Author's Note: Sorry it took me so long to update my story! It's been a pretty busy week. Anyway, I think that there will only be two more chapters of the story after this one. I hafta think of a great ending....erg...hopefully it'll all work out. Thanks again for reading my story, and if you could review, that would be great! I would love it if I could get 20 reviews! Alright, enjoy!
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Hermione was released from the Hospital Wing Monday morning and went to the Great Hall for breakfast before her classes. Madame Pomfrey had insisted that Hermione come straight back to her if she felt funny in any way, but I doubt that included this confusion I feel about Ron.
Before entering the doors leading into the Great Hall, Hermione braced herself for incessant whisperings and stares she knew she would receive from curious students. She selfishly wished Neville hadn't announced what happened to her in front of the entire school, but then again she was grateful to be alive due to Neville's announcement. Taking a deep breath, head held high, she walked determinedly to the Gryffindor table and sat next to Harry. Unaware she had held her breath during her entrance, she exhaled and smiled at Harry and Ron.
"You look very good today, Hermione," Harry commented.
"Thank you, Harry, I appreciate that."
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Ron continued looking at his food while Hermione sat down. Since his foolish display of emotion at the hospital wing, he had no idea how he should act towards her. Should he ignore what happened between them? I don't want to. Kissing her hand would probably be the closest I'd ever get to kissing her. Should he bring it up? No, that would be stupid.
"How are you doing today, Ron?" Hermione's voice penetrated his thinking and he looked up at her abruptly.
"Er, fine, thanks. Uh, you?" Ron replied. So eloquent Weasley...he berated himself.
"Same. I just hope Snape doesn't find the sudden urge to give us a load of work," Hermione said, sipping some orange juice.
"What? Hermione not wanting work? The world has truly come to an end!" Harry teased.
Hermione smiled and replied, "Well, I'm just tired and I don't think I would be able to turn in my best possible effort on the assignment."
"Ah, I see," Harry said, "but you know Hermione, your worst quality work is still better than my best."
"Please continue Harry, I do enjoy basking in compliments!" Harry and Hermione laughed and Ron smiled.
Ron was so relieved that Hermione seemed to be much better. She was bantering with Harry, and though Ron wanted to take part in it, he decided that watching her was much more satisfying.
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Classes went relatively well for Hermione considering the circumstances. Snape didn't give them any homework for the matter and when he looked at Hermione, she thought she saw a flash of guilt in his eyes, which puzzled her.
While walking down the halls she noticed students would stare at her with fear or pity in their eyes and whisper to one another. It made her feel terribly uncomfortable, as if she had green pimples all over her face or a purple tail hanging out of her robes. I don't want your pity damn it! I guess this is what Harry has to deal with all the time...
Though Ron and Harry's overprotective nature was irritating at times, she was happy that she didn't have to face the questioning looks alone. Ron didn't say much to her the entire day except the occasional, "Can you pass me that book?" and she worried that he regretted their interaction at the Hospital Wing. He didn't even kiss me on the lips and I'm freaking out about it. It was probably just a sympathy kiss, or a friendship kiss, or a I'm-here-for-you-if you-need-me kiss. Good God, I'm overanalyzing it!
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The next few weeks of school went well. People eventually forgot about what happened to Hermione, choosing to focus their attention on finals and the approaching summer. Dumbledore said that he didn't want Harry to go to Hermione's house but stay at the Dursley's the entire summer. Though Harry, Ron, and Hermione protested, they understood Harry's safety was the priority. Ron would still go to Hermione's house for a few weeks and then Hermione would spend the rest of the summer at the Burrow.
Ron and Hermione's relationship resumed it's normal bantering and semi-arguing, though they quickly made up after each argument. In the back of their heads they knew that there was always the possibility that they might not be alive the next day and it was stupid to die with an argument as the last memory of each other. Though Ron had promised himself that he would tell Hermione how he felt, he still hadn't. It just seemed like the time was always wrong, and he could sense a wall around her that wasn't there before. Not that he blamed her, but he wished he could rewind the days to her birthday and convince her not to go to Hogsmeade; then everything would be back to the way they were. The connection they had at the Hospital Wing wasn't forgotten by either of them, but ignored by both. It was easier to try to go back to how things were rather than venture into uncharted territory.
Harry was happy that Hermione recovered so well. After the initial uncomfortable atmosphere, the near-death experience brought the trio even closer together.
No one talked about it, ever.
Harry and Ron didn't want to upset Hermione, and Hermione managed to push it to the back of her mind, ignoring it, at least when she was conscious. Every night she had these nightmares. She would wake up in a sweat, panting heavily, but she could not remember the dream. It always left her with a sick feeling and she had trouble falling back asleep.
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The trio entered the Great Hall for dinner one day in mid-June. When they were about to sit down, Draco Malfoy came over. "So, Granger, how are you doing?"
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Hermione replied coldly. She despised him even more after what his father did to her and looking at him reminded her of Voldemort.
"Just wanted to see how my favorite Mudblood was doing. Is that so bad?" was the arrogant reply.
"Back off Malfoy," Ron said, stepping between Hermione and Draco.
"Relax, Weasley. Say, how's your mother anyway? Still as fat as ever? I mean, yeah, I guess having seven brats would do that to anyone...how are you Muggle damned parents, Mudblood?"
Ron was about to grab Malfoy's robes and drag him to the ground when Hermione stepped around the enraged Ron and whispered fiercely, "Well at least our parents don't get a hard on from watching a sixteen year old girl get tortured."
She looked straight into Draco's gray eyes, watching his reaction. For a second shock and shame marked his usually cool face. He quickly recovered his composure, mumbled something incomprehensible and walked away. Hermione watched him walk over to the Slytherin table and remain mute the entire meal.
"You okay, Hermione?" Harry asked while eating his chicken. Unlike Ron, he didn't hear what Hermione had told Draco.
"Hmm? Yes, fine Harry." Hermione now couldn't stop thinking about what had happened on her birthday now that she mentioned it in front of Draco. She tried to push it away again and resume a normal conversation with Harry. Ron was still angry with what Draco said, probably about his mother, Hermione thought.
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Ron could not believe that nerve of Draco. After all the work this past five weeks, trying to constantly keep Hermione's thoughts away from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Draco managed to sweep it into her mind, making all the previous work null.
That little shity bastard. I swear, he's a miniature version of his sick father. Now what are we supposed to do? Things were going fine. Well, not really, but...damn it!
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"Did you honestly think that you could escape me, Mudblood?"
"Huh? I did escape you." Hermione was shackled to a concrete wall staring at Voldemort's disgusting excuse for a face. "What? How'd I get here?" She looked around, no Death Eaters were around, but she could here water dripping somewhere.
"Stupid little girl. Now, since you never answered my question the last time we met, I'll ask you again. What is Harry doing this summer?"
"This is crazy. This cannot be happening to me. No, this is ridiculous," Hermione began panicking. Her eyes darted around. From what she would see, she was alone in a dungeon-like room with Voldemort, shadows covering the corners. Voldemort. The name scared her to the core and once again she was in his presence.
"Answer the question, Mudblood."
"I didn't answer the first time, what makes you think I'll answer it this time?" she questioned.
Voldemort smirked and a corner of the room lit up revealing a battered and near unconscious Ron propped against the cold wall with metal chains around his torso. The dripping sound Hermione had heard wasn't water but rather blood from a gash on his forehead. Blood matted his hair, huge purple bruises covered his face and arms, and his unswollen eye looked unfocused.
"RON!" Hermione screamed and jumped up to run to him, but her own restraints pulled her back to the ground. Voldemort laughed, enjoying watching the young girl flounder in the chains.
Sheer rage streaked across Hermione's face. "You bastard! Let him go! He didn't do anything to you! Let him go!" she yelled at the Dark Lord.
"Now, that's no way to talk to your elders. I was hoping that Weasley would be the encouragement you needed to give me the information I know you have. I'm so glad that I was right. Now, if you don't want anything more to happen to your dear friend, tell me what I want to know!" he hissed.
"Hermione...don't...don't do it," Ron gasped, coughing in between words, pain evident on his face.
Hermione had no idea what to do. If Voldemort hurt Ron anymore, Ron wouldn't survive. But if she told him about Harry, Harry would die, no doubt. How could she ever choose?
"You're taking too long," Voldemort said indignantly. "Crucio!"
Ron cried out in anguish, jerking against the wall.
"No, Ron!"
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Hermione woke up with a start. She was lying in her bed at Hogwarts, in the room she shared with Lavender and Parvarti, a light layer of sweat on her face. "Holy shit," she whispered. She sat up on the bed and felt the bed sheets, trying to regain her wits. It was a dream, a horrible, disgusting dream. Was this how all of my dreams are? She had nothing to compare this dream with. Worry filled her. Is Ron okay? Of course he is, don't be stupid, Hermione. It was a dream. Ron is in his room, probably snoring peacefully. What if it was a premonition? What if Ron's with Voldemort and Voldemort is telling me to go to him? You're overanalyzing again, Hermione. I'll just check to make sure Ron's okay. What?? You're gong to go to the boys' room? I have to make sure. If you're caught...then I'll explain why I went there in the first place.
Hermione got out of bed, wiped the sweat off her face, and walked quietly out of her room. She carefully went over to Ron's room, opened to door, went inside and peered into his four poster bed. There he was, sleeping comfortably. Hermione sighed, relief encompassing her. He looks so vulnerable, she thought, but he's still as beautiful. She walked over to him and gently stroked his forehead and cheek. If the dream were true, who would she have chosen to save? Ron or Harry? Though she didn't want to admit it to herself, she probably would have chosen Ron just because she loved him as a friend and as something more. She felt so guilty, she loved Harry so much too, but....
"Mmm, Hermione?"
Hermione jumped back and gasped. She had no idea Ron was waking up as she touched him and now was totally embarrassed.
"What are you doing here, Hermione? You can get into trouble," Ron whispered, a hint of happiness, excitement and shock in his voice. This had been a fantasy of his for a while.
"Uh, uh, nothing. Nothing, sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up. I'm really sorry," she rambled uncomfortably, turning to leave.
"Wait," he said a little too eagerly than he wanted to, "is something wrong? Wanna talk about it?" He reached out and wrapped his fingers gently around her wrist.
"Oh, no, it's nothing that can't wait till morning," she lied.
He knew she was lying. The tone of her voice was too fake. He swung himself off the bed.
"No, no, Ron, it's fine. Really, go back to bed," Hermione was truly embarrassed now. A silly dream made her act this way and she scolded herself for waking Ron up.
"No, I wanna talk about this. Let's go to the common room," he replied, having no idea what "this" was. He got up, taking a blanket with him and dragged a reluctant Hermione down the stairs to the common room.
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Author's Note: Please review! =)