Preserved

Hermione glanced at her watch. It was a quarter till nine. The students would surely be in their dormitories, getting ready for bed.

She could just see the outline of the giant castle in the distance. The lights in the windows resembled tiny pinpricks, and she was quite sure that she could see the Whomping Willow swaying back and forth in the breeze.

They touched down just outside the giant door leading into the castle. Hermione hopped off of the broom excitedly, grateful to finally be on solid ground.

"I've been waiting for you," a voice said from the door.

Hermione looked up. Dumbledore gave her the same old smile. He hadn't changed much since the last time she had seen him, eleven years ago. His beard had grown a bit longer, and he seemed to have a few more wrinkles, but he still had the same charming smile.

Hermione hugged Dumbledore. She had missed Hogwarts so much without even realizing it.

"Well," Dumbledore said as he pulled away from her. "I'm sure you two are probably starving. It's a four hour flight from your home?"

"Six," Draco corrected him. "But we stopped at the Leaky Cauldron."

"Well, either way, I must go fetch your son," Dumbledore reminded them. "And I'm sure that you both would like to explore the castle. You might find something exciting." Dumbledore winked at Hermione.

"So, we will meet in my office in a half an hour?"

Hermione and Draco nodded. With that, Dumbledore turned and vanished behind the door.

"Well," Draco said. "That was sufficiently awkward. Would you like to join me for a moonlit stroll?"

"I don't think so," Hermione said, staring at the castle. "I just want to look around a bit."

"Do you want me to join you?" Draco asked.

"No, I think I just want to be alone."

"Are you going to be okay?" Draco asked sounding a bit worried.

"I'll be fine," Hermione muttered as she entered the castle. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Draco heading toward the lake.

Hermione walked down the hallways of her old school, memories flooding back into her mind.

Somehow, Hermione found herself in the Great Hall. She sat down in her usual spot at the Gryffindor table.

She stared up at the night sky. It was a clear night, and the stars shined brightly against the dark sky.

"Cygnus..." Hermione muttered, spotting the constellations. "The Swan..."

"Hermione..."

Hermione immediately returned her attention to earth, rather than the universe.

"Hermione, my love..."

Hermione followed the voice down the long halls of the school. It seemed to get louder with every step she took.

Hermione reached the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom that Lupin had used when he taught their third year. She slowly opened the door.

The room was filled with desks, but the classroom was obviously unoccupied this year.

That's when Hermione spotted the one who had called to her. It was just who she had expected it to be. Harry Potter.

"Hello, Hermione," he said. Harry was sitting on a desk toward the front of the class.

"Harry, you have no idea how much I've missed you," Hermione said as she headed to the front of the class.

"I hoped you'd come back to school," Harry said. "I think about you every day. And Harry."

Hermione smiled, not knowing what to say.

"Everything's going to be okay," Harry said.

"How do you know?" Hermione asked. "How do you know that Harry won't hate me forever?"

"Because he's just like me, Hermione," Harry answered. "And I could never stay mad at you."

Hermione gave a small, forced smile as she tried not to cry. "Harry, what are you, exactly?"

"Do you remember how I told you about Tom Riddle preserving himself in his diary?" Harry asked.

"Are you saying that you preserved yourself in something?" Hermione asked.

Harry nodded. "Inside Hogwarts."

"So, doesn't that mean you'll be here until Hogwarts is destroyed?"

"No," Harry said, shaking his head. "I will leave when people let go. Not only you, but everyone.

"Hermione, just let go of me," Harry ordered. "Be happy with Draco. You love each other and I want you to be together."

"I do love Draco," Hermione agreed. "But I still love you."

"And I love you too," Harry said. "I shall but love thee better after death*."

"Will you wait for me?" Hermione asked.

"As long as it takes."

"Then I'll let go," Hermione agreed.

"We'll see each other again," Harry said before vanishing. Hermione let the warm tears she had been holding back, fall onto her robes.

Hermione stared at the desk Harry had been sitting on, waiting for him to return one last time, but she knew the truth. He's gone... He's not coming back...