-Chapter 7-

The next morning Ginny brought Lennox back to the hospital and after a couple of hours for Hermione to spend with him the Grangers took Lennox out to the zoo.

"Do you want to go for a walk?" Ginny asked as she pulled the blankets away from Hermione not leaving her much of a choice. "The Healers said you should work on getting up and moving around."

"Okay but you're going to have to hold on to me. I still feel pretty weak even with all the Strengthening Solution they've been pouring down my throat."

"Don't worry love, I won't let go of you."

Ginny helped Hermione swing her legs over the edge of the bed. Her hospital gown rode up a bit, revealing up to her thigh. Ginny smiled and brushed her fingers over the exposed skin.

"Watch it, Ginevra. Keep that up and I won't care if the whole building hears us, I'll have you right here."

Hermione wrapped her arms around Ginny's neck and Ginny put her arms around Hermione's waist and helped her to her feet.

"All right?" Ginny asked as Hermione struggled to stay upright. Ginny held her close.

"Uh huh, just a little light headed."

"Yeah, that happens. Okay, I'm going to take a step back and I want you to follow. Your right foot first."

Hermione nodded. Ginny took a step back, Hermione followed. She took another step and Hermione again followed. They moved slowly around the room, one step at a time.

They walked around for a few minutes before Hermione's muscles started to burn. "I need to sit down," she told Ginny.

"Just a few more steps to the bed, love. You can do it."

"No, Ginny, please."

"Okay. Hold on tight." Ginny bent down and slipped one arm under Hermione's knees, the other around her back and picked her up. The brunette let out a little scream, she didn't expect Ginny to actually carry her.

"I guess those Strengthening Solutions do more than I gave them credit for. They seemed to work well on you." Hermione smiled as Ginny carried her to the bed and carefully set her down.

"They take a while to really work but once they do their thing you know it," Ginny said as she fluffed up the pillows behind Hermione's back. "But you have to work with them. Most of the time when I was walking around the room I felt like I was going to die but I knew I had to work the muscles if I ever expected to make any sort of normal recovery. Plus, the workouts for Team England are brutal, running laps around the pitch, lifting weights…" Ginny walked over to the tray of potions and bottles of juice that was kept in the corner of Hermione's room.

"Oh, no, Ginny I-I don't need anything to drink right now," Hermione said, trying to get Ginny to turn back to her. Ginny looked at the plethora of bottles on the tray: Sleeping Draught, Dreamless Sleep Potion, Calming Draught, Strengthening Solution, and Draught of Peace.

"Merlin's beard, Hermione. How much of this are they making you take? I understand the Strengthening Solution but there's like four sleep and calming potions here."

"Yes, I haven't slept well."

"Hermione they don't give you all of this just because you're not sleeping." Ginny walked back over to the left side of Hermione's bed and sat up next to her. She wrapped an arm around the brunette's waist. "What's happening, love?"

"Nothing…I-I'm fine. Just restless sleep."

"Hermione, I'm not daft. I know when you are lying to me. I know when to call you out on it and I know when to leave it alone and let you plan whatever it is you're planning."

"Nightmares," Hermione mumbled.

"They're giving you all of that for nightmares?"

"They tried different combinations but none of them worked individually. Every time I woke up they tried something else. The only thing that has worked is all four of those at once."

"Why didn't you tell me about it sooner, Hermione?"

"They'll go away. You don't need to worry about it."

"How about I decide what I need to worry about?" Ginny wrapped her arms tighter around her fiancée. Hermione settled against Ginny and relaxed at the movement of her chest.

"Gin…will you stay with me tonight?"

"I wouldn't dare be anywhere else."

Hermione rolled over and draped a hand across Ginny's stomach. She started falling asleep but the moment her brain started drifting off images of Ginny fighting a cloaked figure in started storming through her mind. It was dark. They were in a forest somewhere. The redhead shot spells at the cloak but one cast of green light coming from the evil figure sent Ginny flying through the air. She felt something hold her back as she tried to run toward the lifeless figure, screaming.

Ginny held on to Hermione as she started twitching in her sleep, the redhead tried to wake her dreaming lover but to no avail. All Ginny could do was hold on to her as she sat up, eyes wide open, screaming Ginny's name. Ginny felt a sharp pain as Hermione's elbow caught her in the ribs. She didn't loosen her grip.

"Hermione, I'm here. I'm right here and no one can hurt you," Ginny spoke calmly into Hermione's ear. She held her even tighter. Hermione relaxed back into Ginny's arms and sobbed. "I'm here. No one can hurt you." Ginny repeated the mantra over and over. Hermione's hands explored Ginny's body, making sure she was really there and really breathing.

"It was you," Hermione whispered into Ginny's neck as she held on to the redhead.

"I'm fine love, I'm not going anywhere."

Hermione kissed Ginny's neck. Her fingertips found the bottom edge of Ginny's shirt and lifted it up.

"Hermione we're still in the hospital," Ginny moaned. Hermione grazed her teeth along the freckled skin of Ginny's neck.

"Just…one…touch…please," Hermione whispered between kisses on Ginny's neck as her hand ran up the soft, pale flesh of Ginny's stomach.

Ginny fumbled with the wand that was in her pocket. When she was finally able to pull it out she aimed it at the door and it shut with a loud bang. As soon as the door was shut Hermione stripped Ginny's t-shirt away from her pale, freckled torso. One hand reached around Ginny's back to release her luscious breasts from their confines.

"Hook is in the front…" Ginny gasped. Her fingernails dug into Hermione's shoulder as the brunette placed kisses down her chest. One of Hermione's hands undid the hook between Ginny's breasts. Her fingers slipped under the now loose cup. Ginny gasped as she felt her tender nipple being rolled between Hermione's fingers. She completely lost track of where Hermione's mouth was until she felt the warmth and wetness of it engulfing her other breast. Ginny let out a soft moan when a mixture of pain and pleasure shot through her body as Hermione's teeth gripped the small pink bud.

They heard the door to the room open and both women sat bolt upright, Ginny grabbed a sheet to cover herself just in time to see Ron and Willow step through the door then Ron slapped his hand over his eyes.

"Oh…bloody hell…" he said as he backed out of the door. "Um…just…let us know…decent."

The two women laughed as Ginny dressed herself. She called for Ron and Willow to come back in and Ron reluctantly poked his head in the door. Ginny was still sitting in Hermione's bed with her arms wrapped around Hermione. Ron motioned for Willow to sit in the chair by Hermione's bed while he stood.

"Sorry…bout that…just now." Ron turned red.

Ginny gave a little bit of an evil smile. "It's okay Ron, we weren't going to shag or anything."

"That's what you think," Hermione said. "If he hadn't come in I would've had you and you know it."

Ron turned bright red. "Okay…thank you for that Hermione. I don't really want to hear about anyone 'having' my sister, even if you are engaged."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Sheesh, Ron, it was just a joke. Maybe you need to get some."

Ron grumbled under his breath. Willow blushed. Ginny giggled.

"Oh, sorry you two. You didn't properly meet on Thursday. Hermione this is Willow, Willow this is my beautiful fiancée Hermione." Ginny looked at Hermione and smiled. Hermione extended her hand.

"I've heard a lot about you Hermione." Willow said as she shook Hermione's hand. "Good stuff though, don't worry. She told me your favorite book is A History of Magic. It's mine, too."

"So Gin, when's Quidditch starting up again?" Ron asked while Hermione and Willow chattered about books.

Ginny looked over at her fiancée. "I'm not going back. I'm done with it."

"What?!" Willow squealed.

Hermione sat upright out of Ginny's arms. "I don't think so, Ginny. You're going back and that's final."

"Who is going to take care of Lennox? You can barely walk around the room, I should be here for you. You took more than a month off of work for me, this is the least I could do for you."

"My parents can take care him, they've already said I would stay with them until I am back to normal."

"We're getting married, Hermione. And Lennox is as good as my son, I should be the one taking care of the two of you."

"Ginny we've got the match against France on Saturday, you can't just quit! We have no chance without you!" Willow looked as though she was about to cry.

"Gin we've got like a dozen people to look after Hermione and you can Floo back and forth," said Ron.

"I-I can't just leave you, 'Mione…"

"I'll be fine Ginny. I'll be back to normal in no time. I'm already feeling loads better than I was. We'll talk more about this later, okay?" Hermione kissed Ginny's cheek and then rested her head on Ginny's shoulder.

"Dad said there's a bunch of racket started going today on across the river from the Burrow. Some new family moving in."

Hermione clenched her jaw shut. It wasn't Ron's fault that he didn't know about what was going on but still she wished he would shut his mouth.

"So they started building?" Ginny asked.

"He…he went over there?" Hermione tried not to look like she cared too much.

"Yeah but the owners weren't there," Ron said

"I'm not sure it's his business to go over there."

"Sure it is 'Mione," Ron said as he sat down at the foot of the bed. "He wants to make sure the family isn't a bunch of complete nutters. Obviously they're Wizards since that's who is building the house so that's not too bad, better than Muggles. He'd never leave them alone!"

Hermione had to change the subject before she blurted out absolutely everything running through her head at that moment. "How's work, Ron?"

"It's uh…busy. Draco's first appearance in front of the council is coming up Monday. He'll just tell them he was under the Imperius curse. They might use Veritaserum but it won't work on him, Bellatrix trained him in Occlumency. The only thing they will have is his word."

Hermione almost wished she had spilled out about the house rather than hear that answer.

"Bloody wonderful." Ginny rolled her eyes and held on to Hermione who had started to shake.

"My thoughts exactly," Ron mumbled.

"Healers say when you'll be able to go home Hermione?" Willow asked.

"A while yet. I have to get my strength back up before they'll let me go."

"You'll be up and about in no time, love. Just got to keep working those muscles." Ginny squeezed Hermione's arm and kissed her on the forehead.

"We better get going," Ron said, standing up. "I'm uh…I've got a dinner reservation for us." He looked at Willow and she blushed.

"Remember our discussion, Ron."

"Of course Gin, perfect gentleman." Ron held out an arm to Willow and she took it.

"See you later then, Ginny?" Willow asked.

"Of course Willow, I'll come by Grimmauld tomorrow for sure."

"A'ight. Feel better Hermione."

"Thank you, Willow."

Willow and Ron left just as Hermione's parents came in to let Lennox say goodnight to Hermione. After visiting hours were over a Healer came in to give Hermione her potions for the night.

"I don't want it," Hermione said as the Healer handed her a glass.

"Miss Granger, you know what happens when you don't take it."

"I can handle it," she said looking at Ginny.

"How about only two of them? That's a nice compromise." The Healer went back to the tray of potions and started mixing again.

"I think you should take them, love." Ginny ran her fingers through Hermione's hair. "Just to make sure, you know?"

Hermione reluctantly agreed and drank the new glass that was offered to her. She drank it down and grimaced at the slight bitterness.

"Would you like to have an attendant conjure you a chair, Miss Weasley?"

"I think I'll be all right, thanks."

The Healer left the room and the pair snuggled down into the bed, Hermione's back spooned against Ginny's stomach. In only a few moments Hermione was fast asleep.

Both women were suddenly awoken by the hospital room door being blown off its hinges. Ginny held Hermione close as a cloaked figure entered the room. It pulled off its hood and revealed himself to be Draco Malfoy.

"I told you to enjoy your time while it lasted, blood traitor!" he cackled and aimed his wand at Ginny. "CRUCIO!"

Ginny's screams filled the room.

"Leave her alone Malfoy! Leave her alone!" Hermione wailed.

"Don't worry Mudblood, you'll get yours when I'm done with her." Malfoy walked over to the bed and pulled Ginny up by her shirt. "What to do, what to do? You see Mudblood, I've grown rather tired of the Cruciatus curse tonight what with already using it on the Potters but I'm not content with killing her just yet."

"Leave her alone Malfoy! Get away from her!"

"Don't fret your dirty little blood, Granger. I'll leave her alone…eventually." Malfoy pinned Ginny against the wall. He pulled Ginny's hands above her head, aimed his wand and muttered, "Incarcerous". A rope bound her hands where they were and another mutter from Malfoy and they stuck to the wall.

"Don't you dare, Malfoy!" Hermione screamed.

"Jealous, Mudblood? Like I said, don't worry, you'll get yours."

"Help me Hermione! Please...please help me!" Ginny begged.

Hermione moved to get out of her bed but she couldn't. Her entire body was frozen as though it was being held by some invisible person. Hermione watched in horror as Draco dropped his wand to Ginny's waist. He looked at the brunette struggling to move.

"Diffindo," he whispered. Hermione looked away and the sound of fabric tearing echoed through the room.

"Look at her, Mudblood!" Malfoy yelled. "Look at her or I'll finish her off right now!"

Hermione slowly looked back up and she cried at the horror before her. Ginny's eyes were glistening with tears and Malfoy was pressed up against the redhead. Ginny struggled to break free of the bindings of her wrists but she could do nothing.

Hermione struggled even more, writhing, kicking, flailing, trying to get out of bed but she couldn't. She screamed and cried but Malfoy just looked at her and smirked. Ginny cried out for Hermione to help her but the brunette still couldn't move. After a loud grunt Malfoy shuddered and pulled away from Ginny and left her hanging on the wall, crying and begging for Hermione.

"Always knew she'd be a nice fuck."

Hermione continued struggling. Draco came towards her and aimed his wand at her. Everything started to go black and she heard the screams of her lover.

"Please Hermione! Please come back to me!"