Well, here you go.

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply

When morning finally rolled around, the annoying sun awoke Hermione. She looked over at Ron and Harry and saw that they had finally fallen asleep. Slowly, she slipped out of the bed and used Harry's wand to quickly clean her old clothes then changed into them. Quietly and undetected, she walked out of the hospital wing. She just wanted to go somewhere, and since it was pretty early, few people were up, if any.

Ron didn't know when he eventually drifted off, but when he finally woke up the sun was shining and Hermione was missing. He cursed and sat up, rubbing his eyes and shaking Harry awake. "She's gone," he said as soon as his friend looked lucid enough to understand.

"What the hell was she thinking?" Harry asked, standing up.

"Don't know," Ron said, standing as well. "But we'd better find her."

Hermione slipped out of prefect's bathroom, ringing her hair dry and not caring that the hall was now wet where she had rung out her hair. She slowly made her way outside, not really caring where she was walking but was heading towards Hagrid's hut. Unknown to her, she was walking on a path that was pretty hard to spot her from the castle.

Harry and Ron spent about two minutes of being stupid and planned where they would search before they both realized at roughly the same time that, why didn't they remember before, the Marauder's Map was sitting in Harry's trunk in their dorm. They rushed to the Fat Lady, Ron muttering the password.

"My, my," she said with a mischievous smile. "Where have you two been all night?"

"None of your business," Ron snapped irritably.

"Fine! Hmph! Maybe they should teach you students a class on manners..."

Hermione finally got to the steps of the hut and sat on one, looking around silently. She had no clue why she was here but the brisk morning air on her felt great.

Hagrid, who had been going over his lesson plan while taking Fang for a morning stroll, noticed Hermione on the steps and smiled broadly. "Well, hello there!" he said. "Good ter see yeh up and about. Heard yeh was in the hospital wing. Had a bad time of it, did yeh? But yer feeling better now and just in time. Got a lesson plan that could use some looking over."

Hermione looked up at him and managed in falling off the steps as she tried to scramble away. It wasn't registering who he was, and even if it did, she would still have been terrified. Harry's wand fell out of her pocket and she looked at it, faintly remembering she put it in her pocket but thankfully, she could remember no spells or jinxes at the moment.

Harry and Ron were almost to Hagrid's hut when they saw her clutching Harry's wand and Hagrid backing away slowly.

"So, she still won't talk to anyone but us," Ron said as they sprinted the rest of the way down the hill. "At least she hasn't gotten any worse."

Harry just rolled his eyes. "Yeah, wonderful. But how is she gonna make it through the day? It's not like we chose the same classes."

"Never thought I'd say this," as they drew close enough for Hermione to see them. "But I wish I was in Arithmancy."

Hermione had tears in her eyes and when she saw Ron and Harry, she started to cry and shake slightly.

"Hey, you're all right," Ron said, rushing to her side. "Okay? You're okay. We're here."

Harry bit his lip and turned to Hagrid. "It's a bit hard to explain, but she's not really... er... comfortable with anyone but Ron and I," he explained.

Hagrid nodded slowly. "Kinda figured," he said. "Well, you lot will take good care of our little Hermione. In the meantime, I'll see yeh tomorrow at class." He looked a little shaken, but made his way into the cottage without further comment.

Hermione cried and closed her eyes tight, quickly pulling her legs to her forehead. The wand was quickly dropped to the ground and Hermione didn't seem to care or notice.

"D'you want to go back up to the dorm?" Ron asked, putting his arms around her hesitantly. "Or we could go for a walk or... something. You probably don't have to go to classes today, you know. So we can do anything you want."

Hermione slowly calmed down and gave a small whimper into his chest. After a few uneasy moments, she whispered, "Hungry..."

Ron's face broke into a relieved smile and a soft sigh told him Harry felt the same. "That we can take care of."

"Maybe not the Great Hall, though," Harry said. "We can eat in the dorms if you'd feel better there."

Hermione didn't reply. She didn't care where she ate, as she just wanted to eat.

"Right, well, let's at least see how Ginny's doing," Ron suggested. "If you get uncomfortable, we'll leave."

It seemed a good enough plan to Harry, so Ron and Hermione rose and the three made their way back to the castle.

Hermione walked silently, enjoying the feeling of being able to actually walk. She looked at the ground most of the time though, like she wasn't allowed to look up.

"Hey," Harry said, grabbing her hand and squeezing gently. "You okay? I mean, considering?"

Hermione didn't really reply, just continued walking and not looking up.

"We'll take that as a non-answer," Ron muttered, which made Harry grin despite the situation.

They entered the Great Hall just as the mail was arriving and found seats beside Ginny and Neville, across from Seamus and Dean.

Hermione cautiously sat between Ron and Harry and looked down at the table. Neville, Ginny and Seamus all shared cautious glances.

"Hey," Ginny said softly to Hermione.

Hermione just ignored the voice and looked at the owls that were flying in. The fact that most of them were people's pets reminded her of Crookshanks and she felt on the verge of tears again.

"Here," Ron said, having made her a plate. "Why don't you eat something?"

Hermione took it and quickly started eating ravenously, ignoring the six stares she was getting. She couldn't remember the last time she had actually eaten something other than junk food she had managed to grab from her kitchen and she felt like it might be taken away from her.

"You can slow down, you know," Seamus commented.

Harry threw him a look and he looked down sheepishly. "She's been through a lot. Besides, you eat like this every day. It's not so different."

Ginny delivered a hard kick to Seamus' shin, getting a gasp and a sharp glare from the teen that almost asked, 'Why?' She was annoyed that he actually said that and then looked at the trio.

Hermione soon finished, after eating only about half. But from not eating, her stomach had shrunken so she wasn't anywhere as hungry as she usually was.

"So... Draco's still in the hospital wing. Surprised I'm not... those bloody git's goons attacked me," Ginny said, trying to start up any conversation.

"Yeah!" Ron said, having forgotten the fact. "You know, they're really asking for it this year. If we wouldn't get caught, I'd say a bit of payback is in order," he said.

"Personally," Harry told them all. "A bit of payback is in order either way, in my opinion."

Ginny smiled a bit. She was about ready to say something before Dumbledore walked up to them.

"Can I see you three in my office?" he asked Hermione, Ron and Harry. The normal glitter in his eyes wasn't there but a small flicker of anger was.

Harry, Ron and Hermione shared a look before they stood and followed him out of the Great Hall. Ginny and Seamus tried to catch their eyes on the way out, but Harry just waved them off and Ron grabbed Hermione's hand since she looked terrified. He smiled down at her, and Harry took to her other side with a smile of his own.

Dumbledore slowly walked to his office. Right before he said the password, he turned around. "Under no circumstances do I want you to let her run, alright?" A certain weariness seeped through his words.

His cryptic words made Harry and Ron shudder.

"What..." Harry started to say but trailed off.

"And under no circumstances do I want you two to do anything... that could put us in a worse situation. Do you understand? I mean it. Don't do anything." His voice left out even the smallest want to argue, and Hermione was just squeezing Ron's hand gently as she looked away and out the window, terrified.

The two boys, having been effectively cowed, nodded. They weren't sure if they'd be able to actually do nothing though. This was Hermione, their best friend. She'd done so much for both of them and meant more to either of them than almost anything. They didn't want to see her hurt and if this meeting was going to hurt her... they might do something stupid.

Dumbledore turned and said the password. He headed to his office, and heard the three teens following. As soon as they all entered, he quickly locked the door with a spell.

In one of the chairs facing away from them stood a middle-aged man and turned towards them. His eyes were filled with anger but on his face was plastered a fake warm smile.

Hermione screamed and tried to run out of Ron and Harry's grasp.

Ron saw it coming and moved in front of her so that she ran into him instead. He closed his arms around her and tried to calm her down. "Hermione, shhh, okay?" But he was no more calm than she was, and the rigid way that Harry held himself told Ron that he wasn't as calm either.

Hermione just tried to escape from Ron's arms and finally collapsed into them, sobbing. "No, no, no, no, no..." she kept repeating.

Dumbledore looked to them and then at Hermione's father.

"Now, can I take my daughter back to our house? She's obviously mentally scarred..." he said.

Dumbledore raised a brow. "Yes, and you never explained why she is."

"She got into a car accident during the beginning of the summer. A very bad one. She was in a coma for the duration of it and awoke only a few days before the school year started. She has it stuck in her mind that I did this to her, which clearly came about from her accident. I don't know why but it has... probably her mother told her to think that, since she seems to hate me now due to our recent divorce. Well, Hermione now has much brain damage. I wanted her to stay home this year due to her condition, and she kept trying to escape, so I finally locked her in her room. But the morning that the train left, she used something to break the window and well... she managed to escape."

"Bullshit," Harry hissed. Dumbledore shot him a look but he didn't care.

"Mr. Potter I do believe that is unnecessary," the old man said sternly.

Harry glared at him. "It's not. But," he turned back to the man by the window. "What kind of accident was it then? If it's not bullshit, what happened to her?"

Mr. Granger's teeth seemed to clench in anger but he willed himself to look fine again. "Well, she's 17. She got her license. She drove over to an old friend's house and I guess her friend's brother got them vodka. She got drunk and tried to drive home and lost control of the car, then ran into an oncoming car when she accidentally drove in the wrong side of the road."

Hermione just shook her head frantically and tried to run again.

Ron, who was grappling with Hermione and cursing under his breath nearly laughed with relief when Harry spoke up.

The dark-haired boy's grin was fierce and he crossed his arms. "Well then, Mr. Granger, I still call bullshit. She wouldn't have gotten those injuries in any normal car accident."

"On a highway, going 130 kilometers(1) an hour and running straight on into another car going 95(2) will get those injures," he said with a hint of anger in his voice. "But, I do not see why I'm explaining this to you as I can legally take my daughter back since you have no rights over her." He began to walk towards Hermione, which caused her to try and run harder, and then scream, "I hate you!" at someone. It was hard to tell if it was angled at Ron or her father, but in all reality, it was at Ron because he wouldn't let her go.

"You can't go anywhere," Ron said into her ear. "The door's locked. We'll do what we can." But he wasn't sure what they could do. He held her closer and blinked when Harry stepped between them and her father with a growl.

"Don't you touch her. Don't you dare touch her ever again."

Dumbledore stood quickly. "Mr. Potter, please be rational." It wasn't a command, more like a plea. He had never been faced with this kind of situation and wasn't exactly sure what to do. Seeing Hermione's father looking about ready to strike Harry and the same effect on Harry, with Hermione doing anything to get free from a worried Ron's arms wasn't helping him decide what to do. "Mr. Granger, I do have a simple question. Why did these wounds not get looked at while she was at the hospital? I know it was a muggle hospital but even they have ways of fixing wounds this bad."

He looked about ready to start yelling and just chose the simple phrase, "None of your damn business." He pushed Harry down and viciously yanked Hermione from Ron by the hair and went to open the door. "You unlock this right now!" he commanded Dumbledore, who for one of the few times, looking completely angered.

Hermione screamed and tried to get away from her father's vicious grasp.

Harry scrambled to his feet, beat by Ron who slapped Granger's hand from the doorknob and forced his body between the only exit in the room and Hermione. "Don't," he said with a narrow-eyed look.

Mr. Granger growled and brought back his hand as if to hit Ron but went stiff and fell to the ground as Dumbledore put his wand to the table.

"That should do… now, what should we do with him?" he asked mostly to himself as he stared at Hermione's father, who was knocked unconscious on the ground. "He can't be sent to Azkaban as he hasn't killed anyone and the fact that he is a Muggle ties in… we could always call the, oh what is it, cops? Yes, yes… and we could bring him to where they could find him… and have a small chat…" Even Dumbledore wanted to do something worse than what he was saying. With a glance at Ron, he quickly said, "That idea of sending him to the Death Eaters would have been perfect except for the fact that they would probably pride him…" he had somehow over heard the conversation.

Harry and Ron looked at Dumbledore in shock. "I don't know... about the police," Harry said slowly. "Hermione's all healed now. They won't believe he beat her so badly if there isn't physical evidence."

"Yes well, I know of a few memory spells that can produce pictures..." he said as he thought it over. Hermione was looking at her father worriedly, scared he would wake up at any moment.

"Well, while you decide what to do... d'you think we can get Hermione somewhere safe?" Ron asked hesitantly. "I mean... it's just..." he trailed off, not sure how to say what was on his mind and a bit weary of this side of Dumbledore.

Dumbledore picked up his wand and did a small flick, and the door made a small clicking noise. "I will need to see her if I finally decide on the one spell," he said as he saw Hermione race out the now unlocked door.

Ron let out an 'oomph' as she pushed away from him and tore out of the room. He and Harry went after her, surprised at how fast she was moving, but understanding her need to get away.

After she turned around a corner, she collapsed to the ground, crying heavily.

They caught up to her, slumped on the floor sobbing. It still wrenched their hearts to see her this way, but now they weren't as at a loss. Instead they both dropped to their knees on either side of her, slipping their arms around her and holding her.

"It's going to be all right now, Hermione," Ron said softly into her hair. "Dumbledore is going to take care of everything."

"I-I hate t-t-them!" she suddenly sobbed out. It was hard to tell whom she meant by 'them' but she just continued to cry heavily.

They let her cry, sharing startled looks.

"I-I hate h-him for a-a-allowing him t-to c-come here and I j-just h-h-hate h-him!" she screamed into the nearest chest that seemed to Ron's.

Ron cradled her head with one hand. There was, yet again, nothing to say. There was nothing to explain away the fact that her father had managed to find his way into their safe-haven, or the fact that Dumbledore had seemed, for several terrifying minutes, on Mr. Granger's side. She had every right to be afraid and angry.

She beat her fist against his chest as she continued to sob, as if wanting to hit either her father or Dumbledore, but she was weak enough from crying that it wouldn't hurt. Slowly, she slumped down even more as she gave up all hopes of being able to sit there and just collapsed into a small heap laying against his chest.

Ron held her against him, rubbing her back and murmuring to her.

Harry watched him, his own hands on her waist. This was all they could do now. Protect her and comfort her. It was a lot, really, in retrospect. But it felt so hollow and they both felt so helpless.

She continued to cry for a little while then managed to choke out a soft, "T-Thank you..."

"No need to thank us," Ron told her. "We'd do anything for you."

Slowly, she calmed down and after the tears had finally dried up, she moved away from their comforting bodies and stood.

They both followed her up. "What do we do now?" Ron asked.

Hermione didn't respond, just looked out the window. It was either she didn't care what they did or she didn't know what to do.

"Well, there is always class," Harry suggested, which made Ron look at him with a curled lip. Harry shrugged. "Well then, what else is there?"

After a small moment, she softly said, "Walk." She didn't feel like talking but was slowly coming to see that it was fine to talk.

"Right, walk it is then," Ron said, linking his arm with hers. Harry moved to her other side. "Do you want to go outside?" he asked softly.

She gave what almost seemed like an energetic nod.

The two boys smiled down at her and they made their way out of the castle and onto the grounds. Everyone else was in class, so they didn't have to deal with anyone enjoying the nice weather.

Hermione walked next to them, enjoying the feel of the warm weather on her body. She rested her head gently onto Harry's shoulder and sighed. "I need new clothes..." she whispered randomly.

"It'll be fine," he replied, slipping his arm around her waist and resting his palm over her and Ron's entwined hands. "That's the least of your worries. Shouldn't you be planning how you're going to catch up in Potions?"

Ron snorted and shook his head. "Can't believe you had the chance to drop that subject in fifth year and didn't."

"Just because you didn't get the proper OWLs to continue is no reason to be rude," Harry teased.

"I don't care about class..." she whispered, very unlike herself. Well, since she had seen them, she hadn't been like herself at all.

"Hermione, you're now perfect, will you marry me?" Ron asked, looking at her with ridiculously wide eyes.

Harry snorted. "Say yes Hermione," he said. "Make our own Ronald Weasley the happiest man in the world."

Hermione flinched slightly and looked away from the two of them. Since her 6th year, she had noticed that she didn't just like Ron but Harry too, and now more than ever. But she was regretting getting anywhere near the subject and that didn't help any.

They noticed her flinch. "We were only joking, Hermione," Ron said. "I mean... you know, trying to lighten the mood?"

Harry nodded in agreement and squeezed their hands. "Yeah, but we'll shut up if you want," he said.

"It's just..." she shook her head, knowing what she wanted to say but not able to say it.

"Just what?" Harry asked when she made it evident she wasn't going to continue.

With a shake of her head, she just continued to walk.

Ron looked like he was going to ask for more information, but Harry shook his head. "Okay," he said simply and they walked on in silence.

After a moment, she whispered, "I'll... tell you some other time." With a small sigh, she continued walking while looking ahead.

1. 130 kilometers = 80 miles

2. 95 kilometers = 60 miles

How'd you like? It's probably not one of my favorite chapters but… eh whatever. Not much of a cliffhanger really. More like… just a random spot to leave off. Well, I'll have the next chapter up in a few days. I didn't know so many people would like this story! Okay well... OH! I forgot to say this! It's their 7th year! Sorry!

Um… yeah I'll update in a few days but I'm trying to work on this really long Cowboy Bebop fic and a one-shot Fred/George fic so… heh.

Oh! If anyone has any ideas [even though we have a lot written out already that I just haven't put in story form], feel free to leave them. Any and all will be most appreciated!

Don't worry. It'll be updated by or before Monday. And if there are mistakes, I'm gonna get a beta. Either one of my or Bridgette's betas… well, actually, first I need to get a beta for me to have a-- gonna shut up now. But yeah. Ignore the mistakes.