Here's the next bit so I hope you enjoy. I will warn you, this section does end in another cliff-hanger, but I will most likely treat you to an update later today. Thanks to all my readers and double thanks to my reviewers, your comments make me smile and happy I decided to write this.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Hermione slowly opened her eyes and stared at the shadows cast across an all-to-familiar ceiling. She gasped as a sharp pain shot through her chest and tried to move her right hand to rub it but something was weighing it down. She looked down and found Ginny asleep, her hand under Hermione's hand and her head on top. Hermione smiled to herself and used her thumb to gently caress her friend's cheek which she was surprised to find to be wet.

'Oh Gin…'

Ginny's eyes fluttered open as she felt movement. She looked up Hermione's arm and was relieved to see her dark brown eyes shining back. Without thinking, she let out a small squeal and launched on the brunette.

'Hermione! You're awake! Gods, you had us worried!'

The air in Hermione's lungs was pushed out in the crushing embrace and another shot of pain went through her chest and she let out a groan.

'Gin, I can't breathe…'

Ginny shot back like she had been shocked, a look of horror on her face.

'Gods, I'm so sorry! I wasn't thinking…'

'If that's the case then at least I know you're okay.'

Ginny smiled in relief at the smirk on Hermione's face.

'I'm going to get Madam Pomfrey. She only let me stay if I promised to alert her if you woke up.'

Hermione nodded and watched Ginny leave. She tried to sit up but the pain in her chest prevented her from moving too much. A few seconds later and the nurse came bustling up the aisle.

'Don't move too much Miss Granger, the potions still need to do some work.'

'What happened? What did Daniel hit me with?'

Madam Pomfrey pulled out her wand and started checking Hermione's progress.

'We're not entirely sure but it's reminiscent of the spell you were hit with in your fifth year. Not nearly as strong but some of the effects are similar. Mr. Stalling was unable to tell us seeing as his jaw was broken before the Ministry officials came to collect him.'

Hermione's eyes had gotten wider as she heard more and the color drained from her face. Madam Pomfrey swished her wand once more and went to a small table to the side.

'It looks like things are coming along. Here's a potion for the pain and something to help you sleep, nothing too strong. You'll have to take a couple potions for the next week but nothing like three years ago.'

Hermione took the offered potions, grimacing at the bitter taste. The nurse nodded and turned to Ginny who had been standing at the foot of the bed.

'Miss Weasley, I think you can return to your tower now.'

'No!'

The two witches turned surprised looks to Hermione who blushed.

'I-I mean, would it be okay if she stayed here?'

Madam Pomfrey narrowed her eyes. She'd never really gotten to know many of the students through her years since most only came to see her maybe once or twice. At least that was the case until the young witch and her friends started making regular visits every year. They'd all gone through so much and she'd patched them up along the way, growing fond of them. She admired and respected the courage and perseverance they all possessed, and had bent the rules more than once so why not again.

'When I come back in half an hour, you had better be asleep, otherwise she will have to leave.'

Hermione smiled gratefully.

'Thank you.'

'Miss Weasley, you may use an empty bed tonight and remember if she is not asleep then you will have to leave.'

Ginny nodded.

'Thank you Madam Pomfrey. I'll make sure she sleeps.'

She nodded and went back to her office as Ginny went to sit beside Hermione again with a smile on her face.

'I think she's got a soft spot for you.'

'Well considering we were some of her most frequent visitors, I could understand why. Ginny, what happened?'

Ginny's smile faded as Hermione saw anger burn in her eyes. She reached for the hand that was lying on the bed and Ginny looked down at the two as she ran her thumb across the back of it and sighed.

'When I saw you fall and it was like my brain stopped working. I don't remember how it happened but one minute I saw you not getting up and the next thing I know, Luna and Daphne are pulling me off Daniel.'

Hermione grasped Ginny's hand tightly. Ginny looked up into the scared and concerned eyes of her friend.

'I fought against them until Daphne said your name and I remembered seeing you fall. You were barely breathing and the only thing I could think was I wanted to apparate with you straight to the hospital wing but I knew I couldn't and then I remembered Nitty.'

'Nitty?'

Ginny nodded.

'She was the house elf that helped me with your party. I picked you up the best I could and started running toward the gate, screaming her name. She met me right before I got to the gate and apparated us here. Madam Pomfrey took over and I told her all I could but I didn't really know what it was that hit you.'

Tears silently streamed down Hermione's face as she listened to Ginny's sad voice. Ginny sighed and covered the hand she held with her other one as she continued.

'Professor McGonagall and Andromeda came and I told them about Daniel. McGonagall went to deal with them while Andromeda stayed and helped Madam Pomfrey. They did the best they could and said we'd just have to wait. Why is it that it's always a waiting game?'

Hermione giggled and Ginny gave her a small smile.

'What happened to Daniel?'

Ginny frowned and Hermione saw her anger blaze in her eyes again.

'The bloody bastard's been expelled, thank the gods. And since he's of age and it technically didn't happen on school grounds, he was taken to Azkaban for causing bodily harm. Honestly, I think he got off easy; another few minutes and his jaw wouldn't have been the only thing I'd broken.'

'Well I'm glad that was the only thing you broke.'

Ginny looked up at Hermione in surprise.

'What? But he nearly killed you!'

Hermione frowned and nodded slowly.

'Yes, but if you'd done much more, you'd be in Azkaban as well. We're not kids anymore and even though the Wizarding world is still a little messed up, the right people, people like Kingsley and your father, are calling the shots.'

Ginny nodded and sighed.

'I know; you're right. I'm just sick of all this! Why can't NEWTs be my only worry and not whether or not some wannabe Death Eater is around the corner?'

Hermione squeezed Ginny's hand in support.

'It'll get better; just give it some time. Besides, the reputation of your bat-bogey hex deters most of the smart ones; meaning you only have to deal with the idiots.'

Ginny's jaw dropped in amusement at Hermione's smirk before she started laughing. Hermione followed but soon let out a gasp as more pain shot through her chest. Ginny instantly sobered.

'Are you okay? Should I get Madam Pomfrey?'

Hermione shook her head and tried to slow her breathing.

'No, I'm okay…just shouldn't laugh. I'd better get to sleep before she comes back anyway; I don't want you to have to leave. That is unless you'd rather go back…'

Hermione looked up shyly with a hint of worry in her eyes but was relieved to see Ginny smiling.

'Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere.'

Ginny stood and placed a kiss on Hermione's forehead before pulling back and smiling.

'Goodnight Hermione. I'm glad you're okay.'

Hermione smiled back.

'Me too. Thank you Ginny. Goodnight.'

Hermione watched Ginny lay down on the bed to her right before closing her eyes and falling into a potion-induced sleep. Ginny laid down, facing Hermione and watched her chest rise and fall as her breathing became deeper. Once she was sure she was asleep, she turned over and let the few tears she had been holding back fall down her cheeks.

While she had told Hermione most of what had happened, she'd left out the fear she'd felt on feeling her limp body in her arms. She'd felt the same crushing despair that she'd felt upon seeing Harry's lifeless body in Hagrid's arms at the Battle, and it scared her. Not just because she thought she'd lost her like she had with Harry, but for what that despair meant about the intensity and nature of her feelings for her friend. Sure she'd felt fear for Hermione before, especially the last year, but never had she been so incapacitated that she had just stood there hoping for her to wake up.

Ginny forcefully wiped her face and turned to lay on her back with a sigh. She needed to get a hold of herself; she'd let her emotions control her too much. She turned her head and smiled faintly at Hermione's sleeping profile. She was going to be okay, Madam Pomfrey would see to that; so now Ginny only had to figure out what to do with her feelings.

Fan-bloody-tastic.

Ginny sighed and turned back to look at the shadows on the ceiling. She'd thought about her changing feelings a lot since Hermione's birthday, but hadn't figured out what to do with them. She didn't want to lose Hermione as a friend, but she wasn't sure if her control would continue. It was already becoming hard to keep her distance when they studied or hung out, and on their Friday nights, she had to consciously keep her desire to find out what her pink lips tasted like in check.

Ginny yawned and glanced once more over to her left. The moonlight fell across Hermione's sleeping face and Ginny noticed a small smile tugging at her lips which made her smile in turn. Her friendship with Hermione made her happy and after the crazy summer they'd had with Harry and Ron leaving, she didn't want to give up the one thing she could depend on.

The next morning, Ginny went back to the dorm while Madam Pomfrey helped Hermione sit up and take some more potions. The pain in her chest had lessened but she still got winded and couldn't move too much. As Madam Pomfrey left with the tray of potion bottles, Professor McGonagall entered the Hospital Wing.

'Good Morning Poppy. Mind if I have a word with Miss Granger?'

'Not at all Headmistress, as long as it's not too strenuous.'

McGonagall nodded and headed over to Hermione's bed, taking a seat on the chair still beside it from the previous night.

'Good morning, Hermione. How are you feeling?'

Hermione gave her a small smile.

'Okay, considering.'

McGonagall nodded in understanding.

'Yes, considering. I know that Miss Weasley was here last night. Did she have an opportunity to tell you anything?'

'She told me about getting me here and Daniel being expelled and taken to Azkaban. What will happen to him?'

'He'll be kept at Azkaban until a trial is set. You may need to testify along with Miss Weasley, Lovegood, and Greengrass. He didn't use an Unforgiveable Curse so he may spend some time in Azkaban or be restricted to his house, depending.'

Hermione nodded in thought then sighed.

'I thought this would all get better but I guess we've still got some way to go, don't we?'

McGonagall nodded a little sadly.

'Yes, unfortunately things cannot be fixed in one day. We were very lucky that most of the Death Eaters were captured right after the battle; gods only know what would have happened had they been able to reorganize.'

'They would have invited the Trio over for tea and become best mates.'

Hermione grinned at the redhead as she entered. McGonagall gave her a small scowl.

'I highly doubt that Miss Weasley, but luckily we don't have to find out.'

Ginny nodded as she stood at the foot of Hermione's bed.

'I agree, Professor.'

McGonagall turned back to Hermione.

'Besides making sure you were recovering, I wanted to ask you about your studies. You've been going to most review sessions and your professors, myself included, think you are making excellent progress and should be very prepared for your NEWTs, but how are you feeling about them?'

Hermione smiled, her cheeks turning pink at the compliment.

'I think my studies are coming along well enough. If I can study while I rest here, I don't see any issues coming up besides being able to turn in my homework.'

'I can do that for you.'

Hermione smiled at Ginny and turned to McGonagall.

'Would that be okay? I'll give my essays to Ginny and have her drop them off to my professors each day. If they don't mind, they can give my assignments to her and I'll do them. If I have questions, hopefully I'll be well enough in a couple of days to come talk with them.'

McGonagall nodded.

'That should be fine. I'm sure should you need assistance, any of your professors would be willing to come talk with you here if your stay is longer than expected.'

Hermione smiled gratefully.

'Thank you Professor.'

McGonagall nodded once more and stood, turning to Ginny.

'Miss Weasley, I'll expect you in my office at 8 o'clock tonight.'

'Of course, Professor. I'll be there.'

McGonagall nodded once more to Hermione and left the Hospital Wing. Ginny watched her leave before turning and seeing Hermione's questioning look.

'What?'

'Why do you have to go to her office?'

Ginny went to sit beside the bed and sat with a shrug.

'Detention. Even though it was self-defense, I still attacked another student and considering my um…unorthodox method…McGonagall gave me 2 weeks of detention with her.'

Hermione's jaw dropped in surprise.

'But he attacked first! You were only defending me and you didn't do anything illegal.'

Ginny smiled, amused at her indignant friend.

'Yes, but like you said last night, I'm quite capable at less…painful…means of defending.'

Hermione narrowed her eyes at Ginny's smirk but smiled slightly.

'Yes…well…It's partially my fault as well. I did kind of provoke him with my little outburst. If I hadn't done that then he probably wouldn't have attacked me like he did.'

Ginny frowned.

'It's not your fault Hermione. He would have done it again some other time and at least he was stupid enough to do it with all of us there and not when any of us were on our own. I'm just glad you're going to be okay; I don't care about the detention because it could have been worse.'

Hermione returned Ginny's small smile and saw the love and concern reflecting in the hazel eyes of her friend.