August | Hermione Granger x OFC

Chapter 114

*9 months later* HEYYYYY IS ANYONE THERE🎤🎤🎤

CW: description of injury. yup she's going through it as usual

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Snowflakes floated down from the sky as they sat closely together - for warmth, and because they could. Hermione had cast a charm to prevent them from getting snowed on, but only after several flakes had made themselves at home in both of their hair. Robyn thought it looked like they had dandruff. Hermione thought it looked cute.

"You know, I feel really old," sighed Robyn, and it was true, not only because she knew she was reaching her so-called expiry date, but because she'd been through so much at this point that it'd be no surprise should she find some grey hairs amidst the dyed blonde strands.

"Really?"

She shrugged. "Way older than I used to."

"That's... sort of how ageing works."

"Oh, shut your mouth," she laughed breathily, nudging Hermione's side, and Hermione smiled softly back at her, which only inspired yet another cheesy comment from her; they were on fire tonight. "You know, I'm- I'm glad to have grown up with you."

Hermione narrowed her eyes, but her smile did not falter. "Grown up? We were already eleven and twelve when we met." When Robyn shot her an unamused look, she defended, "What? I'm just saying."

"You're telling me you stopped growing after the age of twelve?" Robyn said doubtfully, glancing down. "I know you didn't have those when we first met."

"Cheeky!" Hermione laughed. "All right, fine, we were still growing."

"We are still growing."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "The average girl finishes puberty at the age of fourteen."

Robyn rolled her eyes. Hermione was always so practical, so analytical. Meanwhile, Robyn was trying to be all profound and philosophical and whatnot. "What I mean is that we're still, you know, learning and- and changing... growing..."

"Well, that's true, I suppose–"

"Oh, good, as long as you suppose."

"Well, thank you. But before I was rudely interrupted, I was going to add that I hope I get to grow old with you," Hermione finished sincerely, and Robyn's heart ached suddenly and, well, profoundly. Because that wasn't going to happen. Ever. Not in this lifetime.

Because she wasn't going to grow old. She might not even see her seventeenth birthday.

"Oh," was all she could manage. Oh. She cleared her throat, staring at the snowflakes still falling, appreciating their beauty while she still could, and said in a meek voice, "Same..."

Hermione either didn't pick up on her solemnity or chose not to address it, asking, "Do you want to get married one day?"

Robyn hesitated, though her heartbeat did not - it picked up in anticipation. "In general? Or... to you?"

"When it becomes legal, well, to me, silly," Hermione said as if it were obvious, and maybe it was. Robyn's heartbeat did not slow down. She felt a rush go through her. She was happy... for all of two seconds, but then–

But then.

Of course she wanted to marry Hermione one day. But that wasn't going to happen. Ever. Not in this lifetime. Because she wasn't going to grow old. She might not even see her seventeenth birthday...