Part Five:
At three in the morning, an exhausted Remus Lupin walked into the hospital wing. Harry looked up from his chair by Hermione's bed. Her parents, Ron, Ginny and Molly Weasley were gathered there with Neville and Luna Lovegood. The school was relatively quiet once more, although celebrations continued in individual common rooms the hallways were empty once more, the orange glow of the Phoenix now beginning to fade away.
Harry stood and walked over to his honorary Godfather, who pulled him into a tight hug.
"It's over now Harry. I promise you. You did so well."
They studied one another silently.
"Phase two worked?"
"All of the Death Eaters you named were captured tonight. It worked like clockwork, they all felt their scars burn when he died and they gathered exactly where Severus told us they would. It's over Harry."
"Well, not quite…"
"How is she?" Remus asked glancing across the ward to Hermione's bed.
"Technically she's dead apparently." Harry said. As he spoke the words he realised he hadn't spoken them before, and he hadn't acknowledged them. The shaking in his hands spread up his arms, and Remus looking down at the despair in the shaking Harry's eyes suddenly realised he had missed how much Harry loved her. Or perhaps Harry had just hidden it well. Remus wrapped his arms around Harry in a hug as he sobbed against his shoulder.
"I love her so much." Harry whispered.
"I know you do." Remus reassured him.
"She doesn't…I never told her…I never told her."
The night passed slowly, Ron spent the time talking quietly with Ginny, Neville and Luna, bringing cups of tea to his Mum and the Grangers, and watching Harry watching Hermione. Before tonight only he had known of Harry's true feelings for their best friend, but he was sure that having seen Harry's reaction to the news everyone else had suddenly realised how Harry really felt. Ron looked away from Harry, he felt uncomfortable looking at Hermione lying there, because the body there simply wasn't her, she was gone from it. And he was slowly beginning to realise what that might mean. He and Hermione had spent so much time worrying that Harry would leave his body and not come back, but he had never even considered this possibility. Ron looked out the window and seeing that dawn was breaking across the school grounds just seemed to confirm that there was little hope. Specialists from St. Mungo's had arrived several hours earlier with Tonks and Moody as Mrs. Granger had expressed her wishes that Hermione stay at Hogwarts. Ron had to agree that Hermione would have preferred that…would have…he was already thinking of her in the past tense…he walked away and stood by the window, crying softly.
Harry stood to stretch his legs, resting his hand on Mrs. Granger's shoulder as he did so, in what he hoped was a supportive manner. She looked up and smiled sadly at him, and his heart broke all over again as he saw that familiar smile on a different face. He walked and stood silently by Ron and they watched as a small group students walked around the lake, celebrating the end of the war.
"Do you think she knew what was going to happen?" Harry asked quietly so only Ron would hear.
"If she had wouldn't she have left some kind of note…some sort of warning? Ginny said Hermione just woke up in the night and knew it had started - she was mumbling but we couldn't make sense of her but then I saw your bed was empty and Gin saw the Marauders Map. Then as Gin was chasing after her she collapsed in the hallway where McGonogal found them - it just seems too frantic - she can't have been forewarned…"
Harry paused, his mouth open.
"What did you just say about a note?"
"Well, she would have left a letter - knowing our Hermione it would have been novel length as usual…" Ron trailed off as Harry's eyes suddenly seemed to regain some of their vibrancy as he rushed to the bed he had been brought to originally and looked around until he found his now battered and blood stained cloak. He emptied all the pockets and withdrew the letters Hermione had placed their only that afternoon, though it seemed like weeks ago.
There was her elegant handwriting telling him what to do, giving him exactly what he needed as she always had. `It's up to you now' Those were her words to him. He looked at the pile of parchment and looked up to see Ron watching him in utter confusion. Harry handed over the first note silently. It was an odd moment as for those in the hospital wing it had been as if the final battle had not happened, such was their concern for Hermione that they had almost forgotten all Harry had been through in finally defeating Lord Voldemort, and none other than Dumbledore had asked how he had won. Ron's eyebrows shot up as he realised how Harry had won the battle and that his help had been not only from Hermione but from his parents. Once he had read the letters he looked up at Harry to see that Harry held one last envelope in his hands.
"That's it then?"
"I can't believe I forgot - Mum told me to read it immediately, but I just wanted to get to `Mione…and then I passed out and…" Harry was getting very agitated. Ron placed a hand on his arm.
"It's ok Harry. You've remembered now. You'd better read the letter."
Harry nodded and sank onto the bed.
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Harry Darling
If you're reading this then you have survived, and you have saved the wizarding world. I wish we were there to share this moment with you, but there is someone who is. Of course we know nothing about her other than she loves you enough to sacrifice everything to help you, you're lucky to have found one another. She found my clues, and the instructions of how your Father and I tried to save you all those years ago. It was a spell I developed which meant that I transferred all my love, all my happiness and every good emotion into you, in order to protect you. She did so in order to protect you and to give you the power to succeed. I don't know how well it worked - there was no way to test the effects of the spell that I could find, and your Father and I knew our time was running out. I predicted however, and warned her, that the spell would leave her drained for as soon as you used the gift she gave you it would be lost to her - had you been killed she would have remained empty, soulless. You must return this gift to her now. It should be simple. Take both of her hands, lock your fingers together, close your eyes and simply open your mind to return her gift.
I wish you every happiness. I hope the two of you make the most of the freedom you have gained. We will be with you always.
Love
Mum and Dad
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Harry stared open mouthed at the letter before throwing it at Ron and walking determinedly back to Hermione's bedside.
"Do you mind if I just have a minute with her?" Harry asked Mr and Mrs Granger softly, looking up in surprise both shook their heads and stood. The others moved away and Harry drew the curtain partially before looking down at Hermione once more.
Please let this work. It has to work.
Harry carefully took Hermione's unnaturally cold hands and linked their fingers together as he closed his eyes and thought of how much he loved her. How he wanted to see her blow her fringe out of her eyes just once more, or to flick ink at him jokingly, or to hug him after a Quidditch match…anything…He gave her every memory of loving her, and everything he knew about love.
Harry was afraid to open his eyes. His eyes flew open however when he suddenly realised that Hermione's hands were warm. He looked down at her and there was colour in her cheek, and raising his eyes further he saw that not only were her eyes no longer white, they were warm brown and looking right back at him.
"Mione?" He whispered softly.
She smiled and sat up, wrapping her arms around him.
"You did it Harry!"
Harry just cried into her shoulder, holding onto her as tightly as possible.
"What's wrong?" She asked gently brushing his unruly hair away from his eyes.
"We thought we'd lost you. Apparently you were technically dead…I forgot about the letter from Mum - I forgot she told me to read it straight away - you didn't have a pulse…we didn't know what had happened." Harry spoke softly, looking at her guiltily. Hermione's eyes widened in shock.
"I didn't know that would happen. Oh Harry I'm so sorry. It's all ok now - isn't it?" She asked him.
"Everything's perfect now." He said with a smile, looking at her and cupping the side of her face with his hand.
"I love you `Mione."
She beamed at him and threw her arms around him again, hugging him like he'd thought he would never be hugged again.
"I love you too Harry. I love you so much."
They grinned at each other before Harry closed the gap between them and gently kissed her.
As they broke apart Harry suddenly remembered everyone else in the hospital wing as he heard them talking.
"Oh my god - your parents - they think you're…"
Hermione smiled at him and kissed him again quickly.
"Well I'd better get up and say hello then."
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It was an hour before Hermione had properly reassured her parents and friends that she was fine, with Harry never straying far from her. Remus looked on and smiled at the two of them sharing private glances, and knew Harry's future was setlled. Eventually Madam Pomfrey convinced everyone that Hermione and Harry should rest. Ron lingered back and the three of them moved to sit on a bed, Hermione happily nestled into Harry's shoulder.
"Well, I guess this is the end of an era." Hermione said with a smile.
"No more saving the world."
"Well now you say it like that it doesn't sound so good…" Ron said with a wry smile.
"I'm sure we can still get in a lot of trouble in some way or other." Hermione reassured them with a giggle.
"As long as you never do this again." Ron declared alarmed.
"I promise." Hermione said, taking his hand and squeezing it. Harry grinned at his two best friends.
"Anyway, I'd better go and find Luna and you two should be resting - Harry's supposed to be taking all sorts of potions and healing." Ron reminded them teasingly. Hermione whipped her head around to face Harry in horror.
"You're injured? Why didn't you tell me? You should be in bed Harry James Potter!" She fretted.
Ron flashed a guilty look at a sheepish Harry and left the hospital wing.
"It's not that bad `Mione...I promise. It was only two curses that hit me."
"And which two curses were they?" She asked, anxious to check on him.
"Um…well, the killing curse." He admitted.
"What?" Hermione squeaked out.
"The killing curse hit you twice and you think it's not that bad? What am I going to do with you…" She murmured with a smile.
"Ah but I had you to look after me." Harry said with a grin.
"Yep. And I'm having doubts about ever leaving you alone again the trouble you manage to get yourself into."
"Well that Miss. Granger is absolutely fine with me." Harry declared, kissing her on the end of the nose.
The End
A/N
Hope you liked this little plot bunny. It was supposed to be a one-shot but it got a bit out of control! Lol
Only one chapter of `You Don't Know Me' to go and I promise it will be finished soon - I've just had a complete block on it and I had to get this story out of my head…
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