Ron, who had decided to lean over her, in order to get a better view of outside, interrupted her thoughts. 'We must be nearly there,' he said impatiently, Hermione was about to tell him they wouldn't be arriving at Hogwarts for at least another hour when the train began to slow down.
'Brilliant' said Ron standing up and walking over to the other side of Hermione. 'I'm starving, I want to get to the feast�'
'We can't be there yet,' Hermione said checking her watch, she couldn't help feeling uneasy as the train seemed to slow down even further until it finally came to a halt.
'So why are we stopping?' said Ron triumphantly.
'I wish I knew' muttered Hermione.
The rain sounded even louder now as it beat against the window. Harry stood up and walked to the compartment door, he stuck his head out and Ron joined him. Then, without warning the lights flickered and died out, throwing the train into complete darkness. Hermione jumped up and fumbled for her wand.
'What's going on?' said Ron taking a step towards her.
'Ouch!' she gasped. 'Ron that was my foot!'
'Sorry' he whispered, and then in a louder voice 'D'you think we've broken down?'
'Dunno�' said Harry, he had obviously returned to his seat judging by the direction his voice came from.
Ron started towards the window and Hermione suddenly feeling apprehensive grabbed his hand, he jumped slightly but reassuringly squeezed her hand and led her over to the other side of the compartment. He used the sleave of his robe to rub a clean patch on the window.
'There's something moving out there,' Ron said. 'I think people are coming aboard�'
Hermione almost jumped out of her skin when the compartment door opened, at any rate she dropped Ron's hand.
'Sorry! D'you know what's going on? Ouch! Sorry -'
'Hullo, Neville,' said Harry and Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. As her eyes grew accustomed to the dark she could make out the shadowy figure of Neville sprawled on the floor.
'Harry? Is that you? What's happening?' Neville said shakely.
'No idea!' said Harry pulling Neville up. 'Sit down -'
The next thing Hermione heard was a loud hissing and Neville yelping in pain. Hermione quickly realised what had happened; Neville had sat on Crookshanks.
However she would worry about poor Crookshanks later. 'I'm going to ask the driver what's going on' Hermione said, trying to sound confident. Just as she was reaching out to open the door it burst open for a second time and someone banged into her.
Hermione rubbed her stomach 'Who's that?'
'Who's that?' said a familiar voice.
'Ginny?'
'Hermione?'
'What are you doing?'
'I was looking for Ron -'
'Come in and sit down-'
Ginny sat down abruptly, unfortunately Harry was in the way.
'Not here!' he said hurriedly. 'I'm here!'
Hermione could almost see Ginny blushing scarlet. She moved away quickly and straight into Neville. 'Ouch!'
'Quiet!' said a croaky voice. Hermione looked to see who had spoken, Professor Lupin was awake.
Everyone went silent as the Professor's face appeared, lit by a handful of flames. He looked even more tired in the dull glow emitting from the flames. His eyes were alert though, 'Stay where you are' he said, slowly getting to his feet.
Lupin was almost at the door when it began to slide open, slowly revealing someone... or something. Standing in the door was a cloaked figure, its face hidden by a thick hood. Hermione let out a slow gasp, she had read about these things. The cloak slid back off one of its arms and a putrid, disgusting hand slid out. It was a Dementor.
Hermione sank down into a seat her head filled with fog and as if through a radio came a crackling voice. She knew what was coming she had read about that to. The voice in her head became a bit clearer, it was herself, but what was her worst memory.
She could now make out words. 'Ron, Ron, Please don't be dead, Ron you have to wake up this isn't funny, we have to go get Dumbledore. Ron wake up, you can't be dead I need you here, Ron!' The Hermione in her head was now sobbing, it was a memory of her first year, when Harry, Ron and herself had gone through the trapdoor. Her memory was from the brief period of time when she had thought Ron was really dead.
Then her head began to clear, Ron was holding her hand and she could hear Lupin performing a spell to make the Dementor leave. She swallowed her tears, 'Are you alright?' Ron said worriedly 'I was forced to re-live Aragog' he pulled a face and Hermione forced a laugh.
'Yer, I flashed back to when I saw the Basilisk' she quickly lied. Ron smiled at her and pulled her to her feet as the lights flickered on. Everyone seemed to be fine, Ginny was shaking though, and then her eyes fell on Harry. His face was strained and his eyes were glazed over, Hermione wasn't sure what to do. Then Harry collapsed onto the floor and started shaking. Ron grabbed Hermione's hand and they both leapt to his side, and knelt down next to him.
'Harry, c'mon snap out of it' said Ron helplessly. Hermione tried to think of a spell to help, then realising she knew none, did the next best thing, she started slapping his face. As she did so his body stopped shaking. Hermione caught Ron's eyes over Harry's still body and she smiled weakly, 'Brilliant' he mouthed as Harry's eyes snapped open.
Hermione actually managed a real smile, Ron was alive and here with her, things could hardly be as bad as they seemed.