Till Death Do Us Part

I lay in a crumpled heap on the ground. Snow falls into my flaming-red hair. Bruises cover my body. Blood oozes from a cut on my leg and another on my forehead. What began as an argument with Malfoy turned into a full-out fist fight, in which I was thrown against a tree and a barbed-wire fence, and then Malfoy shouted "Crucio!" and I was filled with such pain and agony.... Hogsmeade is beautiful during winter, but not when the snow around you is stained with blood - your own blood.

Shouts are all around me. You stand out to me in the crowd. Your pink face, curly hair, beautiful brown eyes...you're crying, burying your face in Harry's coat. I can barely remember why Malfoy and I had fought in the first place...yes, he called you a Mudblood again.

A wizard pushes through the crowd. I can barely breath. My ribs feel as though they are broken. Even though I am tall and 21 years old, even though I fought my hardest, I am not match for that Death Eater. The wizard conjures a stretcher and lays me on it. I am losing blood, the world around me is spinning....My world goes black.

The next thing I know I am at St. Mungo's. I can barely breathe. Healers are all around me, trying to save me. My ribs feel broken, and the loss of blood has made me weak. Then I see you sobbing next to my bed on a chair next to Harry. He looks determined not to cry, and when he sees me look around, he smiles weakly.

"Hey, Ron," he says. He gently nudges you, and you turn around and see me, weak, broken, and bleeding.

"Ron," you gasp, jumping up and rushing to my side. Your face is red and puffy, especially around your eyes. "Oh, Ron...this is all my fault..."

I raise one of my hands, which is bruised and bloody, and touch your cheek. You smile weakly and take my other hand in your own. Harry is next to me now, too.

"How is it your fault?" I say to you. You gently kiss the hand you're holding. I barely feel it. You smile weakly.

"I...that is, Harry and I were shopping for you, something for your birthday..." you say, blushing, "and then we saw all this commotion, and it turned out that Malfoy used on of the Unforgivable Curses on you, and he beat you up, badly. I was so scared..." You look away.

"Hey mate," I say to Harry. "How're you doing?" Harry is determined not to cry in front of me and you. His bottom lip trembles.

"I...Ron," Harry says. "I'm okay, how about you?" I look around and realize that I am hooked up to a bunch of machines.

"Okay," I lie. My hands are stinging, I can barely feel my legs, and my chest heaves with every breath. Any one could be my last.

"Oh Ron," you repeat. Tears are streaming down your face, and Harry's face is so red he resembles a tomato with black hair.

"Excuse me," Harry mutters. I think he sees me fingering in my robes. "I'll go get, er...well...I'll leave you two alone." He leaves, taking one last look at me, then smiles.

"Hermione," I say, clearing my throat. I'm having trouble breathing again, but I won't die without saying this. I take the little black box out of my robes. "Open it."

You take the box with shaking hands. A tear slides down your face, and I wipe it away. Your hands are shaking so badly you almost drop the box. I struggle to sit up in bed and kiss you on the lips. You look at me, surprised, then return the kiss. "Oh, Ron..."

I put my finger to your lips and open the box. "Hermione," I say quietly and solemnly. "Will you marry me?"

You gasp, tears running down your face, then say, "Yes, Ron, I will. I've loved you ever since we first met...."

I feel an awful jolt in my chest, as though my heart is giving out. I quickly slip the ring on your finger and you smile. I manage to, too, just as the machines start going berserk. I feel my body twitching. You gasp and call, "Harry!"

I can't breathe. My face feels like it's on fire. My arms and legs are on fire....You wrap your arms around my neck and press your cheek against mine. "Oh my God..." I hear you say. I try to kiss you, but all I can manage is a small, "I love you."

Your hands and cheeks are sweaty, and I know I will leave you soon. "No, Ronald, no!" Now you sound like the bossy girl you where when we were at Hogwarts, and I was merely trying to dye Mrs. Norris blue. "No, Ronald, no," you repeat, more softly.

My vision is blurring, maybe because of tears or of my life coming to an end. You kiss me on the lips, which could be our last kiss. Harry appears, tears also streaming down his face. "Ron..." he whispers. He touches my hand with his hand. It's sweaty, and I smile bleakly at him as he says, "I'll go get a Healer."
"Healers...won't help...me now..." I gasp, running a hand through your curly hair. "I...am going to...join your...mum and d - dad, Harry." I grab your hand, which bears the engagement ring, and say, "Y - you'll never forget...me will...you?" I sputter. "I will never...forget you, my...first and only...l - love......" I gasp, grab your hand, and try to breathe, only I can't. My lungs are bursting, my heart is racing...

You're crying, "Ron! Ron!" Stroking my cheek, you cradle my head in your arms. Harry is right beside you.

"Harry," I say to him, "t - take c - care of her...will...you?" He nods, tears falling onto my bed. "H - Hermione," I say to you, "I l - love you. N - never forget that...good-bye..." I breathe deeply. That was my last breath.

I see my body. You are screaming hysterically, yelling, "Ron! Ron! Don't leave me! Don't leave me!" Harry is silent, tears trickling down his face. "Ron," he whispers. "Ron." He grabs you by the shoulders and holds you tight. You sob into his shoulder.

I have still never forgotten you, love. Even though it has been nearly seven years since my death, and you are married to Harry and pregnant with his first child, I have never forgotten you. You were my only love, and you will be, now, and forever.