Chapter Two
Finding
A week passed since Ron and Hermione's blow-out. She still would not even look at the red-head. Harry felt for his best friends. Hermione was obviously really hurt by Ron's insensitivity. And Ron was obviously really sorry he had opened his big mouth. But Hermione was too stubborn to think about forgiving Ron any time soon.
Harry had been splitting his time between the two. He would alternate nights chatting by the fire with his two best friends. When they were with Harry, each would bemoan the situation, but both were so mulish that neither would make the first move to fix things.
Tonight, Harry was spending his time with Ron. They were sitting on either end of the couch Ron and Hermione had shared the night of the argument.
"Harry, what am I going to do?" moaned Ron. He stared absently into the fire.
Harry shrugged. "I don't know, mate. She's pretty upset."
Ron turned to look at Harry. "Has she said what I could do to make it up to her?"
Harry shook his head. "No, not yet. I think she's waiting for your move, though."
Ron sighed. "But how am I supposed to do anything if she won't even talk to me?"
Harry shrugged again. "I don't know, mate. I don't know."
Ron stared back into the fire. "I just wish I could make her forget the whole thing."
Harry nodded. After that the two boys went silent, losing themselves in their thoughts.
~ " * " ~
Harry walked across the grounds alone. He shuddered as a cool breeze ruffled his jeans. He looked down and realized he had gotten dressed before he left the dormitory. Harry shook his head. Why can't I remember that? He started walking toward the lake.
The lake was always a calming place for him. The quiet waters lapping against the shore, the giant squid drifting around lazily… It brought him peace. And with the situation between Ron and Hermione, he needed peace.
He sat down by the lakeshore and brought his knees up to his chin. He slid his eyes closed and enjoyed the quiet sounds of nature. The small waves of the lake. The wind blowing past his ears. The soft hooting of owls overhead. The rustling of robes.
Wait.
Rustling of robes?
Harry's eyes snapped open. He looked around himself. There were dozens of tall robed figures closing in on him. He scrambled to his feet and fished in his pocket for his wand. He shivered as a sudden wave of cold came upon him.
A whimper came from behind him. "Nooo," came the moan. "Noooo…please…"
Harry looked up as the dark hooded creatures came floating toward him. They seemed to have multiplied in the last minute. There was at least a hundred now. He started to hear yelling voices in his head.
"Hermione, think of something happy," yelled Harry over his shoulder. He knew Hermione was there somewhere, even if she hadn't been two minutes ago.
Harry stood between the dementors and his godfather, trying to conjure a Patronus. "Expecto Patronum! Expecto Patronum!"
Harry felt Sirius shudder and roll onto his back. He had passed out again, just like last time in third year. "Expecto Patronum! Hermione! Come on! Expecto Patronum!"
Hermione tried. But the dementors' rattling breath was sucking out all the happy thoughts from her mind. She passed out, too.
Harry looked over his shoulder. Both Sirius and Hermione were splayed out on the grass, unconscious. Harry shook off the dark feeling that said he was not going to get out of this, and turned back toward the dementors.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" he bellowed. A tiny wisp of silver floated out of the wand, but the dementor waved it away easily.
"No! I'm innocent! I'm innocent!" cried Harry. The dementor lowered his hood to reveal the sickeningly gray scabbed skin and the eye-less face. The dementor came at him, gaping mouth poised to suck his soul out.
Harry tried to shake it off, but the gray hands had him tightly around his neck. He was being pulled slowly toward the thing's mouth. Harry wondered again what it would be like to have his soul sucked out of his body through his mouth. Harry twisted his head violently. "No!" he cried again. "I-I'm innocent! I didn't- I'm innocent!"
~ " * " ~
"Harry!" Ron shook Harry by the shoulders. "Harry, come on, mate. Wake up."
Harry's eyes snapped open. He was panting heavily, his voice hoarse.
"Which one was it tonight, Harry?" asked Ron as he slipped under Harry's blankets.
Harry sighed. "The night I almost got the kiss," he said.
Ron nodded. He remembered that night vaguely. He only knew the stories from when Harry almost got the kiss, though. He himself had been knocked out by his ex-rat, Peter Pettigrew, several minutes before Harry and Hermione and Sirius had been swarmed by the dementors. But the stories were scary enough. He could not imagine what Harry must have seen. He wrapped Harry up in a tight hug. "I'm sorry, Harry. I'm sorry I wasn't there to help."
Harry sighed again. "That's Wormtail's fault. Not yours." Harry looked into his best friend's eyes. "Besides," he said with a small smile. "You wouldn't have done much good."
Ron pulled back a bit in mock offense. "Hey! I would have done just fine," he exclaimed.
"Sure," said Harry with a laugh. "Broken leg and all."
Ron glared at Harry. "Oh, sod off. Go back to sleep." He smiled at his best friend. "I would have done fine with the Patronus," he mumbled.
Harry snuggled into Ron's arms. "Sure, you would have," he mumbled back.
The two boys settled under Harry's covers to let sleep take over their minds once more.
Ron's last thought before he was claimed by dreams was this: How can I help him forget…
~ " * " ~
The next afternoon, while Harry and Hermione were spending their afternoon together, Ron made for the Library. Yes, Ron went to the Library all by himself.
He went to Madam Pince right away. He had no clue where he would start his search, so he asked her. But he had to do a bit of truth-bending. She would never help him if she knew what he needed the help with…
After a lot of sweet-talking and a few compliments sent the librarian's way, Pince handed over a hefty book.
"Here you go, Mister Weasley. I don't want that book out of the library, however. Do you understand?"
Ron nodded quickly. "Of course, Ma'am. I'm just going to go over there and read about this spell." He pointed at an empty table. "Thank you for your help," he said politely. She nodded curtly and went back to her work.
Ron walked over to the vacant table to which he had pointed. He set his bag into one chair and sunk into the one beside his bag. He set the book carefully on the table and opened to the table of contents.
This book was organized so that even the most dense wizard could find their way around it. The contents page listed each spell in the book and had a short description of exactly what each spell did.
Ron trailed a finger down the row of spells, occasionally stopping to check a description. After a few minutes, Ron found a spell that was exactly what he needed.
He pulled out a quill, ink, and a piece of parchment. Then he turned to the corresponding page in the book. After checking that Madam Pince was wrapped up in reorganizing the card catalog, Ron set about scribbling out the necessary ingredients and the incantation he had to recite.
Every couple lines of writing, he threw a look over his shoulder to make sure Pince wasn't watching him. But she wasn't. Thank Merlin this is one of those ignore-all-students days Hermione told Harry and me about, Ron thought with a smile. The thought of Hermione, though, hurt and the smile faded faster than it had come. Ron sighed heavily and just scribbled faster.
After a couple minutes of writing, Ron had everything written out. He let the parchment sit for a moment to dry as he put away the ink and quill. Then, when he was satisfied with the dryness of the page, he folded it carefully and tucked it away in his bag.
He stood then and closed the book carefully. He picked up his bag and threw it over his shoulder. He tucked the chairs neatly under the table. Then he picked up the heavy book and carried it back to the librarian.
"Thank you very much, Madam Pince," said Ron cheerfully.
Pince looked up at the red-head and nodded curtly once again. "You're welcome. I trust you found whatever it was you needed?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Ron. He smiled at her and walked quickly out of the Library. Now all I need is the ingredients…
~*~TBC~*~