After the Tragedy.

[Hermione Granger]

Hermione had returned the Hogwarts last night, it had been late and she had said nothing since earlier that day when horror had struck her life. She had been escorted to the Gryffindor dormitories, where once she was filled with joy and excitement, but now she was completely numb, nothing made sense and the common room, where she had spent so much time with her dear friends seemed cold and desolate to her. She walked very slowly up the stairs to the sixth year girls’ dorm rooms, Madam Pomfrey had been her escort and she saw her safely to bed, she wished her a good night’s rest and told her she would check in on her in the morning. Hermione had crawled into bed, she didn’t even bother to change into her pyjamas, everyone else was asleep and no one heard as it began. It started slowly, a low sniffle but it grew until Hermione lay curled up like a baby in the womb sobbing uncontrollably, and that was her lullaby to sleep.

Hermione woke the next morning at ten, she did not feel like going to classes and she was luck, she did not have to, Professor Dumbledore had thought it best to let her recover from the shock of her loss. She sat up in bed, Crookshanks crawled up beside her and looked at her, she did not even look back, she just sat there, barely blinking. After several minutes, as the memory and realisation that yesterday had not been a dream, she curled up and returned to sleep, but it did not last long. Hermione relived the events of day before, she saw Brian happy and smiling with her, then she remembered the wand and being shoved aside, and then she remembered the dark figure as he cast the spell that took Brian’s life, and took him away from her, he had died to save her, they had come for her, there was no doubt in her mind and Brian was dead because of it. Hermione woke in tears, she could not bear to stay inside any longer, she went down to the showers and stood for forty-five minutes under the cold running water, afterwards she put on her robes and made her way outside.

Hermione did not wish to see anyone, no one could change what had happened, she passed a few people in the halls, they looked at her, everyone knew what had happened, everyone knew that Brian was dead as well as three others. Hermione did not even look at them she was walked directly to the door, but as more people stared, her walk became a run and she burst out of the front door as someone was entering, she did not even apologise for almost knocking them over. Hermione stood outside the door she stared up at the sky, the birds were flying overhead, the day should have been perfectly lovely to her, sunny and warm, not a cloud to be seen, but it wasn’t, it meant nothing to her. Hermione knew of only one place she could hide, the greenhouses, everyone hated them, and she made her way over.

Hermione entered the greenhouse, just a few weeks before she and Brian had had breakfast there, at her suggestion and now he was gone, forever. Hermione pressed her back against the wall and slid down until she collapsed on the floor in a heap, she balled openly, not caring who heard her, knowing no one probably would.

[Harry Potter]

Harry sat in the Great Hall eating breakfast. Behind him he over heard Professor McGonagall, and Madam Pomfrey conversation. "When she returned I brought her straight to her room." Madam Pomfrey said. "Since she was in Manchester, I really dont know why he wanted to hurt her there. To many muggles." McGonagall said as they both moved into the hallway out of hearing range. Harry sat uneasy as he thought, 'Where did I hear Manchester?' Harry's eyes wandered the room for nearly a second as he thought, 'Hermione!' His face, full of anxiousness, didnt move from the doorway going into the hallway. 'Hermione was with Brian this weekend. He lives in Manchester!' Many thoughts ran through his head. Harry quickly jumped up from his seat and with his cloak bottom soaring behind him, he walked into the hallway and turned to walk up the closest stair case. Worring what happened to Hermione, his eyes caught a red headed girl walk across the marble floor behind him. On the stairs he turned around and saw it was Hermione. He noticed a miserable look on her face as she bursted out of the oak doors. Running quickly down the stairs, moments earlier he ran up, he went after her.

He pushed open the doors as he saw her ahead of him walking toward the greenhouses. 'Greenhouses? She doesnt have Herbology now.' He thought in his head as he stood on the stairs watching her. Harry shook his head as he quickly ran down the stone stairs and followed her across the lawn.

Reaching the Greenhouses, Harry took a deep breath as he opened the door. Walking silently into the room he noticed Hermione up against the wall, crying her heart out. Harry stood speechless for a few seconds as he slowly made his way toward Hermione. Knowing that she went though something, but not entirely sure what, he knew that she needed a friend. Harry walked next to her as he sat down next to her. With out words he just leaned over and gave her a hug. "Hermione." he said carefully, makeing sure she knew it was him, he went on. "Whats wrong? Did something happen to you?" he paused and looked at her. Her face soaked in tears. He added, "I overheard something from McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey." With a sympathetic look in his eyes he looked at Hermione, a waiting anytype of answer. He had so many things to ask, but he decided it was better to keep it short right now. He wasnt exactly sure what he should do. She was usually there for him when he needed her, now the tables turned and he wasnt sure what to do.

[Hermione Granger]

Hermione was crying bitterly when she heard a familiar voice call her name, it was Harry, she had not wished to see anyone now, but if she had to she was glad it was Harry. He hugged her and Hermione hugged back, her tears still running down her face, “Oh Harry,” she said in between sobs. He asked her what had happened to her and what was wrong, she pulled back from Harry, “What’s wrong? You don’t know do you?” she said while stile trying to stop her tears. Hermione walked a little way further into the greenhouse, “It was awful, Harry, just awful. You know I was spending the weekend with…” she could not make herself say Brian’s name, “You know I was away this weekend, at least I was supposed to be for the entire weekend. We arrived in Manchester on Saturday, had dinner, his family was so nice, and then we were going to a movie. We went to a mall to see the Last Samurai; it was my idea to see that movie. We got there early, so we wanted to do something until the movie started so we went into a sports store, I was looking for something for my dad, he went in another direction. When I found what I was looking for I went to find him and that is when it happened.”<br>
Hermione turned to face Harry again and her words came like a flood gate being opened, fast and rushed, “I didn’t even have time to think, it was so fast, and then he was pushing me out of the way, telling me to run, I couldn’t leave him there, I couldn’t. Then the look on his face as he flew back and hit things behind him, it was horrible, and he didn’t move after that, he didn’t move.” Hermione was in a fresh stream of tears, “Brian’s dead!!” she burst out, “He’s dead!” she ran to Harry and hugged him, she was now crying uncontrollably. Hermione spoke into Harry’s shoulder, “He came for me, a Death Eater, he came for me, and killed Brian and three others, they are all dead because of me!! Even a little girl, he killed a little girl.” Hermione had never felt so terrible in all her life, the guilt she felt over Brian’s and the others’ deaths was enormous, she felt worse for the fact that the Sullivans’ had opened their home to her, and she was the cause of their son’s death.

Hermione finally looked up at Harry, her tear filled eyes looked into his, “Voldemort sent him Harry, I know it. He wanted to kill me, and he’ll try again, since he failed this time. I wish he would come, I would know what spells to hold for him,” an anger was in Hermione’s eyes, though they were still filled with tears.

[Harry Potter]

When Hermione pulled away from Harry's hug, he sat there listening to her talk about what happened. "No I dont know." He answered confused, looking at her sympathetically. She went on about how he was killed. Millions of thoughts ran through Harry's head as it ended on Brian's name. His asumption of Brian and Hermione was true. He listened intensly as she went on. Harry stood up silently as he listened Unspeaking. A feeling of anger, and heatbreak filled him. He understood fully well how it feels to loose some you love. It happened to him more than once, and everyday he has re-occuring feelings from it.

Harry held Hermione as she started to cry on his shoulder. He rubbed her back to try to calm her down. He knew it wouldnt help much to her, but he didnt like seeing her so morose. Their hug ended as Harry pulled away from Hermione after her words about Voldemort. "Hermione, He wont hurt you. Dont let him get to you. Stay here in Hogwarts and you'll be fine. Dumbledore wouldnt let anything happen to you here." he said as he looked supportively to her. Another tear rolled down Hermione's face as Harry looked sad. He paused as he went on. "Hermione, I promise you, I wont let it happen! He wont Kill you!" he said as he wished that Dumbledore would get someone, anyone to look for Voldemort and Kill him. A man like him shouldnt go on. Harry could stand his problems with him, his parents and Sirus, but if he is starting to go after his friends. Harry shook is head as his thoughts went through his mind. He wouldnt let that happen.

[Hermione Granger]

Hermione looked at Harry, she closed her eyes as he told her not to let Voldemort get to her, how could he say that? She could not pretend that she had not been affected by what had happened, she would not admit it, but at that moment she would have done the killing curse herself, and taken the life of Brian’s killer, so much was her rage and pain. “Harry, he won’t stop, he doesn’t really want me, I know that. He wants to get to you Harry, and he will hurt anyone to get to you. You are the only one who can defeat him Harry and he won’t allow that to happen, not easily. The coward, the horrible coward, I wish he would show himself, and then the order and everyone else would get him and make him pay, make him pay for every pain he has ever caused.” Hermione looked away, she had so many terrible things going through her mind, finally she spun around to face Harry.

“What if he goes after others Harry? They can’t hide here. Harry, Dumbledore doesn’t want us, you, Ron or myself leaving the school grounds, I heard him tell McGonagall. He is not only worried about me, but for you two as well, and I agree. My parents are by now aware of what has happened and I expect an owl from them soon, but I can’t face it Harry, I just can’t. I know you understand how I feel Harry, but you can’t completely, I was the cause of death of people who didn’t even know me, they were just in the wrong place, and the other was just trying to help. I watched them die Harry. I watched them die. I held…I held is body in my arms Harry, I touched is face, it was so cold, so pale. He protected me Harry, I should be dead, I didn’t see him come in, I was backing he would have gotten me for sure, but Br…pushed me out of the way. He lost his life to save mine. I wish he hadn’t,” Hermione’s voice was rising, “I wish he hadn’t!!”

Hermione looked up through the glass roof of the greenhouse, “ I want you to die!!! I want you to die Voldemort you scum!!!! I hope you die a painful death!!” Hermione wrapped her arms around herself as the tears of anger rolled down her face.

[Harry Potter]

Harry walked over to the first desk in the musky room. He pulled out the chair and sat down, while listening to Hermione. "Hermione, As he failed in going after you, he wont hurt you again. He will most likely try someone else. Ron even! But I wont let him get to you guys. After the Army and what happened last year, You Both know very well how to fight against him." He didnt look away from her as he talked about last years events, he went on. "I Know, I Know. He is going after me, But I wont let you two go after him. I wont let you! Its Too Risky, Hermione! After My mom, My Dad, Then Sirus, Im Not going to loose you or Ron. I Wont let it happen." He said sternly as he kept going. "Hermione If he wants me, I will be waiting for him. But Nor you or Ron should be there with me. He will hurt you both at any chance he can get. Just to hurt me even more." He stopped as he exhaled and sat up in his chair and looked right at Hermione not to far away. "I cant deal with you Or Ron being gone. Its Hard enough with Sirus, but if you two were killed by him, I dont know what I would do. I seriously dont Know." He finished as he held his hand in a fist on the table in front of him.

Harry stood up. He couldnt sit down. He understood the feelings Hermione was going throught, but didnt know how to change her mind. She couldnt fight Voldemort. She has full knowledge of how to, but Harry wasnt up to loosing one of his best friends. Harry paiced in a line as he started again. "I know, McGonagall came up to me and Ron in the Common Room. No Hogsmeade or anything." He stopped as he listened to Hermione. She went on about Brian, and how he went in front of her as the Killing curse was said from the Death Eater. Harry didnt know what to do. "Hermione, I know its hard. But he did, he did save your life but he sacrificed his." Harry gave her a sympathetic look. He didnt know what to say, or do. All he knew was to Listen, but that was hard enough.

Hermione broke down again. Hary walked to her and gave her another hug. "Hermione, many people wish the same thing. Ive been wishing that for the longest time myself." Harry stopped as he pulled away from her and went to the wall. He slid down the wall as he sat, Listening to Hermione cry. He didnt want her to feel so bad. He just wanted Volemort to Die. That would make many people's lives better to live, if he did.

[Hermione Granger]

Hermione turned to face Harry, “We can’t let him Harry, we can’t let him do this again, not to Ron or anyone.” Hermione knew that this was going to be very difficult on Harry, but there was no escaping it, “Harry you are not going to face Voldemort alone! I want to see him when he falls, I want to be there Harry and you won’t deprive me of that. I deserve that! Ron and I will be there to watch your back, we all know that Voldemort doesn’t play fair, in that way we will be able to help you out if he tries anything underhanded. Harry is has brought pain to us all including Ron. I may have been out of it at the time, but I know he hurt Ron when there was all that with Ginny and Voldemort’s dumb diary. None of us want him to live Harry, he doesn’t deserve it.”

Hermione looked at Harry thoughtfully, “What would happen to all of us Harry if something happened to you? Did you ever consider that? You are the only one who can defeat Voldemort, we all know it, but if you do it alone there is the chance you might fail and then everything we hold dear would be destroyed. Harry, we are your friends, we have been through a lot together and I speak for Ron as well that we are not about to leave you now. Brian gave up his life for me Harry, and I won’t let it be in vain when the time comes and you face Voldemort. I won’t let it be in vain that I am not there to help you if you need me. I won’t!!” Hermione wished with all her heart that Brian had lived, but she could not change what had happened, but she could see to it that the person paid for what they did, and she would make sure they paid.

Hermione hugged Harry, “I know we all want him dead Harry, but I think it is time we stop waiting for him to do something and find him ourselves,” she pulled away from Harry and stared him in the face. Harry was on the floor now and Hermione looked down at him, “I’m going to find him Harry, now are you going to help me or not?” Hermione’s face was resolute, there was no altering her decision.