Chapter Eighteen

The Watch

Bright whiteness. Hermione was more comfortable than she had ever been in her life, breathing in the purity. No scents, no hurt, she was clean, and dressed in a maroon sun dress. She felt the silkiness. She looked around. It must've been heaven, right? Nothing so lovely could have existed on Earth.

"Hermione?" Draco appeared in front of her out of the fog that encompassed her, his gray eyes sad as he appraised her. "You aren't supposed to be here."

She beamed, barely hearing him. He was there, with her, and with every bit of her she knew that she was indeed in heaven. There was no doubting it, he was there, with her. They were together, everything she ever wanted, and with elation she lunged at him, embracing him to her. He felt warm and alive, his arms were around her. It no longer mattered where they were, they were together.

"Hermione," he breathed, brushing the wisps of her hair.

"Mmm," she cooed against his chest, not hearing a heartbeat.

He kissed the top of her head, and pulled her back. He searched her face, the corner of his lips turning up the slightest. "I miss you."

"You don't have to anymore. I'm here."

"No, you have to go back," he said earnestly his fingers pressing into her back. "You can't stay here."

"Why not? I'm dead, aren't I?" Tears, there were tears in heaven in her eyes, and she shook her head. "You can't make me go. Please, Draco, we're finally together. I've waited so long for this, don't make me leave."

"You don't belong here, not yet. You'll have to go back. They're going to get you back."

"What do you mean?"

His smile widened. "You think I would have risked your life if I didn't have an alternative? I'll show you." He knelt, bringing her with him, waving his hand over the white below them. It cleared way much like the mirror Ron had, but in the view she saw an overview of Goyle's place, the scene that was occurring right then.

In the middle of the room, she laid, dead. Her eyes were open, but not seeing, her hair splayed in tangles. Goyle was dead on the other side, Theo on his knees beside her. He was howling in pain, and for a wild moment she thought he had been hurt, but it was her he was crying for, for the loss he felt of her. It tugged at her, but she kept herself rooted, with Draco.

Harry and Ron rushed in, Ron froze in place inside the door, Harry falling next to her body. He cried too, a terrible of a cry as Theo's.

Hermione went to reach for him, but it was too far away, and she was stopped by a force she couldn't explain. She wasn't able to go back there, not then. She didn't particularly want to, it was only a need to comfort the ones she hurt.

"C'mon, Potter," he muttered, "don't be stupid." His body was tense as he waited for whatever he hoped to happen. She looked back down to the scene, and saw that Harry had reached into his tattered blue robe. In the palm of his hand was Draco's watch.

"To the Scar-head, a watch. When you need the last five minutes. Don't blow it."

"Draco, no! I don't want to go back!"

He grabbed her neck, tugging her to him, kissing her lips tenderly. "I love you," he whispered in her mouth. "Always. You've done so well. Thank you, for everything."

"No... I want to stay." She sounded pathetic, a child who was not getting their way.

"We'll see each other again, I promise. I swear to you. This isn't the end. Ends don't exist, Hermione, just a continuous of a circle. You learn that when you're dead.

I love you. So does Theo and Harry. Choose what's best for you. That's all we ever wanted for each other."

Harry wound the watch back, and she was forcefully wrenched away, Draco slipping out of her hold. She extended her arms for him, but he wasn't there. She was descending down, leaving him.

Her heart started thumping in her chest, her lungs filled with polluted air. Being stood upright, the colors of life dulling, the ill-fitting and soreness returned, she came to life.

Goyle stood in front of her, his wand raised. Theo, and Harry and Ron who came running in all cursed him, green streams hitting him in the chest, one after another. He fell.

Hermione fell as well, her body adjusting itself to the return of her spirit. She gasped and wheezed.

"Hermione!"

Her three friends crowded around her. Theo took her hand, Harry her head.

She exhaled, chortled, then laughed that turned into a riot wracking her. It was surreal, coming back to life, uneasy to say the least. Her spirit seemed too big for her body.

"Hermione?"

She blinked. "You should've been in Gryffindor, Theo."

They all laughed, despite the position they were in, the dead bodies, the close calls, her death. It was a release, but her mind was with Draco. He was still watching, and so when she sat up she looked between Theo and Harry. It was time that everyone knew...

"Ginny hates my cooking, Harry," she blurted out. She had to get out everything, every feeling, get the resolve. It had to be worked out right there, or else it never would. The book was gone, the world was safe once more thanks to them, thanks to Draco. It need to be over with. It was done. Over.

"What," he asked, his hands holding loosening in her hair until he dropped them.

"She comes to my house on my weekends for you. She likes you. Always has. Over the years I've been too much like a sister - a mother to you. Please, Harry, realize that it was never supposed to be us. Can't you see that?"

Harry nodded slowly, but the fresh pain she brought him didn't leave the creases of his face.

"Harry -"

"No, don't say it. Please, don't tell me you don't want to be with me again."

"I love you, but not the way you want me to, I'm sorry, I really am."

He flinched. "Lets take you to St. Mungo's."

"I'm fine! I know what I'm talking about!"

"I know you're thinking straight, I just want you to get checked out. You died, you need to go." He removed a speck of dirt from her cheek.

"Ron won't be angry with you."

Ron shrugged. "Harry, mate, she's right. And Hermione, he's right too, you need to go to St. Mungo's."

"I'm fine, I really am. Please, tell me you forgive me. Both of you." It meant more than anything, to have their forgiveness for the past twelve years.

Harry and Ron suddenly smiled. "How can you think we wouldn't? You fought with us, you stayed with us. You chose your side, he chose his."

Harry swept a lock of hair from her brow his smile faltering to a frown. "We're sorry that we left you in this position. If it weren't for Nott here... You should forgive us, for our prejudices."

She hugged them both, kissed their cheeks. "Ginny, please, Harry, consider giving her a chance, she's not the girl she was when she was little. She's grown up a lot."

"I'll talk with Ginny, don't you worry yourself over that."

Theo constricted his hold on her forearm, having not relinquished since her heart began beating again. He was likely causing another bruise. "This is all wonderful, but can you two wait outside? I need a second with her. If you don't mind."

They didn't waver as they touched her arm, squeezed her hands, and obediently they left, but not without worrying glances to her. She jerked her head to the door to signal her okay. However, she knew them plenty well to know that they would press their ears to the door to hear.

When it was closed, he asked her the question that must have been burning him since she woke. "You saw him, didn't you?"

She could practically feel the warmth and comfort, the phantom of the fresh memory that would always stay with her. "Yes. He's happy."

Theo moved closer, his arm wrapped over her shoulders. "Know this above everything. This isn't about healing. This is about two people who has been through hell and came out unknowingly with each other. We belong together. We always had."

"I love Draco." He needed to know that above all else, it was the most important thing. She would never stop being in love with Draco, he would always be in her life in some form.

"I don't expect to take his place. I want my own."

"You have it, but it was a mistake -"

"It was fate."

"Since when do you believe in fate?"

"Since I saw you at that bloody Gryffindor table. Tell me you love me, Hermione."

The honey in his eyes spoke honesty and she found herself leaning in. She felt his breath come out in short puffs on her nose. Then she touched her lips to his and she nearly thought her spirit was leaving her again. He palmed her cheek bringing her closer to where she was straddling his lap. She weaved her fingers in his hair bringing him nearer, making him hers. The way it was supposed to be.

Trailing kisses over his neck, she confessed. "I love you, Theo."

"I'm yours."

A/N: There's an epilogue.