Warnings: Nothing to warn you about yet. At least I don't think so…

Disclaimer: I am thrilled to say that I own nothing except for the plot.

Stupid Memories: Part 1

When Hermione saw Madame Pomfrey, the old mediwitch said that nothing was wrong. Harry didn't seem to think so.

"She had a seizure! She was screaming and her whole body was shaking!"

"Mr. Potter, I have done a thorough exam on her," she snapped.

After calming down a bit she continued, "I know you are worried, but at this moment, I can not find anything wrong with her."

"So you don't know what caused her to have a seizure?" he said rudely and she got annoyed with him.

"It was a hallucination, not a seizure. She told me she saw several different things, though she can't really remember what they were. She is lucid, there's no memory loss, and she has a headache."

She began scribbling something down on a bit of parchment.

"But what if it happens again?" he asked forcefully.

"Have someone call me so I can see what's going on while it's happening. I gave her a potion for the headache and sleep. I am also sending a note to the teachers that she needs a day of rest and that you are going to look after her today in case something else happens," she looked at Harry with a sad smile, "she's going to be fine, dear."

Harry nodded as he looked over at Hermione. She had given him a right scare.

Hermione was sitting on the hospital bed with the curtains half-drawn. She remembered every bit of what she saw and hated to lie about it but she just didn't want to tell Madame Pomfrey. She certainly didn't want to tell Harry, or anyone else for that matter. Her curiosity was now engaged.

"What does it all mean?" she thought.

She heard Pomfrey's footsteps.

"Here is the sleeping potion. I made sure it's a dreamless potion so you will have a good night's sleep. There is two days worth in this bottle, and I think that's everything. If you have any other problems, dear, you know where I am."

"Thank you Madame Pomfrey," she said politely as took the bottle.

She got off the bed and walked over to Harry, who looked a little pale.

"Poor Harry. After all that happened this summer he doesn't need this."

"You look like you're the one that needs to be in here," she joked.

"Oh shut it. Are you feeling alright?" he asked as they walked out.

"Yeah, I feel a lot better actually. I guess I'm just a little tired."

He seemed to only half believe her.

"Come on," she continued, "we need to get back to our classes."

"Madame Pomfrey sent a note to the teachers that you need rest and I'm to watch you."

She groaned impatiently.

"But today was a big Transfiguration lesson! It's going to be on the test next week! And I missed the rest of Potions! Then the History of Magic midterm is in a month! Not to mention the…"

"Take a breath Hermione!" he said loudly, "this is what caused your black out. You put yourself under too much stress. Please, just do what Pomfrey and I say. Give yourself a break."

"But I feel fine, Harry! Nothing is wrong with me."

"You don't know that. Please, just rest for today. We can do anything you like."

"I'd like to go classes," she hissed.

"Except that. We can sit by the lake, we can go have lunch in Hogsmeade, or whatever you like."

She gave in. It had been months since the war ended and they never really talked about it. Maybe this could be a good thing.

"Fine. Hogsmeade sounds like fun."

She saw Harry smile and that was enough to make her happy that she gave in.

"Thank you," he said as he gave her a hug.

They continued walking and saw that classes were out for lunch. A tall, blonde, someone walked self-importantly towards them.

"We could even do some shopping. You know, there's a new…"

At any other time, she would have paid no attention to him. But the hallucination was still so fresh and clear in her mind that she couldn't keep her eyes off him.

He caught her staring and gave her a look that said, "take a picture…" as he walked past them. Then it felt as if every eye in the hall was staring at her. Had word of the incident gotten round that quickly?

"…It's supposed to have…Hermione? Are you ok?"

"Hmm? Oh yeah, I just zoned out for a minute. You were saying?"

"I was talking about a new shop that opened up next to the Three Broomsticks."

"Oh I am sorry, Harry. My mind wandered."

He continued to look at her worriedly, but she pressed on.

"We should get going if you want to get to that shop."

"Yeah…"

They sat together drinking large mugs of hot chocolates in the Three Broomsticks. So far, it had been pleasant enough. Turns out that the new shop was an Owlry. Hedwig had been missing since Harry's last visit to his Aunt and Uncle's. He still wasn't ready to replace her yet. But he was doing a good job of helping Hermione forget what happened in Potions. Laughing at the past tends to do that.

"I still remember the first time we met on the train. I can't believe how long ago it seems," she said, "but I have to say, that even though Voldemort's now gone, I kind of liked those simpler times, you know? Being a kid."

Harry chuckled as he wrapped his cold fingers around the warm mug, "I don't think anything in our lives have ever been simple, Hermione. Though I miss staying up late, trying to finish homework while trying to keep Ron awake so he could finish his. We used to make up dreams for Divination. We killed ourselves off several times a month, you know."

"You two were always slackers," she replied with a small smile as she took a drink from her cup, "Do you remember how bight red he'd get if he was embarrassed or angry? Oh I do miss that," she recalled fondly.

"You should have seen his face when you arrived at the Yule Ball fourth year, attached to Krum's arm. He looked about ready to explode."

"Oh, poor Ron. I had forgotten all about that," she said laughing, "He always did have a quick temper. I really do miss him." Her smile faded.

It was then that the reminiscing became hard. Ron died in the war. Neither Hermione nor Harry knew who or what killed him and it remained a painful mystery.

"Yeah, I miss him too."

"Harry, you know, we've never really talked about it. The war, Ron's death."

"And we don't need to," he said sharply.

"Yes, we do," she replied a little angrily, "it's has been five months since you've killed Voldemort, since we've lost Ron. But we haven't spoken a word about it. Sooner or later Harry, we need to deal with it."

After a long silence, Hermione felt that she needed to change the subject.

"How are your Aunt and Uncle? Do they still live on Privet Drive?"

Harry took a long sip of his drink.

"I don't know how they're doing. Hey, I just happen to have a deck of cards. Let's play some cards," he said quickly, not looking her in the eyes.

Hermione was upset with Harry and wondered why he didn't want to talk about the Dursley's, but a game did sound a little more fun than dragging up more memories.

"How 'bout it? Poker?" he said shuffling.

"Real money?"

"Wouldn't have it any other way."

"Deal them," she said with a mischievous smile.

When they finally returned to their dorms, Hermione's pocket was a little lighter than she wanted it to be, but she at least was able to forget about Potions. It took a good deal of effort to make Harry believe that she was all right and that she would be fine. All of this was until she saw the boy that plagued her mind sitting on the couch in the Head's Common Room.

She actually took a second to study him; his clean, aristocratic face, his long stature. He might have even been attractive to her if he wasn't such an ass every moment he had the chance. But he neither looked nor acted any different than usual. In fact, she thought he was much more of an ass these days than he had been before the summer's events.

"What?"

She was so busy in thought that she hadn't noticed him looking at her rather peculiarly. She was staring again.

"Nothing," she said in a sort of rude tone.

"Then why were you staring at me?"

"I was not staring at you. I was merely looking in your general direction."

"Uh huh," he said looking at the fireplace. Or was it something on the table in front of it?

Something in her stirred ever so slightly. He looked almost dejected. This slight sensation kept telling her to ask what was wrong.

"Malfoy?"

He looked at her with furrowed brows.

"Is there…oh never mind," she said as she shook her head and walked into her room for some sleep, leaving him there.

A/N: Hopefully you've at least made it to this chapter. I feel like the first one gave away too much because right at the beginning you know what the hallucination is showing her, at least you should. I don't know that it will go the way you guys think it's going, but I don't want to say too much because anything I say will automatically tip you off as to what happens in the end. I've got a few ideas for the ending and for the story in general. But if you've got questions/comments/ideas, I will always reply and give you as much info as possible.

If you feel compelled to review, please don't hold back. This story, for me, is supposed to be "theraputic," and that is why I am writing it. It's how I deal with things in my life, to write. I understand that you don't want to spend time reviewing something you don't find very interesting, but it would be such a big help if you would just take a minute and drop a line and give me your impressions. How do I know what to change if you don't tell me anything? I hope you can bear with me for long enough to find out how it ends.