Visiting Hours
Hermione sat very still in her private room. The vase of daisies was wilting next to her, not that she ever looked at it. Her doctor looked at her hopelessly.
"Please, dear. You have to try to talk."
Hermione remained silent, eyes still focusing on one the one thing that wasn't there.
"Alright, maybe you'll talk after you've seen your visitors." He sighed.
"Hermione?" Ron came in and smiled broadly.
The doctor left and gave Harry and Ron an expectant glance.
Hermione looked towards Harry and Ron and gave a quirky smile that they recognized as their Hermione's. Ron handed her a picture frame. She stared at it strangely, watching the three torsos wave at her and smile
"It's when we were in first year. You can look at it when we're not here." Harry said.
Hermione smiled broadly and placed it on her nightstand, next to the withered flowers. She looked at it for a minute on her nightstand and then looked at Ron and Harry again. Ron sat down next to Hermione on her bed. Harry sat awkwardly in the chair the doctor had been in, feeling oddly like he was imposing on the two.
"It's awful, isn't it?" Ron asked her. "They've kept you here, all cooped up; not even a window." He looked around the room.
"Hmm..." Hermione said. Ron knew that she understood.
"Everyone at school keeps calling you crazy." Harry laughed a little. "And Ron keeps knocking their lights out. Don't think they'll be any boys left in Slytherin when he's through."
Ron laughed too. "S'not my fault there's so many gits in that school."
Hermione kept her same odd quirky smile as they talked. Maybe she was comprehending it, maybe not. But one thing was sure, she was at her happiest with Harry and Ron.
"Excuse me?" The Nurse opened the door. "Another visitor?"
"Who?" Ron asked as he stood up. Hermione looked up at him.
"Me." A heavily accented voice said. Harry watched Ron's face turn red.
"Get lost." He said. "Don't you have a Quidditch Game to lose?"
Viktor shrugged, keeping his eyes on Hermione. "I need to talk to her. Alone, please."
"No way!" Ron said. Hermione grabbed Ron's wrist. He recognized this as her sign of fear, or being uncomfortable. "Go molest some other teenager."
"Ron." Harry protested. "A few minutes wouldn't hurt."
"But, Harry! He's just a stupid git!"
"Everyone's a git to you these days." Harry's eyes narrowed. "Five minutes." He said to Viktor angrily.
"And not a second over, you stupid git."
"Thank you." Viktor said gratefully. Ron and Harry left, closing the door behind them.
"What do you think he's doing?" Ron asked, leaning against the opposite, wall, watching the door, and wishing he had X-ray vision.
"Talking to her." Harry shrugged. "And getting no answers."
They stood there, listening to the muffled sound of Viktor's voice talking to Hermione intently.
"It's been five minutes." Ron glanced at his watch. " I'm going--"
Hermione's scream filled the entire hallway. She ran out the door and clung to Harry in fear. Harry almost jumped in surprise, but stopped himself and positioned it so Hermione was behind him. She did have an awfully tight grip.
"What the hell did you do?" Ron asked angrily, glaring at Viktor.
"I told her I loved her." Viktor's eyes were tearing.
"What?!" Ron was on Viktor in a second. He pushed him against the wall. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"And I tried to kiss her." Viktor looked away, as if ashamed by his tears. "And she ran away before I could."
"Where the hell do you get off? Molesting her was one thing, and now your trying to do it when she's under a curse? Think that'll give you the advantage, don't you?" Ron had a strangling hold on Viktor's neck. "We'll I've got news, buddy. Not while I'm here. So go on and find yourself some Bulgarian nine-year-old to molest. You aren't ever coming near Hermione Granger again."
"Ron, let go of him." Harry hissed. He wasn't able to move, since Hermione was holding a bit too tight.
"Get out of here." Ron said angrily, throwing Viktor down onto the ground. "Come on Hermione." Ron extended his hand to her.
Hermione clung to his arm and he brought her back in the room. Ron kept glaring at Viktor.
"Sorry 'bout him. He's just a little protective." Harry said, helping Viktor up.
"I was going to ask her to marry me, when she was out of school." Viktor said. "She's the first one I've ever loved." He shrugged. "I guess things just didn't work out." He smiled at Harry. "Thank you, for everything."
"Viktor..."
"Tell her I said goodbye." He started to walk down the hall, his shoes making an strange squeaking noise. Harry felt oddly sorry for him, even though he'd like to punch him, too for trying to kiss Hermione.
~-~-~-~-
Hermione was smiling again. She looked at the picture frame and kept smiling, as if it was she in the picture at that moment. As if the picture frame was a mirror, and it was her that was smiling up at the cursed girl. Ron stared at her, hand on her shoulder.
"Oh, before I forget." Ron said abruptly. "Harry and I brought you some pajamas. Don't want you staying in those musty old St. Mungo's ones."
Ron took out a parcel from his robes. He unwrapped it and a pair of boy's pajamas with the Hogwarts insignia lay inside.
"The shirt is mine." Harry explained. "And the pants are Ron's."
Hermione looked at them oddly. She picked up the shirt and held it to her nose. She inhaled its scent and smiled, satisfied.
"Would you like me to help you change into those?" The nurse said.
Hermione didn't respond, as if she hadn't heard her voice.
"Sure." Ron answered for her.
"She is a girl, you know." The nurse said. "You'll need to leave the room."
Ron turned pink and stuttered a "Yes ma'am."
"Right." Harry said.
They both left and went back into the hallway.
"She doesn't deserve it." Ron whispered.
"I know, Ron. I want her out of there as much as you."
"No, Harry, you don't!" Ron said angrily. "I mean, it's like, I have to get her out! I mean, it's like I can't live with her in that room! I can't go to sleep at night when I think of her, all alone in there, with nothing but wilted flowers!"
"Ron." Harry suddenly reached for the piece of paper in his pocket (A/N: see previous chapter). He brought it out and opened it and stared at the neat handwriting that he had trained his quill to do for him.
"What's that?" Ron asked, wiping his eyes.
"It's--" Harry stopped. It's not the right time, he thought. "Nothing." He put it back in his pocket.
"What did she do to deserve it, Harry?" Ron asked again.
"Nothing, Ron. She didn't do anything." Harry answered obediently.
"If I'd been with you and Neville and Hermione, I'd have killed that stupid Death Eater right there." Ron said, clenching his fist.
"It's more my fault then anyone else's." Harry sighed. "Hermione was clinging to my arm. She was so close to me."
Ron didn't respond, just looked at the ceiling.
"I'm going to prove it to the world one day."
"What?"
"I'm going to prove that Hermione's not crazy. She's going to be the only person that ever recovers from the Curse. I'll make sure of it."
"But how?"
"I'll find a way." Ron said defiantly. "I don't care if it takes my whole lifetime."
"Seventh year is almost over..." Harry commented, wanting to change the subject.
"You know." Ron said happily, apparently forgetting about Hermione. "I'm going to try out for the Chudley Cannons. I'm going to become a Quidditch Superstar."
"I could try out for the Seeker on that team." Harry said.
"And we'd bring Hermione to every game."
"But would her doctor--"
"Oh, forget about that crazy--"
"Git." Harry finished for him. "You really need to think of a new word."
"We'd put her in a seat of honor." Ron continued. "It'll be great."
Harry didn't want to remind Ron of the fact that Quidditch Teams travel all over the world and rarely return to their hometown. He didn't tell him that playing Quidditch would mean leaving Hermione, rather then spending more time with her.
The door opened and the Nurse invited them back in. Ron's smile reached from ear to ear when he saw Hermione. The pajamas were too big, nevertheless, she stood there, and smiling broadly and looking at them as if they were the most beautiful evening gown she had ever worn.
"Hermione, you look stunning." Ron said.
"You're all ready for the Yule Ball." Harry laughed.
Ron went silent for a minute and just stared at Hermione with a thought-provoked look in his eyes.
"The Yule Ball..." He said faintly.
"Visiting Hours are over." the nurse said, opening the door.
"No! Just one more hour!" Ron begged.
"You boys have been asking that for the last two years and the answer is still no. Now, out!" the nurse said.
"Oh, alright." Ron said angrily. "G'bye Hermione."
Saying goodbye to Hermione every Saturday was the hardest thing Ron could ever imagine doing. She clung to his arm, as if he was taking her somewhere. He gently took her arm off of his and smiled apologetically. He kissed her on the forehead as her smile faded and she looked lost again. Ron followed Harry down the hallway, towards the door.
"I don't understand, what did--"
"Ron!" Harry shouted. "She didn't do anything, okay! She was an innocent bystander willing to give her life, okay? She was brave and clever and smart and she didn't deserve it! I let her get hit, so I'd appreciate it if you stopped rubbing it in."
"Sorry, Harry." Ron said.
And with a loud crack, they apparated back to Platform Nine and Three-quarters just in time to catch the Hogwarts Express.
Back in the Gryffindor Common Room, Ron was in deep thought.
"How's Hermione?" Ginny asked.
"She's alright." Harry answered.
"How's Ron?" Ginny stared at her brother, who was looking blankly into the distance, his look resembling Hermione's.
"He's a big disgruntled." Harry glanced over to him.
"Do you think that Dumbeldore'll let Hermione come back to Hogwarts for the Yule Ball?" He asked suddenly.
"He would. But what about all those doctors?"
"Will you forget about the damn--"
"Gits." Ginny finished.
"Actually," Ron narrowed his eyes. "I was going to say doctors. But, forget about them. This would be Hermione's seventh year, and she'd miss out on everything, her Yule Ball, Graduation, saying goodbye. It's not fair."
"No one said life was fair, Ron." Harry said, thinking suddenly about Cedric Diggory.
"What if we could just bring her back for the Yule Ball?" Ron asked.
"You did ruin her time in Fourth Year, she never really had a good time at a dance before." Ginny sighed. "She never got to dance with the boy she loved."
Harry glared at Ginny dangerously. 'Shut-up!' His look said. Ron raised his eyebrows.
"I thought she loved that Bulgar."
"Not even close to it, Ron." Ginny looked at Ron and stifled a laugh. "Although I don't know what she sees in the boy she does love." Ginny walked, away, laughing hysterically at whatever she had said.
"Think they'd stick her in St. Mungo's instead of Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Probably not." Ron shrugged.
~-~-~-~-
"Hermione! Hermione!" Ron rushed into the hospital room, passed the Squib Nurse, who was clearly taken by surprise at being shoved out of the way.
"We've got great news!" Harry chimed after him.
"Here!" Ron handed her periwinkle blue robes.
She cocked her head to the side and stared at them. Finally she recognized them as her dress robes.
"Dumbeldore said you could come to Yule Ball!"
"Yule ball..." She said faintly, the same way Ron had. She shook her head and turned away. She lay back down on her bed and faced the wall. This was her sign of withdrawal.
"Oh, come on, Hermione, don't be like that!" Ron pleaded. "This time, it'll be different."
"No."
"Hermione, please!" Ron paused for a minute. "I--I want you to go with me to the Yule Ball."
Hermione sat up and looked at Ron curiously. Her eyes looked as if she had remembered something bad from her memory and she wanted to put it back where she found it and never bring it back again.
"No." She said firmer. She closed her eyes and tears escaped from them.
"Hermione, I'm sorry about Fourth year." Ron said. "I really am. Listen, if I could do one thing over it'd be that! Hermione!"
Hermione threw her arms around Ron and started to sob. Her whole body shook with sobs.
"Hermione." Ron made a clumsy attempt at humor. "I've heard of girls being oversensitive, but this is ridiculous!"
"No, Ron."
"Ron, I think I know why she doesn't want to go." Harry said.
"Why?" Ron had put his arms around Hermione, no longer feeling awkward.
"She can't remember anyone but us, right? So, that would mean she would remember you rejecting her at the Yule Ball."
"I did not reject her!" Ron said angrily.
"Well, that's how she saw it. So, if she only remembers us two, she can't remember why you rejected her. So, that would lead her to the conclusion that something was wrong with her."
"Have you been reading her notes again?" Ron asked, narrowing his eyes.
"No, it's just that," Harry chose his words carefully. "Even if she did remember all the people at the Yule Ball, she still took what you said about her to heart."
"That's ridiculous. Hermione's not like that."
"How would you know, Ron? The only Hermione you ever knew was the one you fought with on a daily basis."
"And I suppose you knew a different one? Has she gone and cloned herself?"
"She told me things that you would never dream of hearing from her." Harry smiled.
"Like what?"
"Not now." Harry said.
"Yes now!" Ron protested.
"I have a better idea then you two going to the Yule Ball." Harry said. He waved his wand and made an old record player appear.
"What the hell is that?" Ron asked.
"It's a record player." Harry said. "It plays music. He put in a record and started to play it.
Harry picked up Hermione's dress robes. He helped her put them on top of her pajamas. She smiled in satisfaction as she looked at her ensemble.
"There, your very own Yule Ball." Harry said.
The nurse could be heard banging on the door.
"What is going on in there? You're making a racket!"
"Sorry, Squib." Ron yelled back, locking the door. He bowed deeply to Hermione who blushed. "May I have this dance?"
She nodded eagerly and he took her hand. Ron just looked at her awkwardly for a minute and turned to Harry.
"Harry, I just remember. I have no bloody idea how to dance." He said.
Harry laughed. "It's easy, you just, kind of, erm--" He stopped, remembering he had no idea how to dance either. "Hermione knows, doesn't she?"
"No." She shrugged and smiled at Ron, who just kept holding her hand awkwardly.
"Well, this is beautiful. This must be a first; the first Yule Ball where none of the guests knew how to dance."
Harry smiled. "Cho explained it to me once, when she had stopped crying for a minute."
He walked up to Ron and took his hand.
"Harry." Hermione giggled.
"Okay, so you put your hand on her waist, like this." Harry explained awkwardly.
"You're the girl?" Ron asked in surprise.
"Bear with me, here." Harry said. "And you just move your feet."
Hermione was laughing hysterically now, holding her stomach and sitting on the floor.
"And just what's so funny? I'm doing this for you, you know." Ron said.
"Harry, Ron, Hermione!" Ginny pranced into the door, smiling. "Mum and I came to visit Hermione. What the hell are you gits doing?" Ginny screamed.
Ron immediately pulled away from Harry, blushing madly.
"We're not gay, we swear!" Harry yelled.
"Do that again, I want to take a picture!" Ginny reached into her bag to get a camera. "Go on!"
"Not on your life, Ginny Weasley!" Ron yelled angrily.
"I never thought Ron would be a homo!" Ginny squealed in excitement.
"Ginny, Harry was just teaching me how to dance." Ron said. "And for your information, young lady, you are intruding on our Yule Ball."
"Yule Ball?" Ginny asked. "Oh, I see." She said, looking at Hermione in her dress robes.
Ron bowed deeply to Hermione. "May I have this dance."
"Yes." Hermione smiled. Her tired gray eyes seemed to forget that she was in a Nut House. It was as if she was making new memories for herself to cherish and to replace the ones she had lost.
Ron took her hand and put his hand on her waist. She giggled slightly.
"Stop laughing will you? People are really going to think you're crazy."
"Not crazy..." She said, amused.
Ginny smiled at them. Mrs. Weasley walked in with a bag of something. She smiled widely when she saw Ron and Hermione. She sighed.
"Ginny, dear, take a picture, will you?"
"Yes, mum."
Ginny focused the camera carefully, careful not to alert Hermione and Ron who were completely oblivious to everyone around them. The record ended and Hermione threw her arms around Ron.
"Thank you." She whispered.
Ron, who was completely taken by surprise by A. Hermione had enjoyed his horrible dancing, and B. That his mother was standing there. He smiled and put his arms around Hermione.
"Anytime, 'Mione." Ron smiled.
"Oh, dear." Mrs. Weasley walked over and hugged Hermione. "You're so tall you know that? Now, don't you worry, you're going to get out of here someday." She patted Hermione's cheeks. "You really are a beautiful girl."
Hermione looked at Mrs. Weasley as if she remembered her. She touched her red hair and drew her hand back. She smiled softly.
"You look like Ron." She said smiling.
Ron turned a bright shade of red. Mrs. Weasley looked incredibly touched. She patted Hermione's hand.
"Ron's right, dear. You aren't crazy, you just aren't!" She hugged Hermione again. "Well, Ginny and I just stopped in for a quick visit. Come along, Ginny."
Ginny followed Mrs. Weasley obediently out the door and into the hallway. Ron looked at Hermione sadly. His gaze looked different about her. Harry couldn't explain it, but there was something funny about it. He looked as if, he was really thinking about; as if he was almost fantasizing about her.
Harry shook his head. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger? Clearly possible before, but while Hermione was under this curse? How could Ron ever fall in love with an insane person whenever girl in Gryffindor was after him? He was tall, he played Quidditch and he was a prefect, what more did a girl need?
"Stop staring, Harry. Didn't anyone ever tell you its rude?" Ron punched Harry in the arm playfully.
Harry reached into his pocket and grabbed the paper again, as if he was going to give it to Ron. It's not the right time, it's not the right time, a voice keep saying to him. He cursed Hermione for giving him this kind of responsibility. Did she realize that her and Ron's entire future depended on this little piece of paper that he had in his pocket?
"Visiting Hours are over! Out!" The Squib Nurse came in. "And don't even try to ask one more hour. I've had enough of you two barging in here ever day without even a simple 'excuse me.' Honestly, did your mother ever teach you manners?"
"Alright." Ron said, sighing. He looked at Hermione and wrapped his arms around her. "Listen, 'Mione. Harry and I, we're going to try out for a famous Quidditch Team. We're going to make, just for you, okay? We're going to give you a seat of honor at every game we play."
"Right!" Harry said energetically.
Ron squeezed Hermione a little tighter. "I'm going to make sure you get better. I'll win a lot of games and earn a lot of money and get you the best treatment money can buy. But you have to promise me one thing." He pulled away to look Hermione in the eyes.
"Never lose faith."
(A/N: More to come!! Ah! I can't take the suspense! Give me two or three days!!)
Hermione sat very still in her private room. The vase of daisies was wilting next to her, not that she ever looked at it. Her doctor looked at her hopelessly.
"Please, dear. You have to try to talk."
Hermione remained silent, eyes still focusing on one the one thing that wasn't there.
"Alright, maybe you'll talk after you've seen your visitors." He sighed.
"Hermione?" Ron came in and smiled broadly.
The doctor left and gave Harry and Ron an expectant glance.
Hermione looked towards Harry and Ron and gave a quirky smile that they recognized as their Hermione's. Ron handed her a picture frame. She stared at it strangely, watching the three torsos wave at her and smile
"It's when we were in first year. You can look at it when we're not here." Harry said.
Hermione smiled broadly and placed it on her nightstand, next to the withered flowers. She looked at it for a minute on her nightstand and then looked at Ron and Harry again. Ron sat down next to Hermione on her bed. Harry sat awkwardly in the chair the doctor had been in, feeling oddly like he was imposing on the two.
"It's awful, isn't it?" Ron asked her. "They've kept you here, all cooped up; not even a window." He looked around the room.
"Hmm..." Hermione said. Ron knew that she understood.
"Everyone at school keeps calling you crazy." Harry laughed a little. "And Ron keeps knocking their lights out. Don't think they'll be any boys left in Slytherin when he's through."
Ron laughed too. "S'not my fault there's so many gits in that school."
Hermione kept her same odd quirky smile as they talked. Maybe she was comprehending it, maybe not. But one thing was sure, she was at her happiest with Harry and Ron.
"Excuse me?" The Nurse opened the door. "Another visitor?"
"Who?" Ron asked as he stood up. Hermione looked up at him.
"Me." A heavily accented voice said. Harry watched Ron's face turn red.
"Get lost." He said. "Don't you have a Quidditch Game to lose?"
Viktor shrugged, keeping his eyes on Hermione. "I need to talk to her. Alone, please."
"No way!" Ron said. Hermione grabbed Ron's wrist. He recognized this as her sign of fear, or being uncomfortable. "Go molest some other teenager."
"Ron." Harry protested. "A few minutes wouldn't hurt."
"But, Harry! He's just a stupid git!"
"Everyone's a git to you these days." Harry's eyes narrowed. "Five minutes." He said to Viktor angrily.
"And not a second over, you stupid git."
"Thank you." Viktor said gratefully. Ron and Harry left, closing the door behind them.
"What do you think he's doing?" Ron asked, leaning against the opposite, wall, watching the door, and wishing he had X-ray vision.
"Talking to her." Harry shrugged. "And getting no answers."
They stood there, listening to the muffled sound of Viktor's voice talking to Hermione intently.
"It's been five minutes." Ron glanced at his watch. " I'm going--"
Hermione's scream filled the entire hallway. She ran out the door and clung to Harry in fear. Harry almost jumped in surprise, but stopped himself and positioned it so Hermione was behind him. She did have an awfully tight grip.
"What the hell did you do?" Ron asked angrily, glaring at Viktor.
"I told her I loved her." Viktor's eyes were tearing.
"What?!" Ron was on Viktor in a second. He pushed him against the wall. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"And I tried to kiss her." Viktor looked away, as if ashamed by his tears. "And she ran away before I could."
"Where the hell do you get off? Molesting her was one thing, and now your trying to do it when she's under a curse? Think that'll give you the advantage, don't you?" Ron had a strangling hold on Viktor's neck. "We'll I've got news, buddy. Not while I'm here. So go on and find yourself some Bulgarian nine-year-old to molest. You aren't ever coming near Hermione Granger again."
"Ron, let go of him." Harry hissed. He wasn't able to move, since Hermione was holding a bit too tight.
"Get out of here." Ron said angrily, throwing Viktor down onto the ground. "Come on Hermione." Ron extended his hand to her.
Hermione clung to his arm and he brought her back in the room. Ron kept glaring at Viktor.
"Sorry 'bout him. He's just a little protective." Harry said, helping Viktor up.
"I was going to ask her to marry me, when she was out of school." Viktor said. "She's the first one I've ever loved." He shrugged. "I guess things just didn't work out." He smiled at Harry. "Thank you, for everything."
"Viktor..."
"Tell her I said goodbye." He started to walk down the hall, his shoes making an strange squeaking noise. Harry felt oddly sorry for him, even though he'd like to punch him, too for trying to kiss Hermione.
~-~-~-~-
Hermione was smiling again. She looked at the picture frame and kept smiling, as if it was she in the picture at that moment. As if the picture frame was a mirror, and it was her that was smiling up at the cursed girl. Ron stared at her, hand on her shoulder.
"Oh, before I forget." Ron said abruptly. "Harry and I brought you some pajamas. Don't want you staying in those musty old St. Mungo's ones."
Ron took out a parcel from his robes. He unwrapped it and a pair of boy's pajamas with the Hogwarts insignia lay inside.
"The shirt is mine." Harry explained. "And the pants are Ron's."
Hermione looked at them oddly. She picked up the shirt and held it to her nose. She inhaled its scent and smiled, satisfied.
"Would you like me to help you change into those?" The nurse said.
Hermione didn't respond, as if she hadn't heard her voice.
"Sure." Ron answered for her.
"She is a girl, you know." The nurse said. "You'll need to leave the room."
Ron turned pink and stuttered a "Yes ma'am."
"Right." Harry said.
They both left and went back into the hallway.
"She doesn't deserve it." Ron whispered.
"I know, Ron. I want her out of there as much as you."
"No, Harry, you don't!" Ron said angrily. "I mean, it's like, I have to get her out! I mean, it's like I can't live with her in that room! I can't go to sleep at night when I think of her, all alone in there, with nothing but wilted flowers!"
"Ron." Harry suddenly reached for the piece of paper in his pocket (A/N: see previous chapter). He brought it out and opened it and stared at the neat handwriting that he had trained his quill to do for him.
"What's that?" Ron asked, wiping his eyes.
"It's--" Harry stopped. It's not the right time, he thought. "Nothing." He put it back in his pocket.
"What did she do to deserve it, Harry?" Ron asked again.
"Nothing, Ron. She didn't do anything." Harry answered obediently.
"If I'd been with you and Neville and Hermione, I'd have killed that stupid Death Eater right there." Ron said, clenching his fist.
"It's more my fault then anyone else's." Harry sighed. "Hermione was clinging to my arm. She was so close to me."
Ron didn't respond, just looked at the ceiling.
"I'm going to prove it to the world one day."
"What?"
"I'm going to prove that Hermione's not crazy. She's going to be the only person that ever recovers from the Curse. I'll make sure of it."
"But how?"
"I'll find a way." Ron said defiantly. "I don't care if it takes my whole lifetime."
"Seventh year is almost over..." Harry commented, wanting to change the subject.
"You know." Ron said happily, apparently forgetting about Hermione. "I'm going to try out for the Chudley Cannons. I'm going to become a Quidditch Superstar."
"I could try out for the Seeker on that team." Harry said.
"And we'd bring Hermione to every game."
"But would her doctor--"
"Oh, forget about that crazy--"
"Git." Harry finished for him. "You really need to think of a new word."
"We'd put her in a seat of honor." Ron continued. "It'll be great."
Harry didn't want to remind Ron of the fact that Quidditch Teams travel all over the world and rarely return to their hometown. He didn't tell him that playing Quidditch would mean leaving Hermione, rather then spending more time with her.
The door opened and the Nurse invited them back in. Ron's smile reached from ear to ear when he saw Hermione. The pajamas were too big, nevertheless, she stood there, and smiling broadly and looking at them as if they were the most beautiful evening gown she had ever worn.
"Hermione, you look stunning." Ron said.
"You're all ready for the Yule Ball." Harry laughed.
Ron went silent for a minute and just stared at Hermione with a thought-provoked look in his eyes.
"The Yule Ball..." He said faintly.
"Visiting Hours are over." the nurse said, opening the door.
"No! Just one more hour!" Ron begged.
"You boys have been asking that for the last two years and the answer is still no. Now, out!" the nurse said.
"Oh, alright." Ron said angrily. "G'bye Hermione."
Saying goodbye to Hermione every Saturday was the hardest thing Ron could ever imagine doing. She clung to his arm, as if he was taking her somewhere. He gently took her arm off of his and smiled apologetically. He kissed her on the forehead as her smile faded and she looked lost again. Ron followed Harry down the hallway, towards the door.
"I don't understand, what did--"
"Ron!" Harry shouted. "She didn't do anything, okay! She was an innocent bystander willing to give her life, okay? She was brave and clever and smart and she didn't deserve it! I let her get hit, so I'd appreciate it if you stopped rubbing it in."
"Sorry, Harry." Ron said.
And with a loud crack, they apparated back to Platform Nine and Three-quarters just in time to catch the Hogwarts Express.
Back in the Gryffindor Common Room, Ron was in deep thought.
"How's Hermione?" Ginny asked.
"She's alright." Harry answered.
"How's Ron?" Ginny stared at her brother, who was looking blankly into the distance, his look resembling Hermione's.
"He's a big disgruntled." Harry glanced over to him.
"Do you think that Dumbeldore'll let Hermione come back to Hogwarts for the Yule Ball?" He asked suddenly.
"He would. But what about all those doctors?"
"Will you forget about the damn--"
"Gits." Ginny finished.
"Actually," Ron narrowed his eyes. "I was going to say doctors. But, forget about them. This would be Hermione's seventh year, and she'd miss out on everything, her Yule Ball, Graduation, saying goodbye. It's not fair."
"No one said life was fair, Ron." Harry said, thinking suddenly about Cedric Diggory.
"What if we could just bring her back for the Yule Ball?" Ron asked.
"You did ruin her time in Fourth Year, she never really had a good time at a dance before." Ginny sighed. "She never got to dance with the boy she loved."
Harry glared at Ginny dangerously. 'Shut-up!' His look said. Ron raised his eyebrows.
"I thought she loved that Bulgar."
"Not even close to it, Ron." Ginny looked at Ron and stifled a laugh. "Although I don't know what she sees in the boy she does love." Ginny walked, away, laughing hysterically at whatever she had said.
"Think they'd stick her in St. Mungo's instead of Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Probably not." Ron shrugged.
~-~-~-~-
"Hermione! Hermione!" Ron rushed into the hospital room, passed the Squib Nurse, who was clearly taken by surprise at being shoved out of the way.
"We've got great news!" Harry chimed after him.
"Here!" Ron handed her periwinkle blue robes.
She cocked her head to the side and stared at them. Finally she recognized them as her dress robes.
"Dumbeldore said you could come to Yule Ball!"
"Yule ball..." She said faintly, the same way Ron had. She shook her head and turned away. She lay back down on her bed and faced the wall. This was her sign of withdrawal.
"Oh, come on, Hermione, don't be like that!" Ron pleaded. "This time, it'll be different."
"No."
"Hermione, please!" Ron paused for a minute. "I--I want you to go with me to the Yule Ball."
Hermione sat up and looked at Ron curiously. Her eyes looked as if she had remembered something bad from her memory and she wanted to put it back where she found it and never bring it back again.
"No." She said firmer. She closed her eyes and tears escaped from them.
"Hermione, I'm sorry about Fourth year." Ron said. "I really am. Listen, if I could do one thing over it'd be that! Hermione!"
Hermione threw her arms around Ron and started to sob. Her whole body shook with sobs.
"Hermione." Ron made a clumsy attempt at humor. "I've heard of girls being oversensitive, but this is ridiculous!"
"No, Ron."
"Ron, I think I know why she doesn't want to go." Harry said.
"Why?" Ron had put his arms around Hermione, no longer feeling awkward.
"She can't remember anyone but us, right? So, that would mean she would remember you rejecting her at the Yule Ball."
"I did not reject her!" Ron said angrily.
"Well, that's how she saw it. So, if she only remembers us two, she can't remember why you rejected her. So, that would lead her to the conclusion that something was wrong with her."
"Have you been reading her notes again?" Ron asked, narrowing his eyes.
"No, it's just that," Harry chose his words carefully. "Even if she did remember all the people at the Yule Ball, she still took what you said about her to heart."
"That's ridiculous. Hermione's not like that."
"How would you know, Ron? The only Hermione you ever knew was the one you fought with on a daily basis."
"And I suppose you knew a different one? Has she gone and cloned herself?"
"She told me things that you would never dream of hearing from her." Harry smiled.
"Like what?"
"Not now." Harry said.
"Yes now!" Ron protested.
"I have a better idea then you two going to the Yule Ball." Harry said. He waved his wand and made an old record player appear.
"What the hell is that?" Ron asked.
"It's a record player." Harry said. "It plays music. He put in a record and started to play it.
Harry picked up Hermione's dress robes. He helped her put them on top of her pajamas. She smiled in satisfaction as she looked at her ensemble.
"There, your very own Yule Ball." Harry said.
The nurse could be heard banging on the door.
"What is going on in there? You're making a racket!"
"Sorry, Squib." Ron yelled back, locking the door. He bowed deeply to Hermione who blushed. "May I have this dance?"
She nodded eagerly and he took her hand. Ron just looked at her awkwardly for a minute and turned to Harry.
"Harry, I just remember. I have no bloody idea how to dance." He said.
Harry laughed. "It's easy, you just, kind of, erm--" He stopped, remembering he had no idea how to dance either. "Hermione knows, doesn't she?"
"No." She shrugged and smiled at Ron, who just kept holding her hand awkwardly.
"Well, this is beautiful. This must be a first; the first Yule Ball where none of the guests knew how to dance."
Harry smiled. "Cho explained it to me once, when she had stopped crying for a minute."
He walked up to Ron and took his hand.
"Harry." Hermione giggled.
"Okay, so you put your hand on her waist, like this." Harry explained awkwardly.
"You're the girl?" Ron asked in surprise.
"Bear with me, here." Harry said. "And you just move your feet."
Hermione was laughing hysterically now, holding her stomach and sitting on the floor.
"And just what's so funny? I'm doing this for you, you know." Ron said.
"Harry, Ron, Hermione!" Ginny pranced into the door, smiling. "Mum and I came to visit Hermione. What the hell are you gits doing?" Ginny screamed.
Ron immediately pulled away from Harry, blushing madly.
"We're not gay, we swear!" Harry yelled.
"Do that again, I want to take a picture!" Ginny reached into her bag to get a camera. "Go on!"
"Not on your life, Ginny Weasley!" Ron yelled angrily.
"I never thought Ron would be a homo!" Ginny squealed in excitement.
"Ginny, Harry was just teaching me how to dance." Ron said. "And for your information, young lady, you are intruding on our Yule Ball."
"Yule Ball?" Ginny asked. "Oh, I see." She said, looking at Hermione in her dress robes.
Ron bowed deeply to Hermione. "May I have this dance."
"Yes." Hermione smiled. Her tired gray eyes seemed to forget that she was in a Nut House. It was as if she was making new memories for herself to cherish and to replace the ones she had lost.
Ron took her hand and put his hand on her waist. She giggled slightly.
"Stop laughing will you? People are really going to think you're crazy."
"Not crazy..." She said, amused.
Ginny smiled at them. Mrs. Weasley walked in with a bag of something. She smiled widely when she saw Ron and Hermione. She sighed.
"Ginny, dear, take a picture, will you?"
"Yes, mum."
Ginny focused the camera carefully, careful not to alert Hermione and Ron who were completely oblivious to everyone around them. The record ended and Hermione threw her arms around Ron.
"Thank you." She whispered.
Ron, who was completely taken by surprise by A. Hermione had enjoyed his horrible dancing, and B. That his mother was standing there. He smiled and put his arms around Hermione.
"Anytime, 'Mione." Ron smiled.
"Oh, dear." Mrs. Weasley walked over and hugged Hermione. "You're so tall you know that? Now, don't you worry, you're going to get out of here someday." She patted Hermione's cheeks. "You really are a beautiful girl."
Hermione looked at Mrs. Weasley as if she remembered her. She touched her red hair and drew her hand back. She smiled softly.
"You look like Ron." She said smiling.
Ron turned a bright shade of red. Mrs. Weasley looked incredibly touched. She patted Hermione's hand.
"Ron's right, dear. You aren't crazy, you just aren't!" She hugged Hermione again. "Well, Ginny and I just stopped in for a quick visit. Come along, Ginny."
Ginny followed Mrs. Weasley obediently out the door and into the hallway. Ron looked at Hermione sadly. His gaze looked different about her. Harry couldn't explain it, but there was something funny about it. He looked as if, he was really thinking about; as if he was almost fantasizing about her.
Harry shook his head. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger? Clearly possible before, but while Hermione was under this curse? How could Ron ever fall in love with an insane person whenever girl in Gryffindor was after him? He was tall, he played Quidditch and he was a prefect, what more did a girl need?
"Stop staring, Harry. Didn't anyone ever tell you its rude?" Ron punched Harry in the arm playfully.
Harry reached into his pocket and grabbed the paper again, as if he was going to give it to Ron. It's not the right time, it's not the right time, a voice keep saying to him. He cursed Hermione for giving him this kind of responsibility. Did she realize that her and Ron's entire future depended on this little piece of paper that he had in his pocket?
"Visiting Hours are over! Out!" The Squib Nurse came in. "And don't even try to ask one more hour. I've had enough of you two barging in here ever day without even a simple 'excuse me.' Honestly, did your mother ever teach you manners?"
"Alright." Ron said, sighing. He looked at Hermione and wrapped his arms around her. "Listen, 'Mione. Harry and I, we're going to try out for a famous Quidditch Team. We're going to make, just for you, okay? We're going to give you a seat of honor at every game we play."
"Right!" Harry said energetically.
Ron squeezed Hermione a little tighter. "I'm going to make sure you get better. I'll win a lot of games and earn a lot of money and get you the best treatment money can buy. But you have to promise me one thing." He pulled away to look Hermione in the eyes.
"Never lose faith."
(A/N: More to come!! Ah! I can't take the suspense! Give me two or three days!!)