This Chapter is dedicated to Harry Potter on his 31st Birthday. Harry, you taught me what it means to be brave, you taught me that i can find family anywhere as long as there is love, you taught me that i have to let my friends help me deal with grief, you taught me to never give up fighting and you taught me that wherever i may come from or whatever's in my past, i can still find a happy ending. You are a brave, good hearted person who was willing to sacrifice himself for others. Thank you and Happy Birthday my good friend, Harry.

Chapter thirteen – A Waiting Game

She could see the flames licking at her body but they had no effect on her, she couldn't even feel them. As soon as she was through she broke into a run, she had to get a message to Dumbledore, there was no way she letting Harry face You-Know-Who or even Snape on his own, he would need help. She was also worried about Ron, how badly injured was he? She had to find out. She leaped across the troll's legs and ran through the passageway leading to the chess room.

"Ron?" She called as she burst through the door.

Her head whipped round to the place she knew Ron lay and she hurried over. He had not moved in the time they had gone. Hermione felt a chill spread over her that had nothing to do with the potion. She knelt down next to him and grabbed his limp arm.

"Ron?" She said, as loudly as she dared. "Ron it's me, please…..Ron….."

There was a slight murmur and Ron's arm shifted a little

"Ron! Oh Ron please wake up, Ron, Ron…"

"-arry…." Ron mumbled

"No Ron, it's Hermione, Harry's gone after Snape, we have to get help,"

"Er-my-knee…" Ron croaked, eyelids fluttering

"Yes! Yes Ron it's me, please just wake up, you were so brave, but please, please wake up," Hermione pleaded

At her words Ron's blinks became more purposeful until finally his eyes opened slightly.

"Oh Ron," Hermione sighed, bending her head down over his arm in relief.

"What happened?" He asked hoarsely

"We won the game and then we got to Snape's part straight away as Quirrell's was already done for us. There were these potions and a riddle and we had to find a potion to move us forwards and there was only enough in it for one so…..so…Harry went alone," Hermione half sobbed.

"But then…but what if You-Know-Who is…" Ron seemed to be struggling to form proper sentences and his eyes kept drooping.

"I know, I know, that's why we have to get Dumbledore, Harry said to go to the owlery and send a message with Hedwig,"

"But that – that could take ages," Ron said, shock clearly in his voice.

"I know, but all Harry said was he'd stopped You-Know-Who once and he'll hopefully get lucky again,"

Ron visibly gulped.

"Then lets go," He said, but before he could get any further than crouching he had fallen back down, groaning.

"Ron?" Hermione asked anxiously

Ron shook his head, looking extremely pale and clammy. Hermione stood up and offered both her hands. Ron slowly took them and shakily got up. However as soon as he let go of Hermione he began to wobble precariously and ending up sagging against Hermione, gulping for air.

"Ron?" Hermione asked again.

"Give me…a…minute," He panted

Hermione waited, holding Ron's back so he didn't fall whilst his breathing returned to normal.

"Ok," He said, leaning away from Hermione

He stood for a moment, quite normally, before swaying again, Hermione immediately lifted up one of his arms and draped it round her own shoulders. Hermione could now smell his smoky, earthy scent as he closed his eyes, obviously very dizzy.

"Ron we can wait a little while….."

"NO!" Ron cut across her loudly, "Harry's in danger, we have to…..get…help."

So, extremely slowly they began to walk, Hermione carrying a lot of Ron's weight, which was difficult as Ron was a lot taller than she was. It took minuets just to reach the door to the flying-key room. Hermione reached out and turned the handle, finding that it opened in this direction without the need for a key. Slowly they stepped over the threshold, above them the keys tumbled around, the broomsticks lay on the floor where they had left them.

"We need to take these to get past Fluffy," Hermione said, indicating to the brooms.

Ron nodded although he looked in no fit state to fly. Hermione grabbed two from the floor and they carried on out of the room and down the passageway. The walk seemed to take an eternity but Ron seemed to be getting a little stronger as they went. Finally they arrived at the corner of the room covered in Devil's Snare. They both turned their heads up to look at the postage stamp sized square of light ahead of them.

"So if we fly quickly enough, Fluffy won't be able to get us," Ron said, ducking out from underneath Hermione's arm and managing to stand upright.

"Are you going to be able to do this?" Hermione asked anxiously

For a moment Ron looked as if he were just going to tell her yes, but instead he looked her in the eye and said, "I'm going to have to aren't I,"

He took a broomstick from Hermione hand and climbed on top of it, Hermione did the same with hers.

"Ready?" he asked.

Hermione nodded, feeling sick at the thought of flying vertically upwards for so long, into a room were a giant three-headed dog could then try to eat them. Nevertheless Hermione kicked off immediately after Ron and turned her broom upwards to face the square of light. The cold, damp air rushed over her again as the light got bigger and bigger, then Ron disappeared through it, closely followed by Hermione. They both flew upwards to the top of the room and then flew towards the door. Both of them leaped off their brooms just before they crashed and quickly opened the door, ran through it and slammed it shut behind them. They both leaned back against the wood, Fluffy's barks echoing in their ears. After a few seconds Hermione leaned away from the door. Ron followed suit and together they raced along corridors and down stairs. To get the owlery from where they were they had to go to the entrance hall and up the main staircase. It seemed to take forever to find their way down and Hermione worried that they may have got lost, finally they burst through a tapestry into the entrance hall.

"Albus I don't understand what do you mean…." It was Professor McGonagall hurrying alongside Dumbledore, but he cut off her sentence when he spotted Ron and Hermione.

"Harry's gone after him, hasn't he?" he asked them, Hermione nodded and Dumbledore sprinted off up the main staircase.

Hermione was quite surprised a man of Dumbledore's age could run that fast. She didn't have long to contemplate this as Ron had let out a load groan and sunk to the floor, his face back to clammy white.

"Oh Ron," Hermione muttered, kneeling down next to him. He must have used what little strength he had regained, running through the corridors.

"So it's true," Professor McGonagall said, a look of utter shock on her face, "The stone was being stolen, and you three went to get it first,"

Hermione nodded sadly and gripped Ron's arm again, trying to keep him conscious

"Well….well…how did you get past everything, and what's wrong with you Mr Weasley," Professor McGonagall seemed to be at a loss for words.

"Ron sacrificed himself, on the chessboard, so Harry and I could move forwards," Hermione explained.

"You got past the chessboard?" Professor McGonagall asked, sounding stunned.

"Yes, Ron played the game, but he…he…..let himself get taken so we could carry on…he was knocked out….and now Harry's gone on his own…" Hermione found she couldn't speak any more as tears had begun to flow out of her eyes.

"Alright Miss Granger," Said Professor McGonagall, gripping Hermione's shoulder, "Lets go to the hospital wing, shall we."

Hermione nodded and to her surprise Professor McGonagall joined her in putting one of Ron's arms around their shoulders and walking slowly up the stairs to the hospital wing on the first floor.

It took a long time but finally they arrived, as they walked through the door Madam Pomfrey let out a gasp.

"Minerva…what…?"

"Concussion, badly." Professor McGonagall said quickly

Madam Promfrey looked stunned for a minute but then hurried off to a cupboard at the end of the wing, whilst she was doing this Hermione and Professor McGonagall placed Ron as carefully as they could on the nearest bed, he groaned again and lay back against the pillows, his long legs still dangling off the bed.

"Goodness gracious," Madam Pomfrey muttered as she returned

Hermione watched as she quickly grabbed Ron's legs and swung them onto the bed, before measuring out half a cup full of a dark purple potion.

"Drink this Mr Weasley," She said, holding it to his lips.

Ron obediently gulped down the potion, Hermione watched with bated breath as Ron lay back against the pillows, as she watched she saw colour return slowly to his cheeks and his eyes widened until they were open a normal amount. Finally he turned his head to look at her.

"What….?"

"Dumbledore's gone after him," Hermione said quietly, sinking into the chair next to the bed.

Ron nodded and leant back again. Professor McGonagall looked as if she were about to speak when the door of the hospital wing burst open. It was Snape, Hermione swore her heart stopped beating.

"I've just run into Dumbledore, he said….."

But before Snape could finish, he was cut off by Ron.

"YOU, what have you done with him, what have you done to Harry, have you managed to get the Stone you bloody old…"

"Mr Weasley!" Professor McGonagall called reproachfully over Ron's yells. "What the devil are you talking about,"

"It was him Professor, he was the one stealing the Stone, he was the one we were chasing tonight," Ron said wildly

There was utter silence around them, Hermione was shaking with fury where she sat and wanted nothing better than to pull out her wand and hex Snape where he stood.

"You though that eye was trying to steal the Stone?" Said Snape, coldly

"We know it was you, you got bitten trying to get past Fluffy at Halloween and then you've been threatening Quirrell to tell you how to get past his spells and then you bribed Hagrid to tell you how to get past Fluffy!" Ron yelled.

There was another long silence.

"That doesn't make sense," Hermione whispered, everyone turned to look at her. "Quirrell's task was a troll, it wasn't a spell, which means….." Hermione trailed off, completely confused.

"Professor McGonagall," Said Snape, still glaring at Ron. "Would you care to explain what is going on,"

Professor McGonagall nodded and turned to Ron and Hermione.

"I don't know where, you got the idea that Professor Snape was trying to steal the stone but it was not him, it is Professor Quirrel,"

"But then…." Hermione trailed off again, whilst her brain processed the information, beside her Ron was shaking his head.

"On Halloween you were trying to stop Professor Quirrell, and then….when you said 'where your loyalties lie', you were trying to convince him not to steal the stone…but the Quidditch match, you were trying to throw Harry off his broom!" Hermione said, staring at Snape.

"I'm not sure where you have heard certain things Miss Granger but I'm guessing you two and Potter have been eavesdropping in some way. However at the Quidditch match, I was performing a counter curse to Quirrell's jinx." Snape said, looking down his hooked nose at her

"But how did…I knocked into Professor Quirrell I-," Hermione stopped herself, she had almost just admitted to setting Snape's cloak alight.

Snape narrowed his eyes and Hermione could tell he had worked out it was her. To her surprise he said nothing.

"Professor McGonagall could you please explain to me what has been happening tonight, did Potter go after the Stone?" Snape asked, no hint of emotion in his voice.

"Yes, but after that I do not know, I think it's time that you two told us what has been going on," Professor McGonagall said, turning to look down at Ron and Hermione.

Hermione glanced at Ron, who still looked ill but a lot healthier than he had half an hour ago. He nodded and Hermione launched into the story.

"Well, once we found out that Professor Dumbledore had left the school we knew the Stone was going to be stolen tonight, so once everyone had left the common room we went to the third floor corridor. Harry had brought a flute and we used that to send Fluffy to sleep so we could get through the trap-door. Then the boys got caught in the Devil's Snare but I managed to free myself and I lit a fire so that it would let go of them, which it did. Then we got to the flying-key room and…"

"Well this at least I can see how you got past with Potter's seeker skills," Interrupted Professor McGonagall.

"Yes that's right, Harry managed to catch the key, and then we got to the chessboard."

Hermione stopped and looked up at Professor McGonagall.

"Yes, I don't quite understand how you got past a task I created for skilled wizards," She said, narrowing her eyes.

"That was me," Ron said, sitting up a bit. "Harry took the place of one of the Bishops, Hermione was a castle and I took a knight. Then I just directed the game, I wasn't too difficult. But I realised that to win the game my piece had to be taken so," Ron shrugged, "I let the queen take me and Harry checkmated the King,"

Professor McGonagall had her mouth slightly open and she looked as if she may cry.

"Mr Weasley that was….well that was very brave," She said quietly.

Ron gave a small smile and then turned to Hermione,

"Over to you," He said.

Hermione took a deep breathe, "Well we left Ron there and next was the Ron there so next was the room with the troll in, but that had already been knocked out and in the next room was…"

"My task," Said Snape

Hermione nodded, "Well I solved the puzzle but there was only enough of the move forward potion for one so, Harry went and I came back to fetch Professor Dumbledore,"

"And you solved the puzzle which I had created, a puzzle which was meant to be extremely difficult?" said Snape, sneering slightly.

"Yes, I've always been good at logic," Hermione said quietly.

Snape's lip curled but he said nothing more.

"So Potter went to face Quirrell, on his own?" Professor McGonagall asked in a hushed voice.

Hermione and Ron nodded. Professor McGonagall closed her eyes for a moment, before snapping them open and turning to Snape.

"Severus, please go and inform Professors Flitwick and Sprout about what has happened tonight," She said.

Snape stood for a moment, then gave a curt nod and swept out of the room.

"Now, if you are recovered Mr Weasley you and Miss Granger can return…"

"NO!" Hermione said loudly, "We have to wait for Harry; we have to see if he's alright,"

Beside her Ron nodded. Professor McGonagall looked for a moment as if she may protest, but instead she nodded and sat down in a chair of her own and waited. No one spoke as they all sat almost completely still, occasionally glancing at the clock on the wall. A thousand worries ran through Hermione's head, what if You-Know-Who had been there? What if Quirrell had already got the stone? What if Harry was…..? She pushed the last one from her mind, Harry would be fine. Hermione knew she didn't believe this at all.

Finally the doors to the hospital wing burst open again and Dumbledore hurried in, carrying a limp Harry in his arms. Hermione let out a strangled yell of a noise and watched as Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall rushed over. She could see from where she was the look on Dumbledore's face and it gave her no hope, he looked terrified as he watched Harry. She strained her ears to catch a few words of what he said.

"Only just arrived in time, he was obviously in so much pain….."

"Is he going to be alright?" Professor McGonagall asked quietly

"I really don't know," Dumbledore said, sounding close to tears.

Hermione heard a sharp in-draw of breathe and turned to see it was Ron, who had lost some of his colour again and looked extremely sick. Hermione gripped his arm as her throat began to close up. Harry had to be alright, he just had to be. As she watched the curtains were drawn around Harry's bed so she could no longer see him. A single tear escaped Hermione's eye and fell into her lap. Professor McGonagall turned to face them.

"I suggest you two go back to the common room," She said quietly.

"But….." Ron began to protest.

"There is nothing you can do here Mr Weasley, I promise to inform you with any news, but I think it would be best,"

Hermione could see no point in arguing to got up from her chair, beside her Ron also stood up, together they slowly made there way to the door.

"You've both been incredibly brave tonight," Said Professor McGonagall as they reached the door, Hermione and Ron turned around, "I'm very proud to have you in Gryffindor house,"

Hermione tried to smile but couldn't muster one so instead nodded her head and turned to go again. She and Ron walked in silence to the common room, outside Hermione could see the sky was beginning to get light, soon the whole school would be awake. They finally arrived at the portrait hole. They said the password and Hermione climbed through first, but as she stepped down her foot caught on something and she almost fell over. Confused she looked down and saw what she had tripped on.

"Neville!" Hermione said shocked, in all the worry she had completely forgotten about him. Quickly she knelt down next to him and performed the counter curse. Neville had obviously been dozing but he woke up when his limbs sprang apart.

"What's going on," he yelped, looking around, "Hermione, Ron," He said, spotting them.

"Oh Neville I'm so sorry for what I did, I really didn't want to but….." Hermione could think of no way to finish.

"What happened, where did you go?" Neville asked, to Hermione's surprise he did not sound angry.

Hermione hesitated, she wasn't sure she should tell Neville the whole story.

"Do you mind if we tell you in the morning mate," Ron said.

Neville looked as though he may argue but then he began to inspect them closely, noticing there ripped clothing and dishevelled hair and faces. Finally he nodded.

"Alright,"

And with that he got up and walked upstairs to his dormitory, not glancing back. Ron and Hermione both walked to armchairs in front of the now dead fire and sat down, utterly exhausted but not daring to go to sleep.

"You were really brave down there tonight Ron," Hermione said quietly

Ron looked a little sheepish. "Thanks, and you were really good too, figuring out that puzzle thing or whatever you said it was,"

"Thank you,"

After this they both sat in silence, staring off at distant points, lost in thought. After a couple of hours the first people began to emerge from the dormitories. As today was a Saturday people came down much later than normal. Most people gave them odd looks as to why they were sitting in the same places they had been last night, looking dirty and dishevelled, but Ron and Hermione paid them no mind. Finally as less and less people began to descend, Professor McGonagall walked through the portrait hole. She came and stood in front of where Ron and Hermione sat.

"He's going to be alright," She said softly.

Hermione breathed out a breath she hadn't even realised she was holding.

"Can we go and see him?" Ron asked eagerly.

"No, he's still asleep, and I suggest that you two should try to do the same,"

Ron and Hermione did not argue, they thanked Professor McGonagall and each walked up to their own dormitories where Hermione fell asleep before her head had even hit the pillow.

OOO

When Ron and Hermione walked into the Great Hall that lunchtime everyone seemed to turn to look at them and an outbreak of whispering occurred. They had both woken half an hour before, quickly washed and hurried down to the Great Hall as they were very hungry. Nervously they walked along the table and sat down next to Neville.

"Is it true what everyone's been saying? That you went and saved some Stone that Professor Quirrell was trying to steal and that Harry's in the hospital wing?"

"How did you find out?" Hermione asked.

"Everyone's been talking about it, I dunno how people new but….." Neville shrugged, "so it's true then?"

"Uh, that's the jist of it, yeah," Ron said, pulling every dish in reach toward him.

Neville and many others tried to bombard them with questions whilst they ate but Professor McGonagall swooped down.

"If you have finished eating I suggest you leave and stop disturbing other people," She snapped.

People got up to go and Hermione asked hopefully.

"Is he…?"

But Professor McGonagall shook her head.

"I'm afraid not,"

OOO

The next few days were torture for Ron and Hermione, term was coming to an end and everyone was in high spirits. Everyone except Ron and Hermione, Harry had still not woken up and Hermione was getting more and more worried. Another problem was everyone constantly trying to ask them what had happened, Ron and Hermione weren't sure what they were meant to tell and what they weren't so mostly gave sketchy details. They didn't know themselves what had happened once Hermione had left Harry anyway. A small plus side was that everyone was now speaking to Hermione again. The girls in the dormitory had all come up to Hermione at dinner time and said they were very sorry for not speaking to her and they hoped she would forgive them. Hermione said she would, although she was rather reluctant. Finally as they walked into Lunch on the third day of Harry being in the hospital, Professor McGonagall approached them.

"Potter was woken up, Professor Dumbledore is with him now but you may be able to go see him after dinner depending on what Madam Pomfrey has to say,"

Ron let out a bark of laughter and covered his face with his hands whilst Hermione smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. Harry was going to be absolutely fine.

Hello again, how are we all? Stressed about Pottermore? i know i am. So i have been looking forward to writing this chapter for a good month and now here it is! Hope you enjoyed it.

I need to apologize for a huge mistake in Chapter 11. Ron's Birthday is on March the 1st. It's the twins who are on April 1st, i got confused. I have decided not to change it because that would involve me changing the chapter before that as well. Please forgive me, i'm incredibly sorry and it won't happen again.

Thank you for reading and please review, it means so much.

Hannah x