I couldn't sleep. In my mind, the scene of Hermione being hurt replayed over and over again. Even if I did get any sleep, it was a fitful one. I wanted to see Hermione, but Madam Pomfrey kept stopping me from seeing her. I couldn't do anything. I don't even know how she is now. It's like, I'd rather the dragon hurt me than Hermione. I rather be the one lying in the hospital bed now.

"Ron." It was Harry. "Ron, are you awake?"

"Harry? It's in the middle of the night, but yes, I'm awake," I replied.

I drew open the curtains of my bed and let Harry in. Draped around him, was his Invisibility Cloak.

"What were you doing wearing an Invisibility Cloak in the middle of the night? Were you sneaking around?" I asked, forcing a grin.

"I...Ron...I went to see Hermione. I snuck into the Intensive Care wing with the Cloak on," he replied.

"What? And you didn't ask me to go with you? Don't you know how worried I am?" I said, agitated. Harry should know that I'm anxious about Hermione, how could he go see her without asking me to go along?

"Keep your voice down, Ron. I knew you'd be worried, so I had gone alone. Could you imagine how it would be like if you were shouting in that wing?" he said.

Harry had a point. I would probably give a cry of worry or something like that.

"So how is she?" I said.

"Ron..." Harry started. I looked closer at him. His eyes were red. "Ron...she wouldn't wake up. Her skin was all red and raw that I almost couldn't recognise her. But she won't wake up, Ron. I called her name...but she wouldn't wake up. It was like she was--"

"Don't say it," I cut him off. "Don't say that word. Nothing would happen to Hermione."

He nodded. "But she...I don't know. Let's hope Madam Pomfrey can wake her."

Hermione...she... I scratched my head, frustrated.

"I want to see her, Harry. Let me go see her," I said finally. "I'll keep my voice down, I promise. You have to let me see her."

"Are you sure? I don't thi--"

"Harry please!" I said. "I'm dying of anxiety here...please, Harry."

"All right," he said.

Using the Cloak to cover the both of us, we slipped out of the potrait hole.

Arriving at the Hospital wing, Harry put his finger on his lips, and pushed the door gently aside. Madam Pomfrey wasn't around. Quietly, we walked towards the door that said 'Intensive Care'. Harry nudged it open again, and we slipped into the room. Sneaking pass Madam Pomfrey, who was preparing the medication, we approached Hermione's bed.

I almost gave a cry of despair.

She was there...it was definitely her... I couldn't bear to look at her...it was so painful. I reached out...I wanted to touch her, to make sure she's still okay, but Harry stopped me, and I unwillingly let myself get pulled out of the wing.

We bumped into something...or someone. It was Madam Pomfrey.

"What? Who's there?" She made a wild grope and caught hold of the Cloak. She pulled it off us. "You two! Can't you give the poor girl some privacy? I know you're worried, but this isn't the time to see her. I'm confiscating this thing until she's better."

She took our cloak and brought us back to the Common Room. "I won't tell the Professor about this, I know you're just worried. But no more sneaking out at night."

"Bird's beak," I muttered reluctantly.

The painting swung aside. Harry and I went back to the dormitory.

Without the Cloak, we couldn't even see Hermione now. And God knows how worried I am.

**

I don't know how I survived the past two weeks without seeing Hermione. But I did. Looking at the empty seat beside us during lessons, I couldn't even listen properly to lessons, not even Defence Against the Dark Arts with Professor Lupin seemed interesting. I was troubled, worried. I thought of her most of the time, but now, I couldn't stop worrying about her. I couldn't pay attention to lessons.

Regret kept filling me when I realise that I might lose her, and that I've never told her how I felt about her. I should have told her that day on Valentine's Day. I should have told her that she was the one I really liked. I should have, I should have....so many things I should have done, but I did none of it.

I'm really an idiot.

"Mr Weasley? Mr Ronald Weasley?" Someone was calling me. Who cares?

"MR WEASLEY!"

I snapped awake.

"Yes, Professor Mcgonagall?" I said.

"I've been calling you for the past two minutes. I was about to tell you that Miss Granger is awake and out of hospital, something you should be glad to know," she said.

"WHAT? REALLY? THANKS PROFESSOR!"

I looked at Harry. "I've been helping her to call you, but you just didn't seem to respond," he said, grinning.

"She should be in the Common Room now. You may go and see her after this lesson," she said. "Now, pay attention. Oh by the way, Mr Potter, Madam Pomfrey says you can have your Invisibility Cloak back."

Hermione was all right! Everything was fine now...everything was going to be well.

After Transfiguration, Harry and I ran all the way back to the Common Room.

"Bird's beak, bird's beak..." I said, hardly catching my breath.

The painting swung aside. Harry and I rushed in. She was there...with a hood over her head, but of course I could recognise her. Her back was facing us, she was sitting on the armchair facing the fire.

"Hermione!" I called.

She turned slightly, but when she saw it was us, she turned away quickly. Why didn't she seem glad to see us?

"Hermione, it's us, Ron and Harry," I said, moving to the front of her chair.

"Go away," she said, her voice slightly quavering. When we got to the front of her chair, she turned her face away. She refused to look at us...why?

"Hermione?" I said. I reached forward to remove the hood.

"Don't touch me! Don't touch me!" she shouted. And then pushing me aside, she ran up the stairs toward the girl's dormitory.

I watched as she ran up the stairs, wanting to give chase, but was pulled back by Harry.

"What's wrong with her, Harry? Why did she avoid us?" I said, struggling to get free. "Let me go! I've got to ask her what's wrong!"

"Ron! Stop struggling! You won't get an answer if you force her to tell you now! She's obviously upset..." said Harry. I stopped struggling. Harry let me go. "Maybe we should let her cool down first. All right?"

I nodded. Harry was right...she didn't seem in a state to explain things now.

What was wrong with Hermione?