Chapter 1: No More Hope

Hermione took a deep breath as she looked at herself in the full-length mirror. Closely, she examined her creamy skin and deep brown eyes. With the exception of her formal attire, she looked like her usual self.

Good, she thought. The concealment spells are holding up nicely.

It's been five years since the defeat of Voldemort and today was a cause for celebration. Or at least, it should be. Today, there was a Weasley wedding. Everyone was in high spirits and excited for the evening's events. It was bound to be a fun-filled night. It was the wedding of a Weasley twin, after all. Fred Weasley was due to marry Alicia Spinnet today. Joy, Hermione thought. I hope I can make it through tonight. I just want to see him happy, one last time…

With one last look at her false reflection, Hermione grabbed her clutch purse and apparated to the Burrow; the wedding was due to start in fifteen minutes.

Hermione did her best to blend in with the other wedding guests. She wanted to be invisible today – a silent observer in a sea of smiles and laughter. She sat as far away from the front ash she could get without raising suspicions. Truth be told, she didn't want them to see her cry. Hermione tried her best to block out the majority of the ceremony. She was torn between wanting to be in Alicia's place and enjoying seeing Fred be truly happy. It wasn't until she sat down at an obscure table at the reception that the reality of her situation hit her. She had just resolved to spend the evening drowning out her sorrows in firewhiskey when a shocked, urgent whisper met her ears.

"Hermione?" She looked up into the concerned eyes of Luna Lovegood.

"Hello, Luna," Hermione said with a small smile. Luna was the only person who knew of her condition.

Luna quickly took the chair next to Hermione's at her lonely little table. "Hermione, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at St. Mungo's trying to figure out the cure?"

Hermione's smile fell to be replaced by a vacant stare. "You know there's no cure for what I have."

"Don't say that," Luna replied in a sad whisper. "There's got to be something the Healers can do. Didn't you tell me there was a cure once?"

Hermione sighed and fiddled with the glass of firewhiskey in front of her. "Yes," she said in a dead voice. "But, that cure isn't possible for me now."

"Surely it can't be too late, yet. There's got to be a way to stop this from happening!"

"Luna, you know as well as I do, I can only be cured if my 'true love' is found and he confesses to share my feelings." Hermione gulped down her drink and grabbed another from a passing waiter. She was determined to drink away her problems tonight.

"So," Luna said quietly. "The Healers couldn't figure out who your true love was?"

Hermione cringed and threw back another drink. "Actually," she replied, having resolved to come clean and tell the whole truth. "I already know who my true love is."

Luna's eyes lit up and Hermione instantly felt bad for giving the girl false hope. "You do?" she asked. "Hermione, that's fantastic! Now all you have to do is get him to admit he feels the same way!"

Hermione downed another drink and heaved a great sigh. "That's not going to happen, Luna."

Luna's smile fell. "Why not?"

"Because," Hermione replied while taking another drink. "He doesn't feel the same way."

"How do you know that?" Luna demanded with a touch of defiance in her voice. "Have you asked him?"

"Because, Luna," Hermione said a little snappishly due to the alcohol finally kicking in. "I know because I just watched him get married!" Hermione clenched her eyes shut and downed another drink. Luna's jaw dropped her eyes went wide as saucers.

A moment of silence hung between them as they watched the oblivious crowd of dancers around them. Everyone was smiling and laughing, not a care in the world. Not a single one of them aware that a certain young guest was about to face her death.

"You… you mean to say, that Fred is – " Luna began.

"My true love?" Hermione finished, taking another drink as her eyes found Fred in the crowd of dancers. "Yes, he is. So, you see, there is no hope of curing me now."

"Oh, Hermione," Luna said in a trembling voice. Hermione looked at her with a pained frown, only to see tears falling down the blonde girl's usually serene face. "How long have you known it was him? Why didn't you say anything?"

Hermione sighed as she fiddled with her next drink. "I've always known, Luna. I've known for years now but, he was with Alicia by then. I couldn't very well tell him I was dying without him now, could I? Besides, I didn't fall ill until he proposed to her; when all hope was lost. I wasn't going to spoil his happiness, Luna. I couldn't do that. He deserves to be happy."

"So do you!" Luna burst out in anger as tears continued down her cheeks. Hermione looked at her, startled by her sudden and unexpected rage. Luna stood from the table and continued to shout at Hermione, causing everyone to stop and stare. "I'm not going to sit by and watch you destroy yourself, Hermione! You deserve to be happy. You deserve it more than anyone here! There's got to be another way!" Luna spoke this last bit with an anguished sob as she sank to her knees on the ground.

Hermione finished her last drink and knelt down next to Luna, fully aware of all the eyes now on them. Hermione wrapped her arms around Luna's tiny frame in a comforting hug.

"What's going on here?" came the concerned voice of Fred Weasley himself as he and Alicia appeared at the front of the watching crowd.

Hermione froze and refused to look up at him. Instead, she spoke gently to the girl in her arms. "I am happy, Luna."

Luna looked up at her with sad, confused eyes. "How can you be? You're about to – you're going to…"

"I know," she replied. "I know what's going to happen and I've accepted it. I'm happy because they're happy… he's happy. That's all that matters to me, Luna."

"But…" Luna started, but Hermione shook her head firmly.

"Shhh," Hermione cooed as she gently wrapped the girl in another hug and whispered gently, so only Luna could hear her. "I'm going to die, Luna. There's nothing we can do about it now, so don't cry. Luna, I need you to be strong; they're all going to need you when I'm gone."

Luna nodded with a sniff and Hermione pulled her to her feet.

"Is everything all right, Hermione?" Fred asked again, his voice laced with concern.

Hermione smiled sadly and nodded. She refused to look at him just yet. "Yes, Fred," she said gently. "Everything is going to be just fine. Luna, it's time… will you come with me? I could use the company."

Luna nodded solemnly. "Of course, Hermione. Until the very end."

People in the crowd exchanged confused looks.

"Thank you for the invitation, Fred… Alicia. It's time for me to go now. I'm sorry we interrupted your celebration," Hermione looked at Fred, finally, for the last time, and began to walk away with Luna's arm wrapped around her waist and her head on her shoulder. "I wish the both of you nothing but the best. Congratulations."

Muttering broke out as the pair walked away but people quickly went back to dancing and partying. They were almost to the apparating point when Hermione collapsed suddenly.

"Hermione!" Luna screeched. "Hermione, what's wrong?"

Hermione's breathing was shallow and she was getting weaker by the second. "Luna, I don't – I don't think I can apparate on my own. I'll need you to take me to St. Mungo's."

"Okay," she said, helping Hermione to her feet again.

"What's happened?" came an urgent voice from behind them. Fred had followed them to make sure they were okay.

"Nothing, Fred," Hermione said in a firm voice. "I just had too much to drink, is all. Fell over."

Hermione still wasn't looking at Fred but she could tell he hesitated. "Are you sure I can't help you with anything?"

Hermione smiled to herself and she continued to walk with Luna's help. "No, Fred, there's nothing I need your help with. Go back and enjoy the party, it's for you, after all."

Again, she could tell he hesitated. "Be safe," he said gently. "I'll see you both soon."

"Of course, Fred. Have a good night."

CRACK.

Luna and Hermione arrived in the lobby of St. Mungo's and Hermione instantly collapsed, too weak to stand any longer.

"Help!" Luna shouted. "I need some help over here!"

Three Healers instantly flocked to Hermione's aid, one of them recognizing her. "Miss Granger, everything is ready. You're room had been cleaned up. It's waiting for you."

Hermione nodded and gave a feeble thanks as they carefully escorted her to her private room, where she had been secretly staying for the past month.

Luna followed close behind.

"Luna?" Hermione asked once she had been settled into her bed in the hospital room.

"Yes, Hermione?" Luna whispered as she sat in a chair at Hermione's side.

"I've already made all of my funeral arrangements. I've written letters for everyone. Will you do me one last favor and make sure everyone gets theirs?"

Luna hung her head in sorrow. "Of course, Hermione."

Hermione Granger smiled one last time before slipping into a coma.