Chapter 5: Finding Comfort
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the below characters. They all belong to the world of Harry Potter so cleverly created by JK Rowling.
********************************************************************************************************************************************
Harry was in his bedroom staring at the wall when a commotion outside caught his attention. He knew that the Order had members patrolling his house and the surrounding area, but
he had never actually seen any of them until now. Fully awake he grabbed his wand preparing for the worst. When he looked outside however, he instantly recognized his visitor, even
in the dark.
Hermione apparated to Harry's without even realizing what she had done. In fact, when she had apparated, she hadn't even been consciously thinking of a location, she just wanted to
get out of that house. When she arrived on Harry's front lawn however, she instantly knew that was where she wanted to be. The problem was there where suddenly four Order
members surrounding her. At least she assumed they were. The only one she recognized was Alastor. "Please, it's just me, Hermione. I need to see Harry, its important." she added, a
bit desperately.
"How can we believe you, how do we know you aren't just a disguised death eater?" Alastor questioned her.
"In fifth year Harry headed the DA, which stood for Dumbledore's Army. After Sirius left Harry his estate, Harry turned it over to the Order of the Phoenix and sent Kreacher to Hogwarts.
Before we returned to school in our fifth year, Harry and I both stayed at Grimmuald Place where Mrs. Weasley had an encounter with a boggart that greatly upset her. Now PLEASE,
can I see Harry?" she asked her voice trembling.
"It's alright Professor Moody, nobody could impersonate Hermione and fool me, I know her too well." Harry said standing at his doorway. Alastor seemed to agree, because he lowered
his wand and signaled for the others to do so as well.
"In light the current situation Miss Granger," Moody said sternly, not noticing her flinch when he used her last name, "It would be wise of you not to do that again." And with that, they
all vanished once again into the night.
Harry started out toward her, but he didn't get very far before Hermione launched herself into his arms, finally letting herself break down. Harry, who was completely baffled, didn't really
know what to do at first. He didn't deal with crying girls very well at all, but he knew that whatever was wrong with Hermione had to be serious, because she wasn't the type to cry, let
alone lose complete control of her emotions like she had now. Not knowing what else to do, he just hugged her. She was obviously distraught and needed comforting. "Hermione," he
said softly, "let's go inside."
Hermione however, was to distraught to comprehend anything. She heard him say something, but didn't know what. All she could think to do was hold him tighter. She just needed
someone to hold her, someone to comfort her while she cried, and to tell her it would be alright. Something that her mother and father had always done. But now, they were the reason
she was crying.
When Hermione's only response to Harry's suggestion was to hold him tighter, he didn't know what to do. He knew that he had to get them out of the open and back into the house.
Thinking of the only thing he could, he carefully picked her up and carried her into the house. Figuring his aunt and uncle would have a heart attack to find another magical person in the
house, he carried upstairs and into his room. Harry, though was beginning to get extremely scared. Hermione hadn't said one word, and she was still crying. Plus, she was still holding
on to him as if her life depended on it. Even after he set her down on his bed, she still would let go. That was when he noticed however, an envelope that she was clutching tightly.
Harry figured that this was the source of her distress, but didn't try to take it from her because he didn't want to upset her anymore.
Suddenly Harry had a thought that scared him greatly. Had something happened to Ron or his family? Was that why Hermione was so distraught? After a few seconds of silent panic,
another thought crossed his mind. If something had happened to them, there was no reason that Hermione would have been told and he hadn't. Then another thought occurred to him.
Had something happened to Hermione or her parents? Sighing, he leaned back against his wall, trying to think of a way to help Hermione. "Hermione? Is there anything I can do,
anything I can get? Would you like some tea?"
Hermione, who was finally beginning to calm down heard him this time. "No." she said quietly, "Please don't leave."
Harry, who was just relieved to hear her talking, agreed. "Do you want to tell me what happened? Do you want to talk?"
Hermione shook her head. "I don't know if I can. I just don't know what to think. Everything is so messed up Harry. I'm not who I thought I was." she said looking into his eyes.
Harry was baffled, but at least it put to rest the thought of an attack on anyone. Still, he wasn't quite sure how to respond. "What do you mean 'you're not who you thought you were'?
Am I missing something? You look the same to me."
"No," she said, letting go of him for the first time since she arrived, but still sitting close, "I just don't know, I can't…I just can't talk about it right now."
Seeing she was on the verge of breaking down again, Harry quickly interceded. "It's okay, you don't have to. Just tell me what you want me to do."
"Can you let me stay with you tonight? I really don't want to be alone and you are the only person I trust right now." she asked hopefully. It was the truth. She wasn't even sure if she
could trust Ron. He came from a pureblood family and he might know about her true identity. If that was the case, then there was no good reason he and his entire family would have
kept this from her. And in that case, that could only mean that they were secretly on the dark side. Even though that seemed highly improbable, she didn't know who or what to believe.
She would have laughed if someone had told her that she was descended from a pureblood family 24 hours ago.
Harry, who was caught off guard by the last part, didn't question it. "Of course Hermione. You are my best friend. Besides, my aunt and uncle have been avoiding me like the plague, so
its not like they'll know any different." he said hoping to make her laugh. All he got was a nod however. "Let me just run and grab an extra pillow and blanket for me. You can have my
bed, I'll take the floor."
"Actually, I was hoping you would just sit next to me. I just really need someone next to me right now." Seeing the surprised look on his face however, she thought better of it, "Umm,
unless that makes you uncomfortable…"
"No, I'll be fine," Harry responded. If Hermione needed someone that badly, than he would be there for her. She had been there for him in every possible way for the last seven years, it
was the least he could do for her.
"Thank you," she whispered quietly as she tucked herself under his arm.
"Of course," Harry whispered back, hugging her gently. He was just happy that for once he could be there for her, like she had been there for him. It wasn't long before Hermione, who
was emotionally drained, to fall asleep. Harry followed soon after, getting the best night sleep he had had since he returned home for the summer, with his best friend at his side.
