A/N: Response to Reviews at the bottom :)

Chapter 36 – I Have Nothing

Ron eyes flew around the room. He released the door knob and walked slowly into the room the panic rising within him with each step. He grabbed his hair in frustration before running to the nearest wall and groping at the wallpaper furiously before pulling it down savagely.

"It has to be here!" Ron cried running to the wall opposite.

Ron desperately hit the walls and grabbed his wand to dispel and magical spells on the room. When nothing happened and the blank walls stared viciously back at him Ron pounded at the walls before turning around.

"DOBBY!" Ron screamed angrily causing the walls to creak slightly when the sudden wave of heat emanated from his body.

A loud pop filled the room before the small elf appeared in the centre of the room.

"Yes, Mist-"

Dobby didn't even have time to finish before Ron ran towards him and knelt down on the floor.

"Where?!"

Dobby looked at Ron in surprise before side-stepping him and looking at Dumbledore still standing at the doorway.

"Dobby! Where – where is she?!" Ron repeated.

"She?" the stricken elf replied with wide eyes.

Ron grabbed Dobby furiously and shook him.

"WHERE IS SHE?!"

Understanding flickered across the elf's eyes before pity overwhelmed him and he placed a comforting hand on Ron's that was still holding onto the elf's shoulders roughly. Dobby patted Ron's hand before attempting a reply.

"Not to worry sir, Dobby has placed her in the guest room, where-"

Dobby once again was cut off by Ron who instantly released Dobby and bolted to the guest room at the end of the small hallway.

Harry was standing in the middle of the spare rooms – it wasn't a special room, there were no grand pieces of artwork or emblazoned initials of the Black family hanging from the walls and yet it was this room that was special to Harry. It had been this room that he had sat with Sirius – just sitting, and it was one of the happiest memories of Harry's bleak life.

Harry closed his eyes as the pain clenched at his chest.

"You alright there mate?"

"I just miss you Sirius."

"Yeah I know – but what's really going on?"

"What do you mean?"

"You really are your father's son, he couldn't tell a lie to save his life."

"That's really an inappropriate thing to say Sirius," Harry laughed despite himself.

"That's me, inappropriate and in-your-face, at least that's what Lily always says, she could never understand why James didn't just ditch me."

"I'm sure she understood that you were like brothers, like Ron and I."

"Ah, so that's what this is about huh?"

"Harry?" a voice called from behind him.

When Harry turned he saw Ginny at the door looking at him in concern.

"Hey, Gin," Harry greeted.

She looked at him for a moment before her eyes glanced around the empty room.

"Who were you talking to? I thought I heard you-"

"Are we leaving now?" Harry cut her off as he walked out the room and closed the door behind him.

Ginny raised her eyebrows at him and gave him a skeptical look.

"Don't get all brooding on me Mr. Potter," she said with a warning look.

"I'm fine, just thinking," he replied as he leaned down and kissed her gently on the cheek.

"Let's go then," Ginny replied as she squeezed his hand tightly.

Dumbledore found Ron in the small guest room. He was standing with his back to Dumbledore, who remained just outside the door, he could see from where he stood that Ron had his face pressed against the wall where a painted image of Hermione Granger's face stretched across the entire wall. Ron caressed the image with a sigh of relief before collapsing to the floor his hand still on the wall.

Dumbledore looked away from the saddening image of a desolate young man to the other walls which were covered with sketches and paintings of Hermione Granger. All of them different, some only of her eyes others were entire figures – some smiling, others staring off into the distance and other clutching school books. The entire room was covered in drawings – not a bare space of wall or floorboards remained. A faint tinkling was the only noise in the room and Dumbledore's eyes led him upwards where he saw globes floating in the air near the ceiling and inside he could see flittering images of the young witch.

"She won't be disturbed here, sir," Dobby continued having quietly entered the room and was now standing beside Ron.

Ron nodded mutely at the elf.

"Sorry if I hurt you before," Ron replied softly.

Dobby didn't reply but simply placed his hand on Ron's head and patted him in a form of comfort. Dumbledore could instantly surmise that Dobby had done this many times before as Ron had instantly sighed before lying down onto the floor.

Dumbledore's glistening blue eyes turned from the scene and he slowly moved from the room and walked back into the living area.

He walked to the window that overlooked the lake and remained there until he heard Dobby and Ron walk into the room.

"Dobby, will go help Mistress now."

With a pop, Dobby disappeared from the room leaving the two wizards alone.

Ron looked down at his feet in embarrassment.

"Sorry about-"

"Dobby has done an excellent job on those flowers," Dumbledore noted pointing out towards the garden where some white tulips were blowing slightly in the breeze.

Ron walked over to the window and looked outside.

"I planted those," Ron explained and if possible an even more lonely expression crossed his face, "Hermione's favorite."

Hermione sat at the small desk in her temporary room, clutching the scissors in her hand all the while listening to the sounds downstairs. She had escaped from the group discreetly after dinner.

Ginny's words continued to echo around her room and it made a lot of sense but that didn't mean that it hurt any less. The never-ending weight of feeling useless and abandoned didn't subside even as she tried to smile throughout dinner.

And now as she sat looking at the scissors in her lap a sigh escaped her lips. She didn't like lying to Harry and Ginny, but how could she openly admit that she had lost her powers? It was – well it was infuriating as much as it was heartbreaking. She wasn't a fool, she knew what they were all thinking.

'Poor little Hermione, can't survive without a guy protecting her.'

Hermione let a mirthless laugh escape her lips and leaned back in her chair.

As ridiculous as it sounded she did want her guy protecting her. A few stray tears finally fell from her eyes and slowly slid down her pale cheeks.

"I want to hate him, but I can't…" Hermione whispered to herself as she stared up to the ceiling, "I just miss him so much."

Hermione started when she heard a knock on her door, she quickly wiped the tears from her face and turned to look at the door.

"Come in," She said in a hoarse voice, which didn't surprise her considering how much crying she had done in the last hour.

"Hi," Tonk's said as she stepped into the room.

The young Auror walked over to Hermione and sat on the edge of the desk. She looked down at Hermione's hands and took the scissors from her hands.

"Thanks for covering for me before," Hermione said attempting a small smile.

Tonks placed the scissors in her pocket and returned Hermione's smile.

"No problem, at least you were smarter than me, I used a kitchen knife to cut my hair when I lost my powers," Tonks laughed moving from the desk before walking around the room touching odd objects here and there.

"Are you going somewhere?" Hermione questioned when she noticed the Auror's clothes. Tonks was wearing a purple cloak that covered her entire body.

Tonks turned back to look at Hermione.

"Remus and I have business for the Order tonight and, well since Harry and Ginny will be going to the Burrow as well-"

"I thought Harry and Ginny were going to stay the night?" Hermione questioned not able to keep the disappointment from her voice.

"Yes, that was until Mrs Weasley ordered them back to the Burrow - unsupervised teenagers and what-not," Tonks winked at Hermione.

Hermione tried to smile but the comment had only reminded her more keenly of the person she was longing for.

"Well," Tonks continued quickly seeing the sad expression on Hermione's face, "We were just wondering if you'll be alright here tonight by yourself."

Hermione scoffed at this and stood from her seat and moved over to her bed.

"Please, I'll be fine," Hermione said as she fell into the bed,

"That's what I kept trying to tell Remus, but he's such a Mother-Goose," Tonks replied as she sat down beside Hermione.

A short silence elapsed before Hermione turned to look at Tonks, when she saw the pensive look on the Auror's face she sat up on the bed.

"What? What is it?"

"Look, I know that you care about Ron very much - but you're young -"

"Please don't give me a lecture Tonks, I thought you of all people would understand what I'm going through," Hermione interrupted some of her bitterness rising to the surface.

"I do. I do understand - it's just...just that I think you need to remember that Ron has hurt you. Okay so he may have his reasons for doing so but that doesn't change what he did, does it? Just consider this, if he were to appear in this room this very moment and beg you to take him back, would you?"

Tonks patted Hermione on the shoulder before standing up from the bed and turning to leave.

"Just think about that," The Auror added before leaving the room.

Hermione was then left alone with her thoughts as the voices below her became silent – and she knew she was alone once more.

Hermione lay back down on her bed and pulled the covers over her face.

"Would I take him back?"

Jessica had spent the last few hours knelling beside Severus's bed watching him sleep, she knew he would soon wake and go to the meeting for The Order but as she watched the flickering candle cast shadows on his face she wished that she could go back in time and change everything she had done – everything and anything she had done to hurt this man who had nothing but protect her and love her. A lone tear slid down her face and she reached her hand out to caress his face, it was only when she saw her translucent hand in the light of the candle that she stopped herself.

Jessica gasped when something dark and cold began to pull at her chest. Her eyes widened and she stood and hurried to the window. She gripped the windowsill and stared down at the school fence.

There was nothing, everything was fine, the school was protected and –

Jessica fell to the floor and screamed when she felt the coldness spread through her body – it was so dark and cold and she was scared.

"Jessica!"

Jessica looked up at the man now kneeling beside her.

"What is it? What's wrong?" he begged her with a helpless expression on his face.

"I-I don't k-know," she stammered as tears of pain fell from her eyes, "It hurts – it hurts Severus!"

"I'm…it's taking me…" Jessica realized as she looked up into Severus eyes.

"B-but you said-"

"I don't know why," Jessica cried as the pain shot through her body like a thousand hot knives stabbing her body, "I-I'm sorry! I could have stayed with you all those years ago and we could have been happy but-"

"Shh, don't worry about that I don't hate you – I understand," Severus said as he sat helplessly beside Jessica trying desperately to figure out what was going on.

"I-I want to stay," Jessica whispered softly reaching her hand out towards him, "I want to stay with you – forever…" the tears continued to cascade down Jessica's face as she saw her hand go right through Severus's face, "Wh-why c-can't….I….st-stay…..?"

Jessica's then collapsed onto the floor before dissolving, leaving only a few sparkling lights which soon disappeared as well. Her voice echoed in the room for a moment before the room once again fell silent and Severus was left alone staring at the floorboards, where the only woman he ever loved had dissapered right before his eyes. He closed his eyes and allowed the tears to fall just as the light from the sun completely disappeared from the sky.

Severus opened his eyes and looked around the lonely room - he stared at his hands before clenching them and screaming in anguish.

"I guess we should sit," Ron finally spoke after a long lapse of silence.

"Thank you," Dumbledore replied taking a seat in a careworn sofa chair that looked, despite the fact that the house was currently being occupied, had not been used in years.

"Ah, I see Dobby had been kind enough to supply tea and candy," Dumbledore smiled delightfully while carefully choosing a piece of chocolate, "It is generally good manners to ask before entering another person's mind."

Ron's eyes widened in surprise and he looked away guiltily.

"I'm afraid you wouldn't have much luck either way, if a person truly wanted to, they could close off their thoughts and emotions to you."

Ron's head snapped back to look at Dumbledore.

"Is that true?"

"Of course, I would have thought Miss Granger would have explained all this to you," Dumbledore replied taking a sip of his tea.

Ron looked pensively at the table before lifting his eyes to Dumbledore.

"About before…I"

"Please," Dumbledore held up his hand to stop Ron, "There's no need to explain. I understand what you must be going through."

Ron continued to stare at the coffee table as he spoke.

"I can see the future but there are still so many things I don't know and understand."

"Precisely!" Dumbleodore replied happily.

Ron looked up at the smiling wizard in confusion.

"Why is that a good thing? I need to understand the future to be able to stop it – stop him, Voldermort."

"My dear boy," Dumbledore placed the teacup back onto its plate before leaning forward, "You have indeed a terrible burden on your shoulders, but you are not alone, there are many people who wish to help you. I am sorry, truly sorry that you and Harry have had to face so much at your age but you cannot allow those who wish to destroy our world to succeed."

When Ron gave Dumbledore a confused expression, Dumbledore explained himself.

"Don't you see that by isolating yourself from your school, your friends, your family and your soul mate, they have already won? They dream of destroying everything precious in this world and if you remain here when the people who love you are grieving for you then you have handed Voldermort his victory."

Ron looked down and held his head in his hands.

"I only want to help, but I don't know how – I'm…I'm so lost…"

"And as your teacher, I am here to lead you back onto the right path."

Ron looked up and the understanding he saw in Dumbledore's eyes made him feel for the first time in many weeks, relieved.

Dumbledore placed a hand on Ron's shoulders and looked him straight in his eyes.

"We're ready."

"Huh Wh-"

Ron's head suddenly swayed before he collapsed back onto the chair.

The front door opened and The Order led by Harry and Ginny entered the small cottage.

Dumbledore and the others stepped back and watched as a bright white light engulfed Ron's body and the next moment Eros stepped forward.

"Shall we begin?" Eros said stretching his wing before they folded behind his back once more.

Hermione walked slowly down the hall and down the stairs towards the living area. She sat silently watching the embers of the fire burning.

"I want to go to the Burrow…" Hermione spoke when the silence surrounding her finally irked her too much, "Why didn't they invite me?"

"First sign of madness is talking to yourself," A portrait on the opposite wall whispered loudly.

Hermione rested her head back on the cushions and seriously contemplated flooing to The Burrow and finding Ron, so that she could personally kick his arse. She also contemplated taking one of the spare brooms that Remus had left in the basement and flying to Australia, so perhaps she shouldn't trust the little voice in her head at the moment.

A deafening scream beside her jolted Hermione from her inner thoughts.

"Jessica?!" Hermione screamed jumping from her seat, "B-but you're dead!"

Jessica swayed around on the spot before collapsing onto the floor. She looked around the room before spotting Hermione.

"W-what do you want! Where am I?! Is this h-hell?"

"Depends how you look at it I suppose – to me it is a sort of hell," Hermione replied sitting on the ground beside Jessica.

"But aren't you supposed to be dead?" Hermione repeated her earlier question.

Jessica slowly backed away from Hermione as a frightened looked crossed her face.

"Who are you?"

"Have you completely lost it? My name's Hermione – Granger, remember? And anyway, shouldn't you be dead?"

"I thought so too," Jessica answered slowly looking at Hermione closely before standing up, "But I guess not. Where is this place?"

"Can't you read minds? Why don't you tell me?" Hermione replied sarcastically standing from the floor.

"Don't be ridiculous, when I died, Ron absorbed almost all my powers," Jessica explained walking around the room. She touched the mantle but was disappointed to see that she was she still wasn't corporeal.

"Grimmauld Place, it's where Harry's G-"

"Godfather lived, right," Jessica finished for Hermione before taking a seat opposite her, "Okay so what do you want?"

"Excuse me?" Hermione raised her eyes at Jessica, "You know, contrary to common belief people generally don't like having dead people drop in for tea, especially ones who are demanding and pushy."

"Then why did you bring me here?" Jessica questioned seriously, "I don't have enough power to pull my essence from Hogwarts and apparate myself here, but you - or – maybe," Realization passed across Jessica's face and a concerned expression replaced her calm visage, "Could it be – its not you after all. Perhaps Psyche is finally awakening? And not too happy about being trapped in a short girl with weird hair."

Jessica stepped forward and critically analysed Hermione's new hairstyle with raised eyebrows.

"Hey!" Hermione glared angrily at the black-haired witch.

"How did Ron react when he saw your new hairdo?" Jessica smirked knowing full well that Ron adored Hermione's hair.

"Don't – you – dare – say – his – name," Hermione seethed moving towards Jessica threateningly, "I knew you were trouble from the start but you just kept trying to wriggle yourself into our lives. No one likes you and no one wants you here – so why don't you go back to whatever hell-hole you were in before you appeared here!"

Hermione breathed heavily and took a shaky step back from Jessica, who was now looking at Hermione with a heartbreakingly desolate expression. Hermione felt instantly guilty – she wasn't really thinking those things but all the anger and frustration that she had tried to kept bottled up within herself found an easy target with someone she had never seen eye to eye with. But to her surprise instead of retaliating to her verbal attack Jessica simply broke into fits of laughter.

"Oh this is – this is definitely a ridiculous situation. I bet you that somewhere out there 'the powers of be' are laughing their arses off at my expense."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.

"So let me get this straight you and Ron are…"

"He broke up with me, yes," Hermione finished for Jessica bitterly.

"And what did he say when he did? That he would always love you but not the way that you loved him?"

Hermione gaped at Jessica for a moment before she could speak.

"I thought you said you couldn't read minds anymore?"

"Well if I wanted to I could read your mind but it would take too much energy and since half of my essence is still at Hogwarts, protecting the school, I don't want to waste any energy I do have. My point is that – this," Jessica pointed at the space between them, "Is really a very karmic situation. I've literally been dumped here to fix the mistakes of my life."

Again Hermione looked at Jessica in confusion.

"I left the one person I truly loved to focus on my job, to become The True Seer – to help the world and to avoid being used as a pawn by Voldermort. And now it appears Ron is repeating my mistakes. I wish I could talk to him, but I don't think I will get the chance. I don't really know how long I can stay here like this – in this semi-physical form," Jessica sighed walking around the room once more, "I can only surmise that eventually my entire essence will return to Hogwarts – where I will spend the rest of eternity protecting the school."

Hermione took a moment to absorb this information.

"I really don't want to become - well nothing," Jessica continued, "When my life essence returns to Hogwarts I won't be me anymore will I?," Jessica questioned herself more than Hermione.

"I suppose it's my punishment for what I did to Ron. But you have to understand," Jessica paused and moved towards Hermione, "I only did what I thought I needed to – I only did what my mentor had taught me. I didn't realize until afterwards that what I did was horrible – not only to make Ron kill someone that he had come to see as his friend but to make him believe that his friend had also killed you right in front of him. You have to know that I'm sorry – as useless as that word may be, I am truly sor – "

"What did you say!" Hermione erupted suddenly when the full weight of Jessica words fell upon her, "You made him kill his friend! You made him think that I was dead!"

Jessica took a wary step back from Hermione as she felt an icy chill surround her.

"Y-you didn't know?"

"If you weren't already dead I would kill you!" Hermione yelled at Jessica, "How could you do that to him!"

"O-okay ju-just calm down – " Jessica motioned with her hands while moving away from Hermione.

"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN YOU FILTHY MUDBLOOD!"

Something suddenly clicked inside Hermione and she felt herself back away from Jessica. Did she really just say those words?

"Sorry - I-I don't know where that came from..." Hermione apologised growing increasingly confused and unsettled by the situation.

Jessica continued to back away from Hermione even though she knew that Hermione couldn't physically hurt her she didn't know how much power the young witch possessed.

Hermione collapsed back in the armchair.

"You alright?" Hermione questioned more calmly though she was utterly confused.

"Look," Jessica said as she walked towards Hermione, "I know I totally buggered up the relationship between you and Ron and what's more I probably screwed up his head so much that he doesn't know left from right. So I will do this for you – I will use the rest of my strength to help you. So what is it that you want?"

Hermione looked up and stared at Jessica.

"Ron – I want Ron."

"I know you do, but what do you want?" Jessica's face softened as she spoke.

"I just want to be with him – I just need to hear him say he loves me, like I know he does."

"You love him?"

"Of course!" Hermione replied feeling annoyed that Jessica even needed to ask her.

"Despite everything he's done – even though he did it with good reason what he did must have hurt you," Jessica said as she knelt down and looked into Hermione's eyes.

"Yes, no-matter how idiotic he is, I love him," Hermione answered after a moment. She did, she couldn't help it – even though he had hurt her and abandoned her she still loved him and she knew that she would never love another – he had her heart and always would.

"Then I guess I have no choice," Jessica sighed before looking down at her hands, "Would – would you at least tell Severus that I love him."

"W-what are you doing?!" Hermione backed away as Jessica reached out her hand to Hermione's face.

"I have a little power left – I was using it to stay with Severus but you kids deserve to be happy."

"You're not going to be absorbed into me are you?" Hermione cringed at the thought of her body being taken over.

"No, I will just transfer the small amount of power I have left to your body – it should help you, you'll see."

"Wa-wait one moment would you!" Hermione cried out before jumping from the chair, "Would you just stop! You can't just do things without explaining why…you and Ron – you're both the same. You think I'm too stupid to understand, I am the brightest witch of my age and this is how I get treated."

"Stop rambling would you!" Jessica screamed in frustration, "Did it ever occur to you that the reason he didn't tell you is not because of you but because of – "

"Because? What? Because of what you made him do?" Hermione questioned narrowing her eyes at Jessica.

"No, because he's trying to protect you from a power that you don't even understand or know about."

Hermione screamed in frustration and threw her hands up into the air.

"What do you know about Psyche?" Jessica said slowly as she moved towards Hermione.

"The mythology goes that she was a human that fell in love with a God – Eros. Of course this wasn't allowed and soon they were separated by – "

"You know that's not what I'm talking about," Jessica cut Hermione off, "Psyche was a muggle-born witch and Eros was a pure-blood wizard. They fell in love but were forbidden to stay together because of certain circumstances – namely a higher power believing that she was not good enough for him."

"Yes, I know that," Hermione said rolling her eyes.

"Well doesn't it sound awfully familiar?"

"They were people who lived hundreds of years ago – and okay so what if Ron and I have the symbol – "

"Jupitor's Knot," Jessica corrected Hermione, "You really don't know do you?"

Jessica stared at Hermione in disbelief.

"Just like Ron has Eros's powers, you also have Psyche's powers."

"She wasn't exactly a powerful witch anyway," Hermione looked at Jessica in genuine confusion.

"Don't you know what Jupitor's Knot symbolizes?" When Hermione continued to stare at her Jessica continued, "It means that Eros and Psyche, you and Ron are forever entwined and whatever power and status Ron has – so do you."

"What does that mean?" Hermione questioned as she felt a chill run through her body.

"I thought you were the brightest witch of your age? I'm sure you'll figure it out."

Before Hermione could say anything more Jessica reached across and placed her still non-corporeal hands inside Hermione's head. Hermione felt her body stiffen before a warm sensation spread from her head down to her feet as though warm liquid was flowing over her body.

And then she saw Ron's face.

Please read and Review to support and encourage to me to finish this massive fic.

HermioneGrangerTwin: I agree completely - Hermione can become a strong person but I think she needs to find that strength and have confidence in herself. Even JKR has mentioned that although she seems to have it all together Hermione deep-down is a very insecure person. That is what I had hoped to convey - yes what Ron did was completely idiotic and heartbreaking but Hermione needs to take a step back and view their relationship as it is and not as some idealistic love that she has dreamed up for them - at least that's a life leason that I think we all need to go through as painfull as it is - And what's more we need to learn what worth fighting for and I think the love Hermione and Ron share is definately unique and worth fighting till your last breath for. Well thanks for the review and remember to email your stories to me if ever you want an opinion on your stories :)

Ja: Thanks for commenting, I'm sorry I've left you hanging once more and I'm afraid that there's lots of mystery that's going to remain - but hey that means that the following chapters will become even more intense and maybe you could pick up on my 'Anvil' sized (using JKR's infamous words) hints as to what is in store for our favourite couple :)

phew I'm exhausted --