New Beginnings

Disclaimer: Thanks, J.K.R. I’ll snatch these characters for a few minutes and return them unharmed.

Thanks go to CocoaChristy for giving this a read.

Staring off into the distance, I jump as Hermione appears, clutching my brother’s body to her and screaming hysterically. Everyone stands here completely dumbfounded. I am the first to go to her and look into Ron’s open eyes, blue as ever but unseeing. My mother realizes that her youngest son has been killed and collapses into my father’s arms.

“My house…” Hermione manages through frantic tears. “Death Eaters.”

I see Harry gazing down at his best friends, a hard glare in his eyes. I know that the time for mourning Ron will be later. “Let’s do this,” I tell him.

~oOo~

Waiting is the hardest thing right now. Many of the others left to go to my home to defend my parents and to avenge Ron. They’ve been gone for a long time. Who will live? Who will join Ron? My tears have finally stopped and numbness is setting in. Ron died taking a curse for me.

Mrs. Weasley won’t leave his side, and I feel uncomfortable sitting with her. I fear she will hold this grudge against me. I didn’t ask for this. I would have gladly taken his place. Why did you do this, Ron? I know the answer.

~oOo~

I return from her nearly destroyed home to find that she’s given in to exhaustion and has fallen asleep while sitting at my family’s kitchen table. Her father has been lost, but her mother is receiving care at St. Mungo’s and should live. Leaving as quickly as we did, we were able to capture or kill every Death Eater that had been in her home and had taken part in our loved ones, demises. Hours earlier, I would have given anything to have a way to be a part of her life. I would have never asked for this though.

~oOo~

Feeling someone running a hand down my back, I wake to find Harry sitting across from me while Charlie sits at my left. Ginny is hunched over, eyes closed, against Harry. After my eyes focus, I ask, “Mom? Dad?” Harry shakes his head. I turn to Charlie.

“Your father has been lost,” he admits sadly, “but your mother will live.”

“Where is she?” I ask, rising to my feet.

“I’ll take you to her,” Charlie offers.

Harry says, “No, I’ll bring her.”

“You can give my sister more comfort than I can,” Charlie says firmly, putting his arms around me.

~oOo~

Not caring that Harry is glaring at me scornfully, I Apparate Hermione to St. Mungo’s and lead her to the room where her mother is being treated.

“I’ll give you some privacy,” I say, moving towards the door.

“Please stay.”

I do and sit in the corner to watch her as she holds her mother’s limp hand and cries. If I hadn’t pushed her so far, she wouldn’t have been at her house, and Ron wouldn’t have gone to her. He would be alive. Guilt eats at me eagerly, and I do nothing to stop it. I deserve the feeling.

~oOo~

Seeing my mother so frail and near death horrifies me. Her attack is my fault. My father’s murder is my fault. Ron’s death is my fault. I look over at Charlie and see that he looks as broken as I feel. I want to rail at him and ask if he’s proud of himself, but I know that it’s not the thing to do. His part is minor in what happened. If I would never have been graced with magic, Voldemort would have never heard of me, and my parents would be fine. It’s just too much to handle now.

~oOo~

After listening to hours of whispers from daughter to sleeping mother, I pry her away from the bed and ask if she’d let me take her back home. She nods numbly, and within moments, I am carrying her up the stairs at my family’s home. Noticing that Harry is with Ginny in her room, I keep climbing the stairs and place Hermione in Ron’s bed, feeling that she needs to be with ‘him’ this night.

“Leaving?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t.”

“All right,” I reply, conjuring a chair and settling in to watch her sleep. I wonder if Ron’s been taken off already.

~oOo~

I know Charlie is hurting, and the first moment we get after the funeral, I pull him aside and give him a hug.

“Hermione, I’m so sorry,” he says. “If I hadn’t instigated—”

“Shhh,” I whisper. “Things happen for a reason. I think if I hadn’t gone home, my mother would have died with my father.” I sigh. “Granted, Ron would be alive, but I think if he would have had to choose, he would have picked this. It’s just his way.”

He nods and seems somewhat relieved, but pain is still in his eyes.

“We’ll get through this.”

~oOo~

Hermione consoles Ginny while Harry comes to talk to me. I listen to him only half-heartedly, as I have other things on my mind. I finally hear something that catches my interest.

“Don’t you hurt her or leave her again. Ron wouldn’t want that,” he says casually before sipping his drink.

“He wanted me to leave her alone. I am confused.”

“That was before.” He nodded towards the girls. “Let the past stay there. Look to the future. It’s what we all have to do if we’re going to win. Ron’s death won’t be in vain.”

“Thanks, Harry. We’ll see.”

EPILOUGE

Months have passed since we lost Ron. I’ve watched as others fell as the war came to a close. Charlie has never left my side since Ron’s death. He only offered companionship, never crossing the line. Until I told him what Ron said to me right before his death, that is. In that instant, things changed. Without another word, he became my future, and things developed between us again. Mrs. Weasley never said a word when she saw us huddled together for the first time. My mother welcomed Charlie into our lives. And we’re about to welcome a daughter.

~oOo~

I smile as Hermione shows her mother the pictures from the doctor’s visit. Both are excitedly watching the little one’s movements.

“She’s beautiful,” Jane says.

“She is,” I agree.

“Well, we can’t really see her that clearly,” Hermione puts in.

“Anything from you has to be beautiful,” I say, unashamed.

She smiles and leans over to kiss me. Her mother interrupts the moment.

“What will you name her?”

“Charon,” Hermione says promptly.

“That’s different.”

We’ve never discussed it, so I listen to her explanation.

“The ‘cha’ is for Charlie, and the ‘ron’ is for Ron.”

I nod. “I like it.”

Southern’s Notes: I’m sorry that I included the small epilogue in with this one or if it seems like the tale was cut short. I feel as though it’s enough to give us something to look forward to and think about without having to actually see it.

Charon is a name that I’ve always liked. It can be found in Astronomy as one of Pluto’s moon’s, and it can also be found in mythology, as the name of the ferryman who ferried the dead across the river.

Thanks for reading. I appreciate the kind reviews—especially since I’ve never written these ships before.

Christy’s Notes: Oh, how sad and sweet at the same time! I felt bad for Ron, but I agree that he'd want them to be happy. I am glad Harry gave his blessing.