Chasing a Dream

Chapter 5

Their Special Bond

Harry's eyes flew open. Hermione's hand was resting on his back. He pulled away enough to look at her. She didn't meet his gaze at first, but then lifted her face to his. Harry sighed.

Her eyes were empty as ever and her face was unbearably neutral. She made contact, at least. He thought hopefully. Harry stood up and looked over at the corner of the room where two cots with blankets and pillows were sitting. He crossed the room and started arranging the pillows on one of the cots and walked back over to Hermione.

He gently took her hands and gave them a small tug in the direction of the cots. She offered no resistance and walked stiffly over to the small beds, Harry's hands guiding her through the dark. Harry lifted her off the ground and laid her down on the cot, resting her head on the pillow. He pulled the blanket up around her snugly. Harry tried to tuck her in as perfectly as he could, seeing as he'd never tucked anyone in or ever been tucked in himself, he'd never had any experience.

He made up his own cot next to hers, glancing at her occasionally. Her eyes stared straight ahead at the ceiling in a sad sort of trance. Harry sat down on his cot and looked at her. Harry decided to get her to go to sleep somehow. Perhaps if she slept she'd be better in the morning. He reached out and slowly closed her eyelids.

Harry sighed and laid down on his cot, head propped up behind his hands. "Poor girl, she lost everything. She's an orphan now, like you were but she has no one to turn to. No family. I imagine she'll be sent to an orphanage once she's regained the ability to think." Mr. Weasley's words echoed through his mind. His brow furrowed at the thought. He looked over at her still form. He watched her chest rise and fall more slowly as she slowly inched toward the sleep kingdom.

If she is an orphan now, she will have to be adopted. What if her new family hates wizards and she can't go to Hogwarts anymore. What if she has to live at an orphanage? The Weasleys have so many children and even with Mr. Weasley's new job, they can't afford another child, no matter how much they might wish to help her.

Harry turned on his side to look at her. She was breathing slowly and steadily, a sign saying she was fast asleep.

"I'd adopt you if I could, Hermione... You know that I would, if only I could..." he whispered. And with that he fell asleep.

_-_-_-_-_-_

"Harry." Harry blinked up at the light. A face swam into focus. Harry immediately recognized the twinkling eyes behind the half moon spectacles.

"Professor Dumbledore?"

"Good morning, Harry," he said smiling. Harry sat up and looked around. The sun had only just begun to rise and the dew was still fresh on the grass. Professor McGonagal was leaning against the examination table that Hermione had been sitting on only last night. Harry glanced around the room.

"Where's Hermione?" he asked, slightly alarmed that she was no longer there. Her cot had been torn down as well.

"They're just giving her a little check up." McGonagall stepped forward. Harry climbed out of his cot and as he did, it vanished with a pop behind him. Dumbledore nodded.

"Later, I expect, they'll conduct a few tests and try to get her to eat something. I'm told that you actually managed to get her to go to sleep last night. You improved her strength, to say the least."

The door to the room opened and the doctor, Dr. Carey, came in. He turned to Harry (didn't change his clothes before he went to bed) and asked him to come with him. Harry looked at Dumbledore, who nodded. Harry stood and followed Dr. Carey down the cris-crossing halls of the hospital. Nurses and doctors kept passing by in a hurry, only to disappear down on of the halls. Every once and a while they would pass by doors with windows, allowing Harry to get a glimpse of the patients inside. Some of the patients in this corridor looked absolutely insane while others completely normal.

"You did a good thing getting her to go to sleep, Harry. You restored some of her strength. How did you do it?"

"I'm not too sure. I just set up her bed, led her to it, laid her down in it, and closed her eyes."

"Amazing."

"Doctor, why is it that I can come near her when Ron can't?"

"Perhaps it is the fact that somewhere deep down, she recognizes you. She knows you as a friend. Out of you and young mister Weasley, which has she argued with the most?"

"Ron."

"Have you ever been rough with her?"

"Not that I can remember."

"Then that's why. She knows that you pose no threat. She knows you best."

Harry thought for a moment. It was sort of obvious now that he pointed it out. Part of him was glad for this sort-of bond that he and Hermione shared.

"Hermione needs your presence. She won't let anyone but you near her, so we need your help. Here we are."

Dr. Carey pushed open the door and they entered yet another white room. Hermione was sitting on a steel examination table. Harry could tell what he meant by her being stronger. Some color had faded from her face but the vacant expression still had free reign over her face.

Harry crossed the room and sat down next to her, taking her hand in his as he did so. Dr. Carey stood in front of her, wand out.

"Harry."

Harry nodded and took a firmer grip on her hand. Dr. Carey took a step forward and laid his wand on the area of her chest below her neck. Hermione squeezed Harry's hand as Dr. Carey muttered "Liscepta pulsinatri"

Harry watched as Dr. Carey carried through with the check up and Hermione relaxed a little bit.

"She seems fine, well, besides her mental incapability."

The door opened and a nurse came in with a tray of lunch assortments. She set them on the table opposite them and exited.

"Try and get her to eat something, will you?" asked the doctor before he followed the nurse through the door. Harry turned to Hermione. He grabbed the tray off the table and set it between him and frail girl beside him. He picked up a spoonful of a strange looking pile of slop.

He held it up uncertainly in front of her face. She made no movement of any kind. Harry rolled his eyes and set the spoon back down in the slop and put it on the tray.

"Do you know who I am, Hermione?" he asked her in a sad, hopeful tone of voice. Hermione's head cocked to the side ever so slightly to one side as if she didn't understand. Which, Harry reminded himself, she probably doesn't.

Professor Dumbledore stepped into the room and shut the door silently behind him. He came over to stand in front of Harry.

"Harry, as you must know, Hermione lost her parents. She'd go to an orphanage unless she was adopted. Well, she already has been."

"WHAT?! So soon!"

Dumbledore nodded. "They're waiting just outside the door and I'd like to introduce them to Hermione. I understand if you want to stay here with her," Dumbledore added as if reading his mind. Harry glanced at Hermione, and then nodded.

Dumbledore smiled, then walked back to the door and opened it. "Come in." They stepped into the room and Harry released a loud, sharp gasp.