Now, I'm putting this in General Discussion instead of FanFiction because I want us to figure out what would actually happen instead of what we wish would happen.

My first guess is that Ron blames himself a lot. I am unsure if Harry blames Ron or himself.

I do think both boys remain friends though.

But what happens with the Stone plot?

 

Voldemort probably wins.

 

Hermione's ghost occasionally gives them helpful advice, but they have to go into the girls' toilet to get it. If they ever got past the Stone thing, at least they'd have someone looking into the Chamber, but they probably would not beat Voldemort at anything unless they found a new friend.

 

Quirrelmort gets to the Mirror, wasted a lot of time in front of it, is trapped during the return trip, and got their arse kicked when Dumbledore caught up with him.

Harry and Ron would be even closer friends, but become kinder people and more open to others in memory of Hermione.

 

And then probably wins down the line when Harry doesn't have Hermione to help him at any number of critical moments.

 

Boo. Harry and Ron 4evah.

(But seriously though he would totes die. Likely strangled by the Devils snare, though most definitely not raped by it beforehand)

 

Fanfics rarely portray the most likely scenarios.

 

Damn. There goes that fic idea.

On topic: This has been done many times. Can't recall ever seeing it done well.

 

Actually, have there been any decent fanfics that deal with this?

Like, y'know, ones where Draco doesn't fall in love with her ghost and brings her back to life via the power of love.

 

Thanks @Zombie that's what I was thinking about!

 

Well, if you want likely...

A few months into his induction into the wizarding world, Harry witnesses a fellow child clubbed to a pulp under the nose of the most powerful wizard in the world. He, like every other muggle-raised first year in his cohort, develops a very rational fear of all things magic (or, at the very least, of magical creatures) and a deep mistrust of adult wizards.

Traumatized by the experience and his early childhood, he goes on with his life as a very shy person, always trying to go unnoticed, never daring to set foot outside the Gryffindor common room after curfew. He focuses on quidditch, falls out with Ron due to his role in Hermione's demise and his reckless personality and gets closer to Neville.

He, of course, never learns of Flamel, so he stays well away from the third-floor corridor. No veggie hentai. Ever.

He reports Norberta to McGonagall. She and Dumbledore take care of the issue behind curtains.

Quirrelmort can't solve the Mirror of Erised in time, so he is eventually driven off by Dumbledore.

After that, it's anyone's guess. But don't count on Harry being the dashing daredevil he is in the series anymore.

 

To play devil's advocate (and elaborate on what I wrote this morning), i would posit that the shared guilt would instead bind Harry and Ron tighter together as friends. They will make sure each other strive to become better people, so that the tragedy of Darth Hermione the wise would not happen again.

 

If they face the Devils Snare without Hermione, I see there being three scenarios, :

1. They die.
2. They muddle through (Sesc).
3. If you believe in Hogwarts magic subtly protecting its students, as per many headcanon's and possibly @Taure's document, it intervenes (it may also intervene to pull the troll away from Hermione, as Sesc mentioned) in such a way that they muddle through and survive - the Snare is oddly slow to react and they're able to escape, or their accidental magic kicks in, or so on.

 

Hermione's not there to body bind Neville. They either both knock him down or drag him along. The former, they die. The latter, Harry can figure out the riddle, but standing outside the fire isn't the worst thing in the world.

Harry discovers the chamber because Hermione brewed polyjuice. So, Harry doesn't find the chamber, but he also doesn't remove the diary from the bathroom. Ginny dies, TMR is roaming around, and Sirius stays in Azkaban. Unless, of course, you want the Weasley family picture in the Prophet after the tragic death of their daughter...