Every Time I Close My Eyes

Chapter 5

Comfort in Harry

Hermione had been released from the hospital the next afternoon after several tests. Harry had driven them home, and Ron had tagged along. Hermione couldn't have been happier. Not only had she made-up with Harry, but also it seemed that Rachel was home with a head cold and flatly refused to step outdoors.

Harry and Ron had insisted that she lay down on the couch and not get up for much at all. Harry and Ron were currently trying to make her some soup in the kitchen, without much avail.

"Aaaaahhhh!" Ron screamed as he pulled his hand away from the stove. Harry laughed and poked him with a big wooden spoon.

"I told you it was hot, stupid."

Harry laughed. Hermione looked up from where she was tied down on the couch. The boys had failed to get her to lie down, so they had had to tie her to the couch.

"Now, no name calling!" she called. Harry smirked.

"Yes, Mommy!"

"Wise guy," Hermione called back to him. Ron gave a frustrated growl.

"You guys don't have any celery!"

He closed the refrigerator with an unsatisfied snap.

"I'm going off to the grocery store to get some."

With a quiet pop, Ron was gone. Harry finished chopping up some carrots for the vegetable soup and dried his hands off on a towel. He walked over to where Hermione was confined to the couch but she wasn't there!

A bump behind him caused him to turn around. Hermione stood there, her wand in her hand. She rolled her eyes.

"You should never tie down a witch without taking away her wand."

Harry smirked and went to take away her wand saying,

"I'll keep that in mind this time."

Hermione squealed and dashed through the kitchen, Harry right on her heels. She ran through the door out to the living room and ran around to the opposite side of the couch. Harry and Hermione played ring around the rosy for a few minutes, before Harry jumped over the couch and grabbed her.

Hermione went into a fit of giggles as he threw her down on the couch. She didn't giggle for long, however. Harry had handled her a bit too rough. A searing pain erupted in her head and her vision blacked out for a few minutes. Once the pain subsided, she looked up into the face of a very nervous Harry Potter.

"Gee, 'Mione. I'm so sorry. I kind of forgot about why I was going to tie you to the couch."

Hermione sat up, Harry helping her, rubbing her head. She smiled over at Harry. He looked down at the ground.

"It's okay, Harry," she said. Harry shook his head and swung his legs over the side of the couch.

"No it's not, 'Mione," Harry said, standing up, "I keep hurting you, don't I? You're hurting a lot lately. Not all of it is my fault, but..."

"Harry, don't be silly-" Hermione protested. Harry held up his hand.

"No, Hermione. First, I get mad at you and I leave you alone when I know you're upset. Then, I don't help you when I hear you crying. After that, a robber that I could have protected you from attacks you. Now, I hurt you right after your head injury! I'm sorry, Hermione. I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry!"

"No, Harry!" Hermione protested, grabbing his hand, "I need you, Harry! None of those things are your fault! It isn't your job to do those things, you do them because you're my friend."

Harry looked down at her.

"Your friend." Harry said with a very blank, almost disappointed look on his face. Hermione shook herself mentally. Why would he be disappointed if she called him her friend?

"Please sit down Harry."

She looked up at him with big, brown eyes. He sat down on the couch next to her. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. He hugged her back, inhaling her scent.

"I wanted to give you something."

She looked up at him in surprise. He smiled and pressed a small white case in her hand.

"Oh, Harry I couldn't."

"It's my 'I'm sorry' present."

Hermione opened it to reveal a beautiful tiny silver rose hanging on a fine chain. Hermione was breathless.

"Oh Harry, you always make me feel better. You never hurt me, never," she said. Harry smiled and kissed the top of her head. Hermione and Harry pulled apart and Hermione was acutely aware of just how close his face was to hers. Hermione felt a small flush creep into her face as she began to move forward to close the gap. A small pop in the kitchen announced Ron's arrival. Hermione and Harry sprung apart, their faces red.

"I got the celery! Harry! She's not tied down anymore!" Ron exclaimed as he came out of the kitchen. Harry smiled and held up the rope.

"I'm getting to that now, Ron."

Harry turned to her and began to tie her feet to the bottom of the couch.

"Can't you tie me with magic? It's much more comfortable." Hermione asked. Harry pondered for a moment and began to untie her feet as Ron cast the spell that would force her to lie on the couch until the soup was done.

_-_-_

Hermione peered through the darkness over at her clock. It was midnight. She couldn't sleep. Rachel had actually ventured out of her house to Apparate over to Harry and Hermione's flat to fetch her fiancée. Before they had left, Rachel had been sure to kiss him long and hard, making sure that Hermione (still bound to the couch) was watching.

Hermione rolled onto her side and took a deep breath. She loved Ron, but she couldn't help being angry with him for doing this to her. Maybe Harry was right. Maybe she shouldn't plan his wedding anymore. It was certainly taking its toll on her.

So far that night she hadn't cried, which was strange as much as it was welcome. She stared up at the ceiling. Hermione closed her eyes, seeing Ron's face in her mind. Something was wrong with it though; Ron's eyes weren't normally green in her visions.

A bump from the kitchen caused Hermione to jump from her dream. Her eyes flew open. She tried to sit up in bed but found that she couldn't. Oh yes, Harry tied me down again! Another thump in the kitchen caused her heart to start pumping faster and faster.

Someone's breaking in! What if it's the same guy? Oh no! What if Harry's still asleep? They could kill him!!!

"Harry!!!" Hermione screamed, her voice squeaky from lack of use in the last couple of hours. There was no answer, but at her scream there was the sound of shattering glass.

"HARRY!!!" Hermione screamed even louder, fear coursing through her veins. She was acutely aware of her wand on the side table, perfectly out of reach. There was the sound of racing footsteps, and the door to her room was thrown open.

For a minute, Hermione thought that the burglar had come for her, but then recognized the sturdy, slightly muscular frame of the man in her doorway.

"Hermione!"

Harry ran over to her side, panic in his eyes.

"What is it?! Are you hurt, what?!" He demanded.

"There's someone in the kitchen!" Hermione hissed through her teeth, pointing at her door. Harry sighed a sigh of relief.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"That was me! I couldn't sleep, so I went to get something to eat. I was making a sandwich when I heard you screaming. I accidentally dropped a jar of pickles."

Hermione's mouth fell open. Never had she felt like such a fool. She felt the blood rushing to her cheeks and was thankful it was so dark in her room.

"Sorry, Harry. I couldn't reach my wand with this stupid spell on me!"

"Oh, right," Harry, said. He extracted his wand from his bathrobe pocket and took the spell off her. She sat up in her bed.

"I'm sorry I caused you to panic. I'm just a little jumpy ever since the... well, you know."

"Oh, Hermione," Harry said and pulled her into a protective hug. Hermione relaxed in the safety she found in his arms. Harry whispered in her ear,

"I'll protect you."

"I know you will, Harry. Thank you."