Chapter 12 … We're almost coming to the end of this fic…thanks a lot for reading…
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Chapter 12: While I Wait
It's the day of Harry's procedure. I asked McGonagall to let Harry go through the reviving process here at Hogwarts. Snape had arrived yesterday and Neville just got in after attending to an operation at St. Mungos.
I spent that night in Harry's room. I watched him while he slept the night away. He had to rest for his treatment this morning. The Hospital wing was kept off limits to the students. Madame Pomfrey and her assistant Hannah had prepared a room where Harry's procedure would take place.
I sat on one of the beds while I helped Harry on his hospital gown.
"I wonder why they had to make me wear this," he said as he turned his back on me so I can fasten the gown on hid back.
"Medical procedures. You have to follow them. Are you ready for this?" I asked him. He turned and faced me.
"I'm ready. I know I'll get through this but for the mean time do hold on to my things," he said and he gave me the necklace with his key and the ring that I never got to ask him about.
"Okay, I'll keep it and I'll give it to you when you wake up. I promise I'll be the first person you'll see when you wake up," I said trying to be as cheerful as possible but I couldn't stop my tears from following.
"Calm down now. I told you. This isn't the end for us. I promise, we will start a new and this time, I'll be here for you no matter what. I'll regain my memory back and we'll get married and have a family. I know I have caused you so much pain and worst thing is I can't remember any of the reasons why I left. I want to remember the people who are important to me," he reasoned.
"Isn't it enough that you know me and Ron right now. Maybe it's better of this way. You wouldn't really want to know what happened in the past. We did have fond memories but there were also times of darkness that even I don't want to remember," I said between sobs.
"Hermione, please try to understand. I feel lost. I want to remember the things I've done and remember the experiences I had and not just know that I did this or that long ago. I want to remember, what this ring is for," he said as he took the ring with the diamond and emeralds.
"Oh, Harry, I just don't want to lose you again. I had too much heartaches and I don't want to suffer from another one. If you die I don't think I can ever love anyone else. I love you Harry, promise me you will come back to me and this time I want you to do it and don't make me wait for another five or six years," I demanded and he held me in his arms.
"I promise, I will," he whispered to me before he went inside the room. Neville was already inside. Snape on the other hand got all the ingredients ready and is being assisted by Draco. They were at a lab table at the corner of the room. After a few minutes Draco was asked to leave and they closed the dividing curtain.
"Come, Hermione, they need to work alone. I hope Harry would come out of this alive," Draco said as we went out of the hospital wing to see Ron waiting outside.
"Ron," I cried as I ran to his arms. "I hope he makes it. I can't lose him again Ron. I just can't," I was sobbing very hard.
"No, Hermione, Harry's strong he won't die. He had been through more than a lot and this procedure is just the same. He'll get through with this. And besides he has you for a reason to live and like what Harry told me. He'll do anything for you," Ron assured me as he tried to comfort me.
The students are out, they're in a Hogsmeade weekend but the first years and second years were in their common room. I paid the Gryffindors a little visit. Ron had returned to his Quidditch practice but would be back in the afternoon. Draco went to see Ginny and their baby.
I watched as some first years were working on some art project. Travis was the one leading the little group of four boys.
"I'm sure Professor Potter would like this picture of a big black dog. I heard uncle Ron say that the professor like them," I heard little Travis say to his slightly taller companions. Ron must have told him about Sirius but he probably didn't tell his nephew that the black dog was actually Harry's godfather.
"What are you boys doing," I asked as I approached them.
"We're are making a get well soon card professor. It's for a DADA teacher," Josh the brown haired one said.
"He'll love to see all these. Go on finish them. I'm sure your professor would love them," I said. I looked at the very familiar common room. I've spent six years of my school life here only in our seventh year when I became head girl did Harry and I spent most of our time in our own little common room.
I sat on our favorite couch the one I would share with Harry while Ron would sit on the floor and throw paper planes at us. I loved that old wizard chessboard where Ron would usually win over Harry and I would have to cheer him up with a silly joke or a nice chat.
I remember the time I went down the stairs on our sixth year Halloween ball. I was dating Ron then but I could never forget the look on Harry's face that night as I descend from the stairs. It was like it was the first time he had ever seen me. Those memories are truly precious and I can't blame Harry for wanting them back.
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'Hermione, I thought I'd never see you again?' It was Harry. 'I've come here to say goodbye to you.'
'What do you mean goodbye?' He can't be telling me that he's dead.
'I'm not needed here anymore,' he answered. He kissed my forehead and hugged me tightly. 'I know you did everything you could. I hope you'll be happy.'
He was starting to walk away. He was drifting in the white mist. 'Harry, no you can't leave me again!' I cried to him.
"Professor? Professor, are you okay?" I heard a girl ask.
I must have dozed off in the common room.
"Oh, dear I fell asleep," I said as I stood up. A few Gryffindor girls were surrounding me.
"Professor McGonagall wants to see you," Ashley a first year said.
"Thank you for informing me," I smiled at the little girl and hurriedly left the common room. Just then I realized that my cheeks are wet with tears. I hope my dream isn't a bad omen.
I went to the headmistress' office. I have to know what happened to Harry although I would have wanted to go straight to see Harry.
"Professor, you wanted to see me?" I said as I got in her office.
"Sit down Hermione," Professor McGonagall said. "The procedure is over but Harry is still unconscious."
"Well, is that good or bad?" I asked her even though I was scared to hear the answer.
"Neville told me that it was but natural but he only has till tonight to wake up. If he is still unconscious till after midnight. They have to try and revive him and if it doesn't work he'll be pronounced dead," she said calmly.
"Can I stay with him professor? I want to be the first person he'll see before he wakes up?" I said trying to be brave for Harry. I know he will keep his promise.
"Hermione, I do hope you two will finally be together. I have watched how the two of you grew up and I have always wished for you to be together," she said and gently squeezed my hand.
"Thanks professor," I said before leaving. I went straight to the hospital wing to see Harry.
I went straight to Harry's bedside. It was true he was unconscious and was breathing very slowly.
I stayed by his bedside and told him stories about our past. How the three of us met. How they saved me from the troll, how I was petrified and how he defeated the basilisk. I told him about riding a hippogriff to save Sirius. I also told him about the Triwizard tournament and about the inter school Quidditch cup which he won the most valuable player and had bagged the cup for Hogwarts. I thought of all the things we have done together. I had to remind him of his stay at my house or at the Burrow because he hated the Dursleys.
I have spent almost the whole day by his side. I didn't want to eat or sleep. It was 11:30 pm and he still hasn't wake up yet.
"I know you're in there. It's time for you to wake up now. Remember your promise to me. You told me we'd get married and have a family. You told me this isn't the end for the two of us but our second chance in a new life. I know you're in there somewhere. I want to see your bright green eyes staring at me in awe like in our sixth year. Please Harry, wake up," I was pleading to him. I was silently praying for him to open his eyes and look at me again and tell me that he would never leave me again. I was crying and praying very hard for him to open his eyes and hold me in his arms.
"Wake up please. I need you. We still have a life a head of us Harry. I don't want to go through life alone. My parents are gone. You're all I have Harry," I cried.
I held his hands and he started moving violently like he was suffering from a seizure. "Oh, dear, Madame Pomfrey! Anyone please help me!" Oh God please don't make me lose Harry…
To be continued…