Disclaimer: It belongs to J.K. Only the plot belongs to me!

Ron helped her onto the platform as Dean and Seamus helped pull their trunks. Hermione gave him a small smile. A shadow passed over them and both Gryffindors looked up and smiled.

"Well, Hagrid," Hermione said, tears forming in her eyes. "I can't believe this is it."

"Don't you worry, 'Ermione!" Hagrid said, pulling them both into a hug. "We'll see each other soon. You guy's take care of yerselves, ya hear!" Both seventh years nodded and with one final hug, headed towards the Hogwarts Express. Hermione stopped before boarding, staring back at the school across the lake.

I'll miss you, Hogwarts, she thought and boarded the train, following Ron to a compartment. Sitting down by the window, Hermione sighed. Memories flooded her mind as the train pulled out of the Hogsmeade station.

Hermione's lip trembled, and she suddenly dashed at Harry and threw her arms around him.

"Hermione!"

"Harry - you're a great wizard, you know."

"I'm not as good as you," said Harry, very embarrassed, as she let go of him. ... "You drink first," said Harry.

Hermione smiled at this memory. She had been absolutely terrified for his safety. Now she knew that she shouldn't have. He had shown more skill then than any wizard she had known at that age.

"Hey, Hermione," came Ron's voice. She turned from the window to see him at the door, Padma, Ginny and Dean with him.

"Yes, Ron?" she replied.

"We're going down the hall to another compartment, you know, because…" He trailed off. She smiled vaguely.

"It's ok, Ron," she said softly. "I understand. Go ahead. I'd like to be alone anyway." He gave her a comforting smile and closed the door. Sighing, she returned to the window.

"I've been really worried and if Harry is alright, will you please let me know at once."

She chuckled to herself. How many letters had she sent to Ron about where Harry was and how Harry was? How many letters had she sent to Harry that summer after their first year? She had missed Harry so much. And when she had found out about what had happened in the Chamber, she was ecstatic.

"We thought you'd died," said Alicia, who was shaking. Hermione made a small, squeaky noise. Her eyes were extremely bloodshot.

Here, Hermione laughed at herself. What reason did she have to think that Harry was dead? Yes, the fall had terrified her out of her wits, but she knew now that falling 60 feet in the air was not the worse that could happen to Harry.

He walked resolutely over to the portrait hole, pushed it open, climbed out of it, and found himself face-to-face with Hermione.

"Hello," she said, holding up a stack of toast, which she was carrying in a napkin.

How long had they walked again? It had seemed like hours. Just her and Harry, walking around the lake, Hermione listening as Harry talked about what had happened the night before.

"Harry, you were brilliant!" Hermione said squeakily. There were fingernail marks on her face where she'd been clutching it in fear. "You were amazing! You really were!"

Oh Lord, how she had freaked out when Harry had gone up against that dragon. Smiling, she remembered how much her face had hurt afterwards because of the marks.

"Did you- did you get -?" She spotted the badge in Harry's hand and let out a shriek. ...

"Ron's prefect, not me," Harry said.

"Ron?" said Hermione, her jaw dropping. "But...are you sure? I mean-"

She hated Ronald Weasley for that. How hard had she wished that Harry would become Prefect with her? She had been utterly devastated to hear that she would be with Ron instead of him.

"Ginny used to fancy Harry, but she gave up on him months ago. Not that she doesn't like you, of course," she added kindly to Harry while she examined a long black-and-gold quill.

She hated it when he brought up the subject of other girls, especially in their fifth year. He was becoming girl-crazy and she hated it that it wasn't over her. Of course, she had been quite glad to hear that Ginny was no longer going for Harry's affections.

"Did you kiss?" asked Hermione briskly.

How dare she touch her Harry! She had wanted to kill Cho, but instead settled for just talking to Harry about her. She hadn't known then that the kiss would lead eventually to a relationship between the two. She hadn't known then that she had feelings for Harry either.

"Oh I forgot to ask you," said Hermione brightly, glancing over at the Ravenclaw table, "what happened on your date with Cho? How come you were back so early?"

Well, at least they hadn't started dating seriously in their fifth year. Hermione laughed when she remembered what Harry told her about what had happened on his and Cho's catastrophic date. Served the girl right for thinking she could go on a date with guy who was absolutely clueless on girls' feelings. Then the memories started to turn into ones she rather just forget.

The curse threw Harry into the wall. He slid to the floor, gasping for breath as he held his bleeding side and chest. His wand was now in the hands of the enemy and so was his life. Hermione, who was still being held back by the two Death Eaters, started to scream.

"Harry!" she cried, struggling against the two wizards. "Harry, please! Get up! You can't just give up now! Harry, don't stop! You can't do this Harry! He'll kill you, Harry! HARRY!" Lucius laughed, pocketing Harry's wand.

"Poor Mister Potter," he drawled, advancing on Harry, who glared at him through pain-filled eyes. "What a way to die. But I won't do it just yet. No, I want you to watch your favorite Mudblood tortured and murdered right before your very eyes."

"Don't you touch her," Harry growled.

"Mister Potter, I don't think you're in any position to tell me what not to do with the Mudblood," Lucius sneered. "Let us see how much this affects you. Crucio!" Hermione screamed as the curse hit her body.

"Stop it!" Harry roared, watching helplessly as Hermione fell to the floor, unimaginable pain wracking her body. Lucius flicked his wand to the side, taking the curse off of the girl. She lay on the floor, gasping for breath. Lucius walked over and yanked her head back by her hair, causing pain to shoot into her eyes. He smiled, turning her to face Harry.

"Now, Mr. Potter, watch as the Mudblood dies in the most horrific way possible. Alacies Morgue!" Her screams caused the Death Eaters to back away, holding their hands over their ears. Harry couldn't take it anymore. Her screams of pains were driving knives into his heart and soul and it was killing him to see her on the ground, thrashing and dying.

"ACCIO WAND!" he bellowed, stretching out his hand from the terrible wound in his side. His wand zoomed out of Lucius' pocket and straight into Harry's hand. Clutching it tightly, he pointed it at the Death Eaters.

"ENETERUM!" he roared and the Death Eaters were blasted into the far wall, knocked unconscious. The screaming stopped and Harry looked over to where Hermione lay. She wasn't facing him and she wasn't moving.

"No, Hermione," he groaned, heaving himself up. "Please don't be dead! Don't leave me by myself, Hermione! Damn it Hermione, don't die!" He stumbled painfully over to where she lay. Dropping down beside her, he turned her over with one hand, using the other to stop his bleeding. Her eyes were closed and her chest wasn't moving. He leaned down, listening for a breath. None came. He reached out for a pulse on her wrist but none came. Tears started to form in his eyes as grief took him.

"No! Please don't do this! Hermione! HERMIONE!"

"Please lower your voice, Harry. Some of us have massive headaches." Harry stared down at Hermione. Her eyes flickered open and she smiled vaguely at him. "This sure does beat Professor Lupin's Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, doesn't it Harry?" He grinned and pulled her into a hug, which she returned whole-heartedly.

Hermione sighed. Well, she almost didn't want to remember this one.

"Hey, Hermione!" She smiled as Ron, Padma, Ginny and Dean entered the compartment.

"Hey, guys," she replied. They sat down, Ron next to Hermione.

"How are you?" he asked anxiously.

"I'm fine Ron," she assured him. "Just tired, that's all. It's been a long year."

"That it has," Dean muttered. "Eventful too." The others nodded and stayed silent for the remainder of the trip. They all noticed the tears that poured from Hermione's eyes as she continued to stare out the window.

"RON! HERMIONE! GINNY!" Mr. Weasley came rushing up to the students as they got off the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 ¾. Mrs. Weasley, along with Tonks, Mad-eye, Kingsley, Charlie, Bill, the twins, Percy, Angelina Johnson, and several Aurors, came rushing up to them, hugging them all. Mrs. Weasley studied Hermione closely.

"Are you ok, dear?" she asked. "You look quite thin." Hermione smiled at her and hugged her.

"Don't worry about me," she said softly. "I'll be fine." Ginny turned from her brothers and walked over to where Dean stood.

"You'll wait for me, won't you?" she asked him. "I still have one more year, but you'll wait for me, right?" He smiled.

"Don't worry," he told her. "Of course, I'll have to cancel all the strippers and tell my other girlfriends that they can't come over…" He ducked as she swatted at his head. She bit her lip, tears forming.

"I'll miss you, Dean," she murmured.

"I'll miss you, too Ginny," he muttered, leaning down and kissing her softly. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer as she began to cry. He pulled out of the kiss, wiping her eyes.

"Don't cry, Gin," he said. "I'll come over and spend some time at the Burrow this summer." He glanced up at the disapproving stares of her six older brothers. "Well, we'll work something out," he grumbled, looking back at her. She grinned through her tears and hugged him tightly, not wanting to let go.

Ron caught sight of raven hair and spun around to see Padma walking over to her friends. He tripped over his trunk, stumbled and ran, catching her arm. She whirled around, shock on her face but it was wiped away as his lips touched hers gently. He wrapped his arms around her waist as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Pulling apart, Padma touched his face, watching her finger trace out his jaw line.

"So it ends here, Mr. Weasley," she mumbled, not looking him in the eye. He smirked, tilting her head up and forcing her to look at him.

"No," he said. "Just a pit stop. It'll keep going again. Don't worry about it."

"I won't be seeing you," she whispered. He grinned mischievously.

"I have a feeling you will," he murmured. He kissed her once more and left. Padma, however, was looking into her pocket, where she swore something was dropped into it. Lifting it out, she stared at the little velvet box in her hand. Warily, she opened it and read the small card.

Marry me.

She stared at the words, reading them over and over and over again. She then moved the card and gasped. A slim platinum, diamond studded engagement ring was nestled deep in the velvet, sparkling magically. She looked up. Ron, who had been engaged in a conversation with the twins, glanced over. She looked back down at the ring and the note and smiled. She looked back up to him, shutting the box and slipping it into her robe pocket.

"It's only a pit stop!" she called over and laughed as he leapt into the air, fell back down onto his trunk, hit the floor, got up and ran over. He spun her around, pulled her close, and kissed her whole-heartedly.

Hermione walked over to Kingsley.

"Kingsley," she murmured. He looked at her and noticed the tears in her eyes.

"Yes, Hermione?" he asked.

"Can we go to the cemetery? I wanted to put this there for him." She held out a single rose.

"Are you sure?" he asked. She nodded. He gathered her stuff and they exited after Hermione said goodbye to the others. They got into Kingsley's car and drove off. The whole time, Hermione's mind wandered to what had happened only months ago.

Her eyes flickered open. Rubbing them, Hermione moaned and with some effort, pulled herself into a sitting position in the hospital bed. It was then that she noticed the people around her.

Professor McGonagall, Ginny, Dean, Padma, Parvati, the Weasley twins, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Tonks and Kingsley all stood around her.

"Where's Ron?" she asked automatically. Parvati moved from her spot and Hermione spotted the unconscious redhead in the bed next to her's.

"Where's Harry?" she asked next. The only answer came with the shuffling of feet and the uncomfortable silence that accompanied it. A tiny inkling of fear crept up Hermione's spine. "Where is Harry?" she asked again. No answer. "WHERE IS HE?" she screamed, getting out of the bed and walking around Ron's bed. The other one was empty. Something was breaking inside her but she wasn't sure what it was.

"Where's Harry?" she asked softly, turning back to face the silent group. Tonks moved forward.

"Hermione…" She didn't know how to say it. She sighed. "Harry didn't come back..." The same breaking sound increased. "We found his wand…" What was that? "Those lion things…" How come she couldn't see anything anymore? "It was dead…" Oh. Now she knew what it was. Her heart. And it had just disappeared, filled in by an empty abyss of nothing.

"NOOOOO!" she screamed, backing up into the wall and sliding to the ground. "He's not dead," she said to her self as tears, like a dam, burst from the inner workings of her now empty being. "He can't be dead! He's not DEAD!" Professor McGonagall ushered them all out, leaving the heart-broken girl to cry.

"We're here," Kingsley stated, stopping the car. Hermione climbed out, clutching the rose in one hand. Kingsley came around and stood in front of her.

"Do you want me to go in with you?" he asked. She shook her head.

"I want to do this alone," she murmured. He nodded his head, understanding.

"I'll wait here." He watched her as she opened the old gate, entering the once forgotten cemetery.

It had been found shortly after the return of Hermione and Ron to Hogwarts. Ministry Members searched the field behind Godric's Hollow and found the cemetery hidden there. There was already a road, though it was slightly overgrown. It was discovered that this was the resting place of Godric Gryffindor, Catherine Gryffindor, James Potter and Lily Potter, plus countless others who were decedents of the great Founder. It was decreed that a grave be placed there in honor of Harry James Potter.

Hermione walked around, the only person in the graveyard save one person who was in the very back, unidentifiable because of his hood. Hermione approached one of the graves and read the inscription.

Here lies Harry James Potter. Friend, companion, hero. We will remember him always. May he rest in peace.

Hermione placed the rose on the tombstone and stood, crying silently.

"A hero?" came the voice of the man.

"Yes," Hermione whispered. "A hero."

"Why's that?"

"He saved my life more than once." With that, Hermione walked away. She had almost gotten to the exit when someone grabbed her arm. She turned around to see the man holding out the same rose that had been placed on Harry's grave.

"Here," the man said. "I want you to have this."

"Have you lost your mind? That's for the grave! It's not meant to be moved!"

"I moved it because I wanted to."

"Well, put it back!"

"No, I don't think I will." Hermione pulled out her wand. The man laughed.

"What are you going to do, report me?" She faltered.

"What did you say?" Before she could get another word out, the man had pulled her into a passionate kiss. Pulling away, she looked up into the eyes of her Savior.

"Your dead."

"Only if you want me to be." She leaned up and kissed him, sealing their promise to each other.

Harry was here to stay.

A/n: HA! I fooled you all! I made most of you believe Harry was dead when, in real life, he was still alive! HAHAHAHA! Well, it's been a great run! I'm so thankful to my reviewers and readers who kept me going! Please check out my other stories and PLEASE CHECK MY BIO FOR THE BANNERS TO THE STORIES! Thanks to:

Hermionegranger2007: I read the second chappie, as you probably already know! It was great! Well, I hope this wasn't too sad! Now I have time for my other stories, but I don't think I'll be updating over the Christmas Vacation! I'll be in the states. THANKS!

Ice Witch101: I think I'll have those questions on how he's still alive in a forum I'll start sometime, but like I said, I won't be writing for a while. THANKS!

Mediatorgrrl: No, I don't mind. I am a 100 Christian! But not the up tight ones. I'm into rock just as much as the next person! And I love writing Harry Potter Fanfiction just as much as the next person! Ugh, please, don't say those kinds of couples here. It makes me puke! THANKS!

PreppyTigger23: I'm sure if you jumped off one, it wouldn't hurt nearly as much as this one does! (LOL JK!) THANKS!

LadyInu1126: Do you know that you are like the hundredth person to tell me that the last chappie was sad! I don't get it! What was so sad about it!