Dead and Gone

During the war, Hermione went M.I.A. Everyone thought she was dead and after a few years, everyone moved on. Including Ron. But what happens when she resurfaces, seemingly unharmed?

Chapter Nine: Breaking Down

It had been about a week since Hermione had tried to kill George, Harry and Luna and she felt like she was going crazy being locked in the flat with no one to talk to while he was working in the shop. Staring into space, she didn't notice someone apperate into the kitchen. She sat on the window seat staring out over Diagon Alley. She watched people laugh and talk and run around with no fears or worries. Was she supposed to feel for these people? Were they supposed to mean something to her? If they were, she didn't know what or why. A floorboard creaked, pulling her from her thoughts and she looked towards the kitchen, expecting it to be George.

Ron, Ginny and Harry were standing in the door way, their wands raised and aimed towards her. She stared at them. Images of them screaming in pain as she attacked them forced their way into her mind and she did her best to ignore them. She was supposed to care about these people, not want to hurt them. Right? Considering they were aiming their wands at her, she wasn't too sure at the moment, but she pushed the thoughts away anyway.

"Why aren't you locked up?" Ginny asked.

Hermione stared at her. Looking back down at the busy streets, she watched the people. "He trusts me."

"Bullocks. How can anyone trust you after you tried to kill them?" Ron snapped.

Hermione looked at him, her eyes narrowing. "I don't believe I've tried to kill you, Ronald. Of course that can always change."

Harry fought the smile tugging at his lips at the shocked face Ron gave him. He looked like a fish out of water, his mouth opening and closing and no sound coming out. He looked from Hermione's glare to Harry and Ginny as they lowered their wands.

"She's mental is what she is!" Hermione stood up and he aimed his wand at her again. "Watch yourself, Hermione."

"I think you better watch yourself, Ron." Came George's voice from behind them.

Ron, Harry and Ginny turned to see George leaning against the archway of the living room, his arms folded over his chest. "She's the one who threatened me." Ron defended.

"You called her mental."

Ron glared, but lowered his wand. "Why isn't she locked up, anyway?"

"I trust her."

"How can you trust her?"

"How could you marry Lavender Brown?"

"Don't you say anything about Lavender. You know I love her."

"Then don't come into my flat uninvited and aim your wand at Hermione, who by the way, if you had come talk to me first you'd know she can't do magic, and call her mental. You do it again and I'll take the protection spells off and let her have a go at you." George forced back the smile when he saw Hermione straighten up a bit with hope, but he glanced at her over Ron's shoulder and she knew he was just trying to scare Ron.

Ron looked over his shoulder at Hermione, who was watching him, then back to George. Sighing, he put his wand away. "Mum wanted us to tell you she wants you there for supper tonight." he said and apperated back to the Burrow.

George looked past Harry and Ginny to Hermione, who was now staring down at the people in Diagon Alley again. He watched her a moment before he looked at them. He didn't want to leave her alone. "Tell her I might be bringing someone."

Harry and Ginny looked at each other, then behind them at Hermione, who was looking at George. They looked at each other then back at George. "Do you really think that's a good idea?" Ginny asked.

"She needs to be around people if she's going to start feeling again." They gave him a skeptic look. "I trust her."


George and Hermione stood outside of the Burrow watching as shadows walked around inside. "Alright, I don't want mum to worry, so just…fake it."

"Fake it." Hermione repeated.

George nodded and they walked into the Burrow. George was immediately pulled into a hug by his mother and he hugged her back. "It's about time you visited!" she said. She caught sight of Hermione. "Oh my…Author! Author, come quick!" She called as she let go of George and hugged Hermione.

Hermione stood stiff in Molly's arms and looked at George. What was she supposed to do? She gave him a look and he mouthed 'hug her' and she uncertainly wrapped her arms around the now crying Mrs. Weasley. She looked at George to make sure she was doing it right and he nodded. Author ran in from the living room, his wand raised, followed by Harry, Ron and Ginny.

"Dear lord…Hermione?" He lowered his wand and pulled her into a hug when Mrs. Weasley let her go and she awkwardly hugged him back.

She looked at George, who gave her a thumbs up. When she was released from the hug, she forced a smile, which thankfully, they believed. Mrs. Weasley pulled her into another hug before wiping the tears from her eyes and returning to the kitchen. Mr. Weasley patted her on the shoulder, before smiling and walking into the living room as tears began to fill his eyes. Hermione waited until they were gone before she turned to George.

"What was that about?"

"They just missed you is all. They knew you were back, but I told them you need some time to…adjust before coming to see them."

"Oh. So you told them what happened?"

George nodded.

Hermione sat uncomfortably between Mr. and Mrs. Weasley during supper. The entire time she kept glancing at George, who would give her a smile if she did something right and silently mouth what she should be doing if she was doing something wrong. An hour and multiple faked smiles and forced laughter later, George apperated him and Hermione back to his flat. He collapsed onto the couch, his body growing tired. Hermione leaned against the doorframe and hugged herself. She starred off into space, her brow furrowing.

"What is it?" he asked, looking over at her.

"They care about me." She said.

George nodded. "Always have."

Hermione looked at him. "No, I mean they…genuinely…care about me. And they know what I did." She racked her brain trying to find a reason. "I don't understand." she said finally, deciding it was a good idea to leave out the fact that she was thinking of attacking them the entire night.

"What were you expecting? Them to attack you? To throw you out?" George stood up and walked over to her. "Hermione, they love you. It doesn't matter what you do or did. You're always going to have a place here." He said and brushed some hair out of her face.

Hermione stared, obviously thinking. She sighed. "I'm tired." she said and looked at George.

When he didn't say anything, she turned and walked down the hall. George watched her go. Sighing, he rubbed his temples and retreated to his room. Stripping, he climbed beneath his blankets, hoping he would be able to sleep through the night.

That night, the cold was too much for her. After an hour or so of tossing and turning, she threw off the covers and changed from the boxers and shirt George had given her to sleep in, and changed into the only pair of clothes she had. Walking out of her room, she pulled on her sneakers and walked down the hall. Her heart began to beat faster. He had forgotten to lock the bedroom door. Maybe he forgot to lock the flat down. She had to get out; she couldn't stay here anymore. Yes, she was going to miss George, but she knew he cared deeply for his family and Harry. If she stayed, she just knew that one of those thoughts would push themselves through and she'd end up hurting them. She let out a deep breath she hadn't known she was holding when she turned the knob and the door opened without fault.

Taking her first step outside, she jumped a bit, not realizing that it had been raining. Hugging herself she started off down the street, away from Weasley's Wizard Weezes and George's flat. After a few minutes of walking, the hairs on the back of her neck started to stand up. She reached for her wand and mentally slapped herself. She had left it at George's flat. She could always use wandless magic, but it's been a few weeks since she used it and she was worried she might blow up whoever was following her. Worry? She furrowed her brow. Why would she be worried that she might hurt someone? All she'd been wanting to do since she got back was hurt people. Shaking the feeling, she turned around, expecting to see someone following her, but the street was empty. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly and turned back around. She let out a small gasp when she saw George standing just a couple feet in front of her, the rain soaking his tall form.

"Thought I could trust you, 'Mione." he said. It wasn't a question.

Hermione swallowed but didn't answer. They starred at each for a while, neither saying a word. The rain poured down around them, soaking them to the bone and it didn't take long for Hermione to start shaking from the cold, but she stayed where she was. George finally took a step forward and she panicked. She had meant to send him backwards but something went wrong and his hand raced up to the side of his face. When he lowered his hand, blood dripped from his fingers as the rain mixed with it. She starred at him with wide eyes. A deep gash decorated just below his right eye. She shook her head as tears started to form in her eyes. He looked at her with an unreadable expression and took another step forward. She did the same thing and blood began to seep through his cloth covered shoulder. He continued towards her.

Hermione shook her head again, the tears falling freely. She waved her hands again but nothing happened. He was close enough to grab her now and she began hitting him. He simply stood there with his hands up, trying to catch hers. Finally something snapped and Hermione began sobbing uncontrollably. She continued to pound his chest and shoulders with her fist. Soon she was shouting at him, telling him that she didn't deserve to live. Begging for him to kill her. The sobs rolled through her body and her hitting slowed. She slumped against his chest and he wrapped his arms around as they fell to their knees in the middle of the street. Hermione sobbed against his chest, crying for him to end it.

Closing his eyes, he tightened his arms around her shaking body. George opened his eyes and looked down at her. She had stopped crying, but she was still laying limp in his arms, her eyes red from crying and starring off into the distance. He watched as various emotions raced over her face and more tears began to form in her eyes. Her lip trembled and her grip on his shirt tightened. Squeezing her eyes shut, she buried her face in his chest and whimpered. Tightening his arms around her, he apperated them back into his flat.

George carried her down the hallway to his bedroom and laid her down on the bed. After taking care of her the same way he had when she was drunk and healing himself, he crawled beneath the covers with her and she instantly wrapped her arms around his torso and laid her head on his chest. Wrapping his arms around her, he ran a hand through her hair and left the conversation for the morning.