Unbroken

Monday, Week 2 (2)

Hermione POV

With Ron at work, I stride into my office to begin my work day. The one thing I love about my job, other than the ability to make a difference in the fight for equality among all magical creatures, is the flexible working hours. Some days can start as early 7pm for me but other days can start like today, at 12pm.

I take a seat at my desk in my very own office and begin work on the mountain of files that have been left by the head of the department. Of course, I don't mind doing this because I am her secretary after all. It took only six months for me to achieve this role and I'm incredibly proud of my achievements even if I know that I got it partly because of efforts to help Harry win the war and the fact that I was his best friend.

I begin sifting through the mountainous pile when a large horse patronus that I recognize as Ginny's bursts through into my office, surprising me only momentarily. I stare at it in astonishment for a beat before Ginny's voice rings through.

"Hermione, you need to come to St. Mungos. It's urgent. It's...Harry."

My heart sinks into the pit of my stomach and I start gasping for air that doesn't want to enter my body at the news. He couldn't be right? He wasn't dead? Ginny would have told me if he was dead, right? Or maybe she wanted me to come to see him before he passed on? This couldn't be happening. No, no, no, Draco promised. HE PROMISED ME.

"Expecto Patronum,"I hurriedly whisper before watching as my coroporeal otter springs to life. "I'm sorry, Madam, but I need the rest of the day off. Harry's badly hurt," I say in total calmness even though my mind is racing and my heart is beating like a drum.

I waste no time in using the fireplace to floo to St. Mungos and am quickly deposited into the lobby of the building as the green flame spits me out. There are a few people and it's not as crowded in the hospital but that is the last thing on my mind. I'm just about ready to take off searching for Harry when I see the familiar red hair of my sister-in-law, Ginny.

I can tell from the look on her face that this is grave, that Harry is fighting for his life right now. She says nothing to me but I see the dried up tears in her eyes as she takes my hand and pulls me along. I try to get my voice to work, to ask questions, but I can't. A fear unlike any other is strangling me and my vision is starting to grow dark around the corners.

Ginny's hand is unfeeling to me and my body feels like it is completely autonomous as it follows her through the hospital. Everything is moving too slow and my ears are ringing to the point of making me deaf to my surroundings. Please God, let him be okay. I can't lose him, I can't. I just can't.

We round the corner and I see Draco slumped over in his chair while his shoulders shake from the force of his sobs. Neville and Luna have each wrapped a comforting hand over him but they look no better than him. Neville's eyes are bloodshot and Luna's tears are soaking the neckline of her dress. I see that woman Lyla Roberts kneeling in front of Draco, whispering something to him, while I try to fight my anger at her being here. She was part of Harry's team after all and she was his partner. Of course she was going to be here.

I don't have time for questions and break free from Ginny's grip to enter Harry's room. The second I enter, I collapse onto the ground on my knees. There, lying in bed, was Harry Potter with a myriad of bruises and scars littered all over his body. His skin was alarmingly pale and his breathing was shallow, almost nonexistent. I see faint traces of blood around his face, his neck, his chest, and both of his arms. He must have just gotten to the hospital.

I weep for him and somehow manage to crawl to his bed side and take one of his arms in my hand. I know immediately that he was hit by a bone breaker curse and I let out a choked scream and lay my head against his heart, pleading with God to feel some form of a beat. I barely feel it but it's enough reassurance that I'm instantly relieved.