So, things start to get a bit more intence now! (grins evily)


Chapter 16

There was a pounding in her head, she tried to ignore it but she couldn't. She brought her hand to her forehead and rubbed, it didn't do anything, but it was a natural reaction and was worth a try.

She rolled over and pulled the duvet off herself. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and sat up. She went to stand but as her feet hit the floor her head gave a painful throb. Her knees buckled and she slid to the soft carpet, back resting against the side of her bed.

She stretched her foot out and felt it touch something, another person's foot. She reached out and followed the line of the limb with her hand until she reached a knee. She felt the same happening on her knee; a comfortable weight was resting on it. She took her hand off the knee and grasped around in the air for the hand. By instinct she knew where it was and grasped it, at the same time the other hand did the same.

A throb of pain went through her head and she grasped the hand tighter. They pulled towards the other and their foreheads touched. Instantly the pain receded and her other hand found the back of the person's neck holding their heads together, frightened that the pain would return if they lost contact.

She felt their breath on her face. Their breathing pace matched. After a minute of just sitting, foreheads touching all the while, their breathing slowed as the pain died. But neither of them wanted to move. They were comfortable.

They felt the need to sleep wash over them. The hands that were holding the other's heads made their way down their arms and met in front of them, grasping firmly but gently. They carefully laid down, still opposite each other and still holding hands and made themselves comfortable on the carpeted floor.

A minute later they were asleep.

…oooOOOooo…

Hermione woke up but didn't open her eyes. There was a dull ache in her head, but nothing she couldn't ignore. She didn't want to move, she liked being in bed.

She shifted position and frowned when she didn't feel the softness of the mattress she was used to. In fact, she felt a bit uncomfortable.

She flexed her fingers and then realised she was holding something.

Startled she opened her eyes. What she saw made her heart skip a beat. Two bright blue eyes were staring back at her, and they looked as shocked and confused as she felt.

She sat up in an instant but regretted the sharp movement when her head throbbed and she cricked her neck, not surprising really, considering she had slept on the floor.

'Aah!' Ron said as he too sat up.

Hermione's head gave another throb and then a pain shot through her scull and down her neck. She involuntarily grabbed Ron's shoulder and squeezed it as the pain ran through her.

'Her…Hermione…what's…what's going on? My head…really hurts.'

'Mine…mine too,' she replied through gritted teeth.

'Why won't it st…stop?' Ron asked.

'I don't know…I don't know how to make it better…either!'

'Wait…' Ron said, trying to concentrate through the pain. 'I remember…turn around!'

'What?'

Her natural reactions turned her head to look at him but that only made the pain in her head worse.

'Ah!' she whimpered.

Her grip on Ron's shoulder intensified.

'Hermione, come on, turn round to face me. This'll work, I know it will!'

Trying her best to ignore the stabbing pain in her head she shuffled round so she was facing Ron.

Through her watery eyes she looked into his. His hand found the back of her head and he pulled it towards his own.

Hermione resisted his movement, unsure as to what he was doing. Her eyes widened.

'Ron…what are you doing?'

'Just trust me…please Hermione. I know this will work.'

She thought for a second and nodded her head an inch.

Ron slowly pulled her forehead to his and when their skin touched Hermione felt instant relief.

She sighed as the pain left her.

Ron's hand slid down to the back of her neck and rested it there.

'Did it work for you as well?' he asked quietly.

'Yes. Thank you.'

'No problem.'

Hermione looked into his eyes for a second before dropping them to the T-shirt Ron was wearing. It was oat coloured and the bottom hem was fraying. She had seen him in it at the Burrow and Grimmauld Place when he had staggered downstairs for some breakfast. Not awake enough to get dressed but awake enough to know he was hungry and get himself what he wanted.

She chanced another quick glance at his eyes, but when she found he was staring back at her, her glance dropped once again and she felt herself blush.

Her nose was only a centimetre from his and it would only take a small movement from either of them for them to share a kiss. At the thought Hermione tensed and she realised she was still holding Ron's shoulder. She didn't want to let go though, she felt safe.

Ron was resolutely staring at the piece of cotton that was trailing from his T-shirt and with his spare hand he started twirling it round his finger. Realising where his other hand was still sat he tensed but didn't move it. He knew if he did Hermione would pull back, and something was telling him – gut instinct probably – that losing this physical contact would cause them both pain, and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt Hermione.

He was ignoring how close their noses and mouths were, he knew Hermione wouldn't be thinking these thoughts. This wasn't the time to start thinking about the two freckles that resided on Hermione's face, one on the right side of her nose, the other on the left side of her top lip, this was the time to be mature and try and rectify the situation they had found themselves in, and try and work out how to get downstairs for some help.

He cleared his throat and he felt Hermione tense under his hand.

'Er…so I guess, what I thought was a dream last night, wasn't actually one. When I thought I was dreaming, climbing out of bed and collapsing on the floor in pain, and finding comfort in er…you…I was actually doing it.'

Hermione went to nod her head but stopped herself when she had pushed both their heads down a fraction. Ron smiled at the gesture.

'Apparently I was too!' she replied. 'It was strange, I didn't think I was awake but the fact that I actually thought that must show I was on some level.'

'Yeah,' Ron agreed. 'I suppose so.'

Hermione's brow furrowed as she concentrated. Ron smiled when he felt the skin next to his forehead move. He knew she was thinking and trying to work out what was happening.

'So…er…what do you think's going on then?' he asked.

'I can only think that this is a side-effect of the potion, but I'm worried as to how much pain we were in, and the fact that we can only seem to stop it by doing this.'

'Yeah, it is a bit…worrying.'

'Of course it could mean that this is coming to an end, like it's side effects of the connection breaking, that's why we're in pain. I don't know though.'

'Trouble is, I don't think anyone else'll know either. We do seem to be a bit of a unique case,' he said with a smile.

He raised his head a fraction and the end of their noses touched.

Their eyes met for a second before both of them tilted their heads down and looked at the floor.

'Yes…yes we do.'

'Do you want to risk trying to get up? As much as I don't really want to see the hospital wing, I think we should tell someone about this, and at the very least we'll need something to control the pain if it doesn't stop. I don't know about you but I'm not a fan of throbbing temples and shooting pains through my skull!'

Hermione smiled. 'No, me neither.'

'Right, well, can I make a suggestion?'

'Please do.'

'Well if we pull apart and it doesn't hurt then we just pull our cloaks on and go to the hospital wing. It's still dark so it's pretty early, not many people should be wandering the corridors so hopefully no one will question us. I don't think we should dawdle if we are pain free, who knows if and when it'll come back.'

'Good idea.'

'So, stand, cloaks, hospital wing.'

'Stand, cloaks, hospital wing,' Hermione repeated with a smile. 'Sounds good to me.'

'Right then…ready?'

'Er…yes, but- in case we both pass out as soon as we stand up, I just want to say…thanks.'

'What for?'

'For keeping your head earlier and realising what would make the pain go away.'

She lifted her eyes and they locked on his. He lifted his head and it slid across hers so their noses where side by side. They stayed there for a few seconds before Hermione shifted back to where they had been previously, although it was the last thing she wanted to do.

'Er…'sokay. So er…ready?'

'Yes.'

They both took a deep breath and pulled their heads apart a fraction, both bracing themselves for the pain to return. But it didn't and they slowly moved apart from each other. Ron stood up and Hermione followed, swaying slightly before regaining her balance. Ron held his hands out in front and behind her, ready for if she fell. She smiled, letting him know she was fine.

They both walked the length of the room to the two cloak pegs next to their door and pulled on their cloaks. Hermione was very aware that she was in her shorts and strappy top and would be walking through Hogwarts in her nightwear, but Ron was right; they needed to get to the hospital wing quickly before their mystery pain struck them down again.

Ron opened the door and lit his wand as he and Hermione made their way down the flights of stairs to the portrait at the bottom.

Three minutes into their journey and Hermione felt the familiar throbbing in her temples start up again. Ron felt it too and the two of the quickened their pace.

By the time they reached the doors to the hospital wing they were jogging, the pain in their heads was building and they needed to get to Madam Pomfrey as soon as possible.

As they rounded the last corner they started sprinting towards the doors. Their heads throbbed with every step they took but they knew they were getting closer and closer to their goal.

Ron shouldered the doors open and fell to his knees as he entered the large room. Hermione did the same as white hot pain ran through her head and down her neck. She had shut her eyes but instinctively knew where Ron was.

'What on earth's going on?' Madam Pomfrey shrieked as she stalked out of her office.

Hermione reached out for Ron's hand and found it. Like they had in their bedroom they pulled themselves closer to each other and touched their foreheads together.

Their right hands stayed grasped in front of them and their left found the other's shoulder, squeezing tightly as the pain started to fade away.

'Miss Granger? Mister Weasley? What's going on? Are you in pain? Are you ill?'

'We…we don't know! I mean…we're…we're in pain when we're not…like this,' Ron stammered.

He concentrated hard on his breathing and trying to calm himself down.

You mean to tell me that you're in pain when your…when your foreheads are not in contact like they are now?'

'That's right Madam Pomfrey,' Hermione replied, finally finding her voice.

'But…but I don't understand!' Madam Pomfrey whispered.

'I think it's best if we tell you what's happened, then you might have a better idea of how to treat it, if you can at all that is,' Hermione said quietly.

'Fine, but do you want to stand up or…sit on a chair?'

Hermione looked directly at Ron and Ron shrugged.

'I'm okay,' he said to Hermione.

'Me too,' she replied.

'We're fine here Madam Pomfrey,' Ron said to the nurse.

'Well if you don't mind I'll sit on a chair, I have a feeling it is the safest thing to do.

She conjured a chair with her wand and settled herself down into it.

'Right, tell me everything!'

Hermione went to open her mouth to start the explanation when the door to the hospital wing burst open.

Instinctively both Ron and Hermione pulled apart from each other and stared at the open door. The bright light behind the person silhouetted them and neither Hermione nor Ron could see who it was.

'Ron! What are you doing here?' a hysterical Lavender Brown asked her boyfriend.

Ron and Hermione both stood up as they recognised the person as Lavender.

Hermione was hesitant to say anything; more worried about the pain that she had a feeling was about to come back to her in full force.

'How did you know I was here?' Ron said loudly to the witch, who was looking meticulously groomed for so early an hour.

'Parvati had just left here when she saw you two run into the place! Are you hurt? Is there anything I can do for my Won-Won?'

'Miss Brown please! This is a hospital wing and these two are my patients. We were having a private consultation and you have just interrupted it. I must insist you leave immediately!'

Hermione inwardly sighed in relief and knew Ron was glad the nurse had demanded Lavender leave.

Ron looked at Lavender and noticed she was turning red, either out of embarrassment or anger. He suspected it was anger.

'But I just want to know if he's alright!'

'He won't be in a minute if you don't leave!' Hermione muttered to herself.

Lavender took a pace closer to Ron and Hermione.

'What did you just say?' she demanded of Hermione.

Hermione opened her mouth to respond but gasped when for the fourth time that morning, her temples started throbbing. Instead of it being a slow build up like it had the previous time, the pain was vicious from the start. She grimaced and shut her eyes.

Ron managed to keep his eyes open but desperately wanted to get to Hermione. He was torn between taking the pain away and keeping the peace with Lavender. He was about to ask Lavender to leave when his head throbbed again. He brought his hands to his head and it was all he could do to not collapse on the floor like he had last time.

'Ron what is it?' Lavender asked.

She strode over to him and stood directly in front of him.

'What can I do?' she asked, panicking.

'Nothing,' Ron mumbled.

She reached out and placed her hands over his but he shook her off and pushed her aside.

Both he and Hermione took the two paces that were separating them and grabbed each other's hand. In a few seconds their foreheads were touching, but this time it was different. The pain wasn't receding. It was getting worse.

'Ron what are you doing?' Lavender asked, outraged.

Ron barely registered his irate girlfriend stood next to him and Hermione.

'Why isn't it…working?' He asked Hermione.

'I don't know. It hurts Ron! Why won't it stop?'

Tears fell from her eyes as the pain became unbearable.

'Help us!' Ron croaked out.

Hermione was willing for something, anything to stop the pain in her head, but she couldn't think of anything. That was when her mind became fuzzy. In one last attempt to find comfort in each other, both Ron and Hermione opened their eyes and looked directly into the other's.

As they looked at each other both noticed black spots filling their peripheral vision. They both went dizzy and both of them could only hear ringing in their ears. They fell to the floor heavily, barely conscious, but it only lasted a few seconds.

'Ron!' Lavender shrieked.

'Oh my goodness!' Madam Pomfrey said before kneeling beside Hermione.

She watched as their eyes rolled to the back of their heads and they blacked out. She turned to Lavender, a worried look on her face.

'Go and get the headmaster Miss Brown!'

Lavender didn't acknowledge her; she just knelt next to Ron and stared at him.

'Miss Brown! Listen to me! You need to get the headmaster. Go to his study and tell him to come here immediately. The password is Acid Pops! Miss Brown, please!'

Lavender seemed to come out of her trance and slowly got to her feet.

'Yeah, the headmaster…right.' She turned and headed out of the hospital wing.

Madam Pomfrey turned to look at her two patients. Her gut instinct was to revive them, but she had a feeling their pain would only come back to them if she did.

Instead she levitated the two of them to beds next to each other and waited for Dumbledore.

She hoped he would have some sort of answer or idea, because she had none. Not one.


(continues to grin evily) Hope you enjoyed it! If you could let me know what you think, as you have been doing in lovely amounts, it would be much appreciated.

Cheers, Step ;)