Chapter 46

The majority of November slipped by with Hermione having more fun than she ever imagined substituting for Harry's first through third-year classes. Harry was more than thrilled at his Enchantment sessions coming to a close in less than a week and Snape seemed to be more close lipped than his usual self. All in all, Harry was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

They had gone almost an entire month without out anything noteworthy happening.

Draco Black as he came to be know after the official papers had gone through Ministry approval granting him his mother's maiden name, had only visited his mother once and had sent Harry another note for a visit this coming weekend. He could actually think of something better to do than drop Draco off at the Potter Estate, but he had agreed, and the cease fire between Slytherin and Gryffindor had only been upped again at the first Quidditch match of the season. That was only natural, and to be expected. So Harry consented.

"Mind wandering again, Potter?"

Harry shook his head. "No, sir, Mr. Blane."

"Only two more days to go, Potter. Please do me the courtesy of paying attention."

The doors to the Great Hall burst open. "Professor Potter, come quick!"

Harry was almost relieved. "Sorry Mr. Blane. Duty calls!"

He ran off following the third-year out of the front doors to the castle.

"What the matter? What happened?"

The Hufflepuff turned his head around as he was running. "It's Professor Hagrid. He's taken ill. Fell right over onto three of the students."

Harry quickened his pace. He hadn't known Hagrid to be sick a day in his life and also known the man had a constitution of a bull. Even last year's encounters with his Giant brother, where he suffered numerous wounds, didn't slow him down for long.

"Get him off of me!" yelled one of the students.

There he was, outside of stables where Buckbeak was once again the subject lesson for third-years. Harry closed in and noticed that the other students had pulled two of the children free and now only one was properly trapped under the great bulk of Hagrid.

"Everyone stand back." He looked over at the two biggest students. "Hardgrave, Beaks, grab Portman's arms and be ready to pull when I cast the charm. I don't know if it will even work on Hagrid."

Some of the students looked at Harry like he was going to perform some great magic when he brought out his wand.

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

Hagrid, being half-Giant had a natural resistance against magic. It rode on Harry's mind as he cast his spell.

"I can feel him getting lighter, pull!" yelled Portman.

Harry could feel the resistance against his wand as if it suddenly weighed ten pounds. Hardgrave and Beaks pulled Portman free and clear

"Now everyone on this side and turn him over. Quickly, I don't know how long I can hold him."

Most of the third-year class gave a great shove and, turned Hagrid over on his back, and Harry released the charm with a sudden gasp for air.

"What happened?" he panted.

One of the Ravenclaw girls he remembered as Rebecca Fortain stepped up, "We don't know, sir. One minute he was telling us about the feeding habits of Hippogriffs and the next he was smothering Portman."

"Fortain, go get Madame Pomfrey. Hardgrave, alert one of the other professors and tell them I need the Headmaster immediately."

He knelt down and watched Hagrid chest rise and fall then he patted him lightly on the face. "Hagrid?"

"Stand back, Harry."

He rose and saw Dumbledore moving rather quickly considering his age.

"I saw him fall from my window."

That explained how he got down here so quickly. Dumbledore checked his eyes and his mouth then his elbow for some reason and then the tips of his fingers. He stood and seemed satisfied that nothing major was wrong.

"You'll have to help me Harry. With Hagrid's resistance to magic it will take both of us to lift him onto the gurney."

Harry was about to ask what gurney, but held back when Dumbledore conjured on out of thin air.

"Together now."

"Wingardium Leviosa!" said Harry. Dumbledore just waved his wand.

The heavy bulk of Hagrid rose slowly into the air and onto the gurney.

"Mr. Beaks would you be so good as to accompany Professor Hagrid to the hospital wing?" asked the headmaster.

The gurney took off by itself with Beaks beside it.

"I'm sure he will be fine."

Harry wasn't so sure about Dumbledore's diagnosis, but he knew Madame Pomfrey was very good at her job and tried to push it to the back of his mind.

The headmaster dismissed the class to their common rooms until the start of next class and walked along with Harry to the front steps of the castle.

"Have you and Hermione decided when she will try on the ring?"

Harry and she were both reluctant to jump into putting on Cuperious.

"We talk about it but ..."

"Are frightened of the results?" finished Dumbledore .

Harry nodded.

The headmaster stopped in front of the Castle and set his hand on Harry's shoulder. "You both will come to my office after studies tonight. Bring along the ring, and we will end your fear once and for all."

"Sir?'

"Tonight is the night, Harry. You must face your fear or it will rule you. I believe it was one of your first Defense lessons at the beginning of this term."

Harry nodded and tried to push back his shoulders to show the professor that he was up to the task. "Yes, sir."

**********************

"Classes going okay?" he asked Hermione before digging into his lunch.

She nodded. "It'll be a shame to give it up next week."

"Bet you won't mind getting back to teaching, though. Can't be good for the appetite taking lessons from a zombie," said Ron. "Bits and pieces falling all over. Blech!"

Hermione rolled up her eyes. "The charm he performed has made his rotting cease. I don't know how many times I've told you, Ron."

Ron nodded, but was still put off his lunch. "Any word on Hagrid?"

Harry shook his head. "I stopped by before I came down here and Madame Pomfrey wouldn't even let me in. Said to come back tonight once he's had time to rest."

"They haven't any idea why he collapsed?" said Hermione worryingly.

"Something about malnutrition. Said he hasn't been eating right."

Hermione looked off, past Ron and said, "I suppose I could make him a vitamin and mineral draft and make sure he drinks it daily."

Ron blew a snort. "Hagrid, not eating right? He's all bulk!"

Harry shrugged off Ron's comment. "We're supposed to have a meeting with Dumbledore after lessons tonight," said Harry.

Hermione looked up from her re-checking her Arithmancy homework. "What about?"

"The ring."

She looked suddenly sick. "T -- t -- tonight?"

Harry nodded. "I'll go by, pick it up and meet you there."

She just nodded and let her head down, looking in deep thought.

*******************

Harry's double seventh-year classes went remarkably quick that afternoon and Charms lessons with Professor Flitwick, even quicker. So it was with some surprise that he was moving excruciatingly slow on his way to pick up the ring from the desk in his study.

First-years past him on the way to dinner with greetings in the halls with their expressions of anticipation at him returning to class on Monday. He just smiled in return and kept on until he reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Something on your mind, dear?"

Shaking his head, Harry looked up at the portrait, and muttered the password.

He eventually stepped through to the study after acknowledging the Thin Lady and found Hermione sitting at her desk staring at the ring, inches in front of her.

"Hermione?"

Her eyes never broke away. "It's very beautiful, Harry. Isn't it?"

He stepped forward and knelt by the desk crossing his arms and assumed the mirror of his fiancé.

"What'cha thinking about?"

She smiled slightly, still not taking her eyes off the ring. "You."

Harry nodded. "Ah, a subject I'm quite familiar with. Go on, ask me anything."

She finally closed her eyes, taking a break from her staring. "What if it doesn't work?"

He sighed softly. "It will work."

She squeezed her eyes tightly shut. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because -- I am. Because I made the ring and I know I'm a better Enchanter than Phineas." He reached out and laid his hand on her clenched fist. "Because I love you."

Hermione relaxed and opened her eyes. They were brimming with unshed tears. "I love you too, Harry."

It hurt him inside to see her like this, uncertain and afraid. "I promise you that we will go to Dumbledore's office I will put the ring on your finger and the other will be destroyed. Then in less than a month we will be married, graduate, destroy Voldemort, kick Malfoy out of the house, have several children and live happily ever after."

Her hand relaxed and took his gingerly. "His name is Black, now."

Harry shrugged. "He'll always be Malfoy to me."

Hermione laughed as the tears started streaming down her face. She sniffed and wiped her face with her mysterious apparating tissue trick.

"And who says we are to have several children?"

Harry shrugged and stood, taking her with him. "I was thinking about eight or so."

He picked up the ring off the desk and slid it into his shirt pocket.

"Eight! Not in my lifetime!"

Harry took her hand. "Okay, I'm willing to compromise. Seven?"