First off, I'd like to apologize to all you patient people out there for
the lateness of this update – real life has been catching up with me
lately, and on top of not having much time to write, I had a difficult time
with this chapter for some reason. But to especially one reviewer who
offered a kind comment and a criticism, but left no name I say: I have a
life. My real life is more important than my fan fiction. I'm sorry, but
it's true. I have updated and will continue to update on my own schedule –
when I can.
Now, I'm very sorry that I cannot give you guys a new chapter everyday, but some of you out there – especially those fanfic (and other) authors should agree that sometimes real life gets in the way of what you really want to do. And I am more committed to actually putting out a quality piece of work than rushing to post just anything so that people will not get mad at me.
Thank you all for the kind reviews on the last parts. Now, read on!
Previously in Summer of Our Discontent: Harry and Hermione left the Grangers' home after hearing some shocking news about Harry's parents' lives and their own futures. Along with Prof McGonagall, our friends left London on the Hogwarts Express and have just arrived outside the castle doors.
**************
Part 7: Desperation
**************
Madame Pomfrey had been the one to meet them in the stone foyer. After one look at the two teens, she pronounced them head-sick and insisted Harry and Hermione follow her to the Infirmary. Both were too tired to argue with the witch.
The lanterns in the room had been dimmed and the curtains closed, creating a room dark enough for peaceful sleep. Once settled on the slightly less than comfortable cot, Hermione had downed the sleeping draught which Pomfrey had insisted they take, and dropped off to sleep within a few minutes. Harry had sipped his own, but yet remained awake, fighting off the effects of the potion. He lay on his side, facing the other bed in which his love lay, watching over Hermione as she slept.
'I have to protect her.'
"Harry?" In his stupor, he'd not noticed the soft footsteps approaching. He blinked a few times but kept his eyes on the next bed as Madame Pomfrey sat at his side. "You're not asleep."
"No," he whispered back.
"You need to sleep."
'I can only protect her if I'm awake.'
The older witch went on, as if hearing his thoughts. "You'll be no good to Hermione, dead-tired. You'll be no good to yourself, either."
He couldn't force himself to look away from his love, her face oddly peaceful in sleep. The soft lights in the room added curves and shadows to her profile, giving Hermione a delightfully youthful appearance. 'I disagree.'
"Harry, Professor Dumbledore has told me the circumstances surrounding your arrival here. You know for a fact that Hogwarts is the most safe place to be in all of England, perhaps all the wizarding world." She places a healing hand on his arm. "Nothing shall hurt her in her sleep, Harry Potter. You rest, and I'll make sure of that."
She began singing then, a type of lullaby he couldn't remember ever hearing. Its simple words worked their magic on him and he dropped off quick enough, joining Hermione in slumber. Pomfrey watched them both for a while, smiling down serenely at her two patients as she quietly sang the end of the song to herself. She knew that for these two, there would be little time for healing, as their pains would become more and more.
*************************
Hermione woke up in the dim room hours later. She had slept peacefully and awoke refreshed and awake, but a nagging thought rose in the seconds before consciousness.
"Snape *Apparated* back to Hogwarts?" She frowned mightily and thought back to the previous day. They'd come back from the city on the bus, McGonagall had told them about the prophecy and Hermione had run upstairs…she and Harry went downstairs… Her train of thought broke then as she looked around hurriedly for Harry. She found him still asleep in the next bed, facing her. He looked just as if he'd fallen asleep watching her.
Hermione got up from her own bed and gingerly sat down next to Harry, just as he'd done to comfort her. Reaching out a hand, she gently traced a finger down the side of his face, smoothing away the worry wrinkles. She brushed back his bangs from the scar on his forehead and rested the hand there, thinking of the last things her father had reminded her of.
**"Remember our deal, bit," he'd said. "You two have to take care of each other. When he's ready to tell you everything, he will. You just have to be there when he does, and support him until that day comes. Take care of him as he has promised to take care of you."**
Harry stirred but didn't wake and Hermione didn't dare push him. She wouldn't think of waking him so soon after he finally let himself sleep peacefully. Hermione had placed a light kiss on his forehead and risen to her feet when the voice came from behind her.
"Be you hungry, child?"
Hermione turned to smile at Madame Pomfrey. "Perhaps a little."
**************************************
Harry awoke to the sound of Hermione's laughter. He smiled at the light, tinkling sound and rose out of the bed, feeling refreshed as anything. Finding a basin of water next to him, he drew some liquid onto his face and washed quickly.
Hermione only saw him when he'd reached the door to Madame Pomfrey's office, where they sat. She turned towards him, giggling helplessly, her face streaked with tears. Harry couldn't resist grinning back. 'She needs to laugh.' When she rose to hug him, Harry squeezed her tightly and looked to the witch-nurse over her shoulder. She winked and smiled back.
"I think you two ought to be getting down to the Hall for your supper now. Professor Dumbledore will want to have a word with you."
*******
Hermione was still grinning broadly during their walk through the corridors. Harry couldn't help but ask the cause of her good mood.
"She was just telling me some healing stories from 'way back when', as she said it, Harry. You wouldn't believe some of the scrapes certain people got into…" She trailed off and giggled again.
Hermione certainly had Harry's curiosity spiked with that one. "Certain people…who?" he asked.
She shook her head, smiling. "I can't tell you, love. Sorry, but she swore me to secrecy." When Hermione turned her head to the side for just a moment, Harry attacked her sides with his fingers. This motion only increased her laughter. Harry found his own mood improving as she jokingly twisted to get away from him, leading him in a chase down the stone corridor.
"Please, Harry, let up," she gasped, leaning on the wall at one point. "I can't hardly breath!" She smiled still, though, and Harry knew she wasn't really angered.
Hermione was still trying to rest her heart when her love approached. Harry took her in his armed and smiled down.
"I wish I could make you laugh more often."
Hermione frowned. "I wish I could make you sleep better, as well as laugh more often."
Harry grinned inwardly at her mock fury as he rocked Hermione back and forth in his arms. She instantly relaxed into the gentle swaying. All at once he found his nose buried in the bundle of hair at her neck.
"Are you okay?" Hermione inquired softly.
"Yeah." Harry's voice was still muffled by her neck.
She held him tighter in her arms and ran her hand slowly through the hair at the nape of his neck.
"Miney. We're safe here at Hogwarts. You know that, right?"
"I do, Harry. Do you?"
He pulled back slightly and smiled sadly. "We'd better go down. Dumbledore's expecting us."
He caught her hand again and tightly laced their fingers together as they continued through the corridors and down to the Great Hall.
"Hey – is it just me, or do you also feel a tad underdressed for the school corridors?"
Harry's laugh echoed against the stone walls. Whatever they faced, whatever they were asked to do, they would do it together. Their future and that of everyone they knew – all were depending on it.
**************************************************************************** ********
Coming Soon: Things pick up in "Confrontations"…and we're finally going somewhere : )
Now, I'm very sorry that I cannot give you guys a new chapter everyday, but some of you out there – especially those fanfic (and other) authors should agree that sometimes real life gets in the way of what you really want to do. And I am more committed to actually putting out a quality piece of work than rushing to post just anything so that people will not get mad at me.
Thank you all for the kind reviews on the last parts. Now, read on!
Previously in Summer of Our Discontent: Harry and Hermione left the Grangers' home after hearing some shocking news about Harry's parents' lives and their own futures. Along with Prof McGonagall, our friends left London on the Hogwarts Express and have just arrived outside the castle doors.
**************
Part 7: Desperation
**************
Madame Pomfrey had been the one to meet them in the stone foyer. After one look at the two teens, she pronounced them head-sick and insisted Harry and Hermione follow her to the Infirmary. Both were too tired to argue with the witch.
The lanterns in the room had been dimmed and the curtains closed, creating a room dark enough for peaceful sleep. Once settled on the slightly less than comfortable cot, Hermione had downed the sleeping draught which Pomfrey had insisted they take, and dropped off to sleep within a few minutes. Harry had sipped his own, but yet remained awake, fighting off the effects of the potion. He lay on his side, facing the other bed in which his love lay, watching over Hermione as she slept.
'I have to protect her.'
"Harry?" In his stupor, he'd not noticed the soft footsteps approaching. He blinked a few times but kept his eyes on the next bed as Madame Pomfrey sat at his side. "You're not asleep."
"No," he whispered back.
"You need to sleep."
'I can only protect her if I'm awake.'
The older witch went on, as if hearing his thoughts. "You'll be no good to Hermione, dead-tired. You'll be no good to yourself, either."
He couldn't force himself to look away from his love, her face oddly peaceful in sleep. The soft lights in the room added curves and shadows to her profile, giving Hermione a delightfully youthful appearance. 'I disagree.'
"Harry, Professor Dumbledore has told me the circumstances surrounding your arrival here. You know for a fact that Hogwarts is the most safe place to be in all of England, perhaps all the wizarding world." She places a healing hand on his arm. "Nothing shall hurt her in her sleep, Harry Potter. You rest, and I'll make sure of that."
She began singing then, a type of lullaby he couldn't remember ever hearing. Its simple words worked their magic on him and he dropped off quick enough, joining Hermione in slumber. Pomfrey watched them both for a while, smiling down serenely at her two patients as she quietly sang the end of the song to herself. She knew that for these two, there would be little time for healing, as their pains would become more and more.
*************************
Hermione woke up in the dim room hours later. She had slept peacefully and awoke refreshed and awake, but a nagging thought rose in the seconds before consciousness.
"Snape *Apparated* back to Hogwarts?" She frowned mightily and thought back to the previous day. They'd come back from the city on the bus, McGonagall had told them about the prophecy and Hermione had run upstairs…she and Harry went downstairs… Her train of thought broke then as she looked around hurriedly for Harry. She found him still asleep in the next bed, facing her. He looked just as if he'd fallen asleep watching her.
Hermione got up from her own bed and gingerly sat down next to Harry, just as he'd done to comfort her. Reaching out a hand, she gently traced a finger down the side of his face, smoothing away the worry wrinkles. She brushed back his bangs from the scar on his forehead and rested the hand there, thinking of the last things her father had reminded her of.
**"Remember our deal, bit," he'd said. "You two have to take care of each other. When he's ready to tell you everything, he will. You just have to be there when he does, and support him until that day comes. Take care of him as he has promised to take care of you."**
Harry stirred but didn't wake and Hermione didn't dare push him. She wouldn't think of waking him so soon after he finally let himself sleep peacefully. Hermione had placed a light kiss on his forehead and risen to her feet when the voice came from behind her.
"Be you hungry, child?"
Hermione turned to smile at Madame Pomfrey. "Perhaps a little."
**************************************
Harry awoke to the sound of Hermione's laughter. He smiled at the light, tinkling sound and rose out of the bed, feeling refreshed as anything. Finding a basin of water next to him, he drew some liquid onto his face and washed quickly.
Hermione only saw him when he'd reached the door to Madame Pomfrey's office, where they sat. She turned towards him, giggling helplessly, her face streaked with tears. Harry couldn't resist grinning back. 'She needs to laugh.' When she rose to hug him, Harry squeezed her tightly and looked to the witch-nurse over her shoulder. She winked and smiled back.
"I think you two ought to be getting down to the Hall for your supper now. Professor Dumbledore will want to have a word with you."
*******
Hermione was still grinning broadly during their walk through the corridors. Harry couldn't help but ask the cause of her good mood.
"She was just telling me some healing stories from 'way back when', as she said it, Harry. You wouldn't believe some of the scrapes certain people got into…" She trailed off and giggled again.
Hermione certainly had Harry's curiosity spiked with that one. "Certain people…who?" he asked.
She shook her head, smiling. "I can't tell you, love. Sorry, but she swore me to secrecy." When Hermione turned her head to the side for just a moment, Harry attacked her sides with his fingers. This motion only increased her laughter. Harry found his own mood improving as she jokingly twisted to get away from him, leading him in a chase down the stone corridor.
"Please, Harry, let up," she gasped, leaning on the wall at one point. "I can't hardly breath!" She smiled still, though, and Harry knew she wasn't really angered.
Hermione was still trying to rest her heart when her love approached. Harry took her in his armed and smiled down.
"I wish I could make you laugh more often."
Hermione frowned. "I wish I could make you sleep better, as well as laugh more often."
Harry grinned inwardly at her mock fury as he rocked Hermione back and forth in his arms. She instantly relaxed into the gentle swaying. All at once he found his nose buried in the bundle of hair at her neck.
"Are you okay?" Hermione inquired softly.
"Yeah." Harry's voice was still muffled by her neck.
She held him tighter in her arms and ran her hand slowly through the hair at the nape of his neck.
"Miney. We're safe here at Hogwarts. You know that, right?"
"I do, Harry. Do you?"
He pulled back slightly and smiled sadly. "We'd better go down. Dumbledore's expecting us."
He caught her hand again and tightly laced their fingers together as they continued through the corridors and down to the Great Hall.
"Hey – is it just me, or do you also feel a tad underdressed for the school corridors?"
Harry's laugh echoed against the stone walls. Whatever they faced, whatever they were asked to do, they would do it together. Their future and that of everyone they knew – all were depending on it.
**************************************************************************** ********
Coming Soon: Things pick up in "Confrontations"…and we're finally going somewhere : )