Chapter 9
"If you're going through hell, keep going." Winston Churchill
"NO" said Hermione. Her experience may have left her tentative and on edge, but it had had no effect at all on her verocity. Today's debate was with Madame Pomfrey, and was about Hermione going (or not going) to the great hall for her meals.
"Hermione, how do you expect to get back to normal if you won't even leave this room?" said an exasperated Pomfrey. She wasn't aware of Snape's involvement in Hermione's ordeal.
"I want to talk to Professor McGonagall" demanded Hermione. She still wasn't ready to see him, not yet.
"Fine! Have it your way" If Hermione wanted to shut herself away from the world that was her decision! Thought Poppy bitterly as she went off in search of Minerva.
Hermione prayed silently that Pomfrey had locked the door. She had been at Hogwarts for three weeks now, conscious for one, yet she still had nightmares about the death eaters. She hated being left alone, but at the same time when she was near people she felt uncomfortable. Her physical wounds were near enough healed, she would be left with many scars, hopefully in time they would fade, but now they stood out vividly against her pale skin, and they sickened her. There were other scars as well, deep mental scars that would remain for a very long time. Whenever Pomfrey touched her, to change the dressing on her wounds, to help her to take her medicine, or just to give her a reassuring pat, Hermione would flinch. She often wondered whether she would ever feel normal again. Would she ever be able to stand physical contact? Would she ever have a boyfriend? Husband? Children? At the moment she just couldn't imagine actually living, rather then just existing, and the thought frightened her. And what of Harry and Ron? They had always been very possessive of her, they often put protective arms around her, picked her up, sat her on their knees, or made some other affectionate gesture. Would she be able to stand it? Surely they would notice something was wrong , would they make her tell them? How would she cope in her potions lessons with that slimy git Snape? McGonagall had asked Hermione if she would talk to him, she said that it wasn't Snape's choice, nor was it his fault. Hermione knew this, but she wasn't willing to accept or admit it. She would at some stage, just not yet. She wasn't ready to see him or talk to him, never mind forgive him! She was wrenched from her musings by an irate Madame Pomfrey and an exasperated McGonagall.
"Hermione, you will be back at school in a week" said McGonagall, "You have to start going out in public!"
"You know why I can't" replied an equally exasperated Hermione. "I want to visit Harry and Ron" She had been thinking about this for days, and McGonagall's insistence to get her to see Snape had clinched it. She would go and visit the Weasleys, she would feel safe with them, and they would help her get used to people again. It would also give her the opportunity to talk to Mrs. Weasley (and possibly Ginny) about her worries . McGonagall tried, but Hermione didn't want to talk about that kind of things with a teacher. "I want to see my friends, I want to have a holiday, and I want to feel safe" said Hermione all in one breath, bracing herself for McGonagall's outrage. She was however, pleasantly surprised by McGonagall's response.
"Of course dear. We all want you to feel happy and safe" she said blinking back tears. "I'll go floo Molly and make the arrangements. Poppy, would you help pack her things and get her washed and dressed?" Asked McGonagall as she left the hospital wing.
"Well come on then, let's be having you" she said as she helped Hermione to her feet. Despite most of her injuries being healed, she was still weak, and occasionally needed help with things, not surprising considering she'd been unconscious for two weeks!)
Within twenty minutes Hermione was perched on the edge of her bed waiting for news of her imminent departure. She was excited but apprehensive. What would Harry and Ron think? What would Mrs. Weasley say, would she make a fuss or act normally? All these questions buzzed round in Hermione's head, and she began to feel sick. She wrapped her hair nervously around her finger, an almost forgotten habit of hers. Madam Pomfrey had agreed to conceal her bruises and scars, but only after making Hermione promise to take the foul tasting "Pepper Up" potion every day. Now all she had to do was wait...
A/N:
Again, a massive thank you to all our reviewers: , lee74, Mai Gamit, creepiness, Katie, Phelpslover (Wow, your review gave us goosebumps, thanks!), Darkraven-04, Avestia, kbluesmom, runaway mental patient. Rane2920072, Emz, acdenerd the lovely hannahslattery and the wonderful Kyra4.
And again in response to "me":
Your review made me chuckle, why? Because now we're arguing the same point, we both agree that spells are generally derivatives of Latin, (if not directly taken from the Latin language). I said that in my last response. Latin is the basis for many of the modern languages we use today, this is especially true in areas that were once controlled by the Roman Empire, such as Italy, England and Spain, the languages spoken in these places consist mainly of Latin derivatives (like the spells), the two words I used for my spell are derivatives of Latin, so are viable as spells using J.K Rowling's own definition (according to you).
