Author's Note: I'm so sorry it took me so long to update. I've been a bit busy and I've been having trouble coming up with inspiration. As you can tell, this chapter is longer than the others so I'm hoping it'll make up for the long wait. Also, I know the end seems rushed, but I desperately wanted to get this chapter up. So I apologize if it seems a bit awkward.

Chapter 4

Harry woke with a start Monday morning. For a moment, he sat there trying to recollect yesterday's events when they all came flooding back to him. Assuring himself that none of it had been a dream, he quickly dressed and prepared himself for what the day might bring. He was strangely certain that it'd be quite different.

Entering the Great Hall for breakfast, Harry found Hermione sitting quietly next to Ginny who was speaking happily with a fifth year girl he didn't know. Hermione looked slightly miserable. He walked over and sat down beside her.

"Hey…you feeling alright?" he asked quietly.

Hermione had been so absorbed in her pancakes that she hadn't noticed Harry show up. "Oh…hey. I'm fine." She struggled hard to put on a small smile.

Harry frowned when he saw this. "Oh Harry, of course I'm not alright. I woke up this morning hoping yesterday hadn't happen…but when I came downstairs I wondered where Ron was…then I remembered…" She stabbed bitterly at her pancakes

"Sorry…stupid question," Harry muttered.

Hermione softened and looked back at Harry. "No, don't be. I've just got to get used to this. I'll be fine eventually."

Harry could tell she only barely believed this as he watched her poke at her pancakes looking glum and not seeming hungry at all. However, he dismissed this, knowing it wouldn't help to pursue the subject. As he looked around the table, he noticed that Ron was definitely not there and felt a small satisfaction realizing that he was still in the hospital wing.

Soon the fluttering of wings filled the hall as the owl post arrived. Harry watched as a large, gray screech owl landed in front of his plate knocking over a pitcher of syrup. Harry stared, confused, until the owl stuck its foot out impatiently. He took the letter and opened it. Hermione watched as Harry read the letter and groaned.

"What is it?" Hermione asked.

"I have detention Wednesday evening."

"What for?"

Harry looked at her. "Well, I'm sure Professor McGonagall wasn't too happy with me setting Ron on fire."

"Oh." Hermione looked away, distracted. "Of course."

Harry gave her a funny look, ready to speak, but Dean, Seamus, and Neville interrupted him.

"Hey Harry," Dean greeted him. "You been having nightmares again?"

"Yeah, we heard you last night," Neville chimed in.

"And it sounded like somebody else was up as well," Seamus added.

Harry looked at them, very unprepared for an explanation when Hermione jumped in.

"He was sleepwalking. I heard him and came down to see if he was alright."

All four boys stared at her. Seamus then looked at Harry. "You sleepwalk?"

"Er…yeah," Harry replied, very unsure.

Seamus let out a "Hmph" of satisfaction, accepting this explanation as okay and quickly struck up a conversation with Dean and Neville. Harry looked at Hermione and smiled.

"Thanks."

"It's perfectly alright," Hermione replied, quite airily. She seemed to be trying very hard not to think about something. "I'm going to go to the library. I'll meet up with you in Charms."

Harry watched as she walked away, wiping at her eyes constantly. He knew she wasn't going to study. She wanted to be alone. He hoped she'd be alright.

-------------------------------------------------

Instead of heading to the library, Hermione took to wandering the halls. Glaring, she took note of couples, hand in hand, walking to class. It was odd, now that she was alone, how she noticed there were more couples in Hogwarts than she previously thought. They were so happy and content with one another. The girls always giggled when boys whispered sweet nothings in their ear. Likewise, the guys would smile like idiots whenever they received a kiss on the cheek. It was so sickeningly sweet and endearing.

She despised them.

How dare they squeeze each other's hand? Or look at each other with those cliché stars in their eyes? How dare they smile at each other as if that single expression wiped away all the worries in the world? Bearing witness to all these actions as she walked the corridors made Hermione infinitely sick with resentment. It's unfair, she thought.

Finally, out of bitter frustration, she kicked angrily at a suit of armor. She was only rewarded with a throbbing big toe and had to bite down on her tongue to keep herself from crying out in pain.

"Now honestly! What was that for?"

Hermione jumped back, only half surprised that the suit of armor was talking to her. She only glared and walked away, only to run into a couple up ahead. Consequently, the incident with the suit of armor seemed to have interrupted their snog feast. They were now snickering at her.

"Yes, go ahead and laugh like the chipper little bunnies you are," Hermione snapped.

The couple goggled at her. Hermione realized the boy and girl to be Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott. Ernie looked indignant. "We're not bunnies," he finally stated.

"You are if I say you are!" Hermione exclaimed. "Ten points each from Hufflepuff." She knew taking points was a low blow, but she felt so terribly slighted that she'd take any action to receive some sort of satisfaction to ease the pain and injustice.

"What for?" Ernie asked, his indignation making him seem like an overstuffed jelly donut.

Hermione thought for a moment. "For making merry."

"Making merry?!" Hannah exclaimed.

"Yes," Hermione replied simply. "It's what bunnies do."

And feeling extremely complacent, Hermione walked off, deciding she best head towards Charms before she lost too much of her mind. Of course, it seemed like she may be too late.

-------------------------------------------------

Harry sat alone in Charms class that morning. It wasn't unexpected of course, with Ron still in the infirmary and Hermione off who knows where. He didn't blame her if she had decided to skive off Charms. Harry looked to the window and noticed gray clouds hanging in the sky. In late November, it was hard to tell if it'd be raining or snowing.

"Potter!"

Harry jumped and looked away from the window. Professor Flitwick was talking to him. "Yes professor?"

"I was just asking you where Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger were."

Harry blinked. He didn't have an excuse for Hermione. "Er…Ron's in the infirmary and er…Hermione's…"

"I'm right here." Harry and Flitwick looked towards the door and saw Hermione step into the classroom.

"Ah Miss Granger. Where have you been?"

"Prefect duties," Hermione stated simply and smiled.

"Of course," Professor Flitwick squeaked. "Take your seat. I was just in the middle of pairing everyone off to review Cheering Charms. I was hoping you wouldn't miss them again."

Hermione had taken her seat next to Harry and smiled, remembering the time in third year when she had missed this exact same lesson because of her Time Turner. "Of course not Professor."

Professor Flitwick smiled and set the class to work. Harry leaned towards Hermione has she got out her notes.

"Prefect duties?" Harry questioned.

"Yes," Hermione answered, reading over her notes.

"What were they?"

Hermione looked at him. "Bunnies."

"Bunnies?"

"Bunnies."

"You sure?"

"Positive."

Harry looked out the window expecting pigs to be flying. He was sure Hermione was losing her mind. He looked back at her. She was still smiling. The muscles in her face were straining. Her brown eyes held the glint of a mad person. He was wandering when she would snap. A small sense of fear crept over him.

"Do you remember the incantation Harry?"

Harry started. "Yeah. Ready?"

Hermione nodded and shut her eyes. Harry admired for a second her dark eyelashes upon her ivory skin before waving his wand and reciting the incantation. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around. Everybody was smiling and laughing.

"Did it work?" Harry asked.

"I don't think so."

"Let me try again."

Hermione frowned. "No, Harry, I don't think it was you."

Harry's brow furrowed in concern. She seemed a bit peaky.

"How are you two getting along?" Professor Flitwick squeaked, standing by their desks.

Hermione put on a false, cheery smile. "Everything's fine!" she answered brightly. "I was just about to perform the charm on Harry."

"Ah well then, let's see it!"

She raised her wand, her lips posed to recite the incantation, but before any words could escape her mouth, Hermione fell onto the floor in a dead faint. A very loud, startled squeak escaped Professor Flitwick and a collective gasp was heard throughout the classroom. Harry fell to his knees beside her, eyes wide, unsure of what to do.

"She fainted!" Parvati exclaimed.

Professor Flitwick performed a simple Recovery Charm. It took a moment before Hermione's eyes fluttered open. The people standing over her were a sea of blurs. After a few seconds, her surroundings began to swim into focus. She was slightly startled by the pale face with vivid green eyes and glasses leaning over her.

"Harry?" she asked groggily.

"You fainted…" he said softly. He held out a hand to help her up. With a small amount of struggle, she sat herself up and rubbed the back of her head. Her surroundings became unfocused once again and she wobbled a bit. Harry caught her by her shoulders and held her steady.

"Mr. Potter, I think you should escort her to the hospital wing. I'll write a note to excuse you." Professor Flitwick announced.

Harry nodded and stood up. He looked down at Hermione with a weak smile. "Can you stand up?"

"Yeah…" she reached up a hand and Harry grabbed it, pulling her up.

Hermione become very aware of everybody staring at her as she walked out the door. She was also very aware of Harry's hand keeping her steady. As soon as they got out into the corridor, Hermione let go of his hand and leaned against a wall. Her world kept spinning. She wished Harry would stop looking at her that way.

"I'm not going to die, Harry," she snapped.

Harry started and took a step back. He raked a hand through his hair nervously. "I wasn't thinking you were going to die," he replied quietly. This wasn't entirely the truth. When he had seen her hit the floor, the first thought that ran through his mind was "Is she dead?" That image alone had brought back the memory of Hermione crumpling to the floor in the Ministry of Magic. He shuddered.

"Harry…"

"Yes?"

"Harry…"

Harry stepped closer to Hermione. "What is it?"

"Catch me."

And Harry caught Hermione in his arms as she fainted once again. He stumbled a bit under her limp body. His gaze lingered a while on her face. She looked completely different with her eyes closed. There seemed to be something ethereal about her. Quickly, and rather gracefully, he gathered her up in his arms and carried her down to the hospital wing.

Every now and then, Hermione would mumble incoherent things and bury her face into Harry's chest. He found this endearing and had to resist the urge more than once to lean down and kiss her on the forehead.

Finally, he found himself in front of the infirmary doors and kicked them open, causing quite a lot of noise. Madam Pomfrey came running looking slightly harassed. "What on earth was that for?" She looked at Hermione, lying limp in Harry's arms. "Good gracious, what happened to her?"

"She fainted," Harry replied.

"Well, don't just stand there! Bring her over to a bed!"

Harry gave her a disgruntled look and lay Hermione down on the nearest bed. Further down the ward, Harry recognized the tuft of red hair sticking out of the white bandages wrapped around the patient's head. He was looking at them. Harry left Hermione to be tended to by Madam Pomfrey and made his way over to Ron's bedside.

The tension in the air was almost palpable.

"I didn't mean to light your head on fire," Harry began.

"I know…"

"But I'm not sorry I did."

Ron glared. "Look, I know I messed up."

"You know?" Harry asked incredulously. "And here I was, thinking you were bloody thicker than Polyjuice Potion."

"Will you stop?!" Ron exclaimed. "I'm trying to apologize."

"Apologize? You should be talking to Hermione then."

A weird moment passed after Harry spoke. Ron flinched and an odd glint flashed before his eyes. He looked passed Harry and his eyes fell on Hermione who was taking a potion from Madam Pomfrey. Then he looked back at Harry.

"I can't."

"You can't? Or you won't?" Harry snarled.

Ron's face flushed and he looked down at the bed cover. Harry barely heard him whisper, "Won't." It took all of Harry's self control not to blow up at him.

"Why not?" he asked.

"I just told you. I can't."

"You just said you won't."

"I won't because I can't," Ron stated dejectedly.

Harry wanted to yell at him. He wanted to call him an idiot and tell him that it didn't make sense. He wanted to grab his throat and throttle him asking "Why? Why? Why?" Throwing a large, heavy object at this face also appealed to Harry. He just wanted to do something, anything, to reverse all the damage Ron had caused and bring The Trio back to normal. He hated being angry with Ron and he really didn't want to be, but he had to be angry. He had to be vengeful. He had to be defensive of Hermione. For Harry, it was just like standing up for Neville whenever Malfoy picked on him. Except Hermione was now Neville and Ron was Malfoy.

This last thought disgusted Harry so much that it cancelled out all the violent images absorbing his mind. He finally resorted to narrowing his eyes at Ron's withering persona and walking away. His expression relaxed as he approached Hermione's beside and saw her smiling faintly at him.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better, but Madam Pomfrey wants me to stay here so I can rest," Hermione replied.

"Does she know why you fainted?"

"Yes. I haven't really eaten since lunch yesterday and I barely slept last night. Of course, that was bound to catch up to me."

Harry didn't need to ask why she hadn't been eating or sleeping, but there was one question he needed to ask.

"What about the Cheering Charm? Why didn't it work?"

Surprisingly, Hermione laughed. He assumed it must not be as puzzling for her as it was for him. She calmed down and looked at him seriously.

"I'm pretty sure it had to do with my state of mind. I had pretty much lost my mind and you can't do magic on something that's not really there," Hermione explained.

Harry felt compelled to laugh. And he did. It was weird listening to Hermione talk about losing her mind when all these years, she had been the one with the level head.

"Mr. Potter, I'm going to have to ask you to leave," Madam Pomfrey said sternly, approaching Hermione's bed. She had a sleeping potion with her.

He nodded obediently and told Hermione goodbye. As he walked out the door, he looked over his shoulder and saw her take a sip of the potion Madam Pomfrey had given her. She fell asleep instantly.