Round 2: Challenge 11 Drabbles and Voting
Behind the cut are the drabbles for the last challenge of the second round. Please vote for your favourite drabble in a comment to this entry (will be screened). VOTING IS CLOSED!
The prompt was "Giant Squid, Luna Lovegood, Nosebleed Nougat, Murtlap Essence and Quaffle." (use at least 3)
1)
Title: Aftermath
Author: Greenschist
Rating: PG
Word Count: 750
A/N: none
"Fred, what are you doing?" Hermione's whisper was as loud as it could be and not wake the hospital wing's other patients. She joined him by the window. Taking his hands in hers, she pulled them away from the gauze he was struggling to pull off his head. "I heard Madam Pomfrey say this is needs to stay on until tomorrow!"
"It is tomorrow."
Hermione glanced at the wall clock. "I doubt Madam Pomfrey would consider one in the morning the best time to remove bandages. Get back in bed."
Fred sat on the window sill instead. "I've been in bed long enough."
"It's only been two days." She took in the tired slump of his shoulders and the lines of strain on his face, not liking them a bit. "You're not well yet."
He shrugged, and Hermione could tell even that small movement pained him. "I wasn't hurt that badly."
"Not that badly?" She sat down beside him. "A wall fell on you! You had a fractured skull, broken breastbone, punctured lung, and shattered ribs." She shook her head violently, as if to shake loose the memory. "You were in a coma for twenty hours."
"Right." She had never heard such bitterness in his voice. "I was asleep while my family risked their lives and my friends lost theirs."
"Fred, nothing that happened was your fault."
He shrugged again, winced, and looked out the window. She followed his gaze past the broken battlements, scorched earth, and over the Black Lake. In silence, they watched the Giant Squid trace patterns on the water in the moonlight.
"So you know why I'm awake, but what about you?" Fred whispered abruptly. "Nightmares? Insomnia? Or are you somehow in the Horrible Guilt Club with me?" He tugged the parchment she had been carrying out of her lap. "'Bandages, Murtlap Essence, Sleeping Draught, Skele-Gro'…"
"It's needed supplies." She hoped her blush was not visible in the dim light. "Madam Pomfrey asked me to take an inventory because the battle drained her stores."
"Now? I doubt Madam Pomfrey would consider one in the morning the best time for an inventory."
Hermione examined the floor until he nudged her foot with his own. "What's really bothering you, Hermione?"
She frowned. "I'm confused, I guess. Things aren't how I thought they'd be."
"Ron?" he asked shrewdly. She looked surprised, and Fred smirked. "Ron told me you're a couple now. I also heard it from Mum, who thinks it's wonderful, Ginny and Luna Lovegood, who think it took the two of you long enough, and a couple old biddies in those beds over there," he nodded at two curtained beds across the room, "who think a romance between heroes is the most romantic thing ever."
She moaned and covered her face with her hands. "I'm doomed."
Fred's smile widened. "Was the kiss that bad?"
She dropped her hands and glared. "It was a lovely and passionate first kiss from the boy I've loved since I was twelve. The fact that it felt like I was kissing a brother means there's something wrong with me, not with the kiss."
"Poor Ronnie," he murmured.
"He said he's never coming back to Hogwarts to get his NEWTs, not even if the school is ready to be reopened in the fall," she bit her lip, "and I was relieved." She was full of misery. "Relieved because I won't have to be his girlfriend every day. I just…I decided so young that I loved him, only to figure out it's the wrong kind of love once he was mine."
"It'll be all right, Hermione."
"I'm scared," she whispered, so quietly he almost missed it.
"Ron's nothing to be scared of."
"What about Harry? Your parents? Ginny? What about you? Will you all hate me for breaking Ron's heart?"
He pulled her close, hugging her as tightly as his battered body would allow.
Hermione cried softly. "Part of me is afraid I'll lose everyone if I give up Ron."
Fred snorted. "And I thought you were the smart one. Hey, guess what?" He dropped a light kiss in her hair when she sniffled. "George and I are definitely opening a Hogsmeade store. Your school year will be filled to bursting with Fanged Frisbees and Nosebleed Nougats."
She laughed weakly, "Lucky me."
"I'm just saying," he lifted her chin and looked in her eyes, "if you ever feel like you've lost us all, drop by the store and I'll show you how wrong you are."
2)
Title: More Than a Memory
Author: Dynonugget
Rating: PG
Word Count: 742
A/N: none
The late afternoon sun hung in the sky while students milled about. Some were discussing their plans for the summer, while another group had started a friendly game of Quidditch. Hermione found a secluded spot at the edge of the Black Lake and stared across the water.
Fred sat holding her hand and Hermione could not have been more content. N.E.W.T.’s were out of the way so they had this week to simply enjoy time together. They had talked of getting a flat together, talked of their future.
Great things were expected of her, being the “brightest witch of the age” and all. And though Hermione very much had a career in mind, this future with Fred, the man she loved, was what she cared about at this moment.
She laid her head on his shoulder as they watched the light dance across the water.
“I love you, Hermione.”
She answered him with those three wonderful words she loved saying to him. The way they rolled off her tongue felt like a language of their own.
And then he kissed her.
His touch wrought a burn inside of her that she’d had no knowledge of, before him. A simple brush of his skin against hers, and Hermione fought her desire for more.
“In public, love,” he reminded her a moment later.
As if to prove his point, Luna showed up just then with a large vial and a tiny brown bag.
“I was hoping to see the Giant Squid. Has he been up lately?”
“Erm…”
“I have just the thing,” Luna said as she walked to the water’s edge.
Hermione watched curiously as Luna poured the vial into the lake. Sure enough, a moment later the Giant Squid surfaced, waved a tentacle at her, then submerged once more.
“What did you give him?”
“Murtlap Essence,” Luna told her. “Do you have any idea what his skin would look like, otherwise? Would you like a piece of candy?
“Thanks,” Hermione answered, taking a piece. She recognized it but could not stop Luna before she’d popped two pieces into her mouth, chewing happily.
“That’s Nosebleed Nougat!”
“I know! It does wonders for clearing away Nargles, I’ve found. Would you thank George for sending them?”
“Why don’t you thank Fred? He’s right here?”
Luna smiled sadly for a moment and then hugged her. Hermione stood confused as Luna skipped away.
“What was that about?” she asked Fred, who only shrugged in answer.
“Let’s go someplace more private, shall we?” she suggested.
He grinned in answer. Hermione got to her feet and was heading back toward the castle when she heard, “Watch out!”
She turned just in time to see the Quaffle heading straight for her.
Then there was nothing but black.
* * * * *
Murmuring voices brought her back to herself and she opened her eyes slowly.
“Welcome back,” Harry said.
“You look a bit peaky, you know,” Ron said unhelpfully.
She tried to sit up, but was pushed back down by Madame Pomfrey.
“Stay still, young lady. You took quite a hit to the head.”
“Fine, but where is Fred?”
Harry looked pained, but the look on Ron’s face wrenched her gut.
“I’m right here, love.”
She turned to see Fred’s face, but it was a blur. She turned back to see Harry and Ron; they were as clear as could be.
“I don’t understand,” she whispered.
The truth came crashing back. It had all been a dream.
She didn’t want to remember this reality.
She wanted to go back to the Black Lake, to the squid, to his gentle smile and his warming laugh.
She wanted to go back to the way he had touched her.
She wanted to be able to see their future.
She turned to face Fred again, determined this was all a lie.
“He… he didn’t make it, Hermione. Don’t you remember?” Harry asked.
“You’ve a concussion, Miss Granger. Some unknown Death Eater tried to hex you - don’t worry, he missed. But when you jumped out of the way, you hit your head. You’ll be back to rights in a day or two,” Pomfrey informed her and then left them alone.
“This is not real. Please, don’t say that he’s gone,” Hermione cried.
Ron and Harry wept with her.
“They can’t see me, Hermione,” Fred whispered in her ear. “I’m just a memory now.”
But to Hermione, he had been much more than that.
And he always would be.
Voting will end Saturday 28. March) at 11.59pm (EDT, New York).