They Couldn't Save Her

It's impossible to think properly. The cellar is dark, damp. Her screams resonate off the walls. They remind him of the sounds he had heard whenever the dementors got too near. They remind him of his mother. He feels about as useless now as he did then. He couldn't protect her; he couldn't save her.

Ron is yelling too, as though Hermione's pained shrieks are causing him physical injury. He looks lost, running around the cellar like a child who had just been severely punished. Locked in his bedroom, and trying to break his way out. But he knew in his heart it was no use. There was no way out, there was no getting his favorite toy back. His Hermione had been taken from him for good.

Harry had -of course- realized this too. He had yelled at a chipped fragment of mirror for help; he had reached his new low. He couldn't get them out of this one. He was finally dead, he had finally killed his best friends.

And Hermione. His poor Hermione. She didn't deserve for her last moments to be in pain, in agony, in fear. It occurred to him that he would come quietly, walk straight to Voldemort without resistance if he could just hold her as she died. To make sure she felt safe, secure, peaceful. He'd take the Cruciatus Curse a thousand times just so she wouldn't have to take it again. He'd protect her with all his strength, even if she were an inch from death. He would promise her he'd see her in a few moments time...

She'd die in his arms.

But no. It was likely she'd be given to Greyback. They'd make sure she was Crucio-ed within an inch of her life, just so she'd be able to feel the pain of being ripped apart. Harry cringed. By their standards, not even her lifeless body deserved any respect; to them, she was worthless. To them, his brilliant, brave, amazing Hermione was worth about as much a piece of meat.

And Ron. What would they do with him? Would they kill him for being found with Harry, or would they keep him as they kept Luna? Would the Weasleys be forced to join the Death Eaters just to keep their son alive? He pictured the Dark Mark, imbedded on Ginny's forearm, and almost vomited.

Harry looked over at Ron, who was still banging full strength on the wall. If he was indeed saved by his purity of blood, could he live without Hermione? It was her that had brought him back; it was her who was his source of strength. She was the one who kept him fighting to get out of here, even though his mind must be screaming that there's no use.

Harry knew that Ron must feel like a failure. Harry, in truth, felt like one too. Hermione was the one who is simply not allowed to get hurt. Forever ago, the day the Basilisk had petrified her, the moment that McGonagall had brought them to her bedside, they had stared down at the horrified expression that permanently graced her face, and then back at each other. Staring into one another's eyes, they made a silent promise that this could never happen again.

But she was screaming just a floor above them, and they could not save her.

Author's note: Since the book doesn't really give us a clear description of what Harry's thinking during this horrific part of the story (other than his primal instincts for getting out of there) I thought I'd give an idea. Thanks for reading! Review please!