Hermione's eyes, which had been closed, fluttered open instantly. She turned her head, which was on Ron's chest, up towards his head. His eyes were closed, but she swore she had heard his lips move, say her name, the most beautiful sound, music to her ears. But, she reminded herself with the practicality everyone always praised her for, it was probably wishful thinking on her part. There was no way Ron would wake up now, just for her, no matter how much she wanted him to. She placed her head back on his chest, feeling disappointed. And then it happened again.

"Her.. hermione." he whispered, much softer this time. She knew she was being stupid, but Hermione couldn't help herself from bounding up from the bed. She wanted him to wake up so badly. She placed a soft kiss on his forehead before casting the spell that would call the Healer. Hermione gathered the rest of the Weasleys and Harry, telling them anxiously that Ron had spoken. Their faces all lit up as they walked back inside the room. Two minutes later, Healer Jones walked inside Ron's room. Hermione noticed the anxious faces from all the Weasleys - they were, no doubt, as worried for him as she was.

"Yes?" the Healer asked.

"He - he talked." Hermione stated.

"Did he now? And what exactly did he say, may I ask?" Healer Jones sounded skeptical, and spoke as if he was humoring Hermione, Harry and the Weasleys, and Hermione could think of nothing better to do at the moment other than hex him into the next century.

"Listen, you better do something about it or - " Harry began, pointing an accusatory finger at the Healer, accompanied by an angry glare.

Hermione smiled to herself, but couldn't help noticing that Ron had made no twitch or movement of any sort to indicate that he was awake.

"All right, all right." Healer Jones drawled. Hermione drew her breath as Healer Jones performed his doctorly duties.

"Ms. Granger, I regret to tell you, you are sadly misinformed, and Mr. Weasley remains in the same condition, although he is improving gradually." the Healer reported to her.

All eyes turned towards Hermione, not in an accusing manner, but in a surprised one. They knew Hermione was logical and never jumped to conclusions. Hermione swallowed.

"I - I could have sworn that he said my name." Hermione's sentence began loudly, but with each word, the volume decreased and the tone became slower, as she realized how silly it sounded. There was no way that Ron had felt her presence, said her name, it was her mind playing sick tricks on her.

Mrs. Weasley rubbed Hermione's back comfortingly. "It's okay, dear." she consoled, as Hermione willed the tears in her eyes not to fall. She looked at Mrs. Weasley in the eyes, trying to convey her gratitude. "Thank you." Mrs. Weasley thanked the Healer, who swiftly left the room.

~14 days later~

It had been two weeks. Two, dare Hermione say it, bloody weeks since the visit to the hospital. She had tried various techniques of being without Ron - first, she just tried to think of how her life was before Ron had entered it, as if there was no Ron, ever, as if he had never existed. But that proved to be extremely difficult, as she had met him when she was eleven, and she didn't think her life had too much substance before he came along. Then, she tried to picture each Weasley as Ron - needless to say, that didn't work out too well. The final technique she tried was pretending to be both her and him, until she realized how stupid she was being. Hermione tried and tried, before it occurred to her that she was acting a lot like that character in that Muggle teen romance novel that everyone gushed about. Merlin, she couldn't stand those books, and the protagonist. She was whiney, and she couldn't survive one day without that man! Or whatever creature he was. She was quite sure the real creatures would be quite offended if they heard about the misconceptions people held of them - romantic and loving, psshh. Anyways, the point was that Hermione couldn't and wouldn't be that girl, the one who could not survive without her man. She tried to be as much as her normal self as possible, which seemed to be the best way so far. Then she remembered the diary, which she retrieved from her bag.

January 4th, 1992.

Happy New Year! I'm turning 12 this year, I'm really excited about that. School has become more and more intense. Harry, Hermione and I found a bloody three-headed dog! It was so disgusting, its eyes reminded me of little spiders that kept watching me. We found that the dog is guarding something! It's odd, but kind of cool at the same time. I really feel like I'm a part of something, and I feel like I have friends, really good ones, for the first time in my life. It's a nice feeling. Now, if you tell any of this to Fred and George, you're in deep trouble! Oh wait, I forgot you can't talk.

April 17th, 1992.

We found what the three-headed dog is guarding! It's a philosopher's stone, I can't believe it! Truthfully, I didn't even know what it was, before Hermione told me. It makes the drinker immortal, can you believe that, journal? And Harry found this amazing mirror, it almost shows the future... well for me, anyways, for him, it showed his parents. Maybe it shows what we truly want... which is odd. Journal, can I tell you a secret? Looking in the mirror, I saw myself, holding the house cup, and the Quidditch cup too, with crowds of adoring people all around. I guess for once I want to be recognized for myself, and not just be a shadow. But you know what's really odd, journal, is that someone with bushy hair and a small frame was right beside me, and both of us were smiling like mad. It was Hermione! Quite creepy, really, that mirror is. I don't understand. Why would it show me with Hermione? She is not what I truly want. I think that mirror is messed up, it can't be right...

Hermione almost dropped the book. She couldn't believe it, Ron had seen her in the Mirror of Erised! She had seen him too, she remembered wandering down the hallway in first year, and seeing the reflective surface which caught her eye. She had stood in front of it, and quickly figured out erised was desire backwards. But, she was surprised to see, instead of an older version of herself graduating with many OWLS and NEWTS, holding hands with a certain red-head, who had a look of adoration on his face, which was mirrored on her own. No, not adoration, actually. Just love.

"Hermione!" Mrs. Weasley's voice made Hermione jump. "Dear, I'm going to the hospital today. Care to join me?"

Hermione thought, and decided that she would go. For the past couple of weeks, she had refused. But now, she felt the time was right.

"Coming!" She replied, and quickly got ready. Magic came in very handy at moments like these.

~An hour later~

Hermione looked again at the white door that stood as a barrier between Ron and herself. She took a deep breath and quickly opened it - the barrier had stood between them for far too long.

As soon as she opened the door, Ron did something extraordinary : he shifted. Hermione gasped, and Mrs. Weasley let out a sigh of great relief. Hermione rushed to Ron's side and placed a hand on his arm. All of a sudden, Ron's eyes opened, and he looked around bewiliderdly.

Mrs. Weasley gave a triumphant cry, and Hermione nearly burst into tears right on the spot.

"Hermione!" Ron breathed, looking up at Hermione as if she was his savior. Hermione simply beamed at him, temporarily speechless. In truth, she was so glad that he was awake finally. It had seemed like an eternity without him.

A/N: I missed Ron, and I thought it was about time he came back ;)

I hope you all enjoyed this. Please, please, please let me know what you thought! Reviews honestly make my day. Thank you guys so much, you are awesome.