DISCLAIMER: I think you already know that I, just another Harry and Hermione shipper, can't possible own anything of this wonderful world. Otherwise I would be enjoying the premieres of the movies with the stars. Everything in the magical universe of Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.



A/N 1. - This is my second fic of H/Hr, so please be merciful; I am still learning the trade. I hope you enjoy it, and that you will give me feedback in order to improve the work. Well on with the show.



A/N 2. - Thank you so much for the wonderful people who have reviewed my story.

Special thanks to:

Usha88. - For all of her wonderful reviews since chapter one. Thank you.

Carlen. - For her enthusiasm when reviewing.

Max_LoneWolf. - For the very encouraging review. Thank you for accepting my style.

And of course to all of you who gave wonderful reviews for chapter five. Thank you all. It is because of you that I write.





While you were in a coma





Chapter Five



Part 2






Harry woke up from a restless sleep. He stretched while still laying in his bed. He couldn't conceal sleep last night; his mind was still racing with feelings he never experienced before. It had been an hour before he heard Ron come to bed; Harry had stayed extra quiet to give the impression that he was already asleep. He didn't want any type of confrontation with his friend.




Harry shifted around on his bed and settled himself in another position. It had taken him hours to actually fall asleep, and then the dreams had arrived to his unconscious mind. Harry sat up; not wanting to dwell on the person whom had occupied said dreams. He extended his hand blindly to his night table and grabbed his glasses. He breathed in deeply, ready to go out of his warm bed and face Ron.



Harry pulled the curtain that covered his four-poster bed and flung his feet over searching for his night slippers with his feet. As he stood up, he heard the faint snoring of his other roommates and turned to Ron's bed, only to find it empty.





"That's weird," Harry exclaimed more loudly than he had planned. Ron was never a morning person, and by the way the morning sun rays were barely creeping through the window, it still had to be early. Harry searched the night stand for his watch to find out the exact time, but quit in the middle of the search, remembering his watch was useless since the second task at the Triwizard Tournament.





"Umm," came a muffled sound from one of his neighboring beds, "Harry is that you?"





"Yes, sorry for waking you up Neville," Harry apologized.





"It's okay. Ron was the one who woke me up. Don't you two realize that it's Saturday?" Neville said before turning around, showing Harry his back.





"Do you know at what time he left?" Harry inquired, lowering his voice; he didn't want to wake up any other of his friends.





"About fifteen minutes ago," Neville responded sleepily.





"Thanks Neville," Harry said before heading for his trunk in search of clean clothes. When Neville didn't answer back, Harry figured he had gone back to sleep. So Harry quietly headed to the bathroom planning to take a quick shower before going down to find Ron.





It took Harry ten minutes to head down to the common room, where Ginny was already there quietly reading a book.





"Good morning Ginny," Harry greeted as he headed towards her.





Ginny got immediately flushed, "Oh! Good morning Harry," she responded with a shy smile.





"Have you seen Ron this morning?" he asked, getting right to the point.





"He left with Hermione about ten minutes ago," she answered sitting up straight and fixing her hair. But by the look of her face Harry could tell something else was bothering her, "They seemed to be fighting again...that's why Hermione insisted they go discuss it elsewhere," she spoke with concern. Harry didn't know how to react in front of Ginny so he kept quiet, "After yesterday's fight, with all of the Gryffindors watching, I don't blame her," she added searching for more conversation with Harry.





"You saw them?" he asked, worried if she also witnessed what happened after.





"No, I was already at the dormitories, but Pavarti was kind enough to spread the information to all of us who weren't present," Ginny declared rather sarcastically.





Harry felt his face grow hot again. Had Pavarti seen anything else? Had she spread the word? But Ginny was acting normally. No, perhaps Pavarti had left right after Ron and Hermione had finished arguing. Harry led out a breath as he made that assumption in his head. But anyway what was the problem? He had just cleaned Hermione's cheek after all, there was nothing wrong with that. But what he couldn't understand is why he got this warm feeling in his body from just remembering the incident.





"Well thanks Ginny, I'll head out to find them," Harry said as he walked to the portrait hole.





"Oh...ok Harry," Ginny spoke with disappointment in her voice, "I'll see you at breakfast," Harry heard Ginny scream just as he was going out.





So Ron and Hermione were fighting again and Harry felt...he felt...he didn't want to know how he felt. He just wanted to talk to his friends. Harry went searching around the castle, he went by the Great Hall and even the library but they weren't there. Where could they be? He continued to walk aimlessly around through the almost empty halls, when he heard the weak echo of Hermione's voice. It was to soft to actually understand what she was saying, but it was obvious by the tone that she was altered. Harry hurried to catch up to where the voice was coming from, until he finally saw Ron and Hermione walking about twenty-feet in front of him. He was about to shout out to them, but the argument between them started out again, and Harry was curious to find out the reason for their fight.





"Ron, you are being ridiculous," Hermione argued, her voice strong.





"I don't think I am!" Ron defended, his ears acquiring the red tone characteristic when he is angry.





"Yes you are...what you are implying...that's ludicrous," she said, her voice shaking, her body language showed how tense she was.





"Are you telling me the truth?" Ron asked, turning to Hermione and stopped walking. His hand grabbed Hermione by the arm, stopping her too.





"Yes!" she spoke with force as she met Ron's gaze, "What you are accusing me of...it can never be..." Harry noticed a change in her voice as he approached them stealthily, hiding behind a pillar. "...it can never be true..." this time Harry barely heard Hermione as she lowered her head.





Ron seemed to be gathering strength as he grabbed Hermione with both arms, "Then prove it to me Hermione," Ron pronounced.





"Doesn't the fact that I'm with you is prove enough?" Hermione countered, lifting her eyes to meet the determination in Ron's own.





"Hermione, we've been together for two months..." Ron started his voice steady, "...and in that period of time, you haven't once..."





"Ok...I know." Hermione stopped him, lifting her hand. Already knowing what he was going to say, as dread built in her body. "Ok..." she said softly and Harry's heart began to race.





Hermione turned her head, searching for anyone who might see them. Harry had just enough time to hide behind the pillar. He turned anew in their direction, nervous to see what was going to happen.





Hermione was taking deep breaths, as she was preparing. She watched nervously as Ron began to slowly approach her face. She clutched her hands so tightly, her nails were leaving marks on her skin. She closed her eyes extremely tight, pursed her lips securely together and stiffened completely as Ron's arms got tighter.





Harry was having trouble fighting the two powerful forces that were trying to take control over him. One was trying to make Harry turn around and leave his friends so that they could have a private moment. While the stronger, more insisting force, wanted to burst into a run to stop what Ron was intending to do. Harry was full of anxiety as he watched Ron inch closer to Hermione, his hands were holding so tightly to the pillar he thought he was going to break a piece right off it. "NO!" His mind was screaming in desperation.





"Oh dear God! Can't you be more considerate? People can loose their breakfast at such repelling sight," the nasty cold voice of Draco interrupted just as Ron was at millimeters distance.





Ron was fuming with anger as he answered, "Sod off, Malfoy." But Harry was so grateful at Malfoy's interruption he could kiss Malfoy. Well almost.





Malfoy and company waltzed away, happy of having ruined Ron's moment, and Harry decided to run to Hermione and Ron before anything else could happen.





"Hey guys," he greeted.





"Good morning Harry," responded Hermione, her body relaxing from her tense stance.





"Yeah," Ron answered still angry.





"Have you two had breakfast yet?" Harry asked.





"No," answered Hermione, blushing lightly while glancing briefly at Ron.





"So...should we go then?" Harry pressed, wanting to get to a public place as quickly as possible.





"Of course, let's go," Hermione declared as she began to walk hurriedly to the Great Hall, Harry and Ron tailing behind her.





***





Between worrying about Ron and witnessing what could have been a horrible sight, Harry had forgotten that today was a Hogsmeade weekend. All of the Gryffindor students from third year and above were at the common room, getting ready to leave. Harry was sitting rather uncomfortably on a sofa; he was very preoccupied as he was carefully thinking what to do. He was seriously considering staying at Hogwarts rather than going to Hogsmeade with the rest. Especially since all the while they had been there, Ron hadn't once let go of Hermione's hand. Hermione kept glancing at him from time to time, and Harry couldn't stop wondering if it was because of the pity she felt of actually leaving him alone while she and Ron would choose to go off together.





"Well come on everybody, Honeydukes awaits us," Ron expressed as the crowd began to walk out.





"Com on Harry," Hermione called.





"I don't know if I am coming," Harry said as he stood up.





Hermione released herself from Ron and went to him, "What do you mean? You have to go," she sincerely expressed her brow creasing.





"But..." Harry lost his resolve having Hermione close. "I don't wish to be a third wheel..." Harry spoke truthfully under Hermione's powerful gaze.





"Nonsense!" Ron responded before Hermione, "You can go with Ginny..."





"Ron!!" Hermione reprimanded, "Harry, you can never be a third wheel," she said softly but firmly as she grabbed his hand and smiled sweetly.





Harry smiled back, enwrapped by Hermione's smile and combined with her touch he couldn't concentrate on anything else. He tightened his grip around her hand as an overwhelming feeling of wanting contact with her took over him.





"Yes, well...move it then," Ron interrupted grabbing Hermione's other hand and pulling her to the portrait. Harry touched his cheeks to physically test just how hot they were before following his friends out.





***





So two hours after and Harry's assumption had been right. He did feel like the third wheel as Ron kept trying to kiss Hermione all the time, and she had refused to every single time. Harry was angry with himself for having horrible feelings inside him. His blood had this strange way of feeling like it was boiling every time Ron attracted Hermione to him. But why was Harry even getting involved in this. It was their relationship, and he didn't care what they did.





"Oh don't give me those lies Harry," Hermione spoke with strength.





"What?" Harry asked scared. Had he spoken out loud?





"Don't say that you don't want to go to the Three Broomsticks with us," Hermione continued, not noticing when Harry led out a breath of relief, "You've had a craving for butterbear for days."





"Harry look!" Ron said as he pointed to the new Quidditch store that had recently opened in Hogsmeade, "There is new Cannon's memorabilia," he said before running to the store window.





"As if he didn't had enough orange stuff covering his room," Hermione scoffed.





"Don't let him hear you say that," Harry said feigning seriousness.





"Oh, what will he do? Break up with me?" Hermione asked sarcastically.




"I wish," Harry snorted before he knew what he had said.





"What?" Hermione asked immediately turning to face Harry.





Harry was avoiding looking at her. What had he just said? As he was thinking up what to say, a feeling of glacial cold surrounded him, which made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. He remembered this feeling, this cold that made him feel this void inside, it was the same he had sensed in Diagon Alley. His senses came alive, as he inspected his surroundings. That's when he saw a suspicious man moving through the shadows, he concentrated his attention at his movements, he looked eerily familiar. Then it snapped. Wormtail. That filthy little.Harry's eyes narrowed trying to control the anger as his breathing got faster.



"Harry? Harry!" Hermione was calling, at first she was angry because Harry would not answer her question, but then when he had gotten in a sort of trance she got worried, "Are you alright? What's wrong?" she grabbed him by the shoulders.



"Wormtail," he breathed.





"What? Where?" she asked concerned, turning around to where Harry's sight was directed, unconsciously scooting closer to him.





"Well, as always I don't have enough money to buy at least a cheering mini-doll," Ron came back to where the two of them were standing, "What's up with you two?"





"I'm going after him," Harry stated as he began walking.





"Your absolutely are not," Hermione said, grabbing his arm.





"Hermione let me go," Harry insisted struggling to get out of her firm grasp.





"What's going on?" Ron exclaimed, fed off of the lack of attention.





"Harry spotted Wormtail and foolishly wants to go after him," Hermione explained, "And just what do you think you are going to do Harry?" she asked, her voice getting altered.


"I don't know yet," Harry responded.




"Now, that's a great plan," Hermione sarcastically replied, with a speak of anger showing.





"I have to follow him," Harry said, not deterring from his resolve.





"Harry no!" Hermione had begun to soften her tone, almost begging.





"Don't you understand? I was the one responsible for Wormtail escaping to go to Voldemort." Harry reasoned, as Ron and Hermione flinched at the sound of the name.





"Harry...you spared a life...that's very honorable," Hermione said, her voice quivering.





"Regardless of whom it was..." Ron put in.





"I shouldn't have done it, if it wasn't for me, Voldemort wouldn't have risen anew. Now I am going after him."





"I am going with you," Hermione immediately spoke out.





"NO!" Harry and Ron shouted at the same time, startling Hermione.





"And why not?" she spoke with indignation.





"Don't you realize that if you come with me, the prediction could come true...what if..." Harry started.



"What if the prediction has nothing to do with the three of us? What if the three, professor Trelawney spoke of, is you, Wormtail and...You-Know-Who..." Hermione's voice was now, quivering, "What if the one that falls in darkness is you?" Hermione was at last letting known the real fear that had been hunting her all through this time.





"Hermione," Harry was at lost of words, but frankly this idea gave him a sort of comfort, this could mean that neither she nor Ron would be hurt, "Look, everything will be okay, now you want to help me?" Hermione merely nodded, "Ok, then. Ron, you take Hermione and go and find help...if you need to, go up to the castle and tell a professor..."





"Harry that will take so much time.what if you need help?" Hermione asked.





"You are helping me Hermione," Harry answered trying to call her.





"NO! What you are doing, as always, is trying to save the rest of us, while putting yourself in more trouble," Hermione was screaming, her eyes were getting wet, "I don't care what you say, I'm going with you,"





"No you are not! Something can happen to you." Harry was also getting angry.





"Something can happen to you too!" she retaliated.





"Don't you understand that if something happens to you, I..." Harry stopped himself from continuing, grabbing her by her shoulders. His throat was dry and closed, as he made direct contact with Hermione's eyes. He was getting desperate, he knew Hermione was stubborn, but he was determined for her not to get involved in this situation. His head was racing as he tried not to think on what he was about to say. He looked into her deep cinnamon brown eyes, which were holding a look that was a cross between anger and sorrow. His right hand left her shoulder, and slowly began to move to her cheek, he wanted to feel the softness of her skin again, just wanted simple contact with her. He was just a few inches from her cheek, when he balled up his hand and let it drop. "If anything happens to either you or Ron, I could never forgive myself," Harry said with strength in his voice, to make it believable enough. He wasn't going to say that originally at all, and the realization of this made him feel miserable.





This time Hermione didn't have an answer. She just lowered her head as she tried to control her agitated breath, "Now, come on Hermione," Harry continued letting her shoulders go, "The faster you run to the castle, the faster you return," he added encouragingly.



Hermione lifted her head anew, to face him. Her eyes silently wishing to go with him. "Don't do anything foolish, please," Hermione spoke, her voice just barely above a whisper.





"I won't, you know me," he said, trying to evoke a smile.





"It's precisely because I know you, that I am telling you to be careful," she said seriously. They remained quiet for various second, neither one moving from their position. Harry knew very well that if he wanted to catch up to Wormtail he had to go right away, but something was pushing him to stay. He needed something, he wasn't sure what it was, but his body and heart knew that they required it before running out to a new adventure. Hermione's eyes were now piercing into his, with an intensity he had never felt from her before. As if she could read his eyes as easily as she did her schoolbooks, she threw herself into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. Immediately his entire body came alive, all of his muscles tensing up and relaxing just as fast. How could she do that? How can she read or sense exactly what he needed? Strangely her hug, filled him with strength and...warmth, "Just promise me you won't do anything stupid Harry. Promise me you are just going to see where is he hiding and then come here and wait for us to come with help," Hermione mustered still clinging to his neck.



Harry's arms were slowly moving to her waste, as he lightly placed them at either side of it. Not trusting himself to actually wrap his arms around her, who knows if he would let go afterwards, " I will," Harry whispered.



"Tell me that you promise," Hermione begged, with desperation in her voice.



"I promise," Harry responded, closing his eyes as her warm breath caressed his ear when she spoke.



Slowly Hermione loosened her hold of his neck and let her arms fell to her sides. Harry took a step back, clenching his fist, "Well, I'll see you later."



Ron who had been extremely quiet during all of Harry's chat with Hermione, walked slowly to him. He grabbed Hermione's hand, "Be careful mate," he spoke firmly, sharing a look with Harry, "We'll hurry up to the castle."





Harry smiled weakly as he turned to the direction Wormtail had been and started running. Hermione was still rooted to the same spot as Ron was trying to pull her, "Come on Hermione, we have to go," he pressed as he finally succeeded to move her some inches.





Harry had already disappeared from Hermione's sight, and she already knew that Harry was lying to her. She knew that he was going to try and face Wormtail. She could barely hear Ron's angry voice as he was pulling her forcefully towards the castle.



Ron's face was red from pulling Hermione like a sack of potatoes through the streets, but Hermione still kept looking to the direction Harry had run to. "Harry..." Hermione whispered so lightly that Ron didn't know if he was imagining it.



She couldn't, she just couldn't leave Harry alone. Something could happen to him, what if Wormtail wasn't alone??? Oh why had she left him go alone? In that instant her mind was made up. She began wriggling her hand furiously to make Ron let go of it. She was using such a force she didn't know existed within her, but after a few minutes of struggling, she got free, and started running with all her might to where Harry had run off to. She could barely hear Ron screaming her name, shouting at her to come back. But Ron's voice was drowned out by her own inner voice that was screaming, "Harry!"



***



Harry didn't know if he was going in the right direction. He had lost so much time arguing with Hermione, that he had lost Wormtail's trail. He was in the outskirts of Hogsmeade, near the woods where Sirius had hidden years before. He finally stopped as he reached the patchy part of the woods, his wand tightly held by his hand, he had lost him, "Damn it!" Harry screamed with anger. As soon as he spoke, the air got extremely cold, and he couldn't stop from shuddering. Somehow this cold atmosphere always came with a sense of emptiness.





"Expelliarmus!" a voice shouted behind him, just as Harry was turning to face it, his wand was blown out of his hand.





"Why must you be so predictable, Harry Potter?" asked the man as he exited the large tree covered area where he had been hiding. His voice was strange, almost as if regretting that he had found Harry.





"Wormtail," Harry breathed, with anger rising up in his voice.





"You should have listened to your friend, and shouldn't have come after me," he continued ignoring the fire blazing from Harry's eyes. Wormtail's wand extended towards him. Harry then understood that Wormtail had heard their discussion, and had probably been following him since Diagon Alley, "And know I have to fulfill my mission," he said again, but now with a uncommon tone of conspiration.





"I should have let Sirius kill you," Harry expressed with a dry tone, his stance not waivering under Wormtail's threat.





"But you didn't..." Wormtail retorted immediately, "And for that I am in great to you," Wormtail said trying to be calm, but his wand was trembling from his stubby hand.





"I don't want anything from you!" Harry shouted as he gave a step towards him. Wormtail recoiled a few steps, fear starting to show in his eyes.





"My master doesn't want you to interfer in his plans. That is why he sent me to take care of you," Wormtail explained.





"I thought you master would at least be brave enough to come and destroy me himself," Harry defied, a sudden shudder krept through his body, but he didn't let on.





"He doesn't wish for certain wizards to discover him yet..." Wormtail talked on, as if wanting to reveal details, "And besides I haven't been sent here to kill you."





Harry was confused, Wormtail had originally said that he was sent to 'take care of him' and now he was claming he wasn't going to kill him? But before Harry could even muster a word to question Wormtail, he was how raised his wand, treatening to cast a spell.





"HARRY!!!" Hermione's voice screamed as she came running at great speed towards him and placed herself in front of him.





"Hermione get out of here!!!!" he screamed back to her, as he tried to push her away.





"NO! I'm not leaving you!" she retorted as she searched her robes frantically, defending her ground and not letting Harry push her out of the way.





Harry saw with great desperation that Wormtail hadn't relented and still held his wand high. Hermione was still stubbornly placed in front of him. What was she playing at? "Hermione!!!" Harry was now pleading, and was at least trying to push her behind him.





"With this I pay my debt..." Wormtail said screaming, huge sweat dropplets falling by his ugly face, "Ava..." he began muttering.





Desperately, Harry grabbed Hermione from behind, wrapping his arm around her waist, preparing to pull her out of the way. Time seemed to freeze, as an indiscriptable amount of fear took over Harry, he thought he was moving in slow motion, his head buzzing from what could happen to Hermione if the spell hit her. His senses became dazzed, as he no longer could hear Wormtail. Just as Harry willed his muscles to move, pressing on his left feet to get an impulse strong enough to pull Hermione and push himself out of the way, Harry felt strong hands push him forcefully out of the way. As Harry fell to the ground, he had just enough time to turn to see Ron take the spell full on, the impact throwing him a few feet before he fell to the ground.



"RON!!!" Harry and Hermione screamed at the same time, before hitting the floor. Harry felt a painful hit to his head, and heard Wormtail lamenting before darkness fell over him.





TO BE CONTINUED.





Well, there it is. It took me a lot of time, to finally finish this part. Since I will be starting finals next week, I don't know until when I will continue with this story. So PLEASE, be so kind to leave reviews! So that I can at least look forward to reading them. Tell me if you like where the story is headed. If you like it enough for me to write between exams. REVIEW!!!!!!! Until next time