Chapter Text
Hermione ran through the corridor of Hogwarts, dust and ash permeating through the air. She ran past the rubble shooting spells behind her as she ran from a Death Eater. Her left arm ached still from her time under the wand and knife at Malfoy Manor, it seemed to sense Death Eaters as it would release a sharp pain each time she was close. She just needed to find Harry and Ron again, she had left Harry when she went with Ron to the Chamber, but was separated from Ron after he tried to kiss her, something she had most certainly stopped. She had once cared for Ron, but he had abandoned them and then he spoke Voldemort's name, to seem braver than Harry which led to her torture.
Hermione knows she could have let them take Harry, they chose him first after all to question, but she had screamed that she was a mudblood, she would take his place. She would always take Harry's place, he had to live and she was expendable. He adamantly refused that fact, screamed and yelled at her at Shell's cottage for offering herself in his place, but she couldn't and wouldn't regret it. Harry was her brother in all but blood, her baby brother, she would always protect him.
Hermione spotted red hair ahead, looking closer she saw it was Fred and Percy, and she even saw Harry and Ron further off in the corridor. She called out for them, catching all of their eyes, smiles appearing on all of their faces.
She didn't have time to react, she saw their eyes widen as the wall began to crack. Hermione ran forward and pushed Fred out of the wall's path but she was not fast enough to avoid the wall herself.
"No, no, no, no! Ron, help me!" screamed Harry, his hands shaking as he pulled rocks away from his best friend. Fred was being helped up by Percy before both jumped in to help Harry. Ron stood to the side in shock, staring down at the place where the girl he loved was just moments ago. He had tried to kiss her but she pushed him away saying she couldn't, he knew she was still hurt for how he had acted during this past year, but he was planning on proving to her that he would do anything for her, anything to just give him a chance. And now she was gone.
Harry sobbed, his heart breaking for his sister that sacrificed herself again, he couldn't lose her. Not Hermione. She was always there. He pulled at the rocks, forgetting his wand, needing to feel the pain in his hands from lifting the rough stone. He finally saw her hair, her curls splayed out on the stone floor. He pushed himself with a renewed vigor, he had to get her out.
Finally, Fred and Percy had helped enough to open enough space to pull her out. They grabbed her wrists and gently dragged her out, making sure her legs were not stuck. Harry pulled her into his arms, pushing her hair back off her face so he could take her in. Her face was covered in soot and blood, her hair was caked in blood, her left leg was positioned at an unnatural angle, her wand was in her hand snapped in two.
"Hermione, please, please say something," Harry cried, rocking his body back and forth, cradling his best friend, "Please don't leave me."
His body shook as sobs racked through him. He thought he would die, but he never thought he would lose Hermione. She had been there through everything, right until he faced Quirrell, if she could have come through he was sure she would have been by his side. Even while petrified she had given him hope, third year she had protected him even when he didn't appreciate her and got mad over a stupid broom. Fourth year she was the only one by his side, with him against the whole school and two visiting schools, fifth year she came with him to the Department of Mysteries and took a curse even though she had insisted it was a trap, even when he stalked Malfoy and Snape she had stood by him and promised to help him figure out what they were up to. Just a few weeks ago she had taken torture for him, they had believed he was a worthless half-blood and she had offered herself up as a 'mudblood' to protect him. She could have died and she knew it. And now she was dea- no Harry couldn't finish that thought.
"Harry, I have a pulse!" called out Fred, "It's weak, but it's there!"
Harry jumped up with Hermione in his arms, he secured her and took off running to the Great Hall, where he knew Madame Pomfrey would insist she treat the injured. The battle was still raging around him but Harry didn't care. Fred followed behind him, covering his back from Death Eaters and the array of spellwork flying around the castle. Percy stayed behind to snap Ron back to reality but Harry didn't care, Ron didn't deserve Hermione, she was everything and deserved the very best, no one was good enough for her in Harry's eyes.
He finally made it to the Great Hall, he placed Hermione down in the corner and guarded her as he searched for anyone who could help. It was only a few heartbeats later that Voldemort's voice rang out, offering a cease fire for one hour, one hour until Harry had to give himself up or witness more death of his friends and classmates. Right now none of that mattered, what mattered was making sure Hermione lived past this.
Ginny came running into the Great Hall and dashed into Harry's arms, happy that he was still alive. Harry held her tight, seeking any form of comfort for the heartbreak he was feeling. He felt Ginny stiffen in his arms and gasp as she took in the site before her.
"Harry, is that Herm-" she tried to ask but Harry cut her off.
"Yes, I need Pomfrey now! I can't lose her, Gin, she's my sister, my family," Harry's voice broke as he tried to explain. He had been through too much, this was more than he could handle.
The rest of the Weasley's soon joined them, Mrs Weasley breaking down into sobs when she saw Hermione. Harry ignored them all as he tracked down the mediwitch.
Madame Pomfrey returned with him swiftly and began working on his best friend. Ron had walked in slowly with his family but hung back, not able to get too close or even look at the girl on the floor. It felt like hours but in reality, was only a few minutes before Madame Pomfrey stood up and turned to them with a sorrowful expression.
"No! Fix her!" screamed Harry. The Weasley's hearts broke for the Boy-Who-Lived, they had loved Hermione like family, but Harry had formed a stronger bond with her than they could possibly know.
"I'm sorry Mr. Potter, but she has suffered too greatly, her lungs have been crushed and the bones are shattered. I was able to reinflate them, however the underlying problem cannot be fixed, no amount of Skele-Gro will correct this problem. Her lungs will collapse again shortly, I have given you time to say good-bye," the elderly witch spoke, tears lining her cheeks.
Harry collapsed on the floor and crawled to Hermione, sobs breaking through his chest. People around the Hall turned to see the Boy-Who-Lived, the Chosen One, break down at the loss of his best friend. They all stood and dropped their heads low offer their condolences to the scene before them.
"Please Hermione, don't leave me, you were supposed to be here always," he said so quietly, pleading like a small child.
"Har-ree" Hermione breathed out.
"Hermione, yes, it's Harry," he sobbed grabbing her hands in his. He brought her fingers up to his lips and kissed them sweetly.
"Pro-iss," she grunted, Harry had to drop his head down to her so he could hear her, "live"
"I can't promise that, Hermione, I can't live without you!"
"Can," she huffed, "Love you." Hermione spoke with her last breath, no more air entering her lungs, her hand dropping from Harry's.
Harry just stared down at her body as if he was lost, he looked so small and vulnerable. The silence permeated the room, only broken by the small sniffle from Ginny and Mrs Weasley.
The silence filled the room, it was suffocating and sorrowful. Mrs Weasley stepped forward to reach out for Harry but Mr Weasley prevented her. Harry looked down at Hermione again, and the tears welled up in his eyes once more. A heart wrenching scream broke free, a sound that would forever haunt every single person that heard it. Even if they survived, witnessed numerous deaths, Harry's sob would be known as one of the most disturbing moments they experienced.
The Death Eaters outside the castle had even looked back in concern of the sound. That sound told them of a battle ahead that would have someone fighting that had nothing left to lose.
For nearly the entire hour of ceasefire Harry was by Hermione's side sobbing, clawing at her clothes, begging for her to come back to him. Ron had finally let the loss hit him; he had collapsed on the floor staring in a catatonic state.
Remus watched his best friend's son experience loss, a reaction he expected was similar to Sirius when he found James. He wished he could have protected Harry from experiencing this pain, but unfortunately death was a very real possibility for everyone in this room.
Voldemort called for the end of the battle, called for Harry one more time. Remus originally had not feared Harry giving himself up but now with Hermione's death it was a lot more likely for him to do such a sacrificial act. He watched Harry pull himself together, wipe his face, kiss Hermione's forehead, stand up, and walk out the Great Hall with determination. Remus started to chase after him, however Harry must have expected resistance as he flicked his wand and closed the doors to the Great Hall and magically locked them.
Remus pounded against the door, yelling for Harry to let them all out, let them help. He blasted his wand at the door with numerous other wands assisting him, but to no avail. He had used a lot of power behind his spell, power linked to his emotional state.
After trying numerous spells and even trying to blast the wall beside the door, it finally gave way. Unfortunately, before they could even step out of the Great Hall, Voldemort's voice rang through the castle once more.
"Harry Potter is dead."
-oOo-
Hermione felt weightless, she felt no more pain in her arm or her chest, it didn't hurt to breath anymore, she actually felt nothing at all. She also couldn't see; it was like a black abyss around her. Did she even have a body? She tried to remember what she was doing, she remembered flashes and pain, she remembered seeing Fred and Percy, running at them full speed.
Oh yeah, the wall. She had been crushed by a wall. Harry had carried her, she remembered being surrounded in his comforting scent. He had tried to fix her, tried to say he couldn't do it without her. She wanted to laugh, he could do anything he put his mind to, she had just been by his side to remind him of that. She didn't do anything really.
She would always help him, if she could have taken his place, to relieve him of a burden, she would do it happily.
If only she could have saved him from the fate of the Chosen One, she would have done so in a heartbeat.
"Would you?" asked an ethereal voice.
"Would I what?" she answered.
"Would you take the place of the Chosen One if you could?"
"Absolutely, Harry didn't deserve any of that, especially an orphan raised by the Dursley's. I would always protect him," Hermione spoke honestly.
"You would forfeit your own life?" it asked curiously.
"I already have," snarked Hermione, "I have always put him first."
"As you wish."
Suddenly, Hermione could sense her body again and the blackness surrounding her began to brighten, it brightened until she had to close her eyes to protect her eyes from the light. She felt her mind going blank, she tried to latch onto her memories of Harry but she felt them disappear like sand through a sieve.
"No!" she screamed; she couldn't lose her memories of Harry. He was what kept her going.
When the last memory empty from her mind, her screaming stopped but she continued to scrunch her eyes from the never-ending light.
The light began to dim and something stepped in between her and the light. She opened her eyes and looked up into the brown eyes of a beautiful brunette woman above her.
"Hello, Hermione McCallister, welcome to the world," the woman spoke sweetly, "You gave us quite a scare there, baby, but I'm so glad you are our little miracle."
"Congratulations Mr and Mrs McCallister, it is a healthy baby girl. Her time of birth is September nineteenth 1961."