Hermione woke not to the striking sunlight on her face, as she had expected, but to an obnoxious intruder. She hadn't been asleep long, and she could see no trickles of sunlight through the hangings that were drawn partially around her bed. It was still early morning, and she had no idea who'd be here causing all this noise. Had they no shame in bursting in when others were simply trying to rest?
She knew he'd show up eventually.
"Hermione Granger! Where are you?" it was the voice of her boyfriend, Ron Weasley and she was less than happy
to hear him. Madame Pomfrey had come out of her office dreary and was mumbling. Ron had found her.
"Madame Pomfrey! Where is my girlfriend? And where is my best friend!? Is he here also? Where are they? I swear the minute I see them both-" Hermione propped herself up, and Harry woke up also, wide eyed at what he was hearing.
"Boy, what are you doing? It's three in the morning!" She heard Ron turn on his feet and footsteps became louder. Just in time, a more than disgruntled Ron threw back the hangings of Hermione's bed and saw her expression. It was still dark.
"I must insist, Mister Weasley," The nurse tried to interject, but she did not have control over this one visitor.
"There you are! I've been so worr-" Ron had definitely spanned his emotions to go from rage and
compassion. Hermione exploded, even though each word seemed to pound another piece of hail onto her body, she managed
quite a bit.
"You've been worried? Worried? So worried that you went after me yourself? How dare you!" Ron bent down
and she shoved him away. How dare he?
"Hermione! I've stayed up all night, and I have gotten detention for you! And I find you here with my best
friend! What the hell is going on!?" He cast Harry a dark look and reached to Hermione.
"It's thanks to Harry - someone who really cares, Ron-that I 'm not really ill, now would you
please-" Hermione hated Ron like this. Sometimes he would get very angry and irrational.
"Mister Weasley, it is too early for this!" Madame Pomfrey was silenced by his tone.
"I will NOT get out, by all means! I am your boyfriend, I should be here, if anybody! NOT HIM!" he
said, pointing at a silent Harry. Hermione was as angry as Ron, even if her body didn't allow her to show it. Her
throat was sore and it was hard to choke words out.
"I am really going to slap you now Ron, stop being ridiculous!" she hissed, and then Hermione threw her legs
over the side of the bed and collapsed next to Harry. Harry helped her up, but was pushed away by a furious Ron.
"Don't touch her, you scum!" Hermione grasped the bed and Ron jumped to help Hermione and before he could apologize…
She slapped him.
"You Ronald are NOT right! He is the reason I am in here and not freezing to death outside! He simply was the ONLY
one who CARED! The only piece of scum here is YOU!" Ron's eyes died. They were not fiery, they did not chine,
they were cold and lost. He was lost for words.
"I-I'm sorry, Hermione and s-sorry Harry.. I'll just.."
"Just leave, Ron. Go to bed." Ron turned around, walked out and never looked back.
Hermione turned around and had just made it to the corner of her bed when she collapsed in pain.
"Oh Harry, what am I going to do?" Harry got up immediately and went to her side. He kneeled down
beside her and helped her onto her bed without a word. Harry was astonished at his friends behavior.
"You don't have to do anything about anything right now. We've still got until noon, and by the looks of
it, it is still dark." he whispered. He was shaken up about Ron.
"Thanks so much Harry, for being there and caring for me." And with that she pulled him down into a hug and
kissed him on the cheek, sending them both into a feverish state.
"I'm always here looking after for you." Harry said, brushing her hair behind her head and kissing her
pale forehead.
Hermione fell asleep and Harry stayed awake, as if he were protecting her. Madame Pomfrey came to him when it was dawn.
"Mister Potter, you should be fine to go to class-" She had brought another vile of potion, undoubtedly another Pepper-Up.
"Please let me stay with her! What if Ron comes back?"
"I've informed Minerva about the boy, and I should be able to care for her. I hear you have potions this
morning, and Professor Snape usually doesn't like when students miss his class!"
"Please?? Just this once!" Madame Pomfrey threw up her hands in defeat. She muttered some things and left to
her office.
He tried and stayed past his first class, which was Potions. Of course it didn't fly too well with Professor Snape,
who sent his prized student to retrieve Harry.
"Professor Snape is looking for you, Potter." sneered Malfoy. He scanned the restless Hermione, who began to
awake.
"You'd better get out of here Malfoy, she doesn't need to wake up to see your slimy face." Malfoy
folded his arms and stood silent.
"You're wanted Potter. If you don't come along to Potions, Snape will give you a zero and a
detention." The blonde Slytherin King thought he had won over Potter.
"Get out now Malfoy, or answer to Madame Pomfrey."
"As you wish, it's your funeral, oh and by the way--" he said, while making his way out the door,
"Weasley is furious, he is already in two detentions this week." Malfoy shut the door behind him, and
Hermione awoke.
"Who was that? What-- Harry you're missing Potions! You aren't supposed to stay half-day!" Harry
nodded his head.
"You think I can't handle Snape? I'm not heart-broken about missing class anyways. I'm staying."
She gaped at him and then went looking for her books.
"Harry, could you do me a favor? Could you get my books?" Harry chuckled slightly,
"Do I have to?" Hermione nodded and Harry returned shortly with breakfast also, only to find a black owl
sitting on the bed next to Hermione. Hermione looked worried, and she was reading a piece of paper. She handed it him,
with an 'I-told-you-so' look on her face.
Potter,
Detention, Eight o'clock, dungeons. Your skipping of my lesson does not go unnoticed.
Professor Snape