Even Heroes Can Bleed

It had been seven long years since that terrible day when Harry Potter disappeared from their lives. The wizarding world was failing to keep out Voldemort and his new found powers and soon, it would fail all together.

Hermione Granger worked as an Auror now for the Ministry, to fight for everything that Harry once stood for. She, along with her partner, Ronald Weasley, did all they could for the tormented wizarding world.

"It's been seven years," Ron said sadly staring at the smiling picture of Harry, Ron and Hermione. Hermione stared down at the picture too. They were so happy then.

"So, do you want to go out?" Ron asked.

"Umm...sure Ron," Hermione whispered, still staring at Harry's face. If only he was here now.

"All right, all get your things...," Ron said quickly, brushing a quick kiss across her cheek.

Ron and Hermione had been dating for about three months now, and though he was not the brightest person, he knew when to be there, and when to leave her alone. He also was good to her. Ron had matured into a funny, handsome man. And Hermione bloomed into a rose over the years.

"Ms. Granger," Mr. Montgomery shouted across the room. Great, she could not leave early. Usually, she stayed late, apparating around trying to find information about Voldemort and where he could be. She turned around slowly and said, "Yes sir?"

"Have a good night," he smiled. Her mouth dropped and he laughed a little. "Even super woman needs a break sometimes, Hermione." He winked and then turned around quickly. Hermione stared at where he was as he walked off into his own office.

"Ms. Granger?" Ron asked from behind her. She turned to see a giddy smile on his face and an extended arm. Hermione giggled for the first time in a few days.

"Yes, Mr. Weasley?" she replied.

"Come on," he said. "I just made reservations at your favorite restaurant. Let's go." Hermione smiled and Ron smiled back. But, she saw the pain he was hiding in his eyes. This day killed him every year, as much or more than it killed her. Men, always having to hide their pain and keep their pride. Screw pride, Hermione thought. Harry had it too and he was dead.

How could she say that? She loved him dearly, and his pride did not kill him.

Hermione and Ron strode outside and apparated to a back alley and then quickly joined a crowd that was flooding into the restaurant.

"We're so close, Master," one of the Death Eaters said happily. Voldemort, was too, very pleased by the take over.

"Yes, I sense it too," he hissed.

"I am dying to know master," the Death Eater continued. "Where did you find this...power? I know it has something to do with the Potter boy. But what?"

"That is a good question," Voldemort replied. He knew they would ask sometime or another. It had been his seven-year secret and why not tell them? He was going to do the same thing to them soon anyway. "You are right, it is Mr. Potter's doing that have this power. Unmatched by Albus Dumbledore or that silly girl Hermione Granger. By the way, she hasn't been eliminated as I requested. You do know how I hate failure, right Mr. Malfoy?"

"She is hard to catch, Master," Lucius stammered.

"I know that, but still..." Voldemort hissed. "Where was I? Ah, yes. I'll show you." Voldemort grabbed a Black Box from a high shelf. It was small and fit in the palm of his spider-like hand.

"Watch closely and do exactly what I say." With that, Voldemort opened the tiny box.

"Look inside," Voldemort pressed. Lucius bent his head over the box. But Voldemort had other plans. With a single push, Lucius fell into the tiny box.

"MASTER!" he shrieked. Lucius Malfoy found himself floating , but not alone. Beside him, was the alive Harry Potter. Harry looked at him and laughed a bit.

"Hello Mr. Malfoy," he said quietly.

"MASTER! WHAT IS THIS?" the Death Eater shrieked. Voldemort laughed his high and cold laugh.

"Mr. Malfoy, your power belongs to me. In this box you shall remain, until you are dead. It is the Black Realm. I believe Mr. Potter could give you a tour." Harry looked up at him and glared fiercely. "That dagger, was for ceremony, and sent him into this world. He's been here ever since. By the way, if you somehow do escape, you will die before the next day."

'Now, I hope you two will get along...for you shall remain together for an eternity." The lid slowly shut and the two men were plunged into an eternal darkness.

"Welcome to my world," Harry said quietly. Lucius stared at where light once came in, and unlike his normal character, began to sob heavily in the darkness.

"So, are you enjoying diner?" Ron asked, though he knew the answer. Hermione was miserable. Harry left them on this date, last year.

"Yes Ron," she said sadly. A tear fell silently onto the table.

"Hermione, you can tell me the truth," Ron said, grabbing her hand.

"I know I can Ron," Hermione said. "It's just, I didn't want to..."

"What? Ruin my evening?" Ron asked with a slight, faked smile. "Hermione, you know I am in as much hell as you are."

"You haven't shown it," Hermione commented.

"I try," Ron said. "I wanted you to be happy, Mione."

"That was the nick name he gave me," Hermione said with tears coming up in her eyes.

Ron understood quickly and said, "Check, please," to the waiter and the two of them left to the apartment. They were living together now and were happy.

"Mione, you should get some rest," Ron said, taking off his jacket and untying his necktie.

"Yes, your right," Hermione said, "for once."

"Hey," Ron said, grabbing her around the waist and kissing her on the lips. Hermione pulled away.

"Ron, not now, I am tired," Hermione said, pushing him away. "Now goodnight." She walked away, smiling. Life sucked, but there was Ron. Ron made it all worth while for her. Nevertheless, she always stopped and wondered, if Harry was alive, would she be his, or Ron's?

Not now, Hermione, she thought. Just go to sleep and don't think.

She took off her dress that she changed into for the restaurant and slipped into a warm bath. Hermione closed her eyes and tried not to think. Harry came up in her mind. What would he have looked like today? Hermione kept thinking of this, and soon, she found herself in a dream.

"Now, Mr. Malfoy," Harry said, hitting him lightly on the shoulder. "Calm down!"

"That bastard!" he shrieked.

Harry rolled his eyes and kicked him. "You just found that one out? Now, listen to me. I think I can get us out of here."

"For what, Potter? A day? A day? What good would that do me?" he snapped.

"Fine, be Voldemort's slave for eternity," Harry snapped. "See if I care."

"WAIT!" he screamed. "What do you have in mind?"

"If someone else can get this box and open it, we'll be free. But, I'll have to borrow your power for a bit. Do you mind?"

"If you get me out of this hell-hole, then no," he said rudely.

"All right," Harry said. "Thanks. Just, here, give me your hand and..."

"I will not touch you!" he shouted.

"God, your stubborn," Harry sighed, "Just do it." Reluctantly, Lucius grabbed Harry's hand.

"Good...here we go. Hermione Granger is alive, right?"

"Yes, why?"

"That's who we're going to get."

"Hermione..." Hermione heard in her head.

"Who is...?" she asked.

"It's me, Mione," Harry said. Hermione gasped. Only one other person besides Ron called her that...Harry.

"Harry?" she gasped. "This is a dream...must be a dream."

"No Hermione!" Harry screamed. "This is my only chance! Please!"

Hermione stared. His body was appearing in her mind. It was a dream, it had to be. Harry was dead, it wasn't real.

"Yes this is a dream, but, it's real Mione! Trust me!"

"Umm...ok," she said.

"POTTER! QUIT DODDLING AND GET TO THE POINT!" someone shrieked.

"Who was..."

"Lucius Malfoy,"" Harry said.

"Now I know I'm dreaming," Hermione said.

"It's real! Now, listen to me! I have been prisoner for seven years. Voldemort's slave. Now, this is going to sound crazy, but, I need you to steal a Black Box from him."

"What?" Hermione asked, quite shocked. "You are kidnapped and you want me to steal?"

"No, I am in the box! And the box is small, tiny. It will be able to fit into the palm of your hand."

"So, somehow you are in a tiny box?" Hermione asked.

"Yes," Harry sighed. "Crazy, I know, but please believe me."

"Umm...all right Harry...this is a dream...but...your dreams were somehow real. Maybe it is."

"It is, Mione!" Harry said. "You get that box, and I'll be free and Voldemort will be stopped. He's grown so dependent on the box that without it, he'll become mortal."

"Ok, Harry, I'll get that box!" Hermione said finally.

"Thank you! I have to go now, but, please, get that box. This isn't a dream." Harry faded and so did her dream.

"HERMIONE!" Ron screamed, shaking her. She opened her eyes. She was on the bathroom floor naked. Ron was above her, hands on her shoulder.

"RON!" Hermione shrieked. She snapped her arms across her chest. Ron quickly turned around.

"I knocked...you didn't answer and the water was running. I tried again, but then I opened the door. You were under water, Mione!" Hermione had a towel around her by now.

"Ron! I WAS NAKED!" Hermione shrieked.

"Fine, next time you are naked, drowning in the bath tub, I'll let you!" Ron snapped as he left the bathroom.

"Oh, Ron!" Hermione said. "I'm sorry. Thank you for saving me." Ron turned around cautiously.

"You're welcome," he said.

"But now, we have to save somebody else," Hermione said. "I had a dream...Harry's alive."

Ron stared at Hermione. "Hermione, that's not funny."

"I know it's not funny!" Hermione snapped.

"Ok, so, Harry came into your dream and told you he was alive."

"And he's trapped in a box..."

"No way! Harry would be able to escape a BOX!"

"I know, weird," Hermione said. "But I have to get that box! Soon!"

"Umm...ok," Ron said, quite confused.

"Trust me Ron," Hermione said. Ron stared for a while, but finally sighed and nodded.

"Thanks," Hermione said, truly happy. "Now, get dressed, we're going into the office." Ron sighed and went to go get back into his work robes.

"And Ron, thank you," Hermione said as she shut the bathroom door.

Hermione was worried, but excited. Harry, what if he really was alive? It had been seven years, seven long years. Hermione smiled and started putting make-up on. If Harry really was alive, she was going to look good for the reunion.

At the office, Hermione and Ron quickly set to work. Ron gathered all information that they had gotten over the years while Hermione looked through "forbidden" spell books to find any spell that might be useful.

"Mione!" Ron shouted. 'Sources say that he is somewhere in Egypt. Cairo is the rumor."

"Good," Hermione said. "So Ron, have you ever ridden a camel?" Ron sighed and got up.

"Then we're going to Egypt?" Ron asked, quite nervous.

"Yes Ron, we're going to Egypt," she said.

"Oh, ok," Ron sighed. The two of them disapparated off to Egypt.

"Hermione, it's HOT here," Ron moaned as the two of them walked in the desert.

Hermione rolled her eyes and stared at Ron. "Yes Ron, we are in the desert."

"I know that!" Ron snapped. Hermione sighed and turned around. The two of them stopped walking and stared at each other.

"Ron, we have to save Harry, all right? So, just deal with the heat for now, ok?"

"I know we have to save him, Mione," Ron said. "But, your story is a little awkward, you know?"

True, Harry being trapped in a tiny box along with Mr. Malfoy was a bit of a stretch, but she knew it had to be true. Harry was there, in her head and he sounded so desperate. It had to be true.

"So, we're supposed to wander around the desert, maybe for months, for a theory, and grab a tiny box which somehow Harry and Mr. Malfoy are in, in theory, and then what? Just waltz out of there? Hello...You-Know-Who is there! He wants you dead!"

"But if we free Harry, in theory, then he will die, in theory," Hermione snapped.

"And this is all just a theory! What if he's not even here? And if he is here, where is he? Is he somewhere in the desert? And if he's in the desert, which one? And if we find the desert he is really in, then how long will it take to find him? And if we actually, somehow do find him, god knows how long before then, How do we do all of that other stuff I said before? And if we do that, and your "theory" is wrong, then what?" Hermione by now was clenching her fists, frowning and red faced.

"Ron! Just, shut it!" Hermione snapped. "Besides, I have a trick! Harry used it fourth year, and in will help us now." Hermione pulled out her wand and laid it on her hand. After a few long, hard to say or understand words, she said "Point me." The wand turned to the left and Ron looked that way.

"Why didn't you say you could do that?" Ron asked.

"Well, you were insulting my theory and I couldn't get a word in at all."

Ron sighed and the two of them started walking where the wand had pointed.

"What if it's wrong?" Ron asked after fifteen minutes.

"Ron! Just shut it, ok?" Hermione snapped. "Just shut it."

Every few minutes, Hermione did her tricky spell and they would walk closer and closer to the dark lord. Of course, she wasn't even sure if they were going the right way, but she had to keep hope.

"Hermione, it's been five hours," Ron moaned.

"And?"

"I think we should rest." Hermione wished that they could, but she couldn't waste any time at all.

"Ron, I think we should keep going. I am very tired too, Ron, but we have to keep going..."

"All right Mione, but Harry had better be there, otherwise..." Hermione was begging to agree. Harry had better be there, or she was going to be angry for about a month.

"Point me," she said. The wand spun around, and then did something strange...it pointed at the ground. Ron and Hermione looked at the ground.

"Ok, you must have done it wrong!" Ron snapped, half falling to the ground. "Harry is not buried in the sand! You-Know-Who is definitely not buried under the sand! Hello, ever heard of suffocation?"

"Yes Ron, but, have you ever heard of under ground chambers? In our apartment, there is a basement...and when you go down there, you don't have to dig!"

"Oh, yeah," Ron whispered, quite embarrassed. Hermione smiled for the first time that day.

"What are you waiting for, Ron?" Hermione said, grabbing her wand. "Get up and move so I can find the entrance!" Ron stood up and walked behind Hermione. She waved her wand, muttered, yet again, Latin words.

Ron gasped as he saw all of that sand move. It was like the parting of the Red Sea.

"So Ron, so far we've been lucky. It only took about five and a half-hours to get here! We are so close, so close...I know he's here, Ron! I just know it!"

Ron stared, he was still unconvinced, but she had every hope that Harry was down there in a tiny box. Impossible as that seemed, Ron couldn't damper her spirit.

"He's down there, Mione," Ron said quietly. Ron stared at the pit Hermione had made. It was very deep and he couldn't see anything at all.

"Pull out your wand," Hermione said. Ron sighed and did as he was told.

"Lumos!" she said. Her wand lit up and she smiled. Ron did the same thing and the two of them stared down the hole.

"So, now what?" Ron asked.

"We go down there..." Hermione said.

"How? Do you have a rope, a ladder...and even if you did, how do you..."

"Ron, you asked too many questions," Hermione said, putting her fingers over his mouth. "Let's go."

"But..." Ron protested. Her hand flew up to his mouth again.

"You afraid of falling, Ron?" she asked.

"No way, Mione! You are crazy! It's the heat...you need rest..." he muttered. Hermione ignored him.

"What else do you think we can do? We're jumping down there..."

"Oh...ok...so, what it is a tunnel leading straight to You-Know-Who...and then one of us breaks a leg? And let's say the other one drops a wand? Then what, genius? We die? Or, what if he isn't here at all and it's just a bottomless pit?"

"Ron, shhh..." I'll be right back! We won't jump, you are right, for once!" With that, Hermione disappeared, leaving Ron alone in the middle of nowhere. Fortunately, she reappeared a minute later.

"Brooms, we'll fly down there," Hermione said, tossing him a broomstick.

"Thanks, Mione," Ron said.

"I live to please," Hermione said.

"You really think he's there...he's been dead for seven years..." Ron said.

"I know, I miss him so much," Hermione sighed.

"Me too," Ron replied.

'Then, let's see him!" Hermione said.

Ron nodded and the two of them jumped on the brooms and flew, slowly, down the hole, holding their wands so they could see. Ron was a little nervous, but determined to hide it. Hermione "knew" that Harry was there. But, he thought that was impossible.

There was a bottom to this pit, which was a good thing for them. It wouldn't work too well if they flew right to Voldemort. Instead, there was a trap door, the same color as the sand around them. It was hard to see at all and Hermione didn't spot it for at least five minutes.

"Well, here it goes..." Hermione said. She opened the trapdoor a crack and stared. The hall was completely empty.

"Now what?" Ron whispered. Hermione handed him black robes.

"Put those on," Hermione replied in a hushed voice.

"Where..." Ron asked.

"Just do what I say," she snapped as she pulled robes on. She put the hood up and covered her hair. Ron sighed and did the same thing. It was hard to see Hermione's face with the robes on, which was a good thing, considering Voldemort wanted her dead.

"Ready?" Hermione asked.

"Ready," Ron responded. The two of them jumped into the hallway.

Hermione knew that Harry was there. He had to be, just had to be.

"Now what?" Ron hissed.

"Um...this way," Hermione said, unsure herself. Now that they were there, they were in grave danger.

Ron followed Hermione down the corridor to a room. She opened the door a crack and saw a lit fire and a chair. There was a high shelf, and she could make out the top of a box.

"Do you have good news for me?" someone hissed. Great, Voldemort was in that chair. Hermione nudged Ron into the room. Ron, thinking fast, put on a low voice.

"Yes master," Ron responded. Voldemort stood up and looked at Ron.

"You do not sound yourself, Avery," he hissed.

"That Granger woman, she put up a good fight," Ron muttered.

"And," Voldemort snarled. "She is dead...right?"

"Yes master," Ron said. He was so confused and scared out of his mind. "I brought you her body, it is out in the hall..." Hermione gasped and hid in the shadow of the hall. She saw Ron and Voldemort leaving the room.

Thanks to Ron, she had her chance. By now, Ron was pleading in his mind that Hermione had a plan, because he didn't.

Hermione dashed into the room and grabbed the box. She tore off the lid and turned it upside down. A blinding light appeared and surrounded her. She shut her eyes quickly. She felt a strange power around her, but it soon disappeared and she opened her eyes.

On the floor sat Mr. Malfoy and Harry. He had facial hair, not too much, but you could tell that he was a man now. He had grown since sixth year; he now was maybe five foot nine. His green eyes were beautifully shining from underneath his glasses, and above them was his scar.

"Hermione," he said happily. She smiled, but then fainted.

Hermione woke up in her own bed, dressed in her pajamas and with Harry sitting right next to her.

"Good morning," Harry said. He had cleaned up a bit, shaved his face and taken a shower for the first time in seven years.

"Harry, what happened...Ron..."

"Is fine," Harry said. "Like I told you in your dream, Voldemort died right when you released us. Good thing too, he was going to kill Ron. But there is something I have to tell you..."

"There is a lot you have to tell me, and a lot I have to tell you...I mean...seven years have passed...and..."

"We don't have time for that, Mione."

"Why not? You are free, we can talk for hours...days if you like..."

"I wish...," Harry said. "Mr. Malfoy isn't going to jail, Mione."

"And why not?" Hermione snapped.

"He is at home, he is with Narcissa and Draco," Harry continued, ignoring Hermione. "In fifteen hours, he will die..."

"What?!"

"And so will I," Harry whispered, turning his head. Hermione stared.

"No! You cannot die...why, I mean..."

"Without the black realm, I cannot survive..." Harry said. "And the Ministry has destroyed it, even if they didn't, I wouldn't go back there..."

"So, you are just going to die?" Hermione asked, quite confused and sad.

"Yeah, I am," Harry said, "but I'd rather have one day out of there then live there the rest of my life..."

"Harry, I've really missed you," Hermione said, sitting up and hugging him.

"I've missed you too," Harry said, returning the hug. "I've thought about you a lot."

"I've thought about you too," Hermione said. Harry then did something completely unexpected. He kissed Hermione on the lips. And of course, Ron walked in the room at that moment.

"Um...Harry," Ron said. Harry turned around.

"Hey Ron!" Harry said, completely ignorant. Hermione sat there behind him, in shock.

"Um...I think we have to tell you something..." Ron said, sitting next to Harry.

"Ok," Harry said, smiling. "Let me guess, you work for the Ministry! I already know...I read the Daily Prophet, a lot has changed since sixth year...you guys sure are famous now..."

"No Harry, it's not that," Hermione whispered.

"Um...ok...is it that...Ron, do you have a girlfriend?" Harry asked. "Who is it Ron? Um...wait, don't tell me...Lavender Brown..."

"No, it's not that either..." Hermione snapped. "Harry, can you leave for a second, I have to talk to Ron." Harry smiled and left the room; completely oblivious that anything had changed.

"Ron, I don't think we should tell him," Hermione said.

"And why not...he likes you, Mione! And he'll ask you out and then what?"

"He's only going to be here for one day..."

"What? Where else would he go?"

"To heaven," Hermione said. Ron stared blankly at her.

"Why...is he committing suicide...?"

"Well, he did when he left the Black Realm," Hermione began. She told him everything that she knew. Ron stared, as she told him.

"So, he's going to die?" Ron asked.

"Yes, Ron," Hermione said.

"Holy..." Ron began.

"NO CUSSING!" Hermione snapped.

"YEAH RON! NO CUSSING!" Harry shrieked in a high pitch voice. "Sorry, I got bored...your apartment is so...dull."

"Thanks Harry," Hermione snapped.

"So, what's the big secret?" Harry asked.

"Um..." Hermione began.

"It's that...um...we're taking you out for the day!" Ron said.

"YEAH!" Hermione said. Harry stared at them and smiled.

"That sounds like fun," Harry said happily. "Let's go then! Hermione, get dressed. I want to see where you like to go, and all the old crowd! How's Neville? Is Draco still as he was at Hogwarts? Is Dumbledore still alive?"

"Let's go outside," Ron said, grabbing Harry, who still was asking questions.

"I'll be out in a minute," Hermione said as Ron shut the door.

Hermione hadn't seen Harry for seven years, and her love for him had died in those seven years, but now, it was back with an almighty strength. She loved Ron, but also loved Harry.

She got dressed in causal, but nice clothes and put on make up and brushed her hair. She wanted to look good for Harry, for his last day here on Earth.

"I'm ready," Hermione said. Ron and Harry looked over at her and smiled.

"Where are we going?" Harry asked.

"Well, um..." Ron said.

"We're going to take you to our favorite restaurant," Hermione covered. Ron nodded and smiled.

"Food does sound good...I mean, it has been seven years..."

"You haven't eaten?" Hermione and Ron asked, shocked.

"The Black Realm had everything you needed to live...it made it so food and drink weren't necessary...and Voldemort wasn't about to throw a meal in there for me..."

"Why didn't you just eat our food...or ask?"

"I wasn't hungry," Harry shrugged. "I'm not now, but I haven't tasted anything forever." Harry then opened the front door of the apartment and walked outside as Hermione and Ron stared. He hadn't eaten nor had anything to drink for seven years, and now he was dying.

The two of them followed Harry outside. Their minds were filled with sorrow and a pain. They saved their best friend for nothing...for one day.

"You are acting really strange," Harry commented as they walked down the street. "Is it because I'm...you know...dying?"

"Harry...where would you get a crazy idea like that..." Ron stammered.

"You were always a terrible liar," Harry commented.

"Well," Hermione said. "Yes. I mean, we saved you and now you're...Harry, you died once...I don't want you to die again..."

"I'd rather have one day with my two best friends then live in the Black Realm for an eternity."

"That's sweet Harry," Hermione said.

"Yeah," Ron sighed.

"Well, where are we going?" Harry asked.

"Harry, it's pretty far away, would you rather take the bus or..." Hermione suggested, but Harry shook his head.

"This is my last day here, and I haven't walk for ages...I'm not wasting anything." Hermione and Ron looked at each other. They were dead tired from their five hours in the Sahara Desert, but it was his last day with them and they would not ruin it for anything. They walked, their legs sore and their minds worn out with a happy, child like Harry.

"Do you think I should visit the Dursleys?" Harry asked after ten minutes.

"Um...no," Ron panted.

"Are you ok?" Harry asked, turning around. Hermione and Ron were lagging behind. "C'mon, we'll take the bus..."

"But Harry..." Hermione began.

"Thanks Harry," Ron interrupted. He was not going to pass the bus.

They rode for ten minutes while Harry asked them questions about everything that had happened in the last seven years.

"Harry, can this wait until we get home?" Hermione asked as they got off the bus and as Harry asked if Snape finally got that Dark Arts job he wanted.

"Oh, of course," Harry said. Hermione smiled at Harry and he smiled back.

"You really are beautiful Hermione," he said, taking her hand in his. Ron's face turned red and he clenched his hands into two tight fists.

"Thank you," Hermione replied, blushing. Of course, she was blushing for Ron, but Harry of course thought that she was flattered.

"So, what's there to eat here?" Harry asked.

"Oh, well, Italian food," Ron answered, still mad. Harry was still gripping her hand and there wasn't anything he could do about it.

"Great! I love Italian food!" Harry said happily.

"That's nice," Hermione whispered, still freaked out by the day's events and Harry.

"Yeah, nice," Ron said. Ron was very protective of Hermione around other men and usually would say something. However, this would just be for one day...he could handle one day.

The little Italian restaurant smelt of Garlic and had music playing in the background. The walls were painted in vivid colors and had lovely designs on them.

"Table for three please, non-smoking if you will, under the name of Granger," Hermione was saying to one of the employees.

"Granger? As in Hermione?" the woman asked in a hushed voice. "And that there is Ronald Weasley, isn't it? Who is that young man next to him?"

Hermione, without thinking quickly said, "Harry Potter," and tried to escape.

"The Harry Potter?" the woman asked. "Well, I'll be, I thought he was dead...you must be lying."

Hermione sighed and shook her head. "No, I am not. Oh look at that, more customers here! I'll leave you to take care of them..." With that, Hermione quickly walked back to Harry and Ron.

"That took longer than it usually does..." Ron commented.

"Harry, expect reporters...I told her who you are...I'm sorry...it slipped and I will..."

"Mione, I don't care! Honestly! Only for an hour and then I won't ever see them again," Harry said, waving a hand to silence her. "Of course, if Rita Skeeter is still alive, then I'll never forgive you but..."

Hermione smiled and blushed a little. "Oh, she is."

"Well, in that case I will never forgive you and haunt you for the rest of your days and stalk you when you join me in death." Harry said, smiling at her. "So, how many articles has she written these days?"

"Millions," Ron sighed. "And every time it has to do with us, the bloody witch twists our words around! I can't stand her! I feel how you did in fourth year. If only Mione here had squashed the bug."

"So I had pity!" Hermione snapped. "God forbid that!"

"Granger, party of three. Granger, party of three," the woman shouted. The three of them walked over to her and followed her to their seats.

"Here is your menu, Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger...Mr-mr-mr...P-potter," she squeaked.

"Um...thank you," Harry said.

"It is you!" she piped up. "I see your scar! The Harry Potter! This is amazing! Can I...erm..."

"Can you what?" Harry asked, not annoyed, but quite cheerful.

"Have...your...erm...autograph?" she asked. Hermione and Ron looked at each other and laughed a little.

"Oh...sure," Harry said and happily signed a napkin for her. She squealed happily and ran off to the kitchens.

"Well, that was...odd..." Hermione commented.

"Yet, hauntingly normal," Ron sighed. "Mr. P-potter?"

"Shut it Ron," Harry said, joining in their laughter.

It was all so happy, Hermione thought to herself, and yet, so sad. This night was wonderful, though a little uncomfortable. And this was the only night that would be like this. Harry would be gone shortly.

"So, erm, is this a wizarding restaurant?" Harry asked.

"Yes, but, I do not think making it public that you are "The Harry Potter" is a good idea," Hermione answered.

"LOOK! THERE HE IS!" they all heard from behind them. "Now where are my ten galleons? Look at him! His scar! That's Harry Potter!"

"Harry Potter?" people began to whisper. People began to swarm their table. It was first year all over again, Harry, Ron and Hermione thought. People lifted Harry's bangs and gasped.

"It's the scar!" a girl shrieked.

'Harry Potter...you are...alive?" an elderly woman asked.

"Where have you been?" a fancy gentleman asked.

"I thought You-Know-Who killed you..."

"He did, though! Harry Potter is dead!" a little boy shrieked.

"No he isn't!" they heard someone yell over the crowd. The man stood tall, along with a woman and another man. "He is alive and that is him. It looks like we have the same taste in food as you do, Granger." Lucius and the rest of the Malfoys were there.

"Well, if Mr. Malfoy says it."

"Where have you been, Mr. Potter?"

"Why did you leave Mr. Potter?"

"Where have you been, Mr. Potter?" Harry sat there, baffled by everyone shouting at him and touching him, feeling his scar. Everyone was staring at him and he felt completely trapped, as if he was in that wretched box again. He was sweating and his heart was pounding in his chest.

"Mr. Potter is very tired right now," Hermione yelled. No one seemed to hear her.

"LET HIM BE!" Ron shouted. The crowd paused for about two seconds and then continued their rampage. Lucius stared at Harry, almost cruel. He knew Harry's pain, for in his own way, he had it too. Maybe.

Everyone was staring. Harry and Lucius both knew how bad stress could be. It was a wasted energy, and Harry needed all of the energy he had. It would take time out of his day, his one-day. He was beginning to feel weaker and the world began to spin.

"HE'S DYING!" Ron shouted. "LET HIM BE! HE'S DYING!" This time, the crowd stopped and stared at Ron.

"Dying?"

"He can't be dying..."

"The famous Harry Potter?"

"WILL YOU PEOPLE LISTEN?" Lucius shouted. Harry looked up at him. A Death Eater, his enemy, helping him now? How strange.

"Listen to me! Potter is dying...I know this for, the same illness is taking me as we speak! Now, you people are wasting my time and ruining my dinner...so if you please...let the damn boy be and leave us both in peace! I can't stand all the shouting!"

The people stared up at the respected man and then did as he said. Harry still felt them watching him, but it was better than before. The restaurant officials were apologizing to a raging mad Ron while Harry and Hermione ate silently. People kept staring at him. Fortunately, the staff at the restaurant were keeping reporters away, especially Rita Skeeter, who was trying to get an interview, but was forcefully being escorted from the building, so she didn't even get to take one picture.

The three of them sat in silence, staring at one another and the surrounding people, who were of course, staring back at them.

Finally, Hermione decided to break the ice.

"So, Harry, are you...erm...nervous?" she asked quietly.

"A little," he replied, not phased by the question at all. "Just a little."

"You are a great wizard, you know? Always have been, and always will be," Hermione said, a little tearfully.

"Thank you, Mione," he replied.

"I'm going to miss..." Ron began, but an owl flew into the room and landed on their table in front of him as he spoke.

"Oh no...not bloody now!" Ron snapped, reading the letter.

"What is it?" Hermione and Harry asked at the same time.

"It's a bloody letter from the Ministry. They said that I have to come in..."

"What about me?" Hermione asked, quite shocked. If one of them was called, it was usually her.

"It says that they "understand your present circumstance and have decided, with your best interests in mind, to give you the night off, Ms. Granger." I can't believe this!" Ron sighed and stared at Harry. "Well, I guess this is where we say good bye."

"I guess so," Harry said, sadly. Ron and Harry stood up and shook hands, but not for long before they were hugging like brothers. There was a slight "awe" from the spectators as Ron disappeared and saw Harry for the last time.

Harry sat down, no tears, but obviously very sad. Hermione smiled a bit and decided that it was time to get him out of the spotlight.

"Waitress, how much will it be?" Hermione asked.

"Oh...because of all of the trouble, we informed Mr. Weasley that the dinner would be free tonight. Thank you for your business ma'am. Have a good evening." Hermione smiled and nodded her head a little and she and Harry left the building.

The bus ride home was silent. Harry stared at the ceiling or out the window most of the way home and Hermione stared at him. He was so sad, so alone. She couldn't imagine how he must feel at this time at all, to know when you are going to die, to know that life was simply slipping away and that there was no cure or no way to get more time. She probably would have broken down fifteen times by now, but Harry; he stayed strong and accepted his fate, making the best of his hours.

Harry was now lying on the couch at Ron and Hermione's apartment. Hermione was tidying up the place, scrubbing the already clean counters and washing her sparkling dishes.

After a half-an-hour, Harry finally stood up and came into the kitchen, where Hermione was sweeping a spotless floor.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked, starring at her as if she was crazy.

Hermione looked up and squeaked as she hid the broom behind her back. "Um...I was...um..."

"Why are you sweeping?" Harry asked. "You could eat off of this floor, you know?"

"Oh...really? Well, I saw some dust...and..."

"You know, you shouldn't worry about me..."

"Whatever gave you that idea?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, well, the clean dishes in the soapy water, the rags out and the broom behind your back, and the stressed look on your face, and the fact that you aren't looking at me at all and the fact that there are tears on your face." Hermione stared at the swept floor even more, trying to hide her blushing.

But, before she knew it, Harry was wiping the tears off her cheeks.

"You really don't have to worry," he said. "I'll be fine. I'll miss you though."

Hermione at first did not know what to do, whether to say something or hug him. Finally, she settled to at least look at his face. Harry smiled at her and put his arms around her tightly. She now realized how much she had really missed him.

"I've decided," she said after a while. "You won't die, we'll, we'll put you in that Black Realm and..."

"Which has been destroyed," Harry commented. "I'd rather die than go back there Mione, you know that. Besides, one day in heaven is better than an eternity in hell."

Hermione stared blankly up at him, and before she could stop herself, the two of them were in a passionate kiss.