Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter!
A/N: Well here's another long chapter for your reading pleasures. Hope you like it… :D
Chapter 9 – Awaited Answers
Harry frowned. She was right. Jessie knew she was right and didn't bother to hold it in. Harry was thankful for that. He did love Hermione, and he was being a big prat for sulking about his life with Hermione's. If anything, Hermione was more than happy when Harry had asked her out; he even felt like if Harry hadn't asked Hermione to go with him on that Hogsmeade trip, she would have asked him.
Slowly the two entrance doors to the Infirmary opened. Ron straightened up from leaning on the wall. He quickly jumped over to Harry, shaking him out of his little trance. Harry stood up with Ron and walked carefully over to Professor Dumbledore.
Harry looked into the Infirmary and noticed Hermione, deep in conversation with her parents. They were sitting on Hermione's un-made bed and Mr. Granger had Hermione wrapped in his arms. He was nodding slowly while Hermione talked.
Dumbledore gave a nod. "I assume you've been waiting long. If you'd follow me, I'd like to talk in private with the two of you. Will Miss Smith be joining us?"
"No. She left earlier, Professor." Ron stiffly shook his head.
"Very well, follow me."
The two boys followed the headmaster down the hallway leaving Professor McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey to tend to the Granger family.
The three wizards walked into an empty classroom, Ron quickly recognizing it as their old Divination classroom with Firenze.
Dumbledore shut the door behind him with his wand. Harry noticed the quiet click from the lock. Seconds later three armchairs, resembling trees, appeared before them matching the outdoor scenery in the classroom.
Firenze was out in the greenhouse with Professor Sprout, so Dumbledore was quite sure they had the room for themselves.
Dumbledore took in a long breath then gradually let it out. He looked down at the two boys and gave then a small smile. "You both know why we are here, so I won't bore you with details since I know you've been eager to know what has been troubling us all. As you know, Hermione has been infected with the poison from Voldemort's snake Nagini.
"Nagini's poison is special. There is only one of its kind. No other creature or Human being can produce or create this poison: magic or by brewing a potion. Harry, if we hadn't removed most of the poison from your body, I don't believe you would be here with us or at least even functioning the way you are now."
Harry tightened his fists. He didn't care about what could have happened to him. Harry wanted to know what was going to happen to Hermione. "Sir… Hermione!" Harry muttered through clenched teeth.
"Yes, Harry, I know. First let me explain or else you would be asking questions later." Dumbledore continued. "Since Hermione had received the poison from you, as if second-hand, and her symptoms are somewhat different, but equally dangerous. Madame Pomfrey will be working hard trying to remove all the poison we can, with the help of Professor Snape. I've informed him, and at this time, I believe, he is starting work on a potion for Hermione that may, hopefully, slow down the process of the poison.
"What happens is that, firstly, Hermione will be in the best health she could ask for. But after a given time, Hermione will lose her good health. This happens quite unexpectedly so we cannot be warned. Usually, it starts after an indication of a small cold or cough. After around the first couple hours of recognition, the poison will begin to appear throughout Hermione's body. Every blood stream that had been affected will turn dark purple. Hermione would be very pale at this moment making the veins very visible. However, after a few days time, Hermione will become painfully ill. She will still be able to communicate with us, but she should try and conserve her energy because the next stage is going to weaken her drastically.
"Hermione will then fall into a dreamless, coma-like sleep. With each passing day, her mind will go blank and she will be living as if she were in her dreams. For the first couple of nights, Hermione's dreams will consist of the happiest moments and days of her life. During this time her body will be quite calm, but once the nightmares roll in, Hermione will be going through a lot of pain."
Harry never took his eyes off the old headmaster. It pained him to listen of what was going to happen to Hermione, the one he loved. However, Harry couldn't turn away and ignore it, it was his fault, and he put Hermione's life in jeopardy. He needed to know all that he could to help her.
Ron had finally let the tears roll down his face. His gaze had been switching back and forth watching Dumbledore's calmed, yet troubled, expression to Harry's pained features.
Dumbledore didn't want to pause. He wanted to finish explaining, to Harry and Ron, what would happen to Hermione, but every time Dumbledore looked straight into the eyes of his young students, he couldn't bare to watch the pained looks staring back at him. Harry's vibrant green eyes were no longer vivacious. They seemed to have lost their colour, slowly fading.
"Hermione's nightmares will haunt her dreams. She will see everything that she dreads the most to come true." Dumbledore sighed. "There is nothing we can do to revive her from this stage. Our only hope is that Professor Snape will be able to create the potion that will be able to keep Hermione in the dreamless stage while we work on finding an antidote, or… that we retrieve the venom from the very snake who has given her the poison…" Dumbledore trailed off. "… That would be the only snake, one of its kind, which is heavily guarded by Voldemort. Nagini is like Voldemort's child. It's the only creature Voldemort is willing to show a bit emotion for."
Harry nodded. He looked down at the ground. Harry had been digging his feet furiously into the soft earth beneath him, so now there was a swallow hole of dirt.
"After the nightmares come, Hermione will become ill again. The nightmares and dreams will disappear, leaving Hermione alone for a while. At this time I believe Hermione will wake up and be able to talk again. This however, may be the last chance we have to save her. After Hermione revives, she will fall back into the coma, but won't wake up. It will take only a few days, after that, and if nothing is done, she will die."
Ron took in a deep breath and kept it in his chest.
Harry looked up. "How long… how long do we have?"
Dumbledore shook his head and shrugged slightly. "Until Hermione reaches the coma-like stage, it could maybe a couple of days, weeks. It all depends on how hard she can fight it off. The same goes for the dream and nightmare filled sleep. After that, there is exactly ten days before nothing more for Hermione can be done. If she makes it that far, we should try and keep Hermione happy. I'm sure we all would want Hermione's last few days to be cheerful ones."
Dumbledore watched the two young wizards as they each looked away wiping their tears. "I suggest you two go up to your dormitories and fetch your coats. Hermione and her parents are heading outside to go skate on the lake. You two boys can go out and skate with them. There are skates in your room. They will meet you outside by the lake." Dumbledore stood up and walked to the door, unlocking it. "I advise you don't talk about this with Hermione. Her parents are going to try and make Hermione forget as much as possible about the poison, hoping to keep maybe one of the last weeks they can have with their daughter."
The boys nodded as they watched the headmaster leave the room. Slowly, after they had managed to stop crying and dried their faces, they left Firenze's Divination room and headed up towards the Gryffindor tower.
Ron scratched his head. "What are… 'skates?'"
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Jessie felt like she was wandering for what seemed like hours, but after glancing at her wrist watch, she noticed it had only been around ten minutes since she had left Harry and Ron in front of the Hospital Wing. It was peaceful walking down the halls of the school. Students were outside, enjoying the beautiful winter day with their friends, and loving life.
Passing a window, Jessie scowled, cursing the weather. Damn this beautiful weather! Still walking, Jessie wiped the tears from he eyes, temporarily blocking her view with her fingers.
Moments later, lost in her thoughts, Jessie fell to the floor with a bump. She rubbed her shoulder after falling on it when someone bumped into it. When Jessie looked up to see who had bumped into her, she saw Blaise Zabini offering her hand.
"Oh, sorry, Jessica, I didn't see you."
Pushing the hand away, she demanded, as she got up, "What are you doing? Running blindly down the hall, Zabini? And why are you calling me Jessica?"
Blaise pretended to look hurt. "Why so bitchy today, Smith?"
"None of your business, Zabini." Jessie snarled back.
Blaise smiled at the usual response that normally answered any of his questions directed at a Gryffindor. "You're all the same, aren't you?" He responded sarcastically.
Jessie looked back out the window, down towards the lake. It'd be nice to go skating now. I wonder if the ice is hard enough… she thought, trying to clear her mind, as she continued walking down the hallway now leading towards the grand stairs. Blaise looked down at Jessie, following her. The halls had gone completely quiet.
"So…" Blaise said slowly disrupting the silence. "How's Granger?"
"How do you know about Hermione?" Jessie snapped turning back to Blaise. Maybe I should push him out onto the ice and see if it breaks.
"I have my ways… Besides it's not my fault Weasley can't keep his mouth shut sometimes." Blaise added after seeing Jessie's eyebrow raise.
"What does it matter to you if Hermione's sick? In case you've forgotten, you're a Slytherin; Hermione's a Gryffindor." Jessie said matter-of-factly. "And so am I. So why are you talking to me?"
"I don't know… Why were you crying?" Blaise shrugged, asking another question.
"Why do you care?" Jessie asked suddenly curious of the Slytherin boy's motives. "Were you asked to talk to me? Is this another bet or something?"
Blaise chuckled. "Why does everything have to be a bet with you?"
"Draco was." Jessie whispered looking down at her feet, reminding Blaise. She then realized that she was leaving the inside of the school. She and Blaise had been walking the whole time and had somehow found their way to the school grounds where students were running around madly throwing snowballs everywhere.
Jessie pulled her scarf tighter around her neck. No, not her scarf. She didn't retrieve it from her room. "Did you do this?" She asked softly waving the scarlet and gold scarf slightly. There was no hint of anger left in her voice.
Blaise shrugged again. "You wouldn't want to get sick now, would you?"
Jessie shook her head.
Blaise stifled a laugh and rolled his eyes. "So why were you crying?"
Jessie shrugged. She debated with herself for a while thinking whether or not she wanted to confess to practically a stranger. Truthfully, Jessie had only spoken to Blaise when she was with Draco and he, Blaise, had happened to be there. Surprisingly, she found herself confessing what had just happened earlier.
"With Hermione in the hospital wing, it kind of puts a damper on people's moods and stuff, and oh, I don't know. I sort of got mad at Harry for thinking about only how he feels and how he should have handled things, instead of how Hermione would of felt." Jessie paused; she kicked over a mound of snow on the ground.
"Did he hurt you?" Blaise looked concerned.
Jessie made a face. "No, he didn't."
Blaise held up his hands. "Don't give me that face. I'm only asking. You looked a bit shaken up; I just assumed something else happened."
Jessie nodded. She followed Blaise as they continued on their way, unknowing over where they would end up next.
"Umm… How's- how is…" Jessie started but couldn't complete the sentence.
Blaise let out a smile. "Draco?" Blaise laughed, finishing her sentence. "He's alright. He's been a bit miserable lately, not that it's entirely unusual. He's been a wreak all summer, ever since his dad was sent to Azkaban, but after what had happened with the two of you, he's become even more depressed. Draco really liked you, Jessica, even if he doesn't say so."
Jessie shook her head. "Then, why did he have to go and do that? If he cared, then why did he have to be such an idiot?" She took in a deep breath trying to fight back the tears. She had promised herself that she wasn't going to continue crying over Draco, and she wasn't going to break it now.
Blaise shrugged. "It was a blood thing. If his mother, or worse, his father, had found out about the two of you, your life, along with Draco's, would be a living hell."
Jessie shook her head. "And I hear all this now?" Jessie sighed.
Blaise looked away. He noticed a dark figure standing by the edge of the Forbidden Forest looking right at him and Jessie. Blaise spun around hoping to find something that could distract Jessie away from him. Luckily Jessie noticed Harry and Ron emerge for the school and head straight for the lake. She quickly said good-bye to Blaise and ran after Harry and Ron.
Blaise sighed and walked over towards the Forbidden Forest. "How long have you been standing there?"
Draco eyed his friend evilly. "Why were you talking to her?"
"No reason. I just asked her if she was okay. She was crying earlier and I was trying to be as uncharacteristic of myself as I possibly could, so I kindly asked her what was wrong." Blaise smiled as Draco tried to look unconcerned, but failed miserably.
Draco fought hard with himself trying not to ask what had happened. After a few struggling minutes, he shook his head and headed for the castle. "Come on! I'm hungry, let's go inside."
Blaise let out a short laugh. He sarcastically whispered. "Yes, master!"
"Harry, can I talk to you for a moment?" Jessie called over as she neared the lake where Harry and Ron were putting on their skates to join Hermione and her parents on the ice.
Harry looked up after helping Ron up to his feet. With great difficulty, Ron slowly pushed himself away from Harry, after he had helped him put his skates on.
Harry nodded his head and walked up to Jessie, who was still making her way down the hill towards the lake. "Hi! Listen Jes-"
"No Harry wait." Jessie interrupted. "You need to listen to me first…" She ran down the rest of the hill up to Harry. "I'm so sorry about this morning. I didn't mean to be accusing you of things. I didn't think about what I was going to say or anything. I was an idiot for saying those things to you. My nerves were just bothering me and, oh… I don't know. I just snapped, and I shouldn't have. This is affecting you more than it is affecting me and I shouldn't have yelled at you. I'm sorry."
Harry shook his head. "No. You had the right to say those things, and it's not like I could have stopped you, anyways. Besides, I'm happy you did say it. It was true, what you said. I was thinking about myself, and not about Hermione. I should have been thinking of how to make things better, not thinking of how to make things worse than they already were."
Jessie frowned. "I'm still sorry." She muttered.
"It's okay…" Harry turned around, facing the frozen lake. Ron had fallen flat on his back and Mr. and Mrs. Granger were trying to help him up while Hermione sat on the ice laughing, nearby. "Would you like to come skating with us?"
Jessie nodded her head. "Sure!"
-- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - --
Jessie and Hermione spun loops and circles in the ice while Harry watched from afar with Ron clinging to his side. No matter how hard he tried, Harry couldn't enjoy himself. It hurt him too much knowing that he was the cause of Hermione's friends and family worrying that she might die.
It had been a week since the day Dumbledore told Harry and Ron about what was going to happen with Hermione. Over the days that passed, Hermione had gotten many visits from a lot of the students coming in to wish her back to good health. Dumbledore had announced to the school that Hermione might not be with them after a few months or so, and encouraged the students and staff to visit her in this time of need.
The only person who hadn't been in for most of Hermione's daily visits was Harry. Harry rarely came to visit his sick girlfriend. He had begun creating notions in his head that, the closer he came in contact with Hermione, and she would get some different disease, killing her more. Harry started to believe this and was afraid that it would happen in real life so he seldom visited the Hospital Wing.
Harry sat on his favourite couch, gazing into the open fire in the Gryffindor Common Room. Harry found himself sitting there, numerous times, especially, when he had something on his mind. He thought it was an excellent place to contemplate with the fire crackling in front of him. As he looked deep into the fire while the logs burned, with his pyjamas on, he couldn't help but feel helpless and sorrowful. No matter how hard he tried, Harry couldn't help Hermione… not this time. Never the less, Harry was hopeful that his girlfriend, who'd been his best friend since their first year (although, he felt as if he had known her for forever) would be well again. He lost his train of thought, when Jessie came in through the portrait hole.
"Hey, Jessie," Harry said somewhat depressingly. Don't get him wrong, Harry did like Jessie as a friend, he just… he knew he was crazy for thinking this, but, he sometimes thought Hermione would be the one, walking through that door, excited to see Harry, making a full recovery. Unfortunately, one's imagination is quite different from reality.
"Hi, Harry. I was just down at the infirmary to see Hermione." said Jessie quietly, thinking hard how she could try to make light of the situation. She knew Harry hadn't been going in to see Hermione. Even people who weren't close as Harry and Ron, were going in to see Hermione more times then Harry was. The only times Jessie knew Harry was going to visit Hermione was when the Infirmary would be empty, and Hermione would be sound asleep.
Jessie noticed Harry wasn't paying any attention, and looked awfully depressed. She took off her cloak and hung it up on one of the many hooks by the portrait door. Since she already had her pyjamas on, she didn't need to go up to the girl's dormitory to change for bed.
It was getting late, almost midnight, Jessie noticed as she glanced at her watch. Ron and herself had spent a few hours with Hermione. Luckily, on their part, Dumbledore had asked Madam Pomfrey to extend the visiting hours, in order to let them, and any other friends, to see more of Hermione. Ron was still with Hermione at this time, waiting for his soon-to-be-very-ill friend, to fall asleep.
Many tried hard not to mention Hermione's name or anything else about her in the presence of Harry. Every one knew it was hard for him. He had loved Hermione for so long, but hadn't admitted his feelings until just under a couple months ago.
It was awfully depressing and such a difficult time. But no matter how 'lightly' people wanted to put Hermione's death, saying things like her "passing" or "she'll be moving on to a better place", which Harry thought was a joke, because how could anyone want to die and leave their presence on earth, away from the people who cared for them and loved them, it all came down to the same meaning... Hermione was indeed going to die!
No miracle is going to happen anytime soon, and no one is going to be able to save Hermione! Thought Harry to himself.
Jessie sighed, and then walked over to the couch Harry was sitting in, to join him as he stared into the fire. Although she knew Harry was suffering terribly, she was determined to make him smile. "Hermione's had a lot more visitors today. Fred and George even stopped by. They brought some of their new products to show Hermione. Why didn't you come, they were really funny?"
"I didn't feel like coming." Muttered Harry quietly. Jessie noticed that his voice sounded very much unlike his own, as if he hadn't talked in days. However he did continue to speak. "How's Hermione?" He asked hoping that the response would be different today.
Jessie sighed and took a deep breath. "She's..." She began, but noticed Harry starring straight into her eyes. Although, she knew the answer Harry wanted to desperately hear, she couldn't bring herself to continue to push the reality out of his head.
"We're not sure. Dumbledore says it's only a matter of time before it really starts. He said that Snape's made enough of that potion stuff that would be able to keep Hermione alive, long enough, maybe for them to find the antidote." Jessie let out the air in her chest. "I'm sorry Harry." She whispered.
Soon after, tears began to slowly roll down Harry's checks, dripping onto his pants. Harry was stupid to believe that this whole Hermione thing was just some sick joke that everyone was in on or something. He then returned to looking straight into the fire. "No. I know Hermione; she's going to be fine." But even saying it out loud didn't make it sound anymore realistic then it was with the notion in his head. "Hermione's strong; she'll make it through this."
"Harry, I'm really sorry." Jessie said, also becoming a bit teary-eyed as she watched him cry.
"She'll be fine... she's not going to... she's not going to die." Replied Harry, he didn't care if Jessie, or any one else for that matter, saw him crying. He continued talking. "I've already lost so many people in my life. I'm not going to lose Hermione as well!"
"Harry it's hard to say everything will be alright. Everyone is trying really hard to make sure she'll recover. We all feel the same way about Hermione. But what about her parents, how do you think they feel if they loose the only child they've ever had." Jessie then leaned over to give Harry a hug.
"Jessie... please... just tell me everything's going to be alright. Tell me... she's not going to die." Harry said, letting more and more tears fall down his face.
"Don't worry. Dumbledore and Pomfrey are doing all they can to save her. She'll be alright." Replied Jessie as she held onto Harry even tighter, comforting him, although she wasn't even that sure of her self.
As Jessie continued to let Harry cry onto her shoulder, she couldn't help but let a few of her own tears fall silently as well. Seeing Harry cry and feeling helpless didn't come to a shock for Jessie, it made her feel even more sympathetic towards him. Above all, Jessie respected him. The weight of the wizarding and muggle world, were and always will be on his shoulders.
Never the less, the lives of others always came before his own. It was sad to know that one person had suffered so much at such a young age. Jessie couldn't help but feel sorry for him, for he was only sixteen years old and he had lost so much. So many people counted on Harry to save the world. "The Chosen One", that's what they called him now. It's as if Harry forgot how to be a kid. Having so much despair, suffering with all the angst in his life, took a part of his life away from him.
Harry hesitated, as he stared into the dark Hospital Wing. Hermione's parents had left a few hours ago, so the Infirmary was empty except for its sole occupant. Harry could see her from outside the door; Hermione was sleeping soundly in her bed buried under the many warm covers.
Harry had left Jessie in front of the fire. Jessie had fallen asleep earlier, but not until she told him to go see Hermione in the Hospital Wing.
He had been deciding on whether or not he should go in and see Hermione. It still hurt Harry over the fact that he was the one who had gotten Hermione in to so much danger. He had talked with Mr. and Mrs. Granger and had apologized more than he could remember. It pained Harry knowing that he's harming the Granger's one and only child. Their little girl could die at any time after the poison sinks in.
The small lump in the bed stirred. "Harry? Is that you?"
Harry took a deep breath and walked into the dark hospital wing. "Yes, 'Mione, it's me."
Hermione sat up in bed. "I haven't seen you in a while. Have you been feeling alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Harry sat down on the edge of the bed.
Hermione leaned her head to the side. "You know Harry, you can tell me anything, right?" She bent forwards, moving closer to Harry. She gave him a soft kiss on his lips and smiled.
Harry smiled back. "I know. How have you been?" He whispered. Harry raised his hand and moved a strand of Hermione's hair behind her ear.
"I'm feeling much better now. I'm so happy you came in. I swear, you had me worried, I was going to come up and find you if you didn't show up at all." Hermione joked.
Harry just nodded his head, making Hermione frown.
"You should get some sleep." Harry muttered standing up holding up the covers to tuck Hermione in.
Hermione pouted and grabbed his hand. "Stay with me?"
Harry hesitated but then he whispered, "Okay."
Hermione made room on the bed for Harry to lie down beside her. Harry pulled up the blankets around them. He wrapped his arms around Hermione and she nestled closer to Harry's body.
"Good night, Harry." Hermione murmured, her mind already falling asleep.
Harry just laid still holding Hermione in his arms. After a few moments Harry muttered into Hermione's hair. "I love you, Hermione."
Hermione smiled. She turned around to lie flat on her back and faced Harry. "I love you, too, Harry!"
Harry, feeling better, closed his eyes and held Hermione as the two of them fell asleep.
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Early in the morning, before the sun even had the chance to rise, a loud cough came from the young girl wrapped between her boyfriend's arms.
A/N: There, done! Please review and tell me what you think.