Chapter 2: A Hell Of A Dream/The Unwanted News

Everybody was there…Cecily, Harry, Ron, and herself. Cecily was yelling at the top of her lungs… "EVERYBODY WANTS ME DEAD!" Cecily shouted, " THE DEATH EATERS…CHO-CHANG… FOR ALL I KNOW… YOU THREE DON'T GIVE A DAMN IF I LIVE OR NOT!"

At that precise moment, Hermione jolted up in her bed in a cold sweat. She felt

like screaming. She took deep breaths as she looked around the room and realized that it thankfully was just a dream.

She looked to her right and saw her clock. It said "4:15 pm"

She felt something pecking her legs and looked down, only to find Nutmeg pecking her legs with a letter tied onto its bony leg.

Without much hesitation, she ripped the envelope open and proceeded to read the letter.

It read:

Dear Hermione,

It was great to hear from you again! Congratulations! Do you want to celebrate? Meet me at the Three Broomsticks in an hour okay? You bring Ron and I'll bring Harry. Then we'll all be together! How about that? I'll see you there!

Cecily

She couldn't believe that she was finally going to see Cecily, her best friend, after all these years. She was so excited. She walked down the hall and saw Ron walking onto the living room. Hermione walked a little bit faster and soon she was right behind him.

"Ron..."Hermione called.

"Yeah 'Mione," Ron replied as he turned around and saw Hermione.

"Cil' wants to meet is at The Three Broomsticks in an hour, it that okay?" Hermione asked.

"Oh Cil'? When did you get a hold of her?" Ron asked, confused.

"I wrote her earlier today," Hermione answered.

"Oh…. It's alright with me…." Ron answered, beginning to make his way

to the front door.

"And she's bringing Harry," Hermione added rather quickly.

Ron froze in his tracks.

Hermione took a deep breath before speaking.

"I know you and Harry got in a fight the last time you guys spoke...but….," there was a silence, "could you two try to get along?" Hermione asked.

"I'll try but I'm not promising anything," Ron answered huffily, and sounding annoyed.

"Thanks Ron… this really means a lot… ," Hermione replied as she gave Ron a peck on the cheek.

"We better get ready," Hermione added.

And with that, Ron nodded in agreement and turned into his flat across the hall.

Hermione picked out a black, long-sleeved v-neck shirt, a nice pair of dark blue jeans, and a decent pair of black boot heels.

She wore her hair half-up, half-down and a silver heart-shaped locket that was given to her by her father the day she moved out was hanging from her neck.

About 6 minutes after dressing, Hermione heard a knock at the door.

It MUST be Ron she thought, smiling as she walked to the front door of her flat .

She opened the door, only to see tears running rapidly down his pale cheeks.

Without even thinking, she walked Ron over to the couch in the living room and let Ron cry on her shoulder.

"Ron… what on earth happened?" Hermione asked in a kind and comforting tone of voice.

It took a while, but Ron managed to explain the whole thing.

"Well…when I got into the flat, I got a phone call," Ron began.

"It was Ginny. She was crying hysterically, so I asked her what all the fuss was about…

and when she calmed down a bit…she said…" Ron continued, cutting himself off as he tried ever so hard not to cry again.

"She said what?" Hermione anxiously asked.

She…she sa-….she said….t-..th-..that mum died." Ron said, beginning to cry.

"How…why?" Hermione asked, tears filling her eyes.

"Dunno… nobody does," Ron said, wiping the tears away from his eyes and cheeks.

"….I can't believe this….," Hermione said, her voice trailing off.

There was silence… then Hermione remembered that Cecily was expecting her at The Three Broonsticks.

"If you don't want to go to The Three Broomsticks, I can write Cecily and cancel," Hermione added.

"No…," Ron said, "We deserve to celebrate." A faint smile appeared on Ron's face.

A smile quickly spread across Hermione's face as she squealed with joy.

"Thank you Ron!" Hermione said as she hugged him tightly and then lightly brushed her lips against Ron's.

"Anytime," Ron replied, now smiling with much content.

He would do anything to make his angel happy.

Ron stood up and started to escort Hermione out of the flat.

"Oooh," she said, "a gentleman today are we?"

"Anything for you 'ermione," Ron answered.