Harry didn't sleep well that night, kept restless by nightmares and by his concern for Hermione. He woke very early that morning, Sunday, with one thought in his mind - Hermione. How was she? Did she sleep through the night? Was she feeling better? The boy dressed quickly and warmly to ward off the pre-dawn chill and made his way to the hospital wing. It seemed the rest of the castle was fast asleep. It was still very dark outside, with no trace of dawn in the sky through the windows he passed. The hospital wing was still quite dark. Madame Pomfrey was evidently still asleep. Hermione didn't appear to have moved at all during the night. It had been four hours or so, and it seemed she hadn't moved at all. Temporarily concerned, Harry quietly walked to her side. He was relieved to see her chest moving up and down under the blanket with steady breaths. He released a breath of his own he didn't realize he had been holding and sat down quietly in the chair by her side. Perhaps it was an irrational worry for her at the moment, but his concern had more to do with last night's dream that he was still able to recall in disturbing reality.
It was the same dream he always had. It was similar to the sensation he had during the dementor attack; a woman's scream and a bright flash of green light. The end however, was different this time. After the flash he would look down and see… Hermione. Lying on a rough concrete floor very pale and still, a pool of blood spreading underneath her and her eyes open but unseeing in cold death… and a hideous laugh echoing but never quite fading into silence…
Harry jerked spasmodically as he retreated from the terrible memory and focused his attention desperately on Hermione's sleeping face. She looked calm and peaceful in sleep, not with pain and fear frozen on her face like she'd had in the dream. Her calm was contagious and Harry found himself relaxing, the tenseness leaving his shoulders as he convinced himself once again that it had only been a dream.
His fears allayed, Harry's drowsiness returned. Now that he knew Hermione was safe, was alive, he could relax a bit. The dream had definitely shaken the boy. He was cold now, surrounded by the quiet stone. The only sound was Hermione's light breaths and the distant hoot of an owl from the owlery. Harry considered returning to his dorm room, but the very idea felt cold and empty to him now. What if he had another dream? What if it ever became true. He shuddered at the thought and reached out to touch her, just to reassure himself. Suddenly, he recalled what Hermione had told him yesterday when they had been alone and he asked her if she wanted him to lie down beside her.
" I really like for you to be near. I trust you. More than anyone else…"
Her soft words came back to him, almost like an echo in his mind. She seemed deeply asleep enough for him to lie down beside her without waking her, so he did. She still lay on her back, so Harry lay facing her, seeking her warmth. He was tall enough that if she were to turn in her sleep, her face would rest below his chin, which was how they had slept for the past two nights. Harry felt her warmth chase his chill away and calm his worries. She was alive. And safe. She sighed peacefully in her sleep and turned slightly toward him. He wrapped his arm securely around her, mostly to comfort himself rather than her, and drifted away again. His sleep was no longer plagued with dreams.
Madame Pomfrey woke just after dawn and went to check on her patient. She wasn't too surprised to find Harry lying beside her charge just as nights before. Both were asleep and smiling faintly. After quietly casting some diagnostic spells, the mediwitch was pleased to see marked improvement in the girl's strength and a decrease in the poison in her system. The potions could wait, as Hermione needed sleep more than anything. The healer retreated to her office, trusting the two friends alone with each other.
Hermione woke slowly that morning. She found herself comfortably warm and relaxed. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep while reading. Somebody must have taken her book and tucked her in… and lain down beside her and fallen asleep as well. She smiled sleepily. She knew immediately by his scent who it was. His familiar scent and the soft security provided by his arm wrapped around her meant that she never even had a sense of alarm. No one else smelled like he did. Each person has their own scent after all, but his was distinct to Hermione because they were so often together. She recalled her sleepy words from the day before just as Harry had, and was suddenly glad she had said them. If she hadn't, she imagined that she would be quite cold and who knows where Harry would have ended up. She had seen his reluctance to leave her in his eyes, and it made her feel warm inside. She was glad he came back.
Hermione opened her eyes, as the sleepy feeling was leaving her body. She found her sight still very much intact. She reluctantly moved away from her friend. Her movement woke him. She found herself looking up into his green eyes as he pushed himself up on one elbow. He attempted to smiled at her, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"What's wrong, Harry?" she asked quietly, her voice rough from sleep.
He shook his head mutely. She looked at him pointedly, brown eyes shining with concern. He sighed.
"I had… one of those dreams…" he said falteringly. Hermione's mouth formed a soundless 'oh' and then Harry found himself wrapped in a fierce hug from his friend.
"That's how I ended up here," he said miserably. "I couldn't sleep… in the dorm." He was about to say 'without you' but stopped himself in time. After all, in a few days Hermione would no longer be sleeping in the hospital wing but in her own dorm room which was highly inaccessible to him. Before she could reply he spoke again.
"It… was about you Hermione, and Voldemort. He… he k-killed you." Harry shuddered and Hermione tightened her hold on him.
"Harry, it was just a dream. I'm here. I'm alive and I'm not going anywhere." She could feel him shaking, but it was lessening. She gently rubbed his back as she held him tight, trying to calm him. He held her equally as tight, still trying to convince himself once again that she was alive. Despite having a dreamless sleep, waking up again had left him once again afraid for her. The dream had hardly faded. But now she was holding him tightly, very much alive and breathing.
"I'm… so glad…" he murmured, relaxing in her embrace.
" You've had this dream before." It was not a question. She knew it was true. He nodded. She didn't see it as her face was buried in her shoulder, but she could feel it and sense that he was relaxing.
"Oh Harry, I'm so glad you're here. You know you can always come to me when you have those dreams, right?" He nodded again.
"But you won't be here forever," he said downheartedly, gesturing to the hospital room.
"I'll think of something. I promise," she replied, still not letting go of him. He smiled at her stubborn intelligence. He had no doubt in his mind that she would find a way to be there for him. She always had. He finally relaxed into her embrace and hugged her back, sufficiently reassured. Only then did she release him. They sat up fully as Madame Pomfrey came into the room.
"Morning dears. How are you feeling Hermione?"
"I feel even better than yesterday," the girl said with a smile.
"What about you, Harry? What time did you come back?" Concern was beginning to show on the mediwitch's face.
"Last night. I couldn't sleep. I'm fine now," he said, not really wanting to discuss it. Hermione took his hand in her uninjured one and squeezed it gently. The mediwitch decided not to press the topic and cast another diagnostic spell on Hermione.
"You're healing quite nicely, dear. You should be perfectly able to attend classes on Monday, provided that you can walk. We shall test your legs again after breakfast and a dose of potions," Harry and Hermione smiled at this news. Harry stood to help the mediwitch gather potions and the food Dobby had sent to the healer's office. Hermione took the foul potion the mediwitch provided. It was helping her heal, but it made her gag nonetheless. She then ate with her right hand as Harry and Madame Pomfrey rebandaged her left. There was still some poison drainage, but it seemed to be slacking off.
After they ate, Harry and Madame Pomfrey securely wrapped Hermione's knees and ankles and helped her off the bed. She sort of shuffled when she walked, not because of the bandages but because of the pain in her hips and back which they had been unable to wrap like her knees. Despite this shuffling and the slight pain, she was able to walk around the room a few times unaided except by Harry's gentle hands at her elbows to ensure that she didn't fall. Her foot caught the rug as she was unable to lift it high enough and she stumbled, but Harry caught her and set her back onto her feet. She smiled gratefully at him and squeezed his hand as he led her back to the bed.
"You're cleared to go to class tomorrow, Hermione," the healer said happily, "but Harry or someone else will have to accompany you wherever you go. If you fall in this condition, it could cause a large setback in your healing process. Do be careful dear. And Harry, take good care of her. She needs you right now." Harry almost expected Hermione to object, and claim that she was perfectly fine on her own and didn't need anybody. Even her stubbornness and pride were laid by the wayside for the moment as she nodded, eyes downcast.
"Don't worry. I'll take good care of you," Harry said softly to his friend, and in a whisper added, "because you've taken good care of me." She smiled and looked up at him gratefully. Their eyes met, both smiling at the knowledge that the other would be there for them. Hermione lay back to rest, her eyes fluttering closed as a mild relaxant in her main potion took a delayed effect. Harry held her hand, gently rubbing it between his fingers as she fell asleep, a gentle smile on her face.
"You two really have something special, you know," Madame Pomfrey whispered, looking at Harry. He looked confused before she continued.
"You have each other. Never let that go Harry. Never try to keep her from being there for you, from helping you, because she won't let you stop her or leave her behind. She needs you, just as much as you need her. Trying to keep her from harm by keeping her away from you will only end in tragedy." Harry looked at her strangely. The mediwitch had never spoken to him like this before. Her very eyes seemed foggy. He wished Hermione were awake. His friend would know what this was about - why the healer was looking so… odd.
In an instant Madame Pomfrey snapped out of it.
"She will probably sleep for a few hours, dear. You could leave for a while if you wish. " Harry nodded but didn't move, his mind consumed in thought. That was the strangest look he'd ever received, the look the healer gave him when she told him not to let Hermione go. Her voice had been soft, but flat and her eyes were vacant. He didn't understand. It seemed as if the healer herself hadn't even noticed what she'd said. He decided to talk to Hermione about it when she woke, but until then Harry amused himself by transfiguring Hermione's discarded joint bandages and some extra napkins into various things and making them fly quietly about the room.
When Hermione woke about an hour later, she was fascinated by the odd assortment of miniature creatures and normally inanimate objects fluttering around the room. She looked over the side of the bed and saw the back of a black-haired head and a wand that directed a tiny hippogriff to fly toward a miniature black dragon and knock it into a wall. Both returned to their original forms as they collided with a wall and Hermione was confused to see her own sock and a broken quill fall to the floor. She giggled and Harry turned around, a smile on his face.
"Enjoying the show?" He asked with a grin.
"Very much. I'm glad to know you paid attention in Transfiguration class, at least." Harry pretended to look scandalized.
"Me? Not pay attention in class? Never!" Hermione's smile grew.
"Imagine what you could do if you applied yourself as well toward Potions or History of Magic? You might pass me and become the top of the year."
"No chance at that. You'd still be smarter and work harder than me. I don't know how you do it as it is. You must be taking 3 more subjects than me and you're still the smartest…" he trailed off as Hermione paled suddenly. "What is it?"
"Uhh… I need to talk to Professor McGonagall. See, our schedules are so… different and confusing that it would be hard for you to help me around."
"So I'll quit Divination. I can't stand Trelawney anyway, especially since she predicts my death in a whole new way every class. Will that help?"
"I… don't know. I'll have to talk with Professor McGonagall. Harry, would you…"
"I'll go find her and be back soon. I don't know what you're so worried about, Hermione. You know I won't leave you hanging." She smiled at his retreating back, but still looked worried. She was very glad she'd left the time-turner in her trunk when she was studying with Harry in the common room a few days before. It would have been very difficult to explain as Harry wouldn't know what it was and Madame Pomfrey didn't know she was even allowed to have one. Yes, she would have to talk to Professor McGonagall as soon as possible.