She sat by the hospital bed, wondering why it never got any easier to see him lying there. She thought back to that first time, eleven years old and they'd saved the Philosopher's Stone, but Harry had ended up here. She remembered sitting by his bed with Ron, looking at his pale face, which only accentuated his scar. He had suddenly seemed more vulnerable than before, not just her brave rescuer from the troll, but a boy who'd suffered, the burdens of his suffering appearing visible in his pale face.
This time was different though, his pale face now appeared at peace, and this time she prayed would be the last time she sat by his hospital bed. It wasn't an unfounded wish, they'd done it. He'd done it. Voldemort was gone, and Harry had exhausted all his magic, as he'd cast that final fatal spell. She and Ron had rushed toward him as he collapsed to the ground exhausted by Voldemort's body. In those seconds before they had reached him, and she'd felt a pulse, she had died inside, over and over. It couldn't happen now, not when he had everything to live for.
Now it was just a matter of time before he woke up, amazingly he wasn't even technically injured; his body had simply shut down in order to recharge his magical reserves. But, surprisingly, this fact didn't bring much comfort to Hermione sitting by his side. It wouldn't really be over until he opened his eyes, and Chestnut eyes met Emerald ones. Ron had largely been dealing with keeping away the press desperate to speak to Harry. They'd given brief statements the morning before, but it wasn't right to speak about it in detail until they'd discussed with Harry if he wanted to keep anything private, and it had just seemed so wrong standing there, just the two of them in front of all those reporters, without Harry beside them.
Hermione reached out and took Harry's hand in hers, smiling softly.
"It's finally over for you. You can be whoever you want to be. Do whatever you want to do for the first time in your life. We've hardly even spoken about it, it just seemed like tempting fate, so I don't even know what you'll want to do now - well, you've finally got the chance to decide. That's what I've always wanted most for you - choice. I'm so proud of how you've coped with everything that's been thrust upon you - I couldn't have done it - I don't know anyone who could have don it, except you…Thank You…Today more than any other day I wish your parents could be here, so you could talk with them. I can only imagine what my parents would say in a situation like this - that they were incredibly proud, and that they love you. As for the future: they'd tell you to ignore all advice and follow your instincts and your heart. This is your chance for happiness, so just grab it when you find it…they really would be so proud of you Harry, just as Remus is, and Sirius would have been…"
Hermione looked down at their hands and smiled again.
"I'm just going to back to the tower for a bit to freshen up and get you some things, it wont be long now till you wake up." Hermione stood, and leaning over, gently kissed Harry's forehead, whispering, "Love you" before turning and leaving the hospital wing.
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