Disclaimer: You know already. This story is inspired by the movie "The City of Glass"

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Note: This story is dedicate to my Grandmother, who passed away on 22-1-2005

Chapter 23: 7th of April 2003

Dear Diary,

1am

My health recovers as the days pass by and I could walk around the room without feeling dizzy anymore. You should see the look on Mrs Weasley's face when she saw that I could walk. She looked as if she was going to cry. The Healer removed my drip and now I could have normal food and drink. But I seldom eat or drink anything (please don't ask me why).

I still have not got a letter from Harry yet. I miss him. (How many times have I said that?)

It's raining outside right now. What a stormy night… I wonder if Italy has this stormy weather as well. I wonder how Harry is going to fight in the rain. What if he slips and the enemy takes his chance to attack?

I'm feeling lonely, Diary. I have no visitors. I can't get Ginny to come over, since it is already 1am in the morning. I can't go to sleep either. I still can't sleep because every time when I closed eyes, I could see Harry, fighting hard in the battlefield and suddenly being killed by his enemy.

I certainly don't want to see that. And I don't want that to happen in reality.

Oh well, maybe I will just lie down on the bed and just think about the happy times that Harry and I have.

Good night.

Hermione.

11am

Dear Diary,

I'm writing again, not that I'm still awake, I was asleep (and had no dream about Harry at all), until someone came and woke me up at 3am in the morning….

"Hermione! Hermione, wake up!" someone cried.

I opened my eyes and groaned. I was having a good, dreamless sleep and suddenly someone just came and woke me up.

"What?" I asked and tried to make out who was talking. It sounded like Ginny.

"Hermione, wake up, it's about Harry!" said Ginny loudly.

That woke me up completely.

I sat up immediately. "What!" I grabbed Ginny's shoulders. "What about Harry? Is he injured? Or is he…. Oh no, please don't tell me…."

Ginny shook her head. Her hair was slightly wet from the rain and she was still wearing her cloak. "He's still alive."

"How do you know?" I asked. Then my eyes widened. "Has he sent a letter to me?" I asked excitedly.

Ginny shook her head again.

"Then what?" I asked, starting to lose my patience.

"Close your eyes. I'm going to give you a surprise." said Ginny mysteriously.

"Ginny, this is not the time to play games." I said hotly. "If you want to play, go and play with Lethe."

"Please." pleaded Ginny.

I narrowed my eyes and closed them.

I heard a rustle noise, then the door been opened slightly. Then I heard someone sitting down in front of me again.

"Okay, you can open your eyes now." said Ginny.

I opened my eyes and sucked in my breath in shock.

I thought my heart had stopped beating back then.

Harry was sitting in front of me.

Oh my God.

Harry looked completely drenched to the skin in his Auror uniform. His hair was wet and still dripping. He had a bandage around his forehead, a plaster on his left cheek and another bandage wrapping his right forearm. He had dark circles under his eyes and he looked much thinner than the last time I saw him.

He was such a mess. And very much alive.

Trembling, my hand touched his cheek. I was so afraid that it wasn't real and I was just dreaming.

Harry reached up, held my hand and pressed it gently against his cheek. It feels real.

"Hermione…" said Harry softly.

Oh my God, I thought I would never be able to hear his voice again.

Didn't bother to wipe away my tears, I removed my hand from his face and hugged him.

Harry didn't say anything except wrapping his arms (including his right arm, with a bit of difficulty) around me. "It's all right, Hermione. I'm here. I'm finally home."

As he stroked and kissed my hair, I rested my head on his shoulder. I could feel his wet uniform pressing against me, but I didn't care.

"What have you been doing?" I whispered.

"I, err…." said Harry slowly.

He released me and I looked at him and his injuries carefully. "Have you been captured?"

Harry sighed and nodded. "Ever since 16th of March."

"So that's why you have not been replying to my letters!" I said.

I touched his injured cheek gently.

"Ah!" said Harry and winced in pain.

"Oh, I'm sorry…. did they hurt you very much?" I asked in panic.

Harry nodded again. "They hate muggle-borns but they enjoy torturing their enemies in the muggle way." he said dryly and tiredly. "I got beaten up, burnt, and whipped before they surrendered yesterday. I was released and I didn't sleep for the whole night while the Healer attended to my wounds. Then I returned to my camp, saw all of your letters after 16th of March and came straight back home."

He grabbed my shoulders and looked at me. "Did Viktor come and look for you again?"

I shook my head. "No. But how did you know that I'm here?"

"Err…" said Harry and looked at Ginny.

"Neville and I were sleeping when a loud knocking woke us up. We went downstairs and found Harry at the door, completely drenched wet by the rain. Before we could say anything, he demanded your whereabouts, since he couldn't find you at his house." said Ginny.

"I guess I owe you and Neville an apology." said Harry. "Am I a bit inconsiderate?"

"No, you are just worried about your girlfriend." said Ginny, smiling. "Well, I think I better go home and get some sleep. By the way, I told the Healer about you, Harry. So you could stay here for the night if you want to. Be good, you two." she said in Percy's tone and grinned, which reminded me of Fred and George.

Harry blushed slightly and smiled at Ginny before she left.

Harry turned his attention back to me as soon as Ginny closed the door.

"Oh my, look at you." he said, his eyes filled with sadness. He held my hand and examined my face carefully. "You have gone thin."

"I couldn't eat or sleep." I admitted. "Because I was so worried about you."

"Poor thing…" said Harry and kissed my hand tenderly.

He smiled. "Well, since I'm back, why don't I get something for you to eat?"

I smiled back and nodded. "Just a bowl of soup will do."

"A bowl of soup, coming right up." said Harry, getting up. Then he went out of the room.

While he was out, I reached for my wand.

A few minutes later, he came back with a bowl on a tray and I sat up.

After he put the tray down, I pointed my wand at him. "Hold still."

With a spell, I dried his clothes and hair. There, he looked much better.

Grinning, he gave his thanks and sat down in front of me. He took the bowl, the spoon and dipped it into the soup. He scooped out a spoonful of it.

Blowing the soup gently, he said, "Open your mouth, Hermione."

Isn't he sweet, Diary?

I opened my mouth slightly.

"Careful, it's hot." said Harry softly and slowly fed me with the spoon's contents.

I savoured every single drop of the soup before swallowing. It felt like the tastiest food I had ever eaten.

As I drank the soup, I raised my eyes to look at Harry. He looked so handsome with his eyes filled with gentleness and he was smiling slightly when our eyes met.

When I finished the last drop, Harry put the bowl aside and asked, "Is there anything else you need?"

I shook my head and looked at Harry. He may be smiling but he still looked like he had been through a lot of awful things, poor guy…

"Hermione?"

"Hm?"

"May I sit beside you?"

"Go ahead." I said, shifting to my side and patting the empty space beside me.

Harry got up and sat beside me. Immediately, I leaned on him and he put his arms around me. I sighed happily in his arms and closed my eyes. Resting in Harry's arms always makes me feel safe and loved.

I couldn't see Harry's face but when he kissed my head, I knew that he loves me very much.

I yawned and closed my eyes before I fell asleep in my lover's arms.

When I woke up at 10am, I found myself lying alone on the bed.

I gasped in horror and sat up, fearing that what happened a few hours ago was just a dream. But what I saw beside me calmed me down.

Harry was sitting on the chair, sleeping. His arms were folded.

I yawned, drew my knees to my chest and watched him silently as he slept.

A few minutes later, he shifted before he opened his eyes slightly. He blinked at me and smiled.

"Morning." he whispered.

I smiled back. "Morning."

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Fine…." I looked at Harry. He could use a bit of freshen up. "Harry?"

"What?"

"Why don't you go home, have a bite and a good rest? I can manage."

Harry looked at me with his eyes widened. "But I want to take care of you." he said in protest.

"But you must go home first to have a bit of freshen up," I said firmly. "You looked dreadful." I added, quoting Ginny.

Harry rubbed the bandage on his forehead and said, "But…"

"Harry, please go home. When you come back tomorrow, I will looked much better than today." I pleaded.

Harry looked at me for a while before he sighed. "All right. If you insist. But I want to see you eat your breakfast first."

I nodded and Harry got up to get breakfast for me.

Harry came back with a plate of sausages, an egg omelette and a glass of milk. I ate the omelette and forced Harry to share the sausages with me (There were 2 sausages.)

After I had finished my breakfast, Harry continued to linger for a while before he left.

Before he did, he held my hand and said, "I'll be around if you need me."

I smiled and we kissed softly on the lips.

Harry is back, Diary.

I feel truly alive again. It's like being reborn from the ashes.

That's how powerful love is.

Hermione

"Great! Harry came back!" said Lavender.

"And Hermione didn't torture herself since." said Ginny, flipping the diary. "Wonder what's the next entry is about…."

"Read it and find out." said Fred, and he suddenly grabbed the diary from Ginny.

"Hey!" said Ginny.

"Sorry," said Fred and started to read: "10th of April 2003…"