Hi! The resolution is here. Get ready to cringe. Much pain is ahead for Hermione's rescuer. Big fistfight. Most of those who guessed got the name correct on the first try. But if you didn't guess, I'm not going to spoil it for you. :p H/H fluff at the end. Enjoy! Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything associated with it. ***** Counterpart Chapter 4-Rescue By KZerina "I said. Get. Off." The clone's eyes flicked to the corners of his eyes so he could look at his attacker. "Now you don't want to use that, do you?" he said. "You'll kill yourself, too." "That's something I'm willing to do if it comes to it." Hermione slowly opened her eyes. Above them, she saw Harry with his wand in his hand and the tip of it at the base of the clone's skull. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized he was back. "Fool. Kill yourself for another," mocked the clone. "Ah, the chivalry of the Gryffindor." Harry didn't reply. He only stood there with a furious stare to his intense green eyes. He was breathing deeply to calm himself. "There's only room for one Harry Potter in this school." "Yeah, the real one." In the blink of an eye, Harry slipped his wand into his Quidditch arm guard and punched the clone in the jaw, smacking his head into the couch. The clone was dazed as he rubbed his jaw. He obviously hadn't expected Harry to punch him. The clone leapt from the couch, pouncing at Harry, but by the time he decided this, Harry had acquired a fighting stance and threw the clone off course. Hermione bolted upright and saw the clone bash into the wall. After a grunt, the clone pounced once again at Harry and planted a swift sidekick in Harry's shoulder. Harry grabbed his shoulder trying to ease the pain, receiving another kick to his jaw. He grabbed the edge of the couch to regain his balance and leverage. The clone lunged and collided with Harry's outstretched foot, sending him flying backwards and landing hard. The clone stood up slowly, clutching his stomach. This time he was a little more cautious about Harry. He knew that even when he was at the disadvantage, Harry would not be easily brought to his knees. Another strategy was needed. He crouched and ran at Harry, ending with a flying sidekick. Harry crossed his wrists and held them in front of his body. When the clone's foot made contact, Harry separated his wrists, and the clone fell to the ground. Harry massaged his arms, but quickly brought his foot up to kick the clone in the face. The clone dodged and looked smug, not expecting Harry's heel to come back down and slam his shoulder to the ground. Harry then brought his other foot around in a hook kick to the clone's jaw, leaving a small gash with from the heel of his Quidditch boot. The clone jumped up and landed a roundhouse kick to Harry's ribs, surely cracking some. While Harry was stunned, the clone forced his fist to Harry's nose with a sickening crunch. Hermione gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. Tears streamed down her face as she helplessly observed the battle. Harry cupped his hand to his nose, blood flowing across his fingers. Pain shot through his skull, sending his ears ringing. Regaining some of his senses, he looked up and saw the clone's fist heading straight for the back of his neck where if it hit, would knock him out cold instantly, but, catching it in time, Harry flung his hand up to block it, inadvertently spraying blood into the clone's face. The clone was distracted. Harry dropped to the floor and slid a sweeping kick beneath the clone's feet, causing him to fall sideways to the ground with a thud. The clone, obviously angered, lunged and pinned Harry to the ground with his arms clasped to his sides by the clone's knees. Harry struggled, but he couldn't wriggle himself free as the clone began continually punched him in the face. Harry cringed with each blow, trying to think of a way to buy himself some more time to get away, coming up with a blank. Blow after blow and nothing came until only one thing might work. He pinched the clone on the thigh. The clone growled and pulled back for a heavy punch between the eyes. Harry clenched his eyes tight in anticipation of the hit. "Clonus Kedavra!" Harry looked up, and the clone disintegrated, all except Harry's robe and slippers. The robe fell onto Harry's face, causing him to sneeze through his bloody broken nose. He clutched it as an excruciating pain lingered there. He pushed the robe off his face with his free hand. He felt a sudden weight on his stomach and cocked a fist back, ready to strike before realizing it was only Hermione. He whimpered, knowing he could in front of her without feeling like a complete wimp. "Hermione, could you get off, please?" Harry wheezed through a clenched jaw and barely moving lips. "I'm pretty sure some of my ribs are cracked." He felt her move immediately, but heard nothing. Harry opened one eye to look at her. She seemed apologetic, but she made no sound. "What's wrong? Did he silence you?" Hermione nodded slowly. "Silencio?" Another nod. Harry reached into his arm guard and pulled out his wand, groaning in disgust as he got blood all over the handle. He pointed it at Hermione's throat and muttered the counter spell before groaning in pain once more. "I'm so sorry, Harry. I didn't mean to hurt you, really." Harry didn't reply with anything but a groan of acknowledgement, making Hermione notice that he was more beat up and battered than he looked. "We need to get you to the Hospital Wing, Harry." Harry groaned again and cringed as he breathed. Hermione took his hand and tried to make him sit up, but he groaned and pulled his hand back to him. Hermione urged him gently, gaining only more grumbles. "She's right, Harry," Professor Dumbledore said suddenly after being silent throughout the rest of it. "You are terribly injured and need healing. Come on, Harry. Let us go." His voice was gentle, yet firm as though he were ordering Harry to get up. No matter how much he wanted to stay lying on the floor, he couldn't disobey Dumbledore. Slowly but surely, Harry began sitting up and with the aid of Hermione and Dumbledore, he was soon standing. With a friend under each shoulder, they began walking toward the portrait hole. "Wait, wait," Harry said, using Hermione's shoulder to balance all of his weight to both of his own feet. He unlaced the front of his Quidditch robes and swung them over Hermione's bare shoulders and handing her the lace with which to string it back up. Dumbledore, realizing what Harry was doing, gathered Hermione's blouse and school robes and brought them along to the Hospital Wing. On the way, Filch was heard grumbling about not being able to catch "Potter or his little girl friend." The company probably would have found it quite amusing had they not had more important things on their minds. Upon arrival, the Headmaster woke Madam Pomfrey while Harry's support rested on Hermione. Madam Pomfrey hobbled out, still drowsy, saw Harry and nearly had a heart attack. "Oh, my goodness! Harry, what did you do!? Just lie down over there on that bed, on your back mind," she ordered, running to retrieve various ointments, balms, potions, and healing liquids. Hermione helped Harry stagger over to the bed where he painfully eased himself down onto it. Hermione swung his legs up and supported his back as he reclined. She brushed a strand of his messy hair off of his forehead and gently stroked his forehead with one finger. Harry once looked up at her finger and made no sound as he painfully breathed. To Harry, her gentle touch was very comforting. It helped him relax, and, in a way, it took away some of the pain he felt because he knew she would be right there beside him. "Can you sit up, dear? We need to get these shirts off you." Madam Pomfrey had returned with numerous bottles for healing. Hermione slipped off his glasses and arm gear and put them on the bedside table. Madam Pomfrey and Hermione somehow managed to remove his Quidditch jumper and the shirt he wore underneath off his mostly limp body and laid him gently back onto the bed. "My goodness, Harry! What did you do to yourself?" gasped Madam Pomfrey, laying eyes upon Harry's starved and broken state. "You're a bag of broken bones!" Hermione cried. "You think I didn't notice?" he cringed in reply. Harry held his breath as the nurse examined each of his injuries, pain shooting through each bone, bruise, and cut she touched. Hermione held his hand through the whole thing. Madam Pomfrey first healed his ribs so he could breathe painlessly, as long as he did so through his mouth. Then she healed his nose so he could breathe more comfortably. Finally, she tended to his black eyes and other facial and bodily bruises, reducing the swelling first, then making them disappear altogether. It was a great relief to Harry. The pain was gone and he could sleep in peace, knowing he wasn't going to be murdered in the middle of the night or poisoned at breakfast the next morning. He was also lucky to have people around him who cared about him as much as they did. He wasn't sure he'd survive without them. "Now you need to sit up and eat something. Shoes need to come off, too." Harry groaned. He was very tired and wanted to sleep, not eat something. Luckily, Hermione was there. She helped him sit up and removed his boots, too, though Harry protested that it wasn't necessary since they'd been on his feet for two weeks straight. She didn't seem to care. She asked him if she could borrow his wand and used some sort of charm on his feet. Madam Pomfrey returned with a tray of soft foods. Harry, even though his was hungry, didn't feel much like eating. He was very tired and wanted to sleep. "Eat! You need to get some food in your system, or your body won't accept it later." Harry sighed and slouched even more than he already was. He ached all over and only wanted rest. Hermione sat on the edge of his bed and caressed his cheek lightly. She took a spoonful of soup and put it to his lips. This is what he had been brought down to, being fed like a baby, but then, it wasn't so bad. It was only Hermione, Dumbledore, and Madam Pomfrey. None of them were going to make fun of him. He gratefully accepted the spoonful and eventually ate the whole bowl at Hermione's hand. Hermione smiled at him and took the tray to Madam Pomfrey. When she returned, she handed him a pair of pajamas and allowed him to change into them before helping him settle down to sleep. Hermione changed and climbed into bed as Professor Dumbledore left, and Madam Pomfrey went to bed. Just as she was getting comfortable, the events of the whole night came crashing down on her. The clone, the rape attempt, the heart-wrenching battle, and the pain it caused Harry. She couldn't help it. Tears rolled down her cheeks, silently at first, but then she started hyperventilating. Her nose clogged, and she sniffed. "You all right?" Hermione caught her breath. Harry waited a while, never receiving an answer. "You okay?" he repeated. Hermione sniffed and shifted in her bed. Harry wasn't supposed to hear her. "Do you want to talk about it?" "Mm-mm," she squeaked, shaking her head. "You're just going to lie over there and cry about it?" "Mm-hm," was her answer. Harry sat up, his muscles screaming. He grunted quietly. His gaze moved to Hermione's still form. "You want to come over here and cry about it?" Hermione gasped. She turned her head slightly to see Harry with her peripheral vision. "Do you mean it?" "Yeah. Why wouldn't I?" Hermione turned all the way over and looked at Harry whose face showed much concern. She slowly raised herself and walked over to Harry's bed. She put her arms around his shoulders, and he placed his around her waist. "Here." Harry shifted over, giving Hermione room to lie down on the bed next to him. Both lay back on the bed, and Hermione curled up against him, her head on his shoulder. Tears fell there, and Harry was much more comforting than the pillow. He kept his arm around her even after he'd fallen asleep. She smiled and snuggled in closer. She fell asleep soon after. ***** So, that was painful, sappy, and cute. It's not quite the end. I have a resolution chapter to write. I'm sorry. It might not get out for a while since I have some big art projects and exams coming up, so apologize ahead of time. Notes to my reviewers: Scholcomp1: Interesting is always good. Glad you liked. Coconut-ice agent h/h: I'm sorry. I know people don't like cliffhangers. I don't either, but it's fun to see the reactions of the reviewers sometimes. And again, I have much randomness in my life so I follow you pretty well. :) Harry and Hermione's Daughter: So, did you like this chapter? H/H! Yay! XT-Zealot: I'm glad the clone is someone my readers love to kill. That was the point. Moonlight: Right on the second try. I got this out as soon as I could. I had to make the fight scene realistic (like using a move that would knock someone out and then have him keep fighting. That would be stupid.) I'll email you when I update or get another story up if you want. And for anyone else who reads this I'll do the same for you too if you have an e-mail address. Fire bolt 4.5: Will do! Nymoue: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be cruel! Centra-gal86: Harry punched him! After he said it, but he did punch him. Thanks for the wonderful usage of the word "awesome." Great booster! Jedi Hermione: Harry is back! Hope you liked this chapter! And I apologize again. Thanks. KZerina