by: Cornelia Halliwell

Type: Drabbles - AU [Alternate Universe]
Language: English
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Angst/Drama
Pairing: Hermione/Ron
Summary: The end of Hermione's last year in Hogwarts - and she recalls everything that happened 3 years before.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter & its universe belongs to JK Rowling.
Alternate Universe Note: The trio belongs to different houses. See the story for details.

 

As she stood there on the platform, watching the ever so familiar scene for the very last time, it felt like her heart was squeezed. Her bushy brown hair flowed gracefully in the breeze, framing her face that had never been so beautiful and troubled at the same time. The smoke filled the blue sky and the last glimpse of the red train dissipated as it made a turn. The last of Hogwarts Express. The last of Hogwarts. The last of those long, fun, adventurous, and dangerous years. They were now free at last, and this was a moment she’d longed to share with him. She had pictured this moment so many times - when she woke up and before she went to bed - and in her picture he would hold her hand gently, and smile to her and say this wasn’t goodbye. This was the start of their endless time together, when danger no longer looms and all was perfect.

It was still perfect; with just one thing missing.

He wasn’t there.

Three years ago was when it all started. The very famous Triwizard Tournament that had become such a big competition and created all kinds of excitement among the houses. It was such honorable event, one that she’d been waiting for practically her whole life. The time that she’d always dreamt about. The very time that ironically also ripped her heart in two.

Three champions emerged from three houses. And no one was surprised that it turned out to be the three of them; the undefeatable trio, as how they were called at that time. No one had ever seen such a bond made between three members of different houses. They were a legend.

An outstanding and smart Muggle-born from Ravenclaw.

An ordinary but loyal and hardworking pure-blood from Hufflepuff.

And a very brave and strong half-blood from Gryffindor; also known with many titles such as The Boy Who Lived.

She had been both excited and scared at the same time of the prospect of competing against her very own best friends. It made the whole thing even more complicated and harder to deal with. But they each performed great and showed that it was nothing but a healthy competition.

And when the time for Yule Ball came, he had asked her to be his escort. She had questioned this move but he simply said with a smile, “The champions are supposed to have a date. They never said they can’t date each other.” She couldn’t resist, of course. And the night was one of her most beautiful nights. He’d kissed her, and she’d given him her everything. He’d stolen her heart. It was completely his.

Until the final task begun. In the end of the maze, the three of them had emerged from different directions at the precise same time. The cup was right in front of them, glowing and ever so inviting to be touched and be declared as one of theirs. But none of them moved. Competing individually was one thing, but being face to face with one another and the only prize between them was another. They all hesitated and momentarily wondered what to do. Until with one understanding glance at each other, they finally touched it together too, like how they’d always shared everything else in their lives.

People say death is inevitable. Perhaps it was just his time. Or perhaps it was his eternal love for her. Perhaps that’s why when they arrived in the grave, he had jumped in front of her when the curse of death was aimed at her. With all her wit, knowledge, and great skills, there was nothing she could do at the very moment but felt her heart stopped and her eyes planted on his lifeless body. He had fallen straight to her arms, to her embrace. And she couldn't even shed a tear. He had sacrificed his soul for his love. She was saved, but he was gone forever.

The smiling face that she’d always loved now floated in her mind. His cute freckled face, his reddening face that turned as red as his hair whenever she kissed him. Sobs after sobs choked her as she stared at the emptiness of where the train had just been seconds before. An emptiness identical to the one in her heart. He was gone. She would never see that smiling face again.

She'd graduated with flying colors, the best on her year. But what did it mean without him by her side?

She and Harry had defeated the dark forces together, saving the whole wizarding world and were instantly famous for their impressive work. But what did it matter without him to share the joy?

Why did you have to save me? Why do you think I would ever want to live without you, you fool?

Kembali