Eternal Sleep

Eternal Sleep

By: WeasleyGirl-Yeah

He wished for nothing more than her touch. Yes, her touch was what he wanted. And as she would simply touch his cheek with her fingertips, a smile would come upon his face and his eyes would be closed, but he would know exactly what her expression was. She would be smiling lightly, happy for once in her life instead of being under so much pressure. She would be able to breathe and he would be able to live to what he was capable to be...

A simple wish was all it was. A simple wish was all he got. Now, he wanted more than that, but he knew that he would never get it. This wish was more than unrealistic; it was impossible. He bit back the tears that wanted to flow freely. He needed to be strong, even though she wouldn't be able to see it. And even though he knew all was lost, he couldn't help but speak to her softly.

"It's going to be all right," he whispered to her delicately. "Everything's going to be all right. We won and everything's finally going to be all right."

He sincerely wished that everything was going to be all right. He was the last one there. He was the last sitting on the ground, moping over what he lost. He sat on the ground, her head on his arms. He could do nothing but look down at her pale face, her eyes closed and her soft lips pressed together smoothly. He traced her lips with his finger longingly, wishing that they would turn into a smile and she would open her eyes again, calling his name. But she would not awake from her eternal sleep.

"You'll see, everything will be all right now," he told her softly, holding her cold body limply. He never wanted to let go of her. In the end, he would truly never let go of her. He would always have his hand grasping onto her, never letting go. Even now, he held her hand tightly; together they fit like two pieces to a puzzle. He bent down to her face and nuzzled her nose with his, his eyes closed to keep the tears from flowing against his wishes.

"You did it," he said in a hushed face, his nose against hers. "You helped save the day. You helped save the world."

And to that, he was immensely grateful. If not for her, he would be dead. But, deep down inside, he wished that he was the one dead and she was the one alive. His soul was crying out for her lost one, searching for it in the darkness of death. But it would never be found. She was just one of the many lost souls of this Final Battle, but she was the biggest blow to his heart. In his mind, he was sobbing like mad for he'd lost the only person who could truly understand him--who could truly accept him--who could truly love him.

"You saved me."

It was only then that the bitter tears seeped from underneath his eyelids and fell onto her once cream coloured cheeks. The tears fell down her face and splashed onto the red grass. He couldn't take it much longer. She had always been there for her. She had been there for him to her very last breath. He had been her very last breath. In all the chaos, dropping to his knees had seemed the most sensible thing to do. She was slipping from his grasp. She was losing sight of the light. She was falling into the darkness. He tried to find her, grab her wrist before she fell completely, and guide her back to the light. But he lost control of it all and she was gone with one last breath. As one last word escaped from her mouth, she was gone and he was left with the hollow feeling of worthlessness.

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The battle had ensued much earlier on the in the morning. The blinding light of the sun was riddled with the blinding light of the spells sent their unexpected ways. Helplessly, people watched as one another fell victim to departure. Some passed away quickly, while others struggled to stay alive, only to whisper something and then close their eyes forever. Now, it was twilight and the sun was setting quickly on them and the grounds. It was hard to tell who was winning. Everything was simply falling apart.

Amidst all of the chaos, were the larger players in the battle. In the very center of the entire chaotic scene was a black haired boy with glasses and a man hidden by a cloak, but with spindly white hands and glaring red eyes. Each held their wand, pointing it at the other, frozen as though time was standing still for the both of them. The boy was tired and weak, sweat beading down his face, his chest shaking violently from terror and nausea. He wasn't sure if he could hold on any longer. He was but a boy still. The man's leer formed at the corners of his mouth as he examined the fatigued boy.

"I will finally rid of you, Potter," he hissed happily. He seemed so alive, yet he too was tired beyond all recognition. The boy felt like emptying all of the remaining contents of his stomach onto the grass in front of him, but he was too weak to do it. He looked up at the man, no fear in his emerald eyes; they were filled with hate, bravery, and love.

"Not until I rid of you, Voldemort," the boy muttered firmly, though it hurt his chest to speak. The man twisted his grin haughtily. He gave his cold, high-pitched laughter that shook the boy's soul down to the very core of his heart. Had he not been ready for this? Was he going to fail miserably? The man raised his wand higher, though it pained his arm. The boy closed his green eyes.

And just as he gave up, he felt a firm hand on his shoulder and a whisper in his ear, "All is not lost, I'm right here for you, Harry." He opened his eyes and looked back to see the trademark red hair of the Weasley family; it was his best friend, Ron Weasley. Though a grim smile was on his face, he inclined his head to him. If this was how it was all going to end, then this was how it was all going to end.

"Ron, you're alive," Harry gasped quietly. Ron nodded his head. "I thought you were... I thought you were dead." Ron shook his head and a faint smile crept upon Harry's face, knowing that his best friend in the world was still alive and standing beside his side for what could be his last living moments on the earth. It was just that thought that comforted him.

And it was there that they fought side by side for what seemed like hours. When one fell, the other one helped him up to his feet. When one got a victory, the other one cheered him on. It was just this that gave Harry all the energy he needed. But suddenly, a curse hit Harry and he was knocked off of his feet. He came to a crash on the blood stained grass.

"Harry!" but the voice was not only his own. Ron looked up to see Hermione Granger, the girl that changed his life forever, rushing for them both. He got to Harry's side before she did, but she came to his need quickly enough.

"Harry, are you alright?" she asked worriedly. It must've been a miracle, but it had not been the Killing Curse that had knocked him in the chest. It had been the Impedimenta Curse, but it had taken a toll on him still.

"I'm not sure if I can get to my feet," Harry told her gravely. "I just don't have the energy... just yet."

Ron looked up into the chocolate brown eyes of Hermione. She was worried and very apprehensive about everything. She had a very close near death experience today. The first Death Eater to arrive had almost slit her throat, if not for Ron walking into the common room unexpectedly. He could see her eyes wavering with fear.

"I'll protect you until you can get back to your feet, Harry," Ron blurted in their silence. Even as the chaos around them swirled on and Voldemort advancing on them slowly, laughing maliciously, they were silent with each other.

Harry looked up at his best friend, scared that he might die. "Ron--"

"Harry, I have to keep you safe and you know it," Ron said without any doubt in his voice. He stood up so that he was much taller than them all, his flaming red hair in all directions. "If you die, we might as all die along with you. You're the only one who can kill... who can kill... who can kill Voldemort."

It was the very first time Ron had said that name out loud. So many times he had practiced saying it in his mind, but it had never come out of his mouth. But today--today was very different--he let it spill over his lips so it could be heard. Harry closed his eyes and winced at the pain in his ribs.

"Thank you, Ron," he whispered. Hermione looked at him again and stood up. Though not nearly up to Ron's staggering height, she was just as skilled in magic, most likely even better.

"I'll help you, Ron," Hermione said bravely. He didn't like the idea. He wanted her to stay behind him so that any curse he could not block would hit him and not her. He wanted her to live. He showed it to her in his blue eyes, but she was firm with her decision. "No, I want to help you and I will help you."

Knowing that he was defeated, he looked down at Harry, who nodded his head and tried to sit up painfully. Ron took Hermione's hand in his own, a perfect fit, and pulled her over to his side, the malicious laughter now filling his ears. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Hermione, if I don't make it--"

"I love you, Ron."

He felt her finger press against his lips to silence him. He opened his eyes to see Hermione's eyes light up like it was Christmas. She kissed him and the laughter drained away. The shouts and the screams and the cries died when her lips touched his softly. She pulled away and nodded her head.

"Hermione, I love you."

It was all he could say to her because it was the only thing he could possibly say to her. This could very well be the end of his life--of this world--and he wanted her to know that he truly did care about her enough to sacrifice himself for her. And she wanted him to know the same thing.

"Love in war, how touching," Voldemort's sadistic laughter rang in his ears. A fire raged inside his chest like no other he'd had before. It was larger than the rest. He hated Malfoy at times; yes, he did, but he really hated this, this--could he call it a man? He glared viciously. Hermione followed suite, pulling her wand up quickly, her other hand still in his.

"You're a Pure Blood and you waste your time on a Mudblood like her," Voldemort sighed, gazing at them both, "how pathetic."

"Shut up!" Ron roared. He had snapped. "I've had it with this thing of yours! Just because one person deserts you, you have to take up revenge on the entire world! You're not even a Pure Blood! Who cares if you're a Pure Blood or not? I know I certainly don't!"

Voldemort stopped walking towards them. Ron felt Hermione squeeze his hand tightly; she was afraid and he was too. "You could have it all yet you dash it all away with that thing," he told him.

"I already have it all," Ron whispered truthfully. He really didn't know what happened next. He couldn't explain what happened next. The next thing he knew, curses were flying in his and Hermione's direction like a blizzard and somehow, he'd managed to escape uninjured; the same for Hermione. He and she had managed to block them. He felt Hermione let go of his hand when a curse shot in between the two of them. She fell to the ground, but scurried back up to her feet. He fell to the ground, but scrambled back to his feet.

"You lose," Voldemort laughed coldly. He muttered something and there was a blinding flash. Ron had to put his arms across his face, the light was so bright.

"Ron, no!" Hermione screamed. Someone pushed him and he came to a violent crash on the ground, his elbow digging into the ground. He heard a terrible shriek from somewhere beside him and his heart was caught in his throat: It was Hermione's scream.

When the light subsided, he watched helplessly as Hermione's body crumpled to a heap on the blood stained grass. He thought he might lose his mind at the sight. The sound her body made when it hit the ground would haunt him forever. He did the only thing he could do. He rushed to her side and came crashing down to his knees. She was still alive, but only just. She was dying slowly.

"Hermione, no, no, don't quit on me now," Ron pleaded with her, tears leaking out of his eyes as he saw her eyes fluttering slowly, "not when I need you so much."

He picked her up to cradle her in his arms. He held her closely to his own body; he could feel the warmth slowly fading away. He grabbed at her hand and shook it a little. With his free hand, put her head on his arm. He touched her cheek and hoped that his warmth would keep her alive, maybe. He held her tightly, never wanting to let go.

"Hermione, don't leave me," Ron cried softly, his face very close to hers. He knew that any second, Voldemort could kill them both, but he was probably being busied with some other trivial person that was against him, trying to keep Harry safe. "I don't know if I could live on without you."

She gave him a small wistful smile and kissed him softly with what energy she had left in her weakened body. She touched his cheek with her fingertips and he closed his eyes, a very small smile on his face that only she could give him. As she leaned her head back against his arms, she pulled away.

"Hermione..." He put his hand to her cheek, her wistful smile still there.

"Ron, I love you..." she whispered gently. Tears dripped onto his sleeves, but he paid them no attention as he watched the girl he loved die powerlessly. He shook his head and she closed her eyes, her wistful smile fading away slowly. "Ron..."

Her voice trailed away delicately and he could nothing but hold her lifeless body in his arms and sob for her death. As pandemonium proceeded around them, he held her tightly in his arms. He cried for her then and there. She was gone. Her soul, her life, her spirit had left her and had left him.

"No, you'll pay!" Harry's voice came, stronger and full of more hatred that ever. "You'll pay for--for that! You'll pay!"

Fire burned inside his chest again and Ron was filled with fury and rage. He raised his wand to Voldemort, even though he knew he could not kill him. "AVADA KEDRAVA!" he boomed viciously, and sent the Killing Curse Voldemort's way. Even though he knew Voldemort could simply wave it away practically, he didn't much care.

He dropped his head again to Hermione's face. She was gone and she sacrificed herself for him. She loved him. All they could've had together, all what everyone expected of them, was gone simply because she had sacrificed herself for him. Could he ever live with the guilt...? No.

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And he still sat there, cradling her in his arms, wishing that she was still alive and telling her everything was going to be all right because they had won the war. The tears were still falling out of his eyes and onto her cheeks, which then they splashed into the grass. He would miss her more than anything in the world. He was still fully in love with her, but she was... gone.

"Ron? Ron, are you there?" a voice came hesitantly. Ron did not look over his shoulder to see who it was that was calling him. He just stayed close to Hermione. Ginny Weasley sat down beside him, touching Hermione's forehead and then heaving a sigh. "She loved you more than life itself; you do know that, right?"

As much as it pained him, Ron nodded his head, forcing himself to stay silent. If he spoke, he would cry and he couldn't do that. He had to be strong. Ginny looked at him with concern.

"You were all she talked about," Ginny told him tenderly. "It drove me mad." She was trying to get him to smile, laugh, do something to tell her that he would not die from the pain this was all causing him, but she was getting no response from him. He just held her closely.

"Where's Harry?" Ginny asked him worriedly. Ron didn't even look up. He merely pointed at a dark huddled up figure that was sobbing by the lake. After seeing Hermione's unresponsive body, he had thrown himself into a fit of tears and disappeared to the lake's side, where no bodies lay. Ginny nodded her head and hugged her brother. "Ron, I'm sorry. I know you loved her so much. I'll... I'll just leave you here with her, okay? I'll be there when you're ready to talk again."

Ron knew that she was just worried about him and he was thankful for her. Ginny stood up and went to go comfort Harry, who seemed to cracking worse than ever after the war was over. Ron simply looked down at her in his arms, rocking back and forth with her cradled in his strong arms. He never wanted to leave her side, but he knew he had to...

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"... Hermione Granger... she is my life. She helped me out of so many tight spots in my life and I could never thank her enough. I know we had our rough times; are arguments became legendary. But deep down inside, I knew I cared about her. And I was always afraid that she didn't feel the same way about me, when she really did. I remember our first kiss very well. As awkward as it was, it was the most blissful moment in my life. As strange as it felt to be kissing someone who I thought was just my best friend, I couldn't help but feel more elated than I had ever felt in my entire life...

"With her gone now, I don't know if I'll ever feel that way again. It hurts so bad to know that she died... she died to save my life. I am standing here now, breathing the air and talking to you all because she took the curse that was supposed to kill me. She took the fall for me. And for that, I can't thank her enough. I never wanted to let her go after it all ended. I sat in the field for hours, just clutching her lifeless body in my arms, telling her that everything would be all right and that I loved her so much. And you know what; I still love her even though she's passed on. In away, she will have never left us. Sure, her spirit may not walk the earth anymore, but she's probably up in Heaven, looking down on us now, trying to tell me that I had a speech error. For sacrificing herself for me, I can love her more than life itself... I love her..."

Ron stepped back into the crowd next to Harry and Luna Lovegood. Luna, who was patting Harry on the back comfortingly, took a step out of the crowd and took a deep breath.

"As I once told Harry before, the ones we love never truly leave us," Luna said softly. "They're there, just behind the veil. And we'll see them again, in time."

She stepped back into the crowd. As no one had anything left to say, they lowered the casket into the ground slowly. Ron wiped his eyes with his sleeve, he came to the realization that Hermione was truly gone forever until he, too, passed away. He took a step forward and bowed his head, his eyes closed.

"Good bye, Hermione," he whispered. And she was finally gone, but never in his soul.