All That You Can't Leave Behind

Disclaimer: I do not own the series of Harry Potter. If I did, Sirius Black would still be alive. It belongs to one of my idols, J.K. Rowling, so please, don't sue me. If you did, the most you'd get from me is an endless collection of DVDs and a few quarters. Sorry.

Chapter One

An Attempt to Tip the Scales

February, 1998

"Ronald Weasley!" A shrill voice rang through the corridor. Ron froze, knowing he'd been caught, but thought maybe, just maybe, if he stood still long enough, she'd go away. No such luck. He closed his eyes and groaned as her hand clamped onto his arm. "Ron, where do you think you are going?" she questioned; her face stern. She wasn't kidding around.

"I was just taking a break. Maybe, I don't know, sleep?" he replied. "I don't think I've slept in two days."

His comment was met with a scoff. "Don't be daft, Ronald. You slept for four hours and twenty three minutes this morning."

"Hermione, are you insane?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"You're timing how long I sleep, Hermione! We spend all day in the library, practically starving to death-"

"Rona-"

"This is insane!"

Hermione was fuming. Quite frankly, it was frightening Ron. He'd never seen her make that face before- it was scary. "Insane?" she said, stepping closer, her voice low and shaking. "Insane?"

Ron's eyes widened as he nodded his head. "Uh-huh," he squeaked out lamely. He wasn't expecting what she did next, however. The stinging sensation spread across the entire half of his face as her palm collided with his cheek. His hand immediately went to his throbbing cheek as he looked down at her, wide-eyed, ready to yell 'What the bloody hell was that for?!', but he stopped cold.

She stood, staring up at him, shaking, tears forming in her chocolate eyes. "Our best friend is preparing to put his life on the line for us, for the world," she said, her voice breaking. "And you...all you can think about is sleep and food. What is wrong with you?" She hit his chest, but Ron didn't flinch. "Why can't you think of Harry for once?" she hit him again. "All you ever think of is yourself!" she hit him one last time, and broke into a fit of sobs, covering her face with her hands. Ron sighed, pulling her into a tight hug, letting her cry into his chest.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. Hermione pulled away, catching her breath as she looked up at him, wiping her eyes. Ron didn't know what to do. He stood awkwardly, waiting for her to say something.

"The least you could do is help with research. Please. Don't make me beg, Ronald."

Ron nodded. How could he refuse a plea like that? Inside, he was kicking himself for being such an arrogant prat. What she'd said is true. He was being selfish, while his best friend was putting himself out there to save the world. He was such an idiot. "O-okay," he stuttered, nodding his head.

* * *

"What happened with her?" questioned Harry as Ron flopped down in a chair across from him. Hermione hurried past the table, and disappeared into the stacks. Ron slid his hand through his messy ginger hair and sighed.

"Who knows," he said, pulling a book toward him. "She's going bloody mental. She's got to take time out of these bloody books."

"She's just trying to help, Ron," said Harry, glancing toward the stacks. "But I agree, it's starting to take a toll on her. I'm a bit worried about her, poor girl. I mean, I appreciate all she's doing for me, but she doesn't have to go through so much trouble."

Ron nodded. "Yeah," he sighed, flipping a page. "You find anything, mate?"

Harry closed the book in his hand, and tossed it aside. "No. Hermione's probably found a load more for us to look through, though. Where did she go, anyway?" he questioned, turning toward the stacks, attempting to spot Hermione.

"I dunno," Ron mumbled with a shrug. He flipped another page, and looked it over, mumbling the Latin incantation under his breath, partially without realizing it.

Harry looked up, his brow furrowed. "I-I don't think you should do that mate," he said, glancing down at the book in Ron's hands. He had no idea what the incantation said, or what it was for, but if there was one thing he'd learned from Hermione, it's that you should never recite an incantation without meaning for it to have results. It always had results.

Ron looked up at Harry, confused. "What are you talking about? Nothing happened," he scoffed, tossing the book aside. "I think you and Hermione both need a break, mate. You're both going mental."

Hermione looked up from the book in her lap, suddenly feeling dizzy. The room was spinning, and everything was moving so fast. She pressed her hands to her head and squeezed her eyes closed. When she opened them a moment later, everything had calmed. She pushed the book off her lap and stood up, rushing from the stacks to find Harry and Ron. When she reached the table, however, it was empty, which confused her. Just moments ago, both of them had been sitting amongst piles and piles of books.

"What the..." she trailed off, and spun around, prepared to rack them down. However, she slammed directly into something solid. A person. She stumbled backwards, visibly shaken. "I-I'm sorry!"