Beta Reader: Cheryl
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. The only things I own are the plot, any characters, spells etc that you do not recognize.
Author Notes: n/a
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Hermione
Harry didn't think he had ever moved as quickly as he was now at the entrance of the hospital wing. After one brief check around the empty room he pulled the curtain back that was surrounding Hermione's bed.
Harry gazed down at Hermione, who was lying flat on her back, motionless. Her face had a little more colour to it than it had the last time he had seen her, but she still wasn't fully recovered, and that is what Harry wanted more than anything. He held one of her hands and kissed her fingers softly. "It's going to be okay sweetie," he whispered softly. He then moved his hands to Hermione's face, and cupped her head. "Come on Harry, you can do it," Harry encouraged himself aloud. But still, nothing happened. "Come on!" Nothing. "Please, I love her, please…"
A sudden surge of power zoomed through Harry's body, the sort of power you imagined feeling if you received an electric shock. Harry opened is eyes and a warm relief fluttered on his insides as he watched a few orange sparks develop into a bright light, the rays transpiring in front of Hermione's eyes, which began to flicker open. When Hermione fully opened her eyes, Harry gazed at her for a moment, before finally releasing his grip on her when she smiled. "H-Hermione," he gasped, smiling down at her, doing all he could to block out the few tears that threatened to break through.
"How are you feeling?" Harry asked, desperate to hear her speak.
Hermione swallowed a few times, and then spoke, her voice crystal clear. "I feel…fine." Harry smiled and placed a soft kiss to her lips. He savoured her taste, thinking back to the last time he had felt this happy, maybe for once something was going right. Harry moved onto the edge of the bed while Hermione sat up slowly. He took her into his arms and held onto her tightly.
"Has anything happened, with Voldemort, or anything for that matter?" asked Hermione quickly. Harry broke away from her and looked deeply into her eyes.
"A lot has happened, almost too much to tell."
"I want to know everything," responded Hermione instantly, looking concerned.
"Not now, you've just woken up, " said Harry.
"I don't care," insisted Hermione. "Have you been okay?"
Harry paused. He hadn't been perfect but from his own point of view he had been okay, only Ron and Madam Pomfrey seemed to disagree. "I've been fine," he answered. "No more sphere's, no Voldemort. I've fallen out with Ginny though." Hermione furrowed her brow. "She used Veritaserum to find out where Draco was, she used it on Ron."
"How is Ron?"
"He's doing okay. He's a little angry with Ginny, she found out that…wait a minute, you don't know…Felipe's body is gone, we think he's alive."
Hermione looked bewildered. "What!"
"I know…strange huh? Anyway, Ginny found out that Felipe was dead, not knowing what we know and she told a few of Felipe's friends who weren't supposed to know. Then I shouted at her and ordered her to tell Dumbledore what she'd done."
"Did she do it?" Hermione asked, still confused by everything that was going on.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, Dumbledore sent her to Grimmauld Place, she wanted to see Draco. He also let Ron into the kitchens and me…" Hermione waited for an ending. "He let me in here."
"Let you?" Hermione asked uncertainly.
Harry nodded again. "Yeah, Madam Pomfrey thought that my constant vigil at your beside wasn't doing me any good. She thought it would drive me insane not having you around."
"And did it?" asked Hermione looking horrified.
"No. But I'm concerned by Dumbledore's actions - it was strange. I can't help feeling that he's giving us what we want before something bad happens."
"Like what?" Hermione asked softly. "Is there something else you aren't telling me? Wait a minute! Draco is at Grimmauld Place? Why? How much have I missed, how long have I been asleep?" Hermione questioned frantically.
"Shh," Harry whispered, stroking her cheek gently. "I told you this would be too much, just relax for a while."
"I just want to support you. What else are we supposed to talk about? I mean, this is pretty important?"
"What about our wedding?" suggested Harry.
"That needs to wait until Voldemort is gone. Let's face it, it will hardly be a relaxing day if he's around will it?"
"No," Harry conceded. "Okay. If you want to know what's been happening, then I'll tell you. I'm going to take it slowly though. Voldemort contacted Draco. Dumbledore thought he wouldn't be safe here after he refused to spy on me. So they faked Draco's expulsion and he's being protected at Grimmauld Place." Hermione nodded. "And before you were…put to sleep. Draco told me what I have known all along. Voldemort has to strike before the year is out, otherwise he will be expecting me to go back to the Dursleys, where I'll be safe. I don't know who attacked you, but I think it was somebody working for Voldemort."
"Me too."
"If they had kept you away, I would have been missing the one strength I have over Voldemort, love. I've been trying to get my healing powers back after the sphere drained my energy, and I only just managed it. When I thought of how much I loved you."
Hermione kissed Harry gently on the lips. "If what you say is right…then when you fight Voldemort - I need to be there."
"I couldn't make you do that, I won't send you to your death."
"You wouldn't be making me do anything. I want to help, I'm not afraid." Harry bit his lip and thought for a moment. Hermione placed a hand on his chin and tilted his head upwards until their eyes met. "Please?" Harry uncertainly nodded, when suddenly a loud bang erupted. Harry leapt off the bed and turned around, where he was facing three B.D.M.S soldiers who quickly transformed into three Death Eaters.
*
At Grimmauld Place, Ginny made her way up some stairs, making sure that she didn't fall between any of the gaps. She had only seen Tonks since she got there, her mum and dad weren't around today but she only cared about seeing Draco. She entered a few empty rooms, desperately searching for him, when she felt a hard smack on her backside. She jumped a little but held still when Draco wrapped his arms around her. "Boo." Ginny smiled as Draco began placing kisses along her neck.
"I've missed you," she muttered, closing her eyes.
"Not as much as I've missed you." Draco continued kissing along her neck and cheek and courageously moved his hands up her stomach and onto her breasts. Ginny moaned softly and turned around to face him. She moved her arms around the back of his neck and pulled his head down, crushing her lips onto his. They remained lost in each other for several moments before Draco hooked one of Ginny's legs around his waist. She lifted her other one slightly and he helped her to wrap both of her legs around his waist, before he carried her into his room.
Draco dropped her down onto a bed and climbed on top of her, kissing her strongly once more. She flipped him over and began kissing along his jaw and onto his lips once more before pulling away. She grinned at him and he smiled back at her as she began to fiddle with the bottom of his shirt, before a knock on the door broke them up. Ginny quickly jumped off Draco who sat up on his bed. "Who is it?" he asked.
Mad Eye Moody opened the door. His magical eye was focused on Ginny, his normal eye on Draco. "Don't try and hide anything from me, I can see through doors remember," he growled. "Your parents are here Weasley, they want to see you." Moody turned on his good leg and then hobbled away, a clonking sound echoing through the halls. Ginny turned back to Draco and climbed back onto the bed, pushing his head back on the pillow. He kissed her again, but she reluctantly pulled away.
"I should go, it's better than having mum or dad walking in here." Draco nodded.
"I'll be here anyway." Ginny smiled at Draco and left the room, feeling somewhat overjoyed.