Chapter 2: I Have to Go
It was twilight when she finally uttered that she had to go. He offered her a room for the night, but she said she had to let him get accustomed to being back in the world he once knew. He shook his head and told her the world he knew was gone. She said she had to go anyway. He took her hand, as a kind, innocent gesture and led her to the door.
"You can always talk to me. Never forget that, Hermione." She smiled, but the smile failed to reach her eyes. His heart broke just watching her there, so sad and wistful.
"Good-bye. I'll see you soon." she stated, trying to seem cheerful. It didn't work. As his emerald pools caught her eyes again, the tears began to fall. She turned and ran. Running, running, running. Training for the war had strengthened her body, but with his Seeker skills, he was much more adept in the physical sense. He raced after her, easily catching her as she stumbled on a tree root.
"You shouldn't have to suffer like this. You don't deserve it," he said with earnest. "You're the most brilliant witch I've ever known. You should be spending time you're your wonderful family, eating a delicious meal that would rival the feast at Hogwarts. That's what you deserve, not being alone, drowning your feelings in a half-empty bottle of Firewhiskey. You're a mess. You need time away from your flat, away from the things that have made you someone you would have never become. You need time to think, you know? Come back with me. Please." She looked into his eyes and saw that he meant it. She saw that he cared so much and that although he would let her go if she insisted, he would not be able to sleep that night knowing she wasn't ok. She looked into his eyes and couldn't tell him no. So that night, she relaxed, bought a bottle of bubble bath and let her troubles melt away.
He watched her from a distance as she stepped out of the bathroom, sensing the little girl he once knew would eventually come back to him. It was hard not to comfort her right then, but he knew that what she really needed was knowledge that he'd be there for her when she was ready.
As he got lost in thought, he remembered a long time ago when he found out that she knew his secret. He was furious with himself, for not telling her something as important as the prophecy. He would never forget the look in her eyes, the sense of betrayal, the "how could you not trust me" look. He thought then that he had lost her forever, but when she appeared next to him in the Common Room the next night, and told him that she was going into battle with him whether he liked it or not, he knew that she would never leave.
He thought about every time during Hogwarts when she was there for him. He thought about every day that she sat by his hospital bed, huddled under the Invisibility Cloak because Madame Pomfrey wouldn't let visitors in. He thought about every night that she stayed up with him because he had a nightmare, every time she yelled at him to study, every time she knew when he needed extra food or a hug or anything really. And he thought, in wonder, that she knew him better than he knew himself.
He thought about how he wasn't there for her when she needed him, how he should have known that she had suffered much more than him. He should have written more often, visited at least once. Ten years is a long time. He couldn't believe he hadn't seen his best friends for so long. He couldn't believe that one of them had left the earth. He couldn't believe one of them had left the earth in spirit even though her body was still here. Harry sighed.
But, he could have never known that within her troubled mind, she wasn't immune to his presence. It comforted her, though he was so far away and was really the only thing that kept her sane. Whenever she was up to her eyeballs in firewhiskey, it was his voice in her head that told her to stop. Whenever she thought about taking her own life, it seemed like he had laid his hand on hers and told her no. Whenever she thought about him, all her troubles would melt. When she had seen him, it seemed like her life might finally be coming together again.
He was unaware when she walked up to him, unaware as she smiled a true smile this time. She sat down next to him and watched his expression change, from one of pondering to one of caring. She watched and gradually let herself succumb to the weariness of her body. Before she knew it, she was in dreamland, her head on his shoulder, without a care in the world. He watched as she slept and thought she looked like the most peaceful person in the world. Gently, so as not to wake her, he scooped her up, placed her on his bed, and tucked her in. He settled down on the couch, vowing that he would protect her evermore.
Morning came and Hermione stretched to the smell of breakfast in the kitchen. Harry was already up, for he had always slept less than her. Due to the Dursleys' incessant commands, Harry had learned to cook, and the scent of pancakes smelled absolutely heavenly. Hermione decided then that she would take a break from her empty refrigerator and let her stomach do the thinking. She waltzed into the kitchen to find Harry talking and laughing with a young woman. Her mouth fell open.
Gasp! Who is this woman? What is she doing with Harry? Why is Hermione so shocked? Find out next time!! XD