Chapter six.
The next morning, Hermione awoke with a start. It almost seemed like a chill passed through her. She jumped when she saw Harry staring at her.
"I thought you'd never wake," Harry said impatiently.
"What did you do to me?" she asked, pulling the blankets tighter around her.
"I was trying to shake you but seeing as I can't touch you, my hand went through you."
Hermione pulled out her wand and performed the anti-hangover jinx on herself. After her and Harry had returned from Godric's Hollow, she had once again turned to the bottle. She couldn't help but think that Harry's soul being with her meant the worst and she didn't want to think that way. So, she drank late into the night deciding how she would help the spirit Harry to remember everything.
"What was that you did to yourself?" he asked curiously. Harry was always interested in spells. His spirit was no different.
"Not feeling the greatest," Hermione said. It was partially true. She didn't want to tell him that it was a self-inflicted illness.
He gave her a questioning glare but didn't say anything and she didn't notice.
"Well, I'll meet you downstairs," Harry said and walked through the wall.
Hermione dressed quickly and found Harry in the sitting room. He was looking at the pictures over the fireplace.
"That one's my favourite," Hermione said, pointing to the one on the far right. It was of her and Harry taken in third year. Ron had been in the hospital recovering from the bite Sirius had given him and Colin Creevey had taken it.
"You look pretty beat up," Harry observed.
Hermione laughed, "Well, you don't look so hot yourself. We had quite the night."
"What happened?"
"I'll tell you everything once we get to Hogwarts."
"How are we going to get there?" Harry asked, "I think it's far, isn't it?"
Hermione smacked herself upside the head. She hadn't thought about that. "I thought we could apparate, but I'm not sure you would be able to."
"We could try," Harry suggested.
"I can't touch you though, so I doubt it will."
"Just try it, Hermione."
Hermione held out a hand and Harry held out his. Hermione apparated away and then reappeared a few seconds later back in the Black mansion.
"Didn't work," Hermione said glumly, "What if…you got inside me?"
"Do you think that would work?"
"You're a spirit Harry, possess me," Hermione said.
Harry moved close to Hermione and took a deep breath. He stepped inside of her and they became one.
Hermione closed her eyes tight, concentrating on her spirit to keep control of her mind. Then she imagined herself and Harry's spirit as one and then apparated away.
She was just outside of the gates of Hogwarts. Harry stepped outside of her once again.
"It worked," he smiled, "Great job!"
"That was the strangest feeling ever," Hermione said, feeling her head.
"How do you think I felt," Harry laughed, "I've never been a girl before."
Hermione laughed too and turned towards the castle. It looked vacant and dark, like it was abandoned. The usual stone walls looked almost black and untamed vines crawled up the walls.
"This is Hogwarts?" Harry said.
"Yes, although, I think it only looks like this in the summer holidays," Hermione said.
They pushed through the gate and made the long trek up towards the castle. When they reached the front door Hermione, to her surprise, pushed it open. She was expecting everything to be locked up and she thought she may have to call on someone to open it for her.
When the great doors opened, Professor McGonagall stood there, an unusual smile lit up her face.
"Hermione, so good to see you," she said.
"Hello Headmistress," she said.
Harry said `hello' as well, but she didn't seem to hear him. It also appeared as if she couldn't see him as well. Harry jumped around in front of her, but she didn't see it at all.
"To what do I owe this visit?" she asked, politely.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said, suppressing a laugh as Harry started making silly faces at McGonagall, "I should have written, but I really wanted to visit the castle today. I mean, it feels like it's still my home and as you probably know, I've been going through a rough time. I needed some time alone here."
The headmistress nodded slowly, "I understand. If you need me, I'll be up in my office." She walked briskly away and up the stairs.
Hermione tried to backhand Harry for making faces but her hand passed right through and they both laughed.
"Well, this is Hogwarts," she said.
"I remember the first time I was here," Harry said, looking around, "I was so awestruck. The train ride here I met Ron and you. Also a boy who lost his toad."
Hermione giggled, "Neville."
"Right, Neville. And some ferret boy named Malfoy and his idiot friends," Harry recalled.
"Crabbe and Goyle. You remember the ferret incident?"
"Ferret incident?"
"That was in fourth year," Hermione giggled.
Harry gave her a confused look, "Malfoy and his friends are evil, aren't they?"
"Yes, they are. In Voldemort's troop."
Hermione led him up to the Gryffindor common room. She showed him the third floor where they first met fluffy, the girls lavatory where the chamber of secrets lies, the whomping willow, the quidditch pitch, the defense against the dark arts classroom, the room of requirement, the great hall and the potions dungeon. She took him through all their seven years at Hogwarts and every time she started a story, he would finish it. He was beginning to remember everything.
By the time they were finished, it was dark out and McGonagall insisted that Hermione get some sleep. She hadn't bothered her at all that day and simply listened. She was recalling her past and if that made her happy, she didn't want to stand in the way.
"Thank you for letting me stay here for the day," Hermione said and hugged her favourite teacher goodbye.
Instead of heading up the stone path to the front gates, Hermione led Harry around the lake towards the tree they always sat around. The night air was so still and the lake was calm except for a few bubbles coming up from near the shore. A million stars shone down on them from the sky.
"Can I ask a few more things?" Harry asked and Hermione urged him to go on, "I'm just confused on the relationship parts of my life and yours and well, Ron's too. I remember our friends and stuff, but I just…" he trailed off.
"What did you want to know?"
"I seem to remember having a girlfriend, but I don't remember who it was. You seem like the most prominent girl in my life," he blushed, "I was just wondering if …well… if it was you?"
Hermione blushed, though it was too dark to see, "Well, no. It wasn't me. In fifth year, you dated a girl named Cho Chang and sixth year, Ron's sister Ginny."
Harry looked away, "Right, yes. Cho cried when I kissed her."
"Ginny didn't," Hermione said, a small jealous tone in her voice to which Harry took no notice.
"Ginny. I broke up with her to protect her from Voldemort," Harry said.
Hermione gazed at him, forcing back tears. It could be possible that he was still in love with Ginny.
"I guess that leads to my last question," Harry continued, "What happened to me and Voldemort. Why am I like this?"
Hermione turned away, "Jump in. I'll take you to the scene of the final battle."
He did and Hermione apparated away to Little Hangleton. She brought them to the outskirts of the town, a few blocks before the long driveway that led to the Riddle house.
As they were walking through the few blocks, they came across a dark alley. There were muffled shouts coming from the dark black space and Hermione stopped.
She crept quietly towards the back while retrieving her wand from her back pocket.
When her eyes adjusted to the dim area she saw two older boys holding up a young boy. They threatened him and told him to give them his pocket money.
Harry, who had followed, looked menacing. Then something dawned on him and his face lit up.
"Hermione," he whispered, "Take your wand and say `transpiro corpus'."
"What?"
"Just do it."
She did.
"Get ready to catch," Harry ordered.
Hermione put her arms out just as the boy fell into them. She looked as shocked as the boy. She disillusioned them quickly before the teens turned around. They ran off scared.
Hermione put the boy down and he ran off.
"How did you know that?" Hermione asked.
"I used that spell before."
"I've never heard of it," Hermione said.
"It was the one I used on to get you away from Voldemort."
Hermione looked up at Harry. So that was how he had done it. She wanted to hug him so badly. Instead she put a hand up to his face and rested it there. Her hand felt tingly.
"You saved my life," she said, "Thank you."
He looked at her hand, "You are one of my best friends," he said.
Hermione smiled.
Harry's smile faded, "It was you and Ron, wasn't it?"
"Pardon me?"
"You were with Ron," Harry said.
"I was with Ron," Hermione emphasized. She turned and headed out of the alley and towards the Riddle house or what was left of it.
"What happened?"
"I broke up with him."
"Why?"
"I'm not in love with him and I don't think I ever will be."
"Why?"
"My heart is elsewhere."
Harry tried to kick at a rock on the ground, but his foot passed through it. He let out a loud sigh.
"Don't worry Harry. I'm getting to the part of why you are like this," Hermione said.
"It's not that," Harry said.
"What is it then?"
"I'll tell you soon, not tonight," Harry said.
Hermione nodded. They didn't speak another word until they reached the gates of the house. It was there that the full devastation could be seen. Large gouges were taken out of the ground and the air was still heavy with death. There was no stone unbroken.
Harry started speaking immediately. He told Hermione every step he took, every spell he cast. Every person he killed and every good person who died.
He kneeled at the spot where Kingsley Shacklebolt lost his life. He moved on, nearing the house.
"Here is where I saw him," Harry said, "He had you."
Hermione's eyes glistened, "Yes, Harry. I'm so sorry…It was just…you were missing…and I was afraid. I went after him because someone told me he had you."
"It's alright, Hermione. He had you and I got you back and I fired the killing curse," Harry moved and touched the house where Voldemort's body hit it, "He hit here. I saw him die, like he watched my parents."
"But you didn't," Hermione said, "You didn't see him die."
"I didn't?"
"He hit you with the same curse. You hit the ground and I fell on top of you," Hermione said, she was crying now, "I thought you were dead. I held onto you and apparated to the hospital right away."
"I don't remember being hit. What happened to me?" Harry asked frantically.
"You're alive, but just barely."
"I am?"
"You are…are in…a coma."
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