Chapter 9
Hermione was finally stabilized an hour after her injury. That night seemed last for an eternity . She was downgraded from 'grave' condition to 'critical.' Her heart had started to beat normally on its own and the seizures and bleeding stopped. However, she was in a coma. The doctors left exhausted. Her parents never left and stayed overnight. They read to her most of the time. Victor got a leave of absence from the Vampire Division at his ministry. He felt like the whole situation was partly his fault as had showed her to fly, after all. Mrs. Weasley got wind of the situation when her special clock showed Hermione in 'mortal peril.' She floo-ed to Hogwarts immediately. After learning of what happened, she went to the infirmary and sat in vigil with her as well. The rest of the weekend passed quietly, no one knowing how long Hermione would sleep.
At breakfast Monday morning, a subdued Gryffindor table picked over breakfast. Dumbledore stood and said,
"Students! May I have your attention please. I know many of you are concerned as to Miss Granger's condition. We know this much: When the bludger struck her, it caused serious head injury resulting in her comatose condition. She is now stabilized and is no longer in danger of death."
Dumbledore's voice wavered. Minerva put her hand over his. He continued. "We will know more when she awakens. Her family and friends thank you for you concern and support during this difficult time. Anyone wishing to visit her may consult with Madame Pomfrey and a time will be arranged. That is all, continue with your breakfast."
He sat down and took a deep breath. He saw Harry, Ron, Ginny and Draco hurry from the great hall. No student at Hogwarts had ever died while playing quidditch. Hermione came dangerously close. Too close. As he replayed the events of the match in his mind, he thought it odd that he saw in his minds' eye the faint memory of Harry clutching his forehead over his scar. That usually meant Voldemort was up to something. Then the bludger seemingly came out of nowhere and raced straight at a student's head. Something was not right. He left the table quickly.
Four days later on Wednesday morning after breakfast, Victor was reading to her from The Wonders of Wandless Magic. Victor had picked it up for her on the last trip to Hogsmeade and Hermione thought the book was amusing. Mrs. Granger was brushing her hair. After lunch, Mrs. Weasley would take over duties tending to Hermione. The Grangers had a dental practice to tend to. Halfway through chapter five, he thought he saw the sheet on her bed move.
Could it be?
He jumped up. Her foot moved, then her fist clenched and unclenched. He ran to Madame Pomfrey's office and let her know. She rushed over, cast a quick diagnostic spell and said,
"She's coming back to us I think."
That evening, her friends visited the infirmary and were thrilled to hear that she had moved. They talked with Victor about the some of the funny adventures they had been on. Close to curfew, they reluctantly left the infirmary. They wanted to be there when she woke up. The faculty, to include Snape, dropped by every day to check on her progress.
Over the next couple of days, she moved more and more. She groaned softly a couple of times and her eyelids twitched. But still she did not wake up. Sometimes visitors would walk in to find Victor holding her hand softly talking to her in his native language about the happy time they had spent in Bulgaria. Victor was getting anxious, all he wanted to see was her beautiful honey-brown eyes open. After that, things would be alright. He was sure of it. September 26th, a week to the day of the accident, while Mrs. Granger was brushing her hair, Hermione lifted a hand slightly then murmured something incoherent. Mrs.Granger ran to get Madame Pomfrey. They hurried back to her side, Madame Pomfrey gently saying,
"That's it Hermione. Take it slow. Open your eyes if you can."
Her eyes fluttered then opened a little bit. She closed them just as quick, as the light hurt her eyes.
"Victor, close those curtains," he did and Mrs.Granger said,
"Hermione honey, it's Mum. Can you open your eyes?" She did and narrowed them to try and focus. Everything was a complete blur. She tried to speak but was hoarse. Madame Pomfrey poured a small amount of water in her mouth. Hermione licked her lips and mumbled,
"broomIwentvictorthesky," Dumbledore and McGonagall walked in and heard her mumble something.
"Oh, thank heavens she's awake," Minerva said. Victor was weak in the knees as he kissed her hand.
"She needs a little bit of time to become aware of what's going on. She's just woke up from a coma," Madame Pomfery advised.
"Of course Poppy, I certainly did not expect her to just sit up and start reciting the ingredients to Veritaserum potion," Dumbledore replied smiling.
"I can if you'd like me to," they heard from Hermione in a weak voice.
She saw Victor, her mother, Poppy, McGonagall and Dumbledore all looking intently at her. She noticed all the balloons, cards, flowers and treats surrounding the vicinity of her bed. She was puzzled.
"Why am I here? Why are you all looking at me like that? What's all this stuff for? And why do I have the worst headache of my life?" Victor bent over and kissed her forehead.
"That's my Herm-ee-own-ee. Welcome back beautiful," Victor said.
"Hermione honey, don't you remember anything?" her mother asked.
"Yeah, we won the match," she croaked.
"Something has happened that you need to know about Hermione. At the end of the match, as you were celebrating with Miss Weasley, you were hit by a rogue bludger,"
Dumbledore said, putting his thumb and forefinger on the bridge of his nose and continued.
"It hit you quite hard on the head. You were rendered unconscious immediately and knocked from your broom. Miss Weasley attempted to push you out of the way of the bludger, and Mr. Krum here cast a spell that prevented you from falling completely to the ground and got you to the infirmary. His quick action probably saved your life. Had you hit the ground, you would have died. I don't mean to alarm you, but I believe in you knowing of your condition. Poppy, would you inform her of her injuries? I don't care to repeat them," he said quietly.
"Yes Headmaster. Miss Granger, you sustained a badly fractured skull above your left ear that caused severe bruising of your brain resulting in a coma; the injury caused blood vessels to burst, that in turn caused blood to leak from your nose and ears. So much in fact that blood replenishing potion had to be used. The interruption in brain function caused seizures and your heart to stop beating four times. It took an hour to stabilize you enough to keep you alive."
Hermione looked horrified. "That happened? I almost died? The last thing I remember was Harry catching the snitch."
"Memory loss is certain to be a side effect from this kind of injury," Madame Pomfrey said.
"What are you feeling now, Hermione?" McGonagall asked.
"My head hurts a lot, and my neck does too. Do you have anything I can take?" Hermione asked. Madame Pomfrey left to get a headache and muscle strain potion.
Returning, she asked Hermione to attempt to move her limbs. Hermione could, then asked for the box of chocolate covered rasberries a well-wisher had left her. Victor fed them to her and she told him, "My hero." The next day, Harry, Ron, Ginny and Draco entered the infirmary to find Hermione sitting up and reading Wonders of Wandless Magic. They rushed to hug her.
"Mione, we are so glad to see you up. We wondered if you ever would wake up," Harry said.
"Yeah Hermione, you gave us all a good scare. Mum was pulling her hair out. I still don't believe it about that bludger," Ginny remarked.
"We don't know what we would have done if you had died, Mione," Ron said.
"Welcome back to the land of the living shorty," Draco grinned. Hermione rolled her eyes. "Gee, thanks. I'm fine now, so please get those entirely too serious looks off your faces."
"Hermione, we saw you almost die," Harry said somberly. "That's why we look so so serious. We can't help it."
"I'm sorry you had to see that Harry," Hermione returned quietly.
"Okay, that's quite enough for now. Miss Granger needs her rest. You may come back after dinner if you would like. Go now, shoosh," Madame Pomfrey declared and waved them off.
Sunday evening, after he was sure Hermione would be alright, Victor had to return to Bulgaria. He hated to, but the vampire situation had escalated to the point that he was requested to return as soon as possible. He said an emotional good-bye to her in the infirmary, thanking God she was alive and gently kissing her goodbye. Her friends waited outside politely, not wanting to intrude on this private moment. After a few minutes she called,
"Okay you lot, you can come in now."
They walked in as Victor was kissing her hand. Running his finger over her ring, he said,
"I will miss you more than you can imagine. I almost lost you and now I must leave. Remember how much I love you, my Her-me-own-ee. Goodbye."
He walked towards the doors. Just before he got to the door, he turned around and told the group of friends, "Take care of her."
Looking in her eyes one last time with a smile, Victor left the infirmary.
Just hang on a bit longer, the HG/SS is on the way, I promise!