Chapter 3 "Going to the only place remotely like her home…"

"Hello?" she called, through sobs. She gasped for breath and collapsed on the familiar couch. She breathed in the scent and hugged a pillow as she heard footsteps on the stairs.

"Oh… my… God!" a voice gasped, "look who it is!" To Hermione's comfort, a whole batch of them ran to where the voice was shouting. "Hermione, are you okay?" the voice cried out and rushed to her side. This caused Hermione to sob more and more.

Finally the two people she had come to see were at her side, "What made you come here, to the Burrow, out of all places?" Ron asked. "I need you, oh Ron, It's so horrible. I-I needed to see you a-and Harry!" she replied trying to regain her calm.

"What happened? Why are you here, and crying?" Harry inquired, draping an arm over Hermione's shoulder. "H-he is scaring me. I can't take the abuse anymore. Every day, I w-wake up scared for my l-life." She sobbed, burying her softly curled head in Harry's arm.

"He did this, all of this to you, didn't he?" Ron accused. From the looks of it, he was on the borderline of totally enraged. "Y-yes, see he didn't ever want me to see either of you again. Whenever you sent owls he ripped the letters up, or burned them in front of my face. He never let me go out, and oh, he abused me so much." She gasped, taking slow deep breaths to regain her composure.

"We just thought you never wanted to speak to us, thought you were on their side." Ron stated, giving her a look of worry and concern. "Oh no, it was never like that Ron, he told me he loved me that day when I told you I was leaving with him. Never did I know, it was to hurt me and get me away from you two." She explained, giving a weak but loving smile to the two of them.

Realizing that Ginny and the rest of the Weasleys were watching them, she looked at all of them. "I am so sorry for intruding guys. I understand if you never want to see me again but this is the only place that feels like home. See, my parents 'died in a motorbike accident' but now I am convinced Malfoy killed them." Hermione apologized.

Mrs.Weasley was the first to speak, "my dear, all you had to do was ask, we are your family. I am just so shocked that this happened to you, we thought you would come to us sooner if it was really bad." She went over and hugged Hermione, who was still under Harry's arm, and told her to stay as long as she liked.

Ginny cleared her throat and spoke as well, holding the hand of who she assumed to be her husband, because of the glittering rock on her hand, "We are all glad you are back, with the war starting soon, we need you here." Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked to each other, they hadn't quite gotten to that yet.

"Uh…." Ginny began, realizing that she shouldn't have brought it up. "Look at the time, me and Blaise have to get home!" she said blushing and giggling nervously. So, that was who Ginny married… she thought, how does Harry feel about this? She decided not to dwell not it, and realized Harry still had his arm draped around her shoulder. She felt, safe and protected.

Uh, no I cannot be feeling like this, not right now! Maybe I should've stayed with Draco, Harry might die, Harry doesn't like her that way, and Harry is still probably hung up on Ginny! She reminded herself, basically downright scolding herself for even thinking of Harry that way.

"So," Hermione cleared her throat, "what about this war?" she finished her thought. "We will leave the three of you to discuss, to catch up. I'm sure we will know what we need to when the time comes." Mrs.Weasley said with a bright, sincere smile. Everyone began to hug Hermione and tell her how happy they were that she was back before they returned to their normal routines.

When everyone had finally cleared out of the living room, the three looked at each other again. Hermione looked at Harry's arm, then at him. She felt her face flush. His cheeks turned a light rosy color and he removed it, mumbling some form of an apology, which was very Ron-like.

"So Hermione, catch us up, and we'll catch you up on what has happened since we left each other that day on the final train…" Harry began with an awkward smile at Hermione. He looked to Ron to begin…