PART ONE:
It was but a week into their sixth year, when it happened. Everything was going great. Harry was a considerably more happy then when they left him in late June. Apparently he had spend the previous month prior to his trip to Grimauld Place, crying in his room. He didn't tell this to Ron and Hermione, but they could tell by the way his eyes were stained with redness. Hermione spent the summer, hiding from her little sister, Emmie. Ron spent half his summer playing Quidditch with Ginny. The other half was continued cleaning of headquarters.
The trio were headed to potions. Harry didn't pass his O.W.L.'s but due to certain circumstances, he squeezed his way into the class. Ron, god knows how, pasted with a 'O.' Hermione... well, I don't want to waste your time with her grades.
"So that's why they call it a Snitch." Hermione finished explaining.
"Fascinating." Ron exclaimed. "What do you not know, Hermione?"
Harry rolled his eyes.
Hermione thought I don't know if you like me, do I? But didn't say anything out loud, except, "I know everything that can be known through books."
"Stop flirting already. Honestly, it was better when you argued." Harry complained.
Ron's ears were the colour of a stop sign. Hermione's face; like strawberry ice cream. "I'm not flirting with her! She's Hermione!" Ron said, ingdignated.
"I never said anything!" Hermione protested. "You can't pin me for like Ron, because I don't." She lied, feeling slightly hurt that Ron would say such a thing.
They arrived down at the dungeons, and then the potions classroom. Snape was standing there with his usual sneer. To their displeasure, Draco passed potions, and was still with them in class.
"Sit down, Hurry, before I take points." Everyone immedienlty settled into there desk. "Now, today we will be making Rinfladlaesh, the potion that cures most cancers. However, you will be warned that if the potion makes any contact with the eye, that person will never be able to see again. The instructions are on the board." Snape flicked his wand. "You have sixty minutes; began." He then, flipped over a giant hour glass.
Rinfladlesh was easily the hardest potion they had ever made. Hermione got done quickly, then helped Harry (Hermione was tutoring him) with his potion. The class was deadly silent except for Hermione's whispers to Harry, and the mummer from the Slytherins.
"I dare you," Ron heard Pansy mutter to Draco. "Please, for me?"
"Sure, why not? She's a mudblood; nobody would miss her."
At the word 'mudblood,'Ron turned to Hermione, admiring her hair, and wondering what on earth Draco was going to do to her.
"Granger," Draco hissed at Hermione. Hermione turned around, stood up and said, "What the hell do you want?"
"Manners, Granger," Then Draco reached into his cauldron, and flung his Rinfladlesh at Hermione's face. Hermione let out a shriek of pain. The room was spinning into darkness. She
slumped unconscience, into Ron's lap. Ron didn't know what to do. He was a bit pleased how close he was to her. Harry smirked at Ron, in spite of the situation. Ron pushed Hermione onto the floor.
Snape whipped over to his desk upon seeing this. He opened a drawer and pulled out a square mirror, in which he roared, "Dumbledore." As soon as a rushed explanation, Dumbledore's voice came over the magickal megaphone and said, "All classes are canceled for today. All teachers and the following students are to report to my office; Harry Potter, Ginny Weasly, and Ronald Weasly."Ron, instead of heading to Dumbledore's office, went strait up to Snape, and pounded his fist on his desk. "What's going to happen to Hermione?"
"Don't worry, Weasley, your girlfriend will be taken to St. Mungo's by Madame Pomphrey."
"She's not my girlfriend!" he roared. Yet, he dashed back to Hermione, and tried to clean her face of the Rinfladlesh, holding her hand all the while. He noticed her lips; they were stained blue by the potion. Ron stared at them for a long time, missing there normal colour. He stared and stared until Madame Pomphrey took her away on a magickal stretcher. He didn't want to let go of her hand. He couldn't.
"Mr. Weasly, please, it's for the best." Madame Pomphrey said. Ron let go, kneeling on the cold dungeon floor. He didn't want Harry to speak. Draco and the rest of the Slytherins laughed. Ron couldn't hear them. He couldn't hear when Harry pulled him to his feet. He couldn't hear the crowd in the halls. He was drowning, and he couldn't be saved. She couldn't be saved.
They arrived in Dumbledore's office in time to see Snape yelling at Draco. "YOU IDIOT! YOUR PARENTS TRUSTED ME! NOW I HAVE TO SUSPEND YOU. YOU JUST RUINED EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING! YOUR MOM'S GOING TO KILL YOU."
"Severus, I suggest that we contact Narississa." Dumbledore said in his calming voice.
"Thank you, Albus." Snape grabbed Draco by the cuff of his robes, threw some floo powder into the fire, shouted, "Malfoy Manor." Then shoved Draco's head in it. "You explain to her, first."
Dumbledore turned to Harry and Ron. "McGonagall is speaking with Ginny. Come, now, I need a word with you two." He lead them up a staircase (that Harry had never seen before) and to a balcony, overlooking his office. Dumbledore drew up three squishy armchairs in which Harry and Dumbledore sat down in. Ron stood, to anxious to sit down.
"Ronald, please have a seat." Ron didn't sit, only stared at Dumbledore as though he was mad. "Please Ron, Hermione is fine." Ron didn't budge. "Sit, so I can explain what is to become of your girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend." Ron said stubbornly, but sat down, none the less.
"Of course she isn't." Dumbledore said, winking at Harry. Harry smiled through his frown. "Now Harry, I don't want you to get worked up about Hermione. You have enough on your plate. Understood?"
"Yes, Professor."
"Hermione will no longer be your tutor, Professor McGonagall will. You are to report to her classroom at seven o'clock sharp, everyday, except weekends."
"Yes sir." Harry said, looking down at the floor. His mind was elsewhere. His mind was with Hermione, and the thought that she would never read again. Will never be able to study. Would never be able to know when to fix his glasses. She would never get to be Hermione ever again.
"Ron, I have set you the most important task for helping Hermione, if you're up for it."
"I'll do whatever I can to help her, Professor." Ron said solemnly.
"You will guide her; teach her." Dumbledore explained. "You will be her eyes. You Ronald, are her best friend, and are in all her classes. You will be Hermione's eyes. You will read to her. You will write down her homework. You will make sure she doesn't trip. Make sure she can get around the castle."
"Pardon me, but I can't go into her Dormitory."
"I know that, Ginny will be taking care of her in the dorm. But you understand your task? You understand that you must be with her always? Harry, you understand that this is Ronald's job, and you will not try to help him. Hermione needs to be dependent on you, Ron, and nobody else. You understand?" The two boys nodded. "Very well. Tomorrow morning I want you back here so you can go viset her." They nodded again, and left heading toward the common room, hearing Mrs. Malfoy's yells at her son.
"Wow, poor Hermione, she'll never be able to see again." Harry sighed.
"Yeah."
"You like your job? I don't fancy extra lessons much, but it's for Hermione."
"I reckon I like it."
"O come on Ron, just admit that you fancy her already."
"I don't fancy Hermione."
Harry sighed, Ron was so stubborn "Ron, I'm your best friend, you can tell me."
"So what if I do? She'll never like me. She's to clever, to smart, to beautiful, to ever like anyone like me."
"Ron don't be so happy." They had come to the Fat Lady, "Otteraus." The portrait swung open. Ron walked over to his favorite armchair by the fire, and sat, enchanted by the flames. Harry came over. "Ron, you've got to snap out of it! Hermione's going to need encouragement. She'll never get any if you don't stop feeling sorry for her." Ron stood right up at these words, and walked strait out of the portrait hall. Naturally, Harry followed. Ron ran down the corridors, flung open the doors, and ran to sit under the beech tree in front of the lake. Harry groaned, last thing he wanted was for Ron to go all "drama king" today.
"Harry, go away!" Ron yelled. "Just go away, you wouldn't understand.!"
"Wouldn't understand what Ron?" Harry yelled back. "Hermione won't understand why you're crying all the time when she gets back!"
"I'm not crying!" He shouted, wiping a tear from his eyes.
"You just feel sorry that she'll never see you again Ron, why don't you admit it! If you love her so much, you need to act like it. You could drive her to suicide, Ron." Harry yelled, not meaning a word of it. He was just so angry. Angry at Malfoy, angry at the world. "I don't want another person die."
Harry had it. He ran to Hagrid's to tell him about Hermione.
The following morning dawned. Ron and Harry weren't speaking to each other as they headed toward Dumbledore's office.
"Good morning, boys." Dumbledore greeted them. "Did you see Professor McGonagall and Ginny on there way over here?"
"No," said Ron. "Can we just go see Hermione?"
"Not yet, Mrs. Weasly needs to take you. I'm afraid I can't get off work." He smiled bemused.
Moments passed in silence before they heard people entering the office. Professor McGonagall, followed by a timid looking Ginny. "Come, your mother's expecting you." McGonagall said. "Are you all firmilier with floo powder?" They nodded. "Go to Grimauld Place before St. Mungo's, understood?"
"Yes," they mummered.
Ron was the first to step foot in the fire grate. "Number tweleve, Grimauld Place," he said, throwing the powder down. He erupted in a haze of green flame.
"Ronald," Mrs. Weasly went over and hugged him. "I'm so sorry that this happened."
"Mom," he said pulling away from her grip. "It's okay. It probably happened for a reason." Ron had, had a long time to think this through. And it turned out that Harry had been right. Not that it mattered much, Ron still refused to talk to Harry.
Lupin entered the kitchen, looking like he hadn't had much sleep the previous night. "Morning Ron," he said. "Sorry that your girlfriend's blind."
"Hermione's not my girlfriend!" Ron's face went slightly pink.
"Whatever you say." He grinned. Harry swooped into the kitchen. Mrs. Weasly dusted Harry off. Ginny followed.
"Well, looks like we're all here." Mrs. Weasly said. "Come along, we need to catch the Knight Bus." Normally Ron would have protested riding the Knight Bus, but his face was blank, thinking about Hermione. They followed Mrs. Weasly out the front door. She stuck out her wand hand, and the bus came zooming by.
"Why if it isn't 'Arry Potter. 'Es back, Ern." Stan Shanpike said. "And 'ere can 'e take you today?"
"St. Mungo's." Replied Mrs. Weasly.
"Righto."
"This is Hermione's room." Said a young, female healer with gray eyes. "She's been asleep since she came here. If she wakes up, on her own accord, you may take her back to Hogwarts. Only one at a time, in case she does. Hermione doesn't need any more confusion today."
"Thank you," Mrs. Weasly said quietly. The healer left. "Ginny, why don't you go in first."
Ginny entered the room and sat in a chair by her bed. "Hi Hermione," she said. "I'm so sorry. Malfoy got suspended, if it makes you feel any better. Of course it doesn't. You probably can't even hear me. Ron's really sad about it too. He's going all emo about it. We're going to protect you. More Ron then me. I'm going to help you in our dormitory. Ron's going to be your eyes. Your real eyes." Ginny paused, wiping the tears from her cheek with a Kleenex. "I hope you don't mind. He loves you, you know that? And this way you can spend more time together. Harry doesn't need your tutoring anymore, Professor McGonagall is going to do it. All you have to worry about is passing. You can do that, can't you Hermione? I want you to know that I'll be here for you, just not now. Now I can't be selfish. Now I have to let Harry and Ron have a chance to talk to you. I'll see you back at Hogwarts." Ginny left the room, trying to be strong.
Harry was next to enter. He held Hermione's hand as he sat down. "Hermione, I feel like you're gone, even though your lying right next to me. Your spirits gone. All gone. I'll never get to see you doing your homework. Never see you knitting. Never see you, curled up in a corner, reading a good book. I'll never get to see you ever again. You will need someone to point your wand in the right direction. Need someone to tell you what to put in your potion; even to tell you were your cauldron is. You will no longer be the independent Hermione that I know. You will be a whole new person. But maybe it's for the better. I no it sounds silly. Ron's going to help you. He really likes you, you know. Maybe he'll finally admit it, knowing that you can't see his face. I said something really stupid to him yesterday. I told him that the only reason he was crying for you was because he felt bad that you would never be able to see him again. I bet that you will miss seeing him, more than missing anything else. I know the way you look at him. I know you love him." Harry stood up, eyes still dry, let go of her hand, and walked out the door.
Ron walked up next to Hermione's bed, forgetting to sit down. He found her hand, admiring how tiny it was. "Hermione," he pause. "Hermione, I miss you so much. Yesterday was longer then any day I can remember. You fell into my lap, I enjoyed being so close to you. Now, I will always be close to you. I will become you, Hermione. By day, you will never leave my sight." He stared at her sleeping form. She was so beautiful, even when she looked as though dead. "Dead." He thought out loud. "At least your not dead. At least you'll be with me. Hermione, I never want you to ever leave me. I want you to be by my side all day and all night." He was looking at her face now, it no longer was covered in blue potion. It was clean, as it always was. Her hair seemed to have been washed, it seemed shinier and more alive than usual. She looked like a china doll. A one that would never be able to see how fair she was. "Hermione I'll do anything you want. I'll die for you, if you ask me to. Just say the word and I'll find a dagger." He noticed her lips, so unlike they were the last time he saw them. "After I knocked you to the floor, I saw your lips, they were blue, not like they are now. They were cold, as though there was no blood in them." He leaned closer to Hermione's face. "Hermione, what I really want to say is, I love you." He kissed her gently on the lips.
Hermione awoke and sat strait up, bumping into Ron's head. "Who are you!" She screamed, pulling her covers over her head. "Please don't hurt me, I didn't do anything." She sobbed.
"Hermione, it's alright, it's me, Ron." Hermione came out from her blanket. She reached out for Ron and found his arm.
"Ron? Ron can you turn on the light?"
"Hermione, the lights on. You're blind."
"How did this– how did this happen?" She burst into sobs. Ron sat on the bed next to Hermione, putting his arm around her. She buried her face in his chest. Ron seemed a little taken aback by this, but pleased to be so near.
"It's going to be alright. I'm here." He held her tightly, stroking her hair.
"Ron," she whispered.
"Yes."
"Promise me one thing."
"Whatever you want."
"Don't ever leave me," she grabbed his shirt, "Please don't leave me."
Ron let Hermione cry for awhile before he said, "Hermione, if you're ready, we can go back to Hogwarts. Are you ready to do that?" She nodded. "Take my arm." He took her hand and put it on his arm. "Come on," Hermione slid off of her bed. Ron walked backward, his arm lay across his chest, like a bar that Hermione held onto for direction.
"Attention all Gryffindor students." Professor McGonagall's voice rang around the Gryffindor common room. "I need to make an announcement." The room fell silent in an instant. "Our brightest student, Hermione Granger, has taken ill. Very ill indeed. She is currently in St. Mungo's." Many people gasped. "I'm afraid she'll never get better again. Hermione Granger is blind." More gasps.
"Professor McGonagall?" Neville asked. "How did this happen."
"Draco Malfoy through a potion at her that was highly lethal to her eyes. Malfoy has been suspended for a month." Many people cheered at this, but fell silent at McGonagall's glare. "Don't fret, however. She should be back any moment now, and I want you all to act as though nothing happened. Hermione's strong, she needs to carry on with her life as normal as possible." McGonagal turned to leave, but then turned back around. "Oh yes, and don't make fun of Ron. He is to be with Hermione at all time, as he is in all her classes and her best friend, he will be guiding her. Not one mention of them going out." Her lip twitched slightly. "Or else I shall be giving detentions." She left the room.
"Hermione's blind?" Lavender asked Seamus.
"I guess so. Bit of a shame really. Malfoy got what he deserved, though." Replied Seamus.
"Just think," Neville cut in. "We won't ever see her in a corner reading."
"That's amazing, isn't it?" Pavati said. "Poor Hermione."
Dean laughed a little. "Imagine, being with someone all the time."
"I don't think they're going to mind though." Pavarti said dreamily. "They like each other so much. Ron's just stubborn, and Hermione's too proud."
"Well, we'll see what happens, won't we?"
The portrait hole opened. The room fell silent, stunned. Harry was first to enter. He smiled weakly, then drew his finger across his neck in a slashing fashion. Ginny was next. Then Hermione walking slowly, holding onto Ron's arm. Her fingers were blue from the pressure she was applying. Crookshanks bounded over to Hermione and brushed up on her leg. She jumped a little, letting out a squeal. "What is that?" Hermione asked Ron.
"Crookshanks."
"Oh, that was silly of me."
The entire common room was silent. Hermione seemed to notice this. "Ron, how late is it?"
"It's very early," he lied. Ron widened his eyes, as though telling the room to play along. "Dean, Seamus and Neville are coming down the staircase now. And here comes the Creevy brothers. And Lavender and Pavati." He kept on adding people into the room, until the whole common room was buzzing with noise. "It's the weekend, Hermione. What do you want to do?"
"I need to do my homework." She said, walking in the direction of a wall. Ron took her hand and pulled her away. "Your homework is in your dorm."
"Don't be silly, Ron I know that."
"Let me take you over there."
"Ron, no, I can get it myself." She tried to break free of Ron's grip. Ron wouldn't let go. "Ron, let me go, just because I'm blind, doesn't mean I can't walk up to my dorm." She yelled at him. "Let me go!" She gave a final tug that broke free of Ron's grip. Hermione set off towards a nearby couch. Ron grabbed her by her waste, and carried her out of the common room. "Ron let go of me! Where are you taking me? Let go, I can go there by myself."
"No you can't Hermione. You can't be independent anymore. I'm bringing you to Professor McGonagall to talk some sense into you."
"I've got my sense. Ron, look I'm not a baby anymore, you can't do this to me."
"Yes, I can." (A/N: that was uncharacteristic --;;;;)
They turned the corner to find McGonagall's office. Ron knocked on the door. "Professor!" He called.
"What is it Mr. Weasly?" She said opening the door. "Oh, and Ms. Granger's here as well."
"Professor, can you tell Ron that I can take care of my self?"
Ron and Professor McGonagall exchanged glaces. "Mr. Weasly, please put Ms. Granger down." Ron set Hermione delicately on the floor. "Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasly, follow me." Ron took told of Hermione's hand and guided her through McGonagall's office. Hermione struggled, but Ron wouldn't let go. He refused to let Hermione go. He refused to let her drown. He refused. He simply refused.
"Ms. Granger, please sit down." Ron brought her over to a chair. "Mr. Weasly, please wait outside. I'll come get you when I'm done talking to Hermione."
"Yes Professor." Ron left.
"Ms. Granger," Professor McGonagal said. "Do you have any questions, concerns?"
"No," she said.
"Well then, Ms. Granger, I need to do some explaining. You need to listen to Ron. He will help you. You need to trust him. You need to. Why don't you want him to help you, Hermione."
"It's just... it's just that... I don't want people to talk..."
"People won't talk. Everybody in the school knows about you being blind."
"Well that's a great help. Now they're all going to treat me different. I'm not different."
"Yes you are. You need to get used to the fact. that Ron is here to help you."
"I don't want Ron's help."
"You will once you spend every other night in the hospital wing. There's worse things that can happen to you other than people thinking that you're dating." Hermione's face went red. "Not that everyone doesn't already think that you are." Hermione was blushing scarlet by now. "So please, let Mr. Weasly help you." Hermione nodded. "I'm going to go get Mr. Weasly, I'll be right back." She left and returned in an instant. "Mr. Weasly, please sit down."
Ron sat. "Did you get through to her?"
"Hello, just because I'm blind, doesn't mean I can't hear you." Hermione spat.
"Quiet you two and listen to me. Ron, Hermione agrees that she won't try to escape from you. Ron agrees to be with you and help you. Ron, I'm removing Ginny from the program. Hermione needs to depend on you and you alone."
"Wait a second." Hermione interupted. "What?"
"Ms. Granger, you need to depend on Ron to read to you, to guide you. You can even think of him as your servant" She smiled a bit. Ron frowned. "Ron, I'm casting a spell that allows you into the girls dormitory. Do not abuse it." Ron nodded. "You need to be with Hermione for the most part, all her waking hours." Hermione opened her mouth to protest, but McGonagall stopped her. "Hermione, don't go complaining. Ronald's here to help you, and I find that you will rather enjoy it. You are dismissed."
Ron stood up, walked over to Hermione's armchair and took her arm. She didn't try to pull away. If only she would be like this always. Always in my arms. Only, maybe someday she will want to hold onto me. She doesn't like me. Why else would she pull away from me like that?
"Ron?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry." She wrapped her arm around his and put her head on his shoulder. "This is so hard for me."
"I know, that's why I'm here."
"I'm glad it's you and nobody else." Nobody else? Ron thought. You rather have me than Harry? Than Victor? Than your parents? Than Ginny? Than anybody else.
"Hermione, I--" Ron was about to make a confession that had been bottled up inside of him for all these years. The one thing he was dying to tell Hermione. The three unwavering words.
"Yes Ron?"
"I- er... I'm hungry." He finished lamely. "Would you like to go to the Great Hall and get some food?"
"Yeah, sure." Hermione's voice was disappointed. She was almost sure he was going to tell her that he loved her. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking. He'd never love her. He was so strong and athletic. And she would never be able to see his muscles again. Never be able to look into his blue eyes. Never see him blush.
Hermione's first lesson blind was Care of Magical Creatures.
"Today, we'll be learning about Splackels," Hagrid said, gesturing to a creature that had the body and head of a golden retriever, the tail of a pig, and the legs of a reptile. "Now who can tell me what Splackels eat?"
Hermione raised her hand; one thing that hadn't changed. "Splackles eat fire crabs if the can find them. Otherwise, they'll go swimming to fetch a grindylow."
"Good Hermione. Ten points for Gryffindor. Now, Splackles are hard to tame, but I got some tamed. Just if you hear a growl, back off before he attacks you. One for every two people."
Ron lead Hermione to where the Splackles were located.
"What do they look like?" Hermione asked Ron, petting the Splackle.
"Well, it's about the size of a chilwala, with a body of a Golden Retriever. His legs look like a lizards, and it has a tail of a pig."
"It sound's adorable."
"I guess in a way you can say that."
"Now, the Splackles will get restless, so I suggest you take them of a walk or play fetch with them." Hagrid called out.
"Oh, let's play fetch with the little guy, can we?" Hermione asked the other three.
"Yeah, that sounds good. Let's go find a stick." Ron said.
"We might want to get a twig instead," Hermione joked.
Ron lead her to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, were they found an abundance of sticks.
"Go on," Ron said. "Pick one up." Hermione did so. Then they walked back to there Splackle.
"We should name him."
"Name him?" Ron said as though he thought with it was absurd.
"Yeah, I like Nemo."
"Nemo?"
"Yes."
"Oh, okay." He shrugged. "Whatever you want." (A/N: couldn't help it...)
Hermione crouched down to the ground, holding the stick out. "Where is he?" She asked
"He's smelling the stick, you might want to through it, before he attacks." And so she did.
Their next class was Transfiguration, was a disaster. Ron had to hold Hermione's wand hand the whole time, so she would hit her target, her raven that she was turning into a cactus.
"Professor?" Harry asked Professor McGonagall. "Can you help me here?" For Hermione had just transfigured his head into a cactus.
"Of course Potter, come up here, try not to poke anyone."
"What happened to Harry?" Hermione asked Ron.
"He accidently turned his head into a cactus." Ron lied for Hermione's sanity.
"How did he manage that?" She asked.
"I have no idea." But from then on, Ron pointed Hermione's wand in the right direction.
Eating was also a hard thing to get use to. Ron sat to the right of Hermione and had to help her find her fork. Then he'd have to point out were her food was.
There was two things that Ron dreaded the most. The first one was when Hermione had to go to the bathroom. Ron never went into the restroom, but he was terrified that Hermione would bang into something in there. That's where extendable ears rendered useful. Hermione would take a string in with her, and Ron would listen intently for any unusual noise.
The other thing that he dreaded was before Hermione went to sleep and when she'd wake up. Lavender or Pavarti would find clothes for Hermione to wear, and Ron would have to stand, staring at a corner when she changed, making sure she didn't hurt herself. Some days, when Ron was lucky, she let him brush her hair. He loved her hair, so thick and frizzy.
One day, Hermione asked Ron to read to her. "Sure," he replied. "What do you want me to read to you?"
"Romeo and Juliet," she said, blushing.
"Isn't that some old romance thing?"
"Um... yes, it is, but it also has fighting and all that stuff that you love."
"Okay, let's see." The more Ron read, the closer he found himself to Hermione; the faster his heart beat. He read through the night. He read until Hermione was asleep in his arms. Ron didn't notice when she drifted off, he just kept reading, wrapped in the book. Around five in the morning he was at the end, as Juliet kissed her Romeo before she died. Ron leaned forward and kissed his Juliet. Hermione stirred, but did not wake. Ron rested his eyes. Luckily, he woke up before anyone could come down for breakfast.
"Hermione." He shook her a bit.
"What Ron?"
"You need to get up, before someone comes down and sees us."
"Oh," she said, getting up.
Weeks passed in this fashion. Hermione fell more deeply in love with Ron, and Ron fell more deeply in love with her. One night when Ron was at Quidditch practice, Hermione took out Rita Skeeter's Quick Quote Quill that she stole from her, and had it write down the following in her diary:
Dear Diary,
As time goes on, I find myself more in love with Ron. If only I could see him blush again. If only I could see him act all dumb when a teacher stumps him. But this is for not. I'm blind and I can't keep praying for things like that to ever happen.
I wish that he loved me as I love him. The other night when he read to me Romeo and Juliet, I kept on making stupid excuses to get closer to him. 'I'm cold.' and 'I can't hear you,' were my most common excuses. I don't think he minded, he seemed to enchanted with the book. I knew he'd like it. I fell asleep leaning against him. And I could of swore that he kissed me. Even though it was probably just my dream, I felt something on my lips.
I know I write this way to much, but I love him. I can't stand it anymore; being so near to him, yet so far away. He doesn't love me; he would of said something by now. I can't bear it anymore. I will kill myself before long. Yes, I shall. I'll do it tonight, when the common room falls silent. I will die. I've got it all planned out. I have an arrow that I already placed under the cushions on the couch. I just hope nobody removes it. I doubt Hagrid even realized he gave it to me. I asked Ron to walk me over there because I needed to lecture Hagrid about the new pet he was keeping. So Ron left us alone, when I asked him for an arrow. When he asked why, I said that some pets can get out of hand, and the Crookshanks had been acting up lately, so I needed to put him to sleep. And he actually believed me. Anyway, this shall be my last record of me. Good-bye.
As this finished, Ron walked into the common room saying. "Hermione, let's get you up to your dorm. I'm really tired."
Hermione closed her diary and took hold of Ron's arm for the last time.
Tonight, Ron hid from the girls by sitting of Hermione's bed. He loved the way it smelled; like the perfume he bought her last Christmas. Ron shifted slightly. What's this? He thought as he sat on a lumpy part of her bed. He pulled out her diary. Stunned, he let it fall. It opened on her last entry. Ron made to close it, but something caught his eyes. Dead. He read the page fast. His heart raced. She was going to kill herself. Why? Because he was to embarrassed to admit his true feeling for her.
"Ron, you can come out, we're all decent." Hermione said. Ron quickly closed her diary and put it in its proper place.
"Do you know were your bed is?" Ron asked.
"Yes, I finally got the lay of the dorm. I think that you won't ever have to help me up here again." Because I'll be dead she thought. "Thank you. For everything. It's not your fault." She stood on her tip-toes and kissed him on the lips. "Good night, Ronald."
"Night." He left for the common room. At first, he just stared at the flames in the fire, but as the common room fell more silent, he retreated to a corner.
Some time past midnight, Hermione walked down the staircase carefully. She first bumped into a desk, then, a chair, but she did find the couch. She reached under the cushion, wincing when the blade of the arrow cut her fingertip. She felt her blood trickle. It was a good feeling, pain. Finding the handle, she placed it to her heart.
"For long I've awaited this. Never did I think that an arrow would do my bidding" Something stirred in Ron's memory. It was almost like that book, right before Juliet was about to kill herself.
"Hermione! No." Ron ran up to her, and pulled the arrow away from her.
"Ron, go away! You wouldn't understand." She said sarrowfully.
"Yes I would. Just tell me what's bothering you. Tell me Hermione." He said, sitting down next to her.
"I– I c-can't," her voice trembled.
"Yes you can. You can tell me anything, and believe me Hermione, I will never run away from you." He looked her strait in the eyes, forgetting her blindness.
"You would if you knew the truth."
"Well tell me already, and I'll tell you something."
"You go first."
"Fine. Hermione Granger, I love you."
"Oh Ron," Hermione sobbed, feeling rather stupid and melodramitcy, "you do?"
"Yes, I do."
Hermione reached up and ran her hand down his face. "Ron, I love you too." She paused, stroking his cheek. "You're blushing, I can feel it." And indeed she was right. Ron had never blushed harder in his entire life. "Ronald, will you do something for me?"
"Anything."
"Kiss me."
And so he did. Such a sweet thing, Ron never knew. He had always dreamed about kissing Hermione, but never actually thought it was possible. He knew now, that she was an angel, sent from above to love him.
Ron slowly pulled away, upon hearing rain fall outside. "I love the rain, it's magical."
"Yes, it is," Hermione said, laying her head on his chest.
"I wish we could be outside right now, don't you?"
"Yes, I do."
Ron started singing a song under his breath.
And you know the light is fading all too soon
Your just two umbrellas one late afternoon
You don't know the next thing you will say
This is your favorite type of day
It has no walls
The beauty of the Rain
Is how it falls, how it falls, how it falls
"That's beautiful, Ron." Hermione whispered to him. "Who sings it?"
"Well, my mom use to sing it to me when I got upset. It's by Dar Williams, she's a muggle."
"It's wonderful."
"Not as wonderful as you."
END OF PART ONE
A/N: Wasn't that great? Don't answer, it was crap, but R&R all the same! I wrote it about a year and a half ago so go easy on me please.