Thank you for the great reviews and it's sort of sad to put this story
down. It was my first story on here and I've noticed it really has improved
my writing skills being on FF.net. If you hadn't noticed, I would usually
change the POV between characters in this story and this one with end with
Hermione. I hope the ending satisfies every one of you. ;( Oh, this is
just too sad... At Chapter 26, this is the end of Behind His Glasses.
(To JED, I know you had emailed me about sending you the story and I will get to it soon. ^__^)
Chapter 26: In the End
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The curtains were pulled and the sound of soft speaking was heard. A familiar feeling came and it felt like home. She opened her eyes and her mother and father were beside her with their hands in hers.
"Dad, Mum," She mumbled and lifted up to hug them. She had missed them so much and having them there made everything in her life so much better.
Her mother stroked her head and laid her back down on her bed. Hermione brought a hand to her face and looked out the window. It was the first time she noticed what was out the window. It was a clear day and soft summer sunlight poured through.
"Mum, Dad, I am so sorry. It was late and I wasn't thinking and I didn't know---" She started but her father squeezed her hand.
"There is nothing to explain anymore, Hermione. We heard what we needed and all we want is for you to come home. We have taken some time off from work to be with you."
Her mother interjected, "We should be sorry. We haven't been home at all since you have been back. Don't think that we don't care. We do, more than anything." Her mother stopped and Hermione could tell she still felt guilt for what Hermione did. Hermione opened her mouth to say something but didn't.
Her father looked off for a minute before saying, "I suppose we should get you up and out of this hospital gown, " Hermione gave a slight smile and her father continued, "We have the doctor's permission to take you back home. Would you like that?" He asked and Hermione nodded after a minute. This morning had been the best in months she realized. She never noticed how much comfort her parents gave her, even if they were treating her like a little girl.
They spoke for a few minutes until her parents got off of the bed to excuse her and let her bathe and change. Her mother looked out the window as her father read a book he had brought along and Hermione sat up. She shifted and her feet touched the ground slowly. The floor was cold and she felt a shiver down her back. That was when she looked around the room.
"Harry...where has Harry gone?" She asked quietly and her father looked up from his book.
"Harry Potter?" He asked and looked at his wife, "He hasn't been here. Visiting hours start at nine but we have been here since eight on permission. Why?"
Hermione looked to the clock on the wall. Ten-thirty. "Nothing. I must have dreamt his coming then," She lied and she stood up. A pang of dizziness hit her temples but she stayed put. She took a few steps until she got to the doorway of the bathroom and her parents came over and kissed her. "We'll be out in the waiting room until you are done." Her mother said and they closed the door.
Hermione stood there facing the bathroom, and finally closed the door. She looked into the mirror and rubbed her eyes. In her opinion, she was a mess. She tied back her hair back and turned the faucet on. The water was cold but she splashed it on her face, which woke her up just a little more. She leaned against the wall and looked at the mirror.
She knew Harry had been there the night before and wished he had stayed. It was mostly a blur to her but she remembered him there, she wouldn't have forgotten that. She gave a painful sigh and looked at her arms. Mungo's had done a good enough job on her; there was some evidence of the marks the spells left but they would be gone by tomorrow she figured.
She ran the water in the shower for a minute before undressing and she stood under the hot water for half an hour. It seemed to wash away most of her troubles for the time being.
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And so, the room was emptied and it waited for another patient as Hermione checked out with her parents. Lupin and Moody were there by the door to see how she was holding up. It was good to see them; she had missed them after a time. Her parents talked to the doctor for a little while and Lupin pulled her aside as she waited.
"Hermione, it's good to see you awake," He smiled and they hugged. He kept his hand on her shoulder, "How are you feeling?"
Hermione nodded slightly, "Good...better. Still a little tired if you can believe it from all the time I slept." She said and laughed shortly.
They sat for a silent moment and Hermione asked, "Harry was here last night, wasn't he?"
Lupin nodded, "Yes. Unfortunately he hasn't seen you up. I suppose he left early in the morning or late at night. He stayed in your room for a bit. Your glad you have a friend that cares for you that much, and I would bet." He said and Hermione nodded again as if she didn't know. She wouldn't tell him about last night.
"Well," He said at last with a weak smile, "Stay at home and get better. We'll be writing to you on owl post to see how you keep up if you don't mind. Have a good summer." He said and with a final squeeze around her shoulders he left with Moody.
At last her parents walked with her on either side of her back home. She didn't know why, but she looked back to watch Mungo's disappear as they went.
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The summer months were passing fast and for the first time ever, Hermione was dreading for the summer to end. Usually she was excited about gong back to learn more magic, and she was in a way, but she wanted to be home just a little longer. So far, her parents had let her recover by sleeping in or reading or making her meals. She felt a little guilty about being so lazy but she enjoyed it for the most part. After a while they pick up their jobs again and she was left at home alone. Hermione could understand why and besides, she was old enough to care for herself and she appreciated what they did for her.
The weeks grew hazy and dim and soon a thick smog fell and spread from all over. The heat was hot and muggy in the late afternoons and the sky was thick and misty. Hermione watched all of this happen from inside out her window although it was hard to see.
The time alone made her feel down at times and other times, she was glad to be alone. But of late July, the loneliness left her mind open to memories and she hated it. The memories were of mostly Harry and they seemed to torment her as if making her realize she would never make any more memories like that again. And her thoughts were right and being a troubled girl at that age, she would cry just to make herself feel better. It was a weak attempt to relieve the depressing thoughts.
And one afternoon in July, she let herself think of the memories. She never knew what day it was anymore, she never kept a calendar and she relied on the Hogwarts letter of supplies to remind her what day it was, but that of course hadn't come yet.
She was sitting in her room, trying to recap on the past year's teachings when she just stopped and put it away and leaned on her window. For about a week there had been a slight downpour of rain which made the fog even denser. There wasn't any point in looking out of the window but she still looked and it was like a blank canvas with the whitish fog.
She thought of how she felt when she first realized she might have liked him and the day by the lake. Oh, what a horrible moment that was, she thought. She remembered how she wanted to kiss him and how humiliating it was and now that she looked back, she thought it was somewhat funny at how awkward the moment was. And it was strange to think that, knowing how much it had bothered her only months ago. She had matured much throughout her sixth year and she didn't know it.
She remembered Christmas Eve and how they had talked for the first time in months. That first kiss was still clear in her mind. It was so innocent and rather petty but it had meant so much to her and still did.
And then there was when she was caught outside flying with him and even now her cheeks went red. She never realized how many times she was embarrassed this year being with Harry. It was so exhilarating just to be flying in the air that one time and she missed that feeling, even though it had cost her two months worth of detention.
She laughed for a moment by herself but stopped at the sound of it. She had thought of the time when Harry had asked her to the dance at Hogsmede and how silly, and just a little childish, it had been but it had made her smile seeing him like that. That had led to that wonderful time at the dance and that was the moment where she had stopped smiling.
Before even then was perhaps her best memory that year with Harry before everything practically went to hell. She still remembered how upset she was and how angry Harry had been but she had loved it. The game had ended and Gryffindor had lost but it was pouring and the memory was as clear as rain in her head ironically. She remembered how it felt to be that close to him to the point where it seemed unreal. She took her eyes away from the window and started to cry.
She knew they could never be like that again, and if they could, how? He was unwilling and she had given up. The thoughts of what followed hurt her and more than anything she regretted the night she looked into his own personal thoughts. It was stupid, so stupid and look where it got her, alone and heartbroken.
She rested her head on the windowsill and wept in her hands. She felt like it was her fault and perhaps it wasn't. Perhaps it was his, or both, or neither. She didn't know and didn't care because even if she took the effort to care, it wouldn't get her anywhere closer to Harry.
She looked up into the heavy smog aimlessly. There was nothing except for the faint outline of the house beside them and the tree's leaves hanging by her window. She looked up to the grayness and wiped her eyes. There was no point in crying about it now.
And then in the density of the mist, she thought she saw something flicker. She ignored it at first but soon she caught herself staring at it as it came closer and closer. It was the brightest thing in the sky, a pure white almost and soon she began to realize what it was although disbelieving it at first. She opened her window and stepped back as Hedwig flew in. She was overwhelmed.
She fluffed her feathers and Hermione looked at her talons at the letter she grasped. She left her room for a moment and came back with a piece of apple. She gave it to Hedwig and she took it thankfully. She untied the letter from her legs and slowly unrolled it. She bit her tongue hard when she saw his name at the bottom even though she knew it was from him from Hedwig. Her heart swelled up with his letter in her hands and she read:
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Dear Hermione,
I am sorry I didn't stay at Mungo's longer to see you in the morning, but I felt it would be better for me to leave. I'm sorry I haven't written or tried calling or at least seeing you this summer. In fact I'm sorry for everything.
Hermione, I am so bad at saying things like this or apologizing, I am. I don't know how you feel anymore about us, or at least me. Please, hate me if you do, I know you must, but I miss you. I can't stand how stubborn I am and I feel like over the summer I am finally realizing how much I still care for you, I do. I don't know why I didn't listen to you at first, but I am now. Just think of what I've said and I cannot expect you to be waiting for me anywise.
It hurts me to think about how I tried to make us stay apart as if it was for the better but it's killing me inside. Regardless of anything that happens or is going to happen I want to be with you, even if it means I'll have to make you fall in love with me all over again. I'll get the joy of rediscovering you in the meantime. It's not about me anymore, only you, like it always has.
Love, Harry
~Send Hedwig home although I won't be there.
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The letter stopped and Hermione held the letter. No matter how many times she told herself to forget him or get over it, none of it mattered. The aching to be with him again exploded in her chest and she lay on her bed with her hands over her face unable to think of what to do. Hedwig seemed restless and Hermione got up to open the window again. Though, before she left Hedwig squawked loudly at her and flew off gracefully.
She stood there silently and watched her disappear when it had hit her. She fumbled with the letter she left on the bed and read the last line. She let out a breath and held it until she ran out the door. Perhaps it meant nothing, but she wanted to believe in it.
She came to the front down and unlocked it hurriedly and swung it open. She took a few steps in the thick fog. She could barely see anything ten feet in front of her. She looked out. Nothing.
And then she walked out further and at the end of her driveway on the black asphalt there he was. Harry was there waiting for her and both of their hearts stopped as they saw each other only a few feet away. They didn't move, they didn't speak...until Harry moved forward and they both held each other tightly.
All they did was stand there in each other's arms until Hermione pulled her head back. Even in the fog she could tell her brown eyes were sparkling with tears and they were. She was crying in her bliss that he was here.
His eyes were shining too although he was sniffing in the attempt to keep them back. She smiled at him and looked at his eyes behind his glasses. Something was different and possibly everything was different, but then she realized the day in the first time in weeks and she grinned as he held her close.
"Happy birthday, Harry," She said and he gave a slight smile. She knew everything and he loved it, he thought.
"Hermione, I know reading a letter is only part of it and I meant it. I love you, Hermione---" He started but she rested her head against his and he stayed quiet as she stared at him.
"Don't talk," She said quietly and he closed his eyes. She put her arms around his neck and whispered, "I love you, too."
And there they stood together like they would be for a long time and nobody saw them.
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Thanks a million again for spending your time on reading this story. It has meant a lot, with all the replies and people adding me to their lists, I greatly appreciate it. Please give me your final word on my story...I love knowing the great members who read my work on FF.
THE END
(To JED, I know you had emailed me about sending you the story and I will get to it soon. ^__^)
Chapter 26: In the End
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The curtains were pulled and the sound of soft speaking was heard. A familiar feeling came and it felt like home. She opened her eyes and her mother and father were beside her with their hands in hers.
"Dad, Mum," She mumbled and lifted up to hug them. She had missed them so much and having them there made everything in her life so much better.
Her mother stroked her head and laid her back down on her bed. Hermione brought a hand to her face and looked out the window. It was the first time she noticed what was out the window. It was a clear day and soft summer sunlight poured through.
"Mum, Dad, I am so sorry. It was late and I wasn't thinking and I didn't know---" She started but her father squeezed her hand.
"There is nothing to explain anymore, Hermione. We heard what we needed and all we want is for you to come home. We have taken some time off from work to be with you."
Her mother interjected, "We should be sorry. We haven't been home at all since you have been back. Don't think that we don't care. We do, more than anything." Her mother stopped and Hermione could tell she still felt guilt for what Hermione did. Hermione opened her mouth to say something but didn't.
Her father looked off for a minute before saying, "I suppose we should get you up and out of this hospital gown, " Hermione gave a slight smile and her father continued, "We have the doctor's permission to take you back home. Would you like that?" He asked and Hermione nodded after a minute. This morning had been the best in months she realized. She never noticed how much comfort her parents gave her, even if they were treating her like a little girl.
They spoke for a few minutes until her parents got off of the bed to excuse her and let her bathe and change. Her mother looked out the window as her father read a book he had brought along and Hermione sat up. She shifted and her feet touched the ground slowly. The floor was cold and she felt a shiver down her back. That was when she looked around the room.
"Harry...where has Harry gone?" She asked quietly and her father looked up from his book.
"Harry Potter?" He asked and looked at his wife, "He hasn't been here. Visiting hours start at nine but we have been here since eight on permission. Why?"
Hermione looked to the clock on the wall. Ten-thirty. "Nothing. I must have dreamt his coming then," She lied and she stood up. A pang of dizziness hit her temples but she stayed put. She took a few steps until she got to the doorway of the bathroom and her parents came over and kissed her. "We'll be out in the waiting room until you are done." Her mother said and they closed the door.
Hermione stood there facing the bathroom, and finally closed the door. She looked into the mirror and rubbed her eyes. In her opinion, she was a mess. She tied back her hair back and turned the faucet on. The water was cold but she splashed it on her face, which woke her up just a little more. She leaned against the wall and looked at the mirror.
She knew Harry had been there the night before and wished he had stayed. It was mostly a blur to her but she remembered him there, she wouldn't have forgotten that. She gave a painful sigh and looked at her arms. Mungo's had done a good enough job on her; there was some evidence of the marks the spells left but they would be gone by tomorrow she figured.
She ran the water in the shower for a minute before undressing and she stood under the hot water for half an hour. It seemed to wash away most of her troubles for the time being.
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And so, the room was emptied and it waited for another patient as Hermione checked out with her parents. Lupin and Moody were there by the door to see how she was holding up. It was good to see them; she had missed them after a time. Her parents talked to the doctor for a little while and Lupin pulled her aside as she waited.
"Hermione, it's good to see you awake," He smiled and they hugged. He kept his hand on her shoulder, "How are you feeling?"
Hermione nodded slightly, "Good...better. Still a little tired if you can believe it from all the time I slept." She said and laughed shortly.
They sat for a silent moment and Hermione asked, "Harry was here last night, wasn't he?"
Lupin nodded, "Yes. Unfortunately he hasn't seen you up. I suppose he left early in the morning or late at night. He stayed in your room for a bit. Your glad you have a friend that cares for you that much, and I would bet." He said and Hermione nodded again as if she didn't know. She wouldn't tell him about last night.
"Well," He said at last with a weak smile, "Stay at home and get better. We'll be writing to you on owl post to see how you keep up if you don't mind. Have a good summer." He said and with a final squeeze around her shoulders he left with Moody.
At last her parents walked with her on either side of her back home. She didn't know why, but she looked back to watch Mungo's disappear as they went.
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The summer months were passing fast and for the first time ever, Hermione was dreading for the summer to end. Usually she was excited about gong back to learn more magic, and she was in a way, but she wanted to be home just a little longer. So far, her parents had let her recover by sleeping in or reading or making her meals. She felt a little guilty about being so lazy but she enjoyed it for the most part. After a while they pick up their jobs again and she was left at home alone. Hermione could understand why and besides, she was old enough to care for herself and she appreciated what they did for her.
The weeks grew hazy and dim and soon a thick smog fell and spread from all over. The heat was hot and muggy in the late afternoons and the sky was thick and misty. Hermione watched all of this happen from inside out her window although it was hard to see.
The time alone made her feel down at times and other times, she was glad to be alone. But of late July, the loneliness left her mind open to memories and she hated it. The memories were of mostly Harry and they seemed to torment her as if making her realize she would never make any more memories like that again. And her thoughts were right and being a troubled girl at that age, she would cry just to make herself feel better. It was a weak attempt to relieve the depressing thoughts.
And one afternoon in July, she let herself think of the memories. She never knew what day it was anymore, she never kept a calendar and she relied on the Hogwarts letter of supplies to remind her what day it was, but that of course hadn't come yet.
She was sitting in her room, trying to recap on the past year's teachings when she just stopped and put it away and leaned on her window. For about a week there had been a slight downpour of rain which made the fog even denser. There wasn't any point in looking out of the window but she still looked and it was like a blank canvas with the whitish fog.
She thought of how she felt when she first realized she might have liked him and the day by the lake. Oh, what a horrible moment that was, she thought. She remembered how she wanted to kiss him and how humiliating it was and now that she looked back, she thought it was somewhat funny at how awkward the moment was. And it was strange to think that, knowing how much it had bothered her only months ago. She had matured much throughout her sixth year and she didn't know it.
She remembered Christmas Eve and how they had talked for the first time in months. That first kiss was still clear in her mind. It was so innocent and rather petty but it had meant so much to her and still did.
And then there was when she was caught outside flying with him and even now her cheeks went red. She never realized how many times she was embarrassed this year being with Harry. It was so exhilarating just to be flying in the air that one time and she missed that feeling, even though it had cost her two months worth of detention.
She laughed for a moment by herself but stopped at the sound of it. She had thought of the time when Harry had asked her to the dance at Hogsmede and how silly, and just a little childish, it had been but it had made her smile seeing him like that. That had led to that wonderful time at the dance and that was the moment where she had stopped smiling.
Before even then was perhaps her best memory that year with Harry before everything practically went to hell. She still remembered how upset she was and how angry Harry had been but she had loved it. The game had ended and Gryffindor had lost but it was pouring and the memory was as clear as rain in her head ironically. She remembered how it felt to be that close to him to the point where it seemed unreal. She took her eyes away from the window and started to cry.
She knew they could never be like that again, and if they could, how? He was unwilling and she had given up. The thoughts of what followed hurt her and more than anything she regretted the night she looked into his own personal thoughts. It was stupid, so stupid and look where it got her, alone and heartbroken.
She rested her head on the windowsill and wept in her hands. She felt like it was her fault and perhaps it wasn't. Perhaps it was his, or both, or neither. She didn't know and didn't care because even if she took the effort to care, it wouldn't get her anywhere closer to Harry.
She looked up into the heavy smog aimlessly. There was nothing except for the faint outline of the house beside them and the tree's leaves hanging by her window. She looked up to the grayness and wiped her eyes. There was no point in crying about it now.
And then in the density of the mist, she thought she saw something flicker. She ignored it at first but soon she caught herself staring at it as it came closer and closer. It was the brightest thing in the sky, a pure white almost and soon she began to realize what it was although disbelieving it at first. She opened her window and stepped back as Hedwig flew in. She was overwhelmed.
She fluffed her feathers and Hermione looked at her talons at the letter she grasped. She left her room for a moment and came back with a piece of apple. She gave it to Hedwig and she took it thankfully. She untied the letter from her legs and slowly unrolled it. She bit her tongue hard when she saw his name at the bottom even though she knew it was from him from Hedwig. Her heart swelled up with his letter in her hands and she read:
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Dear Hermione,
I am sorry I didn't stay at Mungo's longer to see you in the morning, but I felt it would be better for me to leave. I'm sorry I haven't written or tried calling or at least seeing you this summer. In fact I'm sorry for everything.
Hermione, I am so bad at saying things like this or apologizing, I am. I don't know how you feel anymore about us, or at least me. Please, hate me if you do, I know you must, but I miss you. I can't stand how stubborn I am and I feel like over the summer I am finally realizing how much I still care for you, I do. I don't know why I didn't listen to you at first, but I am now. Just think of what I've said and I cannot expect you to be waiting for me anywise.
It hurts me to think about how I tried to make us stay apart as if it was for the better but it's killing me inside. Regardless of anything that happens or is going to happen I want to be with you, even if it means I'll have to make you fall in love with me all over again. I'll get the joy of rediscovering you in the meantime. It's not about me anymore, only you, like it always has.
Love, Harry
~Send Hedwig home although I won't be there.
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The letter stopped and Hermione held the letter. No matter how many times she told herself to forget him or get over it, none of it mattered. The aching to be with him again exploded in her chest and she lay on her bed with her hands over her face unable to think of what to do. Hedwig seemed restless and Hermione got up to open the window again. Though, before she left Hedwig squawked loudly at her and flew off gracefully.
She stood there silently and watched her disappear when it had hit her. She fumbled with the letter she left on the bed and read the last line. She let out a breath and held it until she ran out the door. Perhaps it meant nothing, but she wanted to believe in it.
She came to the front down and unlocked it hurriedly and swung it open. She took a few steps in the thick fog. She could barely see anything ten feet in front of her. She looked out. Nothing.
And then she walked out further and at the end of her driveway on the black asphalt there he was. Harry was there waiting for her and both of their hearts stopped as they saw each other only a few feet away. They didn't move, they didn't speak...until Harry moved forward and they both held each other tightly.
All they did was stand there in each other's arms until Hermione pulled her head back. Even in the fog she could tell her brown eyes were sparkling with tears and they were. She was crying in her bliss that he was here.
His eyes were shining too although he was sniffing in the attempt to keep them back. She smiled at him and looked at his eyes behind his glasses. Something was different and possibly everything was different, but then she realized the day in the first time in weeks and she grinned as he held her close.
"Happy birthday, Harry," She said and he gave a slight smile. She knew everything and he loved it, he thought.
"Hermione, I know reading a letter is only part of it and I meant it. I love you, Hermione---" He started but she rested her head against his and he stayed quiet as she stared at him.
"Don't talk," She said quietly and he closed his eyes. She put her arms around his neck and whispered, "I love you, too."
And there they stood together like they would be for a long time and nobody saw them.
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Thanks a million again for spending your time on reading this story. It has meant a lot, with all the replies and people adding me to their lists, I greatly appreciate it. Please give me your final word on my story...I love knowing the great members who read my work on FF.
THE END
