Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter!
A/N: yeah hi! Another long chapter, but hopefully it's a good one for you guys! Please read and review.
Chapter 8 – Love Hurts
Dumbledore was thankful for the silence. If he wanted to, he could have heard the graceful swish of Mrs. Norris' tail as the cat sauntered past him. However, now, he did not care for the sound of a cat. Perhaps another time; now he needed to move fast.
At the last moment, Dumbledore turned left heading straight for the gargoyle statue at the end of the hallway, guarding the spiral staircase leading up to his office.
-- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - --
Harry had left the common room, limping away to find some place quiet.
The common room was erupting with celebration. The students were bursting with laughter; jumping up and down with joy. Ron, Seamus and Dean were lighting one of the many fireworks Fred and George (which were now becoming a household name) had sent over from their shop. Ginny was retelling the match to the first years gathered around her. Jessie was sitting between Lavender and Parvati laughing at the gossip they had learned recently.
Harry was quickly briefed about the match by a few energetic boys in third year.
He had felt bad for leaving Hermione alone in the hospital wing. She had spent all that time with him when Harry was restricted to his bed. Now, Hermione had been in the Hospital wing for at least 30 minutes, and he had spent all but a few minutes in the loud, ecstatic common room, instead of staying by her side.
Harry had somewhat of a weird feeling in his mind, telling him that maybe there was something more to Hermione's cough than just a cold. Hermione never gets sick. She's always cautious about everything. Plus Hermione wouldn't want to risk getting sick especially if she was going to miss a few classes.
Harry's mind kept wandering off, letting his feet guide him to whatever destination.
His mind was completely immersed with the notion of Hermione having more than a cold, that he didn't realize Mrs. Norris purr as he walked by, not knowing that he was the second troubled wizard who had passed the aging cat.
Harry's feet turned left leading him onto a familiar path bringing him up to the top of the Astronomy Tower.
Harry pulled his cloak tighter around him. The cold air penetrated his cloak and rushed through his skin giving him the shivers. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath filling his lungs with the chilling air.
Harry relaxed, losing himself into the night.
-- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - --
Fawkes had disappeared from the office, leaving in a puff of smoke after Dumbledore had finished attaching the letter to the phoenix's leg, leaving its master alone in his office to ponder for a few moments.
Dumbledore continued to stare out the window to his right facing the Gryffindor tower. He could see the fireworks exploding colours through the window.
"They seem happy." Dumbledore mused.
One of the portraits in the circular room stirred. "Albus, you wanted to speak to Potter and his friends." The late headmaster reminded Dumbledore.
"Why, yes, Regulus. Thank you!"
With one last tired look out the window, Dumbledore stood up and left for the Gryffindor Tower.
-- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - --
Seamus said Jessie had dove from a pretty high point, but it wasn't at some super-speed Harry had found as a normality. However, it wasn't like she needed to go at some super speed. Draco was no where near a worthy competitor. He was at the other end of the pitch minding his own business, trying to avoid Jessie or anyone else for that matter.
She was still in shock from catching the snitch. Jessie can't even remember whether or not Madame Hooch blew her whistle at the end of it all. She couldn't hear anything; even now the voices around her were muffled because of the constant cheering in her head. She could feel the rush from the fall, as if she had been falling from the tallest tower of the school, diving down towards the hard snowy ground. The drop felt so thrilling; she wanted to do it once more.
Jessie smiled. She took a sip from her butterbeer.
"No!" Parvati gasped. "He did not!"
"Yes, he did! He told her he didn't want to be with her because he didn't love her any more! But of course he didn't stop there!" Lavender paused, trying to emphasize her last sentence. "He told her he loved Michelle!"
Parvati gasped once more.
"Wait!" Jessie interrupted. "Isn't that her sister?"
"Yup! Her twin sister!" Lavender cried out.
Parvati shook her head. "That boy's got a death wish, eh Lavender?"
Lavender smiled manically. "Sherry won't be too happy with John. And there's probably nothing he could do about it now."
Jessie let out a small laugh then finished what was left of her butterbeer.
Just then the portrait hole opened. Dumbledore walked into the joyous room looking completely tired. There was hardly that sparkle in his eyes that usually hid behind his half-moon spectacles. He looked around the room, searching for 'the boy-who-lived'. Seeing as Harry wasn't there, or at least no where in sight, Dumbledore turned to Seamus, who was seated in a chair near him.
After noticing the headmaster walk up to him, Seamus picked up a tray of cupcakes and offered them to Dumbledore. "Enjoying the festivities, sir?" Seamus asked.
Dumbledore smiled looking sympathetic. "It's a bit hard not to, Mr. Finnigan. But I'm afraid that is not the reason for my arrival. Do you know where I may be able to find Mr. Potter?"
Seamus shook his head and explained how Harry was there for a little bit but had left earlier. "Maybe Ron knows where he ran off to!"
Dumbledore quickly thanked Seamus and picked up a chocolate buzzing turtle, then walked over to where Ron was eating a whole chunk of pie.
"Hello, Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore smiled at the hungry boy. "Do you know where Harry is? I was rather hoping to find him here."
Ron quickly swallowed his mouthful of pie. He coughed a bit choking on the food, but then quickly recovered. "Oh, Professor, you just missed him!" Ron yelled out awkwardly over the noise. He stared at the people around the room, searching for something else to focus on. Ron's little meetings with the headmaster were always uncomfortable ones, especially when Harry wasn't there, which wasn't often. But whenever Ron did run into the aging headmaster, he always felt like he didn't know what to say, or whether or not he should say things. "He left earlier saying something about being alone… Sir!" He added quickly, still feeling a bit unsure of himself.
"Oh," Dumbledore sighed. The wizard's stature drooped a little, after letting out the air in his lungs.
Ron quietly observed the headmaster. Never before had he seen Dumbledore look so tired, so distracted from the world around him. Ron took note upon the fact that there were no twinkles in the usually bright blue eyes of the great man before him. There must something going on in his mind… something important. Ron mentally kicked himself. Great, Sherlock. (Hermione had finally explained the reference.) "I'm sorry I wasn't of much help, sir. Normally when Harry leaves, no one can ever find him."
Dumbledore nodded. He smiled down towards the young man in front of him. Ron Weasley had grown a lot over the summer, so Dumbledore was really smiling at the young man looking back. "On the contrary, Mr. Weasley. If you have not told me that Harry was not here I probably would have been running about the castle, inside and out looking for him. So I thank you, Ronald. You have been a great help!"
The student smiled comically. "You're welcome sir." Ron bowed his head. "If you'd like I could tell Harry you've been looking for him, when I next see him."
"That would be wonderful." Dumbledore smiled once more. "Well, I must be off. Good-bye!" He left the Gryffindor common room, after stopping to pick up another dessert at the table.
Ron turned around when he heard laughter behind him. His face burned red when he saw Jessie pointing and laughing at him.
"Did – you – just bow?" Jessie asked between laughs.
"Shut-up!" Ron muttered, blushing harder.
Meanwhile, in the Slytherin Common room, the students were sulking, and some were discussing ways to torment the goody-two-shoe Gryffindors.
Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle, and Pansy each sat on one of the three couches facing the large black fire place. Draco relaxed on the worn-out carpet covering the cold dungeon floor.
"Those evil bastards!" Pansy grunted. She had just came back from washing the remaining soot and grime left over from the firecrackers some Gryffindor students had sent Pansy in a package, that exploded upon opening. "Wait till I give them a piece of my mind!"
"Pansy, child, no one cares about anything coming from your mind." Blaise drawled.
Crabbe and Goyle chortled silently, hiding their faces behind their podgy fingers.
Pansy pouted. She turned to look at Draco, who was staring deep into the fire. She hoped to have, at least, gotten a bit of support from Draco, after all his ex-Gryffindor girlfriend did catch the snitch before him causing Pansy to have to run back and forth to her bathroom trying to rid herself of filth. Pansy sighed loudly trying to get the young boys attention. "Draco, dearie?"
"Draco, of all people, isn't going to listen to you." Blaise said tiredly. He moved sideways, placing his head on the arm rest and threw his legs over the other end of the short comfy green sofa where his legs dangled stupidly, hanging over the arm of the chair.
She chucked a pillow Blaise's way, who in turn caught it with his quick spell, bringing it to lie gently under his head. Pansy exhaled letting out a lot of hot air from her system. She raised her eyebrow showing determination in her face. Her mind was focused on one thing, getting Draco's attention. Pansy stood up, strutting from her spot over to Draco's side, entertaining the two buffoons; making the Blaise feel sick.
Draco frowned. Why had he been so stupid? He knew there would have been major problems when entering in a relationship, per-say, with a Gryffindor. Oddly, Draco had never been in an actual relationship before, and frankly, he didn't want anyone to know. Truthfully, his father has always been a big part of his life, whether he wanted him there or not.
His father was the bearer of knowledge, knowing what to do and what not to do, or who or who not to love. Of course any of the girls Draco would have chosen would have been the one his father would surely detest. So far the only girl Draco's father would have approved would have been Pansy; however, he had never chosen her, and never would he think of doing so in his life.
Draco jumped at the touch of Pansy's cold fingers upon his cheek. He quickly brushed it away, hoping the girl would leave him alone.
Pansy quickly looked insulted. She moved in front of Draco so he could see her disappointed face. "What's wrong, Draco?"
When Draco turned his head to look away from the skinny, pale witch, Pansy jumped into his lap and placed her right arm around Draco's neck pulling him closer.
"What the fu-" Draco's face plummeted into Pansy's chest. Oh, God! Get me OUT!
"Draco darling, what's wrong?" Pansy cried out, rubbing his head roughly with her other hand. She started rocking him back and forth against her body.
No one would have guessed Pansy would have had the strength to hold Draco down for such a long time. She was a skinny girl looked like she was on the verge of being anorexic. Then again, Pansy was at least smart enough to put a strength spell on her arms helping her keep Draco closer.
Draco started to struggle but every time he was about to free himself, Pansy would squeeze tighter strangling him. He couldn't get out of the girls strong grasp, and he was loosing air quick. He was starting to get really dizzy, that his struggling became less and less potent.
Crabbe and Goyle huddled on the couch like idiots watching a horror film: Pansy, the evil monster; Draco, the damsel in distress.
"Pansy, let go of Draco!" Blaise yelled out over Pansy's crying, noticing his best friend's pale face squashed against Pansy's chest.
Pansy shook her head, refusing Blaise's request and continued to cry out. "Draco don't be mad! Draco dearie, don't cry!"
"How can he cry if he can't even breathe?" Blaise pulled out his wand and waved it confusingly in front of Pansy's face.
Pansy's arms began to shudder until they weren't touching Draco's exhausted body any more. Blaise helped Draco to his feet, pulling him up with both hands and helped Draco balance. After a few minutes Draco regained his balanced and stood up straight threateningly in front of, Pansy's crouched body still, on the floor. Blaise pocketed his wand after picking it up from the floor where he dropped it from helping Draco up.
Draco's pale, empty face looked down at Pansy's. "Don't touch me again, Parkinson." Draco muttered in a low voice, before slowly walking away to his room.
His room was that of any other Slytherin room would look like. Big, dark, and windowless with a small black fireplace resembling the one in the Common Room. Five four-poster beds circled the room facing the center, where there was a large circular table fitting five chairs around the edge. Draco walked over to one of the two beds by the fireplace at the farthest end of the room. He fell onto the bed on the right of the hearth. Shivers ran down his spine. Why does this room have to be so freezing? Draco flicked his wand at the fire; the dead logs quickly erupted into flames, brightening the room ever so slightly. Draco picked up a pillow from Theodore Nott's bed and placed it on the cold, dirty floor, so he could sit down.
The door opened revealing Blaise Zabini, walking in. Draco cursed himself for not remembering to lock the door. Blaise shut the door and sat opposite Draco in front of the fire after grabbing a pillow from Crabbe's bed.
"Still, Draco?" Blaise asked, picking up a chip from the floor up and threw it absently into the fireplace.
"Shut up, Zabini!" Draco grumbled hiding his face behind his hands. Blaise was right. He could stop thinking about it… her.
Blaise sighed leaning against the wall. "I'm just saying… well, it's getting annoying… Look, if it makes you feel any better, I over heard from the Patil's that Jessie's been trying to cope with what ever, but she's still 'wallowing.'"
Draco pretended to ignored him.
Blaise sighed again and stood up. He threw the pillow he was sitting on back on to the bed he grabbed it from and started walking to the door. "Just get out and do something, okay? I'll lock the door but don't just sit there and sulk for the rest of the night. I've already told you. It's annoying!"
The door shut with a click. Draco looked up, alone once again.
Harry had spent the night in the Hospital Wing, by Hermione's side. Harry had snuck in after spending half an hour outside on the top of the astronomy tower. Madame Pomfrey was in her room snoring loudly, echoing through the quiet night. Harry had quickly moved one of the hospital beds next to Hermione's and fell sound asleep. It was morning now and sun was starting to stream in through the curtain-shut windows.
Hermione had woken earlier to find Harry hand holding hers. She had turned to lie on her side facing Harry. She watched him like the way she did the night of Valentine's Day. Hermione watched as a small loose thread of string, from the bed, quietly sway back and forth following Harry's breath. She had soon fallen asleep after, but then had woken quickly to the sudden movements from Harry and the loud yelling in the room.
"Mr. Potter! What are you doing here at this time of the day? Visiting hours aren't for another couple of hours!"
Hermione sat up turning to see Madame Pomfrey as she came in to view. Harry was pushing the bed back to where it had originally been, muttering as he went. "It's not my fault; you were too busy snoring in your room. You wouldn't have heard me!"
Hermione giggled overhearing what Harry whispered. Harry turned around, hearing Hermione, and smiled.
Madame Pomfrey quickly turned to Hermione, looking quite weary. "Miss Granger! How are you, dear?" She rushed over to her patient's bed and quickly looked her over.
"I'm feeling fine, Madame Pomfrey, really!" Hermione said trying to reassure the medi-witch, who was now starting to look somewhat frantic.
Harry noticed Hermione give a little jump when Pomfrey pulled out her wand readying to take a more thorough exam of Hermione. "Umm, Madame Pomfrey? If you don't mind, I'd like to take Hermione back to her room. She could stay and rest there."
Pomfrey looked up at Harry. "Up 'to her room'? My dear boy, hadn't Professor Dumbledore talk to you? Hermione is to stay in the Hospital Wing."
Harry, now feeling panic-stricken, he turned to look at Hermione, who was also surprised to hear the news. "Why should she stay? Hermione's fine! Look at her!"
Hermione looked at Harry. "Its okay, Harry. If Madame Pomfrey thinks it's best for me to stay, then I should stay."
"Yes Mr. Potter, she does look fine, however that doesn't always mean that if you look fine on the outside, you're still healthy on the inside.
Before Harry had managed to process Pomfrey's input through his mind, Hermione asked nervously. "What's wrong with me?"
"We believe that you may be getting a bit ill over the next couple of weeks." Dumbledore replied calmly walking into the Infirmary.
Hermione fell silent. After a few moments, Harry asked, "Is it serious?"
"I'm not sure..." Dumbledore trailed off. "It may be."
"How did I get so sick? Was it my cold from the night before?" Hermione asked looking from Dumbledore to Madame Pomfrey.
Dumbledore looked at the two teenagers in front of him. Harry had moved closed to Hermione. Dumbledore sighed. They're better off knowing. "When Harry was here over the past couple of weeks, we have been removing the venom left in his body. It seems that a little bit of venom was left, and was transferred over to you, Hermione. Madame Pomfrey found it in you last night, while you were sleeping. I left to find you, Harry, and your friends, Mr. Weasley and Miss. Smith." Dumbledore turned to look at Harry. "Since I couldn't find you, I had decided to wait and tell you first especially since I found it best that you were to find out first or with your classmates rather then hearing it from other people."
As the information started to sink into Harry's mind, he started feeling even worse than the night before. Now he really wanted to be alone. His mind and face went blank, showing no emotions. Hermione's hurt. I gave her the venom! I made Hermione sick!
Dumbledore noticed the look on Hermione's face of wanting to talk with Harry in private; he decided he would give them that privacy. "Now, Poppy, if you'd come and help me put your cough drop back. I'm terribly horrible at remembering how you like your potions ordered." Dumbledore smiled.
"Yes, Albus, but Hermione-"
"And Harry need a few minutes alone with each other." Dumbledore stated interrupting the medi-witch midway through her sentence.
Madame Pomfrey nodded, and then left reluctantly with Dumbledore and walked into her office shutting the door behind them.
Hermione crossed her legs. She looked back at the two figures through the opaque window from her bed. "That was nice of them... giving us privacy and all." she whispered. "Harry?"
She noticed Harry was squeezing the blood out of his hands. "Harry…." Hermione slowly got out of bed and cautiously walked over to Harry. She gentle threaded her fingers weaved her fingers through Harry's. "Hey, why don't you go find Ron? I'm sure he's looking for you, Okay?"
Hermione looked up at Harry. She moved a strand of hair away from Harry's forehead revealing the thin scar. Hermione stood up taller on her toes and kissed Harry. "You go on a head. I'll see you later." She whispered. Hermione gently pushed Harry towards the doors.
Harry started to walk away, feeling a bit baffled, but then stopped. Hermione still had his hand. He turned back to look at his girlfriend.
Hermione tried to give Harry a reassuring smile. "I'll be alright, I promise!"
This time, Harry nodded. Feeling a bit more satisfied, he walked up to Hermione and gave her a tight hug and a quick kiss on her forehead. "I love you!"
Hermione smiled into Harry's chest. "I love you, too!" She whispered back. "Now, go!"
Harry left the Hospital wing with out another word, feeling even worse than he did the night before.
Harry paced in front of the door of the Hospital wing. Jessie was on the right side of the hall, sitting across from Ron. He couldn't stand it. Hermione was still in the Hospital Wing and Madame Pomfrey had kicked him out, and banned everyone else from the Infirmary. Pomfrey was having another meeting with Dumbledore and Hermione's head of house, Professor McGonagall.
"They're not going to let us in." Ron sighed. Harry had dragged him and Jessie up to the Hospital Wing hoping to see if he could get some more information about Hermione. They had arrived only to see the front doors of the Infirmary. No admittance into the room.
Harry, Ron and Jessie have been coming in for the past couple of days to see Hermione. Hermione's parents had arrived via Fawkes and were in the Infirmary with Dumbledore, McGonagall and Pomfrey.
"They should really have a waiting room, so you could just sit there and wait." Jessie sighed. "Better then sitting out here on the cold, hard floor."
A large, squishy pillow appeared and flew into Jessie's face. "Ugh!"
"Sorry..." Harry muttered as he placed his wand back into his school robes. He began pacing again.
"Thanks!" Jessie smiled. She placed the circular cushion under her bottom and smiled feeling more satisfied. "That's better."
Harry stopped pacing and faced the wall. "I can't stand this!" He had his head leaning against the cold barrier. He hit his fist against the wall, hard. "It's not fair! If anything, I should be the one in there! Why did this have to happen?"
"Mate, it's not your fault?" Ron replied.
Harry turned on Ron. "'It's not my fault?' What do you mean it's not my fault? Hermione is sick, in the Hospital Wing; she's going to die because of some venom I gave her!"
"We don't know if she's dieing." Jessie whispered. "… yet."
"So what? It still doesn't get away from the fact that she's still in there sick! I still got here, I got her sick." Harry paused. "Maybe I shouldn't have let you convince me to ask her out before. This wouldn't have happened to her if we weren't together!" Harry bellowed this time looking at Jessie.
"Now, you're just being selfish." Jessie muttered shaking her head.
"Selfish?" Harry laughed maniacally at the idiotic idea. "If we weren't together, this wouldn't have happened. I talked to Hermione's parents yesterday. They said she's going to get worse! For all I know, she could be dying!"
"Harry, stop and try to think straight for a second!" Jessie frowned standing up from her spot. "If you weren't thinking about yourself and just about Hermione, do you honestly think Hermione would have wanted all the stuff you went through together this year to disappear? Do you honestly think she would want to give that all up?"
Harry was gripping his wand so tight that sparks were emitting from the tip of the wood.
"Come on, mate." Ron stood up from his spot and walked over to his friend in pain. "Sit down for a second. Let Dumbledore and Pomfrey talk for a few more minutes. They'll come out and tell us what's happening when they're done." Ron had his hand around Harry's arm hoping to lead him away from the wall and to the floor so he could sit.
Harry scowled and tightened his hand. He threw his fist hard at the wall, releasing his arm from Ron's grasp, and kicked the wall as hard as he could as if something good was going to come out of his actions.
Jessie pulled out her wand. She waved it around a bit while muttering a spell under her breath. Seconds later, a purple winged chair appeared beside Harry. Jessie walked up to him and slowly led him to the seat. Ron still stood in his spot still surprised at Harry's little outburst on the wall.
Once Harry sat down, he threw his face into his hands. He felt horrible. Not only did he feel guilty for putting Hermione in grave danger of death, he now also had to try and ignore the pain his hand and leg were giving him after hitting the wall a few times. After a bit, Harry could feel a pair of warm hands pull his hands away from his face. He didn't look up. Harry hated reality; he wished his thoughts were real. He wanted it to be Hermione, the one who's trying to pull away his face from his hands, he wanted it to be her so bad, but he knew it wasn't. He just thought that if he didn't look up, he could at least believe, for just a second longer, that it was Hermione there in front of him.
"Harry..." A soft, sad whisper called him back to his nightmare, which some of us like to call reality. Harry looked up to see a teary-eyed Jessica Smith, kneeling in front of him. She held his cold hands in her warm ones. "Harry please realize, that we have to wait a little bit longer. I know it may be hard, but please try." A tear fell from her eye, slowly traveling down her cheek. "You have to remember, Hermione wants you to be happy... even if it means it doesn't include her in the picture."
The tears were now flowing freely from Jessie's eyes, but she wasn't sobbing. She just continued to talk to Harry as she kneeled in front of him, accepting the tears as they fell.
Ron was now leaning against the wall. He felt like crying but he decided to save them for later, when he was somewhere quiet, and alone. Now he needed to be strong for Harry... and himself. Not only might they be loosing a best friend, but also a sister; the one they loved with all their hearts.
Jessie let out a deep breath. "When Dumbledore, McGonagall and Pomfrey come out of the Hospital wing, wait to see what they have to say." She paused making sure Harry was listening to her. "Listen to them, and then you can badger them with your questions. It's hard to think everything is going to be alright, but remember Dumbledore is going to do all he can. First give him a chance. He'll find some solution, and I'm sure he'll tell you."
Ron straightened up, after realizing Jessie had stood up and was slowly walking away. "Where..." He cleared his voice, seeing as it was a little bit shaky. "Where are you going?"
Jessie stopped, silent. "I don't know... I'll see you two later… okay?"
With out waiting for an answer, she left.
A/N: Kind of a bad way to end the chapter, but at least I finished. Dang that was long. This with out a doubt is my longest chapter. Yay for me! I've got the next chapter going. It might take a while, again, to post it since I'm kind of making some of this up as I go along and new ideas are just popping into my mind.
Don't worry next chapter we get to see what's really wrong with Hermione and what's going or at least might happen to her! Please Read and review!