Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I still do not own any of the characters,
places, etc in this fan fiction, and I do not claim to.
Here's Chapter two. I'll tell you when I get to the end.
When Hermione recovered enough to walk, the pair headed back towards Hogwarts. Before they left, they put a charm on the place where they'd left Ron so that nothing would be able to disturb him, and he'd be able to rest in peace. The entire voyage back was in silence. Neither said a word, lost in their own thoughts. Questions, questions and more questions chased each others tails around their minds. It took an eternity for them to get back to Hogwarts, and instantly they were hounded by people with still more questions.
The crowd on the Great Hall all started shouting at the same time. Adults and young wizards alike were firing questions at them. It was all a jumble of voices. An overwhelming jumble of voices. Suddenly Harry spotted Mrs. Weasley in the crowd. He saw the look of horror in her face when she realized that Ron wasn't with them. He saw the tears well up in her eyes when she realized what must have happen. She saw her turn to her husband for a shoulder to cry on as he and Hermione were whisked off to the Hospital wing. Dumbledore met them there.
For Harry, it was like reliving that night after the third task all over again. It was extremely hard to start talking, but once he did, he couldn't stop. Dumbledore listened in calm silence until he finished.
"Voldemort's still out there, sir."
"I see,"
"Sir, if you don't mind, Hermione and I would like to speak with the Weasleys, alone," Harry asked, glancing over at Hermione's huddled form on the opposite bed.
"Of course, Harry. I'll get them for you," Dumbledore left the room, and soon all the Weasleys, save one, one very important one, had entered the room. Mrs. Weasley was still sobbing. Ginny was eyes were filled with silent tears. The twins were sober, but there faces only masked the pain they felt. Mr. Weasley was consoling his wife as best he could. Bill and Charlie were there, too, hiding from the anguish of knowing their kid brother was lost to them.
Harry started to tell them what had happened. How they had been forced into going after Voldemort, how Hermione had been injured, how Ron had fought and fallen so bravely. He told them how he'd gone back for Hermione, and how she'd reacted. All the while Hermione was like a brick. She was listening to every word, yet didn't hear a thing. Inside, she was sobbing her heart out, while on the outside, she seemed cold, and distant. Her eyes were welling with tears, but she fought them back. When Harry started to tell them about her reaction, she suddenly snapped out of it, and told Harry to stop. "I want to - " she said quietly. Harry understood, and nodded. Hermione told them every detail, every emotion. She told them what she'd seen, what she'd heard. She told him how Ron had said goodbye, how he'd told her.
Mrs. Weasley smiled quietly through her tears. She went over and put her arm around Hermione. Sitting down beside her, she just held her in her arms, like a mother would. She gestured for Harry to come over, too. He did, and the twins soon followed. When Madam Pomfrey returned with a sleeping draught for them, they were all crowded around one bed, consoling each other, beginning their path to recovery.
You never know, Harry said weakly. "Maybe we'll see him again some day. Maybe."
Here's Chapter two. I'll tell you when I get to the end.
When Hermione recovered enough to walk, the pair headed back towards Hogwarts. Before they left, they put a charm on the place where they'd left Ron so that nothing would be able to disturb him, and he'd be able to rest in peace. The entire voyage back was in silence. Neither said a word, lost in their own thoughts. Questions, questions and more questions chased each others tails around their minds. It took an eternity for them to get back to Hogwarts, and instantly they were hounded by people with still more questions.
The crowd on the Great Hall all started shouting at the same time. Adults and young wizards alike were firing questions at them. It was all a jumble of voices. An overwhelming jumble of voices. Suddenly Harry spotted Mrs. Weasley in the crowd. He saw the look of horror in her face when she realized that Ron wasn't with them. He saw the tears well up in her eyes when she realized what must have happen. She saw her turn to her husband for a shoulder to cry on as he and Hermione were whisked off to the Hospital wing. Dumbledore met them there.
For Harry, it was like reliving that night after the third task all over again. It was extremely hard to start talking, but once he did, he couldn't stop. Dumbledore listened in calm silence until he finished.
"Voldemort's still out there, sir."
"I see,"
"Sir, if you don't mind, Hermione and I would like to speak with the Weasleys, alone," Harry asked, glancing over at Hermione's huddled form on the opposite bed.
"Of course, Harry. I'll get them for you," Dumbledore left the room, and soon all the Weasleys, save one, one very important one, had entered the room. Mrs. Weasley was still sobbing. Ginny was eyes were filled with silent tears. The twins were sober, but there faces only masked the pain they felt. Mr. Weasley was consoling his wife as best he could. Bill and Charlie were there, too, hiding from the anguish of knowing their kid brother was lost to them.
Harry started to tell them what had happened. How they had been forced into going after Voldemort, how Hermione had been injured, how Ron had fought and fallen so bravely. He told them how he'd gone back for Hermione, and how she'd reacted. All the while Hermione was like a brick. She was listening to every word, yet didn't hear a thing. Inside, she was sobbing her heart out, while on the outside, she seemed cold, and distant. Her eyes were welling with tears, but she fought them back. When Harry started to tell them about her reaction, she suddenly snapped out of it, and told Harry to stop. "I want to - " she said quietly. Harry understood, and nodded. Hermione told them every detail, every emotion. She told them what she'd seen, what she'd heard. She told him how Ron had said goodbye, how he'd told her.
Mrs. Weasley smiled quietly through her tears. She went over and put her arm around Hermione. Sitting down beside her, she just held her in her arms, like a mother would. She gestured for Harry to come over, too. He did, and the twins soon followed. When Madam Pomfrey returned with a sleeping draught for them, they were all crowded around one bed, consoling each other, beginning their path to recovery.
You never know, Harry said weakly. "Maybe we'll see him again some day. Maybe."