Chapter Nine
Harry had been trying to think of ways to tell Hermione about it for three weeks now, and had been failing miserably. He was exhausted, as his nightmares were getting progressively more frequent, with around three a night. He only had two more days until they went home for the holidays, and he really should tell her before then. At least she'd let the idea of them researching in the library go now, and was focusing on a big Arithmancy assignment due in on Friday morning. He crawled into his bed on Wednesday night with a feeling of dread. He needed sleep, but he wasn't in the mood to watch his friends and family fall to their deaths all night, tonight even more so than other nights. Hermione had been in a bad mood all day, and had snapped at him over dinner, storming into her study afterwards with a clear message that she didn't want to be disturbed. Harry knew she was stressed about work, but it seemed that she was angry with him specifically. He sighed and lay back on his bed.
^Night `Mione^
No reply. Maybe she was asleep. But maybe she was ignoring him… He turned over in his bed and closed his eyes and willed himself to sleep.
Hermione woke up with a start as she heard the portrait door to her study slam open; she sat up and grabbed her wand as Harry ran into her bedroom.
"Harry?" She asked confused.
He ran towards her and threw his arms around her, hugging her tight.
"You're ok. Thank god you're ok." He said breathlessly.
"Harry? What's wrong?" She asked gently.
"Voldemort had you. He was torturing you." He said against her shoulder, still not loosening his grip on her.
"I'm right here Harry. It's ok." She reassured him, stroking his hair.
"Was he in your mind again? Like with Sirius?" She asked him cautiously.
"I don't know." Harry said puzzled, pulling back from her, sitting on the edge of her bed, and looking so lost and distraught, his face tear stained.
"Did your scar hurt?"
Harry shook his head.
"Well it hurt when he was planting the image of Sirius, and when you saw Mr. Weasley attacked didn't it?" She asked.
Harry nodded again.
"So he wasn't in your mind. It was just a normal nightmare."
Harry let out a deep sigh.
"Ok." He said quietly.
Looking at him, she felt guilty for being in such a bad mood with him all night after she'd seen him talking to Cho Chang in the Great Hall before dinner. She pulled back her bed covers.
"Get in." She said softly.
Harry climbed into her bed and she pulled him close, wrapping her arms around him.
"It really was just a nightmare Harry."
"I know, but it could happen." He said softly reaching for hands and winding his fingers around hers.
"What would Voldemort want with me Harry?"
"He could use you to get to me…if he knew how much you mean to me." Harry said worriedly, lifting his head from her shoulder and looking her in the eye.
"I'm sorry for whatever I did to make you mad today." He said laying back and resting his head on the pillow.
Hermione sat up again and looked at him, now feeling even guiltier. Harry had been worrying about upsetting her, and it didn't take much of a knowledge of psychology to realise that was at least part of the cause for his nightmare.
"No, I'm sorry Harry. I was just in a foul mood, and you were the unfortunate person who got the brunt of it. I promise I'll be back to normal tomorrow. I finished my Arithmancy tonight, so we can go back to having fun again." She assured him. He smiled up at her.
She smiled back and lay down, resting her head against his chest, his arm around her shoulders protectively.
"You've been pretty quiet this week Harry, I'm guessing the nightmares have been getting worse." She said after several minutes of silence.
"Not worse really, just more of them." He admitted.
"Did you talk to Dumbledore?"
"Yes, when Remus visited, he said he'd talk to Snape and try and find out if there were any other potions that would help, but that was three weeks ago, so I'm not holding out much hope." Harry said miserably.
"We'll figure something out - I promise." She said softly.
"Mione I…" Harry paused, again unsure about quite what to say.
"What?" Hermione asked sleepily.
"Nothing. You go back to sleep. I'll go back upstairs." Harry said, beginning to move away from her, but Hermione tightened her grip around his waist.
"No. Just stay here tonight. You're comfy and it's late." She mumbled against his chest. Harry chuckled.
"Thanks `Mione."
"Night Harry."
Harry kissed the top of her head gently as he closed his eyes again.
Waking up, Harry fell in love with Hermione all over again as he discovered how adorable she looked sleeping. He grinned as he looked at her all curled up next to him, he got up carefully so he wouldn't wake her and grabbing a piece of parchment from her desk he scribbled out a quick note to her which he left on the pillow before quietly heading back up to his dormitory. It wasn't until he stood in the shower ten minutes later that he realised he hadn't had any more nightmares once he'd fallen asleep. He grinned, maybe he didn't need a potion after all, maybe he just needed Hermione.
Hermione woke slowly and stretched luxuriously, opening her eyes and seeing the empty place in her bed where Harry had slept. She sat up and found the note on the pillow. She grinned as she read it.
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`Mione
What would I do without you?
Maybe I can sneak into your room at your parent's house somehow over Christmas!
See you at breakfast
X
Harry
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She smiled happily to herself as she got up and ready for the day, knowing that Harry might be hiding something from her, but she had a secret of her own that she knew he was going to appreciate.
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The last two days of term passed in a blur as the majority of teachers abandoned all hope of teaching their students anything of use, and all too soon Harry was saying goodbye to his friends in the Common Room. Dumbledore felt it wasn't safe for him to travel back to London on the Hogwarts Express so he'd be travelling by Portkey to Grimmauld Place. Harry hugged Ron and Ginny goodbye as the bickering siblings headed out the portrait hole, followed by a despairing Lavender.
"Seriously Harry we need you on the train, even Hermione can't control it when the Weasley's start arguing." She laughed before hugging Harry briefly and following her boyfriend from the Common Room. Harry heard a thud behind him and saw Hermione carrying Crookshanks and a large bag emerge from the Head Girl's quarters.
Harry took the bag from her and left her holding the giant orange fluff ball.
"You ready to go?" He asked her. She nodded and smiled at him.
"Don't look so miserable Harry. You and Remus are going to have a great Christmas."
"I know." He said more cheerfully.
"But I'm going to miss you." He said softly so no one would overhear.
"Oh Harry. I'll miss you too. But I'm sure the time will go quicker than you expect until I see you again." She grinned.
"Now, you need to head of to Dumbledore's office or you'll miss your Portkey." She told him sternly.
Harry hugged her tightly for a moment, trying not to squash Crookshanks in the process and then headed out of the portrait hole with a wave. Hermione watched him leave thoughtfully, before picking up her bag and making her way out of the Common Room.