My Story: The Ronald Weasley Story

Chapter 4-Harry's Death; Hermione's Return

After Hogwarts, Hermione left for an American Wizarding Embassy job, tearing me up in the process. We broke up for a second time, as she went into the A.W.E. I stayed with Harry in a flat in Hogsmede. Almost two years after graduation, I got news that Harry had been killed by Lucius Malfoy. My best friend, killed by that rat-faced, slimy git. But of course, after the defeat of You-Know-Who, Harry and I had expected it. Although there was an initial shock, I wasn't too suprised. Harry may have defeated You-Know-Who once, but neither of us expected the Death Eaters to let him get away with it a second time.

The funeral was huge. More than 2,000 people showed up.

But not Hermione.

It made me upset. I hadn't seen or heard from her in almost two years. Was she that shallow, or stuck-up, to not show up at her best friend's funeral? I felt Harry had been more respected by total strangers off the street, than Hermione Granger, one of his supposedly "best friends" for almost ten years. When I asked my father if she was still at the A. E. E, he said, "No, Ron. She quit about eight months ago. Didn't you know that?"

"Today, we say good-bye to Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived," I said at the funeral. In spite of myself, I grinned at Harry's reaction to being called "the Boy Who Lived". I could almost hearing me curse him from the shadows of death. I kept on talking, not really listening to what I was saying. I kept remembering the time we'd decided to share a flat, the time he'd decided to become on Auror, and when he and Ginny started dating. Bloody hell! I began to look for his fiancée, my sister. She sat in the front, wearing a black dress. After giving my analogy, I went to go sit beside her.

"Ginny, if you need to talk, let me know," I whispered. I kissed her on the forehead.

"Thanks, Ron," she said, smiling weakly. "I was about to give you the same speech."

"Do you think you'll be able to Apparate home?"

"No, but I'm going to ride home with the Longbottoms. They have a new Bluebottle broom." We gave each other a quick, tight hug, as an old Muggle song began to play, "The Wind Beneath My Wings".

Did you ever know that your my hero?

You're everything I would like to be.

And I can fly higher than an eagle.

Cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

I walked out into the hall, desperate not to let anyone see me cry. How appropriate a song. Suddenly, a woman with short brown hair came into the funeral parlor. Her face was covered with a scarf. I immediately fell into duties as Harry's best friend.

"Ma'am, how do you do? I'm Ron Weasley. Harry's best friend. If you like, there's a seat in the back."

"How ironic. I'm Harry's best friend, too," said the female, pulling down her scarf. It was Hermione. Her tear-streaked face gave away the fact that she'd been crying.

"'Mione, I...."

"How'd it happen?"

I looked at her, taken aback slightly. "Hermione, do you mean to tell me you don't know how it happened? It's been all over the papers."

"Yes, Ron, I did hear it. But I don't believe it. Part of me doesn't want to believe it. Not 'till you say it. Lucius....."

"Hermione, I don't have time for this. I have to pay my final respects to my..... our best friend. Quiet frankly, your pissing me off. Meet me at my flat after the funeral." I turned away, trying to ignore the tears brimming in her eyes. She goes off, without sending word for two years. She had worried Harry and I to de... well, she worried us a lot. And now, she was back. But only for his funeral and to find out what happened. I'd be suprised if she knew that Harry and I were Aurors. I was really mad.

I walked by the casket. "Damnit," I whispered to the corpse. "She's back, and because of your death. Soon, she'll be gone. And she'll be gone until I die. Damnit Harry. Where did I mess up?" I grasped Harry's hand. "Good bye, old friend." I need him back. Desperately. Because at our flat, was the woman I loved. The woman who, at the moment, I couldn't stand the thought of.