An Epic Love Story

11. Waiting and Hoping

The next few days went by so fast.  The 8th years were working very hard as they had their N.E.W.T exams coming up towards the end of the year, and wanted to be prepared.  The amount of homework that they were getting was horrific, even by Hermoine's standards.  She badly wanted to devote all her time to studying, but that was not to happen.  In between classes, there were meals, and discussions about Harry, students pulling her to one side asking if she had heard anything from the headmaster.

Ron was feeling sad.  He hadn't seen Harry since the first day back, when he had been taken to the hospital wing, and he missed him.  He and Hermoine had snuck away on the train to go and have a good snog, and had left him alone.  He knew that Harry valued his alone time, but just how much of it was necessary.  Surely friends were there to help you get through all the shit that was thrown at you.  But he also knew that Harry was not one to burden others with his thoughts and his feelings.  If you ever asked Harry if he was all right, you could bet your whole Gringotts account that his answer would always be 'I'm fine'.  

The three Slytherins were restless.  It had been 8 days since they had seen Harry being taken to the hospital wing.  They wondered if any change had occurred, but remembered that Dumbledore had said he would let them know if there was.  Had he been sleeping all this time?  How is that possible?  He must have been tired as hell for that to happen.  Professor Mcgonagall and Professor Snape made turns showing up at the common room to see if they were all right, and to tell them not to worry.  Everything was under control.

Luna was beside herself with worry.  She was missing Harry so badly that she went to Professor Dumbledore one night to ask special permission just to see him.  She knocked on his office door very softly, and when she heard him say enter, she did so very slowly.  Dumbledore was a very clever man.  He had not defeated Grindewald for nothing, and he knew why Luna had come to see him.  With tears in her blue eyes she looked up at her headmaster and pleaded, please could she go and see Harry.  Just to see him.  It would be only for a moment.  He agreed.

Harry had been asleep for eight days now, and the worry was getting worse.  Absolutely no change in his condition, Dumbledore was also getting edgy.  They went to the hospital wing together, and when he had explained to Madam Pomfrey why they were there, they were allowed entry.  But not into the room.  Luna had to stand outside the room, looking through the big window at her sleeping friend.  Her heart soared when she saw him.  He looked so peaceful.

His earrings shining, from the lamp beside his bed, his hands open and relaxed.  There was no frown on his face, and it appeared that his breathing was normal.  She saw the tattoo running down his body, and wished just for a moment that she could hug him.  Maybe a hug could wake him up, she thought.  "Fawkes sent Harry a rush of love just before we came to take him from his room, and I think that the emotion was so overpowering that Harry has yet to wake up from it.  Fawkes is an avid admirer of him.  But paired with that, Harry was mentally and emotionally so tired, that he just couldn't handle what was being given, and so he passed out.  Isn't love a wonderful thing, Miss Lovegood?", asked Dumbledore.

Luna said thank you for allowing her access to watch over Harry even if it was only for a short time.  She went back to the common room to tell the others what she had seen.  Some of them had to be called from their rooms,  but she didn't speak until everyone was there.  Draco took a seat on a single chair, with Pansy sitting on the armrest.  Blaise opted for the floor again, while the others chose to join him.  No wine was passed around this time, but Hermoine did call for a house elf, and asked very politely if they could please have some hot chocolate.  It was delivered soon, and then they turned their attention to the blond Ravenclaw.

"I've just seen Harry", she exlaimed.  They all looked at her with wonder.  How on earth did she manage that?  "I asked Dumbledore just to see him.  He doesn't even know that I was there.  He looks peaceful.  His skin color looks great, and his breathing is in rhythm, everything is as it should be.  I just wish that I could hug him.  It looked like he needed a hug.  Of epic proportions. But Dumbledore said something that made me think".  Hermoine, feeling jealous that she hadn't thought of asking to go and see Harry first, asked what did he say.

"He said that Harry was mentally and emotionally tired.  Fawkes had felt this, and had gone to visit him in his room.  He sent him a rush of love that was unexpected and that's when he passed out.  He's been sleeping since", she said.  "Like he's not used to receiving love", she said.

"He's been sleeping because a bird sent him love?", asked Ron.  She nodded, yes.

Hermoine decided to voice what she was thinking.  "Fawkes is not just a bird Ron.  He feels a kinship with Harry.  He saved him in the chamber of secrets, when the poison from the basilisk fang went into his arm, remember?  I bet you anything that Fawkes has just saved his life again", she said.  Draco was overwhelmed.  He suddenly stood up, ran his fingers through his hair, and asked, "He was bitten by the basilisk?".  Hermoine nodded at her new friend.  "Yes,  he was bitten in the arm, and the tears of a phoenix has healing powers.  He cried at the sight of Harry suffering, he actually cried into the wound, and it healed", she stated.

Oh my god, thought Draco, what other horrors had Harry suffered.  He felt shame at the way he had been treating the boy.  In their second year, no one had ever told the students what had happened, and this was probably why.  But he was still so angry.  So angry with Harry, for doing what he had done.  And he couldn't wait to tell him.  He sat back down, pleased with the answer, and carried on listening to what was being said.  He didn't want anyone to know about his feelings for the green eyed man, that was a story for another day.  If anyone was going to hear it, it would be Harry.  Period.

"The day of the war.  That day I was so damn scared.  I thought if it could all be over, if Harry just went to him, then so much better for everyone", started Pansy.  She looked at Draco, and took hold of his hand.  "I don't know where you were when this happened, so please don't be angry with me.  Just listen.  Forgiveness is so easy when you ask for it, but no so easy when you have to give it".  Draco was confused.  He had no idea what she was talking about.

"We were in the hall when we heard his voice.  Calling out to anyone who would just hand Harry Potter over to him, then none shall be harmed.  You will be rewarded".  She started crying, from the bottom of her heart.  The emotions in this room were like none she had ever felt before, and she didn't want to lose her best friend.  But they had to know.  She had to tell them why she had done what she had.  "When I saw Harry standing there, I shouted out, there he is, someone grab him.  And that's when all hell broke loose.  Ginny Weasley stood in front of him, then Ron, then Hermoine, then so many others.  So many people that you couldn't even see Harry anymore.  They were all protecting him.  And the minute I saw that, I knew what it must have felt like to be betrayed.  What it must have felt like to have true friends who were willing to die for you.  Kill for you.  You have to understand, I am a pureblood.  I was raised to think that anything else was evil.  There was no place in this world for those who dared defy Voldemort and his believers".  

She was sobbing at this point, that Hermoine actually left her chair and stood next to her.  She placed her arm around the Slytherin, hoping to comfort her.  Pansy looked at her gratefully and burst into fresh tears.  How could they ever forgive her for what she had done.  It wasn't possible.  Hermoine rubbed her back, and asked her to please continue.  Even though she felt bad for Pansy, she only had eyes for Draco. "We were told to follow blindly or suffer the consequences.  I'm sure you all know what the consequences were", she said stiffly.  "Harry has so much love from all of you, and you have to believe, that I am so sorry for what I did that day, but I did it out of fear, not out of glory".  She sighed, "So very very sorry". she said again.

Draco stood up and held his friend.  She was crying like he had never seen her cry before.  He hadn't known about Pansy wanting to hand Harry over to the dark lord, and he was so very grateful for his friends that they didn't allow it.  The world would have been dark otherwise.  "We forgive you Pansy", said Hermoine.  "We forgive you with all that we are.  If we are to move on, we have to show forgiveness to each other.  You said earlier that it isn't easy to grant forgiveness, but I disagree.  Who are we, better than anyone else to not be able to forgive.  This is part of the healing process.  So, we forgive you", she said again.

Pansy left the safety of Draco's arms and hugged Hermoine.  So very grateful for the words she had received, she couldn't stop saying thank you.  Draco was feeling sad and hurt.  Sad that his friend had to relive the  episode of darkness.  Hurt that she might have been the one that would have ended the life of his rival.  But on the other hand, glad that she had gotten rid of the burden that was weighing so heavily on her heart.

Harry started to move in his slumber.  He could feel love and regret coming from somewhere, he just wasn't sure where.  He welcomed it with open arms.