Title: When Time Stands Still.
Author: SantiMonreal
Pairings: Harry, Hermione and Ron.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling, published in her books, borrowed by me, to release some of my mind's stress; and more importantly, I'm not making any money off this.
Summary: Harry tries to cope with the phantoms of his past. Ron deals with a future that he couldn't accept. Hermione draws bliss out of the present melancholic world.
Just in case you're wondering, the Story begins during the night of the year-end feast of the fifth year.
Chapter 1: In The Tower on a Warm Summer's Night
Harry couldn't sleep. His mind wandered too much, this was the first time that he didn't want to join the year-end feast at the Great Hall. He looked around the dormitories; the whole of Gryffindor tower was empty, no one was in there with him, he could even hear the sound of his own heart beating in his eardrums. Sighing, he got up and changed back into his robes, he couldn't take being alone in the tower that night.
He went down the stairs that led to the Gryffindor common room and out through the portrait hole, He wasn't quite sure whether he should join the feast or not, all he wanted was to do something, rather than fret bed all night. Upon reaching the staircases, he saw the mood in the great hall, red and gold banners decorated the walls, his housemates were cheering, they were celebrating. It didn't feel right to celebrate, not now when a war has begun, not now, after a casualty, just not now, he couldn't celebrate. One of the staircases made a scratching noise directly above him, Harry looked up to see that it led straight to the astronomy tower. Maybe there, Harry thought, maybe there, I'll just watch the summer sky, It wasn't right, but it made him feel better to go up there alone.
As Harry opened the door that led to the observation deck, he saw another figure leaning over the edge. The wind was playing with its flaming red hair. "Ron" Harry whispered, Maybe now he could find somebody to talk to. Harry walked toward Ron, but just as he called out his friend's name, Ron climbed atop the ledge and was now standing on it looking to the darkness before him. Ron turned and acknowledged Harry presence. The moonlight sparkled on Ron's tear-streaked face. "Go away Harry" Ron said. "Ron what are." "Just go away." Ron said firmly. "No, Ron, I won't. What do you think you're doing?" Harry replied, the struggle in his throat ever clear as it was earlier, when he thought of Sirius.
"I don't want this anymore Harry." Ron said without looking back, "I can't live, like this." "What do you mean?" Harry queried, he hadn't moved an inch from where he was. "You know what I mean Harry, I can't do this, I don't want to live to the expectations of other people. It's not that I can't, it's because I don't want to." Ron brought his right hand to his face and brushed a tear aside.
"Ron, let's talk," Harry said, "Come down from there." "No." "Ron, don't do this, I lost Sirius just last night, I can't stand losing my best friend too." Harry said there was a quaver in his voice at the mention of the word loss. Tears were in his eyes now; his legs were trembling beneath him as what he said just sunk in his mind, why would Ron want to end his life? Then Harry held back no longer, he jumped forward and took Ron's legs in his arms. "Ron, I won't let you do this." Harry said, "I won't let you give up; not now and not like this." Harry let go of Ron's legs and reached up to grab his hand. "Come down Ron, don't do this to me, to Hermione." Harry said.
"No." Ron said again. "You have to come and get me Harry." Ron turned to face Harry again the tears were both present in their faces. "I am getting you." Harry said. "Come up here and get me." Ron replied turning to Harry. Harry quickly climbed on the edge. He held Ron's Shoulders tight, pressing Ron's right shoulder against his chest. "I'm here Ron," But there was no need for words, they both stood on the edge of the wall, looking up at the night sky. Harry smiled it was faint but still a smile; it was the first time he did after Sirius's death that it almost felt strange. Ron smiled back at the sky, but the silence between them was broken by the sound of the door closing, shocked Harry almost fell forward, but this time it was Ron who caught him. "Ron! Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, seeing them almost plummet down the side of the wall. "Are you okay?" She reached forwards helping them down. "We're fine Hermione," Harry replied, "I think Ron and I are okay now." Ron smiled a weakly again. "For a minute there, I almost wasn't, if Harry here didn't come." Ron said. Hermione gave them both a questioning look. "I was going to jump, but Harry here came and got me." Ron said. Hermione shook her head. "Are you both going down to the feast now?" she asked them. "No. I don't think so." Harry said turning to Ron, who was nodding at him. "We plan on staying here for a while." "Well, I guess you wouldn't mind if I joined you?" Hermione asked them. "I was going to ask you to stay," Ron said to her.
Hermione smiled, but it was clear that something was straining her inside. "What's wrong Hermione?" Harry asked her. Hermione looked away, "Mobilarbus desk!" she said pointing her wand at one of the desks that they used for astronomy, and the tabled flew forward and landed in front of them. "Regis Camase!" she said and the desk turned to gigantic oak bed that was big enough to fit Hagrid and Madam Maxim and easily and there would still be space for Fang. Hermione turned to Harry " I thought I'd look at the stars tonight." She said before getting in the bed. "Well?" She asked them. Ron threw Harry a queried look. "Are you going to join me or not?" She asked them. Harry and Ron Climbed on the bed at either side of her. "Where'd you learn this Hermione?" Ron asked her, looking a little unsure. Advanced transfiguration, I was reading a copy of it in the library before the O.W.L.s" she explained.
A moment of silence past between the three of them, Harry enjoyed the sweet intimacy of this, the scent of the moist grass from the lake, the warm summer night that held them and the eternal night that would keep them. For a moment, it was as if the world didn't exist, as if it flew away and took all his pain and troubles with it. "Nothing seems right." Hermione whispered looking still at the sky. "Why should we celebrate when the war has started?" rolled back her eyes, "When we lost Sirius in battle?" She turned to Harry, who was string blankly at the sky with his eyes now watery.
"I feel as if, I am lost in a street corner, so dark that the light of the surrounding street lamps would not penetrate the darkness. Finally I find myself cowering, Dazed in the corner, and the only comfort I have is the blanket overhead." Ron said in reply to Hermione. Harry still said nothing, he did not want this to end, he wanted nothing to ruin this moment, this perfect moment, where he falling into bliss, the realization that this was just a moment and not life itself made his mouth dry, his throat was parched. Harry tried to swallow, but his arid throat was scratching him.
"Maybe we should stop." He finally said. "The world is moving too fast, maybe if we stop here, maybe it would forget us and leave us behind finally in peace; I want his moment to last forever. I want to be like this with both you, in a giant bed where we could comfort each other for the rest of eternity, in one moment of bliss, than live in world divided, in a dying world consumed by ideals of death and suffering." At this Hermione turned to Harry, She took him in his arms and planted a kiss in his forehead. Ron Grabbed Harry's hand squeezed it firmly in his own. "It can't all be like that mate." Ron said, his teas obvious in his voice. Hermione turned her face to look at Ron and there too on his temple planted a kiss.
The sweetness of this moment, made Harry's head spin; Hermione's kiss was warm and sweet, yet it gave him a sensation that he never felt before. Ron too closed his eyes, never before had he felt that much warmth, that intimate split second of ecstasy. Harry finally turned to Hermione, so did Ron; they held her in their arms. Hermione allowed herself to be held the warmth of the embrace that she was deprived of. Harry and Ron buried their face in her hair, in the luscious scent of roses and strawberries that suffocated their airways but they could not get enough of.
"Maybe you're right Harry; maybe we should stop right now when the world is so perfect." Euphoria was in the air that they exhaled, "Maybe." Ron replied and breathed Hermione's scent once more. "Yes, just maybe." Harry echoed.
To be continued.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling, published in her books, borrowed by me, to release some of my mind's stress; and more importantly, I'm not making any money off this.
Summary: Harry tries to cope with the phantoms of his past. Ron deals with a future that he couldn't accept. Hermione draws bliss out of the present melancholic world.
Just in case you're wondering, the Story begins during the night of the year-end feast of the fifth year.
Chapter 1: In The Tower on a Warm Summer's Night
Harry couldn't sleep. His mind wandered too much, this was the first time that he didn't want to join the year-end feast at the Great Hall. He looked around the dormitories; the whole of Gryffindor tower was empty, no one was in there with him, he could even hear the sound of his own heart beating in his eardrums. Sighing, he got up and changed back into his robes, he couldn't take being alone in the tower that night.
He went down the stairs that led to the Gryffindor common room and out through the portrait hole, He wasn't quite sure whether he should join the feast or not, all he wanted was to do something, rather than fret bed all night. Upon reaching the staircases, he saw the mood in the great hall, red and gold banners decorated the walls, his housemates were cheering, they were celebrating. It didn't feel right to celebrate, not now when a war has begun, not now, after a casualty, just not now, he couldn't celebrate. One of the staircases made a scratching noise directly above him, Harry looked up to see that it led straight to the astronomy tower. Maybe there, Harry thought, maybe there, I'll just watch the summer sky, It wasn't right, but it made him feel better to go up there alone.
As Harry opened the door that led to the observation deck, he saw another figure leaning over the edge. The wind was playing with its flaming red hair. "Ron" Harry whispered, Maybe now he could find somebody to talk to. Harry walked toward Ron, but just as he called out his friend's name, Ron climbed atop the ledge and was now standing on it looking to the darkness before him. Ron turned and acknowledged Harry presence. The moonlight sparkled on Ron's tear-streaked face. "Go away Harry" Ron said. "Ron what are." "Just go away." Ron said firmly. "No, Ron, I won't. What do you think you're doing?" Harry replied, the struggle in his throat ever clear as it was earlier, when he thought of Sirius.
"I don't want this anymore Harry." Ron said without looking back, "I can't live, like this." "What do you mean?" Harry queried, he hadn't moved an inch from where he was. "You know what I mean Harry, I can't do this, I don't want to live to the expectations of other people. It's not that I can't, it's because I don't want to." Ron brought his right hand to his face and brushed a tear aside.
"Ron, let's talk," Harry said, "Come down from there." "No." "Ron, don't do this, I lost Sirius just last night, I can't stand losing my best friend too." Harry said there was a quaver in his voice at the mention of the word loss. Tears were in his eyes now; his legs were trembling beneath him as what he said just sunk in his mind, why would Ron want to end his life? Then Harry held back no longer, he jumped forward and took Ron's legs in his arms. "Ron, I won't let you do this." Harry said, "I won't let you give up; not now and not like this." Harry let go of Ron's legs and reached up to grab his hand. "Come down Ron, don't do this to me, to Hermione." Harry said.
"No." Ron said again. "You have to come and get me Harry." Ron turned to face Harry again the tears were both present in their faces. "I am getting you." Harry said. "Come up here and get me." Ron replied turning to Harry. Harry quickly climbed on the edge. He held Ron's Shoulders tight, pressing Ron's right shoulder against his chest. "I'm here Ron," But there was no need for words, they both stood on the edge of the wall, looking up at the night sky. Harry smiled it was faint but still a smile; it was the first time he did after Sirius's death that it almost felt strange. Ron smiled back at the sky, but the silence between them was broken by the sound of the door closing, shocked Harry almost fell forward, but this time it was Ron who caught him. "Ron! Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, seeing them almost plummet down the side of the wall. "Are you okay?" She reached forwards helping them down. "We're fine Hermione," Harry replied, "I think Ron and I are okay now." Ron smiled a weakly again. "For a minute there, I almost wasn't, if Harry here didn't come." Ron said. Hermione gave them both a questioning look. "I was going to jump, but Harry here came and got me." Ron said. Hermione shook her head. "Are you both going down to the feast now?" she asked them. "No. I don't think so." Harry said turning to Ron, who was nodding at him. "We plan on staying here for a while." "Well, I guess you wouldn't mind if I joined you?" Hermione asked them. "I was going to ask you to stay," Ron said to her.
Hermione smiled, but it was clear that something was straining her inside. "What's wrong Hermione?" Harry asked her. Hermione looked away, "Mobilarbus desk!" she said pointing her wand at one of the desks that they used for astronomy, and the tabled flew forward and landed in front of them. "Regis Camase!" she said and the desk turned to gigantic oak bed that was big enough to fit Hagrid and Madam Maxim and easily and there would still be space for Fang. Hermione turned to Harry " I thought I'd look at the stars tonight." She said before getting in the bed. "Well?" She asked them. Ron threw Harry a queried look. "Are you going to join me or not?" She asked them. Harry and Ron Climbed on the bed at either side of her. "Where'd you learn this Hermione?" Ron asked her, looking a little unsure. Advanced transfiguration, I was reading a copy of it in the library before the O.W.L.s" she explained.
A moment of silence past between the three of them, Harry enjoyed the sweet intimacy of this, the scent of the moist grass from the lake, the warm summer night that held them and the eternal night that would keep them. For a moment, it was as if the world didn't exist, as if it flew away and took all his pain and troubles with it. "Nothing seems right." Hermione whispered looking still at the sky. "Why should we celebrate when the war has started?" rolled back her eyes, "When we lost Sirius in battle?" She turned to Harry, who was string blankly at the sky with his eyes now watery.
"I feel as if, I am lost in a street corner, so dark that the light of the surrounding street lamps would not penetrate the darkness. Finally I find myself cowering, Dazed in the corner, and the only comfort I have is the blanket overhead." Ron said in reply to Hermione. Harry still said nothing, he did not want this to end, he wanted nothing to ruin this moment, this perfect moment, where he falling into bliss, the realization that this was just a moment and not life itself made his mouth dry, his throat was parched. Harry tried to swallow, but his arid throat was scratching him.
"Maybe we should stop." He finally said. "The world is moving too fast, maybe if we stop here, maybe it would forget us and leave us behind finally in peace; I want his moment to last forever. I want to be like this with both you, in a giant bed where we could comfort each other for the rest of eternity, in one moment of bliss, than live in world divided, in a dying world consumed by ideals of death and suffering." At this Hermione turned to Harry, She took him in his arms and planted a kiss in his forehead. Ron Grabbed Harry's hand squeezed it firmly in his own. "It can't all be like that mate." Ron said, his teas obvious in his voice. Hermione turned her face to look at Ron and there too on his temple planted a kiss.
The sweetness of this moment, made Harry's head spin; Hermione's kiss was warm and sweet, yet it gave him a sensation that he never felt before. Ron too closed his eyes, never before had he felt that much warmth, that intimate split second of ecstasy. Harry finally turned to Hermione, so did Ron; they held her in their arms. Hermione allowed herself to be held the warmth of the embrace that she was deprived of. Harry and Ron buried their face in her hair, in the luscious scent of roses and strawberries that suffocated their airways but they could not get enough of.
"Maybe you're right Harry; maybe we should stop right now when the world is so perfect." Euphoria was in the air that they exhaled, "Maybe." Ron replied and breathed Hermione's scent once more. "Yes, just maybe." Harry echoed.
To be continued.