Ch.6: Heart's Pain

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The ticking of a clock gently woke her. It shouldn't have except that it was the only sound to reach her ears.

Hermione opened her eyes, blinking a few times to get her eyesight to work. She felt stiff like she hadn't moved in hours. But at least she wasn't freezing.

The ceiling above her was white, the color softened with a soft glow from her right.

Her mind was still reeling from her dream that wasn't a dream. Death had visited her in her sleep.

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"Accept the world as your own. The other Hermione has already accepted hers. But only because she finally feels needed. You need to let go. I keep coming back because I feel your unrest."

Hermione kept her eyes closed. The crisp and powerful voice of death didn't frighten her. But she did still reply evenly.

"I'm not here to heal these people. I'm here to annihilate Tom Riddle and make sure they all live better lives for it."

"Once that is done, what do you plan to do? Terminate yourself?" Cold cold words that were laced with a threat.

The smart thing was not to argue. But Hermione was still upset about Dumbledore's words from earlier. She sighed.

"I don't know. I don't see a reason to stick around after. What do I have here? Nothing."

"But you will, you idiot human. Take the gift I have given you and find a reason to live." She heard the threat once again in his words. Hermione waved that away. She really had nothing to lose. It made her careless. He knew that too.

"Even if I did, they will probably want the Hermione they had known as opposed to me."

"Will they?"

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Hermione rubbed her eyes. She truly did believe those words.

She sat up, noticing the room as she stretched her muscles. It was a large and mostly empty room. Aside from the bed and a nightstand, the room was empty of any other furniture. A small fireplace was to her right, noting the open doorway led to a small lavatory.

She glanced at the other door, which was shut, seeing the light coming from under it. The only other source of light was the candlelight on the nightstand and the large window to her left.

She glanced down and saw her boots beside the bed. She braided her hair and took her time getting up.

From the looks of it, she had been sleeping for hours because the sky was almost completely dark.

Once her boots were back on, she picked up her jean jacket, feeling for her beaded bag. She needed to take another Blood-Replenishing potion.

She drank it as she gazed outside her window. So, they decided to stay at the castle instead of going to another place for the meeting.

She froze mid-step towards the door. She had brought her beaded bag into this world. She still had things in therefrom…

With jerky movements, she began to empty the bag out. Books, potions, tonics, jars, and kitchen stuff.

Soon enough, she came to Harry's and Ron's belongings.

Harry's pile was a whole lot more since Ron had been carrying his own stuff for most of the trip. Mostly due to his departure halfway through...

She fingered both of their things. She was sad that she didn't have more things.

But it was enough to bring tears to her eyes. She picked up a bundle of pictures she had carried around since her first year. Cutouts from the newspapers, pictures of the boys and her as they grew up. She let out a silent sob as she saw so many memories in those pictures.

The last one had been taken the day before Fleur's wedding. Ginny was in that one. She had an arm around Harry while Hermione had been tucked between Ron and Harry.

Fred had taken the picture. Making jokes the whole time.

Needing to feel close to them, she changed into one of Harry's shirts. She picked up Ron's beloved red sweater that zipped up the front and left it open.

Her wounds pulled with every movement but it wasn't too bad.

Hermione used her wand to freshen up a bit and used a small bottle of mouth wash to clean her mouth.

She packed it all up but paused as a book fell to the floor. She kneeled down and froze. How could she have forgotten! The Deathly Hallows!

Hermione reached for it but before she could, it disappeared.

Death's voice came from her right.

She whirled around and stared at the tall man. He was standing by the window, his fingers now holding the book.

"You won't have to worry about this. I had overlooked the fact that you could be carrying that little bag of yours. Let me reassure you about something. The Hallows haven't happened here yet. That fate hasn't happened."

Hermione frowned. "But I saw Dumbeldore's wand earlier…"

"That wand isn't the same one."

"So there is no stone either?"

"No. I'll be taking this with me. I'm also here to let you know that you won't be able to see or hear me anymore. I have intervened too much as it is. I only came for this. From here on out you're on your own."

"What if I fail?"

Dark power glinted in his eyes. "Don't."

She blinked and he was gone. She hung her head. She wasn't sure if she was relieved or not.

At least she didn't have to deal with the Hallows in this world. But it was a small comfort.

She waved her hand and watched as the beaded bag shrunk.

Her power was there, brimming with violent power. Her magical physic was completely off. The urge to keep fighting still thrumming through her blood and body.

Taking a deep breath, she walked over to the door and opened it.

She wasn't alone.

All heads turned to her. She tightened her hold on the door handle and forced herself to release. Keeping her stance relaxed, almost lazy, she surveyed the room.

Avoiding the stare of the people, she took note of an opening to the left side of what was an overly large window that took over the whole left side of the wide room.

She noted two more doors across the grand room, the fireplace, and another small hallway leading to another door.

To her far right was a mini kitchen room, it was open and held a very familiar face.

Molly Weasley.

She was just as plump as she had been before but her hair was long and a darker shade of red. She was also staring at Hermione.

Breaking the eye contact, she noticed the long wooden table right in front of the kitchen and every seat in it was occupied.

The table was also brimming with food. Her stomach cramped at the sight.

She looked away and finally looked at the center of the room. There was a large rug with a few armchairs and sofas. All occupied as well.

Hermione finally really took a look at the faces that stared at her.

Moody was by the fireplace, sitting on a wooden chair. Beside him stood a much taller Kingsley.

Every Weasley was present except for Percy.

She avoided Harry and Ron, both of who were standing in front of the window to her left. They weren't alone either but...she couldn't look yet.

Nymphadora Tonks was just as bright here as she was before. She was holding a perfectly groomed Remus Lupin. The werewolf was staring at her, his face closed off as he sat with the pink-haired women. They weren't alone.

Hermione stared a second too long at the handsome bloke behind Tonks. He was holding hands with Tonk's mother, Andromeda.

The man noticed her stare and waved his free hand.

"Hello, I'm Ted Tonks. I'm sorry for all the-"

Hermione shook her head, cutting him mid-sentence.

"I'm only staring at you because Ted Tonks was tortured to death in the other world. So was your wife but was spared for being a pureblood. I never met you before. I only met your wife once the battle started. I saw her leaning over your daughter's body in the end."

Ted Tonks gawked, face losing its color. Andromeda made a soft keening sound of distress. Their daughter stared at Hermione in horror.

Hermione lamented. She should really find ways not to say things so bluntly. She looked away from the distraught family and inspected every face she encountered.

Hestia Jones

Fleur Delacour

Lee Jordan

Oliver Wood

Olympe Maxime

Minerva

Hagrid

Dobby

Luna

So many people. Yet, it still wasn't enough.

She turned to the left and saw the cluster of people that were standing in front of the window.

Neville Longbottom.

Hermione took a step forward and then another until she stood right in front of the tall black-haired boy.

He was tall and held more muscle than he had in the other world. He stared down at her in surprise as she singled him out.

"Neville?"

He nodded and colored. Ah, there it was. He had always held a hint of innocence that she had admired.

She looked past his shoulder and saw the resemblance right away.

Frank Longbottom was just as tall as his son. Not even the scar running across his face could take away the strange innocence that his son had inherited.

The woman beside him must be Alice Longbottom. She was short. Shorter than Hermione. Long red-brown hair was woven into a thick braid and reached the woman's waist.

Short she might be, but she was stunning.

"You must be Alice and Frank Longbottom?"

Frank Longbottom nodded. "I'm Neville's father," a glance to the side. "Albus has told us about you and what had happened to us there. This is my wife, Alice. We're both Aurors. I think you know my son? Was he well there? I can't imagine…"

He trailed off as he reached for his son. Hermione's eyes burned. The sadness that had always been present in Neville's eyes wasn't there.

"He was one of my close mates. We were in Gryffindor together. He was so kind and gentle."

She sobered up. "He suffered along with us in the end. He lived but he was changed. We all were."

Neville stared at her, his face awash with sadness.

"But we were friends, right? Even after?"

Hermione froze. She hadn't told Dumbledore or the others when exactly she had been taken and dropped here. She narrowed her eyes and searched Neville's face for anything that would give him away.

But found nothing.

He noticed. "I'm not fishing for information. I'm just curious."

"Fighting together...formed a bond more powerful than death."

He smiled sadly. At least he didn't pity her. She would have decked him. She had to remind herself that these people weren't the same and to be treated with caution until she knew more.

She moved to the side and finally looked at Harry and Ron. They were both close to each other.

Beside them was Dumbledore...and James Potter.

James Potter wore glasses, his hair was messy and his eyes were centered on her.

He came forward as Neville and his parents moved to the side. Harry's dad stopped a foot from her and stared down at her. He betrayed nothing.

She didn't either.

Silence.

Hermione did a quick scan of the man. Leather jacket. Sturdy boots. Nothing like what Harry had liked to wear.

Unlike his son, this man wasn't as expressive.

She was proven wrong as she stared hard at a pair of hazel eyes. Eyes that reminded her of a cat.

James Potter suddenly grinned and it transformed his entire face.

"Hello. I'm Harry's father, James."

…..0o0o0o0o0o0o0…

Thank you for reading. I love reading the comments. As for those that can't read certain chapters, message me. I have already sent an email to those that manage the site and app. Thanks for letting me know.

Chapter 7 will be up soon. What do you guys think of a different POV?

Feedback is welcomed!

Vanee

lia. : Another one is coming! Sorry, I keep replying but I can't help it. I don't want to make you feel like you have to.

alxxman: So do I!

.7: Thank you so much!

ForsakenKalika: More to come! I have so many plans for this.

Convalla91: Neville was a favorite of mine. He will shine in this story.

ZoeyOlivia: It gets better. This Hermione isn't afraid to make somebody bleed.