I stared at the girl before me, the girl who had tricked me, the girl who was causing my heart to tear slowly, painfully, inch by inch, the girl who could mend it. Words pushed at my lips, but they wouldn't come out. I bowed my head, a single tear falling from my eyelashes.
"Yes," I whispered. "I'll do whatever you want. Just – please – just give me back my Doctor."
Hermione took my hand again. Her skin was pale and cold, so cold. I closed my eyes, and when I opened them I was standing in a friendly, round room with a fire crackling merrily in a corner, surrounded by armchairs. Why was the room so cold?
"Him," Hermione said, pointing at a black-haired boy sitting alone in front of the fire. I realised he couldn't see us either. "Tell him I love him."
I stared at her. How could she separate the Doctor and me for something as mundane as a schoolgirl crush? But then I saw her eyes.
"Ok." I walked towards the boy, and as I did I felt myself cross some sort of in visible barrier. The boy looked up.
"Who are you?" he muttered, but I could tell he didn't want an answer. His shoulders were slumped, defeated. I lowered myself into a chair.
"Um. Listen. I have to tell you something," I said. The whole situation was bizarre. "Er. Well. Here goes. Hermione loves you." I put a hand over my mouth to stop myself from laughing. I would see the Doctor.
The boy looked up, his eyes searching me. Then, quite suddenly, he leaned forwards and kissed me, hard, on the lips.
Hermione materialised, fuming.
"Neville!" she screeched.