In Your Dreams

Crookshanks hopped up on the table, scattering Harry and Ron's papers everywhere. Harry sighed, and started to clean them up, but Ron didn't bother. Instead, Ron glanced over at Hermione. Her head was rested on her books--she had fallen asleep. He looked back at Harry, who nodded and stood up. He turned towards the dormitory steps.

"Back in a second," Harry muttered, then disappeared up the stairs.

Ron stared at Hermione, asleep at the table, and thought about what he and Harry were about to go do. It was the first time Hermione would be left behind, but both Ron and Harry had agreed that they would rather have her safe at Hogwarts and not out with them on their task.

Ron, on a whim, gingerly picked Hermione up and carried her to a couch near the fireplace. He placed her on the couch and watched as she got herself comfortable. With a grim expression, he brushed her hair out of her face and wondered if he would ever see her again, asleep or awake.

He knew Hermione could not hear him, but Ron thought he ought to say goodbye, in preparation for the worst.

"Well, I know we haven't been on the greatest terms lately Mione," he started off, uncertainly, "but I really hope I get to hear you tomorrow, telling Harry how crazy he is, and how we never should have gone..." Ron broke off. They had to go, of course, they had been making the plans for weeks. Sirius would be waiting for them outside the castle grounds, in the shadows of the gate, just as they had planned. Somehow, Ron could not get his mind around the fact that this would be the most dangerous thing he had ever done, and he was not allowed to tell anyone.

Ron looked back over at Hermione, and she smiled at her dreams. His heart nearly broke in two. Hermione did not know anything about it. She had no clue. Hermione giggled quietly, and Ron tried desperately to smile, as if she could see him, like she needed reassurance. He hoped she was dreaming of the three of them before, and they were laughing and having a good time.

Quite suddenly, without knowing why, Ron started speaking again.

"If I'm gone when you wake up, please don't cry, and Mione, if I'm gone when you wake up, it's not really goodbye, ok? Don't look back at this as a time of distress, just remember me. I'll be with you in your dreams."

As Ron stopped talking he realized he was crying. He fiercely wiped the tears off his face.

"Ron?" The sound of Harry's voice made Ron nearly jump out of his skin. "It's time to go." Harry came over, pulled Ron to his feet, and without glancing at Hermione, tugged him over to the doorway. Harry threw the invisibility cloak over the both of them, and they walked out through the picture hole silently.

Neither of them saw the tear roll down Hermione's cheek.