Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter and any of the elements of J K Rowling’s world.

Warning: Unbetaed (Is the word even correct??)

The room was in the dark since the thick curtains were getting in the way of the weak sunbeams to light the room.

Near the window there was a bed, in which a pale young woman was lying, and could barely move, connected to every kind of devices to monitor her. One of them was zooming repeatedly in her companion’s ears. The steady beeps were interrupting his rest.

Knowing he couldn’t sleep, he got up from the uncomfortable chair he was sitting on and went out to the wide corridors of the hospital to walk.

Once he was out, he went to the coffee machine in the smoking room. There, he lit a cigarette, even when he usually didn’t smoke, with a surprising calmness, and he drank a sip from the glass he was holding in his left hand.

He finished his cigarette, and went back to the room. The wide corridors, however, became a narrow and never-ending path to his misfortune. Step by step he felt more anguished.

It had been a whole week since his beautiful girlfriend had gone into a coma. The doctors told him that in the accident, caused by a drunk driver, she bumped her head very badly, and lost conscience. Then she went into that pathological condition.

He hadn’t known anything until that same night, when he arrived after a difficult week of Death Eater sightings around Europe. He thought it was strange when he came back to an empty apartment. He called Hermione’s mother then, Helen, who, in tears, informed him of the accident. He hung up the phone and flew to the Muggle hospital.

While he was driving, he remembered moments before he left: they were arguing.

Tears rolled down his cheeks while he was remembering, and regretting, that awful spat. He felt guilty for not having said how much he loved her. Sorry for leaving her in the middle of a heated discussion.

He parked the car, and ran to her room... and there she found her.

Just a couple of hours had passed since he arrived, and absolutely nothing had changed. She didn’t feel the touch of his hands, the taste of his lips...

Sitting on the uncomfortable seat, he was watching his surroundings, not missing any detail. He didn’t want to think of anything bad, even when he couldn’t think of anything good...

Suddenly, unexpectedly, sleep claimed him...

A disturbing sound woke him up. The room was empty: they were the only occupants. He didn’t notice what was happening until a tall man, older and unkind, came into the room, followed by two nurses.

They made him go out, and he discovered where the noise came from: her heart was failing...

Silence reigned in the waiting room. He was alone again, smoking another cigarette, nervously this time.

He thought about what would he do if fate snatched his two little girls...

Author’s note: This was written for a writing contest in my school back in 2003, in Spanish. I have adapted it to my favourite couple. Yes, Hermione is supposed to be pregnant.

I hope you liked it, and review!!

Mery