The inevitable

Moment of truth (2)

Draco had sat by the side of Hermione's bed for three days. He had been telling her how much he loved her and combed her hair every day. It relaxed him.

At night, he laid his head on her chest. It helped him to convince himself she was still alive and would be alive.

Severus was sat at the other side of Hermione, his dark eyes watching her for any sign of movement at all. He prayed over and over again that his cure would work. After all, if it didn't her death would lay on his shoulders. He was the one had made the cure.

Blaise was sat in a sofa he was conjured, his head lulled back as he slept and Luna was sleeping with her head in his lap. Pansy was curled up a chair next to Harry, whose own head was resting on hers. Ron had managed to squeeze his lanky frame into one of the Hospital Wing's small chairs.

They were all asleep except from Draco and Severus. Draco reached out and sadly stroked his girlfriend's hair.

"Please, Hermione, wake up. I need you. We all do." He whispered, his eyes tearing up.

"I know I was never really kind to you, but I felt a certain attraction to you since third year. You made me reconsider the blood issues my father had told me about. I began to realise how wonderful and brilliant Muggles really were. All because of you."

"Please, don't leave me now. I love you too much to ever let you go." Draco sobbed.

"Draco." Severus and Draco's head snapped up to look at the person who had spoken.

"Hermione! You're awake!" Draco cried, hugging her tightly.

Hermione's face slightly contorted in pain, not seen by either Draco of Severus, who was busy waking up the others.

"Hermione?" Luna asked quietly, moving towards her friend who was still led in the bed.

"Luna." Hermione smiled, reaching out for her friend's hand. Luna took it and squeezed it. She knew the look on Hermione's face.

She hugged her tightly. "You're not cured, are you?" She whispered into Hermione's ear.

"No. I feel so weak; I don't think there is much time left." Hermione whispered back.

"I love you, Hermione." Luna wept.

"I love you too, Luna."

"Hermione, you missed so much. Harry slipped Veritaserum into Ginny's pumpkin juice." Ron grinned.

"Really? What happened?" Hermione asked, masking the pain in her voice.

"She admitted to using potions on us. She used a Love Potion on Harry and a Devotion on me and the family. She was going to be arrested for using the Devotion Potion, but she ran away."

"She almost admitted to cheating on Harry and only wanting his fame and money."

"Wow."

"I know."

"How are you feeling, Mya?" Severus asked, his sharp eyes having caught onto the masked pain.

"I'm fine. Really." Hermione told him. She reached up and dragged him down to her face. "I don't blame you. You're a genius, it's just a little too late."

Severus paled and stared at her. "Hermione?"

"Draco, I love you with all my heart. Never forget that." Hermione told her boyfriend.

"I won't. I love you too." Draco replied, smiling all the while unaware that Hermione was saying her final goodbyes.

"Harry, Ron. We have been through so much together. I love you both a though you were my brothers. Never feel guilty about leaving me. It was all Ginny. Just take care of yourselves."

"Pansy, Blaise. You two have been two of the best friends a girl could ever ask for. I'm honoured to know you."

Hermione sighed softly and Draco got to his feet to get Madam Pomfrey. The Mediwitch bustled out, scolded him for not telling her sooner that Hermione was awake.

She ran the diagnostic spell over Hermione and her eyes became saddened. She met the younger woman's eyes and Hermione shook her head slightly. She didn't want them to know.

Madam Pomfrey flicked her wand and a rhythmic beeping, similar to the Muggle Heart Monitor, filled the air.

They spent the next few minutes talking to Hermione about random things, Severus telling her about how he had discovered the way to make the cure work.

Hermione smiled and listened to them all, relishing in her lat moments with her best friends. Slowly, her eyes slid shut and a smile settled on her face. She let out a soft sigh and her chest stilled. The beeping turned into a long monotonous beep.

Madam Pomfrey hurried out of her office and looked at the panic of the friends of the now dead girl.

"What's going on?" Draco cried.

"Hermione!" Luna wept.
"Wake up! Mya, please, wake up!" Severus begged.

"She's gone, isn't she?" Harry asked, turning to Madam Pomfrey with tears in his serious emerald eyes.

The Mediwitch sighed sadly and nodded. "I'm afraid so. There was nothing we could do to save her. She was too far gone when the curse was administered. She knew she was dying when I came in the first time and told me not to tell you. It was only a matter of time." She told them, her head bowed.

"Hermione! No!" Draco wailed, pulling Hermione's still body into his arms and rocking with her. "Don't leave me. You promised you would never leave me. I loved you!"

Pansy stepped forward, tears covering her cheeks, and placed her hand on Draco's shoulder. "Draco?"

"Leave me alone, Pansy. There is nothing you can say or do to console me. The only woman I will ever love is dead." Draco spat.

"Hermione wouldn't want you to give up on life just because she is gone. You know that."
"I was going to propose to her. I had the ring and everything." Draco told her, his shoulders shaking.

"Oh, Draco." Pansy sighed, hugging the boy as he cried for his lost love. "I'm so sorry."

"At least she is at peace now." Severus said, his voice cracking as his grief welled up inside of him.

Draco stroked Hermione's hair and placed a kiss on her rapidly bluing lips. "I love you. Rest well until we meet again."