Disclaimer: I do not own any of this, JK Rowling does. Point made.

Chapter 1: Happiness begins with grief

Hermione sat in the Burrow, her mind blank. Well not exactly blank, she was sort of thinking of a certain redheaded boy. No I'm not! Her mind retaliated. I'm just finding it hard to cope with everything for when Ron and I go away with Harry. Yeah, that's exactly it. Relieved at how good her explanation to herself was, she stood up and walked to Ginny's room, where everyone was at the moment. She had quickly explained that she needed some air, but that of course was not the reason.

She had fainted again.

(Flashback)

"Just let her come, Harry, she's going mental without you." Ron's voice was hard and serious.

"I can't, what if she was hurt--." His voice broke off and he stared hard at the floor. A few droplets of salty water fell from his eyes.

"Harry, there is a fair chance she could get hurt anyway, Hogwarts isn't so safe after what happened…" Hermione closed her eyes sadly, remembering the awful day Malfoy let the Death Eaters into Hogwarts.

Harry stiffened up. "Of course." He whispered. Tears were still falling from his eyes. "She will get hurt. Voldemort would find her easily at Hogwarts, whereas if she was with us, he'd have a harder time finding her…"

Ron looked at Hermione, and there was some sort of intensity in his eyes. He gave her his lop-sided grin, and she too found herself in tears as her stomach turned over. Ron looked at her in confusion, then came over and gave her a hug. She sobbed into his shoulder, and then looked up at him. He still had that intensity in his eyes, which she just couldn't place. They stood there staring at each other for what was an eternity for them, and then Ron felt a thud on his shoulder. He looked down in shock, and saw Hermione, limp and cold against his warm skin. She had fainted.

Ron carried her over to his bed, and screamed at Harry to get some ice-cold water. He bent over her limp figure, eyes full of concern and love. Even though she was rigid, her face was in a cold sweat, and she was murmuring "No…no….no…no, not him….", Ron still thought she was the most beautiful thing on Earth. He took one of her cold, clammy hands in his own warm one, and kissed it. At that moment, Harry ran in. He gave Ron a strange look, but Ron didn't notice. He grabbed the water and splashed it over her face. She immediately sprang up.

"Uh…where am I?...RON!" She leaned over and hugged him, crying. "You're ok, you're ok," She murmured in his ear in a mixture of awe and happiness.

Ron just hugged her back, smiling. He then sat her down and asked, "What did you see when you fainted?"

(End Flashback)

Hermione couldn't stop thinking about it. This wasn't the first time she had fainted and had that awful nightmare. It was as though someone-something, was taunting her, torturing her. Actually, it wasn't the dream that had scared her, it was more what had been said. "We'll get the one you'll miss the most. He does love you, you know, and I'm sure you feel the same way…" The only one she could think of was her father or something. But then the thing had showed a picture of Ron, smiling his beautiful smile. "Awww, you do love him! Does your stomach go flutter-flutter when you see him? Well, soon there will be nothing to even make you think of him. Gone with the wind…hahahaha…." It was that laugh that scared her most. It was like a scream to her. She knew she should tell Ron what had been said. Hell, she should tell Harry too! But something kept her from telling. When Ron had asked, she had just said, "Bad nightmare, that's all." Ron kept on pressing but after realising she wasn't going to tell him, he went to bed angrily. "Fine! But when something awful happens, I won't be trusting you will tell us before it does!"

She started to cry. She needed to tell him. She needed to tell him NOW.

She started to walk up the stairs. Then she ran. She reached his room. Opening the door just a little tiny bit, she came and sat near him on his bed, just watching him sleep. She was going to stay here and protect him, no matter what.