Chapter Six

Out of the blackness, a dim light became visable behind Hermione's eyelids. She could still feel the warm presence of a hand gripping hers, tightly but still with surprising tenderness. Just like Rose. Rose. Rose!

The thought hit Hermione like a bullet and she snapped open her eyes. She was surrounded by three people, all sleeping in chairs beside her bedside. Two of them, predictably, were Harry and Ron. The former was slumped back in a chair, his head slightly lulled to one side and a pile of Hermione's favourite books in his lap. Ron was the one who was clutching Hermione's hand, his other hand absentmindedly submersed in a bowl of sweets on the bedside table, surrounded by various bouquets of flowers and cards. He was snoring slightly, which Hermione was surprised to find quite endearing. The last person in the room was sound asleep and silent, her breaths barely making a noise. Professor McGonagall. Hermione could hardly believe that her Head of House had stayed with her the whole time, but it was obvious from the amount of papers she had gathered around her that she had.

Hermione attempted to swing her legs out of bed without awakening the three sleeping lions and just managed to exit the Hospital Wing without being caught. She suddenly stopped, thinking to herself 'What if it was just a dream?' She almost turned when a rustling in her pocket caught her attention. Reaching for it, she discovered a piece of parchment. The instructions. So, it was real. She continued on her journey.

She had just reached the fire in the Gryffindor common room when she was discovered. As she reached for the Floo powder, her hand was swatted away by another hand, older and more lined. Professor McGonagall.

"Miss Granger, where are you going?"

"I have to find my cousin, Professor, she needs me, she was hurt and-"

"Miss Granger, you are coming back to the Hospital Wing with me this instant."

"But-"

"This is not up for discussion, Miss Granger. Now!"

Hermione realised that she had no energy left to argue with her Head of House, so reluctantly took her arm and allowed herself to be led back to the Hospital Wing, where she was greeted with a relieved hug from Harry and a hug from Ron that was almost as bone-crushing as one from Mrs. Weasley herself.

"'Mione! We were so worried!" cried Ron, who had still not released her from his hug.

"I'm fine, Ron. Professor, I need to find Rosie, please!"

"Calm down, Miss Granger, you're distressed. Now, I want you to lie back down in your bed and tell me everything that happened." Feeling she had no other option, Hermione obeyed, settling down on her bed and taking Ron's hand once more. She took a deep breath and, on McGonagall's instruction, began to speak slowly and softly.

"I was in Transfiguration, in the last lesson of the day, and I felt a little dizzy. So, I ran from the classroom, trying to get to bed as soon as I could. Then you followed me, so I started talking to you, then…nothing. I can't remember."

"It's alright, I know what happened then, Miss Granger. What happened to…Rose?"

"I woke up in a sort of white room. I couldn't see anything, just whiteness. Then I found a piece of parchment. It said that out of the three people there, one of us had to die and I had to choose who. I turned around and my cousin was there and my worst enemy. In the end, I had to kill Fabien, but then he appeared!"

"Who, 'Mione?"

"Voldemort!" she cried, leaning into Ron's open arms and sobbing into his chest.

"Professor, please, she has to find her cousin, look at her!" begged Harry, staring intently at his Head of House.

"Mr. Potter, I have sent a message with Professor Flitwick to find out. He should be here momentarily with the answer. Now, Miss Granger, please calm down, it's alright." soothed McGonagall, patting Hermione lightly on the back, which helped her to finally relax. She was just about to drift off into sleep once more when the Charms Professor came jogging into the Hospital Wing, reaching up slightly to whisper into his colleague's ear. The only thing Hermione caught was a slight shake of his head and McGonagall's well concealed sigh before her eyes closed, a single tear trailing it's way past her eyelid as she thought of her Rosie, lost forever.