Ok, well I know I'm scum of the earth for making you all wait so incredibly awful long for an update. Life for me has been INSANE. Anyway, I wont bore you with the details.

Chapter 34

Awakenings

I woke up slowly, slipping out of the blackness into a world filled with light. The warm yellow light was glowing near my head and falling across my body. I couldn't see past it, I only knew that it was safe. So safe. Then the light went out.

"Hermione? Oh, good! You're awake!" A warm female voice greeted my ears. Softer it whispered "I told you this would work."

"I know that, Betsy. Now let's get a few blankets. The cold will set back in soon." A moment later I could feel more weight being set on my body.

"Hermione, I'm so glad to see you awake. Now go back to sleep and I'll owl Dumbledore." the woman's voice again. The blankets were adjusted and I felt myself falling back into the dark. "Sleep well, my dear."

I slept.

I awoke to the first few rays of dawn breaking over the sea. I pulled myself up and over to a chair near the window. The short walk had exhausted me. I sat quietly, watching the beautiful sunrise. It was a simple, yet marvelous beauty. The chair I was in was soft, and I gently slipped back into sleep.

"Good morning, Hermione." A soft, warm voice pulled me from the depths of slumber. I opened my eyes on a smiling face with bright brown eyes. "A beautiful dawn, mmm?" I nodded and she smiled again. "I agree, my dear. But now we need to get you up. Breakfast is downstairs, waiting with Benny." While she spoke, she moved me to a sitting position then to my feet. A simple yellow sundress lay on the bed and it was quickly slipped over my head and I was guided out the door and down the stairs into a bright and airy kitchen. A few others sat around a large table.

"Everyone, this is Hermione. She'll be with us for the next few weeks. I trust you'll treat her like family." A small chorus of hello's went up and I was placed in a chair. A full plate of food was quickly put in front of me.

"Eat up, dearie." The man's voice prompted me. My stomach flipped and roiled at the thought.

"Umm, are you alright?" a small voice to my right sounded. I shook my head slightly.

"Uhoh… Miss Betsy! Hermione's going to be sick!" I was boosted out of my chair and into a bathroom where I promptly emptied my vacant stomach. A soothing hand patted my back and held my hair out of my face.

"There there. You'll be alright in a moment." I gagged once more, trying to breathe. "Are you ready to wash your mouth out?" I gave a weak nod and was handed a glass. A few moments later, I was led into a quiet room with a small table and a window. A pot of tea sat on a tray with a few biscuits. "Try that instead, dear. I'll be back in a bit and you can go out into the garden then." She eased open the window a bit and left. I poured a cup of tea and sipped while watching the birds. There was a small bookshelf in the room and I found a book of poetry. When Betsy returned, she spoke but I wasn't listening. She deposited me on a garden bench beneath a tree with a boy who looked a little older than me. He remained absorbed in his own book and I slipped into the safety of my poems, content with the soft silence.

The anger and pain swirling inside my chest was almost too much to bear. Why? My heart screamed. Why has she left me? Did I not do enough to protect her? Was I not good enough for her?

Cursing aloud, I glared around the darkness of our shared room nursing another bottle of fire whiskey. A sudden, fierce burst of anger overcame me and I hurled my glass into the almost dead fire. It flared up momentarily, then dropped back to its previous level. I cursed again and yanked myself out of the chair and stomped across the room to the window.

A soft snow was falling. As I watched, the wind began to pick up, swirling the snow and making it fall faster and thicker. Leaning against the chill of the glass, my thoughts drifted back to the conversation I had had with the Weasley's that afternoon.

She had surprised me, showing up at the door to our-my room like she did. Normally, she went to great lengths to avoid me. She drug me out-of-doors, her brother at our heels. We ended up by the lake under a large tree. I moved to the shore and stared out moodily, intending to stay silent.

"Malfoy, where is Hermione?" the girl was straightforward and her question cut deeper than the chill wind.

"I-I don't know." I spat the words out, angry at myself and the meaning behind them. Malfoy's don't show emotion. The definitely don't fall in love. A hand on my shoulder pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Malfoy, are you alright?" I shook the little red head's hand off angrily and moved away a few paces.

"I'm fine. Just go away." I started to walk off.

"Draco Malfoy! Stop right there. You're acting like a spoiled little child. You are NOT the only person in this world who cares about Hermione. Now grow up, turn around and talk to us." Her tone stopped me short. I was even more surprised to find myself ashamed of my actions.

"There's nothing to talk about. She's gone." I fought to keep my voice even and devoid of emotion.

"Ma-Draco, look at me." Her voice was soft and I glanced over my shoulder. "Thank you." She gave me a soft, sad smile and patted the bench beside her. I moved closer but didn't sit.

"There is nothing to say. I couldn't help her so she left. Ask Dumbledore where she is."

"Dumbledore sent us to you. He said that whatever had happened to Hermione was not his to share, but that you might be able to tell us something. I don't know what happened, but I'm fairly certain it has something to do with Harry and-" I cut her off.

"It has EVERYTHING to do with that bastard." I snarled. Ginny seemed to be taken aback by the ferocity in my voice. She didn't speak again for a few moments, but when she did, her voice was soft.

"Wha- what did he do?" I turned and gave her a look.

"The worst possible thing a man can do to a woman." I reigned in my anger again and waited. She looked at me blankly for a moment before understanding filled her face and she gasped. The tall boy on the other side of the tree whipped around to look at me.

"Harry?" The girl seemed incredulous. "He didn't- he couldn't! He loved Hermione! He wouldn't do something like that. There has to be some mistake! How?- When?" She had a hand in her red hair, mussing it, seemingly unaware. She began pacing. "How could?-"

"There is no mistake. He did it. He destroyed her innocence, cracked her mind. He hurt her beyond her ability to cope." I was angry but refused to let it show. Ginny shook her head.

"No, he couldn't. He's too gentle." She continued to shake her head and pace.

"I'm going to kill him." The darkly muttered words tumbled from Weasley's mouth. He had his wand in his hand and he was fingering the wood determinedly. He started to move past his sister, and this managed to knock her out of her daze.

"Wait, Ron. Harry is the least of our concern right now. Hermione needs us now." She glanced at me then back at her brother. "Draco needs us now." The tall redhead seemed to struggle with his anger for a few minutes before he swallowed hard, then he nodded. He looked over at me.

"How-how do we contact her?" His voice was strained, but his eyes were clear. I shook my head.

"We don't. Dumbledore said she'll contact us when she's ready." My words were soft and I fought back tears. Weasley and I exchanged a look and he turned to his sister.

"Come on, Ginny. It's almost time for lunch." He nodded to me. "We'll talk later." the two moved past me and I turned back to the lake.

The elder Weasley and I were in accord. Potter would pay for what he did. Maybe not now, but he would pay. I smirked to myself and began plotting. You should never cross a Malfoy, especially not one who has already thrown caution to the winds by falling in love.

Dun, dun dun….. so what are Ron and Draco planning? Is Hermione really going to be alright? shrugs Ask my muse….. Thank you so much to all of you who have reviewed over the past cough year cough… You have kept my mind on the story, I'm just sorry it took so long.

K