Angels Among Us

Angels Among Us

Chapter 3: The Great Forgiver

Hermione had to stay in the hospital for a whole week. Madame Pomfrey absolutely refused to let Harry stay any longer than the first night. "You have classes, Mr. Potter. Miss Granger needs her rest. You can come back and visit her after dinner each day she is here and between 8:00AM and 8:00PM on Saturday and Sunday."

Harry visited her every day. He brought her all of her homework from all of her classes. Harry started taking almost Hermione quality notes, even in History of Magic. He used the duplicating charm and made copies of them for Hermione.

"Can you make me a copy too?" asked Ron.

"Ron, you've got two perfectly good arms. Why don't you start taking your own notes?"

"Why bother, when I know you and Hermione both take pretty good notes?"

"Look, you're in the classes, you can take your own notes for a change. Hermione's in the hospital wing. She can't take her own. Don't be so lazy."

"Fine, be that way. Some friend you are." Ron stormed out of the great hall.

"I'll talk to him later." Harry finished eating and then went up to the hospital wing to see Hermione.

Draco was finally awake when Harry got to the hospital wing that evening. "What do you want, Potter? Come to get a good gloat that you're a better and stronger angel than I am?"

"I find nothing to gloat about when I nearly kill you."

"Why didn't you? I wouldn't have thought twice about it if I were in your shoes."

"That's what makes you a Dark Angel. You'd kill someone, me I'd rather forgive than kill."

"That's what also makes you a loser Potter."

"Make no mistake Malfoy, I showed mercy once, no more. If you ever attack Hermione or myself again, I will not forgive -- I will kill."

Harry turned and walked over to Hermione's bed. "Hi," he said piling her books on the nightstand.

"Hi," Hermione replied, "So what did I miss today?"

"Almost every teacher has started their N.E.W.T. reviews. McGonagall went over some of the more basic principals of an Animagi.

Hagrid and Grubly-Plank co-reviewed unicorns.

Oh for Merlin's sake read my notes. They entail everything we did."

"Notes?! You took notes?" Hermione teased.

"Yes."

"Even in History of Magic?"

"Yep."

"What other assignments do I have?"

"You have a test in Arithmancy on Friday. Professor Vector said you can make it up when you get out of here if you're not out on Friday.

You're to read the chapter on the magical properties of Druidic runes and write a three foot essay on why wizards have proven those beliefs to be cometely wrong.

Basically, though, everyone just said to start reviewing for the N.E.W.T.s.

I've color coded your assignments -- red are high priority, blue are medium importance and green are least important."

"Okay. Anything else happen today?"

"Ron's mad at me."

"Why?"

"I refused to duplicate my notes for him. I told him that he could take his own notes for a change instead of relying on you and I to do the work all the time."

"How did he react?"

"He stormed out of the great hall saying 'some friend I was'."

Harry visited with Hermione until Madame Pomfrey kicked him out. "Out you go Mr. Potter. Miss Granger needs her rest."

Once Madame Pomfrey retreated to her office, Harry stroked Hermione's cheek. He placed his lips to hers. "I'll see you tomorrow," he whispered when they broke apart.

"Bye Harry," Hermione replied. Harry removed his hand from Hermione's cheek and started to leave.

"Hey Potter," called Malfoy.

"What do you want, Malfoy?"

"Just to say that was the most sickening display I have ever seen."

"Yeah. Well you'd better remember what I said earlier." Harry left the hospital wing

Harry went up to the Gryffindor common room in hopes that he could repair the damage done to his and Ron's friendship.

Harry saw Ron sitting with Dean and Seamus. He walked over to them. "Hi Ron. Can I talk with you?"

"What do you want Potter?"

"Ron don't take that attitude with me. I'm Head Boy and I can deduct house points and I will. Yes, even from my own house."

"Whatever you say Mr. Head Boy," Ron said sarcastically.

"I warned you Weasley. Five points from Gryffindor. Any more lip and I will double it."

Ron stood up. In his anger his 6'7" towered over Harry's 6' even. "I'm busy right now. We'll talk later," said Ron putting his face up to Harry's.

"Ten more points from Gryffindor. If you smart-mouth me again it will be twenty. We'll talk now Ron." By that time people had started to stare at them.

"Fine, up in the dorm, not down here." Ron turned and went up the staircase to the boy's dorms. Harry followed.

"Why did you do that to me -- take away 15 house points from me?"

"Because you were being stubborn and obstinate and rude. I didn't like pulling rank on you like that, but I felt it needed to be done.

I only wanted to talk to you about the notes."

"You're going to duplicate them for me?"

"I'll do it this once, but starting tomorrow I want you to take your own notes. Hermione and I won't always be around to take the notes or to do the work for you. You must learn to do things for yourself."

"Okay." Harry turned and started to leave the dorms. "And Harry..."

"Yes Ron."

"Sorry for mouthing off to you like that."

"Not a problem. 20 points for Gryffindor." Harry gave Ron a wink and left the dorm. He would have taken the secret passage from the common room to th HB/HG suite except for the fact that the common room was still full of people.

Besides, he was Head Boy. He had his rounds to make, as well as patrolling Hermione's corridors. (They split the castle in half. Each would patrol a certain set of corridors and alternate every second evening.)

It was fortunate that Harry still had the Marauders' Map. He could easily see which students were out after curfew.

Harry exited the common room through the portrait hole. He looked to see if any teachers, Filch or Mrs. Norris was around. The hallway was clear.

He pulled the seemingly blank piece of parchment from his pocket. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good," he said and tapped his wand against the parchment.

After a few seconds all of Hogwarts was displayed. He saw Crabbe and Goyle heading for the hospital wing.

Harry took a secret passage and came out just across the hall from the hospital wing doors. Within a few minutes, Crabbe and Goyle came around the bend.

Harry stepped out of the shadows. "What are you two doing here?" he asked.

"None of your business Potter," snapped Crabbe.

"It is my business seeing as it's past curfew and I'm Head Boy. Now spill or I'll start deducting house points."

Crabbe and Goyle cracked their knuckles threateningly. "Are you threatening me?!" asked Harry, "Ten points from Slytherin -- five for each of you. Now what are you doing here?"

Crabbe and Goyle remained silent. "Twenty points from Slytherin. Now get back to your dormitory or it will be forty more!"

"Let's go Goyle. We'll visit Malfoy some other time."

"Visiting hours ended an hour ago. Come back after dinner tomorrow."

As Harry made his rounds, he met up with Dumbledore. "Hello Professor," said Harry.

"Hello Harry. Can I see you in my office?"

"Sure." Harry followed Dumbledore to his office.

Neither spoke until they reached the oak door of the office. "Harry, I have done some research. There was a prophecy made by the Angel Lord in Medieval times. The prophecy stated that Angel of Light would be born that could forgive Dark Angels and allow them to join the Order of Light.

Harry, I think you are that angel."

"What makes you say that?"

"The prophecied angel won't kill unless he or she had no other choice. You never killed Mr. Malfoy.

The prophecied angel is also supposed to have a marking along the edges of his or her wings. May I see your wings Harry?"

Harry removed his robes and shirt. He spread his wings. They were pure white except for a red and goldish stripe along the bottom edge.

"There's no doubting it Harry. You are the Great Forgiver that was prophecied. You are marked as such. I have no further need of you to be here. You may be on your way Potter."

Harry folded his his wings and made them invisible. He slipped his shirt and robes on. He left Dumbledore's office. Once he was in the hall he checked the Marauders' Map.

No one else was out and about so Harry went to the Head Boy/Head Girl suite and started on his homework.

* * *

As the days passed, Harry frequently visited Hermione. Each visit, Harry noticed that she was recovering a little bit more.

On the Saturday following the attack Harry was heading for the hospital wing after breakfast. He turned down the hallway that the infirmary was on and saw Hermione leave.

Harry ran up to her. "Hey 'Mione," he said.

"Hi Harry."

"So Madame Pomfrey is letting you leave is she?"

"Yes. She said I was well enough and that there was nothing else she could do for me."

"That's good. I missed you in the HB/HG suite."

"What did we have for breakfast?"

"Your choice -- cold cereal, oatmeal, toast, bacon, eggs, hashbrowns -- you know, same as usual."

"Good. I'm starved. The meals we had here were cold." They walked down to the great hall. They sat across from each other.

Harry watched as Hermione loaded her plate then shoved forkful after forkful into her mouth. She barely swallowed one mouthful and the next forkful was in her mouth.

"That's a good impersonation of Ron you know," said Harry.

Hermione tried to give Harry one of her evil eyes, but with her cheeks bulging with food, Harry burst out laughing.

Hermione swallowed and tried again. This time Harry stopped laughing. "Just bugging you 'Mione. Don't take it so seriously. Besides that's what you looked like -- Ron at meal times. You know what he's like."

Hermione bulged out her cheeks and made chewing motions. Harry burst out laughing. "That's exactly what he looks like," Harry said in between giggles.

Hermione composed herself just as Ron entered the great hall. "Cool it Harry. Here comes Ron."

Harry composed himself just as Ron walked up and sat beside Hermione. "Welcome back Hermione," said Ron as he loaded his plate, "What's the matter Harry? Aren't you hungry?"

"I ate earlier Ron. I just came back to visit with Hermione while she ate."

"Oh," Ron replied in between forkfuls.

* * *

Ron, Harry and Hermione spent the day doing things the trio usually did before Harry and Hermione had the duties of Head Boy and Head Girl. They walked around the grounds, they visited Hagrid, they played Exploding Snap. They did everything that friends do and basked in each others' friendship.