Last time:
I believe him when he says he's sorry, I really do, but I need time to sort my life back out before I decided anything in that area."
"I understand, now go deal with your friends before they think I've killed you or something, I can handle a baby trust me."
Hermione gave Lucius a nod and walked out of the bedroom to face her old friends.
Now:
"You wanted to see me?" she asked in a bored tone as she walked into the common room.
Harry was the first to jump up, "Hermione, what in the hell were you thinking taking a potion like that?"
"Why not? Not like I had anything to look forward too." she replied
"We would have apologized at some point." Ron stated
"At some point?" she asked with a laugh, " and at what point would that be, you three single handedly alienated me from the gryffindors, you three wouldn't speak to me, you three couldn't give a rats ass what happened to me and I'm pretty sure that if Draco hadn't found out the potion, you would have never thought about me until I vanished."
"Hermione, were sorry, we never meant for this to go so far." Ginny finally spoke.
"It should have never been a problem in the first place, for years I have stuck by you, helped you with school work, helped you fight Voldemort, but when I start dating someone you didn't approve of you ditched me, threw me to the side like a piece of common trash."
"I would have never happened if you didn't choose to date Malfoy." Ron yelled, not liking the fact the she was right about everything.
"It was my right to date whoever I wanted, I never told you three who you could date and who you couldn't, but you had the right to tell me? I could have handled Draco dumping me, I could have handled things better in general if I had friends that stood by me, instead, I was left without anyone, I was left to grieve the death of my parents without a single person to comfort me and to make matters worse, you turned my own house against me, leaving me little hope of find one person who could help me through this mess."
"Hermione, give us a chance to make it up to you, give us a chance to show you how sorry we really are." Harry pleaded.
Hermione looked at the three sitting on the couch and shook her head, "I am going to tell you the same thing I told Draco, I need time to sort out my life, the four of you hurt me beyond anything I ever expected and easing a pain like that will take time. Right now, all I want to do is concentrate on Abby and Joey, along with my school work." Hermione closed her eyes and sighed, "I think it's time for you three to leave, I have things I need to do before class."
Hermione turned and left the room without another word, leaving the three gryffindors in a stunned silence.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooo
For the rest of the week, Hermione stayed to herself, only communicating with others if she had to. She could be seen sitting alone most times, the children the only ones she would let close enough to openly communicate with, the only ones she would show any feeling towards. She refused to be hurt again.
Harry, Ron and Ginny tried to talk to her several times and she would only give them short answers or just enough to get them off her back. It was obvious to everyone that she sealed herself into a shell, one that would take a great feat to break her out of. She didn't answer questions in class, instead opting to just do her work and leave. She was hardened now and the one thing she never though would happen did, she was broken, and it was the people she cared about most that did it.
Draco was growing frustrated with her, he knew he helped put her in the state she was now, but he was also trying everything in his power to bring the old Hermione back. When classes were over, she would instantly retreat to the common room, spending most of her time playing with Abby and Joey, it was the only time Draco would see the old Hermione return. Her schedule was almost unbreakable, she would play with the children until it was time for dinner, she and Draco would work together on feeding them before heading back up to the commons to give them a bath. She would read them a book before putting them to bed, then finish her school work before showering and going to bed herself, it was maddening to him as he could remember how she used to be instead of the robot she had become.
When Friday approached, she asked Draco to watch both kids for a few hours as she had something she wanted to do that night. He agreed and she made the final arrangement with Professor Dumbledore to leave the grounds for a few hours. That night after making sure she kissed the kids as they would most likely be asleep before she returned, she left the grounds, telling no one where she was going except Dumbledore.
She walked the gloomy fields of her destination before finally stumbling upon the place she wished to visit the most – her parents graves. She took time to remove the weeds that had grown up slightly, coving some of the headstones, before sitting down at the foot of the grave and crying her frustrations out.
"I miss you both so much, why did you leave me?" she sobbed, showing the first real bit of emotion that she kept hidden and locked away.
"I want you back, I want you both back do you hear me?" she yelled, "Why wont you come back to me, I need you both more then I've ever needed anything, please just come back, please" she begged before finally falling to the ground, stretching her body over both graves, sobbing until she went dry and blacked out.
Severus Snape watched the interaction from a few meters away, undetected and sent to keep an eye on her per Dumbledore request. Professor Snape was never one to show emotion, but as he watch the scene play out before him, he couldn't help but feel the despair she was feeling, the loneliness that had taken her over was the same he had felt many, many times. When he noticed the sobs stop and her body lay motionless, he walked over to the grave, scooping her small body in his arms and took her back to his chambers. He quickly informed Dumbledore to her where abouts and decided he wanted to help her if he could.
About an hour later, Hermione started to stir. She took a quick look around her, realizing where she was due to the large amount of potions books that filled the room.
"You blacked out, I brought you back here until you recovered." his deep voice rang out from the other side of the room.
"H-How did you know where I was?" she asked
"Albus sent me to keep watch over you, you didn't expect him to let you run off to a graveyard at night without some form of protection, did you?"
"I guess not, I'm sorry for taking up your evening professor." she said as she started to sit up.
"Ms. Granger, you did not take up my evening, but I do wish to offer you something that I've never offered another student. I know its hard for you, but believe me when I say I was in the same boat as you once before, I am offering you a person to talk to instead of keeping it bundled up inside, you need someone who understands you."
Hermione was floored at the gesture her potions master was making, it was indeed a rare opportunity to have a private man such as himself offer to help her and allow his privacy to be invaded.
"Thank you, Professor, I will be taking you up on your offer." she replied with a smile
"Good girl, now if you need me, just come to my chambers anytime."
"Thank you sir, it means a lot to me." she whispered.
"Do yourself a favor, allow Draco in, the more people you have, the easier it will be for you to heal."
"I'll think about it" she said, retaining her small smile.
"Come, I'll walk you back up to you room."
Hermione nodded and followed him through the halls, grateful she had at least one person to help her through this mess that didn't cause it in the first place.
