Chapter 8


"Hermione removed her heart?!"

The story ran through Hogwarts like wildfire. Everyone was shocked not only that she'd done it and that she knew how to do it but more importantly - Harry was the cause.

The famous couple - the best student and the great Harry Potter - had been the stuff of legends. They seemed made for each other. Now, Harry had publicly shunned and humiliated her. It struck some as most unlike Harry. Of course Draco and his cronies couldn't have been happier. Nothing could have made Malfoy happier than to see Harry wallow in shame. To have the whole school hate Harry was a dream come true.

Hermione was resting in the hospital wing under the close attention of Madam Pomfrey and Harry was glued to her bedside, refusing to leave. He held her hand and waited for her to wake up. But when she finally woke up and saw him, she didn't smile.

"Hermione! Hermione! Are you alright?" Harry said urgently.

"Perfectly fine, thank you."
She pulled her hand from his grasp and pushed herself into a sitting position.

"How long have I been here?" she asked.

"Uh, all night. We found you in your room last night and brought you here. You wouldn't wake up."

Harry swallowed hard and grabbed her hand again.

"Hermione, I'm SO sorry! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that to you. I-I wasn't thinking! I thought I could protect you if you weren't next to me. I-I didn't realize- Oh, Hermione. I'm sorry."

Hermione looked at him as though she was digesting his words carefully.
"You had a reason for doing what you did?"

Harry told her the story of Peter and the Golem. When he finished, she seemed to think for a second.
"A golem? Hmm. Interesting choice. Very strong but very dim. You were concerned about my safety?"

"Yes! Yes! Hermione, I would never had said- I can't- I do-"
Harry struggled to find the words. Hermione sat in silence.

"You didn't believe in me." She said finally.

"What?"

"You didn't believe in me. You didn't believe I could protect myself."

"No. No. I know you can protect yourself. But this is Voldemort! Everyone I've ever loved has been hurt by him! I couldn't risk you too!"

Hermione looked away.
"I think you should go now."

Harry stared at Hermione, stunned.
"But I-"

"Please."

Harry slowly got up and quietly left the room.


When Madam Pomfrey released Hermione later, Professor McGonagall called her in to discuss the spell she'd performed.

"Why did you do it, child? Why?"

Hermione sat across from the Professor calmly.
"I'm here to study, Professor. I'm not here to be distracted by frivolous ...feelings."

"But there's no way to reverse it! Did you know that?"

Hermione shrugged.
"Romantic feelings do not have any consideration in my long term plans, Professor. I fail to see what the fuss is about. I merely removed something that was hindering my progress."

"You felt hurt, Hermione, and that's normal. But what you did was ... extreme. I fear you will regret this decision."

"Thank you for your concern, Professor. May I leave now? I will be late for Charms."

Professor McGonagall shook her head sadly.
"I- I- You're dismissed."


Hermione returned to her classes with a flood of gossip. Everywhere she went, people pointed and whispered. But Hermione, without her heart, didn't care. She didn't feel embarrassment, shame or regret. She didn't feel anything at all.

Harry tried to talk to her alone but she pointedly refused to be alone with him. She was focused only on her schoolwork. Other students began to avoid her, as though there was something 'wrong' with her. Ron and Harry, however, didn't avoid her. They hung around her even more hoping to see some spark of her old self - but in vain.

Days passed and Hermione did not change at all. Harry had never felt so horrible - and Ron helped remind him that was his fault, so he should feel horrible! It was his foolishness that drove her to such a desperate action.

He had never felt so empty inside. Harry spent all of his time with her, but nothing he said or did had any affect on her. She was like an automaton - she did her schoolwork, ate, slept and nothing else.

Ron was still furious with Harry. In full 'brother-mode', he spent every evening with Hermione, determined not the abandon her. Harry was doing the same thing. So every night they glared and yelled at each other across Hermione's table.

Eventually, Hermione had enough of their 'attentiveness."
"Your bickering is not conducive to studying. I'm going up to my room." She said.

Before Ron could yell at him again, Harry got up and went in search of Professor Dumbledore. He knocked on Dumbledore's door and waited for permission to enter.

"Well, young Harry. I suspect I know why you're here. You want to know about Peter Pettigrew and his golem. We've successfully-"

"No! Yes! Argh! Hermione, Professor, I have to help Hermione! It's my fault she's like this - no heart. I can't live with her like this. It's killing me. I have to help her. Please. What can I do? How can I reverse the spell?"

Dumbledore shook his head slowly.

"There is nothing you can do, Harry. There is no counter-spell."

Harry's shoulders slumped and he shook his head in disbelief. He was sure Dumbledore would have the answer.

"I can't ... I can't live with her like this. I have to do something."

"You care for her?"

"I love her."

Dumbledore rubbed his beard and made a thoughtful noise.

"Perhaps ... there is something you can do ..."

"What! Anything! Anything! What can I do?"

"You could find the author of the spell."

"Of course! Yes. You know who it is? Where I can find him?"

"It's a woman. Her name is ... Lhara Mahr."

Once again, a huge 'thank you' to everyone reading and reviewing this story. Yes, Harry's acting like a jerk but give him another chance. He WAS trying to do something protective - but guys aren't generally known for doing the most sensitive things...