Chasing a Dream

Chapter 10

Baby's Got Blue Eyes

"It's the only way to communicate with Hermione while she's in this condition. Don't bother trying it, we can't talk that way."

"Why?"

"Forget it. What do you want for lunch?"

*-_-_-_-_-*

Harry stared up at the ceiling. It had been four days since Sirius and Harry had brought Hermione home (that's two days since Hermione's first checkup from Margaret). Harry had been right; Sirius had a crush on Margaret. He'd even asked her on a date set for this afternoon, after getting Harry's permission to leave him home with Hermione.

Harry turned to the empty space beside him. It had also been four days since he had found out what Hermione had been through and she slept with him. Harry's heart ached to see the old Hermione.

Hermione had grown steadily worse day after day, until Harry was to the point that he felt all hope for recovery was lost. She hardly even blinked these days. She hasn't eaten anything yet, and if it weren't for those pills of Margaret's, he was sure she'd have died from malnutrition. She had even stopped sleeping. Harry was far past worried.

It was currently around seven in the morning. Harry decided it was time to get out of bed. He changed into some worn out jeans and a blue T-shirt.

As Harry passed Hermione's bedroom on his way down to the kitchen he noticed that it was empty. Had she gone out on another "walk"?

Harry dashed eagerly down to the kitchen, only to find Sirius cooking breakfast in an apron, Hermione sitting very statuesque at the table. No, she hadn't moved at all. Sirius had moved her.

Harry plopped down next to Hermione, disappointed. Sirius turned and spooned some eggs on Harry's plate. Harry poked at them distractedly. He looked at Hermione.

She was on the edge of her chair, her hair curling around her face. She would have looked pretty if it weren't for the fact that her eyes were dull and her mouth was set on a stubborn neutral.

Snap out of it...

-_-_-

"You're sure you guys will be ok all on your own."

"Yeah. Don't worry about it."

"But-"

"We'll be fine! Go, she's waiting."

Sirius nodded and in a moment he was gone, disappeared. The hall was empty. Sirius had been very reluctant to go on his date with Margaret. Harry finally convinced him. Sirius should enjoy his new freedom.

Harry trudged back to the library. Rain pounded relentlessly against the window and thunder rumbled overhead. Hermione was slouched in a leather chair and staring at her lap. Harry sat down in the chair across from her. He gasped.

Hermione was sitting with a book on her lap. On the book was a pencil that she was rolling back and forth. Only she wasn't touching it. Her eyes were glowing the strange light neon blue they had when she worked the mirror. Her eyes followed the pencil as it rolled back and forth across the book.

Harry jumped to his feet and snatched up the pencil from where it was rolling across the book. He was officially freaked out now.

"Cut it out, Hermione! Snap out of it!"

Hermione looked up at him without actually moving her head. Harry looked in her eyes.

They were still the strange blue; only they glowed with a new fiery light. Her eyebrows furrowed, until she was glaring. Harry took a step back.

Suddenly, books began flying off the shelves, hurling themselves across the room. Harry dodged as A Guide to Magical Fungi flew past his head. Hermione stood, her hair whipping about in an unseen wind.

Thunder shook the house and a flash of lightning danced outside the window, and then the room went dark. Thankfully, the books had stopped and Harry was left in the dark. His breathing was ragged and he jumped at a sudden bump from across the room.

"Hermione?"

No answer or sign of movement.

"Hermione!"

Harry fumbled around in the dark until he reached the seat where she'd been sitting. The lights flickered back on.

Hermione was gone, the window was flung open and rain was pouring in.

Harry ran to it and looked out at the area around the window. Nothing, but wait. Harry saw movement out by the lake. He jumped down from the windowsill.

He tore across the large yard toward the lake, dodging things in the darkness caused by the thick sheet of storm clouds overhead. Rain whipped in his face. It was a very long run. Harry was clutching his side in pain when he finally got there. He stood frozen in his spot, looking up at... Oh, my God!!!!!!!!!!

Things looked bad, real bad.

Hermione was levitating about thirty feet above the surface of the middle of the lake. Her arms where outstretched toward the heavens, her hair whipping around violently and her eyes glowing like beacons. Her mouth was twisted in concentration and anger. Limbs from trees, rocks, dirt, and debris, even little statues, swirled around her in a strange sort of dance. Lightning flashed somewhere in the distance above the forest.

Harry was numb with disbelief. She was flying. Well, levitating, at least. He quickly recovered himself.

"I've got to get her down from there. How?!"

He said to himself, but either the storm or Hermione's whirlwind was so loud that he couldn't even hear himself. Suddenly, something dawned on him. Harry concentrated on the corner of the closet in his room. He whipped his wand out of his pocket.

"Accio!"

At first Harry thought the spell didn't work because of all the noise but soon he heard a new sound. He held out a hand and his Firebolt zoomed into his hand. Harry mounted it swiftly and kicked off from the ground.

Harry almost fell off his broom. Hermione seemed to attract objects to her, calling them to join the debris circling ceremoniously around her, Harry's broom, too. All that and not to mention the rain beating against him, thoroughly soaking him. Harry clung onto it as fast as he could, steering it away from her. Once at a safe enough distance to resist the pull, he hovered and thought.

How do I get to her?

He couldn't think of any spells that could help him. Even if he knew some he doubted that he would be able to recall them. He couldn't concentrate. All he could think was Get to Hermione. Must get to Hermione.

Hermione jerked her head to look at him. She looks like she's possessed. Harry tried and failed to suppress a shudder. Those eyes, he'd never seen anything like them. He missed her warm brown ones.

Slowly, Hermione's body revolved so that she was facing Harry, her manor very menacing. She's going to attack me. I'm not strong enough to take her on, nor would I be able to hurt her. I could never hurt Hermione.

Luckily, Harry didn't need to defend himself, for at that time a stray lightning bolt struck a pole in the water nearly hitting Hermione. Hermione, startled, lost concentration and was soon plummeting toward the surface of the water. Panic clasped an iron fist around his heart.

If she hits the surface of the water she'll be electrocuted! She'll die!

Harry dove, his eyes set on Hermione. She was getting dangerously close to the water. Harry urged the broom to go faster. The rain on his glasses obstructing his view, he sped up, his arms reaching out for her.

He neared her and wrapped a hand around her arm and pulled hard on the Firebolt's handle, pulling out just in time. He gathered her in his arms and flew swiftly to the shore for fear of accident. He could feel her heart racing against his side. She was breathing abnormally fast and clinging onto him for dear life. Harry whispered into her ear.

"Shhh, it's ok. I promise that I'll never let anything hurt you."

And it was in that moment that Harry made that promise that he swore to himself that he'd never let any harm come to her, even if it cost him his life. He'd lost her once, he didn't want to again.

They landed on the wet dirt. Hermione's arm was wrapped tightly around his neck. He pried her arm off and she relaxed, blinking up at him through the rain. Harry's breath caught in his chest.

Warm brown eyes looked up at him, holding a spark that he hadn't seen since that day on Platform 9 3/4.

"Harry?"