This is written in response to the challenge set by .BxJ. It will be set in the books and it is all canon. There are seven chapters and please, please review =)

Oh, and it's RonXHermione – but you already knew that....=P This chapter is set after the little adventure with Quirrel in the Philosopher's (or Sorcerer's) Stone - hope you like and as always, please review =)

Hermione earned a few looks as she rushed down to the Hospital Wing from Gryffindor Tower.

True – her clothes were ripped, burnt, torn and, well, practically destroyed in every way possible, but that didn't matter to her. There were whispers. Despite it only being less than twenty four hours ago – the story of hers, Harry and Ron's adventures on the Third Floor had become little known throughout the Gryffindors. But then, perhaps McGonagall practically dragging her to her dormitory because she was so tired had been a giveaway.

Hermione had been sent to the Hospital Wing along with her two best friends after their adventures. Dumbledore had been there the whole time and had seemed rather concerned over Harry's state – but tried to hide that, of course. He was Dumbledore. He didn't do worrying. Hermione was still terrified over Harry. He had looked awful when Dumbledore had got him out – and of course she was desperate to know what had happened between him and Snape. By the time Hermione had finished being checked out by Madam Pomfrey, Professor McGonagall had arrived

As she approached the Hospital Wing, she hesitated. She wasn't too sure whether she should knock or...

Before she could say anything, however, the door swung open and nobody but Dumbledore appeared, looking tired – exhausted in fact – but pleased.

'Good morning, Miss Granger,' he said, smiling and inclining his head to Hermione – who smiled and blushed that Dumbledore even knew her name.

Dumbledore seemed to guess what she was thinking and chuckled.

'Poppy will let you in. Your friends – Mr Potter and Mr Weasley – are going to be fine. Poppy says Mr Weasley can leave today.'

'What about Harry?' Hermione blurted out before she could stop herself. Dumbledore smiled kindly, shutting the door quietly behind him.

'Harry on the other hand may be in here a week or so. Madam Pomfrey is still unsure on when he will wake up...' Dumbledore seemed to notice the shocked expression on Hermione's face and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. 'But he will be fine, Miss Granger, I assure you.'

Hermione smiled weakly before plucking up the courage to ask the thing she really needed to know.

'Sir...Professor Dumbledore. Is the Philosopher's Stone...I mean, did Harry save it? Is it OK? Was Snape -?'

'Snape is innocent,' Dumbledore said calmly. Hermione opened her mouth to protest but Dumbledore simply carried on. 'The person in question was Professor Quirrell.'

'What?' Hermione gasped. Dumbledore smiled, nodding. Hermione was still embarrassed.

'Harry has been extraordinarily brave. And the sweets have already started to arrive from admirers,' he said, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses. 'And as for Quirrell...he was, in fact, possessed by Lord Voldemort.'

Hermione's eyes widened – after she had flinched, of course – and Dumbledore grimaced.

'I will leave you to visit your friends. And, when Mr Weasley awakes, I would get him started on some of those Chocolate Frogs,' Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling again. 'There are, in fact, far too many for Mr Potter to consume on his own, I believe.'

Hermione smiled again and Dumbledore nodded once before leaving.

'Good day, Miss Granger.'

'Goodbye, Sir,' Hermione said nervously, glancing at the door as the sound of Dumbledore's steps faded away. She opened the door nervously, and took it as a good sign when there was no immediate screech of, 'GET OUT THIS INSTANT OR YOU'RE EXPELLED!'

Madam Pomfrey was searching through a cabinet over on the opposite end of the ward. She gave Hermione a disapproving look but didn't say anything as she straightened up and closed the cupboard, heading towards her office.

'Ten minutes!' she called warningly before she closed her door. Hermione nodded, knowing that nobody could see her but not really caring as she headed to the two beds where her two best friends lay – asleep.

They both looked awful, that's for a start. Her heart seemed to plummet at the sight of the two of them. Harry looked disturbingly peaceful – in a way Hermione couldn't explain – and Ron looked...well, like Ron. And that was a good thing – it was definitely a good thing.

She took a seat between the two of them and looked from one to the other. Harry's scar was a bit more prominent than usual. That was one thing that scared her a little bit. As she looked from the one to the other – her two best friends unconscious after a fight was enough to scare any twelve year old girl to death – there was a groan from the bed on her left.

'Wazgoinon?'

Hermione's head shot around to face Ron and she smiled and leapt up to hug him – but suddenly found herself embarrassed and pulled away quickly.

'You're awake!'

Ron blinked hard and looked around the Hospital Wing, and then Hermione watched as the realisation clicked on his face.

'Snape!' he said, shooting upright. Hermione shushed him, glancing quickly at Madam Pomfrey's office before grabbing his shoulder and pushing him back down forcefully.

'What's happened? Is Snape gone? What about the Philosopher's Stone – is that safe?'

Hermione sighed. 'Everything's fine – and it wasn't Snape.'

Ron gaped stupidly. 'What? What do you mean it wasn't Snape, Hermione, we've been watching him for months of course it –'

'It was Professor Quirrell.'

Ron opened his mouth to say something, then closed it, and then opened it again before finally seeming to find the right words. 'Right, so I'm either dreaming or you have gone insane, Hermione, because Quirrell doesn't have the courage to open a window, never mind –'

'-And he was possessed by You Know Who.'

'Oh,' Ron said shortly, his eyes narrowing. 'Oh, well, I guess that changes things.'

They sat in silence for a moment.

'When's Harry going to wake up?' Ron asked, sounding like such a little kid that Hermione almost laughed, despite the topic they were on.

'Er...well, it could be a few days according to Dumbledore.'

'What?' Ron yelped. 'But...there's the Quidditch Final! And Harry is the seeker! Gryffindor can't play without a seeker!'

'Is that all you care about?' Hermione asked scathingly. 'Quidditch? Your best friend has just fought off You Know Who single handed and all you can worry about is Quidditch?'

Ron glared at her. 'You know what, you are so annoying at times.'

'And so are you.'

The two glared at each other for a few moments before there was a rustling and Harry turned over, facing them with his eyes scrunched closed and looking suddenly tense, as though having a nightmare but not wanting to show it – even in his sleep. Hermione sighed.

'We shouldn't really be arguing now.'

'Fine,' Ron said bluntly. 'We'll argue later.'

Hermione glared at Ron. At times she really did hate him. She tried to think of something to lighten the atmosphere, and the words seemed to speak for themselves before she could even want to say them.

'You were really brave back there. Sacrificing yourself, I mean.'

Ron looked surprised that she had even said that and Hermione blushed, looking down.

'Thanks – but Harry was braver,' Ron said, a trace of a laugh in his voice. 'I mean, I couldn't take on You Know Who – ever.'

Hermione smiled anxiously. 'And hopefully Harry – or any of us – will ever have to again. Not now.'

Ron grinned back at Hermione for one moment and for the first time in – well, ever, really – they weren't arguing with each other, or bickering in anyway. It was actually peaceful. That was until the door to Madam Pomfrey's office slammed open anyway.

'I said ten minutes – you've almost had twenty!' she said shrilly, rushing over to chivvy Hermione out of her seat. She was carrying a potion's bottle which she placed down on Harry's bedside cabinet. Ron gave Hermione a small grimace.

'I'll see you later, Ron,' Hermione said, giving a small smile as Madam Pomfrey started to give Harry some of the potion – which smelt awful. Ron seemed to think so too as he had his nose wrinkled in disgust.

'Yeah – later, Hermione, bye.'

As Hermione turned and left the Hospital Wing, she muttered to herself.

'I still think you were pretty brave.'