Madame Pomfrey was bent over a green-tinted Neville when the Golden Trio
entered the infirmary. Ron was tempted to ask "what now" but remembered
quickly why he was there and decided against.
"Really Hermione, what were you thinking?" Ron blurted out instead, sick of the silence that had ensued on the walk there," We could've been rid of Malfoy for good!"
Hermione turned her head to meet Ron's eyes straight on," Has it occurred to you that we could've lost Harry for good?" Ron's eyes went wide before he lowered his head ashamedly.
"He wouldn't have lost," Ron mumbled.
Hermione hissed a demanding "shh" before calling Madame Pomfrey over. The old witch turned and sighed.
"Gods you three, this is the third time this week." Pomfrey scolded before hurrying over to them," What happened this time? No, wait, let me guess...it was an accident, you found him this way, and he doesn't remember."
"We-well, you see, uhm-"Hermione and Ron began, their stuttering voices overlapping.
"Quiet, I don't want to hear it. Just lay him down on the usual bed and I'll be right back." Pomfrey stomped away in a huff to find the appropriate potions.
Hermione's arms had been aching half the trip there so she quickly shuffled over to the white blanketed hospital bed, dragging Ron along with her. They carefully set Harry's body down on the stiff bedding and fixed the pillow under his head. Hermione crossed her arms and rubbed the pain in her biceps away while staring down at Harry, guilt lying not far behind her eyes. She didn't like having to do it, she hated having to hex her best friend. She had no choice. This ridiculous rivalry between Harry and Draco had lately been taking a turn for the worst. Somebody could actually get hurt, in a way that can't be mended. Someone had to put an end to it. She had to intervene, right?...right?
"Ron," Hermione whispered hoarsely. When he didn't answer she cleared her throat and said louder," Ron."
"What?" Ron demanded in a haughty tone.
"I need to talk to you, but not here." Hermione turned to look at him. She met his eyes and in them found hurt.
"I don't know if I want to talk to you." Ron said quietly.
"Ron, this is serious. Just please listen." Hermione's eyes began to water. She didn't betray her friends, she was helping them. Helping them, damn it.
"I'd prefer it if you'd just leave right now Hermione." Ron lowered his eyes to Harry's immobile face," Please."
"Ron-"
"No. Goodbye." Ron said with more authority. Hermione looked at him in complete surprise. Her eyes widened, but she said no more. She snapped her mouth shut and turned on her heel, wanting to run from the room but finding that slightly immature. So she wiped a sleeve over her eyes and walked calmly away. On her way out the door she brushed the side of Madame Pomfrey who turned to stare at her receding back in confusion.
Once Hermione lost the feeling of eyes at her back she broke into a run, tears streaming down her face, and her breath coming in sobs. She ran without stopping through corridor after corridor, her lungs screaming protest until she couldn't breath anymore. Then she collapsed in the middle of a darkened hallway and pressed her hands against her eyes, her racking sobs echoing in the shadows. She couldn't just watch her friend die, or even take the life of another. Either way she'd lose him. Somebody had to put an end to it. And the worst part is, it won't end there; when Harry wakes up, he'll not only hate her but he'll go right back to facing Malfoy. She needed to end it for good. She needed to do something. Nobody else would.
Hermione's gasps eventually quieted and her breathing returned to almost normal. She wiped a sleeve across her eyes and nose again, wiping away the tears and the trails they left. She took a second to agree with her thoughts and stood slowly. She smoothed her hands down the knees of her robes, straightening the fabric out so she wouldn't look like she'd just had an emotional break down in the middle of a dark corridor. After she deemed herself presentable she began the walk to the library, it was time for some research.
"Really Hermione, what were you thinking?" Ron blurted out instead, sick of the silence that had ensued on the walk there," We could've been rid of Malfoy for good!"
Hermione turned her head to meet Ron's eyes straight on," Has it occurred to you that we could've lost Harry for good?" Ron's eyes went wide before he lowered his head ashamedly.
"He wouldn't have lost," Ron mumbled.
Hermione hissed a demanding "shh" before calling Madame Pomfrey over. The old witch turned and sighed.
"Gods you three, this is the third time this week." Pomfrey scolded before hurrying over to them," What happened this time? No, wait, let me guess...it was an accident, you found him this way, and he doesn't remember."
"We-well, you see, uhm-"Hermione and Ron began, their stuttering voices overlapping.
"Quiet, I don't want to hear it. Just lay him down on the usual bed and I'll be right back." Pomfrey stomped away in a huff to find the appropriate potions.
Hermione's arms had been aching half the trip there so she quickly shuffled over to the white blanketed hospital bed, dragging Ron along with her. They carefully set Harry's body down on the stiff bedding and fixed the pillow under his head. Hermione crossed her arms and rubbed the pain in her biceps away while staring down at Harry, guilt lying not far behind her eyes. She didn't like having to do it, she hated having to hex her best friend. She had no choice. This ridiculous rivalry between Harry and Draco had lately been taking a turn for the worst. Somebody could actually get hurt, in a way that can't be mended. Someone had to put an end to it. She had to intervene, right?...right?
"Ron," Hermione whispered hoarsely. When he didn't answer she cleared her throat and said louder," Ron."
"What?" Ron demanded in a haughty tone.
"I need to talk to you, but not here." Hermione turned to look at him. She met his eyes and in them found hurt.
"I don't know if I want to talk to you." Ron said quietly.
"Ron, this is serious. Just please listen." Hermione's eyes began to water. She didn't betray her friends, she was helping them. Helping them, damn it.
"I'd prefer it if you'd just leave right now Hermione." Ron lowered his eyes to Harry's immobile face," Please."
"Ron-"
"No. Goodbye." Ron said with more authority. Hermione looked at him in complete surprise. Her eyes widened, but she said no more. She snapped her mouth shut and turned on her heel, wanting to run from the room but finding that slightly immature. So she wiped a sleeve over her eyes and walked calmly away. On her way out the door she brushed the side of Madame Pomfrey who turned to stare at her receding back in confusion.
Once Hermione lost the feeling of eyes at her back she broke into a run, tears streaming down her face, and her breath coming in sobs. She ran without stopping through corridor after corridor, her lungs screaming protest until she couldn't breath anymore. Then she collapsed in the middle of a darkened hallway and pressed her hands against her eyes, her racking sobs echoing in the shadows. She couldn't just watch her friend die, or even take the life of another. Either way she'd lose him. Somebody had to put an end to it. And the worst part is, it won't end there; when Harry wakes up, he'll not only hate her but he'll go right back to facing Malfoy. She needed to end it for good. She needed to do something. Nobody else would.
Hermione's gasps eventually quieted and her breathing returned to almost normal. She wiped a sleeve across her eyes and nose again, wiping away the tears and the trails they left. She took a second to agree with her thoughts and stood slowly. She smoothed her hands down the knees of her robes, straightening the fabric out so she wouldn't look like she'd just had an emotional break down in the middle of a dark corridor. After she deemed herself presentable she began the walk to the library, it was time for some research.