Hermione's Suicide

Hermione's Suicide

Epilogue

It had been a year to the day that Hermione killed herself. Harry sighed as he sat down at his desk in his quiet home outside of Hogsmeade. The year had been long and trying. He had survived his best friend only to be faced with death threats--and attempts--Death Eaters who pretended to be trustworthy professors, headmasters who had been kept under the control of a nearly undetectable potion, three weeks in Azkaban Prison, and, to finish it off, the death of Lord Voldemort. Harry's injuries were still healing.

Harry sighed again and opened the middle drawer on the left side of the desk and pulled out a small, brown, leather book. He opened it and skimmed through the pages, exposing a neat, cursive handwriting. Hermione's handwriting. She had recorded her thoughts faithfully every night for eight months before she'd killed herself. Her last entry, to Harry's knowledge, had been the day before she'd killed herself, but as Harry turned the last page, he saw an entry he had never seen before.

Dear Harry,

I don't know what to say to you to get you to understand why I did what I am about to do, and in all honesty I don't expect you to. I want you to know that I did this only so that I could open your eyes because I couldn't say what was going on.

I don't know if you know by now or if you're learning this for the first time, but I have reason to believe that Professor Abram is going to try and have you killed. I need to open your eyes, Harry. I need you to see that you can't trust anyone--not even Dumbledore, because I know he's in on it as well.

You're my best friend, Harry, and I would do anything for you. That is why I'm about to end my life. I can't stand by and do nothing when I know that you're in danger. I can't stand by and watch you get hurt and I'm not going to.

Be weary of Ron as well, Harry. Abram and Dumbledore were talking about using us to get to you. If we tell you to go somewhere alone or with just us, don't do it. If you die, I know for a fact that Voldemort will win and I can't allow that. Just as I can't allow you to be hurt.

I love you Harry, you're like the brother I never had. You're definitely my family. I wish things could be different, that I could be there with you now, celebrating with you as you live your life and plan your future with Draco--you can't fool me, I know there's something there. I wish I could be there to give you a hug when you do finally defeat Voldemort. I wish I could be there with you every step of the way, but I'm not going to sacrifice your life for my own selfish desires.

Love always,

Hermione

Harry felt a tear fall down his face as he read the letter. Her goodbye. She had killed herself to save him. She had given everything for him and he had no way to pay her back for it.

"If you can hear me," he whispered, looking up at the sky through the window in front of him, "thank you."

"What did you say?" Draco asked from the other side of the room.

Harry shook his head, tears still falling. "I was just thanking Hermione for the one thing I can't thank her enough for," he said softly.

"What?" Draco asked.

"My life," Harry whispered.

Harry felt as though someone had just wrapped her arms around him and knew Hermione had heard him. He tightly closed his eyes and sucked in a shaking breath before more tears fell.

"Harry?" Draco asked.

Harry wiped away his tears and opened his eyes to look at his lover. "Sorry," he said with a weak attempt at a smile. "It's just that it's been a year and..."

Draco shook his head and silenced Harry by placing a finger over his lips. "There's no need to explain," he said softly. "I understand completely." With that, he wrapped his arms around the man who saved the lives of so many and kissed him softly.

"Will you marry me?" Harry asked.

Draco let out a chuckle that was half of a sob. "Yes," he said, feeling his own tears fall.