Unofficial Portkey Archive

Chapter Twenty-Four

A little later, Harry helped Hermione down the stairs to the drawing room where Ron, Luna, and Ginny were sitting by the fire. Ron was by Luna on the couch and had his feet propped on the ottoman. His head was tilted back so that he could look at the cloudy sky, which was stained beautifully by the setting sun. Luna was talking with Ginny but they stopped when they noticed Harry and Hermione. Ginny jumped up and went quickly to throw her arms around Hermione.

"Are you all right?" Ginny almost shrieked but then added more softly, "You shouldn't have done that…but thank you."

"I'm fine, Ginny," Hermione said, patting her back soothingly. "Don't worry." Then Hermione laughed a bit as she gently prized Ginny's arms from around her. "I'm not sure I even realized I was pushing you down-it happened so fast. But I'm glad I did. No sense in both of getting hexed."

Ginny shook her head, led Hermione to one of the armchairs and then sat back down by Luna on the couch. Harry sat on the ottoman in front of Hermione, pulled her feet up into his lap and absentmindedly began to massage her feet.

"Oh, Luna," Hermione remembered. "Remus said that your dad wanted you to floo home by eight."

"Yeah, Remus stuck his head in here just a bit ago and told her," Ron said still gazing at the sky looking as if he had been deep in thought.

"Where are Remus and the others?" Harry asked still rubbing Hermione's feet.

Ron shrugged. "I think he and Tonks are downstairs with Mum, Dad, Dumbledore, and Mad Eye talking about Order stuff."

Harry nodded.

"I guess it's about time for me to go," Luna said softly, looking at her watch, and stood up.

The others stood up, too, to wish her good night. She hugged Hermione, Ginny, and Harry then turned to Ron.

"Thank you, again Ron," Luna said as she took his hand and leaned forward rising on her tiptoes to kiss him softly on the cheek.

"Er…you're welcome-glad you're okay," Ron stammered, his face had gone pink and it was quickly spreading to the tips of his ears.

Luna smiled, released Ron's hand and turned to the fireplace. Soon, she was gone and the green flames were ebbing. Hermione nudged Harry and cut her eyes to Ron who was standing still staring into the flames. Unfortunately, Ginny noticed, too.

"Ron!" She laughed elbowing him. "I think you've got it bad."

"Ginny…" Hermione warned quietly.

"What?" Ron said, startled out of his trance-like gaze.

"Luna, you idiot…I think you've got it bad for Luna," Ginny grinned at him either not hearing or just downright ignoring Hermione in her eagerness to taunt her brother.

Ron regarded her silently for a moment, his expression unreadable, then shrugged slightly and walked from the room. His footsteps hurried up the stairs and they heard a door close above them.

"What's he on about?" Ginny asked perplexedly looking out the door Ron had just gone through then to Harry and Hermione. "I was just teasing."

"Some other things have happened recently," Hermione answered quietly. "I don't think Ron's ready to joke about whatever he's feeling right now."

"What're you talking about?" Ginny asked, truly concerned.

"I think you need to hear it from him," Harry replied, "if he wants to talk about it. But it wouldn't be right for us to discuss it without his permission."

Ginny nodded but Harry could tell that she was unhappy at being left out. She talked with them for a bit but excused herself shortly after saying that she was tired and went to her room. Harry could tell that Hermione was growing tired, too.

"Sleepy?" he asked as he took her hand and tugged her gently down on the couch with him.

She nodded and then leaned her head on Harry's shoulder. "It seems like I was robbed of my energy by those spells. It comes back when I rest-like my body's recharging or something. Maybe I'll be back to full force tomorrow after a good night's sleep."

"Do y'want to sleep in my bedroom tonight so you won't be disturbed? We'll let you sleep late, if you like." Harry said.

"That sounds nice…you know what the best thing about your bed is?"

Harry shook his head looking at her questioningly.

"It has your scent," Hermione said softly, snuggling closer to him. "I like it."

"Really?" Harry smiled slightly, snuggling back. "So what do I smell like?"

Hermione smiled back and shrugged. "I don't know…just you. Really good."

"Well, this may sound really corny, but to me you smell like happiness," Harry replied softly.

Hermione turned slightly to look him fully in the face, her smile blossoming. "I think that's the most wonderful thing anyone has ever said to me. Thank you."

"Well, it's the truth but you're welcome," Harry felt his face warming a bit. "Now lets get you back upstairs so you can rest and I can check on Ron."

~>^<~>^<~>^<~>^<~

"HERMIONE, GET DOWN!" Harry yelled. He tried to run towards the girls but he couldn't get his feet to move. He seemed to be rooted to the spot. His arms would no longer obey him. He couldn't get to his wand. Terrified, he saw the Death Eaters take aim. The destruction began. Harry was forced to watch, struggling against his invisible bonds, as flashing volleys of green jets flew around him. People all around began falling to the ground. "NO!" He roared in panic trying with all his might to move as he saw Hermione and Ginny fall to the ground then Ron and Luna. "NO...No…no…" he sobbed, horrified. His scar was on fire, the pain scorching its way through his brain. He could hear someone's hoarse screams then realized it was his voice. He watched in horror as, one by one, others in the crowd of people met the same fate. Then he heard Remus yelling from somewhere behind him. "NO!" He sobbed again frantically fighting to make his muscles work. "RUN, REMUS!" But he felt the whoosh of air as a green flash passed him and a moment later heard a dull thud. Although he couldn't turn, he knew that Remus was lying dead on the ground not far behind him. He could see Hermione's motionless body sprawled on the cobblestones and Ron's not far from hers, their eyes staring at nothing.

The Death Eaters turned towards him. He was still frozen in place unable to move; left standing amid the carnage and smoking debris. "Go ahead, finish me!" he gasped out brokenly between his sobs, closing his eyes as his scar throbbed horribly again. "I don't want to be left here alone!"

"Ah, but that is the way the Dark Lord wants it for now, Harry Potter. He'll deal with you later." Harry's eyes shot open as he heard the unmistakably amused drawl of Lucius Malfoy as the Death Eaters came closer, their eyes glinting maliciously through the holes in their hoods. Then with a sudden swish of their cloaks, they disappeared. Harry, his chest heaving, sobs tearing his throat, could see the bodies of his friends, those whom he loved, the life gone from them, now empty shells. He felt as thought his spirit had torn itself from his body, escaping with the others. Then without warning, the control over his muscles was released and he fell hard to his knees then to all fours. Harry crawled instinctively to Hermione and when he reached her, he fell beside her pulling her cold body to his sobbing against it. "WHY?" His choked cries racking his body, "WHY, GOD, WHY?"

Harry heard a popping noise and then felt hands on his arms trying to wrench his hands from Hermione's body. "Let go!"

But he held on tighter.

"Let go, Harry! I'm trying to help you! Wake up!"

Harry sat straight up and his head connected with something hard. As he grabbed his head, he saw stars flashing in front of his eyes in the darkness and heard a yelp to match his own.

"Oww! Blimey, Harry!" Harry could see a faint outline of someone rubbing his head and realized it was Ron. "That was one whopper of a dream you were having, mate," he said still gritting his teeth from the pain of their skulls clashing. "I've been trying to wake you for almost a minute now."

Harry was starting to get his bearings and realized he was in his bed but he could feel his chest still heaving a bit and hoped he wasn't going to be sick. "Sorry, Ron," he said breathlessly, holding his forehead with one hand and mopping at his eyes with the back of his other hand.

"That one was almost as bad as the one you had when Dad was attacked from what I could tell…what was going on?"

Harry closed his eyes then opened them quickly when scenes began to play across his mind again. "We were in Diagon Alley just like earlier today and the Death Eaters attacked. But this time, I was powerless to help anyone." He looked up at Ron's face and said quietly, "I had to stand and watch as everyone around me-as all of you died…then I was alone and that's what Voldemort wanted." Harry drew his legs up, and wrapped his arms around them as he rested his forehead on top of his knees.

Ron sat down heavily on the edge of his bed across from Harry and was silent for a long moment. "I can't imagine anything worse," he finally said quietly then got back up. "Hang on, mate, I'll be right back."

Harry heard him pad softly across the room, open the door and walk out. In a bit, he heard two pairs of feet coming back in the bedroom. Harry lifted his head to see Hermione hurrying over to him, her white gown billowing behind her. She quickly sat on the bed in front of him and wrapped her arms around him. He couldn't help it-when he felt her warm body against his, his chest begin to heave and sobs fought their way up his throat.

"Hermione…" he gasped brokenly and couldn't continue.

"Shhh," she said running her hands up and down his back gently. "It's all right now, Harry," she whispered, her cheek against his. "We're here and we're all right."

Harry gratefully heard Ron cast a silencing spell around the room. He felt his mattress sag as Ron sat down behind him and clasped a hand to his shoulder. Harry's sobs began to quiet and he was able to calm down a bit. He realized Hermione's body was shaking against his and he lifted his head and reached his arms around her.

"I can't go through all this and end up alone again in the end," Harry whispered.

"It won't be that way, Harry," Ron tried to say reassuringly.

"You can't promise me that, Ron," Harry answered almost harshly, releasing Hermione and turning to look at him.

"No…but-"

"Then it's a possibility that I'll lose everyone, isn't it?"

Ron was silent.

"And if that happens, I'm not going to be able to say, `Well, I'm just so thankful for the time I had with those people,' and go on with my life." Harry's voice was rising with every word and turned to look at Hermione. "I don't want to be robbed of anyone else…I couldn't live with it. If you both aren't with me, I don't want to be The-Boy-Who-Lived-Again!" He broke off as a sob hitched in his throat and more threatened to follow as Hermione put her arms around him again. Harry saw Hermione's tear-filled eyes go from him to Ron and the three sat together in silence as Harry tried to calm himself. After a while, Hermione released him and stood up slowly saying hesitantly, "Do you think you can rest a bit now, Harry?"

Harry reached out grasping at her hand. "Stay with me," he said sliding over to make room for her on his bed.

Hermione glanced at Ron who nodded.

Ron stood up. "I'll just go and sleep across the hall, then," he said, a hint of sadness appearing fleetingly in his eyes before he turned and walked to the door.

"No…why're you leaving? We've all slept in the same room before," Harry said, his forehead furrowed.

"Don't you think this would feel a bit awkward-now?" Ron had stopped, turning back at Harry's words and his eyes cut meaningfully to Hermione then the bed.

"But…yeah…all right," Harry nodded resignedly. "Thanks, Ron."

Ron nodded and closed the door behind him.

"He's a good friend," Hermione said softly as she sat back down next to Harry and ran a hand gently up and down his back.

Harry was silent for a bit then said, "He's feeling left out. I hate that." Then he added almost wistfully, "Things used to seem so simple just a few years ago, but now…"

"Things change as we get older," Hermione said quietly. "I don't guess it gets any easier from here on out." She circled her arms back around him and he leaned into her comforting embrace as he enclosed her in his arms. It felt so wonderful to be with her like this-amazing and peaceful at the same time. He remembered what it had felt like in his dream holding her cold lifeless body and shivered.

"You okay?" Hermione whispered.

Harry nodded and leaned back a bit so he could look her in the eyes. He saw Hermione's expression become questioning as she noted the intensity of his gaze.

"I love you, Hermione."

Harry heard her sharp intake of breath and saw her eyes start to shine again with tears. "What…what's wrong?" He asked worriedly.

Hermione sniffed a little and smiled. "Nothing's wrong. It's just…hearing you say it for the first time after wanting it for so long. I love you too, Harry."

"I'm sorry, Hermione…I guess I'm not used to saying it…or very comfortable saying it. The last time I heard those words before you said them was probably the day I lost my mum and dad."

"Oh, Harry…" Hermione said sadly, smoothing his damp hair back from his face with her hand. "You deserved to hear them so much more than you did. Don't worry-I know how you feel about me-you show it in other ways. But it's lovely to hear the words, too."

"Then I'll try to get more comfortable with them," Harry promised with a small smile. "I rather like hearing the words from you, too. I'm so thankful to have you." His smile fell away and his expression turned serious. "Please stay with me…"

"I am…I'm right here." Hermione reassured him.

"No…stay with me, Hermione." His eyes were more intense than she'd ever seen them.

She gazed at him, puzzled, but after a bit she nodded, comprehending and said softly, "I will, Harry."

Harry pulled her closer for a moment. "Let's try and get some rest, then," he whispered releasing her to lift his covers so she could slide in beside him. Hermione shifted to lie on her stomach with her face turned toward Harry and tucked a hand underneath her cheek. Harry turned on his stomach, too, ending up with one side of his chest lightly covering part of her back, his arm across her middle. Their legs tangled a bit. He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers loving the closeness of her body to his. Hermione caressed his lips softly with hers and they soon fell asleep comforted in each other's warmth.

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