A Light of Meaning

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*****

Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley appeared in a hallway at St. Mungo’s Hospital. It was just before eight in the morning, and the first sounds of activity were drifting up from the lower floors, but as of yet the fourth floor was still wrapped in the quiet of the previous night.

Or at least, the supposed quiet. Only Harry, Ginny and Hermione Granger knew what had really happened the night before – that Hermione had single-handedly attempted to cast a complex, dangerous and barely quasi-legal Spell in an effort to wake their friend Ron Weasley from his state of magical unconsciousness. The Spell had failed, and Harry and Ginny had arrived just in time to prevent a grief and guilt-stricken Hermione from Obliviating herself – or worse.

They’d left Hermione with Ron, certain they could trust her not to make any further rash choices. But she hadn’t returned to the House of Black by the time they’d woken, and the worried pair had gone in search of her. Harry grasped the doorknob to Ron’s room, but Ginny covered his hand with her own, and he looked at her questioningly. “Ginn, what-?”

“Harry…you don’t really think Hermione w-would have…” Ginny couldn’t finish her question; there were far too many horrible things Hermione could have done to herself to contemplate.

“I don’t know, Ginn,” Harry answered truthfully, nervously chewing the inside of his cheek. “She was a lot better when we left her, but…”

“We never should have left her,” Ginny said vehemently, cursing herself for being so thoughtless. “We knew she was as low as she’s ever been…”

Harry reached out and squeezed Ginny’s shoulder comfortingly. “Don’t assume the worst, okay? Let’s at least open the door first.” Ginny nodded, and Harry twisted the doorknob.

Both Harry and Ginny let out huge sighs of relief. Hermione was in Ron’s bed, curled up against his side and clearly sound asleep. They’d hoped she’d simply decided to spend the night by his side. Ginny shut the door behind them, and they crept silently over to the bedside. “I guess we better wake her,” Ginny whispered. “The Healers will be angry if they find her here.”

Harry nodded, and touched Hermione’s shoulder lightly. “Hermione?” he said, but got no response. “Hermione, wake up,” he said a bit louder, and shook her shoulder a bit.

Hermione sat bolt upright, her unkempt hair everywhere, and stared up in confusion. “Harry?” she said eventually. “Ginny? What-” She glanced around, and then seemed to remember herself. “Oh,” she said faintly.

“We were worried about you, Hermione,” Ginny said. “You didn’t come back last n-”

Her voice cut off when Ron stretched and opened his eyes. When he saw Harry and Ginny he started, pulling the covers up over his chest. “Bloody hell, warn a bloke when you do that!” he exclaimed.

“R-Ron!” Hermione stared at Ron for a second, and then threw herself onto him, making Ron grunt in surprise. “I th-thought it w-was a d-dream,” she sobbed joyously.

Ron patted Hermione’s back in an awkward sort of way. “Nutters, this one,” he said over his shoulder to Harry and Ginny, who were staring at him with their mouths hanging open. Then Ron’s brow furrowed. “Here, ‘mione told me you two got married! Without me there! What kind of best mate are you, Harry? Getting married, to my sister, while I’m in a bloody coma?”

Harry and Ginny completely ignored Ron’s disgruntlement; instead, they threw their arms around him, and joined Hermione in tearfully welcoming their friend and brother back into their lives.

*****

“I d-don’t understand,” Harry said shakily when he’d finally released a very embarrassed Ron. “How-?” Uncertain even what to ask, he turned imploring eyes on Hermione.

“The Spell last night, Harry- it didn’t fail!” Hermione exclaimed ecstatically. “It just took time to work! Ron woke around dawn!”

Ginny let go of Ron and hugged Hermione. “You did it!” she squealed.

“Ron, are you…I mean, do you feel okay?” Harry asked anxiously.

“Yeah, I guess,” Ron answered with a slight shrug. “A bit weak, but okay. Better than I thought I would have after being cursed by Lucius bloody Malfoy, anyhow.” He shook his head in disbelief. “This is really weird, you know? I can hardly believe- have I really been out for weeks?”

Harry nodded. “It was- Merlin, Ron, it was horrible. The Charm Malfoy hit you with…” He swallowed, remembering that terrifying day. “I don’t know what Hermione’s told you, but…fighting a dragon, facing Voldemort, even seeing Sirius fall through the veil– none of it was as bad as seeing what that curse did to you.”

“Blimey, Harry,” Ron said, looking very pale, “I know you wouldn’t just say that…what the hell did it do to me?”

“You lost some memories,” Harry said. “It could’ve been a lot worse, if we hadn’t managed to catch your memories, and stop the Charm quickly. We don’t know which ones…I guess we never will since you don’t remember them. But it probably doesn’t matter; you haven’t forgotten anything important, I guess.”

“Uh, no,” Ron agreed, blushing a bit. “Hermione quizzed me on that pretty thoroughly last night…I guess that explains those questions.” Hermione blushed as well.

Ginny watched the exchange between Harry and Ron with a misty smile on her face; finally unable to restrain herself any longer, with a cry of “Ron!” she grabbed Ron again, squeezing him tightly.

“Look, it’s great that you all missed me, but this is bloody embarrassing, okay?” Ron complained, although he didn’t attempt to push Ginny away. “I mean, I’m here in-” he glanced under the sheets and blushed. “I’m in my pyjamas here, and it seems like yesterday it happened, right? But you’re all acting like you haven’t seen me in years…”

“We missed you, Ron,” Harry whispered. “All of us. The last couple weeks have been the worst of our lives.”

Hermione and Ginny nodded their agreement. “Ron,” Hermione said, “do you remember what I said to you last night?”

Ron went red to his ears. “C’mon, ‘mione…not in front of Harry!”

“No, Ron. I have to. It’s the only way I can really accept it. Please?” Ron ducked his head and nodded; Hermione smiled nervously and scooted closer, so she could place her hand softly against Ron’s cheek. “I love you, Ron,” she whispered. “I know it’s no surprise to anyone, but I do. But more importantly, I know that you love me. I doubted it for a long time, not because of you, but because- well, a lot of reasons, but mainly because I didn’t believe I deserved that kind of love – I hadn’t earned it. But I know it’s true; and nothing will ever make me h-happier than knowing the man I l-love…loves me the same way.”

Ron stared fixedly at Hermione while she spoke; he opened his mouth to respond, but Hermione silenced him with a finger on his lips. “And I didn’t say it because I expect anything, Ron. Nothing has to change between us – except that I can stop doubting that what we have is real.”

Ron nodded. A weird little smile was creeping onto his face, like he was uncertain how to react to what he’d heard. He began to speak again, but was again cut off – this time by a voice from the door crying out “You! What are you doing here?” The four friends turned to see Mr. and Mrs. Weasley standing in the doorway; Mrs. Weasley looked if possible even angrier than when they’d last seen her.

As Mr. and Mrs. Weasley stormed across the room, Harry spun back to Ron. “Ron, listen – Snape wasn’t there,” he hissed. “That night, only Lucius Malfoy attacked us! Don’t tell anyone about Snape!” He shook his head quickly at Ron’s questioning look. “I’ll explain later! It’s important, trust me!”

Ron gave a little half-shrug and nodded to show he’d comply, even if he didn’t understand. Harry gave Ron a reassuring little smile and leapt up to stand with Ginny and Hermione. As Mrs. Weasley looked more like a charging bull the closer she got, the three of them were compelled to step quickly away from the bed. “You didn’t think it was important enough to tell us Ron was awake, I suppose?” Mrs. Weasley snarled. “Get out, all of you! And don’t come back!”

“Now wait a minute-” Ron started, but Harry cut him off. “It’s okay, Ron, we’ll go. We’ll see you later.”

“No you bloody won’t!” Mrs. Weasley shouted at their retreating backs.

Harry and Ginny had to all but drag Hermione from the room, as she looked ready to have a good row with Mrs. Weasley. Once they were outside the room with the door firmly shut, Hermione rounded on Harry. “We can’t go on like this, Harry! Ron and I are not going to stay apart!”

“Of course not,” Harry agreed. “The way you and Ron were looking at each other? Watch, he’ll be back at the House of Black by noon.” Hermione blushed brilliantly. “Don’t worry, Hermione, I know we have to fix this; we’ll think of something.” Harry scratched his head. “How did Mr. and Mrs. Weasley even find out Ron was awake, anyhow?”

“Our clock, Harry,” Ginny said. “The one in the kitchen at the Burrow, remember? Ron’s hand must have moved off of ‘Mortal Peril’.”

“Oh…right.” Harry shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, I guess.” He looked up and met Hermione’s eyes. “Hermione…”

“Erm…yes?”

Harry grabbed Hermione’s wrist and pulled her into a tight hug; Ginny joined them a heartbeat later. “Thank you,” Harry murmured, his voice again thick with tears. “I- I-” There weren’t words to express the gratitude Harry felt; in one night his world had righted itself – he had regained a hope and a joy unlike any he’d ever experienced.

“I know,” Hermione replied, nodding frantically against Harry’s chest, her voice more free than it had been for ages. “I know.”

“You were right, Hermione,” Ginny whispered. “Nothing is more important than this.”

One they’d collected themselves enough so they were certain they wouldn’t get Splinched, Harry, Ginny and Hermione Apparated to the back room of Fred and George’s shop; from there they would Floo to the House of Black, where Dumbledore’s Army was headquartered. “We have to tell everyone about Ron!” Ginny exclaimed excitedly, reaching for the Floo powder.

“Wait a second, Ginny,” Harry said quickly, looking thoughtful. “We have to hold off on telling everyone.” He held up his hands as both Ginny and Hermione started to protest. “I want to tell everyone, but how will it look if all of a sudden everyone knows? And then everyone in the D.A. shows up at St. Mungo’s together to see Ron? It’ll look suspicious.”

“Harry, how can you even suggest not telling everyone?” Hermione asked sharply. “It’s not fair! They deserve to know!”

“I’m not saying not to tell them,” Harry insisted. “Let’s just let everyone go to work, and send them owls. Some of them are probably at work already anyway. That way it’ll be perfectly natural how they find out, and their reactions will be real.”

Ginny shook her head in disbelief. “I can’t believe you actually thought of that. How in hell can you think that clearly? All I’m thinking about is that Ron is back!”

“Someone has to,” Harry said with a shrug. “It’s too important to get careless over.”

Ginny hugged Harry. “There’s a reason we all trust you to lead us, Harry.”

“You mean it’s not because I’m a great shag?”

“Well,” Hermione said with a wry grin, “that’s certainly not why I listen to you.” Harry laughed.

“I have to tell Fred and George right away, though,” Ginny insisted. “It would be too mean not to. They’ll be in the shop, so it won’t seem weird that I came to tell them.” Harry nodded, and Ginny kissed his cheek. “I’ll meet you at the house,” she said, and slipped through into the shop.

“Hermione, when we get to the house you should go to bed,” Harry said. “You’ve still got two weeks of sleep to catch up on. And when you wake up you’re going to have the biggest meal you’ve ever eaten.”

“Is that an order from the head of the D.A.?” Hermione asked sarcastically, although she was smiling weakly.

“No,” Harry answered softly. “It’s your friend Harry begging you. I’ve been worried sick that you were going to waste away.”

“I’m so sorry I worried you, Harry,” Hermione whispered. “And I will go right to bed; I feel ready to drop as it is.”

Harry smiled and held out the pot of Floo powder. Hermione took a handful; she stepped into the fireplace, threw down the powder and said “The House of Black!” and was gone in a burst of flame.

Harry took a handful himself, and replaced the pot on the mantel; but before he could step into the fireplace, Fred and George flew through the door from the shop. “Harry!” George exclaimed. “Ginn just told us – it’s really true?”

Harry nodded emphatically. “Hermione did it last night,” he said with a huge grin.

“Bloody hell,” Fred said, leaning up against a shelf and looking dazed. “I knew that girl was good for something.”

“Oh, I dunno,” Harry said with a wicked gleam in his eye, just as Ginny came back to join them. “From what Ron’s said, Hermione’s good for at least one other thing…”

Fred, George and Ginny all covered their ears, their faces practically identical in their disgust. “Harry, I know you don’t have any siblings,” Fred said weakly, “but you have no idea how nauseating it is to-”

“Of course I do,” Harry said innocently. “Why do you think I’m prepared to describe, in great detail, what Ron told me about this certain way that-”

“Harry, you say one more word about that and I’ll shove my wand up your nose and cast a Bat-Bogey hex!” Ginny exclaimed hotly. Harry quickly relented.

Fred and George wanted to go visit Ron right away, but decided against it after Harry and Ginny told them that Mrs. Weasley had been there when they’d left. They went back to minding the shop, while Harry and Ginny Flooed back to the house. When Harry came out of the Floo, Hermione hurried over to him. “Are you all right?” she asked anxiously. “When you didn’t follow right after me, I thought…”

Just then Ginny followed Harry out of the Floo. “We’re fine,” Harry said as he helped Ginny up. “We just talked to Fred and George a bit. Anyone else around?”

Hermione shook her head. “I haven’t seen anyone.”

“Guess they’re all at work. Hey Ginny, want to help me write some letters?”

“Sure,” Ginny agreed with a shrug.

“I’m going to bed,” Hermione said. “But wake me if you need anything.”

Harry and Ginny accompanied Hermione as far as the conference room on the second floor, and Hermione continued to the third floor alone. As she reached her room, another door flew open across the hall, and a furious Parvati stormed out, Padma right behind her. “Parvati, wait!” Padma called, but Parvati just kept going, almost running as she passed Hermione without even noticing her. Padma gave Hermione a slight smile of apology before following her twin.

Hermione was about to shrug the incident off when she heard a muffled sob; turning, she noticed that the Patil twins had left the door open by mistake. Hermione walked over and peeked around the door; inside, Lavender Brown was shoving her belongings into her trunks, occasionally pausing to angrily wipe away tears.

Hermione stepped into the room, and loudly exclaimed “Lavender!”

Lavender’s head shot up. “H-H-Hermione!” she gasped, looking absolutely terrified – not surprising, considering that the last time Lavender had seen her, Hermione had almost hexed Lavender into little pieces. Before Lavender could get clear, Hermione reached her, and grabbed the other girl; but rather than drawing her wand, Hermione hugged Lavender tightly. “Uh- Uh- Hermione?” Lavender stammered nervously.

“Thank you,” Hermione murmured.

“For- for what?”

“You got me angry,” Hermione explained. “You got me so angry, I realized what a fool I’d been. And- and it helped me to f-finally bring Ron back!”

“What?” Lavender gasped. “Ron- Ron’s awake?”

“Yes,” Hermione said, finally letting go of Lavender. “He woke around dawn.” She hesitated a moment, and then blurted out “Lavender, please don’t leave!”

Lavender stared in shock at Hermione. “I- I’d have thought you’d want me to leave, after…”

“Lavender, I’m so sorry for how I reacted yesterday,” Hermione replied. “My only defense is that I- well, I’m short on sleep, food and patience. But that’s no excuse for what I did. Please, don’t leave. You’re important to the D.A. And I don’t want you to go.”

“Important?” Lavender exclaimed, and snorted out a laugh. “I haven’t done one single thing since I arrived – except be a good customer to Madam Malkin!”

Hermione winced as her words from weeks ago were flung back in her face. “That’s not true,” she insisted. “If you hadn’t gotten me so mad yesterday, I would never have gone to St. Mungo’s and tried to cure Ron! Without you, Ron would still be in a coma!”

“I just opened my big mouth and insulted you!” Lavender said a bit desperately. “You did all the work!”

“But Lavender…you still helped,” Hermione said softly. “This is what Harry’s been talking about since the beginning – every single member of the D.A. has their place here, including you. Sometimes all it takes is a nudge in the right direction to change everything. You gave me that yesterday, and it brought Ron back. Sometime in the future, Ron will do something that tilts the war in our favor – and it’ll be thanks to you he was capable. Even if it is Harry who kills Voldemort in the end, all of us who did our parts, however small, will have made it happen.” Hermione swallowed as she began to cry. “A-and for me…you g-gave me b-back the man I l-love!” Sobbing, she again threw her arms around Lavender. “Thank you, thank you!”