Chapter 11

The healer took Ron and Hermione back to the infirmary, examining each of them briefly before walking away. Harry and Ginny were no where to be found, and Hermione assumed they had gone back to bed. It was, after all, four in the morning. Ron sat down on the edge of the bed, looking up at Hermione, waiting for her to sit too. Smiling shyly, she sat next to him, sighing.

"Long night," Ron said thoughtfully, and Hermione nodded.

As they sat silently together, Hermione noticed how quiet the infirmary had grown, and she suspected that everyone had managed to go back to sleep after all. She felt Ron's fingers on her wrist and looked down, watching as he absentmindedly played with the cuff of her long sleeve pajama shirt. The dim lights overhead went out, and Hermione suspected that the healer had extinguished them. The white curtains had been neatly drawn once again around the bed where Hermione sat with Ron, but when she heard the doors open softly and click shut, she assumed they were now alone, save the other patients now sleeping, or trying to, in their beds behind their own white barriers. The only light now in the room came from the moon outside, still high in the sky. Soft light flowed in through the windows high up on the walls and glowed on every surface in the small enclosed space she shared with Ron.

"Wish they'd give us our own room," Ron said quietly. Hermione glanced over at him and immediately noticed how pink his ears had turned. He was looking down at the rug next to the bed, but his fingers had stopped moving, resting gently now on Hermione's wrist. She turned her hand over and laced their fingers together as her eyes moved forward to stare at the curtain, her heart speeding up again.

Ron shut his eyes briefly, cursing himself silently. He wasn't sure what had compelled him to suggest something like that... their own room... He felt Hermione's eyes on him and knew she'd be able to see his blush, but then her fingers were tangling with his and he couldn't help but smile.

"We should sleep or we'll be tired all day," Hermione said sensibly.

"Yeah, okay," Ron said in a strained voice. He knew they'd sleep together in this tiny little bed again, his arms around her. He knew that's what they had to do. But was it what she wanted? How could he discern the difference between want and need? How could he really know what she had dreamed, what horrors she had been too afraid to face again? He'd ask her... He'd finally-

But she dropped his hand and climbed into the bed, turning onto her back and pulling the sheet up under her arms. She was no longer touching him, though he could sense her. It would not be enough, he would not be able to last long without her, so he followed her lead and climbed into the bed next to her, more aware now than ever of each place where they touched, so close together because they had no choice...

"Would you..." he started, thinking the end of the sentence that he left hanging... be with me anyway? But he noticed before he completed his thought aloud that her eyes had slipped shut. She opened them slightly at the sound of his voice, waiting for him to finish.

"What?" she whispered sleepily.

"Nothing," Ron said with a half-smile. "Not important." He could tell she was curious but resistant to push him. She waited a long time before nodding and closing her eyes again. Ron wondered if her breathing was still so quick even as she drifted off to sleep because she was scared of her nightmares or because she felt something like he felt, something between them that was still unsaid, still waiting to be uncovered and addressed.

He had so many freckles on the side of his neck. His hair blew away from his skin and allowed her to see them for the first time in years. He had never worn his hair as short as he had back in second or third year, back before she would have thought to count every little auburn freckle down from his ear to his shoulder...

His pale eyelashes fluttered against his white cheek as his hair tickled his face. Something green danced between them, blocking her view of him for a moment, and she quickly realized that they were lying in the grass, him on his back, and her... facing him on her side, her hair pulled back in a ponytail that she knew would not hold for long in this wind.

He spoke, his voice light as the wind that blew over them. She heard him somehow in her dream, though he made no sound, as if she had read his mind...

Hermione felt the dream world slip away as the solid realism of the person next to her moved, reminding her that he was really there...

When Ron awoke, a very jolly looking healer was walking around their bed with a notepad. Ron quickly spotted Harry sitting in a chair close by as well and Ginny biting her lip anxiously in the chair next to him.

"Wuz going on..." Ron mumbled as he removed his arm from around Hermione to lift his head for a better view of his surroundings.

"Mr. Weasley," came the healer's hopeful voice from the foot of the bed. "We have something we'd like to try, something that may cure you and Ms. Granger's condition.

"Really?" Ron asked, waking up fully now and propping himself up on his elbow. He felt Hermione stir against him.

"Ron..." she said sleepily.

"Hermione," Ron began, looking down at her, "wake up! They might have found a cure!"

"Really?!"

Hermione sat up quickly next to Ron, both of them staring at the healer expectantly.

"Last night," began the healer, "two of the Death Eaters known to be responsible for the creation and usage of Firewild smoke were captured by a group of our Aurors. One Auror was exposed to the smoke before the capture, and he immediately fell into a coma. There are several prototype antidotes. The most stable one was administered to the exposed Auror early this morning... and he woke up."

Hermione and Ron's eyes both widened. They glanced at each other before looking over at Harry who nodded, smiling slightly at them.

"He has had no side effects from the antidote, which leads us to believe that we have finally found a cure."

"If you knew about these antidotes before, why not try them on Ron and Hermione sooner?" Ginny asked in a hoarse voice.

"Because," the healer continued, "they had not yet been tested properly. They could have had a negative effect instead of curing Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger."

"Then why use it on the Auror last night?" Ron asked.

"Once you've been exposed to Firewild," the healer said, "there is no waking up naturally."

"But we did," Ron interjected.

"Yes, but you are the only two that have ever survived," continued the healer. "In the case of the Auror last night, it seemed that administering the antidotes and hoping for the best was the only option that had a chance of curing him, of saving his life. And it worked. Which means we can use them on you safely now."

Ron and Hermione exchanged another look.

"What do we need to do?" Hermione asked.

"We'll need to administer the antidote to each of you, then separate you and monitor you for a period of time to be sure it has worked. We can test you both after a few hours to be sure all traces of the smoke are gone from your system."

Hermione shot another look in Ron's direction and he locked eyes with her, sure she was thinking the same thing that he was. She didn't want to separate from him and risk reliving her dreams.

"If this works," Ron said softly, speaking directly to Hermione now even though everyone else could hear him, "then it's worth it, right? We won't have to be afraid of this... we won't have to..." He stopped himself from saying 'we won't have to stay together all the time.' He didn't want it to sound like he thought of this as a positive thing. But Hermione nodded, and he detected a trace of hurt in the way she looked away from him. Had she guessed what he'd stopped himself from saying?

"Okay," Hermione said. "We should try this."

"Are you sure?" Harry asked, but he was still smiling and Hermione couldn't help but smile back as she nodded.

"It's going to work," Hermione said, sounding fairly certain now.

"I know it is," Harry said firmly.

"Okay," the healer said as she sat on the edge of the bed closest to Hermione. "Drink this." The healer handed Hermione a small vial of what looked like smoke. Hermione stared at it, confused by how similar it looked to the mist that had surrounded her and caused her condition in the first place.

"This is it?" Hermione asked, feeling a small amount of fear creep back up as she continued to watch the smoke swirl around inside the vial.

"Yes," the healer said, nodding. "I know it looks a lot like Firewild, but trust me, this is the antidote."

Hermione stared into the vial for another short moment before uncorking it. The smoke did not move out of the vial as the Firewild had. It was odd though, how it continued to swirl around inside it's small casing but made no move at all to escape. It was unlike anything Hermione had seen before.

"Wait!" Ron shouted quickly as Hermione began to slowly raise the vial to her lips. "I should go first."

"Why?" Hermione asked, looking over at him with puzzled eyes.

"Just... in case..." Ron said in a slightly embarrassed voice.

"In case what?" Hermione asked, narrowing her eyes slightly. "In case it's dangerous? In case it doesn't work? Why do you get to be the first to test it? How is that fair?"

"Fine," Ron said quickly, trying to avoid an argument. "Then I should get my own and go at the same time."

Harry bit his lip to keep from laughing as he watched Ron glare at Hermione, clearly not planning on backing down from his plan. Ron reached out and took Hermione's wrist, insuring that she would not try to drink it before he got his own vial. Hermione rolled her eyes as the healer reached into her robes, also very obviously trying not to laugh.

"Here's yours, Mr. Weasley," she said as she handed Ron the vial across Hermione. Then she stood and waited for them both to drink.

"On three," Hermione said with a slight sigh that for some reason made Ron grin.

"One," Ron began, "two... three."

They tipped the vials to their lips at the same time and swallowed the mist, both making confused faces as they lowered the empty vials.

"Did you taste anything?" Ron asked.

"No..." Hermione whispered, staring at the vial, eyes wide. "Didn't feel anything either, like I just swallowed nothing..." Ron nodded.

"That was... bizarre."

"Now," the healer said as she took the empty vials from Ron and Hermione, "Ms. Granger, come with me. Mr. Weasley, stay here... Berta!"

Another healer stepped through the curtains that separated Ron and Hermione's bed from the rest of the ward, and she took a seat next to Ron.

"Hiya," Berta said to Ron. "I'll be monitoring you while Angeline takes Ms. Granger into another room."

Hermione gave Ron a long, slightly scared look as she stood with Angeline.

"It'll be fine," Ron said, trying to sound reassuring. He reached out and took Hermione's wrist again, but very gently. Then suddenly, she leaned over him and hugged him tightly, her face tucked against his neck. When she pulled back, her cheeks were pink, Harry and Ginny were grinning, and Ron wouldn't look at any of them.

"Bye," Hermione said softly as she stepped closer to Angeline. She was lead out of the curtains and disappeared before anyone could say anything else.

Ron tapped his foot impatiently. He had moved from the bed to the chair Harry had been sitting in earlier to pacing the floor at the foot of the bed and now back to the chair. About every fifteen seconds, he checked his watch.

"How much longer?" he asked Berta, who was preoccupied at the moment with the magazine in her lap.

"Hmm?" she said as her eyes unglazed and she looked over at Ron. "Oh." She looked at her own watch. "Another hour I'd say," and she returned to her magazine.

"Someone should go check on Hermione," Ron said.

"Ginny's with her now," said Harry calmly. "She would have come back here to let us know if something had happened."

Ron nodded, knowing Harry was right but much too anxious to really accept it. He needed to see her himself, but he knew that wasn't possible now. He also had a strange feeling, a feeling that had begun to build sense Hermione had first disappeared from his view... a feeling that it was over, that he didn't need to be next to her to survive... that he was cured. He wanted to ask her if she felt the same way, if she thought it really had worked too.

"How do you feel?" Ginny asked, watching Hermione closely.

"Fine," Hermione said honestly. "It's gone."

"Are you sure?"

"I can just tell," Hermione said. "I feel normal again. I didn't realize how strange I felt before until now... now that I'm right again."

"Ms. Angeline said another hour and you can see Ron. He's fine by the way," Ginny added when Hermione opened her mouth, clearly to ask about him. "He was fine when I left him a few minutes ago and if something had happened-"

"-Harry would have come to tell us... or that other healer, what's her name..."

"Berta, I think," Ginny said as she sat in a chair next to Hermione.

"It's all over," Hermione sighed, feeling strangely confused about bittersweet acceptance of that fact. Of course she wanted to be okay, wanted the same for Ron too. But now... she felt an emptiness, knowing that she didn't need to sleep next to Ron every night anymore, didn't need to hold his hand in the hallways or... take showers together. She shivered as memories of the night before assualted her again. She had been preoccupied with this cure recently and had put her constant replaying in her mind of their shower on pause. But now it rushed back, playing vividly, reminding her of what she had to face when she saw Ron again, when they left St. Mungo's for... what? Where would they go? Would they go together? What was the plan?

"So what's next?" Ginny asked, and Hermione jumped at the sound of Ginny's voice and at the posed question that seemed to come from her own mind.

"What... what do you mean?" Hermione stuttered, caught off guard.

"Are you coming to Grimmauld Place?" Ginny asked, smiling softly.

"What?" Hermione asked, furrowing her eyebrows.

"Oh!" Ginny covered her mouth. "I thought Harry told you!"

"Told me what?" Hermione scooted to the edge of her chair, staring at Ginny, waiting impatiently for an answer.

"Damn it," Ginny muttered. "I... I guess I have to tell you now. Might as well..."

"What is it, Ginny?" Hermione demanded.

"Harry... well, he's been to Grimmauld Place fixing it up. He set up a room for each of us, me, you, Ron and Harry of course. He wanted to ask you and Ron to come and stay there with him. I guess he was trying to surprise you or... I don't know. But he didn't tell me not to say anything..."

Hermione felt her heart jump madly in her chest at the thought of living at Grimmauld Place... with Ron. And she knew Ron would say yes! It was perfect... Hermione laughed, grinning.

"It's perfect, Ginny," Hermione said. "Of course I'll come."

"Excellent!" Ginny exclaimed, looking slightly relieved. "But... you won't tell Harry I told you already, will you?"

"No," Hermione said, still laughing excitedly. "I won't."

"Good," Ginny sighed, leaning back in her chair.

"Come and live with you at Grimmauld Place?" Ron repeated, looking excited.

"Yeah! Could be fun, right?" Harry asked, grinning.

"Sounds great, mate," Ron said, distracted from worrying about Hermione for the moment.

"And uh," Harry started, looking mildly afraid to say this next part.

"Hm?"

"Well..."

"What?"

"What would you think if, uh, if Hermione and Ginny lived there too?" Harry asked quickly.

Ron's eyes widened and his pulse quickened. Hermione would say yes if Harry asked her... He was going to live in the same house as Hermione! Perfect.

"Yeah, sounds great!" Ron said enthusiastically.

"Really?" Harry asked, his own grin returning. "You're okay with it?"

"Why wouldn't I..." but Ron stopped short, suddenly realizing why Harry had been afraid to ask Ron about this. Ginny. "Oh. I was really only thinking about Hermione..." he admitted, blushing.

"Ah," Harry said knowingly, his grin widening. "I guess I've just discovered a way to make you okay with anything."

"Piss off, Harry," Ron said, but he was grinning too. "Well, when do we move in?"

"I figured, if you and Hermione really are cured, then we can go there today, after they release you."

"Wicked."

"Time's up," Angeline said sweetly, smiling at Hermione.

"It really worked," said Hermione as she stood. "Thank you so much."

"Let's go and see Mr. Weasley, shall we?" Angeline turned as Hermione and Ginny linked arms and followed Angeline out into the hallway...

"They should be on their way back now," Berta said, closing her magazine. Ron's eyes widened.

"Really?" Ron stood quickly and walked to the curtains, pulling them back to peak through at the double doors, his heart pounding. Mere seconds later, the doors opened to reveal Angeline, followed by Hermione and Ginny, both smiling, their eyes landing on Ron almost immediately. Hermione's smile softened as she locked eyes with him, walking quickly over to him. He couldn't wait for her to get to him. He pushed the curtains back and half-jogged to meet her in the middle.

"So it worked..." Hermione said, grinning broadly up at Ron when they stopped a few feet apart.

"It worked," Ron echoed.

"You're both free to go any time," Angeline said as Harry approached them.

"Hermione, I've just asked Ron to come and live with me at Grimmauld Place," Harry said as he joined the circle formed by Ginny, Hermione, and Ron. But Hermione's eyes were glued on Ron's, and Harry wasn't sure if she was listening. He glanced at Ginny who shrugged, amused. "So, Hermione..." Harry continued, "how would you like to come live there too? Ginny's got a room there also-"

"Yes, Harry," Hermione cut in, giggling softly.

"Brilliant," Ron said with a delighted sigh. "Let's go."