Chapter 3- You're Tender And You're Tired
You're so fragile tonight
Been up hurting all night
It's not trivial, like they think
Yes, you're desperate and you're hurt…
Hermione honestly didn't know how she got through the five days following Harry's departure. A cliché, she knew. But when she would think back on those days, she would find no recollection of anything but the pain.
The almost unbearable pain.
If Hermione didn't know where she was most of the time, the rest of the school certainly did; the tree by the lake was her refuge. And her company was her blinding desire to be with Harry again.
Ron sat with her sometimes; brought her in for meals when he knew she would not go unprompted; held her when he knew she was close to collapse; reminded her when she began to doubt Harry was alive.
Usually, though, they both sat alone. Alone with the uncertainty. Uncertainty can almost be worse that loss. There can be no words to ease your anxiety and no actions either. But worst of all, there can be know hope; for all you know is that anything you do is worthless, useless, futile… Hope must have a basis in knowledge.
Thought about it so many times
Too afraid to open your eyes
To see the sadness that's inside
Just sit back in and stop time…
It was five days after Harry had left the castle, when Ron and Hermione sat in the great Hall in silence. They were not the only ones. Those who spoke were quickly silenced.
Then shortly after the meal commenced, something happened. The explosion that rang through the great hall, starting at the doors, was deafening. The Flash of light that accompanied it was blinding. But the scream of pain that followed was terrifying. It was that type of scream that makes you feel as if you can feel the pain too…
A figure then appeared, out of thin air, in front of the closed oak doors of the Great Hall. Hermione screamed in agony when that same figure looked at her and collapsed.
It was Harry. Hermione knew from the second of the explosion that Harry was coming back. Her heart jumped to her throat when he appeared suddenly in front of her eyes. But his accompanying screams tore at her soul.
He looked into her eyes, and fell.
'HARRY', she yelled. The terror in her voice was evident. She almost flew from her seat to his side. He was bruised and he was bleeding. But more than that: He was not breathing.
'HE'S NOT BREATHING', she screamed again, turning and fixing her panicked stare at Dumbledore, who was running towards her and Harry, closely followed by Ron.
'Poppy', Dumbledore called, in the direction of the staff table. There was no need, though; she was hot on his heels.
Madame Pomfrey was quickly at Harry's side, listening for a heartbeat and searching for a pulse. She looked up at Dumbledore and looked into his eyes, which lacked their usual twinkle. She shook her head, ever so slightly. But Hermione saw.
'DO SOMETHING!' she screamed at her. Madame Pomfrey looked around at Hermione, who was clutching Harry's hand. She seemed to come to a decision in an instant.
'Help me, Minerva', she said shortly, and together they began to try and revive Harry as Hermione had seen Mad-Eye do with Tonks in the department of Mysteries.
Dumbledore looked at Hermione. She was pale and shaking, but she was not crying. She was watching in horror as Madame Pomfrey pounded on Harry's chest and Professor McGonagall gave him mouth to mouth.
'I know this curse, Miss Granger', he said softly. 'I never thought that Harry knew about it though'. Dumbledore was visibly upset. 'It would take a miracle for him to wake, Hermione'.
Hermione gasped and looked up at Dumbledore. He was holding on to Harry's other hand. 'You're wrong', she said quietly. It was a statement, not an insult.
The great Hall was silent now. Hermione began to talk to Harry, in soothing tones.
You're tender and you're tired
You can't be bothered to decide
Whether you live or die
Or just forget about your life…
'Please wake up, Harry'. The whole school could hear her.
'I know you're tired, and hurt, but please, Harry, wake up… for me Harry'.
Hermione stroked his cheek where she had slapped him five days before. 'I love you, Harry', she told him softly. There was an intake of breath from the students behind her, but she didn't hear. She gasped loudly.
'He squeezed my hand', she said excitedly to Dumbledore.
'Come on, Harry', she said, more urgently. 'Breath, sweetheart'.
Nothing happened.
'Don't do this to me, Harry', she said, panicking. 'Please, don't do this' she whispered. 'I love you so much…'
Something did happen this time. Harry began to splutter weakly. Very weakly. Madame Pomfrey checked for a pulse again, and found one. She beamed at Hermione. 'He's alive', she said, unnecessarily.
There was a burst of applause from the students and teachers alike, at this proclamation. Professor McGonagall wiped her eyes on her sleeve. Dumbledore let out an incredulous gasp. If Hermione heard the deafening noises of relief coming from the students behind her, she didn't show it. Ron squeezed her shoulder in relief and reassurance.
Hermione was now rubbing Harry's hand, as if trying to warm him into life.
'Wake up, sweetheart', she whispered. 'Come on Harry; I know you can'.
She felt Harry squeeze her hand again, and watched as his eyes opened slowly, revealing startling green.
'Hermione- ', he breathed. Then his eyes closed again.
But it's too late to be real
No time to be strong enough
It's time to leave it all behind
Memory has become pain…
Madame Pomfrey's smile faltered, and she said with urgency, 'We have to get him to saint Mungo's, quickly'.
Dumbledore conjured a stretcher and He and Ron quickly moved Harry onto it. 'He's getting weaker', Madame Pomfrey barked.
Hermione felt like the rug had been pulled from beneath her. But her brain seemed to click into action. She stayed calm as she said: 'Let's go'.
Dumbledore pulled from his pocket a chocolate frog card. He touched it with his wand and muttered, 'Portus'. It glowed for a second before returning to its normal state.
'Poppy, you go with them', he said sharply.
Madame Pomfrey, Hermione, and Ron took hold of the card, with Hermione and Madame Pomfrey also holding Harry's arm.
A second later, they were in the foyer of St. Mungo's. Two healers came rushing over to them, recognizing Madame Pomfrey. Dumbledore appeared beside the group a second later and spoke to the healer next to him. 'He cast the Gnoleb curse,' he said softly, and looking at Harry with awe.
The healer seemed to understand in an instant until she looked at Harry again. 'But he's alive', she said slowly, looking from Harry to Dumbledore. 'That's not possible'.
'I know', Dumbledore replied, still staring at Harry.
The healers took Harry to what they told Hermione was the 'Intensive healing room'.
Hermione reluctantly sat outside with Ron and Dumbledore while the healers worked on Harry.
She looked at Dumbledore for the first time since they arrived at the Hospital.
'He cast the Gnoleb curse?' she whispered incredulously. Dumbledore nodded with the same expression of awe he wore a minute earlier.
'I knew the moment he appeared in the Great Hall. I did not expect him to wake, as you know. That is why.'
Ron looked from Dumbledore to Hermione. He was as white as a sheet, and had not spoken since Harry ad appeared in the Great Hall.
'What is the Gnoleb Curse?', he asked quietly.
'It's suicide', Hermione whispered to nobody in particular.
Dumbledore looked at her for a moment, then at Ron. 'The Gnoleb Curse is sometimes known as Gryffindor's curse, as he was the last known wizard to have used it. The curse causes both caster and victim to be banished to the place that they truly belong. However the curse is extremely dangerous. In theory, it will only work if the caster's heart is pure. Gryffindor banished Slytherin, and killed him. However, Gryffindor himself died in the process. His heart was not completely pure.'
Ron gaped at him. 'What does "a pure heart" mean?' he asked him.
Dumbledore seemed to think for a moment. 'I suppose it means that the caster must be acting out of good, and nothing else. Gryffindor was acting partly out of vengeance, even though he was doing the right thing…'
Dumbledore thought about this for a while. He didn't notice Hermione rise from her seat to meet the healer who had just emerged from Harry's room. The healer smiled with the same expression of awe as Dumbledore had earlier.
'Incredible…', she whispered to Hermione.
Hermione rushed past the healer and through the double doors of the Intensive healing room, leaving the healer standing, gobsmaked, in her wake.
Once inside the room, Hermione saw the other healer laying out potions on the table beside Harry's bed. Madame Pomfrey headed out to Ron and Dumbledore.
The healer turned when he heard Hermione ask timidly, 'Is he awake?'.
'Not yet', he replied kindly. 'You can sit with him if you like, though'.
Hermione sank, gratefully, into the wing-backed chair beside Harry's bed, taking Harry's hand in hers again and speaking in the same soothing but pleading tone she'd used in the Great Hall.
Rebuild the void with flowers
Sad-eyed destruction, built around sand and sea
Yes, you can build yourself around…
Build yourself around me,
Yourself around me…
'You just saved the world, Harry', she whispered to him. 'I'm not angry at you for leaving.' Hermione felt like she had to reassure him that he did the right thing. 'I'm so proud of you', she whispered to his tired form.
The healers had cleaned Harry up; he was no longer bruised and bleeding. But that was just his outward appearance, Hermione knew. Healers could do nothing for the turmoil she knew he felt inside. She could see it in his eyes just before he collapsed in the Great Hall. All his life had been focused in this one event. And now it was over. She knew he hadn't even expected to survive. There was bound to be a void in his life now.
'I'll help you Harry', she said softly to him, and she felt him squeeze her hand again. Hermione knew that he was showing her that he understood what she meant.
'Wake up, sweetheart', she asked, for the second time that evening. 'Please wake up…'
She sat back in her chair, worriedly looking at Harry. The healer had left, though she didn't know when. She looked around the room. It was empty, save for shelves upon shelves of potion bottles lining two of the walls. There were posters on the walls in here like the ones in the foyer.
She sighed and leaned back in her chair, turning her head back to Harry.
He was sitting up, his eyes sparkling and a small smile on his face. Hermione gasped. Harry's smile widened, and Hermione launched herself onto the bed and on top of him, hugging him with all her might.
Harry could feel her tears soaking through his shirt. He hugged her back fiercely, laughing with happiness.
He pulled back from her to look at her. She was somewhere between laughing and crying. He wiped the tears from her cheek. They stared into each other's eyes for an indeterminable length of time.
'I'm sorry- ', Harry began, but Hermione cut him off. 'Don't be', she whispered breathlessly. Then she leaned in and kissed him. It was a kiss like the one they had shared on their last night together; just as passionate, but with the complete opposite emotions. They didn't kiss like it would be their last kiss, but like it was their first. This kiss said; I'm never leaving you again.
They broke away after a minute, but remained staring into each other's eyes. 'How are you feeling', Hermione asked after a second. 'Are you hurt?'
'No, actually', he replied with a slight frown. 'That's strange… I was bleeding like hell before I cast the curse'.
'The healers fixed the cuts and bruises', Hermione answered gently. Her eyes darkened. 'When you screamed in the great hall, I thought you were dying'.
'I was', he answered truthfully. 'But I didn't', he said slowly. 'I could hear you, and feel you… Maybe my heart was pure, I dunno… I'm glad I'm alive though', he added jokingly.
Hermione raised a hand to his cheek. 'So am I'. She kissed him again.
'Does that mean you'll marry me, then', Harry asked lightly.
Hermione did a double take.
'Hermione, will you marry me?' he asked, in a more serious tone. Hermione looked into his eyes. They were twinkling again. A slow smile spread across her face.
'Yes', she answered simply.
Harry smiled just as widely now. Hermione was again between laughter and tears. She threw herself at him again, clinging to him like she had earlier. Harry was laughing with her. He lifted her to her feet, hugging her tight. 'You're incredible', he whispered in her ear.
Hermione snorted. 'This from the only wizard ever to have survived the Avada Kedavra and the Gnoleb Curses?'
Harry cocked an eyebrow at her, and then smiled. 'I love you'.
'Let's go see Ron', Hermione said. 'He was as white as a sheet earlier', she laughed.
Ron gasped as Harry and Hermione walked hand in hand through the doors to where he and Dumbledore had been siting. He had evidently not expected to see Harry awake, never mind up and walking. He and Dumbledore both stood simultaneously.
Ron strode over to Harry and embraced him like a brother. 'Can nothing keep you down, mate?' he laughed. Harry laughed with him.
Dumbledore then walked over to Harry, looking at him in awe again. It was very disconcerting, Harry thought, to have the greatest wizard in the world look at you in awe. 'Well done, Harry', he croaked. He was evidently still too shocked to react any more than that.
Madame Pomfrey, who had been waiting in the shadows was in much the same position as Dumbledore; shocked. She had an extremely odd expression on her face. Harry was more than surprised, however, when she approached him and hugged him. 'Thank you, Potter', she said to him when she finally released him. 'He's gone', she said simply to Harry's silent enquiry.
Ron let out a whoop for joy at this statement, which seemed to bring everyone to tears of mirth.
**********
'Let's go back to Hogwarts', Harry said after a twenty minutes of being hugged and cheered by almost every conscious person in St. Mungo's.
A minute later, The five of them reappeared in the Great Hall, where Harry had lay a few hours earlier. The students were still gathered around the tables, even though it was late. They were probably waiting for any news about Harry's condition.
A cheer to rival any explosion erupted at the sight of Harry walking, hand in hand with Hermione, and led by Dumbledore and Ron, to the front of the Great Hall.
Dumbledore turned and raised his hands. There was immediate silence. He gestured to Harry to speak. The students were looking at him expectantly. Hermione squeezed his hand reassuringly and he smiled.
Echoing Madame Pomfrey, he said, looking around the Great Hall; 'He's gone'.
The chaos that followed this statement was insane. A tide of students ran at Harry. Some to congratulate him and some to just stare at him in awe. The Slytherin's reaction was somewhat unexpected. Although some looked mutinous, others just shrugged. It was all a bit surreal, Harry and Hermione would later think.
******
If Harry was famous before, it was nothing to what he was after. He spent the next day at the ministry, recounting his story; to the minister, to reporters, and to the people that had flocked to London just to see him. Hermione held his hand all the way, repeating to him before they left in the morning; 'I'll help you', as she had at the hospital.
The next year and a half of school and normalcy came as a shock to Harry, having never experienced a normal school life before. Both he and Hermione achieved almost perfect scores in their Newts, with Hermione slightly ahead, Harry grudgingly admitted to her.
Ron scored exceptionally high, also, ensuring him a place in the auror-training program.
Hermione went on to train as a healer. Harry used to joke that it was so she wouldn't have to keep going to the trouble of bringing him to the hospital all the time.
Harry decided that he's had enough of dark wizards to last him a lifetime, after he'd spent one long and dull year as an Auror. He was offered a contract with every Quiddich Team in Britain and Ireland, choosing to play with Puddlemere United.
Harry and Hermione were married on Halloween, the year after they finished Hogwarts. There could be no such thing as a small wedding for the most famous couple of the century. They now live in Godric's Hollow- rebuilt as a wedding present from Dumbledore. And when their children ask for their favourite bedtime story, this is what they hear. Well, the censored version, anyway…
The End!
A/N; Well I'm sad to see that one end… I was going to post four chapters, but I just made this a long one… Hope you like the songs I used. They could almost have been written for the last battle, if you ask me. Sequel is looking more appealing to me all the time. Review and tell me if you want one? All the best, and thanks for reading! IamHermione