Thanks for the reviews!! They really encourage me to continue. I don't use a beta, so excuse the mistakes.
P.S. I love the movie as well! Seen it a million times!
Chapter Two.
"Glad you could make it, Miss Granger," John Masterson said as she entered his boardroom with her mother close behind her.
From the look of it, Hermione was the last one there. Ron sat with his mother and Remus on one side of the table. Headmistress McGonagall was on the other side with two empty chairs that the Grangers occupied.
"You all know why you're here, so let's get straight to it," he continued, "Harry came to me a few days before the final battle and he's left some requests in the event that he is incapable to take care of his own interests."
"He's not dead," Hermione snapped, "There is no point to this! He's going to wake up any day now."
Ron cleared his throat. They had only seen each other briefly during the past week as Hermione was a constant post beside Harry's bed. "Hermione," he started gently, "We know Harry will be alright but until then we have to see to his requests."
Hermione sighed. Ron noted the dark circles under her eyes. She looked tired and far older than she actually was. She was pale and thin. Looking at her, he realized he wasn't as angry with her anymore. Their relationship had never felt permanent. While she made him happy, she also made him feel as if he was with her to pass the time till something better came along. He hoped, for her sake, that Harry would survive.
"He's made very few requests and he wished for you all to be here during this time as he speaks of his last will and testament," John continued and put a hand up to silence Hermione as she was about to object again, "I know he is not dead, but he wishes for you to hear this."
Without any further hesitating, John tapped the letter in front of him and it sprang to life. A mini form of Harry about two feet tall erupted from the envelope and started to speak, "Hello everyone. I'm glad you're here," he paused and looked to the ground, "I know if you are seeing me now, something has happened to me and I'm sorry. I just hope I took Voldemort with me."
"Oh, you did Harry. You sent him to the grave," Mrs. Weasley murmured, her eyes shining with pride.
Mini Harry continued on, "I have a few small requests, in case I am incapacitated after the fight. I wish for Hermione, one of my best friends in the world, to take care of my finances until I recover. I'm sure you understand why I chose her Ron. She's always been the brightest one of our trio. I would also like for both of you to take up residence at Grimmauld Place to watch over it and keep it tidy while I'm gone. If, Merlin forbid, either of you should not have survived. I wish that Remus Lupin would do this in their place and if not Remus, Molly Weasley."
Hermione's eyes shone with tears as she nodded up to Harry in front of her. She would do whatever he asked of her.
"This next bit is difficult. Probably more difficult for you to handle than for me to say, but I Harry Potter, of sound mind and body, request that if medical findings show my brain or body show any signs of deterioration, please terminate life support. Please," he demanded softly, "I've never had a real life or love. I've never had a real family and if that may never happen, I can't bear it. It may be the toughest thing to do to me, but I want you to think about my life. My wretched upbringing, my constant war and all I want most in the world is to belong. Not to rot away in some mental ward or be a vegetable in somebody's house who can't even feed himself. That would be worse than the Dursleys. This decision, I leave with my other best friend, Ron Weasley and if he is unable to make the decision, then Remus Lupin or Headmistress McGonagall."
"Oppausio," John said, a flicked his wand. Harry's figure froze, "He continues with his last will and testament."
A knock filled the room and almost everyone jumped. They were so overcome by Harry's request that they were all lost in thoughts.
"Wonderful timing," John continued when the door was opened and a medi wizard walked in carrying a file.
"I'm here to discuss Harry's case as he has requested a termination of life support should his mental capabilities deteriorate."
Hermione's breath started to come in gasps as she choked back her tears, "No, never! He's going to pull
through this no matter how long it takes!"
"Relax darling," Mrs. Granger said, "Please just listen. We're not making any decisions soon. Harry
is still in complete mental activity, right doctor?"
"Yes, for now," he continued, "Cases like this do not occur often. Everyone who has been touched by the killing curse has died and Harry's now received two. While his mental capabilities are fully intact now, the longer he remains in a coma, the higher his chances are that it will deteriorate. I would say, given his age and physical condition, three months before we see any signs of deterioration."
Hermione let out the breath she was holding and started nodding frantically as if to assure herself, "He'll be awake by then. He's going to wake up from this."
Ron reached for Hermione's hand from across the table, "He will wake up, I promise you. I'm not going to terminate life support. Ever."
"Now, Ron," McGonagall said. She looked as though she didn't want to say what she was about to, but spoke anyways, "You heard Harry. He doesn't want that. If he can't live a full and happy life then he doesn't want to live at all. It was his decision and you should respect that."
"But McGonagall…" Ron started.
"Headmistress McGonagall, Ron," Mrs. Weasley jumped in, "And she makes a good point. I love Harry as a son and I can understand why he would make that request. Like he said, you must think about his life. Everything he's gone through."
"I understand, I suppose," Ron gave in.
Hermione didn't answer. She ran from the room, away from those who wanted to take Harry away from her. Tears streamed down her face as she made it to a safe distance before apparating back to the hospital. There was no way she would let them take him from her. She would fight with everything she had.
X X X
Hermione continued her watch by Harry's bed day in and day out for a week. Ron could only sit by and watch her as she grew paler and thinner by the day. Ron, along with Mrs. Granger and Mrs. Weasley, tried time after time to get her to leave Harry's side. To eat and get a good night sleep, but she refused and Ron was afraid she would start to deteriorate herself. John Masterson had continued with Harry's will after she had left. Hermione and Ron were left everything except for some five hundred thousand galleons. Two hundred thousand galleons would go to Remus Lupin, two hundred thousand divided amongst the Weasley clan minus Ron and the other hundred thousand to Hogwarts.
Finally after that week, Ron couldn't stand it anymore. Hermione's refusal to move left him no choice but to get angry with her. He had never wanted it to come to that, but thought perhaps it might work.
He stormed up to the private ward that housed his best friends.
"Hermione," Ron snapped as he pushed the door open.
Hermione, whose head was rested on Harry's bedside, bolted upright. She had been dozing off.
"I've had enough of this," he continued, "We are leaving this hospital. You are going to come eat something and you are going to sleep in a bed."
"Okay Ron," Hermione agreed.
"You have to…Wait, what?" Ron looked stunned, "Did you just agree?"
"Yes," Hermione said rising, "Harry would want me to eat. I will do this for him." She took Harry's hand, "I'm sorry that I haven't taken care of myself Harry. I was so worried about you. I want to be here for you when you wake up, but I know you would understand. I'll be back in the morning."
Ron put an arm around her shoulders and ushered her away before she could change her mind.
"Where shall we go?" Ron asked as he pulled her through St. Mungo's towards the exit.
"Anywhere but the Burrow. I don't want to deal with anyone right now," Hermione sighed.
"Alright, let's go out to eat," he said. When they reached the apparating site, Ron held Hermione's hand tight and apparated them to Diagon Alley in front of a small diner.
Instead of asking Hermione what she wanted, he ordered everything on the menu.
"I'm sure Harry wouldn't mind," Ron added when the shocked waitress left with the order.
"Ron…" Hermione chastised, "Don't you dare think you can charge this to Harry, remember, he left me in charge of the finances."
"Yes, but he would want for you to eat. You look very thin."
Hermione bowed her head and looked down at herself, "Why are you being so nice to me?"
"You are one of my best friends. I love you as a friend," Ron said.
"I love you too Ron, but only as a friend. Are you…"
Ron cut her off, "I know we just broke up, but I understand. We really don't belong together."
"You don't think so?"
"Yes, but I still need you in my life. Especially now."
"Oh, Ron," Hermione's eyes welled with tears, "I've only been thinking about Harry, I never even noticed what this ordeal has done to you. He's your best friend too."
"I'm fine, really," Ron said flatly.
The food arrived and they both ate in silence. Hermione ate as much as she could, until she felt like she would explode and paid the bill with money from Harry's account.
"Do you mind if we head over to the Leaky Cauldron?" Hermione asked as they exited the diner.
"I s'pose, why?"
"I've been thinking and I don't want to anymore."
"What? Think?"
"Yes."
Hermione nudged Ron along.
"I don't think this is a good idea," Ron said as they sat in a booth with bottles of mead and a shot of firewhiskey each in front of them. Hermione ignored him and downed the shot.
"Well, I do," she said, then drank deeply from her bottle.
"Drinking won't solve anything," Ron said.
"Fine then," Hermione snapped and snatched Ron's firewhiskey. She drank that too then continued on her mead.
From that point, Hermione developed her second coping device, drunkenness. For the next two months when she wasn't watching over Harry, she was getting sloshed at Grimmauld Place and no one could stop her. Now that they had her eating and sleeping, they tried everything to get Hermione to stop drinking. `What more do you want from me?' she would snap at them as she continually found a way around them to get herself drunk every night.
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