Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Nor do I make money.

Memory

A/N: I started playing towards the end of this piece. My goal is try to capture something I experienced in a similar situation. If it helps – think about what you would see visually in a film depicting the scene.

"Miss Parkinson, Miss Bones, would you please go to Greenhouse Three and collect two mandrakes for us to use in class today," Professor Sprout said, her back to the class as she continued to write today's instructions on the board as students filed in.

"I'll go for you, if you would like," Ron whispered to Pansy as she stood.

"It's okay," she replied with a soft smile before following Susan in the direction of Greenhouse Three. "We won't be five minutes."

He didn't know if she knew how her innocent touch lingered as her fingers trailed down his arm before walking away. Hell, he wasn't entirely sure if he liked the fact the he knew her innocent touch lingered as her fingers trailed down his arm before walking way.

His eyes followed her and Susan back towards the door that would take them to Greenhouse Three and then waited for her return.

"You know," Harry's voice echoed in his ear. "She's just going to be gone a few minutes."

"I know," Ron sighed, turning back towards the front of the classroom. "I just worry."

"I know," Harry replied with a laugh. "Actually, we all know."

"What is that suppose to mean?" Ron growled, narrowing his eyes to look at his purported best mate.

Harry smirked, "Nothing, nothing at all."

"Tell me," he growled again.

"Now where's the fun in that?" his supposed best mate replied, laughing out loud.

"Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter, is there something you'd like to share with the rest of your classmates?"

Professor Sprout's question prevented Ron from interrogating Harry any further as they both snapped to attention and responded in quick tones, "No ma'am."

"Then close your traps and pay attention."

"Yes ma'am," they intoned before attempting to pay attention to Sprout's rambling lecture.

Everything was going fine until Ron realized that he had taken four lines of notes and Pansy hadn't returned. Without bothering to ask, he spun out of his seat and headed to Greenhouse Three.

"Mr. Weasley," he heard Professor Sprout call his name but he didn't respond.

"Mr. Weasley."

"Mr. Weasley."

"Ron."

He heard Harry's voice as he hit the door that would take him to Greenhouse Three but he didn't stop. He didn't even bother to look back. Taking two steps outdoors, he saw Susan lying on the ground just in front of the greenhouse but no Pansy.

Panic flooded through him as he took off running. His mind focused on a single task – getting to Pansy.

"Professor Sprout!"

"Ron!"

"Ron!"

Ron heard footfalls following him but he didn't turn around.

Bursting through the greenhouse door, he didn't see Pansy but a cloaked figure in the near distance.

Casting a stunning spell, he watched as it merely bounced off the cloaked figure. Ron kept moving forward sending spell after spell until the cloaked figure took off towards the very back of the greenhouse. He watched as Pansy fell to the floor in a heap.

Ron tore off his cloak as he ran to her.

Images flickering in front of him between memories and reality.

Her body broken and beaten in the moonlight.

Her cuts reopened, now bleeding.

Her uniform torn.

Her uniform missing.

Blood gurgling from her mouth.

Blood pouring from the cut on her face.

Her unconscious. Barely breathing.

Her conscious. Crying.

He fell to his knees as she pulled herself up; barely having time to wrap his cloak around her before she threw her arms around him.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered over and over again as he pulled her into his body while she cried his name over and over again as she clung to him.

His tears fell onto her wet face. Her tears and blood soaking his shirt and tie. Again.