Harmione One Shots

I'm Right Here

Summary: In the aftermath of the war, Harry keeps on having nightmares of his loved ones dying. One night Hermione finds out and is there to comfort him and reassure him that they are all alive.

Ship: HarryPotterxHermioneGranger

All credit goes to Rose_of_the_grave on Ao3

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In the aftermath of the second wizarding war several students were left without a home to return to. Among them was Harry. The Weasleys offered him a place to stay, along with Hermione since her parents still believed that they were childless and lived halfway across the globe. They slept in rooms next to each other, Harry in Ron's and Hermione in Ginny's but ever since Fred died Ron had started sleeping in George's room to keep him company.

The war had left them all scarred, whether physically or mentally, it made no difference. The shadow of all that had occurred hung over their household, dampening a place that was once constantly filled with laughter, pranks, sibling antics, and loving reprimands.

After the war Harry's nightmares had returned in full force. Despite no longer seeing into Voldemort's head he was still haunted by visions of the people he loved dying. It seemed his subconscious ignored the fact that he had killed Tom Riddle, instead torturing him with images of his friends dying before his eyes, him unable to stop it. He would awaken, their screams echoing in his ears, his heart pounding in his chest, sobbing uncontrollably.

This particular night was no different.

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Harry was back in the forest again, about to sacrifice his life for everybody he loved. There in front of him stood Voldemort, his Death Eaters surrounding him on either side.

"Harry Potter has come here to die!" Voldemort gleefully exclaimed. "But first, as a punishment for your tardiness my friends are going to put on a little show."

This wasn't supposed to happen. He was supposed to kill him. Harry was confused, this wasn't how it happened. Or was it? "Bring out the girl!"

Shoving through some of the Death Eaters came two who were dragging along a person. It was too dark for him to see clearly, until it wasn't.

"Crucio!" Bellatrix yelled, the spell erupting from her wand towards its victim, Hermione. Her pained screams echoed throughout the forest. Ears ringing, Harry lunged for her, trying to stop it but he couldn't. His feet were seemingly attached to the ground, leaving him unable to move.

Someone cackled but he couldn't see who, his eyes on Hermione.

"No!" He shouted. Feeling powerless. He watched the life drain from her eyes as the pain became unbearable. "No!" Harry felt as if his heart was being ripped out of his chest as he watched her lifeless body crumble to the forest floor.

Suddenly his feet moved, carrying him to her. He knelt to the ground beside her, his arms cradling her as he wept. The Death Eaters' taunts surrounded him as he grieved for his best friend and the love of his life.

"Nononononononono!" He said, his plea blending together into one word. This couldn't be happening. She couldn't be dead.

"Harry."

He thought he was dreaming. Looking down though, her mouth was not moving.

"Harry!"

Suddenly, he jerked awake, catapulting out of his nightmare to see Hermione shaking his shoulder from where she sat at his side. Her wand emitting a soft light, allowing him to see in the otherwise dark room. His heart was rapidly beating, matching his uneven gasps of air.

He sat up, his blanket falling to his lap. They sat there on his bed in silence, her hand rubbing up and down his back soothingly. Harry waited until he had caught his breath before saying, "Sorry if I woke you."

She looked at him, surprised. "No. Hey, look at me. There's nothing for you to be sorry for."

He nodded but he didn't quite believe her.

"Why didn't you tell us the nightmares were back?" She asked softly.

"I didn't want to worry any of you." He admitted.

"How long...?"

"Since Ron moved out." The presence of someone else in the room had somehow been soothing, having Ron's snores as background noise had kept the nightmares at bay until he left.

"You should have told us, told me."

He hung his head down, staring at his hands, "I know."

The silence hung heavy in the air.

"What...what were you dreaming about?" She asked, her concerned eyes boring into the side of his head as if maybe she might suddenly become capable of seeing into his mind.

"It changes every night. I'm back in the forest and then Voldemort comes out..." He gulped. "Someone to torture in front of me. Then you die." He shuddered. "It always ends when you die." Tears started to pour down his face. His eyes glazed as if he could see his dream in front of him.

"Who does he bring out?"

"You. It's always you, every time. And every single time you die right in front of me and I'm helpless to stop it."

"Oh, Harry."

"I watch your lifeless body crumple to the ground, the light in your eyes die, as you leave me. Every single time."

"Hey. I'm right here." She insisted, bringing one of his hands to hold to her heart so that he could hear it beating. He focused on the steady beat of her heart in her chest, the rhythm of it calming him, reassuring him of her presence. "I'm right here."

Hermione lifted her other hand to his forehead, brushing some stray hairs out of the way.

"I'm right here and I will never leave you. I will always be by your side."

"Always?"

"Of course. You're never getting rid of me."

He looked up into her eyes, her warm and loving eyes. He felt as if he could tell her everything.

"I love you."

She smiled at him. "I love you too."