Disclaimer: -Sighs- Okay, just imagine if I owned Harry Potter, it would never be a best seller! The bookstore keeper would throw the books in my face because no one would buy them!

Author's Note: Well… maybe I was being too harsh on myself? Hehehe! Anyways, to all my reviewers in the last chapter, thank you SO MUCH! Oh, and by the way, I am so sorry for not updating for such a long time. I know I always say this but I promise next time that I will update more frequently!

Some of my reviewers are like, what, anonymous, so I'm afraid that I can't send them reviews! I will just mention all of them, whether I was able to send them a message or not!

Special thanks to: SwishAndFlick31 (cute name!), carebear4ever, Tempy, GreatWolfSpirit (yay! I have a friend!), ginsensu, cutiecute and Readerfreak10!!! I love yah all, my ever-dear reviewers! And for those also who reviewed the earlier chapters recently! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! You guys keep me writing and this chapter is for you all. I hope you guys like it!

'Kay! I don't think I still need to say more… so, without further ado… Chapter Four!

Chapter Four: Someone Watching Over Me

"Harry, Hermione passed out. She looked stressed and pale and al-"

As he heard these words, Harry felt a surge of pain flow through him. Why didn't he leave practice earlier to be with her? If he did, then maybe none of these would have happened. He totally forgot about Cho, who was standing beside him, with a frown plastered over her porcelain-like face, and ran as fast as he could to the Common Room.

He was at the Hallway when he felt a hand grip his arm tightly.

"Harry!" It was Cho. "Why did you leave just like that? Look, are we going to Hogsmeade or not?

Harry yanked his arm off Cho's grasp and made no reply. Instead, he continued running, with Sir Nicholas leading the way.

Cho let out a frustrated breath and screamed in her high-pitchy voice. "Harry! HARRY!"

But she couldn't see him anymore.

When he was outside the Common Room, the Fat Lady was engaged in deep slumber and she seemed impossible to wake up.

Sir Nicholas saw the Fat Lady as well and decided to make the first move. "Hey, Fat Lady! Wake up! Someone's fainted in the Common Room."

She wouldn't wake up. It was Harry's turn to try. "Excuse me, Fat Lady; please wake up to let us in. This is urgent." But she didn't stir at all.

"FAT LADY!" Sir Nicholas shouted to her ears, out of impatience. "WAKE UP NOW!"

The Fat Lady rubbed her large eyes sleepily and snapped at Sir Nicholas. "What's the fuss all about?"

"Someone fainted there in the Common Room! Now let us in!" Sir Nicholas said this quickly. The Fat Lady, however, looked uninterested.

"Fine! Password?" She said crossly, retreating to her sleeping position again.

Harry was shaking – practically. "Phoenix Tears."

The door swung open and Harry went in quickly. Sir Nicholas drifted in effortlessly, and he was right: behind the chair, Hermione's lifeless body lay on the floor.

"Hermione!" Harry said in horror. He knelt down beside. He had never seen her so pale before; her face was colorless. Harry took her hand in his and it was very cold. Her fingernails were bluish and as Harry placed his palm over her head, he felt warmth spread over his fingertips.

Sir Nicholas just stood sadly behind him. "She was like this when I went in."

Harry quickly flung Hermione's arms over his neck, clasped her hands together and he stood. He held her legs with his two hands and, with Hermione on his back, he ran out the door.

As he was on his way out, he met Ron, Ginny, Lavender, Parvati and Seamus. Why were they together so often now? When they saw the two, they all had shock written over their faces.

"What happened to her?" Ron asked. Everyone was waiting for his answer anxiously.

"No time to explain. Just ask Sir Nicholas." And with that, Harry disappeared from sight.

The five of them just looked at each other and all had quizzical but hopeful looks on their faces.

Lavender was among the first to speak. "I wonder what happened to Hermione…"

Seamus replied, "Harry said we just have to ask Sir Nicholas. But anyways, this seems like a good opportunity for us – I mean, for them."

Everyone nodded in agreement. "I couldn't agree more…" Ron said happily.

Harry finally arrived at the Hospital Wing from what seemed to be a really long run. When he was inside, he was panting madly. Madam Pomfrey noticed his presence right away and had a surprised look when she saw Harry and Hermione. "Mr. Potter, what did you do to Miss Granger?"

"She... she-"

"Say it right away, Potter!" Madame Pomfrey said, urgency obvious in her tone. "Come on; put her here on the bed."

Harry laid out Hermione carefully on the bed. Madam Pomfrey scurried about, and finally went back to attending her with a shallow bowl and a cold towel floating about. She placed it on the night table and look Harry straight in the eye.

"Tell me, Potter, what happened to her?"

Harry sat down on her bed and his breathing was beginning to return to normal speed. "She collapsed. I just saw her on the floor."

Madam Pomfrey looked sympathetic. "Ah… any strenuous activities she's been doing lately?" She peered curiously at him. Harry shook his head wildly, horror written all over his face.

"No! I mean… Er… Well, we all know that Hermione is a hardworking student, so it's probably school stuff. And she's been appointed as Head Girl." Harry explained carefully.

"Stress it is, then." Madam Pomfrey sighed. "She'll have to stay here for a few days to rest. She wouldn't like it, of course…" She paused thoughtfully.

Harry looked down to the floor. "Well, I can visit her everyday…" He felt his cheeks burn and he knew that Madam Pomfrey was staring at him. "I mean, along with Ron and Ginny and everyone else…"

"It's obvious, you know." Madam Pomfrey said in a voice most unlike her. It sounded motherly, like Mrs. Weasley.

Harry looked up at her. "Sorry, but what's obvious?"

Madam Pomfrey seemed to be snapped out of her reverie. "Huh? Oh, just don't mind that. You can go now."

He stood up hesitantly but he knew he should go out. As he opened the doors, he saw Ron, Ginny and Lavender walking fast to his direction.

"Harry!" Ron hollered at him. "How's Hermione?"

Harry just nodded in reply. He really didn't feel like talking right now; he felt worried. Not to mention guilty, because he knows he had let her wait for a long time. The three were right in front of him before he knew it.

Ginny was panting slightly. "What happened to her? Why didn't anyone else see her right away?"

Harry felt a sick feeling crawling to his stomach and a small voice telling him in his head, it's your fault… it's all your fault… if you hadn't had let her wait, she won't be this way… it's all your fault…

"Excuse me?" Ginny asked Harry curiously, looking up at him suspiciously.

Harry gaped at her quizzically. "Huh?"

Lavender raised an eyebrow. "'It's my fault?' What's your fault?"

He analyzed her sentence properly. He had said his thoughts out loud. Suddenly, he felt mad at himself for leaving Hermione all alone that way. He never felt so guilty in his whole entire life (in so long). "IT'S ALL MY FAULT!" He started shouting. "SHE WOULDN'T HAVE PASSED OUT IF I LEFT PRACTICE EARLY!"

"Mate, it's not your fault, no one expected-"

"IF I HAD COME EARLY MAYBE I COULD'VE BEEN BY HER SIDE!"

"Harry, it's not your fault-"

"DON'T TELL ME THAT BECAUSE IT IS!" Harry shouted out loud. But Ginny had a better idea.

"Shut up, Harry!" She wailed and waved her hands in front of his face. "Do you think Hermione would like you to be feeling guilty for her about this?"

"YOU DON'T KN-"

Ginny sighed. "Do you seriously think Hermione wants you to feel guilty on her account?" She said her tone firm and final. She raised an eyebrow and Lavender sighed in relief.

Harry just looked down the floor. "Well, er- I don't really- I dunno…"

Ginny just gave him a satisfied look. Ron patted his shoulder. "Well, see you around, Harry. We have something to discuss." And with that one look from Ron's face, Ginny and Lavender nodded and followed Ron outside the castle.

Harry watched them go away with a confused look on his face. "There's something really going on with those people…" He muttered under his breath. But he didn't have time to worry about that. Hermione was still sick, and he had to take care of her.

Hermione felt something really comfortable under her body and her head. She never knew the couch was so comfortable… but as her eyes fluttered open, the Hospital Wing came to sight. She quickly sat up with a jolt, and looked around.

"Miss Granger, lay down back!" Madam Pomfrey barked at her. "You're still not well, you have to rest!"

Hermione looked at the woman scurrying about. "Why am I-?"

"Because you're sick," Madam Pomfrey said, trying to be very calm. "Now get back to rest."

"But – I still have classes…"

Madam Pomfrey laughed. "You're still worried about classes at your current state?" She continued laughing. "Just stay there in bed."

"Where are Harry and Ron-?"

"Mr. Potter says he'll be here after his Defense Against the Dark Arts class." She replied, bringing a shallow bowl to her nightstand. "Now lay down. I'll lay a cold towel on your forehead."

Hermione couldn't do anything but oblige. She set herself carefully on the bed and she realized that she should take more rest. It was nice to sink in on comforters, mattresses, and fluffy pillows…

And before she knew it, she was asleep again.

"Do you think she'll be okay?"

"She woke up a bit before lunch."

"Can we wake her up?"

"Shut up, Ron, the poor thing's gotta rest."

"Ginny's right, Ron. By the way, you have to submit your essay to me by tomorrow."

"Aww! Can't I submit it next week?"

"No, Ron. Besides, it was due today."

Hermione can hear voices from the top of her head, but what bothered her was her splitting headache. She placed her fingers uneasily on her forehead, when she heard Ginny's overexcited voice.

"She's awake!"

A voice she recognized as Ron's, replied to his sister, "See? You woke her up! And you said I did!"

"Not my fault!"

She felt as if Ron rolled his eyes and she can't help but laugh. She opened her eyes to see what the commotion was all about.

"Hermione!" Lavender squealed excitedly. "We were so worried!"

"Yeah!" Ginny chipped in. "Good thing your knight in shining armor came to the rescue!"

She saw Harry, out from the corner of her eye, glare at Ginny, and suddenly Ginny stifled and straightened up. "Erm…"

She sat up. "Why is everyone here?"

"We wanted to see how you were doing." Professor Lupin said, smiling and standing from the end of her bed. "I owled everyone this morning to tell them what happened to you and I got frantic replies just before we got here." Ron roared with laughter.

"You should've seen mom's letter! 'Oh, dear! I've got to visit her! We need to get there immediately!'" Even Ginny and Lavender laughed at the comment.

"'We'? What do you mean by 'we'?" Hermione asked with curiosity.

Harry replied to this question. "Oh, by 'we' Mrs. Weasley meant herself and the other girls from-" But before he could even say something about the Order, Ron made a quiet hissing sound. "- Er, I mean, it's just Mrs. Weasley and Tonks."

Hermione grinned and she made it a point to look at Professor Lupin from out of the corner of her eye, who turned a light shade of crimson. "Really? Are they coming?"

Ginny nodded happily. "They'll arrive about later this evening. Oh, and just so you know, Hermione, mom brings this basket to people who are sick, full of fruits and chocolate and her ever-famous Chicken Noodle Soup."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Yeech! I feel like throwing up whenever I think of the smell of that."

"Oh yeah? When you got sick last summer mum made you some and you finished all of it in one sitting!" Ginny mocked.

Ron just pouted in defeat. Lavender cleared her throat.

"Hem. Anyways, we just came to see you, but since we see that you're okay, maybe we can leave you so that we can have some lunch." Lavender said.

Ron and Ginny nodded in agreement. They went out of the door and waved goodbye to Harry, Hermione and Professor Lupin who were left inside.

Hermione turned excitedly to the two men in front of her. "Are they really coming? I mean Mrs. Weasley and Tonks?"

Harry nodded. "Why are you so excited?"

Hermione just giggled. "Oh, nothing. Just wanted to ask some questions-" She cast a sideways glance at Professor Lupin who she swore fidgeted with his fingers, "-about how's things been getting along with her. Like for example, her, ehem, her lovelife." She looked at Professor Lupin fully this time. "Unless you know what's going on?"

It took awhile for the professor to realize that the question was directed at him. "Huh? Well… I think Tonks has been fine these days…"

Harry and Hermione looked at each other. "Professor…" They said at the same time.

"What?" He said innocently. Then he added in a hushed whisper. "Not now! Madam Pomfrey's here!"

Both of them had burst into laughter and this time Professor Lupin has turned all shades of red.

"Oh, come on, Professor!" Hermione said in between laughter. "Everyone knows you adore her!"

And Harry also joined in. "We know you're excited to see her tonight, aren't you?"

He just smiled at them. "I think I'll go and have my lunch now." He said, as he started to walk towards the door. "See you later…"

And with that he disappeared.

Harry sat down on the edge of Hermione's bed. "So have you had your lunch yet?"

Hermione crossed her arms and groaned. "I'm not allowed to eat anything except for porridge, chicken noodle soup, fruit, water and juice!"

Harry just looked at her. "Hmm… not allowed to eat solids yet?"

"Madam Pomfrey says it might be bad for me."

Harry nodded in understanding. "So, where's your lunch? You must be hungry."

"I hope I'll have Chicken Noodle Soup for a change," Hermione sighed sadly. "I've been having porridge recently."

Harry nodded. "Maybe we can ask Dobby or Winky to make you some Chicken Noodle Soup instead of por-"

Hermione glared at him.

"-Er, I mean-" Harry continued, "-If they're willing… Uh, Dobby?"

Crack. Dobby appeared in front of Hermione's bed with his large beady eyes. "Harry Potter, sir!" He squeaked happily. "What can I do for you?"

"Um… Dobby, can Hermione have Chicken Noodle Soup for lunch instead of porridge?" Harry said uncertainly, because Hermione still have the cold look on her face.

Dobby looked at him with his large, twinkling eyes. "Of course, sir! Dobby and Winky will cook some for Miss Hermione now… We will bring it in awhile…"

And with another crack, Dobby vanished.

"Harry!" Hermione wailed. "What did you think you were doing?"

Harry grinned at her. "Don't wail Hermione! It's bad for you."

Hermione glared at him menacingly. Harry gulped nervously. "Okay, okay! Unless you want me to call Dobby back and tell him to not bother on the Chicken Noodle Soup and Miss Granger would rather have porridge-"

"At least it's fair for him!"

"-again? Are you sure you want porridge?" Harry looked at the ceiling. "I mean, in the soup, there are carrots and those spring onions, not like porridge where it's all wheat or rice."

Hermione rolled her eyes and laughed while slapping Harry's arm. "Fine!" Then Harry joined her in laughing.

"So, is everyone coming later tonight? I mean, Mrs. Weasley and Tonks?" Hermione asked.

"Hermione, I don't really remember how many times you've asked that." Harry was counting on his fingers. "Uh… about… a million times?"

"Exaggerated." Hermione said. "I was just pleased to see them."

Harry put his hands on his cheeks as if in mock surprise. "Wow! You're excited to see them! I'm so surprised!"

"You know, what, Harry? You look pretty gay that way." Hermione giggled.

Harry's face flushed. "I do not!"

Hermione just started laughing and she won't stop. Harry just joined in too until lunch came.

Madam Pomfrey scurried about the Hospital Wing. "Everyone, take your lunch now! Oh, for heaven's sake, Ms. Lucas, eat your soup while it's warm!" She walked to the end of the wing and helped a girl from Ravenclaw who broke her arm and hands eat.

Hermione began to take a spoonful of the soup when Harry stopped her. "What?"

"Can you eat?" Harry looked at her uncertainly.

"Of course I can eat, Harry! What do you think happened to me? Paralyzed?" Hermione had an odd look on her face. "Why do you ask?"

Harry looked down and suddenly became interested with his fidgeting hands. "Well, I just thought… maybe you needed my help…" She can swear she saw his cheeks turn a violent shade of red.

Hermione looked at him, looking touched. "Aww, Harry! That's so nice of you."

"Huh?" He looked up at her. "No… I was just helping… you know, as a friend."

This statement seemed to affect Hermione's cheer in one way or another, and she dropped her spoon on the bowl of steaming hot Chicken Noodle Soup and said, "You know what; I don't really feel like eating anymore." Did I just say that?

Harry had a surprised expression. "No! You have to eat your lunch! If you don't want to, I'll feed you!"

Hermione said nothing and Harry took a spoonful of the soup, blew it and placed it in front of her mouth. "Say 'Ahh'!"

"I feel like a little girl again."

Harry just grinned as Hermione opened her mouth to allow the tasty soup enter her stomach. They went in this fashion for about 5 minutes when Hermione was almost done.

"Uh… Harry?"

Harry looked up to her from the soup bowl. "Yeah?"

"Thank you." She smiled at him earnestly.

Harry looked pretty confused but cheerful all the same. "For what?"

Hermione just shrugged. "I don't know… for everything! You know, for helping me everytime, when I'm down or when it's for school and even when I'm sick. I really appreciate it. Thank you so much."

"Great! I'd say things are heating up quite nicely." Ron whispered to Ginny.

Ginny brushed off a stray leaf from her hair. "Why are we looking in from outside the windows anyway? We can actually barge in the Hospital Wing and see!"

Lavender looked uncertain. "Uh, actually, I don't think that would be such a good idea…"

"Oops… I think I agree with you on that." Ginny sighed. "Anyways, it's a good time for them to get really close!"

"Who's 'getting really close'? I would daresay that would be me and Harry!" They all turned to look and saw Cho, brushing her hair in front of a handheld mirror. "Oh! Did I spoil the ending for you?"

Lavender just rolled her eyes and Ron said, "Do we look interested?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. And, don't worry. That event won't be so far. I just hope that Hermione Granger will be well to witness it!" Cho said happily.

Ginny scoffed. "We'll all get sick a million more times and die before it does." She said under her breath.

"Excuse me? You were saying something?" Cho arched an eyebrow.

Lavender smirked. "Oh nothing, nothing. We were just busy doing our thing. And just in case you haven't noticed yet, you can see what's happening in the Hospital Wing. Or are you that daft?" The three of them started laughing and walked away.

Cho looked pretty annoyed but looked in the window and gasped. In there, Harry was helping Hermione eat the rest of her soup.

"Urgh!" Cho said angrily. Then she stared at her reflection in the mirror and fixed her hair, fluffing it up quite nicely. "Hmm… maybe I should get sick too?"

Author's Note: Ha! Done and done. I just thought that would be a cute ending with Cho adding as an afterthought about getting sick as well. Anyways, I hoped you liked it and I do really swear that I will update more often as there's only 2 weeks left for classes here in the Philippines and another for final exams. I really do feel I need to pull up my grades (though my friends say I'm doing pretty fair). After that we have recognition practice and by March 29 I'll be free! YAY!

I might not be able to update for awhile as I'll be concentrating on my studies first. But until then, see you! Oh, and on your way out, don't forget to review! Bye!