New Beginnings • A Harmione Fanfiction

Chapter Nine

"Po... Poisoned?" Harry said in shock.

Professor Lewen let out a sigh. "Yes. The potion isn't fatal. She will recover from it in due time— it could be as short as a few hours even, but could span out to days, weeks, months, or sometimes years. I haven't seen poison used like this since.. Well, ever, if I'm being honest. I don't know how a person, let alone a student, could acquire the ingredients to this. They must be a very powerful wizard."

Harry watched in horror as Hermione was put on a stretcher and dragged away into the medical ward.

"Wait! Hermione! Hermione! Don't let her leave, I have to see her!" He screamed and chased after her.

"Mr. Potter," Professor Mcgonagall interrupted. "I'd expect your behavior to be more civilized now that you're older. Of course I'm aware you and Ms. Granger are now.. An item of sorts, but you cannot let that be your downfall. Please calm down. Ms. Granger is a strong woman, I'm sure she will recover just fine. You can visit her in a couple of hours when she has received all of her treatment."

Harry could clearly see the glimmer of sadness in the corner of her eye, which she so obviously tried to hide. Even though she herself might not have believed in her own words, that didn't stop her from being right. Harry knew he needed to calm down, because Hermione wasn't a quitter. She would wake up soon— or at least he hoped.

He hastily wiped tears from his eyes and plopped on the couch, rubbing his forehead with his hands. Until.. It hit him— did Professor Mcgonagall just call him and Hermione an item?

"Uh, Professor, me and Hermione— We're.. We're not..." Harry said, embarrassed.

"Oh, shush, Potter. I know a couple when I see one." She winked and walked away.

—
A few hours later, Harry was granted permission to visit Hermione. He was practically radiating excitement— he couldn't wait to finally see her after being worried for so long. But something n the pit of his stomach worried him.. What if she never woke up? What if it took years.. Decades? Harry wouldn't know what to do with himself anymore.

Once he reached the medical ward, one of the nurses came to his assistance.

"Hello, Mr. Potter. Have you come to see Ms. Granger?" She let out a warm smile.

"Uh, yes ma'am." He said, trying to hide his shaky voice.

"She's right this way." She pointed to a small cubicle in the back of the ward. "But please remember to be extra gentle. She might wake up from shock and that could be very dangerous."

"Of course." Harry nodded.

He walked over towards her tiny makeshift "bed", where he surprisingly found Ron. He leaned over her, mumbling a few words Harry couldn't quite understand.

"What're you doing here?" Harry asked.

"Checking up on my friend. What's it look like?" He said, coldness once again taking over.

A part of Harry was shocked that Ron had actually took the time out of his day to check on Hermione. Though, the fact that he was shocked by this said a lot about Ron's recent behavior. Before, if he didn't show up at a time like this, he might as well be dead. He wouldn't miss it for the world— he cared about her so much. More than himself. Now, obviously times have changed, but he was glad Ron at least stopped by and said a few what looked like heartfelt words to her.

"Sorry. I'm doing the same. Uh, so how are you holding up? The doctors said it might be a while before she wakes up.." Harry tried to start conversation.

"Fine. Hope she wakes up soon. We have a lot to talk about." Ron muttered.

"Yeah, I really hope so too. It scared me so much when she wouldn't move— I thought she'd stay that way forever..."

Ron sighed. "Let's just hope for the best. I'm going up to the dorms now. Lavender said she'd wait for me outside in a few minutes."

"O-okay then. See you." Harry waved.

As Ron left the ward, Harry inched closer to Hermione, and all his teats once again fell out like the Niagara falls.

He reached out for her hand, which was unsettlingly cold, and put it next to his head. Voice shaking, he began to speak.

"Hermione.. I don't know where to begin. These past few weeks have been, well, a bloody rollercoaster; that's for sure. I.. I basically lost everything, if you think about it. Both my friendship with Ron and my relationship with Ginny went down the drain. My academics are near failure. I'm losing motivation to carry forward. But on the upside I got the most valuable thing in return— you. I know you might protest to this, but you are my everything right now. I don't know what we are, or what we're going to be, but I love you. And I can't lose you too. I still remember all those moments, from year one all the way to now, when you pushed me. In the second year, remember when you pushed Ron and I into taking those polyjuice potions to trick Draco into talking about the Chamber of Secrets? In the fifth year, remember when you pushed me to start my own DADA club to help students since Umbrige wasn't doing much? Last year, do you remember when pushed and pushed so we could succeed in our battle against Voldemort? All of those things worked. Thanks to you." Harry whispered, kissing her hand slightly. "You were always there for me. Always watching out for me, like a guardian angel, almost. Now I think it's my turn. I, uh, just wanted to say I'll be by your side until you wake up, Hermione. And until the end of time, if I'm being honest. Please, please wake up. You're all I have."

He paused for a long time, staring at her lifeless body. Sighing, he adjusted his uniform and gave her a tender kiss on the forehead before leaving.

"Wow.. Did— did you really mean all that?"

Harry looked ahead of him and found Ginny standing at the doorway, fidgeting with her wand.

"Ginny! I- uh, didn't see you there. Just.. How long were you standing there?" He asked, quite embarrassed she had heard his proclaim for love.

"Long enough to know that you're in love with her."

"What? Where did that come from? I'm not, for your information." He denied.

"Oh, please. You're a terrible liar, Harry. More-so than my mother. I.. heard you say it." She confessed.

"I meant that in a friendly way."

"Keep telling yourself that. Just be honest with me here, was that why you wanted to break up in the first place? Because you wanted to be with her? Or could you just not live with the guilt of knowing you kissed someone else while in a relationship with another?"

"I.. I don't know. Both, I guess." He shrugged, scratching his head.

They stood in awkward silence for a minute or two, each of them contemplating what to say or do next. Ginny's words hit Harry like a brick. She was right. Did he want to break up because he thought Ginny deserved better than a lying, cheating, boyfriend? Or because he really loved Hermione?

"Ahem. So.. Um, I.. I just wanted to say that I don't forgive you for what you did. It'll probably take me a while before I do, or never, actually. But.. If we can stop being enemies, I think that would suffice." Ginny broke the ice.

Harry was shocked when he had heard those words. Perhaps Ginny was maturing after all.

"Of course.. I don't expect you to. I probably wouldn't forgive someone who did that to me either. Thank you, Ginny. I'd— I'd really like that." He smiled.

"You're welcome. Someone's bound to be the mature one around here. No hugs though." She laughed.

"Got it. No hugs."