Hopeless
Prompt: Halloween
Title: Hopeless
Author: willow_wand
Characters/Ship: Hermione, Ron/Hermione
Rating/Warning: PG
Word Count: 499
It was a bitterly cold night. The freezing wind permeated through the canvas tent. As Hermione lay upon her camp bed, she clutched her blankets even more tightly around her. Harry had relieved her a quarter of an hour ago to take the second watch. She knew she should try to go to sleep, since they would be leaving early the next morning, but she was too tightly wound tonight.
Harry was sitting at the opening of the tent, examining the Maurader's Map by wandlight. She noted the furrow of his brow, the way his mouth twisted into a frown. Hermione knew he was searching for Ron's name among those of the seventh year Gryffindor boys. She also knew quite well that Harry wouldn't find his name there. Ron hadn't and wouldn't return to Hogwarts. She was certain of that.
They lost track of time often. The days ran together in a hopeless muddle of monotony, but the newspaper she'd found in town when she'd gone in search of food was dated October 31. She'd remained focused on her task, getting herself and Harry something to eat and getting back safely. But now that she was practically alone and able to examine her thoughts in private, she felt a familiar ache in her heart that she couldn't tamp down.
It was a painful paradox. It hurt like hell to think of Ron, but it hurt just as badly not to. And tonight she couldn't seem to stop the thoughts from coming. Halloween had always reminded her of Ron.
Foremost in her mind was the first Halloween she had spent at Hogwarts. She remembered quite clearly the determination on Ron's face when he'd cast the Levitation Charm that had saved them from the mountain troll. But it was the Halloween during her third year, when she and Ron had spent the entire day together in Hogsmeade, that meant the most to her. At the time, she had felt guilty that Harry hadn't been able to join them. She had also worried that it would be strange to go without Harry, that she and Ron wouldn't be able to find common ground without him. But it hadn't been that way at all.
Later, she had hoarded those memories of him: the jokes that were directed to only her, the way the tips of his ears turned pink with amusement, the enthusiasm with which he ate chocoballs. She recalled that after that day she felt a swoop in her stomach whenever he smiled at her and heat rose in her cheeks when his hand accidentally brushed hers in lessons.
Bitterly, she shook her head, as though trying to rid herself of the thoughts, but she knew it was hopeless. It was all hopeless. He was gone, and it was unlikely she would ever see him again.
Like so many nights before, Hermione buried her face in the blankets that had long since ceased to smell like him and cried herself to sleep.
Title: Hopeless
Author: willow_wand
Characters/Ship: Hermione, Ron/Hermione
Rating/Warning: PG
Word Count: 499
It was a bitterly cold night. The freezing wind permeated through the canvas tent. As Hermione lay upon her camp bed, she clutched her blankets even more tightly around her. Harry had relieved her a quarter of an hour ago to take the second watch. She knew she should try to go to sleep, since they would be leaving early the next morning, but she was too tightly wound tonight.
Harry was sitting at the opening of the tent, examining the Maurader's Map by wandlight. She noted the furrow of his brow, the way his mouth twisted into a frown. Hermione knew he was searching for Ron's name among those of the seventh year Gryffindor boys. She also knew quite well that Harry wouldn't find his name there. Ron hadn't and wouldn't return to Hogwarts. She was certain of that.
They lost track of time often. The days ran together in a hopeless muddle of monotony, but the newspaper she'd found in town when she'd gone in search of food was dated October 31. She'd remained focused on her task, getting herself and Harry something to eat and getting back safely. But now that she was practically alone and able to examine her thoughts in private, she felt a familiar ache in her heart that she couldn't tamp down.
It was a painful paradox. It hurt like hell to think of Ron, but it hurt just as badly not to. And tonight she couldn't seem to stop the thoughts from coming. Halloween had always reminded her of Ron.
Foremost in her mind was the first Halloween she had spent at Hogwarts. She remembered quite clearly the determination on Ron's face when he'd cast the Levitation Charm that had saved them from the mountain troll. But it was the Halloween during her third year, when she and Ron had spent the entire day together in Hogsmeade, that meant the most to her. At the time, she had felt guilty that Harry hadn't been able to join them. She had also worried that it would be strange to go without Harry, that she and Ron wouldn't be able to find common ground without him. But it hadn't been that way at all.
Later, she had hoarded those memories of him: the jokes that were directed to only her, the way the tips of his ears turned pink with amusement, the enthusiasm with which he ate chocoballs. She recalled that after that day she felt a swoop in her stomach whenever he smiled at her and heat rose in her cheeks when his hand accidentally brushed hers in lessons.
Bitterly, she shook her head, as though trying to rid herself of the thoughts, but she knew it was hopeless. It was all hopeless. He was gone, and it was unlikely she would ever see him again.
Like so many nights before, Hermione buried her face in the blankets that had long since ceased to smell like him and cried herself to sleep.