Harry Potter and the Triptych
By Vickles
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Author's Note: Okay, so, compared to my other chapters that were about 3,000 words in length, this one tops off at just over 5,000, so I hope you enjoy. For those of you who have been worried about the pace, you can see it beginning to pick up in this chapter, and definitely in the chapters that follow, so never fear. This chapter's main purpose is to focus on the advancement of Harry and Hermione's relationship (and, to my fellow delusionalfans over at livejournal, I stuck in a special something for you). That is pretty much it, so just please read and review (I have gotten a surprisingly low number of reviews for this, though a high number of hits) and rate it, as well!
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Chapter 4: Delusions and Nightmares
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Harry followed them in and closed the door behind him. "So I guess this is home now," Harry said, looking around at the house, which appeared to have been kept clean somehow.
"Do you reckon we should use the same rooms we did last summer?" Ron asked.
"Don't be silly, Ron," Hermione replied immediately. "Since it's only the three of us and Professor Lupin on occasion, there's no reason for you two to share a room anymore."
"You think so?" Harry asked. He wasn't sure what he thought about having his own room in this big house. "Well, Ron can keep the old room."
"Then which room will you get?" Ron asked.
As if to answer his question, Dobby immediately popped into the hall, next to Hermione. "Harry Potter, sir! Dobby has a room for you!"
"How did you…" Harry decided halfway through speaking that he would rather not ask. "What room?"
Dobby smiled, "Follow Dobby, Harry Potter and friends! Dobby will show you!"
And so they followed him, up the stairs to the fourth floor and down to the end of the hall. Harry watched as Dobby pulled out a key and opened a sturdy-looking door that Harry had never noticed before. Once opened, he led them up six or seven more stairs to a vast bedroom. It was furnished quite nicely, with a large bed prominent in the middle of the room up against the right wall. There was a desk to the left against the wall as a fireplace and a small table with two chairs in the back left. On the opposite side of the room were two tall windows, arched at the top. They seemed to be charmed, since the view provided a look at the countryside, with a small pond just visible in the distance. Lining the wall on each side of the door were two large, vast bookshelves, stuffed with books.
Hermione let out what seemed to be a surprised and excited gasp as she pushed past Harry and began examining some of the books. "Dobby, did you do all of this?"
Dobby nodded proudly, "Yes, Miss Hermione, Dobby did it for Harry. Dumbledore paid Dobby extra to do it, ma'am!"
Hermione was positively beaming now as she took Harry's hand and pulled him into the room. "He paid you extra? Dobby, that's wonderful! Harry, look at all of these!" Clutching Harry's hand tightly, she began pointing out several books. "I haven't even read or heard of half of these! Harry? Could I…I mean, would you mind if…" She suddenly seemed very bashful.
Harry smiled, "You can borrow them whenever you want, Hermione. But where do you suppose these all came from?"
"The books came from Headmaster Dumbledore's private collection, Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby informed him happily. "He paid for everything else, sir." Harry considered telling Dobby not to call him `sir' anymore but decided that it would be a waste of breath.
"Blimey," Ron said from over by the fireplace as Harry suddenly became aware of Hermione's hand still in his, "I can't believe he did this for you, Harry."
Harry looked around. He couldn't believe it, either. The room was huge. Hermione pulled him in different directions, pointing out different aspects of the room, but Harry barely heard her. Finally he just went over and sat on his bed. His bed. There was a thought.
Hermione and Ron came and sat on either side of him. Dobby bid them goodbye, and left the room. There was a slight pause and then Hermione spoke first, "So when would you like to leave for Godric's Hollow?"
Harry tried to hide his hesitation, though he suspected they both noticed it. He had gotten the directions and coordinates of Godric's Hollow from Professor McGonagall a little over a week ago, along with a key to the house from Remus, who had offered to come along. Harry had, at the time, told Ron and Hermione that they would wait until after the funeral and stopping at the Dursley's, and then go. Now, however, with no reason not to go, and nothing else to do to prepare, Harry didn't know if he could go just yet.
He thought of a reasonable answer, "I think we should all unpack and get settled today. Lupin wants to come, so we should owl him. We're going to be living here for quite awhile, I suspect, so I think we should get comfortable, maybe explore a little."
They nodded, "Sounds like a good idea, mate," Ron said, "I'll send the owl to Remus." Ron got up and left the room.
Harry could feel Hermione reading him, and he knew that she knew why he was waiting. Before he could come up with another excuse though, Hermione placed a comforting hand on Harry's knee, "It's okay, Harry, you don't have to explain. I understand, and I think Ron does, too. We don't have to go until you're ready."
Harry opened his mouth to say something, anything, to show he how much he appreciated her gentle words. Nothing he could possibly come up with seemed adequate, so he just smiled a little and mumbled, "I'm glad you came." Harry would spend quite a bit of time wondering if he had been referring to both of his friends when he said that or just the one in front of him.
Hermione smiled in return, "I'm glad I came to. I'll go see what's in the kitchen. We may have to do some shopping." She stood and headed down the stairs, closing the door behind her.
Harry sat there for a few moments before standing and looking over his vast bookshelf. Had Dobby said it was Dumbledore's private collection? Harry scanned the titles that adorned the various books, looking for some kind of clue. Professor Dumbledore had to have had some kind of reason for putting them all there. After looking for ten or fifteen minutes Harry decided to go ask Hermione for help.
From outside of the kitchen Harry could hear Ron and Hermione's voices, though he couldn't tell what they were saying. He walked on inside and was greeted with silence, the two of them sitting across from each other at the table, something clearly hanging between them. Ron looked up and smiled at Harry with what could only be considered fake innocence, "I sent the letter to Remus."
"Oh, good," Harry tried to figure out what they could have been talking about that they didn't want him to hear.
Harry sat down next to Hermione and after another pause she spoke, "Were you looking for something, Harry?"
Harry stared at her stupidly for a moment before remembering, "Oh, yes, actually. I was looking for…" Harry was interrupted as a knock rang at the door.
"Who could that be?" Hermione asked rhetorically as they walked to the door. Harry reached out and opened it, immediately greeted by three batches of red hair.
The twins and Ginny smiled at them. "Hi," Ginny said.
"What are you three doing here?" Ron asked incredulously.
"Mum's going spare." One of the twins answered. "She can't believe she let you lot go. Ever since you left last night she's been walking around the house mumbling to herself and yelling at anyone who gets in her way. We told her that we knew where you were headed and that we would check up on you."
"Ginny didn't know where we were," Ron said.
Ginny shrugged, "Like I was about to let them escape without taking me, too."
Harry thought this sounded like a valid answer and Hermione ushered them in, leading them down to the kitchen. "Are you hungry?" She asked them as they sat at the table.
"Depends," Fred said, "When were you three planning to eat lunch?"
Hermione looked at Harry as if to ask him, and he simply shrugged, so Hermione answered, "In about an hour." Harry noticed that Ginny had watched this entire interaction with interest.
"Then we're fine," George replied. "Mum kicked us out for the day, so she won't let us back until supper." Fred and Ginny nodded in agreement.
"Fancy some chess then?" Ron asked. The twins nodded in agreement.
"You guys go set it up. Harry and I will be up in a moment," Ginny said, casting Harry a glance.
The twins and Ron headed up the stairs, Hermione lingering for a moment to make sure this was okay with Harry before following them.
Harry turned to Ginny, "What do you want?" Had she felt bad for what she said at the reception? Did she want to get back together? Harry did not want that, for some reason. He wasn't sure what he wanted. He watched Ginny expectantly.
After a moment she spoke. "Harry, the reason I came is because there's something I should have told you at the reception. Before that, actually." She hesitated for a moment. "Dean and I are back together. We have been for a week now." She said the last part very quickly.
Harry stared at her, waiting for that familiar monster erupt inside of him, but it never came. To his surprise, Harry didn't even feel and urge to hurt Dean. What did this mean? Did this mean that Harry was okay with them being together? But, then, that would mean he didn't care for Ginny. No, he still cared for Ginny. So why wasn't he jealous?
"Harry?" Ginny asked after an unknown amount of time, "Are you okay? I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. I just felt that you should know and…"
"No, it's not that. I don't know. I think…" Harry wasn't sure he wanted to say it, because to say it might make it true, "I think I'm okay with it."
Ginny looked very surprised, as if this was the very last thing she expected him to say. She also looked a little disappointed, if Harry wasn't mistaken. "Oh," She then put on a smile. "That's great. Well, I think I'll go watch them play chess upstairs." She left the kitchen, and after a moment, Harry did the same.
He walked into the living room and sat next to Hermione on the couch, watching Ron play chess against the twins. "Isn't that unfair? Two against one?"
Hermione shrugged, "I suppose. Ron's winning, though, so I'm not sure that it is." She turned and faced him, giving him an odd look as she studied him.
"What? Is there something on me?" Harry asked.
Hermione shook her head, still looking at him intently. "It's just…Harry, when was the last time you got your hair cut?"
Harry thought for a moment. "Last summer. Aunt Petunia hates for me to look shabby in front of the neighbors, so she takes me every summer. Of course, this summer she didn't. Probably because she knew I was only staying the night."
Hermione bit her lip thinking, "I could give you a hair cut." Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and looked at her like she was crazy. "No, really," Hermione went on, "My mother was a beautician before she became a dentist. I used to help her cut my father's hair. It's quite easy, actually."
Harry considered this for a moment as Ron spoke, "Are you telling me that your mother used to be a beautician but she still let you go around looking like you do?"
Hermione looked at Ron with a hurt expression and spoke softly, "What's wrong with how I look?" Her voice cracked a little as she spoke.
Ron appeared like a dear caught in headlights. "Nothing…I was just meaning…with your hair and…never mind."
Ginny seemed to sense how Hermione felt and sought to comfort her, "You look perfectly fine, Hermione. Don't listen to Ron."
Hermione smiled a little and stood, "No, it's fine, really. I just remembered that I have to…do something…upstairs. I'll be back down for lunch in a bit." She hastily left the room.
As if they had planned it, all three Weasley's smacked Ron upside the head. "Ow!" He exclaimed. "What?"
"Ron, you dolt!" Fred scolded his brother.
"What kind of bloke is dumb enough to tell a girl she's not pretty?" George elaborated.
"I can't believe you would hurt her feelings like that, Ron!" Ginny went on.
"How thick can you be?" Fred asked.
As this went on, Harry slipped out of the room unnoticed and headed up to Hermione's bedroom. When she wasn't in there, Harry had a hunch and headed up to his own room, finding Hermione sitting on the floor in front of the now lit fireplace, leaning over a book that sat on her lap, her shoulders shaking a little.
Please do not let her be crying, Harry thought to himself. No such luck, however. Not knowing what else to do, Harry sat down next to Hermione, "I'm sorry."
Hermione sniffed in surprise and hastily wiped her eyes. "Oh, no it's fine," She said, though her chest hitched a little as she spoke. "Besides, Ron's the one who said it, not you, Harry."
"Yeah, but I don't want you to…I mean you're not…"
"What?" Hermione looked up at Harry and he felt a pain in his chest at seeing her tear-stained cheeks.
Harry took a breath. "I just don't want you to believe what he said. You don't, do you?" He asked.
Hermione searched Harry's face. "Oh, it's okay, Harry. Ron's right. I know I'm…"
"No!" Harry said, louder than he had intended to, and surprised Hermione. "I mean, no," He went on, "You're not ugly at all. You aren't even close."
"Harry, you don't have to lie to me, it's fine, really." Hermione made a sad attempt at a smile.
"It's not fine!" Harry wasn't sure why he was getting so upset at this. He simply didn't like the thought of Hermione thinking she was anything less than beautiful. "It's not okay because clearly Ron is mad and he's making you crazy, too!"
Hermione sighed and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, placing her book on the floor beside her, "Harry I assure you that I am perfectly sane."
Harry shook his head. "Do you really believe that you aren't pretty?"
Hermione lower lip shook a little and she nodded, "Yes."
"Why?" Harry couldn't make her change her mind if he didn't know why she thought these things to begin with.
Hermione sighed, "Because, for one thing, my hair is thick and curly. My face is very tired-looking from all of the studying I do, and, well, my body is rather shapeless." Hermione seemed to find it odd to be defending that she was ugly.
Harry listened and tried to understand what she was talking about, but he seemed to be seeing something different. He saw her thick and curly hair, but it was pretty brown locks that fell past her shoulders and down her back. Her face was clean and lovely, and Harry realized with a start that her body was even nicer than Parvati's, Lavender's, or even Ginny's, though you wouldn't notice right away because of the way she dressed comfortably rather than to impress.
"I don't see what you're talking about, Hermione." Harry replied after a moment.
"Are you trying to say I'm pretty?" Hermione asked, her hands now fiddling with each other as she looked at her lap.
"No," Harry bent his head down so he could look her in the eye, "I'm trying to say that you're beautiful, but you refuse to listen to me. I've got half a mind to go downstairs and punch Ron for making you think like this." Hermione laughed despite herself.
"Harry, I'm sorry, but you're delusional," She told him with a smile.
Harry shrugged and grinned, "Is that so bad?"
Hermione looked down at his hands now, "I suppose not."
Harry took one of her hands in his and she looked up at him, "Be delusional with me."
Hermione giggled, "What?"
Harry nodded. "It doesn't matter what Ron or anyone else thinks. Just believe me when I say you're beautiful, and we'll be delusional together."
"But then we're just a couple of lunatics," Hermione answered, confused.
"So? Do it for me. I can't stand that you believe you're ugly." Harry pleaded with Hermione.
She thought for a moment, "Do we have to tell anyone?"
Harry shook his head, "People don't listen to crazy people anyway, do they? So it can just be between us."
Hermione smiled, "Okay, Harry."
"Say it."
"Say what?" Hermione asked, confused.
"Say that you're beautiful."
Hermione looked distressed at this, "Do I have to?"
Harry nodded.
"Fine. I'm…beautiful." Hermione said with a pained expression.
Harry shook his head, "You have to mean it."
Hermione gave him a stubborn look before speaking again, "I'm beautiful."
Harry smiled, "Yes, you are."
Without warning Hermione launched herself at Harry, hugging him as he fell back on the floor, "You're such a great friend, Harry. I don't know what I would do without you."
Harry hugged her back. "Thanks." He waited a moment. "Hermione?"
"Yes Harry?"
"Could you get off of me?" Harry asked with a smile.
Harry could feel Hermione blush and she stood up hastily. "We should probably go downstairs for lunch. It's starting…" She looked at her watch, "…five minutes ago. I bet they're wondering where we are."
"I doubt it," Harry replied as he stood up as well, "Though we should head down anyway. Are you sure you don't want me to punch Ron?" He asked with a grin.
Hermione smiled slyly, "Well, maybe later."
"I look forward to it." Together they headed down to the kitchen where Dobby had some sandwiches set out. As they sat eating the teens carried on conversation about various things, such as Quidditch teams. Harry for the most part remained quiet.
He had been thinking about what Ron had said as they got off the Knight Bus. Could Hermione really be ticklish? As he watched her talk to Ginny, gesturing with her hands, Harry suddenly wondered what it would be like to tickle someone. He had never tickled anyone before; he had never felt the urge. However, as he stared at Hermione's collarbone, where she had fidgeted earlier, he found the idea of tickling her very appealing. Harry had begun wondering how he would go about such a thing when the subject of his musings spoke to him.
"Is there something on my shirt?" Hermione asked.
"What? Oh, no. I was just thinking, sorry," Harry supposed that he might have been staring at her collarbone for a bit too long. Ron let out a snort of laughter, presumably knowing what Harry had been thinking, but shut up when Harry glared at him.
"So how was imprisonment last night?" Fred asked. At the mention of the Dursleys, Harry remembered something.
"Hermione, can I speak to you for a moment?" Harry asked, standing up.
Hermione shrugged and nodded, "I suppose so. What's this about, Harry?"
"I'll tell you in a second." Harry took her hand and pulled her out of the kitchen, telling the lot of confused and slightly annoyed Weasleys that they would be back in a minute.
When they reached the living area Harry sat Hermione down on the couch and sat next to her, "What did you talk to my Aunt Petunia about this morning?"
"I told you…"
"I know it wasn't just about breakfast, Hermione." Harry interrupted her, looking at her sternly.
Hermione met his gaze stubbornly, "What did you talk to your aunt about this morning, Harry?"
Harry shrugged, "She was scared and asked some questions about the war, Voldemort, and Dumbledore. It was rather odd, really, but I suppose she knows firsthand, having seen her sister die, that this is no game. Now answer my question."
Hermione seemed startled, apparently having been expecting him to refuse to answer like she had. "Harry…I want to tell you, but…" She looked up at him apologetically.
"But what?" Harry asked a little harsher than he had meant to. Hermione winced slightly.
"But I can't." Upon seeing the anger forming on Harry's face, she went on, "I'm sorry, Harry! I had hoped you wouldn't ask. Look, I promise that I will tell you. Just…not yet, okay? I need you to trust me."
Harry sagged a little, "Fine. You promise you'll tell me?" Hermione nodded. Knowing that he could get her to change her mind, Harry changed the subject. "Have you told Ron about the Triptych?"
Hermione shook her head, "I mentioned that you may have found something, but then he went off to talk to Mrs. Weasley."
Harry thought for a moment, "I think we should go to Diagon Alley tomorrow. You can have a good look at the necklaces, or we can bring them back here and you can examine them. How much do you know about them?"
"Not much. Yes, I know," She replied in response to the shocked look on Harry's face, "But there's very few books on the subject, Harry. The Hogwarts library didn't even carry one of them. I wonder where we could find…" Her eyes lit up with an idea and Harry caught on quickly.
"Let's go check," was all Harry managed to say before Hermione was up and running to Harry's room as he struggled to keep pace.
Once inside Hermione began scanning the bindings of the texts. "We shouldn't get our hopes up, Harry. I highly doubt that…hold on…wait…I found it!" Hermione exclaimed with excitement. They went and sat on the bed as Hermione opened it up, turning the pages quickly. "Yes…this is perfect. Harry, can I…?"
"Go ahead." Harry smiled as she immediately took off out of the room, most likely heading to her own where she would begin reading immediately.
Harry went back downstairs and they all, excluding Hermione, played Exploding Snap the rest of the afternoon. Around five o'clock the twins and Ginny headed back to the Burrow, promising to write before showing up next time, if there was a next time. As Harry closed the door and owl came swooping in. Harry opened the envelope, reading the letter from Remus:
Dear Harry, Ron, and Hermione,
I would definitely like to accompany you to Godric's Hollow. However, I'm very busy with a project right now, and will not be free tomorrow. If you would like to wait, we could go on Friday. Send me an owl if that is a problem, otherwise I will see you Friday morning.
Remus
Harry closed the letter and showed it to Ron. "I think it makes sense to wait. He knows his way around the area. It'll be good to have him there."
Ron nodded, "Definitely. You want me to go tell Hermione?"
"Yeah, that'd be great. I'm going to go ask Dobby if he can make some dinner." Harry told him as Ron headed up the stairs.
"Dobby?" Harry asked into the air, since he had no idea where the elf was. Dobby immediately popped in at Harry's feet.
"Yes, Harry Potter?" Dobby asked.
"Could you make us some dinner?" Harry asked. Dobby nodded happily and scurried down to the kitchen. Not having anything better to do, Harry headed up to Hermione's room, where he assumed he would find his two friends.
When he reached the outside of the bedroom, Harry stood outside and waited, remembering the incident that had taken place this morning when he had walked into the kitchen. Harry listened in to see if he could hear what they were talking about, privately scolding himself for spying on his best friends.
For the first five or ten minutes they were talking to quietly, but Harry finally managed to catch on to the conversation.
"…out on the roof tomorrow night." Harry heard Ron's voice. "We can just tell Harry that there's something we wanted to do. He won't mind. I'm sure he'd like some time to himself."
"Yes I suppose you're right," Hermione's voice answered. "So what day is Remus coming?"
"Friday."
"And today's Tuesday," Harry heard the scribbling sound of a quill on parchment, "So that gives us tomorrow and Thursday to get a hold of Professor McGonagall about training."
Getting annoyed of waiting in the hall, Harry stepped into the room, making his presence known. "Dobby's making supper."
"Oh, good," Hermione replied. "Harry, come sit here." She scooted over on the bed, pushing Ron to do the same, and then patted the bed. "I had an idea I wanted to run by you." Harry noted that this time neither of them had abruptly stopped talking upon his entrance, nor had they seemed guilty about hiding anything.
Harry went and sat next to her as she had told him to, "What is it?"
"Well, I was thinking, with all of the danger we could be facing this year…and since we won't be going back to school…"
"Yeah?" Harry prompted her after a moment.
"Iwasthinkingwecouldgettraining." Hermione said quickly as Harry struggled to listen.
"What about it raining?" He asked, confused.
Hermione sighed, and spoke slower this time. "I was thinking that we could get some training. You know, like combat training. Maybe from some members of the Order of the Phoenix?"
Harry considered this for a moment as Ron mumbled, "If the Order's still around that is."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"Well, Dumbledore was the leader, wasn't he?" Ron replied. "If he's gone, who going to be in charge? I mean, they're thinking of closing Hogwarts because he's dead. Why would they keep the Order running?"
Harry considered this and turned to Hermione, "He's got a point, you know."
Hermione appeared troubled by this thought. "I'll send an owl to Professor McGonagall after supper. Do you know when Dobby will be finished?"
Displaying his impeccable timing (Harry began to wonder if the elf sat around waiting for cues like that) Dobby popped into the room. "Dinner is ready, Sirs and Miss!"
"Thank you, Dobby! That was very nice of you." Hermione smiled at the elf, who beamed at the praise.
They ate dinner relatively quietly, and afterwards Harry felt oddly tired. He thought back and realized that it had been a particularly long and full day. He bid goodnight to his two friends and headed upstairs, where he showered and then headed into his room, pulling on some pajama bottoms and laying down in the large bed.
Once again, Harry found himself having trouble sleeping, but this time it was because of the bed. It was very comfortable, but Harry found himself having trouble dealing with so much space. Deciding that he would have to get used to it, Harry continued to lie there, opening and closing his eyes from time to time, and shifting positions when his body began to feel stiff.
After what turned out to be several hours Harry had begun to nod off, but jumped out of bed at the sound of screaming coming from Hermione's bedroom. Grabbing his bathrobe from the hook but not putting it on, he took off down the hall. Ron was standing outside her room, which was quieter now, but he could hear Hermione inside, talking loudly and possibly hyperventilating.
"She wouldn't talk to me," Ron said, "She keeps talking about how she `should have given him the potion' and then she starts crying. I tried to explain that it was just a dream, but…" Harry did not hear anymore as he opened the door and saw Hermione wandering around the room, her hands in her hair, shaking her head.
"Hermione?" He asked tentatively.
"Harry!" Hermione turned around and crossed the room, immediately latching onto him and holding him tightly, shaking with sobs. "Harry, you were dead! I tried to give you the…potion…but you would not…and I saw your body…" her words became muffled as she held him tightly, despite his lack of a shirt. He found this odd for a moment, considering the embarrassment she had demonstrated that very morning, but then decided that she may have been too shaken up to notice.
"I guess you'll take care of her, then," Ron said, a bit sadly. He turned from the doorway and left them.
Harry tried to lead Hermione back to her bed, but she didn't want to. "No!" She exclaimed quietly. "I might see it again! It's too horrible…I can't…" She had stopped crying, but continued to hold Harry tightly.
Not knowing of anything else he could do, Harry took the robe he had in his hand and wrapped it around her, leading her out of the room and up to his own. When they were inside he led her to the bed, sitting on the edge of the bed and up against the headboard on one side, pulling her up next to him, still holding her gently
They sat there for several moments. When Hermione had stopped shaking, Harry turned his head and tried to get a better look at her, "Are you okay now?"
Hermione nodded, though her lower lip still quivered slightly.
Harry paused a moment and then spoke again, "Do you want to tell me what happened?"
Hermione seemed like she wouldn't at first, but then started talking, looking down at his lap where the hand that he didn't have on her shoulder rested. "You died." she whispered. "You gave me the Felix Felicis potion, and I tried to make you take it, but you wouldn't. Then I found you later, and you…you were…" She trembled as a tear fell down her cheek and Harry wiped it away.
"I'm sorry." It was all Harry could think of to say.
"I felt so lost," she said quietly, "And I can't close my eyes, because when I do…I see it again."
Harry gently guided her in front of him, so she was sitting in front of him, turning her to the side with both of her legs swung over his left leg and her shoulder up against him. "Here," He pulled her to him and she placed her head in the crook of his neck. "I'm not dead, I promise. It was just a dream." He rubbed her back lightly in an attempt to reassure her that he was indeed solid and alive.
Hermione remained silent before speaking hesitantly, "And what happens when it's not a dream?"
Harry felt his chest tighten, "I don't know."
"You can't leave me. I need you. We all need you." Hermione said.
Harry rested his chin on top of her head, "I know." It was all there was to say. He couldn't promise her that he wouldn't be killed. He could not promise anyone that. He wrapped his arms tighter around her, as if holding on could keep him from falling.
They stayed there for a bit, and then Hermione yawned, causing Harry to yawn as well. This went back and forth for a moment. "Do you want to go back to bed now?" Harry asked.
"Can I…would it be alright if I stayed here?" Hermione requested timidly.
Harry could tell that her dream, or nightmare, rather, had clearly shaken her up quite a bit and that she was still frightened, and figured that if he couldn't promise her that he wouldn't die, the least he could let her do was stay he if she wanted to. "I suppose you can." Harry shifted so she could lie down on the bed.
She moved under the covers, wrapping his robe tighter around herself, and Harry stayed on top of the covers, not very cold on the summer night. He settled himself onto the bed and turn to his side, facing her. "Will you be able to fall asleep?"
Hermione answered him with another yawn. She closed her eyes and not five minutes later, she was sound asleep, breathing gently. As he watched her, Harry felt himself grow tired as well, and it was not long before he joined her.
~*~
A/N: A big thanks to my beta, LadyStarlight, who gave fabulous tips, as always. I hope that all of the delusionalfans loved that little tidbit (I actually hadn't planned on doing it, but it seemed so perfect as I was writing). Please be awesome and leave a review, and rate this if you can, because you only have until the 22nd!
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