"Don't Stop Believing"
Chapter 09
August 11, 2005
The next morning, Harry awoke and shifted uncomfortably in the chair he was sleeping in. He had come to the hospital last night and sat with Hermione. He watched her as he chest rose and fell. She was breathing so slowly that it was easy to assume she wasn't breathing at all. Ron was sitting in a chair with his hand held tightly in hers.
"Ron, have you been to sleep?" asked Harry while rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"I figure I ought to be awake when she comes around," Ron said, looking up at Harry. He wasn't crying now, but the red and puffy eyes gave away that Ron had been.
"I''m going to go find a healer and see what he can tell me. When I get back, I'll sit. You really ought to sleep. At least for an hour or so," Harry said looking at Ron who simply nodded. Harry walked out and to the medi-witch station, where a small brunette woman was running through files.
"Excuse me," Harry said, and tapped on the counter. The nurse looked up annoyed, but she saw the scar and immeadietly smiled.
"Yes, Mr. Potter?"
Her eyes lingered on the scar but dropped level to his eyes after a moment. Harry read the nametag that she wore on her robes.
"Miss Light, would it be possible to speak to the healer who is treating Hermione Granger?" Harry asked.
"Absolutely. He is in his office right now. You go all the way to the end of the hall and there is a door there. Go through it and there will be two doors. Take the one on your right," she said smiling and handing him a pass that said Visitor. Harry walked down the hall and through the door. When he was on the other side, he saw that it looked like a waiting room. Harry knocked on the door and a voice from the other side told him to enter.
"Ah, yes. Mr. Potter. I suspect you want to know about Miss Granger?" The man was all of 5 feet tall with a youthful face. He didn't look much older than Harry.
"Yes. Forgive me, but the medi-witch didn't tell me you name," Harry said sitting down in a chair.
"Johnathon Diggory." Harry eyes widened at the last name, and he tried to recover before the man noticed, but it was too late.
"Before you begin to wonder, which I know you will, as you are Harry Potter, let me tell you. Cedric was my younger cousin. His father and my father are brothers," Johnathon said, nodding to a photo that was hanging beside Harry. Cedric and Johnathon were standing with two men. One was Amos and Harry assumed the other was Johnathon's father.
"I..Well...yes. So what can you tell me about Hermione?" Harry asked returning his eyes back to the healer's.
"We are trying desperately to find out what happened. You friend, Mr. Weasley refuses to tell us where you were when she was injured," he said looking over the file in front of him.
"Mr. Diggory, this is not to leave this room. Do you understand that? If it was to get out ... we might have some serious consequences," Harry said, looking at the man with a stiff smile.
"Call me Johnathon and of course it will not," he said.
"I can't tell you where we were but I can tell you what she touched," Harry said, wondering if he should do this. The healer nodded and Harry continued.
"Do you know what a horcrux is?" Harry asked quietly. The man nodded and waved his hand for Harry to continue.
"I...we...well we were looking for one and - "'
"Why in the name of Merlin would you be looking for a horcrux? Do you have any idea of how dangerous they can be?" Diggory looked as though Harry had lost his mind.
"Voldemort. We were looking for horcruxes that belonged to Voldemort," Harry said.
"I see. What did she touch?"
"A cup. A very old cup that belonged to a very important witch. Voldemort used it as a horcrux," Harry said looking at the man who was now staring wide-eyed.
"I don't have much else to tell you about what she touched," Harry said.
"She suffered spell damage Harry. We knew that the moment she was brought in. The question is how severe is it?"
"Is she going to be okay? Just tell me she's going to be okay," Harry said forcing back the worry that was plaguing him.
"Your friend is a very strong girl, however, I cannot promise you anything Harry. She may never wake up or she may wake up in an hour," he said tapping his quill on the desk.
"That's all you know? She may wake up today or years from now?" Harry looked at him in disbelief and stood up to leave.
"Harry. She's asleep, not dead. She's under a very deep sleep and I will try everything to bring her out of it," he said firmly. Harry looked for doubt in his eyes, but all he saw was confidence. Harry hoped this man knew what he was doing. Harry returned to Hermione's room to see Ron was asleep in the chair. However, he had moved the chair over to the bed and was still holding her hand. Hary smiled slightly and sat down in the other chair. He grasped Hermione's other hand and lowered his head. It was silent until a very furious woman started yelling outside.
"Ma'am, you cannot see her. She already has two visitors. Hospital policy states -"
"I don't give a bloody hell what your policy states. Where is she?" the woman roared. Harry recognized the voice and walked out into the hallway to see Ginny. She was red-faced and about to cry. He led Ginny into Hermione's room, and nodded at the medi-witch who looked unsure as though what to do.
Ginny's show of anger was gone when she saw Hemione. She gasped and felt her knees go weak. Harry held onto her and placed her in the chair. Ginny grasped her hand and took a breath.
"What did they say?" Ginny asked, as she pushed hair out of Hermione's face.
"She's going to live Ginny. However, we don't know when she'll wake up," Harry said, pulling out his wand and creating another chair. He glanced at Ron who was shifting uncomfortablly in the chair and flicked his wand.It turned into a loveseat. Tiny, but alot more comfortable. Ron's head softly hit the edge.
"It shouldn't have been her. You three should not have done this. You needed her. Why didn't you let me go? I never would have let her touch it," Ginny said. Tears were forming in her eyes.
"We couldn't stop her. Gin, I wouldn't have let any of you touch it. You all shouldn't even be with me," Harry said running his hand through his hair.
"You can't stop us. Hermione is not laying in this bed so that you can push us away and stop us from helping," Ginny said, turning to Harry.
"Look what it did. Do you see her? Ginny, is losing Hermione worth this?" asked Harry, who was now staring into Ginny's eyes.
"Hermione knew. Ron knew. We all knew it could come to this," Ginny said quietly.
Harry sighed and nodded. There was a knock at the door and it opened slightly to reveal the Granger's and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley standing outside. Harry nodded and the four entered.
"John and Madeline have come to see Hermione," Arthur said.
"We'll go," Ginny said, standing up and waking Ron. Ron saw the Grangers and nodded. The three walked out into the hall.
"I'm going outside for a moment," Ginny said, and she descended the stairs. Harry and Ron stood there looking at each other for a moment.
"Ron, I never meant - "
"I know Harry," Ron said, and he too desecended the stairs. Harry stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. Finally, the medi-witches were getting on his nerves and he walked downstairs.
Once he came outside and into the light, he saw Ginny sitting on the sidewalk wth something in her hands. Harry walked over and saw her holding a unlit cigarette.
"Ginny, you really shouldn't. Your mother would kill you," Harry said, sitting down beside her.
"Oh please. What do you think when she hides in the laundry room," Ginny said, bringing it to her lips to light it. Harry grabbed it out of her hand and crushed it. Harry held out his hand and she placed a pack of cigarette in it.
"Don't Ginny. It isn't worth it," Harry said. She nodded and began to play with a string on her purse.
"Why did you leave me Harry?" Ginny said looking across the street and the people walking by.
"There was no way you could go. How would you have gotten there?" Harry said. Now that he thought about it, she could have apparated with him. If something we to happen to him, though she would be stuck there.
"Apparation. I could have apparated," Ginny said.
"If something were to happen to me, you'd be stuck," Harry said.
"Harry, I can apparate. Bill explained it all to me last summer. I've practiced a few times and not once did I splinch myself," Ginny said, almost smiling.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Harry asked.
"I wanted to show you. I thought you'd be...well I thought you'd be impressed," Ginny said, smiling slightly. Harry nodded and looked down.
"Are you angry Ginny?" Harry asked looking at her. She shook her head no.
"I'm not angry. I'm upset about Hermione and I'm upset that you left me. I'm upset that you could have died and I wouldn't have got to say goodbye. I'm upset that Ron and Hermione couldn't say goodbye," Ginny said quickly. She took a breath and wiped a tear that had slid down her cheek.
"You won't do it again, Harry," Ginny said sternly.
"If I have to follow you around, I will. You will not leave me to wonder if you're ever coming back," she said, as she placed her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her pulled her closer.
"I know."
A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed. I appreaciate all of your comments greatly. Keep reading and reviewing. :D
A special thank you goes to my proofreader David. He is awesome for doing this. :D Thanks !