Goodbye Forever

As Hermione put on her brand new dress robes, all she could think about was how much it pained her seeing Harry with his new girlfriend. Within the past week, Harry had gotten together with a girl from Ravenclaw. Hermione was in love with Harry, but she would never tell him. She was afraid that if she told him, then it would ruin their friendship. Tonight was the End of School Ball, a newly started tradition for the 7th year students just before they left school. Hermione had spent hours getting ready, but then she realized that it was pointless because the only person she would be trying to impress was Harry. She was feeling extremely lousy because she took her seven years at school for granted. On the outside, she seemed like the most perfect girl in the world. She had perfect grades, a job offering at the Ministry of Magic, had been a prefect AND Head Girl, and she had passed every exam with flying colors. But she had never realized how close she was to getting everything she wanted. She let her many opportunities throughout the years slip away. They would be leaving school tomorrow, and tonight was the last night they had together. But now Harry had love in his life, and Hermione realized that she didn't have any more chances.

"Hermione are you almost ready?" Ginny called up the stairs from the common room.

"Yea I'm coming!" she yelled back

Throughout the night she had been asked to dance many times by various guys. She really did look beautiful tonight, her hair fell perfectly down her back, her makeup was perfect, and her dress robes looked ravishing on her. But nobody could see how dreadful she looked on the inside. Deep down, she was crying and her heart was aching. Harry smiled at her from across the room. He was holding hands with his girl as they waited for a slow song to play. It was incredible how much pain he could cause her. She sighed as another slow song came on.

She turned back to the fellow people at her table to strike up another conversation. But just then, someone tapped her lightly on the shoulder. She turned around and saw Harry standing over her. She gazed up at him and met his eyes. His emerald-green eyes. Those eyes made her melt, they always have. Whenever she was feeling hurt, all she had to do is look into his eyes and everything was all better. But not this time, her feelings were beyond words.

"Hermione would you like to dance with me?" he asked.

"Of course," she replied, choking back tears.

As they stepped out onto the dance floor, he held her hand. They started dancing, and she pulled him close. She rested her head on his shoulder, as everything in the room just seemed to disappear. It was as if the only people in the room were Harry and Hermione. Dancing the night away. They were the only people that mattered in the world.

She loved him with all her heart. She would do anything for him. She had risked her life countless times for him, and in a heartbeat, she would do it all again. He meant the world to her. She thought back to all the years they spent together with Ron. Those years were gone. She would never be able to enjoy their company again and have it mean as much to her.

For a second, she thought of telling him right then and there. She was about to, but then a girl sitting in a chair across the room caught her attention. Harry's girlfriend. She knew how happy he was with her. And now, something was holding her back from pouring her heart out to him. She couldn't tell him, it would kill his new relationship. Hermione hated to see Harry hurt, and this would just make his whole world come crashing down.

All those times they had spent together...the summers...the school years...the good times and the bad. They had gone through so much. Now it was over. She might never even see him again. All those chances she had to tell him...maybe if she had told him how much he meant to her, they would be together. They could have been together for years. But she was too afraid to tell him. Too afraid to take the risk of losing what she had, to gain something even better that she would cherish forever. She couldn't help it...she broke down in tears.

As the song slowed and came to an end...she realized it was time to say goodbye. Goodbye forever. She lifted up her head and looked into his beautiful eyes. She felt like dying.

"Hermione.... I'll write and call you this summer..." But she couldn't bear to hear him lie to her. She turned and walked towards the door to leave. She knew he didn't mean what he said. She knew he would spend it with his girlfriend. She wasn't his best friend anymore. She looked back at the boy standing alone on the dance floor watching her walk off. The past 7 years all came rushing back to her. Everything they had gone through...together. She stopped and walked back to the boy that she had grown up with, the boy who had been her best friend...the boy she was in love with.... the boy that meant the world to her.

"Goodbye Harry," she managed to say as her face was streaked with tears once more. She gave him one last hug and walked off...knowing that she would never be with him.... nor would she ever see the boy she loved...ever again.