Sadness, Deep Sadness

"Ron, you should really do your Potions homework," Hermione prodded.

"Okay, okay, stop nagging, Hermione," Ron said.

He took out a piece of parchment, wrote the title, The Steps To Make A Sleepless Potion at the top, and looked expectantly at Hermione.

"So, what are the steps to make a Sleepless Potion?" he asked.

"Ron, I am not telling you the answers to everything," Hermione said hotly. "Just because I did last year, and all the years before, does not mean I will now."

"But, Hermione, no one pays attention to that evil git," Ron protested. "Please, just a simple idea."

"No," Hermione said again. "Just because Harry isn't here doesn't mean you can ask me the answers."

"But you always tell us the answers, Hermione," Ron said.

"Well, this year is different. I don't feel right telling you without Harry."

"But Hermione, no one knows where he is. And," Ron hesitated. "I...I just don't think he's...well, I don't think he's coming back."

***

Flashback to the Harry/Voldemort battle.

Harry was cornered; Voldemort had his wand to Harry's forehead. There was no way to escape.

"Say goodbye, Harry," Voldemort sneered. "Any last words?"

"Yes," Harry said, smiling. He pulled his wand out from behind his back. "Expelliarmus!"

Voldemort was thrown backwards; his wand was thrown into the air.

Harry had to catch it, or all was lost.

He ran towards Voldemort's wand. At the same instant, Voldemort ran forward. Harry was about to close his fingers over the evil man's wand...

But Voldemort caught it.

Voldemort laughed triumphantly. "All is lost, Potter."

"Maybe not," Harry retorted.

"Yes, yes, but..." Lord Voldemort cut off. "Accio wand!"

Harry's wand was thrown into the air, and landed in Lord Voldemort's white, white hand.

Harry's life flashed before him:

Meeting Hagrid.

Diagon Alley.

Ron.

Hermione.

Hogwarts.

Tom Riddle.

Sirius.

Quidditch.

The goblet.

Cedric.

Cho.

Dumbledore.

Hermione and Ron had always been there, always. They were his best friends, the only people who he could trust about...about everything.

He would never see Hermione or Ron ever again.

Never.

"Noooooo!" he roared.

He slammed Voldemort to the ground.

Voldemort, surprised, didn't say the words in time.

Harry grabbed is wand from the ground where Voldemort had dropped it in his surprise. "Avada Kedavra!"

At the same instant Voldemort ducked, grabbed his wand, and yelled "Vanishito Harry!"

And Harry was...gone.

***

Back at Hogwarts, the next day at breakfast.

"Ron..." Hermione took a deep breath. "Ron, I feel so bad."

"Why?" Ron asked in surprise. "What did you do?"

"Well, right before Harry went off to battle...Voldemort," Hermione shuddered at the name. "I...I told Harry...that...we were better off without him."

"Why?"

"Well, had a row about his going to fight...You-Know-Who, and...I said he shouldn't go, that it was dangerous," Hermione explained. "And he said he didn't care, that it was more important than hanging around here. Then I said we were better off without him anyway."

Hermione began to cry. "And now...he's gone."

"It's okay, Hermione, don't cry," Ron said, trying to comfort her.

"You don't understand, Ron," Hermione cried. "The last thing he heard before he went off to his...his doom, was that we were better off without him. I miss him, Ron!"

"Maybe...Hermione, I have an idea!" Ron exclaimed. "Maybe...well, Harry isn't...dead. I have a feeling. A feeling that he's not dead, not gone. He's somewhere, we just have to find him."