Everything went black.
WHAT?! Now?! You got to be bloody killing me! Ok, next time, I go right for it. No more playing along, just tell her how you feel and smack one! This is a dream, right? Ah man, what if this is really life? Damn, this stupid time thing!
As Ron thought aloud the questions and possibilities of this odd situation, he felt himself, suddenly, fade, as if his concentration on reality was fading, and nothing…
What the hell…(As Ron looses conscious of his inner brain, and a moment of silence cuts off his dreams (of Hermione squeal!) Reality takes its turn. While Ron was unconscious, the following has happened:)
"Its ok, Professor, Ron is fine! That cure should hold him out for a while. I hope."
Harry Potter was in Professor Slughorn's office with Slughorn and his knocked out best mate, Ronald Weasley. Grabbing Ron's arm, Harry lifted him up to support him on his left side. Turning to Slughorn, Harry said,
"Professor, You have to call Mrs. Pomfrey to let her know Ron's hurt!" when the professor did not move an inch. Harry's temper began to grow far worse.
"Slughorn! RON NEEDS HELP!!!" Once the words pour from Harry's mouth, he knew he would regret it later. However, the life of his friend was far more important.
As Harry exited the office and headed to the hospital wing, Ron's body began to shake. Panicking, Harry settled him down across the floor, taking his pulse on his right wrist, which was pale and ice cold.
Good thing his is still breathing, thought Harry. What am I going to tell Hermione? The vision of her standing over Ron gave him a shudder of both thrill and fear. This would turn out good or bad.
As Harry tried to lift Ron from the ground once again, Ron started to mumble something.
"What?" asked Harry in worry. For a minute, Harry was sure he had said: "Thanks, I need it."
"Ron what is it?" Harry shook his best mate on the shoulders, but the only thing that came out was:
"Hermione… What is… the… date?" Then, Ron's head shank back so that his mouth hung open.
Great. He is on the brink of death and all he can think of is Hermione answering one of his stupid questions?
As Harry struggled to half-carry half-drag Ron to the hospital wing, Harry wondered if Hermione would like to here what Ron was saying when he was delusional.
Maybe I shouldn't tell her. Just incase It turns out for the worst…(Now back to Ron's totally confused brain….)
The first thing Ron heard when he regained consciousness was the clapping of a hundred hands and cries of excitement. Opening his eyes in shock, Ron jumped to notice he was in the weirdest place.
First of, he knew he was in a crowd of other students from Hogwarts, all dressed in their robes, except, their sleeves and shoulders were marked in bright striped colors, the colors of the houses. Second, everyone paused in between names that were being called out by none other then Professor Dumbledore. And third, Ron caught glimpses of family members sitting on bleachers high above. Ron now knew that they all were on the Quidditch field.
"Gryffindor's Seamus Finnigan!" called out Dumbledore. The crowd yelled and clapped away as Seamus walked up to Dumbledore, shook his hands, and walked off with his fist punching the air. After a long look at Seamus's face, Ron noticed something different about him. His hair was shorter and he was slightly taller with a thicker jaw. Seamus was… older.
Oh. My. God. Graduation. This is my graduation! Ron's mind whirled with joy and fear. I actually past seventh year? Bloody Brilliant! I- wait, I past seventh year. Where the hell was I when I past My final year!
Thousands thoughts and questions past by Ron's mind as he, once again, tried to remember what had happen after he had blacked out from that poisoned wine. However, only one sentence brought Ron's head snapping forward.
"Gryffindor's Hermione Granger!"
Loud applause broke the air, followed my even louder cheers from Hermione's muggle parents who sat beside Ron's own large family. From behind Ron, a slender woman stepped around him to pass by between the others in the crowd.
I know that wavy brown hair, thought Ron. And that confident walk! For the first time in Ron's life, he couldn't help but feel a hole grow across his stomach. When Hermione stepped up to shake Dumbledore's hands and her face faced the crowd, Ron's face dropped in surprise.
She had never looked so beautiful in all the time he had known her, even more glamorous then the Yule Ball in fourth year. Her face was a perfect glow of beauty, her skin a light tan from the sun. With her robe open, her soft striking legs snuck out from under her light pink dress that shaped her body in such a way that made Ron tingle from the waist down.
When she had thanked the teachers as she left the platform, her smile broke out as she zigzagged through the congratulating students to settle in front of Ron. Turning to face forward, her hair swung in such a wisp of waves, that the sunlight made it look like an ocean of golden brown.
As hard as he tried to speak, only sounds of stumbled and messed up words came falling out. After a few slight turns, Hermione finally shot her head around to face Ron.
"Ronald, now isn't the time for you to fool around! Be mature for once!" Her words stung his heart with such a force of pain that a hundred Basilk fangs would not hurt as much.
This can't be the Hermione I know. She acts as if I were Malfoy!
"Gryffindor's Harry Potter!"
Ron shot a glance from Hermione's back to watch his best mate rise from the dotted heads amongst the large group of seventh years. Just like Seamus and Hermione, Harry too had changed. He was lanky and very tall, nearly as tall as Ron himself (though he figured that he had also grown with his higher view of the ground) and his hair was growing out a bit with each corner sticking out at all ends.
Once Harry had done his share of hugging the professors, Dumbledore stepped forward to speak into the podium to call the remaining students. Ron paid no attention to what was said; only the way Hermione had turned her back to Ron made him feel cold from the toes up, as if she had turned back on him for good.
"Gryffindor's Ronald Weasley!"
"Go on!" shouted Dean from Ron's left.
"Come on, Ronnie!" shouted a familiar annoying voice.
Ah crap.
From behind, Lavender Brown pushed Ron rather roughly in the back, causing him to collide into a very angry Hermione.
"Watch it, Ronald!"
In shame and depression, Ron stepped through the crowd to climb the high steps up onto the stage. Once he had shook every blimey teacher's hand he started for the exit, only to be pulled back by Harry.
"Where you going?" asked a confused Harry.
"What do you mean?" Ron questioned, his eyes not leaving Hermione who had also come onto the stage.
"You have to say your speech." Said Harry.
"What!" muttered Ron in astonishment.
"You are saying your speech. You know, the one you wrote last night. Blimey, mate, you are one for last minute." When Ron still stared at Harry in a puzzled look, Harry sighed and rolled his eyes. "The speech. About school and the real world? Really, Ron, don't you remember? Hermione will talk about respect and hard work, I'll talk about bravery and doing what's right and you will read about friendship and heading out into the world."
"Uh… Right. Just playing ya Harry." Whispered Ron, though he knew that this wasn't going to end well.
As Harry faced Hermione, who had now taken her place at the podium, she glanced behind her shoulder to smile at Harry. When she turned to Ron, her face grew cold.
When she turned back to the audience, Ron leaned towards Harry.
"What the bloody hells with her?"
"What do you mean?" asked a confused Harry.
Impatiently, Ron growled, "why is she mad at me?"
"Well mate, why wouldn't she be? After all, you dating Lavender just tore her apart. No offense, but you just made it harder for me to be with my best friends with both of them hating each other. I just wish these past two years hadn't happen. That way you two would have never had renounced your friendship."
Renounced our friendship? All because of Lavender? Why the hell didn't I breakup with her! Hermione and me not friends? It can't be!
Applause broke the air as Hermione finished her speech, and she stepped over to take Harry's place as he went up to speak.
Once Harry started his paper, Ron gave a nerves glance towards Hermione, who was trying her best to stay facing forward. Ever so slightly, Ron titled his head towards Hermione.
"Hermione," he started, but she was much too quick.
"Ronald, I don't want to speak to you!" she whispered angrily. "I told you that during Christmas!"
"Hermione, what I do wrong?"
"Listen, Weasley, you know that answer."
"Actually, I am at a block."
A pause followed, only the booming echo of Harry's words filled the air. After another minute, Ron tried again.
"Please…"
Another silence followed until finally Hermione whipped her head at Ron, fury in her eyes.
"Ronald Weasley. You are the most pathetic, idiotic, gross, and horrible person I have ever met!" Ron's mouth dropped in shock. He had heard her say these words billion of times before, however the hate and dislike in every syllable stabbed at Ron's heart.
"I thought you were my friend, my friend. I trusted you. I thought I could rely on you, be there when I need help, when I need saving. I even lov-" she stopped short, her loathing eyes now watering in pain. "I saw you differently, Ronald. But when you did- did it with Lavender during the summer, you hurt me. Why did you rub it in my face! Why do you have to be so cruel!"
Ron's inside cracked, as if every word was breaking him to pieces. I did it with Lavender? I don't even like her! I mean, she isn't that attractive. He stared at Hermione's wounded face, the crumbling of her stunning beauty. What have I done?
"Hermione-"
"Mr. Weasley, it is your turn." Ron glanced up to see that Harry had finished, and that the hundreds of people were waiting for him to speak his turn.
"Ok…" hesitated Ron as he slowly stepped to the podium. He stood there for what seemed centuries, before he discovered a piece of paper was folded in his right hand.
As he opened it in fear of the numerous eyes watching him, he turned to look at his friends behind his shoulder. Harry gave a little smile and nod of encouragement, while Hermione goggled at Ron, tears rolling down her face.
That was it. Ron couldn't let Hermione go in this state any longer. Dropping the paper, Ron quickly walked over to Hermione, reaching out his arms in comfort to do anything, everything to stop her pain.
"Hermione don't-" Ron started but suddenly Hermione's eyes rolled behind her head. Her skin grew white and she fell to the ground without breathing.
"Hermione? Hermione! HERMIONE NO! HERMIONE!!!!"
Ron abruptly opened his eyes wide in panic, only to see that the dead Hermione, older Harry, and other people were gone. Instead, he lay on the floor in front of a fireplace, the sound of pots clanging from nearby.
Looking up, Ron noticed he was in a living room, one that was unfamiliar to him. Standing up, Ron circled slowly on the spot, till he came face to face to a mirror that hung on the wall nearest to him.
Staring into the reflection, Ron noticed something behind him.
He yelled in absolute horror.