Ron was lying on his four-poster bed, absolutely fuming. He was glaring at his hangings, and he froze as he heard the dormitory door open. Completely inclosed in his curtains, Ron couldn't see who it was. But he knew. He recognized Harry's footsteps. He drew the curtains a little more. He didn't want to tlak to anybody right now.

"Ron?"

He didn't respond. Harry sighed.

"Ron, Hermione wants me to give you something, please come out. I know you're in there."

Ron reluctantly slid open the hangings, and said, "What?"

Harry shoved a peice of parchment into his friend's hands, then fell onto his own bed.

"Are you still mad at her?"

"Yup," Ron snapped as he opened the letter.

Ron,

I am sorry, can you forgive me?

I can forgive you, all you did was call me a slimy git and mudblood.

Hermione

The note was sloppily written, and Hermione seemed to have just written it, for the ink was still wet.

Ron frowned. She spoke lightly of his insults. Was she really undaunted, or was she trying to hide her wounds?

"Well?" Harry asked.

"Ha," Ron spat, glowering at the letter. "As if."

"Ron, what did she ever do to you?" Harry finally exploded. "wy are you like this?"

"Becasue I am DONE BEING HER FRIEND!" Ron bellowed, so loud that Harry was relieved it was Christmas and they were the oly ones in the dormitory, and Hermione the only in hers.

Ron continued. "I am sick of all this arguing. It's not worth one minute of friendship for an hour of hatred."

Harry shrugged. "Fine." He looked throughly disappointed, and Ron oculdn't balme him. How would he react if Harry was in his shoes, and Ron in Harry's?

"'Night, Harry," Ron mumbled.

"'Night."

The candle went out, and Ron found himselfdrifting off to sleep instantly.

"Ouch!" He stumbled and fell.

"What happened?" Hermione exclaimed anxiously. "Ron, where are you? Oh, this is stupid- lumos!"

The beam of light fell over him and he rose to his feet. "Tripped over a tree root," He mumbled angrily.

"With feet that size, hard not to," Malfoy's drawling voice spoke.

Ron felt Hermione grab his arm. Good thing it was dark, and Malfoy couldn't see him blush.

"Keep that bushy head down, Granger," Malfoy said. "They're after Muggles."

"Hermione's a witch," Harry snarled.

"Have it your way Potter," Malfoy murmured.

They continued walking. That was when it happened.

Someone sprang out of the bushes. Ron didn't remember this happening. The hooded and masked figure grabbed Hermione, screaming, "Got you, you filthy mudblood!"

Hermione was kicking and crying for help.

"Grab on!" Harry cried, stretching out his hand, Ron grabbing Hermione's other hand. They tugged, but couldn't drag her away.

The man disappeared into the bushes. Harry and Ron saw him raise his wand.

Ron sprang forward, somehow knowing the spell was about to be cast. He didn't get there in time.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

A short scream came from Hermione, and then a pop as the Death Eater vanished, and then there was silence.

"HERMIONE!" Harry shouted. Ron shut his eyes and prayed. Please, God, let her be alright.

Harry, who hadn't shut his eyes, shouted in horor. Ron nervously opened his.

Hermione Granger lay on the ground. Ron felt for a pulse in her wrist. Nothing. She was dead.

Ron shouted, "NO!" He looked at Harry, who stared back. "No," Ron whispered, and they both shook Hermione viciously. "Wake up!" Ron cried. "PLEASE!"

She didn't move.

Ron awoke, covered in sweat. It was a second before he realized he wasn't in the woods, and it was a nightmare. He lay there, panting, and feeling very, very sick.

What had he done to her? Why had he done it?

"That could have really happened," he told himself quietly. "She could have died. And look how you're treating her, Weasley. If she was dead now you would give anything to bring her back. And you know it."

He looked at the note from her, still on his bedside table. It was glowing in the moonlight, written in Hermione's favorite, gold ink. She wasn't supposed to use it for essays (dark blue, dark green, and black only) but she used it to pass notes to Harry and Ron during History of Magic, where even she paid no attention anymore.

He remembered her most recent note, when they'd first gotten mad at each other.

Quit staring at me.

He had been staring at her. She was so pretty when she was mad.

I am not, Hermione.

She had glared at him, then written back.

Yes you are. What is it, do I have something on my face?

He had almost written a playfully teasing note back, but had taken a more dramatic path.

Yes, he had written, still angry from their arguement, which Harry and Ginny always called "Shouting Matches," There is slime on your face, you are a slimy git, remember?

She had not written back nor spoken to him since.

That was three weeks ago...

Now she was ready to forgive him?

It didn't make sense.

Ron rolled over in bed, trying desperately to sleep. But he couldn't. Quietly, as to not awake Harry, Ron crept from the boy's dormitory and headed downstairs. He wasn't prepared for what he found.

Hermione Granger was sitting on cushy red couch, her knees drawn to her chest, sobbing.

"Hermione?" Ron took a cautious step towards her.

"Ron?" Hermione turned, as if she were stunned, and whispered, "What is it? What happened?"

A brief memory of Hermione lying in the woods flashed through Ron's mind. "Oh, nothing, I just-"

He stopped, and noticed an open book lay next to her. She followed his gaze, and slammed it shut, pocketing it. He hadn't missed the loopy, silver word on the cover: PRIVATE.

It was her diary. Hermione was up at two in the morning, crying and writing in her diary. Ron wanted to scream. He held himself in, and said, "I am so sorry, Hermione. Really. I am."

"I know." Her words made him frown.

"You know?"

"Yup. I figured you would forgive me. That's what best friends do."

He nodded. She stood and threw her arms around him.

They stood there for a very long time, her clinging to him, her words powering around in his head. That's what best friends do. That's what best friends do. He grinned, and hugged her one last time, before they both returned to bed.

Maybe that wasn't such a bad nightmare after all.