Chapter 10 - Reconciled

Hermione Granger usually woke up abruptly, jumping out of bed and beginning the day right away. But not today, not this Saturday. She opened her eyes begrudgingly as the piercing light shone through. She had had an awful night's sleep; tossing and turning, unable to find a satisfactory position for sleep to consume her. She rolled over groggily and glanced at her desk calendar that sat on her bed side table.

March the first. Hermione closed her eyes and sighed, it was a day in Hermione's life that meant so much. She had spent the last five 'March the firsts' celebrating a certain someone's birthday. But not today. She rolled over again, reluctantly sitting up. Her stomach rumbled, she had clearly worked up an appetite by moving constantly through the night. She glanced at the time, it wasn't too late to go and catch breakfast at the Great Hall. So she got dressed quickly and headed down.

Hermione was bewildered for a moment; neither Ginny or Harry seemed to be at the Great Hall. Not even Ron, she frowned upon herself for subconsciously trying to sought him out. She put her suspicions aside, they had probably eaten earlier than Hermione and were probably already out on the pitch for training.

She sat down towards the end of the table, grabbing her routine bowl of porridge and topping it with strawberries and blueberries. The Great Hall was as noisy as ever, it was Saturday after all so no one had any lessons to attend to. Naturally, the overall energy was higher and happier to have met the weekend. Looking around the room, absently, Hermione nearly didn't notice how worried her Herbology teacher looked; Professor Sprout was walking past the long tables alongside Professor McGonagall. The Herbology professor was carrying a large bottle of some wine, Hermione thought, possibly mead. Both teachers looked highly distressed and Hermione wondered why, her answer was found very quickly, though, as the two professors passed her, not acknowledging any students around them, let alone Hermione.

"And how much did the boy ingest, Professor?" The women conveniently stopped before Hermione, Professor McGonagall scanning the large hall, Professor Sprout examining the bottle in her hands. Hermione did her best not to make any sudden movements, pausing her own breathing in order to hear their exchange.

"Only a glass full, Pomona." McGonagall informed.

Professor Sprout gasped. "The poison must've been illegal for it to be so lethal! And what state is Mr Weasley currently in?" She asked, concernedly, her voice drifting off as her and McGonagall continued their path. There was one person who heard her though.

Hermione's heart plunged into her stomach, only after the words had sliced it. No, this isn't true. He's got to be okay. He can't be..be...Tears were already pricking her eyes but Hermione didn't pause for a single moment. She shot up, almost involuntarily and sprinted out of the Great Hall, her legs only increasing in speed. She must've passed many puzzled faces, but the rest of the world was like a blank void to Hermione as she headed straight for the Hospital Wing. She might've second guessed whether that was where he really was, but she had a feeling and that was enough to pull her there. Her ears were clouded with the sound of her heart pumping, and a lump the size of a bludger lodged in her throat, causing a lot of pain, but Hermione ignored it.

Bursting through the oak doors, Hermione headed for the only bed with people around it. Harry and Ginny stood beside it, but Hermione had hardly acknowledged them. Instead, she dropped to her knees beside the limp form of the boy she loved. He looked paler than she had ever seen him, dark circles under his closed eyes. Hermione quickly, but gently grasped his hand.

"What happened?" She nearly mouthed, a sob racking her body.

"He took a love potion, a pretty strong one. It was in the form of chocolate cauldrons so naturally, Ron ate the lot. I rushed him to Slughorn, where he received a remedy. Slughorn insisted that we celebrated his birthday with an old mead he had just bought. Ron was the only one to take a sip, and the next thing I knew he had dropped to the floor and was fidgeting manically. I knew something wasn't right. I read something about poison antidotes in that old Potions text book, and quickly retrieved a Bezoar that I forced down his throat. He's okay. Madam Pomfrey said that he'll be here for a few days, though, the poison was intended to kill." Harry informed, dryly, as if he had recited the sorrowful story a few times by now. Ginny knelt beside Hermione as Harry recollected what had happened. Hermione nodded to signify she had understood; he was okay. She had never been so happy to study the way someone's chest rose and fell.

"Mum, Dad and the twins were here earlier but they went home this morning. Mum and Dad are coming back later. Madam Pomfrey says that we are free to stay here but she says it's better that there's less people around him." Ginny informed.

"C-Can I stay?" Hermione whispered. "I know I'm the last person he wants to see right now but I-"

"Stay." Ginny said firmly. "Harry and I should really be getting down to the field anyway. If he wakes up, tell him he needs to drink as much as he can. There's a Dreamless Sleep potion on his bedside which will help him get a better sleep. Madam Pomfrey says he needs as much sleep as possible. If you see Mum, will you tell them where we are?"

"Of course." Hermione ensured, her stare not leaving Ron.

"Thanks, Hermione." Ginny added and the next noise that Hermione heard was the sound of the great doors closing.

Hermione moved into the chair beside his bed, never letting his hand go. Watching the steady movement of his breathing made Hermione's heart ache. Reflecting over the past few months of her life, Hermione couldn't believe how petty and immaturely she had acted. Ignoring him for four months just because someone else had taken an interest in him? She had behaved absolutely preposterously. New tears brimmed her eyes as she thought about the fact that he could've d- been taken from her, instantly, and he would never know how much she loved him. He would only know of how awful she was to him.

Minutes turned into hours but Hermione didn't so much as leave his side. Ron was still yet to wake up, but stirred occasionally which caused Hermione to sit right up, even straighter and more alert than she was already sat. Hermione almost smiled at the fact no matter how hard he stirred, he never let go of her hand.

It must've been about one o'clock in the afternoon by the time Mr and Mrs Weasley had arrived. Hermione broke her gaze from Ron for the first time in hours. His mother looked subdued but mostly okay, as did his father.

"Hermione," Mrs Weasley greeted in a soft voice. "How are you, dear?"

"I'm okay, thank you. How are you both?" She returned the question with a sad, sympathetic smile.

"We're fine, love. Just bumped into Ginny and Harry. Thank you for looking after Ron." Mr Weasley responded. Hermione felt guilty at how gratefully they both smiled at her. What if they had known about how she had ignored him ruthlessly for the last few months?

Hermione could only smile back again. The two older wizards sat on the other side of Ron's bed, who only stirred a couple of times more in the next half hour. They sat mostly in silence, exchanging questions from time to time. The two asked Hermione about Italy, she felt guilty again as they gushed about how much they would love to visit the place themselves. Hermione wished she could tell them that she would rather have been at The Burrow for Christmas, but that would've only raised questions as to why she wasn't, and Hermione wasn't ready to explain why. She doubted she would ever be able to come to terms with how childishly she had acted.

Molly Weasley was in a state of distraught when she had rushed to the castle at about a few minutes past midnight on her youngest son's seventeenth birthday. His pale and ill complexion caused her heart to break, only calmed slightly by the words that he would be okay. Now, as she sat beside the bed again, the Weasley matriarch was happy to see that Hermione had taken up looking after him. It assured her of her worries that her son and his wonderful best friend were indeed on good terms. Her heart warmed at the sight of Hermione holding his hand, she nudged her husband subtly and motioned with her eyes where the two young teenagers' hands were joined. Arthur smiled at the sight, too.

More time passed and Mr and Mrs Weasley made their farewells before leaving, sharing that due to the safety precautions Dumbledore had set around the castle, they would only be able to return once more in the next week, in which time Ron should've recovered fully. Hermione smiled and waved them off, never releasing Ron's hand, although her own was starting to become sticky with sweat.

Madam Pomfrey had been back and forth a couple of times to check up on the sleeping Ron, but aside from that no one had bothered them, up until now. Hermione winced as the now infuriatingly shrill voice of Lavender sounded through the doors.

"My Won Won!" She cried as she rushed to the hospital bed. "What on earth are you doing here?" She squealed.

"Shhh." Hermione reprimanded. "He needs sleep. Undisturbed sleep." She scowled.

"That doesn't answer my question." Lavender spat, but did lower her voice this time. "Why are you here?"

"Excuse me? I am his best friend, of course I am here." Hermione scowled further.

Lavender snorted. "Best friend? Don't be daft, you've been ignoring him for the last four months!" Hermione wished she could retaliate but had nothing to say. "And why hadn't anyone told me until now that my boyfriend had nearly died?!" Hermione winced at the words that clearly mattered mountains more to her than to the horrible brat beside her.

"I don't know, Lavender. I haven't left his side since I've seen him. It's no one else's business." Hermione retorted.

"No one else's business?! He's my boyfriend! Or have you forgotten that I'm the one he's been spending his time with? You've just been using this as a chance to steal him from me!" Lavender accused.

Hermione was so angry that if she wasn't the exact shade of a tomato at this moment she would've been utterly shocked. How on earth could even that bimbo turn something so horrendous into something so petty and awful? But before Hermione could express her anger, a mutter came from behind her shoulder which made her heart lapse. She snapped her head back swiftly.

"Ermynee." Ron made the same incoherent sound a few times before Hermione or Lavender could decipher what he was trying to say. He shifted himself up slightly, Hermione was astounded by his strength. She quickly handed him his glass of water, he accepted with his free hand, keeping his other one placed in her hand, maybe without even noticing. The next time he made the sound, both Hermione and Lavender had seemed to hear loud and clear what he had said this time. Both had complete opposite facial reactions, however.

Hermione's heart melted at the single word. But it wasn't just a word, it was a name. Her name. Lavender's face was a perfect picture of scornful rage. She had her hands on her hips so quickly that she must've inflicted some sort of pain to herself. Ron's eyes were half open, still heavy with his half wakeful, half sleepy state. His head was tilted however, and he was looking at Hermione. She thought she would cry again, this time of pure happiness.

"Ron." Hermione all but whispered. "How do you feel?"

Ron shrugged his shoulders. "I've had better days."

"Better birthdays?" Hermione smiled, weakly.

"Oh yeah." Ron chuckled with even less strength.

"Ahem." Lavender cleared her throat in clear frustration. Both Hermione and Ron looked at her with confused expressions, as if they were both bewildered by why she was till there. Lavender's expression seemed to soften, randomly, however when she locked eyes with Ron. "I'm here now, Won Won!" She cried, running to the side of the bed that Hermione wasn't sitting beside, throwing her arms around him.

Ron winced in clear pain and Hermione could've thrown the stupid witch off of him. "Lavender!" She reprimanded instead. "He is still recovering and weak! You can't just throw yourself at him."

Lavender retreated, quickly. "Sorry, Won Won. I just can't keep my hands off of you! Especially when I find out that I could've lost you!"

Hermione rolled her eyes, but couldn't suppress the smirk that emerged when she realised that Ron was very much unnerved by the sudden out pour. "Well, I think we ought to be alone now." Lavender said rather pointedly to Hermione, who furrowed her eyebrows in disbelief. Lavender would have to drag Hermione from this very bed herself if she wanted that to happen. Luckily, Ron spoke for her, delighting Hermione's heart.

"Actually, Lavender. I really don't feel too well. I think I'm just gonna head off to sleep again. Hermione can stay.. if she wants." His eyes returned to Hermione at that last part of the comment.

"Oh. I see. I see perfectly." Lavender said bitterly, and as dramatically as ever. Both Ron and Hermione seemed to ignore her. "Stop ignoring me, Ron!" She essentially shrieked. Ron finally turned his head to her, who was now standing at the bottom of his bed.

"What?" Ron almost groaned.

"What?" Lavender echoed, astonished. "What? I am your girlfriend. That is what. And you should be asking me to stay. Not her!" Ron didn't answer, but sighed heavily. "And you really have nothing else to say to me?! Right. I am going to give you a choice. Either she leaves right now. Or I do. For good." She finished, folding her arms.

"Lavender, seriously? He is still frail. Why can't you just be happy that he's okay?" Hermione asked but Lavender ignored her.

As pathetically dramatic Hermione thought Lavender had been, she did turn her head to scan Ron's face. Her sudden rising fear was slightly extinguished as she watched Ron's emotionless expression. "Well?" Lavender persisted, her voice was more anxious now, clearly expecting Ron to simply abolish Hermione and declare his love for Lavender - which he very much hadn't. "Is it me, or her?"

"Her." He shrugged, simply. Nothing else. No attempt to explain his answer. No attempt to keep Lavender there. Hermione felt her heart swell with happiness, something she hadn't felt in months. She would've felt guilty for Lavender, who she could now hear sobbing and running away, if she wasn't such an awful person, Hermione reasoned.

Ron's head was pounding. He didn't know whether he was awake or asleep. All he did know was that his head ached beyond imagination. He tried his best to open his eyes properly, but his vision was still blurry. Carefully, he sat up, rubbing his eyes gently to try and gather his surroundings. He was still in the Hospital Wing. Ron vaguely remembered drinking the poisonous liquid, but everything after that was pretty much a hazy blur. He did remember something, though.

He had no idea where he was, or if he was even alive. He'd be sure he was dead if it wasn't for the grip he felt on his hand. With all his strength, he looked down to where his hand was, and he couldn't believe the sight. The bracelet was unmistakable but he didn't need that to recognise the dainty hand. He followed the hand that joined him with his eyes, considerably shocked to confirm the owner of the hand was indeed Hermione. He then glanced around the room, she was talking to someone. No, arguing with someone? The point was, Ron did definitely hear something and it wasn't just in his dream. He almost groaned when he saw that Lavender was the one that Hermione was arguing with. She was probably the last person either of them wanted to see right now.

With even more strength, Ron tried to call Hermione's name. But he was shocked to find that his words were not coming out clearly, no matter how hard he strained his scratchy throat. Hermione snapped her attention to him, handing over a glass of water that he gratefully received. He watched Hermione, like she did him and from the adoration on her face, Ron momentarily forgot where he even was.

He was quickly brought down to earth, though, by the shrill voice of the girl who he had been avoiding as much as possible for the last two months. From what he could remember of that conversation was that he didn't participate that much and that it was mostly just Lavender whining at him. He did remember what she had asked him, though, and without a second thought he chose Hermione over her.

That's where his memory stopped however, he assumed that he must've fallen asleep again. After recollecting what happened maybe hours, possibly days ago, Ron frantically glanced around his bed to find her, he was immediately pleased to see that she was indeed still there; as if she had never left. Her hand was still grasping his, but the other one was bustling through a basket of phials. Ron weakly smiled as he watched her expression, the same one she wore in class when she was working at her hardest.

Hermione was so focused on trying to find a potion for his sore voice in the mix of jumbled phials Madam Pomfrey had given her, that she had barely noticed Ron tilting his head and watching her. She finally found a phial that read 'Throat Soother', with a smile she looked up and that's when she realised, with a gasp, that he was indeed awake.

"Did I wake you?" She asked nervously as she put down the basket with a rush, retrieving another glass of water for him.

Ron shook his head with a small smile, accepting the glass of water thirstily. "What day is it?" He asked groggily, finally finding his voice.

"Sunday, the second." Hermione answered. Her expression was worried.

"Are you okay?" Ron asked, sitting up properly.

"Are you?" She asked incredulously, finding it amusing that he was the one asking her if she was okay, when he was the one who had been poisoned.

Ron shrugged. "Don't think I've ever slept so much in my life."

"How does your head feel?" Hermione asked as if she could read his mind.

"Like a bludger has just been launched right at it."

Hermione chuckled softly, picking up another phial from his bedside. "Here. Drink all of it." She instructed. Ron took it and drank it, watching her closely. As his memory returned to him, he couldn't recall them ever making up. He wasn't complaining though, he had missed her so much.

"How long have you been sitting there?" He asked.

Hermione could feel herself flush. As far as he was aware she was still angry with him, but here she was confessing that she had spent the last two days of her life a slave to his bedside, where she would stay. "Well it's about two now and Madam Pomfrey only let me in from nine, so about five hours."

"Five hours?! That must've been bloody boring. How long were you here for yesterday?"

"How much can you remember?"

"Bits and pieces. I remember arguing with Lavender." He answered quite casually, Hermione was filled with anticipation the moment he woke up about whether or not he would bring that up.

"Oh, what do you remember from that, exactly?" She asked cautiously.

Ron shrugged his shoulders in genuine confusion and then felt himself blush as he remembered, clearly, how that argument ended. His mind then wandered back to the question he was dying to know the answer of; why on earth was she here when she hated him? Evidently, she was having similar thoughts as she stood up quickly, patting down her skirt in an attempt to look busy.

"I should go get you some more water." She stated.

"Hermione."

"How is your head feeling? I could get another potion for that, too?"

"Hermione."

"I actually think that Harry and Ginny will be here soon, so I should go find chairs for them."

"Hermione." Ron sighed as he looked to her, she was pacing beside his bed but came to a halt at his third attempt of grasping her attention. "Why are you here?" He finally asked.

Hermione felt the impending nerves as he repeated her name. She didn't really know why she had become so nervous, maybe it was because she was about to reveal the truth, which she knew that from Ron's perspective wouldn't coincide very well with her recent behaviour. But hopefully she could explain why she was acting so seemingly irrational.

She sat down back in her chair, this time though she didn't take his hand. The notion that she did without a question earlier and the day before seemed impossible now. She could barely look at him. But there was only one way to express her feelings, and if the recent events of her life - especially Ron's poisoning - had taught her anything, it was that there was no time to beat around the bush.

"I couldn't believe it." She began, gazing unseeingly at the corner of the duvet on the bed. "I was in the Great Hall, when I heard Professor Sprout and Professor McGonagall talking about it. I knew something was awfully wrong the second I saw them. They only spoke vaguely about it but it was enough. I can't quite comprehend how I felt. I don't think there's a word that truly expresses it. I just knew I had to come and see you, no matter if I was angry with you, no matter if you were with someone else, I just had to come and see you. Be by your side." Once she finished her confession, she finally met his gaze, she couldn't decipher what emotion his eyes were holding. He just looked so engrossed in what she was saying. Not like when she was rambling on about S.P.E.W or what he hadn't yet included in his Charms essay.

"And then I saw you." She continued, a lump rising in her throat as she looked away from him again. "I saw you lying there, so unwell, as white as a ghost. For a millisecond I thought you were.." Hermione couldn't finish that sentence. "And then I remember grabbing your hand and it was warm and your chest was rising and falling with every inhale and exhale and... and that's when I realised how stupidly I had been acting." She looked back up at him now, her eyes glittering with pending tears. "I'm so sorry, Ron. I've been acting so immaturely as of late. It was just too hard for me. Seeing you make someone else smile, someone else laugh, someone else feel so adored. I couldn't do it. It broke my heart." She gasped as Ron took her hand, tears brimming his own eyes. There she was, her heart on the line for anyone to see.

"I'm sorry, Hermione. For so long I wasn't honest with anyone about how I felt. I was lying to everyone; Lavender, myself, you." Ron confessed. "You have no idea how much I missed you these last few months. I felt lost, I mean, just look who I invested my bloody time in." He smiled, softly. Hermione smiled back at him though her tears at his attempt of levity.

"I missed you too." She confessed. He squeezed her hand, a notion she hadn't experienced in so long, too long.

"Can we just go back the way we were, please?" He asked, his voice and eyes held such pleading that caused Hermione's heart to stop. The only issue was that Hermione had no idea what 'the way we were' was. But what she did know was that she couldn't be happier to have her best friend, albeit a complicated friendship, back. She smiled and sighed with relief as she nodded her head. He gleamed back at her but they were abruptly interrupted by Madam Pomfrey approaching.

When Hermione climbed into bed that night, she couldn't help but smile up at the canvas. She hadn't felt this happy in months, possibly years, possibly her whole life.