When I re-read this, I noticed a massive amount of errors (that will teach me to write when I'm half in the bag). I revised and reposted, hope you like it - please please review. I do love hearing your thoughts and ideas. -Igraine
Comfort from an unexpected place
"Shit." Hermione said. "Oh shit, Cedric, I didn't mean that." Hermione said – sitting up in the hospital bed which was magically expanded into a queen-sized for her and Cedric.
"I know, Hermione, I know." Cedric said, still lying down, but brushing his hand through her hair.
"Oh my god, she must hate me for this." Hermione moaned, holding her face in her hands.
"No. She doesn't, I'm sure – It's been a long day for everyone. She's tired, you're tired. No one has their real wits about them." He said softly, trying to comfort her.
Hermione turned around to face Cedric, "You have to go after her Ced, bring her back."
"Why?" Cedric asked?
"Because she has put so much on the line for me, I can't sleep if I let things go without talking to her! Plus she's right. We don't need any students asking questions, I can't deal with that right now!" Hermione said.
Cedric sat up and rubbed his eyes. He sighed for a moment, trying to wake up fully. "Alright, I'll go get her."
"Then you must go back to your room." Hermione said. As he was about to open his mouth to protest, Hermione held up her hand and stopped him. "Please Cedric, for me? My absence from Gryffindor tower has already gone public, I'm sure. If you are gone as well, too many questions would be raised and I obviously don't have the strength right now. I will be fine and will see you in the morning, but please fetch Professor McGonnagall."
"Alright." Cedric said in a slightly annoyed voice. He bent over and kissed Hermione slightly on the forehead, not wanting to push. To his surprise, Hermione held his face in her hands, looked into his eyes, then kissed his lips softly and sweetly.
When they broke apart, Cedric's eyes were closed and he said "Please don't do this for me, Hermione. I can wait until you are ready."
"Look at me." Hermione commanded. He opened his eyes and stared into hers – she pulled him in for another kiss, this one deeper, more passionate – it went on so long that they were both breathing hard through their noses. They pulled away, gasping for air. "I do love you, you know." Hermione said. "Nothing will change that."
Cedric's heart leapt, hoping that another crack may have been repaired.
"No matter how we feel right now, Ced, we still need to do what's right. For the time being, we need to keep up this front of normality, and I do need you to fetch McGonnagall. She has done so much for me, I can't sleep without her knowing that I didn't intend on being so harsh." Hermione said quietly.
"Alright, petite bebe." Cedric said, as a smile came upon Hermione's lips. He kissed the tip of her nose and said "I will see you at first light." And with that, Cedric disappeared behind the curtains.
Hermione laid back down, sighing in a comforted way. 'Maybe things can go back to normal', she thought. 'Maybe I can really be okay.' She turned on her side, her back still hurt immensely from when her father slammed his boot down on her back. She began to doze, and began to see things she wished she could put behind her.
Meanwhile, Cedric made his way to the Transfiguration classroom, hoping that he would find McGonnagall there. Luckily, she was – sitting at her desk, attempting to distract herself with a pile of ungraded papers. Before entering the room, Cedric announced himself, "Professor? May I come in?"
Minerva looked up at Cedric, her face stone-cold. "You may." She said. Cedric walked up the isle towards her desk and sighed. "First of all, professor, I want to apologize for the way I spoke to you – I was still half asleep and not fully aware. Second of all, Hermione feels the same way. When she realized that it was you who she spoke to in such a manner, she was almost in tears. She in fact is the reason why I am here."
Minerva looked up at him. "Go on." She said, still in a clipped tone of voice.
"She sent me here to look for you, she wanted me to find you and ask you to come back to the infirmary. She feels absolutely dreadful about the way she spoke to you. She herself was only half awake, and did not realize it was you. She never would have spoken to you like that otherwise. In fact, she said 'she has done so much for me and I can't sleep without her knowing that I didn't intend to be so harsh."
Minerva set her quill down on the desk and leaned back in her chair. She looked at Cedric, her expression softening as he continued.
"She, in fact, told me that you were right – that I needed to get back to my dorm to avoid any further questions. She told me to fetch you before I did, though – she's feels just awful, professor. Please will you go see her?" Cedric begged.
Minerva thought for a moment. She realized she should give Hermione the benefit of the doubt, especially since Minerva never had no intention of speaking to her in such a tone either. She rubbed her face and looked at Cedric. "Very well. I accept your apology Mr. Diggory, It has been a long day for everyone. I will go and see her at once, and you will return to your dormitory."
"Thank you, professor." Cedric said. He turned and strode out of the room, bound for the Hufflepuff dormitories.
Minerva sat in her chair for a moment, thinking, before she rose and headed straight for the hospital wing. When she entered, she went straight to Poppy's desk. "Poppy?" she asked?
A relieved Madame Pomfrey looked up at Professor McGonnagall as she said, "Ah, Minerva. I'm glad you are here."
Minerva looked at the room of the infirmary, to see only empty beds. A wave of fear flowed through her before Poppy said "I performed a charm on the back half of the room. It looks as though the entire infirmary is vacant, but I have the back half blocked off. And I performed a silencing charm as well – Hermione's dreams are loud and fitful. For some reason the Dreamless Draught has no effect on her, and I want to afford her the maximum amount of privacy as possible."
"So what if I travel beyond the other half of the room?" Minerva asked.
"You will disappear with it." Poppy replied in a tired tone of voice.
"So how is she, now…..really?" Minerva, looking at what appeared to be a completely vacant hospital wing with confusion.
"If you travel beyond the 6th bed, you will find her. We expanded the bed to a queen-size, to accommodate herself and Mr. Diggory. He left less than a half-hour ago, so she may be still awake. However, if she is not, I beg you not to wake her. She has been fitful with nightmares." Poppy explained in a thoroughly exhausted voice.
"It looks like you haven't slept much, Poppy. If I stay with her tonight, will you please get some sleep? Tomorrow is Saturday, and there are no classes – I will look after her." Minerva asked of the exhausted witch.
"Thank you, Minerva, but please promise me that you will come get me if you see anything wrong. I won't be more than a room away." Poppy said.
"I swear." Minerva replied, looking at the room which appeared to be vacant.
"Also," Poppy added, "I want to try and keep her off her back. When her father stepped on her it left a terrible bruise and gash, if she lays on it - it won't heal as fast as we want it to. With her permission, I removed the gown and just draped a sheet over her – the gown was sticking to her wounds, and we really need them to heal without reopening them."
Poppy Pomfrey, with a sigh of relief, exited the room to her bedroom – which was adjacent to the infirmary.
Minerva was silent for a moment, wondering what would happen once she passed the barrier of the privacy charm that Poppy created. She knew Cedric said that Hermione felt horrible, yet something festered in her 'gut', that she could not give a name to. With a deep breath, Minerva walked towards the back of the room, and beyond the magical veil – to see Hermione. She apparently dozed off. Her eyes were closed and she was wriggling around in the bed with a scrunched up face. Minerva didn't know whether she should wake her from the nightmare or not. Poppy advised against it, but she was writhing around on her back, and appeared to be in pain.
"Hermione?" she asked softly. There was no response. Minerva sat in the chair that was next to the queen-sized bed and watched her helplessly. Her brow furrowed in concern, but Minerva had no idea what to do or how to react. Her heart hurt to see Hermione in so much pain, but she also knew how important sleep would be to her physical recovery.
Hermione was on her back, the sheet was draped above her chest and tucked under her arms. Minerva could see the cuts and welts Hermione had on her body through the white sheet. Her eyes welled with tears, which she pushed away – determined to maintain her typical Gryffindor matriarch appearance.
She sat there for about 10 minutes before Hermione woke up screaming. It was so sudden that it sent fear shooting through Minerva. Hermione shot up in bed – fighting against an invisible attacker, her breath becoming fast and panicked – on the verge of hyperventilation.
"Shh, shh, shh. Hermione, I'm here." Minerva said. She touched Hermione's shoulder, only for her to flinch away – still in her nightmare. Hermione's eyes were frantic, though her eyes were wide open, she was not really there – instead she was visualizing perfectly what happened the night she was assaulted. "Hermione, HERMIONE!" Minerva shouted, grabbing her shoulders. Hermione's eyes focused and saw that she was looking into the familiar eyes of Minerva McGonnagall. It took Hermione a moment to recover and calm down, but once she did, she looked at her beloved professor and began to weep.
"Oh God, professor, I am so sorry." Minerva was still holding onto her shoulders, and Hermione reached her arms up to hold onto Minerva's – "I am so sorry." Their eyes met, Hermione's pleading.
"What did we tell you about apologizing, Hermione?" Minerva asked, her eyes steady and strong.
"You told me not to." Hermione said quietly.
"That's right." Minerva said. "I am the one who needs to apologize to you Hermione."
"I know you never meant to speak to me that way, professor. Just the way I never meant to speak that way to you." Hermione replied, pulling her mentor into a tight hug.
"I know, my dear, I know." Minerva replied, stroking Hermione's back in a comforting way. "It has been an unexpected and difficult day for everyone – for you more than any of us. We all just need a good night sleep at the moment. Just like the saying goes, 'It is always darkest before the dawn.' Night changes many thoughts, you need to rest, my dear."
After a few more moments, Hermione released Minerva from their embrace, and laid back down – wincing as she went. "You need to stay off your back Hermione." Minerva told her.
"I know." Hermione replied, drawing the sheet tighter above her chest, she rolled onto her left side. The sheet hung down to the small of Hermione's back when she was on her side. Minerva drew a sharp intake of air when she saw the large boot-print, her heart breaking once again at how much one of her students has suffered at the hands of someone who should have been protecting her….rather than killing her.
"What?" Hermione asked, as she was turned away from Minerva - she could not interpret her expression.
"Nothing, dear, just my old joints are bothering me." Minerva replied, trying to sound convincing.
A few moments of silence ensued. Minerva hoped that Hermione had fallen back asleep, when she just barely heard the words "Liar." Come out of her mouth.
Minerva didn't react. She waited with bated breath upon Hermione's next words. The words failed to come as Minerva saw Hermione's shoulders shaking. She could tell instantly that Hermione was crying silently. She knew what happened to her body during the attack, she didn't need anyone to tell her otherwise. "I am so sorry." Minerva whispered to her.
Hermione, still facing away from Minerva, said softly – "you had nothing to do with it, professor."
Minerva sat there for a moment, watching her Gryffindor cub's body shake with sadness, before she said – "Outside of the classroom and the presence of other students, it is 'Minerva', to you, my dear."
Upon hearing this, Hermione burst into an all-out sob. Minerva put her hand on her favorite student's shoulder as she said, "Maybe I shouldn't have come." Hermione rolled over and sat right up in bed, staring deep into the eyes of her mentor, "No, please. Don't leave me." Hermione begged. Even if she had not said these words, her eyes said enough. Hermione was frightened, and did not want to be alone.
Minerva saw her cub grasp her hand with pleading eyes, and looked down at it. She thought for a moment, "would you like me to get Mr. Diggory? Or your mum and dad?" Minerva asked, referring to the Weasley family, of course.
Hermione laid there, holding Minerva's hand. After several minutes she looked deep into her professors eyes and said, "no please, would you stay with me? If it isn't too much trouble?"
"No trouble at all, my dear." Minerva replied softly.
Minerva stayed by Hermione's side, holding her hand, as she Hermione starting drifting off to sleep. She stroked the back of her hand for about 10 minutes before Hermione rolled onto her back once again, in a fit, crying out with her eyes closed shut tightly.
"Hermione." Minerva whispered softly. She attempted to rub her shoulders, trying to wake her out of her nightmare, before she finally had to yell, "HERMIONE!" Hermione woke instantaneously at the shout, eyes in panic: "Shh, shh, shh. I'm still here." Minerva said.
"Oh my god, what is wrong with me?" Hermione bawled out rhetorically. "Please don't leave me." Hermione begged again, as she rolled onto her left side, leaving her wounded back visible, once again, to her heartbroken mentor. Sitting still for a few moments, Minerva looked at her young cub's back – at the unmistakable boot print with tread left there – parts of it still bleeding. She took in a sharp intake of air silently as a tear escaped her left eye. She wiped it away as her gaze descended upon the jar of healing salve that was next to Hermione's bed. She opened the tin, dipped her long, lithe fingers in, and applied some of the salve onto Hermione's wounds – lightly tracing the design of the tread with her fingertips.
Hermione hissed at the touch, but soon the numbing sensation coursed through her veins and she relaxed under Minerva's touch. Once Minerva applied enough salve, she sat back in the chair and watched her mentee lay on her left side.
"No." Hermione said when Minerva withdrew her hand. "Please. Don't leave me." She turned around and reached for Professor McGonnagall, no…Minerva. "I need you here. Please. Will you….hold me?..." She asked in the tiniest voice.
Minerva froze for a moment, unable to process what she just heard. It had been years and years since she held someone – whether for comfort or for pleasure. She didn't know what to do – but she knew what she wanted to do. Minerva, her stomach all in knots, sat there for a moment, wondering, 'what were the exact boundaries between comfort and love?' Of course she wanted to comfort her student, but she loved her as well. But what kind of love? The love that would exist between a mother and a daughter, Minerva told herself. 'She is a Gryffindor. I am head of Gryffindor house. She is my student, my mentee, my cub….my...'
Minerva looked once again into Hermione' s eyes, those innocent and pleading eyes – before nodding. "Of course, Hermione." She said, "I am here for you, just like I promised."
Hermione inched over to the opposite side of the mattress to allow space for Minerva, who was still somewhat in shock about the fact of lying with not just a student, but her favorite student – who happened to be naked from the waste up. Hermione rolled back to her left side as Minerva crawled into her bed. Minerva wrapped her arms around the wounded girl and held her – like any mother would. Hermione burst into tears, turning herself into Minerva's embrace.
"Help me." Hermione cried out quietly, between sobs.
Minerva tightened her hold around her broken student and said, "I promise. I promise I will help you. I will protect you as long as there is breath in my body."
Upon hearing those words, Hermione's breath slowed, until she finally drifted off to sleep. Because she was holding her tight, Minerva felt the change in Hermione's body as she descended into the world of dreams – not nightmares. "I swear." Minerva thought, as she kissed the top of her mentees head, "If it is my power, I will never let anyone like that happen to you again." She kissed the top of Hermione's head. As she felt Hermione fall asleep, Minerva felt a strange heat seethe through her own body – and she silently vowed that she would protect Hermione no matter what.
But just like Molly Weasley, Minerva should not have made promises that were able to be broken.