PART III. HOGWARTS
'Wait!'
~ Return ~
Shortly after Harry was rescued, Hermione was taken to a separate ambulance to be treated for her injuries. Then, by order of Albus Dumbledore, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Malfoy, Fred and George were to return to Hogwarts using a Portkey provided. Viktor Krum was also ordered to return to Bulgaria. Hermione now found herself in the Hogwarts hospital wing, sitting close to Harry's bedside - as she'd done in his dreams. Madame Pomfrey told her to stop on three occasions, insisting she go back to her own bed. But Hermione kept returning. Now Harry started to worry about her.
'Hermione, I'll be fine! Go get some rest. You don't have to watch over me.'
'I know I don't,' she said shrewdly, wearing a blue dressing gown. 'But as you can see, Harry, I'm still here. Besides, I'm not that injured. Madame Pomfrey's making too much of a fuss.'
'But you need sleep,' Harry told her with an urgent voice. 'You haven't had any for days.'
'Well, technically, being hypnotised has the same effect as sleep does. I feel thoroughly rested!'
Harry smiled at yet another 'Hermione knows everything' moment. 'I guess that's something. Is Malfoy still unconscious?'
'I'm pretty certain,' said Hermione. 'He's down the other end of the wing with his tongue lolling out. I think his confrontation with the Drakon and not receiving the reward has officially exhausted him.'
'Hope he stays like that 'til the end of term.'
'Me too.'
Harry and Hermione laughed for a moment, until they caught each other's gaze. Both set's of eyes spoke of longing and repressed feelings, for Harry had not yet been cured of love potion relapse.
'Harry,' said Hermione, in a somewhat sorrowful voice. 'I feel really awful about running away and leaving you in the Drakon's lair.'
'Hermione, don't you dare feel awful about that!' said Harry, glaring at her intently and sitting upright in his bed. 'I led the Drakon away from you so you could escape! If anyone should feel guilty it's me, for sending Lucius on you.'
Hermione remained solemn.
'But, Harry, you could've...'
'I know,' said Harry, sensing her thoughts. 'But I chose for you to get away. I'd give my life for yours any day, Hermione.'
Hermione went pink. 'You're only saying that because you have relapse...' she said shyly.
'No,' said Harry, absolutely serious. 'You and Ron. I could never let anything happen to either of you. Relapse or not.'
Hermione nodded, bearing a warm, grateful smile.
'So,' she said, changing the subject, 'how exactly did you escape the Drakon in the end?'
'I didn't, really,' Harry shrugged. 'When the Drakon fired at me, I threw myself behind a pile a treasure. I was all right, but my leg was burnt.'
On learning this, Hermione had an immediate 'are you okay?' look written on her face.
'It's fine, don't worry!' said Harry reassuringly. 'Madame Pomfrey fixed it easily. Anyway, that was the worst of it. I didn't have to dodge the Drakon for long because Charlie and the other Guardians showed up. They did some wicked spell work…stunned the Drakon into a stupor.'
'It was lucky they came when they did,' said Hermione gravely.
'I know,' agreed Harry. 'I'd almost passed out from all the smoke.'
They paused. What they really wanted to discuss was, of course, still unspoken. They'd done a good job of avoiding it so far; but the longer they left it, the more impossible it was to disregard.
'Harry, are you...? Do you still...? Oh, never mind!' Hermione blushed. 'Forget it.'
'Yes, I still think I'm in love with you,' said Harry, sensing her thoughts again.
Their eyes met once more, searching. Harry couldn't repress his feelings any longer.
'I can't stop thinking about kissing you.'
The words just tumbled out of his mouth. Hermione immediately unlocked her gaze and directed her eyes to her lap.
'Harry, don't say such things! You'll be taking the counter-potion soon.'
Harry sighed. 'It isn't fair.'
'I know,' said Hermione, sighing too. Harry leant towards her.
'Kiss me anyway.'
'Harry, NO!' Hermione reprimanded him, standing up. 'Don't you understand? I have to get over you! When they cure you of relapse, you're going to be fine. You'll be back to normal and none of this will mean anything! But I'll have all these feelings for you, Harry. You're not going to love me back so please, don't make this more difficult then it already is!'
'MISS GRANGER!' Hermione had accidentally alerted Madame Pomfrey. 'How many times have I told you, get back to bed! Mr Potter needs his rest too!'
'It's okay, Madame Pomfrey,' said Harry. 'Hermione - '
At that moment, an unexpected visitor entered the wing, looming down the hall towards them. It was Professor Snape, and he was carrying a small cauldron in hands.
'Madame Pomfrey. Here's the counter-potion you requested.' He handed her the cauldron.
'Oh yes, thank goodness,' she said, taking it off him, and then glared towards Harry and Hermione. 'Maybe this will promote some sleep around here!'
Mumbling to herself, Madame Pomfrey scuttled to her office, while Professor Snape stayed behind. He wanted a word with Harry and Hermione.
'Well, isn't this unexpected?' he said, giving them an extreme look of contempt. 'The whole school is thrown into chaos, and why? Because Mr Potter and his friends wanted to experiment with love potions! Not to mention the Annual Drakon Hunt has been cancelled.'
'Cancelled?' said Hermione in shock.
'Yes, Miss Granger. As you decided to get yourself missing!'
Harry rose to Hermione's defence.
'She was kidnapped! By Lucius Malfoy, you know that!'
'And how would you know I - ' Snape thought this over, before realising what Harry meant. 'Ah, of course. Not only does Mr Potter think it fit to break into other people's laboratories and use their Portkey, he also thinks its okay to spy in on their private conversations! And what does he get in return for all this good behaviour?' Snape's pallid face, if it were possible, was actually attaining some colour. 'A reward!'
'So that's why you were so interested in Hermione's disappearance,' said Harry, narrowing his eyes. 'You wanted to find her for yourself, didn't you? You knew if you caught Lucius red-handed, you would get the praise for it! And maybe even that Order of Merlin you missed out on.'
Harry's last words cut through Snape like a knife. Snape had missed out on an Order of Merlin in third year and was still nursing the rejection.
'How dare you assume to evaluate me!' he seethed. 'Dumbledore and I have been at the top of Mount Olympus all morning preparing that counter-potion for the likes of you!'
'What do you want, a medal?'
'YOU ARROGANT LITTLE - '
'PROFESSOR SNAPE!'
Madame Pomfrey came back from her office, holding a goblet of counter-potion.
'Professor Snape!' she said again, flustered. 'You cannot yell at the patients! I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave.'
With one last 'friendly' look at Harry and Hermione, Snape stalked back down the hall, his black robes billowing behind him.
'Back to bed with you, Miss Granger, on the double!' said Madame Pomfrey, putting the goblet on Harry's bedside table and shuffling Hermione from her seat. 'Let Mr Potter take his counter-potion in peace.'
~ The End Of The Relapsed Affair? ~
Midnight came, though Harry remained awake. The goblet of counter-potion for his love potion relapse sat on his bedside table. He couldn't bring himself to drink it.
Meanwhile, Hermione, not sleeping either, was skulking back to Harry's bed.
'Harry?' she whispered in the darkness. 'Are you asleep?'
'No,' Harry whispered back. 'Go to bed, Hermione. You'll get in trouble.'
'Have you drunk the counter-potion yet?'
Harry paused for a moment, knowing he was about to get an earful. 'No, not yet.'
'What!' she hissed, scrambling to his bedside. She spied the goblet, full and waiting, on his bedside table. 'Harry, you have to drink it!'
'I can't,' said Harry sourly. 'I mean, I don't want to drink it. Go back to bed!'
'Don't put me through this, Harry! Drink it!'
'What if nothing happens? What if - '
'Sshh!' breathed Hermione, closing a hand on Harry's mouth. 'I think I heard Madame Pomfrey...'
'Wmeneoumfmere!' Harry mumbled under hand.
'Pardon?'
Harry pushed her hand away. 'Let's get out of here, then. Come on, we'll go to the hospital bathroom.'
'The bathroom?' whispered Hermione, sounding unsure. 'I don't think that's a good idea, Harry.'
But Harry, dressed in a T-shirt and pyjama bottoms, was already out of bed and shoving his pillows under the covers, giving the impression of a sleeping body underneath. Hermione bit her lip, but as Harry caught her hand, she allowed him to sneak her around the back of the bed and into the hospital bathroom.
'Harry, what are we doing?'
'Sssh! Lower your voice. This place echoes.'
They were in a bathroom that looked similar to the one Moaning Myrtle haunted, only more compact. Moonlight was slipping in through the window, bathing them in a silvery glow.
'We shouldn't be in here, Harry!'
'And you shouldn't have been at my bed!' Harry tossed back. 'If Madame Pomfrey caught you again, you'd get detention. Did you really want - '
Harry suddenly noticed something in Hermione's other hand.
'What did you bring that for?'
'SSHH! Lower your voice, remember?'
Hermione was holding Harry's goblet of counter-potion.
'I don't want to drink it, Hermione!' Harry whispered loudly.
'I know, Harry. But you have to drink it anyway!'
Harry crossed his arms, refusing. Hermione tried another approach.
'Harry, you say you don't want to drink it now, but it will be for the best in the end. You'll see.'
'No I won't.'
'You can't live out a lie, Harry!' Hermione enforced. 'Please drink it. For me.'
Hermione held the goblet towards him. Harry unfolded his arms and reluctantly took it in his hand. He stared down at the pale pink liquid with the same look he'd give to a pile of uncle Vernon's birthday socks.
'Once I drink it...I'll forget everything straight away, right?'
'I'm not sure,' said Hermione, sounding sad again. 'I guess we'll find out.'
'You really want me to drink this, don't you?' said Harry, testing her for a final time. She didn't waver.
'It's for the best, Harry.'
It was so strange, like Harry was about to die. In the back of his mind, he could hear Professor Trewlawny screech 'DEATH!' This was it. This was the end. Harry took a deep breath, lifted the goblet to his mouth, tipped it up...
'Wait!'
Harry stopped in motion. Hermione had a desperate, starved expression on her face. He lowered the goblet.
'I thought you wanted me to - '
'Can you just...put the goblet down for a minute?'
Not knowing why she'd asked him to do this, Harry placed the goblet on the sink.
'Did you drink any?'
Harry found this question rather silly. 'You didn't give me a chance! Hermione, are you okay?'
'No,' said Hermione flat out. 'I'm not.'
'What's wrong?' asked Harry, perplexed. 'Do you still want me to drink the counter-potion?'
'Yes, of course! But - before you do...'
'What?'
There was a note of shame in her voice when she said it.
'Kiss me.'
Harry was aghast. 'Kiss you? But you just said - '
'Harry! I need you to ki - '
But Harry did not need telling twice. He'd been so tempted, all this time, since the moment he'd woken from her Aphora Bewitching Potion. And now...she'd dropped her guard. She was giving him permission. Overwhelmed, Harry briskly pulled Hermione's face to his and plunged into a heated, passionate kiss he didn't know he was capable of. Hermione met him with equal force, loosing herself. They were ravenous, kissing each other they like they would never - and may not - kiss again. It was as if time had stopped. There was no Aphora Bewitching Potion, or love potion relapse. There was only them, and love - whether real or unreal, it didn't matter.
Steadily, Hermione's conscious, always reliable, inched back into command.
'Harr - ah!' She gasped to speak between his urgent kisses. 'We - '
Stop this, Hermione! nagged her inner voice. You're using him! He doesn't love you!
'Stop!'
Hermione broke away, falling against the sink. Harry staggered against the bathroom wall. Standing apart, they were both very flushed and breathing very, very fast.
'Harry,' she panted. 'I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that.'
'No, you should,' panted Harry, his senses swimming. 'That was - '
'A mistake!' Hermione cut in. 'A dreadful mistake!'
That hurt. Harry looked to the floor, avoiding Hermione's eyes.
'A mistake, huh?'
Hermione felt terrible. 'Harry, I...'
'I think you better leave, Hermione. I'm going to drink the counter-potion now.'
A/N: Yay! I made it to my steamy chapter. Well, steamy by PG-13 standards :) Now review! We've almost reached 100.
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