A/N: Thanks for the reviews.

DISCLAIMER: Yeah, yeah. Look at the previous chapter would ya?

Chapter Fourteen

Day Ninety-seven

He towered over them, wand hand extended threateningly. The brown haired woman cowered with fear beside her husband who held onto his wife tightly, trying to keep his fear hidden.

"P-please," he begged, "Don't do this!"

The man laughed coldly and merely prodded the wand tip into the woman's rib cage causing her to jump in horror.

"Ticklish I see," smirked the man before laughing, "This is going to be fun."

"W-what do you want?" demanded the man, despite his fear.

"To watch you cower in fear. CRUCIO!"

"NO!" screamed Hermione jumping awake in a thin sweat.

The room's light flicked on as Ginny sat up looking at Hermione in a panic. Hermione took a couple of deep breaths as the bedroom door opened with Draco and Blaise stumbling in, having woken from the terrified scream.

"Hermione?" said Ginny, "What is it?"

Hermione shook her head and stood up pulling her dressing gown on. She slipped on some slippers and walked out to the sitting area and out of the tent with Draco hastily running after her after fetching his own dressing gown and shoes. Hermione walked hastily to the common place – the log. She sat down crossing her arms over her chest to fight away the chilly air.

"You know, I know you like coming here," said Draco quietly, "But, Hermione, it's ten to six in the morning. Isn't this a little extreme?"

"I just had a nightmare about my parents being tortured by the Death Eater sent to kill them," said Hermione angrily looking up at Draco, "I need to stay awake."

"It was a dream. That's all."

"I spent night's waking up screaming, constantly dreaming about being raped! How do I know the same won't happen again?"

"You… you weren't there when it happened for one thing."

"Draco this is a world full of magic! Voldemort could easily place the memory in my mind without me knowing! I did spend a night away from the camp, you know?"

Draco sighed and nodded, "I do."

Hermione fell silent and looked at the sky that had turned into a golden yellow with tinges of pink and purple. Draco sat beside her silently before placing an arm around her shoulders. Hermione rested her head on his shoulder and gave a sigh.

"It was awful. They were cowering in fear and this man… he stood over them poking my father with his wand… then he used an Unforgivable on them. That's when I woke up."

"It could be your mind playing tricks on you. I mean the past few weeks haven't exactly been that kind to you."

Hermione sighed and nodded, "I know."

"Don't worry. Everything will be fine. I know you don't want to hear that but I need you to know that it will be," said Draco shivering as a cool breeze blew around them.

Hermione gave a nod but frowned as Draco looked up and around him almost curiously, "What is it?"

"Nothing… lets go somewhere warmer. I'm freezing."

Hermione gave a nod and headed back to their tent with Draco, though she did notice him look around them again with a suspicious look upon his face.

--

Hermione steadily cut her way through the pile of pancakes Molly had placed onto her plate claiming Hermione needed to eat after starving her self since learning of her parent's death. Hermione knew not eating would be pointless with Molly watching her like a hawk. Hermione placed some in her mouth and chewed before swallowing and smiling at Molly who seemed satisfied.

Harry looked over at Hermione and leaned closer with a worried look on his face, "Ginny said you're having nightmares."

"She did, did she?" said Hermione looking at Ginny who gave a shrug not even looking guilty for telling the world about Hermione's nightmares.

"Look," said Harry, "You aren't thinking of doing some stupid about them are you?"

"Like what? Race home and see if they are alright?" replied Hermione coolly, "Can't do that now can I?"

Harry sighed and tried to rephrase his question, "I know you want to kill whoever murdered your parents but you need to wait for solid facts first."

"Harry, I can't run off to the battle field. That's been banned from me. The best I can do to vent my anger is use this bread knife and stab my pancakes, like so."

Hermione sliced the knife through the pancakes and smiled falsely at Harry who leant back giving up on talking to Hermione.

Hermione finished her pancakes and left the tent with Draco. The wind was still blistering cold and almost impossible to walk against.

"I'm going to see McGonagall about having a hearing for Pansy," said Hermione over the wind, "I think she is in the Healer's tent!"

"Hermione it can wait!" replied Draco shouting against the wind.

Hermione just nodded, not paying attention to his protests. She ducked into the warm Healer's tent with Draco stepping in pulling a stray leaf out of his messy hair. Hermione walked along the corridor before spotting McGonagall nodding at something the head Healer was saying. Hermione stood back and waited for McGonagall to finish talking.

"This can wait, you know?" said Draco, "You have other things to deal with, not to mention the Australians arriving in a few days time."

"I know," replied Hermione keeping her eyes on McGonagall, "But I made a promise."

"A promise that can still be kept if you do it later. It's not like Pansy is dying."

Hermione gave a sigh but didn't look at Draco, "Look, we have time now that can be put to use in helping Pansy. I'm not going to change my mind and that's the way it is."

Draco gave a curt nod and fell silent as McGonagall walked over to the waiting pair.

"I gather you need to speak with me?" asked McGonagall looking at them both in turn.

"Yes. I was wondering if it would be possible to hold a hearing for Pansy Parkinson?" said Hermione, "She could be like Draco and Blaise, forced into becoming one of Voldemort's Death Eaters."

McGonagall nodded thoughtfully for a moment before smoothing her robes sleeve, "Let me see when we will have a good set time for it and I will let you know."

Hermione nodded and thanked her before turning to Draco, "There you go."

"They could set it for in a months time," said Draco with a frown.

"Not likely. McGonagall said the same thing about you and Zabini," said Hermione gesturing for him to follow her out to the cold wind, "This weather is impossible!"

The pair battled against the gale force winds to their tent where a fire had been lit to warm the place up. Ginny exited the bathroom from having a shower and smiled at the pair, well not so much at Draco.

"I'm going to have a lay down," said Draco heading to the bedroom.

Hermione nodded and flopped down on the lounge grabbing the Daily Prophet to read. Ginny brushed her long hair silently and pulled it up into a ponytail, keeping the ends hooked into the hair tie to keep it off her neck. She sat down and gave Hermione a small smile who managed to return one before looking back at the paper.

"I had to tell someone," said Ginny with a sigh, "And Harry was there and asking about how you were."

"I'm not mad," said Hermione, "Just annoyed. I can deal with nightmares Ginny."

"But they aren't exactly the boogie man under the bed nightmares Hermione! And another thing! You keep on running to Malfoy for support, what am I? Chopped liver?"

Hermione gave a sigh, "I needed fresh air and the rules are that Malfoy goes where I go."

"You could have told him to stay behind. That is something you are allowed to tell him to do, you know?"

Hermione closed the paper and took a deep breath, "I'm sorry for not crying on your shoulder all the time Ginny. Happy?"

She stood up with Ginny looking away from her trying to keep her cool. Hermione walked over to the bookcase and grabbed a romance novel and sat back down earning an odd look from Ginny.

"What?"

"A romance novel?" frowned Ginny, "You said they were too sappy for you."

"I can indulge in romance sometimes."

Ginny shook her head, "Either you like someone or you have lost the plot."

"I'll let you think those things."

Ginny shook her head and stood up, "Zabini! Come on."

Blaise exited his and Draco's room with an annoyed look before following Ginny from the tent to the cold, blistering wind. Draco stepped out of the room and looked at Hermione with an uncertain look on his face.

"Say it," sighed Hermione glancing at him before looking back at the book.

"She is suspicious! Lupin knows and Weaselette might know sooner then we want anyone else to!"

Hermione gave a sigh. She was feeling rather annoyed with all the drama going on. In fact she seemed rather annoyed with everything going on. Was this part of her mourning process of her parents or her recovery from being raped so brutally? She didn't know. All she knew was that she needed to sleep and escape everything happening around her. She closed her book and stood up, placing it back in its spot at the bookcase. Draco was watching her in almost disbelief at her lack of response to what he had just said.

"I need to sleep," said Hermione looking at him calmly, "Right now I can't deal with any drama. It's just… too much for me at the moment."

Draco just nodded unsure of what to say or do. Hermione walked over to him and pulled him closer for a kiss. Except it wasn't anything like the normal kisses she shared with him, it was fiery and passionate, with her pulling him closer. When she did break away, Draco backed away breathless from what had just happened. Hermione just smiled and entered her room closing the door behind her.

--

It was unkind, unnatural for Hermione to listen helplessly to her parent's painful cries of agony. Tears were streaming down her face but she couldn't do anything! Even though she felt like she was in the same room as them, she wasn't. She couldn't fight for them; stop what was happening.

The Death Eater pulled his wand back silencing the screams to mere puffs of exhaustion from the victims. He laughed coldly and stepped forward, yanking the wife away from her husband. She screamed with fear and Hermione gave a sob as her father was kicked mercilessly in the rib cage to shut up.

"No need to be scared," said the Death Eater in a silky, sickening voice, "I just want you to watch what I am about to do. That's all."

Hermione screamed out but no noise sounded as her mother gave a high-pitched horrified scream as the two deadly words were hissed followed by the bolt of bright green light.

Kevin Granger was dead.

"DAD!" cried Hermione kicking her blanket off as she sat up. Before sleeping she had silenced the room so no one would charge in on her.

Leaning against the wall, Hermione looked at her bedside clock. It was ten to seven in the evening; she had slept for a good eight hours straight. With a sigh she ran a hand through her hair wondering what on earth was going on with her. Her behaviour was becoming more and more concerning. She was rude, almost uncaring and throwing her self at Draco at the most random moments. Was she finally cracking from everything that had happened? Was Hermione Granger suffering a break down?

Hermione had no idea. She knew something had to be done before it was to late. People were already worried about her; she didn't want to be labelled a nutcase along with rape victim and orphan. With a sigh she turned the light on and fixed her clothing and hair up before removing the silencing charm and leaving the room.

Ginny, Blaise, Draco, Harry and Ron looked up at her silently causing Hermione to freeze in the doorway. All had the look of nearly being caught speaking about someone and clearly that someone was her.

"I-I know I haven't been myself," admitted Hermione fiddling with her jacket sleeve, "And… and I have been really rude to you all and uncaring. I'm really sorry for that. It's just-" Hermione halted her voice cracking from a wave of emotion. She took a deep breath and tried again but in the end she shook her head unable to speak.

Here it was. The broken Hermione Granger who was lost and alone despite having people who cared deeply about her. It had all been building up. Nothing had truly been dealt with; in fact she had been ignoring it all until this very moment. How could she just move on? Yes she knew who had raped her, yes they would have to face justice but did that take away the fact that she had been raped and branded? No, it didn't. Her parents were murdered and avenging their deaths wouldn't bring them back and it wouldn't remove the hurt, would it? No, it wouldn't.

The tears slid down her cheeks so fast that Hermione turned away from her friends not wanting anyone to see her in such a messed up and weak state. A blur of red hair obscured her vision as the person hugged her tightly. At first Hermione thought it were Ginny or Ron but the faint scent of choc-chip cookies proved it to be Hermione's second mother, Molly.

Hermione allowed Molly to hug for a good twenty minutes as she sobbed constantly letting everything out into the open. Once she was calm enough, Hermione allowed Molly to lead her to the Healer's tent. There a kind nurse helped Molly organise a bed for Hermione to sleep in after having a dreamless sleeping potion. Within an hour Hermione was peacefully sleeping.

Day Ninety-eight

"Oh shush! You will wake her!"

"It's midday!"

"So? The poor thing needs to be looked after!"

Hermione rolled over and opened her eyes slowly to see Molly sitting besides her knitting with Ron to her left.

"It's midday?" said Hermione in a mumbled tone.

"Oh, you're awake," said Molly smiling as she stood up, "And yes it is. Everyone is worried about you. But it was time for you to finally let it all out."

Hermione nodded in agreement. She did feel a lot better then she had in a while. Ron smiled noticing the difference in her expression.

"I'll go get you something to eat. Anything in particular, dear?" asked Molly.

"Umm… a ham and cheese sandwich would be nice," smiled Hermione genuinely.

"Right and I'll see if there is some apple pie left over from dinner last night. Ron, you make sure she stays in bed until I return."

Ron just nodded and Molly left, leaving her knitting still going in the air without her. Ron looked at his mother's knitting and sighed, "Another jumper being made for Christmas. It must be Harry's."

Hermione looked at the emerald green wool and nodded, "Where is everyone?"

"Ginny has Zabini and Malfoy helping her clean the tent up. Something about dust bunnies invading the place. Harry is in a meeting with McGonagall and all the other's. I think they are planning his last stand against You-Know-Who."

"Oh."

Ron nodded, "But everyone is worried about you. We all knew it was only a matter of time before you cracked."

"Yeah I know," sighed Hermione guiltily, "I guess that's a good example of what bottling everything in can do to a person."

"That's true. Look Mione, I know I am a bit late in saying this but I guess it is best said then not said. Anyway, you know you can talk to Harry or me anytime you need to. We are your friends and you mean the world to us."

Hermione smiled and hugged Ron, kissing him on the cheek before pulling away to see Ginny, Blaise and Draco standing at the doorway. Hermione smiled but saw Draco glare at Ron and her. Hermione frowned but said nothing as Molly came bustling in with the tray of food for Hermione.

"Eat up dear! You'll be skin and bones by tomorrow if you don't!"

--

Hermione pulled on her warm jacket and exited the Healer's tent glad to be out of there. It was two hours after eating her brunch that she had been allowed to leave. She looked around the camp and spotted Draco cutting up wood the muggle way with Moody watching on giving advice. Hermione jogged over to them causing both to look up, only Draco turned his back on Hermione swinging the axe down sounding a loud 'thunk'.

"I'll keep watch if you like Moody," said Hermione brightly.

"You sure?"

"Positive."

Moody gave a nod and walked off shouting out to a passing Auror. Hermione waited until the former Auror was out of earshot before stepping closer to Draco and his axe.

"So umm… how are you?" asked Hermione crossing her arms over her chest as a cold gust of wind picked up.

"Fine," muttered Draco before bringing the axe down onto the wood again.

"Flexing those muscles I see."

"Something like that."

"Got the shits with me, that I can also see."

"Well I have a right to be."

"Why's that?"

"I saw you-" Draco stopped for a moment as he slammed the axe down into the wood again, "- kiss the Weasel."

"It was a friendly peck on the cheek," replied Hermione irritably, "Gosh Draco. He was telling me that him and Harry were there for me if I needed someone to talk to."

"So you always thank your friends with a kiss?"

"They are like brother's to me!" cried Hermione looking at him in disbelief, "You know… I really don't need you interrogating my every action around my friends. Everything there is strictly platonic! Just the way things are between you and Pansy!"

Hermione turned and walked off angrily hearing the loud 'thunk' again.

"Men," muttered Hermione angrily, "Men and jealousy."

--

"How big were they?"

"One came up to my knee. The tent was full of them. I'm amazed they found places to hide," said Ginny as her and Hermione discussed the dust bunnies, "Hopefully they won't return but if they are anything like gnomes they'll be back within two weeks at least."

"Oh well. At least that will give us some action."

Ginny chuckled, "I guess so. So, you seem tense. What is it?"

"Okay so there is this guy right and this poor girl gave her friend a kiss on the cheek to thank them for their support, but he took it the wrong way and now has the shits with the girl, even though she explained her actions and how there was nothing going on between her and her friend."

"Poor girl," said Ginny looking at Hermione curiously, "Do I know this girl?"

"Well… yeah."

"And the guy?"

"Him too. Look she doesn't know what to do to make him get over the whole thing. It's driving her insane."

"She should make him come crawling back to her because he is the one being stupid about it all."

"That's what I thought," murmured Hermione before jumping a little, "And I told her that as well."

"Let me know how it goes for those two, okay?" said Ginny hiding her grin before standing up and stretching, "I'm off to see Harry. You right with Zabini?"

Hermione nodded and selected the paper from the table to read as Ginny left. Blaise came out moments later and looked around frowning.

"Where's Weasley?" he asked.

"Gone to see Harry."

"Oh."

Hermione looked up and saw him looking a little disappointed, "Something bothering you?"

"No, no… just let me know when she returns."

Hermione nodded and he returned to his room closing the door behind him. Hermione gave a frown but shrugged returning to what she was reading.

A/N: There you go. Hermione finally cracked and let it all out. Anyway, review! I'm off to bring the washing in. Fun.

Until next time…

Love yas!

Love Coz!