Chapter 9
Hermione groaned in her sleep and her body stirred awake.
"Hermione," a gentle voice greeted her. "It's alright, wake up."
Her eyes refused to open. Her mind wandered to recollect where she was lying. Her Odyssey flashed in front of her eyes. "Harry," a whisper caressed her mind.
With a smile, she wrenched her eyes open to stare into the emerald green irises that guided her all along.
She was confused, now. What happened to Harry's eyes? When did they turn from bright green to baby blue? She lifted her fingers to caress his messy black hair. Instead, she was greeted with a mop of ginger locks. Then the realization hit her.
"Ron," she gasped as her fiancé swooped her into a massive hug.
"You gave us a bloody scare," he said placing a kiss on her forehead. "But you're back with us."
But Hermione's brain didn't process a word, Ron said. Her heart started palpitating. Is this a new universe? No, she can't do it again. She didn't have the strength to face any more challenges. Her heart screamed for Harry.
"Breathe," a different comforting voice reached her ears. The same voice that soothed her all through their travels and held her grounded to him, called her. She relaxed, her eyes looking around frantically. "I'm right here, with you. Don't panic," Harry's voice repeated.
"Hermione, what are you looking for?" Ron asked stilling her face. She felt like her face was on fire at his touch. She pushed his hand away and tried to scoot away. A look of hurt passed on Ron's face as she flinched.
"Where's Harry?" Hermione asked in a trembling voice.
Ron's tensed face relaxed, "He is fine, but still he's unconscious."
Hermione's eyes widened. She shot out of the bed and proceeded towards the door. But she didn't realize how weak her body was, until she stumbled to the floor.
"Hermione, calm down," Ron was on her side in the next instant. He covered her shoulders with his large arms and brought to her feet. "Harry's going to be fine."
"Herms, I'm fine," Harry's voice sounded again in her head. "You just stay where you are. I'll come to you."
But it didn't calm Hermione's mind. What happened to them? They were supposed to back in their own Universe. She looked around her. She recognized the crooked building immediately. She looked up at confused face of her fiancé and asked, "What happened?" Ron tried to guide her to the bed, but she remained adamant, "Tell me."
Ron sighed and slumped down on the floor beside her. "I don't know what happened. I got Ginny's Patronus. I was confused and I tried to find Harry at the Grimmauld Place. But he wasn't there. I rushed here to see both of you passed out near the pond."
Everything started to come together in Hermione's mind. Their travels were the only thing on her mind, until then. But the situation that led to their journey slowly started to surface. The perception of contentment that rushed through her heart when Harry Potter enveloped her into a soul searing kiss, the cold water that tickled her feet and the magnificent marquee. "Wedding," she gasped. "How long were we unconscious?"
"Two unbelievably long days. I was so worried," Ron said cupping her face with his palm. "Looking at you and Harry like that. No one understood what had happened. The healers said you were doing good, physically. But he couldn't reach you. You were just far far away. Same with Harry."
Hermione sighed and her posture relaxed. She then looked into the worried face of Ron. She smiled at him and threw her arms around his neck, "Ron."
But what Ron did after that made her stomach churn. He slowly closed his eyes and started lowering his lips to hers. This wasn't a new thing. She had always enjoyed Ron's gentle kisses. But now it felt wrong. A pang of guilt hit her heart and she turned her face away. His lips fell on her cheek and Ron opened his eyes in confusion. Hermione bit her lip and refused to meet his confused gaze. Ron shook his head with a smile and lifted her into his arms, carrying to the bed.
She never felt so uncomfortable in Ron's presence. She was supposed to marry him and now she can't even stand his touch. She squirmed in his arms and looked at him. "I'm fine. You don't need to carry me."
"We don't want you to go fainting on me again," Ron said kissing her cheek as he gently placed on the bed. "Can I get you something to drink?" Ron asked with concern. She nodded with hesitation. "I'll be right back," he said pulling a thin sheet to cover her.
"Thanks," she said as Ron started moving to the door.
As soon as Ron was out of the door, Hermione closed her eyes on turned all her concentration on Harry. "Where are you?" she whispered.
"I'm in the next room," Harry's reply came in the next instant.
"Ron said you were unconscious."
"Yes. But that cannot stop me from reaching you."
Hermione's heart dropped into her stomach. "What's wrong with you, Harry?"
"You are safe, that's all that matters."
Something's definitely wrong. Why didn't he wake up yet? She had to go and see. She threw the sheet that was covering her and stepped out of the bed with a newfound strength. "Hang in there. I'm coming for you."
"No, Hermione," Harry's worried voice tried to stall her.
But Hermione was already half way to the door. Her knees started to buckle and she stumbled. Suddenly two arms enveloped her and she looked at her rescuer.
"Mum," she cried as Hermione met her mother's kind eyes.
"Hermione, darling," her mother held Hermione's shoulders and helped her stand straight. She hugged her tight and cried. "My baby, we were so worried. Come on, You shouldn't be out of the bed."
She looked at her mother's tear filled eyes hugged her tight. She drew back when she felt her mother's pats on her back. "I have to find Harry. He needs my help."
"You need to take rest, sweetheart. Ginny is with him," her mum explained.
Hermione blanched at her mum's words. How could she forget about Ginny? She was Harry's fiancé. Oh! Merlin, nobody here, knew about their bond. But the logical part of her brain sprung into action. First and foremost, Harry was her best friend and nobody could ever come between them.
"I need to go. Help me," she said with a finality in her tone, swinging her arm on her mother's shoulder. Jean Granger sighed and guided her to Ginny's room.
As she limped her way to Ginny's room, her thoughts remained fixed on Harry. "I'm coming, Harry, hold on," she tried to convey. But there was no answer from Harry. She hurried her steps as Ginny's room came into view. She pushed the door and was suddenly surrounded by a red blur. "Hermione. Thank Merlin. You're okay."
She groaned at the pressure and Ginny released her, "Ginny, where is he?"
Ginny's face fell and her eyes misted as she pointed to her bed. Hermione followed her gaze. Her feet moved towards the figure, that was lying peacefully on the bed. He looked the same. The black messy hair still crowded his forehead, hiding the hideous presence of the scar, his eyes remained closed hiding his emerald gaze and the lips that took her to the destinations impossible lay innocently closed.
"I've tried everything, Hermione. He's not waking up," Ginny stopped her as Hermione slumped down on the floor beside his bed. "We would've been bonded by this time. What's happening to him?" Ginny spoke with a whimper.
Hermione bit her lip and moved the hair out of his forehead.
"Herms," Harry's voice sounded in her mind. "You're here."
Hermione's hand moved to his neck and checked for his pulse. To her relief, it was normal. "Harry, come on," she whispered. Her glance turned to the door to see a group of people huddled over there. Ron and Molly had joined Ginny and her mother. Ron consoled Ginny, while Molly Weasley and Jean Granger watched with concerned eyes.
"Come on, wake up Harry. Come back to us," Hermione whispered.
"Herms, you don't want to strain yourself," Harry's voice warned her again.
"My wand?" she asked turning to Ron.
"We tried everything. Even the healers don't understand what's happening with both of you," Ron tried to explain.
Hermione took a deep breath and asked again, "Ron, my wand."
"Ron, get Hermione's wand," Molly's voice made Ron's feet move. "If Hermione could help, what more do we want? Right, Ginny?" Molly asked her daughter. "Hermione dear, how is Harry?"
"Hanging in there," Hermione murmured taking his left hand into hers to feel his delicate pulse.
Ginny rushed to him and flopped on the other side. "Harry, please. Come back to your love, come back to me."
Hermione gulped at the proximity Ginny was sitting to Harry. She chided herself for being childish. After all, Ginny was his fiancé. Clearly, the girl Harry was going to marry if he had not taken the plunge and kissed his soul mate. Hermione's mind was a whirlwind. She extended her hand to his chest and tried to feel his heartbeat. But with the blanket and his shirt on, everything felt so constricting.
She made an impatient huff and started pulling down his blankets. But Hermione didn't stop there. The light shirt he was wearing still felt obstructive and she started unbuttoning them. All the people gathered looked at her actions with an open mouth.
"Um, Herms," Harry's voice greeted her again. "Is it wise to undress me in front of my fiancé?"
Those words halted Hermione. She gave a timid look around her and stammered. "I need to get closer to his heart, to understand the variations in his heartbeat." She then noticed Ron, who was standing closer to her, with a dumbfounded expression. She gave a sheepish smile and turned her attention to the wand in his hand. "Oh, thank you, Ron," she said taking her wand. "I've missed you," she said running her hands on the wood, completely missing the puzzling expressions on everyone's faces.
"Hermione, are you alright?" Ginny asked with a pointed look.
"Sorry. Everything just seems so baffling," she said darting her eyes to Harry's calm face. "Why aren't you coming back to us?" She groaned internally. She brought her wand to his heart and ran a few diagnostic spells. Everything was normal. She tried to bring him back to his consciousness using 'Rennervate', but it didn't work. She started to get restless. She began to fire random spells from her wand, hoping at least something would work. But all her efforts remained futile.
"I think I know what would work," Harry's voice nudged Hermione again.
Hermione chewed on her lip and looked around the room. She knew what Harry was talking about. The doubt started to creep up her mind from the second she entered the room. Her head bowed down in resignation. But in order to do, what must be done, she had a lot to explain. She met Ron's confused eyes and took his hand. "I need to tell you, something."
"Hermione, I'm sure. Whatever you say is very important. But don't you think we need to attend to Harry first. You both were attacked in a similar fashion. You came back to us, but Harry didn't," Ginny said stalling Hermione's words.
"Ginny," Molly admonished. "Go on, Hermione."
Hermione shot a gratifying look at the elder Weasley and met her mother's eyes, who smiled and gave a silent gesture to continue.
"We weren't attacked," Hermione started. "Not exactly."
"Herms, don't you take all the credit for our adventure," Harry's teasing voice met her.
"Don't you dare, joke about this Harry Potter. I'm really worried here," Hermione yelled in a frustrated voice.
"Who are you talking to?" Ron asked turning her face towards his.
"Harry," Hermione murmured.
"What do you mean, Harry. He is lying there, unconscious. How can you talk to him?" Ginny asked her voice died down to a whisper.
"Herms, I think we should do it together," Harry called her again.
"How do you propose to do that Harry, when you are hovering in some unknown worlds," Hermione said in impatient voice and her eyes roved to his face in concern.
"Hermione, dear. You don't seem yourself. The whole thing had taken a toll on you. Why don't you rest for some time and then we'll get back to Harry? Come on dear," Molly said coming forward.
Ron nodded his head with a pained expression, but Hermione's mother interfered. "Wait a minute. Hermione, what is it you are trying to tell? It may be the whole reason behind these unfortunate circumstances. And we can't afford to lose precious time."
Hermione's eyes filled with tears at her mother's words. "Thank you, mum. Yes, something very significant happened."
"What is it, Hermione. Is it related to both you and Harry?" Molly asked.
"You are freaking us out, Hermione," Ginny said gripping Hermione's hand in a painful hold.
Ron pulled Hermione backward and stalled his mother and sister. "Give her a break. She's been in the same condition as Harry until now. She doesn't need the extra stress."
"Thanks, Ron. But I need to get this out of my chest," Hermione said giving an apologizing look to Molly and Ginny.
"Herms, you don't need to do it alone. It's our responsibility. Just kiss me and wake me up," Harry spoke urgently.
Hermione's palms got sweatier and her head started to swim. She began to feel the consciousness slip. She had to do it now before she passed out. All the explanations could wait. She stumbled to Harry's side and took his face into his hands.
She knew if she looked around, her resolve would break by all their expressions. She took a deep breath and pressed her lips against Harry's.
A sharp gasp escaped from Harry and his eyes shot open.
"Harry," Hermione whispered and he gave a warm smile that melted her heart.
"Thank you," his voice made her racing heart calm down.
"Oh, you scared me," Hermione said swatting at his arm. "But you came back."
"Always," Harry said looking into her worried eyes.
"What's going on, dears?" Molly's stern voice pushed through their moment of bliss, bringing their attention to the world around them and the people within.
They turned to face their friends, fiancés, and family. Jean Granger was the only one with a knowing and tearful smile. Molly's face was as red as her hair, Ron looked as if he was smacked right in his head, and Ginny's whole body was shaking in a complete rage.
Harry took Hermione's hand into his and they both whispered, "We are soulmates."
A/N: My apologies to end at this point. All my thanks to all you wonderful people for the follows and favorites.
My special thanks to all those people who reviewed: Arnold DeVillena, Hedwig93, Cheryl, pawsrule, Margareitha Malfoy-Nott, Lese, desireejones99, Linda