Ch. 5
To say that Hermione was not affected by what had transpired would be a blatant lie. She spent well over two weeks in the rehabilitation wing, during which she was not able to sleep at night, and became more reticent, and introverted ever since her first night at the hospital. During this time, she took to wandering the halls in her wheelchair at night; taking in the solace that the building provided. During the day, she threw herself into her rehabilitation therapy. Her leg, though not broken, could not support her weight for prolonged periods of time. Lara, Hermione's trainer, informed her that there was a very strong possibility that she'd never fully recover; limping in cold weather, and prevented from doing strenuous physical activity. Hermione didn't care, so long as that she'd be able to walk.
When she wasn't busy with therapy, she'd find herself thinking. Thoughts that ranged from her father, to Hogwarts, to the green Jell-O she had for lunch that day and finally to herself. She knew that she could never be the same girl. Too much had transpired. The one thing that Hermione didn't dwell on was the possibility that her life was a lie; she wouldn't let herself. Harry and Ron would inevitably notice the change in her demeanor if she did. 'They like Hermione Granger: brightest girl in all of Hogwarts. I doubt that they'd be crazy about Hermione Granger: depressed bastard,' she thought. She knew that even though she couldn't be as she was before, she'd damn right have to try; if not for friends, then for herself, because she didn't want anyone to ask her about her change.
The day finally arrived when Hermione was finally released from the hospital. It was almost ten at night when she'd gotten inside the cab after bidding farewell to Dr. Scott and Lara. Once home, she truly grateful that her room was on the first floor because even if she no longer used a wheelchair, she still had to use a crutch. Lying down on her cool bed, she stayed that way for several hours, staring at the ceiling. Eventually, her eyes began to close of their own volition and for the first time in many weeks, feel asleep at night.
"Hey, wake up," a familiar voice urged.