Company by sticknsnitches

Rating: G
Genres: Angst
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 4
Published: 29/11/2005
Last Updated: 29/11/2005
Status: Completed

Just a one-shot dealing with a still photo from GOF. H/Hr friendship. Very short.




1. Company
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*This is just an idea that came from one of those GOF still photos that didn’t make it into
the movie. It’s very short and I was just trying to convey the feeling of the photo if that makes
sense. It has not been betaed so any problems are my doing. Enjoy and let me know what you
think.*

*Disclaimer: Not mine*

The hall had been quiet for some time now. Shadows appeared from the tall windows and the hard
wooden chairs were making their presence known but she still sat there. Dumbledore’s speech, eulogy
really, was resonating in the empty recess. The other students had all filed out quietly and
respectfully, but they stayed. He sat as straight and alert as he had when they first arrived, she
didn’t think he had even blinked but logically knew that wasn’t possible. At some point during the
service she had dropped her head to his shoulder. To let him know she was there she had told
herself but it was mostly for her own comfort. She hadn’t moved from that spot since. She had
realized that her grief was not over their fellow classmate. As tragic and shocking as his death
had been she couldn’t, no matter how hard she tried, force herself to feel more for him than the
one she rested on. Her grief instead was focused on the one beside her. Knowing how close she had
come to sitting at his service. Knowing that the lump of fear in her throat that should have gone
away but hadn’t. Knowing that everything had changed and for once she didn’t have the answers.

Slowly under her cheek she felt his arm shift. His hand moved over to cover hers where it rested
in her lap. It was freezing she noticed and enfolded it with her own. He hadn’t realized how late
it had become. He knew she had stayed, knew before she did that she would. She probably thought he
had been ruminating this entire time on the events of the last few days. He couldn’t. Strangely
enough he was just *being.* Lost in his own mind in a great pit. He was rather grateful,
guilty but grateful. He knew he would have to think about what had happened and what would but
right now the blankness was welcoming. He sat still a while longer being quiet with her, thankful
they could be this way without words.

They both knew when the time was right. He gave her hand a slight squeeze and stood. She
followed easily no trace of the stiffness they should have felt. Still connected they left the
hall, the din of the other students reaching their ears. They walked to a window that over looked
the courtyard and watched. Knowing they would be expected they let go and finally looked at each
other, exchanging small smiles and deeper unspoken promises of hope.



