Chapter 8: Huddled in the Dark

The heart may freeze... Or it can burn... The pain will ease, if I can learn. There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last!

Got a light? I know you... You're shivering!

Harry dropped to his knees in front of Ron's chair. Hermione closed and locked the door behind them with a charm. And all was dark.

"Lumos!" Hermione whispered. She focused the light on her two friends in the center of the room.

"Untie him," Harry ordered, looking directly into Ron's unseeing eyes. Without a word, Hermione cut Ron's binds. He sat, rigid. Harry took Ron's hands in his.

"Ron," he whispered. "Can you hear me?"

There was a loud crash and Hermione gasped as something was thrown against the door. She looked at it worriedly.

"Probably just a body hit with a strong curse," Harry explained, quickly, still looking at Ron. Hermione shot him an annoyed look.

"Is that supposed to reassure me?" she snapped. Harry turned to her and actually smiled.

"It might be a Death Eater, if that helps. Now quiet," Harry said, calmly, and Hermione fell silent. She hadn't seen Harry smile in weeks and, under these circumstances, that was a very good sign. He seemed confident.

"Ron," he said again. "It's me, Harry. Can you hear me?"

Hermione snapped her fingers in front of Ron's face. Ron's eyes were as dead as glass.

Taking a deep breath, and still holding Ron's hands, Harry closed his eyes.

It was exactly the same as the room he had just left. Except Hermione wasn't there.

Harry stood in front of Ron, who was looking down in defeat. Ron looked up at Harry and laughed.

"You're still here?" he said. Harry watched him, inscrutably.

"Was I here before?" he asked Ron. Ron smiled, bitterly.

"What, have you forgotten?"

"Ron..." Harry started, quietly. "You've been here too long. It's time to go."

"Go where?" Ron asked, looking past his friend at something invisible to Harry's eye. "Die?"

"No!" Harry cried, making a move to go towards Ron. But he stopped. "No," he said, calmly, restraining the urge to run to his friend. "To go home."

"I thought you said I couldn't go home?" Ron said.

"I never said that," Harry said, shaking his head slowly. He took one step forward. "Ron, you're sick," he said, concerned.

"Yeah, I know," Ron muttered. "God, Harry, I wish you were here..." tears began to form in Ron's eyes. Harry looked terrified.

"You don't believe me..." he whispered, just realizing it. "Ron... Ron, it's me! Can't you see? I'm here now! I'm just sorry I couldn't get to you sooner..."

Harry touched Ron's shoulder, but Ron pulled away.

"Don't touch me," Ron said disdainfully. "Don't ever touch me."

Hermione gasped as she saw a tear escape Ron's eye and travel down his cheek. She had never seen Ron cry before... She looked at Harry. His hands seemed deadly tight as he held Ron's.

There was another loud crash and Hermione jumped. People were screaming curses outside the door. They were trying to break in.

Hermione held her wand and prepared herself to try and hold the door with all the strength and spells she could muster.

"Ron, take my hand," Harry said, offering it to the boy. "Don't you notice? You're untied."

Ron looked down at his arms, and at his chafed wrists, confused. "Do you know who did that?"

Ron looked up at Harry, expressionless, waiting for an answer.

Harry smiled. "Hermione," he said. "She's here too. In fact, I think she's right next to you."

Ron slowly and casually turned his head to his right and for a brief moment, he saw a girl, aiming her wand at the door, her magic trying to keep it closed. Ron blinked and looked back at Harry quickly, baffled.

"I'm scared, Harry."

Harry laughed. He'd made a break through. He kneeled by Ron's side and took his shoulders.

"I'm scared, too," he admitted. "But it's time to go home. Look at me."

Ron looked up and into Harry's eyes. He was startled to see that they weren't empty. They were full of fear and regret and other emotions Ron couldn't place. He gasped.

"Harry..."

Harry grinned. "Ron."

Instantly, Ron flung his arms around Harry and the two friends shared a brotherly embrace.

"Come on," said Harry, smiling sincerely. "Take my hand. I'll take you home."

There was a burst of light as the door flew open and Hermione was thrown backwards and hit her head hard against the wall.

Harry blinked and looked up at Ron, who looked absolutely terrified. Despite it all, Harry was still smiling at him. He swallowed the lump in his throat and refused to let the tears come. But Ron, it seemed, didn't care for once.

"I missed you, mate," he said, quivering, the tears streaming down his face. Harry took Ron's shaking, skinny and pale body in his arms once again.

"Harry!" Hermione shrieked breathlessly from the wall she had hit. "Stupefy!"

Harry turned in time to see Macnair fall to the floor from Hermione's spell. He'd been about to attack Harry and Ron. Eyes wide, Harry turned to Hermione, who was leaning against the wall, her eyes closed, breathing heavily. He looked back at Macnair on the floor. He then looked up at Ron.

"By the way," he said. "There's sort of a battle going on."

But Ron was looking at Hermione.

"I don't have a wand," he uttered.

"Take Macnair's," said Harry, handing Ron the fallen Death Eater's wand. But Ron shook his head.

"What about Hermione?"

Harry glanced at Hermione and bit his lip. "She'll be fine," he said, but Ron could see the doubt in Harry's eyes.

"Harry!" It was Lupin. Harry recognized him immediately. Harry stood up. Lupin looked past him and smiled to see Ron, awake. "This is no place for students." He ran to the corner where Hermione was resting, while firing the occasional curse behind him at advancing Death Eaters.

"I've got you covered, Remus!" came the gruff voice of Mad-Eye Moody from the throng of Death Eaters and Aurors. Lupin lifted Hermione in his arms.

"Ron!" he called. "Can you walk?"

Ron stood on twig-thin legs, and Harry immediately helped support him.

"He can try," Harry replied for him. Lupin hurried toward them with Hermione.

"Take this," he ordered, holding out a pocket knife. Harry frowned, but Lupin reassured him. "A Portkey," he explained.

Harry and Ron both took hold of the pocket knife and Remus held on tight to Hermione.

Before they knew it, they were in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts.