The months passed by slowly for Hermione. Without Fred around, she didn't seem to enjoy her days as much as she had before. Ginny and Harry tried their best to make her feel welcome, but being the fifth wheel hanging out with Harry, Ginny, Lavender, and Ron made it hard on her. One night, about eight months after Fred left, she was sitting by herself in the common room. She'd thrown herself back into her school work, and was becoming even more involved in her grades than she used to be. Ron came up and sat at the table across from her. When she didn't acknowledge his presence, he laid his hand on hers so she couldn't write anymore. She snapped her gaze up to meet his.
"What are you doing? I have to get this done." Hermione wined, trying to push his hand away so she could continue with her work. He didn't budge.
"Hermione, I have to ask you a serious question." Ron said; he seemed nervous.
"Hmm?" Hermione didn't want to know whatever Ron was going to say. She had a feeling it had to do with Fred and George. And ever since Fred left, every time he was mentioned, Ron got flustered and quiet and uncomfortable.
"Fred may never come back. If he doesn't, I want you to know that I'll be here for you."
"He'll be back. He said he would." Hermione stared holes through her Astronomy notes.
"You have to face the facts Hermione. He might be—it's very likely that he's lying dead somewhere and he'll never be found."
"Ronald Weasley, unless you'd like a black eye I suggest you pick up your books and leave this table immediately."
"You can't hide from the possibility your whole life!" Ron yelled, standing up, knocking over his chair, and causing Hermione to look up in alarm. "Hermione, when are you going to get it! He's NOT coming BACK! Stop living for him! You're driving me crazy!" Hermione stared at him, and laid down her quill. She put her hands on the edge of the table, pushing herself up to a standing position.
"Ron…" Before she could continue, Ron came around the table and grabbed her by the shoulders, smashing his mouth against hers. She pushed him away roughly and wiped her lips with the back of her hand. "I cannot believe you! Your own brother is out there, possibly hurt and you're hitting on me! I'm worried sick about him, and you want to do this to me! Are you bloody insane! I can't believe you! Do you have no heart!" Hermione threw her books into her book bag and ran out of the room.
"Hermione! Come back!" Ron yelled at the door. He groaned and turned his back to the portrait hole. Hermione ran down the staircase, through the Great Hall, out the front doors and into the open air. She slid down the slippery slope towards the lake. She landed on her knees by the water and finally let go. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she sobbed, covering her face with her hands as she leaned onto her knees.
"Bloody hell," Ron yelled as he heard the door shut behind him. He looked up towards the girls' dormitories and saw Lavender there, frozen against the doorway. "Lavender…" Ron said, taking a step towards her. Lavender shook her head and dejectedly walked back up the girls' stairs. Ron ran to the bottom of the stairs and yelled to her, but she didn't respond. He turned his back towards the stairs and made a punch at the wall.
"Excuse me young man, but you almost hit me! And I do believe you need help in the Department of Hearts…you just failed your first exam." A portrait about 2 feet off of where Ron had punched the wall wheezed. Ron looked over at the portrait.
"Oh shut up, you." Ron spat, then ran up the boys staircase and into his room.
After about an hour of sitting by the lake, staring at the reflections in the water, she stood up and dusted herself off. She leaned over and checked her appearance in the water, straightened her hair, fixed her makeup, and made her way back towards the castle. She looked up at the sky, and noticed it had started getting cloudy. It was surely about to rain. It was dark by now, and she was cold. She hurried towards the castle, trying to make it back before it started to rain. But, sadly, she didn't make it. It started pouring.
"Oh dash it all!" She yelled into the empty air. She put her book bag over her head and kept walking. She was in such a hurry, and so intent on getting to the castle, that she didn't pay attention where she was going, and stepped into a hole in the ground. Her foot got caught and as she fell, she felt it twist and pop. She screamed as she went down to the ground. She pulled her ankle out of the hole and clutched it with both hands. Pain shot through her leg as she tried to stand.
"Damn." She muttered to herself, reaching and rifling through her bag, trying to find her wand. After a few moments of searching, she pulled her hand out, empty. She'd remembered leaving her wand on the table where she'd been doing her work. "Today is not my day," She cried. She looked around, desperate for some shelter from the rain. She saw a tree nearby, so she dragged herself and her bag towards it. The tree didn't do much as far as shelter was concerned, she was still getting soaked, but it was something to lean against. She pulled her knees towards her chest and curled up, cursing herself for forgetting her cloak yet again. Rain trickled down her back, down her face, down her arms and legs, and slowly she got colder and colder. After hours of sitting alone, she closed her eyes. Her mind was telling her not to, but her body couldn't resist. She slept for awhile, and finally she felt warmth surround her. Voices soothed her, and she finally let go into an undisturbed deep darkness.
Voices echoed in the distance. Waves of nausea swept over her as she lay in the darkness. Her skin felt as if it were burning, as if it were being rubbed off. She muttered, stirring in her sleep, pulling away from the source of the heat.
"Shh…calm down. You'll be alright." A motherly, calming voice soothed her, and the rubbing stopped. She felt a cool, calming hand on her forehead and cheeks, feeling for warmth.
"You did what!" A voice in the distance; who was it? Hermione was too lost to care. More voices:
"Do you think she'll be okay?"
"Why was she out there alone?"
"Whose fault was it?"
"What happened?"
"That's it…everyone out." The motherly voice returned again, and all the other voices ceased. She felt something cool being forced down her throat. It left needles in her stomach, pricking the inside of her with light jabs. She shuddered, but soon everything was foggy. Where am I? What's going on? I'll worry about it later; now I'll just get some…some…some sleep.
Hermione stirred, and the cloaked figure rushed to the bedside of the girl. She'd been moaning all night long, tossing and turning, muttering a name. Madam Pomfrey had given her some tonic to keep her quiet, but it was fading off now. Ever since she'd been found in the rain outside and brought inside the castle by Dumbledore, the cloaked figure had hovered close, never far, but never quite there. When her friends came to the hospital wing to see what happened, the figure was invisible, unknown to unaware eyes. He did not want to be seen—not yet—he needed to know she was alright. As perched himself lightly on the bed next to her and took her hand, he knew that she would see him tonight. He'd been here four days already, waiting, hoping for her to wake up. Finally, he realized, she would. She moaned again, tossing and turning. He put a hand to her face, and she immediately stopped. Her hand flew to her face and covered his hand. She knew him by touch, even after all this time. Her eyes fluttered open, and as she looked at her visitor, her eyes filled with tears.
"You're home—" She choked out, her voice unused and cracking. "Oh Fred you've finally come home!"
