One Last Try [HP Jamione fanfic]

59. It's Time To Go

A/N: I'm sorry.. This is gonna be a heavy chapter

20th April 1980

The hand on the clock was pointing to 'LOST'. It would be forever.

"Hermione." James watched his girlfriend sadly from the entrance to Iphemia's dressing room. "We need to go now. They need to start."

Hermione didn't acknowledge him. She had her head buried in the silk robe her mother wore often, breathing in the subtle perfume, and ignoring the tears soaking in. Her knuckles were white as her fingers tightened around the delicate fabric.

"I can't go out there." She finally said quietly, keening sobs leaving her around the words. "If I go it means she's gone forever."

James swallowed thickly, his own painful memories close to the surface. He stepped into the room, straightening his funeral robes as he sunk onto the small bench next to Hermione. Her body was shaking when he pressed a hand to her back, and he could hear her trying to gulp in air past her sobs.

"I know, love. But if you don't go out there and say goodbye to her, you'll never forgive yourself."

"James–" Hermione looked up at him, her face red and blotchy, though the makeup Twinky had tearfully helped her apply that morning was still perfect and unmoved thanks to the powerful staying spells the house elf had used. "She's never coming back, is she? My mum is dead." James pulled her into a tight hug, holding her close as she broke down in his arms, body curling in on itself as he stroked a hand over her hair.

"I'm so sorry." He didn't need to say anything other than that. Hermione didn't need confirmation from him, she just needed to say it, to acknowledge what had happened. He swallowed back the instinctive empty platitudes he wanted to offer her, knowing they wouldn't mean anything. They hadn't when people had offered them to him at Dorea's funeral.

"Potter." James looked up to see the twins standing in the doorway. Their hair was a fright, completely untamed, and they both had tired looking, red-rimmed eyes. "We'll take her down." James was still unsure which twin was which, but he nodded at the one who'd spoken and left Hermione with a chaste kiss on her forehead.

She smiled waterily up at him, no happiness in the gesture. It was just an acknowledgement that she'd be okay if he left her with the twins.

"Potter's right, 'Mione." Gideon sat down beside her where James had just been and pulled her into his arms. Tears started falling silently from his own eyes when Hermione sobbed into his chest, letting any facade of strength she'd been maintaining fall away. Fabian's face had crumpled in deep sadness too, but like his twin, he was focused on their broken little sister. "You'll regret not coming and saying goodbye to mum. You didn't get a chance to say goodbye to your Muggle parents, so you should take this opportunity."

"I can't do this, Gid."

"You're not alone, love. We won't leave you alone."

Hermione pulled back and looked at her brothers through red-rimmed eyes. She couldn't deny the relief that flooded through her at the reassurance. She hadn't even been aware it was a worry until it was assuaged. "Promise?"

"Of course, 'Mione." Fabian knelt down in front of her, and took her hands in his. "We're here. Dad's here. Molly and Arthur. Potter. All your friends. You've helped so many of us through bad times, do you really think we'd leave you to cope with this by yourself."

"Fab's right, love. Mum might be gone, but the rest of our family are here. We can help each other through this. You've just gotta let us."

Hermione took one of her hands back from Fabian to swipe at the tears welling again. "Okay." She nodded, and followed when Gideon stood from the bench seat and helped her up.