Chapter Text
“Ron! Fuck come on we just need to talk this through.”
“No Mione, I’m done with this fucking goose chase, we haven’t made any progess in months and I just, I just need some real food that isn’t some random mushrooms.”
“They’re not random, they’re the same ones I used to eat-”
“When you were vegetarian that one summer, we know you’ve told us only a thousand times. I’m sorry but I guess I was just never as strong as you two.”
All the fight seemed to leave Hermione’s body at the final comment, and she couldn’t do much but fall into Harry’s arms.
The crack of apparition outside the tent seemed to echo through the night, another nail being hammered into the steadily building coffin of a losing war
“Why would he just- how could he just leave like that?” she choked through the sobs.
“I don’t know love, maybe the horcrux was more cruel to him than it was to us”
“How? He hasn’t lost shit other than a house that should have fallen years ago.”
“Well whatever it is doesn’t matter anymore, come on we need to figure out the cup.”
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“Harry? Harry, where are you!”
She could feel her throat constricting at every word, but she continued to scream.
“Hermione? Oh thank god, come one we have to go, they finally caught up.”
“That we did, Potter.”
Harry and Hermione spun around and were met with multiple shocks. A face they hoped never to see again, and a face they never expected to see again.
90 Days Earlier
After Ron’s departure, they had immediately moved from their spot in the Forest of Dean. They had realized that nowhere in England was safe for them, instead choosing to fly to Iceland. For a band of terrorists that controlled the whole wizarding country, the death eaters were remarkably naive when it came to muggle transportation.
Iceland was a strange safe haven. It had been months since either of them had been able to walk around in public without the use of the cloak or polyjuice. Of course they still got the occasional attention, hard not to when you’re with the boy who lived but overall no one really bothered them.
The days melted together easily, research is simpler when you aren’t constantly moving from place to place. Harry would usually be the one outsourcing, looking for other ways to get a leg up while Hermione would stay in their tent, browsing all the books they were now able to access.
After a month or so, their research came to an uncomfortable stop. They knew where all the remaining horcruxes were, now they just needed to act on it.
It was a sunny Monday evening when Hermione had figured out that the last relic would have to be in Hogwarts, one of Tom’s safe havens in his youth. She left the tent, finding Harry laying near the sea, a rare look of true calm on his face.
Hearing her steps, he patted the blanket next to him, opening his arms for her to fall into. They had developed quite the relationship since Ron had left them. It was one of love, that was certain, but it also felt like more than just that, like there was a stronger force keeping them connected. It had Hermione worried at first, she was concerned that her free will was being overruled, that she didn’t have the option to choose anymore. But as the days passed, she found that she cared less and less if that was true. She loved Harry and vice versa, and in a time of war, she didn’t really need much else.
Harry kept his eyes on the waves and let out a deep sigh. “So you found it then.”
“Yes. It’s at Hogwarts, most likely in the room of requirement.”
She felt Harry nod, but he didn’t seem nearly as relieved as she thought he would be. Confused, she swung her leg over his, moving to sit in his lap as she took his head in her hands. “Tell me, what’s going on in that crazy little brain of yours, hm?”
Their eyes met, and Harry pulled her closer to where their foreheads were just touching. “Do we really owe them anything? What if we just stay here, live our lives out where he can’t touch us.”
“Oh Harry,” Hermione sighed, falling further into the embrace, “Do you really think that’s an option?”
“Why does it have to be us Hermione? Why are we the ones who have to take him down? I’m sure there are stronger people out there who could easily kill him, so why does it fall on us?”
It wasn’t clear which one started crying first, but neither seemed to care about the pool beginning to form on Harry’s jumper. “All I ever wanted was a world that would accept me, and what do I get in return? A homicidal maniac that I, a child, has been given the responsibility to take down. It’s so unfair, so fucking unfair.”
As Hermione opened her mouth to respond, loud cracks sounded all around them as they were shrouded in smoke.
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“That we did, Potter.”
“Ron? What the fuck!”
There, stood in the rapidly clearing smoke, next to the man that started this whole war, stood their… friend?
“Here they are My Lord,” Ron said, his eyes not meeting either of the members of their former trio.
“Yes, very good Weasley, it seems you weren’t as useless as Lucius would have hoped,” Voldemort’s eyes stayed locked onto Harry, seemingly waiting for any sudden movements.
“Does… does this mean my family will be safe?”
Voldemort finally looked away, staring down the redhead. “I will decide when our deal is complete, you will know better than to speak to me like that. Crucio!”
Ron’s body hit the ground immediately, his screams silent against the power of the Elder Wand. After a few seconds, Voldemort’s eyes went back to Harry and Hermione, “No words for your friend here? I had hope that you would want to put up at least some of a fight.”
“If these are the actions of a friend, then I’d rather be his enemy,” Harry retorted, his arm pulling Hermione impossibly closer.
“Ah well, he served his purpose so I guess it doesn't matter either way. Now bow Harry Potter, we are going to end this once and for all.”
Before Harry could move, Hermione stepped forward, “If this is the end, do you mind if I could say a few words to him? I just never expected things to end so soon.” She was not the best actress, that she knew, but fake tears were an easy enough thing to conjure up wandless.
Seemingly sick of the act, The Dark Lord just waved a hand at her. “Ah, young love, what a useless endeavor. But I am not a heartless man, I give you a minute, any longer and I shall start dueling whether you are finished or not.”
Hermione knew what she had to do, a last resort that she never wanted to use due to its unpredictability, but at this point it seemed like the only option left. She leaned up to his ear and whispered, “Just go along with it.”
Harry seemed visibly confused, but Hermione ignored it and fished through her beaded bag until she found what she wanted. To the shock of everyone around, Hermione dropped to one knee, holding out what seemed to be a normal ring. “Harry Potter, these last months on the run have shown me that I want nothing more than to spend the rest of our lives together. Will you marry me?”
Harry, still in shock, simply nodded and held out his hand. As soon as the ring hit Harry’s finger though, Voldemort seemed to see what was really on top of the ring and sent a silent curse soaring toward the couple.
All sound seemed to drown out around Hermione as she looked the boy she had come to love in the eyes. “Do you trust me?” she asked, fingers still holding the ring. Harry cracked a small smile, “Always.”
Hermione spun the glass on the ring, only to feel it shatter under her touch. Suddenly, all she could sense was that every so familiar feeling of being pulled through time, Harry’s hand still warm in hers, until it wasn’t.
When she was finally able to open her eyes again, the light was blinding. Just as she was adjusting to her surroundings, she heard the same voice that had defined her life 7 years earlier.
“Gryffindor!”