Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with the Harry Potter series nor do I own any of these characters

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with the Harry Potter series nor do I own any of these characters.

Warning: Contains fem-slash and other mature concepts in later chapters.

Because I Can…

Chapter 7: The Aftermath

When Ginny appeared back at headquarters she was instantly set upon by Harry and Ron who stood in shock at the sight of her. She was cover in blood, some blotches, some spray.

"Oy Ginny! Are you all right?" asked Ron anxiously

"What? Yes I'm fine…" she said flatly "where's Herm…"

"Your clothes Gin…" Harry interrupted breathlessly as he pointed. Ginny looked down at herself "oh…This isn't my blood. Where's Hermione?" she asked keeping her flat tone

"Gin before you see her you need to know a few things" said Harry leading her to sit at a table. Ginny looked around apparently coming out of her fog.

"What happened? She's not…?" Ginny asked anxiously

"NO she's not dead" squeaked Ron as he sat next to her taking her hand. Ginny looked at the two of them.

"Then what?" she pressed

"Madam Pomfrey reversed the Imperious Curse…but it took her a while. It seems Hermione created some protective spells for her own brain. Mostly to repel charms and spells that would make her forget things or confuse her. I guess incase this scenario played out with someone wishing to extract valuable information from her." Explained Harry slowly

"Well isn't that a good thing?" Ginny asked confused

"Normally…yes. But these protective spells…altered the effects of the Imperious Curse." Harry said in monotone.

"Are you saying her memory is gone?" ask Ginny in shock

Harry walked over and sat next to Ginny, who was now positioned between Harry and Ron, they each had one of her hands in theirs. Harry looked over Ginny to Ron who gave him a nod. Harry looked back at Ginny

"What?" Ginny was getting angry

"Ginny…Hermione remembers…everything." Sighed Harry

A moment passed as Ginny processed the information. Then she looked at Harry and her brother.

"How is that possible?" she asked Harry

"She protected herself so well…." Harry trailed off

"Where is she now" Ginny asked

"Well we did as you asked and replicated her flat at the headquarters, brought all of her things here. I don't think she's gonna go for that but I guess now she might. She's in her own bedroom. We put her down past the training rooms. She's working on a new project" said Ron with a slight laugh

"You have her working? I have to see her" Ginny said angrily. As if an after thought Ginny looked around "where's Jinx?" she asked

"That's the project." Harry said

"I know he was hit…but he was alive when you left." Ginny insisted

"Well, he's still alive but when he got hit with that curse in the wing it only threw him off his flight path…or so we thought…now it seems he can't transform back." Ron told her

"Anything else?" Ginny said exasperated

Harry and Ron shook their heads

Ginny stood up and walked down the hall toward Hermione's rooms. When she got there she put her hand on the doorknob then removed it and knocked.

"Come in" came a sweet soft voice. The voice she missed so desperately.

She walked in and saw Hermione sitting at her desk with books and parchments strewn about. Another look reveled the large raven perched on the top of a bookcase. Hermione turned to look at who came in and her eyes widened. Ginny ran to her, dropped to her knees and collapsed into Hermione's lap crying and breathing hysterically.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…we searched for you for weeks and weeks with nothing. We couldn't find you. I thought I'd never see you again. We tore the wizarding world and the Muggle world apart. If it wasn't for Pansy we never would of found…then we did…and you were…and I got so mad…oh Mione can you forgive me. I love you so very much" Ginny sobbed inaudibly

"What?" Hermione asked

Ginny looked up at her eyes full of tears "I love you"

"Oh decided have you?" Hermione said with a hint of sarcasm

"Huh?" Ginny looked confused

"Well the last time I saw you, you told me…and I quote 'I think I love you 'Mione', so now you're sure?" Hermione recited in her old matter-a-fact tone

"I've been sure since the first time you shared my room at the Burrow" Ginny blushed

Hermione blushed and smiled, still stroking Ginny's hair. She leaned over and whispered to Ginny "I love you too and there's nothing to forgive. You found me, I'm here and I'll be ok" Hermione continued quietly

Hermione pulled Ginny to her feet so they could hug properly. It was after a moment when Hermione noticed the state of Ginny's clothes and stepped back with a gasp of horror.

Ginny looked at herself and quickly said "it's not my blood luv." she said stepping toward her as her eyes rolled over Hermione. She looked the same as she did a few hours ago only the color was coming back to her face and she was smiling weakly.

Jinx flew over to Ginny's shoulder bending his head for petting. Ginny rubbed his head and back.

"This was your idea I suppose" Hermione gestured to the replica of her flat

"Yes, your not leaving me again" Ginny said fiercely

Hermione rolled her eyes. Ginny wanted to asked her about her memory…but didn't want to upset her. She decided to approach it delicately

"Mione? I'm going to shower, then we can talk" Ginny said

"Could I…join you?" Hermione asked quietly looking at the floor

"Of course" replied Ginny looking slightly shocked as they went down the hall into the bathroom.

Once in the shower Hermione asked Ginny to wash her back. As Ginny brushed Hermione's hair out of the way she gasped, Hermione's back was covered in slashes and bruises.

"What is all this?" Ginny asked looking over the rest of Hermione's pale form "did he do all this?" Ginny demanded

"yes." Was all Hermione could say. Hermione expected Ginny to explode but she didn't, instead Ginny held Hermione very gingerly as if she'd break with the slightest look. Much to Hermione's surprise Ginny began gently kissing all the wounds on Hermione's body. This made Hermione feel warm for the first time in almost two months.

After their shower Ginny emerged dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. She came up behind Hermione who had already returned to the living room and wrapped her arms around her waist. Hermione flinched and Ginny let go quickly.

"Sorry" Ginny whispered in her ear

Hermione stood up and beckoned Ginny to sit with her on the couch. Jinx flew back to the bookcase.

"It's ok…I'm bound to be a bit twitchy, I know Harry and Ron filled you in…and if you don't want to stay here with me…"

"Why wouldn't I?" Ginny asked instantly

"I thought…because of the…scars….you might not…I mean I might be …disgusting to you …now. I'm a bit …damaged…and it might take a while until I'm back to myself…if that's even possible." She spoke slowly with a depressed tone.

"Course it is…I'm not going anywhere….can't believe you'd even think that. I love you. Do you…not …want me here?" Ginny asked tentatively

"Oh no, I want you here with me… always, I've missed you so much" Hermione said breathlessly

"Then what is it? Do you need…um…time to adjust?" Ginny asked

"No. Quite the opposite, I think I'll recover quicker with your support." This made Ginny smile as Hermione continued "I've done things I'm not proud of…I've been…." She started to cry and Ginny pulled her into a hug

"You've been violated. it's not your fault…and truth be told I just spent the last few hours doing things I'm not too proud of…but you won't be bothered by Draco anymore." Ginny added

"Do I want to know?" Hermione asked wiping her tears

"Someday I'll tell you; right now it's a new addition for the pensive." Ginny smirked "besides it looks like you're back to your old self…what you are working on?" Ginny asked motioning to the desk

"Oh that? Well since the killing curse intended for me hit Jinx I wanted to see if I could find a cure so he can change back. So I'm keeping him here and taking care of him." Explained Hermione "he did save my life, it's the least I can do"

Jinx flew down and settled on Hermione's shoulder nodding his head in agreement. Ginny pointed a finger at him

"If you're going to be living here with us… a few rules" Ginny began. Hermione looked at Ginny with utter confusion. Ginny continued "no watching her get undressed or showering"

The raven lowered his head. Hermione was still confused

"What are you…?" asked Hermione

"He's still Sebastian, the guy you lost your virginity to, and so I don't want him gawking at you. And no hanging about in the bedroom while we are being intimate." Ginny said in a half serious tone.

Jinx fluttered down from Hermione's shoulder to her lap and cawed at Ginny in a protective defiant tone.

"I know you understand me and I mean it" Ginny insisted.

Jinx took a playful nip at Ginny's finger, then burrowed in closer to Hermione in mock fear. Ginny yanked her finger back with a yelp.

"Try that again, Bird Brain, and you'll wind up as stuffing for a pillow...," Ginny looked up at the sudden explosion of sound. A sound she was terrified she'd never hear again.

Hermione was laughing as she patted Jinx.

Ginny coming out of her daze "you must be exhausted? Why don't you go to bed." She suggested

"Aren't you coming?" Hermione asked

"I was gonna sleep out here….i figured I'd give you some space, from what Pansy said Malfoy hardly left you alone for a minute." Ginny explained in a solemn tone

Hermione with her head lowered spoke softly "Malfoy always left me alone…after he was done with me… I was always cold" she absentmindedly drew her arms up as if she just felt a chill. Ginny, picking up on her body language engulfed Hermione in a long comforting embrace.

"I'll never leave you alone" Ginny whispered to her "if you want me here with you then that's where I'll be"

"Please" Hermione replied softly. Ginny pulled her off the sofa and led her to the bedroom. A warm fire was crackling in the hearth. Ginny guided Hermione under the covers slipping in behind her Ginny thread her arm around Hermione's waist. Hermione instantly backed herself into Ginny's body as if she couldn't get close enough. Ginny hugged her with a firm grip and eventually found Hermione's hand and took it into her own. With her other hand Ginny stroked Hermione's hair and felt her body slip into a more relaxed state "I love you." Hermione sighed as she drifted off to sleep. Ginny soon followed

In the days and weeks that rolled by slowly Hermione's health and personality improved greatly. She was eating normally. Her skin no longer had a waxy sheen to it and her eyes were bright and happy again. Nighttime however was an altogether different story; Hermione had taken to using a bit of the dreamless potion. Ginny had suggested it because it was practically a nightly ritual for Hermione to wake up violently crying or screaming.