The Hospital Wing

I always knew The Hospital Wing as a safe place. A place of healing and new beginnings. But I never knew how much it could strengthen the bonds to which I held so dear.

Oneshots in the setting of the Hospital Wing throughout the series. POV changes each chapter. Enjoy, and please R&R.

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Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Harry Potter series. But I do own a copy of the books, DVDs, shirts, costumes, collectibles, and lots of imagination.

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Chapter One

Year One POV: Hermione Granger

Rating: T (Just to be safe. I'm quite paranoid.)

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Why did the boy have to be so stupid? If he had been just a little more patient, we could have come up with a way to get past the chess room without him getting hurt. But no, he had to be all heroic and sacrifice himself to the queen. I'd never been so terrified in my entire life.

I wanted to run to him. To see if he was okay. But Harry told me not to move. I had no choice but to comply. I wouldn't want Ron's actions to be in vain. So I stood in my square, waiting for Harry to finish the game. Once he did, I rushed to Ron's side. He was unconscious.

After Harry had gone to face Snape, or as I later discovered to be Quirrell and You-Know-Who, I'd frantically tried to awake the red-headed Weasley on the ground beside me. I woke him up to a point where I could help him walk, though unsteadily. We stumbled up to the Great Hall, where we ran into Professor McGonagall. I quickly explained a shortened version of what happened, and she said she'd send the owl to Dumbledore. I took Ron to the Hospital Wing as soon as I could.

Madam Pomphrey told me he only had a slight concussion, but she mended him straight away. I was then told he'd have to stay overnight for her to observe him. I insisted on staying with him.

And so here I am, sitting in an old armchair in the quiet Hospital Wing, watching my best friend sleep peacefully. I reach out to stroke his hair, my brow creased with worry. Madam Pomphrey said he'd be fine, but I can't help but remain paranoid until he wakes.

When my hand makes contact with him, he stirs slightly. I almost smile. I hear him mutter something incoherently in his sleep. The smile surfaces on my pale face.

"Don't worry, Ron. You're fine now," I whisper to his sleeping form.

I sit for a few more minutes, listening to his steady breathing and watching his chest rise and fall rhythmically. I feel my eyelids drooping, and I'm unable to keep them open. I was unaware as to how tired I was until then.

"Hermione?"

My eyes pop open, and I look at Ron anxiously. "Ron, you're awake. Are you okay? How do you feel?"

He smirks at me. "I'm fine, Hermione. Calm down. Where's Harry?" He looks around in search for his best friend.

"I dunno. After I went to bring you to the Hospital Wing, I haven't heard anything. I'm sure he's alright, though," I say in a hopefully convincing voice, talking to myself as well as Ron.

"Oh."

The silence ensues. I look around the room.

"Thanks, by the way," he says to me, his soft blue eyes looking into mine.

"For what?"

"For bringing me up here, getting me out of that place."

I smile. "No problem, Ron." He grins.

"And I'm sorry for how terribly I treated you earlier this year. I reckon I've just been jealous of you. You're so much smarter than I am, and I kind of resented you for that." His eyes still remain locked with mine, and they hold a sincerity I never thought I'd see from him.

I open my mouth to respond, but the doors to the Hospital Wing swing open and I see Dumbledore carrying a form I recognize as Harry. I move to get up. "Harry! Is he okay?" I query anxiously.

"He's fine, Miss Granger. Voldemort never got his hands on the stone. Harry has saved us," the headmaster states quietly, placing Harry on the bed opposite Ron.

The relief washed through me. Both of my friends are safe, generally unharmed. I smile widely, and Ron does the same. What an amazing first year.

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The next chapter will be up sometime soon, but I'm always motivated to work faster when I receive reviews. Please take that not-so-subtle hint and press that little button beneath this text.
-Miss Mudblood