The Songfic Series: Rocky Road

The Songfic Series

Rocky Road

Chapter 2 - My Immortal

About one year ago...

If someone had covered all the windows of Hogwarts Castle with a white sheet, you wouldn't have been able to tell the difference from the storm that was occurring. A group of young Gryffindors sat close to the fire in their common room, trying to keep warm, yet trying to prevent being burned. Hermione Granger sat on one of the scarlet couches, with the arm of her boyfriend, Ron Weasley, around her waist, and her head resting on his shoulder. Across from them, her other best friend, Harry Potter, was siting on another couch, accompanied by Lavender Brown and Seamus Finnigan. Ginny Weasley was sitting on a mahogany coffee table, with Parvati Patil on the floor in front of her. Or rather, Parvati's feet were in front of her. Parvati's upper body was leaning on a chair, which had her boyfriend Dean Thomas in it. The whole group shared classes together, with the exception of Ginny, and was discussing events that had happened in their classes. After about an hour, Hermione rose from the couch.

"I'm beat," she said. "I'm off to bed. Night," she said, directing a sweet and special smile at Ron. About fifteen minutes after Hermione had disappeared up the spiral staircase to the dormitories; Ron stood up and gave a huge horribly fake yawn.

"I'm exhausted," he claimed. "I'll be going to bed now." He started to go upstairs, when he heard someone (either Harry or Seamus) utter a muttered cough that sounded a lot like 'snog'. Ron turned around with raised eyebrows, and found his friends holding back laughter. "You can think what you want to think," he said, then continued his way upstairs.

******

Unfortunately for Ron, everyone in the common room crowd had known him for five years, and Ginny even longer, and could read him like a book. After about an hour of furious snogging with Ron, Hermione stopped for air, and sadly for Hermione, Ron chose that time to move in for the kill.

"Mione, dear, come here please."

Since Hermione was right next to him, she just moved closer, so their faces were barely an inch apart. Ron took a deep breath.

"You know I love you more than anything," he said sincerely. Hermione smiled. He was always saying things like that. She moved in for another kiss and found her lips on his hand. "But-" he said.

Oh God, please, not a but, thought Hermione. Every well brought up girl - witch or Muggle - knew nothing good came after your boyfriend said 'but'. "Yes?" questioned Hermione timidly.

"I - I - we - me - you - us -," Ron stammered. Hermione looked down on him. "Yes?" she questioned more confidently.

"We - I - can't go on like this." He had said exactly what Hermione was dreading. She felt her face fall. "You have no idea how hard this is, and how much I don't want to do this. The last thing I want to do is hurt you." Hermione's brain was empty except for what Ron was saying to her now, and even that seemed to be processing in slow motion.

"If you don't want to hurt me, then, why?" The same question Hermione wondered a year later. Ron stood up and walked over to the window.

"I - I - I just don't know. It's something I don't want to do, but I have to do. It's kind of - it's like my destiny." Hermione walked over behind him.

"We both know our destiny is to be with each other," she said in a desperate tone. He spun around, his eyes pleading.

"There are tons of people who don't want us to be together," he said, his voice hinting he was close to tears.

"But there are even more who wish for this to be real," Hermione replied, her eyes glistening, as she took Ron's hand. Ron looked down at this action. His over hers, their hands looked ghostly in the moonlight. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry Hermione, I can't." And with that final remark, he ripped his hand from hers and left the room, leaving Hermione alone, lost, confused, and missing a piece of herself.

******

Word spread around the school that Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger had split up faster than the chicken pox in a first grade classroom. Everyone had predicted they would last more than four months. A few rude Ravenclaws had even gone far enough to guess whom would be invited to their wedding. So it was safe to say the whole school has shocked by the sudden decision to stay apart. But no one was as shocked as Hermione herself.

I'm so tired of being here

She spent her days hiding in her haven, which was her enclosed bed. She didn't come out, even for meals; she had Ginny bring leftovers up, and she hardly ate even them. She couldn't leave, couldn't face the shattered world beyond her dormitory, not without Ron.

Suppressed by all my childish fears

What would people think of her? Everyone had expected them to be together. Forever. And any time after that.

And if you have to leave, I wish that you would just leave,

Because your presence still lingers here,

And it won't leave me alone

It was even too hard for Hermione to leave her fortress-like bed. She had decorated the dormitory with mementos, too blissful while doing so to pay attention to Parvati and Lavender's complaints. Now the once pleasant reminders were dark shadows, and Hermione ran past them with her head down in only times she left her hideout: to use the lavatory.

******

These wounds won't seem to heal

This pain is just too real

There's just too much that time can not erase

Three weeks later, the situation had not gotten any better. It was the last day of winter break, and no one had seen Hermione since "the incident", not even at Christmas. Everyone assumed that Hermione would appear for classes the next day. At least, the Hermione they knew would appear for classes the next day.

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears

When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears

And I've held your hand through all of these years

But you still have

All of me

Hermione was a broken girl. She spent her days blubbering, from either remembering times gone by, looking at things that triggered memories, or just realizing the state her life was in right now. It was gone, all gone. Gone for good.

You used to captivate me

By your resonating light

But now I'm bound by the life you left behind

The only difference in the whole situation was that Hermione had allowed one person to see her: Ginny. For about half of the day, Hermione sobbed to Ginny her feelings, and Ginny did the only thing she could do: listen.

"I can't live any longer like this," Hermione whined one day. "I just can't take it anymore."

Your face it haunts, my once pleasant dreams

Your voice it chased away, all the sanity in me

These wounds won't seem to heal

This pain is just too real

There's just too much that time can not erase

Ginny sat up alert at this remark. "What are you trying to say Hermione?" she questioned softly, putting an arm around her friend. For the first time in weeks, Hermione stopped crying.

"I can't live without him Gin," she whispered, fingering a ragged tissue. "I just can't."

When you cried I'd wipe away all of you're tears

When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears

And I've held your hand through all of these years

But you still have

All of me

"Of course you can," reasoned Ginny quietly. "I was a mess too when Harry and I broke up, remember? But you were there for me, and we worked it out. Together. Now I'm here for you, and we'll work this out. Together." Hermione was slowly shaking her head.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no," she muttered softly.

I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone

"It won't be that easy. He's here. In this room. Right now."

And though you're still with me

That was when Ginny panicked. Good Gosh, she's finally snapped, she thought, frightened. She tried to calm Hermione down in what she thought was a soothing voice. "No one's here Hermione. Just you and me."

"I know that, I'm not stupid." A glimmer of the old Hermione had poked through the covering Ron had built up by breaking up with her.

I've been alone all along

"It's everything he left behind," Hermione whispered softly, her eyes liquid-y. "I'm haunted by him."

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears

When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears

And I've held you're hand through all of these years

But you still have

All of me