Hermione had had a horrible nightmare. She had stood and watched as her two best friends pointed their wands at one another and tried to kill each other. If she and Ginny hadn't thrown up counter curses she didn't want to think what would have happened. As it was, the curses Ron and Harry had shouted ricocheted off of the shields Ginny and Hermione had raised and they bounced around the hallway like stray bullets until one or both hit the ceiling. The force of the blasts blew the roof off, sending chunks of debris raining down on their heads.

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Hermione tried opening her eyes and she felt like someone was stabbing her in the back of the skull and she knew it hadn't been a dream at all. She burst into tears.

"It's all right," a comforting voice said, patting her hand. Mrs. Weasley?

Hermione tried opening her eyes again and the jabbing pain returned but she concentrated on focusing on the woman sitting next to her bedside.

"Ginny?"

Ginny smiled.

"I'm glad you're awake. I've never been in a muggle hospital before and I had no clue what they were doing to you."

Hermione tried sitting up but she immediately felt like she wanted to throw up. Ginny put a hand on her arm and eased her back into her pillows.

"They said you have a concussion. You need to stay still."

Hermione was about to nod but thought better of it. Instead she closed her eyes and asked: "Ron and Harry?"

"Fine," Ginny said in a disgusted voice. "They blow the building up and there isn't a scratch on either of them."

Hermione sighed and opened her eyes again.

"How are you?"

"A bit beat up but nothing serious," she replied.

"I mean about everything else."

Ginny's eyebrows knit in confusion.

"Ron told me that you and Harry were dating. You can't be particularly pleased with me."

"I'm not Ron, Hermione." Ginny replied with a frown. "I realize that what happened between you and Harry happened before I ever entered the picture. I was not happy that he didn't tell me about it but I understand why." She grinned slightly. "Just don't tell him that. I'd rather like him to sweat it out a bit more."

Hermione tried to smile but found the gesture too painful.

"Where are they?" She asked.

"Harry was here until the doctors said that you were going to be ok. He went back to your office to help the local Department of Magical Catastrophes clear up the confusion. He wanted to stay but I thought it was a better idea to keep he and Ron apart. He's really sorry about what happened."

Hermione closed her eyes. She remembered now. Opening her eyes as she lay on the floor of the office, wondering why she could see the sky. Then Harry and Ron's face swam into her view. Ron was standing back, looking petrified. Harry was holding her hand and yelling at her.

"Keep your eyes open, Hermione. You're going to be fine. Just keep your eyes open!"

"The last time he and Ron saw each other it was—ugly." Ginny continued. "I guess he was still angry about it. Ron's out in the hall."

Perhaps hearing them talking Ron chose that instant to open the door. He peered in and saw Hermione was awake and relief washed across his face.

"I heard your voice…."

He stopped when Ginny stood up.

"You are an idiot of astronomical proportions," she said through clenched teeth.

"I wasn't trying to kill him." Ron babbled. "I just wanted to hurt some of his—parts."

"Did it ever occur to you that I like his "parts"?"

Ron made a disgusted face.

"No, but thanks for the visual."

"This isn't funny, Ron! Look at what you did!" She swept her hand over Hermione and instantly Ron's face fell. He rushed over to her side.

"I know. I'm sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I just—when I saw Harry again it all came rushing back…." Images in his head since the day Harry had confessed to what had happened. Harry kissing Hermione's neck. Harry running his fingers down Hermione's thigh. Hermione crying out Harry's name... He shook his head, trying to shake the images out. "I just can't stop thinking about---"

"Well you have a problem then don't you?" Ginny said with disdain. She turned and patted Hermione's arm. "I'm going to go find Harry."

Hermione nodded despite the pain and she watched Ginny go, mainly because she couldn't look Ron in the eye. She turned her head away from him and fought to keep the tears from rolling down her cheeks.

"You made it sound like you'd spoken to Harry since you found out about Jamie. You haven't seen him since, have you?"

Ron shook his head.

"Dumbledore told me everything I told you."

"So it was all a lie then."

"Nothing was a lie—"

"The last day we spent together wasn't real at all. It was a fantasy. I should have realized it."

"Hermione, what are you talking about?"

"Harry is Jamie's father Ron. Did you think we'd go home and he wouldn't have any part of our lives?"

"I—I hadn't thought that far."

"I can't do this again, Ron. I can't hand you my heart and have you tear it to pieces. Not again."

"Hermione I wouldn't—"

"Do it again? Like last time? I tried to convince you that Harry and I were just friends and you wouldn't believe me then. Now we have a child and I'm suppose to believe that you don't still believe that? It doesn't matter that you and I were broken up at the time it will always be there. And Jamie will always be evidence of it."

"No." Ron said shaking his head. "Hermione, please look at me."

Hermione slowly turned her head toward Ron. He knew he had to convince her that what he was saying was true. He knew everything was depending on it.

"I swear," he said. "I'll get over this. I just need time. But I want you and I—more then anything else in my life. I'll learn to deal with what happened with you and Harry. I was just shocked to see him. We'll work this out. I won't ever throw what we have away again."

Hermione looked into his eyes.

"I don't believe you," she whispered.

If you could hear a heart breaking then you could hear two splintering in the room just then. Then there was a light tap on the door. Amanda poked her head in and perhaps it was the expressions on both Ron and Hermione's face or perhaps she could hear it but she quickly started backing out of the room.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "We'll come back later."

"No!" Hermione said desperately. "Come in, please."

Ron turned away from them and walked over to the window, pretending to look out as he briskly shoving away tears from his cheeks.

Amanda walked over to Hermione carefully; obviously realizing she was interrupting something.

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to see how you were." She leaned into to give Hermione a careful hug and whispered: "And I'm sorry about him. He insisted on coming."

When she pulled away she saw whom Amanda was referring to. He was leaning casually in the doorway. His hair was still white blond, his features still sharp as knives but it was his eyes that she would always, always remember. So cold, so calculating, so deadly.

"Malfoy," Hermione said aloud.

Ron heard her and whipped around but it was too late. Malfoy already had his wand out and he pointed it causally at Ron and fired. Ron flew back and slammed against the window. The glass cracked but didn't break and Ron fell unconscious to the floor. Amanda gasped and threw her hands up but a second later she slid to the floor as well.

With a satisfied nod Drake Malfoy pushed himself away from the doorframe and walked toward Hermione. She looked around frantically for her wand but it was no where in sight. She looked at Malfoy and tried to steel herself for what she knew was coming.

"Drake is a definite improvement on Draco," she said, lifting her chin.

"What's the matter, Granger? You thought you were the only one who could change their name?"

Then he pointed his wand at her and she felt like a knife sliced through her abdomen before she slipped back into dark unconsciousness.