Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
When The Full Moon Rises. Chapter 13 – When The Full Moon Rises.
Hermione felt Ron wrap his arms around her as she turned towards him, sobbing into his chest as he rubbed her back. Something crashed in the background, followed by an angry grunt by Harry. This couldn't have been happening. It wasn't even fathomable that the man who had guided them through Hogwarts, befriended them, and helped them out so many times could be dead. Tears stained Ron's shirt as he too allowed them to fall freely from his eyes.
Remus sat there with his jaw dropped; his long time friend was gone. He could feel his world tumbling apart. James, Lily, Sirius, and now Hagrid? He bit his lips as he imagined all their faces, so young and full of life. He hated this, it wasn't right and it wasn't fair! Hadn't he gone through enough? Hadn't losing all his friends along with Hermione enough? Why did fate hate him so? Why was fate so keen on destroying him? He watched as Hermione sobbed into Ron's shoulder much like she had when he was young. When they were in love.
He looked around the room, watching as Harry held tightly onto Ginny, her entire body shaking. Why couldn't that be him and Hermione? He shook his head. That was sick. He was old enough to be Hermione's father, not her lover. He felt tears stinging his eyes as he fled the room, everyone watching him as he left.
Hermione watched as Remus scampered out of the room, practically running up the stairs as tears blazed down his cheeks. It wasn't fair, she had loved Remus. Yet every day that passed she forgot more and more about the past, about the Marauders and her love for Remus. Everyday she grew closer to Ron, feeling a love of their own growing between them. Only their love wasn't as strong, wild, amazing, or as pure as the one she had felt for Remus. She buried her head into Ron's chest once more as he led her away from the kitchen, out into the garden where they could be alone.
"It's okay Hermione, everything will be fine." Ron said softly as he stroked her hair, kissing her forehead lovingly.
"How can he- How could we- Why weren't they- Oh Ron!" Hermione stammered as she clung to Ron tightly, the brisk night air stinging her cheeks. Ron placed his hand under her chin and forced her to look at him, a small smile on his face.
"I love you, Hermione." He said softly, pushed a few strands of hair away from her face.
"I love you too, Ron." Hermione whispered as she remembered all the times she had said that to Remus.
"Hermione…I want to talk about something with you." He said as he led her over to a bench, sitting down on it as she snuggled into him.
"Talk about what?" She asked as he wrapped his arm around her, looking her deeply in the eyes.
"The future." His voice had never been so serious. Hermione felt a shiver move down her spine as she looked up at him, what was he talking about?
"What about it?" She asked as a small smile crept onto his face.
"You love me, right?" He asked as she nodded. "Hermione…I want you to marry me." Hermione felt her whole world shut down, her heart began to hammer in her chest as she looked at him wide-eyed.
"Ron-" He placed his finger over her lips to stop her from talking.
"I want to be with you forever, Hermione. I know we're young, and I'm not talking about right now but…When we get out of school… will you marry me Hermione?" Hermione felt tears welling up in her eyes. What about Remus? What about everything they had been through? She pressed her eyes closed as she bit her lip, she loved Ron so much. The only problem was she loved Remus as well. Her mind began to throb painfully as she searched through her thoughts. What was she supposed to say? 'Oh sorry Ron, I love you but I love an old man more.' She opened her eyes slowly; she knew she'd be happy with Ron, and that it was more acceptable. She put on a small smile as she looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
"Y-yes Ron." She said as a huge smile spread across his face, causing him to reach in his pocket and pull out a small box.
"I got you this just in case you said yes." He said as he opened it, revealing a small diamond ring. Hermione gasped as he took hold of her left hand, placing it on her ring finger. It felt heavy, no matter how small it was. She felt guilty. Ron took hold of her face as he leaned down and kissed her passionately. He stood up after a few minutes, pulling Hermione up with him. They walked back into the house with their arms wrapped around one other, walking back into the still grief stricken kitchen.
"What are you so happy about?!" Harry spat at Ron, watching as all the people in the kitchen turned to look at them.
"Everyone…Hermione has agreed to marry me when we get out of school." Ron said proudly as the kitchen went silent. Mrs. Weasley sat there for a moment, stunned. Her jaw dropped open and her eyes widened.
"Sh-she did?" She asked as a smile erupted onto her face. "Oh Hermione!" Molly squealed as she rushed forward and threw her arms around the young girl. "I have always thought of you as a daughter, now you will be!" Ginny ran forward and hugged Hermione as well, tears still in her eyes.
"Oh Hermione, now we really will be sisters!" Ginny giggled as Harry walked forward and shook Ron's hand, hugging Hermione as well.
"I'm so happy for you two." Harry said as Remus walked back into the room, his eyes slightly bloodshot.
"What's going on?" Remus asked. At the sight of him, Hermione and Molly both looked at the floor, Harry and Ron took hold of Hermione as Ginny beamed at Remus.
"Hermione and Ron are getting married!" Remus' eyes bulged as he looked at Hermione, watching as her eyes briefly glanced up, caught his gaze, and then fell quickly to the floor. Never had he ever wished so much that Dumbledore had succeeded in wiping his memory. He felt anger bubbling inside him as he looked at Ron. Ron had waited for Hermione for a few months; he had been waiting for her for years! He forced back the feeling, reminding himself that if this was what Hermione wanted, then he wouldn't get in the way.
"Really? Wonderful!" He said with false joy as he shook Ron's hand, before abruptly turning and retreating once more to his room. He wanted to scream. He wanted to pull his hair out. He wanted to die. But all he did was walk over to his dresser, pulling out the same box of memories as before. He flipped it open, retrieving a small velvet box. He flicked it open, his heart dropping as he looked inside. It was impossible, it had to be! Inside of the box was a golden ring, a diamond surrounded with rubies sparkling back at him. That was it, that was the ring he had used in his seventh year to ask Hermione to marry him. He realized things had been forever turned, he had lost Hermione. Only this time, it was permanent.
Epilogue:
Hermione looked across the bloody battlefield, her heart and mind racing as spells were being thrown every which way. She jumped across a body as she flung an Avada Kedavra curse right into the chest of Draco Malfoy, watching as he silently fell to the ground. Ron was right behind her as they ran across the mud, yelling at her to keep moving. The Death Eaters were out numbered and falling quickly. Hermione looked around to see Harry and Voldemort were locked in an epic battle that had been prophesized so many centuries ago. "Hurry 'Mione!" Ron urged as she continued to run, trying to dodge spells as she threw them as well. She looked behind her, noticing Ron was fighting with a Death Eater.
"Ron!" She screamed as the Death Eater turned to her.
"Avada Kedavra!" it hissed as a green beam began to speed towards her.
"Hermione!" Ron yelled in a horrified voice as Hermione's muscles tightened, waiting for the impact that never came. She looked around confused, feeling something heavy against her. She looked down, seeing that someone had thrown themselves in front of the curse. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she knelt down. On no, Oh Merlin please no! She turned the body over, seeing Remus Lupins lifeless eyes staring right back at her.
"NO!" She yelled as she hugged him tight to her, her heart breaking into a million pieces. "No! Remus I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Please don't leave, please don't go! I love you I'll be with you please just don't go!" She begged as Ron raced beside her, pulling her off the ground.
"We have to go Hermione, Voldemort's dead!" Ron said with a twinkle in his eyes as Harry raced towards them.
"He's dead Ron!" Hermione screamed as she pointed towards Remus, her entire body shaking.
"Who is?" Harry asked as he looked towards Remus, his eyes widening in shock.
"Oh Merlin!" Both Ron and Harry shouted in unison. Ron hugged Hermione against him, tears wetting the top of her head as they rolled off his cheeks.
"We-we have to get out of here." Harry finally said as he pulled on Ron's sleeve, tugging them away.
"Remus." Hermione whispered as Ron kissed her temple. Hermione looked over her shoulder to where Remus lay. It was as if he was reaching for her, even though she knew eh would never again. "I love you." She whispered as she looked at Remus lifeless body.
"I love you too, Hermione." Ron muttered into her hair as they all walked away from the field. Hermione felt empty, as if something inside her died. She didn't both to correct Ron as the wolf that still barley existed in her let out a painful howl. He was gone, he was truly gone. Hermione hung her head as she imagined everything they had been through, everything that had happened.
"Dumbledore pulled me aside and told me," he said, tossing his hair back. "But… I can see it in your eyes,"
"Don't. You. Dare. Say. Anything. About. Her!" Remus barked; anger in his eyes. Sirius shivered, Remus had never lost his temper like this.
"REMUS! PUT HIM DOWN!"
"What?" Hermione asked a bit confused as to his actions.
"Every time I get even close to kissing you James runs in," Remus said. His eyes shifting around the room. He took her chin in his hands, glad the coast was clear. He moved closer to her, so their lips were barley apart.
"Hey guys!" A now extremely annoying voice said as it entered the room. This time, rather than pulling away, Remus continued kissing Hermione.
"Remus, why are you looking at me like that? No, Remus! Don't even think about it! NO! Remus put me down now!" Hermione giggled as Remus wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her into the air and spinning her around. "Remus! Stop it!" Hermione laughed as she watched the world spin around in a blur.
"I wish I was… Remus, I was bitten by a Werewolf on the night of August the 26th… of 2005," Hermione said slowly, as Remus' face was overcome with a look of horror. "You were my Defence Against the Dark Arts professor in my third year… we have always been close. You proposed to send me back in time so you could help me… but you never imagined… I'd fall in love with you,"
"I won't lie to you because your not children, their Headmaster, Igor Karkaroff, has just been arrested." He said still looking out the window..
"Why?" James asked, holding onto Lily's hand behind him.
"For…For being a Death Eater."
"Hermione listen to me, no matter what they do to me, no matter how many curses they put on me, I will never forget you, and I will never stop loving you! Do you hear me?!" He said forcefully as he shook her gently, his heart aching in grave pain.
"I know Remus, I love you too!"
"Don't forget me…"
All the memories burst into Hermione's mind at the same time as she fell to her knees, her face in her hands. Why had she been so stupid? Why had she pulled herself away from Remus? She screamed out as sobbed into her hands, her entire body rattling as she wrapped her arms around herself trying to hold her drifting pieces together. "No…" She choked out as she cried uncontrollably. Her mind was reeling with everything that had happened, every kiss, every touch, and every word. It wasn't fair, it wasn't right! Remus was dead, and she'd be the one left behind with the pain of knowing he wasn't there anymore.
She looked up into the sky, a full moon shining over head. She felt her entire body shaking as she glared at it. She hated it. She hated everything it stood for. Every time she looked at it she would remember him. Every time she thought of him it would hurt. Every time she hurt she would imagine what could have been, what should have been.
Every single time.
When the full moon rises.
AN/ Well guys it's been wonderful hearing all your reviews and whatnot. I can't believe it's finally the end, but rest assured I will continue writing. Take care now, keep safe and remember to stay indoors on a full moon. Haha.
-CherryCheeks91