"Is she okay? When will she wake up?" Hermione heard voices that were familiar and almost sounded like heaven to her.
"Mom?" she drowsily asked.
"Oh! Hermione, are you okay, dear?" Mrs. Granger fussed over her, touching at her forehead often.
"Honey, let Hermione get her rest," a rough voice told her.
"Dad?" Hermione sat up a little and her eyes focused on her parents. Also in the room was the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. "But, I thought that you couldn't see Hogwarts?"
"Ah," Professor Dumbledore interrupted gently. "I let down magic spells around the school so your parents could come in, Ms. Granger."
"Oh, well… what's wrong with me?" She asked out loud.
Her parents exchanged nervous glances.
That's not good, Hermione thought grimly.
"We… don't know yet, dear," her mother said softly.
"But, Madam Pomfrey—." She started to say.
"Madam Pomfrey only specializes in wizard medicine and diseases," Professor Dumbledore told her.
"But… I… This is a… Muggle disease then?" she said, struggling to understand. For once in Hermione's life, she did not understand what was happening, and this would not be the first.
"Yes," he said slowly. "We have a muggle doctor with us right now, someone that's trustworthy. An uncle of one of your classmates."
Hermione nodded and fell back on the pillow. Her heart felt as if something was squeezing it with a cold hand. Truthfully, she was scared to death and more than anything, she wanted Ron to be with her.
"When will we be able to know what's happening?" Hermione asked.
"Soon, soon," he smiled at her and patted her hand. Professor Dumbledore excused himself and walked quietly out of the room.
"'Mione!" the voice of the person she was just thinking about rang throughout the room. "Are you okay?"
Hermione looked up at the boy—no, man—she's grown to love over the years. His imperfections only made him more perfect to her. The freckles splattered over his nose and cheeks and his messy red hair were the kinds of things she looked forward to everyday.
"Oh, Ron, I'm so glad you're here!" Hermione clasped his hand and smiled up at him.
"Ahem," her parents cleared their throat to indicate they were still there.
"Oh!" Hermione let go of his hand and felt herself blush. "Ron, these are my parents. Mum, Dad, this is Ron Weasley," a gulp, "my boyfriend."
"So, you're dating my daughter, eh?" Mr. Granger folded his arms around his chest and tried to look tall when, in fact, Ron was taller than him.
Ron gulped as well, his shyness overcoming him. "Yes, sir," he replied respectfully.
Mr. Granger stood in front of Ron and glared icily into Ron's eyes and whispered in an equally cold voice, "You won't hurt her, right?"
Ron turned a deep red and replied back with a protective tone, "I'd give my life for her safety."
This time it was Hermione's turn to blush. Ron had never said anything sweet like that to her and, well, she had liked it. She smiled softly to herself when her father, finally realizing Ron would never hurt her—on purpose, at least.
"Mr. and Mrs. Granger, a word please," Madam Pomfrey stepped into a room and smiled at them warmly with a strange look in her eyes.
"Can't I come to?" Hermione protested.
"But of course, but it's only immediate family only, Mr. Weasley," as he stepped forward to go along.
He scowled at the floor and forced a smile at the three. "Well, tell me how it goes, okay, 'Mione?"
Hermione had walked out of her bed and to him. She hugged him tightly and followed her parents out of the room.
Before stepping into Madam Pomfrey's office, Hermione froze. She then realized what the strange look in Madam Pomfrey's eyes was… It was a look of sadness.