Harry Potter and the Shadow War

Chapter 10 - Recovery

Hermione awoke several hours later with a pounding headache. Her injury, it turned out, had not been serious. Like most scalp wounds, it had bled a lot but done no real damage. The doctors had simply stopped the bleeding, washed her hair, and given her some fluids to help her replace the blood she'd lost. Once she was awake and the doctors were satisfied that her brain was functioning normally, they released her. She refused to leave Medlab, however, as Ron was still unconscious. The others had told her what had happened, and she wouldn't leave his bedside except when absolutely necessary. Her meals were brought there, and the little sleep she got was taken in the chair beside his bed. Harry and Ginny had been there at first, of course, but Ginny couldn't handle seeing her brother like that for long.

"I've never seen him so still in my whole life," she'd said, and Harry had taken her away. Hermione didn't even know where they were staying now.

Ron did lay unnaturally still in his unconsciousness, and Hermione tried not to think about how pale and drawn he looked. It bothered her, too, but she had to be there when he woke up. She didn't allow herself to think that he might not. He'd apparently had some internal bleeding, but the wounds had miraculously closed themselves before he even got to Medlab. Fortunately, the doctors had been able to obtain enough information from his external injuries to synthesize blood for him. Hermione was grateful for that, as she knew Ginny would have been the most likely match for a transfusion. She couldn't imagine having to tell Mrs. Weasley that her daughter had had to give blood to save her youngest son, especially if it hadn't worked. In fact, if Hermione hadn't been so concerned about Ron, she would have found the medical practices of this time period fascinating.

Hermione had surreptitiously done a few healing spells on Ron. She'd been secretive not so much to hide the fact that she was a witch as to not offend the doctors, in case they were to figure out what she was doing. In any case, she didn't know that much healing magic, so she had to trust to advanced Muggle medicine and Ron's own inner strength. The doctors saw no reason that he wouldn't recover. After all, he was young and healthy, and his breathing and pulse rates were steady.

"Maybe your stubbornness will do you some good," she said, tears in her eyes. "Keep fighting."

Hermione held Ron's cool hand and talked to him almost constantly, in case he could hear her. She reminded him of experiences they'd shared, told him things she'd learned about the station and its inhabitants, and, when she ran out of things to say, she recited passages from Hogwarts, A History.

By the second day, Hermione's tears had dried up, but she continued her vigil. At some point in the middle of the day, she must have dozed off because she awoke to find a stranger sitting in a chair near her. He was an alien, a Narn by the look of him. She knew this because there were plenty of them in Medlab. His appearance initially startled her, but she saw that he had small glasses perched on his nose and was reading a thick, ancient-looking book. This reassured her. He seemed to sense her gaze because he looked up and removed his glasses.

"I'm sorry," he said in a deep, soothing voice. "I hope I didn't startle you. I'm glad you're awake. I am Citizen G'Kar, of Narn. You may not be aware that I wanted to speak with you and your friends."

Hermione shook her head.

"Well, I heard of your extraordinary abilities and hoped you might be willing to help my people. You see, we are oppressed by another race. They conquered us some time ago, and we are reduced to an underground resistance, trying to throw them from our homeworld. I was forced to request asylum from Captain Sheridan. If I were to leave this station, I would quickly be arrested by the Centauri, tortured, and probably executed."

Hermione was horrified.

"I'm-I'm sorry," she managed, unsure of what else to say. She tried to imagine not being able to go home. "Why do they want you so badly?"

"Many reasons, but it's not important," G'Kar said, waving off her apology. "I only tell you this to explain my interest in you. I had hoped that you might be willing to help my people with your talents. I have already spoken with your other friends, however, and after reflection and meditation, I believe that you all have a greater purpose. My people will have to regain their independence on their own. This is, perhaps, as it should be. It had occurred to me, of course, that I might be able to collect blood samples from one or more of you. We could use that to determine the genetic code that makes you the way you are and introduce it into our own race. All of our telepaths were wiped out a thousand years ago, and this might have proved just as beneficial. However, such an enterprise would take generations, even assuming it were possible, and I think you have lost enough blood between you."

Hermione was confused.

"I don't mean to be rude, but if you have nothing to ask of us, why are you here?" she asked.

"Primarily curiosity. I understand that you have destroyed one of the Ancient Enemy. I was anxious to meet anyone who could do that." G'Kar gestured towards the motionless figure on the bed. "Is he the one that went after it directly?"

"That's what they tell me. I was already unconscious by then. I don't doubt it, though." The tears Hermione had thought were gone now prickled again behind her eyes.

"Strange. He doesn't look much like a warrior."

"He is, though," Hermione said, a little more forcefully than she might have intended. "He's a great fighter because we've needed him to be. I don't think he knew what he was getting into when he befriended Harry Potter more than five years ago. Harry wouldn't have survived this long without his loyalty and support, and he's helped save my life more than once."

Hermione had surprised herself with this speech, and she fell silent for a moment. When G'Kar didn't say anything, though, she continued, in a softer voice.

"He can't leave us now. We need him." I need him, she added silently. Again, there was silence for a while. At last, G'Kar spoke.

"Tell him," he said, and Hermione looked up to see that red, piercing gaze boring into her. "Tell him how you feel about him."

"I-I don't know what to say," Hermione said, looking away.

"I think you do."

"I don't even know if he can hear me."

"That doesn't matter. I have lost many people through war, and I have learned that it is never too soon to tell someone what he or she means to you. All too often, it becomes too late before you have the chance. It sounds as though you are facing war in your own world. Even if you all make it through this, there will be other dangers. Tell him. Whether he can hear you or not, you will feel better knowing that his spirit, at least, may be listening."

Hermione let these words sink into her for a few seconds. Then she looked up at G'Kar and nodded slowly.

"Excellent. Well, I shall intrude upon you no longer." He took his book in one hand, glasses in another, and pressed them to his chest, giving her a short bow. "It was a pleasure to meet you."

After he had left, Hermione turned back to the bed. She took Ron's hand and at last uttered the words she had never dared to speak aloud, not even late at night when her dorm mates were asleep.

"Ron, I love you," she whispered. Then, she gathered her strength and spoke more strongly. "I love you. I'm not sure when it happened. I suppose it would be very dramatic to say that I fell in love with you the first time I saw you, but I can't say that's true. It crept up on me slowly, so that I didn't even notice it. One morning, I just woke up to realize that you were the first thing I thought of when my eyes opened, the last thing I thought of before going to sleep. I wanted to be with you as much as possible. I couldn't even concentrate on my schoolwork sometimes. Please don't leave me. I need you. I love you."

The last words were quiet but firm, and she looked down at the two joined hands, drained with the effort of what she had just said and wondering if she would have to do it again someday when Ron was conscious. Suddenly, the hand she held squeezed hers, and she looked up quickly to see blue eyes gazing at her steadily.

"I love you, too," Ron rasped. Then he swallowed, and his brow furrowed in confusion. "Why...is my mouth...so dry?"

Hermione scarcely heard him. She stood up and bounced on the balls of her feet, uncertain what to do. Although she had been hoping for this to happen, she hadn't really prepared for it.

"Ron! You're awake, you're alive, you're..." Hermione trailed off, not knowing quite what to say. "Hang on, I should tell someone."

Forgetting that there was a communication device near the bed, she exited the curtained area and grabbed the first staff person she saw.

"He's awake," she said with all the eloquence she could muster, pointing at Ron.

The technician peered in, checked the computer display, said, "I'll get the doctor," and left again. Hermione noticed that Ron was trying to push himself up.

"No, don't," she said quickly. "Here, let me...." She found the controls on the side of the bed and managed to slowly adjust it so that Ron was in more of a sitting position.

"Is that better?" she asked. A small part of her brain told her to try and say something more intelligent, but the rest was too relieved and happy to care.

Ron nodded, but added, "Everything hurts, though." At this point, Dr. Hobbs entered.

"Glad to see you up," the doctor said pleasantly. "How do you feel?"

"Like I've been hit repeatedly with a Bludger," Ron replied. Dr. Hobbs looked at him blankly, then turned to Hermione with a questioning expression."

"Like he's been hit by a motorbus," Hermione translated, hoping that motorbuses weren't so obsolete that the doctor wouldn't understand that, either.

"Ah," said Dr. Hobbs, seeming to comprehend. She viewed the displays of his vital statistics and began to check him over as she continued speaking. "Well, that's to be expected. Anything else?"

"I'm really thirsty. And hungry. Could I get something to eat?"

Hermione couldn't help but smile. This was her Ron, all right.

"I think I can arrange that," the doctor answered, a faint smile hovering at her mouth as well. She continued to examine him, asking him where he hurt the most and so on. When that was finished, she asked some basic questions such as his name, birth date, and if he knew where he was. Apparently satisfied, she told Ron that she would like him to stay at least one more day and that she would send a meal in shortly. "I'll also tell your other friends that you are awake."

"Another day? How long have I been here?" Ron asked once the doctor had left.

"You were unconscious for about a day and a half." Hermione could no longer contain her happiness. She awkwardly hugged him. "I'm so glad you're back!"

It wasn't enough; she needed something more to relieve her feelings. So, she kissed him, full on the mouth. Ron responded to her quickly, and she found herself using the moment to pour out all of her relief, concern, and love. Hermione's mind seemed to separate from her body, and she lost all sense of time.

After what seemed an eternity, although it was probably only a few seconds, Hermione broke the kiss and sank back into the chair, breathless. Ron kept his eyes closed for a moment, then opened them, grinned, and gazed at her with such intensity that Hermione was glad that she was sitting down.

"Wow," Ron breathed softly. Before anything more could be said, though, they heard the voice of someone approaching.

"Excuse me, but is everything all right in here?" said the nurse as she entered.

"Of-of course," Hermione said, trying not to sound as flustered as she felt. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"The computer just recorded a sudden increase in your heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature," the nurse responded, turning to Ron. Hermione felt a blush rise to her cheeks. She had done all that to him? She cursed herself inwardly for choosing such an inopportune time for her emotional display.

A blush crept up Ron's face, as well, and Hermione was dismayed that he even looked pale when he was flushed.

"Are you sure you're all right?" the nurse asked again.

"I'm fine," Ron said shortly. The nurse looked at him narrowly, then nodded and took her leave. It might have been Hermione's imagination, but she thought she saw a ghost of a smile on the woman's face.

"I'm sorry," Hermione said quietly when they were alone again. "That was probably not the best time. Are you really okay?"

"Are you joking? It was amazing! I'd stay here forever if I could wake up like that every morning." Ron suddenly seemed to realize what he'd said, and he reddened again. "That is...I mean, er..."

"It's okay. I understand," Hermione interrupted, wanting to ease his discomfort. There was an awkward silence for a moment.

"I think Harry must have been doing it wrong," Ron commented at last.

"What?" Hermione responded, truly lost.

"You know, kissing. It's wonderful! Not at all like he described."

"Oh. Thank you. I thought so, too," said Hermione shyly. Then she fell silent again.

Searching for a new topic, Ron noticed something affixed to his left hand.

"What's this?" he asked.

"They've been putting fluids directly into your bloodstream to help replace the blood you lost. There's also glucose to keep your blood sugar level up. Your mother would doubtless not approve."

The two grinned at each other, remembering how upset Mrs. Weasley had been upon discovering that her husband had experimented with Muggle medicine.

"Anyway, they'll probably remove it once you eat and get your digestive system going again," Hermione said clinically. Then she took Ron's hand and said, with admirable British understatement, "It's nice to have you back."

***

The following day, Captain Sheridan and Delenn stopped by Medlab to see Ron and the others. Hermione had actually left the previous evening to get a real night's sleep. However, she was back, along with Harry and Ginny. After an exchange of pleasantries, Sheridan got down to business.

"The good news first," said Sheridan. "Our mission to engage Shadow vessels and attempt to disrupt them with telepaths was a success. Now we know we have a weapon we can use to weaken them."

"So you won't need us?" Hermione asked.

"I wouldn't turn down any help at this point, but...well, we'll get to that later. You know, I've never heard of anyone attacking a Shadow with their bare hands before," he commented to Ron.

"I don't recommend it," Ron replied ruefully, grimacing at the insanity of what he had done. "I don't know what came over me."

"I do," said Ginny, smiling at him both fondly and exasperatedly. "And it's why we all love you so. Of course, it also makes us out of our minds with worry."

Harry put his arm around Ginny's shoulders and gave her a quick, sideways hug. Their friendship had deepened during all the time they'd had alone together recently, but he was still confused about the way he was beginning to see her. He also had no idea how Ron might react if he knew how Harry was starting to feel about Ginny. He'd seemed open to it last year, but Harry thought it best to take things slowly. Besides, she was still dating Dean. At least, Harry thought she was, but she hadn't mentioned him once since they'd been here. Harry was inexperienced with relationships, but that still seemed odd.

"Anyway," the captain continued, "you've received an unusual invitation. As soon as you are fit to travel, Draal wants you to come and visit him." He looked closely at the four young people, as though expecting some kind of reaction. When they all regarded him with blank stares, he shrugged and turned to Delenn.

"There is a planet below the station," she explained. "Two years ago, we learned that it is actually a large machine, operated by a sentient being at its core. At that time, the person at the heart of the machine had been there too long and was no longer able to work it properly. A Minbari named Draal, my mentor and friend, agreed to take the burden. He appeared to me yesterday and asked me to invite you all down to the planet. He seemed to know you."

"I've never heard of him," Harry answered truthfully. The others murmured agreement.

"Well, he's a friend and ally, but it's up to you whether you want to go," Sheridan said.

The four kids looked at each other and shrugged.

"Why not?" asked Harry, who was actually a little stir-crazy after being completely surrounded by steel for several days. What he really wanted to do was get on a broomstick and fly around for a while. He supposed that a ride in a spaceship was the closest he'd be able to come out here.

"It sounds fascinating," Hermione agreed, her eyes lighting up with the thought of acquiring new knowledge.

"Good," Sheridan answered. "As soon as the doctors say it's all right, I'll assign a pilot to take you down there."