(Answers to reviews and disclaimer at the bottom of this chapter.)

Chapter Two

Tears and Remembrance

Ron's POV

            He could see her in the distance, her hair was whipping into her face, and eagles the colors of midnight were starting to block her from view. He felt a need to save her from the eagles. He started to run forward when he heard a low ring. He ignored it and kept going. It became louder and louder. Everything was swirling into a mixing bowl of color. He opened his eyes to find posters of men and women wearing orange smiling and winking at him. He realized that his new phone was ringing quite loudly. He reached his hand out to grasp the handle.

            "Hello?" said Ron uncertainly while yawning. A feeble voice answered him. He didn't recognize it.

            "Ummm, Ron? It's Hermione…" she paused uncertainly, wondering if she should continue. "I, well, I'm going to have my dad pick Harry up and take us to the burrow, ok?" she paused again. She could almost see Ron's bewildered face.

            "But…um…eh-"Ron stuttered through the receiver as Hermione interrupted him.

            "I'll be there about elevenish, ok? I'll explain there," Hermione didn't feel like answering questions, and Ron could sense that.

            "Ok, I guess…see you then," Ron muttered as he replaced the phone on it's cradle.

            Ron fell back onto his comforter…he didn't understand, first, Harry calls about a letter that Malfoy sent, then Hermione didn't return his owl, now she was going to be at his house with Harry in three hours? Ron wanted to ask so many questions at this moment, but he knew that they had to wait until Hermione and Harry got there. He seriously wished that Hermione hadn't changed, but at the sound of her voice, she had.

He slowly got out of bed and dressed. He made his way downstairs and was greeted by the rest of his family eating eggs and toast.

            "Minny's gonna fe here af eleben wib 'Arry," blabbered Ron, stuffing his mouth with buttered toast. Everyone turned to stare at him.

            "Don't you think, maybe dear, that Harry needs some time alone?" asked Mrs.Weasley gently, "I mean, err, after all he's been through, you know…" she finished lamely.

            "You know, mum," hissed Ron in a deadly voice as he placed his toast down with sickly gentleness," I think it's up to Harry, don't you?" Ron got up with a loud screech as his chair flew back, causing everyone to gasp. He pivoted to the right and marched up the stairs. All of the Weasley's cringed as they heard a ferocious *BANG* as Ron slammed his door.

            Ron fell back on his bed and buried his head in the pillows. It was almost too much for him to bear. He hadn't been very happy before, and now, with Sirius gone, it seemed as if a bottomless pit was causing his heart to be plummeting into the earth. He hadn't talked to Harry about it much, knowing that it was a delicate subject for him to talk about. He slowly got up and started brushing his teeth and hair, deeply regretting that letter to Hermione.

Harry's POV

            He sucked in a breath as Hermione closed the door behind her. She wasn't as he remembered her. Her hair seemed to have grown frizzier over the summer and her skin was sallow and pale. She had visible bags under and around her eyes. She didn't have the zest that Harry remembered. Memory of the events of the year before flooded him with the painful reality. She walked forward and sat on the edge of his bed. Without words, she reached her hand forward and pushed his chin back up, so his mouth wasn't hanging open. (A/N: I had to!)

            "Um, hi Harry…" she whispered with her feeble voice. She lifted her head so her eyes met his. They don't glitter anymore. He thought sadly. He remembered his manners and spoke quickly.

            "Hi Mione, uh, how's everything?" He didn't want to sound deliberate; he realized that she hurt mentally and physically.

            "Ummm, mostly fine, I don't know how to say this," she hesitated, and Harry realized that she had tears in her eyes, "My moms checked into a local hospital, we're trying to get her into St.Mungo's, but we're having problem's because she's a muggle…" Harry could see tears start to slide down her skin.

             "The people at the hospital say that she doesn't have a lot of…time left," tears were gliding down her cheeks shamelessly, "They say she's got cancer, but can't do anything about it cause they haven't seen it before. I think someone's done something to my mum and me," she gulped as she grabbed the nearest pillow and buried her face in it.

            It took Harry a second or two before comprehension dawned on him.

            "Your meaning to say, that you've got it too?" whispered Harry, his voice barely audible. Hermione just nodded in the stripped pillow as she was still shaking beneath it. Harry started to breath harder…did this mean what he thought it meant? Did he really have to suffer more? Before he realized it, Harry had Hermione in his arms as she cried on his shoulder, while Harry stared at the ceiling, tears making lone trails down his face.

Ron's POV

            Ron made his down the creaky stairs as he heard a car drive up the dusty drive. When he reached the bottom step, he looked forward and saw Hermione as he never saw her before. He felt his heart break as he looked at her pained face. He then averted his gaze toward the equally ruffled Harry. Ron noticed that his face was rather red. He saw his mum giving both of them meaningful glances as Ron glared at her from the side.

            "I'll help with those," mumbled Ron, still in a bad mood and pointing toward their luggage. He walked forward, took Hermione's trunk, and yanked Hedwig's cage from Harry. She gave a disgruntled hoot as she was taken away from her master. Both Harry and Hermione obediently followed Ron up the wobbly staircase.

*               *               *

            "You know," muttered Harry, "That they pay so much attention to how Voldemorts back, and just forget the fact that a completely innocent man has gotten killed? It's unbelievable," finished Harry, staring down at all of the newspaper scattered around Ron's room. He then thought about Hermys' mother, realizing that he really wasn't alone.

            Hermione looked down, and Ron could swear that he saw her eyes glisten. They all sat around Ron's room for a while, in their own thoughts. It was completely silent, except for the chirping of occasional birds dropping by. Harry felt anger begin to bubble and froth inside him. How could all of those birds be so happy when the world was in such turmoil? He then heard the sad song of the Nightingale, and the anger subsided. (A/N: I don't even know if there are Nightingales in England…work with me. Lol.)

            "Is there anything you two want to tell me?" asked Ron, breaking the deafening silence. Harry looked at Hermione with a furtive glance.

She gave him a tiny nod, not wanting to tell Ron about it yet. Harry looked quickly back at Ron.

            "No, it's just been a really stressful summer…for both of us." Ron gave both of them a "once over" and looked away quickly. He knew something was up. He wasn't about to forget about Mione's mum, or the letter from ferret-boy.

            "Let's take a walk near the stream…," said Hermione, with fake happiness in her voice. She had sensed the awkwardness in the air. With that, Hermione casually got up and walked toward the door. Harry and Ron reluctantly got up and followed Hermione outside.

*               *              *

            "It feels like nothings ever going to be ok again," said Harry, as he sat with his legs crossed on the bank of the small creek. Ron, who was standing against the apple tree nodded in agreement. Hermione, whose bare foot was skimming the surface of the creek from a low branch just shrugged. "I mean, It's really hard to except the fact that he's really, actually gone," his voice wavering slightly. Hermione blinked furiously as she stared down at her reflection. Ron just started to bite his nails, clearly uncomfortable. He shifted, slightly nervous.

            "Well, it's not really our faults, he shoulda looked out…" Ron looked up to Hermione, who shook her head, warning him not to say anything else. He then looked at Harry, who looked out towards the distant fields, feeling extreme guilt. Ron looked down, ashamed; he barely remembered anything back at the Department of Mysteries the year before, thanks to a curse a deatheater placed on him.

            "Sorry, I didn't know," he mumbled into the grass. Hermione averted her gaze from the water up to the sky. Harry merely looked at Ron and nodded. Ron looked down, yet again. The silence drifted lazily in again. This time, it wasn't interrupted. Ron stared out toward the afternoon sun, Harry glared at his tattered shoes, and Hermione was staring at the stream again. Harry picked up a river rock and threw it into the stream. When it plopped, both Hermione and Ron looked at him. Ron looked away, but Hermione just kept staring into his eyes. She looked back down, her face flushed red. Ron noticed this, and gave Harry a dirty look, which he ignored. She and Ron had always had that "tension" between them, now Ron was a little jealous that Hermione was staring at Harry, and not him.

            His jealously was immediately forgotten, when Errol, the old family owl, flew straight into the trunk of the apple tree. Ron flew up, visibly startled by the entrance of the "ruddy old bird." Hermione made a squeaking noise and fell of the branch, half of her in the water, and half of her on the stretching bank. Harry just rolled his eyes. Ron looked at it with embarrassment on his face as he untied the roll of parchment from its scaly talons. Ron read it and frowned.

            "Can you please come back home with Harry and Hermione, your father and I wish to speak with you three." Ron shrugged and started home without waiting for Harry and Mione. Hermione gave him a curious glance as they started after him, Hermione trying to dry off in the meanwhile. They trudged back home silently, the burrow grew larger and larger in front of them. They entered the house to see Mr. and Mrs.Weasley sitting on the couch, looking nervous.

            "You wanted to see us?" said Ron in an unkind voice.

            "Err…yes, about that, will you have a seat?" asked Mr.Weasley. The three of them took a seat on the mismatching couch, directly opposite of Ron's parents.

            "As you know, we are fully aware of the…incidents that occurred at the Ministry of Magic last year." At these words, Harry visibly stiffened. "We know that we lost someone very dear to us…we want you to know that we really do care," Ron stood up abruptly.

            "And you were the ones who told me to leave Harry alone for a bit! NOW YOU HAVE TO ASK HIM QUESTIONS!" bellowed Ron. Harry caught sight of Ginny spying at the landing of the stairs. He hadn't seen her much during his visit. His attention tuned back in, when Ron flew out of sight, towards the kitchen.

            "Well then, I guess we should just apologize, we realize that it really isn't such a good idea to discuss this at the moment," said Mr.Weasley, stumbling over his words. Harry just nodded and Hermione stared at the odd clock on their wall.

            "Have you received your Hogwarts letters yet?" asked Ron's mum brightly, trying to change the subject as fast as she could.

            "Yeah, a few days ago," muttered Harry, as Hermione now looked at the stairs, probably staring at Ginny too.

            "Oh good, you all go on and fetch Ron, I know it's late, but it'll keep our minds off of certain things," said Mrs.Weasley, looking at Harry with a cautious look. Hermione got up to look for Ron, as Mr. and Mrs.Weasley both beckoned him toward them.

*               *               *

Thanks for waiting; this chapter took me a little longer than normal. Chapter 3 might not be posted until Monday; I've got a busy weekend, cookies to those who reviewed.

Hollandgirl: This chapter is relatively 2,100 words, thanks for reviewing!

Usha88: Hey thanx! I have some big surprises for my other chapters, so keep readingJ

Metsmaniac2ks: This story is going to take place during the school year, I'm still thinking on the Quidditch captain. Harry was having a hard time excepting Sirius's death, but this chapter is mostly based on that particular feeling in the characters. It is an h/h story, but it's going to be mild. Thanks for the review.

Disclaimer on the default chapter.

Chapter 3: Harry, Hermione, and Ron face old and new enemies at Diagon alley. Will Hermione find an answer to the sickness?

                                                                                                                         ~Broken Wings of Silver~