Series: Twelve Days of Christmas
Title: January Second
Author: Jmaria
Rating: FR-15
Disclaimer: JK owns all things Harry Potter
Fandom(s): Harry Potter
Character(s): Harry/Hermione
Spoilers: AU after OotP, set five years in the future
Summary: Not all gifts come to us on Christmas Day - making something out of nothing
Words: 381
A/N: Character death implied.
Dedication: To philstar22, who requested the characters.

Twelve Days of Christmas
January Second
Hogsmeade

Life had not turned out properly for the great wizarding hero. He could no longer be an auror because of his celebrity, his injuries from the final battle with Voldemort had ruined his chances of a Quidditch career, and while he dearly loved Hogwarts, he had no intention of ever teaching there.

So here he was, getting completely pissed on Firewhiskey only two days into the new year to help repress all the ugly memories the years before had left trapped in his mind. He barely noticed the woman who slid onto the bar stool next to him until her hand rested gently on his.

"I think you've had enough, Harry," Hermione said softly.

"Who asked you?" Harry grumped, knowing she was right, but he was not in the mood to let her know that he knew she was right.

"Harry, it couldn't be helped. You tried to save them, and it just wasn't possible. You couldn't be in two places at one time," Hermione said quietly. "You did everything in your power to stop them from making that choice. They knew what they were getting themselves into."

"Not everything. I could have gotten hold of a time turner -"

"Harry Potter! You could never saved them all. If you'd gone back for Seamus and Dean, you would have left Luna on her own. And you wouldn't have been in time to save Draco and Ginny."

"Two friends died because of me. Because I chose Draco Malfoy's life over theirs!" Harry shouted. "Ron was in a coma for months, and he's still recovering. Luna's scarred, and Ginny's fallen for that idiot -"

That statement should have hurt, it had hurt for a long time. He'd saved Draco Malfoy and that git had run off with his girl. It should still hurt, but oddly enough, it didn't.

"And Ron's fallen for Luna, scars and radishes and all. And Seamus and Dean would not want you sitting here, now two years after their deaths pretending to exist. Don't you realize we'd all be dead if it weren't for you, Harry? None of us would have walked out of there alive. I know wouldn't have. I'd have been the first to die," Hermione sighed. "Please stop killing yourself over something that can't be changed, Harry."