Another note: There appears to be some confusion regarding my story category - so I would like to clear things up. I have been asked twice now why my story is 'under' HHr and where there isn't any. Although originally my character list for this story on fanfiction was Hermione and Ginny, as I added more characters it changed itself to Hermione and Harry. Now, this is where it gets interesting.

These are the characters in the story. If there was slash or pairings in would have been put in the summary. The only pairing there is, is Drinny and if you've read to this point you are more than aware . I apologize for the confusion but as I said, under characters Hermione and Harry are only that. Characters in the story.

Sorry for the misunderstanding! Happy readings guys :D xxx

Chapter Fourteen

Floating in Her Own Purgatory

""

Ginny had rushed back to Harry's side and Hermione frantically pulled her clothing back on. She was out the door before Ron had even realised what happened, running to join Ginny, fully aware that her jumper had been put on inside out.

Her mind was numb as it was impossible to think that Harry had finally awoken and she had never truly prepared herself for this day.

Bursting through the door, Hermione stopped as soon as she saw him. Although Harry was barely moving and still lying flat on the bed, she could see his face beginning to stir. Ginny had crouched down beside him eagerly, with utter delight on her face.

As Hermione looked on at the two of them, her heart swelled at the miracle. Something inside of her knew it was not wise to get her hopes up so quickly, after all Harry was far from recovered and who knew if there was any strength left in him to heal fully.

Yet the tears of happiness began to build as finally their prayers had been answered.

Ron had followed in her behind shortly after, with a lot more organisation to his clothing than Hermione. She looked over her shoulder towards him, placing her hand over her mouth in an attempt to not lose control.

What was in her eyes lay in Ron's to and they knew they had finally got Harry back.

Although Ron had closed the door behind him, a buzzing of whispers could have easily been heard as commotion had built up around everyone else. They had clearly seen all three of them rushing into Harry's room. It wouldn't take long to figure out what was going on.

Both Hermione and Ron hurried to Ginny's side and the eldest of the two girls also couched down beside the bed. She looked to Ginny - whom too had become welled with tears – and took a hold of her pale hand. Gripping it tightly, the redhead smiled towards her as they silently treasured the moment of jubilation.

Harry's eyelids had started to flutter as Ron bent down placing his hand around Hermione's arm.

'C'mon, you don't wanna overdo it. Let'm breath.'

Allowing Ron to hoist her up, Ginny followed suit and they all took a step back as Harry's consciousness was slowly beginning to return. He began to move his head more, motioning his mouth attempting to speak.

Hermione's heart jumped at the sight, as everything became less and less surreal. Harry was covered in bandages all across his body and several wounds lay protected by a layer of multiple pastes and gloops in order to heal specific wounds. No matter how much disrepair he looked in, the sight of seeing his face come alive inspired all the hope that had been lost.

Finally, there was a chance now to finish this for good.

As her tears continued to moisten her face, she could just about see the shine of green that was reveal as Harry opened his eyes.

A small shriek was emitted from Ginny as they all stood in silence, patiently waiting for the resurrection of their messiah.

Suddenly a sense shame began to fill Hermione as her mind had finally started working again at its usual pace. No matter how wonderful this moment was, they were the ones who would have to tell him that they had failed, that everyone was dead and how Voldemort had taken their home.

They crying she had been adamant to supress, burst free as the eruption of emotions had begun. Attempting to calm herself, it became more difficult that she imagined as her breathing had changed drastically into uneven bouts of gasping. In her mind all she could think of was words of apologies the echoed over and over again. What else could she say to him? It felt like she was the one to let him fall.

Although her heart was full of dread, she caught sight of Ron whose entire colour had drained from his face.

He stared on in amazement as his whole composure had adjusted. No long did he look like he was carrying the weight of thousands on top of his shoulders, he almost started to relaxed.

Harry looked around the room, gazing at each and every one of them. His face was still but his eyes betrayed the confusion his obviously felt. Hermione could not blame him - he had been unconscious for nearly three months.

A brittle cough spluttered from his lips as he attempted to speak. Hermione strained her ears - trying to decipher his rasped breaths into the one word he seemed resolute on saying.

Wiping her eyes with the back of the hands, she paced her breathing and stepped closer towards the bed. Harry looked up to her, wincing his eyes to the pain he was still in.

'W…W…' Harry coughed again, screwing his eyes with each exhalation. 'Wat… Water.'

In unison both Hermione and Ginny took hold of their wands. However Hermione was the first to conjure a goblet of water. She handed it towards him as he attempted to move the rest of his body.

Within an instant, Ron was at their side, throwing his arms under Harry's.

'Nice to see you're still with us, mate.'

Hermione could not help but smile towards Ron's attitude as he heaved Harry up. Both Ron and Hermione began to grab the pillows, fitting them around Harry, making sure he was perfectly comfortable.

Pulling away, she placed the goblet into Harry's hands as he held it to his mouth in earnest. Gulping it down quickly, he handed out the goblet to Ron as he wiped the water from the top of his lip.

As he did so, his bare eyes locked on to him arm, taking noticing of the vast treatment he had appeared to have been given. Shock began to twist on his face as Hermione could not stay silent any longer.

'Harry… It's not as bad it looks, honestly.' Her brows furrowed in concern as Harry did not move his glance. 'A lot of it is Muggle medicine, just simply iodine and bandaging to keep them clean. I wouldn't touch the sticky stuff either if I was you. It's there for the more server injuries. I mean it's not severe now but a lot of the treatment couldn't have been given until you were conscious.'

'I'm so sorry Harry. I wish you didn't have to wake up to this. I tried to do more Harry, I really did. But it was just - '

'Please. Hermione. Stop.'

Harry cut her off instantly and she did so meekly. Hermione could have stood there all day, explaining and describing each individual remedy followed by numerous apologies. She knew it would be far easier to say that than what Harry would want to hear.

Bashfully she looked towards Ron for some support, who only crinkled his mouth and refilled the goblet he held. Passing it to Harry, he drunk it as easily as the last allowing a long sigh of satisfaction to ease from him afterwards. Giving it back to Ron, he placed it on the side pushing his hands into his pockets.

Hermione was rendered speechless as she could sense the question that was about to be asked. She looked down at her feet in preparation of the unwanted exchanged. She tried to tell herself that he had a right to know, no matter how difficult it was to say. How could he help or lead if he had no inclination of what had happened since the battle?

'Ron… What happened?'

She could feel the tension in Ron but Hermione did not dare move her eyes. She stood there, perfectly still, waiting for words to be spoken.

'It's all gone, mate'

At Ron's speech Hermione collapsed into hysterical tears once again. Throwing her hands over her face she cried into them, barely able to say anything of reason.

'I'm so sorry Harry! We tried! We had to get away, we didn't stand a chance! We didn't know what to do…'

She pulled the purple cuffs over her fists, attempting to mop up the vast amount of sorrowful drops that ran down her cheeks. Hermione's glazed amber eyes looked onto Harry, ashamed of the news they brought. Yet he seemed to dismiss it, looking around the room.

His eyes found Ginny who had taken to the corner, spectating all that had happened thus far. Harry smiled towards her warmly, slowly holding his hand out for her.

Every movement he made seem to require a great deal of willpower and his face scrunched to every throb. Hermione's heart broke at the amount of excruciating agony he must have endured.

The copper haired girl took the invitation, masking her face with resilience. Hermione had always been jealous of Ginny's courage and energy. It was times like this her stoutness was most appreciated. As Ginny took Harry's hand, he pulled her into him – warping her arms tightly around her waist and resting his head onto her stomach.

Ginny held him close, as Hermione struggle to regain her composure. She could not waste the little time they possibly had crying, when tactics had to be made and a war needing to be won.

Looking on at the embracing couple, Hermione sniffed away her last tears, patting her face in order to recapture some alertness.

Harry let his grip drop from Ginny as she planted a kiss on top of his head and stepped away smiling towards her love. He slanted his mouth at her, breathing deeply he focused his attention back onto Ron.

'What happened?'

He asked the same question, yet more firmly than before. Hermione knew he wanted detail and knew Ron was the only one capable of speaking of the horrors they had faced. Ron sighed with exasperation as the truth had to be told sooner or later.

'You saw the worst of it.' Ron said and uncertainly lay in his voice. However Hermione could see him pacing him, ready to continue. 'You went to woods when you-know-who called. Both armies were down to under a hundred. When you were there we attempted to stronghold the castle… That's when he brought you back…'

Harry focused his eyes elsewhere as he looked as though he was trying to recollect the no doubt fragmented memories. He did not look at Ron, but gave no suggestion for him to stop.

'They all just cursed at hexed at you. It was evil… Everyone just froze.'

A heavily atmosphere fell over them as the trauma of that day, was being relived by all that were present.

'Luckily though me, Ginny, Fred and George had backup. In case it all went to shit.' Ron chewed on his lip as his voice broke over Fred's name. Unfortunately he was not the only Weasley to perish that day.

'That's why we're 'ere. We couldn't just let 'em win, mate… But we've been doing well 'ere. We've been picking off the Death Eater patrols, tracking 'em down, trying to stay hidden.'

Harry looked at him in utter disbelief.

'How… How long as have I been out for?'

Ron looked wide eyed at Hermione, not sure of the best course of action. She felt the need to step in and her voice shattered the recurring silence. 'You've been unconscious for three months Harry.' Looking towards him sympathetically, he closed his eyes in patience as she wondered of his reaction.

She did not have to wait long however, as Harry began to reply. 'So we're hiding….'

'In a fucking hut, while the he's out there! We're not meant to be fucking hiding! We should be trying to kill him!'

The rage was evident as Hermione recoiled to his outburst. He was understandable angry and Harry was never one who liked being left in the dark. As she allowed his words to ring in the air, whispers and scurrying could have been heard outside the room. Harry had obviously noticed it to as he spoke more calmly than before.

'Who else is here?'

Hermione was afraid to answer, so Ron instead chose to speak.

'George, Luna, Cho, Dean, Neville, Seamus and Romilda Vane.' Harry nodded as Ron added, 'Susan, Parvati and Ernie were here as well. They got snatched within the first two weeks.'

Harry shook his head, adjusting himself slightly on the bed. 'And that's all that's left?'

Hermione had turned around muffling her pitiful sobs. Ron murmured a 'yes' as the stillness of the air descended upon them once again.

Harry just sat there, pondering all that had been said. Poising herself Hermione turned to face her friends. It was reasonable that the details of events would not have gone down well and obviousness of his anger was clear to all.

They all look upon him with concerned heavy eyes as Ron shifted his footing.

'There's something else, mate…'

Harry peered onto him as the muscles in his jaw tightened.

'You-know-who… He's taken over Hogwarts.'

The dark haired boy nearly spontaneously combusted in the place he sat. In a second a fiery apoplexy boomed around the room as Harry began yelling his fury.

The images faded as a blinding light swirled into view. Two shadows danced above her, one very tall and slender the other was incredibly smaller.

""

As Hermione opened her eyes, everything she saw was an unrecognisable sluice of twisting images.

The smaller of the two shapes disappeared from view as a voice vibrated around her.

'Hurry!... think… much time… injured... fuck sake!... you.. elf!'

It caused and ghost of an itch, shaking the shell of her ear. Everything felt completely out of control… Who were these people? What was this place?

Hermione attempting desperately to fight off the weakness but only found herself numb and incapacitated by her mental commands. She looked at the disorientated motion of herself, she appeared to be lying down, yet she could not move one single muscle.

Confounded by what lay around her, Hermione rolled her head in a flustered attempting to blink away the madness.

She tried to mumble away the situation but nothing came of her futile reckonings. A bright light appeared, sheathing her it magnificent radiating beam. It danced above her, slipping away from view only to return again. She felt like her skin was bubbling, stretching against itself only to fold back and heal again.

Nothing was what she knew and somehow it dawned upon her that she didn't really know anything besides her own name.

All she felt was that she had to leave. She had to escape. The very thought surged through her, infected everything about her. She needed to move, she had to. There was no other way. Forcing herself to do something, she remained completely still.

Her mind was slipping with thoughts racing. Come on, please, just move! No matter how many times Hermione thought this, her body would not obey.

Completely desperate, her brain began to overload. She felt as though she was being pulled back by the clutches of darkness towards to void of hell. Resisting, the claws only tightened its determination to drown her in insanity.

Nothing was her own. Her body was trapped and her mind stolen. Every element of what defined a human had all been taken from Hermione. As the veil drew ever closer, she could not help but welcome its ferocity.

The intensity of the delirium swam in her veins, cleansing her vision.

The freedom of herself returned as she felt her back arched in greeting. A shattering tingle replaced the numbness she felt, as her eyes had begun to roll in their sockets.

Jerking her legs, her arms soon followed making their own fractured alterations. A tall blonde wizard loomed over her, still tracing the light over her body. Although some sense had returned, she could not exert herself in anyway. She could not sit up, nor could she move into any particular position.

'Relax, Hermione.'

The voice registered somewhere in her mind, but she barely heard the words. As the light swirled over her, it dimmed away leaving only shadows in its wake.

The pointed face leaned into her eye line as Hermione began twisting her head in disbelief. This wizard only seemed a threat, as well as everything that lay around her. She could feel her sense of mortality and knew it would not be long before that it was too, taken from her.

He appeared to be looking at her, yet his eyes did not rest on the one place. He scanned her meticulously, occasionally pressing the tips of his fingers into her supple skin.

Hermione flapped her arms pathetically, attempting to bat away his touch.

'Go… Away…'

Her voice was weak but she was sure of her words. Whatever the reason, she did want the persistent feel of a possible assailant against any part of her.

Nothing was connected, as everything seemed to mutate in the parallels of existence.

Everything around her lacked all pulse, all the other beings only seemed as two faint apparitions from a distance dream. Nothing held the vitality of life or any emotional colouring. Hermione was completely disentwined from herself, floating in her own purgatory.

The complexities of nothing puzzled her mind further. She could only feel the unreality but whether it was her or everything around that was so unreal, she could not tell.

So she just lay there, allowing the time to pass for those who still regarded it.

'Verrill, pass me the Furora!'

'Yes, master sir!'

The puerile and deep voice contrasted in the atmosphere. The wizard grabbed a fuchsia bottle, given to him by the small creature.

'Hermione,' he came closer to her, pulling out the silver stopper and allowing the potions fumes to glisten in the dark air. 'This might sting, just keep your eyes open.'

With that he leant over her, pouring the liquid into each of her amber eyes. A salve formed over them, cutting Hermione's vision to a lens of bright pink. She could feel it trickling behind her eyes, leaking into her brain. The alarming hues faded as it submerged her inside vessels.

Blinking away the slimy texture, she felt revived as her disassociation lifted. She felt herself slipping back into her body and reattach, springing life back into her. As it did so, it propelled her forwards causing her to sit up in quick succession.

Her head darted around, locking onto everything around her. Her eyes felt bright as she saw all the details that haunted the black void around her. The pointed face of Draco Malfoy focused into view as he put it cold palm onto her chest, pushing her gentle back down.

She fought against his touch as the panic elevated and the shock hit her like a full forced tidal wave. The bright orange glow captivated her as the memory of the fire returned.

Not knowing what to do she turned and screamed on the bed, thrashing her body menacingly. The hand travelled from her chest to her arms as she became pinned by Draco's strength.

'Calm down, Hermione! I'm not going to hurt you.'

Yet the words through gritted teeth only enhanced the anxiety within Hermione. Struggling under his might, she continued to twist with all the power she could. However it made no difference to the situation and only increased Draco's attempts on restraining the girl.

Hermione's agitation slowly fell and was soon replaced by the all familiar despair.

She quite simply gave up. Everything she could do was completely useless against all she was sentenced to. Her mind could not think in one direction and she could not help but think what a waste of a life she had become.

Tears sprung to her eyes as she fell into sorrowful sobs. Draco removed his hands, waving them towards Verrill is dismissal. The elf obeyed without hesitation and disapparated, causing Malfoy's attention to focus back onto Hermione.

The moisture streaked her face as she rolled onto her front, in desperate wish to ignore the world. All that was left was danger, suffering and death. How could she fool herself otherwise? Even if they did win the war, how could that justify the rest of their existence? When the world would finally lay down its arms, she knew deep down that there would still be nothing left of her to save.

'I can't take this anymore!' She screamed, leaping off of the bed. 'Go away Draco! Leave me alone!'

His shadowed face stared at her with narrowed eyes. She could not trust anything from him, not from anyone.

She stood there in her emotional shamble, wiping each tear that spilt with a rough fist.

'Hermione… Listen to me. You're safe here.' He stepped towards her, holding his hand out towards her in reassurance.

'Liar!' She spat, ferociously. 'You're a liar! Why should I b…believe anything you say!'

Her words broke past her uneven breaths of sadness.

Draco took yet another step towards her, still with his hand out and palm upwards. He did not remove his artic eyes from hers as the gleam of silver flashed across them.

'Hermione, look at me.'

Pulling her hair from her face, she dared to look at him through her watery gaze.

'You are here to help win this. You are here so we can find Potter and end this.'

A new wave of emotion jolted through her as every word he said punctured into her heart. She really wasn't sure of anything.

'I just… I don't, remember… anything'

Her voice was pitiful as she peered at Draco with her misty amber eyes.

Her lips parted in promise of speech as her body took a peaceful transgression of calm.

'When will all of this stop?'

Her face dropped at her own patheticness as she continued to look towards Draco. Many times she had search the faces of friends to seek answers her mind so desperately needed to know in order to hold on to whatever sanity was left. Of those times, nobody could provide her with the truth or answers she had to have and only a hopeless slanted look of awkwardness.

Yet painted clearly on Draco's face was not something of uncomfortableness, not even that of judgment. Hermione felt as though she was seeing him for the first time and as is she had seen him clearly. He was not a Death Eater here to harm her or a minion of the Dark Lord to lure her. He was just a boy, the same as she was just a girl.

They were nothing apart from lost in this word of terror and evil. As she sank further into his glare she could see the suffering he too had been submitted to. He was not evil and she was convinced just for a moment that she saw the innocence of his soul.

He came closer until his chest was inches away from her face. Staring into his black attire, she could only the feel the warmth he had to offer. It had been so long since she had been held, since someone could offer her true reassurance.

Inhaling his scent, she allowed him to edge every closer until he placed both his arms tightly around her, drawing her into his embrace of safety.

She stood there clinging to him, letting him stroke her hair softly. She did not want to move but the tinge of betrayal began to simmer. Not on Draco's behalf however but towards herself. It was easy to feel ashamed, like she doing something terrible towards Ron. Especially with whose arms she was in.

Yet she could not help but feel a trust develop between the two as she wrapped her fingers around his arm, resting her chin just below his shoulder.

Rocking Hermione slowly him arms - she sniffed deeply, executing the last of her tears.

'What do you remember?'

She snuck a glance up at him, pulling away from his grip. Riveting his poise, Hermione tried to find the answer for the question but there was only one sure thing.

'The last thing I remember was the fire.'

Draco pursed his lips at her response a she polity wriggled from his grip. There was only so much time she could spend in his cradle.

'Do you remember what caused it?'

He angled his head at her, a blank expression dancing upon his face. Turning away from him, Hermione retreated back towards the bed, sitting herself down – frail from her hysterics.

She rubbed her forehead trying to think. Her mind was full of its usual cloud making sure she did not know any accurate details.

'No.'

No matter how hard she would strain her mind, she knew its pattern far too well. Sometimes it was better to just not try.

A loud crack echoed through the room. Assuming it was Verrill she did not need to turn her head.

That was until the long waving russet locks fell into Hermione's peripherals. She turned her head sharply to the new arrival as Ginny stood there as perfect as ever.

Something triggered within her mind, the suffocating ashy smelly of smoke as well as the blinding light of a hypnotic fire.

Hermione did not wish to exchange with her friend in such times as the bitterness of their last encounter reoccurred in her mind. Yet she had no choice but to forgive Ginny. With everything she had been through, how could Hermione hold what she had said against her?

Draco had turned to the stationed girl also, placing himself between the two witches.

'You were not called for.' He stated simply barely gracing the redhead's presence.

'I have come to see if Hermione is well. I was told there was an accident.'

The brunette stared on at the two, watching the battle of wills that was fought between their expressions. Whatever it was that was happening between the two was most certainly not beneficial.

Ginny snatched her gaze back, altering her concentration onto Hermione who was still sat on the bed.

'Well, Hermione, I hope all is well. I see Master Malfoy's potions have prevailed once again. I must say, whatever happened to you, you look in impeccable shape.'

A relief washed over Hermione to Ginny's words as she knew their last confrontation seemed to fade into the past. She smiled up to her meekly and Ginny creased the corners of her mouth ever so slightly.

'Well I'm going to retire for the night. Please, excuse me.'

She parted into a cloud of smoke, removing herself completely from the room.

Draco allowed a long low sigh to leave him, no doubt in satisfaction that Ginny had finally left. After all the atmosphere was exceedingly tense to say the very least. Shaking his head slightly he turned back to Hermione, regaining his composure.

'You will be fully recovered by tomorrow. The invitation for dinner still holds if you are interested.'

Hermione had no words to say and once again she was completely overwhelmed by all that had happened in a short space of time. She nodded along to whatever Draco had said although she was not sure whether she had heard him properly.

He crept up beside her, grabbing her arm to place it around his shoulder. Aiding her to stand, she knew she was far too unwell to apparated and she stumbled, her weight staggering into Draco.

Hermione tried her best to remain on even footing but allowed him to support her nonetheless.

'Can we walk?' She asked towards him and he nodded.

They left the room together, struggling in the darkness as they begun the long walk back to the magically entranced bath.