64Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns Harry Potter
Author's Notes: Well this is where a bit of history will be told and Jilly Prague is my original character. Not much of here in this chapter though. So enjoy!
Hermione Granger looked at the people around her and sighed. She was wearing a black long sleeve dress, which reached up to her ankle. She had her long brown hair tied up into a ponytail with a black ribbon. She looked at the coffin in front of her and cried. Hermione reached for her father's hand and squeeze it gently.
Robert Granger looked at his wife who was lying peacefully in the coffin. He tried hard not to cry for Hermione's sake. He looked over at her daughter who had red eyes after crying so much. At 23, Hermione had lost her mother and it pained him to see how hurt she was.
Hermione took in a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. When the Grangers found out that Eileen was having the final stages of breast cancer, Hermione was the most affected. Her mother had been her pillar of strength and her mother was the person who made Hermione who she was.
Hermione felt someone standing on her right. She looked up to see a familiar face. The round-rimmed spectacles, messy black hair and the lightning scar on his forehead suddenly made her feel at ease. Harry placed his left hand around Hermione's shoulder and she lean on his chest for support. He kissed her forehead lightly. Someone placed a hand on her left shoulder and squeeze it gently. Hermione turned and saw a red head guy who had grown taller over the past few years. Ron looked at her and gave her a tiny smile.
Despite their hectic schedule and a few years of not able to see each other, the trio remained in contact. As soon as Harry and Ron heard the news, they both knew that Hermione would need them there.
After the funeral, the three of them hanged out in Hermione's big bedroom. They all lied down on Hermione's queen-size bed with Hermione sandwiched between Harry and Ron. The two guys let Hermione cry her eyes out because they knew that she had somehow lost a part of herself.
"Thank you." She said softly.
"You're welcome." Harry and Ron said in unison.
"You know you can always count on us Hermione." Ron said.
Hermione nodded and took both of her best friend's hands into hers. She always felt comfortable around them. Even back at school, when girls were not far from having cliques that only accept members of the same gender, Hermione refrain from doing so. Well she still gossiped with Ginny and the Patil twins but hanging out was best with Harry and Ron. The adventures they all had together were the most memorable moments of her life in Hogwarts. Hermione decided to change the subject and ask them about their jobs.
"Well of course I can't complain. It's like a dream come true." Harry exclaimed.
"So when is Puddlemere's next game?" Hermione asked.
"Next week." Harry replied.
"So what is it like working with the Ministry Ron? Any luck of a pay raise?" Hermione asked, already knowing the answer.
"No…of course not and being an auror nowadays is unexciting. Well we did caught a few people suspected of being a Death Eater but it was more exciting back in those days."
"But I bet you love patrolling, now that you're doing it with Jilly." Harry teased.
"Oi!" Ron said throwing a pillow at Harry.
"Who's Jilly?" Hermione asked suddenly interested.
"Jilly Prague . She did go to Hogwarts the same year we did. She was in Ravenclaw." Harry replied. Hermione looked over at Ron for more explanation.
Ron sighed at the sight of Hermione's pleading eyes. "Jilly and I have been seeing each other for three months now." He said feeling defeated.
"Well good for you. When can I see her?"
"Not so soon!" Ron cried out. "I don't want her to be intimidated. First Harry and then you? We had too much of a reputation back in Hogwarts so she knew who she would be meeting. She was so nervous when I introduced her to Harry."
"Well just don't keep me waiting!" Hermione said. "Do you ever miss Charlie?"
"Now that's a quick change of subject!" Ron said. "Of course I miss Charlie."
The war had snatched away a lot of loved ones including Charlie Weasley. The Order of The Phoenix had lost a lot of their members. The Death Eaters had gain in numbers after hearing that their Dark Lord had raised again. Lead by Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape, troops of Death Eaters charged their headquarters at Grimauld Place. That fateful night, when the trio was only starting to gain knowledge of hexes to use to protect themselves, they were put to the ultimate test.
Harry was gone with Alastor Moody, Remus Lupin and Tonks, in search of the hiding place of the Death Eaters. It proved fatal when Lucius Malfoy gained knowledge of how three of the strongest members of the Order have left the headquarters in search of them. With Harry also out of sight, Lucius and Snape lead the Death Eaters to war.
Ron and Hermione were lucky to suffered only injuries but when the Healers at St Mungos could not revive Charlie, the Order knew that the Death Eaters wanted war. The battle lasted seven grueling months and when it ended, Lupin, Tonks, Dean Thomas and Oliver Wood were lost. They died trying to protect the good from the evil. Harry defeated Lord Voldemort single handedly.
But everyone knew that the coast was not clear yet. Several Death Eaters were still around waiting for the right time to have revenge on losing their two leaders, Lucius and Snape, and of course their Dark Lord.
"I miss Lupin…and Tonks." Harry added. "Someday, I want those Death Eaters who are still hiding to know that they don't belong in this world. I'm still bitter about it you know."
"Mum still cries everytime she looks at Charlie's picture. Sometimes I think that she still don't realize that she have five other sons who really cared for her." Ron said sadly.
"Charlie was her son too. I'm sure she was just used to you guys, excluding Percy of course, having Quidditch games in the backyard when you have gatherings. But now…all that is gone. Percy might have come back home after the war ended, but things will never be the same." Hermione said.
"I hope helping Percy with his wedding plans will keep things out of her mind for a while. Speaking about Percy getting married…I can't believe Grace is doing this. Have you met Grace? She's like the chirpiest woman!" Ron exclaimed.
"Well then what they say is correct. Opposites attract!" Harry said.