I think I should apologise to anyone who was reading this story. I realise that its been a very long time since my last update, 3 and a half months actually, but my life has been kind of screwed up lately and everything else seems to have taken over, but I won't bore you with the details. Well, I've finally had free time and space to write again, so here it is. I think that there's the start of something in this chapter; I guess its just taken a while to find my happy place, or at least find the path towards it.

I'm going to try to update again soon, but I don't think I should make any promises at the moment because everything is out of control and I don't know if I'll have the time for this for a while.

Ginny sat, drumming her fingers on the arm of her chair. Her gaze shifted uneasily around the room, settling finally on the door in front of her. She wasn't sure if she wanted to go in there now. She was so happy on the way here: the news was such a relief. But now that she was waiting here she felt uncomfortable again. This wasn't right, Hermione was awake and she should be happy. And she was. It was facing her that was the problem.

Kit opened the door and looked around. She saw Ginny and walked over to her.

'You coming in?' Kit asked hopefully. She knew this would be difficult for Ginny.

Ginny looked up, just noticing Kit after being lost in her own thoughts.

'Not sure if I should' she replied glumly, starting to fidget nervously.

'Oh Gin' Kit sat next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, 'You're not still worried about this are you?'

Ginny mumbled and pulled a hand through her hair.

'I don't know how I can face her, after what happened.' She said quietly and sadly.

'She wants to see you Gin. She doesn't blame you; you've gotta stop blaming yourself.'

'Its just hard, you know?'

Ginny sighed and looked at Kit.

'She really wants to see me?'

'She really does, Gin. She's waiting for you to go in there.'

Hermione leant on the wall in her room and looked out of the window. People were walking around on the street below her and she could hear the faint sound of cars coming from the main road in the distance. She pressed her forehead to the glass, shivering slightly from the cold. Hearing a sound behind her, she turned round and saw Ginny slipping into the room.

'Ginny!' Hermione called and attempted to run towards her. However, after a few steps her knees buckled.

Ginny rushed forward, grabbing the girl's shoulders before she hit the ground. Hermione winced from the pain so Ginny lowered her to the ground and sat down with her, wrapping her arms around the girl. She looked worried, her brow furrowed.

'You should be in bed'

Hermione looked up into Ginny's eyes and smiled. Hermione's face was still swollen and a deep gash ran from her scalp towards her left eye. Her right eye, finally without bandages, was only half open and was obviously painful. Ginny could feel bandages through the girl's clothes where her ribs were broken and her back badly bruised and beaten.

'I got bored' she said, pouting slightly.

'Its not an excuse. You need to be careful.'

'I know that Gin, I was just happy to see you. Last time I saw you, you were….. you know'

Both girls shuddered at the memory of that night.

'I'm sorry Mione. I really am. This shouldn't have happened to you. I'm so sorry…'

Ginny trailed off, moving slightly away from Hermione as her guilt took over. She kept seeing her lying there, on the kitchen floor, in a pool of blood. Soon tears were rolling down her cheeks.

Hermione put her hand to Ginny's cheek and brushed the tears away with her thumb.

'Look at me Gin,' she said gently turning Ginny's face towards hers and staring deep into her eyes. 'It wasn't your fault. There was nothing more you could have done. And besides, I'm fine, really.'

The tears had stopped but Hermione didn't take her hand from Ginny's face. Both wore sad smiles as they continued to look into each other's eyes.

Becoming aware of her actions, Hermione let her hand fall back down to her side. She shifted uncomfortably as she felt a dull ache in her back and started to stand up.

'I should probably get back to bed' she mumbled, with her back to Ginny and then climbed under the covers.

Ginny was still sitting on the floor, still feeling the warmth of Hermione's hand against her face, as she turned to look at the girl curled up in bed. She couldn't help but feel that something had changed between them, but she couldn't quite figure out what.