A/N: Well, here you go. Yes, CC fans, I AM working hard on the next chapter of that but this story is so much more fun and new to write so those updates will come out sooner and closer in between. As for the song, I couldn't help it!
Here you go, my darlings!!
~*~
Its gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
Theres nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
--"Africa" by Toto
~*~
A couple days later, it was Monday morning, and Hermione got up, ready to continue her new daily routine. This was only her third day since she had started the new routine, but it already felt like this was second nature. Emma was now going to Mrs. Codsworth every week day until around three when Hermione would get home from Hogwarts, instead of just a few times a week.
Hermione began getting dressed, pulling on some jeans, different from the ones that were ripped and a bit darker, and a
white shirt. She pulled her hair into two plaits and lightly spread a bit of mascara across her eyelashes. After eating
breakfast with her younger sister, Hermione put on a brown jacket, due to the fact that it was getting colder and a
multi-color knit scarf around her neck that hung down on her jacket.
Emma, clad in a purple jumper and jeans, followed her sister outside into the cold air. "Hermione, does mum know you're taking a class at Hogwarts?"
Hermione looked at her sister. "No, not yet, are you planning on telling her?" She asked in an accusing voice.
"No!" Emma replied quickly. "No, I was just asking."
"I just haven't gotten around to telling her yet. I don't know how she'll respond," Hermione said as they walked down the pathway.
"What do you mean?" Emma asked.
"Well, mum likes the fact that I'm working. I don't know if she'll be thrilled that I am studying and participating in a class at a school," Hermione answered.
Emma nodded and continued to follow her sister. Once they reached the house, they bade each other goodbye and Hermione headed off into her normal direction. She made it their on time, checking in with McGonagall before starting her work. She finished quite early and considered going to lunch early, but decided to skip lunch. She had something to get that afternoon. Out the doors and gates of Hogwarts she went, heading towards the town of Hogsmeade.
Hermione walked through the door of Clark & Lewis as the bells clang, alerting the store of her entrance, and she almost noticed something different in the air this morning. "Hello, Meriwether."
"Good Morning, Ms. Granger. Good to see you this morning," He said, looking somewhat uneasy. Hermione wondered what had gotten into him as he averted his eyes from her and walked in the storage closet.
She maneuvered her way through the book shelves until she got to the back of the store and searched for the title of a Charm's subject she had been interested in.
A few minutes later, Hermione overheard somewhat of a disturbance and screaming coming from the front of the store. Curiosity got the best of her as she moved closer; she hid behind a shelf and saw two wizards arguing. They both turned and looked outside to see people running southward, looking as if they were trying to escape something.
Hermione's eyes widened as one of the wizards pointed their wand at the incoming Meriwether. "Imperius!"
She may not be able to cast many spells, but she knew what they all meant. Hermione had no idea what to do, something was going on in the street and now something was going on in the bookstore. The two wizards told Meriwether something before exiting. Meriwether followed close behind, seeming to forget the bodies that lie stunned on the bookstore floor. Hermione cautiously moved to the door and opened it. Her hand went to her wand and she pulled it out. Someone approached her, holding their wand to stun her-or worse, kill her.
"Expelliarmus!" Hermione shouted, disarming the person.
She ran past the person she deemed a Death Eater and through the streets. "Expelliarmus!" She shouted behind her at a woman trying to corner her, but she was too late.
"Crucio!" The woman shouted at her. Her body began writhing in pain and she fell to the ground.
Hermione cried out as pain shot through her, she felt like she was dying and was desperate to do anything, something to save herself. A man appeared at the woman's side, supposedly to inspect what she was doing.
"Ah, Bella…torturing another," the man sneered appreciatively.
"Of course, Antoine," She cackled.
Bella? Bellatrix Lestrange? She had heard about this Death Eater and knew she was in serious trouble
in her hands, plus another death eater named Antoine…Hermione felt that crying tears of frustration and fear, but found
it hard to do anything but scream.
A woman sporting purple hair had now rushed over, disarming both Death Eaters as she spoke to Hermione when he got close so only she could hear. "Go inside the book store, stay safe. I'll see you to you later…" She began dueling with the two Death Eaters.
Hermione followed her orders, grabbing her wand and went as fast as she could into the store, limping a bit from the
pain rushing through her, hiding behind one of the shelves as she collapsed to the ground. She glanced out of the
window and watched as a myriad of spells were cast against different people. Hermione guessed the woman that had saved
her was an auror, seeing as she looked to be one.
At that point, Hermione began to feel very weak, and her eyes began to shut slowly. Her whole mind went black, and the last thing she remembered was weakly whimpering, "Harry."
~*~
*Earlier that morning at Hogwarts*
Lillian laughed at something Ron had just said as the group of Harry, Ron, Lillian, Ginny, Draco, Seamus and Lavender headed to the Great Hall for lunch. They entered and Harry looked around, expecting to see Hermione at their table, reading some book. However, she was missing from her usual spot that morning. Harry felt fear rise in his chest but told himself that she was just running a little late. After all, McGonagall had mentioned that she had been here this morning.
They took their seats and Harry noticed Lillian looking around for Hermione as well. "Where is Hermione today?"
Draco shrugged. "Didn't McGonagall say she was here?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah, I dunno," He looked around again.
"I'm sure she's okay," Lavender smiled.
"Yeah," Harry sounded unconvinced.
As lunch went on and their conversation's wandered, Harry's anxiety grew. Where was Hermione? Why was she not here? He had just seen her last night, she seemed fine. What was she not here? Maybe she was just doing some extra studying…maybe she had just decided to eat early and not sit with them that day. Harry wondered if she knew that she was scaring the hell out of him.
He busied himself with conversation and when lunch was over, allowed himself to be worried. "Lillian, where is she?" He whispered in her ear.
Lillian shrugged. "I don't know, Harry, but I'm starting to worry too. Something doesn't feel right. Let's go to class…see if she's there."
Harry nodded in agreement and they walked into Lily's class.
~*~
*Back in Hogsmeade*
Nymphadora Tonks left the young woman Madam Pomfrey identified as Hermione Granger in the Hogwarts infirmary, and headed to Professor Granger's classroom to alert the mother of her daughter's current state.
She entered the class carefully and quietly, and besides tripping over herself, continued waiting to be noticed without interrupting. Class had just started two minutes ago when Elizabeth Granger looked over to see a fun looking woman standing in her room. "Class, open your books to page 103 and began reading. I shall return shortly."
Elizabeth led the mysterious man outside the doors of her classroom. "How can I help you, Ms.…?"
"Call me Tonks," She introduced herself with a grim smile. "You are Elizabeth Granger, no? Hermione Granger is your daughter?"
Elizabeth's eyes grew wide, worried about what the woman would say next. "Yes, I am. What's going on?"
Tonks offered her a small smile. "Death eaters attacked Hogsmeade this morning, and I'm afraid your daughter was involved."
Elizabeth gasped and covered her mouth in shock. "Is she alright?"
"She will probably be fine. I found her…and she's pretty roughed up. She's in the infirmary if you would like to go and see her. I've alerted the Headmistress and she has prepared for a substitute to take over your class."
"Thank you," Elizabeth said on the verge of tears. She rushed to the infirmary, a blue haired woman at her side.
As she appeared inside the nurse's office, a few tears spilled out as she saw her oldest daughter lying still in a hospital bed, wounds and sores on her body. "Oh, Hermione…" She sighed, running her fingers down Hermione's arms.
"Can I do anything for you Ms. Granger?" Tonks asked.
"Could you go tell Remus Lupin, I believe he needs to be here," Elizabeth concluded.
"Oh, yes, Remus…Of course," She left with one last reassuring smile.
Elizabeth ran her hand down her daughter's arm again, willing her daughter to open her eyes.
"Harr-Mum?" She cracked her eyes open.
"Hermione!" She exclaimed. "Oh, Hermione…are you alright? Can I get you something?" She frantically asked.
"Harry…" Hermione whimpered, barely being able to speak.
"What?" Elizabeth asked, confused.
"I need Harry," She croaked, her eyes barely opening.
"Hermione…Harry, who?" Elizabeth asked, wondering who her daughter was asking for.
"Potter. Harry Potter," She said, trying so desperately to speak, lifting her head up.
"Harry Potter, why do you--how do you know Harry Potter?" She asked.
"Please," Hermione whimpered desperately, her voice scratchy. "I need Harry."
"Alright, alright," Elizabeth said. "I'll…I'll go get Lily…and Harry…"
Hermione let her head back down and was angry with herself for not being able to communicate better with her mother; her voice just wouldn't come out. She hoped her mother would hurry, she wasn't sure if she could stay awake much longer.
Elizabeth raced down the halls, making herself walk as fast as she could. It hurt her a bit that the moment her own daughter had awoke she had asked for Harry Potter. Wondering how her daughter knew Harry Potter, she burst in the classroom, not caring that she was interrupting.
"Lily!" She exclaimed.
Lily stopped mid-sentence. "Elizabeth! What's going on?"
She walked close. "An attack! There was an attack on Hogsmeade…" Gasps sounded throughout the classroom and Harry gripped the edge of his desk, ready to get up. "Hermione's hurt."
Lily gasped and Harry was down the stairs, followed by Lillian before you could blink. "Is she okay?" He asked frantically.
"She's in the infirmary…A woman named Tonks said she'll probably be okay…you're Harry…" She commented.
"Yes, I have been my whole life…where is she?" Harry asked, slightly annoyed.
"The infirmary here," Elizabeth answered. "She's calling for you…"
Harry's eyes grew and he walked past everyone, followed by Lillian, out the door and down the corridor as quickly as possible. Lily and Elizabeth looked at each other, running out of the room.
Up in the row of desks where Harry had been, Draco and Ron looked at each other, shrugged, jumped over their desks and took the steps two at a time, racing out the door behind them.
Harry and Lillian were the first to enter the room, closely followed by Lily and Elizabeth. Harry walked quickly over to Hermione's bed. "Hermione?"
"Harry…?" She called, her eyes closed.
"Sh, don't wear your voice out…" He brushed a strand out of her face, sitting in a chair beside her bed.
Elizabeth and Lily watched intently to what was going on with Harry and Hermione as Draco and Ron rushed in, stopping
abruptly near Lillian away from the bed.
"Stay," Hermione whimpered to him, cracking her eyes open.
"I will," Harry said, taking her hand.
"Don't leave me," Hermione croaked, desperate to speak to him.
"Never," Harry promised her, kissing her hand. "I'm so sorry…"
Hermione shook her head. "Not your fault."
"Shh…" Harry quieted her, letting his other hand stroke her hair and alongside her face. "I'm here. You'll be fine now…" Her eyes shut slowly.
"Harry…" She whispered, sighing in contentment as she let the potions Poppy had given her put her to sleep.
"She will be just fine," Madam Pomfrey told them all. "Miss Granger will make a full recovery; she just needs to stay in the infirmary for a couple days. I'll give her a few more potions to cure her and she will be just fine."
Harry sighed in relief, closing his eyes, squeezing her hand. "Thank Merlin…" He whispered, leaning back in the chair, but not daring to let go of her.
Elizabeth finally snapped out of the trance she had been in watching Hermione and this boy interact. "Lily," She whispered. "How do they know each other?"
"You didn't know?" Lily asked, amazed.
"She doesn't tell me much," Elizabeth said, somewhat embarrassed.
"They met one weekend. They're really good friends…" Lily sighed. "Wonderful, actually. You should see them."
"Really?" Elizabeth said, wondering how she could not know about someone so important as he was in her daughter's life.
For a moment in that room, everything stopped. Elizabeth was marveling at Harry and what he had done to calm her daughter. The minute Hermione had seen him and heard his voice Elizabeth had watched her visibly relax, comforted more by this friend than her own mother. Lily was smiling at her son as he gazed at Hermione. Even though the circumstances weren't good, Lily was amazed at her son's care.
Lillian, Ron, and Draco still stood in the corner, away from everyone, letting the situation flow through them. "We should go," Lillian suggested.
"Probably," Ron said.
"Yeah, now that we know she's okay," Draco agreed.
They turned around and left the infirmary, casting only one last glance over at the sleeping form of Hermione and the anxious Harry as he watched over her.
At that moment, Remus came through the doors, panting from racing through the corridors as fast as he could. "Elizabeth! Elizabeth…Lily…how is she?"
"She'll be fine," Elizabeth told him, a tear rolling down her cheek.
Remus smiled, giving both women a hug and looking over to Hermione. "I see Harry made it here."
"Of course," Lily smiled through tears falling down her face.
"She started calling for him…asking for him…desperately. She didn't even want to talk to me. She just called his name," Elizabeth told him.
"I expected just as much," Remus smiled to himself.
He walked over to the bed, laying a hand on Harry's shoulder as Harry's eyes stayed fixed on the girl in front of him. "Harry," Remus said.
"It's my fault," was all Harry said.
"What?" Remus asked, startled.
"It's my fault she's hurt," he repeated.
"No…how could it be your fault?" Remus asked.
"How?" Harry asked, sarcastically. "Please, Remus. Those fucking Death Eaters would have never laid a hand on her if I had defeated Voldemort…or if I would have known. If I would have been there…I could've saved her."
"Harry…don't blame yourself. It's not your fault. Not at all," Remus pulled up a chair beside him.
"Yes, it is. I swore I wouldn't let anyone hurt her. No one was going to touch her…" Harry said his voice full of emotion. "And here…she gets hurt again. Maybe they know she's my friend."
"They don't," Remus assured him.
"How do you know?" Harry asked accusingly. "Voldemort can read my thoughts…Merlin, he knew who she was…they did. They went after her…"
"Harry James, calm down. Honestly, you think too much. She will be just fine, remember? Just calm down," Remus told him.
"I can't, Remus, I can't…" Harry felt tears threatening to escape his eyes and he noticed a cut that would leave scar much like the one on her shoulder he had already seen.
Lupin sighed, watching Harry and then casting a look over to Hermione. She looked really roughed up; you could tell that someone had used the Cruciatus Curse on her few times.
Harry was thinking the same thing. He wondered who it was…which Death Eater had attacked her. He wanted that Death Eater. He wanted them now. In fact, if he hadn't promised Hermione he would stay with her, he would probably have gone after them. He wanted to rip them apart. Harry wanted to kill them. But he didn't want to kill him with his wand…no, he wanted to kill them with his bare hands.
Harry let his eyes travel over her body, the scars; her white t-shirt ripped around the stomach area and the brown jacket he assumed as hers hanging on the bed wrapped around a scarf. She looked so weak, so helpless. He wished he could save her…Harry wished he could erase this morning.
"Harry?" Elizabeth said softly.
"Yes?" He tore his eyes away from Hermione for the first time to look at her mother.
"Thank you," Elizabeth said. "Now that you're here I think she'll be okay. I'm glad she has a friend like you."
Harry offered her a small smile before looking back to Hermione. "I'm glad she's let me be her friend."
Elizabeth excused herself from the room, tears starting to spill from her eyes to the bathroom.
"Well," Lily started. "What a day this has turned out to be." When Harry didn't respond, she added. "She's glad you're here Harry."
"I wasn't there," Harry said. "She needed me, and I wasn't there."
"No, Harry," She ran her hand through Harry's hair. "She knows you couldn't have been there when
she was hurt. She needed you when she got here. And you were here for her."
"I feel like I should've prevented it," Harry admitted.
"You couldn't," Lily said. "It's okay, she knows that."
"I know," Harry said. "I hope she knows I need her."
"Hmm?" Lily asked.
"She needed me…I hope she knows I need her too," Harry told his mum.
"She does, Harry James Potter…she does," Lily kissed the top of her son's head and exited the room. "Remus."
Remus got the point and got up. "Harry…I don't think you should stay here…"
"I promised her I would stay. I don't want to leave her," Harry told him, a dark look inhabiting his eyes.
"Okay, okay," Lupin lifted his hands. "If she wakes up, tell her I'm glad she's okay."
"Sure," Harry said absently.
~*~
Later that night, Hermione opened her eyes and a smile touched her lips when she saw him. Harry was leaning back in his chair, still holding tightly onto her hand, while he slept. His hair was such a mess, in a way that made him look cute and his glasses were slightly crooked. She let herself stare at him for a moment before deciding that she should probably wake him up, seeing as he probably wasn't very comfortable.
"Harry?" She nudged him with their joined hands. "Harry…" She called, amused.
"Mmm…H'mione?" He mumbled.
She snickered. "Harry?" She called.
"Hermione," He said, his eyes coming open, clearly this time as he sat straight up.
"Hi, sleepyhead," She smiled.
"Hermione, you're awake…" Harry grinned.
Hermione found herself captivated by that adorable, silly, tired grin of his that she loved. "Yep and I'm just fine," She told him, her voice still scratchy.
"Are you sure?" He asked her, letting his eyes scan her for any other bruises he hadn't noticed.
She nodded. "Yes. It hurts…but I feel much better than before. Thanks to Madam Pomfrey."
"I'm glad you're okay…" Harry whispered. Hermione smiled. "But… I should get Poppy. She told me to get her when you woke."
"Okay," She said.
He smiled at her again, standing up. His hand slowly let go of hers and Harry felt a strange sense of loss. He realized he had been holding her hand for about eight hours without letting go. He gave her one last look before disappearing behind the office door of Madam Pomfrey.
Hermione shook her head and couldn't believe the position she was in; in the infirmary after being attacked by two vicious Death Eaters. `Since when did her life become this?' She mused.
"Alright, Miss Granger," Poppy said, coming to her side. "Here, drink this water; it'll help your
throat. You will be just fine, you do need to stay here over night."
"Overnight?" Hermione asked in anguish.
"Oh, yes, Miss Granger, It's necessary," Madam Pomfrey told her.
Harry sat down beside her again. "I'll stay with you."
"Harry--" Hermione started a disapproving look on her face.
"Mr. Potter that is entirely inappropriate. You have classes tomorrow and students that are not in hospital care are not allowed to stay in here," She sternly reminded him.
Harry narrowed his eyes. "But--"
"Harry," Hermione intervened. "She's right. You need to go to bed, in your own bed. I promise that I will be just fine, for Merlin's sake I'm in the infirmary; nothing's going to happen to me, Harry."
"But, Hermione, really, I'll stay with you. You'll be all alone…and after what you just…"
"Harry James Potter you will go to bed in your dormitory, in the tower and please get some sleep tonight. I'll see you tomorrow morning and I swear nothing will have changed about me since then," Hermione smiled, but said sternly.
Harry sighed. "If you are sure you'll be okay."
"Absolutely positive," Hermione confirmed.
"There you are Mr. Potter, now you must go to bed, it's late," Madam Pomfrey said, trying to usher him
out.
Harry smiled and kissed the top of her head. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodnight," She smiled, squeezing his hand once before he pulled away.
"Out you go, Good night, Mr. Potter," Poppy rushed him out.
Harry nervously glanced over his shoulder one time at Hermione but she gave him a reassuring look that forced him to finally walk out of the infirmary for the first time in many hours.
~*~
Harry headed back to the tower and once he reached the portrait door, mumbled, "Mimbulus mimbletonia."
"Someone has been out late. I heard a certain young lady was involved in some sort of attack. Harmony is her name, isn't it?" The portrait of the Fat Lady asked.
"Hermione," He corrected her instinctively. "And please just open the door."
"Touchy, touchy," The fat lady mumbled, opening the door for him.
He was met with a chorus of "Harry!" as soon as he stepped in the common room.
"Hey," He mumbled, with a small smile. Harry's eyes were met with the smiles and anxious faces of Ron, Ginny, Lillian and Madeleine.
Ginny had been pacing; Lillian had been deep in thought it seemed; Ron was sitting, staring into the fire; and Madeleine had a look of sheer annoyance on her face.
"How is she?" Ginny asked.
"Are they keeping her overnight?" Lillian asked.
"When will she recover?" Ron asked.
"WHY, have you been out so long?" Madeleine demanded.
Harry took a deep breath. "She's fine, staying overnight; Poppy says she'll make a full recovery in a matter of a couple days and I HAVE BEEN WITH MY FRIEND WHO WAS JUST BRUTALLY ATTACKED BY DEATH EATERS!"
"WELL WHY WERE YOU OUT WAY PAST CURFEW FOR HER?" Madeleine asked, standing up.
"MADELEINE, SHUT UP! She's my best friend and she's HURT. I had no idea whether she'd be okay," Harry informed her quietly.
"You're best friend?" Madeleine asked, folding her arms. "Since when is that poor servant girl your best friend?"
It took all of Harry's resolve not to scream, yell…go absolutely crazy. Every light in the room flickered with his internal power. "Madeleine," He said through clenched teeth. "I'm done."
"What?" She asked frantically.
"You heard me, I'm done," Harry moved toward the portrait door.
Madeleine tried to grab his arm. "But Harry!"
Harry ripped her arm off and spun around to face her, raising his hands in surrender as he backed up. Madeleine let her arm fall to her side as a crocodile tear rolled down her cheek. She stomped up the stairs as he flew out the portrait door. Everyone else watched with astonished faces, not believing what had just happened.
~*~
Harry walked down the hall in a rage of fury. How could Madeleine be so insensitive? She always had been; she knew not the meaning of true friendship or genuine care. All Madeleine Parsons cared about was herself.
Wondering where he was leading himself to, he looked around to figure out where he ended up. He deciphered that he was somewhere near his mother's dorm and knew just what he needed to do. Harry found her door and knocked hard on it. "Mum?"
"Harry?" She opened the door quickly. "What are you doing out so late? Is everything okay? Nothing happened with Hermione, did it?"
"No," He answered angrily as he moved past her and perched himself on the side of his mother's bed.
"No, she's fine."
"Then what's going on?" Lily asked, closing her door.
"Madeleine," Harry only needed to say one word.
"Oh, that girl," Lily sighed, leaning against her door.
"She's so damn frustrating. I swear, all she cares about is herself. I come back from the infirmary, while the rest of my friends are anxiously waiting, genuinely asking me if she was okay…and then Madeleine speaks up; yelling at me for being out so late and not being with her!" Lily rolls her eyes as she imagines the scene. "I'm so sick of the comments and the rude attitude she has and…everything about her."
"Well, Harry, maybe you should--"
"And that's why I broke up with her," Harry added softly.
`You broke up with her?" Lily asked carefully, to be sure she didn't get ahead of herself.
"Yeah, I ended it. I never should have began it," Harry stated.
"No, Harry James, you shouldn't have," Lily told him with a grin on her face.
"What?" Harry asked alarmed.
"That girl has been trouble since the moment she was born. Ignorant, selfish, rude, and Harry she's really not all that pretty. There are plenty of pretty girls in the world, that are much prettier in the inside," Lily remarked, thinking of one in particular.
"I know, mum, I don't know what I ever saw in her," Harry admitted.
"Neither do I. But all that matters now is that you saw clearly about what kind of person she is and you did something about it."
"I've been ready to do something about it for a few weeks now, but this was my breaking point," Harry told his mother.
"She's probably been especially irritable lately because she's jealous," Lily said off handedly.
"Jealous? Of what?" Harry asked, genuinely confused.
"Of Hermione," Lily said, as if he were stupid.
"Jealous…of Hermione…" He said aloud, trying to make sense of it.
"Of course! How could she not be. I mean, not that I am making excuses for her actions because that girl has always been like that, but…Harry I imagine she has been especially angry because of her jealously of Hermione," Lily commented.
"I still don't understand. Why would she be jealous of Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Please Harry, you are always around her when she's here, you're practically keeping her within your range in case anything should happen to happen to her…you're always holding her hand or hugging her or something…and here, she calls your name out the instant she wakes up from being attacked and you come running to her side in the middle of class, staying by her for hours and you probably only left by force," Lily raised her eyebrows at him. "I understand that was only because she was hurt and you were worried because so was I, but I'm trying to see this from a girlfriend's perspective. How could that not be issues for her?"
"Mum," Harry took a breath. "Yes, I care about Hermione, she's my friend. My really, really…good friend. I'm the only one she can trust and I'm not about to let anything more happen to her…don't you understand what its like to not want someone who's been hurt so many times to get hurt again?" Lily nodded yes with a slight smile on her face. "And I can't let that happen. She's too fragile…too innocent…too perfect," He looked far off. "She doesn't deserve it. And I did run over there today because she was attacked, by Death Eaters! You know that Voldemort could have seen into my mind and known about her. Then it would be all my fault. Again, mum, I'm going to protect her as much as I can. I'm the only one she has."
After a moment of silence, Lily smiled softly at him. "I know that, darling, I do. I understand the way you think. All I'm saying is that she was jealous. I didn't mean for it to turn into this, and for that I'm sorry. I'm very glad Hermione has you, and I'm very glad you have her."
"Yeah," Harry said, thinking about everything.
"I'm sorry about Madeleine, but you have no idea how happy I am that you have seen the light and ended it. I'm sorry though that it ended so brutally," Lily apologised.
"I had it coming," Harry commented.
"She doesn't deserve you," Lily grinned.
"I'd like to think so," Harry rolled his eyes.
"You're much better person than you give yourself credit," Lily told her son.
"Maybe," Harry said, still doubting himself.
"Hermione wouldn't trust you so much if you weren't," Lily added.
"Maybe Hermione should just stay away from me," Harry remarked.
Lily practically laughed. "Like you could ever do that; like she could ever do that. Harry, please, please, don't let go of her because you're scared this will happen again. You already promised her that you would never leave, don't abandon her."
"I wouldn't abandon her!" Harry exclaimed.
"Well she would consider it that if you told her to stay away. Even if it was for her safety."
"I know, I know, it was just a random thought. I shouldn't have voiced it," Harry dismissed it with a wave of his hand.
"Just make sure you know what you're dealing with, Harry. If Hermione's really important to you, I have a feeling you'll find a way to keep her safe. But anything that happens to her it's not you're fault, Harry, you have to understand that," Lily reminded him.
"I know. I love you, mum."
"I love you too, Harry," Lily sighed, walking to sit beside him. Lily finally worked up the courage to say something she has been waiting to for a long time. "And is because I love you so much that…we need to talk."
"To talk?" Harry swallowed.
"Yes."
"About?" He pondered aloud.
"Everything. Everything I've ignored for the past few years," Lily said uneasily.
"It's late," Harry's eyes darted around the room as he tried to get up. "I should get back to my room…"
"No," Lily held him back. "You're not running away from this."
"Mum…" Harry shook his head.
"Harry! Stop! This is something we need to talk about. And you wont leave this room," She cast the strongest locking charm she knew. "Until we do."
"Fine, talk," Harry looked uninterested, walking to the other side of the room and lying on the couch.
"You've been through a lot. This abuse you went through can haunt you for the rest of your life. It's been proven that it can carry with you forever and cause you to pull away from people, have trust issues, have difficulty loving someone…fear of abandonment…trouble making friends…"
"You sound like a textbook," Harry abruptly said.
Lily sighed. "Well this is hard for me; I don't know how to handle it, Harry. I'm sorry."
"Look, mum, I know you're trying…but this really isn't helping…I'm going to go…" Harry got up and went for the door.
"But--"
Harry easily unlocked the door with his wand and solemnly sped out.
"How did you…never mind," Lily said, lying down on her bed. "It is Harry after all." I just wish he would listen.
~*~
Harry fled back to his dorm, trying not to think of the fact that he just walked out on his mother. It had been rude, but Harry couldn't take it anymore, he felt like the walls were closing in on him and there was only one person in the entire world he wanted to see right now. However, it was impossible.
But when was anything ever impossible for Harry Potter?
~*~
Hermione had fallen asleep for a little while but now was wide awake and left to stare at the ceiling. She had nothing to do; nothing to read; nowhere to go; no one to see.
That was when she heard the infirmary door open and wondered who was coming in the door. When she noticed it was Harry,
her eyes quickly closed and she pretended to be asleep. She felt him sit beside her in the chair he had been in earlier
and sigh.
"God Hermione, I'm breaking a zillion rules by being in here right now, but I don't care. I have to see you, even if you're asleep," Harry spoke to her `sleeping' form. "I just came from my mum's. I originally went to her about breaking up with Len, but then she brought it up. She kept trying to go on and on about all these consequences of abuse and trying to sympathize with me and talk to me about what happened to me when I was little…but I couldn't stand it. I just walked out. I just left her there." He paused for a minute. "I don't know why. I just couldn't take it. I felt like I couldn't breathe. I didn't want to go back to the tower…I didn't want to see anyone but you. I didn't want to deal with anyone else. And I don't care if you can't even hear me and you wont remember any of this when you wake, I just need to be with you and talk to you right now. I just don't want to talk about it Hermione, not right now. Not with her. I can't." He finished, sitting back in the chair and staring at her.
Harry ran his hand down her arm, sending tingles down her body as she fake-slept. "I'm so sorry you got hurt. You don't deserve it. I don't deserve to have a friend like you." He closed his eyes sleepily and yawned.
A few minutes later, Hermione could tell that he had gone to sleep and opened her eyes. His head was rested on the side of the chair especially close to her and she smiled as she reached out and stroked her hand through his hair. "Oh, Harry, you deserve more than you think. You'll be okay, I swear. I'll always be here for you if you need me….don't doubt that."
~*~
A/N: Ah! Did you love it? Hate it? Hm, tell me, I must know! Personally I love this chapter-Harry is so adorable and hilarious in it, so I'm praying you love it as well! Things moved FAST in this chapter, and for that I can apologize. As for this and the rest of my stories I've been grounded so I haven't been able to update. Sorry bout that. I'll behave from now on!! LOL!
Thanks for tuning in, hope you enjoyed your overly large dose of h/hr!!
The next chapter is a mystery even to me, but after my break in updates I have discovered just exactly where this story is going and have written several future scenes that I know you will enjoy!
Love ya!
~Fin
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