The Weight of the World

Chapter 31 - The Choice

Ron, Meagan and Hermione sat silently in the common room. The only sounds came from Hermione, who had been crying off and on since she and Ron got back to the castle. They both went straight to Professor Dumbledore and Hermione did her best to explain what was going on right before she had taken the portkey, but it was very difficult for her and several times she had to lean on Ron as she cried loudly. Professor Dumbledore did his best to comfort her, and then asked Ron to take her to see Madam Pomfrey before they went back to the common room.

Ron had never seen Professor Dumbledore in a worse state. He had always been the unstoppable, invincible, all-knowing hero to Ron and it really hurt him to see the dark circles under his eyes and the shaking of his hands as he tried to comfort Hermione as she continued to give him details about Harry and the Death Eaters. Ron was doing his best to stay strong for Hermione, but not getting the solid reassurance he was used to from Dumbledore, made it impossible for him to hold back silent tears.

Now that they were back in the common room, Ron felt the need to stay strong for both Meagan and Hermione and he found himself saying positive things and reminding them that Harry had escaped Voldemort before. In reality though, Ron was trying to convince himself that Harry would be okay, just as much as he was the girls.

Hermione had just begun to get control of her sobs when she got up and went over to the Foe-glass. She looked at Ron and Meagan before she pulled the blanket off of it, almost hoping that they would stop her, but they stayed silent. Hermione slowly turned it around and then held her breath as she looked into it.

Ron could tell that something was wrong with what she saw.

"What is it?" Ron asked her.

Hermione slowly turned it around to show the others that the mirror was clear. There wasn't a single shadow showing inside of it.

Ron looked at it and then to Hermione who had started crying again.

"What does that mean?" Ron asked.

Hermione didn't answer and was still crying.

"Well then why are you crying if you don't know what it means?" Ron said with a hint of anger.

Hermione just shook her head.

"It could mean that he killed that evil son-of-a-bitch,” Ron said with a shaky voice.

"Ron," Meagan said timidly, "If something bad happened, wouldn't it be empty like that too?"

When Meagan saw the look on Ron's face she was sorry that she had asked it.

Ron became very angry at this and walked over and punched the mirror causing it to crack.

"You two are ridiculous! Just a boat-load of hope you both are!" Ron said as he stormed out of the common room. He had only made it a few steps out of the portrait hole when he started crying.

The sun had been up for an hour or so and Ron decided to take a walk outside to try and get his mind off of things. He also needed to get all of this crying out of his system because he refused to let the two girls seeing him this way. He sat under a tree overlooking the Quidditch field and wiped his eyes dry. He told himself that he wasn't going to cry about this again and it was foolish not to hold out hope that his best friend would be okay. But it was really killing him because there wasn't anything he could do about it. Ron saw Hagrid walking up to the castle and he ran down to meet him.

Hagrid told Ron that Dumbledore had sent him an owl asking him to come up to his office immediately. Hagrid has already been told that Harry had gotten Hermione back to the castle and that he was going to face Voldemort alone, so he didn't need to ask Ron why his eyes looked red and swollen.

The two of them walked silently up to Dumbledore's office and when they walked up the steps they saw Dumbledore with a more somber look than either one of them had ever seen before.

Hagrid hurried towards him.

"Professor? You alright?" Hagrid asked.

"Hagrid, please sit down."

"Professor, do I need to wait outside?" Ron asked.

"No Mr. Weasley, you need to hear this as well,” Dumbledore said.

Professor Dumbledore looked at them both for a second and then pulled his glasses off of his face and sat them down on his desk.

"Dobby led Sirius to the underground palace where Voldemort and his followers were hiding. When he got there, Harry was already in danger, but there was enough chaos that he was able to retrieve him and bring him back to the castle,” Dumbledore said.

Ron's eyes lit up immediately. "He's back here?"

"Yes Mr. Weasley."

"Where is he? Is he back in the common room?" Ron said with a large smile on his face.

"Mr. Weasley, when Sirius found him Harry was already badly injured,” Dumbledore stopped and rubbed his eyes and then took a deep breath before he spoke again.

"Ronald, Harry might not recover from his injuries,” Dumbledore said.

Hagrid and Ron were both in shock. Neither one of them could take their eyes off of Professor Dumbledore.

Hagrid cleared his throat and tried to straighten up his face and then worked up the courage to talk.

"Professor, are you telling us... that Harry might die?"

"That is a possibility I am afraid to say."

Hagrid tried to keep a straight face but the effort made his entire head begin to shake. He then looked over at Ron and when their eyes met both had to look away quickly.

Hagrid then mustered up some more courage and cleared his throat again. "Can we go...and see him?"

"His condition isn't good Hagrid. Madam Pomfrey is doing what she can for him right now, but perhaps later you all may be permitted to visit him."

Ron now had his face in his hands and was crying. Hagrid was having a hard time holding his composure as well.

"Ronald, why don't you go down and inform Hermione. I need to send a letter to his Aunt and Uncle,” Dumbledore said.

Ron pulled his hands away from his face and wiped the tears out of his eyes as he stared at Professor Dumbledore. He then nodded at him and stood up and walked out of the office.

When Hagrid heard that Ron had made it out of the office he asked Dumbledore another question.

"What are his chances Professor?"

"Hagrid, as to that I don't have any idea. One can not estimate things of this nature," he said.

"Professor, if he doesn't make it, please... promise me that you'll kill that bloody useless waste of a..."

"Hagrid, it doesn't do anyone any good to talk that way. Harry is still with us. Now if you will, can you go to the Hospital Wing and try to convince Sirius to get some rest?"

Hagrid stared at the ceiling for a second and then looked back down at the Professor and nodded. He then walked out of the office.

As bad as Ron wanted to run to the Hospital Wing to see Harry, he knew that he wouldn't be allowed in. He also knew that he needed to go tell Hermione.

Megan and Hermione were still on the couch and were talking silently when Ron came in. They looked at Ron and could tell that he had been crying.

Hermione spoke up right away. "Ron, we're really sorry. You were right, we shouldn't talk like that. Harry's probably going to be fine."

Meagan nodded in agreement.

Hermione knew that something else was wrong.

"Ron," she said quietly, "what is it?"

"It's Harry,” Ron said with a quivering voice. "Sirius brought him back. He's in the hospital wing."

"Is he.. okay Ron?" Hermione asked softly.

Ron tried to stay strong, but he couldn't. He broke down but kept talking anyway.

"He's..hurt...really bad. Professor...said that..he might...might. not. make it."

Hermione started crying and Meagan put her arm around her.

Ron walked over to them and sat next to Meagan and leaned in and hugged them both. All three cried together for a minute or so until Hermione finally wiped her eyes.

"Can we..can we go ..see him Ron?"

Ron wiped his eyes and shook his head. "Madam Pomfrey won't let us see him. Professor Dumbledore said he's not doing very well."

Hermione buried her head on Meagan's shoulder again and started crying. After a few seconds she got up and ran up to her dorm room.

Ron leaned in and started crying on Meagan's shoulder. "I can't lose him Meagan. He's my best friend, I just can't lose him."

Hagrid walked into the Hospital Wing to find Sirius staring out of the window. Sirius didn't even realize that Hagrid had walked into the room until Hagrid loudly cleared his throat.

Sirius turned around with a glazed look on his face.

"Hello Hagrid."

"How's he doing Sirius?"

"Not good Hagrid. Madam Pomfrey is working on cleaning him up, but he lost a lot of blood and the effort he gave tonight may have been too much."

Hagrid nodded his head then sniffed loudly.

"Will we get to see him soon?" Hagrid asked.

"I don't know Hagrid. You don't want to see him right now anyway. He doesn't look good."

Hagrid began to shake and sat himself in a chair and stared at the floor.

"Hagrid," Sirius said turning to face him. "I want to thank you for everything you've done for him. You got him safely out of the house that night when Voldemort killed Lilly and James. You made sure he got here to school okay, and you've been a real friend to him all these years, and I want to thank you Hagrid. You've really meant a lot to him,” Sirius said extending his hand to Sirius.

Hagrid stood up and shook Sirius' hand. He then pulled him into a hug and the two embraced.

"He'll make it Sirius. He'll make it. If anyone can make it through this, it's Harry."

"I hope so Hagrid. I don't think I can live with myself if he doesn't."

They both sat down and stared at nothing for several minutes before Hagrid spoke again.

"Sirius, you need to get some sleep. We might have some long nights ahead of us. Why don't ya hold down one of the beds over there and when Madam Pomfrey comes in, I'll wake ya."

"I don't think I can sleep Hagrid, but I think I might give it a try."

And Sirius did. It wasn't long after he lay down on the bed, when his body gave way to the exhaustion from the last several days.

He was woken by Madam Pomfrey who was restocking a cabinet with some supplies. She saw that he had sat up in the bed and rushed over to him.

"Take this Mr. Black. You need more rest as well,” she said handing him a small cup that had a strange liquid in it.

"What is this?" Sirius said.

"It will help with your nerves. You've been going too long without sleep, if you don't get more tonight, I'll get the Headmaster to give me permission to slip you a sleeping draught."

Sirius drank the liquid and made an awful face from its taste.

"How's he doing?" Sirius asked her.

"We won't know for some time. I've patched up the cuts all over his body, and whatever burned his arm and shoulder did it so badly that there was hardly any skin left. That will take some time to heal properly,” she said.

Sirius didn't know about the burn, he was too caught up in the fact that his body had been very bloody when he was carrying him out of there.

"There isn't anything anyone can do now, but wait. Please get some rest, tomorrow morning if he's still stable, I'll let you and the others visit him for a short time."

Sirius just stared at her and nodded. He didn't know what else to do but wait. He was going to get up, but whatever she gave him to drink seemed to make his body think otherwise. It wasn't long before he was in a deep sleep again.

It was getting close to dinner and Hermione still hadn't come down from her dorm room. She had stayed up there alone all day and Ron and Meagan figured that she probably needed the time alone.

"Can you go up and see if she wants to come for dinner?" Ron asked Meagan.

"Sure."

Meagan walked into the room to find Hermione lying on her bed looking through one of her old photo albums.

"You okay?" she asked Hermione.

"Yeah, I was just looking through some of our first year pictures. Come over here and look at Ron and Harry,” she said smiling through her puffy eyes.

"Okay,” Meagan said smiling.

"But don't look at me. My hair is awful and my teeth. oh no,” she said putting her hand over her face in the picture.

Meagan smiled as she sat next to Hermione on the bed and watched her peel through the photo album. She couldn't believe how much Harry and Ron had grown over the last few years.

"This was just before Christmas,” Hermione said pointing to one of the photos of Harry, Ron and Hermione waving at them and all smiling.

She turned the page.

"This was after we beat Slytherin in Quidditch,” she said tapping the picture.

It was a picture of all of them out by the Quidditch field, and Harry still had the Snitch in his hand with Ron, Hermione and George all hanging off his neck.

Hermione closed the book and started crying and leaned into Meagan's shoulder.

"He has to be okay Meagan. He has to get better."

"Hermione, he will. You just have to believe that he will...that's all."

Hermione wiped her eyes and reached over for a handkerchief and blew her nose.

"Hermione, Ron and I are going to the Great Hall for dinner. Will you come with us?"

"I'm not hungry. You guys go ahead."

"Hermione, come down with us. You don't have to eat anything, but at least you can see Hagrid and have some pumpkin juice or something."

Hermione went over to her mirror and brushed her hair. "Look at me, I'm a mess."

Meagan smiled at her. "We all are Hermione. Don't worry."

They walked down and met Ron who was waiting for them, and then all walked into the Great Hall. They got there to find Hagrid, Dumbledore, Lupin, and Meagan's mother sitting down at one of the house tables.

"You three come and join us,” Dumbledore said as he stood up and waited for them to walk toward them.

They all sat down and began to lightly pick at their food. Hagrid's eyes were swollen just as bad as Hermione's and he wasn't eating either.

"You okay there Hermione?" Hagrid asked.

"Yeah, I guess. Are you doing okay?"

"Getting by. Why don't you and Ron come over tomorrow morning and see Fang. He'd be glad to see ya and we can have some tea."

"Okay Hagrid,” Hermione said as she looked at Ron who nodded back at her.

There wasn't much conversation that night as they all ate dinner. Most of it was useless small talk to help kill the tough silence. All of their minds were on Harry. The tension could be cut with a knife as they all just went through the motions; waiting and hoping.

- - -

Harry found himself walking down by the Quidditch field. It was empty, and he didn't have his broom, but he was still enjoying being down there. He walked over to one of the small bleachers and sat down at the first row and began looking at the hoops on each end. It found himself instinctively glancing around looking for the Snitch, although he doubted that it was there. When he pulled himself out of the gaze he noticed that someone had sat down beside him.

He almost fell backwards when he saw who it was.....it was his dad.

There was no mistaking his hair, his glasses and the smile he had on his face. Harry had stared at picture after picture that he had of his parents and had memorized every feature of their faces.

"Hello Harry."

Harry had a look of awe on his face and couldn't answer him right away.

"I really miss playing Quidditch. Some of the best times I ever had in my life were out here on this field,” His dad said starting up at the goal posts.

"Dad.. what are you doing here? How am I talking to you right now?" Harry asked.

"You're hurt pretty bad Harry. You're here because you've left the last state of consciousness of your world."

Harry stared at him for a second and tried to digest what he had said. "Does that mean I'm going to die?" Harry asked.

"I'm not sure Harry. I don't have all of the answers for you, I'm sorry."

"Dad, can't I just stay here with you?"

Harry's dad smiled at him and then put his hand on his shoulder.

"Harry, I don't think it's time for you to do that yet. You're only just a teenager. You have so many great things you have left to experience; and or course more Quidditch,” he said pointing up to the field and smiling.

Harry didn't look up at the field again. He couldn't take his eyes off of his dad.

"Harry do you know what the happiest day of my life was?" he asked.

Harry thought about it for a quick second, "The day you and Mom were married."

"That was a great day yes, but that wasn't it. It was the day that you were born. I've never been more full of emotion than that day. I was terrified, overjoyed, and a nervous wreck. I couldn't sleep for the first week after we had you. I was driving Lilly crazy saying things like 'what if he can already apparate and we wake up and can't find him'. I swear she almost threw me out of the house,” he said laughing.

Harry was smiling as well and it wasn't just from what his dad was saying. It was just the fact that he was hearing his dad speak and actually having a conversation with him. He still couldn't believe that it was happening.

"Harry we are so proud of you. Look at you, look at what you've done, look at the friends you've made. Look at all of the lives you've touched. That doesn't need to stop."

Harry stared down at the ground for a second and then back up to his dad.

"So what you're saying is that I have a choice. I can go back, or...I can go with you,” Harry asked.

His dad looked at him and smiled. "Yes, son. And it's your choice to make."

- - -

After dinner, they all went back to the common room, and then shortly after, went to bed. Hermione asked Ron if he wanted to sleep in their dorm room so he wouldn't be in his room alone, without Harry, but he refused. The truth is that he'd been doing his best to control his emotions, and if he wasn't able to do it anymore, he didn't want them around to see it.

That night was one of the longest that Hermione and Ron had ever experienced at Hogwarts. They couldn't eat, they couldn't sleep, and their best friend wasn't there with them. It was very difficult, but it didn't last forever.

The next morning the three were all up early and went into the Great Hall for some juice and a piece of toast. When they got there, they were surprised to see Madam Pomfrey talking to Meagan's mom up at the staff table.

Hermione ran up to her and interrupted them.

"How is Harry doing?" Hermione asked loudly.

Madam Pomfrey looked a bit flustered, but she answered her anyway. "He's stable Miss Granger. After breakfast if you and your friends want to see him, I'll permit it, but only one at a time, and no more than a few minutes each,” she said sternly.

Hermione smiled and clapped her hands quickly and then ran back down to Ron and the others and told them the news. That morning they all had a good breakfast and spirits were a bit higher since they knew they'd be getting to see Harry soon.

- - -

Harry sat on the bleachers and stared back up at the Quidditch field for several minutes before he spoke to his dad again.

"Dad, I'm not sure I want to go back,” Harry said.

"You have a lot to go back to though, Harry,” His dad said.

"Dad the thing I've wanted more than anything else in my life is to have you and Mom back, and now I have that chance, how can I not take it?"

"It's been hard for you Harry, being alone all that time, I know. We blame ourselves for that,” he said.

"Why would you blame yourselves? It was Voldemort."

"Harry I know, but when we think back on it, Lilly and me thought of ourselves as your last line of defense. We assumed that if we were killed, you probably would have been too. We never thought about the possibility of you being left alone without us. That was something we never wanted to do. When we knew he was coming for you, we actually thought about hiding you away in an orphanage, but the thought of you being alone, was too much for us to think about. We knew you'd probably be safer that way, but we never wanted you alone. But it happened anyway."

He stood up and walked in front of Harry and turned to face him.

"Harry you've got so much to go back to. You've got unbelievable friends, you've got Sirius, plus Harry, they are going to need you."

Harry looked away from his dad and put his head in his hands, then quickly looked back up.

"What if I'm tired of fighting dad? What if I just want to leave this entire thing behind?"

"Harry I know you've been through a lot. They've hurt you and the ones you care for and no one could ever ask you to have to go through what you've been through. But if you leave it Harry, you'll also be leaving all of them; the ones that care for you, the ones who have fought for you."

Harry jumped in. "The ones that have died for me, though dad. You and mom and the others, I can't live with that anymore. And there will probably be more that die too."

Harry got up and walked out on the field. His mind was racing as it never had before.

His father followed him walking closely behind.

Harry turned back around, "Do you know how many times I've wished that I would have died that night with you and mom? I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't want to be famous, I didn't want this scar, or this power, or to have all of these people fighting and getting hurt because they're my friends."

"Harry, that's what friendship is all about. That's what love is all about. This is my point Harry, there is a lot you still have to learn. You have come further than anyone could have ever imagined. You have no idea how proud of you I am! I am the proudest father in the world. Your mother is very proud of you too. We both love you so much and we could have never imagined that you would have ever accomplished so much in such a short time. But you have to keep going Harry. There is still a lot to be done."

As his dad stopped talking, Harry did something that he had imagined doing his whole life.

He hugged his dad.

It was the happiest moment of his life. He had been hugged before, but this one was so much different. This was the best hug of his life. He squeezed his dad tighter than he had ever squeezed anyone. He had his head on his dad's shoulder and he wished that it would never end.

- - -

Hermione and Ron went to the hospital wing while Meagan went on a walk with her mom. Meagan wanted to give them both some time alone. When they got to the Hospital Wing, they saw Sirius sitting up in one of the small beds. They could both tell right away that he looked like a different person from the good night's sleep that he had received the night before.

"Good morning you two,” Sirius said climbing out of the bed and stretching.

"Hello Sirius,” Ron said.

"Good morning,” Hermione said. "Have you been in to see Harry this morning?"

"Not yet Hermione. Madam Pomfrey ..accidentally gave me something yesterday to help me sleep. I've been out the whole time."

"You needed it," Hermione said plainly, "You look so much better now."

"Thanks Hermione, I feel better. Is she going to let you guys see Harry today?"

"Yeah, here in a few minutes I think,” Ron said.

"So you went in and got him?" Ron asked Sirius.

"Yes Ron, Dobby knew where that palace was. I found Harry just in time."

"Was he hurt badly?" Hermione asked. "No one's really told us anything."

Sirius looked at them both deciding whether or not he should try to sugar coat Harry's condition, but he knew that it would have been wrong to do so.

"It was pretty bad. Harry...was beat up pretty bad. He also has a bad burn on his arm and shoulder, and he was..he had.cuts all over his body."

Hermione and Ron both looked at the floor and didn't say anything.

"I'd be willing to bet that Madam Pomfrey has done a good job cleaning him up though,” Sirius added.

He could tell that Hermione was a bit rattled. He second guessed whether or not he should have been so descriptive.

Madam Pomfrey came in and smiled at the fact that they were all eagerly waiting her arrival.

"Okay, remember just a few minutes, and just one at a time,” She said surveying them all.

Ron and Hermione both looked at one another waiting for the other to say something.

Hermione finally spoke up. "Why don't you go first Ron."

He looked at her and nodded, then walked into to the room to see his friend.

As he walked in, he tried to prepare himself, but when he saw Harry lying there, he felt his stomach drop. The covers were pulled up all the way to the base of his chest and both of his arms were under them.

Ron walked up beside the bed and stared at Harry's face. He didn't get to see Harry without his glasses very often. He could also tell that Harry had been beat up pretty badly. He face was swollen and covered in small cuts and there were some large cuts on his neck as well. Ron quietly sat in the chair beside his bed and for a few minutes listened to the sound of his best friend's breath.

Ron began crying silently, and did his best to make himself stop before he spoke.

"Harry.. You have to get better. You've got to fight through this. I can't be the only one getting bossed around by Hermione. Please,” he said trying to stop himself from crying.

He didn't speak anymore. He just sat there and rested his head on the bed until he heard the door open behind him. He wiped his eyes and looked to see who it was.

It was Hermione. When she saw Ron sitting beside Harry like that, she immediately started crying.

Ron got up out of the chair and went over to her and gave her a hug.

"He's going to pull through this Hermione. Please go tell him he's going to pull through this,” Ron said with his voice cracking again.

Ron let go of her and walked out of the room.

Hermione just stood there and looked at Harry lying there. He looked so vulnerable.

She slowly walked up to the bed and rubbed his forehead gently.

"Harry. Please get better. If anyone can do it, I know you can. Please get better.for me. I have to have you here Harry. You can't leave me here alone."

She then sat down in the chair and put her head down on the bed and began to cry again.

"Harry, I love you,” Hermione said quickly. She then got up and ran out of the room.

Sirius and Ron watched as she came running out of the room and kept running past them out of the Hospital Wing.

"She's taking this pretty hard isn't she?" Sirius asked.

Ron just nodded and stared back down at the floor.

- - -

Harry stood there on the Quidditch field with his dad and stared up at the hoops. He was caught up in the hardest decision he'd ever been faced with in his life. He was so tired of the pain, the sorrow and the evil that had become so intertwined in his life, that he wanted so badly to just go with his dad and meet his mother. He longed for this his entire life. He had never known what it was like to come home and get hugged by his parents, or to be out on the Quidditch field and have his parents cheering him on in the stands, or to get the chance to introduce Ron and Hermione to them both.

"Harry, I know you want to come with me, and your mom and I can't wait for us all to be together again, but you aren't finished living your life. I know things are hard for you, but you aren't alone, and I think you know what the right thing to do is Harry."

Harry just looked over at him and then back at the ground.

"I'll give you some time to think Harry," his dad said.

Harry knew that going back wouldn't be easy. He knew that he had people waiting for him, but everything he had ever wished for in his life was standing just a few meters away from him, and it waiting to welcome him home.

- - -

Hermione and Ron finally met up later that night in the common room. Each had pretty much gone their separate ways to think, cry and hope on their own. They both now seemed to be a bit more at peace after seeing Harry. They were sitting down in the common room after dinner, when Hedwig came flying in and perched down beside them. She wasn't carrying a letter. It was almost as though she could tell that something was wrong with Harry.

Hermione looked over to Ron and then to Hedwig.

"You think she's looking for Harry?"

"Maybe,” Ron said. "Hedwig, Harry's in the Hospital Wing getting better. He'll probably be back in a few days girl."

Hedwig didn't move and just hooted softly still staring at them both.

"Maybe she wants something,” Ron said.

"I'll go get her some of her owl treats she likes so much,” Hermione said as she walked up to the boy's dorm room.

She went through Harry's desk and couldn't find them, so she decided to see if his chest was locked. It wasn't. She opened it slowly and looked inside. She saw his invisibility cloak and a few books that were underneath it. Near the bottom, she saw a bag of the owl treats from Eeylops. As she was pulling it out, she found a letter that had her name on it. She put the owl treats behind her and took out the letter. It was from Harry and her name was written on the outside of it.

Hermione hesitated from opening it. What if he had never intended her to read it? But.. what if he just never got around to giving it to her?

She carefully opened the letter and began to read it. - - -

Dear Hermione,

If you are reading this, something terrible happened to me, but please know that I am still very happy that you are in fact reading this letter. This means that you were able to get away from Voldemort alive.

First of all I don't want you to feel sad about me being gone. I am probably with my parents now and you know how happy that would make me. When I wrote this letter I wasn't sure if I'd ever get to see you again so I was trying to think of the things I would say knowing it would be the last time I ever got to say anything to you. The truth is that there isn't enough parchment on Earth for me to say everything I want to say to you. You know how much you've meant to me these past several years and I hope you do understand that I could have never made it this far without you. I want to ask to you take care of Hedwig for me. She always seemed to like you, and Ron already has an owl. If you don't think that you can take care of her, then give her to Hagrid. I know she'd have a good time there with him and she'd get to hunt in the forest.

You know how brilliant you are Hermione, you don't need me to tell you that, but I hope you also know how brave, how courageous, and how beautiful you are. I love you very much and I am proud to have had you as my friend. I wish I had more time because there are so many things I want to tell you.

Please take care of Ron and make sure he keeps working on his keeper skills, I think he'll easily make the team.

Harry

- - -

Hermione sat there and read the letter over and over again and didn't even realize that she had been crying the whole time she was reading it.

Ron walked in behind her and was about to ask her what had been taking her so long when he saw her holding the letter.

"Hermione, you weren't supposed to read that unless.."

"I know,” she said sniffing loudly as she interrupted him.

Ron leaned down and helped Hermione get to her feet. They then shared a hug and she continued to cry on his shoulder. The letter never left her hand.

- - -

Harry walked over to where his dad was standing and couldn't help but smile. The decision he had to make was a difficult one, but regardless, this had been one of the happiest moments of his life. Seeing his father, face to face, and talking with him, getting advice from him, getting a hug from him, was something that he had desired his whole life.

"Dad, you know I want to go with you more than anything. In fact I have never wanted anything more in my whole life."

"I know you do Harry."

"But you also know that I can't right?" Harry asked him.

"You can Harry, but you won't, and I do understand. It's the right decision Harry, you have your life to live, and as much as we'd love to be a part of it, that can wait. We'll be here waiting for you."

Harry and his dad embraced again.

"I am so proud of you son. You are a very powerful wizard Harry and you're only going to improve."

"Thanks dad,” Harry said as they pulled away from their embrace.

"I wish your mother could have come with me," he said.

"Dad, I won't get to talk to you anymore will I?" Harry asked.

"No son. You won't."

"Dad, this has been one of the happiest days of my life."

"For me as well Harry,” he said smiling.

Harry suddenly became aware of the pain in his shoulder. His whole body began aching as she opened his eyes to darkness. He could tell by the smell in the room that he was probably in the hospital wing and it was late at night. His whole body was hurting. He tried to say something but didn't have the strength.

It wasn't long before he passed out from the effort.

The next morning Hagrid was allowed in to visit Harry. He brought his flute with him and decided that the music might help Harry heal faster. Madam Pomfrey objected at first but then allowed it under the condition that he wouldn't play it too loudly.

Hagrid lightly patted Harry on the head and then began to play softly. It was a peaceful tune and it was one of the first Hagrid had ever learned to play. He got through about thirty seconds of it, when he saw Harry partially open his eyes.

Hagrid almost spit the flute out of his mouth.

"Harry, you're awake!" Hagrid said softly.

Harry heard Hagrid's voice but he was disoriented and since he didn't have his glasses, his vision was bad as well. He just blinked his eyes a few times trying to clear his vision.

"Harry, it's me Hagrid! Tell me you can hear me Harry."

Harry tried to talk but all that came out was scratchy air. Right about that time Madam Pomfrey came into the room to see what was going on.

"Oh my! Look who's awake!" she said smiling.

She went over to a sink and poured a glass of water, and put a pinch of powder of some sort inside of it. She then walked back over to Harry and grabbed a pillow off of one of the other beds and propped it up behind his head so that he was sitting up partially.

"You need to try to drink some of this sweetie,” she said loudly to Harry.

Every bone in Harry's body ached. Even his hair felt like it was hurting him, and his throat felt like someone had poured sand down it.

Madam Pomfrey put her hand behind his head and helped him lean up a bit more so that he could take a drink of the liquid.

Harry felt the water touch his lips and then felt the cold liquid go down his throat. It felt great. After a second large swallow he had some of his voice back.

"Harry! You're back!" Hagrid said again.

"Hello Hagrid,” Harry said with a whispery and raspy voice.

Hagrid looked as though he had just been given a hundred dragon eggs.

"We were worried about you Harry. You gave us quite a scare,” Madam Pomfrey said feeding him another drink.

Hagrid had silent tears coming down his face and disappearing into his beard.

"Don't try to do too much. You've been through a lot dear. Just hold this and try to drink the rest of it,” Madam Pomfrey said.

Hagrid stood up quickly. "I need to tell the others that you're awake. Everyone's been worried sick about you."

"Thanks Hagrid,” Harry said softly.

"They aren't allowed to come in here yet! He needs rest!" Madam Pomfrey said sternly.

Ron, Hermione and Meagan were down at the Quidditch field flying around when they heard a loud high-pitched yell come from up at the castle.

"What was that?" Hermione asked the others.

"Sounded like Hagrid!" Ron said.

"Let's go,” Hermione said flying quickly towards the castle.

Ron and Meagan followed.

When they got close, it didn't take them long to see that Hagrid had a large smile on his face and had his arms risen in the air in triumph.

"Hagrid! What's going on?" Ron yelled.

"It's Harry! It's Harry! He's awake!" Hagrid yelled doing a small dance with this hands still flying wildly in the air.

Hermione almost fell off her broom. She had barley touched the ground as tears of joy started flowing down her face. In a matter of a few seconds she felt Ron wrap his arms around her, Meagan joined in, and then Hagrid's large tree-trunk-like arms engulfed them all.

"I knew it!" Hagrid yelled with his voice breaking in tears. "Knew he'd be alright. I was up there playing my flute for him and he opened his eyes. He told me hello and I knew he was going to make it."

Hermione couldn't say anything. She just let the hugs hold her up on her feet.