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.
***IMPORTANT*** There was an error with my file, this was supposed to be part of the chapter six, but it didn't upload. So I had to cut it into two parts. Hope you enjoy it.
While you were in a coma
Chapter Six
Hermione?
It was a good ten minutes before the portrait of the Big Fat Lady opened to let Harry and Hermione in. Harry had his arm around Hermione's shoulder, supporting her weight.
"Harry!"
"Hermione!"
Screams came as soon as they walked in. Fred, George, Ginny were sitting in the common room waiting. With them were Lee, Dean, Seamus, Neville and Lavender. The entire group walked to meet up with them. They were bombarded with the same questions, and Harry answered as well as he could. The twins were extremely somber; it was unnerving to see them like that.
"Oh Harry!" Ginny rushed over to him, throwing her arms around his chest.
"Ginny!" Harry was surprised over her actions. She never had acted so forward towards him. He felt his body tense up, and his first reactions was to pull away, but Ginny was crying and her suffering must be greater, so he didn't move. He felt rather uncomfortable as she placed as he placed his hand lightly on her shoulder, his other arm dropping to his side. Besides, Hermione was displaced by Ginny's motions; Harry turned to see where had she gone and with deep regret he saw her walk slowly to a near sofa, Lavender went to her. Hermione's face still reflected great sorrow and all he wanted was to still have her in arms. Just to give her my support. Harry's brain put in. Ginny was still crying on his chest. Harry didn't understand why he wasn't compelled to cover her with his arms. After all Ginny was also his friend.
***
It was the first day Harry attended classes after the accident. It seemed that, as always with this type of happenings, the entire school knew about Ron. Everywhere he went almost all pair of eyes followed him, all of the students seemed to walk on shells around him, and they showered him with pity looks al around. It was exasperating; it only exacerbated his own despair.
The worst part had to be the absence of Hermione in all of the classes they shared. Why hadn't she gone to class? Something wasn't okay if she had missed all her classes. The situation had gone worse when she didn't show up to dinner. Harry was already nervous when he arrived at the common room, hoping to find Hermione there, but no luck. Harry remained in his seat all through the night, wondering is she would come down from the girl's dormitories, but she did not.
The following days were spent the same way, and as each day passed his concern also grew. Where was she? Was she going to other classes? Was she eating at other times? Could she be avoiding him? All type of questions where in his mind as he gazed at the two empty seats at his sides in Potions class; Snape's lazy drawl forgotten. Harry was trying to immerse himself into his routine, to not think of his sudden loneliness.
***
Several days past and Harry was more depressed. On one of the nights he was sitting in one of the sofas close to the fireplace, watching the flames lick the logs, his thoughts drowned in guilt and retelling of the events of that day, that had haunted him dreams. Ginny had joined him a few hours later, she also showed in her person how destroyed she was because of his brother's misfortune. After fruitlessly trying to engage in civil conversation with Harry, Ginny tentatively leaned her head on Harry's shoulder, and stayed there, enjoying the strength she received.
Harry felt the weight of Ginny's head, but he was too enwrapped on guilt to move away. "Harry?" Harry barely heard a woman's voice trying to break through his barrier of thoughts.
"Harry? Harry!" Lavender was shaking him by the shoulders, her voice strong.
Harry finally blinked and turned to stare blankly at Lavender. "Harry!?" Both Lavender and Ginny screamed at him and only then did he pay them attention.
"Lavender? What...what is it?" Harry finally focused on Lavender's worried face.
"Harry, I'm very worried about Hermione," Lavender began; she was about to sit down in the chair close to where Harry was. But at this statement Harry bolted from where he was sitting, forcing Ginny to sit up straight, lacking of support.
"Why? Is she alright? What's wrong?" Harry shot questions rapidly.
"She isn't well. As you noticed she hasn't attended classes, and that alone says plenty when referring to Hermione. But besides that she isn't eating, I can barely persuade her into eating a piece of fruit, and she also isn't sleeping." Lavender enumerated.
"What?" Harry asked dumbfounded, he thought she wasn't taking well Ron's accident, but he didn't know to what extent she was suffering.
"She is extremely depressed; she moves through our room like a zombie. She spends the day sitting by the window looking out; I go to sleep she's there, when I wake up she hasn't budged. I go to classes and she's at the window and when I come back she's still in the same position with the same vacant expression and clothes; just tonight I convinced her to take a bath." Lavender finished telling her story.
Even though this news had given new grief to Harry, he couldn't help to find Lavender's behavior completely strange. She and Hermione were never close, sure they shared the same room, but that was the extent of their relationship. That is why he didn't begin to understand why Lavender looked so sad and preoccupied for Hermione. Harry didn't want to dwell on Lavender's actions; perhaps she was just shaken up because of the dark nature of the happenings like the rest of the school.
"Maybe you can come and talk to her, although I don't think you can." Lavender seemed to be thinking of ways to help Harry to go and talk to Hermione.
Harry walked up to Lavender and pulled her outside Ginny's hearing distance, "Look, I know how to get to the girls dormitories without getting caught, all that I am going to ask of you is to make sure that you are alone with Hermione tonight," Harry said already making all of the plans in his head.
After they finished arranging their meeting, Harry went up to his dormitory. He stopped right at the door and for the hundredth time that week, Harry scanned the room. It was no longer the safe haven it used to be, where Ron and him used to make all of their plans and stay awake until late just talking and eating treats. Everything there reminded him of Ron, from the posters of the Canons, his favorite Quidditch team, to the socks strewn on the floor. Harry decided to go take a quick shower; he needed to clear his head if he was going to head up to talk to Hermione. Ignoring the skip his heart gave when he thought he was finally going to see her, he grabbed cleaned clothes and headed to the bathroom.
***
It was ten past ten and Hermione didn't seem to take notice of Lavender's nervous pacing. It had taken a great amount of convincing and even lying to usher off Parvati out of the room alone, along with the other two fifth year Gryffindor girls that shared their dorm room. And now it was ten minutes past the accorded time, and Harry hadn't arrived yet. Lavender was just making a mental list of what could have happened to Harry, when she heard three loud knocks at their door. Lavender recognized the signal knock that Harry and her had agreed on and rushed to the door. She glanced briefly at Hermione, who hadn't moved from her spot, Lavender opened the door and let Harry in quickly before closing the door, before anyone could see him.
"How did-" Lavender was confused.
Harry lifted his left hand to stop her, "Tell you on another occasion," he said while hiding his invisibility cloak behind his back with his other hand. Harry turned to Hermione and his heart seemed to stop. This girl couldn't be Hermione; this thin, deadly white, wrangled hair girl wasn't even her shadow.
Lavender saw Harry's stricken face and decided to excuse herself, "I'll leave you alone."
Harry heard the door close and made her way towards where she was sitting, "Hermione?" he called in a small worried voice. She didn't move, he got closer and dared to put a hand on her shoulder, "Hermione," he pronounced with a little more strength.
She seemed shocked by his touch and turned her head at him, her eyes searching his face as if trying to remember him, "Harry?" Harry's lips formed a miniscule smile, the first smile he evoked in a week, "What are you doing here?" Hermione spoke tiredly turning her head briskly away from Harry. Her tone was firm and discontent.
"I came to see how you were." Harry spoke softly, her treatment deterring his resolve.
"Why should you care?" she spoke as she slowly stood up. Her tone was strange, Harry didn't recognize it, she never had spoken like that before, at least not to him. She was extremely weak and before she gave a single step, she did a back-step was going to fall. Harry reacted and grabbed her from behind her shoulders, "You shouldn't touch me," Hermione recoiled from his hands, moving so fast that her head began to spin and she had to sit back down.
Harry's gaze fell to the floor, along with his heart. This is what he had feared since he first realized Hermione wasn't on her usual seat in the Gryffindor table. She blamed him. Hermione blamed him of Ron's accident and she couldn't stand his presence, his touch, his friendship. Could that be the reason why she hadn't gone out of her room, was she avoiding him? And the worst part, Harry thought as he lightly closed his eyes, was that she has every right to hate me. But he was not going to give up, he simply wasn't going to loose his two best friends.
With his mind make up, he went and sat down next to her. Her head was bent down with her eyes closed, "Hermione please forgive me," the words came to Harry's mouth, "I know that because of me, Ron is now laying on a hospital bed," desperation possessed his voice, "I am aware that the spell was intended for me, that if I hadn't gone and look for trouble, like always, Ron would still be here." Harry was never good at voicing out his feelings, but he couldn't bear if Hermione stopped being with him. "I understand that you blame me, I also know...that to some point it hurts you even more...because he was your...boyfriend...but please...don't shout me out," in this part of his statement, his voice began to act strangely, it cut between words, "I can't lose...you...my other best friend...in the same week...please." his voice stopped working, as he felt a great naught in her throat, he still wanted to say so much to her. To describe the absolute void his week had been without her. How the pain seemed to increase because she wasn't with him.
As he was searching how to word his feelings he hear the distinct sniffling, when he looked up he was that Hermione was crying, "What are you talking about?" Hermione said her voice weak and sad, "I am the one to blame in this situation." Harry was flabbergasted when these words came out of her mouth, but she didn't give him a chance to talk, "It's my fault Ron got hurt, if I had listened to you and gone looking for help...Ron wouldn't have been there. If I hadn't start running towards you without giving him an explanation," her tears became more frequent, but she continued, "And I'm sorry Harry, I am so sorry that because of me you lost your best friend, I know how much he means to you, I still remember how miserable you felt without his friendship in fourth year...I can never replace him as your number one best friend," Hermione began to have trouble talking, her breath was short, "I just can't face you after all of this, so please don't try to spare me by blaming yourself." that's when Hermione stopped talking, her cries invading the silence. But she still had so much to say; she wanted to tell him how much she wished he could forgive her, to express the pain it was not to be with him. But before she could say anything, she felt the soft touch of Harry's hand over her own.
Harry still couldn't believe what Hermione was saying. He saw her hand trembling, he just wanted her to stop suffering and blaming herself. His own hand trembled as it moved by and unknown force towards Hermione's hand, "Hermione you aren't responsible of what happened, you must know that no matter what you could have said to Ron, he would have followed you anyway," Harry spoke wholeheartedly, Hermione's cries had calmed down, but she still wasn't facing him, "You got to understand that I don't blame of absolutely anything."
Finally Hermione turned to him, her eyes red, "You don't?"
"No," Harry stated, as the corners of his mouth tugged into a small tight smile, Hermione did the same, but Harry still had more to say, "For as I told you before, it was my fault-"
"You mustn't hold yourself responsible Harry," Hermione interrupted him, some amount of strength returning to her voice. Her hand placed, with a gentle touch, on top of Harry's had, that was already over her hand. "It is always Ron's -OUR- decision to follow you, conscious of the danger we could face. You can't possibly feel guilty for the actions of other people."
Harry met her eyes, plain words she had spoken, but it was the belief she bestowed upon those words that calmed his heart, "Thanks," Both Harry and Hermione said at the same time, which made them let out a short chuckle.
A long silence followed, Harry realized that he still had his hand over hers, and slowly took it off. He righted himself in his seat; he had just taken notice of how much he had leaned towards Hermione during their talk. Hermione seemed to be doing the same thing, as she patted her hair.
"Harry?" Hermione suddenly spoke.
"Hmm?"
"What are we going to do? About Ron I mean." she continued, she wasn't facing him again, her gaze concentrated on the scenery outside the window.
"I'm still not sure." Harry began also looking out through the window, "But what I can promise you, is that we are going to help him out of this," Harry continued, turning towards Hermione, "You and me, we are going to fight this. We will do the impossible if necessary...but together Hermione, okay? Together. You are not allowed to push me away. Will find a way to get Ron back."
After a moment of letting in all that Harry had said, Hermione gave him a sweet smile, "You promise?"
"Yes. And this one I do intend to keep," Harry responded, mirroring her smile.
And then it happened. Hermione got that look, the one that she always has when she wants to hug him, exactly like the time on his first year when she went to visit him at the hospital after his fight with Voldemort. And the strangest thing was that Harry's head wasn't throbbing, he didn't feel shocked, he didn't mind it at all...and the realization of this scared him. He cleared his throat and stood up rapidly, "Well, I better get going, it's getting late and you should be going to sleep."
"Oh Harry I can't sleep," Hermione stood up, she was still dizzy, and this time she did accept Harry's help to lead her to her bed.
"You have to rest, Lavender has told me that you haven't been sleeping," Harry said with preoccupation in his voice.
"I can't...every time I try...all these strange dreams..." Hermione was babbling, sign that she was better.
"I know...believe me, it's very difficult, but you have to try... Come on..." Harry said as he pulled Hermione's covers and motioned her to sit down. "Just try to sleep today, and tomorrow will convince Madam Pomfrey into given you some of her dreamless sleep potion."
"But...I can't stop thinking..." Hermione argued, as she sat at her bed and covered her legs.
"Okay...what if we..." Harry said, not really knowing what to do to help Hermione go to sleep. Then something in her night table caught his sight, "What if we read?"
"Read?" Hermione asked, as she turned to Harry. He saw him lift her Hogwarts: A History book, the same he had giving her at Diagon Alley.
"Yes...will take turns reading," Harry said his voice breaking as Hermione scooted over for him to sit down beside her.
"You don't have to stay here until I fall asleep-" Hermione began, feeling her face burning from having Harry sit down in her bed.
"I want to help you." he simply stated, not wanting to look directly at Hermione, for fear that she would see how much he was blushing. He opened the book at the very first chapter, and tried to get comfortable. Impossible he thought nervously.
They read for more than two hours, each one reading a different chapter. Finally Harry looked down; when he finished the chapter, and saw that she had finally gone to sleep. Her face was peaceful and her breathing was steady. He carefully put the book back at the nightstand and started to slowly move to get out of the bed without waking her up. When suddenly Hermione turned over and dropped her arm over his waist, "Don't...mmm...go," she mumbled, her voice drenched in sleep. Harry couldn't move he was petrified to his spot; millions of thoughts running in his mind, his heart was thumping harder than ever. He tried to move again, but Hermione's hand didn't budge. "Please..." she mustered softly.
Okay....okay...okay...what to do? What to do? Harry's mind was trying to think. Okay, stay with her until she falls into a deepest sleep, then you can leave. His mind rationalized. He forced his body to relax and got himself in a more comfortable position. He tried so hard not to think about Hermione's body so close to his, not to paid heed at warmth she irradiated. When he found that impossible, he looked down at her, her eyes puffy from so much crying, her little nose that had sniffled so much. He didn't want her to suffer anymore, he did intended to keep his promise, they were make Ron return to them, even if that meant having to see Ron and Hermione so 'comfortable' around each other. Harry steadily turned to her, placing his mouth on her forehead, he didn't move his lips, he just wanted to have a nice contact. I am not going to let you fall along with Ron, Hermione. This was his last conscious thought, for he fell asleep right after.
Ten minutes later, the door to the girl's dormitory opened, and Lavender peeked her head inside, she didn't see Harry or Hermione over the window and took at as a good sign. She walked quietly towards Hermione's bed, hearing the steady breathing. When she got there, she was surprised to see Harry and Hermione in deep sleep, Hermione had her arm placed lightly over his waist, while his hand was on her shoulder. Lavender was confused, but since Hermione hadn't sleep in a long she decided not to say something. She walked to the one poster and silently pulled the last curtain so that when the girls came back they couldn't see that the Boy Who Lived, was sleeping right there in their room.
TO BE CONTINUED.
So sorry for all the time it took to post this chapter. But I went in a holiday vacation, and had no opportunity to write. I hope you like the chapter. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, review!!!! Tell me what you think!!!! PLEASE I BEG OF YOU!!!! Until the next time. Sayonara.
***IMPORTANT*** There was an error with my file, this was supposed to be part of the chapter six, but it didn't upload. So I had to cut it into two parts. Hope you enjoy it.
While you were in a coma
Chapter Six
Hermione?
It was a good ten minutes before the portrait of the Big Fat Lady opened to let Harry and Hermione in. Harry had his arm around Hermione's shoulder, supporting her weight.
"Harry!"
"Hermione!"
Screams came as soon as they walked in. Fred, George, Ginny were sitting in the common room waiting. With them were Lee, Dean, Seamus, Neville and Lavender. The entire group walked to meet up with them. They were bombarded with the same questions, and Harry answered as well as he could. The twins were extremely somber; it was unnerving to see them like that.
"Oh Harry!" Ginny rushed over to him, throwing her arms around his chest.
"Ginny!" Harry was surprised over her actions. She never had acted so forward towards him. He felt his body tense up, and his first reactions was to pull away, but Ginny was crying and her suffering must be greater, so he didn't move. He felt rather uncomfortable as she placed as he placed his hand lightly on her shoulder, his other arm dropping to his side. Besides, Hermione was displaced by Ginny's motions; Harry turned to see where had she gone and with deep regret he saw her walk slowly to a near sofa, Lavender went to her. Hermione's face still reflected great sorrow and all he wanted was to still have her in arms. Just to give her my support. Harry's brain put in. Ginny was still crying on his chest. Harry didn't understand why he wasn't compelled to cover her with his arms. After all Ginny was also his friend.
***
It was the first day Harry attended classes after the accident. It seemed that, as always with this type of happenings, the entire school knew about Ron. Everywhere he went almost all pair of eyes followed him, all of the students seemed to walk on shells around him, and they showered him with pity looks al around. It was exasperating; it only exacerbated his own despair.
The worst part had to be the absence of Hermione in all of the classes they shared. Why hadn't she gone to class? Something wasn't okay if she had missed all her classes. The situation had gone worse when she didn't show up to dinner. Harry was already nervous when he arrived at the common room, hoping to find Hermione there, but no luck. Harry remained in his seat all through the night, wondering is she would come down from the girl's dormitories, but she did not.
The following days were spent the same way, and as each day passed his concern also grew. Where was she? Was she going to other classes? Was she eating at other times? Could she be avoiding him? All type of questions where in his mind as he gazed at the two empty seats at his sides in Potions class; Snape's lazy drawl forgotten. Harry was trying to immerse himself into his routine, to not think of his sudden loneliness.
***
Several days past and Harry was more depressed. On one of the nights he was sitting in one of the sofas close to the fireplace, watching the flames lick the logs, his thoughts drowned in guilt and retelling of the events of that day, that had haunted him dreams. Ginny had joined him a few hours later, she also showed in her person how destroyed she was because of his brother's misfortune. After fruitlessly trying to engage in civil conversation with Harry, Ginny tentatively leaned her head on Harry's shoulder, and stayed there, enjoying the strength she received.
Harry felt the weight of Ginny's head, but he was too enwrapped on guilt to move away. "Harry?" Harry barely heard a woman's voice trying to break through his barrier of thoughts.
"Harry? Harry!" Lavender was shaking him by the shoulders, her voice strong.
Harry finally blinked and turned to stare blankly at Lavender. "Harry!?" Both Lavender and Ginny screamed at him and only then did he pay them attention.
"Lavender? What...what is it?" Harry finally focused on Lavender's worried face.
"Harry, I'm very worried about Hermione," Lavender began; she was about to sit down in the chair close to where Harry was. But at this statement Harry bolted from where he was sitting, forcing Ginny to sit up straight, lacking of support.
"Why? Is she alright? What's wrong?" Harry shot questions rapidly.
"She isn't well. As you noticed she hasn't attended classes, and that alone says plenty when referring to Hermione. But besides that she isn't eating, I can barely persuade her into eating a piece of fruit, and she also isn't sleeping." Lavender enumerated.
"What?" Harry asked dumbfounded, he thought she wasn't taking well Ron's accident, but he didn't know to what extent she was suffering.
"She is extremely depressed; she moves through our room like a zombie. She spends the day sitting by the window looking out; I go to sleep she's there, when I wake up she hasn't budged. I go to classes and she's at the window and when I come back she's still in the same position with the same vacant expression and clothes; just tonight I convinced her to take a bath." Lavender finished telling her story.
Even though this news had given new grief to Harry, he couldn't help to find Lavender's behavior completely strange. She and Hermione were never close, sure they shared the same room, but that was the extent of their relationship. That is why he didn't begin to understand why Lavender looked so sad and preoccupied for Hermione. Harry didn't want to dwell on Lavender's actions; perhaps she was just shaken up because of the dark nature of the happenings like the rest of the school.
"Maybe you can come and talk to her, although I don't think you can." Lavender seemed to be thinking of ways to help Harry to go and talk to Hermione.
Harry walked up to Lavender and pulled her outside Ginny's hearing distance, "Look, I know how to get to the girls dormitories without getting caught, all that I am going to ask of you is to make sure that you are alone with Hermione tonight," Harry said already making all of the plans in his head.
After they finished arranging their meeting, Harry went up to his dormitory. He stopped right at the door and for the hundredth time that week, Harry scanned the room. It was no longer the safe haven it used to be, where Ron and him used to make all of their plans and stay awake until late just talking and eating treats. Everything there reminded him of Ron, from the posters of the Canons, his favorite Quidditch team, to the socks strewn on the floor. Harry decided to go take a quick shower; he needed to clear his head if he was going to head up to talk to Hermione. Ignoring the skip his heart gave when he thought he was finally going to see her, he grabbed cleaned clothes and headed to the bathroom.
***
It was ten past ten and Hermione didn't seem to take notice of Lavender's nervous pacing. It had taken a great amount of convincing and even lying to usher off Parvati out of the room alone, along with the other two fifth year Gryffindor girls that shared their dorm room. And now it was ten minutes past the accorded time, and Harry hadn't arrived yet. Lavender was just making a mental list of what could have happened to Harry, when she heard three loud knocks at their door. Lavender recognized the signal knock that Harry and her had agreed on and rushed to the door. She glanced briefly at Hermione, who hadn't moved from her spot, Lavender opened the door and let Harry in quickly before closing the door, before anyone could see him.
"How did-" Lavender was confused.
Harry lifted his left hand to stop her, "Tell you on another occasion," he said while hiding his invisibility cloak behind his back with his other hand. Harry turned to Hermione and his heart seemed to stop. This girl couldn't be Hermione; this thin, deadly white, wrangled hair girl wasn't even her shadow.
Lavender saw Harry's stricken face and decided to excuse herself, "I'll leave you alone."
Harry heard the door close and made her way towards where she was sitting, "Hermione?" he called in a small worried voice. She didn't move, he got closer and dared to put a hand on her shoulder, "Hermione," he pronounced with a little more strength.
She seemed shocked by his touch and turned her head at him, her eyes searching his face as if trying to remember him, "Harry?" Harry's lips formed a miniscule smile, the first smile he evoked in a week, "What are you doing here?" Hermione spoke tiredly turning her head briskly away from Harry. Her tone was firm and discontent.
"I came to see how you were." Harry spoke softly, her treatment deterring his resolve.
"Why should you care?" she spoke as she slowly stood up. Her tone was strange, Harry didn't recognize it, she never had spoken like that before, at least not to him. She was extremely weak and before she gave a single step, she did a back-step was going to fall. Harry reacted and grabbed her from behind her shoulders, "You shouldn't touch me," Hermione recoiled from his hands, moving so fast that her head began to spin and she had to sit back down.
Harry's gaze fell to the floor, along with his heart. This is what he had feared since he first realized Hermione wasn't on her usual seat in the Gryffindor table. She blamed him. Hermione blamed him of Ron's accident and she couldn't stand his presence, his touch, his friendship. Could that be the reason why she hadn't gone out of her room, was she avoiding him? And the worst part, Harry thought as he lightly closed his eyes, was that she has every right to hate me. But he was not going to give up, he simply wasn't going to loose his two best friends.
With his mind make up, he went and sat down next to her. Her head was bent down with her eyes closed, "Hermione please forgive me," the words came to Harry's mouth, "I know that because of me, Ron is now laying on a hospital bed," desperation possessed his voice, "I am aware that the spell was intended for me, that if I hadn't gone and look for trouble, like always, Ron would still be here." Harry was never good at voicing out his feelings, but he couldn't bear if Hermione stopped being with him. "I understand that you blame me, I also know...that to some point it hurts you even more...because he was your...boyfriend...but please...don't shout me out," in this part of his statement, his voice began to act strangely, it cut between words, "I can't lose...you...my other best friend...in the same week...please." his voice stopped working, as he felt a great naught in her throat, he still wanted to say so much to her. To describe the absolute void his week had been without her. How the pain seemed to increase because she wasn't with him.
As he was searching how to word his feelings he hear the distinct sniffling, when he looked up he was that Hermione was crying, "What are you talking about?" Hermione said her voice weak and sad, "I am the one to blame in this situation." Harry was flabbergasted when these words came out of her mouth, but she didn't give him a chance to talk, "It's my fault Ron got hurt, if I had listened to you and gone looking for help...Ron wouldn't have been there. If I hadn't start running towards you without giving him an explanation," her tears became more frequent, but she continued, "And I'm sorry Harry, I am so sorry that because of me you lost your best friend, I know how much he means to you, I still remember how miserable you felt without his friendship in fourth year...I can never replace him as your number one best friend," Hermione began to have trouble talking, her breath was short, "I just can't face you after all of this, so please don't try to spare me by blaming yourself." that's when Hermione stopped talking, her cries invading the silence. But she still had so much to say; she wanted to tell him how much she wished he could forgive her, to express the pain it was not to be with him. But before she could say anything, she felt the soft touch of Harry's hand over her own.
Harry still couldn't believe what Hermione was saying. He saw her hand trembling, he just wanted her to stop suffering and blaming herself. His own hand trembled as it moved by and unknown force towards Hermione's hand, "Hermione you aren't responsible of what happened, you must know that no matter what you could have said to Ron, he would have followed you anyway," Harry spoke wholeheartedly, Hermione's cries had calmed down, but she still wasn't facing him, "You got to understand that I don't blame of absolutely anything."
Finally Hermione turned to him, her eyes red, "You don't?"
"No," Harry stated, as the corners of his mouth tugged into a small tight smile, Hermione did the same, but Harry still had more to say, "For as I told you before, it was my fault-"
"You mustn't hold yourself responsible Harry," Hermione interrupted him, some amount of strength returning to her voice. Her hand placed, with a gentle touch, on top of Harry's had, that was already over her hand. "It is always Ron's -OUR- decision to follow you, conscious of the danger we could face. You can't possibly feel guilty for the actions of other people."
Harry met her eyes, plain words she had spoken, but it was the belief she bestowed upon those words that calmed his heart, "Thanks," Both Harry and Hermione said at the same time, which made them let out a short chuckle.
A long silence followed, Harry realized that he still had his hand over hers, and slowly took it off. He righted himself in his seat; he had just taken notice of how much he had leaned towards Hermione during their talk. Hermione seemed to be doing the same thing, as she patted her hair.
"Harry?" Hermione suddenly spoke.
"Hmm?"
"What are we going to do? About Ron I mean." she continued, she wasn't facing him again, her gaze concentrated on the scenery outside the window.
"I'm still not sure." Harry began also looking out through the window, "But what I can promise you, is that we are going to help him out of this," Harry continued, turning towards Hermione, "You and me, we are going to fight this. We will do the impossible if necessary...but together Hermione, okay? Together. You are not allowed to push me away. Will find a way to get Ron back."
After a moment of letting in all that Harry had said, Hermione gave him a sweet smile, "You promise?"
"Yes. And this one I do intend to keep," Harry responded, mirroring her smile.
And then it happened. Hermione got that look, the one that she always has when she wants to hug him, exactly like the time on his first year when she went to visit him at the hospital after his fight with Voldemort. And the strangest thing was that Harry's head wasn't throbbing, he didn't feel shocked, he didn't mind it at all...and the realization of this scared him. He cleared his throat and stood up rapidly, "Well, I better get going, it's getting late and you should be going to sleep."
"Oh Harry I can't sleep," Hermione stood up, she was still dizzy, and this time she did accept Harry's help to lead her to her bed.
"You have to rest, Lavender has told me that you haven't been sleeping," Harry said with preoccupation in his voice.
"I can't...every time I try...all these strange dreams..." Hermione was babbling, sign that she was better.
"I know...believe me, it's very difficult, but you have to try... Come on..." Harry said as he pulled Hermione's covers and motioned her to sit down. "Just try to sleep today, and tomorrow will convince Madam Pomfrey into given you some of her dreamless sleep potion."
"But...I can't stop thinking..." Hermione argued, as she sat at her bed and covered her legs.
"Okay...what if we..." Harry said, not really knowing what to do to help Hermione go to sleep. Then something in her night table caught his sight, "What if we read?"
"Read?" Hermione asked, as she turned to Harry. He saw him lift her Hogwarts: A History book, the same he had giving her at Diagon Alley.
"Yes...will take turns reading," Harry said his voice breaking as Hermione scooted over for him to sit down beside her.
"You don't have to stay here until I fall asleep-" Hermione began, feeling her face burning from having Harry sit down in her bed.
"I want to help you." he simply stated, not wanting to look directly at Hermione, for fear that she would see how much he was blushing. He opened the book at the very first chapter, and tried to get comfortable. Impossible he thought nervously.
They read for more than two hours, each one reading a different chapter. Finally Harry looked down; when he finished the chapter, and saw that she had finally gone to sleep. Her face was peaceful and her breathing was steady. He carefully put the book back at the nightstand and started to slowly move to get out of the bed without waking her up. When suddenly Hermione turned over and dropped her arm over his waist, "Don't...mmm...go," she mumbled, her voice drenched in sleep. Harry couldn't move he was petrified to his spot; millions of thoughts running in his mind, his heart was thumping harder than ever. He tried to move again, but Hermione's hand didn't budge. "Please..." she mustered softly.
Okay....okay...okay...what to do? What to do? Harry's mind was trying to think. Okay, stay with her until she falls into a deepest sleep, then you can leave. His mind rationalized. He forced his body to relax and got himself in a more comfortable position. He tried so hard not to think about Hermione's body so close to his, not to paid heed at warmth she irradiated. When he found that impossible, he looked down at her, her eyes puffy from so much crying, her little nose that had sniffled so much. He didn't want her to suffer anymore, he did intended to keep his promise, they were make Ron return to them, even if that meant having to see Ron and Hermione so 'comfortable' around each other. Harry steadily turned to her, placing his mouth on her forehead, he didn't move his lips, he just wanted to have a nice contact. I am not going to let you fall along with Ron, Hermione. This was his last conscious thought, for he fell asleep right after.
Ten minutes later, the door to the girl's dormitory opened, and Lavender peeked her head inside, she didn't see Harry or Hermione over the window and took at as a good sign. She walked quietly towards Hermione's bed, hearing the steady breathing. When she got there, she was surprised to see Harry and Hermione in deep sleep, Hermione had her arm placed lightly over his waist, while his hand was on her shoulder. Lavender was confused, but since Hermione hadn't sleep in a long she decided not to say something. She walked to the one poster and silently pulled the last curtain so that when the girls came back they couldn't see that the Boy Who Lived, was sleeping right there in their room.
TO BE CONTINUED.
So sorry for all the time it took to post this chapter. But I went in a holiday vacation, and had no opportunity to write. I hope you like the chapter. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, review!!!! Tell me what you think!!!! PLEASE I BEG OF YOU!!!! Until the next time. Sayonara.