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A Day She Thought Would Never Come - Chapter 03: Hermione's Delusions | | Author: | Suze | | Genre: | General | | Rating: | G | | Score: | 3.61538   | | Story: | **Disclaimer: J.K Rowling owns all the characters**
Chapter 3-
Hermione’s Delusions
“What?” said Hermione.
“I got a letter from Ron,” Harry replied, with patience, giving her what he thought was a comforting smile which looked more scarily menacing to her. Hermione dropped the tray she was carrying, scones bouncing everywhere and tea burning her legs as it splashed all over the floor. She slumped onto the ground, everything fading grey, then white and finally black.
***
“Hermione?” Hermione, can you hear me?” Hermione felt cool, strong hands gently lifting her to a near by couch. With tremendous effort, she forced her eyelids apart and looked up to see both Ernie and Harry gazing down at her with looks of grave concern.
“You got a letter from RON???” Hermione exclaimed everything quickly flooding back to her. “How? How is that possible? Dead! What?” she struggled to string a comprehendible sentence together, her head still spinning and her thoughts confused.
“Hermione, I have no idea what you are talking about! Just lie back here and relax,” said Ernie, then to Harry in an undertone, “She must have hit her head when she fell! A letter from Ron! That’s impossible! He’s been dead for four months! She’s clearly delirious.”
“I’m NOT delirious! And I’m not talking nonsense! Harry, you just told me you got a letter from Ron!”
Harry just shook his head and looked at the floor.
“ARRGH!” Hermione screamed out, exasperatedly, lying back down and putting her left hand over her eyes. Ernie scurried out of the room and could be heard talking through the fire in the kitchen to the Family Healer. Harry held her other hand and stroked her hair.
“…It’s the third time this has happened in the last two weeks!” they overheard Ernie exclaim to the Healer.
Harry stared inquisitively at Hermione. She blushed slightly and nodded, looking scared. He knelt down beside the couch close to her head and whispered, “Hermione, what’s going on?”
“I don’t know but it scares me,” she said with a look of pure terror. “I heard the words coming out of your mouth. It was exactly like you were saying it.”
“I didn’t say that Hermione.”
“I know that now, but it is so real when it happens. Last time, it was much worse. Ernie was at work and I was in the house on my own. I was watching the Muggle News on the television and the newsreader suddenly read out, ‘Wizard Ron Weasley discovered alive and well…’ and at that point I passed out. I was unconscious for about three hours. The first time, it was a really sunny afternoon so I decided to go for a walk. Along the road I met a mother with her new born baby and I stopped to admire the baby when suddenly Ron’s voice came from the baby’s mouth. He said, ‘Hermione help me. It’s your fault I’m like this!’ The woman didn’t seem to notice anything and brought me to a Muggle doctor when I collapsed. I would have told you, Harry, but Ernie said everyone would think I was going insane and that I would be better off not telling anyone.” She sighed, and then continued, “I dream about things like this every night. I think I am crazy.”
“Hermione,” Harry started, “You are NOT crazy. It’s a natural reaction. People all have different reactions to death of loved ones and-”
“Well how come you haven’t seen Ron yelling at you from babies! You haven’t had any crazy reactions!”
“Maybe Ron and I weren’t as close as the two of you were.”
Hermione’s face became thoughtful.
“I just… I know it… in my heart it says he IS still alive.”
“Hermione, he is not alive. He would have contacted us before now if he was!”
“I think I need to rest,” she said weakly and sank back down onto the couch, falling into a fitful sleep.
***
Hermione awoke once again to see people peering at her. This time, it was Ernie and the all too familiar face of Healer Angelina Johnson.
“Hermione,” said the Healer, “Ernie has told me all about your… ‘Problem’… and I think it would be best if you came to St. Mungo’s with me. You will have your own room and everything. I know you probably don’t want to go but it is what we think is best for you. And Ernie can come and see you whenever he wants. We just want to monitor you. Please,” she finished lamely.
“Okay,” Hermione said, slowly getting up and heading for the door to pack some things.
“It’s alright, dear, I have everything packed,” Ernie said, looking strangely proud of himself. He muttered into the fire and the flames roared green. Lifting a bag from his feet, he stepped into the fire, dropped a handful of Floo Powder and exclaimed, “St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.” The Healer held onto Hermione’s arm and led her towards the fire and copied what Ernie had done just before. Hermione felt the awful but familiar spinning feeling of traveling by Floo Powder, and squinted her eyes closed. When the spinning stopped, she found herself in what is commonly known as “The Crazy Ward” in St. Mungo’s.
The Healer led them into a very small room with a crisp white bed and bright white walls. It was cold and draughty. There was one tiny window, high up on the left wall, and the room was lit with the bright fluorescent lighting only found in hospitals and schools. The room was all one colour apart from an offensive large red button beside the bed.
“If you need anything, push this button and someone will come and help you immediately,” said Angelina, departing.
“’Mione, I hate to have to leave you here, but I really need to go back to work…,”
Ernie said looking sincerely sorry.
“It’s fine Ernie, I’m really tired anyway. I love you.”
“I love you too,” he said and walked out the door, shutting it quietly behind him.
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