Harry/Hermione
You should be here.
The familiar, messy script brings tears to her eyes. As does the agony that darkens the green eyes rereading his own words. Maybe if she tries hard enough, she can pretend that she’s really here, curled up beside him in the common room.
It’s not the same without you.
Even as the tears slip past her lips, they can’t replace the taste of ash coating her mouth. She tries to leave, to run from this pain. But, no matter how much she wills herself to apparate, her body remains trapped, forced to face his heartbreak.
They say it was quick—painless.
If he could only feel the devastation twisting itself inside her. It’s torture; reaching for him, watching her hand fall through his shoulder and back to her side. She’s nothing more than a haunting.
I don’t know how to move on.
Part of her doesn’t want him to.
“Remember me,” she tries to say, but no sound comes out.
She watches his head fall into his hands, his body quaking as his tears muck up the fresh ink.
You’ll always be my best friend.
It reads like goodbye, and she’s not ready. She doesn’t want him to be ready, either. Her throat burns as she begs him to see her, to hear her. But it’s no use—he stares right through her.
“Harry, it’s time…” A freckled hand gently brushes his shoulder.
“Wait,” he whispers, voice strained.
Tell my parents I love them.
Hermione can’t, and it breaks her heart. There’s no brilliant light to guide her elsewhere. No familiar voices to bring her to the next life. She’s alone and stuck.
I love you, Hermione.
She watches him leave the common room, sniffling as Ginny comforts him the way she cannot.
Love, Harry x