Chapter 6 - Who Wants To Live Forever

It had been four weeks since the beginning of the school holidays at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hermione couldn't be happier with the way in which things were unfolding. Her potion-making ability had improved tremendously and she was thoroughly enjoying the time she spent with Severus Snape. One Saturday evening saw the pair seated comfortably on the two armchairs close to the fire in the potions master's quarters. Each was involved with their own separate activities. Snape was reading through a rather complex potions textbook while Hermione was busily writing letters to her best friends and closest family members.

Suddenly and unexpectedly, a glowing white bird erupted through the room's entrance. It was obviously a phoenix. The beautiful patronus opened its beak and spoke with Albus Dumbledore's voice. "Severus. Please come to my study as quickly as you're able to. It is extraordinarily urgent. Bring Hermione." Hermione looked worriedly at Snape. He was obviously in a state of shock. But he quickly regained his composure before looking to Hermione with determination etched into his features. "Let's go."

"Sugar Quill." As Snape spoke these words the guardian Griffin outside of Albus Dumbledore's office sprang to life and granted them entry. The large oak door opened independently and Snape hurried inside with Hermione trailing close behind. The Headmaster was seated behind his desk and had his face buried in his hands. Snape cleared his throat and Dumbledore looked up. He had obviously been crying. He began to speak but his voice was croaky and full of grief. "Severus, Hermione. Please take a seat." The pair hastily obliged. "I don't want to keep you in suspense so I'll get straight to the point. Just a little over two hours ago, the Burrow was attacked by Deatheaters and a battle ensued. Many of Voldemort's followers were killed. After some time Voldemort arrived and, after a huge struggle, was also killed." Snape's anxious face became a little more relaxed. It was over. He didn't have to bow down to that disgusting man once more.

Dumbledore continued. "While we were most certainly the successors in the battle there were certain… casualties." The Headmaster looked meaningfully at Hermione and she immediately realised who had fallen. "No." She gasped. A single tear fell down Dumbledore's cheek. "Ron and Harry died most valiant deaths. I'm so sorry Hermione." He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder but she shrugged it off. It felt as if her lungs were rapidly shrinking. She was gasping for air as a stream of tears fell from her eyes. She had no idea about how she was supposed to react. Hermione hastily stood up and ran from the room. Severus Snape looked to Dumbledore, a silent question lying behind his eyes. The Headmaster merely nodded. Before either had said a word to the other, Snape vacated his seat and hurried after Hermione.

The lake's surface rippled as tears fell hard and fast into its depths. Hermione was dangling her feet in the water, crying silently. How had this happened? Harry and Ron. Her best friends. Gone forever. She mulled these depressing thoughts over in her mind and continued to cry. She didn't even notice when somebody sat down next to her. Only when she saw a pair of bare feet join hers in the water did she look up and to her left. Severus Snape was gazing anxiously at her. "I'm not going to force you to speak to me Miss Granger. But I thought you might be in need of some company. If you do not wish for me to stay with you I shall leave." Hermione looked back at her feet. "You can stay." She then wiped her face with her hand and took a few deep breaths.

She looked back at Snape who still had an expression of anxiety on his face. After taking one more deep breath she began to speak. "I always knew that Harry was in constant danger. But it never even crossed my mind that… this would happen. And for it to happen to Ron as well, I just want- I just don't know what to think." She paused. "It always seemed as if they were immortal to me, you know?" Snape sighed. "Yes, I know." He continued to look at her pained expression as she spoke again. "If only I hadn't stayed at Hogwarts. I would have been at the Burrow when it was attacked. I could have helped them. It's all my fau-" Snape forcefully interjected. "No." Hermione seemed startled with his stern tone of voice. "It's not your fault Hermione. That's possibly the worst thing you could be thinking now, especially seeing as it's most definitely not true." Hermione smiled sadly. "Thankyou Severus."

Snape frowned. "Since when have you had the permission to refer to me by my first name?" His companion smiled cheekily. "Since when have you had the permission to refer to me by MY first name?" the potions master chuckled. After a few minutes of silence Hermione began to cry again. By instinct Snape placed a comforting arm around her shoulders. When it seemed as if she could cry no more Snape spoke. "Would you like to go back to the castle now?" Hermione slowly shook her head. "No thankyou. I think I'll sleep under the stars tonight." Snape nodded in understanding, withdrew his arm and stood up. "You don't have to leave." There was a sort of pleading in Hermione's voice. Snape nodded once again and remained where he was. Hermione extracted her feet from the water and also stood. She then walked towards a rather familiar beech tree. Her companion followed and they both settled beneath the branches. Hermione lay in the grass and Snape sat up about a metre away from her. He watched her thoughtfully as she slowly fell asleep. He watched her chest rise and fall as she breathed. It was all he could do to stop himself from lying down next to the young woman and putting his arms around her as she slept.

Damn bloody heart.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

I'm so sorry about Harry and Ron. I love them dearly and I felt so horrible, killing them off. But ultimately, I thought that it was the best thing for this story. They would have gotten in the way of the storyline that I want to have.

So, sorry again!

Reviews are pretty darn great. ;D