-Chapter 24: Look Forward to the Future-
Ginny would send letters to Shell Cottage every few days. Snape let the sixth-years go to Hogsmeade again in late April, Ginny was sure to let Hermione and the twins know. The response she got from the twins had clearly been opened and already read. They agreed to meet her at the Hog's Head again at three. When they arrived they said they couldn't stay long but gave Ginny a thick stack of envelopes and told her that Lupin and Tonks had a baby boy named Teddy. They said it wouldn't be long before things escalated, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was on the move and Ginny should make sure Dumbledore's Army did everything they could to make sure they could either escape the castle or fight back if need be.
Ginny read through all of Hermione's letters that evening. There were more than a dozen of them and they were arranged by date, usually the day after Ginny sent a letter. All of them ended the same way: "Love Always, Hermione". It warmed Ginny's heart to know that even though Hermione didn't know when the letters would get to her she responded to every single one.
...............
It was the last day of April. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were at the kitchen table in Shell Cottage. No one spoke. They were moving in on Gringotts the next day to get the horcrux. The silence was broke by Bill coming in and joining them.
"I should warn you three," he said, "Griphook is a force to be reckoned with. Do not try to cross him or stray from the plan, it could easily get you killed."
The trio nodded. Hermione excused herself and went to her bedroom. She sat at the desk with a quill and parchment and began writing.
30 April, 1998
Dearest Ginny,
If you're reading this then you already know that something has happened to me. I want to tell you so many things but first and foremost that never once did my heart stray from loving you. I've loved you since that cold night in Grimmauld Place nearly three years ago even though I was sure you didn't return my feelings. Then, that amazing August night a year later, you kissed me. I'd never felt such an amazing feeling in my entire life and I felt it every time our lips touched after that. From that moment on I fell deeper in love with you every day. Leaving you at Bill and Fleur's wedding was the hardest thing I'd ever done. I didn't know when I would see you again and the seven months that I didn't were spent wishing I was by your side.
Through all of this, through everything good and bad, I smiled every time you crossed my mind and my heart raced every time you touched me. Even though our love is young and so are we I never once doubted it could last as long as we lived.
I want you to be happy. I want you to go on with your life and do what you want to do. Don't dwell on the past, look forward to the future. Know that I'll be watching over you until you find someone else to love as you loved me. I love you, Ginevra Molly Weasley. Do good things with your life like you always have and someday I will see you again.
Love Always,
Hermione Jean Granger
Hermione folded the letter and put it in an envelope addressed simply "My Love". She went back down stairs and found Bill in the living room reading The Daily Prophet.
"Bill, I need you to do something for me," Hermione said as she sat on the couch.
"Sure, Hermione, what is it?"
"I…I need you to keep this safe," Hermione said as she handed him the envelope. "If something happens to me I need you to give that to Ginny."
"Hermione…come on now, think positive."
"Bill, please. You know as well as I do that something could happen tomorrow or any time and I need to leave Ginny something."
"Okay Hermione, I will store it somewhere safe and let Fleur know where it is as well just in case. Get to bed early tonight, you guys are going to need your strength tomorrow."
...............
All the next day Ginny was apprehensive. Around dusk the apprehension turned to sheer terror. She was walking back to the Gryffindor tower from dinner when Neville ran passed her.
"Ginny, get to the Room of Requirement, now! I heard some of the Death Eaters talking, Harry got the horcrux from Gringotts and You-Know-Who knows about it. Harry, Ron and Hermione were spotted in Hogsmeade just a few minutes ago and I think they might try to come here. Get everyone you see up to the room."
Ginny ran back to the Great Hall and grabbed all of the Dumbledore's Army members she could find, they ran up to the seventh floor and into the Room of Requirement. The room had a large grandfather clock in one corner, several armchairs scattered about and a few portraits hanging on the wall, one of which was blank. Neville was there with a few others.
Right as the clock struck 11 a woman appeared in the blank portrait. She requested that someone come through the hole behind her portrait. Neville immediately volunteered and crawled through the tunnel. Quite a few minutes passed and then out of the hole climbed Neville followed by Ron, Hermione and then Harry. Ginny leapt up and almost tackled Hermione.
"How did you? Where? I don't understand!" Ginny said as she looked over Hermione, making sure she was really there.
"There's a secret passageway from the Hog's Head up here," Harry explained. "We need to find the last horcrux. We know it is Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem but we have no idea what it looks like. Anyone know anything?"
"There's a statue of her in the Ravenclaw common room," Luna spoke.
"That's where I need to be then. Ron, Hermione, meet me back here when you've taken care of the cup," said Harry. Luna and Harry left.
"Ron and I have to destroy this," Hermione said, showing them the horcrux that was stolen from Gringotts. "The Basilisk fang worked on Tom Riddle's diary, it can work on the cup. We have to get down to the Chamber of Secrets. Everyone else, you need to be prepared to fight. The Death Eaters are coming and there will be a battle. Go find McGonagall, she will help you."
