One More Night With You

Disclaimer: Characters not mine. Plot belongs to me.

Chapter Three: "I loved him too."

The next days chased by quickly. Harry spent the time in his dorm, his eyes unmoving, staring at the ceiling, trying to forbid the memories that plunged into his mind about Ron. How long had it been since the moment he had hit the ground? Nobody in Hogwarts knew the whole, true story. The only part they knew: This time, it was not Harry Potter who had done something courageous. It was Ronald Weasley, the freckled best friend and chaser of the Qudditch team. It was always Ron, however, Harry realized, that did most of the saving. Harry hadn't been able to save Cedric, and Hermione had never saved anyone else either. But Ron...in the first year, had risked his life just in thought of Voldemort in power once more...and at beginning of sixth year, he had caught Hermione when he was trying to play Qudditch. However, she went off steering and fell, and Harry remembered the day clearly. A bit of a smile filled his face. It was the day she knew, obviously. They had started going out, and soon they had realized their love for each other. Of course, Harry knew Ron nor Hermione would ever be able to say these words to each other, for shyness of their formal friendship. But Harry could see it in their eyes, the way they snuck looks at each other, the way they pretended it to be the way it used to be, like they were just friends, for his sake, and he'd find them kissing at the common room later on.

This was what pained Harry the most: the third time Ron had saved them, in their current seventh year, he had died. And Hermione had never said those three words.

Oh God, I would do anything, Harry prayed. Please kill me, and bring Ron back...please. He knew it wes a weak attempt, but he couldn't help the ambition growing in the bottom of his stomach. He looked around his dorm and realized all the others had shamlessly let out the covers and gone. But...what time was it? It must've been a Hogesmade weekend, Harry thought bitterly. Everyone was going to Hogesmade like nothing had happened these past months...

How dare they, a voice prompted. But Harry knew that they could never feel the pain he felt. He doubted whether he felt this much pain when his mother and father had died right in front of his eyes... of course, he had been merely a baby and the memory made him strong, gave him more bravery. But he'd give up all his strength and courage just for it to him to die.

A knock on the open dorm door awakened him from his thoughts. His eyes drifted to the figure at it. It was Hermione.

"Hi," she croaked softly. He eyed her newly ironed robes with accusement.

"Why are you wearing those? Did you go to classes yesterday?"

"Oh," Hermione said, looking down at her robes, a flush going over her cheeks. "I slept with them on...I forgot to change this morning..."

"I can't believe you," Harry said stonily. "Ron's gone and you don't even have the decency to mourn! I guess grades are more important."

"How can you say that!" she started shrieking. "Grades don't matter, don't you see? I just wanted to feel normal for one day! But I realized it was a mistake! Everyone went quiet around me! I am not normal, Harry anymore! I am not...my life is gone! And my only best friend left tells me I like grades better than an actual person! I loved him too, you know! This isn't all about you, Harry!"

"Well, it should be! Because I am the only one that cares!" Harry snapped angrily.

The room filled with silence. Hermione took a deep, heaving breath, and covered her face with her hands, and started sobbing.

"That's right," Harry said loudly. "Cry. As if that's going to change anything." Then, quickly, tears began to fill his eyes as she removed her hands to reveal her newly stained face.

"If you're such a mourner, why aren't you? Too strong, are you? Too much of a man, are you?"

"I..I.." Harry gulped, but was unable to put down the lump rising in his throat. Tears slowly began to pour onto his cheeks. He covered his face in his hands, ashamed of himself. Stop it, he told himself. It won't bring him back. Just like your parents...

A few moments later, he felt someone cradling him in their arms. He opened his eyes, and saw Hermione, with her arms around his shoulders, her face dug into his neck. He squirmed uneasily as the tears drenched his shirt - the same burnt shirt ... he shook himself.

"I just can't fit those pieces together, Hermione..." Harry suddenly said.

Hermione looked up, her lips brushed against his nose due to her advantage.

"What?"

"The day - the night that he died, it doesn't seem real, you know?"

Hermione was oddly quiet for a moment, as if recalling something. Suddenly, she gasped, her eyes opening wide.

"What?" Harry asked, lurching up. "Are you okay?"

"That's because..." she stammered. "Oh my God, Harry, we've been so stupid!"

"What?"

"The missing pieces!"

"What missing pieces?! What are you talking about?" Harry asked frantically.

"It ...wasn't real," Hermione whispered. Then, she jumped up. "I've got to research something in the library."

And then she started leaving, Harry staring in amazement after her.

_________

Wow, must've been the biggest cliffhanger I've ever written in my life. My sentimental side has overgrown me. I cried through writing this whole chapter; it was painful to see Ron dead, and since this is my story...

*Wink* Have I surprised you once more?

Love, -S.A.