AN: Well, this is the final chapter. Thanks for sticking it out until the end; I hope you enjoyed the ride!
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Chapter 15: Aftermath
Darkness. Warm comforting darkness. I'm safe here. Harry thought to himself. Safe. Safe from what? Is something after me? Then the thought came, Voldemort! He's the one who's after me. Is that why I'm here? I have to get away. He's going to find me. Harry tried to stir and became vaguely aware that he couldn't move his arms. A part of his mind realized that his arms were tied down. Then he became aware that it wasn't just his arms, he couldn't move at all. Memories came to him then. Memories of being tied to a headstone. No, I've got to get away. I have to move! Harry's eyes snapped open.
Bright light blinded him and he blinked repeatedly, desperate to see where he was. Moments later his eyes adjusted to the brightness but he could still only see a bright blur. He wasn't wearing his glasses. Harry tried to take stock of his situation. He was on his back in a comfortable bed but he seemed to be tied down. He felt very weak, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness. He looked around and saw mostly white around him. There was, however, a dark shape close to him. That brought a moment of panic as Harry remembered being attacked by a dark shape in the Forbidden Forest.
Then he realized that the shape was much smaller and as he squinted to try to see it better, he saw that it was more brown and ... fuzzy. Harry started to test the strength of his bonds but he was so weak. The brown shape beside him stirred and then he heard, "Harry?" It was Hermione's voice and he relaxed at once. "Harry you're awake! Oh Harry we were so worried!"
Harry tried to speak and only managed a weak croak. He swallowed and tried again. "Can't see" he rasped.
"Wait, let me get your glasses." He saw the shape draw closer and he felt Hermione's soft touch at his temples as she slipped his glasses in place. Then he was staring at her pale tear streaked face.
"Where?" His voice was getting stronger.
"It's OK, Harry. You're OK. You're in the hospital wing."
"Why can't I move? What happened?"
Hermione's face was tight with concern. "You're hurt, Harry. Your hands are badly burned so Madame Pomfrey put you in restraints to keep you from damaging them any more. Do you remember what happened to you?"
Harry thought for a moment but only remembered darkness. "No, I can't remember. I remember being in the library with you and Ron. Then I remember following Ron and then ... then I woke up here."
Hermione touched his face tenderly and sobbed, "Oh Harry. I thought we'd lost you." She looked up from his face and dried her tears. "I have to let Madame Pomfrey and Professor Dumbledore know that you're awake. I'll be back as quickly as I can." With that, she opened the white curtains surrounding Harry's bed and stepped out of his sight.
Madame Pomfrey arrived first and she explained to Harry that he was brought to the hospital wing with his hands badly burned. Oddly, the burns seemed to resist her attempts at magical remedies so she had only limited success healing them. Because of this, both of Harry's hands were heavily bandaged to keep them immobile while they healed. Madame Pomfrey could not explain why Harry felt so weak but now that he was awake she was sure that he would make a speedy recovery.
Before Harry could ask her what she meant by "Now that you're awake," Madame Pomfrey was replaced by Professor Dumbledore who closed the curtains around Harry's bed with a flick of his wand and sat down so that they could have a private chat.
Professor Dumbledore smiled down at Harry and asked how Harry was feeling. Harry responded that he was feeling fine except that he was a bit tired. Professor Dumbledore nodded and asked Harry what he remembered about his accident. Harry told Professor Dumbledore everything he could remember. He was in the Library with Ron and Hermione and had left to follow Ron. He had found Ron in the Great Hall and followed him out to a clearing in the Forbidden Forest. Once there, Ron vanished and Harry was attacked by ... something. Harry didn't know what to call it but he tried to describe it as best he could. He made no mention of Malfoy. For once he agreed with Malfoy, this was personal. He didn't want Malfoy to think that he needed Dumbledore to fight his battles for him. When Harry was finished, Professor Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he asked if there was anything else Harry remembered. Harry suspected that Professor Dumbledore knew he was holding something back but Harry said he couldn't remember anything else right now and Professor Dumbledore didn't press him.
Professor Dumbledore then told Harry what had happened after Harry had blacked out. Dumbledore wasn't sure what exactly had happened between Harry and the conjured beast, but whatever it was expelled a tremendous amount of magical energy, which explained why Harry felt so drained. The resulting explosion had been clearly heard in the castle and had even knocked loose several panes of glass in the lower windows. As Hagrid was closest to the Forest, he was the one who found Harry. Hagrid had said that he found Harry in what looked like the epicenter of a bomb blast. Harry lay at the bottom of a smoking crater fourty feet across and roughly ten feet deep. The trees around the crater were smashed flat in concentric rings for a further fourty feet from the edge of the crater. Hagrid thought Harry was dead at first but when he realized that Harry was still breathing, he scooped Harry up and ran with him back to the castle as fast as he could. Hagrid brought Harry to the Hospital Wing and Madame Pomfrey set to work immediately to try to heal Harry's charred hands and the slashes on his chest. Harry had been in a coma since he was brought back to Hogwarts three weeks ago.
Harry was stunned. He had no idea that he had been unconscious for so long. No wonder Hermoine had looked so relieved when he had opened his eyes.
After Professor Dumbledore secured Harry's promise that they would talk more about this later and that Harry would inform him if he remembered anything new, Professor Dumbledore cancelled his privacy charm and allowed Madame Pomfrey to continue Harry's treatments.
The next day Harry was feeling much better and Madame Pomfrey told Harry that he was allowed to have visitors as long as they came in small groups and that they didn't get him too excited. And so began a veritable flood of visitors beginning with Hargid, Ron and Hermione. Hagrid was so happy that Harry was awake he soon had to excuse himself to hide his tears of relief.
Left alone with his best friends, Harry soon told them the same story he told Professor Dumbledore about what had happened in the Forbidden Forest. Ron gave Harry a look that made it obvious that he knew Harry hadn't told them everything. He started to ask Harry a question but snapped his mouth shut instead and stood glaring at Harry from over Hermione's shoulder. Hermione didn't react to Harry's story at all and Harry suspected that she would interrogate him at another time.
All of Harry's friends came to visit him over the next couple of days. All of them tried so hard to keep Harry in good humor that he quickly became annoyed by their over cheerful attitudes. Harry knew that they meant well and so he lay there and laughed at their silly jokes and thanked them for coming to visit. He soon became very frustrated that Madame Pomfrey refused to allow him to leave his bed until his hands were healed. Harry was sure that without Ron, and especially Hermione, he would have gone mad from boredom.
Ron came to see him often, usually bringing a chessboard and pieces so that he and Harry could play Wizard Chess as Ron kept Harry updated on Hogwarts gossip and Ron's tattered love life. Ron even showed up every morning to help Harry wash up and dress. Harry wasn't thrilled with the idea of Madame Pomfrey helping him with these tasks so he was very grateful for Ron's help.
Hermione hardly left Harry's bedside. She was always there to help him in a thousand little ways. Straightening his sheets, fluffing pillows, helping him eat, and just comforting him with her presence. Harry was glad that she was there for but day by day he became more and more frustrated that he couldn't even hold her. The Hospital wing was greatly lacking in romantic atmosphere. Harry wondered if Hermione felt the same.
One night after dinner and after Ron had left them alone; Hermione asked him what he wanted to do that evening. As usual she had brought Harry's school books and an assortment of simple diversions. Before Harry could stop himself he said, "Hold you."
Hermione looked at him and raised one eyebrow quizzically, "What was that?"
Harry sighed his frustration and said, "I just want to hold you. And maybe ... kiss you." Harry wasn't sure how he expected her to react but he was very surprised when she smiled mischievously and drew her wand.
Harry watched in anticipation as Hermione cast several charms on the curtains surrounding Harry's bed. When she was finished she turned to him with an impish smile and said, "Scoot over."
"What?"
"Scoot over and make room for me," Hermione said quietly still smiling.
Harry shifted on the bed making room for Hermione. The bed was narrow and not really big enough for two people so their bodies pressed together as Hermione removed her robes, pulled back the sheets and slid into bed with Harry. Harry put his arms around her as she settled in next to him. He pulled her close and breathed in her scent which smelled faintly of lilacs. Tenderly Hermione cupped his cheek as she lowered her lips to his and kissed him.
The kisses started gentle and tentative but soon, Hermione was aggressively exploring Harry's mouth with her tongue. Suddenly, Hermione threw her leg over Harry's hips and pulled herself on top of him. Harry's concern that she would feel how excited he was by this move was quickly replaced first by surprise, then by desire as she began to grind against him.
She arched her back suddenly, pulling her chest away from his but her mouth continued to devour his. She reached between them and violently tore open Harry's pajama top. Harry heard the buttons skitter across the floor. She pressed against him again and began kissing and biting his neck and chest. Harry wished desperately that he was able to use his hands as Hermione trailed her tongue across his chest to his nipple. Her hands were everywhere and when she slid off of him her hand trailed down his chest, past the drawstring of his bottoms and suddenly she was gripping him through his pajamas.
"What are you doing?" Harry groaned between feverish kisses.
"Why? Do you want me to stop?"
"No." Harry couldn't believe this was the same girl he had been dating for the past few months. She was never so aggressive. "What's got into you tonight?"
"Tonight you're mine, Harry. Mine to do with as I please and there's nothing you can do about it." She released him then and Harry felt her jerk the drawstring of his pajama bottoms. She sat up only long enough to pull them down past his hips fully exposing his straining flesh then she lay beside him again, took him in her hand and began a rhythmic stroking.
Harry's eyes rolled in pleasure and his breath rasped in his throat. Hermione began kissing him again on his chest and neck and finally moving up to capture his mouth as the pace of her hand increased. She had a wild look in her eyes that only served to inflame Harry's passion. Harry couldn't believe how good she was making him feel. He wanted it to go on forever but he knew he was not going to hold out for much longer.
"Oh God, Hermione," Harry hissed between breaths. "I'm gonna, gonna ..."
"Shhhhh." She kissed him as his entire body tensed suddenly and then he erupted in pulse after pulse of pleasure that was more intense than anything Harry had ever felt before.
He panted as he laid there, his mind reeling from what Hermione had just done to him. He was vaguely aware of her murmuring something softly and then she pulled his pajamas back in place and tied the bottoms and rebuttoned his shirt. He opened his eyes and stared in mild shock at Hermione's pleased smiling face.
"I can't believe you just did that," Harry laughed softly.
Hermione's impish grin was back. "If you liked that, Harry, just wait until your bandages come off."
Harry smiled and kissed her as she leaned forward. Harry wasn't sure what the future held for him but after this year he was certain that his life had become a whole lot more interesting.
END.