Two weeks before…
Ginny and Harry ran through the pointy arms of trees and the thorny fingers of bushes as they shouted their friend's name.
"Hermione? Hermione, where are you?"
There was no answer.
Ginny and Harry kept running and running, until….
"Ah!" Ginny screamed.
"Lumos," Harry cried. A beam shot up from his wand.
"Who is it? What is it? Show your face," he waved his wand around.
The figure in the dimmed light raised its hands. "Relax Potter, it's just me."
Harry squinted. "Malfoy? What are you doing here?"
"I'm here because of the same reason as you. I'm looking for Granger. Or I was looking for Granger."
Ginny looked worried. "You came here by yourself? And what do you mean by was?"
Draco shook his head. "Well you see, I found her..."
"So where is she now?"
Draco was struck with sudden guilt. "I don't know. I collapsed and when I woke up..."
Ginny looked as if she was about to slap him. "You. Oh, I don't know what to do with you. Or what to say for that matter."
"I don't know, there's something strange about this forest. It's like it's enchanted or something. It was like the forest was pulling me to the ground, persuading me to go to sleep. The next thing I knew, I was on the ground, out cold."
Harry nodded. "That kind of relates to what Hagrid was saying before he went missing. He was saying that there was something a bit off about the forest. I'm not sure what's going on, but I think we should get out of here, go to Hogwarts and ask for help."
Ginny shook her head. "I'm not sure if that's a good idea."
"But Hermione, she's in danger."
"I know she's in danger, but we'll not even sure what's going on right now. We can't drag more people into this, without figuring out the situation first."
"Look Ginny, Hagrid and Fang have gone missing, Hermione has vanished into thin air. It's about time we handed it to the professionals."
"I have to say Harry, you seem to have lost that heroic Gryffindor spark in you. But I must agree with you. Let's head back to Hogwarts," Draco said.
"But, but. Guys?"
Harry and Draco had already walked away, in the direction of Hogwarts.
Ron's quill lay on his ever-growing stack of used parchment and homework. He couldn't stop thinking about Hermione and what had happened to her. Was Hermione really missing, or had she and Ginny planned it before? And if it wasn't planned, and Ginny really had been telling the truth- where was Hermione?
Fuzzy brown hair tickled Ron's lips, reminding him of Hermione at first. He was about to open his mouth to say her name when a sickly sweet voice startled him.
"Hello Won Won. What's gotten you in such a fuss?"
Ron sighed, almost disappointed. It was just Lavender.
"Oh it's nothing. Just thinking about how much homework I have to do."
Lavender sat on Ron's lap, there was a creepy grin on her face. "That's ok Ron. You want me to help you?" She leaned into Ron's lips, about to kiss him when Ron pushed her away; something he hadn't done in a long time, since maybe fourth year. That brought back distant memories for both Ron and Lavender, which caused her to wince. Ron noticed her hurt.
"It's nothing personal, Lavender. It's just, I've got a lot of homework to do, for real, and I'd rather do it alone. Is… that ok?"
Lavender smiled painfully. "Yes, that fine. I totally understand. It's not like you were here the last seventh year so you're not used to the amount of homework you get. I, on the other hand, am totally used to it."
Ron ruffled her hair. "But I'm not, and I never will be."
Lavender planted a kiss each on Ron's cheeks and walked out of the door while saying, "Good luck with the homework, Won Won."
Ron nodded and waved goodbye, although he knew that he would be doing nothing of the sort.
He walked into the Gryffindor common room and saw that Harry and Ginny had gone missing. "Hey Dean, do you know where Harry and Ginny are?"
Dean shrugged. They left this place a few minutes ago. You'll probably be able to catch up with them if you run."
Ron nodded. "Thanks for the help, bro. And, if Lavender comes around looking for me, is it cool if you cover for me?"
Dean smirked. "You having some fun tonight, Ron?"
Ron shook his head. "No, I just... Please?"
Dean nodded. "I've got you, man. You go have fun."
The red-headed Weasley (although the red-headed part is implied) half-walked, half-ran out of the common room.
"Ouch," Ron had been walking in circles around the forest before he tripped over a stick or something. He cursed. Moon shone in front of Ron like a spotlight. It shone on the stick Ron had tripped over, which he now realised was a wand.
After his initial shock of finding the wand, Ron examined it- made out of a familiar vinewood and.. was it dragonheart string? Ron wondered. Hermione.
He could hear voices in the distance before he could inspect the wand any further. Following the sounds, Ron saw the outline of two figures in the parting of trees. As he walked closer, he noticed that Hermione was one of them. He was about to scream her name when he saw who was carrying her. Holding her with both arms was none other than Malfoy. Ron clenched his fists, but his curiosity took over his worrying feeling of jealousy. What were Hermione and Malfoy doing in the woods at this hour? Does Malfoy have anything to do with Hermione's disappearance? Ron sprinted to Hermione, he had to find out what was going on. But all of a sudden, he came to a greater surprise. Hermione, who had by now completely collapsed onto Draco, had fallen onto the floor. What was going-
And then, he fell. Gravity won out against Draco's weakened senses. It pulled him, just like it had done to Hermione, down to the forest floor.
It took all of Ron's effort to get himself together after the previous scene. Ron ran to Hermione's unconscious body and untangled her from Draco's arms, leaving the silver-haired boy to lie alone on the ground.
Running all the way back, Ron panted up the steps and burst into the hospital wing, Hermione in tow.
One month later…
"Hermione, dear, you should stay for a little longer in case symptoms start showing up again," Madame Pomfrey's docile voice told Hermione with a mother's gentleness.
"But it's been two whole months. Think of all the lessons I've missed."
"But, your good friends Ginny and Harry have been keeping you updated on your classes. You've been keeping up with your homework, just fine."
"It's not the same as actually being in class. If I continue like this, I'm going to fail my NEWTS. Please, I'm tired of being stuck here," Hermione pleaded.
Madame Pomfrey shook her head. She's still that same girl from eight years ago.
"Another week won't make much of a difference. I promise you'll be out of here before the holidays. You won't miss the Yule Ball, if that's what you're worried about," Madame Pomfrey chuckled.
"No! That's not why- oh, whatever. I guess I can stay for another week."
Madame Pomfrey nodded. She then proceeded to treat the other students.
At that moment, Harry strolled in, carrying a box of chocolate frogs.
Hermione sighed in her bed. "Harry, you know I'm too old for those."
Harry laughed. "You can never be too old for these."
"Only you Harry, only you." Hermione smiled as she shook her head. "By the way, how's Ron doing? I heard he was released from the Hospital Wing a few weeks ago. Is he still sick? Is that why he hasn't been coming to visit?"
"So, you want him to visit?"
Hermione nodded. Then, she blushed. "I mean, just to see if he's ok."
"Well, I'll tell him then. He thought that you might get angry at him."
"Angry? Why would I be angry? If anything, I'm grateful, he was the one who saved my life."
"Speaking of which, are you going to tell Headmistress McGonagall about what happened that night, or are you not ready yet?"
Hermione chewed her nails. "I don't know, Harry. My memories of that day are still pretty blurry. I keep telling you, I don't even know who did it. I just remember him torturing me and feeling pain, so much of it," tears flooded in Hermione's eyes. Thinking about that night reminded her of the searing pain she had felt. Flashing back to that night, when Hermione had just wanted to die right there, alone in the trees of the Forbidden Forest, made Hermione want to curl up in a ball and sob. She rarely cried or had vulnerable moments like this. But, after that incident, Hermione found it hard to stay strong.
It had been an hour before Harry had left. Hermione had felt so pathetic when she started sobbing and Harry ran to her side, comforting her, telling her it was ok. The look of worry on his face made Hermione weak. She was normally the strong one. What was going on with her?
Madame Pomfrey walked up to her. "A visitor has arrived. Surprised he came at this hour, he normally comes when. Um… anyway, just thought you might want to know."
The visitor walked in.
Hermione gasped. "Draco!" the last time she had seen him was their fight. That had seemed like a lifetime ago.
"Good to see you're better."
"Yeah, Madame Pomfrey's going to let me out soon. Hopefully, anyway."
Draco nodded. "Mm, yeah. Anyway, just came to uh… check up on you, see if you were ok."
Hermione smiled. "I'm fine."
"And, just wondering, do you remember anything from that night? Anything at all?"
Hermione shook her head. "No, not really. I don't remember much. Sorry, maybe it'll come back to me, but for now, it's just a blurry haze."
"Oh, ok. Well, I hope you get better soon, Granger."
There was a stiff pause.
"Mm… so, see you in class then. Professor's Squirrel been giving us more homework than ever."
He walked out without another word.
Hermione lay back down and closed her eyes, taking in the now familiar noises of Madame Pomfrey checking on the patients and the creak of the opening door as visitors streamed in to see their friends.
The next days were mundane and dragged on for what seemed like a lifetime. Apart from the occasional visit, Hermione had never felt more alone. During these days, neither Draco or Ron paid Hermione a visit. That was until she saw a tuft of bright carrot-red hair from behind the curtains. It took Hermione all her strength to hide her smile.
She straightened and tried to compose herself.
"Ahem, oh umm hi, Wea- Ron."
"Hmm, hi."
There was a nod. "Thanks for what you did… that night."
Ron blushed, "Um yeah I was glad I got there first."
"What do you mean?"
"It's just… no one remembers the second."
There was a pause.
"Ron, can you do me a huge favour? Can you tell me what happened that night? I have a gaping hole in my memory and I feel like there is something that people aren't telling me. It's been frustrating me not knowing."
"Um…. I'm not too sure. I was running like a lunatic in the Forbidden Forest trying to find you. It was dark. I almost slipped a couple times. And then, I tripped over this twig, at least I thought it was a twig, until I realised that it was a wand.
And I saw you, uh…."
"What was I like when you found me? Do you know what had happened before I collapsed? Wait… did you see anyone else in the Forbidden Forest that night?"
"Uh… no. Uh…. I uh. I found your body on the ground. It was quite terrifying actually. Then, I pulled you up on my shoulders and took you to the castle. That's about it, nothing too heroic. Though I must say, it was excruciatingly painful watching you being with… uhh... I mean having to see you in such a state."
"I see. So are you sure you didn't see anything else?"
"Nope, that's about it."
"Ok, thanks anyway."
"... no problem."
"How did you know where to find me?"
"I uh… I just had a feeling. It was a hunch, a random one, but uh yeah… And when I got there, it was just you and me, nobody else yeah…"
"Well anyway, thanks Ron." Hermione waved goodbye but as Ron was about to leave, "Oh and Ron, thanks again. You saved my life."
Ron nodded. "Yep, that's me. The saviour, the hero."
Hermione smiled.
As Ron walked away, he turned around to face Hermione.
"Hey Hermione?"
"Yes?"
"Do you… forgive me?"
"For what... cheating on me?"
Ron reddened.
"I'm sorry Ron, but I don't think I can do that just yet. Maybe in time, but, not right now. I'm sorry. I truly am."
Ron nodded slowly. "No, it's ok. I understand."
"How's it going with Lavender, by the way?" Hermione said bitterly.
"Err, it's ok." Ron rushed to continue, "Well I've got to go. You know… homework for potions and everything." He escaped from Hermione's onslaught of questions straight after.
Too bad for Ron, he had gone out of the frying pan and into the fire. This time, he was being interrogated by Harry and Ginny, who had taken him aside to talk that night. They had been visiting Neville, who had been injured by a Spiky Bush- something he wasn't particularly proud of- during Ron's visit.
Ginny folded her arms. "We heard your conversation in the hospital ward."
Ron tried to acted nonchalant. "Yeah, so what?"
Harry sighed. "I think you should tell Hermione the truth. Of what really happened that night."
Ron pulled a face. "What do you mean?"
"You know exactly what we mean. You've been lying to Hermione. Draco was there that night, in the Forbidden Forest."
"So what?"
"Ron, is there something going on here?"
"No, nothing, nothing's going on."
"Did you do something to Draco that night that made him collapse? He told us what happened. Ginny and I are beginning to suspect... "
"No, never!"
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"This better not be another 'eat slugs' moment, Ron."
"It won't be."
"Good, because I wouldn't want your act right now to hit you back in your face ten times the force it was given."
The outline of a tall boy walked towards her. Her vision was hazy like she was in a fog. The boy leant down, she didn't need her vision to tell he was worried. He said her name, ever so quietly, or at least that's how it seemed to her. His fingers stroked her face, tucked a strand of her bushy hair behind her ear. You'll be ok Hermione, you'll be ok, he said. And she believed him. She could feel his cool breath against her neck. A cold drop of rain, she thought it was, fell on her forehead, just one. The tingle of lips came next. It was short, it was gone in an instant, but sparks seemed to fly around her. She lit up, her vision cleared. Her eyes opened fully for just a moment. She felt herself being lifted off the ground. His arms were wrapped around her protectively, and she knew that she would be ok. This feeling only lasted for a second, before she was brought down to the ground again, the boy her cushion as her body landed on the forest floor once more.
Author's Note: We're really sorry, but both of us are going overseas so we won't be able to write much. Chapter 10 may be uploaded in a few days time, but unfortunately it will be the last chapter that will be uploaded for a while (ie, a few weeks). We apologize for this and hope that you guys remain patient with us. Please don't think that we have abandoned you guys when we don't upload for the next two weeks or so.
