Disclaimer- I don't own anything, everything belongs to the wonderful writer J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. God Bless all who have suffered on July 7th in the London Attacks.

A.N. All chapters are unbeta'd so forgive me for my mistakes. I will hopefully get a beta soon so for now please bear with me.

June 21st-

Aboard the Hogwarts express-

It was a gloomy day, wincing in pain from the hits she took in the battle at the department of mysteries, Hermione looks out the windows in the compartment. Glancing out of the windows, all she sees is rolling hills and gray clouds for miles. 'Hmf! Matches my mood' thought Hermione sarcastically. Rubbing against the still healing wounds in her chest, she sighs and looks at the inhabitants of the compartment-Harry looking as depressed as ever; Ron, sporting burn marks around his neck from the tentacles- cheerful as usual even though hard times have chipped away his innocence.

Hogwarts Infirmary-

Madam Pomfrey bustles around the infirmary trying to treat all who were injured at the battle. 'Those poor kids...they have seen too much.'

Hermione groans, struggling to awaken from the blackness. She finally opens her eyes to see the gradually clearing up vision of Madam Pomfrey hovering over her. "Dearie, how are you? Any pain?"

"No, just my chest, it hurts..." Hermione replies as she rubbed the bloody bandage wrapped around her chest.

"That's to be expected. We almost lost you, but thanks to the efforts of Professor Snape we were able to save you." Madam Pomfrey smiled reassuringly as she said it.

"Oh, ok...where is everyone?" Madam Pomfrey is about to reply to Hermione's question when Ron interrupts.

"Hey, Hermione! You're finally awake," screams Ron from the bed across from her.

Wincing in pain, she glances over to Ron and sees him with bandages around his neck.

"Ron, you ok.?"

"Yeah, nasty buggers almost choked me to death but I'm ok now, and everyone else was released back to their dormitories." Ron grimaces as he remembers the scene with the tentacles and rubs the bandage dipped with healing potions wrapped around his neck.

"Where's Harry?" Hermione blurts out after looking around the infirmary for the presence of the lanky messy haired friend.

"Harry's with Dumbledore right now...Dumbledore came down while you were knocked out to get Harry and Lupin was the one who brought you in...Snape came in later afterwards and left after talking to Pomfrey" Ron said as he was getting off the bed.

Madam Pomfrey hands Hermione a dark blue potion vial. "Miss Granger, drink up! Its for the pain and it helps speed up the healing, then you can go with Mr. Weasley back to your rooms but Professor Dumbledore wants to see you both before you do go back to your rooms."

"Oi! Harry, you're back!"said Ron as he sees Harry entering the infirmary.

"You ok? Harry...answer me."Hermione said as she noticed the pale complexion on Harry. Harry just looks at them both and nods stiffly. The next day the golden trio gets on the train back home with a few well-chosen words from Dumbledore to stay quiet about the events that had occurred in the last 48 hours.

Ron meets her glance and asks, "Hey Hermione, you ok?...You know, from the battle?"

"Yes, Ron I'm ok, just thinking of what will happen since now that Fudge knows that you-know-who is out." Ron blanches a little but nods stiffly and looks away. 'How am I going to explain to my parents that im moving like a old lady...gods...this war sucks, and what is going to happen to Harry? He has been silent since the night when he came down to the infirmary after seeing Professor Dumbledore.' 'What wouldn't I give to take it all back, I wish that I was more aware of Harry's connection to Voldermort, we all walked right into that trap!' 'I wonder what will happen now, what about everyone else...what about Professor Snape...'

"Hey Hermione!" Ron said as he shook her out of her musing as the announcement echoed throughout the train

."ALL STUDENTS WE ARE 5 MINUTES AWAY FROM KINGS CROSS STATION." Sighing, Hermione looks at her wand and puts it away safely in her bag and gets off the train to face the muggle world...but at what price?