Authors Note: I realize there is a significant amount of time between my last update and now, for that I sincerely apologize. My life is hectic and because of that I write on my phone and then transfer it to my computer to post. Well, my phone took a sink dive, and this entire completed story, along with all my connected timelines and dates, and many other stories, were lost. Considering how many people on here also write, I think you'll understand just how horribly discouraging that was, and it didn't exactly make me want to get behind a keyboard again. However, I am sorry, hopefully this chapter makes up for it a little bit. It is an important chapter, containing a conversation I had planned from the fic's inception, but it doesn't contain a lot of action.

Chapter 7

St. Mungo's

When Harry's eyes next opened he was almost surprised that it could be done. The way his head ached it seemed to take everything he possessed to perform such a simple task. He supposed this meant he wasn't dead. Although, if 'not dead' was the best he could say for himself, that wasn't saying much.

He stared blankly at a stark white ceiling above him for a few moments before the silence was broken by George, somewhere to his left, "'bout time, starting to think Greyback had done you in, would've been a terribly boring way to go, all things considered."

It took nearly all of Harry's strength to turn his head in the direction of George's voice. When he'd managed it, George gave him a mischievous smile, "you should see The Prophet, whole world wants to know what The Chosen One is doing in St. Mungo's, printed a rumor yesterday you got drunk and flew your broom straight into a window. Though, now that I think of it, they may have gotten that quote from 'a close friend.'" George snickered a bit.

"Hermione?" He asked softly. He was surprised at the tearing pain in his throat and the horrible way his voice sounded like it was being drug through broken glass.

George's face was serious in an instant, "she's alive, but it's touch and go. She hasn't woken up yet, healers don't seem terribly confident, to be honest with you." Harry should've known this would be the case, but it still drenched him in a wave of pain. He didn't realize he'd begun crying until he felt the tears slipping down his cheeks and George looked away.

"Lily?" Harry asked next. He knew she was fine but with her mother in the state she was, he still worried for her.

"Staying with me and Angelina. Cute kid. Bit weird though, quiet. Mum's spoiling her." George looked thoughtful for a moment before he changed the subject, "it's been two days by the way, Ron's not as angry with you as he was the first day, so that's good for you. Kingsley and my parents are still in a bit of a snit." He chuckled at that. "Speaking of, why didn't you even tell me?"

Harry sighed, "it all happened so fast." He croaked, "I was afraid she'd die if I didn't go right away. How's Kreacher?"

George chuckled, "he's alright, Hagrid sorted him out pretty quick, won't leave my house, driving me crazy to tell you the truth." There was a bit of noise in the hallway and George sighed, "here they come, healers have been fussing over you so much you'd think you'd saved the world or something."

A moment later a woman of about forty stepped into the room, her hair was pinned neatly on her head and her face was stern. She reminded Harry of McGonagall a bit. "Good afternoon Mr. Potter." She began quickly, "my name is Healer Hannah Adley. This is the Spell Damage Ward; can you tell me your full name please?" As she said all of this she was running her wand over every inch of Harry while a quill and a clipboard floated along beside her, furiously taking notes.

Harry swallowed. "Harry James Potter."

She nodded, "excellent, do you know how you got here?"

Harry thought hard, "not exactly, but I think it was probably George. I blacked out."

She nodded again. "Everything looks fairly normal Mr. Potter, you will probably need a few days but I'm confident you will make a full recovery. Is there anything you need?"

Harry nodded, "water, please, and can I go see Hermione?"

Healer Adly adopted an even more stern expression, "Miss Granger is being treated on the first floor, for creature-induced injuries, her condition is very serious, and she has only been allowed limited visitors, perhaps when you're stronger Mr. Potter." With that, she swept from the room, followed closely by her quill and clipboard.

"What exactly happened anyway?" Harry asked George.

"Well, I portkeyed in the first time and took off with Hermione. It took me some time to get back, I had to get her here. I knew I couldn't go back alone so I went straight to The Burrow, Dad contacted Kingsley and me, Kingsley, Dad, and Ron all went back together. Greyback had come to while I was gone, and you were out, not sure for how long. Kingsley arrested him pretty quickly, he's in Azkaban for now, he'll get a trial." George told him quietly, "tomorrow Kingsley is going to question him under veritaserum, I think he wants you there, so they can put together a timeline."

He looked like he wanted to continue but before he could, the room was invaded with redheads. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, followed by Ron and Ginny, made their way cautiously into the room. Everyone looked a bit awkward and Harry really wished someone would break the tension. As it happened, Mrs. Weasley was the one to finally do it, "how are you feeling dear?" She asked softly.

"Sore." Harry told her. The air was still tense, and Harry sighed, "you're all mad at me, go on, let's have it. I'm not dying."

Ron was the first to speak up, "you found her, and you didn't even tell me Harry, how many times did I help you try to find her and you don't even tell me? Now she might not even live, and I didn't even get to talk to her!"

"I know," Harry responded, "you're right, but it was complicated." Ron still looked rather put-out and Harry continued, "I thought he was going to kill her, I was scared. I still should've told you. I'm sorry." Ron huffed and stomped out of the room. Harry supposed that was fair, it's not like an apology was going to make her less nearly dead, as much as Harry himself wished it would. Since Ron and Hermione had entered his life, Harry could count on one hand the number of things he'd ever actually kept from either one of them. Now, when Harry had, arguably, the most valuable information he'd possessed in 3 years, he had kept his mouth shut.

Before anyone else could speak, Healer Adly had returned, she set a glass of water and a pitcher on the bedside table and began to usher everyone out of the room. Harry wished she hadn't, it was boring to sit alone in the hospital room, thinking of Hermione fighting for her life a few floors below him and every mistake he had made that led them both here. He remembered Greyback's words and they haunted him, 'She was happy, and you've killed her.' He squeezed his eyes shut tightly and tried to will the pain to the back of his mind. He was only moderately successful and a few moments later, he fell into a fitful sleep.

Harry woke again later, he assumed it was the middle of the night, since the ward was dark and quiet, and he was alone. He felt much better than he had when he'd woken up that afternoon and he decided to see if he could get up. As it happened, he could, but not very well. His legs didn't seem to want to support him and he was out of breath just getting out of bed. He leaned heavily on the bedside table to steady himself.

He really wanted to get down to the first floor to see Hermione, but his body didn't seem to want to corporate. He groaned in frustration. He needed help if he was ever going to make it to the lifts. His wand had been set on the bedside table and he slipped it into his pocket before making his way to the door. For only being half the length of the room, it was a horribly long trip and by the time Harry reached the handle he was panting. He could feel sweat on the back of his neck and the walk had already exhausted him.

When he opened the door, he was shocked to find Ron on the other side, his arm was outstretched as though he'd been about to open the door himself. There was a beat of silence before Ron spoke, "we've sort of been taking it in shifts, I'm staying her tonight, I think Mum stayed last night. I was down in Hermione's room, came in to look in on you."

Harry nodded his understanding, "can you take me down there? I'm having some trouble." He gave Ron a strained smile and Ron nodded and pulled Harry's arm over his shoulders. They made the slow trek to the lifts in silence. Walking with and being half-carried by Ron was certainly better than his earlier attempts but it wasn't easy.

When they entered the lift, Harry slumped down in the corner, panting and exhausted. "He nearly killed you, you know?" Ron started as the doors clanged shut.

Harry nodded, "yeah, better men have tried." Harry tried to joke but Ron glared sternly at him.

"I almost lost you both in one day, it's not funny." Ron shot back.

Harry hadn't considered that. Hermione and Ron were everything to him, if he had lost them both? It would be devastating, it would tear him apart. How must it have felt for Ron to visit them both in St. Mungo's? Harry felt a horrible guilt settle in his chest. "I'm really sorry Ron, you're right. I won't let anything like this happen again okay?" He told him seriously. Ron only nodded. Harry did mean it. If Hermione lived, he wasn't letting her get away again. She wasn't going anywhere without him or Ron. Not that she would agree to that, but that was his working plan.

When the lift stopped on the first floor Ron helped him to his feet and they, once again, began the slow trek to another room. From a chair near her bed, Harry inspected Hermione. She was still frighteningly pale, but she was much cleaner than the last time he'd seen her. Her hair was no longer bloody and had been swept from her face into a braid, it was still the horribly blonde he didn't like. The wounds on her throat and face hadn't healed much but they were beginning to. "They've got her on about a dozen potions a day, they're thinking she should be waking up in the next day or so, if, you know." Harry was glad Ron chose not to finish that sentence, he didn't want to consider that possibility either.

Ron brushed an escaped curl away from her face tenderly before sitting in the chair on the opposite side of the bed. Harry's heart hurt, this is what he'd been afraid of, she'd return and then she'd be with Ron. He told himself it didn't matter, if she was in his life. Deep down, however, he remembered the conversation with Dumbledore, where the headmaster had implied he shared a fate with Professor Snape. Harry looked away and pushed those thoughts away, he had to, Ron was his friend.

Harry cleared his throat, "so when she wakes up, then what?" He asked quietly.

Ron glared at him again, "Katie isn't a consolation prize, Harry, I'm in love with her, I'm not just going to leave her." Harry tried to squash the relief he felt at Ron's words but couldn't quite get rid of it. He sighed and leaned back in his chair. Ron wasn't finished, "which is good for you I suppose."

Harry looked at him in confusion, "what's it got to do with me?"

Ron shrugged, "well, it wouldn't do for us to get back together, since you're in love with her."