Holding Back Tears

by Tiffiany Hargis

A/N- Ok, this is my first Harry Potter fanfiction. I've been reading them for a long time, but I never attempted to write any because J. K. Rowling already does such a wonderful job and how could I ever compare to what she does. But I'm bored. So I decided to give it a go. If its horrible feel free to tell me. I'm always up for constructive criticism.

Disclaimer- I secretly owned the real Hogwarts and visited the castle often to spy on my favorite student Ron Weasley, but with the economy down I had to sell the castle and there in lost my visiting rights to see Ron, but I know Hermione is taking good care of him. The owner of the castle now, J. K. Rowling, has the pleasure of seeing my Ron while I sit in Texas and dream of the days when I had everything I ever wanted; Blasted stock market.

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Hermione sat by the bed in Madam Pompfrey's hospital wing. She intently watched the face of the bed's occupant for any signs of movement to show that consciousness was coming anytime soon. In the end, she decided she was waiting in vain.

She removed her eyes from their routine of starting at his hairline of messy, thick black locks, pulled back from his lightning bolt shaped scar, to his glass-less closed eyes, to his partly closed mouth, to his still neck, to his rhythmed chest going up and down, up and down, to his motionless hands (one in both of hers and the other one at his opposite side), to his strait statue legs, and ending at his limp stagnant toes.

Harry Potter was unconscious and it didn't look as if he was going to awaken anytime soon.

When she finally came to this conclusion she had to hold back tears for about the millionth time that night. It was her's, their's (Ron and Harry), graduation night. It was supposed to be special, joyous, ceremonious, and a night to remember.

Well one things for sure, she'll remember this night, along with the rest of the wizarding world, far as long as she lived. This night was the night Lord Volermort was fatally defeated for the second and final time by the boy named Harry Potter.

She looked up at the wall holding many posters of wizarding medicine, body charts, paintings, and a single clock. It was midnight. It was hard to believe that only five hours ago the day had, at that time, been special, joyous, and ceremonious.

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"Can you believe we're going to be graduating in one hour?!" Ron said excitedly as he, Hermione, and Harry walked towards the lake from the front doors of Hogwarts. It was a humidly warm day and Hermione was glad that the ceremony was being held at 8:00 pm close to sunset.

"No, I can't. It seems so unreal." Harry answered Ron's question, and after a pause he continued, "We've been here so long. It's going to be hard to walk away." Ron and Hermione just nodded their agreement and kept walking.

As they approached the lake they saw the teachers and house-elves setting up the last of the preparations for the nights festivities. There were about 40 rows of chars with an isle cutting down the middle. The chairs were all facing the lake, and when they got closer, they noticed the view of the lake from the chairs would be hindered at the time of the ceremony by all of Hogwart's graduating students standing on the hovering ascending platforms.

The platforms were decorated in the four different house's banners and streamers were connected the audience's chairs. On closer inspection, each banner moved in appropriate ways of the animal on it.

The snake slithered around the name Slytherin, a badger kept digging up the two 'U's' in Huffelpuff, the Hawk kept soaring, diving, and gliding above the brand of Ravenclaw, and the lion prowled the outside of the Griffendor labeling.

All in all, the trio was extremely excited to be starting their ceremony that would lead them to their next phase in life.

"It looks very nice" Hermione said, "While we get our diplomas the sun will be setting behind the lake. It will be so beautiful." Hermione looked dreamily out at the lake.

"Yeah, you two will get the sunset. My last name starts with a 'W.' It'll be nightfall by the time I get my diploma." Ron said irritably.

Harry and Hermione chuckled, then the three grew quiet and solemn as they stared out at the lake.

Ron looked over at Harry and smiled at him. "We made it through all seven years, and we're still together; best friends." Ron than put a long arm around Harry's shoulder and patted him on the back, which Harry returned. Ron turned to his other side to join Hermione in on their bonding, but he saw that tears were in her eyes

"Hermione, are you alright?" Ron asked as he dropped his arm away from Harry.

She took a deep shaky breath then smiled. "I'm excited about graduating, but I'm so sad to go. This place is a second home. We grew up here together." She blinked back her tears though; she was determined not to cry. At least not until AFTER graduation.

"I know what you mean," said Ron still watching Hermione very closely. The light cast off by the sun on the water gleamed onto her silhouette and gave her an angelic glow.

"Hogwarts is my first and only home." replied Harry quietly to the ground. "This is going to be hard on us all, Hermione."

They all nodded together. They just stood there, watching the water, the squid lazily flapping in the water, watching the sun sink lower and lower, enjoying their last times together on the grounds.

They lost track of time in their comfortable silence. They only noticed how late it had gotten when Ron finally tore his eyes off Hermione, because she had almost caught him staring, and looked at his watch. "It's already 7:30!!! We better get back to the castle and change into our robes."

They hurriedly resurfaced from their oblivion, and walked quickly back to the castle.

When they reached the common room it was strangely deserted. When they paused at the stairs for a second so Hermione could go up first, Hermione gave Harry a hug and then a kiss on the cheek. She told him, "Thanks for always being there for me Harry. I know we'll see each other in a couple of minutes, but I wanted to let you know how much I value our friendship, and the time we've spent together at our home. We've been through so much together, good and bad. You're a great friend, one of the bravest people I know, and honorable. Thank you for your never-ending friendship" Harry smiled and hugged Hermione back.. Hermione's eyes again were full of unshed tears. After the embrace ended Harry said with a choked voice, "Thanks Hermione, thanks for putting up with me for the last seven years also. Your friendship has saved me many times; from evil or from myself. You are the most unselfish person I know. Thank you." and with that he walked upstairs to change.

Hermione turned to Ron who had his eyes adverted and his ears and face seemed to be a reddish-pink which she immediately knew as signs he was angry. Jealous was more like it. 'When will he ever learn?' She thought as she walked over to him and stood about an inch away from him.

At the sudden proximity Ron looked right into her eyes; vivid blue met creamy brown. They both felt their stomachs twist with the intensity of their gaze. They kept this up this non-tangible contact for a moment then Hermione flung her arms around his middle, and in an instant his arms were around her as well.

Their embrace was longer and more pregnant with emotion than the one between Hermione and Harry, but neither seemed to notice that their hug lasted longer than just a friendly hug. As Hermione pulled away slightly, still keeping her arms around him, her brown eyes found the sought blue again.

Then she spoke, "Ron, thanks for your unfailing loyalty. Although we fought often over the last seven years, you were the one I could always count on to protect me from no matter what. You've showed me that there is more to life than books.... You showed me that rules can be bent and even broken for the right reasons...... You've showed the truest and purest form of friendship but also the difficulty and patience that comes with it as well. Your humor has been a guiding light in this dark time, and you've proven to yourself and the rest of the world you're as smart as I have always known with the marks you've received this past year. And.... And you've always have compared yourself with Harry and how he's the hero and you're just the side kick. Well, I just wanted to know ever since our first year with the troll and the chess match that you've been a hero in my book. And out of all the books I have read it is the most important and true of them all."

Her voice was airy as she ended her speech. She couldn't believe she had just said that, but she felt it needed to be said. Their eye contact had never broke and because of it and his touch she felt her whole body tingling.

Ron stood there not breathing with his mouth hanging slightly open. Then Hermione finally broke eye contact, stood on her tip-toes, and kissed his cheek immensely close to his lips. Then she turned out of his grasp and walked up the stairs to her dorm.

Ron watched her every movement as she walked up the stairs totally speechless. He couldn't remember a time when he had been this happy or confused in his entire life. After a moment in his stunned silence he made his way slowly up the steps to the dorm with his cheek burning where Hermione's lips had been minutes before. He finally got to the door of his room with five minutes left to get ready for Graduation.

Another A/N - OK, I cannot STAND it when fanfics don't sound like the real characters. I know I cannot write the characterization that J. K. Rowling gives, but if this is just totally horrible, which I have a strong feeling it is because I have just now finished typing it at 3:15 in the morning, then please tell me. And please give specific places so I can fix them. Also due to lateness and tiredness I probably misspelled a lot of Harry Potter themed words. If I did please tell me and I'll try and fix them right away. There is going to be more if you enjoy it and its not EXTREMELY terrible. PLEASE CRITICIZE ME!!!!