Dear Harry,

I'm sorry that I haven't been able to write much lately; classes have gotten pretty rough. Probably something to do with it being O.W.L year. Hermione's been really great, though; she's really smart, and funny too! I can't believe no-one else wants to hang around her.

But don't tell Fred and George I said that. I'll never hear the end of it. I've got enough of Ginny giggling whenever I mention Hermione. Why does everyone make such a big deal out of me having an awesome friend who happens to be a girl?

Well, anyway; we're going to have a look through the papers this weekend, and try to find out what actually happened to her when she was alive. She doesn't seem to have been a ghost very long, because neither Bill or Charlie ever mentioned her. But, then again, they were only at Hogwarts for two years each. Not sure how they'd be able to miss Hermione, though; she's not very easy to forget. And not just because of being a ghost; it's hard to get a word in edgeways half the time. Not that I mind; she's great to talk to.

Hermione says hello because she hasn't had the chance to meet you yet. You'll have to visit the Hogwarts library the next time you and the Potters are in the country.

Tell your mum that her home-made biscuits are smashing; I ate half of them in one sitting!

Hope all is good with you,

Ron

Ron and Hermione were sat around a table in a deserted section of the library. The table in front of them was covered in various books, portfolios and other current-event texts from the previous two decades.

'It's awfully good of you to ask your brother about it,' Hermione said, cheerfully. The two of them were sat in a quiet corner of the library. 'Although I hope he isn't bothered by it.'

'Nah, Percy loves this sort of stuff,' Ron replied, absentmindedly. 'He's always been a bit of a swot. Loves knowing about everything. Top of every class.'

'You say that like it's a bad thing!'

Ron chuckled, his blue eyes glinting.

'I'm just messing, Hermione,' he said, grinning. 'Besides, I've got six siblings and they're all different as can be.'

'Oh, yes; you mentioned them. So… Bill takes more after your mother, is that correct?'

'Yeah, Bill's the most human out of us. He was tipped to be prefect and head boy at Hogwarts until the vampire registration act came through.'

'That got repealed a couple of years ago, didn't it.'

'Exactly; that's why me and Ginny could stay at Hogwarts for longer than the others.'

'And Ginny takes after Charlie, is that correct?'

'No, the twins take after Charlie. He's the most… vampiric of us all. Can fly and everything. That's why he's able to go toe-to-toe with dragons at the reserve over in Romania.'

'Can the twins fly, then?'

Ron shook his head.

'That'd be like giving a pair of monkeys the keys to a banana factory.'-Hermione let out a giggle at that, which made Ron smile- 'Thankfully, they can just hover a little bit. Otherwise I would have gotten no peace growing up.'

'Can you do that?'

'Fly, you mean? No, but I can see in the dark,' Ron said, quietly. As much as he loved his family, he always did feel overshadowed when it came to them. 'I'm not really human-like or vampire-like. I'm just… me.'

Hermione leaned forward, and laid her hand softly next to Ron's. Ron had the vague sense that her skin would be very soft if she was alive. The bushy-haired witch smiled softly at him.

'There's nothing wrong with being yourself, Ron.'

The two stared at each-other, and Ron felt his ears burn.

Hermione seemed to suddenly realise what she was doing, and pulled her hand away.

'S-so…' Ron started, clearing his throat. 'You definitely only remember Dumbledore being headmaster?'

'Y-yes,' Hermione replied. 'And always that he looked old.'

'You must have been alive fairly recently then. Maybe during the first wizarding war? I remember hearing about students dying…'

'Possibly; it would be nice to know how long I've been a ghost for.'

'You don't think it'll upset you, do you?' Ron asked, hesitantly. 'I mean, finding out about you being alive?...'

'I don't think so,' Hermione said, thoughtfully. 'I suppose I won't know until I find out.'

'Okay, but let me know if you feel you don't want to find out. I'm not gonna force you.'

Hermione nodded.

Taking heart from this, Ron pulled open the 1992 compilation portfolio for The Daily Prophet.

'Isn't that a bit too late?' Hermione asked.

'The way I see it, a Hogwarts student dying probably didn't make the news during the first war,' Ron explained, as he rifled through the pages. 'There was enough fear around; the ministry used to cover up a lot of stuff so the public wouldn't be scared.'

'So, you think my death might have been reported after the war ended?'

'It's possible. At least we have your first name to go on. That, and you being a Gryffindor student.'

Ron swept over the pages, his eyes darting from article to article.

'Anything?'

'Something about Peter Pettigrew turning up alive in Plymouth… the Weird Sisters second album getting bad reviews… Cornelius Fudge in a publicity shot with the Muggle Prime Minister…'

'Thatcher…' Hermione said, looking a little confused. 'Why do I suddenly feel angry?'

'Don't worry; people in Ottery St Catchpole used to say the same… thing...'

Ron trailed off, staring down at another article that was on the next page.

'What?'

'Hogwarts student attacked by basilisk… the ministry is deeply saddened to announce that… that…'

Hermione stared down at the page, her eyes widening.

'That… H-Hermione Granger, muggle-born Gryffindor student… was found d-dead just outside the Hogwarts library…'

Ron looked up, his skin paler than ever, and his eyes beginning to swim with tears.

'R-Ron,' Hermione whispered, reaching out to him. 'Please don't cry…'

'S-sorry,' Ron mumbled, wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his robe. 'This was a bad idea; I s–shouldn't have…'

'No, it's fine, honestly,' Hermione said, earnestly. 'Thank you for helping me find out. Please don't be upset-'

'I've walked right past the place you died everytime I came in here!' Ron exclaimed. 'The place where my friend died… how could I…'

'You didn't know!' Hermione shot back. 'Wait, you consider me your friend?'

'Course,' Ron said, wiping his eyes.

'Thank you, Ron,' Hermione said. 'I consider you my friend too.'

Ron smiled.

Suddenly, Hermione's eyes filled with tears.

'What's wrong?'

'My p-parents… I just remembered…' Hermione sobbed. 'Muggles can't see ghosts, so they'll never be able to meet me again.'

Ron leaned closer to her.

'Hey, you can have my family. I understand if you don't want Percy, but still…'

Hermione giggled softly.

Without thinking, Ron reached forward and put his arms around Hermione in a hug. At least, he assumed he wouldn't be able to touch her.

But he did.

While she wasn't as solid as most ghosts were, she seemed to have a certain solid-ness that prevented Ron's arms from going straight through her.

'How… what…?'

The two of them stared at each-other in shock.

'You're… but ghosts can't be touched by humans…'

'B-because they're the imprint of a departed soul. Being still slightly solid means… means…'

'You didn't die completely?'

'I don't know. How… how is that even possible?

Several hundred miles away, in a private ward in St Mungos', two healers were making their rounds. They stopped next to a bed surrounded by a curtain.

'This is one of our most peculiar cases,' the senior healer explained to their junior. 'That's why we keep them separate from all of the other long-term patients.'

Pulling the curtain across, the senior healer checked the potions that were being administered by a drip to the patient.

'Poor girl,' the younger healer said, sadly.

The senior healer nodded in mute agreement.

'She's been like this for several years now. Some sort of magically-induced coma. We've been unable to help her regain consciousness, but all we can do is make sure she's comfortable and safe until she wakes up via her own accord.'

The bushy-haired girl slept on, her chest lightly rising and falling as if in deep slumber.