Fears Lived

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. Hence, the name fan fiction.

Author's Note: Here's a little ditty I thought up as I was falling asleep. If it sucks blame the lack of sleep.

The entrance hall was crowded that morning but Hermione had an unobstructed path to the hallway leading to the library.

"I'll see you later Ginny. I'm going to the library," she said to the redheaded girl by her side. Ginny nodded and Hermione walked away.

As she approached the corridor she saw something, or someone, moving in the shadows. They moved into the light and she saw it was one Ron Weasley, her best friend in the world, the boy she was secretly in love with. However, Ron didn't look like he usually did. There was no mirth in his eyes, no lopsided grin on his face. Instead he looked cruel, mean and happy to be, in his eyes there was only malice and a sick, twisted pleasure in being so. His look would have been normal for Draco Malfoy, but looked quite out of place on Ron's handsome face.

"Hermione," he began in a loud voice. "I know how you feel about me."

Hermione's stomach fell through the floor. How could he know? She couldn't possibly fathom the answer, but something in his eyes told her he was speaking the truth. A quick glance showed that no one was in close proximity of her but the dead silence of the crowded room told her everyone could hear and they were all listening.

"I know you love me," Ron continued. "And I just thought I'd tell you I don't love you. I never have and I never will."

She felt her heart breaking at his words. What was worse was it looked like he knew what he was doing to her and he liked it.

"How could I possibly love you?" he went on, talking loud enough for everyone to hear. "I mean, you're not pretty, you're boring, you study all the time, you're a teacher's pet, and you're always nagging me. I'm ten, no twenty, times better than you and I deserve someone extraordinary. Not an everyday person like you. Even if you were the last girl on earth and I was the last man and it was our responsibility to recreate the human race, I would never touch you. The human race would just had to deal."

Hermione thought she would die right there. This is the worst thing that could ever happen to me, she thought. The whole school was watching whilst her heart got wrenched out, trampled and spit on. She actually wished she would die. It had to be less painful. Her eyes glazed over with tears. She held them back as best she could. She didn't want him to see her cry.

"You are my friend," he said. "Nothing more. And that's all you'll ever be." He paused and looked at her thoughtfully. "Actually, now that I think about it. I'm not really sure I even want you as a friend. I don't think I need such a homely, bossy, frizzy-haired, know-it-all, ugly, bookworm for a friend. I don't want you in my life at all. Why don't you go to the library and study? At least there you can't ruin anybody's fun."

The tears that had been threatening to fall streamed down her cheeks. Now, she really would die. If she couldn't even have his friendship, what good would living do her? That's it, she thought, I'll just jump off the tower roof. As soon as I can get there. A sob escaped her lips as she looked into Ron's eyes. Pure hatred, and disgust were all she saw. The kind of look one would give a particularly offensive and ugly insect. Once again she wished the stone floor would just open and swallow her whole. Out of the corner of her eye she vaguely saw a raven-haired head and two red ones coming towards her quickly.

Ron turned his head to look at them. An evil, wicked grin formed on his normally kind face. He took several steps to her right. Quite a few screams pierced the air as Ron drew farther away from her, closer to Harry, and transformed with a crack into a dark-cloaked, hooded Dementor. A scaly, mangled hand drew out and made to grab the green-eyed boy. Right beside him, Ginny screamed. The Dementor turned to her and approached her. It changed into the menacing form of a sixteen year old boy, with black hair, wearing Slytherin robes. He looked vaguely reminiscent of Harry. Ginny's face contorted into a look of pure terror. She started walking backwards and ran into the wall.

"Tom Riddle," she whispered, loud enough for all to hear. She brought a hand up to shield her face. "Tom. Please. Leave me alone, Tom. You grow up to be Voldemort. Please, leave me alone."

"I've come for you Ginny dear," the boy said, walking towards her.

"Ginny!" a voice yelled behind her. "Ginny, it's a Boggart!"

Ron Weasley, the owner of the voice, jumped between Ginny and the Boggart/Tom Riddle. Briefly, Hermione saw her own mutilated, mangled body on the ground before Ron yelled "Riddikulus!" and it vanished with an earsplitting crack. Hermione caught one glimpse of his pale, freckled face before falling to the floor in uncontrollable sobs. Strong arms wrapped around her and she heard Ron's voice through her hysterics.

"It's alright, Hermione. There's no more Boggart."

Then her vision blurred and the world went black.