Title: All Nights, Chapter 13.
Disclaimer: Same as ever-not mine, never will be mine. I just like to play with them in a free,
non-profit, non-sueable manner.
Pairing: Harry/Hermione
Summary: What happened to Hagrid? Will the trio find a way to destroy the Horcruxes? Will our Golden
Couple manage to overcome a new slew of angst?
Word Count: 4, 914
A/N: Sorry for the wait on this chapter. I've actually had it written for weeks, but I didn't
want to post it until I started making inroads on 14. Unfortunately, things for 14 aren't going very well, so there
might end up being another long wait. Sigh.
Hagrid slept in a hospital bed two rooms away from Mr. Arthur Weasley.
Hermione pressed her nose to the window, watching the half-giant's slumber. He had not regained consciousness since he'd recovered the Horcrux. The Healers were perplexed. He was in fine health, they all said, for his age.
She'd never seen Ron so angry. His face had gone crimson and his words could be heard from the cafeteria. "He's NOT bloody 150-years-old, you NITWIT. He's in his sixty's! LOOK, see this HERE? THIS IS A FUCKING BIRTH CERTIFICATE. Yeah, that's what it says, isn't IT? This is because he has giant blood in him, isn't it? ISN'T IT? YOU PREJUDICED GITS!"
One of Hagrid's purple and blue veined hands came up to itch at his beard. His white hair made him seem more vulnerable than Hermione could ever remember. His size hardly seemed to matter. A strong wind would be all it would take now to knock him over…
She pressed her forehead against the glass and took a shuddery breath. There would be no coming back for Hagrid. It didn't matter how long Ron raged at the Healers. The Horcrux had drained the life from his body. No potion, no spell could return it to him.
There must be some way to help him. I can find it-I owe it to Hagrid. After everything, he doesn't deserve this kind of-of punishment!
A burst of anger flared to life and gave her courage. It was time, now, to do what she had been putting off. She could no longer hide behind her fear.
She strode into the private room reserved for the Weasleys. Fred, George, and Ginny were playing cards. Bill and Fleur were pretending they were not snogging in the corner. Mrs. Weasley was in a rocking chair, composing a letter while her knitting needles clicked next to her. Hermione ignored them, going all the way to the back, to the window. Harry and Ron were playing Wizard's Chess in silence.
Harry looked up as she approached. His eyes registered dismay and she knew he understood what she wanted.
She stopped at their table. Without looking at Ron she said, "Can I have a word? In private?"
Harry nodded and dropped his game pieces. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he followed her retreating back, all of the Weasleys looking on in somber silence.
"What is it?" he asked quietly.
She whirled around to face him. "Tell me you didn't know. Tell me you didn't think this would happen."
She watched his chest give a small hitch. "What are you talking about?"
"You know full well what I'm talking about!" she hissed. "I'm talking about Hagrid! You-you… you asked him to-to… remove that thing! It nearly killed him!"
"Hermione, it was his choice-"
"You knew the risks, you knew what would happen, you purposely put his life in danger!"
"I did not!"
"You know full well that's rubbish!" she said.
"Well, yeah, I knew that getting the Horcrux wouldn't be easy, but I wasn't out to get him or anything, Hermione. It wasn't like that!"
"You watched him suffer and did nothing," she said. "You watched him howling in pain and you held me back."
"I was protecting you!" Harry said desperately. "If you touched him, what do you think would've happened?"
"Maybe I didn't care!"
"Maybe I did!"
They both stopped their tirade and glared at each other, breathing heavily.
Finally, Hermione clenched her teeth and took a step closer to him. "You put Hagrid in there because you couldn't bear the idea of sacrificing yourself!"
Harry's jaw dropped. "What?"
"Oh, don't even pretend it's not true!" she said. "The three of us, we could have figured it out on our own. We knew the risks! You know full well Hagrid would do anything you asked of him!"
"Hermione, Hagrid's a part of the Order, he signed up for the war a long time ago. I…" he trailed off helplessly. "It's tearing me up inside, what happened to him. But it was his choice. He could've said 'no.'"
"But he wouldn't've!" Hermione said. "That's the important part, Harry. You used him! You put him in the line of fire! You sacrificed him for that Horcrux!"
"No, I didn't!" Harry said, growing more agitated. "Listen, if one of us had done it, there wouldn't be a Horcrux! You, Ron, and I could never have withstood it! All of us would be dead if I hadn't asked!"
"What… what… right…" she said, the words catching in her throat. She tried again, wiping at her eyes. "What right do you have to make that judgment? Why do you get to choose who lives and dies?"
Harry took a few steps closer to her. She could sense he was struggling to match her anger, but couldn't quite manage it.
"I didn't know this would happen!" he said, gesturing to Hagrid's room. "All I did was ask!"
"You killed him!"
Harry flinched. "He's not dead, Hermione-he'll wake up and it'll be fine. It'll all be fine, the Healers will find a way to help him, he'll-"
Harry stopped, clenching his fists and staring at the floor. She felt some of her anger melt away.
"I can't help feeling this way, Harry," she murmured. "It scares me to see how willing you are to cast off the people you care about. What if it was Ron next time? What if it was me?"
Harry's head snapped up. "It wouldn't-"
"For goodness's sakes, Hermione! Can't you lay off him for one bloody moment?"
Ginny's voice rang through the empty corridor. The scowl on her face matched the anger behind her words as she marched up to Harry's side and planted herself next to him.
"Ginny, I hardly think that's a fair assessment to make," Hermione said, her voice controlled. "You can't possibly know what we were talking about."
She gave a sniff. "Oh, please! I'm not stupid, Hermione. You were giving him a hard time over Hagrid! You always have to make yourself look morally superior, don't you?"
"Ginny, that's not what she was doing," Harry said quietly. "Don't worry about-"
"Oh, shut it, you," she snapped. "You've never been much good at sticking up for yourself when you're being verbally abused."
"Verbally abused!" Hermione repeated. "Honestly, Ginny… that's a rather hefty accusation!"
"Hermione, listen to yourself!" Ginny screeched. "Berating on him for using Hagrid! For killing him! Don't you think he feels bad enough? Don't you think Harry has enough to be getting on with without adding your censure onto it?"
"Stop talking about things you don't understand!" Hermione yelled. "You weren't there, Ginny! You have no idea what happened!"
"It doesn't matter!" she said, eyes glistening. "I know Harry! I can see what he's going through! And you're not helping!"
"For goodness's sakes, it won't do to be going around and getting people killed-"
"That isn't what Harry's doing!" Ginny said. "He's fighting You-Know-Who! He's trying to save us-all of us, including you. You heard what Harry said, Hagrid made his own choice. Well, I stick by that. If Harry asked for my help, I would give it too."
Ginny hefted her chin defiantly.
"Well, I would give mine too," Hermione said weakly. "But-look… that's not the point, Ginny!"
"You're right, it isn't. It's war," she said. "It requires everyone to make sacrifices."
Hermione found Harry's eyes. Though he was careful not to stand too close to Ginny, his gaze was unapologetic.
"Fine," she whispered. Harry's face didn't change. "Fine."
She backed away from them before turning her back and sprinting to the nearest Apparition point.
***
Grimmauld Place was silent as she made her way through it, slamming doors behind her and wrenching drawers open. She gathered books up in her arms until her muscles strained and her back heaved. Then she dropped them on the living room floor, collapsing down among them.
I will not cry.
She yanked the first book towards her and viciously opened the first page. Nothing. She grabbed the second book and skipped to the middle. Transfiguration. Still nothing.
She threw the first two books away and picked up the third. She dropped it on her knees with a thud. The pages were older, more yellowed with age. Draco's notes were scribbled in the margins and she leaned closer, her fingers nervously playing with the bottom of the page.
Soon she was lost to the world of research. Read a page. Check Malfoy's note. Scribble her own. Flip to the next page. Dismiss unnecessary information.
She chewed on the tip of her quill, her mind completely engaged. She could do this-find a way to destroy the Horcruxes. She would not let Hagrid's sacrifice be in vain.
She pushed Ginny away, pushed her away with her anger and her hurt (and her betrayal). "Those feelings" had no business here, not when Hermione was doing research. Not when she felt this close, not when-
She flipped a page and gasped, a far-away memory sliding into place.
Defractor.
She read the word again to be sure. Defractor.
She checked Draco's notes. Possible scenario, risky, but high probability of success…
Furrowing her brow, Hermione hastened to read the rest of the page, her hands already reaching for another book, ready to reference and cross-reference. Whatever it took.
***
Hagrid's hand felt like dried out leather. His skin was covered in blemishes-bruises left behind by the Horcrux. His breathing was deep and she watched his chest rise and fall, rise and fall. He had yet to regain consciousness. Fine health for his age….
For his age…
She felt her eyelids drooping closed. It seemed like ages since she had slept. A five-minute nap on her books in Grimmauld Place had left her sore and achy. Exhaustion filled her body, but her mind was fine, her ability to think was still intact. That was the only thing that mattered.
"Hermione?"
She bolted upright, still clutching Hagrid's hand in both of hers.
"Go away, Harry."
She heard him shuffle behind her, coming to rest behind her chair. For a moment, she was certain he was going to place a hand on her shoulder. But he gave a small flinch and moved away.
"How're you?"
"I thought I asked you to go away."
"I… I reckoned… we have to talk."
Hermione kept her eyes fastened on Hagrid's still form. "I don't much fancy being in the same room as you right now, so I don't know if talking is really the best idea."
He let out a frustrated breath and pulled a chair up next to her. "Hermione, listen-"
"No," she said, turning to look at him for the first time. "I won't listen, Harry! You know where I stand on Hagrid. That won't change."
"I… alright…" Harry said, rubbing his palms on his jeans. "But… well… you and me, we're okay, right?"
"What?" she said faintly. "How can you possibly think that? How is anything between you and me 'okay?' Honestly, Harry, don't be stupid."
"Oh," Harry said. For a moment, it looked like he might cry, but he pulled himself together and stood up. "I… I mean… I s'pose I'll go, then…"
Hearing the hesitancy in his voice nearly broke her.
"Harry?"
He rushed back, nearly tripping on the chair. "Yeah?"
She couldn't stand looking into his hopeful eyes, so she turned her gaze instead on Hagrid's still form.
"I think I've found a way to destroy the Horcruxes."
"Wha-oh…. Oh!"
He reclaimed his seat, his body language changing. He became serious, pushing thoughts of their relationship away, and focusing on what he had to. The war. The Horcruxes.
"Remember when we stole Hufflepuff's cup from Borgin & Burkes?" He gave a nod and she continued. "Well, I saw something, right before Snape and Malfoy attacked me. It's called a Defractor. It's an immensely powerful object. I read about it, before, in the Restricted Section of the library. What with everything else going on, I nearly forgot about it."
"And?" he prodded, leaning closer to her. "What does it do?"
Hermione cast a suspicious glance at Hagrid, wondering how much of this he could hear. Perhaps they shouldn't be talking about this at all, certainly not here, not at St. Mungo's where anyone could listen in…
"Hermione?"
"It's sucks out magic-it can render anything useless. It's extremely dangerous, of course. Used against the wrong person, it can render them completely defenseless." She paused. "There are ways to defend oneself, of course. Most wizards are too powerful for it to be of any use, but…"
Harry's eyes lit up with understanding. "The Horcruxes aren't wizards! They can't think for themselves. If we could suck out their power-"
"Then we could destroy them easily-just like we would any goblet, any trophy."
Harry stared at her, eyes blinking in disbelief. "That's brilliant," he said. "Your brilliant. How did you-I mean, when did you…"
"Just now," she whispered. "At Grimmauld Place. I left after we fought."
Real life came crashing back and they both remembered their situation. Harry stiffened and shifted away from her, resting his elbows on his knees. They fell into an awkward silence.
Finally, she said, "We'll have to be very, very careful. If we're not, it might drain our power, instead. We can't let that happen."
Harry nodded. "Yeah. We'll get on it-as soon as possible. As soon as… after Hagrid wakes up, alright? You, me, and Ron. Before the Weasleys arrive at Grimmauld Place."
They looked at each other for another long moment.
Harry cleared his throat. "Well, I should… I should…"
"Yes…"
"Is there any way I should prepare for the Defractor?"
"We'll have to steal it, of course," Hermione said. "You could think of a plan to get away with it. Preferably without Snape showing up this time around."
"Right."
Hermione's throat burned. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt this miserable around Harry. He turned to go.
"Wait!" she blurted.
He spun back around, nearly losing his balance again. "Yeah?" he said breathlessly.
"I… well, I…" she looked up into his face, his eyes and felt something in her crumble. "Even with… with everything… I still…"
"I know," he said softly. "I love you too."
She couldn't say anything else. A small whimper escaped her throat and she clamped her hands to her mouth, silently begging him to make things better.
He hovered indecisively before reaching out and squeezing her shoulder. She met his eyes and saw that their fight, their separation, whatever it was, was just as hard on him-maybe moreso. But then he released her and backed away, leaving her alone.
***
They never got their chance to recover the Defractor from Borgins & Burkes. Hagrid lay unconscious for three days. He hardly stirred as Healers past in and out, monitoring his condition and prodding him in the hopes of finding changes.
Hermione watched Professor McGonagall collapse into his beside chair when she saw him. She dabbed her eyes repeatedly with a handkerchief, all the while threatening to sack him from the Care of Magical Creatures position if he didn't wake up soon.
"I still can't tell you what's happening, Professor," Harry said heavily. "I'm sorry."
They were in a small conference room on Hagrid's floor. Outside the windows, the first snowfall of the year touched the ground. Ron stared at it mournfully. He'd finally stopped yelling at the Healers. Instead, he kept attempting to find ways to sneak Fang into the hospital. First by side-along Apparition and then by floo powder, but nothing yet had worked.
"Fang'll get Hagrid up right quick," Ron had said. "Too bad I don't have any dragons, actually. I reckon that would do a bang up job of it."
Professor McGonagall studied each of them in turn, clearly at a loss. For a hysterical moment, Hermione thought she might deduct house points.
"Potter, I've been flexible for a good long time now, but you can't honestly expect me to stand by while a trusted colleague and friend is seriously injured! Now, you claim it wasn't a Death Eater attack. If that's the case, then what is it?"
Harry bowed his head. "I can't tell you," he repeated.
Hermione watched him critically. It was the first time she'd seen him in three days. Since that moment-whatever it had been-in Hagrid's hospital room, they were careful to avoid each other. By unspoken agreement, their relationship had stalled, perhaps even ended. It was too painful to see him. Especially when they had been so close, when all she could think about was Harry, when he was still the center of her world, whether or not he was in her world.
"Professor," Hermione finally said. "This work we're doing… it's important, very important. We couldn't tell Hagrid, either. But... well-he still… he gave us help when we asked for it."
Professor McGonagall blew her nose loudly into her handkerchief and gave a watery smile. "He's a good man."
Ron gave a morose nod and looked outside again. Hermione wondered what kind of hair-brained plan he was thinking of to sneak Fang into St. Mungo's.
"I'm really, really sorry," Harry said. "But this is what Dumbledore wanted."
At the sound of Dumbledore's name, McGonagall sat up straighter, her mouth thinning. "But the three of you-you're… you're…"
"Kids?" Hermione offered. "We know, Professor."
There didn't seem to be anything more to say.
The flurries coming down from outdoors cast small shadows on the floor. Harry stared at them, seeming mesmerized, before shaking himself and meeting McGonagall's gaze.
"I need a favour," he said.
"Harry!" Hermione said sharply. "Surely, you're not think of putting someone else in-"
"Of course not," he snapped. "Look, it's just…." He sighed. "We need something, something from Borgin & Burkes. Something we can't afford."
Professor McGonagall considered him. "Is this something else that's very important, Potter?"
Harry hesitated. "Yes. It's called a Defractor."
"Very well," McGonagall said. "I'll see what I can do."
***
In the end, it seemed like Ron had been right all along. He finally managed to get Fang into St. Mungo's by using Harry's Invisibility Cloak. As soon as Fang saw his master, he burst from underneath the cloak, caused Ginny to start shrieking, and leapt onto Hagrid, paying no need to his aged state.
"Ron!" Hermione shrieked. "Don't you ever think? Get him off-"
Hagrid's eyes popped open.
"Hagrid!" she, Ginny, and Ron all cried together. Fang gave a triumphant bark, enthusiastically licking Hagrid's cheek.
Hagrid opened his mouth, but Hermione found herself being shoved out of the way by a deluge of Healers. She, Ron, and Ginny were bodily thrown out of the room.
"If we determine he's up for visitors, we will come find you," one of them said, slamming the door shut. They could still hear Fang barking from inside.
"What's happened?" Harry said, running up to them.
"He's awake," Ginny said, grinning. "See, Harry, it's all going to be okay."
Harry gave her an irritated glance. "He's a hundred years older than he should be, Ginny," he said flatly. "I wouldn't exactly call that 'okay.'"
Ginny's smile slipped. "Well, I thought… I mean, it's good news, isn't it?"
"Yeah, I s'pose," Harry said, eyeing Hagrid's hospital room. "Can I-can I talk to him?"
"No good, mate," Ron said. "Healer's kicked us to the ruddy curb. Not even a decent 'thank you' for waking the man up."
"Right," Harry said. "Well, come and get me when we're allowed in, alright?"
"Of course," Hermione snapped. "If he's willing to see you, that is. Can't say I'll blame him if he's not. You haven't even bothered sitting with him these last few days!"
"Hermione!" Ginny hissed.
Harry opened his mouth. Closed it. He met her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she said bitterly. "Was that out of line?"
A Healer popped his head out of Hagrid's door and they jumped. The moment broken, they all rushed forward.
"Hold it! Three visitors at a time please!"
"I'll go," Ginny said at once. "You guys should go in first. So long as Hermione promises to keep her big mouth shut."
Hermione bristled.
"Thanks, Ginny," Ron said quickly. "We'll come get you when we're done, okay?"
"Yeah, Ginny, thanks," Harry said, giving her a smile. "We'll see you later."
Hermione didn't say anything. Ginny swung her hair over her shoulder and flounced away.
Ron's hands were shaking and Harry kept tugging as his collar and swallowing. Hermione fisted her hands together, feeling like there was a hand clamped to her chest, squeezing until she was ready to burst.
"I was wonderin' how long it'd take yeh three to show yeh're faces!"
Hagrid's booming voice washed over them as they stepped into the room. Hermione was pleased to see him sitting up, Fang's head on his lap.
"Oh, Hagrid…" she murmured, rushing forward to hug him. He felt frail in her arms.
She looked up to find Ron patting Hagrid on the shoulder. "You look awful, Hagrid."
Hagrid gave a booming laugh, startling Ron. "Healers though' I was boun' to go inter shock when I got a look at myself. They've already called Olympe… don' know how she'll take the news…"
Hagrid's laugh stopped abruptly and Hermione was startled to see tears forming in his eyes.
"Oh-oh, Hagrid," she whispered. "Don't worry, I'm sure Madam Maxime won't care. You're a remarkable person, Hagrid. She knows that." She took one of Hagrid's huge hands between both of hers and peered anxiously into his face. "She loves you, doesn't she?"
A large tear trickled down Hagrid's wrinkled face. "Yeh think so, Hermione?"
"Of course," she said.
Hagrid glanced up over her shoulder. She heard Harry's soft voice, "Hey, Hagrid."
"Harry," Hagrid said. He sounded pleased. "Did it work? Did yeh get what yeh needed?"
"Yeah, Hagrid," Harry said. "Yeah, we did. You were…"
"Brilliant," Ron said in awe. "Bloody brilliant."
"You were really brave, Hagrid," Hermione continued.
Another tear slid down Hagrid's yellowed skin. "I gotta know… did it help… will this help destroy him, Harry?"
"Yeah," Harry said hoarsely. He approached Hagrid's bed and sat down at the edge. "So much, Hagrid. But listen… I'm really… I'm really sorry."
Harry's eyes cut to Hermione's face for a moment, but he hastily looked away.
Hagrid bowed his head. When he looked up, his tears were gone. "I volunteered, didn' I?" he asked gruffly.
"Well, yeah…" Harry said. "But, Hagrid… I shouldn't've… I knew what could happen…"
"I volunteered!" Hagrid said again. "Blimey, yeh three… I'm not ruddy stupid. Anything of You-Know-Who's was dangerous. Dumbledore gave his life for yeh, Harry, and this war. I'd do the same, no questions asked."
***
Hermione blew her nose into a tissue and wiped away her tears. How pathetic she was, coming to the girl's washroom to have a good cry…
She pulled her legs up to her chest on the toilet, silently cursing herself. Her mum always accused her of being too stubborn, it would get her in trouble one day…
It should be easy to forgive Harry, now that she had Hagrid's permission, now that she saw how sorry he was…
And instead she was crying on the toilet, a tissue pressed against her face.
Red-eyed and sniffling, she opened the washroom's door and nearly ran smack into Harry.
"Hey," he said, toeing the floor with his shoe.
"Hi," she said.
He glanced up at her and frowned. "You've been crying."
"Nonsense," she squeaked, ready to brush by him.
He stopped her with a hand on her arm. "Hermione…"
"Yes?" she whispered. "What is it?"
He touched her cheek with the tips of his fingers, still wet with tears. He opened his mouth to say something but then gave a shrug of defeat.
"You miss me?" she offered, giving a small smile.
He nodded. "So much I can hardly stand it."
She stepped closer to him. "Me too."
He almost laughed but then turned serious. "Listen, Hermione… I would never do anything to put your life in danger. Never."
"Oh, Harry, that's not…"
"I just… I hate feeling this way… like-like I've let you down…"
"I don't think you have," she murmured. "I think you've been doing what you've needed to do to win the war."
He frowned. "And…?"
"And…" her chest hitched. "I'm not certain I… I don't know-"
"If you can accept that," he finished heavily. "This isn't a new thing, is it? This has been going on since we went to Borgin & Burkes to get Hufflepuff's goblet."
She flinched. "Well, I'm sorry, Harry, but you did let Malfoy torture me!"
"I did not!" he said indignantly. "What did I just say?"
"I know what you said and that's all well and good, but it's not true and we both know it. If you had to sacrifice my life to win this war then you would. It's exactly what you need to do and who you need to be. You must win this war, no matter what the cost is. But…" she hesitated. "But I don't know if I can… if I can do that."
He grabbed both her arms. "Hermione, what are you saying?"
She looked into his eyes and felt tears welling again. "I don't know, okay? I don't know! I don't know how I feel about you anymore…"
He dropped her and backed away. "Oh."
"No-I don't mean that… I mean…" she drew in a ragged breath. "Being this close to you, having what we have… it makes it all so much worse, don't you see? Can't you understand? I'm not strong enough!"
He was shaking. "Not strong enough? That's rubbish! You've withstood everything this year-and now you suddenly can't handle it? Thanks a lot."
"Stop!" she screeched. "Don't put words in my mouth, Harry… this is hard enough on me as it is…"
"HARD ON YOU?"
She flinched. "Of course it's hard on me," she said. "You know how I feel about you-"
"That's funny, because it sounds an awful like you're tossing in the towel and giving up to me!"
"That's not what I'm doing!"
"Oh, yeah? Then what are you doing?"
"I DON'T KNOW!"
She pushed him with the intent to walk past, but he grabbed her arm and held on.
"Hermione, please…"
She almost told him to let go, but he loosened his grip, giving her the opportunity to walk away if she insisted on it.
"I felt like I gave up a part of myself when I fell in love with you," she whispered. "Harry, I keep putting our relationship first-I would do anything for you. That's-that's really quite dangerous, you know… during a war. But when it comes to you, I know I'm not first… and that's almost worse."
She watched his eyes deepen with horrible pain and she felt sick to her stomach. "I'm sorry."
"Hermione-"
"I'm sorry."
She backed away, but he grabbed onto her again, fingers clamping around her wrist. He moved forward and kissed her, a desperate kiss, filled with a panic edged with hope. His mouth crushed hers until it hurt, his hands grabbed her waist and he pushed against her, trying to get closer.
She went rigid and pushed against his chest until he released her. "That won't work," she said quietly, silently daring him to try such a thing again.
He didn't. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and stared down at his shoes. She could tell he was trying hard not to cry. He opened his mouth, closed it.
I have to be strong for him, she thought.
Her voice trembled as she said, "Harry, look at me."
He did and she nearly broke down. She envisioned herself throwing her arms around him, holding him until it didn't matter anymore. It would be so easy.
"I will fight this thing by your side like I promised to do," she said. "But I don't know if us-being together… it might not be the safest thing right now. For either of us."
The colour drained from his face and she gave a small sob.
"I'm sorry," she said again. "I need time to think, Harry. That's all."
"But…" his words were choked. "You said… I thought…"
"I do," she said.
His face changed, hardening, becoming more determined. "What happens if I win, Hermione? What if I beat Voldemort… if it's soon?"
"I…"
"What about then?"
"Stop," she said. "Don't think about it like that."
"I'm sorry! I s'pose I'm not thinking straight, now that I know you're dumping me!"
"That's not what I'm doing!" she said. "Don't turn this into something it isn't!"
"Hermione… I can't… I can't do this without you…"
"And you're not!" she said. She gave in then and threw her arms around him, gripping his neck tightly. "You're not, Harry! We're-not-over. It doesn't work like that.
He didn't hug her back.
She pulled away, sniffing, wiping her nose, her head spinning and her eyes burning from exhaustion. "Harry?"
"Fine," he said. "Fine. The Weasleys are moving into Grimmauld Place tonight. I just thought you should know."
And he turned, leaving her outside the loos, her tissue still clenched in her hand.