…………."You're not Harry, are you?"

"Oh, you catch on quickly. Now, as much as I would love to have some fun with you, the Dark Lord wishes for you to be delivered to him in three minutes" he smirked "therefore, we only have enough time for a little torture."

Not again.

She watched as he pointed his wand at her, and yelled "Crucio". The pain seared through her body like hot lava. It tore at her skin, crushed her bones and left her doubled over in pain. This was unlike the pain she had felt before, it was fiercer, and seemed to be lasting seconds, whereas before it has only been held for a second at most.
As soon as the pain stopped, she heard distant voices. Then the pain came again, but this time in a different form. She screamed as they kicked her in the ribs and stomach, and complied when they pulled her up by her hair. The last thing she saw was the door open, and a punch to her face, before she passed out…………..

"Catch me as I fall, say you're here and it's all over now, speaking to the atmosphere, no one's here and I fall into myself, this truth drives me into madness, I know I can stop the pain, if I will it all away.

I'm frightened by what I see, but somehow I know, that there's much more to come, immobilized by my fear, and soon to be blinded by tears, I can stop the pain, if I will it all away.

Fallen angels at my feet, whispered voices at my ear, death before my eyes, lying next to me I fear, she beckons me shall I give in, upon my end shall I begin, forsaking all I've fallen for, I rise to meet the end"

Catch Me

She wasn't entirely sure as to whether she wanted to wake up or not. Drifting in and out of consciousness she could barely hear the voices around her. She knew where she was, however, and her hate had grown to an immense state. She was positive that Madam Pomfrey would be making jokes out of this when it was so much in the past that it could be funny. But, right now, all she cared about was her situation.

She felt more alone than ever right now. She had no one she could trust. Except, maybe, Dumbledore, but her trust for him was fading slowly.

She knew Harry and Ron would never hurt her, but for a moment, she had truly believed it was them who were torturing her. How was she supposed to be able to look at them and not think of them as evil? Even if she were able to trust them again, she would always look at them and be reminded of this day. Or, whenever it happened, depending on how long she had been out for.

"…how…castle………death eaters……students…"

She could now make out some of the words, and demanded her body to wake up so she could listen to the conversation. She now knew she did not want to be unconscious.

She tried concentrating on the words instead of her thoughts.

"I don't know…. Polyjuice…. could get… Hermione."

"You think they used Polyjuice potion?"

"Yes, there is no other possible way to explain it."

"But how did they got hold of our hairs!?"

"I don't know, Mr Weasley. You must go down to the great hall now. Professor McGonagall will explain my absence, but I shall be down soon. I must talk to Miss Granger"

There was silence –

"I know you are awake, Miss Granger, now… will you talk to me?"

She tried to say that she would, but all that came out was a grunt.

"Ok. Just so you know, the students have arrived. You will be excused from any lessons you think you need be. Your possessions are in your dormitory. I shall talk to you when I return. Now get some rest"

She, again, tried to speak, but found herself unable. She heard his footsteps getting lighter and assumed he had left.

Her body seemed to refuse to let her move. She tried to open her eyes, but was blinded by the light that shone in and immediately shot them closed again. She also tried to sit up, but this sent waves of, annoyingly, familiar pain down her body and she collapsed into her bed. Unable to move, or speak, she could do nothing but lie there, thinking.

That was until somebody came and sat next to her, brushing her hair from her face. She flinched slightly, but felt their touch calming her. They took hold of her hand, which shocked her so much she pulled away instinctively. They took a tighter hold, squeezed, and then continued brushing their hands through her hair.

They suddenly stopped, but did not move their hand, and she turned her head to indicate that she wanted them to continue. They did, and she felt herself calming instantly.

Before she knew it, she was sleeping, somewhat pleasantly, while they walked away.

This time, when Hermione woke up, she felt very relaxed and rested. She was able to open her eyes.

Looking around, she realised she was right when she had thought she was in the hospital wing. The room was completely empty. Wondering where Pomfrey was, she attempted to sit up. She still felt the pain sear through her body but was able to subdue it whilst she sat up. Leaning against the big fluffy pillow on her bed, she tried to come to some kind of conclusion about why she was all alone.

But, in all honesty, did she want company? And if she did, who? She still didn't have the strength and will power to face Ron and Harry. She certainly didn't want to see the youngest Weasley, Ginny. Though, she wasn't sure why, the thought of seeing her made her somewhat nauseous. The only other person she thought she could face was…

Her mind was blank. There was no one she could trust, in all honesty. Harry, Ron, Ginny, Malfoy, Neville…. None of them could be trusted, not anymore.

She realised now, that she had no one. She could trust no one. To Hermione, trust was such an important thing. She couldn't have her heart broken again.

She had never felt so alone in her life.

Pleasantly interrupting her thoughts, Pomfrey came bustling into the room, and on noticing Hermione sat up, shock over took her features and she rushed over to Hermione's side.

"How are you feeling, dear?"

She gave a hollow laugh, "Like shit"

Pomfrey clearly looked taken back by her use of language, but didn't push it.

"Yes, well, if Harry –" she flinched at the sound of his name –"… if Harry and Ron hadn't found you when they did, you would most likely be dead."

She raised her eyebrows in a would-that-be-so-bad way and nodded. She sighed on seeing the worry on her carers face and asked, "When can I leave?"

Pomfrey gave a small laugh – "Eager to get back to lessons, are we?"

"No, I just hate this place."

Pomfrey raised an eyebrow at her, but again, didn't ask questions. "Well, you should be okay in about a week, I should think. Now you need to take some potions for me. Take this one first-" she pointed to a bottle that read 'Soothing Potion' "then this one-" she pointed to one that said 'Pain Reliever' "then this one." She finished, pointing to a bottle of Dreamless Sleep.

Hermione nodded, "Can I not just leave in the morning?"

Pomfrey eyed her wearily, "We'll see. Now, drink up!"

Hermione took the first and second potions, and then felt herself fall into a dreamless sleep as she drank the last one.

When Hermione woke up the third time, she could clearly hear the voices around her. And she knew instantly whom they belonged to; Harry and Ron.

She wasn't too sure of a lot at the moment, but she was absolutely positive she did not want to see them right now. Not yet, anyway. She hadn't yet come to terms with what happened, and them being there would bring everything back in a wave of pain and emotion.

She couldn't handle that right now.

So, she stayed deadly still, until someone came and sat down and picked up her hand.

Again, reacting naturally to the shock, she tugged it away and her cover was blown. Again.

"Hermione? How are you feeling?" That was Harry, no doubt.

Instead of replying, she turned away from the voice, still with closed eyes.

She heard multiple sighs then – "Just know, that we would never do anything to hurt you, and that when you are ready, we are here for you." She couldn't help but let out a quiet sob and let a tear drop from her face. When did Ron become so…. understanding? She heard footsteps walk away then Dumbledore speak.

"Hermione, will you please turn to face me?" She complied, but couldn't make eye contact. "How are you feeling?"

"Better. I mean, I don't have this searing pain flow through me each time I move anymore, if that could be defined as better." She let out an un-amused laugh, hollow and filled with pain and anger.

"I feel I should let you know of the events currently taking place around the school. It is now the 2nd of September, and classes will start in 10 minutes. You are, of course, excused from these lessons, but may attend if you wish. I know I cannot force you to stay in here; from what I have heard from Madam Pomfrey, you have been in here enough this summer. If you do decide to leave, please tell Madam Pomfrey so she does not worry." And with a swish of his clock, he walked out of the hospital wing leaving a very shocked Hermione in his path.

Dumbledore seemed… different? He didn't have that usual sparkle in his eyes, and seemed to be very blunt about the situation.

These thoughts left her as she remembered that Dumbledore said lessons would start today. She was curious as to what she had first, and if she could afford to miss it or not. In all honesty, she needed something to distract her from her constant torment.

First, she needed to go back to her common room and get dressed. That is, of course, if all her stuff was there. She vaguely remembered Dumbledore saying something about her stuff being in her dormitory.

In the end, after about thirty minutes of thinking out different paths, she decided she would go back to her dormitory. Everyone would be in class so she could get herself sorted out. She would then go to McGonagall and get her time table, if it hadn't been left anywhere in her dormitory, or in the common room, and then decide whether she wanted to go to lessons or not.

She was sure her timetable would make the decision for her.

Therefore – telling Pomfrey – she walked out of the Hospital wing and down the empty corridors of Hogwarts. She saw the portrait of the fat lady, and realisation hit. She had no idea what the password was. Surely Dumbledore knew this? She'd have to go see McGonagall to find out the password, and then walk all the way back again.

Feeling slightly pissed at the fact Dumbledore hadn't told her the password, she quickly walked up the three flights of stairs to the other side of the castle.

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable about knocking on the classroom door, she rapped lightly but stood out of the view of students. She couldn't be seen in her current state!

She heard voices inside then the door opened, emitting McGonagall.

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

"I was hoping you could tell me the password"

She laughed slightly, "Well, it's good to see you up and about. The password is Dreamless Sleep." And with a small laugh, which Hermione found irritating in the least, she walked back into her classroom.

Dreamless Sleep? Dreamless bloody Sleep? Is that some kind of joke? Supposed to make me laugh? Dumbledore has one odd sense of humour. Oh! I should have asked about my time table!" Cursing herself, and letting out a loud groan, she walked back to the professor's class and rapped on the door again.

This time, her return was not so pleasant. Apparently, her return went unnoticed as she heard a large commotion coming from inside, then a few loud voices.

"Harry!"

"Stay away from me!"

"Harry, please!"

"I said stay away!"

She could hear sobs coming from inside.

"Mr Potter!" said McGonagall in a very high-pitched, and worried voice.

She then heard an ear-piercing scream. Silenced filled the corridors as the scream stopped. She could practically feel the worry, pain and angst filling the classroom. She could almost hear her best friend's heavy breathing. Then footsteps were coming towards the door, and she realised now that tears were running slowly but freely down her cheeks.

"Stay away from me."

The door opened quickly and Harry walked out the classroom, but stopped short when he saw Hermione stood in the corridor with tears streaming down her face.

At the sight of Harry, everything came back to her as if she was being punched in the face. Uncontrollable sobs threatened to surface, and fear started to boil in her veins. She was stood in shock at the sight of her torturer.

"Hermione!?" Harry half-yelled in a worried but questioning tone. She watched as half the class filed out of the classroom. She watched as Ron, Draco, Parvati…. The list went on, each person giving shocked gasps.

She could feel everything crushing her inside a small box that refused to let her escape. Her legs gave way as she fell to the ground. Luckily, someone rushed over and caught her before she fell. She felt herself slipping in and out of consciousness with every second.

Curious as to who had caught her, she looked up at Malfoy's worried face. Everyone was looking at her with expressions somewhere between shock and disbelief. She looked around at the people who were staring at her and saw not one friendly face. She made eye contact with Harry, then Ron, and fear spread through her again. She watched as they walked forward, and tried to move back but found there was no way back. Cowering before them, she did the only thing that she could and ran.

Hermione could only vaguely hear the calls from behind her, and the sound of someone chasing after her. That wasn't what was worrying her, however. She felt this immense need to get as far away from Harry and Ron as she could. So, she ran. Ran anywhere.

Ending up at the Entrance Hall, she walked out towards the lake.

She sat down on the grass, the sun beaming down from above her. She watched the sun with interest, though she wasn't too sure why. Looking down towards the Forbidden Forest with lights in her eyes, she felt as though someone was in close proximity. She immediately bought up her guard and stiffened, as they got closer.

She turned towards them as they sat down besides her, and saw to her comfort that Draco Malfoy had sat down besides her. Wait, comfort?

"They would never hurt you. You know that, right?"

Those words stung in her mind, and pricked at her eyes. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes. She turned her face towards her opposite side, looking up slightly, fighting the tears.

Draco, who saw this, turned her face towards him and then pulled her into the most comforting hug she had ever had. The need to cry consumed her and she fell into racking sobs, leaning her head into Draco's chest and holding tightly onto his shirt.

She could feel himself moving to make himself more comfortable, and moved with him slightly. Not caring in the slightest about how they must look to any onlookers, she cried emotionally as he held her close, as if to tell her she was safe and that he could be trusted.

Words were not needed at this time. All she needed was him. For him to stay there forever and never leave.

She felt herself calming down, melting into his embrace.

Comprehensive thoughts started to rack her brain, and realisation hit. She was really getting sick of that: realisation. It always seemed to bring shock or pain… or fear.

This realisation was one that contained all three. This person embracing her was Draco Malfoy, her five-year archenemy, the person who loathed and despised her, the person who had wished her dead, the person who practically sold her to Voldemort…

How random…. DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!!!!!

natyslacks, dragonstargirl, aDdIcTeDsInNeR4lIfE, loli-chick336, natbag, BewitchingWitch

DragonStar: Yeah, you just take your time… hope this sorta gives ya a push in the right direction…

Natbag: No, really, it does! Shit really does happen!

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Big "thank you"s to my whole 6 reviewers…

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