Well, two or three more chapters left!!! Haven't decided yet how I will break up the remaining bits of the story. Enjoy!
Chapter Eight.
Hermione stirred, her eyes opened slowly. Something was missing. Harry. She bolted upright.
"I'm right here," Harry said. He stood by the window, watching the sun rise.
"Have you been here all night?" Hermione asked.
"Yes. Spirits don't really sleep," Harry sighed.
Hermione slipped on her slippers and joined him at the window. They stood together in silence as the sun cleared the horizon. Finally she turned to him, "There are a few things I'd like to do today with you before noon."
"Alright."
Hermione showered and dressed quickly, then met Harry in the kitchen.
"Eat something first," Harry ordered.
Hermione didn't want to argue with him, especially today. She pulled out some cereal and a glass of juice and Harry waited patiently while she ate.
"Okay, let's go," Hermione said, setting the dishes to wash while they were out. Harry stepped inside of Hermione's body and she apparated away.
Harry stepped out of Hermione's body and looked around.
"We're in Godric's Hollow, right?" he asked.
"Yes."
Harry looked around quickly, "My parent's cottage is up the hill in the trees."
"Follow me," Hermione said, smiling.
"I wanted to renovate that house," Harry told her as they walked.
"What were your plans?" Hermione asked genuinely, trying not to smile too much. She wanted to surprise him.
"I wanted it to look like it did before Voldemort. I wanted to fix it up, repaint it and update it."
"What else?" Hermione asked.
"I wanted all new furniture, a small library and an office. I wanted a tire swing in the backyard for my children. I wanted to have a family," Harry said, sadly.
The rounded to corner and the house came into view.
"I know," Hermione said, motioning to the house.
Harry stopped in his tracks. The wreck of a house that he remembered was gone and in its place was a cottage, exactly as he had planned.
Harry's eyes went misty, "Y-you did this?"
Hermione smiled and nodded, "The plans arrived shortly after you were hospitalized. I had the company start immediately."
Harry was drawn to the house. He took the steps slowly and walked through the front door. Everything was finished, exactly how he had expected it. Hermione came through the front door.
"Did you do all this?" Harry asked as they walked through the house.
"Well, the company put the house back together and painted the way you asked them to. Then I bought the furniture and decorated."
Harry walked through the entire house, through the walls, taking everything in. It was perfect, too perfect and a tear slipped down his cheek. He turned away so Hermione could not see. He stepped out onto the back porch and just as he had asked, there was a tire swing hanging from the large oak tree.
Harry wiped at his face and turned to her, "I want this to be yours. Let Ron know and don't take no for an answer. You told me your heart lies elsewhere. Don't be afraid to let this man know how you feel. Have a family."
"Not without you in my life," Hermione said, her eyes glistening.
"You have to move on. Forget about me."
"I could never do that!" Hermione sobbed.
"Do it for me," Harry said, as another tear slipped down his cheek. Hermione put her hand to his face, trying to brush it away.
Harry turned away quickly. Everything he wanted was slipping away. He would never get the life he wanted. He walked off the back steps towards the swing.
"Get in," he told her and she did.
Hermione looked up at him, "I wish you could push me."
"I do too."
Hermione started to swing and as she got higher, she let out a laugh despite all the pain she felt. Harry watched her, his heart a little lighter. Hermione deserved only the best.
XXX
Hermione apparated them to Diagon Alley and they appeared in front of Flourish and Blotts.
"Why are we here?" Harry asked, stepping out of Hermione's body.
"I need to check and see if there's a spell or charm that will put you back together," Hermione insisted.
"No," Harry said, "It's over. I just want you to be happy."
"It's not over till I say it is, Harry Potter! Now follow me!"
Harry did as he was told. Hermione went into the store and straight to the back room where all the paranormal books were.
Luna was back there shelving books and she gasped when Hermione entered, dropping the stack of books in her arm.
"Hermione! You are being followed!"
"What? Can you see him?"
"No, but I sense another presence," Luna said in a faraway voice.
"I'm helping him."
"I'm sensing some very strong feeling towards you, Hermione."
"What?" Harry said, snapping his head in their direction.
Luna could not see or hear him, but she continued, "Do you know this spirit? He's in love with you!"
"No I'm not!" Harry protested, his face flushing.
Hermione's mouth dropped open. Could it be true?
Luna laughed, "I'm sensing a major red aura. Somebody's blushing."
Harry didn't say anything to deny it and Hermione shook her head to clear it. There were more important things right now.
"Listen, Luna," Hermione said, "You're probably not going to believe me, but its Harry…"
"Of course it is," Luna said, smiling, "I knew I recognized that aura."
"They are going to terminate life support and we want to know how to put him back together with his body. Do you know if that's possible?"
"I think you are asking the wrong questions," Luna said, dreamily.
"What do you mean? I don't know what to do? I'm the only one who can see him. Why is that? Why..." Hermione rambled.
"I think that is the right question," Luna continued.
Just then, Ron stepped through the curtain and into the back room.
"Hermione?" he asked, surprised.
"Hermione needs your help Ron," Luna said, going to him and kissing him on the cheek, "I'll see you later."
"Come Ron. We have to get to the hospital," Hermione said, taking his arm and pulling him outside the shop. "Get in Harry," she said once outside.
"Huh?" Ron said, confused.
Harry stepped in and Hermione took Ron's arm again and apparated away.
Once inside the hospital, Hermione started moving quickly.
"What are we doing?" Ron asked.
"We are going to save Harry," Hermione said, walking briskly.
"You're not still on about this Harry thing, are you? You're hallucinating Hermione. Perhaps we should have you see a doctor."
Hermione stopped abruptly and pulled Ron into the nearest storage room.
"That's it! What can I do to prove to you that Harry is standing with us? He's right behind you!" Hermione snapped.
Ron spun around and Harry waved, but Ron didn't see him, "If he's standing behind me," Ron said, turning back to her, "What am I doing with my hands. How many fingers?"
"Two," Harry said and Hermione repeated.
Ron switched his fingers.
"Seven," Harry said and Hermione repeated.
Ron sighed and put up one finger, his middle one.
"He's flipping me off," Harry laughed.
"You're flipping him off?" Hermione asked.
Ron's face turned red, "How are you…doing that?" He spun around again to look behind him.
"I told you, Harry is there!"
"Well, you must have developed some type of psychic power this past month."
Hermione sighed, "He still doesn't believe me. Alright Harry, what do you know about Ron? Give me the dirt that only you would know."
Harry looked thoughtful, "Er…He had a bad dream about spiders wanting him to tap dance."
"Harry, that's terrible," Hermione laughed, but told Ron anyways.
"How about when all the boys caught him wanking to a picture of Madam Rosmerta?" Harry added.
Hermione repeated this and Ron flushed bright pink, "Any boy in fifth year could have told you that."
"Oh, here's the kicker. Ron kissed his sister at the masquerade ball," Harry said, triumphantly.
"Ew. Ron, you kissed Ginny?"
"WHAT?" Ron screamed, "How could you know that? It was a masquerade ball. I didn't know it was her!"
Hermione made a face, "Now do you believe me?"
"Only Harry knows that," Ron said, thinking, "Ginny didn't even know it was me because when I found out it was her, I ran for it."
"I told you. Harry is with me," Hermione insisted.
"Well, then maybe I should tell you what Harry said."
Harry and Hermione looked at him questioningly.
"When you and I started dating…" Ron started.
"Ron, no…" Harry said, though he could do little to stop him.
"Harry told me he was jealous. He said he finally realized his feelings for you once he couldn't have you, but he told me the better man got you and I better take care of you."
"What?" Hermione asked.
"Harry's loved you for a long time. He was just too stupid to see what was right in front of him."
"And I love him," Hermione said and she turned to Harry, "I really do love you. You are where my heart lies. I want to have that family with you." She moved to stand in front of him, "That's why I have to save you."
"That's it then, Hermione. That's why you can see me and no one else can. It's because we were meant to be together. Your love kept me alive when Voldemort hit me with the killing curse. Your love, just like my mother's love."
Hermione smiled and tried to place a hand at his cheek, "And I will save you now."
"Come on, it's almost noon," Ron said and they stepped out of the storage room.
They made their way quickly down the hall and slipped into Harry room.
"Okay, so all these are transportable," Hermione said, waving towards the monitors, "They move with Harry's bed."
"Let's just wheel him down to the apparating area and go," Ron suggested.
"Where?"
"What about Grimmauld Place?"
"I suppose we can put him up in one of the rooms. I'll hire a doctor from some far away place to look after him."
"Okay, let's go," Ron said and grabbed onto one side of the bed.
They pushed Harry down the hall, but as the elevators opened, there stood everyone who had come to pay there final respects to Harry.
"What are you two doing?" Mrs. Weasley shouted.
"Ron, run!" Hermione said, switching directions.
They both ducked and dodged as spells flew after them. They pulled out their own wands. Both had become very powerful from this past year. They shot spells over their shoulders as they ran towards the emergency lifts.
"Hermione, keep going. I'll take care of them," Ron said. He let go of his side of Harry's bed and turned to face everyone.
"Stupefy!" he shouted.
Hermione reached the lift and pushed the button. She pulled out her wand ready to stop anyone who got in her way. She put a shield charm up between them and everyone else. She watched in horror as Ron was overtaken by an `expelliarmus' and his wand went flying.
"No, you don't understand," Ron argued as two large men grabbed his arms, "Harry is going to be okay. His spirit just has to be reunited with his body!"
"It's true," Hermione shouted, "Harry is in spirit. We have to reunite them."
Hermione dodged a spell, but when she looked down at Harry, she saw the spell had cut through Harry's breathing tube.
"No," Hermione cried. She heard a spell break her shield. Harry's pulse was getting slower.
The spirit of Harry gasped, "I'm fading."
"No, stay with me," Hermione cried.
"It's too strong," Harry said and his form started to fade, "It's pulling me away."
"Be stronger, Harry, fight it." Hermione put her mouth to his and gave him mouth to mouth.
Harry's spirit touched his mouth as it tingled and his spirit faded completely away.
"No," Hermione said, watching him fade completely. She was overtaken by some large men and pulled away. Harry's pulse flatlined.
* * Don't worry, I won't leave you hanging for too long…(evil laugh) Stay tuned to see if Harry makes it.
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