Title: When Time Stands Still.
Author: SantiMonreal
Pairings: Harry, Hermione and Ron.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling, published in her books, borrowed by me, to release some of my mind's stress; and more importantly, I'm not making any money off this.
Summary: Harry tries to cope with the phantoms of his past. Ron deals with a future that he couldn't accept. Hermione draws bliss out of the present melancholic world.
A/N1: This chapter is dedicated to Sky, known to many of us as SchuylerD. She was one of the greats that Fanfiction.net ever knew. The stories that she wrote are forever treasured. She is and always will be my hero. She still writes, but doesn't post here anymore.
Chapter 5: The Sky Bears Witness.
Harry awoke the next day to a gloomy morning sky.
Dudley's birthday was today, and Harry knew that the Dursley's had something planned for their 'special boy'. He was more like a Rhino; Dudley was big enough that the stairs would more than creak when he went down to the kitchen.
Harry rose from the bed; the smell of Hermione's letter was tangled in the messy mob that was his hair. He looked out the window, was it going to rain? Harry wondered. He knew that after breakfast, the Dursley's were probably going out and would leave him alone in the house. Knowing that they would probably lock him in his room, Harry thought of a clever way to prevent this.
He surveyed the doorframe and his eyes stopped on the cavity that caught the lock, where the steel enters. A few moments later Harry emerged took a bit of toilet paper and stuffed the hole tightly, so that the paper would prevent entrance to the lock.
Sure enough, as he entered the kitchen, the Dursley's were too busy eating and discussing the day's activities to even notice him sit at the table.
"What about the boy?" Uncle Vernon asked Aunt Petunia as Harry reached for a piece of toast.
"You can leave me here, I'll be fine." Harry replied, maybe they would leave him free for once.
"Nonsense! Lock him in his room! We'll leave provisions to last him till tonight." Aunt Petunia snapped back at Harry. Harry knew this would happen, but now he was prepared for it, he thought smiling to himself.
"What are you smiling about, boy?" Uncle Vernon growled at him.
"An inside joke, sir, " Harry replied.
"Only daft people laugh at inside jokes!" Uncle Vernon declared as they ate. Harry tried to remain quiet as they ate, and once he finished, he went up to his room.
Harry was asleep half an hour later, when a loud knock came rapping at his door.
"Were leaving," Uncle Vernon said. "Don't go anywhere."
Harry just lay still on his bed holding his breath that Uncle Vernon did not find out about his little 'strategy'. Thankfully enough, Uncle Vernon left the door and locked the knob without checking it. A few minutes later, Harry heard the Dursley's gather in the living room and the main door shut. The sound of the car's engine had slowly muted away under the gray sky. Harry jumped out of bed to see if his strategy had worked, grinning to himself Harry pulled on the knob. The door did not budge. A frown had replaced his smile. Harry pulled harder, this time the door gave way; Harry was stunned, it worked after all.
Thinking on what he could do, he went to the living room and turned on the television. In the same moment he put it off. There was something that he desired more than that. He looked out the window; the sky was darker than it was a few moments ago. Harry went out the kitchen door and into the backyard where he was the night before.
With nothing on his feet, Harry walked ten paces and three, feeling the familiar texture of the dry grass against his soles. Harry sat down and looked up, the summer sky was dark, and worried; but the ground on which he sat was warm, an earthy smell of dried grass surrounded him. The shirt he was wearing came off at his right shoulder, allowing a breeze to enter his shirt; and shiver went down his spine; a draft went through his body; the hairs on the back of his neck and arms were standing on their ends. Harry shivered loudly.
"Shhhh!" The wind hissed at him; rattling the trees that surrounded the yard. It told him to be quiet, to enjoy the moment. A flash of white light on his left, sending a booming echo with a force that pushed him down against the grass. Harry's eyes closed before a smile crept onto his thirsty lips. Harry only hoped he could share this moment with Ron and Hermione. A moment later, something cold fell on his face.
The rain had come down.
~~~~~~~
Hermione sat on her balcony, overlooking street below, she had just sent an owl to Ron. The wrought-iron banister was cold against her skin. A flash of light came from over the city, and rain came down hard on her, drenching her. The pitter-patter of the drops played a rhythmic beat on her skin, sending sensations that pleased her unused muscles. The cars below her balcony were honking loudly; deadlock took the street on that gray afternoon.
She slouched back on her wicker chair and took as much of the rain on her front side. The cold raindrops were now numbing her face. But still she mustered a smile. Her bushy hair was now subdued, and came down softly on her shoulders.
The rain was now falling so hard that it bruised her lips, tarnishing them to a purple color. A beam of white light struck the building next to hers. The sound was tremendously loud and shook the foundation of the buildings that surrounded it. Hermione lay stunned on her chair. Her pupils had dilated shortly after the lightning struck, making her eyes dramatically bright.
Another bolt hit the building, but now, the sound did not frighten her, she didn't hear it; she did not hear anything else. All was silent in her world. Serenity took the place of all other emotions. The car's horns in the traffic below had gone, the patter of the rain no longer played on her skin or on the roof; there was no thunder that shocked her.
"It only hurts the first time," Hermione thought. "Only the first time will stun you," she continued. Once thunder blew against your ears, nothing else will stagger you.
She gazed out on the busy street below, everything was moving so fast, people were running across the street in coats and umbrellas. Cars and busses filled the streets with their queues; a cacophony of colors dressed the road. Everything was busy, everything but the balcony.
The only thing she heard now was the beat of her heart in her chest; she closed her eyes and put her hand over her chest, feeling the beat of her heart in her palm. "Maybe this is how it feels like when the world forgets you," she thought.
"No," she said faintly. Hermione opened her eyes, "No, the world will leave me, not without Ron and Harry."
~~~~~
Ron lay on the grass, with his head on Ginny's lap. She combed out her brother's hair, in the paddock on top of the hill, that his family owned. He was looking past his sister's face, looking at the gray heavens.
"It's Hermione, isn't it?" Ginny asked Ron. She had come up a little while ago; Ron wasn't clear on why, until she asked her question. Clearly she still hadn't forgotten his confession.
Ron looked a way from the sky and turned hi view to the trees. Their leaves were a darker green now, the color of green shadows. Was he going to tell her? Clearly she was right that he loved Hermione, but he loved Harry almost equally, and he knew that he wasn't gay.
"I'm in love with two people," he answered her.
"Ron, how do you know you love them?" she pressed. Ron still did not look at her.
"I just know, Gin," he told her. "Didn't you know when you loved Michael?"
"I'm not sure whether it was love, Ron. I think it was just more of an experience," she replied. "I never really felt anything when I kissed him." At that, Ron turned to face her, with his eyes wide; there was a time that Ginny meant as much to him.
"What?" she asked him. "Do I have to tell you everything?"
"No. Sorry. I can't help being protective over you," he said tapping the tip of her nose; it was their little way of petting each other.
"You still haven't answered me, how do you know when you're in love?" she asked firmly. Ron blushed, sending waves of crimson across his cheeks.
"Ron, did you, you know?" she asked him quivering her eyebrows, blushing as well.
"What? Of course not!" he said quickly, "How could you think such a thing?"
"Sorry Ron," Ginny smiled playing with Ron's curly red hair again.
"You know, when you share a moment with that person, and it doesn't have to be sexual, you realize that they are the one that you want to hold in your arms forever," he said.
"So you spent a special moment with them?" She asked him, the curiosity in her voice was obvious as ever.
"Yes."
"With both of them?"
"Yes."
"Together?"
"Yes."
Ginny looked puzzled. Then all of a sudden, while Ron returned to face the sky, she bent over and planted a kiss on her brother's face.
"What was that for?" Ron asked her quizzically.
"I just wanted to kiss my brother, before he becomes a man and leaves me for two other people," she said forcing on a smile.
"I'll miss you, Ron," Ginny said. Ron looked up to her. She was on the verge of tears.
"What's wrong, Gin?" he asked her, taking her hand from his hair and grasping it in his own.
"I miss you, that's all," she said; a tear slipped past her eyelids as she said this. "Ron, you're the only brother who really spent time with me. And now that you love someone else, I miss that care and love."
"Gin…" Ginny put a finger on his lips, silencing him in mid sentence.
"Ron do you remember, a day like this many years ago?" she said caressing his face. "Mum was at Diagon Alley with Fred, George, Percy and Bill; while dad and Charlie were with us?"
Ron knew what she spoke of; it was the day when Charlie fell off his broom; breaking his arms and leg. Their dad panicked and forgot about them, leaving them alone in the house, while he took Charlie to the healers.
"When dad left, and the storm started, It was so dark, I only had your hand to hold on to. It was the only thing that kept me safe, Ron. Even if you were more afraid than I was, you didn't cry at all, you tried to look unafraid so I wouldn't cry as much, you tried to look strong so I would be too. When night came and you held me, even if I was crying, I felt safe in your embrace," Ginny said. Her face was now tear- streaked.
Ron remembered it well, but what Ginny had just said sparked something in him. He knew how she felt that night; he knew it well. It was the same feeling he had with Harry and Hermione. He felt safe in the bed, he felt safe in their arms, he felt safe. That was the moment he tried to relive over and over again in his mind ever since that night, that exact feeling in the huge oak bed.
The rain had started to fall; his face was wet from his tears and rainwater. Ginny kissed Ron's forehead, Ron closed his eyes. Now the moment was complete; the only thing missing was Hermione and Harry.
"I need them," he whispered.
"Did you say something, Ron?" Ginny asked.
But Ron did not answer her; he was floating in the moment.
~~~~~
Three people stared at the sky at that very moment. None knew what the other was doing, but the sky bore witness to the event. Miles apart, but hearts so close, they all looked up and stared in harmony in a moment that they shared with each other on that day, but only the sky knew this secret.
To be continued…
A/N2 This is the longest chapter I've written so far for this fic. I guess it isn't that long after all.
A/N3: For the fans of SchuylerD, Her stories are still on www.pensieve.org. It's her site, so they will always be there.
Acknowledgements:
Jennifer- You're simply the best, I couldn't imagine this turning like this without you, I mean, are you a newspaper editor? I really am thankful that you are my beta, I couldn't dream of anyone better.
Angeldevotee- Thanks! it means a lot that you wrote back and gave me your permission.
Macy Gray- hehehe. I think so too. Young love is sweet isn't it? *sighs* I don't have one currently, that's why I can write about it…
Cin- Thank you! I am going to try and finish it. I always upload as soon as I have free time. I hope I do this soon enough.
Hpfreak18- Thank you! Thank you! I really am happy that you like it. Well I found out when I went to check on her author's page. I was so shocked! I too got hooked on Fanfic by her stories, it sucks that she's gone from Aff. But she still has them on the web, visit her site (refer 'A/N3') I'm sure you'll find it there.
Jules- I'm happy that you're interested. I am trying to give each of them their own voices, I feel it is important in this story.
ArchChancelor- Thanks! I love it that you always review, you're so kind!
Sliver- I will try, I like keeping things poetic but sometimes words fail me. I agree, Sky was one of the best here. Si yo hablo, pero tamoco no hablo muy bien. Por que cuando mi abuelo murrio (ya hace mucho tiempo) no hemos practicado tanto, como cuando era vive. Si, he pensado que escribir uno en español, pero es muy dificil. Y no estoy seguro que tengo tiempo, soy estudiante de colegio. Quizas llegaria el dia, pero ahora no.
Steph- Hey I know you, you also read a few stories that I review, I see your reviews there too. I'm happy that you like this… I really am.
Author: SantiMonreal
Pairings: Harry, Hermione and Ron.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling, published in her books, borrowed by me, to release some of my mind's stress; and more importantly, I'm not making any money off this.
Summary: Harry tries to cope with the phantoms of his past. Ron deals with a future that he couldn't accept. Hermione draws bliss out of the present melancholic world.
A/N1: This chapter is dedicated to Sky, known to many of us as SchuylerD. She was one of the greats that Fanfiction.net ever knew. The stories that she wrote are forever treasured. She is and always will be my hero. She still writes, but doesn't post here anymore.
Chapter 5: The Sky Bears Witness.
Harry awoke the next day to a gloomy morning sky.
Dudley's birthday was today, and Harry knew that the Dursley's had something planned for their 'special boy'. He was more like a Rhino; Dudley was big enough that the stairs would more than creak when he went down to the kitchen.
Harry rose from the bed; the smell of Hermione's letter was tangled in the messy mob that was his hair. He looked out the window, was it going to rain? Harry wondered. He knew that after breakfast, the Dursley's were probably going out and would leave him alone in the house. Knowing that they would probably lock him in his room, Harry thought of a clever way to prevent this.
He surveyed the doorframe and his eyes stopped on the cavity that caught the lock, where the steel enters. A few moments later Harry emerged took a bit of toilet paper and stuffed the hole tightly, so that the paper would prevent entrance to the lock.
Sure enough, as he entered the kitchen, the Dursley's were too busy eating and discussing the day's activities to even notice him sit at the table.
"What about the boy?" Uncle Vernon asked Aunt Petunia as Harry reached for a piece of toast.
"You can leave me here, I'll be fine." Harry replied, maybe they would leave him free for once.
"Nonsense! Lock him in his room! We'll leave provisions to last him till tonight." Aunt Petunia snapped back at Harry. Harry knew this would happen, but now he was prepared for it, he thought smiling to himself.
"What are you smiling about, boy?" Uncle Vernon growled at him.
"An inside joke, sir, " Harry replied.
"Only daft people laugh at inside jokes!" Uncle Vernon declared as they ate. Harry tried to remain quiet as they ate, and once he finished, he went up to his room.
Harry was asleep half an hour later, when a loud knock came rapping at his door.
"Were leaving," Uncle Vernon said. "Don't go anywhere."
Harry just lay still on his bed holding his breath that Uncle Vernon did not find out about his little 'strategy'. Thankfully enough, Uncle Vernon left the door and locked the knob without checking it. A few minutes later, Harry heard the Dursley's gather in the living room and the main door shut. The sound of the car's engine had slowly muted away under the gray sky. Harry jumped out of bed to see if his strategy had worked, grinning to himself Harry pulled on the knob. The door did not budge. A frown had replaced his smile. Harry pulled harder, this time the door gave way; Harry was stunned, it worked after all.
Thinking on what he could do, he went to the living room and turned on the television. In the same moment he put it off. There was something that he desired more than that. He looked out the window; the sky was darker than it was a few moments ago. Harry went out the kitchen door and into the backyard where he was the night before.
With nothing on his feet, Harry walked ten paces and three, feeling the familiar texture of the dry grass against his soles. Harry sat down and looked up, the summer sky was dark, and worried; but the ground on which he sat was warm, an earthy smell of dried grass surrounded him. The shirt he was wearing came off at his right shoulder, allowing a breeze to enter his shirt; and shiver went down his spine; a draft went through his body; the hairs on the back of his neck and arms were standing on their ends. Harry shivered loudly.
"Shhhh!" The wind hissed at him; rattling the trees that surrounded the yard. It told him to be quiet, to enjoy the moment. A flash of white light on his left, sending a booming echo with a force that pushed him down against the grass. Harry's eyes closed before a smile crept onto his thirsty lips. Harry only hoped he could share this moment with Ron and Hermione. A moment later, something cold fell on his face.
The rain had come down.
~~~~~~~
Hermione sat on her balcony, overlooking street below, she had just sent an owl to Ron. The wrought-iron banister was cold against her skin. A flash of light came from over the city, and rain came down hard on her, drenching her. The pitter-patter of the drops played a rhythmic beat on her skin, sending sensations that pleased her unused muscles. The cars below her balcony were honking loudly; deadlock took the street on that gray afternoon.
She slouched back on her wicker chair and took as much of the rain on her front side. The cold raindrops were now numbing her face. But still she mustered a smile. Her bushy hair was now subdued, and came down softly on her shoulders.
The rain was now falling so hard that it bruised her lips, tarnishing them to a purple color. A beam of white light struck the building next to hers. The sound was tremendously loud and shook the foundation of the buildings that surrounded it. Hermione lay stunned on her chair. Her pupils had dilated shortly after the lightning struck, making her eyes dramatically bright.
Another bolt hit the building, but now, the sound did not frighten her, she didn't hear it; she did not hear anything else. All was silent in her world. Serenity took the place of all other emotions. The car's horns in the traffic below had gone, the patter of the rain no longer played on her skin or on the roof; there was no thunder that shocked her.
"It only hurts the first time," Hermione thought. "Only the first time will stun you," she continued. Once thunder blew against your ears, nothing else will stagger you.
She gazed out on the busy street below, everything was moving so fast, people were running across the street in coats and umbrellas. Cars and busses filled the streets with their queues; a cacophony of colors dressed the road. Everything was busy, everything but the balcony.
The only thing she heard now was the beat of her heart in her chest; she closed her eyes and put her hand over her chest, feeling the beat of her heart in her palm. "Maybe this is how it feels like when the world forgets you," she thought.
"No," she said faintly. Hermione opened her eyes, "No, the world will leave me, not without Ron and Harry."
~~~~~
Ron lay on the grass, with his head on Ginny's lap. She combed out her brother's hair, in the paddock on top of the hill, that his family owned. He was looking past his sister's face, looking at the gray heavens.
"It's Hermione, isn't it?" Ginny asked Ron. She had come up a little while ago; Ron wasn't clear on why, until she asked her question. Clearly she still hadn't forgotten his confession.
Ron looked a way from the sky and turned hi view to the trees. Their leaves were a darker green now, the color of green shadows. Was he going to tell her? Clearly she was right that he loved Hermione, but he loved Harry almost equally, and he knew that he wasn't gay.
"I'm in love with two people," he answered her.
"Ron, how do you know you love them?" she pressed. Ron still did not look at her.
"I just know, Gin," he told her. "Didn't you know when you loved Michael?"
"I'm not sure whether it was love, Ron. I think it was just more of an experience," she replied. "I never really felt anything when I kissed him." At that, Ron turned to face her, with his eyes wide; there was a time that Ginny meant as much to him.
"What?" she asked him. "Do I have to tell you everything?"
"No. Sorry. I can't help being protective over you," he said tapping the tip of her nose; it was their little way of petting each other.
"You still haven't answered me, how do you know when you're in love?" she asked firmly. Ron blushed, sending waves of crimson across his cheeks.
"Ron, did you, you know?" she asked him quivering her eyebrows, blushing as well.
"What? Of course not!" he said quickly, "How could you think such a thing?"
"Sorry Ron," Ginny smiled playing with Ron's curly red hair again.
"You know, when you share a moment with that person, and it doesn't have to be sexual, you realize that they are the one that you want to hold in your arms forever," he said.
"So you spent a special moment with them?" She asked him, the curiosity in her voice was obvious as ever.
"Yes."
"With both of them?"
"Yes."
"Together?"
"Yes."
Ginny looked puzzled. Then all of a sudden, while Ron returned to face the sky, she bent over and planted a kiss on her brother's face.
"What was that for?" Ron asked her quizzically.
"I just wanted to kiss my brother, before he becomes a man and leaves me for two other people," she said forcing on a smile.
"I'll miss you, Ron," Ginny said. Ron looked up to her. She was on the verge of tears.
"What's wrong, Gin?" he asked her, taking her hand from his hair and grasping it in his own.
"I miss you, that's all," she said; a tear slipped past her eyelids as she said this. "Ron, you're the only brother who really spent time with me. And now that you love someone else, I miss that care and love."
"Gin…" Ginny put a finger on his lips, silencing him in mid sentence.
"Ron do you remember, a day like this many years ago?" she said caressing his face. "Mum was at Diagon Alley with Fred, George, Percy and Bill; while dad and Charlie were with us?"
Ron knew what she spoke of; it was the day when Charlie fell off his broom; breaking his arms and leg. Their dad panicked and forgot about them, leaving them alone in the house, while he took Charlie to the healers.
"When dad left, and the storm started, It was so dark, I only had your hand to hold on to. It was the only thing that kept me safe, Ron. Even if you were more afraid than I was, you didn't cry at all, you tried to look unafraid so I wouldn't cry as much, you tried to look strong so I would be too. When night came and you held me, even if I was crying, I felt safe in your embrace," Ginny said. Her face was now tear- streaked.
Ron remembered it well, but what Ginny had just said sparked something in him. He knew how she felt that night; he knew it well. It was the same feeling he had with Harry and Hermione. He felt safe in the bed, he felt safe in their arms, he felt safe. That was the moment he tried to relive over and over again in his mind ever since that night, that exact feeling in the huge oak bed.
The rain had started to fall; his face was wet from his tears and rainwater. Ginny kissed Ron's forehead, Ron closed his eyes. Now the moment was complete; the only thing missing was Hermione and Harry.
"I need them," he whispered.
"Did you say something, Ron?" Ginny asked.
But Ron did not answer her; he was floating in the moment.
~~~~~
Three people stared at the sky at that very moment. None knew what the other was doing, but the sky bore witness to the event. Miles apart, but hearts so close, they all looked up and stared in harmony in a moment that they shared with each other on that day, but only the sky knew this secret.
To be continued…
A/N2 This is the longest chapter I've written so far for this fic. I guess it isn't that long after all.
A/N3: For the fans of SchuylerD, Her stories are still on www.pensieve.org. It's her site, so they will always be there.
Acknowledgements:
Jennifer- You're simply the best, I couldn't imagine this turning like this without you, I mean, are you a newspaper editor? I really am thankful that you are my beta, I couldn't dream of anyone better.
Angeldevotee- Thanks! it means a lot that you wrote back and gave me your permission.
Macy Gray- hehehe. I think so too. Young love is sweet isn't it? *sighs* I don't have one currently, that's why I can write about it…
Cin- Thank you! I am going to try and finish it. I always upload as soon as I have free time. I hope I do this soon enough.
Hpfreak18- Thank you! Thank you! I really am happy that you like it. Well I found out when I went to check on her author's page. I was so shocked! I too got hooked on Fanfic by her stories, it sucks that she's gone from Aff. But she still has them on the web, visit her site (refer 'A/N3') I'm sure you'll find it there.
Jules- I'm happy that you're interested. I am trying to give each of them their own voices, I feel it is important in this story.
ArchChancelor- Thanks! I love it that you always review, you're so kind!
Sliver- I will try, I like keeping things poetic but sometimes words fail me. I agree, Sky was one of the best here. Si yo hablo, pero tamoco no hablo muy bien. Por que cuando mi abuelo murrio (ya hace mucho tiempo) no hemos practicado tanto, como cuando era vive. Si, he pensado que escribir uno en español, pero es muy dificil. Y no estoy seguro que tengo tiempo, soy estudiante de colegio. Quizas llegaria el dia, pero ahora no.
Steph- Hey I know you, you also read a few stories that I review, I see your reviews there too. I'm happy that you like this… I really am.
