Fate

Chapter Four

The Next Morning

Harry awoke to the sound of heavy breathing next to him. Last nights events came crashing back over him. He began to shake slightly, and held Elena tighter. He noticed her hand had found its way into his, and was clutching it tightly. He kissed the top of her head, and let out a deep breath he felt like he had been holding in for the last eighteen days.

"Harry..." Elena's breathy voice said.

"Yes?" Harry said, anxious to hear her speak again, to show him that she was alive and it hadn't all been a dream.

"Harry...?" Elena repeated.

"Elena? What is it?" Harry asked, concerned.

"Harry?" Elena said again, sounding alarmed. "Harry?! Harry!" Elena had gone tense in his arms.

Harry leaned forward so he could look at her face. Her eyes were closed but her hand was holding his with a death grip.

"Harry! No! Don't leave me! Please!" Harry began to panic. She was having a nightmare.

"Elena! Elena, it's okay. I'm right here! I'm right here..." He began to shake her shoulder, but very gently. He didn't want to hurt her. "Elena, wake up. Wake up!" Her blue eyes flew open, staring up at him. They filled with tears.

"Harry..." She reached up with her hand that wasn't clutching Harry's and touched his face. She had to make sure he was really there.

"It's okay," Harry said, a bit shaken. "You were just having a nightmare."

Elena kept staring at Harry. He's really here... It's okay... Everything's okay... She thought. She closed her eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath.

"Please, don't go again," She said quietly.

"I promise you, I will never leave your side ever again," Harry whispered. He pressed his cheek to hers, singing quietly, a lullaby about ponies. Elena began to relax, her shoulders losing their stiffness.

"When you wake, you shall have, all the pretty little ponies..." Harry concluded. Elena slowly drifted off to sleep.

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The doctor came and left, saying that Elena seemed to be getting stronger, and she was definitely stable.

"She should be able to go home in about ten days." He had said.

Harry looked down at Elena, smiling slightly. After the doctor had left, he had resumed his spot on the bed. The boys, Charlotte, and Elena's parents had come to visit her after Harry had told them she woke up, but now Niall was the only one still here. He was sitting at the little table, reading a book.

"How are you feeling?" Harry asked her quietly.

"Sore... And tired." Elena said quietly. She was still very weak and had a hard time staying awake.

"You'll get to go home in a few days though," Harry said. "The doctor said you'll have to be resting for six weeks, which basically means house arrest." Harry chuckled quietly, and he could tell Elena was smiling. He was so happy that she was awake, yet he still felt horribly sad and guilty. He could tell Elena was very off too. Harry kissed her temple, and then began to gently slide her over so she was off of him. Her hand tightened around his.

"Where are you going?" She asked, her eyes wide in alarm.

"To the bathroom," Harry said with a slight grin. He leaned forward and touched his nose to hers. "I'll be right back."