Chapter 21: The Awakening and a Plan
That morning, although Harry was supposed to go to Quidditch, he instead spent the whole day with Hermione. He even brought his books with him to study some. But mostly he sat there, watching her and willing her to get better.
He did the same on Sunday and was planning to skip class on Monday, but Ron talked him out of it. Madam Pomfrey wouldn't have allowed him to stay anyway, he reasoned later. In his free time he went and sat with her, holding her hand.
Those times were agonizing for he and Ron-- waiting. Tuesday night they left with heavy hearts, as Madam Pomfrey shook her head and informed them that Hermione wasn't improving. In fact her tempurature had not even gone down from when she had first become ill. Harry spent a restless night, with his nightmare of the corridors and calling out for someone that he desperately needed to find.
***
The next day, Wednesday, began like any other day. However Harry and Ron never got to visit Hermione before class or during lunch....Snape kept them late to clean up Malfoy's Springfresh Potion which they had supposedly knocked over on purpose. It had obviously been them, Snape reasoned, as they had been on the opposite side of the room at the time. Still, they cleaned it quickly, and bolted down some lunch before racing to their next class.
***
As they sat listening to Professor Figg talk about the latest scientific discovery-- a cure for werewolf bites-- Minerva McGonagall raced in, zipping up the aisles to Figg and whispered in her ear.
"Harry, Ron, please go with Professor McGonagall to the hospital wing," Professor Figg called out.
Ron and Harry looked at each other worriedly, then stood and made to leave.
"Bring your things. You won't come back today," McGonagall said to them. "Quickly now, move along."
They grabbed their bags, stuffed their quills and notes in and they were off.
"What's going on, Professor?" Ron asked.
"Is something wrong with Hermione?" Harry said.
"Yes-- well, no. It seems that her fever has broken and she's coming to," she said. Harry and Ron looked at each other, they doubled their already quick pace. Soon Harry broke into a run and Ron began jogging behind, attempting to stay with McGonagall and reach Hermione at the same time. Soon Harry was bursting into the hospital wing, pushing past the curtain and coming to Hermione's side just as her eyelashes fluttered and once more Harry was able to see her chocolatey brown eyes gazing up at him. Madam Pomfrey was standing there and quickly left to get her thermometer.
"Harry?" Hermione rasped out. She cleared her throat. "Where am I? Where's Ron?"
"You're in the hospital wing. Ron's coming. I just got here." He smoothed her hair down with his hand.
"What happened?" she asked, just as Ron burst through clutching a stitch in his side.
"You ate this stuff, and then you fainted and fell and then you hit your head.... and well it's a really long story," Harry tried to explain, "and well, we're just really glad you're awake. You've been asleep for awhile." She sat up and Harry leaned over to give her a hug. When he pulled away, she pecked his cheek. He felt his cheeks burning and Ron smirked at him.
"It's okay. You can explain later," Hermione replied. Ron reached over and gave her a hug.
"Right now, could one of you do something for me?" she asked.
"Of course!" both boys said, jumping to their feet at once.
Hermione laughed. "Well, I'm kind of hungry, so do you think--"
"One step ahead of you Hermione," Ron said, pushing the curtain aside, and stepping out before Harry could do anything. Harry could have sworn that the redhead had given him an impudent wink before swishing out. Although a bit confused, he shook his head and turned back to Hermione.
***
Late that night, when Harry and Ron returned to Gryffindor Tower, having received an excused absence from their next morning class-- Potions-- and getting makeup work from that afternoon's classes, Harry voiced an idea that had been brewing in the back of his mind all day.
"Ron, tomorrow is Hermione's fifteenth birthday. I've already gotten her present for her and well, I was thinking, maybe we could you know, throw a surprise birthday party for her, in the hospital wing."
"Harry what a brilliant idea! I've gotten her a present as well. Now we can spend tomorrow morning getting everything ready. We have the day off Friday for some inspection the Fudge is doing so we have all night to party," Ron exclaimed.
Harry grinned and the boys continued planning as they changed into pajamas and didn't stop talking until they drifted off to sleep, ready to begin their plan of the best present to give their friend.
***