Canticum Novum

Chapter 4: O Happy Home

O happy home, where Thou art loved the dearest,

Thou loving Friend and Saviour of our race,

And where among the guests there never cometh

One who can hold such high and honoured place!

The first thing Harry became aware of was the pain. It seemed to have doubled since he stepped through the golden gates. He felt as though he had been run over by a freight train.

The next thing he became aware of was a strange sort of sound--a kind of gasping, choking noise--and then a bit of moisture on his cheek. Slowly, reluctantly--painfully--he opened his eyes.

All he could see were blurry shapes, which really didn't surprise him--someone seemed to have removed his glasses. He could just make out a shape, probably that of a woman. In his confused state, all he could think of was that he had never made it off the path at all, that he had fallen and been injured, that he was back in Red House with his parents. "Mum?" he asked, his voice a sort of hoarse whisper.

"H-Harry?" a high, trembling voice squeaked out. "Harry, you're awake! Harry, it's me."

Harry couldn't see the face, couldn't place the voice. He knew it wasn't Helga or Rowena, and she'd just said she wasn't his mother. "Who are you?" he asked, blinking to try and clear his vision. It didn't help a bit.

Whoever it was put out a trembling hand and brushed his cheek. Harry shied away as best he could, but it hurt like hell. The hand withdrew anyway. "It's me, Harry, it's Hermione."

"Hermione?" Harry repeated. He was still sorely confused. He fought to put a face to that name. "Who...?"

"Oh, Harry," the person said shakily, sounding as though whoever it was would burst into tears. "It's Hermione. Don't you remember me?"

A hand brushed his, and it didn't hurt. It felt...almost good. And all of a sudden Harry did remember who Hermione was. He blinked and tried to see her clearly, but he couldn't. "Hermione," he murmured with a little more confidence. A terrible fear seized him and he tried to grip the hand she'd placed on top of his, but he wasn't quite strong enough. "Where am I?"

"St. Mungo's," Hermione answered, her voice still trembling. "The Carlotta Pinkstone ward."

"What's that for?" Harry asked, almost not caring. That he was in St. Mungo's meant that Hermione was not dead.

"Muggle-related injuries." Hermione curled her fingers around Harry's. Harry mustered his strength and squeezed her hand gently. He could feel it shaking--or was it his own hand? "Oh, Harry," Hermione suddenly cried, hugging him around the neck. Harry winced as she hugged a bruise, but at least he could sort of see her now. He hesitantly reached up and hugged her back, but the movement hurt. "I was so worried about you!"

"I'm sorry," Harry managed to get out, biting back a gasp of pain.

O happy home, where two in heart united

In holy faith and blessèd hope are one,

Whom death a little while alone divideth,

And cannot end the union here begun!

To his relief, Hermione drew back and just held his hand. "Were you dreaming about your parents?" she asked him hesitantly.

Harry could remember every detail of what had happened. "No. It wasn't a dream--it really happened. Hermione, I saw my parents. And Sirius..."

Hermione stared at him in astonishment. Harry told her everything that had happened to him. It got hard for him to talk by the end; only a fierce determination to get everything out kept him going.

"...The gates swung open, I pretty much ran through them, and everything went black. The next thing I knew, I was waking up here and, well, you pretty much know the rest," Harry finished up. He leaned back into the pillow, totally exhausted.

O happy home, whose little ones are given

Early to Thee, in humble faith and prayer,

To Thee, their Friend, Who from the heights of Heaven

Guides them, and guards with more than mother's care!

Hermione sounded astonished when she spoke. "Harry, I...I can't believe it. You were dead...and you chose to come back? For us?"

"Of course I did," Harry said, his voice soft and weak. "I couldn't just leave you here."

"Thank you," Hermione said shakily. "I know how hard that must've been..."

"Not at all." Harry closed his eyes. "I think I'll take a nap now if you don't mind."

"Oh, right, sorry," Hermione said hastily. "Good night, Harry." She brushed his cheek lightly, then began to leave. Suddenly, Harry remembered something.

"Hermione, I..." he began, but he didn't finish the sentence. He fell into a deep sleep.

Until at last, when earth's day's work is ended,

All meet Thee in the blessèd home above,

From whence Thou camest, where Thou hast ascended,

Thy everlasting home of peace and love!