WILDFLOWER, hermione granger.

ooxxix. petals for armor

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OOXXIX. PETALS FOR ARMOR
twenty nine

ARMS ENCIRCLED HER WAIST AS IVY LET OUT A STRANGLED YELP, ATTEMPTING TO ATTACK THE PERSON WHILE ALSO TRYING TO BREATHE. "No!" Ivy yelled, pushing against the person as black dots filled her vision. "Let me—"

"It's Hermione! Ivy, it's okay! It's me!" Said person yelled back. Ivy furrowed her brows, grabbing at her chest, and her free hand trying to grab anything in particular to steady herself. The person—Hermione gently coaxed her to sit on the ground. "Breathe with me."

"I—I—can't—I'm—sorry—"

"Talk to me, hey. Talk to me," Hermione pressed on as Ivy starts to cry. Hermione pulled her up, and into her arms. Ivy's body trembles, defenses down as she sobbed into Hermione's shoulder before trying to push away. "Ivy, hey! Look at me!"

Ivy sobbed, her eyes flickering to Hermione's eyes, the whiskey-colored ones she'd grown to love for the past six years they've known each other. "It's me. It's Hermione Jean, and I'm with you. You need to calm down, and breathe. Come on—" Hermione sees Harry emerge from the forest in the corner of her eyes, but ignores that.

"I can't!" Ivy choked out, even more panicked as she grabbed at her chest. It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts—

Hermione grabbed her shoulders, "Yes you can. Breathe with me, Ivy, come on. In, out, in, out, in, out, in, out..."

In, out, in, out, in, out, in, out. Ivy's panicked breaths finally silence as Hermione nods at her encouragingly, until Ivy finally calmed down. "You're okay," Hermione whispers, pulling Ivy in to kiss her forehead. "You're okay."

"H—Hermione," Harry called.

Hermione turned to him, still holding Ivy, "What's wrong? Harry? Are you all right?"

"It's okay, everything's fine. More than fine. I'm great. There's someone here."

"What do you mean? Who—?"

She saw Ron, who stood there holding the sword and dripping on to the threadbare carpet. Harry backed into a shadowy corner, slipped off Ron's rucksack and attempted to blend in with the canvas.

Ivy nodded at Hermione weakly, smiling as Hermione slowly approached Ron. Then, she was helped up by Harry, both wanting to blend in with the canvas of the tent because an angry Hermione was like an angry lioness.

Ron gave a weak, hopeful smile and half-raised his arms. Hermione launched herself forwards and started punching every inch of him that she could reach.

"Ouch—ow—gerroff! What the—? Hermione—OW!" Ivy started laughing at Ron's look of absolute horror as he glanced at her and Harry for help.

"You—complete—arse—Ronald—Weasley!" She punctuated every word with a blow—Ron backed away, shielding his head as Hermione advanced.

"That's my girlfriend," Ivy whispers to Harry with amusement and pride. Harry rolled his eyes.

"Aren't you going to stop her?" Harry whispers back, actually fearing for Ron.