The Depth of a Friendship

A/N: This hasn't been beta'd so I apologise. Just want to know what you guys think... kinda fluff at the moment... but will get HOT when Harry realises he needs more than touch to help him sleep.

Written from Hermione's POV.

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Chapter 1:

Let me get a few things straight. The reason I study so hard isn’t because I strive to be the brightest-witch-of-my-age. Its because I’m scared. I’m scared for my family… my friends. What if I don’t know a counter spell to something that could potentially kill someone I love.
If….If I study… then I feel stronger. If I know everything, then I would feel powerful enough to protect the ones I love.

At night I make sure I wear sensible clothing in case something happens and we have to get up quickly. I put my wand under my pillow, and make sure I have everything in my bag packed and ready to go.
I always sleep uneasily… thinking about what Harry’s going through. Poor Harry, if I could carry some of his burdens I would.


Friday:

A week has gone by, and Harry still hadn’t slept. Ron, Harry and I were sitting by the fire place in the common room watching the fire.

It was the second night in a row he hadn’t gone to his dorm. He just sat on the couch, his eyelids so heavy that they would droop then suddenly open again. He didn’t want to sleep, he knew what was waiting for him.

Ron and I looked at each other with resigned hopelessness.
“I’m going to bed now Harry… wanna come up?” Ron tried everything he could to get Harry to bed, but everytime Harry refused.

“Its ok Ron. I might just stay here for a bit longer.” Ron got up… not really wanting to, but decided he’d better get to bed anyway. It was already 1am.

As Ron walked up to the boys dormitory, he shrugged at Hermione. She just replied with a sad smile. They both cared about Harry beyond anything they ever felt. They both would do anything for him… but this. There was nothing they could do.

Hermione got up from her chair and sat down on the couch next to Harry. The bags under his eyes were deep and heavy. It seemed every move he made pained him.

Hermione put a cushion on her lap. Harry looked at her. She smiled, but he turned his head back towards the fire without any acknowledgement.
His head now resting on his hand, his elbow resting on the arm of the couch. His face started to slid down his hand, but he abrubtly woke and adjusted himself.

“Harry… just lie down for a minute.” Hermione patted her cushion on her lap.

He tiredly looked at her “Just… just for a minute.” He shifted his body and lay his head down on her lap. His eyes closed before he even hit the cushion.

Hermione ran her hands through his hair to comfort him. Pulling slightly to ease the tension. Hermione listened to his breathing, watching his face glistening in the fire light. His breathing shallowed and he curled up almost in a fetal position on the couch. Hermione touched his face to sooth him, as a mother would with her child. Lovingly feeling his scar beneath her finger tips. 'Poor Harry.'

She removed his glasses, and set them aside on table. He didn’t move. Hermione smiled. 'Finally' She thought. She lay her head back on the couch and closed her eyes. 'If he has a nightmare… at least I’m here for him. I pray to the gods he doesn’t. He needs to sleep.'

Hermione had a good sleep considering. She didn’t feel uneasy, she felt safe and secure having Harry so near. He is an amazingly strong and powerful wizard, it didn’t surprise her that she felt this way.

Hermione woke from someone coming down the stairs. Thump, thump, thump. She put her hand over Harry’s ear to shield the volume.

As soon as she saw who was responsible, she lifted a finger to her lips to silent him. It was a 1st year dressed in his school robes. She looked outside, and it was raining hard. The little light outside suggested that they got through the night. She looked down at Harry and smiled, running her hand through his hair once again.

The 1st year looked at them both. She smiled at the first year and he smiled back. Everyone at Hogwarts was worried about Harry. Everyone knew he hadn’t slept, and everyone did anything they could around him… for instance, if he was on his own, they would be as quite as possible, just in case. Give him glasses of hot milk… even offer a dreamless sleeping draught. Which he refused everytime. As bad as the dreams were, they could still be important… possibly even save another life. Though he still hated to sleep.

The 1st year went back upstairs quietly. From the way the other boys came down the stairs for breakfast, it was obvious he had told them all.

Ron came down pretty soon after that – his hair still askew. He smiled when he saw Harry in her lap asleep. “I’ll get Dobby to bring you some breakfast.” Off he went.

Dobby appeared shortly after with cup of coffee and two pieces of toast. She thanked him quietly. “Is there anything else Dobby can do for you miss?” She smiled.

“Actually Dobby, you know how I hate to ask you to do things, but I was wondering if you could get a blanket for Harry, and possibly start the fire again.” Dobby looked at Harry lying there, goosebumps on his arms as he hugged himself.

“Dobby would do anything to help Harry miss.” With a click of his fingers, the fire started and a blanket appeared. Dobby had disappeared under it, and almost looked as if the blanket was moving on its own. Dobby succeeded in putting the blanket over Harry, which Hermione tried to help without waking Harry.

“If there anything else miss?” Dobby asked. His face pleading to do anything for them both.

“Perhaps I could call you when Harry wakes? He may get a little hungry.”

“No problem miss. Just whisper my name, and I’ll be here.”

“Thank you Dobby.” With a quite pop! he disappeared.

Hermione drank her coffee slowly, enjoying every bit of it. Occasionally nippling on a piece of toast. She was never that hungry in the morning.

Ron came up 20 mins later. “You ok?” he asked quietly.

“Yeah.”

“I told McGonagall about you two. She said you’re welcome to stay up here for as long as you need. She agrees that Harry needs to keep sleeping.”

“That’s nice, thank her for me.”

“Is there anything you need?” Harry shifted and pulled the blanket closer around him. Hermione shook her head, and mouthed ‘No. Thank you though.’ Ron smiled and walked away.

Hermione patted his head again, and Harry’s breathing shallowed. Almost purring with content. Hermione rested her head on the back of couch, looking out the window. It was nice to just stay in, with weather as bad as it was. She will miss a lot of classes today, but it didn’t matter.

Time passed slowly. She looked at her watch, it was 12.30pm. Lunchtime. She was surprised no one came up to the common room. Usually a few people did. Perhaps news has got around about Harry. She smiled at the thought. Everyone cared so much about Harry… she wondered if he even knew.

Dobby appeared with soup and bread. He set it beside Hermione on the table with a glass of pumpkin juice.

“Thank you Dobby.”

“Pleasure is mine miss.” Dobby vanished, and Hermione turned towards her soup.

Perhaps it was the smell of the soup, or the way her body ackwardly turned for every spoonful, but Harry opened his eyes. She set her spoon down and patted his hair. He just stared into the fire. He yawned and shut his eyes again, but Hermione could tell by his breathing he wasn’t fully asleep. She stayed like that, her fingers running through his hair.

“What time is it?” He asked, surprising Hermione. He had his eyes closed still.

“Its 1pm. Are you hungry?” He opened his eyes, and sat up. Hermione’s lap felt as if it was floating. She didn’t realise how much weight was actually in her lap.

“1pm?” He looked out the window. “but… how…1pm?” Hermione nodded. “Dobby?” she said. Dobby appeared instantly.

“Oh Dobby is glad to see his Harry awake. Is Harry Potter hungry ?” Harry looked at Hermione. She lifted her soup from the table to her lap.

“Its chicken soup with noodles.” She said taking a spoonful into her mouth.

“Um… yeah actually that would be nice. Thank you Dobby.” He vanished and reappeared with a speed that seemed as if he didn’t even leave at all. He handed Harry the soup. Harry thanked him and with a pop! He disappeared.

After eating his soup he turned to Hermione. Hermione couldn’t help but smile at his hair all sticking up. Harry noticed and he tried to flatten it down. Failing miserably.

“So… slept right through?” he asked eyeing her suspiciously.

“Yep.”

“And you didn’t give me anything… or conquer anything?” Hermione smiled.

“Nope.”

“Then… how?” Hermione just shrugged.

“McGonagall said we could stay up here for as long as we need.” Harry smiled.
“Really? That’s nice.” Realisation hit him. “Shit Hermione! You missed classes… I’m sorry.. you should have woken me.”

Hermione shook her head. “Its not important. You’re important Harry. You needed to sleep, so I stayed. You would have done the same if it were me.” Harry smiled.

“You’re right. I would’ve.” He hugged her. “Thank you Hermione.”

“What are friends for aye?”

Harry and Hermione decided to have a shower and meet back down in the common room for a game of chess. Hermione wanted to be there for Harry. He seemed fragile to her. Although she would have loved to have gone to class, she knew she could ask the professors for class notes.

Their game lasted a while, with Harry only barely winning. Harry seemed energized and happy for the first time in a long while. Both were laughing and having a great time.

Harry invited Hermione upstairs and ate the rest of chocolate frogs, letting them jump around so they had to catch them.

Classes had finished for the day and people started to fill the common room. Everybody kept waving to Harry, happy to see him smile.

Ron, Hermione and Harry walked down for dinner. Everything seemed normal… if there was ever such a thing.

Hermione kept looking at Harry. Constantly worrying about him. She caught him yawn, in which he smiled through it.

Once back at the common room, Harry started getting tired again, and the tension grew strong. Hermione silently prepared herself for another night on the couch, retrieving a novel from her room, using the bathroom for the night, wearing comfortable yet warm PJ’s

The three of them sat by the fire again.

“I’m off to bed… you coming?” Ron asked Harry. The look in Ron’s eye was almost pleading. 'Please Harry… just go to bed.' Ron thought.

“Yeah… I think I might.” Harry got and started to go. “You coming?” Harry asked turning to Hermione. She gave him a questioning look, while Ron gave her a confused look. She didn’t question Harry, she just got up and followed them.

Once in the boys dorm room, Harry undressed down to his boxers – Hermione turned around quickly in which she turned to see Ron doing the same thing. She turned back around and Harry was already lying down in bed. He’d moved to one side giving her room. She turned and looked at Ron. His face hard to read.

She got under the blankets, and looked at Harry. He was lying there eyes closed, but obviously not asleep. He looked rather deep in thought. She wanted to comfort him, ease him. But the situation just seemed… well weird.

Harry curled up in a ball, his kness touching Hermione’s thigh. It reminded her of a child… it was then she thought… Harry had never been able to be a child.
She couldn’t imagine never having someone get excited when she took her first step… or when someone said ‘nose’ and you touched your nose then erupt into choruses of ‘Good Boy!’. Imagine waking from a horrible dream and not being able to have someone make you feel safe. Harry never had anyone read him a story at night… never had anyone to comfort him when fell over. Hermione had tears in her eyes. She looked up at Ron… almost asking for permission for what she was about to do. He was still staring, lots of thoughts racing through is mind.

She sat up and little, put her arm under Harry’s neck positioning his head on her shoulder and upper chest. She pushed his hair back with her other hand and whispered. “Its ok Harry. I’m here. Go to sleep now.” Harry curled up closer to her, putting his arm around her waist. His leg almost over hers.

Harry made a comforting sound and soon fell fast asleep. Hermione waited until his breathing shallowed before she even thought of going to sleep. With one last look at Ron’s sleeping form, she closed her eyes and drifted into confusing yet wonderful dreams. Dreams of safety and sercurity… dreams where it seemed so unlike the real world.

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Saturday:

Ron woke early the next morning. He didn’t know how to feel about it. Should he be mad? Should he be glad? Should be feeling like this? like he’s being left out?

He looked over at them. Harry was spooning Hermione, both their hands intertwined. Both peaceful. He got up not able to watch them sleep. He didn’t wake them, just left without a word.

Hermione woke up first. Smile spreading across her face. Harry holding her like this seemed right – She didn’t want to think of him in that way... She felt she would be betraying her friendship somehow if she did. But it didn’t stop her from enjoying the feel of him holding her. He nuzzled closer to her. Holding her tighter. He stiffened all of a sudden, and she knew he had woken. He relaxed after a while, and Hermione couldn’t help but smile. She wriggled and turned around. Harry didn’t let go of his hold on her. They didn’t look at each other. She just snuggled down to his chest, pressing her cheek against his skin. Harry’s hand patted her head like she did with him. She smiled, and closed her eyes.

It was a while before Hermione moved. Nature calling she got up and relieved herself.
She came back to see Harry now in his pants with a t-shirt over his shoulder. They smiled at each other.

“I’m gonna go have a shower… meet you down in the hall?” he asked.

“Yeah.” She smiled. She walked out the door descended the stairs.

“Hermione!” Hermione turned to look up at Harry. His t-shirt just being pulled over his head “Thank you.” He smiled a genuinely big smile. Adjusting his top at the same time.

“Anytime Harry.” Hermione then walked to the girls dormitories with a big smile on her face. Oblivious to the looks of shock around the common room.

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Down in the hall. Ron was just picking at his food. Talk and whispering seemed to surround him. Hermione walked in. Ron looked back quickly to his food. The whispering stopped… peoples eyes on them both.

Hermione sat opposite him, collecting a piece of toast for her plate.

“You ok Ron?” She asked, knowing perfectly well he felt ackward about it all.

“Fine.” He filled his mouth with food hoping it would cease the conversation.

“Harry needed to sleep Ron.... Please don’t be mad… it would have been you if you weren’t… a guy, you know that right?” He just looked at her lamely. How was he suppose to reply to that?

Harry walked in and sat down next to Ron. Some how Ron brightened at this.
'Harry chose to sit next to me… and not Hermione. Is this a competition now?' Ron thought. 'I’m being stupid aren’t I. So what if Hermione sleeps next to Harry… doesn’t mean anything, She’s just being a good friend…. Right?'