As always, I'm only playing with JK Rowling's toys.
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'The dream I had was so real, Hermione, everything about it felt real and it scared me shitless' Harry closed his eyes and gently squeezed her hand.
'You were in St Mungo's and you were in a really bad way. The monitoring charms were barely registering your vitals; the healers were only making you comfortable.'
Hermione reached over and pulled Harry into a comforting embrace, she could see that he was still visibly upset. Harry took a moment before continuing.
'I received word that your husband had beaten you severely because we secretly maintained contact for over ten years after he forbade you from speaking to me. I sat with you for a while just gently holding your hand, the last thing you said before... before the end was "I'm sorry Harry"'
Harry clung to Hermione as though his life depended on it, she was shocked to her core that her best friend would be so affected by what he saw in a dream that he would have such an overwhelming reaction. Slowly they sat down; Harry began to openly weep both for the way that the dream made him feel and for the kindness that Hermione was showing him.
They say like this for some time, before Harry spoke again.
'I'm so ashamed of how I behaved towards you last year Hermione. I let my judgment be clouded by Ron's selfish jealousy and at the time I didn't consider how hard it was for you to go to McGonagall. I'm so sorry for letting you down Hermione'
Hermione quietly wiped a stray tear from her cheek 'I should have spoken with you first Harry, I was so scared that the broom was sent by someone wishing you harm. I didn't know what else to do'
Harry sat up from her embrace and took her hands in his, lifting them both to his lips. 'Don't ever feel bad for looking out for me; I probably wouldn't be here without you'
Hermione gave him a megawatt smile as he told her this, almost instantly she began to worry her lip. 'Harry?' she asked 'who was my husband, you know in your dream?'
'Moments after you passed he came into the room and sneered at me, he said "good, it's about bloody time"'
'Who, Harry?'
'I lost it with him and started punching him and kicking him, I got him by the throat and screamed in his face "why her?" and he just laughed'
'Tell me who it was, Harry, Please'
'He said "I took her so you couldn't have her, for once I got the one thing that Harry fucking Potter wanted but couldn't have"'
She pulled her hands from his and put them to her mouth in shock, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up as she realised what he was saying.
Harry couldn't look her in the eye when he said 'Ron, you were married to Ron'
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'I've never seen Harry so scared before; whatever it was he was dreaming about really shook him up' Neville offered. Ginny nodded her head, with obvious concern on her face.
Ron scoffed at the notion 'No, mate, Harry doesn't get scared; not like that. He probably had another dream about You-know-who and it freaked him a bit. He's fine'
The compartment door opens and the sneering figure of Malfoy and his friends block the passageway.
'Great it's the goon squad' said Neville 'You know what? Malfoy piss off' Neville pushed the arrogant blond back out of the compartment before he could get a chance to speak and closed the door behind him.
Malfoy stood looking at the back of Neville's head before saying 'They can wait; scar head, the mud blood and the squib are mine. C'mon' they left without further incident.
'When did you get so brave, Nev?' asked Ginny to tell turning to Ron 'And when did you become such a wimp? Can you only act tough when Harry is there standing in front of you?'
##
Hermione was stunned, she had guessed that Harry was talking about Ron but to hear it being acknowledged was a totally different thing. Why would she marry Ron, of all people, when they barely get on at the best of times? Why would she be apologising to Harry on her deathbed? These revelations were puzzling to her, although they were nothing more than a dream she couldn't deny that there was a feel of authenticity to the things that Harry mentioned.
'I can only imagine what you must have thought when you woke, Harry. You looked as though the devil himself was after you' said Hermione
Harry slowly shook his head 'it was real to me Hermione, it felt worse than when you were petrified. I...I...I couldn't live without you' he turned his head to look at the passing countryside, a faint smile played on his lips 'this is the first time that I have sat here with anyone, usually I spend a few minutes just getting some air and watching the world go by; it was like my little secret. I'm glad to share it with you Hermione'
'I'm pleased that you felt that you could share it with me, it is a very pleasant way to travel' Hermione commented, her eyes never moving from Harry.
Harry took a deep breath and turned to face his friend, there was a steely determination in his eyes that even she had not seen.
'I have one more thing to tell you' he said
'You can always tell me anything Harry, you know that. I'll never judge you' she replied
Harry thought "you say that now"
'I am and have been for as long as I can remember, deeply in love with you Hermione Granger. I don't just mean platonic love because you are my best friend and I do love you in that sense as well but I mean the type that wars are fought over. The type of love that causes stars to explode and causes mass asphyxiation because it takes everyone's breath away. I have lived my life without my parents and without friends but since you came into my life I have been unable to function properly without having you on my mind.' Finally, Harry stopped rambling on, this gave Hermione a chance to try and process what he had said.
'Harry, I...' she started, and for once words failed her. Ms Know it all had finally run out of brainpower to process the information she had been given.
Harry gave her a soft smile 'I love you and I always will Hermione Jean Granger, I just wanted you to know.'
'I don't know how to respond that Harry, first you let me that you dreamt that I was beaten to death by my husband, who happened to be Ron and then you tell me that you love me. It's a lot to take in' she stood up to leave, Harry stood and lightly took her hand, she turned to glare at him.
When she saw his emerald eyes burning with childlike vulnerability, any doubt that she had of his sincerity vanished 'Listen, you are my best friend Harry and nothing will change that, I owe my life to you. Give me some time to process everything and then we'll talk ok?' she asked.
Harry smiled at her and said 'I can do that'.