Ok. This is the second chapter of my first story. I tried to put in author's notes with the first chapter but I had already submitted it so... Well any way, please review and if you think it's crap please break it to me gently. Any tips will be much appreciated!

Hermione stood, paralysed to the spot as Healers pushed past her, shouting instructions to one another. It takes a moment for Hermione to realise that what is happening is not another of the many nightmares she has been having the last few months. That it is real. As she regains the ability to move her legs, she begins to run after them. Everything seems to be happening in slow motion. Every leap she takes down the corridor seems to take an hour. She needs to be with him. He needs her. Finally she reaches the door and rushes into the room. Again, she almost retches as she sees Ron's corpse. He has never looked so pale and dark red blood is trickling out of his mouth as his body jerks violently from side to side. The Weasleys and Harry are hurrying out the door to allow the healers space as two try to hold Ron down. Another is frantically trying to pour a potion down his throat. Hermione recognizes the bottle and throws herself at the healer…

xxx

After a week of Ron being in a coma the healer took the Weasley's, Harry and Hermione into a small, damp room. Hermione remembered that at the time she feared they were going to announce that Ron would die. Never in her life had she felt more afraid. They explained that Ron could have a fit at any time and that if he did, they would have no choice but to administer him with a certain potion. They explained that if they did not give it to him immediately he would fit for about two hours and then, almost certainly, die. At this Mrs Weasley exclaimed what we had all been thinking.

"Then why not just give him the bloody potion now?!?!"

The healer merely took a long breath before continuing his somewhat emotionless spiel. " The potion would save him from the fitting but after a few days, it could kill him. On the other hand, it could save him but there is only a 20 chance. It just depends how mentally and physically strong he is. We want to see if he can come out of the coma himself. It's too risky to administer it unless he is almost at death's door." He had then produced the small bottle from his pocket and shown it to them. It was a small dark green bottle encrusted with small black stones. Hermione would almost of thought it pretty, had she not known what it contained and what it could do.

" I'm sorry to have to ask, but because it is so risky we have to request that you sign a form of consent as obviously Ron cannot do it himself." With trembling hands Mr Weasley had reached forward and signed on the dotted line…

xxx

"NO!!!!" Hermione started grabbing insanely at the bottle.

"You'll kill him, he isn't strong enough!"

Fred and George who were the last exiting the room grabbed her and forced her hands behind her back, trying to drag her from the room. Hermione turned on them spitting in rage, desperately trying to get them off.

"Let me near him! I need to talk to him." She wailed, kicking out at the twins who merely tightened their grip.

" Hermione, stop making this harder than it already is!" Fred bellowed in her ear, forcing her back, nearer the doorway.

" This is the only way Hermione and Ron is either going to have to sink or swim!"

Hermione let out a scream in desperation, pulling even harder as the twins forced her back out the room. She could feel their nails digging into her wrists and it felt as if her arms were about to pull free of their sockets but she refused to give up, not yet.

"RON!"

Despite the commotion she is causing, the healer has managed to unscrew the lid and is bending down towards Ron's mouth.

" Get the FUCK away from him! RON!!! Get him away from you!" Her voice is hoarse from shouting so loud.

The healer isn't stopping and she watches, helplessly, as the potion starts to trickle into his mouth. After a moment, he goes still.

Hermione stops struggling and watches silently as the healers let go of Ron's corpse and exit the room. They haven't even cleaned the blood from his mouth. After a few minutes of standing silently and still the twins let her go, obviously deciding that her momentary mental rampage is over. Hermione cautiously treads over to his bed and pulls up the chair Mrs Weasley had been sitting in then sits down beside his head.

The twins leave the room and close the door behind them. Hermione can hear the Healer's talking in lowered voices to Harry and the Weasleys. Her tears are falling down onto his pale face and are winding their way through the drying blood around his mouth. There is a small table behind her chair, against the wall. She leans back and grabs a handful of tissues from the shabby box sitting in the middle amongst the dying flowers. She turns back to Ron and slowly starts to wipe away the blood from his mouth. The gentle movements of the tissues over his skin feel quite calming and for the first time in months she doesn't feel so useless.

"I'll look after you," she whispers and drops the tissues in the bin under the bed.

Again, she runs her fingers through his hair and as she does so, lays her head on his chest. She turns her face towards his. I love you. Almost immediately, the young witch falls asleep.

xxx

The room is dark when she wakens and a hand is resting on her shoulder. Startled, Hermione turns quickly to see Harry. Even in the dim light from Ron's bedside lamp she can see the bags under Harry's eyes.

"Hermione," his voice is hoarse.

"Come away, you can't stay all night. It could be days before anything happens." Defiantly, she turns her back on Harry and resumes her position on Ron's chest.

"I'm not leaving him."

"Hermione –" Harry tries to protests but she interrupts him.

" Don't waste your breath Harry."

Harry sighed and left the room, carelessly slamming the door behind him. She was irritated at being woken. She had been dreaming of the Christmas the trio had had last winter.

xxx

Almost all horcruxes had been found and they were taking Christmas and Boxing Day off from their hunt. Hermione smiled as she remembered the Christmas dinner scenario. They were staying in a small rented flat, they had to be able to move at any time, and were all preparing the Christmas dinner. None of them were talented when it came to cooking but they couldn't risk going out. The presents lay unwrapped by the fire and the windows were frosted over. It was perfect. Hermione had just left the bathroom when she heard shouts from the kitchen. Grabbing her wand, she ran into the room to find the hob ablaze and Harry and Ron frantically trying to put it out. Hastily, she had stepped in and extinguished it. She was just about to ask how they had managed to set a pot of water on fire before it even had food in it when Ron, who was holding a jug of gravy, slipped on the water on the floor. All three watched, mouths open, as the jug landed neatly on the table but its contents drenched Hermione from head to toe. The new top that Harry had given her was soaking. Seeing that her temper was rising Ron jumped up off the floor and stepped towards her.

"Shit!!! I am so sorry Hermione."

Without thinking, he snatched a dishcloth from the table and, trying to save the new top, ran it across her chest. His hand froze as it rested on her right breast. Both he and she looked down before he quickly removed it. When he spoke, his voice was alarmingly high and his face had flushed to scarlet.

"I need to just…" he pointed at the door.

Hermione raised her eyebrows and she could see that Harry was trying hard not to laugh. Ron dropped his arm in defeat.

" I just need to go."

With that said, he just about leapt out the door. Once out of earshot, Harry burst into hysterics. Hermione smirked to herself before returning to the bathroom for a shower.

xxx

Hermione found herself smiling at the memory in the darkness. She looked towards the clock. It read 1am. Still facing the clock she spoke to break the silence of the room.

"We had fun didn't we Ron?"

"Yeah."

x DUN, DUN, DUN!!! Please review. x