Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or else I wouldn't be writing here.

Something was wrong.

She could feel deep within her that something was terribly wrong. There was this sensation of dread that had suddenly settled in her chest and refused to leave. As she sitted there next to the Weasleys, half-heartedly trying to comfort her possibly-more-than-friend while they all grieved for Fred's death, she knew that this wasn't good news.

She inmediately thought of Harry. She always felt this way when something bad was going to happen to him, and so far her sixth sense hadn't failed her. She remembered that he had left to watch Snape's memories in Dumbledore's office, alone. He was probably done with them by now, so why hadn't he returned yet? Unless…

No. He would never -he couldn't have. But maybe…

She allowed herself to think the unthinkable. He may have followed Voldemort's comand, and gone to meet him in the Forbidden Forest to try and defeat him once and for all. It was risky, impulsive, rash, suicide, it was… so like him. There was a high possibility that he had decided to follow his saving-people instincts –again- and was on his way to the trap, if not already there.

The girl stood up and was about to leave when a hand around her wrist stopped her. It was Ron, who was looking at her with confusion in his eyes. She had forgotten about him for a second.

-What are you doing?

-I'm sorry Ron, but I have to go

-Go where?

-To look for Harry

-Why? He's at Dumbledore's office, remember? And he made it quite clear that he wanted to be alone

-He's probably done by now

-Then he must be on his way here, we told him we would be here, so he could be entering through that door any moment now

-I don't think so– she bit her lower lip -I think… I think he has gone to see… you-know-who

-That's ridiculous!

-Still, I need to make sure he's fine and not heading to a possible death

-So you're just going to leave me here?- she just looked away- Hermione, he's fine! I need you right now, with me…

There was a long pause, the rest of the gingers hadn't listened to their conversation, or had just ignored them, they had other things to worry about anyway. Her silence seemed to last an eternity as she thought about the things he had just said, until she finally speaked. He wished she hadn't.

-He needs me more than you do

And with that, she turned around and left as quickly as she could, leaving an outraged Ron to dwell on her betrayal.

She arrived at the destroyed Entrance Hall just in time to see one of the big doors be opened by an invisible force. Apparently, he was under his invisibility cloack. She ran towards the door and when she was going to step out, she collided against an invisible form. She had been right, it was him. Her hand reached into thin air until she touched something soft, and then proceded to remove the cloth. Her best friend appeared in front of her eyes, visibly surprised that she had discovered him. As they gazed into each other's eyes, she knew she had been right, he was going to give himslef in.

-Don't do it, Harry- she said in a vain attempt to stop him

With a sigh, he said –I have to-

-No, you don't. We'll keep fighting, we can defeat him…- she couldn't let him give up that easily

-There's no other choice, 'Mione- he said in a defeated tone

-But, if you go there, he'll… he'll kill you- her voice was coated in fear

-That's exactly why I'm going- she looked at him in bewilderment –I must die- he sounded resigned –because I'm a horrocrux-

-What?!- her eyes bulged out from their sockets –No, no, no…it can't be, that's not p-possible- she was stuttering

-Hermione…

-NO! That's… not… that's not fair!- she threw herself into his arms and hugged him like there was no tomorrow, because there probably wouldn't be.

As they embraced each other, she could feel the tell-tale sting in her eyes that meant there would be soon tears in there. It was so unfair! Why was life so cruel to him? Why couldn't he just have the happy ending he so much deserved? She felt helpless, useless… incredibly mad at the universe. Angry tears started leaking from her eyes, so she just squeezed him harder, but he didn't complain.

He was hugging her back, holding her as if for dear life. She was the only thing stopping him from facing death, and he didn't want to let go. He wished they could stay like that forever, he didn't want to die. He had always been in danger, and there had always been a chance that he didn't make it through all his adventures, but he had managed to survive to everything life had thrown at him. He had always secretly had the hope that he would overcome this hell and have a future. However, all his hopes and expectations had been crushed by the cruel reality. He started crying, and buried his face in the curve of her neck to muffle his sniffs.

They didn't stay long like that, though they felt it had been ages. When they finally separated, their eyes met, and they communicated all the things they had felt while they were hugging. It was all so intense that they needed more contact, so they leaned in until their foreheads touched, their gazes never faltering.

-I have to go now

-I'll go with you then

-No

-I won't let you go without me

-They'll kill you if you go with me

-I'll die next to you then

-No. You have a whole life ahead of you, people who care

-You too

-But what about your future? You want to study, you want to work. What about your parents? What about Ron?

-My parents don't even remember me, and Ron will be able to cope with it. But me, I cannot live if you're not with me, I wouldn't be able to bear your loss.

-You would really die for me?

-Do you really need to ask? As if you didn't know me! What wouldn't I do for you?

What wouldn't she do for him? That was a question that had no answer, because she had always done anything, and she always would. She was even willing to die for him! He was overwhelmed by this, and he couldn't help but feel grateful, but there was something else there, something he had never felt before for anyone. Anyone but her, that is, but it was stronger now. His heart was beating faster, and he was captivated by her brown orbs. He instinctively leaned closer to her, and then it happened.

Their lips joined in a breathless kiss. It was full of emotions, the fear of death, anger because of the cruel fate, sadness that it would be their last moment together, but most of all love. A love that had always been there, but in a different way.

And he knew, he couldn't let her die. He loved her too much to doom her like that. So, when the kiss ended, he took advantage that her eyes were still closed to cast a spell on her. She suddenly felt exhausted, and let all her weight fall into him. He carefully managed to lay her down on the floor.

And just before sleep took over her, she heard him say "I love you".