Hello and welcome to chapter four!
Hope you enjoy it! Thanks to the people who've reviewed. It's wonderful to
get feedback, and I hope you don't mind my writing style. I have a friend
who rips my works apart before I put them up, and she doesn't really like
the way I write. She says it takes her too long to get used to. Ah well
. . . anyway, I thought I should've split this up into two parts, but I
didn't and just finished it. It makes me feel better that way! I have more
done when I post, but the story is really short; it's only two chapters.
Tell me if you think I should split it up anyway! –pottergal
PS. And all disclaimers from the beginning of the story still apply. I SO do not own HP and the characters in any way shape or form! –pottergal
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Only Talking
Chapter Four
By: pottergal
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*~*~*
Hermione walked through the nearly deserted halls of Hogwarts castle, the normal presence of books and her bag absent. The holidays had finally started, and school was out until the next year. Instead, she clutched a small bouquet of flowers, ones she'd filched from the greenhouses after making sure they weren't dangerous or that they wouldn't be missed. It had been three days since the accident in the Potions class, and Harry was still out cold. Madam Pomfrey had done her best to get him back into shape, but he hadn't woken up. The nurse had reassured her that he was fine, that he'd suffered worse than this, but Hermione couldn't help feeling worried. She hated to see him like that, laid out as though he were dead. And if it weren't for the fact that the sheet moved up and down slightly with each breath he took, she could've sworn that he was.
The sudden explosion had stunned everyone, knocking most of them from their feet. The worst that had happened to anyone was they'd been splashed by scalding potion, but everyone had fallen silent when they'd seen Harry. The explosion had thrown him through his desk and knocked him up against the wall. He was completely covered with brown goo, and his leg was bent at a slightly odd angle. Blood was trickling from him and there was a large patch of it on the wall where he'd hit it and slid down. Parvati had promptly fainted and most of the girls screamed and a few of the guys looked as though they were about to be sick. Only Hermione and Ron had rushed to Harry's side, both frantic with worry.
"Oh god, oh god, oh god . . ." She remembered whispering over and over as she'd started wiping away the potion from his mangled body. Tears had begun to spill down her cheeks from both dread and from the stinging sensation as her bare flesh touched the potion. "Oh god, Harry, don't be dead. You can't be dead!" She'd tried to move him, her gaze snapping to the rest of the class. "Somebody help him! He'll die if we don't do something!" She'd yelled, half-frenzied and half-hysterical. Snape had taken over then, ordering Ron to pull her off Harry so he could get him up to the hospital wing. Hermione had shrieked and kicked and squirmed, but Ron was too strong for her. He'd held her tightly as Snape whisked Harry off, and she'd been forced to watch.
"Hermione, calm down, everything is going to be fine . . ." Ron had whispered and then she'd started sobbing uncontrollably.
"Hermione?" She blinked as Ron's voice called her back to the present. She was about halfway up a staircase, Ron standing at the top of it. She looked up at him and he stared nervously back. "Are . . . are you going to visit Harry?" He asked, looking at the flowers in her hands. She nodded without a word. "Do you . . . do you mind if I come?" There was a long pause between them, Hermione seriously considering him and Ron shifting from one foot to the other nervously.
"No." She said finally as she finished climbing the stairs. "I could use the company." He gave her a small smile, and she could see the strain in it. "So how are you?" She asked after they'd walked in silence for a while.
"Not bad. Yourself?"
"I've been better." She said simply and they lapsed back into quiet. Ron cleared his throat a couple of times, but he couldn't seem to think of anything to say. "Do you . . . do you think Harry'll be awake when we get there?" She asked after casting around in her head for a topic. Ron shrugged.
"I don't know. He was pretty beaten up when Madam Pomfrey finally got to him. I heard her say it would probably be a while before he finally comes around." She nodded slightly as they reached the infirmary. Ron opened the door for her and she walked in. Madam Pomfrey looked up at them as they entered and Hermione saw that she'd been rubbing some sort of cream on Harry's face.
"It'll help bring him out of it." She said as she noticed Hermione looking and put the cap back on the little tube. She set it down on the table beside Harry's bed before bustling past them, leaving them alone. Hermione took her customary seat after changing the flowers and sat with a small sigh. It looked as though Harry hadn't moved at all. His jet-black hair contrasted sharply with the white pillow and made his face look even paler than it should've been. His cheeks held no color whatsoever and his lips were thin and ashen. Overall, his face had a drawn, sallow look about it and it made Hermione shake her head in sorrow. How could this have happened? What idiot had left his cauldron on the burner after Snape had specifically told them to take it off?
"Harry . . ." She murmured and brushed some stray strands from his eyes that remained shut. She touched his bandaged hand and was surprised to find how cold his fingers were. His skin felt like ice. "He looks dead." She whispered and felt Ron place a hand gently on her shoulder.
"He's been through worse before, Hermione. He'll survive." There was a croakiness to Ron's voice that made her keep her eyes on Harry. "He can't die. What would we do without him?" She snorted a little.
"Since when do you care what happens to him? After the things you said to him, I could've sworn you hated him." She said bitterly and gasped as Ron spun her chair around so she'd face him. He looked her directly in the eye and she gulped. They held a faint trace of tears.
"You know I could never hate him or you. Both of you are my best friends." She stared up at him. "I may have a bit of a temper, yes, and I may lose my head, but that doesn't mean you two stop being my friends. How do you think I feel right now? Especially since the last thing I said to him was an accusation . . ." He trailed off with a grimace. "I wanted to say I was sorry. Having Harry like this made me realize more than anything how . . . how foolish it is to hold grudges." Hermione felt utterly stunned.
"Who are you and what have you done with Ron Weasley?" She demanded and he laughed a little.
"I'm not that different, am I?" His smile faded after a moment and his expression turned serious once more. "I . . . I know it's over between us, Hermione, and frankly, part of me is rather relieved. I've known that we needed to call it quits for a long time and I'd felt it coming for a while, but I didn't know quite how to tell you." Hermione blinked.
"You mean . . . you wanted to break up?" Ron nodded slightly and she stared.
"Right after school started, I realized that you meant much more to me as a friend. I just couldn't stand fighting with you constantly; I knew we didn't mix. I just was too chicken to say anything. I was afraid I'd lose both you and your friendship." Hermione couldn't think of anything to say. "And then look what happened. I think the reason I lost it so badly is because . . . well, I was jealous. In that picture, you looked so very happy. And I knew you'd never worn that expression when you were with me."
"Ron, that's not true. I was happy with you." Ron's eyes searched her face and he shook his head.
"Not like that you weren't." She opened her mouth to protest, but he'd pressed a finger to her lips. "Look, I know you like him a lot. Dean and I used to joke about it, all through fifth year. We'd wondered how long you could stand Harry being so freaking oblivious." She looked at him crossly and he smiled. "Wondering why I asked you out then?"
"Well, yes!"
"I did it mostly because I couldn't stand the thought of you throwing yourself at someone who didn't even realize you liked him, but . . . I really did like you. I just came to the conclusion that I liked you better as a friend than as a girlfriend." She shook her head in wonder. "So can we go back to being friends? I really miss talking to you." She gave him a look.
"You don't miss my conversation as much as you miss my help on homework." She fought a smile as Ron did his best not to look guilty. "But yes, we can go back to being friends." He grinned and she laughed a little. "I suppose you've got a list, have you? Of all the assignments you need help on?"
"I'm not that desperate. I can manage quite well on my own, thank you." She cocked an eyebrow.
"I see you two are finally talking." A soft, croaky voice said and Hermione jumped. She spun to see Harry smiling at her slightly, his green eyes shining.
"Harry!" She practically yelled, her voice awash with relief and joy. She rushed forward and hugged him tightly, but jerked back as he cried out slightly. "Oh, I'm sorry! Are you all right? Do you still hurt?"
"I feel like I've been mowed down by about a million hippogriffs." He said wearily, his voice breaking every so often. It sounded rather dry and scratchy. "My entire body aches and I can barely move." His fingers twitched a little. "That's about all I feel up to doing." Hermione reached down and held his hand, his fingers curling around hers. "So is either of you going to explain what in the hell happened to me?" Ron had moved to sit on Harry's other side and Hermione reclaimed her chair.
"The cauldron exploded, throwing you into the wall and nearly killing you." He said and Harry grimaced.
"I could've told you that." He licked his lips. "Can I have something to drink? My throat feels like I've swallowed sand."
"You're only allowed water, Mr. Potter, and a Restorative potion." Hermione looked up to see Madam Pomfrey emerging from her office, a goblet and a rather large bottle in her hands. "Help him sit up, would you two? He needs to take some of this, and I doubt he can move without help." Hermione and Ron stood to do exactly what the nurse ordered. "You broke quite a few bones, Potter, including several ribs and the lower part of your spine. Thankfully Professor Snape got you up here in time, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to do anything."
"If I'd broken my spine, wouldn't I be paralyzed?" Harry asked, and Hermione noted a small tremor of fear in his voice. Madam Pomfrey gave a sharp laugh as Ron and she managed to get Harry upright.
"No, dear boy. Unlike most Muggle hospitals, I can mend any broken bone, including your spine. It just takes a lot of energy, mending bones. That's why you're so tired." Hermione frowned, but didn't voice her question. Wouldn't Madam Pomfrey be the one who was tired? But she didn't know enough about magical medicine to ask. "You're lucky nothing punctured your lungs; with the amount of power that explosion threw you against the wall, I am very surprised that every bone in your body wasn't broken. But you're the lucky one, aren't you? You always seem to be lucky, Potter." Harry watched her silently as she poured him a goblet full of the deep blue potion.
"Is that the Restorative potion?" Hermione asked curiously. She'd never seen them before; they were supposedly very difficult to make.
"It is indeed. Now drink it all, Potter, and don't you pull a stunt like you did with the Skele-gro. This is very rare, and I won't have you wasting it, no matter how horrible it tastes." She handed the goblet to Hermione. "Help him drink it, dear. I don't think he could lift a hand right now if he tried." Much to her surprise, he was able to, but it shook so much that he couldn't hold the goblet if he'd wanted to. Hermione thus gave him little sips of the potion until it was completely gone. "Now, you'll have fifteen minutes of visiting time before I come back. Potter needs his rest and he's not going to get it with you two here." And with that, she walked away briskly, her skirts swishing softly.
"Cheery, isn't she?" Ron said and Harry laughed. Well, it had started as a laugh, but had ended as a coughing fit. "Hey, watch it! We don't want you getting even more hurt." Harry gave him a look.
"I think you're lucky Hagrid is on that mission for Dumbledore, Harry. Knowing him, he'd storm up here and crush you to death with a hug." Harry laughed again, but it was slightly more cautious. Their conversation continued for the next fifteen minutes with light banter until finally Madam Pomfrey came back and ordered them out. Harry gave them a pleading look, but the shove Madam Pomfrey gave them was far more persuasive. Hermione and Ron didn't dare ask her for more time, but promised Harry that they'd be back as soon as possible.
"Hermione." She blinked at Ron, who'd stopped walking the moment they'd reached a fair distance from the infirmary. She gave him a questioning look and he smiled a little. "I'd like you to promise me something, all right?" He took a step closer to her and took her hand.
"It depends on what it is." She said cautiously and his hand squeezed hers gently.
"Promise me you'll go after Harry."
"WHAT?!" Ron winced at her shout. She frowned at him deeply and drew a few calming breaths. "What do you mean, go after him?"
"You two are meant for eachother, I can feel it. You compliment eachother, can't you tell?" Hermione gave him a puzzled look and he sighed slightly in exasperation. "Everybody can tell the two of you like eachother. All you would have to do is look at that picture to see that." Hermione felt her cheeks heat.
"Ron, you said it yourself. Why should I fling myself at someone who doesn't feel the same way? I'm sure Harry only thinks of me as a friend." She said and Ron gave her a scrutinizing look. "You can't possibly think that he likes me because of some picture. For all you know, he just could've been embarrassed." Ron sighed slightly and dropped her hand.
"All right already." He started to walk off, but stopped and turned back to her after a moment. "Well? Aren't you coming to dinner?"
*~*~*
Christmas morning dawned cold and bright. The morning sun danced across Harry's pillow, forcing him awake whether he liked it or not. He grumbled and rolled over onto his stomach before shoving his head beneath his pillow in an attempt to avoid the sunlight. However, all was in vain. He was awake and was therefore stuck that way. Muttering horrible things about the accursed sun, he pushed himself up rather shakily and flipped over so he sat upright in bed. He rubbed his eyes before groping around the small table to find his glasses. It had been two days since he'd first woken up and the only reason he had the strength to move at all was due to the Restorative potion Madam Pomfrey forced down his throat twice a day.
"I see you're finally awake." Came the curt voice of the school nurse as she walked briskly into the room. As Harry expected, she was carrying his morning dose of the potion. "And I see you're feeling stronger. Can you move everything all right?" She asked and Harry flexed his fingers and moved his arms around a bit. "You were able to sit up on your own this morning, which is a good sign. Still feeling thirsty?"
"Not really." He said as he watched her pour him a goblet-full of the potion. "But I am hungry. Would it be all right if I go down to breakfast this morning?" He asked hopefully, but Madam Pomfrey gave him a look that made his insides sink.
"I'll have them send up something. I do think you can handle solids, but I don't think you need to go down to the Great Hall to eat it." There was a note of finality to her voice that made Harry keep his mouth shut instead of trying to wheedle her into allowing him to go. "Here, take this. Let's see how you handle the goblet this morning." Harry took the goblet she passed him and was surprised at how heavy it felt. He would've dropped it if she hadn't clasped her hands around it.
"Looks like I'm still not strong enough." Harry said bitterly and Madam Pomfrey helped him take several sips of the potion. "Gah, that's horrible." He said after swallowing and made a face.
"No one asked you if you liked the flavor. Its sole purpose is to ensure you get well." She said tartly and he took a few more sips. "And I'm not at all surprised that you still can't hold it. Your body has been through quite an ordeal. Both an arm and a leg nearly shattered, three ribs barely existent, massive amounts of internal bleeding and a fair amount of external bleeding . . . you are very lucky to be alive." Harry grimaced.
"I know, I know. Kindly spare me the details, or I might lose what appetite I have." He muttered before managing to finish off the last of the potion. He coughed a few times after swallowing and shuddered. It was like being forced to down something that tasted like old gym socks and rotten sauerkraut twice a day. "But this stuff is doing a pretty good job . . ." He took the glass of water Madam Pomfrey handed him and forced himself to hold onto it. She gave him a look of approval after he swallowed the contents of the glass without spilling a drop.
"You keep healing at the rate you are now, Potter, and you'll be out of here in no time. But I am going to have to keep you here for a few more days." He made another face but didn't argue. "I know it's Christmas, so I might let you go to the feast tonight, but it depends on how you're doing. But you must stay the night here, Potter." She picked up the empty glass and goblet, and the potion vial before swishing back to her office. Harry collapsed back onto his pillows, slightly exhausted from the effort it took to remain upright.
If you can barely sit up right now, do you think she's going to let you go to the feast tonight? He thought somewhat angrily. He'd never tolerated weakness in himself and this whole situation was beginning to grate on his nerves. He hated having Madam Pomfrey help him sit up or help him drink something. His only comfort was that Malfloy wasn't here to see him. He'd never live it down then.
"Good morning, Harry!" He looked over at the entrance to the room and grinned. Hermione and Ron stood there, a pile of presents in their arms. He pushed himself up and leaned forward as they approached.
"You're looking so much better, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed as she set down the couple of presents she was carrying and gave him a hug. "Happy Christmas, by the way. These are from Hagrid and Sirius." She pointed to the presents she'd set down. "Ron is carrying the ones from Mrs. Weasley and us."
"Mum's made you another sweater. This makes the sixth one, doesn't it? Look, even Hermione's got one." Ron said as he set down the gifts. Hermione was wearing a deep blue sweater with a silver 'H' on it. "Oh, and a letter from Sirius arrived yesterday. Hedwig had to go straight up to the owlery though; she was exhausted from the journey." Harry nodded. "So how're you feeling? You look like you've finally got some color to you."
"Pomfrey says I'm healing quickly, but she wants me to stay here a couple of more days." He answered as he started opening his presents. Mrs. Weasley had indeed made him a sweater of fine green wool and she'd also sent him a rather large box of treacle fudge with a card wishing him a speedy recovery.
"A couple of more days? So that means you aren't allowed to come to the feast?" Ron asked, slightly stunned. Harry shrugged as he reached for Hagrid's present. Hagrid had also sent him a box of treacle fudge, but he'd also given him the strangest looking stick Harry had ever seen in his life. It was about the size of a wand with odd curly markings etched into swirling patterns on the surface.
"What is this?" He muttered, turning it over and over in his hands. He wasn't the least bit surprised when he noticed Hermione looking at it intently.
"Harry, that's . . . that's a taming stick." Harry and Ron stared at her, but she continued on in hushed voices. "Giants use them to tame wild creatures. Supposedly they're the only things that could control a dragon, but apparently all of them were supposed to be destroyed years and years ago."
"So why would Hagrid send this to me?" Harry asked and Hermione shrugged.
"I don't know. But you need to keep a close eye on that. Imagine if it got into the wrong hands . . . You-know-who could have a whole legion of dragons on his side at an instant." Harry and Ron shared a rather nervous look.
"How 'bout opening Sirius's present?" Ron said, nudging a package with his hand. Harry reached for it and tore it open to find a box containing all sorts of wizard candy from all over the world. A small note from Sirius told Harry that the moment he'd seen it, he'd thought of Harry and had had to get it for him. He smiled and glanced at Ron who was looking at some of the smaller boxes with curiosity.
"Wonder what a Canary Cream Puff is . . . think that sounds too much like a canary cream? Wonder if it turns you into a bird . . ." Harry grinned and reached for Ron's present. "By the way, I loved the book. Seamus would be livid with jealousy, Irish and English Quidditch Teams: Best of the Century. He'd just been saying how much he wanted it; wait till he finds out I've got it!"
"What if he's already got it? Then you're little gloating plan will fail, won't it."
"Do you always have to be such a spoil sport, Hermione?" She sniffed indignantly as Harry opened Ron's present. He blinked in surprise as he saw the label on the box: Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. It was a box chalk full of all sorts of joke things and Harry's jaw dropped.
"They actually managed to open it?" He said in disbelief and Ron nodded proudly.
"They said a lot of their stuff has practically flown of the shelves. They were rather amazed, but incredibly pleased. I don't think they expected to do that well, considering recent events and all." Ron and Harry grinned. "I don't think we should try anything in here though. I think Madam Pomfrey might flip."
"And then she'd kick both of you out." Harry said, reaching for Hermione's present. He opened it, and surprise, surprise, it was a book. He tried not to look too disappointed but couldn't help frowning when he noticed Hermione and Ron watching him intently.
"Well? Aren't you going to open it?" Hermione asked pointedly and he looked curiously from her to Ron, who nodded eagerly.
"All right already." He said and lifted the heavy, leather-bound cover of the book. Much to his amazement, it wasn't a book; it was a photo album. "Wow!" He whispered as he started flipping through the pages. They were pictures of his six years so far at Hogwarts, each carefully arranged chronologically. From every page, pictures of Hermione, Ron, and himself waved and grinned. "How . . . how did you do this?"
"It was easy, but it took a while. I made one for each of us so we'll all remember our years here. I'll finish this year and next year for you if you'd like." Harry nodded and Hermione smiled. "I'm glad you like it."
Hermione and Ron stayed all day, eating breakfast and lunch with him and talking to him about everything that had been going on in the castle during his hospital stay. They read Sirius's letter and Hermione helped Harry write another one to send back before promising to send it off as soon as possible. They were forced to leave for a little while so Harry could take a much-needed nap; he hadn't realized how draining it could be to talk with friends.
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woo, here's the fourth chapter. Hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Please tell me what you think, and don't be afraid to pick my brain or something. I'll answer people's email questions in my next update, because for some reason, I can't send anything to people, but I can get stuff from them! Weird, huh?
Yours forever and ever:
pottergal
PS. And all disclaimers from the beginning of the story still apply. I SO do not own HP and the characters in any way shape or form! –pottergal
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Only Talking
Chapter Four
By: pottergal
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Hermione walked through the nearly deserted halls of Hogwarts castle, the normal presence of books and her bag absent. The holidays had finally started, and school was out until the next year. Instead, she clutched a small bouquet of flowers, ones she'd filched from the greenhouses after making sure they weren't dangerous or that they wouldn't be missed. It had been three days since the accident in the Potions class, and Harry was still out cold. Madam Pomfrey had done her best to get him back into shape, but he hadn't woken up. The nurse had reassured her that he was fine, that he'd suffered worse than this, but Hermione couldn't help feeling worried. She hated to see him like that, laid out as though he were dead. And if it weren't for the fact that the sheet moved up and down slightly with each breath he took, she could've sworn that he was.
The sudden explosion had stunned everyone, knocking most of them from their feet. The worst that had happened to anyone was they'd been splashed by scalding potion, but everyone had fallen silent when they'd seen Harry. The explosion had thrown him through his desk and knocked him up against the wall. He was completely covered with brown goo, and his leg was bent at a slightly odd angle. Blood was trickling from him and there was a large patch of it on the wall where he'd hit it and slid down. Parvati had promptly fainted and most of the girls screamed and a few of the guys looked as though they were about to be sick. Only Hermione and Ron had rushed to Harry's side, both frantic with worry.
"Oh god, oh god, oh god . . ." She remembered whispering over and over as she'd started wiping away the potion from his mangled body. Tears had begun to spill down her cheeks from both dread and from the stinging sensation as her bare flesh touched the potion. "Oh god, Harry, don't be dead. You can't be dead!" She'd tried to move him, her gaze snapping to the rest of the class. "Somebody help him! He'll die if we don't do something!" She'd yelled, half-frenzied and half-hysterical. Snape had taken over then, ordering Ron to pull her off Harry so he could get him up to the hospital wing. Hermione had shrieked and kicked and squirmed, but Ron was too strong for her. He'd held her tightly as Snape whisked Harry off, and she'd been forced to watch.
"Hermione, calm down, everything is going to be fine . . ." Ron had whispered and then she'd started sobbing uncontrollably.
"Hermione?" She blinked as Ron's voice called her back to the present. She was about halfway up a staircase, Ron standing at the top of it. She looked up at him and he stared nervously back. "Are . . . are you going to visit Harry?" He asked, looking at the flowers in her hands. She nodded without a word. "Do you . . . do you mind if I come?" There was a long pause between them, Hermione seriously considering him and Ron shifting from one foot to the other nervously.
"No." She said finally as she finished climbing the stairs. "I could use the company." He gave her a small smile, and she could see the strain in it. "So how are you?" She asked after they'd walked in silence for a while.
"Not bad. Yourself?"
"I've been better." She said simply and they lapsed back into quiet. Ron cleared his throat a couple of times, but he couldn't seem to think of anything to say. "Do you . . . do you think Harry'll be awake when we get there?" She asked after casting around in her head for a topic. Ron shrugged.
"I don't know. He was pretty beaten up when Madam Pomfrey finally got to him. I heard her say it would probably be a while before he finally comes around." She nodded slightly as they reached the infirmary. Ron opened the door for her and she walked in. Madam Pomfrey looked up at them as they entered and Hermione saw that she'd been rubbing some sort of cream on Harry's face.
"It'll help bring him out of it." She said as she noticed Hermione looking and put the cap back on the little tube. She set it down on the table beside Harry's bed before bustling past them, leaving them alone. Hermione took her customary seat after changing the flowers and sat with a small sigh. It looked as though Harry hadn't moved at all. His jet-black hair contrasted sharply with the white pillow and made his face look even paler than it should've been. His cheeks held no color whatsoever and his lips were thin and ashen. Overall, his face had a drawn, sallow look about it and it made Hermione shake her head in sorrow. How could this have happened? What idiot had left his cauldron on the burner after Snape had specifically told them to take it off?
"Harry . . ." She murmured and brushed some stray strands from his eyes that remained shut. She touched his bandaged hand and was surprised to find how cold his fingers were. His skin felt like ice. "He looks dead." She whispered and felt Ron place a hand gently on her shoulder.
"He's been through worse before, Hermione. He'll survive." There was a croakiness to Ron's voice that made her keep her eyes on Harry. "He can't die. What would we do without him?" She snorted a little.
"Since when do you care what happens to him? After the things you said to him, I could've sworn you hated him." She said bitterly and gasped as Ron spun her chair around so she'd face him. He looked her directly in the eye and she gulped. They held a faint trace of tears.
"You know I could never hate him or you. Both of you are my best friends." She stared up at him. "I may have a bit of a temper, yes, and I may lose my head, but that doesn't mean you two stop being my friends. How do you think I feel right now? Especially since the last thing I said to him was an accusation . . ." He trailed off with a grimace. "I wanted to say I was sorry. Having Harry like this made me realize more than anything how . . . how foolish it is to hold grudges." Hermione felt utterly stunned.
"Who are you and what have you done with Ron Weasley?" She demanded and he laughed a little.
"I'm not that different, am I?" His smile faded after a moment and his expression turned serious once more. "I . . . I know it's over between us, Hermione, and frankly, part of me is rather relieved. I've known that we needed to call it quits for a long time and I'd felt it coming for a while, but I didn't know quite how to tell you." Hermione blinked.
"You mean . . . you wanted to break up?" Ron nodded slightly and she stared.
"Right after school started, I realized that you meant much more to me as a friend. I just couldn't stand fighting with you constantly; I knew we didn't mix. I just was too chicken to say anything. I was afraid I'd lose both you and your friendship." Hermione couldn't think of anything to say. "And then look what happened. I think the reason I lost it so badly is because . . . well, I was jealous. In that picture, you looked so very happy. And I knew you'd never worn that expression when you were with me."
"Ron, that's not true. I was happy with you." Ron's eyes searched her face and he shook his head.
"Not like that you weren't." She opened her mouth to protest, but he'd pressed a finger to her lips. "Look, I know you like him a lot. Dean and I used to joke about it, all through fifth year. We'd wondered how long you could stand Harry being so freaking oblivious." She looked at him crossly and he smiled. "Wondering why I asked you out then?"
"Well, yes!"
"I did it mostly because I couldn't stand the thought of you throwing yourself at someone who didn't even realize you liked him, but . . . I really did like you. I just came to the conclusion that I liked you better as a friend than as a girlfriend." She shook her head in wonder. "So can we go back to being friends? I really miss talking to you." She gave him a look.
"You don't miss my conversation as much as you miss my help on homework." She fought a smile as Ron did his best not to look guilty. "But yes, we can go back to being friends." He grinned and she laughed a little. "I suppose you've got a list, have you? Of all the assignments you need help on?"
"I'm not that desperate. I can manage quite well on my own, thank you." She cocked an eyebrow.
"I see you two are finally talking." A soft, croaky voice said and Hermione jumped. She spun to see Harry smiling at her slightly, his green eyes shining.
"Harry!" She practically yelled, her voice awash with relief and joy. She rushed forward and hugged him tightly, but jerked back as he cried out slightly. "Oh, I'm sorry! Are you all right? Do you still hurt?"
"I feel like I've been mowed down by about a million hippogriffs." He said wearily, his voice breaking every so often. It sounded rather dry and scratchy. "My entire body aches and I can barely move." His fingers twitched a little. "That's about all I feel up to doing." Hermione reached down and held his hand, his fingers curling around hers. "So is either of you going to explain what in the hell happened to me?" Ron had moved to sit on Harry's other side and Hermione reclaimed her chair.
"The cauldron exploded, throwing you into the wall and nearly killing you." He said and Harry grimaced.
"I could've told you that." He licked his lips. "Can I have something to drink? My throat feels like I've swallowed sand."
"You're only allowed water, Mr. Potter, and a Restorative potion." Hermione looked up to see Madam Pomfrey emerging from her office, a goblet and a rather large bottle in her hands. "Help him sit up, would you two? He needs to take some of this, and I doubt he can move without help." Hermione and Ron stood to do exactly what the nurse ordered. "You broke quite a few bones, Potter, including several ribs and the lower part of your spine. Thankfully Professor Snape got you up here in time, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to do anything."
"If I'd broken my spine, wouldn't I be paralyzed?" Harry asked, and Hermione noted a small tremor of fear in his voice. Madam Pomfrey gave a sharp laugh as Ron and she managed to get Harry upright.
"No, dear boy. Unlike most Muggle hospitals, I can mend any broken bone, including your spine. It just takes a lot of energy, mending bones. That's why you're so tired." Hermione frowned, but didn't voice her question. Wouldn't Madam Pomfrey be the one who was tired? But she didn't know enough about magical medicine to ask. "You're lucky nothing punctured your lungs; with the amount of power that explosion threw you against the wall, I am very surprised that every bone in your body wasn't broken. But you're the lucky one, aren't you? You always seem to be lucky, Potter." Harry watched her silently as she poured him a goblet full of the deep blue potion.
"Is that the Restorative potion?" Hermione asked curiously. She'd never seen them before; they were supposedly very difficult to make.
"It is indeed. Now drink it all, Potter, and don't you pull a stunt like you did with the Skele-gro. This is very rare, and I won't have you wasting it, no matter how horrible it tastes." She handed the goblet to Hermione. "Help him drink it, dear. I don't think he could lift a hand right now if he tried." Much to her surprise, he was able to, but it shook so much that he couldn't hold the goblet if he'd wanted to. Hermione thus gave him little sips of the potion until it was completely gone. "Now, you'll have fifteen minutes of visiting time before I come back. Potter needs his rest and he's not going to get it with you two here." And with that, she walked away briskly, her skirts swishing softly.
"Cheery, isn't she?" Ron said and Harry laughed. Well, it had started as a laugh, but had ended as a coughing fit. "Hey, watch it! We don't want you getting even more hurt." Harry gave him a look.
"I think you're lucky Hagrid is on that mission for Dumbledore, Harry. Knowing him, he'd storm up here and crush you to death with a hug." Harry laughed again, but it was slightly more cautious. Their conversation continued for the next fifteen minutes with light banter until finally Madam Pomfrey came back and ordered them out. Harry gave them a pleading look, but the shove Madam Pomfrey gave them was far more persuasive. Hermione and Ron didn't dare ask her for more time, but promised Harry that they'd be back as soon as possible.
"Hermione." She blinked at Ron, who'd stopped walking the moment they'd reached a fair distance from the infirmary. She gave him a questioning look and he smiled a little. "I'd like you to promise me something, all right?" He took a step closer to her and took her hand.
"It depends on what it is." She said cautiously and his hand squeezed hers gently.
"Promise me you'll go after Harry."
"WHAT?!" Ron winced at her shout. She frowned at him deeply and drew a few calming breaths. "What do you mean, go after him?"
"You two are meant for eachother, I can feel it. You compliment eachother, can't you tell?" Hermione gave him a puzzled look and he sighed slightly in exasperation. "Everybody can tell the two of you like eachother. All you would have to do is look at that picture to see that." Hermione felt her cheeks heat.
"Ron, you said it yourself. Why should I fling myself at someone who doesn't feel the same way? I'm sure Harry only thinks of me as a friend." She said and Ron gave her a scrutinizing look. "You can't possibly think that he likes me because of some picture. For all you know, he just could've been embarrassed." Ron sighed slightly and dropped her hand.
"All right already." He started to walk off, but stopped and turned back to her after a moment. "Well? Aren't you coming to dinner?"
*~*~*
Christmas morning dawned cold and bright. The morning sun danced across Harry's pillow, forcing him awake whether he liked it or not. He grumbled and rolled over onto his stomach before shoving his head beneath his pillow in an attempt to avoid the sunlight. However, all was in vain. He was awake and was therefore stuck that way. Muttering horrible things about the accursed sun, he pushed himself up rather shakily and flipped over so he sat upright in bed. He rubbed his eyes before groping around the small table to find his glasses. It had been two days since he'd first woken up and the only reason he had the strength to move at all was due to the Restorative potion Madam Pomfrey forced down his throat twice a day.
"I see you're finally awake." Came the curt voice of the school nurse as she walked briskly into the room. As Harry expected, she was carrying his morning dose of the potion. "And I see you're feeling stronger. Can you move everything all right?" She asked and Harry flexed his fingers and moved his arms around a bit. "You were able to sit up on your own this morning, which is a good sign. Still feeling thirsty?"
"Not really." He said as he watched her pour him a goblet-full of the potion. "But I am hungry. Would it be all right if I go down to breakfast this morning?" He asked hopefully, but Madam Pomfrey gave him a look that made his insides sink.
"I'll have them send up something. I do think you can handle solids, but I don't think you need to go down to the Great Hall to eat it." There was a note of finality to her voice that made Harry keep his mouth shut instead of trying to wheedle her into allowing him to go. "Here, take this. Let's see how you handle the goblet this morning." Harry took the goblet she passed him and was surprised at how heavy it felt. He would've dropped it if she hadn't clasped her hands around it.
"Looks like I'm still not strong enough." Harry said bitterly and Madam Pomfrey helped him take several sips of the potion. "Gah, that's horrible." He said after swallowing and made a face.
"No one asked you if you liked the flavor. Its sole purpose is to ensure you get well." She said tartly and he took a few more sips. "And I'm not at all surprised that you still can't hold it. Your body has been through quite an ordeal. Both an arm and a leg nearly shattered, three ribs barely existent, massive amounts of internal bleeding and a fair amount of external bleeding . . . you are very lucky to be alive." Harry grimaced.
"I know, I know. Kindly spare me the details, or I might lose what appetite I have." He muttered before managing to finish off the last of the potion. He coughed a few times after swallowing and shuddered. It was like being forced to down something that tasted like old gym socks and rotten sauerkraut twice a day. "But this stuff is doing a pretty good job . . ." He took the glass of water Madam Pomfrey handed him and forced himself to hold onto it. She gave him a look of approval after he swallowed the contents of the glass without spilling a drop.
"You keep healing at the rate you are now, Potter, and you'll be out of here in no time. But I am going to have to keep you here for a few more days." He made another face but didn't argue. "I know it's Christmas, so I might let you go to the feast tonight, but it depends on how you're doing. But you must stay the night here, Potter." She picked up the empty glass and goblet, and the potion vial before swishing back to her office. Harry collapsed back onto his pillows, slightly exhausted from the effort it took to remain upright.
If you can barely sit up right now, do you think she's going to let you go to the feast tonight? He thought somewhat angrily. He'd never tolerated weakness in himself and this whole situation was beginning to grate on his nerves. He hated having Madam Pomfrey help him sit up or help him drink something. His only comfort was that Malfloy wasn't here to see him. He'd never live it down then.
"Good morning, Harry!" He looked over at the entrance to the room and grinned. Hermione and Ron stood there, a pile of presents in their arms. He pushed himself up and leaned forward as they approached.
"You're looking so much better, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed as she set down the couple of presents she was carrying and gave him a hug. "Happy Christmas, by the way. These are from Hagrid and Sirius." She pointed to the presents she'd set down. "Ron is carrying the ones from Mrs. Weasley and us."
"Mum's made you another sweater. This makes the sixth one, doesn't it? Look, even Hermione's got one." Ron said as he set down the gifts. Hermione was wearing a deep blue sweater with a silver 'H' on it. "Oh, and a letter from Sirius arrived yesterday. Hedwig had to go straight up to the owlery though; she was exhausted from the journey." Harry nodded. "So how're you feeling? You look like you've finally got some color to you."
"Pomfrey says I'm healing quickly, but she wants me to stay here a couple of more days." He answered as he started opening his presents. Mrs. Weasley had indeed made him a sweater of fine green wool and she'd also sent him a rather large box of treacle fudge with a card wishing him a speedy recovery.
"A couple of more days? So that means you aren't allowed to come to the feast?" Ron asked, slightly stunned. Harry shrugged as he reached for Hagrid's present. Hagrid had also sent him a box of treacle fudge, but he'd also given him the strangest looking stick Harry had ever seen in his life. It was about the size of a wand with odd curly markings etched into swirling patterns on the surface.
"What is this?" He muttered, turning it over and over in his hands. He wasn't the least bit surprised when he noticed Hermione looking at it intently.
"Harry, that's . . . that's a taming stick." Harry and Ron stared at her, but she continued on in hushed voices. "Giants use them to tame wild creatures. Supposedly they're the only things that could control a dragon, but apparently all of them were supposed to be destroyed years and years ago."
"So why would Hagrid send this to me?" Harry asked and Hermione shrugged.
"I don't know. But you need to keep a close eye on that. Imagine if it got into the wrong hands . . . You-know-who could have a whole legion of dragons on his side at an instant." Harry and Ron shared a rather nervous look.
"How 'bout opening Sirius's present?" Ron said, nudging a package with his hand. Harry reached for it and tore it open to find a box containing all sorts of wizard candy from all over the world. A small note from Sirius told Harry that the moment he'd seen it, he'd thought of Harry and had had to get it for him. He smiled and glanced at Ron who was looking at some of the smaller boxes with curiosity.
"Wonder what a Canary Cream Puff is . . . think that sounds too much like a canary cream? Wonder if it turns you into a bird . . ." Harry grinned and reached for Ron's present. "By the way, I loved the book. Seamus would be livid with jealousy, Irish and English Quidditch Teams: Best of the Century. He'd just been saying how much he wanted it; wait till he finds out I've got it!"
"What if he's already got it? Then you're little gloating plan will fail, won't it."
"Do you always have to be such a spoil sport, Hermione?" She sniffed indignantly as Harry opened Ron's present. He blinked in surprise as he saw the label on the box: Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. It was a box chalk full of all sorts of joke things and Harry's jaw dropped.
"They actually managed to open it?" He said in disbelief and Ron nodded proudly.
"They said a lot of their stuff has practically flown of the shelves. They were rather amazed, but incredibly pleased. I don't think they expected to do that well, considering recent events and all." Ron and Harry grinned. "I don't think we should try anything in here though. I think Madam Pomfrey might flip."
"And then she'd kick both of you out." Harry said, reaching for Hermione's present. He opened it, and surprise, surprise, it was a book. He tried not to look too disappointed but couldn't help frowning when he noticed Hermione and Ron watching him intently.
"Well? Aren't you going to open it?" Hermione asked pointedly and he looked curiously from her to Ron, who nodded eagerly.
"All right already." He said and lifted the heavy, leather-bound cover of the book. Much to his amazement, it wasn't a book; it was a photo album. "Wow!" He whispered as he started flipping through the pages. They were pictures of his six years so far at Hogwarts, each carefully arranged chronologically. From every page, pictures of Hermione, Ron, and himself waved and grinned. "How . . . how did you do this?"
"It was easy, but it took a while. I made one for each of us so we'll all remember our years here. I'll finish this year and next year for you if you'd like." Harry nodded and Hermione smiled. "I'm glad you like it."
Hermione and Ron stayed all day, eating breakfast and lunch with him and talking to him about everything that had been going on in the castle during his hospital stay. They read Sirius's letter and Hermione helped Harry write another one to send back before promising to send it off as soon as possible. They were forced to leave for a little while so Harry could take a much-needed nap; he hadn't realized how draining it could be to talk with friends.
*~*~*
woo, here's the fourth chapter. Hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Please tell me what you think, and don't be afraid to pick my brain or something. I'll answer people's email questions in my next update, because for some reason, I can't send anything to people, but I can get stuff from them! Weird, huh?
Yours forever and ever:
pottergal