Praesentia
Chapter Five---Conscious and Unconscious
*
Hermione's mind was racing as she reached out to touch the sinisterly smooth surface of the limestone tablet, which was nestled in an ancient green cloth.
She had to touch it; she had no choice. There was no way she could get closer to Ron, to continue loving him, and then find in the end it was all in vain.
It was best to end it now....before the pain was too hard to bear.
As her fingers hesitated in the air over the stone, her hand became intensely cold. It felt as though she was placing her hand over a huge ice cube.
A chill raced over her spine...she closed her eyes, and leaned forward.....
Without warning, Ron shouted behind her. He grabbed her, and turned her about.
Hermione opened her eyes and looked up into Ron's. She realized how cold her hand was now, practically frozen....and she wasn't even sure she had touched the stone....
"Why did you do that?" She blurted loudly. Ron was looking down into her face anxiously.
"I--you can't--we're too--it's just..." Ron stuttered.
Hermione flexed her numb fingers, and felt nausea in the pit of her stomach. "Ron, I have to. Please...."
Hermione heard Mrs Weasley clear her throat loudly behind them. Hermione turned to look over her shoulder at Ron's mum.
"Listen to her, Ron." She stopped at that, but Hermione could tell she really wanted to say more.
When Hermione turned back to Ron, he was looking down at her with an indescribable expression. "Hermione....can't we just...wait?" Ron's hands were clenching her upper arms now, and Hermione pulled away.
Softly, she said, "We can't wait. It'll be harder if we do." Looking at the floor, she said even more softly, "But I love you, Ron. If you want to wait..." Hermione felt tears welling in her eyes.
She didn't want to be in the room anymore...with Ron's parents looking on, and Ron--
Still looking at the floor, and feeling her face grow hotter, she shuffled out of the room.
~*~
As Hermione curled up on the cot in Ginny's room, she clutched a pillow and buried her face into it. Her face was so hot, she realized she must be as red as any Weasley when they were embarrassed. She didn't need to have anything to feel embarrassed about, and that was what upset her. She had told Ron how she felt about him in front of his parents...and he was being...oh, how could he?
Hermione pressed her face deeper into the comfort of the pillow and let out a heavy sigh. Gasping for breath, she pulled the pillow away and groaned. She had some ideas why Ron was hesitant in allowing her to touch the stone; there was no question she was terrified herself.
But it had to be done. There was no way to avoid it.
Curling tighter, she clutched the quilt behind her and pulled it over her body. Above Ginny's room, Hermione heard a faint moan from the ghoul in the attic, as a hard winter wind buffeted the Burrow's walls. Hermione rolled to her left side and saw something white drift across the window.
It had begun to snow.
Hermione closed her eyes, and allowed her thoughts to drift to Harry. She wondered what could possibly be done at St. Mungo's to prevent Harry from being possessed by Lord Voldemort.
Pushing all thought from her mind, while hearing the comforting voices of Ginny and her brothers in the kitchen below, Hermione allowed her weary body to drift into a troubled slumber.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry tried to ignore the pulsing in his temple as he squinted at the many fireplace grates whizzing before him. Finally, before he felt as though his stomach could take no more, he was hurled into a grate of an unfamiliar fireplace. Lupin was standing near the fireplace, speaking quietly to a Healer's assistant. When Lupin saw Harry, he became quiet and avoided Harry's eyes. Harry noticed the assistant was doing the same.
Harry frowned. So that was how it was going to be. Everyone would treat him just like Dumbledore did last year. It made perfect sense.
The anger simmered inside him. What could Healers could do to help rid his mind of Voldemort? It was pointless, really, in even coming here.
Harry tried to glare at Lupin, but Lupin didn't look at him. Harry opened his mouth, and was about to say something, when there was a loud clatter behind him, accompanied by a faint pop in front of him.
Someone must have come through by floo powder, because at once Harry was bumped hard in the back and he fell, sprawling, to the floor.
As Harry expelled air, a familiar voice snarled above him.
"Hey, you stupid--"
Harry rolled over, and his eyes widened. He was looking at none other than Draco Malfoy. Strangely enough...Malfoy's nose looked a bit crooked than the last time Harry had seen him.....
As Draco stood up, a intensely disgusted crossed his face. "YOU, POTTER? Ack!" Draco rubbed his hands on his perfectly pressed black trousers, still eyeing Harry with undisguised loathing. Draco was wearing a jumper that was of a putrid green color over a grey shirt.
Just as Harry noticed soot all over Draco, and began to feel amused for the first time in the day, he heard another familiar voice above beside him. Looking up, he saw Dumbledore...and once again, he noticed the professor was avoiding looking directly into his eyes.
"Young Mr Malfoy!" Dumbledore said harshly.
Harry shuffled to his feet and tried to dust himself off. Harry saw Draco shuffle over to Dumbledore, a decidedly angry look on his face.
Harry felt the gentle pressure of a healer's hand on his arm. Dumbledore stepped over to Harry, keeping one eye on Draco. Without looking into Harry's eyes, he addressed him. "Harry, I've come to....see you admitted. I hear you....had a bad run-in with one of the Weasley twin's sweets....I understand you...lost your memory?"
Harry turned to Lupin, confused. Suddenly, it dawned on him. Dumbledore had taken Draco for the holiday, and that's why Draco was here....but Dumbeldore couldn't let Draco know what was wrong with Harry....so.....
"Uh...yeah...I guess. You called me..Harry?" He said hoping the look on his face was convincing enough.
"Hah-hah-hah, Potter!" Malfoy bellowed suddenly, and knelt as he laughed loudly.
Dumbledore let out a loud sigh and walked up to Harry. He knelt down and whispered in Harry's ear. "I came by to see that you made it all right. We're not sure the Healers can help, but it's worth a try."
Standing slowly, Dumbledore pulled back and gave Harry a pat on the shoulder. Harry saw his small smile, and tried to look into his eyes. He locked onto Dumbledore's eyes with his own for a brief moment.....
Without warning, Harry's scar began to burn and pulse more rapidly than before. Harry gasped and grasped his forehead. Darkness was enveloping, and Harry felt as though he was fainting.
The last thought he had before darkness blurred his vision was the realization that this was exactly the way he felt before waking to find Lupin unconscious on the floor that morning.
~*~
"Harry? Harry...."
Harry moaned, and opened his eyes. The room he was in was very dark, and he was stunned to realize that his arms were strapped to...something. To the bed?
"Harry?"
There was a faint light to his left, but everything was blurry. His glasses were gone...and he couldn't see. But the voice...the voice was...familiar...
"Luna?" It was a bit inconceivable that she would be here...but in some way, it made sense.
"Harry, you're awake!" Luna said in the most excited voice he'd ever heard her use before. She was speaking very softly, however. Harry thought he saw a figure move across the candlelight beside him.
"Where am I?" he muttered, wishing he could sit up.
"You're in a closed ward." Luna whispered. "I'm not supposed to be talking to you...but I heard you were here. I heard them say something about...not looking into your eyes. Did a farklebeetle bite you?"
"Huh?" Harry wiggled, trying move closer to Luna's voice. What had she said? Farklebeetle?
"Oh, never mind...they're dormant in the winter." Luna sighed. "I'm just glad to see you're all right."
Harry squirmed, as he became curious. "Hey, wait a minute, why are you here? Are you okay?"
There was a soft chuckle beside him, and Luna moved closer to him; he could feel her breath on his ear.
"Yes, well, I'm perfectly fine! I'm here because my dad was doing a bit too much of holiday celebrating and got in a brawl....oh, it's a long story. It was some sort of debate....anyway, he was hit with some sort of charm and they're trying to sort it out. Things like this happen all the time...I'm sure he'll be fine. You can tell by how the Healers talk to one another." Luna began to sound rather bored by the end of her explanation, while Harry was more intrigued.
"So...uh....did you hear them talking about me?" Harry muttered, not really wanting to hear her answer.
"Oh, yes. That's why I snuck in here." Luna said matter-of-factly, and Harry was surprised to feel the corners of his mouth lift in a small smile.
"Well...what did they say?" Harry whispered uncertainly.
Just as Harry thought Luna would tell him what he needed to know, Harry heard a door open and light flowed into the room.
"Luna Lovegood....how did you get in here?" Lupin's stern voice cut into the darkness.
Harry heard Luna emit a frustrated sound, and to his astonishment he felt something soft and warm brush his cheek....Luna's lips.
"I'm sorry, Harry," Luna said in a defeated voice.
Harry heard something shuffle beside him, and then heavy footsteps rush from the room. He could barely see the figure of his new godfather framed by light in the doorway.
"Professor...what's going on?" Harry muttered, his voice sluggish.
There was a loud sigh, and Lupin didn't enter the room. After a moment, Lupin said softly, "I'm so sorry, Harry...we're still.."
Harry blinked, confused, as he heard Lupin mutter something. Harry saw a brief flash of dark blue light before he became dreadfully drowsy. He tried with all his might to fight against the incredible urge to sleep, but he could not.
"Pleasant dreams," Harry heard Lupin say sadly, as Harry gave into the urge to fall into a deep sleep.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Chapter Five---Conscious and Unconscious
*
Hermione's mind was racing as she reached out to touch the sinisterly smooth surface of the limestone tablet, which was nestled in an ancient green cloth.
She had to touch it; she had no choice. There was no way she could get closer to Ron, to continue loving him, and then find in the end it was all in vain.
It was best to end it now....before the pain was too hard to bear.
As her fingers hesitated in the air over the stone, her hand became intensely cold. It felt as though she was placing her hand over a huge ice cube.
A chill raced over her spine...she closed her eyes, and leaned forward.....
Without warning, Ron shouted behind her. He grabbed her, and turned her about.
Hermione opened her eyes and looked up into Ron's. She realized how cold her hand was now, practically frozen....and she wasn't even sure she had touched the stone....
"Why did you do that?" She blurted loudly. Ron was looking down into her face anxiously.
"I--you can't--we're too--it's just..." Ron stuttered.
Hermione flexed her numb fingers, and felt nausea in the pit of her stomach. "Ron, I have to. Please...."
Hermione heard Mrs Weasley clear her throat loudly behind them. Hermione turned to look over her shoulder at Ron's mum.
"Listen to her, Ron." She stopped at that, but Hermione could tell she really wanted to say more.
When Hermione turned back to Ron, he was looking down at her with an indescribable expression. "Hermione....can't we just...wait?" Ron's hands were clenching her upper arms now, and Hermione pulled away.
Softly, she said, "We can't wait. It'll be harder if we do." Looking at the floor, she said even more softly, "But I love you, Ron. If you want to wait..." Hermione felt tears welling in her eyes.
She didn't want to be in the room anymore...with Ron's parents looking on, and Ron--
Still looking at the floor, and feeling her face grow hotter, she shuffled out of the room.
~*~
As Hermione curled up on the cot in Ginny's room, she clutched a pillow and buried her face into it. Her face was so hot, she realized she must be as red as any Weasley when they were embarrassed. She didn't need to have anything to feel embarrassed about, and that was what upset her. She had told Ron how she felt about him in front of his parents...and he was being...oh, how could he?
Hermione pressed her face deeper into the comfort of the pillow and let out a heavy sigh. Gasping for breath, she pulled the pillow away and groaned. She had some ideas why Ron was hesitant in allowing her to touch the stone; there was no question she was terrified herself.
But it had to be done. There was no way to avoid it.
Curling tighter, she clutched the quilt behind her and pulled it over her body. Above Ginny's room, Hermione heard a faint moan from the ghoul in the attic, as a hard winter wind buffeted the Burrow's walls. Hermione rolled to her left side and saw something white drift across the window.
It had begun to snow.
Hermione closed her eyes, and allowed her thoughts to drift to Harry. She wondered what could possibly be done at St. Mungo's to prevent Harry from being possessed by Lord Voldemort.
Pushing all thought from her mind, while hearing the comforting voices of Ginny and her brothers in the kitchen below, Hermione allowed her weary body to drift into a troubled slumber.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry tried to ignore the pulsing in his temple as he squinted at the many fireplace grates whizzing before him. Finally, before he felt as though his stomach could take no more, he was hurled into a grate of an unfamiliar fireplace. Lupin was standing near the fireplace, speaking quietly to a Healer's assistant. When Lupin saw Harry, he became quiet and avoided Harry's eyes. Harry noticed the assistant was doing the same.
Harry frowned. So that was how it was going to be. Everyone would treat him just like Dumbledore did last year. It made perfect sense.
The anger simmered inside him. What could Healers could do to help rid his mind of Voldemort? It was pointless, really, in even coming here.
Harry tried to glare at Lupin, but Lupin didn't look at him. Harry opened his mouth, and was about to say something, when there was a loud clatter behind him, accompanied by a faint pop in front of him.
Someone must have come through by floo powder, because at once Harry was bumped hard in the back and he fell, sprawling, to the floor.
As Harry expelled air, a familiar voice snarled above him.
"Hey, you stupid--"
Harry rolled over, and his eyes widened. He was looking at none other than Draco Malfoy. Strangely enough...Malfoy's nose looked a bit crooked than the last time Harry had seen him.....
As Draco stood up, a intensely disgusted crossed his face. "YOU, POTTER? Ack!" Draco rubbed his hands on his perfectly pressed black trousers, still eyeing Harry with undisguised loathing. Draco was wearing a jumper that was of a putrid green color over a grey shirt.
Just as Harry noticed soot all over Draco, and began to feel amused for the first time in the day, he heard another familiar voice above beside him. Looking up, he saw Dumbledore...and once again, he noticed the professor was avoiding looking directly into his eyes.
"Young Mr Malfoy!" Dumbledore said harshly.
Harry shuffled to his feet and tried to dust himself off. Harry saw Draco shuffle over to Dumbledore, a decidedly angry look on his face.
Harry felt the gentle pressure of a healer's hand on his arm. Dumbledore stepped over to Harry, keeping one eye on Draco. Without looking into Harry's eyes, he addressed him. "Harry, I've come to....see you admitted. I hear you....had a bad run-in with one of the Weasley twin's sweets....I understand you...lost your memory?"
Harry turned to Lupin, confused. Suddenly, it dawned on him. Dumbledore had taken Draco for the holiday, and that's why Draco was here....but Dumbeldore couldn't let Draco know what was wrong with Harry....so.....
"Uh...yeah...I guess. You called me..Harry?" He said hoping the look on his face was convincing enough.
"Hah-hah-hah, Potter!" Malfoy bellowed suddenly, and knelt as he laughed loudly.
Dumbledore let out a loud sigh and walked up to Harry. He knelt down and whispered in Harry's ear. "I came by to see that you made it all right. We're not sure the Healers can help, but it's worth a try."
Standing slowly, Dumbledore pulled back and gave Harry a pat on the shoulder. Harry saw his small smile, and tried to look into his eyes. He locked onto Dumbledore's eyes with his own for a brief moment.....
Without warning, Harry's scar began to burn and pulse more rapidly than before. Harry gasped and grasped his forehead. Darkness was enveloping, and Harry felt as though he was fainting.
The last thought he had before darkness blurred his vision was the realization that this was exactly the way he felt before waking to find Lupin unconscious on the floor that morning.
~*~
"Harry? Harry...."
Harry moaned, and opened his eyes. The room he was in was very dark, and he was stunned to realize that his arms were strapped to...something. To the bed?
"Harry?"
There was a faint light to his left, but everything was blurry. His glasses were gone...and he couldn't see. But the voice...the voice was...familiar...
"Luna?" It was a bit inconceivable that she would be here...but in some way, it made sense.
"Harry, you're awake!" Luna said in the most excited voice he'd ever heard her use before. She was speaking very softly, however. Harry thought he saw a figure move across the candlelight beside him.
"Where am I?" he muttered, wishing he could sit up.
"You're in a closed ward." Luna whispered. "I'm not supposed to be talking to you...but I heard you were here. I heard them say something about...not looking into your eyes. Did a farklebeetle bite you?"
"Huh?" Harry wiggled, trying move closer to Luna's voice. What had she said? Farklebeetle?
"Oh, never mind...they're dormant in the winter." Luna sighed. "I'm just glad to see you're all right."
Harry squirmed, as he became curious. "Hey, wait a minute, why are you here? Are you okay?"
There was a soft chuckle beside him, and Luna moved closer to him; he could feel her breath on his ear.
"Yes, well, I'm perfectly fine! I'm here because my dad was doing a bit too much of holiday celebrating and got in a brawl....oh, it's a long story. It was some sort of debate....anyway, he was hit with some sort of charm and they're trying to sort it out. Things like this happen all the time...I'm sure he'll be fine. You can tell by how the Healers talk to one another." Luna began to sound rather bored by the end of her explanation, while Harry was more intrigued.
"So...uh....did you hear them talking about me?" Harry muttered, not really wanting to hear her answer.
"Oh, yes. That's why I snuck in here." Luna said matter-of-factly, and Harry was surprised to feel the corners of his mouth lift in a small smile.
"Well...what did they say?" Harry whispered uncertainly.
Just as Harry thought Luna would tell him what he needed to know, Harry heard a door open and light flowed into the room.
"Luna Lovegood....how did you get in here?" Lupin's stern voice cut into the darkness.
Harry heard Luna emit a frustrated sound, and to his astonishment he felt something soft and warm brush his cheek....Luna's lips.
"I'm sorry, Harry," Luna said in a defeated voice.
Harry heard something shuffle beside him, and then heavy footsteps rush from the room. He could barely see the figure of his new godfather framed by light in the doorway.
"Professor...what's going on?" Harry muttered, his voice sluggish.
There was a loud sigh, and Lupin didn't enter the room. After a moment, Lupin said softly, "I'm so sorry, Harry...we're still.."
Harry blinked, confused, as he heard Lupin mutter something. Harry saw a brief flash of dark blue light before he became dreadfully drowsy. He tried with all his might to fight against the incredible urge to sleep, but he could not.
"Pleasant dreams," Harry heard Lupin say sadly, as Harry gave into the urge to fall into a deep sleep.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________