"After the war"
Those were the words they had told each other upon reuniting in the Room of Requirement. Those were the words they told each other at Bill and Fleur's wedding.
It seemed to be fated to happen after all.
Fred cradled her lifeless body in his arms, careful not to move her unnaturally. Even if her spirit had left her body, he held on as if he had hope, tears streaming down his cheeks rapidly as he hiccuped.
Ron and Harry were speechless and there was two reasons for this. Their best friend, the girl they watched grow up from an 11 year old bushy haired know-it-all, to the brightest witch of Hogwarts, had died. The other being the obvious show of strong affection from Ron's older brother Fred.
The two didn't seem close before going off for the Horcrux hunt. They seemed as if it was Charlie or even Bill talking with Hermione. They hadn't seen it.
Harry now knew why she had been so eager to tune into Potterwatch, despite being on a hunt. He now knew why she had clung to the voices from the radio. He now knew every single one of her reasonings.
"May I have this dance, dear Hermione?" Fred bowed jokingly as he offered his freckled pale hand to his younger brother's classmate.
"Of course, dear Frederick." she smiled, taking his hand and placing one on his shoulder as the music became a slower tune.
George noticed how Fred and Hermione watched each other, softness in their eyes, the way they swayed together, and how close they stood with her head eventually staying on his chest and his chin delicately on top of her hair. Fred was almost hugging her, his arms wrapped safely around her petite and shorter frame. It was as if the world around them stopped and they could savour this one moment together, just the two of them. They seemed to love each other even more than the bride and groom. No, they did love each other more than the bride and groom. No one could love someone more than Fred could Hermione.
That much was apparent to George and Harry, the two who couldn't be more blind to romance.
It was so she could reassure herself that he was okay. George and Harry had seen how Fred and Hermione gazed lovingly at each other at the wedding, how they danced together, and how they had even snuck off for a few minutes.
Harry felt guilty that he had, in a way, taken away such a beautiful relationship from two people who loved each other.
He watched sorrowfully as Fred mourned the loss of Hermione, the woman whom he thought of as a sister and whom Fred thought of as a future. Many tears erupted from Harry's eyes. Another relationship destroyed by the Voldemort... How many more would perish until the sick bastard disappeared for good?
It was the first time Harry saw anyone this broken. Hell, Fred didn't even make any attempt to wipe his tears or try to stay silent, he openly wept. Even Ron and George were surprised by this. To them, it was the very first time they'd seen him cry.
George crouched down beside Fred and parted Hermione's hair from her face, and mumbled in a sad tone, quietly "Fred... We should bring her to the Great Hall." Fred nodded and slowly stood up, holding Hermione —the strong-willed, compassionate, loyal-until-death woman— whom deserved nothing more than a long peaceful life without the overwhelming fear of death or violence to torment her. What had she done to deserve such an end? Did the universe despise them so much they couldn't let her survive this much?
In the Great hall, many people turned to see the Weasley twin carrying the Gryffindor princess, the one who was so knowledgeable from the very beginning. Sad glances cracked throughout the crowd as they realised the worst had happened.
