Harry Potter and the Legacy of Merlin

Chapter 13

Endless Night

Harry opened his eyes slowly. Every part of him ached badly, as if he has been thrashed repeatedly. Wincing, he looked around. The familiar walls greeted him. He groaned and fell back on his pillow.

"Not again," he muttered.

Within a nanosecond, Madam Pomfrey had appeared. Harry looked at her in shock. It was the first time in his life that he'd seen her looking so depressed. Her eyes were red as if she'd cried a lot. She came to him and started her usual fussing, but, Harry noticed, she didn't say anything to him, and her actions were very gentle, as if she was handling a piece of very delicate china.

"Something wrong?" he asked her.

She looked at him and her eyes filled with tears. "Thank Merlin you're safe, Harry...I thought...we thought...we'd lost you forever. Mr. Weasley will be very happy to see that you've finally woken up...not to mention Albus, Remus and Hagrid," she said. Then she smiled, "I don't mind telling you, we all were so worried...Albus nearly had a heart attack, Remus would have starved himself to death if Severus hadn't put the Voracy Charm on him, Hagrid would have drunk himself to death if it hadn't been for Minerva!"

Harry didn't know what to say. He felt guilty that people he cared for so much had to suffer so much because of him.

"What happened to me?"

"I do not know, Harry. Your breathing and pulse stopped suddenly, and then Ms. Granger did something, I don't know what, perhaps Albus does, but she managed to get your heart to beat again. That was five weeks ago. You've been in a magical coma ever since."

"Classes have begun? Oh no, Hermione will...wait a minute, you didn't say anything about her. Where is she?"

Madam Pomfrey suddenly looked away. "She saved you, but at a terrible price to herself. She gave up her magical life force to save you, and the grief and shock that your condition caused to her made her lose her memory," she said softly.

Harry bit his lip and blinked back his tears. "Where is she?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

"St. Mungo's."

Harry Disapparated before she could do anything.

***

Guided by instinct, Harry appeared right in front of Hermione. He thanked his stars that none of the hospital staff were around. Hermione was lying on the bed, her eyes open but unseeing. He walked to her and took up her hand. She turned her face towards him, but her eyes were blank, as if she'd been kissed by a Dementor...

"Do you remember me, Hermione?"

Blank stare.

"Hermione, this is Harry. We used to be friends at Hogwarts, remember?"

Nothing.

Harry couldn't stand it anymore. Tears poured down his face and he sat down next to her. She remained motionless. Harry looked out of the window. It had started raining heavily. A sudden streak of lightning revealed her cure to him. Harry's insides swelled up with happiness. It was dangerous, of course, it would incur a power loss to him, but his friend would be saved. He smiled, picked her up in his arms and Apparated back to Hogwarts. He laid her on the bed next to him and cast a Distracting spell on the hospital wing door to keep off Madam Pomfrey. Then he touched Hermione's forehead with his left hand and cast the spell with the right.

A blinding flash of light burst from his body and hit her on the chest. She sat up, looking dazed, but there was a spark in her eyes as she looked around. Harry smiled to himself and caught a sight of her eyes widening in shock as he collapsed, muttering, "Welcome back, Hermione."

***

Voices. Hushed voices all around him. He recognised Lupin's hoarse voice and Snape's soft one. He sat up and looked around. Both men stopped talking and stared at him for a minute before Lupin enveloped in a hug.

"It's ok, Remus," said Harry quietly. Snape walked over.

"Welcome back, My Lord."

"Professor..."

"Ok, Potter. I hope you don't intend to spend too much time here. You have missed a week of classes. You will have to make up for it."