There For You
Chapter 18: Ruddy Nurses
Author's Note: Ok, so the last cliffhanger wasn't really the MOTHER of all cliffies. I guess I thought everyone would get really anxious about Harry doing that but I thought about it and it wasn't that bad, more of a child cliffhanger...or something. Also, at the end of the chapter, there aren't any individuals yet because I don't have time to do them right now but I wanted to post this. They'll be up as soon as possible! By the way, there are 105 days left until Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is in the theaters! Yay! If you go to www.mugglenet.com, you can get a counter that says how many days, hours, minutes, and seconds are left until it's released. I put it on my desktop so I see it every time I get on the computer! Lol, sounds obsessive, huh? Anyway, here we go!
Harry arrived in the very crowded lobby of the Emergency Room of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Mediwizards were rushing around into different doors along the wall across from him. Chairs filled with people sporting various injuries sat on the opposite wall. He noticed a receptionist's desk down the hall and jogged down to it, nearly running into a child coming out of the lavatory. She stuck out her tongue at him before skipping away to her mother. Harry stepped up to the desk and rang a small bell in front of him. An old woman with snow-white hair pulled into a large bun at the back of her head and a glare to rival McGonagall's walked over.
"May I help you?" she asked though Harry had a feeling assisting him was the last thing she wanted to do.
"Um, yeah, I'd like to see Hermione Granger. Please." She looked him up and down skeptically. Harry realized he probably looked like a mess. His hair was likely in worse shape than usual and his clothes wrinkled and dirty.
"Are you family?"
"Er, yes, I'm her...brother."
"I see. Miss Granger already has a visitor and won't be allowed another for quite some time."
"Please, I really need to see her! I'm her best friend and want to know how she's doing!" he exclaimed, his anger rising.
"I thought you were her brother? And please keep your voice down."
"Well, we're really close! Can I just see her for a minute?"
"I'm afraid that-" Madame Pomfrey came down the hallway at that moment.
"Madame Pomfrey!" he exclaimed. "She won't let me see Hermione!"
"Come with me, Potter," she answered.
"Potter? I thought they were related?" the receptionist asked.
"Not at all. Let's go, Harry."
"Excuse me! Miss Granger is only allowed one visitor and he is already in the room!" Madame Pomfrey ignored her and led Harry down the hall to the stairs. They climbed them until they reached the double doors Harry remembered from the year before marked, 'Spell Damage'. They went through the doors and down three long corridors until they reached room 303. Madame Pomfrey knocked lightly before pushing open the door. Ron had been lying next to Hermione but leapt out when they entered.
"Teenagers," Madame Pomfrey muttered. "All right you two. I must return to Hogwarts and speak with the Headmaster as well as check on Miss Weasley."
"She's fine," Harry said.
"Well, all the same, I'm leaving for the time being." She nodded to them and disparated. Ron walked over and patted Harry on the shoulder.
"How're you doing, mate?"
"Not great. So, how's Hermione?" Ron sighed and Harry detected a glimmer of tears in his eyes.
"In a coma, apparently. As soon as she got here they took her into surgery. As far as I can understand, the curse that Death Eater gave her was sort of...shutting down her organs or something like that. When she passed out, it was closing off air between her lungs and her brain I guess. The first part of the curse was sort of stabbing at her organs and stuff. I don't know, I wasn't listening much when they tried to explain it to me; just a complicated, deadly spell. They got her all under control and she can breath with those tubes. Her brain's okay and her organs are working all right. Thing is, they don't know about her ability for pregnancy. Might be possible but it's probably better not to risk it. That'll crush her." He sighed again. "So, now we just have to wait for her to wake up." He stood beside her and touched her face. "Bloody Death Eaters, hope they all die."
"When do they think she'll wake?" Harry asked, staring at the lifeless face of Hermione.
"No idea. I've been talking to her, you know, so she knows I'm here and help her come back. It-it kills me though," Ron said then swallowed slowly. "It kills me to talk to her when she doesn't answer. She can't even bloody hear me. And Pomfrey said they won't let me stay here tonight. How am I supposed to leave her though? I mean, what if she wakes up and no one's here? She shouldn't have to be alone after all the shit we've been through. Ruddy nurses."
"Maybe if Dumbledore talked to them they'd let you." Ron shrugged.
"Her parents are coming tomorrow. I don't know how to explain it all to them. They won't understand. They'll probably get mad at me."
"They know Hermione has a mind of her own."
"I don't know. So, Dumbledore come back then?"
"Yeah, about half an hour after I did."
"So what happened?" Harry filled him in on everything that took place when the lights went out and after as well as everything Dumbledore had said in the Hospital Wing.
"Blimey, that's bloody amazing. That Lestrange woman died? Wow. Wonder where You-Know-Who went."
"Don't know. What happened when you and Hermione were downstairs?" Ron told him about the fight with the Death Eaters and spying through the door after.
"So, you turned out the lights then?" Harry asked.
"No, Hermione did. I told her not to but she doesn't listen to me. We fought about her 'plan' and she did it before I could stop her."
FLASHBACK
"Ron," Hermione whispered. "I-" she winced and clutched her stomach. "I have a plan. I'm going to turn out the lights. Once they're out, we run in, you get Ginny and take a portkey back to Hogwarts. I'll lay down where she was and put my robes over my head so they can't see my face. The lights will eventually get turned back on, hopefully by the time you're out of the room, and when an appropriate time comes, I'll...I don't know, hex Bellatrix or something."
"No! That's crazy! I'm not leaving you in a room with two dark wizards!" he argued.
"Ron, it's the only way to get Ginny out. She can't leave without help but I can! Harry and I'll get out of the room and get to the portkeys and leave! So, on three we go."
"No, Hermione, I won't-"
"One-"
"We aren't doing-"
"Two-"
"Stop-"
"Three!"
END FLASHBACK
"And then she went! I had to go along by then. I mean, yeah, it got Ginny out but with the bloody curse Hermione got, if you'd been there too long, well, she could be dead! You got out and all but what if you hadn't? I don't even want to think about what could've happened." Ron shuddered and sat down onto Hermione's bed. Harry looked at his best friend with a heavy heart. It was now or never.
"That's mainly why I came here," Harry started. "I've made a decision after all this. We-we can't be friends anymore." Ron cocked an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Being my friend is too dangerous. All of you, you, Hermione, and Ginny, are all at risk. I can't let it continue. I broke up with Ginny; she was asleep though. Now, I'm breaking it off with you two. So, when you see Ginny and when Hermione wakes up, tell them I love them both."
"Are you off your rocker?"
"No, Ron!" Harry exclaimed. "I've thought about this and it's the best thing to do! Ginny got taken 'cause she was the most important thing in my life! The person I'd miss the most! Voldemort found out and kidnapped her! You and Hermione could have been captured too! If I don't have close friends then there won't be anyone to take! The same happened to Sirius and he's gone!"
"Harry, you've gone mad! You can't cut out all your friends!"
"I can and I have to! Look at Hermione! She's in a bloody coma! She could've died, you said so yourself! And Ginny too! I can't let stuff like that happen anymore! I'm surprised you're okay!"
"But-"
"I shouldn't have let you lot come in the first place. I knew what we were getting ourselves into and still let you come. Well, we actually should've got Dumbledore first but we didn't."
"You didn't let us come, we chose to come!"
"But I could've stopped you! I could've made you let go of me and taken the bracelet. Instead, I led you into danger. Well, that's not happening anymore. I'm doing everything alone now so no one gets hurt."
"You think not being your friend won't hurt? And how do you expect to live without friends?"
"It's not like we'll never talk, we just can't be where we are now. I can't come to the Burrow and we can't hang out all the time. It'll be like how I am with...Dean! And Hermione like Parvati!"
"I'm going to be like Dean? Well who the hell is Ginny going to be? Luna? Lavender? You can't be serious!"
"Do I look like I'm joking? Look, it's the best for all of you. I'm doing this to keep you safe! I can't let something like this happen to Hermione anymore! It's her second time almost dying from helping me!"
"So you'll fight alone? Harry, you need help, that's why we come! Because we bloody care about you! You can't be the only one to fight Voldemort!" Harry stared at him in shock.
"You-you just said Voldemort." Ron also seemed surprised.
"Yeah...yeah well that's how mad I am!"
"Look, you don't understand!"
"What don't I understand?"
"I am the only one!" Harry's anger had reached boiling point.
"The only what?"
"The only one who can kill him! That's what the prophecy said last year! One of us must die at the hands of the other. Dumbledore can't kill him, an Auror can't, only I can!" He started to shake, tears were welling in his eyes, and shouting louder than ever. "If I don't bloody get rid of him, he'll never die! It's me...it has to be me." He covered his face with his hands and sunk to the floor. "I have to do it alone...I have to do it alone." Ron knelt in front of him.
"But you aren't alone, Harry!" Ron also started to cry. "You aren't bloody alone. You-you never have to be. We're always going to be there for you and...and you can't do anything to get rid of us. You can't do it!" He wrapped his arms around Harry's body. They sat there together, weeping into each other's shoulders. Harry held onto Ron, crying for Ginny, Sirius, Hermione, his family, and his fate. He cried for what he feared might be, the death that could come for those he cared for, the pain everyone had experienced, and the darkness of the future. It couldn't be prevented, it couldn't be changed, and he felt powerless against it all.
When they felt they couldn't cry anymore, they just sat together. Neither spoke. Ron looked at Harry, considering whether to speak or wait. Harry beat him to it.
"Sorry about that, Ron. Didn't mean to break down like that. I should go."
"What do you mean, you should go? Harry-" Suddenly, Professor Dumbledore appeared behind them.
"Hello, boys," he said kindly.
"Professor, tell him he's insane!"
"Perhaps if I had a reason to," he said, sounding amused by his statement.
"He said he wants to stop being friends with us so we don't get hurt!" The headmaster nodded.
"I see. I feared you would eventually come up with that solution, Harry. You are not insane to think that is a good idea but I must agree with Mr. Weasley, you should not do it."
"Professor, you don't understand-"
"I assure you, I understand completely. You believe ridding yourself of friends will keep them out of danger of Voldemort and his followers. This, however, is not true. All of the magical and muggle communities are susceptible to his evil. The people you associate with are not necessarily the top on his list. By living a life of solitude, I fear you will become a different person entirely. You would lose your sense of good, likely fall into depression, and ultimately lose the power that will help you fight at all."
"But every time I do fight, my friends end up hurt like Ginny and Hermione and what happened to Sirius!"
"Those unfortunate events are not your fault. Casualties are inevitable, Harry. It does not matter who is fighting, anyone can be injured."
"But they shouldn't have to! I'm the only one who can do anything to get rid of him anyway so my friends shouldn't have to be put into danger in the first place!"
"You cannot fight Voldemort alone. You may be the only one who can defeat him but no battle can be won without others to stand by and support you. Do you remember what the Sorting Hat said last year and this year? It said we all must unite and work together. No one person can conquer evil on their own and no one expects you to. The Order was created so a group of people could work and fight for the cause of good. We must band together and if you are the one to lead us, so be it. If you rid yourself of companions, who will you lead?" This left Harry speechless.
"Besides, Harry, I won't let you," Ron said. "I won't be dropped like that so easily. I'll drive you so mad; you'll have to be friends with me. And Hermione could talk nonstop for a week if she wanted. Don't even get me started on what Ginny would do to you." Harry nodded.
"I suppose you're right."
"Yes," Ron smiled. His expression soon softened into sadness. "Um, I'm really sorry, about the prophecy and all. But, it'll all turn out in the end. I know you well enough to know you can't be beat."
"I hope you're right," Harry sighed. "At least Ginny wasn't awake when I told her. I was going to have you talk to her when she woke up."
"She'd probably hex you then talk some sense into you." They laughed and Dumbledore grinned, a twinkle in his eye. A nurse knocked on the door and stuck her head in.
"Sorry boys, but visiting time is over. Oh, hello Mr. Dumbledore."
"Good evening, Miss. I just came to collect my students. We will be leaving now." Ron shook his head.
"No, I'm not leaving. I'll sleep in the chair; it doesn't matter. I can sleep anywhere."
"That is out of the question. No over night guests are allowed," the nurse argued.
"Come on, she's in a bloody coma! Nothing's going to happen!" Dumbldore laid a hand on his shoulder.
"But Professor, I want to stay-"
"I know, Mr. Weasley, but it is against the rules. When do visiting hours begin tomorrow?" he asked the nurse.
"At eight o'clock." (I have no idea when hospital waiting hours are.)
"He will be back at eight then." She nodded again, looking unhappy about this information, before shutting the door.
"You may tell Miss Granger good-bye for now," Dumbledore told them. Ron sighed in annoyance but obeyed. He kissed her forehead and adjusted her pillows before pulling her blankets up to her shoulders.
"I'll be back first thing tomorrow morning," he whispered. "I love you. Bye." Harry stepped up and lightly pecked her cheek.
"Night, Hermione. See you soon."
"Come along," Dumbledore said and placed a hand on their shoulders. They disappeared from the room and landed in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts. (I know they can't apparate in Hogwarts...he made his hat into a portkey or something.) As soon as they came, Mrs. Weasley mauled them with hugs and kisses.
"Oh my stars! Are you all right? Are you injured? How is Hermione? Oh thank you both for saving Ginny! I was so worried when I heard you had left!" Mr. Weasley gently pulled her away from the boys, who were beginning to turn blue from her arms around them. She sobbed and almost embraced them again but Arthur held on tight. Harry looked around them to see Ginny trying to sit up and being restrained by Madame Pomfrey. She was looking at him and frantically trying to speak but she still had no voice.
"Miss Weasley, please! Mr. Potter is right there! Come here, Mr. Potter before she knocks me over!" Harry moved around the Weasleys and stood beside Ginny. She grabbed him into a tight hug then released him and looked into his face. He smiled at her for a second before she slapped him forcefully. He jumped up in shock.
"What was that for?!" It didn't matter though, she could not explain without her voice. She settled for falling back on the bed and glaring at him. Harry noticed Fred and George laughing by the wall.
"Ginny!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. "Harry tries to save your life and this is how you repay him!" Ginny wanted to argue desperately.
"Why can't she talk?" Harry asked.
"She has temporarily lost her voice from all the stress and pain she went through," Madame Pomfrey explained.
"Isn't there something you can give her for it?"
"Yes, it is brewing right now. I want her to stop flailing around as much as you do."
"Perhaps if she wrote it down," Dumbledore offered and conjured a piece of parchment and a quill. Ginny took it and furiously scribbled out a few sentences then handed it to Harry. He read it over and stared at her.
"You heard what I said? I thought you were asleep!" She snatched the paper out of his fingers and wrote more.
"'I thought I was dreaming but when you kissed my head, I realized I wasn't and that you'd actually said that and woke up and tried to call you but couldn't,'" he read.
"You said what?" Mrs. Weasley asked. Ginny waved her hand angrily to silence her mother who looked highly affronted. She stared at Harry, waiting for him to explain.
"I'm sorry, Ginny. Um, change of plans. Ron, Dumbledore,and I talked and I'm not doing that anymore. I'm sorry I made you worry." She nodded, still upset but also relieved to hear it. She relaxed into the bed. Exerting that much energy had greatly tired her. He cautiously knelt down beside her and took her hand.
"Are you still mad?" She exhaled pensively before nodding her head.
"Why?" Madame Pomfrey walked over and handed Ginny a steaming glass of pale blue liquid. Downing it in one gulp proved to be a poor action as the heat of it burned her throat, making her sputter in pain. She grabbed the water glass on her bedside table and sipped it quickly.
"Because," she coughed, her voice audible but very hoarse. "I was waiting here after you said all that to me and I didn't know where you went and I was just really mad! You made me so worried!" He looked at her uncomfortably.
"I'm sorry, Ginny. I thought it would be best for you all if I just stayed out of your lives. Can you blame me after all this?"
"Well, I hope you realize what a stupid idea that is!"
"Stayed out of whose lives?" Mrs. Weasley asked anxiously.
"Never mind, Mum. We've worked it out," Ron said.
"But what are they talking about?"
"Molly, perhaps the kids need some time to talk alone," Mr. Weasley suggested, looking at Dumbledore for support.
"Yes, we can leave them alone for a bit. Soon though, you all need to have a nights rest. You are all excused from classes for a few days to recuperate." Ron and Harry nodded in thanks. "Harry, we will talk tomorrow."
"Headmaster, I believe the children need rest now," Madame Pomfrey argued. "All talking can wait until tomorrow."
"Reflection will help them, Poppy," he answered. "Staying up for a little while longer will not hurt." She crossed her arms and stalked off to her office.
"Wait!" Ginny said. "Where's Hermione?"
"She's in a coma," Ron said softly. Ginny's jaw dropped.
"What? How?" Mrs. Weasley began crying again.
"Come on, Molly." Mr. Weasley ushered his wife out of the room. She quickly kissed them all good night, promising to see them again in a day or two. The twins stepped up to Ron and Harry.
"Glad you're all right," Fred told them, clapping them both on the shoulder.
"Heard our invisibility rope came in handy," George said, winking.
"Yep, thanks," Ron replied.
"Well, have fun not going to class." Fred grinned. "Don't get in too much trouble. Sorry about Hermione." Ron nodded in thanks. The twins bid Ginny good night and left the room. Harry sat in his chair next to Ginny from earlier that night and Ron pulled another over and sat on her other side.
"What happened to Hermione?" Ginny asked again, tears welling in her eyes. Ron looked close to crying too. Harry took her hands comfortingly and bit his lip.
"I guess I should explain, eh Ron?" Ron didn't answer. He stared sadly at the floor. Harry told her everything that had happened, from beginning to end. Her tears overflowed and she wiped at them angrily.
"Poor Hermione," she sniffed. "All because of me."
"It wasn't your fault," Harry countered. "He took you 'cause of me."
"It wasn't your fault either. Didn't Ron mention that when you talked?"
"Yeah, but still! He wanted me to come so he took you." Ginny opened her mouth ready to argue but Ron cut her off.
"Don't even bloody start. It's nobody's fault so just shut it. Arguing doesn't do a damn thing." Harry found this an ironic statement after all the fighting Ron had done with Hermione. Ginny looked at him with great pity.
"I'm so sorry, Ron." She reached out and held his hand. He gave her a barely visible smile.
"Ron, she'll be fine," Harry tried to reassure him. "I'm sure she'll wake up in a day or two. She's really strong. It'll take her no time at all to be up and running again."
"Harry's right, Ron. Hermione's going to pull through this, no problem at all," Ginny agreed. Ron stood up and ruffled Ginny's hair then laid down in the bed next to hers, his back to them. Harry opened his mouth to speak to him but Ginny held up her hand. He nodded in understanding and took her hand again.
"Then, you don't like Cho?" she asked Harry. He shook his head and leaned forward to kiss her cheek. She took his face and pulled him to her lips, kissing him softly.
"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you before. But after all she'd been doing I just... I don't know, couldn't hear an explanation from you."
"It's all right. Heard you really did one on Cho though." This made Ginny smile wickedly.
"Funnest thing I've ever done except hexing Malfoy. And you know flying and snogging and stuff." He laughed.
"I love you though. You know that now, right?" he asked. She smiled and kissed him again.
"I love you too. Thank you for coming to get me. And you too, Ron." Ron, however, was asleep by now, snoring quietly.
"Are you feeling okay?" he asked.
"Exhausted, actually."
"But I mean, you couldn't move before."
"I don't think I will be moving for awhile now. The slap was a bit of adrenaline I guess. My body does feel pretty weak and immobile right now."
"I'm really sorry-" She put her finger to his lips.
"Apologize again and I'll hex you the minute I can."
"I think I have every right to apologize to you!"
"Harry, please. I don't blame you at all and no one does. Don't tell yourself it was your fault."
"Gin-"
"Harry, all I care about is that we're all alive, not whose fault it is. Please, just don't." He could have easily fought her on it but decided to listen to her.
"Fine."
"Now, are you alright? I mean, I know you're mad and all but are you, you know, physically okay? Any hexes or anything?" He shook his head.
"No, no hexes. Honestly, I don't know how Ron and I didn't get hurt."
"I don't know either but I'm glad you didn't."
"It should be me in that bed though, not you."
"How about none of us should be like this, okay? Like I said, let's just be thankful we're alive."
"All right. I'm pretty beat, I think I'll take that bed over there tonight," he said, pointing to the one beside him.
"All right. Good night. I love you very much." He stood and kissed her softly.
"I love you too." Almost the minute his head touched the pillow he fell asleep. Ginny adjusted her covers before dropping into slumber again. Madame Pomfrey fiercely opened the door and stomped out to tell them all to get to bed but stopped when she saw them. She hadn't expected the boys to sleep in there also since they were not injured. She threw her hands up in the air and returned to her office.
"The whole school might as well sleep in one room as the boys can't seem to stay away from the girls!" she exclaimed to herself.
Author's Note: Hallelujah! *Angels sing* No cliffhanger! That was hard to write! I had to make sure to mention everything so all the characters were all on the same page and everything, whew! Bunch more talking to do though, between Harry and Dumbledore, probably a talk with Harry and Lupin, R/H in the hospital stuff, etc. Oh man. I've been asked how long this is going to be chapter wise but I don't know. I still have a lot to include so I'm guessing five or more chapters, expect the more part. So, how was it? By the way, I'm from Colorado, USA from my little poll thing. Most who answered were from the US but I still know of some Aussie readers, three actually, I made a mistake before. Ok, no individuals like I said before. They'll be up as soon as I can type them! Also, I have a lot of homework this weekend because I've been procrastinating way too much (I know, shame on me) so don't expect another update for a week or two. Like always, I'll get it up as soon as I can but I really need to do some homework. Ok, until next time!
Chapter 18: Ruddy Nurses
Author's Note: Ok, so the last cliffhanger wasn't really the MOTHER of all cliffies. I guess I thought everyone would get really anxious about Harry doing that but I thought about it and it wasn't that bad, more of a child cliffhanger...or something. Also, at the end of the chapter, there aren't any individuals yet because I don't have time to do them right now but I wanted to post this. They'll be up as soon as possible! By the way, there are 105 days left until Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is in the theaters! Yay! If you go to www.mugglenet.com, you can get a counter that says how many days, hours, minutes, and seconds are left until it's released. I put it on my desktop so I see it every time I get on the computer! Lol, sounds obsessive, huh? Anyway, here we go!
Harry arrived in the very crowded lobby of the Emergency Room of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Mediwizards were rushing around into different doors along the wall across from him. Chairs filled with people sporting various injuries sat on the opposite wall. He noticed a receptionist's desk down the hall and jogged down to it, nearly running into a child coming out of the lavatory. She stuck out her tongue at him before skipping away to her mother. Harry stepped up to the desk and rang a small bell in front of him. An old woman with snow-white hair pulled into a large bun at the back of her head and a glare to rival McGonagall's walked over.
"May I help you?" she asked though Harry had a feeling assisting him was the last thing she wanted to do.
"Um, yeah, I'd like to see Hermione Granger. Please." She looked him up and down skeptically. Harry realized he probably looked like a mess. His hair was likely in worse shape than usual and his clothes wrinkled and dirty.
"Are you family?"
"Er, yes, I'm her...brother."
"I see. Miss Granger already has a visitor and won't be allowed another for quite some time."
"Please, I really need to see her! I'm her best friend and want to know how she's doing!" he exclaimed, his anger rising.
"I thought you were her brother? And please keep your voice down."
"Well, we're really close! Can I just see her for a minute?"
"I'm afraid that-" Madame Pomfrey came down the hallway at that moment.
"Madame Pomfrey!" he exclaimed. "She won't let me see Hermione!"
"Come with me, Potter," she answered.
"Potter? I thought they were related?" the receptionist asked.
"Not at all. Let's go, Harry."
"Excuse me! Miss Granger is only allowed one visitor and he is already in the room!" Madame Pomfrey ignored her and led Harry down the hall to the stairs. They climbed them until they reached the double doors Harry remembered from the year before marked, 'Spell Damage'. They went through the doors and down three long corridors until they reached room 303. Madame Pomfrey knocked lightly before pushing open the door. Ron had been lying next to Hermione but leapt out when they entered.
"Teenagers," Madame Pomfrey muttered. "All right you two. I must return to Hogwarts and speak with the Headmaster as well as check on Miss Weasley."
"She's fine," Harry said.
"Well, all the same, I'm leaving for the time being." She nodded to them and disparated. Ron walked over and patted Harry on the shoulder.
"How're you doing, mate?"
"Not great. So, how's Hermione?" Ron sighed and Harry detected a glimmer of tears in his eyes.
"In a coma, apparently. As soon as she got here they took her into surgery. As far as I can understand, the curse that Death Eater gave her was sort of...shutting down her organs or something like that. When she passed out, it was closing off air between her lungs and her brain I guess. The first part of the curse was sort of stabbing at her organs and stuff. I don't know, I wasn't listening much when they tried to explain it to me; just a complicated, deadly spell. They got her all under control and she can breath with those tubes. Her brain's okay and her organs are working all right. Thing is, they don't know about her ability for pregnancy. Might be possible but it's probably better not to risk it. That'll crush her." He sighed again. "So, now we just have to wait for her to wake up." He stood beside her and touched her face. "Bloody Death Eaters, hope they all die."
"When do they think she'll wake?" Harry asked, staring at the lifeless face of Hermione.
"No idea. I've been talking to her, you know, so she knows I'm here and help her come back. It-it kills me though," Ron said then swallowed slowly. "It kills me to talk to her when she doesn't answer. She can't even bloody hear me. And Pomfrey said they won't let me stay here tonight. How am I supposed to leave her though? I mean, what if she wakes up and no one's here? She shouldn't have to be alone after all the shit we've been through. Ruddy nurses."
"Maybe if Dumbledore talked to them they'd let you." Ron shrugged.
"Her parents are coming tomorrow. I don't know how to explain it all to them. They won't understand. They'll probably get mad at me."
"They know Hermione has a mind of her own."
"I don't know. So, Dumbledore come back then?"
"Yeah, about half an hour after I did."
"So what happened?" Harry filled him in on everything that took place when the lights went out and after as well as everything Dumbledore had said in the Hospital Wing.
"Blimey, that's bloody amazing. That Lestrange woman died? Wow. Wonder where You-Know-Who went."
"Don't know. What happened when you and Hermione were downstairs?" Ron told him about the fight with the Death Eaters and spying through the door after.
"So, you turned out the lights then?" Harry asked.
"No, Hermione did. I told her not to but she doesn't listen to me. We fought about her 'plan' and she did it before I could stop her."
FLASHBACK
"Ron," Hermione whispered. "I-" she winced and clutched her stomach. "I have a plan. I'm going to turn out the lights. Once they're out, we run in, you get Ginny and take a portkey back to Hogwarts. I'll lay down where she was and put my robes over my head so they can't see my face. The lights will eventually get turned back on, hopefully by the time you're out of the room, and when an appropriate time comes, I'll...I don't know, hex Bellatrix or something."
"No! That's crazy! I'm not leaving you in a room with two dark wizards!" he argued.
"Ron, it's the only way to get Ginny out. She can't leave without help but I can! Harry and I'll get out of the room and get to the portkeys and leave! So, on three we go."
"No, Hermione, I won't-"
"One-"
"We aren't doing-"
"Two-"
"Stop-"
"Three!"
END FLASHBACK
"And then she went! I had to go along by then. I mean, yeah, it got Ginny out but with the bloody curse Hermione got, if you'd been there too long, well, she could be dead! You got out and all but what if you hadn't? I don't even want to think about what could've happened." Ron shuddered and sat down onto Hermione's bed. Harry looked at his best friend with a heavy heart. It was now or never.
"That's mainly why I came here," Harry started. "I've made a decision after all this. We-we can't be friends anymore." Ron cocked an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Being my friend is too dangerous. All of you, you, Hermione, and Ginny, are all at risk. I can't let it continue. I broke up with Ginny; she was asleep though. Now, I'm breaking it off with you two. So, when you see Ginny and when Hermione wakes up, tell them I love them both."
"Are you off your rocker?"
"No, Ron!" Harry exclaimed. "I've thought about this and it's the best thing to do! Ginny got taken 'cause she was the most important thing in my life! The person I'd miss the most! Voldemort found out and kidnapped her! You and Hermione could have been captured too! If I don't have close friends then there won't be anyone to take! The same happened to Sirius and he's gone!"
"Harry, you've gone mad! You can't cut out all your friends!"
"I can and I have to! Look at Hermione! She's in a bloody coma! She could've died, you said so yourself! And Ginny too! I can't let stuff like that happen anymore! I'm surprised you're okay!"
"But-"
"I shouldn't have let you lot come in the first place. I knew what we were getting ourselves into and still let you come. Well, we actually should've got Dumbledore first but we didn't."
"You didn't let us come, we chose to come!"
"But I could've stopped you! I could've made you let go of me and taken the bracelet. Instead, I led you into danger. Well, that's not happening anymore. I'm doing everything alone now so no one gets hurt."
"You think not being your friend won't hurt? And how do you expect to live without friends?"
"It's not like we'll never talk, we just can't be where we are now. I can't come to the Burrow and we can't hang out all the time. It'll be like how I am with...Dean! And Hermione like Parvati!"
"I'm going to be like Dean? Well who the hell is Ginny going to be? Luna? Lavender? You can't be serious!"
"Do I look like I'm joking? Look, it's the best for all of you. I'm doing this to keep you safe! I can't let something like this happen to Hermione anymore! It's her second time almost dying from helping me!"
"So you'll fight alone? Harry, you need help, that's why we come! Because we bloody care about you! You can't be the only one to fight Voldemort!" Harry stared at him in shock.
"You-you just said Voldemort." Ron also seemed surprised.
"Yeah...yeah well that's how mad I am!"
"Look, you don't understand!"
"What don't I understand?"
"I am the only one!" Harry's anger had reached boiling point.
"The only what?"
"The only one who can kill him! That's what the prophecy said last year! One of us must die at the hands of the other. Dumbledore can't kill him, an Auror can't, only I can!" He started to shake, tears were welling in his eyes, and shouting louder than ever. "If I don't bloody get rid of him, he'll never die! It's me...it has to be me." He covered his face with his hands and sunk to the floor. "I have to do it alone...I have to do it alone." Ron knelt in front of him.
"But you aren't alone, Harry!" Ron also started to cry. "You aren't bloody alone. You-you never have to be. We're always going to be there for you and...and you can't do anything to get rid of us. You can't do it!" He wrapped his arms around Harry's body. They sat there together, weeping into each other's shoulders. Harry held onto Ron, crying for Ginny, Sirius, Hermione, his family, and his fate. He cried for what he feared might be, the death that could come for those he cared for, the pain everyone had experienced, and the darkness of the future. It couldn't be prevented, it couldn't be changed, and he felt powerless against it all.
When they felt they couldn't cry anymore, they just sat together. Neither spoke. Ron looked at Harry, considering whether to speak or wait. Harry beat him to it.
"Sorry about that, Ron. Didn't mean to break down like that. I should go."
"What do you mean, you should go? Harry-" Suddenly, Professor Dumbledore appeared behind them.
"Hello, boys," he said kindly.
"Professor, tell him he's insane!"
"Perhaps if I had a reason to," he said, sounding amused by his statement.
"He said he wants to stop being friends with us so we don't get hurt!" The headmaster nodded.
"I see. I feared you would eventually come up with that solution, Harry. You are not insane to think that is a good idea but I must agree with Mr. Weasley, you should not do it."
"Professor, you don't understand-"
"I assure you, I understand completely. You believe ridding yourself of friends will keep them out of danger of Voldemort and his followers. This, however, is not true. All of the magical and muggle communities are susceptible to his evil. The people you associate with are not necessarily the top on his list. By living a life of solitude, I fear you will become a different person entirely. You would lose your sense of good, likely fall into depression, and ultimately lose the power that will help you fight at all."
"But every time I do fight, my friends end up hurt like Ginny and Hermione and what happened to Sirius!"
"Those unfortunate events are not your fault. Casualties are inevitable, Harry. It does not matter who is fighting, anyone can be injured."
"But they shouldn't have to! I'm the only one who can do anything to get rid of him anyway so my friends shouldn't have to be put into danger in the first place!"
"You cannot fight Voldemort alone. You may be the only one who can defeat him but no battle can be won without others to stand by and support you. Do you remember what the Sorting Hat said last year and this year? It said we all must unite and work together. No one person can conquer evil on their own and no one expects you to. The Order was created so a group of people could work and fight for the cause of good. We must band together and if you are the one to lead us, so be it. If you rid yourself of companions, who will you lead?" This left Harry speechless.
"Besides, Harry, I won't let you," Ron said. "I won't be dropped like that so easily. I'll drive you so mad; you'll have to be friends with me. And Hermione could talk nonstop for a week if she wanted. Don't even get me started on what Ginny would do to you." Harry nodded.
"I suppose you're right."
"Yes," Ron smiled. His expression soon softened into sadness. "Um, I'm really sorry, about the prophecy and all. But, it'll all turn out in the end. I know you well enough to know you can't be beat."
"I hope you're right," Harry sighed. "At least Ginny wasn't awake when I told her. I was going to have you talk to her when she woke up."
"She'd probably hex you then talk some sense into you." They laughed and Dumbledore grinned, a twinkle in his eye. A nurse knocked on the door and stuck her head in.
"Sorry boys, but visiting time is over. Oh, hello Mr. Dumbledore."
"Good evening, Miss. I just came to collect my students. We will be leaving now." Ron shook his head.
"No, I'm not leaving. I'll sleep in the chair; it doesn't matter. I can sleep anywhere."
"That is out of the question. No over night guests are allowed," the nurse argued.
"Come on, she's in a bloody coma! Nothing's going to happen!" Dumbldore laid a hand on his shoulder.
"But Professor, I want to stay-"
"I know, Mr. Weasley, but it is against the rules. When do visiting hours begin tomorrow?" he asked the nurse.
"At eight o'clock." (I have no idea when hospital waiting hours are.)
"He will be back at eight then." She nodded again, looking unhappy about this information, before shutting the door.
"You may tell Miss Granger good-bye for now," Dumbledore told them. Ron sighed in annoyance but obeyed. He kissed her forehead and adjusted her pillows before pulling her blankets up to her shoulders.
"I'll be back first thing tomorrow morning," he whispered. "I love you. Bye." Harry stepped up and lightly pecked her cheek.
"Night, Hermione. See you soon."
"Come along," Dumbledore said and placed a hand on their shoulders. They disappeared from the room and landed in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts. (I know they can't apparate in Hogwarts...he made his hat into a portkey or something.) As soon as they came, Mrs. Weasley mauled them with hugs and kisses.
"Oh my stars! Are you all right? Are you injured? How is Hermione? Oh thank you both for saving Ginny! I was so worried when I heard you had left!" Mr. Weasley gently pulled her away from the boys, who were beginning to turn blue from her arms around them. She sobbed and almost embraced them again but Arthur held on tight. Harry looked around them to see Ginny trying to sit up and being restrained by Madame Pomfrey. She was looking at him and frantically trying to speak but she still had no voice.
"Miss Weasley, please! Mr. Potter is right there! Come here, Mr. Potter before she knocks me over!" Harry moved around the Weasleys and stood beside Ginny. She grabbed him into a tight hug then released him and looked into his face. He smiled at her for a second before she slapped him forcefully. He jumped up in shock.
"What was that for?!" It didn't matter though, she could not explain without her voice. She settled for falling back on the bed and glaring at him. Harry noticed Fred and George laughing by the wall.
"Ginny!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. "Harry tries to save your life and this is how you repay him!" Ginny wanted to argue desperately.
"Why can't she talk?" Harry asked.
"She has temporarily lost her voice from all the stress and pain she went through," Madame Pomfrey explained.
"Isn't there something you can give her for it?"
"Yes, it is brewing right now. I want her to stop flailing around as much as you do."
"Perhaps if she wrote it down," Dumbledore offered and conjured a piece of parchment and a quill. Ginny took it and furiously scribbled out a few sentences then handed it to Harry. He read it over and stared at her.
"You heard what I said? I thought you were asleep!" She snatched the paper out of his fingers and wrote more.
"'I thought I was dreaming but when you kissed my head, I realized I wasn't and that you'd actually said that and woke up and tried to call you but couldn't,'" he read.
"You said what?" Mrs. Weasley asked. Ginny waved her hand angrily to silence her mother who looked highly affronted. She stared at Harry, waiting for him to explain.
"I'm sorry, Ginny. Um, change of plans. Ron, Dumbledore,and I talked and I'm not doing that anymore. I'm sorry I made you worry." She nodded, still upset but also relieved to hear it. She relaxed into the bed. Exerting that much energy had greatly tired her. He cautiously knelt down beside her and took her hand.
"Are you still mad?" She exhaled pensively before nodding her head.
"Why?" Madame Pomfrey walked over and handed Ginny a steaming glass of pale blue liquid. Downing it in one gulp proved to be a poor action as the heat of it burned her throat, making her sputter in pain. She grabbed the water glass on her bedside table and sipped it quickly.
"Because," she coughed, her voice audible but very hoarse. "I was waiting here after you said all that to me and I didn't know where you went and I was just really mad! You made me so worried!" He looked at her uncomfortably.
"I'm sorry, Ginny. I thought it would be best for you all if I just stayed out of your lives. Can you blame me after all this?"
"Well, I hope you realize what a stupid idea that is!"
"Stayed out of whose lives?" Mrs. Weasley asked anxiously.
"Never mind, Mum. We've worked it out," Ron said.
"But what are they talking about?"
"Molly, perhaps the kids need some time to talk alone," Mr. Weasley suggested, looking at Dumbledore for support.
"Yes, we can leave them alone for a bit. Soon though, you all need to have a nights rest. You are all excused from classes for a few days to recuperate." Ron and Harry nodded in thanks. "Harry, we will talk tomorrow."
"Headmaster, I believe the children need rest now," Madame Pomfrey argued. "All talking can wait until tomorrow."
"Reflection will help them, Poppy," he answered. "Staying up for a little while longer will not hurt." She crossed her arms and stalked off to her office.
"Wait!" Ginny said. "Where's Hermione?"
"She's in a coma," Ron said softly. Ginny's jaw dropped.
"What? How?" Mrs. Weasley began crying again.
"Come on, Molly." Mr. Weasley ushered his wife out of the room. She quickly kissed them all good night, promising to see them again in a day or two. The twins stepped up to Ron and Harry.
"Glad you're all right," Fred told them, clapping them both on the shoulder.
"Heard our invisibility rope came in handy," George said, winking.
"Yep, thanks," Ron replied.
"Well, have fun not going to class." Fred grinned. "Don't get in too much trouble. Sorry about Hermione." Ron nodded in thanks. The twins bid Ginny good night and left the room. Harry sat in his chair next to Ginny from earlier that night and Ron pulled another over and sat on her other side.
"What happened to Hermione?" Ginny asked again, tears welling in her eyes. Ron looked close to crying too. Harry took her hands comfortingly and bit his lip.
"I guess I should explain, eh Ron?" Ron didn't answer. He stared sadly at the floor. Harry told her everything that had happened, from beginning to end. Her tears overflowed and she wiped at them angrily.
"Poor Hermione," she sniffed. "All because of me."
"It wasn't your fault," Harry countered. "He took you 'cause of me."
"It wasn't your fault either. Didn't Ron mention that when you talked?"
"Yeah, but still! He wanted me to come so he took you." Ginny opened her mouth ready to argue but Ron cut her off.
"Don't even bloody start. It's nobody's fault so just shut it. Arguing doesn't do a damn thing." Harry found this an ironic statement after all the fighting Ron had done with Hermione. Ginny looked at him with great pity.
"I'm so sorry, Ron." She reached out and held his hand. He gave her a barely visible smile.
"Ron, she'll be fine," Harry tried to reassure him. "I'm sure she'll wake up in a day or two. She's really strong. It'll take her no time at all to be up and running again."
"Harry's right, Ron. Hermione's going to pull through this, no problem at all," Ginny agreed. Ron stood up and ruffled Ginny's hair then laid down in the bed next to hers, his back to them. Harry opened his mouth to speak to him but Ginny held up her hand. He nodded in understanding and took her hand again.
"Then, you don't like Cho?" she asked Harry. He shook his head and leaned forward to kiss her cheek. She took his face and pulled him to her lips, kissing him softly.
"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you before. But after all she'd been doing I just... I don't know, couldn't hear an explanation from you."
"It's all right. Heard you really did one on Cho though." This made Ginny smile wickedly.
"Funnest thing I've ever done except hexing Malfoy. And you know flying and snogging and stuff." He laughed.
"I love you though. You know that now, right?" he asked. She smiled and kissed him again.
"I love you too. Thank you for coming to get me. And you too, Ron." Ron, however, was asleep by now, snoring quietly.
"Are you feeling okay?" he asked.
"Exhausted, actually."
"But I mean, you couldn't move before."
"I don't think I will be moving for awhile now. The slap was a bit of adrenaline I guess. My body does feel pretty weak and immobile right now."
"I'm really sorry-" She put her finger to his lips.
"Apologize again and I'll hex you the minute I can."
"I think I have every right to apologize to you!"
"Harry, please. I don't blame you at all and no one does. Don't tell yourself it was your fault."
"Gin-"
"Harry, all I care about is that we're all alive, not whose fault it is. Please, just don't." He could have easily fought her on it but decided to listen to her.
"Fine."
"Now, are you alright? I mean, I know you're mad and all but are you, you know, physically okay? Any hexes or anything?" He shook his head.
"No, no hexes. Honestly, I don't know how Ron and I didn't get hurt."
"I don't know either but I'm glad you didn't."
"It should be me in that bed though, not you."
"How about none of us should be like this, okay? Like I said, let's just be thankful we're alive."
"All right. I'm pretty beat, I think I'll take that bed over there tonight," he said, pointing to the one beside him.
"All right. Good night. I love you very much." He stood and kissed her softly.
"I love you too." Almost the minute his head touched the pillow he fell asleep. Ginny adjusted her covers before dropping into slumber again. Madame Pomfrey fiercely opened the door and stomped out to tell them all to get to bed but stopped when she saw them. She hadn't expected the boys to sleep in there also since they were not injured. She threw her hands up in the air and returned to her office.
"The whole school might as well sleep in one room as the boys can't seem to stay away from the girls!" she exclaimed to herself.
Author's Note: Hallelujah! *Angels sing* No cliffhanger! That was hard to write! I had to make sure to mention everything so all the characters were all on the same page and everything, whew! Bunch more talking to do though, between Harry and Dumbledore, probably a talk with Harry and Lupin, R/H in the hospital stuff, etc. Oh man. I've been asked how long this is going to be chapter wise but I don't know. I still have a lot to include so I'm guessing five or more chapters, expect the more part. So, how was it? By the way, I'm from Colorado, USA from my little poll thing. Most who answered were from the US but I still know of some Aussie readers, three actually, I made a mistake before. Ok, no individuals like I said before. They'll be up as soon as I can type them! Also, I have a lot of homework this weekend because I've been procrastinating way too much (I know, shame on me) so don't expect another update for a week or two. Like always, I'll get it up as soon as I can but I really need to do some homework. Ok, until next time!