Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter… The plot and some characters have come from my own imagination!
A/N: Yes, I know I haven't updated in a while… well at least I didn't bet me old record of not updating (7 months). I'm sure none of you guys would have been happy about that. Any ways, here's the next chapter. It wasn't edited by myeditor person so don't be surprised if there are any grammatical mistakes and such. (My lucky editor's in London right now and I'm still stuck here at home).Right then,don't forget to Read and Review. Please and thank you!
By the way, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Chapter 11 – And So It Begins
Hermione examined the ring a little closer. It was a promise ring. Harry had said so. He gave it to her… Harry had given her a promise ring. No matter how many times Hermione ran the sentence through her head, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
He didn't propose. Hermione looked down at her new ring, and then shook her head. No, he didn't propose… So what if he didn't, it's not like I wanted to get married… right?
Hermione turned to her side. Harry had, yet again, spent the night with her. She quietly cursed herself for felling disappointed in Harry.
"How could I be so selfish?" Hermione muttered.
"What makes you think you're selfish?" Harry whispered before yawning. He opened his sleepy eyes and looked at Hermione.
Hermione's heart skipped a beat as she tried pushing her disappointed feelings towards the back of her mind hiding it, as if Harry were able to see her true feelings easily by just looking at her face. "Oh, nothing… I just… I want to be in class right now… All I could think of is how much work I'm missing!"
Hermione almost smiled as Harry nodded believing her lie. She mentally gave her a pat on the back and then thanked God for not inheriting her mother's lousy lying skills. But then the small little feat went away. Hermione couldn't get rid of her disappointment. She knew perfectly well that the ring was a promise ring from Harry to Hermione. However, beautiful the ring was, the ring was an object that promised Harry would always be there for Hermione, rather than a promise that said they would be marrying anytime in the future.
"Thank you for the ring," Hermione managed to whisper.
"You're welcome." Harry said as he sat up and got out of the bed. "I'm going to go back to the Gryffindor Tower before Madame Pomfrey wakes up and yells at me again."
Hermione nodded slowly.
Harry wanted to say something comforting to Hermione, but her sad face made Harry remain quiet. The longer Harry looked at Hermione he had the slight suspicion that Hermione's sad face was entire sad. Harry thought he could see a little disappointment. "Okay… umm… I'll see you later."
Harry tucked Hermione in bed and then gave her a kiss on her forehead. "I love you." Harry whispered.
Hermione smiled back and turned on her side and fell asleep.
It didn't take long before the news arrived that Hermione had just entered the first stage of the coma. Harry was in the Gryffindor common room reading one of the many large and heavy textbooks scattered around him, looking for a way to help Hermione when Ron came in and told Harry who was sitting in front of the blazing fire, once again.
The two boys didn't dwell on the subject for long. Harry finished the book on his lap, so he decided to go back to the library to get some more books to read.
Harry had been looking through books hoping to find something between the many pages hoping to find a cure for Hermione. It was like searching the Great Labyrinth with nothing in it along the way or at the end of the long dark maze of irrelevant words. Ever since it was established that Hermione was infected, Harry had been looking through books, large ones, thin ones, he had almost gone through a third of the library and he hadn't had much sleep. Harry had also taken a few trips down to the Restricted Section hoping to find something there as well.
Ron had decided to accompany Harry so he followed his friend down to the library. "Have you found anything yet?"
"I've found a lot of stuff, just nothing useful." Harry frowned as he picked up another heavy textbook, knowing that he won't be finding anything useful in it. "Where did Jessie run off to? She left pretty early this morning and I haven't seen here since."
"You saw her this morning…? Oh well right, you got back at the common room really early so you must have seen her..." Ron muttered answering his own question. "Right, anyways, she left to go and meet up with her brother, what's his name, London or something. She went down to Hogsmeade and I reckon she won't be back for a while."
"Oh, okay." Harry said absentmindedly. He flipped through the first couple of pages of the book he was holding, hoping to find something... Anything.
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Jessie sat alone at the table while her brother stood at the counter trying to get their drinks. Her brother had just finished his interview the day before and she had met up with him that morning hoping to get him to tell her what had happened.
Jessie stood up, feeling impatient, and walked over to her brother. She let out a laugh once she realized what the hold up was. Jessie watched as Madame Rosemerta giggled and gave a young, light brown haired man a playful slap on the arm. Jessie noticed her brother give the pub owner a large grin, giving all the more reason for Rosemerta to continue flirting with him.
Yes, according to many girls, her brother was a good looking man, but it always bothered her whenever Landon wrote about a girl he had met, in his letters. Now seeing her brother with another woman made her feel squirmish, but not because he was flirting with Rosemerta, but because Rosemerta seemed to have taken a fancy with her big brother.
Jessie walked up to the counter and sat down next to her brother. "Aw, Rosemerta! Of all days to keep my brother occupied, you just had to choose the day I finally get to see him." Jessie kidded smiling at the bartender.
"Oh goodness me, the time just seems to keep slipping by. Well don't let me keep you any longer, love." Rosemerta turned towards the young man besides Jessie and gave him a smile. "Now, you go and catch up with your sister, but remember to stop on by, okay?"
Landon chuckled. "How could I not, Rosemerta. Besides, I'll be around for a while, now that I've gotten the job up at the school!"
"Did you now?" Rosemerta looked proud. "Congratulations!"
Jessie gawked at her brother for a moment. "You got the job?" Jessie cried out and gave her brother a tight hug. "Oh my gosh! When do you start?"
"In a few days. I just have to wait for the old teacher to move out." Landon nodded.
Madame Rosemerta produced two butterbeers from behind the counter and handed them over to Landon, who picked them up and walked over to the empty table that Jessie was sitting at moments ago.
"Wait, what class are you teaching? You haven't told me yet." Jessie asked as she followed her brother to their table.
"Yes I know. I want it to be a surprised."
"A surprise? Since when did you think telling me what class you'll be teaching at is a good surprise?" Jessie laughed.
"Well I'll be teaching one of your classes and I want you to be surprised when you walk into class and see me sitting behind the teacher's desk." Landon answered. He took a sip from his butterbeer.
Jessie nodded, thinking. "Don't flunk me."
Landon just gave his little sister a cocky smile and continued drinking his butterbeer.
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By the end of the day, Harry and Ron managed to carry ten books each, all varying in size, up to their dormitory. Once Harry realized that the clock struck 12 o'clock, he decided to call it quits for the night and to continue in the morning. Besides he needed the sleep. Over the past week every one of his teachers had complained about Harry sleeping during class.
He placed the thick book he was reading on his bedside table. Harry was too tired to remove his glasses; he had fallen asleep just as soon as his head touched the pillow.
Blaise turned the corner of the hall and finally found who he was looking for. "Jessica! Hey, wait up!"
"Hi, Blaise." Jessie smiled as she ceased walking while her friend ran to catch up to her. "What's up?"
"I need… to talk… to you…"Blaise paused trying to catch his breath. Merlin, I need exercise.
"Umm, okay…" Jessie agreed, wondering what Blaise was so eager to talk about. "Sure, what do you want to talk about?"
"Hold on… Not here… we can't talk here." Blaise grabbed Jessie's hand pulled her through the crowds heading toward the great hall for dinner.
"Blaise, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, we just can't talk here." Blaise dragged Jessie into an empty classroom and shut the door behind them.
"Blaise! What are you do–" Jessie paused in mid-sentence. After running through the door, she had just gotten the chance to see what was in the room. Surprisingly for Jessie, the 'what' turned out to be a 'who'. "What's happening?"
Blaise, who still had a hold on Jessie's wrist, dragged her over to an empty chair directly in front of Draco, who was already seated. "I want you two to talk."
"Why?" Jessie asked. She kept her eyes away from Draco. "We have nothing to say to each other."
Blaise nodded. "Anything else you want to add?"
Jessie shook her head and occupied her attention with the far wall on her right.
"Draco?"
"Why do you care if I don't talk to her?" Draco nudged his head towards the spot Jessie was still standing, not looking at her. "Since when did you start caring about a Gryffindor?"
"Well, I'm sorry you feel that way, but you kind of got to remember I'm not like you, Draco. Besides, I don't like seeing my friends hate each other for no apparent reason." Blaise turned to Jessie. "Please, sit."
Jessie sighed. "Fine, but I'm only doing sitting because I know this won't get anywhere and I'll get tired standing."
"Thank you." Blaise nodded.
Jessie reluctantly sat down on her chair, but turned it away so that she wasn't directly facing at Draco.
"Okay, how 'bout we start with a little recognition of one another." Blaise smiled at Jessie encouraging her to talk.
Jessie stared at Blaise, clearly showing that she didn't want to say anything first or at least anything at all.
Blaise just continued to nod, hoping to get his female friend to start.
The Gryffindor sighed, and then turned to face the Slytherin and mumbled a small "Hello."
Draco gave a short nod.
Blaise smiled. Well, at least that's something. "Okay then, obviously something got us into this little 'disagreement' so all we all need to do is find out how to fix it."
"Well, sorry to burst your bubble there, Dr. Phil," Draco and Blaise looked confused. "Unfortunately for you, there doesn't seem to be any way to fix this now. Besides, it's not my fault this happened. I wasn't the one who decided to dare Draco to date me."
"Yea well you could have said no to me when I asked you out!" Draco muttered.
"Excuse me, but did you honestly think I knew that you were only asking me out because of some stupid bet!"
"Oh, come on! Then you should have listened to Granger, Weasel or Pothead!"
"But of course, nothing can be blamed on the All High Draco Malfoy, eh? Everything has to be blamed on all the other people situated around you, right?"
"Duh!"
Jessie groaned.
Draco turned away.
Blaise sighed. "This is going to be a long night."
"Your fault, you brought us here!" Draco and Jessie muttered simultaneously. The two turned to look at each other, somewhat surprised by the same thought they both seemed to have shared out loud.
Blaise smiled, mildly amused. "At least they think alike."
"Shut up."
Blaise's smile widened as his two friends looked away from each other with annoyed expressions.
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Harry walked away from the hospital wing as quietly and quickly as he could, hoping to get away before any one noticed he was there. He didn't want anyone asking him to stay without his own accord. Harry had gone to visit Hermione, after completely forgetting that she was in a coma and couldn't talk. He had rushed out of the Hospital Wing as fast as he had arrived. He had just run out of the Infirmary and his feet seemed to have led him back to the Gryffindor Common room. Harry entered an empty room and then walked up to his dormitory to take a shower.
After spending quite a while under the water, Harry retreated back to the common room. The large flames in the hearth flickered, lighting the room. Harry seated himself on the same usual couch in front of the fire. He tried to relax for a few moments while the flames warmed his body, however, Harry didn't seem to be relaxing at all. The longer he sat in front of the fire, staring in its red and orange flames, it just continued to dawn on him that there could have been one more thing Harry could have said… or better yet asked Hermione.
Jessie quietly entered the Gryffindor Common room. She had finally managed to get away from Blaise and his antics after she and Draco had cursed Blaise. However, Jessie didn't leave until she threw a spell at Draco, causing him to hang in the air near Blaise with both their wands on the ground, before she left. Jessie looked around the common room and found its only inhabiter. Jessie approached Harry, careful not to make a lot of noise.
"Hey, how're you feeling?" Jessie asked quietly. She sat down on the arm of the sofa. "I just passed by the Hospital, Pomfrey's not letting anyone in for the next couple of days or so."
Harry nodded absent-mindly. "Hermione's starting that first stage thing. She was so pale." Harry shuddered. It scared him when Hermione had just fallen asleep. At first he thought she had just… died. Harry dropped his head into his hands.
Jessie moved down to sit beside Harry. She began to gently rub Harry's back. "It's okay Harry; Hermione will make it through this. She's strong."
Harry remained quiet.
The portrait hole opened once more and Ron walked into the common room. He sat down on Harry's free side. "Hey, mate… How're you holding up?"
Harry didn't say anything, he couldn't. He just shook his head at Ron's question.
Ron looked at Jessie. Jessie shrugged.
The two friends sat with Harry until he decided to go back up to the common room. Jessie stood up and stretched, holding her arms up as if reaching for the sky, also ready to go to bed. She turned back and looked at Ron. "You going to bed soon?"
Ron, just like Harry, seemed to have been contemplating since he didn't hear Jessie's question. He jumped when Jessie placed a hand on his shoulder, sitting down besides him. "Oh… hi… You scared me."
Jessie smiled sympathetically, "So I noticed. Are you feeling okay? You seem occupied with something."
Ron didn't say anything for a while. Jessie almost fell asleep when he finally muttered out a few words. "Hermione's not going to make it through this, is she?"
Jessie shrugged, still unsure of the answer to the very same question she had been asking herself. "Hermione's going to need a lot of strength." Jessie whispered. Her voice felt hoarse, as if she had used it in days.
Ron nodded. "Do you think she has the strength to survive?"
Jessie frowned, "I hope so, I really do!"
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Harry stood on the top step as he listened to Jessie and Ron talk. He knew that Jessie was right; Hermione was going to need all the strength she could get. But how was she supposed to do that. How could he help?
Harry walked into his room and sat on his bed. He bed and pulled out on of the thickest books he had managed to take from the library. It was all about ancient magic, from centuries ago. He opened the book to the first page and began to read.
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Harry flipped to the next page. It was nearing one in the morning. It was obviously late but he couldn't stop reading. The book he had found was actually very useful, he just couldn't seem to find anything specific regarding a cure or anything that may save anyone infected like Hermione. In fact, the book didn't actually have anything to do with Dikerns and their poison. Harry just hoped that maybe this thick book would have held something that could have gotten his hopes up.
Harry then noticed a small piece of parchment slightly sticking out of the book. He slowly turned to they page and found Hermione's writing on the small parchment. The paper looked like it had been ripped out of one of the many pages of notes Hermione's written for class. Has Hermione been reading for cures as well?
Eager to see what Hermione had found Harry quickly flipped to the bookmarked page. However, when Harry looked down at the page it was completely empty. Harry frowned. Why would Hermione mark a page when it's got nothing on it? Unless… Harry pulled out his hand and muttered the "Reveal-Me Spell" over the page. With in seconds, writing began to appear on the page.
The heading of the page made Harry's heart skip a beat Harry blinked and continued to stare at the title. Then he looked down at the long paragraph and found it to continue onto the next two pages. He started to skim through the page catching most of the important sentences.
Harry paused for a moment. He reread the first paragraph. Harry let a smile creep onto his face for the first time in days. Thankfully, for Harry, there seemed to have been a way to saving Hermione.
A/N: I'm working on the next chapter, but I don't know when I'll have it up since it is Christmas. Well, once again, MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!