Hey all, this is Lauren with chapter nine! I figured that, since I had started out writing along with the current time that I would write two chapters tonight, one to catch up and one Valentine's Day themed one. It would feel kinda weird doing it later, right? Plus, it's good for me to try and keep up, or else it'll get a bit messy…anyway, this is the first of two chapters you'll see today, I hope you like! And I have a very special chapter coming up in about 2 weeks…those of you who know your dates may know what I'm talking about…if not, you'll see! Enjoy, and don't forget to review!

Lauren

Disclaimer: Haha, if I owned Harry Potter, I definitely wouldn't be breaking Ron's leg to get you guys to read this, I'd be far too cool for that! So no, no owning of HP is coming from this house. No sirree Bob!

Chapter nine

Giddy Getaway

Ron looked around, searching frantically for it, when he saw it and panicked. It was headed for the table…without a second thought, he pressed against the broom and sped off to the ground. The bludger was going faster and faster, no sign of a change in direction. Harry, confused, took off after him. The people below had no clue what was about to happen, they were too involved in some conversation. Ron's eyes squinted to follow the stray bludger. It was three feet from Hermione, when—

*THUD*

Ron and Hermione were on the ground five feet away, their legs entangled in a heap of, well, Ron and Hermione. Harry touched down and ran towards them. Dean, Seamus, and the two fifth years stood up and looked over cautiously. Hermione rolled over, grabbed her head, and moaned. Ron propped himself onto his elbows, afraid to move his legs because of the tingling sensation running through them. Seamus stood up, walked a few feet away, and waited for the bludger to return.

"Hermione, are you okay?" Ron asked, pain in his voice.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine, are you okay?"

"Er, yeah, I'm fine. Just a little bruise is all…" he grabbed Harry's arm and pulled himself up. He felt his left leg give out, but Harry caught him.

"We'd better get you to Pomfrey…" he said, pulling Ron's arm around his shoulder and leaning his weight onto him. Ginny helped Hermione up, but Hermione didn't speak. She couldn't help but feel guilty. He had been saving her.

"Hermione, are you okay? Sheesh, that must have been so frightening! I can't believe it!"

Hermione merely nodded. She had no idea what was going on around her, all she could think about was Ron. She started after them, but her arm felt strangely tingly. She stopped to rub it, when she suddenly fell to the ground with a shriek. Ron and Harry turned around to see. Ginny was knelt down by her side, lifting her limp body into a sitting position. Harry half-walked, half-carried Ron over to the girls, but the sight before them was too much for Ron; the minute he caught a glance of her, he fainted right there on the spot.

"Ah, bloody hell…" Harry moaned, looking helplessly down at Ginny.

Three days later, Ron opened his eyes and saw a wash of white. Confused, he sat up, tore his eyes from the ceiling, looked around, and saw a few beds next to him. Ah, the hospital room. But… why am I here? He turned to look towards the door when his eye caught a glance of something directly to his right; frightened, he cautiously reached over and shook it gently. It stirred quietly as Ron watched, and as it curled its legs into its chest, it rubbed its face sleepily, and moved its covers enough for Ron to express a good gasp.

"Hermione??"

She snuggled her head into her pillow some, then remained completely still. Ron just stared at her, seriously confused. Why were they in the hospital room? Feeling lost and lonely, and needing some answers quickly, he nudged her again, this time not so gently. She groaned, sounding quite annoyed, and began swatting at Ron's intrusive pushes. Finally, she opened her eyes and glared at Ron.

"What do you want?" she asked with a hint of a slur. She automatically swept her hand across her chin, as though suddenly ticked by a feather. Ron frowned.

"Hermione, why are we in here?"

"What in the world makes you think I know?" she said, all sign of her slur gone. She looked around, seeing just where here was, when she suddenly sat bolt right in her bed.

"What are we doing here?" she asked, panicked. They looked at each other, lost for words, when Ron motioned her to lean in closer, a clever look on his face.

"Ron, you do realize that no one else can possibly hear us, seeing as how there's no one else in here," she hissed, thinking this must have been the most obvious thing in the world. Ron smiled awkwardly, then leaned in closer anyway Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I think we should get out of here, what do you think?" he asked, thinking this was the best plan ever.

"Ron, do you realize how likely it is we'd be caught? Besides, what's Pomfrey going to think when she comes in to check on us and we're not there? She'd have a fit!"

Ron looked at her apprehensively, but was not deterred to the least. If she wouldn't agree to go, he'd have to handle it himself. He swung his legs over the side of his bed, pulling back his covers, and stepped onto the floor. He slowly walked over, feeling his leg tensing slightly under the pressure of his weight, and pulled back Hermione's blanket. She squirmed a little, muttering something about an overlooking of women's input in society, but Ron lifted her into his arms with ease. He carried her over to the door, quickly opened the door, and slipped them out and down the hallway. Hermione watched Ron amusedly as he tore down the stairs, not unlike James Bond would do. Not that mentioning this would make any sense; Ron had no idea who that was. She kept quiet until finally, he reached the portrait of the fat lady. She seemed deep in a peaceful sleep, which made it all the more fun to-

"CANDY HEARTS!" he bellowed. It was obvious he was in quite the boisterous mood.

The fat lady nearly flew out of her seat, grabbing on to the edge of a nearby table for support as she pulled herself up. She stared daggers at him while Hermione chuckled softly into Ron's shoulder.

Without a word, she swung open violently, hoping to knock them over, but they were two inches out of her reach. Sniggering, Ron swiftly climbed inside, careful to avoid her harsh closing, and continued up the stairs to the girls' dorms. He lay her down, kissed her forehead, and stood up to leave, when Hermione pulled him back until he toppled over onto her bed.

"Stay with me?" she asked, a keen look in her eyes and a broad smile on her lips.

Ron rolled his eyes, mocking annoyance, and rolled over to face her. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, grateful he didn't have to resort to cuddling with her in a hospital bed.