A/N: Warning, dark theme ahead. Please note that if you are easily triggered I would suggest you skip this chapter.

XOXO

"I'm not sure I understand" asked Hermione, her eyes blood shut by the tears that invaded them, "what happened to them?"

"We are sorry Ms Granger. Since the war we have kept an eye on your parents, in case they remembered anything about you or the wizarding world. Once of our Auror believed they recalled something and apparated to Australia, yet it was too late. They were on a boat and your mother fainted, falling into the deep sea, before -"

"- enough! Enough please." She cried, trying to walk towards the nearest chair, she stumbled, her legs weekened by the news. The Auror quickly ran towards her, helping her up. "Do we need to call anyone Ms Granger? We can called Mr Weasley to come take you home."

"Just give me a minute, I will find my way out. I just require some piece if you do not mind." She whispered, her voice trembling, reflecting the torment she was enduring.

Once the man left her in a dark office, Hermione lowered her head to rest on her hands, muggling her screams as they came out of her torn soul. Her shoulders chattering as her hair fell forwards, hiding her face in a curtain or light curls. Digging her nails into a forehead, the pain slowly relieving the anguish in her heart, she stood up, before grabbing her wand and apparating away.

She needed to be alone, it had to be done alone. After all, that's was what she was...all alone. They were gone, those that she loved them most. Eventhough she could retreive their memories, the fact that she knew they were alive helped her go through her days. Deep down in the darkest corner of her soul Hermione had been severlly destroyed by the war. Hidding behind her smile and her new-looks, all she did was deceive those around her, even Severus. Her desires to make him love Christmas were purely selfish. Christmas was her family's favourite festivity, and she needed to share it with someone, make her forget of those she had lost during the war and those she will never get back, although alife.

Apparating on a cliff, the winter weather cutting her cheeks as the wind blew her closer to the precipice, Hermione looked down towards the raging water. Gigantic waves were splashing against the rocks, the sound of the sea singing in her ears, like a lullaby, calling for her.

It had been three days since Severus and Hermione had spoken last. She hated the way they suddently parted from each other. Trelawney. She had seen him various times around her, talking about Merlin knows what, yet it was with her. Hermione had quickly given up on the wizard, remember's Ron behavior, smiliar to Severus'. One day they're all yours, giving you the most magnificant amount of attention and the other they are all around girls. Although there weren't many female figures of his age, Hermione had hoped their relationship could have evolved, yet she should have forseen it only shaderring into pieces, like those water cells, exploding into million invisible bits, disappearing into thin air.

Taking her wand out, she cast her patronus, wishing to see it one last time. The otter flew around her, agitated, as if he knew what she was about to do. 'Don't do it' she could hear it begging her, 'you have so much to see, to live, stay.' Yet she had taken her decision. She was weak. Everyne believed she was strong her her knowledge on books and magic built her strengh, yet the war had left Hermione frail and empty.

Smiling back at the Patronus, she placed her wand on the ground and turned her back to her 'patron' before raising her hands up, like a bird branding his wings, ready for the flight of his life. She didn't cry, knowing it was pointless to feel at the moment. She emptied her thoughts, trying as hard as she could to erase the memories of those she cherished, putting them aside in a small corner of her mind. Severus. His happy face froze her. Unable to restrain it, a tear dropped on the grass below her feet. 'Don't cry love' she heard him whisper, 'stay love' he went on, his smile slowly disappearing, his onxy eyes now losing their light, 'live love.' The Severus in her mind was now crying, his cries similar to howling, tearing her heart in two. A part of her wanted to stay, for him, yet another wished to end her torment, the one she far too long ignored and now consumed her.

"I love you" she whispered, before letting her body fall, succumbing to darkness.