The dark gray of the sky behind the windows brought down the spirits of all the students, especially the Quidditch players. Every practice was full of freeing rain and near darkness, and all the players would leave either soaking wet or frozen stiff to their uniforms.
The practice before their last match was like any other: freezing cold, windy, not to mention the impending feeling of dread the players felt as they zoomed around the pitch trying their hardest to see the balls and other players.
Harry sat on his broom tens of feet above everyone else. His heart heavy, he watched his fellow teammates attempt to fight against the strong winds and keep control of their brooms. He was following Fred and George with his eyes when he looked to the stands. There sitting in a poncho was a girl with soaking bushy brown hair. Harry smiled to himself, seeing Hermione occasionally stand to get a closer look, only to sit back down and scream encouragement and shiver some more. Harry angled his broom and flew down to where she was sitting.
"OI! HERMIONE!" Harry struggled to be heard over the raging wind. Hermione waved and walked over to him. "Hi, Harry," Hermione said, even though her voice was soft Harry could feel her words encircling him. He felt his heart lift; knowing that even though they had nearly of chance of winning tomorrow, Hermione still came to cheer them on, as she did every practice. "You need to be inside, where it's warm! It's horrible out here," Harry yelled. He noticed Hermione's eyes flick to something behind them. She screamed and her eyes grew doe sized and her hands flew to her mouth in shock. Harry felt his heart begin to race and adrenaline start pumping into his veins, thinking someone was hurt. He spun around and saw a bludger heading right for him. Harry froze to his broom and sat there filled with shock, paralyzed with fear and confusion. His mind immediately turned back to second year, and his heart jumped. The bludger smashed him head on and he fell from his broom, tumbling down to the ground. His body fell like a rag doll and his strangled cry could barely be heard over the raging storm.
He hit the ground and his eyes fluttered shut. The last thing he heard was a chorus of screams.
The second Hermione saw him hid the ground she screamed bloody murder, her feet carrying her down the stairs of the stands to the pitch as quickly as she could manage. She reached the spongy grass and sprinted to Harry, a crowd surrounding him.
Fred and George knelt on one side of him attempting in vain to shield him from some of the splintering rain while Ginny paced beside them all, tears streaming down her face. Hermione pushed through the crowd and stooped down beside him.
"Harry? Oh Harry.." She muttered cradling his head. She pushed his soaking untidy hair out of his face and kissed his forehead. "Wake up, Harry. Please wake up," Hermione pleaded tears gushing. Her body shook with fear at the sight of Harry's limp figure. Her heart beat with the speed of a jack rabbit and her head swam. She clamped her eyes shut and hugged Harry to her. "I think another kiss might do it," A voice murmured. Hermione held Harry in front of her and saw his eyes open. "HARRY!" Hermione squealed. He reached up and grabbed Hermione and kissed her, wrapping his drenched arms around her, holding her as close as he could.
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione sighed pulling away, "I thought you weren't going to wake up.. I thought.."
"I'm right here. Just a bump 's all," Harry said, holding Hermione to him. The freezing rain beat down on them but all they could feel was the warmth of each other.
