In the time that Hermione slept, the sun had risen and set twice. She awoke in the middle of the night on Wednesday. She woke up Madam Pomfrey, who, after a quick examination told her it would be okay to go on to her dorm. She made her way to the tower, curled up in front of the crackling fire in the fireplace to finish her Potions essay. It was much easier now that she wasn't sick and tired, and she could actually think straight. She glanced around the expansive room and pondered why he made her feel the way he did. She loved him, she knew that, but why was she so confused about it? She turned to look at the couch near the stairs. A mop of red hair, long and wavy lay on a pillow. She quietly tiptoed to it to more closely examine this person. She was about 3 feet away, when he turned, revealing his face. It was Ron. Just as she knew it would be. She sat on the rug in front of the sofa, and watched him, intently until morning, when she moved to her station near the fire. She didn't want to risk being seen and there being awkward confrontations. She heard rustling by the stairs, and cautiously turned to see Ron sitting up and stretching. He yawned, and looked around the room. Within seconds he was up and moving closer to her. At first he still didn't see her. But he turned around to go back upstairs, and he caught her eye.
"Hermione," he sighed, relieved. She could hear the gruff sleepiness in his voice.
"Hey," she replied. Not another word was said before he scooped her up in a giant hug. He held on tightly to her, and she to him.
"Don't you ever do that again. Do you understand? Nothing should make you so overwhelmed you stop eating and making sense. And if anything does, I'm here for you." He was trying so hard, she had to give him credit. She could tell he was dying to know what made her so upset in the first place.
"Yeah okay Ron." She broke the hug.
"So you gonna tell me what's been going on?"
"Later. Go get dressed, and we'll go to breakfast. I'm so hungry." He replied with a brilliant smile at her re-discovered appetite.
Days had passed, and Hermione still had not revealed the reason for her illness to Ron. She was subconsciously avoiding him. It was now Friday, and so had been nearly a week since her incident. She sat alone in the library, taking in the smell of the books and reviewing for her Arithmancy class. She heard a rustling sound behind her, and felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Harry, smiling.
"Oh, hello Harry," She began.
"Hey Herm," he replied.
"What's up?"
"I know."
"You know what?"
"About you and Ron."
"What about us? There is nothing…"
"Oh don't be ridiculous. I know."
"Harry, honestly there's nothing going on."
"Hmmm, well Ginny must have been lying then, when she told me you had some less-than-platonic feelings toward a certain Ronald Weasley."
"She told you!"
"I'm sorry. She didn't want to, but I got it out of her. My question is, how may I be of service?"
"Service?"
"Yeah, like, how can I help to get you guys together?"
"Well first of all, I have a question."
"Yes?"
"You didn't tell him did you?"
"Of course not."
"And you, Ginny and I are the only ones who know. Right?"
"Yes, of course."
"Well you can help me by keeping it that way."
"But…"
"But what Harry?"
"What do you want me to do to get you two together?"
"Absolutely nothing. If I ever tell him, and that is still up in the air, I will be the one to initiate and set it up."
"Fine."
"Harry, I do appreciate it. Really. It's just, nerve-racking, you know? Because now, one more person knows which means there's one more chance of him finding out, and it being awkward and anything but perfect."
"Don't worry about it. Wanna walk with me back to the common room? It's almost time for us to be back up there anyway."
"Sure."
Hermione picked up her books, and followed Harry out the door. Once they reached Gryffindor Tower and stated the password "hippogriff", the two entered the room. It was filled with a strange sort of fog or mist. Right in the middle of the room lay a figure sprawled on the Persian rug. The figure had long auburn hair, and wore an expression of sheer terror. Harry and Hermione rushed to the figure's side, only to find that it was Ginny. She was mumbling, and tossing around on the floor.
"Oh my god." Was all that Hermione could say.
"Hermione, go get Ron," a panicked Harry ordered. She stayed in her place, staring at her best friend, "Bloody hell GO!" He screamed. And she went flying up the stairs to the boy's dormitories, screaming.
"RON! RON WEASLEY, GET OUT HERE!"
He opened the door, and rubbed his eyes, "What the hell's the matter?"
"It's Ginny, she's…"
"NO! She's not dead."
"No, not dead. Just COME ON!" They tore down the stairs, and into the mist. Now Ginny was not the only one down. Harry had been trapped by the same force that Ginny had, and was mumbling and thrashing just as she was.
"Oh god," was all Ron could say.
"We need Dumbledore. Let's go," Hermione said.
They knew the way to the headmaster's office; since they had all been there the year before when Ron's dad had been attacked by the serpent. When they arrived at the statue, they said the password and were immediately taken into the room.
"Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley. To what do I owe this visit?" Dumbledore asked with a smile.
"It's Ginny and Harry," Hermione began, out of breath, "Harry and I came back from the library and entered the common room. The room was engulfed in a strange mist and Ginny Weasley was lying in the middle of it all, thrashing about and mumbling something in a language I couldn't identify. Harry told me to get Ron, and when I came back down with him, Harry had met the same fate."
"Oh my. I do believe we need the Order." He turned his attention to a painting in the room, "Phineas, Inform Remus Lupin and the rest of the Order they are needed at Hogwarts immediately."
"Yes Albus," the painting replied.
"Now, I have woken Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape who will both be here shortly."
Just then, the two teachers burst into the room.
"What is it Albus?" Asked Minerva McGonagall.
"Harry and Ginny have been overcome by strange gases in the Gryffindor common room. The other students seem to be unaffected. Minerva, you must wake the students and tell them that under no circumstances may they leave their dormitories. Severus you accompany her." He paused as he remembered, "And take care to check the other common rooms for similar circumstances."
"Professor, what are we going to do?" Ron asked, clearly still shaken.
"We'll transport Harry and your sister to the hospital wing, and figure out what happened. Once we figure out what happened, we'll be able to fix it. Right now, I think you should stay here. I will lock the door. Only persons with the password will be allowed in. I must go to the Great Hall to meet with the Order. Anything you would like me to tell your parents Ron?"
"Just that I'm sorry I let this happen." Ron looked to the floor, and his cheeks became flushed. Dumbledore placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "It was not your fault." Then he was out the door.
Ron lowered himself into one of the big chairs, and buried his face in his hands. Hermione kneeled in front of him.
"Dumbledore's right Ron. It's not your fault."
"They told me it was my job to take care of Ginny. I'm her big brother. Now she could be in major trouble because I wasn't there."
"You had no way of knowing this could happen. You know times are bad, and everyone is in danger. It is not because of you."
"How can you be so sure? What do you know? What if somehow it is my fault. Like if I hadn't fallen off my broom at practice today I wouldn't have been so tired and gone to bed so early."
"Everyone was in bed Ron. Not just you."
"You weren't. Harry wasn't."
"Oh Ron. You know Harry has trouble sleeping."
"What's your excuse?"
"I was thinking. And studying."
"Like always. You think too much you know that?"
"I know. Especially about some things."
"Like what?"
"Just things."
"You know, I used to think you talked too much. But now we barely talk. It's like we're drifting. Do you feel it?"
"Yeah." She leaned up against the arm of the chair. Ron slid off the chair and sat next to Hermione on the stone floor.
"Herm…"
"Shhh. No more talking. Let's just sit here, and keep each other company."
She looked at Ron. He stared at her intently. His hand found hers, and their fingers became intertwined. Hermione leaned her head on Ron's shoulder. And all they could do was wait.