Always and Forever

Chapter 38: The End of it All...

Hermione POV

Harry's messy black hair was guiding Ron and Hermione towards the gargoyle that guarded the head's office. The statue allowed the trio to climb into the spiral, stone staircase. When her friend pushed the door to enter the office, they were caught off guard by the applause that filled the room.

All of the portraits of the past headmasters and headmistresses of Hogwarts were giving him a standing ovation. He went over to the largest painting of Dumbledore and he held up the Elder Wand. "I don't want this."

"What? Are you mental?" Ron cried out loudly as his blue eyes bugged out in disbelief at the words that Harry just said.

"I know it's powerful. But I was happier with mine." He began to rummage around in the pouch that hung around his neck, and pulled out the two halves of holly still just connected by the finest thread of phoenix feather. He laid the broken wand upon the headmaster's desk, touched it with the very tip of the Elder Wand and uttered, "Reparo."

"I don't believe it." Hermione let out a small whisper, knowing that his wand was beyond ability to be fixed by even the best and most established wandmakers.

His wand resealed, red sparks flying out of the tip. He smiled and picked up the holly and phoenix wand. "I'm putting the Elder Wand back where it came from. It can stay there. If I die a natural death like Ignotus, its power will be broken, won't it? The previous master will never have been defeated. That'll be the end of it?"

Dumbledore nodded and the two smiled at each other.

"Are you sure?" Ron asked.

"I think Harry's right." She insisted, smiling at her friend. "The wand's more trouble than it's worth."

Harry nodded in agreement. "And quite honestly, I've had enough trouble for a lifetime. Do you think Kreacher would bring me a sandwich to the Gryffindor dorms? I think I fancy a nap."

Ron and Hermione let out a laugh as they helped their friend to his destination of choice. Ron decided that a nap sounded pretty good as well and the two boys began to drift away after sinking their teeth into a roast beef sandwich.

She was good at keeping her promise and went to search for George. Her heart dropped slightly when she found him sitting next to Fred, waiting for it to be his brother's turn to be taken away from the battle scene. His hand was clutching his twin's.

"George?" She asked in a small voice as she sat next to him.

"I can't leave him here. Not until they take him to the funeral home. He's next in line to go. They just took Tonks and Remus." It looked like he had been crying.

"I wish I would've known you were all alone." Hermione said as she rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "I wish I'd been here with you."

"I needed this time." He smiled and kissed the top of her head as the two funeral home directors apparated to the spot in front of him. "Fred Weasley. My parents had already given you lot the will."

The two tired looking men nodded and waved their wands, raising the late prankster's body up and onto a gurney looking object. "We will OWL your family with more information as soon as possible with arrangements."

George gave a single nod as the Portkey that the men had took Fred with them in a pop. Hermione squeezed George as tightly as she could, willing for him to feel her in the moment and not be lost in the sea of grief about losing his brother. "There's time for mourning, I think I'd rather walk around the Lake. Would you join me?"

She smiled at him and took his hand as they walked towards the Black Lake in companionable silence, just happy to have the other's hand in their own.