Chapter 15
"Argus?" Minerva said worriedly, she wasn't sure what she expected his reaction to be, but she didn't expect it to be this heartbreaking. At first he just stood there seemingly in shock, then he started letting out heart wrenching sobs and his knees began to buckle. Minerva tried to keep him up, but they both ended up sinking to their knees together. Filch sobbed into her shoulder and whispered "not again" into it. "Argus she will be fine, the mandrakes will be ready in a few weeks and you will have them both back." Minerva let him cry a few more minutes then she said "Would you like to go see her?" Filch nodded, "very well I'll take you to her then I must inform my students on what's happened."
When they arrived at the hospital wing they were met by Poppy. She already knew why they were there, she pointed towards the bed where Hermione lie. Minerva guided Filch to the bed and conjured up a chair for him to sit down. Hermione's right hand was clenched the left was not. Filch was sitting beside the left side of her bed.
"Will you be alright Argus?" Minerva asked watching him. Filch nodded he kept looking at her hand as if he wanted to hold it but was unsure. Minerva noticed this and said gently "Argus your not going to hurt her take her hand." Filch slowly reached for Hermione's hand and held it gently in his own. "Can she hear us?" Argus asked Poppy, "hard to say but there's no harm in talking to her either way." "If you both will excuse me I have to go to talk to my students." Minerva patted Filch on the on the back and left the hospital wing.
"Oh my sweet, you just can't seem to stay out of the hospital wing can you. Filch mused while rubbing the back of Hermione's hand with his thumb. Filch then had an idea. If there's one thing everyone knows about Hermione it was that she loves books, he could read to her. Filch then stood up smiling, kissed Hermione on the forehead and said "I'll be back later my sweet." Filch left the hospital wing and headed towards the library.
Over the next couple weeks if Filch wasn't working he was in the hospital wing reading to Hermione. One day when Filch walked in the hospital wing, he was surprised to see Poppy waiting for him. "The potion is ready Argus I thought you would like to be here when they woke up." She then told him to sit in his chair beside Hermione's bed, while Poppy gave both Hermione and Mrs. Norris the potion. Poppy then gave Mrs. Norris to him and said "it will take a few minutes to take effect." Filch made sure Mrs. Norris was safely on his lap, he began to pet her with one hand while holding Hermione's hand with the other.
About ten minutes later Filch felt Mrs. Norris begin to stir in his lap, he looked down and smiled as her eyes slowly opened. "Welcome back my sweet." he said kissing her on the top her head. "She will be moving slowly and may be a bit sore for a few days until her muscles loosen up, same goes for Miss Granger when she joins us." A few minutes later he felt Hermione squeeze his hand, she then let out a groan. "Hermione can you hear me?" Filch asked squeezing her hand. Hermione let out another groan and slowly opened her eyes. It took some time for Hermione to be able to focus. When she finally could she looked over at Filch.
"Argus, am I in the hospital wing?" "Yes, don't worry your safe. How are you feeling?" "I feel very stiff and sore" "Madam Pompfrey said you would and you would feel better over the next few days." Hermione nodded "do you remember anything?" Hermione didn't answer him instead she looked at her right hand."
"Don't worry Miss Granger they got your message. Everyone is safe and the school is no longer in jeopardy." Hermione and Argus were both surprised to see Dumbledore walking towards them. Knowing they had questions he continued on. "I am afraid I can not go into much detail, that's Harry's story to tell. I can tell you however that you just may have helped save young Miss Ginevra Weasley's life not to mention the school. You should be very proud of yourself Miss Granger." "Thank you sir but, I haven't done anything this year except keep landing myself in the hospital wing."
Dumbledore chuckled, "I think you friend sitting next to you would disagree. Filch looked at Hermione and said "Hermione you have befriended me when nobody else would, you have gone out of your way to spend time with me when anybody else would consider it a punishment and you comforted me when no one else would have even bothered. I have become a bitter old man and I don't have much of a heart left, but I can honestly say what little is left of my heart belongs to you." Dumbledore cut in "Miss Granger it only take one person's kindness to change someone's life." Filch looked at Hermione "tired?" he asked Hermione nodded yawning. "I think its time we take our leave Argus." Filch nodded at Dumbledore, Filch then put Mrs. Norris on Hermione's chest "I will leave her with you while your both recovering." "I'll take good care of her." "I know you will." Replied Filch while standing up "I will be back tomorrow" He kissed them both on the head the followed Dumbledore out of the hospital wing.
Author's Note
I hope you guy's enjoyed this chapter the epilogue is coming next.
