The War of the Stories

Memorial Service

*Hermione's POV*

I felt a sharp pain in my chest, and immediately knew what it meant. I'd predicted it, of course, but I'd so wished that I'd be wrong. I glanced over at Cade and saw Bellatrix looming over him, laughing triumphantly as he bled out. That explained it. A single tear ran down my check as I realized- this was it. We wouldn't live to see the end of this.

Ready? I asked Cade.

Yes... He thought back, his thoughts laced with depression.

*Nionnien's POV*

The whole world seemed to freeze. This couldn't be happening. I couldn't- I refuse to believe it! Cade and Hermione are not dying. Oh no. Not on my watch. I took a step forward, ready to run to them and try to help, but they both dissolved into golden light.

Light that filled the sky, pushing the opposing side back, literally throwing people in the trees and knocking things from the sky. The whole forest glittered for a moment, the pieces of light that were formally Cade and Hermione, lighting up the world, with little, glittering specks of light.

I lost it. I actually cried. I try not to cry in public, but here I am, in front of everyone, sobbing where I should have even celebrating. But there's no body. There's nobody to have a funeral for, there are no remains. I would never hear Cade or Hermione's helpful voices again. I would never receive another kind gesture from Cade, never again hear Hermione comment on some book I'm reading. They're gone.

*Angelyn's POV*

I couldn't believe it. Cade and Hermione, our leaders, sacrificed themselves to let us win this war. Only 13 years old! That isn't right, not at all! Cade will never see his family again, they'll sleep eternally forever and ever, under the sleeping curse he put them under.

Cade's leaving us, his friends, devastated and heart broken. But of no fault of his own. If it hadn't been for that Bellatrix, we wouldn't have lost him, or Hermione. After Matthias, and now Cade and Hermione, Bellatrix has taken too much from us. The war is over, but at a terrible price. 

*Paris's POV*

"No!" I shouted, yelling at nothing. "No, no, no..."

First Matthias, then Elijah, now Cade and Hermione. Everyone I care about is dying, I can't deal with this, this is too much! I have lost too much, and it isn't right. When Matthias died, I was full of ambition for revenge, but now, after all this? I'm heartbroken.

*Olivia's POV*

I watched the little sparks of light disappear, and wondered how this was even possible. Cade and Hermione were strong, bold, traveling extensively for way too long, and then dying.

Is their lives a reasonable price to pay for winning this war? I don't think so. I would do anything to bring them back. Both of them, they have so much more to live for, so much more to love and experience.

---ONE WEEK LATER—

*Nionnien's POV*

The memorial service is today. We won the war, and Bellatrix's dead body was found a mile away, thrown far into the air by the light that Cade and Hermione emitted. But nobody cared about her at this point.

Cade and Hermione are what matter most to us today. There's no body to bury. But everyone's here, here to honor their memory, and everyone else we'd lost in the war. They all understood that we'd won, but at a terrible price.

Everyone was wearing white because of the light from Cade and Hermione's death. I even agreed to put on a dress for this. Cade, Hermione, hell, even Umbridge are worth more than my stupid hatred of dresses. I no longer care what people think of me. I let the scars on my arms stand out pale against my skin. The whole room seemed to glow slightly, white drapes blowing in an enchanted wind, the ceiling of the great hall looking sunny. A pure unspoiled white color.

t's perfect for Cade and Hermione. They deserved this ceremony after their great sacrifice. Everyone they met on their long journey was there, completely filling the room. I stood next to Draco, gripping his hand tightly. I had a speech to give, after all.

The ceremony began. Dumbledore stepped up to the podium and made a speech. Then it was my turn.

I walked across the Great Hall, the clicks of my high heels echoing in the high ceilinged room. I climbed up to the podium, and looked out across the audience. The first one I noticed was Draco, looking up at me, supportive. Angelyn stood next to Eragon, the two making light conversation. Dumbledore sat down next to McGonagall, and I caught a glimpse of Nico, lurking at the edge of the crowd. Annabeth and Percy chatted lightly with Paris, and Elijah floated next to Myrtle, standing next to Meggie, Amy, and Dan. Olivia whispered something to Katniss, even after the bad start I'd heard they'd gotten off to. I even saw people I didn't recognize, like a girl in a black dress, and a boy with shockingly white hair.

Cade and Hermione had touched so many people, affected them so much that they stayed for their funeral.

I cleared my throat and began. "Cade was a great friend of mine, there for me when I most needed it. I'm sure Hermione would have been too, if I'd known her when it happened. They saved us all by sacrificing themselves. I know that personally, not many of us would have had the courage to do that. It means a lot to me, as it does to all of us, that they felt the need to save us, sacrifice themselves for us. Let Cade and Hermione rest forever in the Eden they belong in. The world wouldn't exist right now if it wasn't for them, none of us here in this room would be living if it wasn't for their ultimate sacrifice. Let us honor them here and forever more. Thank you, Cade and Hermione" I finished, chocking up at the end.

Draco took my arm and led from the hall. 

"Nionnien... that speech... it brought even more tears to my eyes." he whispered.

Paris walked away from Annabeth and Percy to talk to Nionnien. "Thank you for being bold enough to go up there and say that, Nionnien. Without them... we'd all be nothing. We owe so much to them, and yet there's nothing we can do to thank them now that they're gone. We will all be forever grateful. They are our saviors. Our martyrs. Whichever term you prefer, they saved us. And you were able to say that."