Author's note: Thought i'd be kind to you all, in a slightly good mood despite my cold. My older brother is moving out this weekend (FINALLY)! Which is good!

This is the chapter you all have been waiting for! Leave me some reviews and you will make my day:D

Disclaimer: No, still do not own Harry Potter

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Broken Dreams

Chapter Four

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Hermione sighed as a single tear slid down her cheek. She looked to the door of the room she'd been held captive in for all this time, waiting for it to open. She had heard painful screams of one of the other prisoners she 'lived' with and was waiting anxiously for their return.

The door burst open violently, Hermione could see the rusty hinges coming loose, but that didn't get her hopes up of an escape; the door was protected by magic. The prisoner she had been waiting for was thrown into the room aggressively, and Hermione could have sworn she heard a crack as the girl landed on the ground. Hermione flinched, but didn't dare go near her. The last time she tried to help someone when they were down she was punished, she couldn't risk it; she needed all the strength she had.

As the door slammed shut, letting her know that it was safe to move she crawled over to the girl lying on the floor.

"Joanne, are you alright?" Although it was a stupid question, she knew that it had to be said.

Joanne coughed, choking from the lack of air that the various spells had induced on her, "I'll live, for now," She replied emotionless as Hermione helped her sit up.

Hermione tried to smile, but it was hard given the situation, "We can't give up…We just can't…"

Joanne simply scoffed, "You can't still believe that!" She bent over in pain but waved Hermione off as she tried to help, "I don't need help! I don't want it! Can't you see? There is no point; we are just going to go through the same thing again, and again, until it kills us. They are killing us slowly, they will never let us go so stop pretending that they will"

Hermione sighed at how bitter she was being, "I never said they were going to let us go…"

"Oh, sorry, you meant 'escape'. Do you really think we stand a chance, we don't even have our wands!"

"Then that shows that they are cowards," Hermione stated whilst standing up, "I know we can escape if we put our minds to it"

"Hermione, you're sweet, but come on! We have been here for two years, don't you think we would have escaped by now if we could?" Joanne said whilst trying to stand up.

Hermione tried to support her, but again she brushed her off, "I'm fine, stop fussing," She said as she made her way slowly to the nearby wall and leant against it.

Hermione looked down to her feet, "It doesn't hurt to try, to have hope, that's what keeps me going," She said solemnly.

"Why do you have so much faith in situations like this?" A voice from the far corner asked.

"Because," Hermione answered, "When I get out of this place, I know there is someone waiting for me"

"Tell me you don't believe that!" Joanne exclaimed, "You think that after two years he will still be waiting?"

Hermione glared at Joanne, "I don't think, I know he is waiting for me"

"I am not trying to put you down, or shatter your hopes I just find it hard to believe that he would wait that long," Joanne simply stated.

"You don't know Ron, so how dare you talk about him in that manner!" Hermione scowled, "He loves me, I know he does!"

"He may have loved you then Hermione," Joanne stated, "But bear in mind that you have been missing for two years, you can't expect him to wait that long in hope that you will return"

"I don't expect him to…"

"But you want him to"

Hermione said nothing in reply, she knew Joanne was right in saying that she couldn't expect him to wait for her; it wouldn't be fair. A silent tear slid down Hermione's cheek at the thought of Ron suffering because he was waiting for her. She hated the thought of him not being able to move on, she couldn't bear knowing that he was unhappy.

"I'm being selfish," Hermione blurted out suddenly which startled Jo.

"What do you mean?"

"Thinking that Ron would wait for me, it's a selfish thing to want. He should move on, I wouldn't want him to suffer or be lonely forever, I don't think I could bear knowing that he will never be happy again…"Hermione stopped as more tears threatened to fall. Jo walked over to her and embraced her in a comforting hug.

"Don't think like that Hermione, it doesn't do you any good. There is no use crying over something that may not be there"

Hermione pulled away and looked at her friend, "How can you be so straightforward with things?"

"It's who I am, I don't show emotion, and don't intend to," Jo simply replied as turned away from Hermione.

"How can you not show your emotions?" Hermione asked, concern showing in her brown eyes.

"Because!" Jo snapped, "Emotions is what got me here in the first place!"

Hermione was taken aback by the sudden outburst. She knew that some people didn't like talking about how they got here; it was too painful for them. She knew Jo wasn't one to express her emotions; she liked to keep them to herself.

Over the past two years that Hermione had been imprisoned here, she had learnt quickly that for everyone to survive, they needed to be open and honest with each other. This proved difficult, with people not wanting to share their thoughts and feelings with people they did not know. Hermione respected this, as she didn't want to reveal too much about herself.

She remembered her last image of the war before she blacked out. She could hear screams from people in pain as they had just been hit by curses whilst people moved constantly, trying not to meet the same fate as those before.

She could remember the last person she saw before she fell unconscious. He was fighting a death eater, firing various hexes to defend himself from attack. His red hair was all over the place and she could see the sweat glowing on his face. He looked so concentrated and determined to help win this battle, which even now she admired. She smiled, glad that her last memory of Ron was of him being strong, she knew that it was his courage and determination that inspired her to keep on going.

Hermione sighed and looked at Jo, who had a frustrated look upon her face, "How can you not express emotions?"

Jo closed her eyes, feeling a small tear forming in her eyes, "Because if I show my emotions, people ask questions, questions that I do not want to answer."

Hermione looked directly at Jo, studying her features. She could see the faint dampness on her eyelashes from the tears she refused to shed. She inwardly sighed, pitying her for not being able to express what she was truly feeling.

"It's ok to cry Jo, we won't think any less of you," Hermione soothed as she rubbed Jo's arm.

Jo flinched and moved away from Hermione, "Don't give me your sympathy, I don't want or need it"

Hermione sighed and was about to say something, but froze as she heard the prison door open.

The evening of Bill's marriage to Fleur was well underway. Music was playing, people were dancing and despite the heavy down pour of rain, everyone seemed to be in high spirits.

Ron was watching Hermione from the far end of the room talking to Ginny. He watched how she smiled at something his sister just said, and as she pushed a loose hair out of her eyes and behind her ear.

Harry noticed this and moved over to his friend with a smirk clear on his face. It was obvious to everyone that Ron and Hermione shared certain chemistry. He knew that despite the arguments and fights they felt deeply for each other.

"Who are you thinking about?" Harry asked causally as he stood beside Ron.

Ron snapped out of his thoughts and turned towards his friend, "What makes you think that?"

Harry chuckled, "The way you look at her," Harry said, indicating towards Hermione.

Tonks now joined Hermione and Ginny, and both young girls had just laughed at something Tonks had said.

The tip of Ron's ears had gone a bright shade of red, "I don't know what you're talking about mate," He replied, hoping Harry hadn't noticed his now red ears.

Harry snorted, "You expect me to believe that you aren't thinking of her, when you have been staring at her for," Harry looked at his watch, "half an hour."

Ron's eyes widened, "I have not been staring at her!" He retorted as the redness was slowly making its way to his cheeks.

"Oh?" Harry asked with a grin, "Then why are you're cheeks going red?"

"It's a hot day, and these robes aren't exactly airy!" Ron protested.

Harry raised an eyebrow at Ron; "You have been watching her for half an hour, why don't you ask her to dance?"

Ron looked at Harry with wide eyes, "Are you mad?" He exclaimed, "I can't ask her to dance with me!"

"Why not?"

"Because!"

"Because?"

"Because," Ron began but he couldn't find a reason as to why he couldn't, "Because…"

Harry placed a hand on his shoulder, "You can't think of a reason can you?"

Ron shook his head, "No…"

"When are you going to tell her?"

Ron looked confused, "What?"

"You heard me, when are you going to tell her?"

Ron gave a short laugh, "Harry, I don't know what you're talking about"

Harry sighed, "Ron you know what I am talking about, everyone knows"

Ron shrugged whilst giving a short laugh, "You can't be serious Harry, you can't be suggesting that!"

Harry looked knowingly at his best friend, "Why is that so hard to believe?"

"Because!" Ron defended, "She's…she's…she's Hermione!"

Harry sighed laughing with frustration into his hands, "Yes, Ron I have established that Hermione is, well Hermione," Harry said as he ran his hands through his messy mop of hair, "What I don't understand is why you keep on denying what you know is true"

"And what would that be Harry?" Ron said with a smirk worthy of Draco Malfoy.

"The fact that you love her," Harry said bluntly.

Ron tried to laugh that comment off but he knew it would be in vain. He could feel his cheeks burning up he tried to hide it, but it was too late; Harry had already seen it.

"HA!"

"What?"

"You love her!" Harry exclaimed pointing at Ron, "You love her!"

Ron's eyes widened, "Keep it down will you!" He snapped as he lowered Harry's hand, "Are you trying to attract attention?"

"You know Ron, you have not once disagreed with me about this," Harry said with a grin on his face.

"I have too!" Ron exclaimed, "Many times!"

Harry arched his eyebrow at his friend, "Oh really? When?"

"Well, when you said…and I said…then you said…"

"You can't think of a time can you?"

Ron looked sheepishly at him, "No…"

"So you admit it then?"

"No"

"No?"

"…No"

"You hesitated, Ron why don't you just admit it?" Harry said with an exasperated sigh.

"There is nothing to admit," He stated whilst trying to ignore the fact that his face could rival his hair.

Harry sighed, "You love her, why is that so hard for you to say?"

"Harry…I couldn't, she couldn't possibly…"

"She does," Harry reassured with a smile.

"How do you know?"

Harry's smile grew, "I can see it, we all can"

"She can't, why would she…"

"She does, and why wouldn't she?" Harry said warmly, "Tell her how you feel"

Ron simply stared at Harry lost in thought. He wasn't sure that Hermione felt the same way he did, he loved her but he had a hard time admitting it to himself. He thought he wasn't good enough for a girl like Hermione. She was everything Ron wanted in a girl, smart, pretty and a lovely smile.

He wanted to tell Hermione how he felt, but he was too scared. He knew that with the war approaching he would have to tell her before it became too late.

Ron had been sent home by Arthur to get some much-needed sleep. After the talk he had had with Arthur he was mentally and physically drained. He was sent home for rest, although he knew he wouldn't be able to relax with images of the dream still fresh in his mind.

He was scared of the dream, not because he knew exactly what had happened to Hermione, but because he knew what she was feeling. He felt like he had let her down, he wasn't there to protect her like he should have done. He knew that she felt let down, she needed help and no one was there to give it to her. She was left to fight her own battle, and because of that it had cost her her freedom. Ron couldn't help but feel responsible.

A/N: Anyone else here the good news? 5ive are making a comeback:D I forgot how much i loved their music till i found their greatest hits stuffed in the back of my cd case, listening them brings back good memories of inflatable aliens and discos:D

Thanks for reading and don't forget to review! Feedback is always appreciated:D

Bluebell Field:)