The Cure – Chapter Five 11.15.04

By: Aelfswythe

For a second Harry nearly had a breakdown himself. "Professor! Professor Lupin! Come quickly!" Lupin sprinted to the doorway. His face paled when he saw the unconscious Hermione draped in Harry's arms.

"Oh, no!" He knelt and felt her pulse.

"S-she was crying, Professor. I – I was passing by and she just collapsed…."

Lupin patted him on the shoulder and shook his head. "It'll be all right, Harry. She's exhausted. We need to take her to Madam Pomphrey."

With some effort, the tall lanky professor picked her up. Harry, still in a daze, didn't offer his help.

Madam Pomphrey was appalled at Hermione's condition. As she set the girl up in a bed she glared at the both of them as if it had been their fault. She shooed them out assuring them she'd send word as soon as Hermione was awake and fed, but no sooner.

Harry and Lupin walked side by side, seemingly with no destination. Harry looked over to the Professor and frowned. He felt it was partially the Professor's fault, but he couldn't find a good enough reason why to blame him.

Suddenly, the man spoke. "I shouldn't have asked her to do it."

Harry started. "What?"

"I shouldn't have asked her to consider researching a cure for me. She's an exceptionally bright young woman, but I had no idea she'd go to such lengths for me."

"You asked her to do this for you?" Harry's eyes bulged. "Are you INSANE? Didn't you know how obsessive she is? She could have killed herself!"

Lupin rubbed his temples. "I know. I didn't realize – Oh, what have I done?"

They walked in their own thoughts: Lupin's guilty, Harry's furious. When they reached the Gryffindor tower Harry left his long-time friend without a word and stormed into the common room.

Gryffindor students sat, scattered about the room studying, quietly playing games, or snacking. Harry looked for someone to take his frustration out on. His eyes found Neville and Ginny snuggled up on the couch. He stalked over to them.

"Can't you two find anything better to do than snog all the time?"

Ginny looked up at him, offended. "Excuse me? What did we do to you?"

Harry didn't have an answer to this so he stomped up to his room where he flung himself on his bed. Ron was sitting on the edge of his bed reading from a book. When Harry entered he looked up.

"What's the matter with you?" he asked. "I haven't seen you throw a temper tantrum since fifth year."

"I'm not throwing a temper tantrum!" Harry yelled. "Did you know that Hermione's run herself ragged? She fainted in my arms not fifteen minutes ago! And it's all because of that stupid c-" He stopped himself just in time. He'd promised not to tell and he'd almost given her project away.

"Because of what?" Ron peered at him, the question on his face.

Harry floundered for an answer. "She – she's just studying too much, that's all!"

"And you just now figured that out? Geez, Harry, I could have told you that. Heck, anyone could have. Serves her right, is what I say."

"You don't understand, Ron. Just forget it." Harry flopped onto his stomach. His thoughts churned thickly in his brain. There were so many things he didn't understand, so many questions he wanted to ask Hermione. It was just all too much. His head hurt from trying to sort it all out. Without meaning to, he fell fast asleep.

He awoke the next morning, his glasses smashed up against his face from the pillow, clothes all wrinkled and the biggest appetite he could ever remember having. The sun was still in its early-morning weakness and Seamus, Neville, and Ron were still asleep.

When he went down into the common room, having changed and brushed his hair, he found a note on the table for him. Opening it, he read: Harry, when you're awake, Hermione would like to see you. Madam Pomphrey

He sighed longingly. Breakfast would have to wait. He went straight down to the sick wing and found Hermione sitting up in bed, pale, but looking much better than the day before.

"Hi." She smiled at Harry.

"Hi." He stood at the end of her bed, relieved to see her awake, but slightly awkward. "How do you feel?"

"Better. I needed a good sleep." He nodded and looked down at his shoes. They needed some polishing.

"I'm sure I gave you quite a scare, fainting like that. I'm really sorry, Harry. Thank you for taking care of me."

Harry shrugged. "It didn't do much, just caught you, that's all. It was really Professor Lupin that did everything. He carried you all the way down here himself."

"He did?" Hermione's cheeks flushed pink. There was a slight awkward silence.

Harry wondered in frustration why it felt like this. He had never felt weird around Hermione. Why was this time so different?

"Um…" Hermione cleared her throat. "Speaking of Professor Lupin. I was wanting to know if you could do me a favor?"

"What?" Harry said sharply without meaning to. He felt himself going on the defensive.

"I – I was wondering if you could give him this." She held up a small vial. "It's my cure. I didn't have a chance to give it to him yesterday in all the excitement, but he needs to take it tonight under the light of the moon. The full moon is tomorrow and it needs twenty-four hours to take full effect."

Harry reached out and took the vial. He felt a warm surge go through him. He held the fate of Professor Lupin's life in his hand. It was the strangest, most powerful feeling he'd ever felt. Guilt tickled him for feeling so, but there it was. The liquid inside gleamed a deep, dark blood red. It was almost hypnotizing.

"Yeah, sure," he heard himself say from far away.

Hermione smiled at him. "Thank you, Harry. I should be up and about by tomorrow morning, I hope. I have to promise Madam Pomphrey I'll eat at every meal and sleep at least eight hours. It's so tedious, but she won't let me out of her sight until I've promised and had a good rest." She laughed a little and Harry smiled at her.

"I'll see you around, Hermione. I want to see you well and any other color besides white for a change." He kissed her cheek and left her to sleep.

The vial felt so smooth and warm in his palm. He dragged his feet, wanting to eat, but mostly reluctant to give up such a powerful little potion. Nevertheless, he found himself heading to Professor Lupin's office.

He was at his desk grading papers when Harry knocked.

"Yes?" Lupin's tired voice sounded from within. Harry entered.

"Hermione wanted me to give this to you." Harry said without ceremony and opened his palm. A beam of sunlight hit his hand and the potion gleamed an unearthly red. Lupin came from around his desk, his breath catching.

"She told you everything didn't she? Is that it?"

"Yes. It's the cure." His voice once again seemed to come from a long ways away.

Lupin reached out to take it from him. Harry was sorely tempted to drop it, shattering it on the stone floor. He felt his hand tipping. It wasn't until this moment that Harry realized he had a dark, evil little corner hiding inside himself. Fortunately, he gained control of himself and didn't let it drop, but handed it to the Professor.

"What do I do?" Lupin whispered, holding the vial in awe, hardly daring to believe it contained his cure.

"You need to take it tonight under the moonlight. She said it takes twenty-four hours to take full effect. Tomorrow's the full moon, and I guess you'll find out then."

"Thank you, Harry. Please, don't mention this to anyone. I could hardly bear my own disappointment, let alone a dozen other's."

"Of course."

"Is there anything else you wanted to talk to me about, Harry?"

Harry's eyes darted to his face. "No. Why?"

"You've seemed kind of distant lately. Is everything all right?" There was true concern in his soft blue eyes, but Harry hardened his heart to it. Lupin had hurt his best friend, and he couldn't find it in himself to forgive him.

"I've just been studying a lot," Harry shrugged. "It's hard work studying to be an Auror."

Lupin nodded in agreement. "You're right. Good luck with your exams, Harry. You're doing just fine in my class. I'm very proud of you."

"Thank you, sir. Is there anything else, sir?"

"No, thank you. Have you eaten? I bet you're famished. Why don't you head down to breakfast and I'll see you later in class."

"Yes, sir." Harry gladly turned and left.

Harry was quiet through breakfast, as delicious as it was. He was consumed in his thoughts. He was glad that someone was finally seeing to Hermione's health and there was no ignoring Madam Pomphrey's orders. He was suspicious of Hermione's behavior toward Lupin, but there wasn't anything in Harry's mind that could explain it. And even though he was still mad at Professor Lupin, Harry knew where he would be tomorrow night: watching safely inside behind a window to see if the cure truly worked.