" George said as he stood and pulled Fred with him.
As they all piled into the black stretch limo Hermione was safely seated between Fred and Ginny, her makeup already running underneath her veil. "Anybody else feel like smashing their head through the window?" She asked in a serious voice. The whole car agreed. As they pulled up to the funeral home it was pouring outside. "Crap" Hermione exclaimed as they got out of the car. She walked behind the rest slowly letting the rain seep into her skin, silently pleading with it to make her feel something. "Come on 'Mione" George said as he pulled under the side of his coat and hurried her inside.
Hermione was appalled by the number of people inside the small funeral home. This was just the wake the actual burial was after and outside. She even saw people who she would have never expected like the Malfoy's and Zabini's who came over to the light before the final battle. "Hermione we're sorry" Draco said as he and Blaise walked up to her. They had become good friends since the 2nd week before the final battle started. "Wasn't your fault" Hermione replied in a voice thick with tears. Draco hugged her and walked back to his mother, Blaise kissed her cheek and said: "We're all here for you". As she progressed up the main aisle to where the rest of the Weasley's were seated more and more people walked up to her and said their apologies for her loss. When she finally made it to the front row she was so sick of everyone apologizing to her, not Ron's family.
Minerva McGonagall rose from her seat and gave a short eulogy. After she was finished it was time for people who wanted to say a remembrance to go up. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were the 1st to go since it was their son. When they were finished it went through the family by age. Bill and Charley, then the twins, then Ginny would go and then it would be Harry then finally Hermione. Hermione didn't want to go up there; it made it all seem too real. Like after she said this it would all be over. Up until this point Ron could pick any moment to wake up and come back to her. This, this was it no more time, it was over. "Hermione Granger would like to come up here and pay her respects with a poem she wrote." Harry said as he stepped down. As Harry's footsteps got closer and closer Hermione's heart felt lie it died more and more each time. "No I can't" she whispered as Harry gave her a hand to help her up. "Yes you can, just imagine how proud he'll be" Harry said quietly in her ear. She got up slowly with help from Harry and made her way to the podium. "I loved Ron more than anything in the world, but that night he was taken from me so I just wanted to show him one last time how much I loved him. So here's a poem I wrote for him." Hermione said starting to cry but viciously wiping the intruding tears.
I knew this was coming but I couldn't stop it,
This time I'll grieve,
But only for you
I'm tortured by your memories but I don't want them to stop,
I loved you so much why did you have to go,
This world is cruel, this world is mean,
I loved you and you loved me, yet life is unfair so it didn't care,
Who you were and what you meant,
Who you loved and how time's spent,
All I need to say is I loved you then, I love you now, I'll love you forever,
I promise I won't forget you no matter what happens now.
As she finished everyone in the place was crying. "Ron, I promise I'll never forget you and, I promise you'll live in my memory forever. Goodbye Ron, I love you" Hermione finished as sobs invaded her body. "Come on 'Mione let's get you down" Fred said as he pulled her to him and walked back to their seats. "Damn it my makeup looks like shit!" Hermione exclaimed making everyone in the place laugh.
Later everyone piled back into the limo to get to the burial sight. As they got there it was raining harder than ever. As the service began Hermione's heels were sinking into the mud. "Damn" she whispered and grabbed Fred's shoulder for balance as she pulled her shoes off. "What are you doing?" He whispered with a smile. "I was sinking" she stated with an impish smile. As the casket was being lowered into the ground Hermione walked up and placed a letter on top. It was addressed to Ron and even though she knew he would never read it, it gave her a feeling of serene.