A/n: Slightly smaller than usual chapters, I think, but I also think this one packs a bit of a punch. The end part, particularly... :D

Chapter 24

Despite still missing "her" Ron, Hermione sometimes found it hard to even bring his kind freckled face to her mind when she was with Cedric, or think of the things Ron had ever said to her when Slytherin Ron yelled an insult at her from down the hall. It seemed that he and Slytherin Harry had made it their personal missions in life to make hurl insults at Hermione every chance they got.

On Sunday night as Hermione was working on her potion as usual, she found herself feeling oddly reluctant to keep adding ingredients and further it along. This made her feel quite guilty which in turn caused her to quickly think of something else. Her thoughts continued circling back to Cedric, her friends and everything else that had been brand new to her almost two months ago.

She thought of Sirius and how happy and alive he was. She thought about Remus and Hagrid. She thought about Bellatrix Lestrange (a nun!) and Regulus Black (a kindergarten teacher!) – not Death Eaters, but wonderful people. Her thoughts turned to Snape, McGonagall and the rest of the Professors, how they were able to teach and not worry about things like escaped murderers or students seeing deadly visions that come true in the middle of the night. She thought about the Order of the Phoenix and it's members, all of who were able to lead regular, peaceful lives, untouched by war or evil wizards. She thought of how wonderful it must be for Neville to have his parents taking care of him. She moved on to think about her friends: no longer terrible Slytherins, but honest, fun, good people.

If she stayed she would forever lose caring McGonagall, short Flitwick, and all her friendships in the real Gryffindor. She would lose Ron.

If she stayed.

The thought echoed through her mind like a giant gong had just been hit. She froze.

If she stayed.

She would never see Harry or Ron as they were again. Ginny, Lavender, Angelina, Seamus, Neville, and the rest would forever more be cruel, spiteful Slytherins. McGonagall would stay as a mean, unfair teacher.

If she stayed.

But Harry and Neville would both have their parents. Sirius would be alive and thriving. There would no Voldemort, and no Death Eaters. She would have Draco, Greg, Vinny and the rest. Ally would have Ewan. She would have Cedric.

If she stayed.

Deep in thought, Hermione completed another step of her potion before heading back to her dorm to think some more.

Just before supper, Ally entered the dorm blowing her nose. She looked paler than usual as she flopped down on her bed.

"How's it going?" Hermione asked, setting her book down. She'd thought a lot about her situation and when thought she could think no more or her head would explode, she grabbed a book off her nightstand and got lost in it.

"Ugh." Ally answered.

"That bad?"

Ally sat up. "My whole head feels completely clogged up." She attempted to sniff and subsequently proved her point when she was unable to. "I hate being sick."

Hermione wrinkled her nose. "Me too. Don't give me your cold germs, though, missy. I don't want them."

Ally smiled and lay back down.

"Bit out of the blue, isn't it?"

"What is?"

"Your cold. You seemed fine this morning."

"I was fine this morning." Ally groaned and buried her face deeper in her pillow.

Hermione laughed. "Are you coming down to supper then?"

Ally waved a hand in Hermione's general direction.

"I'll take that as a no. Alright then. Pansy and I will grab you something."

"Sounds good." Came Ally's muffled response.

At supper, Hermione and her friends (minus Ally) had a wonderful time laughing and chatting. When the meal was over and they stayed talking, Cedric and Ewan came over and joined them.

"All right." Ewan rubbed his hands together. "Spill, you lot. Who's dressing as what for Halloween?"

"Oh, I haven't even thought about it." Millicent shrugged.

Ewan looked scandalized. "What!? But it's barely a week away! It's on Friday and today is Sunday, if you haven't noticed."

"Well, I've thought about it." Greg put in, and puffed up his chest importantly. "And I'm going as the Minister for Magic himself."

There was a round of laughter as everyone imagined Greg dressed up and acting like Ludo Bagman. Hermione first thought of Cornelius Fudge when she joined the giggles, before she remembered that Ludo was actually the Minister as the others knew him.

"What about you?" Ewan jabbed his thumb in Draco's direction.

"Ah. Pansy and I are going to go as Marilyn Monroe and James Dean." Draco answered. "You know those two old-time Muggle movie stars?"

"But who's going as which?" Cedric deadpanned.

They laughed some more before Draco replied loudly, "Well, I'm the one with the blonde hair!"

Hermione was clutching her sides and could hardly breathe when Ewan managed to turn towards her.

"And what about you, Hermione? I bet you've got something particularly clever up your sleeve."

Just as Hermione had gained control of herself, her smile faded. According to her calendar, Halloween was the night her potion would be ready and therefore the night she'd be going back. The book said it had to be drunk immediately upon completion, so that ruled out waiting a day and then going back. She had not even given a thought to a costume or even participating in any of Hogwarts Halloween events because of her departure.

"I… I… " she faltered, unsure of what to say, and desperately not wanting the have to answer, "I won't be here."

Cedric, who knew from Hermione telling him that Halloween would be her last night, answered for her. "She hasn't decided yet either." He smiled and gave Hermione's hand a reassuring squeeze under the table.

"Well, get on that then!" Ewan said and proceeded to tell everyone about his fantastic costume, in which he would be going as Sirius Black, his favorite musician. He added that a girl from Ravenclaw named Hayley would be going as a screaming fan-girl.

Pansy, Cedric and Hermione shared a private grin, as they were the only three present who knew how well Hermione knew the real Sirius. She made a note to tell him later all about Ewan.

Almost more than an hour later, Hermione belatedly remembered her promise to grab Ally some food. She and Pansy departed the table and snuck down to the kitchens. Hermione was relieved to see the portrait of the fruit Bowl and even happier when she tickled the pear and gained access to the kitchen. She'd been worried it had been changed. She thought of Harry and Ron as she entered.

Supper clean-up was apparently finished, as all the dishes were out of sight and there were only two little House Elves milling about the kitchen. Neither was Dobby or Winky, which disappointed Hermione. She'd been hoping to see them and see if they had changed. She bit her lip and tried not to think about S.P.E.W.

Or, 'Spew', as Ron would call it. She thought with a little smile.

Behind her, Pansy was gazing around the kitchen, mouth agape. "How in the world…?" she started and trailed off uncertainly.

Hermione giggled. "Don't ask how I know how to get in here."

Pansy shrugged a little and continued to look everywhere in surprise. "Later then." She said.

Hermione talked to one of the Elves, and moments after thanking the Elves for their kindness, she and Pansy were leaving the kitchens with some soup, juice, fruit and crackers for Ally. Almost the entire way back, Pansy talked about how wonderful the kitchen was, how wonderful the Elves were, how wonderful it was how Hermione got into the kitchens, how exactly did she get into the kitchens, and how perfectly wonderful it would be if Hermione disclosed her secret.

"It wouldn't be a secret then, would it?" Hermione answered teasingly.

"Oh, I suppose not." Pansy sighed exasperatedly.

"Hey." Hermione said quietly when she entered the darkened dorm carrying Ally's supper.

"Feeling any better?" Pansy asked, following Hermione in the door holding the rest.

Ally moaned and rolled onto her back, pulling the covers closer to her neck. "No." she finally replied.

Pansy and Hermione set the food on the nightstand and then sat down on either side of Ally.

"Sit up, Ally." Pansy instructed. "We brought you supper."

"Not hungry." Ally whined.

"Come on, you need to eat." Hermione encouraged. "It'll help."

Ally was too tried and achey to resist, so she let her friends help her sit up and prop her against some pillows.

Hermione felt her friend's forehead like her own mother used to do. "Oh Ally, you're burning up!"

"I'm freezing cold." Ally grumpily corrected as reluctantly munched on a cracker and held the blanket tight to her throat with the other hand.

"Fever?" said Pansy.

Hermione nodded. "I think so."

"Should we maybe take her to Madame Pomfrey?"

Ally made a protesting noise which Hermione silenced by putting her hand up.

"Well, maybe we'll just wait until morning and keep on eye on her during the night. If she's no better or if she's worse, we'll get Madame Pomfrey to look at her."

"Okay." Pansy agreed.

Ally groaned but was swiftly ignored as her friends tried to get her to have some soup. In the end, she finished off a few crackers, a sip or two of soup, and a little bit of juice but refused to anymore. Though not satisfied that their friend had eaten enough, they gave up nonetheless, and left her to rest while they headed down to the Common Room.

Pansy sighed as she settled down into one of the big armchairs by the fire. "Poor Ally. She looked fine this morning and now she's down with a fever."

Hermione nodded. "Yes, I know. I really think if she's not better by tomorrow morning, we've got to get Madame Pomfrey to check her out. Just to be sure it's nothing more serious than the Flu or something."

The girls sat in comfortable silence fir a little bit, both staring into the warm, flickering flames in the hearth. Eventually, it was Pansy who spoke.

"You know Hermione, I wish there was some way you could stay." She sighed. "I know I'm really going to miss you, and I'm sure the others will too."

Hermione's gazed stayed trained on the fireplace. "You won't have to miss me." She said.

Her friend glanced questioningly over at her.

Hermione swallowed, took a breath, and added firmly, "Because I'm not going to leave."

A/n: Okay, I am DYING to hear what people are thinking, especially about this chapter. I won't delay you any longer from reviewing. :D