IF Tomorrow Never Comes

The Dawn of a New Day





Severus paced the field that was littered with the bodies of dead Wizards and Witches. Many had died that day as the battle raged. Poppy had been killed while trying to tend a fallen wizards wounds. Madam Hooch had attacked Lucius Malfoy and dealt him a deathblow right before he was able to attack Potter from behind.



When Voldemort had finally fallen, Harry had stood over him, a look of utter exhaustion on his face before he collapsed on the blood soaked ground. Neville, Ron, and Draco had scrambled to take him to St Mungo’s immediately.



Draco had surprised the lot of them by changing sides after the death of Dumbledore. But then, Albus had told Snape that he suspected that the boy had a soft spot in his heart after all. And the truth was no one could read anyone better than Albus had.



He was relieved to know the boy who lived had made it through this final battle. He may have never liked Potter, but he wished him no lasting harm. But even as he was glad Potter survived, worry creased his brow as he searched for the one person who had become very important to him in the last few days.



She had shared herself so willingly that night before the battle had begun. Although they had not been able to be together since then, she had mentioned to both of her friends that if she made it through this final battle, she planned on pursuing a relationship with Severus.



He smirked as he remembered the look on Ron Weasley’s face. “You what? Have you gone mad? He’s almost as old as me mum!” he had said, not knowing that Severus had stood in the shadows, listening. A flutter began in his heart at the thought of Hermione braving her friends wrath to tell them how she felt for him.



His eyes searched the field frantically as he thought of finally finding that one person that completed him being taken away from him so cruelly. Fear pierced his heart as he thought of Hermione being taken from him forever. His breathing became labored as he began searching in earnest. Just as he began to feel a deep feeling of dread within his heart, he heard her voice behind him.



“Severus?”

Hermione stood stock still. Tears shimmered in her eyes as she waited to see if he was relieved or disappointed to see her. Her heart beat wildly in her chest as he closed the distance between them and gathered her up in his arms.



Crying out in relief, she held to him as if her life depended on it. When at last she found her voice, it was a whisper. “I couldn’t find you. I...I thought that...”



“Shhh...” His lips found hers in a feather soft kiss that tore at her heart. “I’m here. I’ll never leave your side again. I swear it!”



Hermione took comfort in the warmth of his embrace. Holding him close, she turned her head to survey the loss of life all around them. It was worse than anything she had ever seen. In a voice that shook, she asked, “Did you see Harry? Ron?”



Severus gathered brushed a lock of hair away from her eye as he met her gaze. “Draco and Ron took Harry to St Mungo’s. I believe he will be back to his old self within a few days. He did well, Hermione. You should be proud.”



Hermione offered him a shaky smile. “I am.”









Draco and Ron exchanged baffled looks at Harry’s strange behavior. They both expected him to be overjoyed at the defeat of Voldemort, but neither had considered that he would be sullen and bereft of any emotion whatsoever.



Ron stepped closer to the bed. “Harry... Why aren’t you happier? I don’t understand... I mean, He’s gone. We’ll never have to deal with him again.” His eyes searched his best friends face. “Doesn’t that make you happy?”



Harry lay on his side, staring out the window. “Yeah... sure Ron. If it makes you feel better for me to say I’m overjoyed, like some jolly idiot then, yes, I’m happy. Now, bugger off and let me just sleep.”



Draco crossed his arms in an angry gesture. “Potter, you’re a prat!”



Suddenly Harry was off the bed and standing in front of Draco with a malicious look in his eye. “And you’re a turncoat! You couldn’t even make up your mind early on whose side to be on!” He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.



“I am trying to get the images of all the people that died out of my head! How can I be so terribly happy when there was so much loss of life, Malfoy?” His eyes brimmed with tears as he looked from Draco to Ron. “How many lost their lives before I was able to take out Riddle?” He turned then to look back out the window. “Who haven’t we found yet that may be dead?”

Ron knew instantly that Harry was talking about Ginny. They had lost sight of her just before the end and neither of them knew where she was now. No word had come yet and that didn’t sit well with either of them. Shaking his head, he spoke firmly, “She’s not dead, Harry. I would know if she was.”





Draco turned to gaze at Ron, confused. “Who isn’t dead? Granger? I mean... Hermione?” He knew that he had been accepted into their circle of friends, but he still had a hard time trying to put their given names with their faces. Harry would always be, Potter to him. He didn’t think he could change that.



At the mention of their third friend, both Harry and Ron looked went pale. “Her too,” Ron said softly.



Harry closed his eyes. “We don’t even know about her, either?”A pain started deep inside his chest and he felt himself becoming physically ill. What was the point of winning if Both his best friend and his girlfriend were forever gone from him.



At that moment, the door opened and Hermione walked into the room, with a reluctant Snape following behind her. “Well, I know about me, and trust me, I’m fine!” She beamed as the two of them raced to her side and she returned their hugs with a tearful smile. “I’m so glad you are both okay!”



Harry pulled back and searched her face and body with his eyes, as if to make sure she was uninjured. “Thank Merlin!” he smiled, before asking, “Did you? Do you know if... Ginny?”



Hermione shook her head before looking back at Severus, who shook his own head in answer to her silent question. Quietly, he offered, “They are still searching, Mr Potter. I am sure she will turn up...” he hesitated before adding, “Unharmed.” Even as he spoke the words, he felt something fowl settle in the pit of his stomach. He hoped that he was correct and not just offering false hope.