Mirror Mirror, On the Wall

Harry hit the ground with a thump. He opened his eyes groggily and looked around. Voldemort was addressing his death-eaters to his right. Hermione's lifeless body lay to his left. Silently he sat up and took Hermione's wand from her hand, pocketing his own. He looked over to Voldemort who was now telling his death-eaters to return to their homes and spread the word. He looked back to Hermione.

Then Harry leant over gently and kissed her on the lips, something he had secretly wanted to do for so long. Alas, Hermione could not kiss back, nor did she wake up like they were supposed to in fairytales. With renewed vigour, Harry stood up and with Hermione's wand in hand, walked over to where Voldemort was talking to Wormtail, the only death-eater still present.

"Excuse me." He said, making his presence heard. Voldemort spun round and gaped at Harry. The Harry he had just supposedly killed.

"You're alive!" he said. "How?"

"Long story." Harry said. "But let me ask you this. Do you know what it's like to be in love?"

Voldemort seemed surprised by the question. But then he gazed at Harry with genuine uncertainty, as if he was remembering something that happened a very long time ago. Then, he snapped back into his evil frame of mind.

"I don't know if you are trying to trick me boy, but the magic you are using won't work against me." He drew out his wand.

"Now, let's do things properly. Expelliarmus!"

Harry dodged and the spell hit one of the statues, shattering it into pieces.

"Stupefy!" Harry yelled at Wormtail, who stumbled and hit his head on a tombstone and fell, out cold. "Expelliarmus!"

At Harry's word, Voldemort's wand flew out of its owner's hand and into Harry's. Taking the wand in both hands he bought it down on his knee, breaking it into two.

"No" screamed Voldemort and he crumpled to the floor, unconscious like Wormtail.

A great rush of relief flooded over Harry. He ran back over to where Hermione's body lay and opened the portal next to her. He lifted her body up and was surprised at how light she was. He stepped through and left Godric's Hollow and Voldemort behind.

Harry lay Hermione's body on the ground and looked at her. She looked sad, and almost as if she were asleep. Tears filled his eyes and spilled over onto his cheeks and then fell off onto Hermione's robes. He made no effort to stop them. His best friend and the person he cared for the most in this world was gone forever. He didn't care if Malfoy or Snape or anyone found him like this, he didn't care. He began to cry, never remembering such grief in his entire life. It was as if a part of him had been taken away. Sharp footsteps came down the corridor and then stopped abruptly. Harry looked up and saw Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagoll and Professor Snape standing there, looking shocked. Ron then appeared behind them.

"Hermione!" he cried and ran over to her and Harry. He knelt down beside her and took her hand. Harry saw Ron's eyes fill with tears too, which he hastily brushed away. Dumbledore walked over to them and put his hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Voldemort?" he asked. Harry nodded in reply. Professor McGonagoll conjured up a stretcher and began to move Hermione away to the hospital wing. Harry and Ron followed mournfully. Then Harry felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to find that it was Snape. Snape looked at him with pity and Harry knew he was genuinely upset for Harry and Ron. Harry was grateful for the support. Even if it did come from Snape.

The following night was a nightmare for Harry. He spent most of it at the bedside of Hermione. Madame Pomfrey had let them place her body in a small room in the Hospital Wing, often used for consulting patients. Dumbledore contacted her parents who arrived by floo powder. When Mr and Mrs Granger came into the room, Mrs Granger was overcome with grief and began to sob into the sheets.

"We don't blame you Harry." Mr Granger told him. "You bought her back to us. You did the right thing." He seemed too grief ridden to cry. Mr and Mrs Weasley also appeared and proceeded to console Hermione's parents. Dumbledore told Harry and Ron to go to their dormitory and get some sleep. The news had already been broken to the house. As Harry and Ron walked into the common room, Ginny, Fred and George greeted them. Ginny was crying and Fred and George looked distinctly shocked. Harry sank into a seat.

"Harry, I'm so sorry." Fred said. His eyes looked very bloodshot. "I knew Hermione meant a lot to you."

"Thanks." Harry mumbled. He felt a lump come to the top of his throat. Not wishing to be seen in this state he fled to his dormitory.

Harry flung himself onto his bed. He looked up at the ceiling.

"It's all my fault!" he shouted out loud and proceeded to pummel a pillow. Feathers flew everywhere, covering his bed.

"No it's not." A female voice said. Harry swung around and saw Hermione sitting on the end of his bed.

"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed and crawled over to her. He tried to hug her, but his arm fell right through.

"I'm Hermione's spirit." Hermione said. "Her body is lying in the hospital wing, waiting for me to return."

"But...you're...she's dead." Harry, said, confused. "How can I bring someone back from the dead?"

"I'm not dead Harry. The same spell your mother cast on you 14 years ago you unknowingly cast on me today. It saved me Harry, you saved me. All you have to do is wake me up."

"How do I bring someone back from the dead?" Harry repeated, bringing his face so close to hers that their noses would have been touching.

"Look inside yourself Harry." Hermione told him. "Do what you think is right."

A bright glow surrounded Hermione and within 5 seconds she was gone. Harry knelt back on his bed. What should he do? Was he going insane?

"You like her don't you Harry." a mans voice said from the other side of the room. James Potter came into view.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry spat out before realising who he was talking to. "Sorry."

"It's OK. You're upset." James sympathised. "I can't even begin to imagine what you are going through. But I know Hermione is right. All you have to do is wake her up."

"How do I do that?" Harry groaned again. "It's impossible to bring someone back from the dead."

"She's not dead Harry. You saved her, remember."

Harry threw his father a blank look.

"Harry please tell me you inherited at least some of mine or your mothers brains." James pleaded, sitting down beside Harry. "Look, she's your best friend. Tell her what's on your mind. I'm sure she'll listen."

And like Hermione before him, James disappeared in a blaze of bright light. Harry was left alone.

"Tell her what's on my mind." Harry repeated. Then it struck him. Smiling for the first time, he leapt up and pelted from the room.