A.N. Please r/r. I don't know if I like this. I'll post a sequel if you want it, unlike some of my other fics... ::grins sheepishly:: I own absolutely nothing from Harry Potter. Evan and Jared own the song verse from 'Crazy for this Girl. Oh, and I know Hermione and Ron didn't see Harry immediately after the, um, incident... but oh well. :)




Why didn't I

By Corynth


She was the one to hold me, the night the sky fell down. And what was I thinking when, the world didn't end, why
didn't I, I don't know!

There were people everywhere, running about in total confusion. Ron and Hermione however, stood perfectly still, in the midst of it all, trying to understand what was going on.

"Ron," whispered Hermione, "Oh, Ron..."

She trailed off, not really sure what to say.

Ron looked angrily around. "What the hell is going on here?" she said to no one in particular. He then grabbed Hermione's hand and yanked her away, as if walking could answer his questions. Neither of the two noticed that they were holding hands. If they had, perhaps they would have realized something.

"Professor!" Hermione shrieked suddenly, breaking away from Ron, and dashing forward. "Professor wait!"

Professor McGonagall turned to see Ron and Hermione dashing toward her. Hermione looked as if she were in the middle of a nervous collapse, Ron looked angry and upset.

"Professor!" Hermione panted, reaching her. "What's going on? Where's Harry? Please?
Please!"

Professor McGonagall looked down at the hysterical girl and did something she had never ever done before. She reached out and pulled Hermione into a tight hug.

"Oh Hermione!" she gasped, tears welling up in her eyes. "I just don't now! I don't know and I'm scared!"

Realizing what she had just said, Professor McGonagall pulled herself away from Hermione.

"I-I" she stammered. "Er, why don't just go and sit in the stands. I will... alert you if, I-I
mean when Harry returns.

With that she hurried away, wondering what on earth had possessed her to do such a thing.

Ron and Hermione did as they were told, and a few minutes later they flopped down on one of the benches in the quidditch stands.

Hermione started sniffling, then crying, then buried her face in her hands and sobbed. Ron rolled his eyes.

"Oh come here," he said.

Hermione looked up, looking confused and rather pathetic. "What?"

"Come here," repeated Ron, holding out his arms to her. "I'll make you feel better."

Not really knowing why, Hermione went over to him, and settled into his arms.

Ron wasn't sure how to go about this; He'd never done anything like it before.

"I'm scared," Hermione whispered.

Ron's arms tightened around her. "Me too."

Slowly their eyelids began to droop; the tension and stress of the night had worn them down.

Hermione yawned and thought, I'll just take a little rest...

~ * ~

"Hermione! Ron! Wake up!"

Hermione and Ron jolted awake, gazed around them bemusedly for a moment, then jumped up, surveying Professor McGonagall with anticipation.

Professor McGonagall was standing before them, rocking on the balls of her feet, looking both terrified and ecstatic at the same time. "He's back!" she yelled, her glassed askew, "He's back!"

Hermione and Ron dashed down the steps of the stands, tripping and stumbling everywhere. Once on the ground, they looked wildly around, searching for their friend.

"There!" Hermione screamed, pointing.

Sure enough, Ron and Hermione could see Harry limping into the castle with Professor Moody.

Hermione made to run after them, but Ron grabbed her arm.

"Wait!" he said, "Hermione, I..."

He stopped. He couldn't tell her now. Everything was so frantic. But still... Tonight, he'd held her, hand and body. Now he never wanted to let go. He loved her and he wanted to tell her now.

Hermione shook her head as Ron opened his mouth again.

"Later Ron," she said shortly, and hurried off after Harry.

Ron watched her go.