Listen To You Breathing

Title: Listen to You Breathing (chp 2)

Author: Eyesis

House: AT

Spoilers: All books I guess

Rated: PG-13 (just to be sure)

A/N: Sorry it took so long for the second chapter! Thanks for your patience. Thanks for all the fabulous people who reviewed, it shocked me! You all really inspired me and I appreciate it immensely! I hope this chapter lives up to all your expectations, and be sure to let me know what you think!!

Eyesis

I'm looking past the shadows in my mind

Into the truth and I'm

Trying to identify the voices in my head

God, I wish it were you

"Mr. Weasley!"

Ron jerked awake from a fretful sleep. He raised his head, bleary-eyed. He was momentarily confused, then he looked around and saw the white walls of the hospital wing, and looked up to see Hermione, still laying peacefully. He turned to see who had spoken, and saw Madam Pomfrey.

"Morning, Madam Pomfrey," Ron grunted. The nurse's face was sympathetic. Ron had expected a reprimand, but there was no trace of anger on Madam Pomfrey's face.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Weasley, but you should really get some rest," she said gently. "I'll take care of Miss Granger."

"No," Ron said. "I'll stay with her." His eyes never left Hermione's face. She was so pretty, but she just wasn't the same without her eyes flashing with annoyance or shining with laugher. He wanted to see her get angry with him, to scold him. He just wanted her to open her eyes.

"No, Mr. Weasley. You must go to your dorm and get some rest. If you won't rest there, I'll check you into the hospital wing myself." There was no irritation in her voice, but she spoke firmly.

Ron considered arguing, but he found he was too exhausted to do even that. He simply stood on legs that didn't feel as though they would support his weight and slumped out of the hospital wing, his mind still at Hermione's side. He could still smell her scent on him, spicy and clean.

"Mermish meringue," Ron said dully to the Fat Lady. As the portrait swung open and Ron climbed through the portrait hole, several people accosted him.

"Is Hermione alright?" Parvati Patil asked, concerned.

"Where were you last night, Ron?" Seamus prodded.

"Was someone really trying to poison Harry?" Colin Creevy piped.

Ron just looked at everyone in the room, and felt even more tired than before. He didn't want to think about what had happened, how he'd missed his chance. It just stung too much. Just as Ron felt frustration getting the better of him, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Back off, everyone," came George's voice.

"Yeah, he's obviously been up all night being heroic. Let him alone," Fred finished.

Ron felt himself being steered towards the boy's staircase, thankful for his brothers' intervention. As he opened the door to the fifth year's dormitory, Harry walked up to him.

"Alright, Ron?" Harry asked, quietly. Ron just nodded mutely.

"Brought you some bacon from breakfast," Harry said, holding out a napkin stuffed with bacon and kippers.

"Thanks," Ron said, trying to smile but failing miserably.

"We're gonna shove off," George said to Harry. Harry nodded and Ron heard the door shut behind the twins.

"Ron, is Hermione any better?" Harry asked delicately. Ron shook his head and brought his eyes up to Harry's. He noticed Harry's eyes were over-bright and he looked even more worn out than he had the previous night.

"Harry, mate, have you slept at all?" Ron asked, concern for the girl he loved fading into concern for his best friend.

"Not too well. Here, eat some breakfast." Harry thrust the food into Ron's hand. "Don't worry, it wasn't for me so its most likely safe." Harry attempted a hollow laugh. Ron snapped to attention.

"Harry, look," Ron said. "This isn't your fault. I would never blame you for it, and Hermione wouldn't either. You were helping me out. You couldn't have known. Please don't blame yourself." Ron felt deflated, but the last thing he wanted was for Harry to blame himself for what happened to Hermione.

Harry nodded, seemingly unable to answer.

"I'm going to try and get a little sleep," Ron said, wearily. "Wake me before lunch, would you?"

Again, Harry nodded.

"Thanks, mate." Ron clapped Harry on the shoulder and walked to his four-poster, discarding the breakfast on his nightstand. He climbed inside, pulled the thick hangings closed and laid back onto the cool bed sheets.

He was sitting in Professor Flitwick's classroom. Bright sunlight streamed amber through the windows. He turned and saw Hermione sitting next to him. Her head was tilted to the left as she wrote down notes. She was biting her lower lip ever so slightly, and her brow was furrowed, making tiny lines in between her eyebrows. A light breeze filtered through the room, wafting the cinnamon scent from Hermione's hair towards him. A curly lock blew in front of her eyes, and she pushed it back delicately and tucked it behind her ear. It was a simple gesture, but it made his heart flip-flop. He watched her entire face, noticing how her eyelashes hit softly on her cheek and how the sun splayed over the light spread of freckles across her perfect nose; so lovely, and yet so familiar. How could he have been near her so long and never notice?

"Can I see your quill, Ron?" she asked, leaning close to him, her breath hitting his ear. He offered her his quill without a word, and as she took it her fingers brushed softly across his, causing his breath to catch in his throat. He wanted, at that moment, to lean in and kiss her fingers; to put his lips on her skin. He leaned in, holding her hand-

Ron sat bolt upright in bed, looking around. He almost roared in frustration. It had been a dream! She had been there, the smell of her, the feeling of her hand; he had had her back and it was only a dream. Suddenly, he was filled with a miserable, dull ache of missing Hermione. He had never missed Hermione before. As he sat in his bed, he felt tears welling up in his eyes. He would not cry. He had to stay strong and believe she would be okay. But even as he thought this, warm liquid trailed down his cheeks. He slammed his fists into his pillow in frustration and crawled out of his four-poster, yanking violently at his hangings.

Looking around the dormitory, he saw that it was dark outside the windows. He must've slept much longer than he'd intended. Ron went to his trunk and felt for something to put on over his pajamas. Finding a pair of old tattered robes, he threw them on. Then, determined to go see Hermione, he crept to Harry's trunk, eased it open and pulled out the invisibility cloak. He hoped Harry hadn't planned any nighttime escapades tonight. Ron felt wretched from not having spent any time with Hermione all day and he intended to make up for it by sitting with her tonight.

Ron paid little attention to who was in the common room as he descended the boys' staircase. He had idea what time it was, so it was possible that people were still up milling around. As he stepped into full view, however, he saw only one person still sitting up in front of the slowly dying fire. He was surprised, however, to find that it was Ginny. She was sitting on the couch directly in front of the hearth, her head bent very low. Ron thought she must've fallen asleep in front of the fire. The thought warmed him slightly, thinking of his sister's angelic face when she slept. It was certainly more serene than the mischievous glances she gave when awake. Ron padded quietly over to the couch, intending to wake Ginny and send her to bed, when he saw that her left arm was moving slightly, almost imperceptibly. His suspicion aroused, he slowed his paces and moved carefully to avoid any undue noise. Close enough to see over the back of the couch, he felt shock hit him squarely in the chest. Harry was lying on the couch, sleeping. He was mumbling and looked to be upset, for he was grimacing as he slept. Ginny was sitting cross-legged, his head resting against her hip. She was smoothing his unruly hair from his forehead with one hand, and mumbling soothing words to him.

Ron's immediate reaction was indignation. His little sister was down here, caressing his best friend's forehead. What was she playing at? Had she taken her crush so far as to molest Harry in his sleep? He opened his mouth to snap at her, when he noticed Harry still. The strained look disappeared from his face, and he gave a small sigh as the corners of his mouth quirked minutely. Then, still sleeping soundly, Harry burrowed his head further into Ginny's leg and his breathing quieted again. Ron felt the annoyance drain out of him. His sister made Harry feel better. That was quite ironic, but he found himself smiling at the thought. "Just like Hermione makes me feel better when I'm pissed off," he thought, feelings of understanding and sadness overtaking him.

He imagined what her voice would sound like if she were to find out Ron had disturbed Harry and Ginny. "Ron Weasley, you really are daft! You don't go walking up on completely happy people and sniping at them!" The thought struck him with bittersweet feelings, and quite suddenly, he remembered why he was down here, and whom he was going to see. So, without a word, Ron turned and walked silently to the portrait hole. He slipped on the invisibility cloak, pushed the portrait open quietly, and slipped out into the deserted hallway beyond.

As he turned the knob to the hospital wing door several minutes later, his heart caught at the squeaking it made, afraid Madam Pomfrey would descend up on him at any minute, handing out detentions as she went.

Relieved, he slipped inside the room and tip-toed silently to the bed he knew to be Hermione's. Curtains had been hung around it, and he slid them aside and stepped to her bedside. She was still unconscious, but her hand was up on her chest, as though she had moved it of her own volition sometime during the night. Ron's heart leapt at the thought! If she was moving on her own, that had to mean she was getting better. Suddenly, he heard her whimper. His eyes traveled to her face and he was alarmed to see an expression much like the one he'd just seen on Harry's face. It looked as though she was frightened, and small tears leaked down her cheeks. She let out a small sob in her sleep and her face contorted again with fear. Ron's first instinct was to jump up and down with joy; she was just sleeping. She wasn't unconscious anymore, surely that mean she would wake up soon! However, as he saw how unhappy she looked, lying there all alone, he felt heartsick. She was crying in her sleep. He'd never heard of someone doing that before. He wasn't sure how to handle this; he'd never been much of a nurturing sort. But, determined to try and help, he took his hand and laid it softly on her forehead, as he had seen Ginny do with Harry. He smoothed the skin right above her eyebrows with his thumb, and ran his fingers along her hairline, feeling the fine sprigs of new hair growth scattered about the crown of her head. He remembered that Ginny had been whispering soothing nonsense words to Harry. The very thought of doing this made Ron blush furiously, but he leaned his head down near to Hermione's ear and said the first thing he could think of.

"Hermione? It's Ron. I'm right here next to you. There's nothing to be scared of. You don't need to cry. I'm bloody glad you're all right. Oh, sorry. I'm ruddy glad you're all right. At least I hope you are. Maybe you could wake up now and yell at me for using foul language. That'd really make me feel better, just to hear you yell at me. I miss you something awful, you know. And...and-"

Ron's voice failed him. He wasn't sure he could say what he wanted to right now, but she was still fretting in her sleep. He wasn't even sure she could bloody well hear him. But the expression on her face broke his heart to pieces, so he lowered his voice even more and continued.

"I really do love you Hermione. Well, I mean - obviously I love you, but I'm pretty sure I really love you. Not so much as a friend, either; more of a girlfriend, really. I wish I could've told you that night outside, but I just couldn't. If I had it to do over, though, I would've told you. I would've told you I love you."

No sooner were the words out of his mouth, than he saw her face relax into a peaceful look. He even thought he saw her mouth turn upwards into a very small smile, but he couldn't be sure. Perhaps it was just wishful thinking on his part. Ron lifted his hand and, very gently, rubbed the tears off her pale cheeks with his thumbs. Suddenly, he felt very at peace himself, and inexplicably sleepy. So, as he had done the night before, he laid his head on her chest, now rising and falling steadily, and closed his eyes.

Let me feel one more time what it

Feels like to feel alive and

And break these calluses off of me one more time

"MR. WEASLEY!"

Ron jerked awake violently, looking frantically around him to see who had shouted.

"This is the second time I have found you out of bounds in as many days!" Madam Pomfrey was standing at the food of Hermione's bed, looking nowhere near as forgiving as she had the previous morning. Ron looked at her sheepishly.

"I realize you are concerned for Miss Granger but really, you are trying my patience. The young lady needs rest and you yourself need to stop wandering around after hours simply to make sure I am treating her well."

Ron just shrugged, trying to look repentant but finding it difficult as the memories of the previous evening came back, making him feel better than he had in days.

"But, Madam Pomfrey, she's better! She was moving in her sleep last night, she's not unconscious anymore!" Ron blurted out, failing to hide his happiness.

Madam Pomfrey's face now fell. Anger drained away to be replaced with something very much like pity. Her voice quavered slightly as she spoke.

"Mr. Weasley, I have Miss Granger on a magical monitoring charm. The charm would alert me of any change in her condition. Just because she can move of her own accord does not necessarily mean she is any closer to awakening. I'm truly sorry you weren't aware of that."

Ron felt his heart plummet at the nurse's words. She wasn't necessarily any better. He felt the question burning in his stomach, but was embarrassed to ask it. He took a breath, threw caution to the wind and said, "Madam Pomfrey, if I talked to Hermione, do you think she could hear me?"

Madam Pomfrey smiled now, though it was a sad smile. "There is no way to be sure of that Mr. Weasley. It is a possibility but I cannot give you an answer for certain. However, there is most assuredly no harm in trying." As she finished, she gave Ron a look that was both knowing and encouraging. However, Ron didn't feel encouraged; he felt crushed.

"Well...I'm going to go back to Gryffindor. You'll-you'll let me know if she gets better, right?" he asked, unable to keep the despair out of his voice completely.

"Of course, Mr. Weasley," Madam Pomfrey nodded, sympathy evident in her voice.

Ron found himself, some time later, sitting in front of the common room fire. No one else was in the room. He supposed they were all at lunch. He hung his head and felt utterly desolate, wanting more than ever just to hold the woman he loved, and tell her so.

In the back of his mind, Ron heard the portrait hole open, but he didn't turn to look. "Maybe if I ignore them, they'll go away," he thought to himself.

"Ron?" came a voice that made his stomach leap. He spun around in his seat to find Hermione standing, looking at him with concern in her warm brown eyes. She was here; he wasn't dreaming or hallucinating. She was standing right there, her hair a mess and still in her clothes from the night outside on the banister and looking utterly amazing to him.

"Hermione?" he felt himself ask, feeling dumbstruck as he did so. She just smiled brightly at him and nodded, causing her hair to fall in her face. He vaulted over the back of the couch and ran to her, scooping her up in his arms. He felt how warm she was against him, felt her return his hug. He picked up and spun her around, feeling elation beyond anything he'd imagined at just knowing she was all right. He pulled back and looked her over. The warmth was back in her dark eyes and her mouth was quirked into a smile. He opened his mouth to ask if she felt all right, how long she'd been awake or anything else just to hear her voice. Then, before he realized what he was doing, he was pressing his lips to hers, over and over, kissing her mouth, her cheeks, and her forehead. He kissed her mouth again and again, just thankful for the ability to do so. She seemed shocked for a moment, and pulled away. He got a hold of himself, though only just, and looked at her with tears burning the back of his eyelids. She was looking at him with a startled expression. Ron felt the need to say something, but he wasn't sure what. He could apologize, but he wasn't sorry for what he'd done in the least. He could tell her he loved her, but somehow he imagined she'd guessed that. So he looked at the floor, feeling the beginnings of a blush in his cheeks. Suddenly, her hands were on his face, lifting it to look at her, and she pressed her mouth to his, fiercely but with such tenderness he felt light-headed. He brushed his tongue across her lips and she opened her mouth immediately, almost hungrily, and he felt her tongue against his. The world was spinning, and he felt himself swirling with it.

Suddenly, he halted and pulled away.

"Hermione," he began, breathlessly. "There's something I have to tell you!" he gasped. She just smiled, a pink tinge in her cheeks and her eyes alight with happiness. He paused, trying to get his tongue around the words.

"So tell me," she said, smiling brightly at him with love in her chocolate eyes. And, never taking his eyes off hers, he took a deep breath and spoke, as though it was the easiest thing in the world to do.

"I love you," he said, simply. All the other things he'd been rehearsing in his mind for days didn't seem appropriate or necessary.

"I love you back," she said, grinning. His heart might well have burst, but he didn't care as he kissed her firmly again, entwining his fingers with hers and breathing in her smell again. As they kissed, he felt her breath in his mouth, and had one final thought before letting the sensation overwhelm him. "I never thought kissing an angel would feel so sinful!"

'Cause I'm hanging on every word you say

And even if you don't wanna speak tonight

That's alright, alright with me

Cause I want nothing more than

to sit outside your door and listen to you breathing,

its where I wanna be, yeah yeah