This one took a little longer because it was originally 6,000 words I decided to cut into two chapters! It's still about 4,000 words, so I hope that's okay!
This chapter is important for Hermione especially and we get a lot of tender Ron here!
I hope you guys like how I'm writing Hermione's point of view as it has been something I've been nervous about.
Enjoy & review!
"At the time we just don't find it-uh, productive to keep Miss Granger here. I talked to a memory specialist and he thought it best that she try and recover somewhere more familiar, comfortable. That maybe it would do her some good." He told the couple, "Anyhow, it's pretty much a waiting period now. Of course she'll need to come back for check-ins or we'll send someone to her because traveling isn't very practical. Until magic can be performed, it's up to her to heal a bit." Jamison finished.
Arthur nodded, while Molly said an "alright."
"Very well." He said writing something on some parchment before looking up again, "Unfortunately Miss Granger cannot floo nor side-along at this time. We can arrange a car through the ministry, what is the address the same as the one we pulled from the archives? Hampstead?" He asked unknowingly.
Without missing a beat, Molly spoke, "She'll be coming home with us. To our house in Devon, the Burrow. I'm sure my husband can help to arrange suitable transportation for Hermione, right Arthur?" Molly said, though it was not up for debate.
"Yes, of course. I'll be sure to owl Kingsley." He agreed with his wife.
Jamison flicked his eyes between the two, but didn't dare question them. "Alright." He agreed. "Now, shall I tell her or will the two of you?"
Molly opened her mouth, but Arthur soon jumped in, "Our son will." He said, eyeing his wife, who at first looked shocked but then slowly began to nod.
"I'll start putting together the discharge plan we've been compiling this past week." He said walking off.
"I'll go tell Ronnie." Arthur said, kissing his wife's cheek.
"Wait!" She called, stopping her husband.
He turned immediately, brow furrowed as he did so.
"I know he'll want to know about lessons- Hogwarts. I'm positive Hermione will too, all of them actually." She thinks aloud.
Arthur nods in agreement. He knows upon the news of Hermione's homecoming, a million questions will come up from his son to ensure he is at her side every step of the way.
"This goes against my better judgement, but Hermione can't go back until we know more about her condition and how to go about it, she obviously can't go back to Hogwarts." The woman sighs, "I know Dumbeldore said he strongly advised us to keep Ronnie home to help and I think it'll be best." Her tone is almost reluctant.
Her husband places a hand on her shoulder and begins rubbing it gently, sensing her conflict.
"Ginny and Neville should return. I owled Augusta and she agreed, but maybe we could see if they could floo home on weekends?" She suggested.
Arthur nodded, "And Harry?" He asked next, "he has to attend lessons with Dumbledore."
"Albus suggested he could floo back and forth as well. He'll want to more than Neville and Ginny. Maybe he can just fly in for lessons? He can collect his and Ronnie's work to do at home. I'm sure they'd focus better together."
"Okay, we can ask Harry what he wants to do to Mollywobbles, he could have an idea." He reminds her.
With a soft kiss to his wife's hair, he gives her a small smile before turning and beginning the familiar path to Hermione's room.
Upon his arrival, he finds Ron how he usually does.
Leaning over a sleeping Hermione, whispering sweet nothings, promises, whilst tenderly stroking her hand or cheek.
"Son." Arthur calls from the doorway, causing Ron to turn.
Upon seeing the young boy's face, Arthur noticed his blue eyes crystallized and were shining with tears.
The look of concern across his father's face is evident to Ron, even with blurry vision. He sniffles harshly as swipes at his eyes.
"She's not sleeping well. Nightmares I suppose. Healer's said they're lowering some doses on her potions." He told his dad with a shrug, acting as if it didn't affect him, when they both knew it did.
Clearing his throat, Arthur stepped forward, "well, I suppose I have an idea why." He states.
Ron's brow furrows in confusion.
"They're discharging her son. She's going home."
He should be happy, shouldn't he?
Jumping for joy and thanking his lucky stars that she'll no longer be confined to these stark white walls and sterile smelling room.
But for some reason he can't be, not completely anyway.
Like this entire experience, he felt bittersweet.
A good thing constantly eclipsed by pain, hurt, and a hundred other worries.
'She's going home.'
That's what his father had said.
But where is home now?
"She can't go home Dad." He reminded me.
"But Ron, the healers-"
"No, I mean, her home, her house in Hampstead, she can't go back there. She can't go back to her parents. If I don't even know where home is for her, then I doubt she does either. Her mind is probably working faster than usual dealing with all this shite. I just-" his words catch in his throat, "I'm happy she'll be out of here, but I don't want to hurt her anymore by reminding her of things she doesn't have." He whispers.
The older man's heart breaks for both his son and the orphaned girl in front of him.
"Haven't your mother and I taught you anything Ronnie?" He stepped forward and clapped a hand onto his son's shoulder. "Home isn't a place, it's a feeling."
Ron became breathless at the words, because his dad was right, of course he was.
"Sometimes it's hurt, or it's comfort. It's growing and learning. It's tears and laughter. But above anything else, it's love."
He stays silent, taking it all in.
"Think of Harry. Home to him isn't Privet Drive, it's the Burrow or Hogwarts, because that's where the people who love him most are. Me, your mother, your brothers, Ginny, Hermione."
Ron nods, "you're right dad."
A small smile ghosts over his lips, "and if there's one thing good I've come to realize through all this pain, it's that I know there's no shortage of love you can give to her." He pauses, eyes boring into Ron's. "So give it."
Ron's hand absently squeezes Hermione's.
"Give it everything you have."
…
It's when Ron sees a tear slide down a sleeping Hermione's face that he's decided he's had enough.
He silently slips away and calls for a healer.
"Hello son, I heard someone called for Jamison, but he's attending to other matters. I'm Healer Evangeline. I've been working closely on Miss Granger's case." The brunette woman says, extending a hand to Ron.
He takes it quickly, "Ron." He says.
"Okay Ron, what seems ro be your concern?"
"Jamison told me they're starting to lower some potion dosages, getting ready to discharge her, but she isn't sleeping well, you see?" He points to her scrunched up face, "she's been whimpering and crying and I-I don't know what to do. I just- please- I can't-"
Evangeline can sense him becoming hysterical, "relax son." She soothes, patting his shoulder momentarily. "We've lowered her dreamless sleep a bit, but I reckon the look of pain is from something else."
"What's that?" He asks anxiously.
"A lot of pain relieving methods require spell work you see, something Miss Granger cannot undergo. Therefore, we've been giving her some Muggle medication, painkillers they're called."
"Painkillers?" He whispers questionably.
"Yes, I assure you, they're not dangerous, only if she's one them too long. That's why it's important we continuously lower the doses until she can get off them safely. It's unfortunately a very painful process."
"Okay." He breathes, but still isn't satisfied, "okay, so what can I do? What can we do?" He asks next.
"I'm sorry Ron but it's out of our hands, she'll have to fight. You'll have to be there for her. But from what I've heard, there's no shortage of fight within her."
"That's right." Ron whispers, caressing Hermione's calf gently.
"I've also heard, there's been no shortage of you attending to her. She appreciates it. We all do." Evangeline smiles softly.
He offers a slightly pained smile in return. Focus never drifted from Hermione.
"Wake her son. Tell her she'll be leaving soon. Ask her how she feels. She'll want to talk to you rather than some healer. I'll be back in an hour." The healer tells him as she walks to the door.
"Thank you." Ron says, "what did you say you specialized in again?" But when he turned the woman was gone.
He supposes it was a question for another time, because right now he had to wake Hermione. Tell her she was leaving. Make sure she knows everything will be okay, even if it takes some time.
He knows that now, it'll take time. He'll have to wait.
No matter how sick and tired of waiting he is.
"Darling." He whispers gently, hand on her cheek, shaking her lightly.
A groan escapes past her lips, giving Ron the go ahead to continue trying to wake her.
"Mione." He says a bit louder, thumb making its way down her jaw.
She whimpers again, making concern etch it's way onto Ron's face. Behind her closed lids he can see her eyes moving behind them as a tear escapes.
There's no doubt she's having a nightmare and he just can't bear to see her in any more pain.
So, he leans in close, lips almost brushing her ear and promises her everything's okay.
"Wake up Mione, it'll be alright when you do. You're not there anymore, come back, here, with me." He tells her.
Thankfully, she shoots open seconds later as she sits up, stiff as a board in bed.
The gasp that leaves her pierces his heart, Ron can't be sure if it's from the jolting movements or the dream itself. Maybe both.
Instantly, he reaches for the water at her bedside and coaxes her into taking a few sips. She does, then collapses back onto him. Her back pressed against his chest.
As Ron holds her, so lovingly, so tenderly, Hermione does her best to forget the things plaguing her mind.
She feels she's on an endless loop of a never ending battle. A losing one at that.
Awake, she's overcome by a sense of loss, emptiness, and pain. When she's asleep, her mind is overcome with horrible memories. Those of mad witches and painful spells.
There's no escape.
When she's with Ron she feels different though. It doesn't go away, not completely, and she doesn't think it ever will. But she feels almost lighter in a way.
"I need to tell you something." She hears a gravely whisper in her ear as he squeezes her tighter to his chest.
She nods, letting him know she's with him.
Ge stays silent for a moment, but soon speaks, almost reluctantly. "They're letting you leave Hermione. You're being discharged you can-" he stops, "you can get out of here." He says shakily.
And she's not daft.
Even with the dark clouds rolling through her thoughts, she's still insightful, always searching for answers.
She notices how Ron purposely doesn't use the word home because where was home to her anymore?
Did she even have one?
Did she even deserve one?
She wonders if her parents know. If when they moved on to the great beyond they somehow found out who their daughter really was.
A liar.
She lied about Ron's rat. She lied about Cedric. She told her parents that she needed to miss their ski trip in fifth year because of exams, not because Mr. Weasley nearly died at the hand of a muggle-born slayer. She had written to them that Harry's godfather was well. She even lied to her mother, saying the reason she was wincing so much the summer before sixth year was because of a broom accident and not because she avoided a fatal curse.
Wherever they are, they probably hate her, and don't even know who she is.
But to be fair, Hermione isn't exactly sure who she is either anymore.
"W-where?" She mutters.
She isn't sure where she belongs.
"The burrow. I'll be there, alright? I'm not leaving you." Ron tells her softly.
She nods into his shoulder as his grip tightens around her. The action makes her wince before she can help it. Ron abruptly pulls away, like he's been burned.
"P-pain." She says, biting her lip to suppress a cry.
She wishes she could say more.
Try and tell Ron that it feels like someone is stabbing her with a million tiny needles poking their way from underneath her skin. Or sometimes it feels heavy, like Grawp is sitting on her body, crushing and suffocating her. On occasion it's so bad she feels like she can't see, can't even think. Like the physical pain has nowhere to go but claw its way into her brain.
Times like those she likes to believe her parents are alive. That she and Ron have been in a relationship since fourth year. That Voldemort never returned, that Sirius and Harry's parents were alive.
That's what her comfort is now. Ron. Harry. Delusions.
And if Hermione Granger was one thing before all this, she was very practical. Never one to waste time daydreaming, fantasizing, but now, it's her only escape.
…
They take a car to The Burrow.
Hermione knows enough to know she isn't well enough to apparate or floo at the moment, but one thing she can't help but wonder about is the bruises on her arms.
They could easily be expelled with a simple spell. One she could perform herself if she had her wand.
She'll need to ask Ron about that later.
Upon her arrival, Molly had a space set up for Hermione in the corner of the living room.
There's a floral curtain drawn, giving her privacy. There's a cot tucked in between a bookshelf and chair. There's water on the bedside table and a few tablets.
They've stuck Hermione in a wheelchair. Saying crutches aren't doable with her arm broken as well. Again, it dawns on her why they don't just use skele gro, but she does know the potion isn't all that effective anyway.
"I thought it best you stay down here. Arthur and I are just down the hall and it's close to the kitchen and the loo." Molly told her.
But while Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would be on the same floor, Ron was in the attic.
So far away.
However, she doesn;t want to appear weak or clingy so when Molly asks if that's alright, she nods, and sits on the cot.
Hermione doesn't even realize it's nightfall until she peers out the window and sees hundreds of glittering stars shining back at her. It's a comforting sight.
At the Manor she was caged in like an animal. No windows. No fresh air. No light, save for the candle Cissy had set.
Ron lingers by the window sill, seeming to not know what to say or do, but not wanting to leave either.
And she doesn't want him to go. The way the moonlight is hitting his face, making his blue eyes sparkle and copper hair shine, well, she wouldn't be surprised if it was a dream.
"You must be exhausted dear. Take these," Molly drops a few tablets onto the table next to her, "and get some rest. You deserve it."
Hermione opens her mouth to speak, but nothing comes out, of course.
"Hush, there will be plenty of time for that tomorrow. I know you must have a hundred questions."
And she does.
Did they get Bellatrix? Greyback? Her home? How long was she gone for? Where's Harry? Lessons? Was Cissy alright? Did Draco ever tell Ron or Harry about her? Why is she in so much pain? Did they forget the pain potion? Why was she on muggle medication? Where's her wand? Is it stupid that she's thinking about Lavender?
Mrs. Weasley nudges her back and begins to tuck her in like she's a small child. Next, she holds out the glass of water and coaxes her into taking the pills. After, she kisses her brow and bids her 'goodnight'.
Ron lingers by the window.
"Come along Ronnie, Hermione needs her rest." And the tone of Mrs. Weasley's voice, the lifting of her eyebrow, Ron knows it isn't a suggestion. It's a demand.
He looks longingly at the brunette, not wanting to leave her, but he knows there's no way his Mum would let him stay down here with her. It's silly to think that sitting vigil at her bedside in 's was a better alternative than this.
"Ron." She scolds again, drawing the curtain.
"Goodnight Mione. You know where we'll be if you need us." He says gently, squeezing her hand on his way around her bed.
There's more he wants to say. Wants to tell her he wants to stay, tell her he'll be down soon once his parents have gone to bed, but his Mum's right there.
He just hopes the longing look he throws to Hermione before he leaves is enough.
But if there's one thing Ron knows, he doesn't think anything he does will ever be enough for Hermione to know how much he loves her.
...
The Burrow is quiet.
Too quiet.
Hermione doesn't remember falling asleep, but right now she's awoken by complete and utter silence.
She supposes it's better than being startled out of sleep by nightmares.
"Hermione." She hears a familiar voice call.
"Mione."
It's unmistakably Ron, but when she looks around, he's nowhere to be found.
Standing from Ginny's bed she peers out the window and notices a silhouette outside, underneath the old Oak Tree. Looking to her right, she sees Ginny sound asleep under her mass of blankets and decides to slip out of the room.
She takes the stairs one by one, mindful of the creak on the fifth one from the bottom. Successfully skipping it, she soon slinks out the kitchen door, closing it softly behind her.
"Ron?" She calls out, she can't see him in the dark.
"Over here!" She hears his faded voice call out.
Hermione works her to his general direction, ignoring the chill that runs up her spine.
Finally, she reaches the old Oak Tree, but there's no Ron in sight.
"Ron?" She whispers.
"Other side." His voice calls, sounding like it's right behind her.
Working her way around the trunk, she finally makes out a silhouette.
"Now what have you possibly called me all the way out here for?" Hermione asks, but she amused more than annoyed.
"To play of course."
The voice isn't Ron's.
"You still like to play, don't you Muddy?"
Suddenly, Bellatrix Lestrange morphs from Ron into herself, like she was polyjuice as him.
"Your parents had so much fun! I think it's time they tell you about it. Crucio!"
A terrible pain rips through her insides as she expels an ear piercing scream.
Ron reaches her before his parents do. He practically flies down the attic steps.
It's been what, forty minutes? And the nightmare's have already started? He thinks.
In the small time he sprints to the living room he does take a moment to curse himself out for not sneaking out sooner. He was planning on giving it an hour.
"No! Please no!" Hermione is sobbing as she trashes wildly in her bed, screaming escaping her mouth between words.
"Hermione!" He yells, pushing past his parents and sliding behind her on the bed.
He grasps her from behind, crashing her into his chest as he stills her movements. Her cries don't silence, but her screams turn into whimpers. He begins stroking her hair as he leans in close to her ear, much like he would at the hospital.
"You're okay. You're safe. We're at the Burrow, no one is going to hurt you, love." He whispers. "Come on Mione." He pleads.
And maybe she can hear him, because she stills as her eyes flutter open. They're red and bloodshot, but he still thinks she's beautiful.
When her brown eyes connect with him she begins to sob, succumbing to the mental exhaustion and falling back onto him. He holds her tighter and silently shoo's his Mum and Dad away, who thankfully oblige.
After she cried for five minutes with no stopping, he decided he had enough.
"We tried Mum's way, now we try mine." He said to himself as he lifted her up.
And she must've been out of it because she simply burrows into his chest with no questions and he carries her up the stairs.
He places her on his orange blankets as he pushes Harry's camp bed from Christmas so it's touching his own.
He tucks her in nicely as he settles next to her and grabs her hand.
"Please try and sleep, I'm here now." He whispers so softly it makes her insides melt.
She closes her eyes, suddenly feeling an overwhelming sense of security and comfort. Something she hasn't felt in ages.
As sleep overcomes her again she can't help but whisper one thing.
"Th-thank you."
"Always." She swears she hears back.
I was originally going to include a big cliff hanger, but instead I'll put it in the preview.
Since this is already about 4,000 words I thought it best to leave it how it is. Just some tender Ron and Hermione before things get crazy again.
Here's the preview!:
Hermione's eyes widened at the feeling of the hand clamped over her face.
As her eyes adjust to the darkness, under the moon shining through Ron's attic window, she makes out a pair of two familiar eyes.
Ones she only saw in Malfoy Manor.
Who could it be! Let me know!
Thank you and keep reviewing!
