Author's Note: Hey everyone! Sorry it took so long for the story to get updated, but I had somewhat of a writer's block. I wasn't sure how to approach the aftermath of Hermione's experience and was trying several options, but I think I now know where I want to take this story. Thanks for your patience and please review, it would mean so much to me if I could get 10 reviews! Hope you enjoy the chapter!

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Everything was so quiet and peaceful. This must be heaven, thought Hermione, I must be in heaven...

"Look, I think she's waking up," a male voice said in the distance. Harry? I guess Harry's in my version of heaven.

"Shh, don't wake her, she needs all the rest she can get!" someone hissed. Ginny? Ginny too, I guess.

Ugg, pain, I feel pain. There's not supposed to be pain in heaven...Hermione's eyes slowly opened to find herself in a terribly bright room. She winced at the brightness, but her eyes adjusted after a few seconds. Her head was pounding, it felt at though her brain was hitting itself against the inside of her skull.

"Hermione, you're awake," Madame Pomfrey said happily. "You had us quite worried, I must say." She made Hermione drink some fluid, which tasted very bitter, telling her it would help with the headache.

"Hmm, well I guess this isn't heaven," Hermione grumbled. The other people in the room didn't know how to respond to her comment, and decided to stay quiet. Hermione couldn't see who was in the hospital wing with her because she was lying prone on the bed and her neck was very stiff, her whole body was very stiff. "How did I get here?"

"Ah, I believe that question is for me," a faceless voice said. Dumbledore appeared in Hermione's line of sight. "Well, Harry was able to tell us where you were located and I went to get you." So that was Professor Dumbledore I saw. "But, Hermione, if your friends would kindly leave your company for a while, I would like to know exactly what happened to you," Dumbledore said respectfully.

"No!" a voice to Hermione's left said quickly. Hermione turned her head slowly to her left and met Ron's eyes. They were filled with relief, concern, and...no, it can't be anymore than concern and relief, Hermione thought. "I mean, I would like to know what happened as well, that is, if Hermione is willing to say it in front of me," Ron finished lamely, shifting uncomfortably in his chair next to Hermione's bed.

Hermione looked at her friend's face, relieved to see him again after all she'd been through. It was then that she noticed that her left hand was being held by Ron's left hand. It was so warm and comforting, and she gave his hand a squeeze before she said quietly, "I don't think you want to hear it, Ron." The memories were still fresh in her mind and she wanted to shield her friends from them as much as possible.

"I do," he replied, looking straight into her eyes.

Hermione thought about this. She didn't have a problem with them knowing, it was just that she didn't want pity; she made the decision to push Ron out of the way, she made the decision to tell Ron to leave her at Hogsmeade, she made the decision to interfere with the Death Eater on Neville behalf and she made the decision to not let Voldemort know anything about Harry. She accepted the consequences. "Alright, does everyone feel that way? Who is everyone, anyways?" Hermione couldn't see anyone but Ron and Dumbledore.

"It's Ron, Ginny, Professor Dumbledore, and myself," Harry replied, shifting into view. "Fred and George stopped by a little while ago to check up on you. You've been out for a good six hours, it's already dinner time. I would like to know what happened if it's alright." Harry felt a little funny asking Hermione to share with him, considering he didn't tell her or Ron a lot of what happened to him when he was with Voldemort. But his vision of Hermione with Voldemort was still in his head and he needed to know what happened afterwards.

"I don't think I need to know, I'll see you later Hermione," Ginny said quietly, sensing that even though she was close with Hermione, she have the right to know what happened just yet. She walked over to Hermione's right side and gave her a gentle hug. "I love you, Hermione," she whispered.

"I love you too, Ginny," Hermione replied. She saw that Ginny was almost in tears and gave the younger girl a small smile. Ginny left the Hospital Wing and Hermione sighed.

"Start whenever you want to, Hermione," Professor Dumbledore said, sitting on the edge of her bed. Harry pulled up a chair on her right side, while Ron maintained his position on her left, never letting go of her hand.

Hermione proceeded to tell the whole story, leaving nothing out if she could help it. She knew that any information Dumbledore could glean from her experience would be valuable. When she was done, Harry and Ron were both motionless, their faces unreadable.

Dumbledore spoke first, "Did you hear the names of any of the Death Eaters there?"

"No, but I'm pretty sure that the one who took me to Voldemort was Lucius Malfoy," Hermione replied. Ron's grip on her hand tightened at the mention of the name.

"How do you know this?" Dumbledore asked, looking as Hermione, a concerned expression on his face.

"Because Neville addressed me as Hermione, and the Death Eater addressed me as Granger. He knew my last name without being told. It sounded a lot like Lucius Malfoy, if I remembered his voice correctly from the Quidditch World Cup." Hermione tried to remain as calm as possible while explaining her logic. Never in her life had she despised someone more than she despised Lucius Malfoy at that instant. He made Draco Malfoy look like a white, fluffy bunny rabbit.

"I see," Dumbledore said. Hermione couldn't discern what he was thinking. "Well, thank you for sharing your story with me, Hermione. I don't think I need to tell you how brave you are." The Headmaster smiled slightly. "But, you still need more rest, please get some more sleep. It'll help with the aches. I will check your condition tomorrow." Dumbledore got off the bed and moved towards the door.

"Professor," Hermione said, lifting her head slightly off the pillow so she could see him. Dumbledore turned around. "Thank you for coming after me," she said.

"No, thank you for the sacrifices you made. You are one remarkable person, Hermione Granger," Dumbledore replied, a trace of pride and sadness in his voice.

Although Hermione wished he would say how he had saved her, she knew he would never tell her. It was part of how Dumbledore kept his students safe, in a way, never letting them understand the extent of his power.

"Well, err, it's dinner time right around now," Harry said uncomfortably. He had been able to leave the hospital bed earlier that day, fully recovered from his injuries. "Go ahead Harry, really, I'll be fine," Hermione said. She looked over at Ron who wasn't moving. It was getting easier to move her head from side to side. "Aren't you going to get some dinner, Ron?"

"I wanted to stay here, if that was okay with you," he replied, looking down at the floor.

"Oh, are you serious? Ron Weasley denying food to stay and watch his friend sleep? I thought I'd never see the day..." Hermione teased. I've missed this, she thought.

"Well, I wouldn't go that far, I was gonna ask Harry to smuggle some food back for me. Food is very important you know," Ron joked back.

"Ah, now I see your true colors," she replied smiling.

"So...do you mind if I stay?" Ron asked shyly.

"Goodness, no Ron. Don't be stupid."

"Okay, I'll get some dinner and bring some food back for you," Harry said while looking at Ron.

"Thanks Harry," Ron said. Harry left quietly and Ron and Hermione were left alone.

"Oh! How is Neville?" Hermione asked, realizing she didn't know if he was okay.

"He's fine. He was here a few hours ago recovering. He fainted right after he told us what happened to you," Ron explained.

"Oh, I see. Well, is everyone else alright? Harry, he looked tired and worn, but I'm glad he's alright. He didn't have major injuries, did he? I mean, he's walking as though..."

"Err, Hermione, you need to get some sleep, you're rambling," Ron said, smiling slightly.

"Oh, I am?"

"Yeah, now get some sleep. I'll tell you whatever you want to know when you wake up."

"Okay," Hermione yawned. "Ron?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for staying here with me," Hermione whispered sleepily.

"You're welcome."

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When Dumbledore floated Hermione into the Hospital Wing, Ron had never been so happy in his life. The relief and joy he felt to see that she was alive was indescribable, but the pain he experienced when he saw her condition canceled out his previous delight. She looked so pale, her lips were dry and white, her eyes were sunk in with dark circles underneath, her limp body was marred by bloody scratches all over, and pebbles were lodged in her left arm and leg. If not for the steady but shallow rise and fall of her chest with every breath she took, Ron knew she looked as though she were dead.

After Madame Pomfrey tended to her injuries, Ron pulled up a chair on Hermione's left side and watched her sleep. Madame Pomfrey didn't know how long she would be unconscious, "It could be a few hours, it could be a few days before she wakes up. We just have to wait now," Madame Pomfrey said to him, Harry, Ginny, and Dumbledore. "She'll wake up with a headache, I'm sure. But I fear the injuries will be mostly mental and emotional."

Harry's face darkened at the mention of emotional injuries. Though he tried to bury the memories of Cedric's death, Voldemort, and seeing his dead parents, it all came back to him while he saw Hermione lying there. He just couldn't stay in the room waiting for her to wake up, he had to get out, get out and think. Ron understood as much as he could, but having never been in the presence of Voldemort, he really didn't comprehend the depth of Harry's pain.

"I'll find you when she wakes up," Ron told Harry.

"Err, thanks Ron, appreciate it." Harry walked out of the Hospital Wing and strolled aimlessly over the Hogwarts campus, trying to get a grip on what happened.

Ron ran his hands through his red hair in frustration. Harry was distraught, Hermione looked as sick as a ghost, and he blamed himself for all of it. She looks so...bad...so fragile. Be grateful that she's alive and that you see her again. None of this would have happened if I had just watched where I was walking. If I saw the building fall, I would have gotten out of the way we'd all be in the common room now playing chess or Exploding Snap instead of in such a bloody mess! Yeah, but that's not how it is, so deal with it instead of complaining to yourself, damn it! How do I deal with it?

Ron realized then that his prior attention was focused on hoping and praying that Hermione would come back to him. Now that she was back, what would happen? How should he act around her? Should he jest with her? Should he tell her how he felt? No, at least not right away, she's been through so much. I don't want to overwhelm her.

He hesitantly reached out his left hand to hers and touched her skin. It was cool, so he covered her hand with his to keep her warm. He looked at her face, still so pale. Ron didn't know how long he stayed like that, just looking at her and thinking about the past five years. All the fights, all the making up, those furtive glances they gave each other, everything, everything about her.

Harry came back into the Hospital Wing with Ginny, looking a little better. He saw Ron's hand over Hermione's and gave a quick smile to himself.

"Feeling okay?" Ron asked Harry.

"Better, how is she?"

"Didn't wake up yet."

"Oh."

"Yeah," Ron shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

Ron's heart was pounding when Hermione woke up. He hoped his hand wasn't sweating as it held Hermione's, but he didn't want to let go. He hoped she wouldn't pull away. She didn't.

His imagination ran wild with what Hermione might have gone through while she was unconscious. He needed to know what exactly happened to her and he hoped she'd be willing to tell him.

Now Ron looked at Hermione sleeping peacefully. A little color had come back to her cheeks when she had woken and talked to them. She looked so much stronger as she rested. Ron stroked her hand as he thought about what she had told them. I can't imagine all the pain she was in. The Cruciatus Curse, twice? On top of her broken arm and leg? Shit, bloody hell, sodding hell! She must have been so scared, beyond scared. He wasn't sure if it was best that he knew what happened to her. His imagination wasn't much worse than the reality Hermione experienced, only in his imagination it ended with her dying and blaming him for everything. He put his head on the side of her bed, never taking his eyes off her. Somehow he had fallen asleep before Harry got back from dinner.

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Okay, end of this chapter. This was very difficult to write, but I hope it didn't seem forced. Any suggestions would be welcomed, and if you wouldn't mind reviewing, that would be fantastic! Thank you so very much!