CHAPTER TWO

SIMPLY NUMB

GREAT HALL

"Time to split up the dream team, I think." He sneered. "Wesley, you partner with Finnigan. Potter –"

-- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Page 191 American paper back edition.

Ron was relieved to see Harry move closer to Hermione automatically. He felt a twinge of … he didn't know what it was … but he wished it was he, who was paired off with Hermione.

"Go easy on him, Hermione." He said with a smile. "We still need Harry to save the world after all." Harry and Hermione laughed. They both knew that Harry was heaps better at Defense of the Dark Arts than either Hermione and Ron put together.

"Wesley and Finnigan go stand by the far window." Snape ordered pointing his finger at the far window opposite the doors. Far away from where Hermione and Harry stood. Rolling his eyes Ron went to stand where Snape had appointed. He grew angry as he watched Snape pair Harry with Malfoy. But it truly angered him that Hermione was paired off with Millicent Bulstrode. The toad.

Before he could demand to partner with Hermione, he knew Lockhart would agree! Lockhart himself, told everyone to face their partners. The practice had begun.

"Practice disarming one and another only! You may not try any fancy or tricky moves." Lockhart said. "That's only for experienced wizards … like me." He puffed himself up; Ron rolled his eyes and groaned. "Now begin."

Ron gulped as he raised his broken wand and called out a spell. Everything became crazy than. Seamus's spell hit him and he started to giggle. But his spell hit Seamus and the other boy started to dance. Suddenly his laughter and Seamus's dancing feet stopped.

"Disarm lads. Disarm." Lockhart said as he sailed past.

He ducked as Seamus's next spell came his way – but Seamus's wasn't so lucky. Ron's spell from his broken wand hit Seamus straight in this face. Seamus flew backwards: hitting the stone wall full forced.

"Bloody hell!" Ron rushed over to the fallen Seamus. "I'm so sorry mate."

"STOP!" A stern and angry voice bellowed/

"I – I'm so sorry Seamus." Ron kept saying as he helped his friend to his feet.

He forgot everything – the moment he turned to where Hermione had been assigned to duel with Millicent. His heart stopped at what his eyes beheld. Millicent was beating the crap out of Hermione. Harry was trying to pull Millicent off Hermione – with no luck.

Before Ron could rush over and help ….

"P-please stop. You are hurting me." Hermione's weak voice entered into his soul.

"HERMIONE!" His voice screamed as Millicent made one final blow; knocking Hermione out. He pushed Seamus aside as he rushed forward. He skidded to a stop, slamming down to his knees. "Hermione …." He whispered.

"Her pulse is weak. Skipping two beats to one …" Harry's voice came through to his wild chaotic soul.

Ron barely got out of the way as Snape bent and picked Hermione up. He watched in fear as Snape rushed from the Great Hall. He stood to his feet and looked over at McGongall.

"Potter and Wesley, go to the hospital wing. But, you are not allowed in until I have arrived." She said looking at Harry, than at him in return.

"Yes Professor." He heard his own weak husky voice say. He followed Harry from the Great Hall.

HOSPITAL WING

Everything was a blank. Ron never remembered anything during the long wait for McGongall. All he remembered was Harry saying, "We better see how Hermione is."

Walking into the hospital wing, he wanted to rush Snape and starting beating the gint up for his part in Hermione's tragedy. But McGongall quickly sent him and Harry over to the far side, away from Snape.

His next conscience thought was Pompey ratting off all the broken body parts Hermione had. Enlarged spleen. …. Am concerned about the spleen. Broken right arm, broken jaw, broken ribs, cracked up head – stitched up. Contact parents. … sooner the better!

He emotionally shut down. Dully he heard what Dumbledore's was saying about keeping hope alive for Hermione.

"Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo." Where had that death knoll scream come from? He couldn't tell if it were male or female. All he knew was that his soul had died at the sound.

He gasped and broke his loud cry from breaking forth as the curtains that had been blocking Hermione were removed. This broken creature before him was not his Hermione!

Everything was a blur – and he soon found himself in the common room of Gryffindor Tower.

GRYFFINDOR TOWER

"How is she?" Fred and George cried as soon as the portrait hole opened, and Harry, with Ron close behind walked in. Harry just walked to the stairs in silence. It was as if he hadn't heard.

"Ron…" He felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning he found his younger sister, Ginny.

He dumbly shook his head. He felt tears slide down his checks.

Ginny simply wrapped her arms around him and pulled her brother into a hug. Fred, George and Percy gathered around the two youngest siblings, keeping the outsiders out.

END CHAPTER TWO

Author's Note: Ron's chapter at this point is obviously very short and too the point. He was numb after all – he didn't really notice too much what was going on at times.

Harry's chapter next – don't worry I won't repeat the great hall and the hospital wing again – well not in the same fashion as these two first chapters have been.