Vigor | h. granger

T W O

"Evan," Madam Pomfrey called. With difficulty, Evan opened his eyes to see Hermione standing next to the Hogwarts nurse. "I'll leave you two. If you need anything, just call."

The two sat in silence. Evan and Hermione had never been great friends, but she was the beat friend that Evan had.

"So," Hermione said, her soft vice slicing gently through the thick silence. "What happened?"

"I was going about my business," Evan said, "and on my way to the library when they stopped me with the usual taunts. I was tired of dealing with it, with them, so I drew my wand, having no intent to use it. One of them disarmed me, and the rest of them sent curses, jinxes, hexes at me. Some of them missed- I got lucky, because I think one of the ones that missed me was an unforgivable. It put me into some kind of state; essentially, I had a seizure and was paralyzed."

"They're awful, awful people," Hermione growled, her frown intense. Evan snorted.

"I should know. They've been torturing me ever since I came to school," Evan looked sad. Hermione touched his hand lightly.

"Why did you pick me, Evan?" She asked, her tone softer. "I mean, we've never really spoken and I know you're in my house but..."

"You're a friendly face," Evan said, using the half of his mouth that he could move to give her a smile. "Besides, you're the best witch I our year. If there's anyone that can help me, it's going to be you." Evan failed to mention the fact that he had been madly in love with Hermione for years now. He shut his eyes.

"Evan?" Hermione asked, her tone sounding panicked.

"Don't worry," he said, mumbling. "Talking is very difficult." With that Madam Pomfrey hustled over from the forms she had been filling out.

"Now, Evan, there will be a way for you to regain your mobility, but it will be a long, tedious process with both grueling magical and muggle treatments. Some of it is dangerous, and there is not a sure chance that you will survive. It is your choice whether or not to do it," Madam Pomfrey said, sighing heavily. "If it succeeds, you should have full mobility again." Hermione turned to Evan from her place on the chair.

"I'll do it. I'm dying anyways, right?" Evan said, bitterness creeping into his voice. Hermione looked at him shocked. Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips but said nothing before she bustled off. That had confirmed what Evan needed to know.

"You're dying?" Hermione asked, her voice quiet but verging on hysterical. Evan wished he could have nodded rather than having to say something to her. He gave her half of a dry smile.

"You didn't think I was just going to be paralyzed, did you?"

Hermione said nothing, but she took his immobile hand into her soft one, a fierceness creeping into her eyes that made Evan fall in love with her just a little bit more.

"What ever it takes," She said her voice think and her eyes brimming with tears, "I will help you until the end, Evan Velasco." Evan smiled at her.

"And I will be here for you, Hermione Granger, until the edge of the world." Evan wished he could have sprung up and kissed her, but he couldn't. Instead, he focused on the feeling of her docile skin against his hand and shut his eyes, before he fell back into a sleep, his dreams filled with him flying away.