Author's Note: This is an outtake that takes place at the very end of Order of the Phoenix. Yes, I realize that it is very late in coming, but with graduation, grad school, and wedding planning, my time just has not been my own.
In any case, I am writing this short thing because the characters will mention it, in passing, in If You Can, the story that I am currently trying to finish. Enjoy!
PS: I always follow the same format, flashbacks and inner dialog are always in italics.
Disclaimer: Duh, don't own nothin'
He stood over the hospital bed, looking down at her. Her eyes were closed with dark circles under them. She looked entirely too pale. His brain, which wasn't quite back to 100 yet, flitted in and out between memory and present, still reeling from the curse that had hit him.
"What are you reading?" he had asked, leaning over on the couch to look at her where she sat on the floor.
"A book of fairy tales. I loved these when I was little." She looked up at him from her crossed legged position on the floor. She smiled that unconscious smile at him.
"What? What's a fairy tale?" He moved over, closer to her so that he was in a more comfortable position. She sighed.
"A fairy tale is a bed time story. That's really how muggle children are introduced to the whole wizarding community," her smile turned into a frown, "although, most of the time, the witches and wizards are the villains."
"Well, that's not very nice," now he sat next to her on the floor, so that he would be able to see the pictures in the book, "what is the one that you are reading now about?"
"It's called Sleeping Beauty. The short version is that a witch casts a spell on a beautiful princess, and makes her fall asleep for a hundred years."
"Why would she do that?"
"Her vanity was insulted and she wanted revenge."
"Wow," Ron moved closer, looking at the pictures, "So does she ever wake up?" Hermione smiled softly.
"Yes," she took a breath, "eventually, her true love arrives."
"And what does he do?" Ron looked directly into her eyes.
"He kisses her, and she wakes up." Ron made a face.
"He kisses her to wake her up? Why doesn't he just nudge her?"
"Because, it wasn't the movement that woke her, Ronald, it was the love he had for her that did it."
He continued to look down at her. He WAS going to do this. Well, if she wakes up, I can always just say that I'm still crazy.
That wasn't a very comforting thought.
Before he lost his nerve, Ron leaned down and very gently kissed Hermione on the lips. He waited for a second, expecting her to open her eyes. She didn't. Disappointed, he stood up suddenly, and walked quickly out of her hospital room.
As soon as she heard the door close softly behind him, Hermione slowly opened her eyes and smiled softly to herself.