The awakening

He slowly opened his eyes, blinking rapidly as light penetrated his lens, momentarily clouding his vision. The first thing he noticed when he was finally able to open his eyes fully was that he could see.

He could really see.

Everything was crystal clear, sharp and focused.

He recognized that he was in the hospital wing, it must have been well past or almost noon as the whole room was illuminated from the glare of the sun that filtered in from every window, that seem to have been missing…well, their window.

It was quite peculiar, as every opening now had thick black drapes, drawn to the side.

Harry placed his hands to his face, checking to make sure that he was not wearing any glasses and that the eyes he was seeing with was not enhanced in any way.

He was thrilled to discover that he was indeed seeing the world for the first time through his own eyes and it was the clearest he had ever seen in his memorable life.

However with this discovery came the questions, what was going, why was he in the hospital wing and where was Hermione?

There was no one else in the room, some how he could tell, but he knew that someone was out in the corridor, which served as a waiting area, sitting on one of the benches provided.

Once he became aware of this person it was as if every cell within his body was telling him to go to this person; that he needed to be near this person no matter what.

Just as he was about to get out of bed to go outside there was a shuffling of feet and in walked Hermione.

It was her, is body was telling him to go to her he thought.

The happiness that he felt at this realization was quickly replaced by anger when he saw the condition that she was in.

She looked as if she hadn't slept in days, her complexion was so pale she almost looked as if she were dead, especially with the dark circles around her eyes and the dull tone of her lips which where a far cry from how he remembered them last night.

She didn't noticed that he was up yet as her head was held down while she slowly dragged herself towards him.

Harry couldn't take the way she looked anymore and wanted to know immediately what was wrong "Hermione." he said, but he startled both himself and her as the sound of his voice was completely different from how he remembered it.

It was as if his voice had matured over night, a bit deeper and smooth…almost velvety, if that could be used to describe the sound of a voice.

Hermione's head had jerked up, she was staring wide eyed at him, about a million emotions running across her face, the most discernible being disbelieve and then relief.

After a couple seconds she ran towards to his bed, launching herself into his arms that were wide open to catch her.

She was whispering his name over and over, clinging to him as if he would disappear right out of her arms.

Harry was too stunned by the feel of her body on his, she felt very good in his arms if not a bit lighter than he thought she should be.

It was her nearly silent sob that finally prompt him to ask "Hermione, what's wrong, what happened to you?"

She didn't answer his question though, only sobbing a little louder which really made Harry start to worry even more. "Hermione…Mione, you have to calm down and talk to me. I can't help if you don't tell me what's wrong."

Hermione slowly let go of Harry moving to face him, she saw how concerned he was for her and felt completely relief and happy to be talking to him after all that had happened, his shortening of her name was all but forgotten in her haze of happiness. The concern she heard in his voice, his beautifully altered voice, gave her the courage to speak but the first thing that came out of her mouth was "Harry, you were dead."

Harry was speechless.

He was not expecting her to say that to him.

Granted he was in the hospital wing…and come to think of it he wasn't quite sure why, the only explanation he could come to was that something had happened to him last night in the tower. The last thing he remembered was the weird glow of his hands…and then nothing. He simple couldn't remember anything else.

Hermione lift herself out of his embrace to sit at the side of his bed, she was looking at him sympathetically. Pain and remorse was etched all over her face.

"You must be joking right" he finally said, "I'm right here so I couldn't have died, you know that no one can come back from the dead." he said lowly, after all he had intimate knowledge of this fact.

Hermione shook her head "You were Harry, for almost a day in fact, they were going to take your body to St. Mungo when you suddenly start breathing again."

"But that's not possible Hermione…" He interrupted looking unconvinced at her words.

Harry's refusal to believe what she was saying made Hermione come to the conclusion that he might not know what had actually happened to him the night of the ball.

"Harry you don't remember, do you?

"Remember what"

"The night of the Ball, tell me the last thing you remember." she said.

Harry looked down to his lap; now that she mentioned it he did remember the Ball. What he wasn't sure about was if he should bring up the kiss they shared just in case she was angry with him about.

Thinking about that kiss made him forget everything else.

It was magnificent, the happiest memory of his entire life. If he had to cast the patronus charm that kiss would be the one good memory he could count on.

"We were walking," he started after some time had passed, "then we ended up by the tower. It was a full moon and I couldn't resist, you were so beautiful and I kissed you." He said this while raising his head to see the beautiful smile she always smiled just for him.

Hermione was enthralled, the more he spoke the more enraptured she became in him. His voice had changed, she knew it would after the blood curdling screams that came from him that night, but she had not expected it to sound so beautiful, so mature, so sensual, a slight flush creeping up her neck at the last thought.

Harry broke her reverie when he said "And you kissed me back," he smiled shyly at this, but then he frowned as he added "then there was that weird glow from my hand...after that nothing, I can't remember anything. I only know I woke up today feeling better than I have ever felt."

With this her suspicions were confirmed, so she picked up where he left off, telling him everything that had happened after that

"...then the Headmaster brought Madam Pomfrey but I wouldn't let you go. They couldn't get me to let you go, so she performed her diagnostic test with you in my arms. She checked for every sign of life Harry, she even checked your magical core, there was nothing. Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall had to levitate us both here, I held on to you the whole time praying in spite of what they all said, not willing to let you go, not willing to believe that you were actually gone, that you actually left me."

Hermione's voice had gradually become no more than a whisper by the end, but in the silent room it was as if her words echoed off every surface.

She cleared her throat, silent tears running down her face as she continued her voice a little stronger

"Then you woke up...well, your heart started to beat again. I heard it as Professor Snape was getting ready to drag me off you. I wasn't aware of anything going on around me, my only concern was you at that point, but when I heard your deep intake of breathe and felt your hand grasped mind that's when I became aware of what they were actually planning to do. They were going to take you to the wizarding morgue and they had to get me off you but I wouldn't let go. Madam Pomfrey rushed to you when she saw that you were breathing, everyone became still at that point, waiting and then she turned and said you were alive again. At those words I collapsed and I woke up two days later."

She started to play with the hem of her skirt, needing the distraction to not look in Harry's now smoldering eyes.

"You've been in here almost a month now, they've postponed the second task, well Professor Dumbledore had to beg them to, and everyone agreed after he pointed out that you might really die this time if you weren't able to compete."

Harry was lost in his thoughts. After hearing everything Hermione said the one thing that concerned him the most was that he felt as if he went to sleep last night and just woke up back today.

To him it was only one night not almost a month and there was no ill feeling, no dread, just a sense of peace and tranquility, in fact it was as if everything was as it should be just as it was when he and Hermione had kissed.

"You know Hermione", he said, "I think everything will be O.K. from now on."

Hermione's head flew up at the calm way Harry was dismissing everything she said "Harry how can y…"

"Mr. Potter you're finally awake." Madam Pomfrey had entered the room at that moment interrupting the stern lecture Harry would have received.

"Miss Granger, may I examine him now?" The prim mediwitch asked standing opposite of Hermione.

Not awaiting an answer she began moving her wand in some very intricate way nodding and hmm-ing at the apparent, to her at least, readings she got.

"Mr. Potter I assume that Miss Granger has informed you of the events that has occur since your…accident." She pause seeming unsure of how to proceed but pulled herself back together and said, "You have made a complete recovery, although the circumstances of your condition was very remarkable. And I wish it were the same for Hogwarts, it appears that there is no one that can repair the damage that was caused to the castle that night."

"What do you mean Madam Pomfrey?" Harry was confused. What damage?

"Harry, all the windows and doors were shattered and no matter what Professor Dumbledore has done they can't be repaired," Hermione said.

Harry suddenly looked towards the windows. She was right and he had notice the absence of the windows and doors earlier.

"I did this?" He asked, turning back to look at Hermione who was now standing at the foot of his bed.

She slowly nod, "It has been quiet drafty in here but all the students have only been here one week now because Professor Dumbledore had sent home everyone and the Beaubaxton and Drumstrang students stayed in their vessels. The only reason the Governs allowed the school to open back was because of the competition."

Harry closed his eyes as Hermione finished speaking. Guilt beginning to consume him as he thought about what happened to the castle, but before he could become completely submerged in depression and negative feelings he felt himself being pulled.

Whatever was going on took less than a couple seconds but Harry was sure that he had been 'uploaded' with information. He suddenly knew things, so many things, so much that he was sure that his brain could hold that much and as soon as he thought that he found himself standing in an entry hall.

He slowly turned around taking in the ancient look of the structure he was in. It was opulent and everything seemed larger than life as if he were in a giant's home.

The hall suddenly shimmered into gold and Harry saw it shift and found himself in a massive library.

He was awed and…enlightened. He suddenly knew everything and a feral grin graced his lips.

He blinked and found himself back in the infirmary.

Looking up at Hermione, he knew that both she and Madam Pomfrey weren't aware of what had just occurred.

He smiled, knowing that from now on everything would be all right.

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