Harry didn't wake up for four days. And all that time Hermione stayed there, sitting by his bed, watching. On the third day, Dumbledore came to visit, and he sat down beside her. For a while he just stayed there, watching Hermione's profile in the clear sharp winter sunlight, the halo her hair created around her, the set, strong expression in the eyes.

Finally Dumbledore said,

"He dreamed of you?"

"He dreamed of me." Hermione said, not turning to look at him, but still watching Harry, her hands folded in her lap. "He dreamed of me and failed. Voldemort killed him."

"Pardon me my dear, but how do you know?"

"I walked in his dreams." Hermione said shortly, unapologetically.

"I see. I believe that spell is only to be found in the restricted section of the library." Dumbledore said mildly. Hermione turned to face him, and her face was unapologetic.

"I wasn't going to let him face that alone." she said simply.

"No, of course not."

They stayed silent for a little while longer, Hermione watching Harry again.

"When he wakes up.." Dumbledore finally started to stay.

"He will have to make a choice." Hermione finished. "me, or the will to face Voldemort."

"He believes his love for you to be a weakness." Dumbledore said, and a brief flash of warmth flashed through Hermione's face as he said love. "He is, of course, mistaken."

"But he won't choose me." Hermione said harshly. "He's destined to kill Voldemort, and he won't allow anything to stand in his way, not even me."

"He did not know he loved you." Dumbledore told her. "He is still too afraid of that to choose anything other than to send you away."

"But I always loved him." Hermione said, standing. "Enough to spare him having to tell me he can't love me to my face. When he tells you...tell him I already know." Dumbledore nodded. "But.." and Hermione's face was suddenly very young, very soft in the flickering candlelight. "if he does choose me....?"

"I will send him to you." Dumbledore promised. Hermione nodded. Than she bent over Harry, and kissed him gently on the lips.

"Even if you never speak to me again, even if you spend your entire life away from me, even if you never say you love me, I will never NEVER leave you alone." she straightened up, and nodding once at Dumbledore, she walked out of the infirmary and out of Harry's life.