Sighs
Chapter 13
A/N: JEEBUS! Don't kill me! I'm writing, I'm writing! Long chapter. Hermione's not going to die. Yeesh. It's an H/Hr story fercryinoutloud! All will be resolved. Don't worry.
Warnings: None. Language. Maybe.
Now. On to the story.
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"Fetch Madame Pomfrey immediately."
Several students scampered off to alert the Medi-witch, and Dumbledore knelt next to Harry.
"She is not dead Harry. She's merely unconscious. No doubt from one of our deflected spells."
"But she's that way because of me! Because I didn't study like she told me, or because I couldn't control my actions, or because I wasn't careful enough!"
"Out of the way! Out of the way! My goodness! Albus! Mr. Potter! What happened here?!"
"It's a long story Poppy. For now, would you please attend to Ms. Granger? I believe that she has been stunned."
"Of course! Ennervate."
Nothing happened. Hermione remained as still as stone.
"I do not believe it was a traditional stunning spell. Perhaps we should me this inside?"
Harry refused to let Hermione be taken from his arms, insisting that he bring her personally to the Hospital Wing.
"Do you think she'll be alright professor? I don't think I could live with myself if something happened to her!"
Harry seemed to be bordering on hysteria.
"I'm sure she'll be fine, once Madame Pomfrey gets a full examination. Until then, we must trust in her abilities and Ms. Granger. We can do nothing until then."
Arriving at the Hospital Wing, Madame Pomfrey directed Harry to one of the empty beds, and then tried to shoo him out.
"There are things that should remain private! I cannot examine Ms. Granger fully unless you leave! Out!"
Harry looked less than pleased but did as he was told, hovering around the curtain encircling Hermione's bed.
"Professor. I'm not leaving her alone. I did before, but I won't again. I'm not leaving her side until she wakes up."
"Of course, Harry. But do not deprive yourself of the necessary things. You must eat and sleep, just like everyone else. Those are the only conditions I have."
Harry nodded, and began to pace.
"How long can it take to examine a person? Can't she move any fa…"
Harry trailed off as Madame Pomfrey pushed aside the curtain and glared at Harry.
"She'll be fine. She is under the influence of and EXTREMELY powerful stunning spell. It may be a few days before she wakes, but I am positive she will make a full recovery. I will notify you when…"
"No! I'm staying here. Professor Dumbledore has already agreed to it, and there's no way in HELL you're going to make me leave. I left her alone when she needed me once already. I won't make that mistake again."
The vehemence in the young man's voice startled Madame Pomfrey, but she nodded, reluctantly.
"I'll eat and sleep when I need to, but other than that, I'm staying here."
With that, Harry conjured a chair and sat down.
Three days later, Hermione awoke to the sound of light buzzing.
'Cicada? But I'm indoors! How could…oh.'
She looked over and smiled.
Harry sat in his chair, sound asleep, snoring, and drooling slightly.
"Harry." She whispered.
"HUH!? WHUZZAT!? HERMIONE!"
Harry sprang out of his chair and latched on to Hermione.
Hermione was taken aback.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for any of this to happen! I didn't mean for you to get captured, or injured, or stunned, or hurt or, or, or…"
Placing a finger against his lips, Hermione smiled.
"I forgive you, even if there's nothing to forgive. You didn't mean to, and you would have made sure I was safe if you knew. We were both being stubborn arses."
Harry sighed, and hugged Hermione.
"I'm glad you're ok. I almost lost you, and this time it was my fault. I can't lose you."
"Harry, it wasn't your fault. It was V…Vo…VOLDEMORT! It was his fault! Not yours! You, you weren't yourself. You're not to blame!"
Harry looked as if he might protest, but Hermione turned on the Death Glare, full power.
"Quite right Harry. It was not your fault. It was Tom's fault, as well as mine. I should have been more aware of your actions, and aware of where your deflected spells went. By the way, that was an amazing display. Not too many wizards can throw off a possession the way you did. I thank you for reasserting yourself, and for saving my life."
"But, but, I didn't, I mean…I…what?"
"Harry, Tom was about to kill me using your body. He had me trapped, and beaten. If you hadn't fought him off when you did…well, let's just say, I'd be a little more see-through right now."
Harry looked shocked and embarrassed. A combination he seemed to be getting a large amount of practice with.
"I shall alert Mr. And Ms. Weasley. Mr. Malfoy as well. I believe that they will all be glad to hear that you are alive and well. They seemed rather worried."
Dumbledore smiled at Harry and Hermione with that familiar twinkle, and swept out of the room.
"Now. Harry. We have to talk! No! Close your mouth. You're going to listen, even if I have to get out of this bed and tie you down."
Harry, who's mouth had been open to reply, snapped shut. When Hermione said that she would be willing to resort to PHYSICAL means of restraint, one stopped what they were doing and listened.
"Good. Now. I'm sorry. Nope! No talking. This is listening time! I'm sorry for blaming you for my…my…capture, because it wasn't your fault! NO! NO TALKING! JUST LISTEN! It wasn't your fault, no matter how much you try to blame yourself. It was mine for not paying attention to what was happening. It was Voldemort's for capturing me. IT…WAS…NOT…YOUR…FAULT! I don't blame you. While I wish you were there, you weren't. I depended on you too much, and that got me in trouble. Harry. Close your mouth. I still have to say things! What I said about the reason I broke up with you? Lies. Convincing lies, but still, nonetheless, lies. I wanted to get back at you for not coming to save me. It was wrong, I was wrong and I'm sorry. I never…well, I DID mean to hurt you, but I…oh this is so hard!"
Hermione slapped her bed in frustration. It wasn't often that Hermione couldn't find the words to say what she wanted to say.
"I never meant for it to go that far! I guess…I wanted you to feel what it felt like to be alone, to be abandoned. I didn't remember that you already HAD that experience. I'm SO sorry for what I said about Sirius, that wasn't your fault either. And I'm sorry for saying it! I just….I wanted you to know that I'm proud of you! Really! I am. I mean, you've done so many things by yourself. And you didn't do them alone by choice! I…I…"
Hermione choked back a sob and looked away from Harry.
"Can I talk now?"
Hermione gave a watery laugh and nodded, turning back to Harry.
"Ok. I'm sorry for not being there when you needed me the most. Not to rescue you, because I didn't know that you had been taken, but when you woke up. I know what it's like to be alone, especially after finding out something terrible has happened to the ones you love the most, and I subjected you to that. No one deserves to be alone, especially when they need a friendly face. I'm sorry. I wish we could have had this talk before, when we were still friends. But we're having it now, so it'll have to do. Sirius was responsible for his own hide. I know that now. But if it hadn't been for me, he wouldn't have been there in the first place. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you, and brushed you off when you told me that I should stick with it and study my Occlumency hard. If I had, well, I wouldn't have hurt you. I wouldn't have tried to kill the man who's helped me so much over the years. But I meant what I said, when I told you how I was feeling, when I was watching the sunrise. I had just killed a man, an evil man, but still a man. And while my brain was telling me I'd done the right thing, it didn't FEEL right to be praised for being a murderer."
Hermione didn't bother to hold back the tears this time, and threw herself at Harry.
"So, I guess what we're saying is that we're both sorry."
With another watery laugh, Hermione looked up. Harry had tears in his eyes as well, but he was smiling.
"Friends?"
She shook her head.
"BEST friends. Forever."
"Forever."
Harry and Hermione sat together and cried.
As Ron closed the door to the Hospital Wing, he heard a faint, "So does that mean I can still copy your homework?"
He smiled. All was returning to normal. As normal as it ever got, around here.
"They're going to need a few more minutes guys. Let's go get some food. I'm sure that they're both hungry."
As Ron led the small group towards the kitchens, he could only think of one thing.
"It's about time."
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A/N: NOT THE END! NOT THE END! NOT THE END! It's not! If you look at the category it's a ROMANCE fic. So this is not the end. One or two more chapters. It's longer! Right? I promised it would be longer. Please don't kill me! Please?
Hello? HEY! I SEE THAT KNIFE. PUT THAT DOWN!
^_^ more fluff next time. I think.