Going Home by reptilia28

Rating: G
Genres: Angst, Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 4
Published: 13/10/2007
Last Updated: 13/10/2007
Status: Completed

For years, Hermione has been surrounded by her family, yet never so alone. For years, Hermione
has been waiting. Waiting to go home. H/Hr, kind of sad ending.




1. Coming Home
--------------



This is a little plot bunny that refused to leave me alone, so I wrote it down to get rid of
it.

I don't own Harry Potter.

----

*Hermione stirred from the dark void of sleep, to find herself in a bright, white room.
Groaning, she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and turned her head, seeing a young man with messy
black hair and bright green eyes.*

*“Good morning sunshine,” Harry said, taking her hand and kissing the knuckle. “You've
been out for a while.” Hermione groaned tiredly as she shifted position on her bed.*

*“How's the baby?” Hermione asked. “Is the baby okay?” Harry flashed her his signature
lopsided grin as he held her hand in his.*

*“The baby's just fine,” he said, leaning over until he was over her, and gently pressing
his lips to her own. For a moment, Hermione felt like she was in heaven.*

------

Hermione stirred from her dream, and instinctively reached over to the other half of the bed,
only to find empty space. Realization quickly crept up to her, along with no small amount of
heartache as she remembered why there was no one with her. Mixed with her melancholy emotions, she
also felt confusion about her dream. For weeks now, she had been dreaming about the day she had
woken up after giving birth to her and Harry's first child. Struggling to pull herself out of
bed, Hermione bathed and dressed herself with the assistance of Skippy, Winky's grandchild and
the Potter family butler.

Taking her cane in her hand, Hermione walked down the empty hallways of Potter Manor, the walls
lined with countless memories. With a sad smile, she looked at the moving images of her with Harry
during their school days, on their holidays to exotic locations, and of their family as they grew
up.

She stopped at a photo of a woman with curly black hair in a flowing white dress, standing
before a handsome brunette groom. She remembered her eldest daughter's wedding like it was
yesterday, as well as the happiness that she had felt then.

Hermione walked into the kitchen and prepared a simple meal of tea and toast when the fireplace
glowed green and a young woman fell out, grumbling under her breath. Jolene Potter-Smith was Harry
and Hermione's eldest great-granddaughter, and she seemed to have inherited Harry's
adeptness at Floo travel.

“So, you drew the short straw today?” Hermione asked teasingly. With her multitude of
grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she always seemed to have someone over at her house to watch
over her.

“Yup,” Jolene said, dusting the soot off of her clothes. “I still think Jim altered them while
we weren't looking.” Hermione laughed as she poured herself and Jolene a cup of tea. “How are
you feeling, Grandmama?” she asked as they sat down at the table.

“I'm doing fine, Jolene, really,” Hermione said, waving the question off. “I swear, even
three generations down the line, and the Potter `saving-people-thing' is still going strong.”
Hermione blew on her tea and took a sip before setting it back down. “So, what's the juicy new
gossip in the family tree today?” For the rest of the day, like many days lately, Hermione simply
sat and talked, rarely stopping other than to eat, drink or use the loo. She would talk to her
children and their children and their children about everything: her life before Hogwarts, her
adventures with Harry, and the love that they had shared together as a married couple. Hermione and
Jolene talked until the clock on the wall rung eight `o clock.

“I've got to go; long day ahead of me tomorrow,” Jolene said, kissing Hermione on the cheek.
“Are you sure that you don't need anything?” Hermione chuckled as she shook her head.

“I've told you and your parents and your aunts and uncles, I'll be fine. You go home and
get your beauty sleep, child. Merlin knows I need my own beauty sleep.” Jolene bit her lip
nervously, but reluctantly nodded her head before throwing a handful of Floo powder into the
fireplace and disappearing. Hermione sighed as she called for Skippy to help her up the stairs and
into her bedroom. After changing into her nightgown, Hermione crawled under the covers and slipped
into the land of dreams.

------

Hermione stirred as she woke up in a white room, like she had so many times before. But unlike
the hospital robe that St. Mungo's issued to its patients, she wore a long white sundress.
Sitting by her side was the love of her life, Harry Potter.

“Good morning, sunshine,” Harry said as he kissed her hand, like so many times before. Hermione
smiled as she squeezed his hand.

“How's the baby?” Hermione asks out of habit.

“The baby's fine, love,” Harry said, leaning over to kiss her like he had done so many times
before. But unlike before, this time, the dream did not end with the kiss. “I've been waiting
for a long time, Hermione, and now it's time. It's time for you to come home.” Barely able
to contain the joy threatening to burst within her, Hermione sat up on her bed and held out her
hand to him.

“I'm ready,” she said. “Take me home, Harry.” Smiling, Harry stood up and took
Hermione's hand, gently pulling her to her feet. Hand in hand, they walked together into a
light in the distance that steadily grew brighter. As they walked on, Hermione held her soul
mate's hand as she closed her eyes, allowing the light's warmth to envelope her.

------

Two weeks later, a relatively small service was held for her. Only family and close friends were
allowed to attend, despite the attempts of reporters, as well as the wizarding world in general.
The Potter clan knew that having half of England attending her funeral was not something Hermione
would have wanted.

One by one, they said their goodbyes, laying a rose at the feet of the coffin, until a small
mound had been built. After saying final prayers, they lowered the casket containing both husband
and wife into the ground, and poured the loose earth over it, sealing from the world.

One by one, they left. None of them wanted to, but they all had their lives to live, and they
all knew that Hermione would not have wanted them to mourn, so they left with a final glance at the
new headstone marking the grave.

**HARRY JAMES POTTER**

**1980 - 2036**

**HERMIONE JANE GRANGER POTTER**

**1980 - 2110**

**FRIENDS, PARENTS, LOVERS, HEROES**

**MAY THEY FIND PEACE IN THE NEXT GREAT JOURNEY**

**TOGETHER**

----

I really don't know what possessed me to write this fic, since spirituality is not really my
usual M.O.

I hope you enjoyed it, and don't forget to read and review!

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