Harry was right; the work looked worse then what it really was. He had finished it in less then an hour and had fallen asleep right after writing the last letter on his Charms essay. His head was placed in his arms and his glasses still placed on his face. Madame Pomfrey came in to the room just after the sun had risen to check on Hermione and saw Harry with his face buried in his arms. She decided to let him sleep and just checked Hermione to see if she made any improvements, then left the room.
A few minutes after she had left, Hermione's closed eyes were covered with the light that streamed in through the windows. She tried to turn to get some more sleep, but then found that she couldn't. She opened her eyes, looked around trying to make sense where she was, until her memory caught up with her. She turned her head toward the table to her right and stared at the boy with his face buried in his parchment. She smiled and reached out her hand for his. He moved his arms a little at her touch and his head hit the table. He woke up from his sleep and tried to sit up. His face had stuck to the parchment that was on the table and Hermione started to laugh, "Get it all done?"
"Yeah, in less then an hour," he striped the Charms parchment from his face and looked at it. "I hope Ron comes pretty soon, so I can eat something."
"Always thinking about your stomach."
"Not always. How are you doing this morning?"
"Alright I guess. I think I'm up to going to some classes."
"You haven't even done the work that Ron dropped off."
"How much time do I have?" Harry looked at his watch, "Never mind. You will probably finish it." She smiled and kicked her feet over the edge of the bed, grabbed the clothes and robe that Lavender brought for her, and went to the bathroom to change.
Soon enough, Madame Pomfrey came in and checked to make she was well enough to go to her classes. Sure enough, she could find nothing wrong, and Hermione was free to go to breakfast. She had finished her homework in time and was enjoying her breakfast. Ron and Lavender welcomed her back as she and Harry took the seats across from them. "They found nothing wrong with you?" Lavender asked as she bit off some croissant.
"Nothing. They have no clue what had happened to me."
"That's strange, but it's good to have you back," Ron said, "Isn't it Harry?" He gave Harry a wink and Harry blushed. "Yeah," he stuffed some of his meal in his mouth. Hermione laughed lightly at him and continued to eat.
They soon got up and left for their classes. They had Charms first and Harry and Hermione gave Professor Flitwick their make up work, along with the essay that was due that day. Harry took a seat next to Ron and Hermione sat next to him, ready to get going and to learn. After mastering the charms that they were practicing that day, Hermione started to feel like herself once more. But that dream still had a hold of her, 'There is only one dark wizard with that kind of power.' She tried to shake it off and enjoy herself with her friends.
Later in the common room, Harry and Ron where trying to help each other out by giving each other different, horrible deaths for each day of the week for Divination. Hermione studied hard on a test that was only in a few days, and she was only a couple of chapters a head of the class, instead of the five chapters that she usually is. Hermione curled up on the big chair with her books, and started to read and absorb as much as she could. From the table by the fire, Harry was glancing up from his work to look in her direction. "Hey, Harry," he turned back to Ron, "What the matter with you?"
"It's just . . . she really scared me when she didn't wake up, Ron. It really scared me, and I had no idea what to do."
"But there is something else bugging you, isn't there, Harry?"
"Yeah," he tried to keep his voice low, "My scar started to burn again."
"Wha- why didn't you tell me?"
"I was thinking about telling you, but it's weird. It always burns when I have a certain nightmare."
"About what?"
"He came to Hogwarts and used a type of wrap on me and Hermione was there. She was trying to help me, but I tried to get her to run. She was stubborn and didn't move, You-know-who kept hitting her down with a kind of curse, but she wouldn't run."
"Don't worry Harry, it's only a nightmare."
"But my scar, it still burns. Another strange thing, when I was with Hermione the other night, I woke up from the pain, and looked around. Hermione was having a nightmare, and talking in her sleep."
"So?"
"I think that she may be having the same dream . . ." Harry stopped and started to get working on his work once again. Ron decided not to pursue the conversation any further, and started to finish the work as well. Unknown to either of them, Hermione had heard nearly the whole conversation. And was worried as well.
After the common room started to empty, Ron had decided to get some shut eye, "Night Harry."
"Night Ron." Neither one of them noticed it, but Harry and Hermione were the only two left in the common room. After Ron had left, Harry continued working on the potions work that he couldn't figure out. Ron just decided to forget about it and face Snape the next day. Hermione glanced from the top of her book and saw Harry struggling to get the formula right. Hermione shut her book and came over to Harry, "How's the work coming?"
"Not very well, I'm not getting any of this," he kept his gaze on the parchment, thinking that it might hold the answer that he is desperately looking for. "Here," Hermione sat down next to him and leaned over his shoulder to begin pointing out the major ingredients. He blushed lightly when noticing how close they were to each other. She wanted to ask him about the nightmare they apparently both had, but the opportunity never came up. They finally figured out the work, but decided to stay up and talk for a little longer, both trying to get an opportunity to ask about the nightmare.
At one point, both of them yawned and decided to turn in for the night. Hermione packed up her books as Harry piled all his work and books together. He walked Hermione to her room, "Thanks for helping me. I had no clue what to do." He smiled, but the happiness that usually radiated from him had faded. He had the nightmare in the back of his head, and the picture of the hurt Hermione on the ground. "That was no problem, Harry." She had noticed that Harry wasn't his usual self, "You doing alright, Harry?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," the picture of her being hit to the ground by a curse entered his mind and he had to turn away. Hermione noticed that his eyes no longer had that healthy shine that they usually did, but they were glazed over by a kind of a fog. "I'll talk to you in the morning, Herm." She wanted to talk to him, but he walked away before she could, "Goodnight Harry."
Lavender was inside the room, looking at something inside of a frame. "Lavender? What's that?" Hermione came close to her bed, looking over her shoulder. "Oh, nothing," Lavender hid it under her mattress, but Hermione saw it before she tried to hide it. "Why do you have a picture of Ron?" She used the best amused voice that she could, and looked at Lavender, "I thought you said, and I quote, 'I didn't say I fancied him. I just said he was a cutie.' Come on, Lavender. I can see right through you."
"Alright, alright," she took the picture back out again. It was Ron smiling slowly going into a wink, then to blowing a kiss. It kind of made Hermione nauseous, but Lavender seemed to enjoy it. Hermione plopped into her bed and tried to fall asleep, but buried deep inside the back of her mind the nightmare still burned.
***
Later that night Harry stayed awake, scared of having the nightmare again. He gave up on looking at his ceiling and grabbed his robe. "I got to get my head cleared." He headed down the stone steps and saw that the fire was glowing brightly. He looked around the corner, but no one was sitting by the fire or any of the chairs surrounding the bright flames. He took a step into the common room and saw Hermione sitting by one of the huge windows. Her hair was in one, long braid like the last time he caught her in the common room, but now she wore a long nightgown that flowed over her legs that were folded under her. She was staring out the window, droning on something with as much intensity from the train ride.
Harry stepped toward her and cleared his throat. She took her eyes away from the window and toward him. "What, no book this time?" he gave her a smile.
"Just can't seem to get away from you, can I?" She turned back toward the window, and he sat down next to her, "Why would you want to?" He said it in a kind of tone that said 'you-know-you-want-me.' "You always know just how to get to me," she turned back to him with a smile, but her eyes were filled with tears. His smile faded, "Herm, what's wrong?" She went over to him and wrapped her arms around his mid-section. She laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes. "I'm scared, Harry."
"Of what?" he put his head on the top of hers and hugged her closer to his body. She tried to hold them in, but a few silent tears flowed down her face. "I'm scared of what might happen to you." She tried to hug him tighter; if possible, "I'm scared that the nightmare might come true."
"So you have been having the same dream. But how did you know?"
"I heard you telling Ron the details of the dream, and I knew it was the same one. Harry, I don't want to lose you."
"Remember my promise, Herm. I'll always be by your side." She started to relax in his arms, content on listening to his heart beating in harmony with her hers. "Come on, Herm. You need your sleep," he started to get up, but she gave him a squeeze, "Can you just hold me for a while?"
"Sure," he settled back down.
"Will you hold me until I fall asleep?"
"Yeah, I'll be here." He leaned against the window frame as she made herself comfortable. Soon enough she fell into a deep sleep.
***
Sometime during the night Harry woke up and found Hermione still in his arms. He looked out the window, 'What am I going to do?' He was torn, 'What if the dream has some truth to it? Herm will be in danger, not to mention the rest of Hogwarts. The only family that I have ever known will be in danger.' Outside the window there were a few owls still out trying to catch a light snack.
He looked down at his sleeping angle. He liked that idea, his angle. She had a peaceful look on her face; for once she wasn't having the nightmare. The moonlight flowed over her face as if it was a small stream of silver water. He smiled at her; she was possibly the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. He brushed the hair off of her face, "I'll always be here for you, Herm. No matter what. There is no way that I'm going to let anyone hurt you." She smiled and touched his hand that was brushing her face.
She opened her eyes and looked up at him. "Harry . . . ?"
"Yeah?" Her heart was beating faster then it has ever before, "Um. There is something else that I've been thinking about. . ."
"Yeah, me too," he looked back out the window.
"Really?"
"Uh huh, but go ahead," he turned back to her.
"Um . . . it's kind of hard to say. . ." she paused for a little bit trying to keep her gaze off of his eyes. Her eyes eventually landed on his lips, and saw their movement as he breathed. She finally got an idea, "Do you remember the book that I was reading the last time you caught me down here?"
"Yeah. You've probably finished it by now, huh?"
"Well, I finished it that night, but that is beyond the point. Do remember what it was about?"
"It was about the girl that found out that she loved her best friend, right?"
"Right. Um, I think that she and I have a lot in common."
"Why is that?" Her eyes moved from his lips to finally land on his eyes. There was a big pause of silence, but during the silence Harry slowly leaned down to her. "I think that. . . . I might be in love with . . ." she couldn't continue. She closed the rest of the distance that they had between them and kissed Harry. She reached her arms up and brushed her hands though his jet black hair. He didn't object as he kept his hands on her back, pushing her up making the kiss even more intense. The kiss eventually went from just being intense to being passionate, then before either of them wanted it to, it stopped. They reluctantly drew apart, and looked at each other. "You," she finally finished her sentence.
"What about me?" he had a look of confusion on his face, but she couldn't help but smile at seeing that the confusion didn't hide his absolute happiness. "I'm in love with you."