Chapter 8
Hermione sat bolt right up screaming. "RON! HARRY! HELP! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!"
She could feel hands pushing her back to lie down and then a cold washcloth came in contact with her head. Struggling she opened her eyes. She figured she was in Harry's room. She was lying in his bed, faces surrounded her. Ron was sitting beside her, looking pale, holding her hand. Harry sat beside Ron, his eyes filled with sadness as he watched Hermione struggle. Ginny was the person responsible for the wet cloth on her head. The cold felt nice. Suddenly she felt really hot. She tried to speak but nothing came out. Her breathing became laboured as she tried to breathe.
"Hermione, Hermione," Ron's voice called out to her. It seemed distant and Hermione fought to get back to it. "Hermione look at me," Ron was now squeezing her hand rather than holding it. "Hermione, we're here. We're o.k. Calm down. It's o.k." His voice was soothing to Hermione and she slowly stopped trying to fight Ginny. She began breathing steadily now. Ron was stroking her forehead. He looked so sad. They all did.
"Wh-wha-what happened?" she asked, words finally coming to her.
"You went into some sort of fit," Harry spoke when no one else volunteered. "I woke up and you were shaking and crying and screaming for help. You kept saying mine and Ron's name."
"Screaming really," Ginny whispered as she took a seat at the end of the bed.
"Screaming, right," Harry continued. "We couldn't figure out what was wrong. You just wouldn't stop shaking. Fred and I tried to get you on the couch but you were swinging and screaming and shaking. Aunt Petunia figured it'd be best for you to be in the room so she let us bring you up here. It took Ron, Fred and I to bring you up. Then a little while after we got you up here you stopped. It seemed like you were…um."
He didn't have to say it. Hermione knew by the looks she saw all of them have, they had thought she was dead. "Please. Keep going," she spoke with such force.
"Um, yes, well, Aunt Petunia called a muggle doctor right away. We had no other choice. He said you were running a high fever. You were also suffering from post traumatic shock. He told us we should take you to a hospital but it was too risky. We've been looking after you here. Aunt Petunia got some muggle medicine for you. We've been mixing it with water and giving it to you. You've been out for a long time."
"How long?" Hermione was shocked. What had happened to her?
"3 days," it was Ron who answered instead of Harry. He pulled his hand away from her forehead.
"3 days?? But…no…I was downstairs…you told me something was wrong Harry…Ron was bleeding…something happened. Blood. It was everywhere."
"No Hermione. It was a dream. A hallucination because your fever was so high. Ron and I are here right, we're fine," Harry tried to reassure her.
"A dream?" Hermione trembled. It had been so real. She had thought she had lost them. She looked at Ginny, who hadn't said anything since she had mentioned Hermione was screaming. Ginny nodded. That's when Hermione realized two were missing. "Fred. George. Where are they?" She sat bolt right up again.
"I'm here," for the first time Hermione realized that Fred was sitting behind Ron, although his back was turned to the group. He turned around to see her. He looked sick, really sick. The spark his eyes always carried was gone. Her eyes strained further and she could see a little cot in front of Fred. Lying there was George. He was wrapped in a blanket and he was shivering but that was the only sign of life coming from him. His eyes were closed and he looked ten times worse than any of them. "Glad to have you back," Fred said noticing her eyes glued to his twin. "George is too," he gave her a weak smile. Ron took in a sharp breath. Ginny forced back tears.
"Sleep Hermione," Harry whispered, pushing her to lie down.
"NO! I want to know what's going on. I'm fine. Tell me, what's wrong???" her voice was back accompanied with anger.
Harry sighed. He opened his mouth to say something but Ron spoke before he got a chance.
"Sleep Hermione, you need to sleep. I'll be here when you wake up. I'll tell you everything. Sleep. I promise I won't leave you."
His words seemed to affect her because she stopped shouting and closed her eyes. She could hear Fred whisper something to Harry and she felt Ginny get off the bed. Ron still holding her hand started stroking her forehead again. Hermione drifted off to sleep. Questions still pounded in her brain though. What was wrong with George? She hadn't even found out if Mr. or Mrs. Weasly had sent word. Were they o.k.? Her head was pounding. Her face was burning and her breathing slow. It was hard for her to get in a deep breath. She kept her eyes closed. Ron's hand never left hers. Finally she slipped into sleep.
