Disclaimer: Not mine – J.K.Rowling's

Never drink and wander

Ron was drunk.

Not just a little drunk, very drunk. Like lying-down-still-having-to-hold-onto-the-floor drunk.

He knew there was a good reason for it… he was just a little hazy on what that reason was exactly. It was possibly something to with Hermione. But again, uncertain.

His feet were cold. Maybe he was outside? Maybe he was half in and half out. Was that even possible? Oh yeah. Doorways.

He wished there was someone around. He wasn't sure where he was. Or where he was going. Or where he'd come from come to that. And he had an inexplicable craving for rice pudding.

Ron sat down heavily, slumping almost bonelessly against a wall. Oh look a pretty light, maybe that would help him.

"Do you know," he slurred, "where I should be going?"

The light danced and jumped in his vision. 'Follow me, follow me,' it seemed to be saying.

"If you insist," the redhead garbled, pushing himself up to what he assumed was a vertical position.

Ron staggered after the light, following a meandering path to somewhere dark. It got darker and darker and the Gryffindor lost track of how long he'd been following the waltzing light.

Abruptly, he walked into something solid. He pried his eyes open, unaware that he'd shut them at all. Sunlight burst in, burning his pupils.

"Owww!" he exclaimed, thrashing his arms in irritation. One of his arms came into contact with something that gave way. Bemused, Ron pried one of his eyes open cautiously.

There was a boy standing on one of the edge of what looked like the Astronomy Tower (how had he gotten here?). No the boy wasn't standing, he was balancing. As Ron watched the boy's attempts to balance went wrong as well, and he disappeared from view.

"Be careful!" he shouted after the boy.

With that, the redhead passed dead away.

"C'mon Ron, wake up, please," Hermione's whispered tones slowly began to filter into his consciousness.

"Whassamatter," he grunted, rubbing his eyes laboriously.

"Harry, he's awake!" Hermione called across the hospital wing.

Ron opened his eyes a crack and squinted at her. Oh, he had the mother of all hangovers.

Harry alighted at his right elbow. "Alright mate?" he inquired.

"Could do with some water," Ron rasped. He felt Hermione move and walk away. Something felt wrong Ron realised, something felt very wrong, but he just couldn't put his finger on it.

"We found you in one of the dungeons, had to use the Marauders Map to do it because it was so hidden away. What were you doing down there?" Harry asked. Even with his eyes shut, Ron could picture his perplexed expression.

"I don't know," the redhead replied, opening his eyes and trying to ignore the throbbing in his skull. "I can't remember much of last night."

Harry nodded sympathetically. "You really shouldn't let the tiffs you and Herm have get to you so much."

Ah yes, it came back to Ron now. His and Hermione had had a fight about N.E.W.Ts and he had ended up in one of the third floor classrooms. But how had he got to one of the dungeons, especially if he was hammered enough not to remember anything now?

Hermione returned with the glass of water, placing it gently into his hand. "I don't know where Madam Pomfrey is," she started, her brows knitting.

Suddenly Ron realised what had seemed so off; there was no background noise. No noise at all in fact.

"Why can't I hear anything?" he asked, taking a long gulp of the water.

"Because there's nothing to hear," the Boy Who Lived replied, pushing his glasses further up his nose. We can't find anyone! No one in the common room, none in the main hall, we even had a quick search for professor Snape – because Hermione had an extra essay for him or something (Harry rolled his eyes) – but no one. Not a soul."

Hermione looked terrified at this prospect.

"Maybe they all just slept in?" Ron asked slowly, doubting it even as he said it. "I mean it is a Sunday after all."

"I don't think you understand, there is no one, anywhere," the bushy-haired Gryffindor replied.

Ron rolled sideways until he was in a sitting position. "Let's check the kitchens, even if everyone else is out, the house elves will still be around. And while we're there, we can get some food." As if on cue, his stomach rumbled loudly.

"Good plan," agreed Harry, offering his arm as support. Hermione went quickly around the other side, and together they escorted Ron out of the doors of the Hospital Wing.

Although Harry and Hermione were right in saying that most of Hogwarts was deserted, they were not completely correct.

All around the castle a few more students stirred, wondering why they hadn't been woken. Thirteen more students to be exact…

On that note, I'm afraid to say I must finish. Because it is very late. Or very early, depending on which way you look at it. But I like this plot. A LOT. So stick around for the next bit :)

Reviews are always welcome of course!