Chapter One: A Loss Greater Than Any

Hermione Granger attempted to remember how to breathe. She was doing a poor job at it, but what else could be expected? She had just lost the love of her life.

"Ron," she whispered.

Saying his name made it seem like the day hadn't happened. It made her think that Ron was just downstairs, stuffing his face before coming upstairs to his room and pouring his heart out to her.

After all, that's what was supposed to happen.

Hermione looked around the room she was sitting in. His room. For some reason, she couldn't bring herself to leave; as though leaving would be the same as accepting the truth.

The last area of his room that she looked at was the nightstand. It was full of clutter and an alarm that Hermione suspected Ron had never used, but one picture caught her eye. She hadn't known it was taken, but she clearly remembered the day. It was last summer, and Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny had been outside. In the picture, Hermione wasn't looking at the camera, but she was laughing; her eyes lit up in pleasure. Ron, however, was staring at Hermione with a look of such love that it made her catch her breath.

Hermione closed her eyes against the picture and began to cry in earnest. She could still remember the last moments; how bittersweet they were.

Ron turned to her just before they entered the fight. "Hermione, I need to tell you this now – I love you."

Hermione hadn't even had time to say anything back before he pulled her to him and kissed her passionately. They kissed as though they would never have another chance to kiss.

They finally pulled apart, and Hermione said the words she had longed to say since first meeting him, "Ron, I love you more than anything."

"More than homework?" he asked, jokingly. She smiled lightly and nodded.

"For all eternity."

This caused his ears to turn pink, and Hermione felt herself blush too.

"I love you for all eternity as well." With one last, quick kiss, Ron and Hermione entered the battle, soon splitting up.

Hermione's eyes flew open and she choked on her tears. How strange it was that their worst fears had come true. They had kissed as though it would be their last, and it had been, essentially.

Although she longed not to, she couldn't help but think of how he died, doing what he had always done – protecting her.

Hermione found she faced Bellatrix.

Bellatrix laughed shrilly, "How wonderful fate is – I get the chance to kill you this time!"

Hermione glared at her as they began dueling. Hermione was holding up well, considering Bellatrix was more experienced, until one of Bellatrix's spells got through.

"CRUCIO!" she shrieked wildly.

Hermione was pushed to the floor by the blast, and pain like she had hoped to never feel again washed over her. She screamed loudly, praying for it to end. Just when she thought she couldn't take it anymore, she heard a voice.

It was Ron. He began dueling Bellatrix, and Hermione saw that on his face was a look of pure hatred. "Stay away from her," he shouted at Bellatrix.

She laughed, "I forgot about that – your little Mudblood girlfriend!"

As Ron went to send another curse, Bellatrix quickly yelled, "Avada Kedavra!"

There was a blinding flash of green light, and Hermione felt as though she had been placed under the Cruciatus curse again. She watched in horror as Ron fell. He landed beside her, and at first Hermione couldn't move.

He was gone.

Bellatrix's laugh brought Hermione back to her senses. Gaining adrenaline, Hermione picked up her wand and at the top of her lungs screamed, "Avada Kedavra!"

Bellatrix's expression was one of horror as she, too, fell under the green light. Hermione, however, didn't spare her a glance as she looked over at Ron. She crawled over to him, tears pouring from her eyes, her heart breaking. "R-Ron," she said softly.

It was too late – he was gone forever.

Hermione couldn't stand it anymore. She curled up into a ball on top of Ron's sheets, and cried herself to sleep.