Hermione woke in the hospital wing, feeling like she had hit her head far too hard. She looked around to take in her surroundings. Ron was asleep in the bed to the left of hers, and Ginny on her right. As far as she could tell, it was the middle of the night, and she had no idea how she had gotten here.
Then she remembered. She was at the Ministry with Harry and Ron, and Neville and Luna and Ginny were there too…but what had happened? She had been attacked by a Death Eater and that's all she could remember. What had happened to Harry and the rest? Was he alright? Were they able to save Sirius? She couldn't think straight…the ache in her chest and head was killing her…
She looked around at Ron. He looked so serene while he was asleep. She almost liked him better asleep than awake. At least he couldn't properly criticize her while asleep.
She sat up in bed, and found her head began to spin and her chest swell even worse. However, she got up from her own bed and kneeled down next to Ron's.
She stared at him for half a moment, then poked him in the arm, hard, to save herself a lot of poking and prodding.
Ron stirred a bit, but not completely, so Hermione poked him again. This time Ron woke up like he was having a seizure, and Hermione had to hold his chest down on the bed to keep him from waking the whole school.
"Ssh, Ron, it's only me!"
"Hermione?" Ron blinked. "What're you doing in our dorm?"
"We're in the hospital wing, Ronald. Do you know what happened at the Ministry?"
"Ministry?" Ron looked blank for a moment, then seemed to remember where they were only hours ago. "I dunno…I remember getting split up from you and Harry and Neville, but that's all."
If Ron didn't remember, he must have been hit by a curse that effected his consciousness as well. Or maybe he had been hit by a Memory Charm…
"What d'you reckon happened with Sirius?" Hermione asked seriously.
"Sirius is dead."
Hermione turned when she heard the third voice, and saw Ginny lying in her bed, wide awake.
Hermione wasn't quite sure she had heard correctly. "What?"
"Sirius is dead, Lupin told me." Ginny looked blank and stony, as if all the hope she had ever had was gone.
"Are you sure? I mean… are you sure you heard right, Ginny?"
Ginny merely nodded, and stared up at the ceiling. Hermione had never seen her look so miserable.
She turned back to Ron, who was also silently staring up at the ceiling. When he finally spoke, only one word seemed to pass his lips: "Harry."
Hermione's eyes brimmed with tears. Though she couldn't remember what had happened that night, she still cried for her best friend and his godfather. "Harry."
Suddenly, she needed the most comfort she could get. She leaned her head against Ron's body, and hugged his arm. She felt his hand on her back, supporting her, though she knew he could barely hold back his own tears.
The two didn't get any sleep that night, for they both needed to cry for their best friend and his losses.
