Chapter 31 – Uncovering the Past

The rest of the detentions went along the same lines. The last detention Anna felt brave enough to try to ask about her father leaving. Anna knew he didn't like to talk about something's and this was one of them.

"Professor," she said uncertainly as she sat clipping the rouge twigs on the brooms.

"Yes Anna,"

"What happened when Harry… I mean Professor Potter left?"
Ron sat in silence thinking, remembering.

"It was just after school ended for the summer," he began and his stared at the opposite wall as though he was seeing it happen again.

"He's going to be fine Ron, he has come out of worse," Hermione said. She and Ron had lying in the hospital wing in separate beds for 3 days. Harry had been unconscious for that amount of time as well.

"Hermione he died, You-Know-Who sent the killing curse at him I saw him stop breathing."

"But he started again,"

"Yeah but he hasn't woken up since has he? He hasn't even moved," Ron said staring fixedly at Harry still form on the bed next to his. His face was covered with scratches and bruises his hair was unruly as it had ever been, and he hadn't moved, he hadn't even fluttered an eye lid. Ron knew, he had been watching.

"He'll be ok," Hermione said quietly more to herself than him. Ron tore his gaze away from Harry and rested his eyes on Hermione who head her head resting on her knees which were pulled tightly to her, she was rocking slightly. Ron felt his stomach lurch and guilt settle upon him. Hermione must be going through exactly what he was, she knew. He felt like an idiot, of course she knew she was Hermione, she knew everything. That was why he loved her, he had never told her of course. She hadn't gotten herself a proper boyfriend so he had no reason to tell her. He sighed and turned back to Harry.

"Wake up Harry we need you, its safe now."

Ron sat staring at Harry's eyes willing them to open. He had been sat like this for two hours now. He thought he saw them flutter but then shook his head he had imagined that. It was only him in the hospital win now. Hermione had been let out the pervious day but he had more serious injuries. Hermione of course stayed most of today with Ron, and he enjoyed her company, but she was eating dinner now and Ron was by himself. Harry's eyelids fluttered again. Ron knew he wasn't imaging it this time.

"Harry, Harry, can you hear me?" Ron said getting out of bed and hurrying over to his bedside. In the longest two seconds of Ron's life so many emotions went through him. Harry's eyes opened slowly and seemed not to see anything, Ron quickly put Harry's glasses on for him. Harry looked at Ron and Ron's face broke into the first smile since Hermione had hugged him two weeks ago.

"R—Ron?" Harry asked.

"Yeah mate it's me. Are you ok, course your not but you will be won't you, Merlin Harry you had us scared. Hermione was a wreck I had to sit comforting her ever since… well you know." Ron said.

"What day is it?" Harry asked trying to sit up.

"It doesn't matter Harry your awake is all that matters," Ron said barely containing his relief.

"Mr. Weasley, what are you doing?" Madam Pomfrey's voice came from behind him.

"Harry's awake," he said and the matron's eyes widened and she rushed over to him. As she fussed over Harry, Ron went back to his bed. Madam Pomfrey suddenly stopped and looked at Ron.

"Mr. Weasley you have been a good patient since you have been here I think you deserve a reward, you may go inform whomever you wish about Mr. Potter's recovery… and take your time."

Ron put his shoes on as quickly as he could and hurried to the Great Hall to find Hermione in his pajamas. It was slow going and he cursed himself for being injured as it was slowing his progress down. He entered the Great Hall ignoring the looks he was getting from the other students. He spotted Hermione sitting with Ginny and rushed over to them.

"Harry…" he said when he could breath again. Ginny's eyes widened and she got up and ran out of the Great Hall.

"Is he really awake Ron?" Hermione asked getting up not trying to hide the excitement in her voice. Ron nodded and got back up but due to his injuries he almost fell. Hermione put a hand out to caught him, and he fell into her arms.

"Madam Pomfrey wants to check him over in private before we see him," Ron said and felt the colour rise in his cheeks.

"That's alright by the time you manage to get back it will be next week anyway," Hermione said. They started off toward the hospital wing. Ron still leaning on Hermione for support. They went along the corridors and came to the stairs with the trick step. Ron stood right on it and his leg sunk into the step.

"Oh Ron," Hermione cried.

"It wasn't my fault," he said heatedly.

"You could have remembered," Hermione argued.

"Sorry but I have other things on my mind at the moment," he said.

"Of course you did Ron," Hermione said sarcastically. Ron rolled his eyes.

"Look are you going to get me out of here or not," Hermione made toward him stopped looked up toward the Hospital wing then looked at Ron.

"No I'm not, at least not yet."

"What! Why not?"

"You are going to listen to me Ron Weasley and you are going to listen good. I have spent 3 years of my life in love with someone who I don't even know if he likes me or if it's just the way he is with everyone."

"Who?" Ron asked anger rising quickly inside him.

"What's it to you?" Hermione asked glaring at him. Ron opened his mouth then closed it again.

"Get me out of here and I will tell you," he said glaring back at her.

"Oh Ron," Hermione said throwing up her hands and stamping her feet. "It's you I love you. Why won't you return my feelings, why are you making me go through this torture every day and night. You know I can't even forget about you when I sleep I dream about you every night. I can't wait to leave this school so I never have to lay eyes on you again and I can forget about you!" Hermione was shouting now tears pouring down her face, she started to walk off to the Hospital wing.

"Hermione wait," Ron called and surprisingly she stopped but didn't turn around. "Can you get me out of the step, please." Hermione let out a frustrated cry and ran her hands through her hair. She stomped back to him and pulled him free. Ron got up shakily and went to lean on Hermione for support but instead of leaning on her he took her face in his hand and bent his head down and kissed her. Hermione's arms hung loosely at her side, she was in shock.

"I love you too," Ron said as he pulled away. Hermione stood with a distant expression on her face. "Come on let's go see Harry."

Ron woke up the next morning and looked over to Harry's bed, it took him a while to realize it was empty. He pulled himself up and sat up. Harry wasn't allowed to be discharged yet, where was he? Madam Pomfrey came in the ward and looked over to Harry's empty bed.

"What have you done with him Mr. Weasley?"

"Nothing," Ron said defensively.

"Well where is he?"

"I don't know." The matron's eyes searched the bed and Ron noticed that the bedside table had been cleaned of all the cards as well.

"Did you discharge him?" Ron asked. Madam Pomfrey shook her head at the same moment Hermione came him.

"Where's Harry?" Madam Pomfrey asked her.

"I don't know?" Hermione said as she looked at the empty bed and her eyes widened. "No, no, no."

"What?" Ron asked.

"Harry's gone, he's taken off Ron," Hermione said.

"No he bloody well hasn't," Ron said getting out of bed. "Come on Hermione help me to the common room." Hermione and Ron went to the common room and up to Harry and Ron's dormitory Harry's trunk was gone. There was a note on the pillow.

I am going away from everyone so I can't cause anymore damage please don't look for me. I will see you again one day I'll come back because you're my true family. I'm so sorry.

Love Harry.

"…well needless to say everyone in Hogwarts heard what came out of my mouth next. But we knew Harry was gone, and we just held onto the hope he was coming back."

Ron shrugged, "I still don't understand why he left."

"He was trying to protect you it sounds like, he is always protecting people," Anna said quietly.

"Maybe but it is only since he came back has You-Know-Who returned. I am not blaming him of course, but…" Ron trailed off and Anna took this as her cue to leave.

At the end of the week Anna felt drained from the detentions and staying up trying to do homework, but it was worth it as Alison was avoiding her and not making eye contact, Anna found out she had not spoken to anybody except those who had attacked Anna. When the end of the week came the exams were closer than ever. One night Anna was sitting in the library with Lupin, Remus, James, Sirius and Katlyn. When 8pm came they were thrown out and Lupin took Anna aside led her into an empty classroom.

"We never spoke about what happened between you and Alison. How did you do that?"

"You know when we started going out, I told you there were things in my past I couldn't tell you about?" Lupin nodded. "Well this is one of those thing's I can't tell you much about it but my mother was a powerful witch and so is my father. So when they had me I got both their powers." Anna said.

"If your mother and father were as powerful as you say they are then shouldn't they be well known," Lupin asked.

"You only get well known if you show off your power," Anna said.

"They didn't?" he asked. Anna shook her head looking down.

"No but they were good people," she replied. He looked at her with a frown.

"Were?" He was far too inquisitive for a male she thought. She was going to have to distract him. She put her arms around his neck and leaned towards him, kissing him lightly on the lips. He deepened the kiss, and placed his arms around her waist and slid his hands up