In This Moment
Title: In This Moment
Rating: PG
Pairing/Characters: Ron/Hermione
Genre: Drama
Word Count: 3,396
Summary: A sense of safety has settled over the wizarding world in the months after the war. However, after an attack on Hogsmeade, Ron is forced to see that the world he loves still isn't as safe as he thought.
A/N: Many thanks to my betas vnfan and shiiki for all their help! ♥
Written for hp_canon_fest 2011. My prompt was "I wish I could freeze this moment, right here, right now and live in it forever." -- Suzanne Collins, "Catching Fire" (I also threw in a couple more Catching Fire references near the end.)
*~*
It was a busy day at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. George had warned Ron that it was always a madhouse on Halloween, but Ron had not expected the shop to be quite so crowded. Merchandise was flying off the shelves quicker than they could stock it, the queue for the register was out the door, and the crowd was so dense that it made movement nearly impossible. It was not the way Ron had hoped to spend the day.
Ron had planned to meet Hermione in Hogsmeade, but George had insisted that he couldn't spare him. Guilt and a sense of obligation had forced him to cancel his date with Hermione, but Ron had promised to owl her if there was any chance he could make it later in the afternoon. He had remained hopeful that the day wouldn't be as hectic as George said it would be and that he might be able to slip out around lunchtime. But the nonstop flow of customers they'd had since the shop opened early that morning, dashed all hope of him skiving off early.
As the day wore on, Ron grew more and more irritable. Annoyed at Ron's increasingly sour attitude, George had taken over the register and sent Ron to restock the shelves. Though he hated to admit it, the break from the mob of customers did him good.
Ron had just unpacked a crate of Extendable Ears, when he heard George call from the shop front.
"Ron! I need another case of Basic Blaze Boxes. And some Puking Pastilles."
"Okay." Ron sighed and put aside what he was working on to retrieve a crate of Wildfire Whiz-bangs from the top shelf. He cast a Hover Charm and began to lower the crate to the floor. Suddenly the door to the backroom burst open. Ron turned to see Harry rush into the room.
"Ron!"
"Hey, Harry," Ron said, turning back to his work. "Wasn't expecting you to come by today. I thought you had to work."
"I did…I do, that's just it," Harry said. His voice was strained. "There was an attack in Hogsmeade this morning."
The crate Ron had been moving crashed heavily to the floor. "An attack?"
Harry hesitated, his expression pained. "But there's more. Hermione and Ginny were in Hogsmeade during the attack. They did their best to protect the younger students, but Hermione was hit by a curse. They've taken her to St. Mungo's."
Ron sat down on the edge of the crate, worried his knees were about to give out. "Is she okay?"
"I don't know," Harry said, his expression anguished. "She was with the Healers when I left. I came here as soon as I heard what happened. I thought you'd want to know."
"We've got to get down there," Ron said, standing up.
"Actually, I have to go back to Hogsmeade before Robards knows I'm gone," Harry said sheepishly. "I'm still on duty. I shouldn't have left, but…"
"Yeah," Ron said, understanding that Harry had broken the rules to come tell him. "Thanks, mate."
"What's going on?" George said, walking into the back room. "Everyone's going on about some attack in Hogsmeade. I can't believe how quickly they cleared out of here. The queue was out the door, and now Diagon Alley is completely empty. What's going on?"
"It's true," Harry said. "A couple of Death Eaters attacked Hogsmeade."
"I need to go," Ron said. "Harry, you'll…"
Harry nodded. He would explain the situation to George. Ron didn't think he could if he tried. Before George could say anything more, Ron pulled his cloak off the peg nearest the door and Disapparated.
*~*
St. Mungo's was in chaos when Ron reached the reception area. Apparently, there had been a number of injuries, many of them Hogwarts students. Worried parents crowded the desk, fretting over the state of their children and expressing their anger about the situation.
"I knew it was too soon to send them back to school!"
"The Ministry said we were safe!"
Additional members of the staff had come to the aid of the young welcome witch, who appeared to be flustered by all the commotion. After a tense quarter of an hour, they managed to organize everyone into a single queue. Ron wanted to jump out of his skin as the line inched forward, and he wondered if it would have been quicker for him to go floor-to-floor searching for her. Finally, Ron reached the front of the line.
"I'm looking for Hermione Granger," he said. "She was injured in the attack on Hogsmeade."
"You're Ron Weasley," the young woman said, looking slightly awestruck.
"Hermione Granger?" he repeated.
"Oh, yes," she said, flushing as she consulted the book in front of her. "Fourth floor. Barnabus Blenkinsop Ward. "
"Thanks," he said, hurrying toward the lift. He punched the button several times before the doors opened to take him up.
The fourth floor was crawling with Ministry officials and Aurors. It looked as though the attack had been a bad one. Heaviness settled in Ron's chest as he moved through the ward and saw the broken bodies of those who'd been caught up in the attack. His anxiety began to increase as the sights and smells of the war returned full force.
Ron knew that numerous Death Eaters that had remained at large after the war. Not all of them had been present at the Battle of Hogwarts, and a few who were had escaped in the chaos that had ensued that night. Harry had told him that the Death Eaters were still recruiting members, but this was the first sign that they really were still out there, still dangerous. It was terrifying. He prayed Hermione was okay.
Halfway through the corridor, Ron was stopped by a large wizard. "Sorry, this is a secure area."
"I'm looking for Hermione Granger," Ron said.
"Are you family?"
"What does it matter?" Ron asked, agitated.
"It's all night, Nigel," said a familiar voice.
Ron turned to see Neville coming toward him. Because of his underground resistance with the DA during the war, Neville had been offered a position as an Auror afterward. While he had said it wasn't his first choice of occupation, he had desperately wanted to do something useful to help after the war. Rounding up the remaining Death Eaters was essential to the safety of the wizarding community. Neville himself knew the importance of this, as his own parents were tortured in the lull immediately after the first war.
"Neville, where's Hermione?"
"I think she's in a private room," Neville said. "Come on, I'll take you back there."
"Is she okay?" Ron asked, feeling his anxiety spike. "Why do they have her in a private room?"
"I don't know," Neville said. "I'm sorry, Ron. There's so much going on. We've already kicked Rita Skeeter out of the ward twice. They're talking about closing it off to everyone because we can't be sure that Death Eaters won't try to infiltrate St. Mungo's next."
Ron peered into the rooms, looking for some sign of her. He was troubled by the news that they had put her in a private room. There were numerous reasons why they might have done this, and Ron was most worried that it was because her condition was serious. Ron finally found her room at the end of the corridor. He hesitated just outside the door.
"She'll be fine," Neville said in an encouraging tone, clapping Ron on the shoulder. "It's Hermione. She's strong."
The certainty in Neville's voice momentarily calmed Ron's nerves. "Thanks, Neville."
"Let me know if there's anything I can do," he said.
Ron pushed open the door and stepped inside. A Healer was standing beside Hermione's bed writing notes onto a piece of parchment. He looked up at Ron.
"Can I help you?" the Healer asked.
"How is she?" Ron asked, looking beyond him at Hermione.
Her face was pale, and she had numerous small scrapes and cuts on her cheeks. She looked peaceful in sleep. He was grateful to see that she didn't appear to be in any pain, and her breathing was steady.
"Are you family?"
"She's my…er…cousin," Ron lied.
The Healer looked skeptical, but didn't press the matter. "She was hit by a strong curse. She had a large slash across her back when she arrived, but we applied a salve and it has nearly healed. We're not exactly sure what sort of curse it was, so we won't know the extent of the damage until she wakes up.”
"Can't you wake her up and find out?" Ron asked.
"It's better if she rests," he said.
"So you aren't doing anything?" Ron asked incredulously.
"Of course not. There are a number of potions that can help the body heal after being cursed. We've given her those until we know exactly what is wrong."
Ron sighed. "I'm sorry. Thank you very much."
The Healer nodded curtly. He finished his notes and left Ron alone with Hermione. Ron sat down in a chair beside her bed, taking her hand in his. To his relief, it was as soft and warm as it always was. It was difficult for him not to be reminded of when they had escaped from Malfoy Manor many months ago. Hermione was one of the strongest people he knew and it was rare to see her looking so fragile. Seeing her like this again scared him.
There had been many moments over the past year that had demonstrated just how much she meant to him. At first, the strength of his feelings for her had taken him by surprise, but then he realized that they had always been there. He just hadn't realized it. Knowing it didn't make things easier; this attack had reminded him of all he had to lose. Safety was an illusion as long as there were still Death Eaters on the loose, but for months they had allowed themselves to forget this.
*~*
Over an hour had passed with no change, when the door of Hermione's room swung open and Mr. and Mrs. Granger burst, white-faced, into the room.
"Oh, Hermione!" Mrs. Granger exclaimed.
Ron was surprised that his father had appeared after them in the doorway. Ron stood and took a step back to let her parents get closer to her, and his father gestured for him to join him. Reluctantly, Ron crossed the room and stepped out into the corridor.
"How is she doing?" Mr. Weasley asked quietly.
"The Healers still don't know," Ron said. "They won't know anything until she wakes up."
"Are you doing okay?" his father asked.
"Yeah," he lied. "Of course."
A shout from inside the room, startled them. Ron rushed in immediately, worried that something was wrong with Hermione. Mr. and Mrs. Granger appeared to have been in the midst of an argument.
"Is everything all right?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"We'd like to take Hermione to another hospital." Mr. Granger said.
"Another hospital?" Ron repeated.
"I want her in one of our hospitals, a real hospital," he said. "I am her father. I should have say over where my daughter receives care."
"Richard," Mrs. Granger said.
"No! No, Jean! I'm sorry, but this is ridiculous. I thought this was all over. She promised us that this was over."
"I'm sorry," Mr. Weasley said. "It isn't possible for Hermione to be moved to a Muggle hospital. Her injuries were caused by a curse. She can't be treated by Muggle doctors."
"Well that's really damned convenient, isn't it?" Mr. Granger asked, running a hand through his hair.
"Convenient?" Ron started angrily, but his father raised a placatory hand and Ron backed down.
"Mr. Granger, I understand how you must feel, but this really is the best place for Hermione's care," Mr. Weasley said. "I had an extended stay here a few years ago and can attest to the professionalism and quality of care they provide."
"Mr. Weasley is right," Mrs. Granger said. "Hermione should stay here."
Mr. Granger nodded, but still didn't look happy about the situation.
"Ron and I will get a Healer to speak to you," Mr. Weasley said. "Perhaps that will give you peace of mind."
Mr. Weasley led Ron back out into the corridor.
"Ron, you need to stay calm," he said, once the door swung closed. "This is hard on them. Hermione is their daughter, and it must be incredibly difficult for them to deal with the fact that they can't be part of certain aspects of her life. As it is, we could only manage to get them a few hours of visitation here. With the attack, it's just too dangerous to relax some of the protective measures that allow them to be here."
"You mean they won't be able to stay?" Ron asked.
"I'm afraid not," Mr. Weasley said, "which is probably why Mr. Granger is so upset. Give them a little time. Let's you and I get a cup of tea."
"But Hermione…"
"Will be fine," Mr. Weasley said. "We'll ask the Healers to come let us know if there's any change."
Ron and his father went off down the corridor in search of a Healer to speak to Hermione's parents.
*~*
After Hermione's parents left, Ron went back to Hermione's bedside. Ron had promised to inform them immediately when Hermione woke up. Harry stopped by for a while after work and had given Ron more information about the attacks. Thankfully, no one had been killed. One of the Death Eaters had been caught, but the other had escaped. The idea set Ron on edge. He kept his wand within reach, worried that the Dark wizard would return to finish the job.
Hermione slept peacefully through the evening, but as the hours ticked by, Ron's anxiety grew. Healers came in and out, taking notes, but were still unable to give him any news on her condition. Overwrought by the events of the day, Ron finally shut down, falling asleep in his chair.
He felt as though he had just dozed off, when he heard movement. His eyes snapped open, and he reached for his wand, prepared to ward off an attack.
"Ron?"
Hermione was stirring, her eyes blinking as she struggled into consciousness. Her voice, though slightly hoarse from sleep, was the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard.
"Hermione!" He dropped his wand on her bed, and wrapped his arms around her, forgetting in his happiness to be careful. He let her go when he noticed her wince.
"Are you all right?" he asked, alarmed. "Should I get the Healer?"
"I think I'm okay," she said shakily. "What happened?"
"You got hit with a curse," he said. "Don't you remember?"
"No," she said, wrinkling her forehead in frustration.
"Death Eaters Apparated into Hogsmeade and started cursing everyone."
Hermione frowned. "Ginny and I tried to get the younger students into safety-Oh! Is Ginny okay?"
"She's fine," Ron said. "Harry said she didn't have a scratch on her."
"Good," she said softly. "It was chaos. They were blasting apart some of the shops. I was distracted…"
"They got you in the back," he said. "The Healer said you had a big gash."
"It stings a little," she said, "but not too badly."
"Are you in pain?"
"I'll be okay," she said.
"You're pale," he said. "I'm going to get the Healers."
Ron was lucky to find her Healer just outside her room.
"You'll have to wait outside while we examine her," the Healer said to Ron.
Ron nervously waited outside her door. He noticed that things had calmed down in the ward. His watch indicated that it was just after midnight. People who were awake spoke in whispers, and many of the lights were dimmed to accommodate sleeping patients. Ron noticed that there were still a few Aurors stationed at the entrances of the ward, though far fewer than before.
Finally, the Healer stepped out into the corridor again. He noticed Ron standing nearby and waited for him to approach.
"It's late and she needs her rest," the Healer said. "You can only stay a few more minutes."
"Is she okay?"
"It appears your…er…cousin will make a full recovery," the Healer said.
Ron sighed in relief, a wide smile stretching across his face. "Thank you."
He went back into Hermione's room. She was sitting up, and looking a little better than she had before.
"Your Healer said you'd make a full recovery," Ron said.
"Yes, but I'll have to stay here for a few days," she said.
"That's all right," he said.
"I'll fall behind in my lessons. We've been studying Untransfiguration, and I…"
"There's nothing wrong with taking a few days off," he said, but, when she glared at him, he quickly added. "But I'm sure McGonagall will owl your homework if you ask her."
Hermione smiled. "I'll owl her tomorrow morning."
"I thought I might ask George if I can take a few days off from the shop so I can spend time with you here," he said. "I wish I could stay tonight."
"Why can't you?" Hermione asked.
"The Healer said you needed rest," he said.
"I'm fine," she said. "I slept all day."
Ron looked at her skeptically, but Hermione moved over in her bed to leave a space for Ron to sit. He glanced back at the door before climbing up onto the bed and wrapping his arms around her. He rested his cheek against the top of her head, feeling the tickle of her hair against his skin. Relief finally washed over him. She was going to be okay.
"I love you," he said quietly.
Hermione turned to look at him, her brown eyes wide, as though she couldn't believe what he had just said. In truth, Ron was just as surprised. He hadn't expected to say it, but he couldn't deny that it was how he really felt.
"I was so afraid I was going to lose you," he said. "When Harry came to the shop today…"
"I was afraid, too," she said. "I thought I'd never see you again."
Once again, guilt bubbled inside of him. "I'm sorry I wasn't there today. I wish I had been there."
"It wasn't your fault," Hermione said. "You couldn't have known what was going to happen, and even if you had, there was nothing you could have done."
"I would have done anything to keep you from taking that curse," he said.
"And injured yourself in the process," she said. "Do you think it's any easier for me to see you hurt?"
"No," he said.
"Good," she said. "Now tell me again."
"What?"
"What you said before," Hermione said.
Ron smiled. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
Ron brushed her hair away from her cheek, and leaned in, gently brushing his lips against hers. She cupped his face with her hand, encouraging him to continue. He kissed her again, not as lightly as before, but still holding back slightly so as not to hurt her. He pulled away, caressing her face, tracing the small abrasions on her skin.
"I wish I could freeze this moment, right here, right now, and live in it forever," Hermione said, as her eyes fluttered open.
"I can think of far better moments," he said, though he couldn't help but smile. "Ones that don't involve you being attacked."
"Such as?" she asked.
"The first time you kissed me," he said.
"When the castle was being attacked, you mean?"
"Ah, right," Ron said, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. "How about our second kiss?"
Hermione sighed happily. "That was a much better moment."
"The last few days we spent in Australia. Three perfect days."
"It was rather lovely," she agreed. "But it isn't every day that you tell me you love me."
Ron smiled. Maybe Hermione was right. It had been an awful day, but with her in his arms, he never felt happier. Maybe all they needed to create a perfect moment was each other.
"Stay with me," she said softly.
He could tell she was drifting off to sleep again. His own eyes were getting heavy, and despite the Healer's order for him to leave, Ron made no effort to do so. Instead, he pulled Hermione closer, stroking her hair as she snuggled against his chest.
"Always."
Rating: PG
Pairing/Characters: Ron/Hermione
Genre: Drama
Word Count: 3,396
Summary: A sense of safety has settled over the wizarding world in the months after the war. However, after an attack on Hogsmeade, Ron is forced to see that the world he loves still isn't as safe as he thought.
A/N: Many thanks to my betas vnfan and shiiki for all their help! ♥
Written for hp_canon_fest 2011. My prompt was "I wish I could freeze this moment, right here, right now and live in it forever." -- Suzanne Collins, "Catching Fire" (I also threw in a couple more Catching Fire references near the end.)
*~*
It was a busy day at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. George had warned Ron that it was always a madhouse on Halloween, but Ron had not expected the shop to be quite so crowded. Merchandise was flying off the shelves quicker than they could stock it, the queue for the register was out the door, and the crowd was so dense that it made movement nearly impossible. It was not the way Ron had hoped to spend the day.
Ron had planned to meet Hermione in Hogsmeade, but George had insisted that he couldn't spare him. Guilt and a sense of obligation had forced him to cancel his date with Hermione, but Ron had promised to owl her if there was any chance he could make it later in the afternoon. He had remained hopeful that the day wouldn't be as hectic as George said it would be and that he might be able to slip out around lunchtime. But the nonstop flow of customers they'd had since the shop opened early that morning, dashed all hope of him skiving off early.
As the day wore on, Ron grew more and more irritable. Annoyed at Ron's increasingly sour attitude, George had taken over the register and sent Ron to restock the shelves. Though he hated to admit it, the break from the mob of customers did him good.
Ron had just unpacked a crate of Extendable Ears, when he heard George call from the shop front.
"Ron! I need another case of Basic Blaze Boxes. And some Puking Pastilles."
"Okay." Ron sighed and put aside what he was working on to retrieve a crate of Wildfire Whiz-bangs from the top shelf. He cast a Hover Charm and began to lower the crate to the floor. Suddenly the door to the backroom burst open. Ron turned to see Harry rush into the room.
"Ron!"
"Hey, Harry," Ron said, turning back to his work. "Wasn't expecting you to come by today. I thought you had to work."
"I did…I do, that's just it," Harry said. His voice was strained. "There was an attack in Hogsmeade this morning."
The crate Ron had been moving crashed heavily to the floor. "An attack?"
Harry hesitated, his expression pained. "But there's more. Hermione and Ginny were in Hogsmeade during the attack. They did their best to protect the younger students, but Hermione was hit by a curse. They've taken her to St. Mungo's."
Ron sat down on the edge of the crate, worried his knees were about to give out. "Is she okay?"
"I don't know," Harry said, his expression anguished. "She was with the Healers when I left. I came here as soon as I heard what happened. I thought you'd want to know."
"We've got to get down there," Ron said, standing up.
"Actually, I have to go back to Hogsmeade before Robards knows I'm gone," Harry said sheepishly. "I'm still on duty. I shouldn't have left, but…"
"Yeah," Ron said, understanding that Harry had broken the rules to come tell him. "Thanks, mate."
"What's going on?" George said, walking into the back room. "Everyone's going on about some attack in Hogsmeade. I can't believe how quickly they cleared out of here. The queue was out the door, and now Diagon Alley is completely empty. What's going on?"
"It's true," Harry said. "A couple of Death Eaters attacked Hogsmeade."
"I need to go," Ron said. "Harry, you'll…"
Harry nodded. He would explain the situation to George. Ron didn't think he could if he tried. Before George could say anything more, Ron pulled his cloak off the peg nearest the door and Disapparated.
*~*
St. Mungo's was in chaos when Ron reached the reception area. Apparently, there had been a number of injuries, many of them Hogwarts students. Worried parents crowded the desk, fretting over the state of their children and expressing their anger about the situation.
"I knew it was too soon to send them back to school!"
"The Ministry said we were safe!"
Additional members of the staff had come to the aid of the young welcome witch, who appeared to be flustered by all the commotion. After a tense quarter of an hour, they managed to organize everyone into a single queue. Ron wanted to jump out of his skin as the line inched forward, and he wondered if it would have been quicker for him to go floor-to-floor searching for her. Finally, Ron reached the front of the line.
"I'm looking for Hermione Granger," he said. "She was injured in the attack on Hogsmeade."
"You're Ron Weasley," the young woman said, looking slightly awestruck.
"Hermione Granger?" he repeated.
"Oh, yes," she said, flushing as she consulted the book in front of her. "Fourth floor. Barnabus Blenkinsop Ward. "
"Thanks," he said, hurrying toward the lift. He punched the button several times before the doors opened to take him up.
The fourth floor was crawling with Ministry officials and Aurors. It looked as though the attack had been a bad one. Heaviness settled in Ron's chest as he moved through the ward and saw the broken bodies of those who'd been caught up in the attack. His anxiety began to increase as the sights and smells of the war returned full force.
Ron knew that numerous Death Eaters that had remained at large after the war. Not all of them had been present at the Battle of Hogwarts, and a few who were had escaped in the chaos that had ensued that night. Harry had told him that the Death Eaters were still recruiting members, but this was the first sign that they really were still out there, still dangerous. It was terrifying. He prayed Hermione was okay.
Halfway through the corridor, Ron was stopped by a large wizard. "Sorry, this is a secure area."
"I'm looking for Hermione Granger," Ron said.
"Are you family?"
"What does it matter?" Ron asked, agitated.
"It's all night, Nigel," said a familiar voice.
Ron turned to see Neville coming toward him. Because of his underground resistance with the DA during the war, Neville had been offered a position as an Auror afterward. While he had said it wasn't his first choice of occupation, he had desperately wanted to do something useful to help after the war. Rounding up the remaining Death Eaters was essential to the safety of the wizarding community. Neville himself knew the importance of this, as his own parents were tortured in the lull immediately after the first war.
"Neville, where's Hermione?"
"I think she's in a private room," Neville said. "Come on, I'll take you back there."
"Is she okay?" Ron asked, feeling his anxiety spike. "Why do they have her in a private room?"
"I don't know," Neville said. "I'm sorry, Ron. There's so much going on. We've already kicked Rita Skeeter out of the ward twice. They're talking about closing it off to everyone because we can't be sure that Death Eaters won't try to infiltrate St. Mungo's next."
Ron peered into the rooms, looking for some sign of her. He was troubled by the news that they had put her in a private room. There were numerous reasons why they might have done this, and Ron was most worried that it was because her condition was serious. Ron finally found her room at the end of the corridor. He hesitated just outside the door.
"She'll be fine," Neville said in an encouraging tone, clapping Ron on the shoulder. "It's Hermione. She's strong."
The certainty in Neville's voice momentarily calmed Ron's nerves. "Thanks, Neville."
"Let me know if there's anything I can do," he said.
Ron pushed open the door and stepped inside. A Healer was standing beside Hermione's bed writing notes onto a piece of parchment. He looked up at Ron.
"Can I help you?" the Healer asked.
"How is she?" Ron asked, looking beyond him at Hermione.
Her face was pale, and she had numerous small scrapes and cuts on her cheeks. She looked peaceful in sleep. He was grateful to see that she didn't appear to be in any pain, and her breathing was steady.
"Are you family?"
"She's my…er…cousin," Ron lied.
The Healer looked skeptical, but didn't press the matter. "She was hit by a strong curse. She had a large slash across her back when she arrived, but we applied a salve and it has nearly healed. We're not exactly sure what sort of curse it was, so we won't know the extent of the damage until she wakes up.”
"Can't you wake her up and find out?" Ron asked.
"It's better if she rests," he said.
"So you aren't doing anything?" Ron asked incredulously.
"Of course not. There are a number of potions that can help the body heal after being cursed. We've given her those until we know exactly what is wrong."
Ron sighed. "I'm sorry. Thank you very much."
The Healer nodded curtly. He finished his notes and left Ron alone with Hermione. Ron sat down in a chair beside her bed, taking her hand in his. To his relief, it was as soft and warm as it always was. It was difficult for him not to be reminded of when they had escaped from Malfoy Manor many months ago. Hermione was one of the strongest people he knew and it was rare to see her looking so fragile. Seeing her like this again scared him.
There had been many moments over the past year that had demonstrated just how much she meant to him. At first, the strength of his feelings for her had taken him by surprise, but then he realized that they had always been there. He just hadn't realized it. Knowing it didn't make things easier; this attack had reminded him of all he had to lose. Safety was an illusion as long as there were still Death Eaters on the loose, but for months they had allowed themselves to forget this.
*~*
Over an hour had passed with no change, when the door of Hermione's room swung open and Mr. and Mrs. Granger burst, white-faced, into the room.
"Oh, Hermione!" Mrs. Granger exclaimed.
Ron was surprised that his father had appeared after them in the doorway. Ron stood and took a step back to let her parents get closer to her, and his father gestured for him to join him. Reluctantly, Ron crossed the room and stepped out into the corridor.
"How is she doing?" Mr. Weasley asked quietly.
"The Healers still don't know," Ron said. "They won't know anything until she wakes up."
"Are you doing okay?" his father asked.
"Yeah," he lied. "Of course."
A shout from inside the room, startled them. Ron rushed in immediately, worried that something was wrong with Hermione. Mr. and Mrs. Granger appeared to have been in the midst of an argument.
"Is everything all right?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"We'd like to take Hermione to another hospital." Mr. Granger said.
"Another hospital?" Ron repeated.
"I want her in one of our hospitals, a real hospital," he said. "I am her father. I should have say over where my daughter receives care."
"Richard," Mrs. Granger said.
"No! No, Jean! I'm sorry, but this is ridiculous. I thought this was all over. She promised us that this was over."
"I'm sorry," Mr. Weasley said. "It isn't possible for Hermione to be moved to a Muggle hospital. Her injuries were caused by a curse. She can't be treated by Muggle doctors."
"Well that's really damned convenient, isn't it?" Mr. Granger asked, running a hand through his hair.
"Convenient?" Ron started angrily, but his father raised a placatory hand and Ron backed down.
"Mr. Granger, I understand how you must feel, but this really is the best place for Hermione's care," Mr. Weasley said. "I had an extended stay here a few years ago and can attest to the professionalism and quality of care they provide."
"Mr. Weasley is right," Mrs. Granger said. "Hermione should stay here."
Mr. Granger nodded, but still didn't look happy about the situation.
"Ron and I will get a Healer to speak to you," Mr. Weasley said. "Perhaps that will give you peace of mind."
Mr. Weasley led Ron back out into the corridor.
"Ron, you need to stay calm," he said, once the door swung closed. "This is hard on them. Hermione is their daughter, and it must be incredibly difficult for them to deal with the fact that they can't be part of certain aspects of her life. As it is, we could only manage to get them a few hours of visitation here. With the attack, it's just too dangerous to relax some of the protective measures that allow them to be here."
"You mean they won't be able to stay?" Ron asked.
"I'm afraid not," Mr. Weasley said, "which is probably why Mr. Granger is so upset. Give them a little time. Let's you and I get a cup of tea."
"But Hermione…"
"Will be fine," Mr. Weasley said. "We'll ask the Healers to come let us know if there's any change."
Ron and his father went off down the corridor in search of a Healer to speak to Hermione's parents.
*~*
After Hermione's parents left, Ron went back to Hermione's bedside. Ron had promised to inform them immediately when Hermione woke up. Harry stopped by for a while after work and had given Ron more information about the attacks. Thankfully, no one had been killed. One of the Death Eaters had been caught, but the other had escaped. The idea set Ron on edge. He kept his wand within reach, worried that the Dark wizard would return to finish the job.
Hermione slept peacefully through the evening, but as the hours ticked by, Ron's anxiety grew. Healers came in and out, taking notes, but were still unable to give him any news on her condition. Overwrought by the events of the day, Ron finally shut down, falling asleep in his chair.
He felt as though he had just dozed off, when he heard movement. His eyes snapped open, and he reached for his wand, prepared to ward off an attack.
"Ron?"
Hermione was stirring, her eyes blinking as she struggled into consciousness. Her voice, though slightly hoarse from sleep, was the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard.
"Hermione!" He dropped his wand on her bed, and wrapped his arms around her, forgetting in his happiness to be careful. He let her go when he noticed her wince.
"Are you all right?" he asked, alarmed. "Should I get the Healer?"
"I think I'm okay," she said shakily. "What happened?"
"You got hit with a curse," he said. "Don't you remember?"
"No," she said, wrinkling her forehead in frustration.
"Death Eaters Apparated into Hogsmeade and started cursing everyone."
Hermione frowned. "Ginny and I tried to get the younger students into safety-Oh! Is Ginny okay?"
"She's fine," Ron said. "Harry said she didn't have a scratch on her."
"Good," she said softly. "It was chaos. They were blasting apart some of the shops. I was distracted…"
"They got you in the back," he said. "The Healer said you had a big gash."
"It stings a little," she said, "but not too badly."
"Are you in pain?"
"I'll be okay," she said.
"You're pale," he said. "I'm going to get the Healers."
Ron was lucky to find her Healer just outside her room.
"You'll have to wait outside while we examine her," the Healer said to Ron.
Ron nervously waited outside her door. He noticed that things had calmed down in the ward. His watch indicated that it was just after midnight. People who were awake spoke in whispers, and many of the lights were dimmed to accommodate sleeping patients. Ron noticed that there were still a few Aurors stationed at the entrances of the ward, though far fewer than before.
Finally, the Healer stepped out into the corridor again. He noticed Ron standing nearby and waited for him to approach.
"It's late and she needs her rest," the Healer said. "You can only stay a few more minutes."
"Is she okay?"
"It appears your…er…cousin will make a full recovery," the Healer said.
Ron sighed in relief, a wide smile stretching across his face. "Thank you."
He went back into Hermione's room. She was sitting up, and looking a little better than she had before.
"Your Healer said you'd make a full recovery," Ron said.
"Yes, but I'll have to stay here for a few days," she said.
"That's all right," he said.
"I'll fall behind in my lessons. We've been studying Untransfiguration, and I…"
"There's nothing wrong with taking a few days off," he said, but, when she glared at him, he quickly added. "But I'm sure McGonagall will owl your homework if you ask her."
Hermione smiled. "I'll owl her tomorrow morning."
"I thought I might ask George if I can take a few days off from the shop so I can spend time with you here," he said. "I wish I could stay tonight."
"Why can't you?" Hermione asked.
"The Healer said you needed rest," he said.
"I'm fine," she said. "I slept all day."
Ron looked at her skeptically, but Hermione moved over in her bed to leave a space for Ron to sit. He glanced back at the door before climbing up onto the bed and wrapping his arms around her. He rested his cheek against the top of her head, feeling the tickle of her hair against his skin. Relief finally washed over him. She was going to be okay.
"I love you," he said quietly.
Hermione turned to look at him, her brown eyes wide, as though she couldn't believe what he had just said. In truth, Ron was just as surprised. He hadn't expected to say it, but he couldn't deny that it was how he really felt.
"I was so afraid I was going to lose you," he said. "When Harry came to the shop today…"
"I was afraid, too," she said. "I thought I'd never see you again."
Once again, guilt bubbled inside of him. "I'm sorry I wasn't there today. I wish I had been there."
"It wasn't your fault," Hermione said. "You couldn't have known what was going to happen, and even if you had, there was nothing you could have done."
"I would have done anything to keep you from taking that curse," he said.
"And injured yourself in the process," she said. "Do you think it's any easier for me to see you hurt?"
"No," he said.
"Good," she said. "Now tell me again."
"What?"
"What you said before," Hermione said.
Ron smiled. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
Ron brushed her hair away from her cheek, and leaned in, gently brushing his lips against hers. She cupped his face with her hand, encouraging him to continue. He kissed her again, not as lightly as before, but still holding back slightly so as not to hurt her. He pulled away, caressing her face, tracing the small abrasions on her skin.
"I wish I could freeze this moment, right here, right now, and live in it forever," Hermione said, as her eyes fluttered open.
"I can think of far better moments," he said, though he couldn't help but smile. "Ones that don't involve you being attacked."
"Such as?" she asked.
"The first time you kissed me," he said.
"When the castle was being attacked, you mean?"
"Ah, right," Ron said, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. "How about our second kiss?"
Hermione sighed happily. "That was a much better moment."
"The last few days we spent in Australia. Three perfect days."
"It was rather lovely," she agreed. "But it isn't every day that you tell me you love me."
Ron smiled. Maybe Hermione was right. It had been an awful day, but with her in his arms, he never felt happier. Maybe all they needed to create a perfect moment was each other.
"Stay with me," she said softly.
He could tell she was drifting off to sleep again. His own eyes were getting heavy, and despite the Healer's order for him to leave, Ron made no effort to do so. Instead, he pulled Hermione closer, stroking her hair as she snuggled against his chest.
"Always."