Chapter 5 - Close Calls and Hard Decisions
Hermione emerged from the room slowly and Harry was waiting for her. She started when she saw him and immediately her face burned with embarrassment.
"Have you been here this whole time?" She asked chagrined.
"Yeah," mumbled Harry.
"Were you listening?" Hermione half shouted.
Harry didn't answer. He looked and felt decidedly uncomfortable.
Hermione stared back and a feeling of horror filled her. She pushed passed him and shouted, "Snape doesn't know what he's talking about."
"Hermione, wait," called Harry. He started down the hall after her, but stopped when Dumbledore and Lupin appeared.
"Harry," began Lupin. "We need to speak with you."
"Can it wait," asked Harry impatiently.
"I'm afraid not," said Dumbledore.
Harry sighed deeply, not caring if they saw how impatient he was.
"Why don't we come in here," said Lupin holding open a door for Harry. Harry entered the room and turned to face Dumbledore and Lupin. "Sit down, Harry," said Lupin.
Harry crossed his arms and remained standing defiantly. Lupin gave Dumbledore a sidelong glance.
"What's going on," asked Harry curtly.
Dumbledore sat slowly and Lupin followed his example pulling up a chair beside him. "We wanted to speak with you about Hermione." Said Dumbledore.
Some of the impatience that had been coursing through Harry ebbed away and he regarded them both curiously. "What about Hermione."
"You know what about," said Lupin.
Harry clenched his jaw, "I'm afraid you're going to have to fill me in."
"Harry," said Lupin impatiently. "This is hard enough without you being difficult."
"Harry, Remus, please." Said Dumbledore. "Unfortunately, we don't have time for this back and forth. We need to make some decisions right now."
"What do you mean? What kind of decisions?" Asked Harry.
"Professor Snape believes that Hermione should be removed from Grimmault Place while she undergoes Occlumency lessons."
"You mean removed from me," said Harry bitterly. "I heard what he told her." Harry realized he was admitting to eavesdropping on Snape and Hermione, but he suddenly didn't care. "He told her that Voldemort chose her to get to me." Harry looked around desperately wanting either of them to refute this. When they didn't he continued angrily. "Why didn't he tell her that when he was talking to her. He never said anything about her leaving."
"I asked him not to," said Dumbledore simply. "If I know anything about Miss Granger, it's that she is loyal to you above all else."
Harry," began Lupin. "It will have to be your decision. Hermione won't leave unless she thinks it's what you want."
"Where would she go?" He asked clearly not convinced.
Dumbledore shook his head. "We wouldn't tell you, for both your protections."
"Besides Snape, who would be with her?"
Lupin looked at Dumbledore uneasily. "No one. She would be under Professor Snape's protection alone."
Harry's eyes widened. "Forget it. There's no way, I'll tell her to go with him." He looked at Lupin. "How could you even suggest that to me." His voice expressed all the betrayal he felt. "If she and I have to be separated, then she'll stay here. I'll go back to Hogwarts."
"That's not possible," said Dumbledore. "You can't go back to Hogwarts now."
"Then we're both staying. I don't trust Snape."
"Harry, you're being unreasonable," said Lupin.
"How can you say that, Professor, after everything he did to you. Would you really trust that he would protect Hermione?"
"Harry," began Dumbledore.
"No, I won't," he said cutting him off. He started to leave, but turned when he got to the door. "I would die for Hermione. I won't ask her to go with anyone who wouldn't be willing to do the same."
Harry left the room determinedly. He had no intention of following any advice of Snape's. They had told him that it was his decision to make and right now he couldn't see himself just abandoning Hermione. Not when she was vulnerable. He knew he would never forgive himself if he did and something happened to her.
As he approached the staircase that led to the first floor he spotted her. She was clutching the banister with one hand and her head with the other.
"Hermione," he called out softly. "Are you ok?"
She lifted her head suddenly and her eyes were wide with fear. "You stay away from me."
Harry looked around confused and took a step closer. Hermione whipped out her wand and pointed it at his chest. "I said stay away from me."
Harry froze. The two of them stared at each other neither moving. "Hermione," he tried again. "It's me. It's Harry." He held out his wand- less hands in front of him and inched toward her. "It's ok."
Hermione took a sudden step back, but she was on the edge of the staircase and her foot only met air. For a brief horrifying second she threw her arms out trying to grab anything to steady herself, but there was nothing there.
Harry yelled her name and rushed forward, but with a terrified scream she fell backwards down the stairs. Before she had hit the bottom, Harry was already leaping down after her.
At the base of the staircase she lay motionless and Harry knelt over her still body and cradled her head in his lap. "Help," he called. "Somebody help me!"
From downstairs, leftover members of the Order came rushing toward him as Dumbledore and Lupin came practically flying from above. In seconds, Hermione was lifted onto a magically created stretcher and floated to an empty room. Harry tried to follow her in, but Lupin caught him around the chest and forced him to keep out.
After about a minute, Lupin physically handed Harry off the Mrs. Weasley, who had been making dinner at the time of the accident, and entered the room himself.
Harry wanted to be in the room with Hermione, to know what had happened to her, but he didn't have the energy to fight his way in and in the deepest part of his heart he knew she was gone.
Mrs. Weasley held him tightly, but he barely registered she was there. His insides felt cold. Other members of the Order stood quietly around. No one spoke and every eye was on the door that they had just sent Hermione through.
At one point Harry noticed that Mr. Weasley was standing next to him, but he wasn't sure when he had got there or how long he had been there. He looked up at him with an expression of bewilderment and Mr. Weasley met his eye.
"I. I didn't. She." Harry couldn't seem to put together a coherent sentence.
"It's ok, son. It'll be fine," said Mr. Weasley. He glanced up at his wife. "Molly, take Harry upstairs."
"No," said Harry forcefully.
"Harry, dear," began Mrs. Weasley.
"No. Please don't make me. I can't. I have to know."
Mr. Weasley looked at them both grimly. "At least go sit down."
Harry allowed Mrs. Weasley to maneuver him to an old couch and they sat together with Mr. Weasley hovering over them. Harry wasn't sure how long they sat there, but eventually Professor Lupin came out. Harry and Mrs. Weasley stood quickly. Harry couldn't read his expression.
"How is she, Remus," asked Mr. Weasley.
"She's alive."
"Can I see her," asked Harry.
"Yes," said Lupin slowly. "But Harry."
Harry didn't wait to hear what he had to stay. He half-ran into the room.
Hermione was lying quietly in a bed, appearing to him to be asleep. Harry approached her slowly. "Hermione," he whispered.
"She's not asleep." Professor Dumbledore said emerging from the corner of the room.
Harry's eyes never left her. "What do you mean? Professor Lupin said she was."
"She's unconscious, Harry."
"When will she wake up?"
"I can't say. But she was lucky."
"Lucky? How can you say that? She could have died."
"But she didn't.
"But she could have," said Harry angrily.
"But she didn't," Dumbledore insisted. "And her accident may have bought us some time."
"Time for what."
"Time to prepare you to meet Voldemort," said Dumbledore seriously.
Harry looked at Dumbledore with a dawning understanding. "He won't ever let her go, will he?"
"Not now that he knows that he can get to you through her."
Harry's eyes returned to Hermione. "I'll ask her to go with Snape," he said quietly. Dumbledore didn't say anything. He left the room and closed the door quietly behind him.
Once Dumbledore had left, Harry pulled up a chair to Hermione's bedside for the third time in less than a month. For the first time he was beginning to understand what he had put Hermione and Ron through all the years they had known each other. He didn't think he could count the number of times that they had had to sit by his bedside.
He laid his head in the middle of the bed and sighed deeply. "I'll fix this, Hermione. I promise. Voldemort will never hurt you again."
Hermione emerged from the room slowly and Harry was waiting for her. She started when she saw him and immediately her face burned with embarrassment.
"Have you been here this whole time?" She asked chagrined.
"Yeah," mumbled Harry.
"Were you listening?" Hermione half shouted.
Harry didn't answer. He looked and felt decidedly uncomfortable.
Hermione stared back and a feeling of horror filled her. She pushed passed him and shouted, "Snape doesn't know what he's talking about."
"Hermione, wait," called Harry. He started down the hall after her, but stopped when Dumbledore and Lupin appeared.
"Harry," began Lupin. "We need to speak with you."
"Can it wait," asked Harry impatiently.
"I'm afraid not," said Dumbledore.
Harry sighed deeply, not caring if they saw how impatient he was.
"Why don't we come in here," said Lupin holding open a door for Harry. Harry entered the room and turned to face Dumbledore and Lupin. "Sit down, Harry," said Lupin.
Harry crossed his arms and remained standing defiantly. Lupin gave Dumbledore a sidelong glance.
"What's going on," asked Harry curtly.
Dumbledore sat slowly and Lupin followed his example pulling up a chair beside him. "We wanted to speak with you about Hermione." Said Dumbledore.
Some of the impatience that had been coursing through Harry ebbed away and he regarded them both curiously. "What about Hermione."
"You know what about," said Lupin.
Harry clenched his jaw, "I'm afraid you're going to have to fill me in."
"Harry," said Lupin impatiently. "This is hard enough without you being difficult."
"Harry, Remus, please." Said Dumbledore. "Unfortunately, we don't have time for this back and forth. We need to make some decisions right now."
"What do you mean? What kind of decisions?" Asked Harry.
"Professor Snape believes that Hermione should be removed from Grimmault Place while she undergoes Occlumency lessons."
"You mean removed from me," said Harry bitterly. "I heard what he told her." Harry realized he was admitting to eavesdropping on Snape and Hermione, but he suddenly didn't care. "He told her that Voldemort chose her to get to me." Harry looked around desperately wanting either of them to refute this. When they didn't he continued angrily. "Why didn't he tell her that when he was talking to her. He never said anything about her leaving."
"I asked him not to," said Dumbledore simply. "If I know anything about Miss Granger, it's that she is loyal to you above all else."
Harry," began Lupin. "It will have to be your decision. Hermione won't leave unless she thinks it's what you want."
"Where would she go?" He asked clearly not convinced.
Dumbledore shook his head. "We wouldn't tell you, for both your protections."
"Besides Snape, who would be with her?"
Lupin looked at Dumbledore uneasily. "No one. She would be under Professor Snape's protection alone."
Harry's eyes widened. "Forget it. There's no way, I'll tell her to go with him." He looked at Lupin. "How could you even suggest that to me." His voice expressed all the betrayal he felt. "If she and I have to be separated, then she'll stay here. I'll go back to Hogwarts."
"That's not possible," said Dumbledore. "You can't go back to Hogwarts now."
"Then we're both staying. I don't trust Snape."
"Harry, you're being unreasonable," said Lupin.
"How can you say that, Professor, after everything he did to you. Would you really trust that he would protect Hermione?"
"Harry," began Dumbledore.
"No, I won't," he said cutting him off. He started to leave, but turned when he got to the door. "I would die for Hermione. I won't ask her to go with anyone who wouldn't be willing to do the same."
Harry left the room determinedly. He had no intention of following any advice of Snape's. They had told him that it was his decision to make and right now he couldn't see himself just abandoning Hermione. Not when she was vulnerable. He knew he would never forgive himself if he did and something happened to her.
As he approached the staircase that led to the first floor he spotted her. She was clutching the banister with one hand and her head with the other.
"Hermione," he called out softly. "Are you ok?"
She lifted her head suddenly and her eyes were wide with fear. "You stay away from me."
Harry looked around confused and took a step closer. Hermione whipped out her wand and pointed it at his chest. "I said stay away from me."
Harry froze. The two of them stared at each other neither moving. "Hermione," he tried again. "It's me. It's Harry." He held out his wand- less hands in front of him and inched toward her. "It's ok."
Hermione took a sudden step back, but she was on the edge of the staircase and her foot only met air. For a brief horrifying second she threw her arms out trying to grab anything to steady herself, but there was nothing there.
Harry yelled her name and rushed forward, but with a terrified scream she fell backwards down the stairs. Before she had hit the bottom, Harry was already leaping down after her.
At the base of the staircase she lay motionless and Harry knelt over her still body and cradled her head in his lap. "Help," he called. "Somebody help me!"
From downstairs, leftover members of the Order came rushing toward him as Dumbledore and Lupin came practically flying from above. In seconds, Hermione was lifted onto a magically created stretcher and floated to an empty room. Harry tried to follow her in, but Lupin caught him around the chest and forced him to keep out.
After about a minute, Lupin physically handed Harry off the Mrs. Weasley, who had been making dinner at the time of the accident, and entered the room himself.
Harry wanted to be in the room with Hermione, to know what had happened to her, but he didn't have the energy to fight his way in and in the deepest part of his heart he knew she was gone.
Mrs. Weasley held him tightly, but he barely registered she was there. His insides felt cold. Other members of the Order stood quietly around. No one spoke and every eye was on the door that they had just sent Hermione through.
At one point Harry noticed that Mr. Weasley was standing next to him, but he wasn't sure when he had got there or how long he had been there. He looked up at him with an expression of bewilderment and Mr. Weasley met his eye.
"I. I didn't. She." Harry couldn't seem to put together a coherent sentence.
"It's ok, son. It'll be fine," said Mr. Weasley. He glanced up at his wife. "Molly, take Harry upstairs."
"No," said Harry forcefully.
"Harry, dear," began Mrs. Weasley.
"No. Please don't make me. I can't. I have to know."
Mr. Weasley looked at them both grimly. "At least go sit down."
Harry allowed Mrs. Weasley to maneuver him to an old couch and they sat together with Mr. Weasley hovering over them. Harry wasn't sure how long they sat there, but eventually Professor Lupin came out. Harry and Mrs. Weasley stood quickly. Harry couldn't read his expression.
"How is she, Remus," asked Mr. Weasley.
"She's alive."
"Can I see her," asked Harry.
"Yes," said Lupin slowly. "But Harry."
Harry didn't wait to hear what he had to stay. He half-ran into the room.
Hermione was lying quietly in a bed, appearing to him to be asleep. Harry approached her slowly. "Hermione," he whispered.
"She's not asleep." Professor Dumbledore said emerging from the corner of the room.
Harry's eyes never left her. "What do you mean? Professor Lupin said she was."
"She's unconscious, Harry."
"When will she wake up?"
"I can't say. But she was lucky."
"Lucky? How can you say that? She could have died."
"But she didn't.
"But she could have," said Harry angrily.
"But she didn't," Dumbledore insisted. "And her accident may have bought us some time."
"Time for what."
"Time to prepare you to meet Voldemort," said Dumbledore seriously.
Harry looked at Dumbledore with a dawning understanding. "He won't ever let her go, will he?"
"Not now that he knows that he can get to you through her."
Harry's eyes returned to Hermione. "I'll ask her to go with Snape," he said quietly. Dumbledore didn't say anything. He left the room and closed the door quietly behind him.
Once Dumbledore had left, Harry pulled up a chair to Hermione's bedside for the third time in less than a month. For the first time he was beginning to understand what he had put Hermione and Ron through all the years they had known each other. He didn't think he could count the number of times that they had had to sit by his bedside.
He laid his head in the middle of the bed and sighed deeply. "I'll fix this, Hermione. I promise. Voldemort will never hurt you again."
