I know, I'm horrible. I'm sorry for the long string of nothing. We've been having some family problems, and fanfiction doesn't help much. =\ So, I'll be trying to write more often, just maybe not everyday. Alright? =) Sorry again!

Reviews! Thanks muykiay, Wandering-Storyteller, tje-82871, Hermione, fredngeorgegirl, msweasley, katshadow89, Goddess Of Gryffindor, Julie, cassgrl087, beckie13, The guy, and Snowy!

Now, onto the story!

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Hermione shot a cold look at Ginny. "I told you, it's not appropriate. Can we please not talk about this anymore?" Hermione took out a History of Magic textbook. "I need to study. I have to know all of these weird facts for tomorrow. It's getting late anyway. Goodbye, Ginny." Hermione walked toward the common room.

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Chapter Eight

"Way to go, Hermione." A voice said.

"Who's there?" Hermione said coldly. She was sitting on her favorite chair, trying to memorize facts in the common room. She was unsuccessful, though, as she couldn't stop thinking about how cruel she was to Ginny, and how she missed Ron. "Who's there?" She asked again, more nervously.

"You shouldn't be talking to yourself. It's gives everyone the idea that you're mad." A different voice said. Hermione turned around.

"What's the matter?" Harry asked worriedly.

Hermione stumbled to think of a lie. Her eyebrows scrunched in all directions, then finally saying, "History of Magic tomorrow. I'm-having trouble learning about..." She flipped to a random page in her page in her book, and pointed. "...this!"

Harry took the book away from her, and skimmed over the page. "You're having trouble learning about the index?" His face became puzzled.

Hermione sighed. She wasn't in the mood to try and lie. "Harry, can you just leave me be?" Hermione whispered sadly. Harry could tell she was serious. He nodded.

"If you need me, I'll be sleeping. Feel free to wake me up." He smiled. Harry was trying to cheer her up, but it didn't seem to work. He walked into his dormitory.

"It's about time he left. I never liked that Potter." A voice said. It was the same voice from before.

"Who are you?" Hermione whispered bitterly. She turned in all directions, but not another single body was in the common room.

"Silly Hermione, you're brighter than that." The voice now seemed oddly familiar.

Suddenly, Hermione's head felt like it was being hit repetitively with a hammer. Her hands shot up to the top of her head, and she dug her fingers in her hair. Moments later, the pain lifted, and she fell asleep on the couch.

--

"Where am I?" Hermione thought aloud, her voice oddly hoarse, as she walked into a strange room. The walls were completely bare, showing only gray paint. She kept walking into the room, and in the distance she saw three familiar figures. She ran towards them. As Hermione got closer, she realized it was Harry, Ginny, and another Hermione. "Who are you?" Hermione said to her double, her voice squeaking.

Suddenly, Harry and Ginny fell to their knees, and Hermione saw another familar figure behind them. It was Ron, and he lay pale and lifeless on a bed.

"What's going on here?!" Hermione shrieked in panic.

"How could you do this, Hermione?" Ginny asked the Hermione double. It was obvious that Ginny only saw one Hermione. A tear fell from Ginny's left eye. "Why did you kill him? I thought you loved him, you wanted to be with him..."

"I do!" The hoarse Hermione squeaked.

Hermione #2 did a slight movement of her head. Harry and Ginny both became limp. Their upper bodies fell to the ground.

The hoarse Hermione squeaked, and started to cry. The Hermione double looked at her.

Hermione's head started searing with pain again, and she screamed as loud as she could, as to chase the pain away...

"Pin her down!" An old voice demanded. Hermione's eyes suddenly shot open, and she saw Harry, Ginny, and the Nurse. Each of them had their wands out, and Hermione's limbs were stuck to the bed she was on.

"She's awake!" Ginny yelled happily. Harry gave a sigh of relief, and the Nurse looked puzzled.

"What was that all about dear?" The Nurse asked Hermione. Her limbs were now freed.

"What was what about? I barely moved! But my head..." Hemione rubbed her skull.

The three scoffed. "Your hands were practically glued to your head, and your legs were thrashing about. You call that barely moving?"

Hermione became pale. She just had a bad dream.... No, more than a dream. She's never reacted to a dream like this before.

Hermione cleared her throat. Confused on why her voice was still hoarse, she spoke. "Can you guys please, leave? I need some time...to myself." The circle of three nodded, said their wishes, and left.

Hermione was left in a cold sweat. She was having difficulty breathing.

"You okay?" A quiet voice said. Hermione jerked her head to the left and saw Ron in the bed next to hers. She had forgotten about him being here too.

Hermione's breathing returned to normal, and she felt as nothing had happened. "I'm OK." She said cheerfully. "How about you?"

"I've been better." Ron sat up. "They think I should be walking around in, maybe a few days."

Hermione smiled. "That's great."

The two stared into each others eyes, not realizing they were doing so. They started for about five minutes, but it felt like five seconds.

The door shot open. "Ron!!" an obnoxiously familar voice shouted. "I'm so glad you're alright!" It was Cho.

"Hey, Cho." said Ron, trying to sound happy.

Hermione suddenly felt exhausted, and she fell asleep once again.

--

Ron got out of the hospital wing in four days, and was perfectly normal. Hermione, however, slept for three weeks straight. Harry, Ginny, and Ron visited her daily. What Harry and Ginny didn't know was Ron was visiting her at night too, alone. When Hermione finally awakened, she was greeted by the three. She didn't realize she had slept so long.

Time passed very quickly, and Hermione seldom spoke to Ron. She kept strongest ties with Ginny. Finally, the day before the Ending Ball had approached. The Hogwarts Staff had arranged a trip to Diagon Ally for everyone going to the Ending Ball, to get whatever they needed. Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione seperated in a group of their own.

"Why don't we visit Fred and George?" Ginny suggested. The three agreed, and headed towards the Joke shop. As they entered, they were greeted by a large multicolored Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean.

"Erm, can we please see Fred and George Weasley?" Ron asked the bean. The bean ran off, and then two redheaded adults came running toward the group.

"Why hello there!" Fred shouted as he made Ron's hair as messy as possible. "Good thing you're not dead, right??" He said cheerfully. Ron snickered.

"Looks like Little Ronnie's filling out, eh Fred?" George said as he looked over Ron. Ron blushed.

"Hey, don't forget me!!" Ginny said cheerfully, trying to draw attention towards herself.

"Yes, yes, of course." George said looking her over. "Don't worry Ginny, you've filled out pretty well too."

Fred elbowed George. "You're not supposed to look at your sister like that, George!" Fred said jokingly.

"But she doesn't LOOK LIKE my SISTER!" George laughed.

"You two haven't changed one bit." Ginny joked.

George directed his attention to Hermione. "Wow! Look at THAT beauty! Now, SHE'S not my sister, so I can look at her, right?" George said in a jokingly tone.

Hermione's face turned bright red. Obviously, she didn't hear the joke.

"Yup, you're right about that, George!" Fred said, also not seriously. "I'm surprised little Ronnie hasn't snatched her up!" Ron blushed again.

"Hey, look Fred! There's Harry!" George said, pointing.

"You look much better, Potter. Nice and tall." Fred said in a satisfied tone.

"You two don't look so bad yourselves." Harry said back. Fred and George nodded in agreement.

"Yes, I do believe we've filled out, haven't we George?" Fred said, looking himself over.

"Just look at these legs!" George said, exposing his limbs. "Sheer beauty." The twins laughed.

Ginny looked at the clock in the store. "Oh, we must be going." She said dissapointedly. "We're here on school business, you know the drill."

Fred and George nodded. "Nice seeing you again. Come back soon!" They said in unsion.

The group of four left the store.

"Ron and I have to go look for suits." Harry said.

Ginny nodded. "Well, me and Hermione must get dresses, so why don't we split up?"

The four nodded in agreement.

The two girls headed to "Ball Beauties", a new formalwear shop.

"So, how are you feeling?" Ginny asked Hermione as they skimmed the racks.

Hermione picked up a blue dress and looked it over. "I suppose I'm okay, why do you ask?" She held on to the blue dress, and kept looking over the rack.

Ginny looked over a black dress in extreme interest. "Well, you've been unusually quiet. I mean, barely talking to anyone."

"She knows." A voice said. This was the voice Hermione had heard many times before, and had gotten used to it.

"No she doesn't, shut up." Hermione whispered to the voice.

"What? Don't mumble, Hermione." Ginny said as she kept the dress and continued looking.

"I'm quite content being quiet. It's more peaceful." Hermione now had four dresses on her arm. "I'm going to try these on."

Ginny nodded. "I'm still looking, go ahead."

Ginny had picked three more dresses when Hermione had came out in a stunning dress.

"This is the one I like best, the other one's didn't look right." Hermione said modestly.

"Hermione!" Ginny gasped, looking amazed. "You look fabulous!"

Hermione tilted her head. "Really?" She spinned and the dress slightly flared on the bottom. "You think so?"

Ginny nodded. "That's the dress for you. Buy that one."

Hermione smiled and went back into the dressing room. "I'm going to try mine on!" Ginny said loudly.

Hermione came out in her Gryffindor robes again, and went to pay for her dress. She was handing over a few Galleons when Ginny came out in her favorite gown.

Hermione smiled. "That's beautiful, Ginny."

Ginny twirled. "Yes, I like it too. Finish paying, I want to buy this beauty." Ginny walked back in the dressing room.

Hermione nodded and finished spending her money. Ginny had come out, and finished paying for hers too.

"Is that all we need?" Hermione asked Ginny.

"Yeah, I think so. You think the guys are ready?"

Hermione nodded. "Apparate?" Ginny nodded back.

The two girls used the newly learned apperate skill, and a crack later, they were in front of Ron and Harry on the sidewalk.

"We've been waiting here for hours! Where have you two been?" Harry asked.

"Oh, hush." Ginny scolded. "We're right on time." Ginny pointed at the large clock about a mile away.

"Let's go." Ron lead the way.

When they got back to Hogwarts, practically every student was in the Entrance Hall, showing off what they bought to others.

"Come on, why won't you show us?" Ron begged to the two girls. They both shook their heads.

"You'll have to wait and see like everyone else." Hermione said cheerfully.

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WHOA! Long chapter! Took me a couple hours to write! Does that make up for lost time? I hope so!

Review, please!!

amaya