Love gives someone the power to break you.
It was 'just another day' when she got up that morning; it was 'just another night' when she got home. The house was empty, Harry wasn't home yet, Ron was still at Luna's. She made herself a cup of tea and went to sit on the lounge, curling up with a thick tome on her lap. She spelled her tea to stay warm with a simple charm and yawned, picking the book up to thumb through it, vowing not to go to sleep until Harry got home.
His job as an auror kept him out of the house for days on end, and this was one of those 'on end' days. He was due to arrive soon, and she was ready to see her husband for the first time in four days.
Hours passed by quickly, and soon the clock struck 11. Dong. The grandfather clock in the hall ran once and she went to the door. Dong. Dong. Dong. Three more rings, no knock on the door. Dong. Dong. Dong. Dong. She bit her lip. Dong. Dong. Dong. She was shifting nervously now. Dong. The final toll sounded and there was no knock on her door. She swallowed and went back to her cup of tea, hands shaking.
A cough. She spun around, falling to her knees in front of the fire. "George! Have you-" he cut her off with his expression, grim and determined.
"Hermione Potter, your husband was recovered from a scene moments ago. He is in critical at St. Mungo's. Healer Ginny Malfoy requests that you and your daughter come to St. Mungos." His voice softened. "I'm sorry, Hermione." With that, he was gone.
Hermione stood and swallowed, moving quickly to gather their papers and their four month old daughter, Lily. She used a Portkey to get herself and her daughter to the hospital, going to the front desk where Ron and Draco waited. Draco took his goddaughter in his arms and Ron pulled Hermione into a hug. "I'm sorry, love." He murmured. "Let's go."
She let him lead her into the room, meeting bleary green eyes as they crinkled up in the corners, her own eyes filling with tears. "Oh, Harry." She breathed, going over to him, kissing his forehead softly. He smiled and opened his arms to his daughter, curled sleepily in Draco's arms. The blond gave Harry the baby and smiled sadly at Hermione. "They don't think he'll walk again. Or even talk. Or get up." She turned to look at Harry and found his eyes on her. She shrugged and he tilted his head questioningly.
"Love gives someone the power to break you." She told everyone softly, going over to Harry. "And this is breaking my heart, but I will live." She reached down do touch his cheek and he smiled up at her. "I don't need words to know that he loves me. I don't need words to tell me that he is Harry Potter, and there has never been anything that Harry Potter couldn't do." She hoisted her daughter up and handed her to Draco who took her silently, turned to Harry, bowed his head and left, followed by Ron.
Hermione sighed and pressed a kiss to Harry's forehead and smiled. "I'll be back later." She told him, and left. She pushed the door open and paused. Softly, very softly, she heard, "I love you, 'Mione." But when she turned around, Harry's back was to her, and she knew she was hearing things.
But was she?