Happy Birthday to the most amazing tomione-shipping twin I could ever ask for! I love you Brenda, you're amazing and crazy so you better enjoy your day. ♥ And yes, I finished Ultima Ratio already, and yes I cried at so many parts.
Hermione gasped and choked as she tried to breathe again. The world welcomed her back. And it did so with pain. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut as she struggled for air. Her chest hurt. It burned like fire with every breath she took. There was the metallic taste of blood in her mouth. Her whole body felt so heavy and hurt all over. Her breathing was shallow and painful but Hermione was glad to be able to breathe at all. Slowly, things were starting to make sense. She had a body. It might hurt but that also meant that she could feel again. She could breathe.
She was alive.
Next she realized that she was lying somewhere. Hermione felt incredibly weak but she opened her eyes anyway. She was instantly met by wide, scared grey eyes. Then a fearful voice spoke to her,
"Hermione?"
She blinked slowly, trying to concentrate. It was difficult as she was so tired but then a figure swam into focus before her. Hermione recognized Tom. He was crouched down beside her. One hand was extended towards her but he didn't touch her. It looked as if he were too scared to touch her. As if he expected her to suddenly disappear should he touch her.
A smile stole on Hermione's face as she looked up at Tom. He seemed to be so incredibly scared. She had never seen him like this before. His grey eyes were fixed on her and she could see the panic and fear in them. She wanted to tell him that he didn't need to be so scared. That everything was okay. But she still felt so weak and tired. So, the only thing she could croak out was,
"… Tom…"
There was something flickering in his eyes as he heard her voice. It looked as if until now Tom hadn't really believed that she was here. Now he hastily wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up a little, pressing her against his chest. Hermione felt how his body shook. He pulled her so tightly against him as if he intended to never let her go again. Her arms felt like lead but she still raised them and slid them around him. No words left her as Hermione held to him just as tightly as he held to her. She didn't intend to ever let Tom go either.
Excerpt from Chapter 53 of Ultima Ratio by Winterblume.
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