You and Me, Forever - Romione

002. Endings

As Hermione sat at the edge of the lake under the golden glow of the sun, hot tears cascaded into her lap. It didn't feel fair. How could this day be so beautiful when Dumbledore was being permanently put to rest?

It felt like the world should be ending. The sky should be gray, the grass withered or dying, the sun tucked behind layers of thick clouds, the birds mournfully quiet. But instead, the grass was green and swaying like waves in the gentle breeze. The sun was shining, the birds were twittering cheerfully, and the sky was a bright, clear blue—just like Dumbledore's eyes.

He would've preferred a day like this, Hermione thought. He wouldn't have wanted his students to mourn him, he'd want them to celebrate him. That thought only made Hermione cry harder. She was so lost in her head that she almost forgot where she was until Ron wrapped her in his arms. She turned into his shoulder, his sweater muffling her sobs. He reached up and stroked her hair, a gesture that ordinarily would've made all the air rush out of Hermione's lungs. Now, though, she barely registered it.

She could feel Ron's chest rising and falling heavily, his breathing labored, and Hermione knew he was crying, too. She was strangely comforted by the fact that he needed her as much as she needed him.

She remembered what Dumbledore had once told Hermione and her classmates: "Happiness can be found in the darkest of places." She took solace in the fact that Dumbledore would encourage her to find something—or someone—to make her happy in these dark times, and she nestled deeper into Ron's arms.