~*Lean on Me*~
A Ron andHermione story
(A/N) Hey you guys!! I love you all so much! Thanx bunches and bunches for the reviews. I'm soooo... happy you liked the last chapter. This is it you guys this is THE CHAPTER. The chapter where Hermione receives her traumatic experience. Your going to have to read to find out though. This isn't the end though. Let me tell you there's still lots to come!! Well just read and review and I'll post as much as I can really soon. I won't be posting much this holiday week because I'm still punished and I will be until Jan.9 Eeek! I know its bad!! Well ya'll pray for me and Have a very Harry Christmas!!! (I know I'm sorry. I'm so lame. Please forgive me!)
(Disclaimer) Well you know the routine right?
(Reminder) Before we start lets be reminded where we last left off...
Harry and Hermione climbed together up to the oak door that withheld the Headmaster's office. He opened the door slowly and cautiously peeking in sneakily. To his and Hermione's surprise, seated at the front of Dumbledore's desk were Ron and Ginny Weasley.
"Good evening. Do come in." the Professor said politely from his desk. Harry and Hermione stepped inside and closed the door quietly behind themselves. Hermione stared into Dumbledore's usually cheerful face. It scared her to see that it was hard and serious and his eyes didn't hold their usual twinkle. She felt more nervous than before and her stomach twisted itself into a revolting knot. She took a quick glare at Ron and Ginny then at Harry. She could plainly see that they all had the same puzzled expressions she was undoubtedly wearing.
"Please be seated." Professor Dumbledore beckoned to them as he summoned to chairs beside Ron and Ginny.
Hermione thought inwardly to herself, "This cannot be good."
Chapter VII : Dreadful News and Painful Tears
"I have asked you all here to tell you some most dreadful news that concerns you all; some more than others." Dumbledore began looking at them directly in the eye each in turn.
Ron's knuckles turned white while he was grasping his chair so hard. He was so nervous. What had happened? How did this concern him?
"I must say that these times are beginning to reflect those of the past. Voldemort has begun to evolve into the powerful man an wizard he once was and has indeed struck again. I am aware of the fact that some of you knew this person very personally."
Ron started to panic. Who was it? Was it someone in his family? He could feel little beads of sweat beginning to form on his forehead even though it was freezing cold inside the small circular office in which he sat.
"He has used on of the most terrible of terrible curses on another human being. One in which you know very well. Those whom we love may be chosen next, but we must remain strong as a whole and realize that even if we may never see them again in this life we will be together forever in the next. There, we shall be at peace with one another forever on."
Ron's breathing became irregular. He was starting to tremble and started shaking like mad. Who was it? He had to know NOW! Was it his mom; dad? Was it one of his brothers? Bill? Charlie? Percy? Fred or George? Who was it?!
"I have the most horrible duty to inform these people before me that one of their loved one's is now gone and resides in the spirit world waiting for them to join them."
"WHO IS IT?!" Ron shouted suddenly. Before he realized it he was standing up in the Headmaster's face staring angrily into his sad blue eyes.
"Ron please. We all feel the same way." Hermione said getting up and wrapping her arm around his. She held his hand pressing her palm lightly against his, making him feel calmer.
Professor Dumbledore removed his glasses and placed them on his desk. He started to rub his eyes wearily making him look so very old. It was scary to realize how old he actually was. Ron and Hermione remained standing in front of him with anxious yet terrified faces. Behind them Harry and Ginny exchanged worried looks and took each others hands in their own.
"I'm sorry. I know that you all want to know, but you don't understand how painful it is to tell you all some thing like this. Especially since you are so young. No young person should have to go through this. I'm sorry to say but...
"...Mrs. Granger has jut passed away."
Hermione's hand felt loose in Ron's hand and then it fell out of it all-together. She turned as white as a ghost and her mouth dropped in horror. Her eyes were wide open as though she had only just seen the most terrible thing in the world.
"Her-Hermione." Ron breathed barely opening his lips.
As she turned to face him she gave a worn smile that started to tremble then altogether fell. Her eyes rolled back in her head and her knees gave way. Ron grabbed her in his arms before she could hit the ground. She had passed out from the impact and now all of her weight was burdened into Ron's arms.
"Hermione? " Ginny whispered faintly at the lifeless form. Dumbledore conjured up a small cot, only just large enough for her.
"Lay her down. She needs rest before she can take anymore of it. After all no one can carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, at least not all at one time." Dumbledore insisted waving his hand at Ron.
Ron nodded and followed suit. He lay her down gently on the small cot. he felt so sorry as he looked down at her silent pale face. Color was beginning to come back into her cheeks and... her lips. He had the most terrible urge to kiss her but he realized all the eyes that were on him at the moment and instead settled himself next to Ginny. She lay her head on his shoulder and breathed a small sigh, most likely out of relief.
"But, Professor, what does this have to do with us?" Harry asked looking worriedly at Hermione.
"Well... Voldemort has left a message at the death-site, I'm afraid. I have a copy of it here." he reached for his glasses again.
Ron looked over at Hermione again still asleep in her dreams. He wished that she wouldn't have to bare all these troubles, but he was slightly glad it wasn't him. He shook his head out of those thoughts and instead brought back out his pity again. He couldn't think like that.
Dumbledore picked up a small slip of parchment off his desk and read aloud...
"I, Lord Voldemort, have come back and am again the most powerful and feared wizard of all. I made a promise to myself to destroy Harry Potter and I will stop at nothing to defeat him and receive my revenge. I will stop at nothing until he is dead. Beware all loved ones of Harry Potter. You will all suffer great loss if you do not turn from him now. This was just a warning, just a sample of that to come."
Ginny wrapped her arms around Ron's neck and sobbed on his shoulder. Harry stood and began to pace in the center of room.
"Harry?" Dumbledore asked placing his hands neatly folded on his desk.
"This is all my fault. All of this, its all my fault! I'm bringing all of this hell on everyone! Why do people still stay with me? Why are you still on my side? Can't you see what it's already done to Hermione?" Harry screamed impatiently.
"Harry, no!" Ginny cried in panic. "Don't think that! It's not true!" She ran over to him and threw her arms around him in a tight hug. "It's our choice, not yours. We care about you Harry and we'll stay with you to the end no matter what!"
Dumbledore stood up slowly from his brittleness. "She is right you know. We understand the consequences. No matter what we will always be on your side. We believe in you. Besides it isn't your fault for the death of these people. It is Voldemort who cause all of these deaths not you. Now I must be off to Mr. Granger's home. I will be helping him with his packing. You will all be staying with him at Grimald Place during the holidays as an extra precaution. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley will be staying there as well, at least until we can find them a more comfortable residing place. Mr. Weasley can I rely on you to kindly escort Ms. Granger to the Hospital Wing once I am gone?"
Ron nodded in reply staring straight forward his face expressionless. His feels now were too complicated to understand. He was felling pity, sadness, love, regret, relief, stress, and a lack for comforting all at one time.
Dumbledore waved his good-bye and with a swish of his cloak and a flash of blinding light he was gone from sight.
Ron could only lean forward and place his head in his hands. His head was aching from his confusion of thoughts and feelings. It was so new to him. Him and maybe even his family may die.
"Harry, listen to me! I don't care what happens to me! All that I know is that I can never leave you! Ginny sobbed frantically then looked him directly in the eye. "I love you," she whispered.
Ron lifted his head up sharply and turned around to face them. He thought he might have heard wrong but saw that he undoubtedly wasn't. Standing there in the middle of the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore's, office were Harry and Ginny locked in a deep and passionate kiss.
Hold yourself, Ron. It's just Harry. He'd never hurt Ginny. You can let her go now. Ron told his conscience. Get a grip.
"Well now. I guess I better bring Hermione up to the Hospital Wing, 'cause it's getting kind of late. So I'll just be going." Ron said starting to feel very awkward and slightly angry with his best friend snogging his 'baby sister' in the middle of the room. He levitated Hermione's limp body with a wave of his wand and made her float out of the door in to the long corridor.
He guided her along the route most taken by students who were prone to injuries (like he and Harry were) making totally sure she didn't bump into anything that would harm her or cause her to wake up.
As he entered the hospital he lay her down in one of the lumpy makeshift beds and went to find the Hogwarts nurse, Madame Pomfrey.
~*~
"So, what do you think? Is she going to be okay?" Ron asked staring at the nurse worriedly as she examined Hermione.
"She'll be fine. She's just going to be very upset for some time now. After all she was very close to her mother after all these years." Madame Pomfrey said shaking her head sadly.
Ron looked back down at Hermione with a depressed sorrowful frown, clearly visible. "How do you know all of this?" he asked curiously.
"She and I had long talks the last couple of times she stayed in the hospital." she said placing a sleeping draught on the bedside table. "Are you going to stay with her until she wakes?" she asked skeptically.
"Yeah. I want to be sure she's alright." Ron shrugged sadly.
Madame Pomfrey watched him as his sat there a few short seconds. "Do respect her. She's quite fond of you."
"Excuse me?"
"She 's fond of you. And she definitely isn't as tough on emotional things as you boys are, you know, so just be gentle with her." She smiled and walked back into her office leaving Ron to puzzled what she said. Did she know something he didn't?
Ron looked over at the sleeping girl as he sat down on her bed careful not to wake her. She looked like an angel to him. She was just a troubled angel. He watched as her chest rose and fell in gentle rhythmic motion. He took the white blanket at the end of her bed and pulled it over her. Just as he was doing this he saw that something was very different.
A small straight strand of hair was rested on her cheek where there was usually a soft curl. He had finally noticed what was different about her this morning. She had straightened out those beautiful curls he loved so much. It had always reminded him of a soft fluffy pillow and he always found himself with the urge to bury his face in it when he saw it bouncing up and down as she walked in front of him down the corridors. He missed it even more as he looked at her plain straight hair longer. It reminded him of Parvati and Lavender's plain lanky brown hair. That was what he loved so much about Hermione; she was genuine. She was different than everyone else. She was her own special person and didn't give a damn about what anyone else thought about her. She was all she wanted to be and nothing more. She was special to him.
He took the stray strand and placed it gently behind her ear. There was the urge to kiss her again. It grew stronger and stronger as he brushed his hand on her face. He looked around and saw no one in sight. Even Madame Pomfrey was tucked away in her office again. But as he watched her he knew he couldn't do it. It wouldn't be the same if she didn't feel the same way about him. Instead as he leaned over her he kissed her forehead. Not expecting any response at all, Ron knelt next to her and whispered softly in her ear making her hair move slightly…
"I love you, Hermione Granger."
~*~
(A/N) OMG isn't that just too sweet. That is one of my most favortiest scenes (yes I'm aware of my grammatical mistake don't try to correct what I already know) I can't wait to hear ya'll reactions to this chappie. Can you imagine what Hermione must be feeling right now! Just wait till you see how! It should come up in the next ch. and the one after that. Let me warn you that there is DEFINATELY going to be a major change in both her and Ron after this point. Ron has begun to grow up. Aren't you just so proud. 'Bout time too! Anywho MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEWYEAR EVERYONE!!
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(Summary of Ch.8) Okay this chap really short. Sorry. It is just a chap. that shows how Hermione reacts to the change she is going through and how she acts towards her friends when they try to show her sympathy. That's about it but it is still really good.
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(Special thanx and Merry Christmas)
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Thanx Everyone!! I LOVE YOU ALL! Merry Christmas yet again!
