Hogwarts, A History
Harry sat quietly in the muted, near silent Gryffindor common room. In his lap was a book. His brow was heavily furrowed, his eyes flashing across the page. Every couple of minutes he would turn a page.
Across the room, Ron sat, glaring at Harry through red eyes, lips in a firm twisted grimace. He didn't blink, but let his intense gaze remain on Harry.
Other students littered around the cozy room, glanced nervously at the two boys. there was underlying tension in the air and everyone felt it.
Finally Ron snapped. Standing up he stalked over to the calmly sitting Harry. He was still reading not taking any notice of what Ron was doing.
Ron's lips pursed, he now looked very much like his brother Percy. But in a very un-Percy like manouver, Ron grabbed the book out of Harry's lap and threw it angrily at the floor. Then his red face still flushed, as he breathed heavily in loud gasps. At his thighs his fist were clenched.
Still looking at her lap, Harry sighed, and without glancing at Ron, bent down and picked up the book. He then began reading again.
"Harry," Ron murmured, sounding like he was crying as his face twisted with grief and desperation, his tone deepened before the end as he stared like a child at the umoving Harry.
"Stop it Harry, just stop reading." Ron knelt beside the emotionless, motionless Harry as he gazed duly at Ron and started to read again.
"She's... Hermione," Ron's voice cracked, "How can you read when she is...?" With a flash of anger he slammed his fist down on the out spread pages, tearing them.
He was surprised when he felt wetness. Looking up at Harry, Ron found him with his eyes tightly clenched, tears escaping reluctantly. The ink spilled under their hands.
"Hermione, she always knew every little fact about Hogwarts," Harry's hands wriggled helplessly, as he stared at Ron, his eyes sad. "That's why I have to read Hogwarts, A History." His voice breaks off at the end, as he lets go of his gaze with Ron and focuses on the large tome.
"Because she is..." Ron started, but found he couldn't end, caught in his own grief at the back of his throat. It lowered his head until it rested on the book and Harry's hands.
"She's dead," Ginny murmured, as she joined the broken Trio, softly placing a hand on each of the boys.
AN: A sad fic, one that I thought should be longer, but ultimately settled on this length. I'm not sure if it's totally right, but that be because of the issues it involves, hmmm...