DISCLAIMER : I OWN NOTHING BUT THE PLOT!!
Hey.... I hope you like this chapter.... lets see how Hermione fares with the Troll, shall we?
To my fellow reviewers:
--- THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR REVIEWS GUYS!!!
Now on with the story...
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Chapter Twelve : Hurt and Healing.
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Harry leapt from his spot next to his father and darted past the servant, ignoring his mother's calls. 'Oh my God! What have I done? Hermione could be in serious danger!' Harry's mind was reeling. He had a foreboding sense of dread in the pit of his stomach as he raced in the direction he last saw his wife go. All of a sudden, Ron came bounding up beside him. Apparently he too had heard the news of the Troll.
His heart pounded in his chest as he reached the lower floor to where Hermione had always loved to go - she said that the view of the courtyard there was beautiful. As he raced to get there, he suddenly froze in his tracks, his heart skipping a beat. A blood-curtling scream came ringing from down the hall as Harry saw the shadow of the beast walking straight towards Hermione's spot.
"Hermione!"
Harry and Ron raced down the long corridor to reach the perpendicular corridor that Hermione was currently in. When they bounded around the corner, his heart tore at the sight before him. There was Hermione, cowering against the wall, pale faced and shaking. She didn't know what to do.
"Harry!" she called out, relieved. "Harry! My wand, I don't have it!" Before he could register what she had said, Harry quickly reached for his wand and shot a powerful stunning charm at the monster. Her heart almost stopped when the Troll decided to turn to face Harry, unfazed by the attack. The Troll, now angry, swung his club in Harry and Ron's direction. They both leapt, dodging the attack barely. Ron dropped his wand as he landed not too far from the Princess.
"Harry!" cried Hermione again in fear. Harry stole a quick glance at her and her frightened expression. She looked so worried, so frail. Tears stained her face and Harry could feel his insides bleed from her pain. He had to protect her!!
Again the troll swung his large club at Harry as Harry rolled away from it. "Ron, get Hermione! Get her and go tell the others where the troll is!!" Ron nodded and ran towards Hermione.
"Come on Hermione. Lets get out of here." he said as he grabbed her wrist. Hermione couldn't tear her eyes from Harry and the Troll. Suddenly she felt another tug at her wrist and she tore her wrist from his grasp.
"No! I an not leaving Harry here." she said defiantly. Ron gave her a look of disbelief.
"Hermione!! I have to get you out of here! Come on lets go before that bloody troll decides to make mince out 'the both of us!" Ron countered. Still Hermione stood unwilling to move. Ron sighed in annoyance and worry. Suddenly she cried Harry's name as she watched him get hit in the chest by the troll's massive club. She tried to run to him but Ron held her back, pulling her away from the troll's large foot that decided to take a step back at that moment. "See Hermione!! Lets go!!"
"Look Ron, just go. Go tell the King where the troll is and bring them here!" Ron seemed to be resistant to the idea. "Ron! Go! There isn't much time, Harry is going to get killed if the others don't get here soon!!" she yelled. Ron nodded and decided that it was best that he leave. She could be just as stubborn as Harry at times, and experience taught him not to argue when defiant! Hermione watched him leave before turning her attention back to her husband. She watched helplessly as Harry leapt and avoided the trolls attacks. Harry sported a number of bloody gashes but had hit the troll with a few good spells of his own, and the troll was beginning to sway a bit. Hermione tried to think of someway to help as she stood there.
Suddenly, as she stood contemplating how she could help, she saw Ron's forgotten wand lying a short distance from her. As she ran to retrieve the wand, she didn't notice the troll beginning to fall. Harry did notice, however, and ran towards her. She was right in the path of the trolls fall.
"Hermione!!" he called as he tried to make it to her. Hermione looked up from her spot in the troll's shadow and paled. 'Oh no..' Suddenly as she thought she was about to be killed, Harry rammed into her, knocking them both out of the trolls path. Harry grasped her body tightly against him as the two of them arched gracefully in the air. As they landed, Harry turned his body so that he was on the bottom - so that he was the one who fell against the hard floor. The troll fell with a loud, shaky thud.
Hermione, who had burrowed her face deep within Harry's shoulder during the fall, slowly looked up as she felt their bodies hit the cold marble beneath them. The two skidded to a stop and Hermione quickly looked up into Harry's face. He had a large bloody gash upon his cheek, not to mention all of the other scraps and bruises he harbored. Hermione placed her hand upon his chest as she tried to pull herself up to look at him better. When she did, Harry hissed in pain, grabbing her wrist quickly.
"Oh my God!! Harry, I'm so sorry!" she apologized. Hermione looked down at her hand at that second as Harry closed his eyes in pain, and let out a gasp of shock and horror. Blood. Her hand was covered in a light layer of blood. She quickly looked down to his chest. His robes were heavily stained in the dark crimson liquid. Hermione felt herself begin to panic when suddenly she heard a grunt from the monstrous troll laying beside them in the floor. Her eyes widened when she watched he troll raise his club into the air and swing it across, aiming for herself and Harry. Before she had a chance to react, Harry quickly rolled the two to the right as he covered Hermione protectively. The two barely missed the troll's attack, as they heard the large club crack the marble floor.
"Give me that," muttered Harry in haste as he grabbed Ron's wand from Hermione's hand. He quickly aimed another stunning charm at the troll's forehead and sighed as he saw it's arm go limp. Harry dropped his head onto the floor again and gasped in pain. His breath was shallow and every inhale felt like a thousand piercing knives. Hermione quickly got to her knees and began assessing his wounds.
His robes were torn and blood spilled freely atop his chest. Hermione felt tears welling in her eyes as her sight became blurred. 'Oh, this is all my fault!' she thought as she tried to help him. Harry kept his eyes shut tightly at first, but then opened them a bit to take a look at Hermione. He watched her as she gently began to pull her skirt out from under her knees.
"Hermione," he gasped weakly in pain. She looked up at him sadly. "I...I'm sorry." he managed to get out. Her expression softened as she felt her heart pound. She shook her head softly.
"No Harry, I'm sorry." Harry looked up at her as he tried to raise an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, because if i hadn't... nagged you, then .... I wouldn't have been in any danger. This is all my fault." she ended with a soft whisper as she tried to control her tears. Harry smiled and raised his hand to touch her elbow, in too much pain to raise it any further.
"No Hermione, I shouldn't have yelled at you. It was just-" started Harry, but he didn't get a chance to finish as another searing shot of pain coursed through his chest. Hermione gasped as he arched his back and hissed sharply. Quickly she brought the bottom of her skirt and pressed it gently against his wound. Harry let out another cry of pain, but Hermione whispered soothing words into his ear, and telling him that the pressure would help stop the bleeding.
Just then, King James, Queen Lily, the Weasley's and the Grangers came dashing around the corridor corner, Ron in the lead. Dumbledore came running up behind them along with Andrew seconds later. Queen Lily let out a gasp as she ran to her fallen son.
"Thank God you're here!!" exclaimed Hermione. "Please, you must help Harry!! He's badly hurt!!" Hermione began to cry softly at that moment, unable to hold her emotions any longer; unable to stay strong for Harry any longer. The others all gathered around Harry as Dumbledore knelt before him. He motioned to Hermione to remove her skirt from his chest as he looked at the wound. Queen Lily gasped and Ginny turned her face quickly. Dumbledore's frown deepened as he pressed his palm against the wound. Hermione watched as his hand glowed a soft yellow and Harry's cries of pain began to subdue. Then Dumbledore quickly removed his hand as Harry's eyes began to close.
"Hermione..." he muttered softly as he fell unconscious. Hermione gasped and blushed as her tears began to flow harder. Dumbledore quickly picked up the Prince and with the others following closely behind, he swiftly ascended the stairs towards their room.
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It had been hours since the attack of the troll, and Harry now lay sleeping in his and Hermione's bed in the Starlit Suite. The room had been given to them shortly after their wedding and all of his possessions were brought from his old room to this one. The room was comfortable now and Hermione enjoyed it the most.
The troll had been removed from the palace and the blood cleaned from the floors. Andrew immediately called for repairmen to repair the broken outer wall of the Palace, and the inner corridors.
Hermione smiled down upon Harry softly as she watched him sleep. Since the attack, she had not left his side. She helped bandage his wounds along with Madame Pomfrey, Hogwarts school mediwitch, who had been asked to floo over by Dumbledore's request. Hermione's heart broke when Madame Pomfrey magically removed Harry's robes from his chest. A large gash was placed directly in the center of his chest. It was caked with blood, and his skin was torn and bruised all around the wound. Madame Pomfrey immediately told the families that Harry suffered from a few broken ribs, but said that any further internal damages were hard to point out at the moment. Queen Lily had been so upset, King James was forced to remove her from the room, as he took her to try and soothe her nerves. She returned every hour or so, helping Hermione with bandages or just being near her son. Hermione could sense the Queen's strong attachment to her son, but was taken aback at the look the Queen harbored deep within her eyes. The others, too, had left, all sensing Hermione's need to be alone with him.
She now sat worriedly at his side, wiping sweat from his brow, changing his bandages, and soothing him during nightmares. Hermione couldn't understand why he was suffering the way he was. It wasn't until she changed his bandages a few hours later, that Hermione gasped in horror. Quickly, she sent for Madame Pomfrey and Dumbledore as she removed the remainder of his bandages. The Headmaster and Mediwitch quickly appeared at her side. When Hermione showed the two Harry's wounds, Madame Pomfrey gasped as Dumbledore looked shocked.
Harry's skin surrounding his large wound had turned from a soft cream color to a now sickening green, and his every vein had turned a deep purple. Hermione found it hard to look at his wound as it pained her. The feeling of guilt plagued her as she felt it was all her fault. She watched the others assess the wound, and finally the two concluded it to be exactly what she had feared.
"It appears, Hermione, that Harry has been poisoned of some kind. Most likely by a type of poison that is located within the caves of mountain trolls." Dumbledore told her calmly, though Hermione could tell he was worried. "You see, trolls tend to love this moss, as it makes for comfortable beds and helps their digestive tracts, but it also helps ward off termites and such bugs that would bother a troll at night, Trolls love to smear the moss atop their clubs and bodies to protect them. But you see, this moss is deadly poisonous to humans and animals. So-"
"So what you are saying is that, you think this moss stuff was put on the club that the troll hit Harry with?" said Hermione in a frightful tone. Dumbledore sighed and nodded solemnly. Hermione once again felt the tears brimming her eyes as she watched Madame Pomfrey prepare a few salves and potions for Harry. She looked back down upon Harry as he slept uncomfortably, his face reflecting his pain. "Is there....is there anything you can do?"
Madame Pomfrey looked up at Hermione. "I think so, dear." That wasn't exactly what Hermione was prepared to hear. She looked at her oddly.
"You think so?" she asked. Madame Pomfrey sighed and nodded.
"You see, this poison is difficult, there is no known antidote, but judging by the wound, he hasn't been poisoned too badly. I believe this will do." said the Mediwitch sadly. Hermione could feel her insides churning.
"But what if you're wrong? What if it doesn't work? What if-" Hermione suddenly stopped when she felt a soft hand place itself upon her shoulder. She looked up into her old Headmaster's face.
"Please, Princess, let us not think along those lines. I have placed my complete trust in Madame Pomfrey, and I know she will take good care of our young Prince." he told her. Hermione felt her emotions boil over as she lost all control and began to cry. The Headmaster tried to consol her the best he could and watched sadly as she opted to lay beside the wounded Prince in their bed, soon falling into a gentle sleep herself, as she clutched softly onto his arm.
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As the days past, Hermione remained glued to Harry's side. She refused to leave as she insisted she take care of Harry. It was the least she could do for him. But she also enjoyed nursing the wounded Prince. It made her feel needed and helpful.
Madame Pomfrey had been right, the potion she gave him had helped and within two days and Harry's nightmares began to stop and he no longer broke out in cold sweats. His chest seemed to look back to normal too. The green had vanished, but his veins were still a slight purple, but Hermione was assured that that would disappear in no time.
Harry, regardless of the pain, couldn't help but enjoy the treatment he was receiving from his wife. She was always there, to help him - to help him eat, sleep, heal, and even to go to the bathroom. She never left his side as he recovered. He even found on countless nights, where he would wake up due to pain or nightmares brought on by the poison, Hermione sleeping soundly next to him, cuddled softly against him as he healed. He would gently fall back to sleep at the sound of her even breathing and soft touch. He enjoyed having her close, especially when his nightmares seemed to get stronger.
He wouldn't admit it, especially to Hermione, that his dreams were usually about her. His most reaccuring nightmare would be when he watched helplessly as Hermione was attacked by a group of trolls and cloaked figures, with himself tied tightly to a tree, forced to endure this torture. One night, his visions had gotten so bad that his scar began to hurt - with excruciating pain - as he was forced to witness the deaths of his loved ones one-by-one!
That night, Hermione sat beside him as she changed his bandages, when he began to struggle against his bed. His arms and legs thrashed and he tossed his head violently to the sides. Tears streamed down his face as Hermione tried to calm him. Finally she had gotten a hold of his shoulders and she leaned in all of her weight against his shoulders as she pinned him back down. Slowly he began to relax, before suddenly engulfing her in a tight embrace. Hermione blushed deep as he slowly opened his eyes. He held her tightly to him, as if afraid to let go. His shallow breathing calmed as he held Hermione close, with Hermione carefully pushed to the side of him as to not hurt his wounds. He held her as she rubbed his side gently to soothe him, before he fell back into a dreamless slumber.
But before he was gone, he muttered something that made Hermione's insides flip.
"Hermione..." he whispered. "....stay safe...."
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Slowly as the days went by, Harry's conditions seemed to improve. He was now able to sit up with minimal pain in his chest, and was able to stand and walk without the help of others. Although this didn't stop Hermione from aiding him. She was always there, keeping him company and helping him to go down to the common rooms and dining halls. She would bring him his food if he felt weak and would eat hers with him or she would walk with him outside in the courtyards. Their friendship grew during the time he healed up. He apologized to Hermione a thousand times for his behavior and she just dismissed it, saying that the fault was equally upon her.
Harry never found the courage to tell her before, but he greatly appreciated what she did for him. She took care of him, kept him company, and was willing to go out of her way to make him feel better. He didn't know what he could do to repay her. She had already stolen a part of his heart and he looked forward to seeing her every morning. Although, along with these feelings, also came denial. He still loved Cho, no matter what, but he loved Hermione as a best friend.
'Yea, that is it, I love her like a best friend!' he told himself one day as he took a walk with her in Gryffindor's large courtyard. They had returned to Gryffindor Castle a week after the Halloween incident. Harry looked down at her and smiled. She hung loosely on his arm as they enjoyed the sunshine.
"Hey," he called out softly. Hermione looked up with an eyebrow raised, a smile ever-so-present. "Thanks."
"For what?" she asked genuinely. Harry chuckled at her.
"For everything! For takin' care of me!" When he said this he was amused to see a soft blush creep across her nose.
"It... it was nothing." she stuttered. It was Harry's turn now to look at her with an eyebrow raised.
"Nothing, huh?"
"No! I didn't mean it like that, I just meant that-" she started, but Harry stopped her.
"I understand." he said softly, his finger placed softly upon her lips. "But a simple 'your welcome' would have been fine."
Hermione blushed and nodded. "Your welcome." she said softly. Harry then smiled as he bent down and kissed her cheek. Hermione blushed heavily as Harry smiled and continued to walk with her along the gardens.
Unknown to them, the King and Queen stood watching them from a balcony off of the study. Queen Lily sighed happily as she watched her son.
"They seem to be getting along much better, huh?" asked King James. Lily looked up at her husband and smiled. She nodded as he wrapped his arm lovingly around her waist.
"Don't go thinking you're off the hook now! I still am upset at you for this wedding. Just keep that in mind." Lily told her husband. James looked at her incredulously.
"You mean to tell me that you're still mad at me?" he asked. Lily just smiled as she pulled away from him. She kissed him softly on the cheek before she turned to leave the study. James quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her to him, causing her to fall into his chest. He held her tightly as she looked up at him. She glared up at him as he gave her a suave, boyish look.
"I love you, Lily Evans Potter." he said genuinely. Lily couldn't help but smile.
"I love you too, James Potter!" she said, before he leaned down, capturing her lips with his.
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I hope this chapter was good to you guys, the next chapter will be a lot more interesting!!
Thanx again.....
Silver-Magick131