Edge Of Gravity

“Harry please, just hold on. Just hold on, we’re almost there.” Hermione grunted, pulling the half conscious wizard toward Hagrid’s old hut. She had nearly sobbed seeing the old shack, a place that had become their sanctuary over their childhood years. “Just a few more steps.”

Her feet felt of lead as the Dementors pressed against her mind, feeding off all her hopes and happiness. All she had to do is go up the steps, open the door and then everything would be okay. Harry would be safe.

“Hermione.” The words gargled through Harry’s lips, causing the sway the Dementors possessed lessen. Her legs struggled up each step, Harry’s own attempts to try to find his feet making the climb all that more difficult.

“Hurry, ‘Mione, please hurry.”

A cry strangled escaped from her lips at the use of her old nickname. Everything seemed to center around that knob, the distant sound of screeching echoing through the grounds. The creatures would be coming for them soon. She needed to get them inside. She needed to turn that knob. “Hold on Harry, it‘ll be okay.”

The door flew open, a pang of sadness ripping through her at seeing that it was only her hand and not Hagrid on the other side. She tugged at the sluggish body at her side until she was able to slam the door shut, clicking the long ago rusted lock into place.

Harry slumped further into her as he gave up on all hope of finding his bearings.

“Don’t worry Harry, we’re safe.” She whispered, praying fervently that this was close enough to the Forbidden Forest to keep them at bay. “We’re safe.”

“Safe?”

“Yes, we’re in…” Hermione couldn’t bring herself to utter his name, fore even after all this time, she could still see him as fresh in her mind as she had then. “We’re safe.”

The hut was still the same; all that was missing was a gentle giant and his slobbery hound. She clung tighter to Harry, dragging the boy to the bed nearly double his length. Dust clung to the covers as they never had in the times she had entered before; confirming the lack of owner. Hermione swallowed, gently depositing Harry upon it.

“Hermione?”

“I’m here, Harry.” She cooed, running her fingers over his forehead.

“Tell Ron he owes me 2 chocolate frogs.”

Hermione couldn’t hold back the choked sob as she continued to pet the younger boy’s head. “Sure Harry.” Tears brimmed on her lashes, the boy whom had died for her so long ago snuggled into the passed gamekeepers bed.

--
“Harry, you’re going to fail.”

“Hermione, this is my last year. Do you think Snape will really fail me? He wants me out of school as much as I do.” Harry laughed, leaning against the rail of stairs. “Besides, I studied. Some.”

“Three hours of you and Ron arguing about Qudditich does not count as studying.”

“Hermione, we weren’t arguing. Ron was simply saying that the Bigonville Bombers seeker was better than the Chudley Cannons, and I was simply correcting him. I can’t help that he didn’t want to admit it.”

“You’re going to fail.” Hermione sighed, the staircase shifting beside them.

Harry quirked a smile in her direction, reaching up to rub his forehead. “Harry, maybe you should see Dumbledore about the burning. Ron said that you haven‘t been sleeping, it been hurting so bad.”

“It’s nothing, really.” Harry sighed, letting his hand drop to his side. “I can’t run to Dumbledore every time my scar hurts.”

“Harry its gotten worse.” Hermione frowned, casting Harry her most disapproving look. “Ron told me about you collapsing last night. You need to tell Dumbledore at least…” She eyes grew huge, watching Harry clutching his head again. “Harry…”

“NO, PLEASE!” A scream echoed through the halls, making both Harry and herself jump.

“What was that?” Hermione whispered, looking back at Harry, whose wand was at the ready. She scanned down the stairs, her eyes narrowing as a shift of robe came into sight.

“HERMIONE MOVE!” Her body slammed into the wall as the scream of curses boomed behind her head. The charge of magic prickled the back of her neck as she hurriedly searched through her robes for her wand.

“POTTER!” The wand seemed to weigh a million pounds in her fingers as she raised it at the already fallen Deatheater on the stairs before her.

“Miss Granger.” Hermione spun on her heels as she was shoved behind the black robes of Professor Severus Snape. “Stay behind me.” Her hands clutched the small wand in her hand as she heard several deep voices scream unforgivable curses through the halls of Hogwarts. “Crucio!”

A shiver ran down her spine as the deep belt of Snape’s voice ripped through all of the sounds, repeating counter curses over and over again. She pushed herself further into the robes, the entire castle seeming to fill with a hate that she had never felt in her life. It terrified her; made her wish that she could wake from this hellish dream.

“AVADA KEDAVARA!”

Hermione squeezed her eyes shut, her fingers tangling into the soft black material before her. “Wake up, Hermione. Wake up.”

“Miss Granger.” Hermione forced away the voice, it was all a dream. “MISS GRANGER!”

Hermione mind scrambled as her body was shook so violently, she was sure that the ache in her neck couldn’t happen in a dream. “Professor?” She whispered, blinking at a pale Snape.

“Yes.” The words were shallow, as she tried to push away from his arms. “Where’s Harry?”

“Do not worry about that now Miss Granger, we must…”

“H..H..Haaarrry.” Ron’s voice trembled behind the black wall of Snape, making the man spin to look.

“Weasley, don’t.”

Hermione felt a chill run down her back, seeing the tears flooding Ron’s cherry red face. “NO, HAAARRRY NO!”

“No, No.” She whimpered, trying to shuffle backwards on the stairs but her robes caught her feet. “NO!”

“MISS GRANGER!” Snape arm shot out as her body tilted backwards. His robes swirled enough to show the hand dangling over the top step. The phoenix wand still clutched in his hand, as everything fell into darkness.

--
“Harry, I‘m... I’m sorry. I should of made you go to Dumbledore but…” Hermione throat constricted, her fingers petting his soft black hair. She knew that Harry’s scar had been hurting, but she didn’t do anything. “I’m sorry.”