You're Dreaming

The common room was bright and warm, and full of the usual chatter. Hermione and Ron sat at a table, and were half working on their transfiguration homework. Only Ron could make Hermione only half work. She smiled, at this, then put her quill down as he cleared his throat.

"Hermione, I really need to talk to you." Ron turned to her with clear eyes, full of hope, but uncertainty. "I have to tell you this before it's too late." He looked down at the table between them, making Hermione tap her fingers impatiently.

"Well, what is it, then? What's so important?" It flashed through her mind to ask what he meant by 'before it's too late', but she disregarded it. He probably just meant before someone else told her the same thing. She could already hear him telling her. She'd been waiting for it ever since fourth year. Hermione brushed her hair behind her shoulder, trying to make herself as presentable as possible.

Ron gave an amused noise, then gazed at her, openly. "You're so... pretty, Mione." He whispered, almost in disbelief. The common room around them seemed to go black and quiet around them as they both stood, facing each other. Ron brought a hand up to her face, closing the small distance between them. "I just wish I could have told you sooner, but... well, you know." He had a look of regret on his face, but his mouth still smiled.

"Ron, I should tell you-" she started quietly, amazed that he had come out like this. But he put a finger to her lips, shushing her with a smile. Then he blushed madly, seeming to return to his old self, and stepped back, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Don't say anything, Mione. You might really end up regretting it." His face became solemn, and he turned full away. "There's a problem."

"Problem?" Hermione asked, startled. What could possibly be wrong? She took an uneasy step towards him, with a worried expression. Was he really in love with someone else? Could he have some other secret? A shock ran through her with the thought. Maybe he was gay?

"Ron?" she asked, getting panicky. "Please, tell me what's wrong." She pleaded with him. He turned to her with a sad expression. And a brilliant flash of red blinded Hermione for a moment.

When she could see again, she found Ron curled up on the ground, a look of pure agony on his face. Hermione screamed. "RON!" He was bleeding, so much that she could not even tell the source of it. She started to run towards him, when faintly, she heard a voice...

And another flash, green, enveloped Ron in front of her, and all she heard was "Herm-" before everything went black, and she felt she was falling...

~*~*~

"Hermione!" She landed roughly, jolting awake. "Herm, are you ok?" She opened her eyes to find Harry and Sirius leaning over her.

"You screamed in your sleep," Sirius explained, a worried expression on his face. "We couldn't wake you up. And then," he said, gesturing, "you fell of the couch. You look like you've seen a ghost." He commented, leaning a bit closer.

Hermione suddenly sat bolt upright, grabbing Harry's shoulders roughly, shaking him. "Ron? Where's Ron!" She yelled, her voice cracking. "Where is he?" She turned around frantically, looking for him in the common room.

"Herm..." Harry averted his gaze when she turned back to him with pleading eyes. "Herm, we went out... we tried to stop V-" Harry cut himself off for the first time in his life. He stared down at the red carpet, his face twisted into the saddest expression Hermione thought he had ever worn.

"WHAT?" She screeched so loudly that the could hear the Fat Lady complaining from the hall. Then, with a voice so quiet Sirius and Harry had to lean in to hear, she whispered; "but... Ron didn't say... He didn't get to tell me... " She looked up at them, angry. "RON!" she splurted in defiance.

"He's dead, Hermione."