Fly Me Away Pt.II
The hours long of research did pay off. Though it was backbreaking and tiring. But Hermione sat through it all.
Anything for Harry.
After finding out about the Amino Curse, Hermione had not been able to sleep so much as a wink; she was always in the Ministry Records, tracking down all the Death Eaters Voldemort has ever branded. So far her search has gotten her about 1000 Death Eaters. She didn't need a direct number; just enough so that she would know about how many days Harry Potter has left to live. So far, fear and depression had a large hand on her mind whenever she thought of the irony.
Harry Potter lived to rid the world of the greatest Dark Wizard in a millennium, only to be destroyed by his Death Eaters that were safely in prison.
Hermione knew that she shouldn't spend the early pregnant days in the dark. And yes, she is pregnant. Her heart seemed to be squeezed by iron bands whenever she thought of Harry Potter's child being the only legacy of the Greatest Hero. It's sad that he would only have one offspring.
Ron had been telling her lately that she looked so pale. She didn't blame him. She probably hadn't seen proper sunlight in over a month now. It wasn't healthy.
But she wasn't at all concerned.
Right now, she was pouring over the books as usual, and she was making ticks into her enchanted little book. Right now it says 1056. One thousand fifty-six Death Eaters; one thousand fifty-six days that Harry Potter could live. What day was it today?
The 1078th day. That couldn't be right. How could it be that Harry Potter is living this long? Not that she's complaining… but… a little ray of hope pierced the doom cloud that she's been living under. Maybe, just maybe the Amino curse wasn't cast properly… Or maybe it backfired on Voldemort or maybe he didn't have enough time to cast the whole thing before Harry was upon him.
She smiled and closed her book.
Hopefully that was the case and Harry Potter was spared from this tragedy, along with his wife and unborn family. Hopefully, Harry Potter is able to live a full and happy life with his wife and unborn family.
Hopefully.
Ron was troubled. And he had troubled written all over his freckled face. He and Harry were playing a game of Quidditch with Ginny, Charlie, and the twins. But so far, it felt like this was the lousiest game Harry had ever played. It felt like his body was forced here and that his mind was clearly elsewhere.
Ginny noticed it too, and she had stopped playing. She was even bold and daring enough to walk right up to Harry and confront him on his lousy playing, asking if there's anything on his mind that he would like to talk about. But he just brushed if off, saying it was nothing.
Ron had a feeling it had something to do with Hermione. She looked so drained out lately. Pouring over Ministry arrest records dating back half a century ago. She was quiet, reserved and the only time he remembers her smiling was she found out she was carrying Harry Potter's child. But it wasn't a big smile either, it looked sort of forced.
Now Ron was really scaring himself.
What was going on?
"Ron! Watch OUT!" Charlie's cry of warning came a little late as the big, red Quaffle hit him on the side of his head. Ginny cringed.
"I'm so sorry, Ron. I didn't mean to throw the ball so hard. It's just that I thought you were paying attention and – "
"It's ok, Ginny. It's really my fault. I wasn't really watching…"
"Ron next time keep your eyes on the ball, if it was a Buldger, it would've cracked your skull open." Fred said as he zoomed by, snatching the Quaffle from Ron's outstretched hands. Ron scowled at him and full-charged him to the ground and they began to playfully roll around on grass. Ginny started laughing, while Harry couldn't help but crack a smile. George landed beside the rolling pair and plucked Ron from the ground.
Ron, however, grabbed hold of George and dragged him down and now the three of them started rolling in the grass. Ginny laughed even harder and Harry's smile became a grin.
Charlie was about to join them when Harry caught his eye. He no longer had a smile on his face and his eyes widened as if in surprise too big to comprehend. Harry's face suddenly paled and his face was a mask of pain.
Abruptly, Harry gave a cry of anguish. He doubled over as if he was punched in the guts.
"Harry!" Charlie cried out. He ran over to the dark haired boy and tried to pick him up. But Harry was heavy and he was certainly resisting hard, either that or his pain is making him heavier. But Ginny had just started to run over to Harry when Harry suddenly cried out for Hermione. Ron, Fred and George had just begun to realize what happened and stopped their rolling to run up to Charlie to help him with carry Harry. Together, they Disapparated for St. Mungo's.
Ginny, too, Apparated. But not to St. Mungo's like everyone else, she Apparated to Hermione's luxury condo. Ginny loved the place, and she wouldn't lie, she was jealous of Hermione's splendid living quarters. But right now, she was way too busy to admire the beautiful building she just Apparated in. Under less distract circumstances, she might have. But right now, she just concentrated on getting on the elevator to the penthouse of Hermione's condo.
When the elevator reached the top floor, Ginny was so anxious, she was ready to wet herself. When she got off, she banged on Hermione's door.
And banged was an understatement, more like plowed down.
But it worked on the snoozing Hermione. And she woke up with a start.
Quickly putting on decent jeans, she opened the door to a very distressed Ginny. But common courtesy didn't stop Hermione from asking Ginny to sit down.
"No. Hermione… it's Harry." Hermione's eyes widened and she dropped the porcelain cup she was holding. It smashed to pieces, but Hermione didn't seem to have noticed. She stared at Ginny, daring her to stop joking and admit that April Fool's came early. She never did.
"Hermione, he's… had some sort of attack. He- "
"Where? Where is he now!" Hermione's eyes were filled with a sudden burst of tears. Her fists were clenched; her voice was higher and louder than normal. All in all, she was a scary sight.
"At… St. Mungo's." Ginny answered quietly. In a flash, Hermione was gone.
Ginny sighed. Pregnant witches were told to stay away from Apparating, take safer ways; such was brooms or Floo. In her hurry, Hermione forgot.
"WHERE IS HE!" Hermione screamed the minute she Apparated to solid ground. Unfortunately, Apparating was such a strain on her that she felt her knees unable to support her. She fell to the ground.
Several Healers and patients alike tried to pick up Hermione or at least help her up. But she refused them all, and unsteadily climbed back to her feet, using the front table as support. When she was steady on her feet, she screamed her line again.
"WHERE IS HE! WHERE IS HARRY POTTER!" Some faces in the waiting room were concerned, but most were blank. At any other situation, this would have been almost comical. But no one was laughing; no one was even smiling, at this hysterical woman who can barely stand. Maybe because she was screaming herself hoarse about Harry Potter or maybe because Hermione was not only married to the world's most famed hero, but she was also respected as a famed Auror.
Or maybe it was because she looked so helpless and defeated. The famous Hermione Granger - Hermione Potter – never looked so defeated in her life.
"Hermione?" came a kind and familiar voice. Hermione looked up and saw Ronald Weasley, and beside him, his twin brothers and Charlie. Hermione felt her eyes tear up again and she suddenly didn't care about the hundred or so people in the waiting room. She launched herself at Ron.
"Ron… it's Harry… please… where is his room. I have to see him… before he… before he…" sobs chocked out whatever she was going to say. But Ron understood.
"Hermione… it's going to be okay. Listen to me. You are Hermione Granger, Mrs. Harry Potter, you have to be strong. Now, let's go see Harry, come on." Ron's soothing voice calmed Hermione down enough to be able to see the way to Harry's Room.
Upon entering the door in the Special Care ward of St. Mungo's, Hermione immediately spotted the top of Harry's dark head. She immediately ran towards him, and put a loving hand on his sweating and hot forehead. She bent down, and kissed him gently on his lips, letting a tear drop from her own eyes fall on his closed eyelids.
Upon Hermione's touch, Harry's eyelids flickered open. His eyes were glazed over, and had a look of remembering past pains. But he smiled a weak smile at his beloved.
"Harry… are you ok?" Hermione knew it was a stupid question, but she asked the first thing that came to her mind. Harry caught her eye and dimly nodded, but looked at if even nodding were a big use of energy for him. It frightened her, and for a minute, she was afraid that he had lost his voice.
But he spoke. And to Hermione, it seemed like even talking was a bit beyond him, for he spoke in a raspy, low voice.
"Hermione… I'm so sorry…" Harry rasped out. Hermione's eye's widened in shock, what should he be sorry for? "Our child… will grow up without a father…"
Ron, who the couple had forgotten, suddenly spoke up. "What are you talking about Harry?" he said fiercely, "You will see your kid go to Hogwarts!"
Harry looked at him without surprise of suddenly finding him there, and he just smiled weakly. "Hermione… take care of our child… I love you. But I'm sorry…"
Hermione frowned. "Why are you apologizing for? Stop it now…" She couldn't help it… another tear escaped her eyes, but this time, Harry reached out and wipe away the tear.
"I'm really sorry, Hermione, I will never able to teach you to–"
Harry's eyes widened suddenly in immense pain. His face contorted and disfigured in twisted pain. He cried out the last word that Hermione would ever hear coming from him and it was her own name.
Her eyes were crying waterfalls as she felt Harry take his last breath and go into a peaceful slumber that he was never going to wake from.
She cried out in passionate anguish, but her scream quickly turned into endless torment of sobs. Hermione dropped down on her knees and grabbed the edge of Harry's bed, still sobbing hysterically. She pulled her hair and cried her sorrow.
Between her sobs, she cried out, "I love you, Harry Potter." All in the room was shedding tears, but Hermione didn't notice.
Her eyes were red and puffy as she thought of her unborn child growing up to without the famous father that the kid deserves. She cried knowing that Harry's never coming back.
Hermione Granger felt numb as one thought crossed her mind over and over again; it was so loud that she felt the need to shout it out.
He left her.
He left her without teaching her to fly as he promised.