Midnight Magic

Hermione had a very strange dream that night. She was walking through a forest, but there was no ground to support her. Instead, she was simply floating through dense, white fog. At first she was confused about why she was there. Then she heard a boy's voice calling her name. Suddenly she didn't care why she was in a strange forest; all she cared about was finding that voice. The way it called for her melted her heart. She wanted to be with that voice and the boy it was attached to. As she weaved through thick trees, she saw the person. She couldn't reconize him through the fog, but she knew she had seen him before. She could tell he was very familiar, but still couldn't figure out who it was. She raced towards him, his arms stretched wide to catch her. But then she fell through the air. She fell and fell and kept on falling. Her heart almost stopped untill she bolted upright in her bed, gasping and shaking. Rubbing her eyes, she looked around. It was only a dream. She was relieved to find she wasn't actually falling, but she wanted to hear that voice again. She wanted to be with that voice.

She saw Crookshanks asleep on the nightstand that held the water jug. She didn't like Crookshanks to sleep on there. Once Lavender got up in the middle of the night for a glass of water, and it ended up as a disaster. She was half-sleeping, so she went to grab the handle and ended up grabbing Crookshanks by the tail, and the result was ear-splitting howls and screams of the five girls. From then on Hermione's cat slept in her bed.

Hermione swung her legs over the sides of her bed and stretched. Then she walked over to pick up Crookshanks. She happened to glance out the window into the strangly bright, moon-lit grounds. She did a double-take of what she saw. Standing by the lake was a figure. The person's back was facing her window, but Hermione knew who it was judging by the fire-red hair and maroon robe with a large "R" on the back. What was Ron doing outside so late?

Hermione hesitated. She couldn't go out onto the grounds at this hour! It was 2 in the morning! But then she thought of Ron. What was so wrong that he had the urge to go outside in his bathrobe? Hermione made up her mind and grabbed her own robe and a cloak.

Within five minutes, Hermione had run out of the castle silently and was walking around the grounds towards Ron. He must have heard her footsteps, because he turned around to face her.

"What are you doing her?" he demanded.

"I'd like to know the same thing! I saw you out of my window, so I came down," Hermione said.

"Well, I just..." Ron hesitated. "Couldn't sleep," he said finally.

"Why? What's wrong?"

Ron just stood for a few seconds. Then he shook his head. "I don't know."

"Maybe it's some kind of sickness. Here, look at me. I want to see if your eyes are blood-shot."

Ron turned his face to her. Hermione stared back into those pale, shining eyes. She and Ron never looked at each other like this. Hermione had never seen that depth, that sparkle in his eyes before. She forgot about Ron's insomnia for a minute and just gazed into his eyes, enjoying the moment. She didn't want him to look away.

Ron's eyes widened in an annoyed sort of way. "Well?" he said as he leaned closer. This wasn't a romantic moment. This was the exact opposite. Ron's impatient voice and troubled face told Hermione that he hadn't seen the same thing in her eyes.

"Nothing. I didn't see anything," Hermione said about both his blotchiness and kindness in those pupils.

"So I'm not sick?"

"Not as far as I can tell. Maybe you should go see Madam Pomfrey tomorrow just to be safe, though," Hermione said. She forced herself to forget about those eyes. Her heart still wanted to look at their depth, or at least it probably did. She didn't know for sure because her brain overpowered her heart and said no.

·~··~··~·

Fred sat by the open window with his eyes wide and his chin cupped in his hands. He wasn't dreaming; he figured that out when he tripped over his trunk and nearly broke his leg. Luckily no one woke when his shrieks of pain escaped. Now the accident was forgotten as he smiled down at his brother and Hermione. He, of course, couldn't hear a word they were saying, but when he saw them looking at each other like that, there was no doubt they were in love. He guessed one thought led to another and soon they couldn't stop thinking about each other, which led to wanting to be together, which led to midnight strolls by the lake, which would lead to Fred winning that little bet with George. Fred could have squealed with joy! Of course he didn't. What if the others woke up to Fred Weasley, the rebel, the dare devil, dancing around and squealing happily about something as dumb as this? So instead he just kept watching as the two made their way back up the the castle, walking very close together and chatting.

The only thing bugging Fred was Harry. He had to admit, George had done a very good job giving Harry a new style, and, yes, the new groomed Harry looked very handsome compared to the gawky, red-haired Ron. Fred was actually amazed Ron and Hermione had become this close. But then again, that night on the couch together must have sparked something. Yup, this was going to be a close race, all right.

·~··~··~·

Ron and Hermione climbed into the portrait hole together. Hermione wasn't tired any more, for some reason. She liked being alone with Ron for once. It gave them a chance to talk more and not be interrupted by teachers or friends.

"Are you tired yet?" she asked Ron.

"No," he answered.

"I really think you should see Madame Pomfrey. Loosing sleep like this isn't good for you!" she knew she was right, that Ron really should get to bed, but she wanted him to stay. But once again, her brain's own voice drowned out her heart.

"Maybe I should just try to rest. I'll see you in the morning, Hermy," he turned to his dormitory. For some reason, it bugged Hermione less when Ron called her Hermy. It sounded almost sweet. No, no, it didn't sound sweet at all. It was annoying! Just like when Fred called her that... annoying!

Hermione looked into the small blueish fire with her mind wandering freely. She snapped back to attention a few minutes later when she leard a familiar voice.

"Ron?" she heard Harry call from the dark stairs. "Ron? Are you in here?" He came into the room and looked around, then spotted Hermione.

"Oh! Hermione!" Harry said, both shocked and embarrassed. He had come down in a Chudley Cannon shirt and blue and black boxers with a navy robe on his back but not tied in front. He quickly pulled the robe on tighter and tied it, hiding his sleepwear.

"I'm- I'm sorry! I didn't know you were down. I was just looking for Ron," Harry said. His face was so red Hermione could even tell in the dark room.

Hermione giggled a little. "That's okay. But-" she frowned. "I thought Ron just went up to bed? I just saw him a minute ago!"

Harry raised his eyebrows and shook his head. "No. I didn't see him."

"Oh. That's weird," Hermione asked in a puzzled voice. A short silence followed when the friends looked at each other in their robes. This was a very akward moment.

"What were you two doing down here anyway?" Harry questioned.

"It was a very weird situation. You see, I saw Ron outside from my window, so I went down to see what was wrong. Apparently he can't sleep. We walked back up together, then he just went to bed. Or at least he should have went to bed. That's very strange." Hermione explained.

"Oh. I see," Harry said. "I wonder why Ron can't sleep."

"Me too."

"Well, I'll be going up to bed," Harry said, rocking back and forth on his heals.

"Right. Me too," Hermione decided.

"After you," Harry smiled as they reached the stairs at the same time.

Hermione giggled a thank-you and started up the stairs. She hadn't taken one step when she tripped on her long cloak and almost fell down the stairs. Very luckily, Harry stepped forward to catch her before hitting to ground.

"Thanks, Harry," said Hermione as she leaned back in Harry's arms and looked into his eyes. She saw something she had never seen in them before. It was the same thing that was in Ron's eyes, too! A certain sparkle... a depth. The only difference was that Harry returned her gaze.

"No problem," he breathed quietly. His voice was different, too- magical and quiet.

They stood like this for a minute, slowly drawing close together in a very unrealistic way. They were maybe 2 inches apart when a loud snore from the boy's dormitory broke the silence. Harry blinked and put Hemrione back down.

"Right," Hermione said as she straightened her robe.

"Er, yeah," Harry said as he blushed a bright pink.

"So," Hermione said as she twisted her sleeve. "Good night. See you tomorrow."

"Good night!" Harry called as he hurried out the stairs. He seemed so embarrassed that he wanted to get away as quickly as possible.

·~··~··~·

Harry hurried up the stairs and stopped outside the door, but didn't go in. Instead, he leaned his head against the wall and breathed deeply, his eyes closed. Now that he thought about it, he was never happier to hear Neville snore. What would have happened if they didn't stop? He shook his head and turned, only to see Ron sitting against the wall, too, a few feet away. He was looking at something, but quickly hid it when he sensed Harry's gaze.

"What was that?" Harry asked.

"Nothing," Ron said. "What just happened? It looks like you were being chased by Fluffy," Ron said as he stood up.

"Oh. Erm... I was," Harry bit his tongue. Stupid, stupid, stupid! "I mean, I... well... nothing... nothing," he reached for the door knob, but Ron held his wrist back.

"It wasn't nothing!" Ron said with a piercing look. "What was it? You can tell me!"

"Tell me what you were looking at then," Harry said cleverly.

"That? That was nothing!" Ron turned red.

"Then show me," Harry urged.

"No!" Ron sighed. "All right. You don't have to tell if I don't have to. All right?"

"Okay," Harry said with his eyebrows raised.

"Fine then," Ron said rather formally.

"Fine."

Harry opened the door, still looking at Ron, then disappeared into the darkness. Ron stayed for a second outside. He took that thing he was looking at from out of his pocket. He took one last look, smiling at the picture of him and Hermione on the couch from a few nights ago, before going to bed.

You like? I think I'm making it seem like Hermione is too attracted to Ron. Hmmm... suggestions welcome. Plus I honestly don't know how it's going to end, so I'll be having a little poll; Harry or Ron? I'll try to have a sappy ending, unlike Truth or Dare. I'm expecting to be burned sooner or later; I have to admit, that ending was dreadful. Oh well... review, please!!!

-QA