FIVE MONTHS LATER

Hermione Granger was running….running from she didn't know who. Twigs and roots tearing at her legs, causing her to fall and get back up. Running for her life. Harry was there too, and Ron. All of them running. Her legs ached and muscles rebelled but she overrode her body with her mind. She fell again, weak from exertion. No! She forced herself back up. Just keep going…keep going…and then…laughter?

Hermione jolted awake. She not running at all. She was safe in her Potions classroom. As she slowly regained her consciousness she realized the other students had been laughing at her. Pansy, Draco, Seamus, everyone was there. Laughing at her. Harry and Ron were there too but they weren't laughing. Ron mouthed 'Are you ok?,' at her. She nodded at him, her cheeks flushing. Oh no, she thought, not in Potions.

"Apparently today's lesson has proved…riveting to Miss Granger. Twenty points from Gryffindor. For sleeping in class."

Snape's deliberate speech roused her fully from her rest. She felt her mouth betray her at the corner and force a yawn as she quickly clapped a hand over it as she heard more laughter.

"And detention, for yawning."

Hermione gathered her heavy books together quickly as the class ended, wrapping them in her arms and slowly approached the teacher at the podium.

"Professor Snape," she started cautiously and he spun to face her. She could feel her heart speed up. He was kind of terrifying.

"I- I'm terribly sorry. I don't know what's come over me. I've been so tired-,"

"Do not bore me with your impertinence, Miss Granger. I am busy." He turned on his heel and grabbed a book from his podium.

"Have Madam Pomfrey check you if you are so concerned for your well-being."

Hermione bit her tongue and curtly replied, "Yes, sir."

"The punishments still stand, Miss Granger. Dismissed," he said not even looking at her, nose in his book.

She wandered out of the classroom and down the long corridor. She'd go straightaway to the hospital wing and get herself checked out. All the nightmares and sleepiness had to stop. Maybe she had post-trauma stress. It had been quite the year after all.

After defeating the Dark Lord, everything had gone back to quasi normal. His followers had been imprisoned in Azkaban, and Dumbledore had congratulated everyone at Hogwarts for standing steadfastly in the face of danger.

Of course, it was Harry who had defeated him, but Hermione and Ron had helped.

Ron.

It was nice that now they were actually dating. Very slowly, of course. Neither of them wanted to mess up their friendship. But Harry was with Ginny and everyone was pairing off. It was inevitable. Ron was her best friend. He'd seen her at her worst and still cared. It was a new relationship, and she was excited to see where it would lead.

She smiled to herself, remembering their late night snog session yesterday. As she rounded the corner, the crisp cold air filled her nostrils. She loved when the weather was slightly, but not too cold.

Hopefully she could get a potion or something to make her less sleepy all the time.

As she approached the door she could see Madam Pomfrey through the glass making one of the hospital beds up. No one was in there, which she was grateful for. She didn't exactly want everyone to know the Head Girl was having tired spells and stress dreams.

She turned the doorknob and walked in.


Twenty minutes later, Hermione's eyes glazed over as she received her diagnosis.

No.

No.

It couldn't.

And yet, it was.

And how was it?

And the worst part? She would be unable to do anything on her own.

It was funny…she could see Madam Pomfrey and her mouth moving as she was saying something, but she couldn't hear her at all. She heard the blood rushing in her veins though, and her heart beating so fiercely she thought for a moment she might pass out.

"Perhaps Mr. Weasley should be here?," Madam Pomfrey said gently, reaching her arm out to grip Hermione's unsteady self.

"Let me get you some water," she started, removing her wand and incanting a glass filled with water.

"Hermione?," she said, placing the girl's hand around the glass.

"Are you alright?"

Hermione just stared at her.

"You're just a little shocked…I can give you a mild sedative but I should probably call Mr. Weasley to escort you-,"

The girl was still staring at her strangely. She took the glass of water from her hand and set it down.

She started speaking again, gentling her tone a bit. "Hermione, you do know you have options…"

Hermione stared back at her and a single tear slowly rolled its way down her face.

"Oh, there, there now!" Madam Pomfrey said, giving her a tissue.

"It's alright…it's alright…I'm sure in time, he, and you, will be happy."

Hermione remained stoned faced as the lone tear continued it's journey. Madam Pomfrey continued.

"It just takes getting used to the idea, you know. Or not…whatever you both decide."

She turned back to gather several potions to prepare for Hermione but was stopped by a small noise she was not sure she heard correctly.

"What did you say, my dear?"

"No."

Hermione had spoken so quietly she had trouble hearing it.

"No?…Hermione?,"

"Not him. It was not him." Hermione said slowly, her voice no more than a whisper. She continued.

"It wasn't Ron…it was…we…we were captured…," her voice drifted off.

Madam Pomfrey's face became tight and serious all of a sudden.

"I see. Are you telling me that you…did not consent to…these actions?"

Hermione looked up at her with red-rimmed eyes and then dropped her head down, as the tears fell freely.

Madam Pomfrey was not an overly warm individual but the sobbing girl looked so pathetic, she sat next to her and wrapped her close, allowing her to cry on her shoulder.

"Ssssh…sssssh. It's going to be alright-," she started, trying to soothe the scared girl. When the cries quieted down to sobs, she sat back, holding Hermione by the forearms gently.

"My dear, do you understand what this means?"

Hermione looked at her, confused. It could mean any number of things.

"What?," Hermione said back to her, in a daze.

"Well... I'll have to speak with Professor McGonagall."

Hermione's eyes grew wide and she stood, tearing herself away.

"No! I can't—she can't… no one must know!"

"I'm afraid that everyone will know soon anyway, you are beginning to show."

Hermione turned away, embarrassed and looked out the window. How could she be the brightest witch of her age and have missed something so…elementary? How could she have been so stupid? And blind?

"I want you to know, Miss Granger, this was in no way your fault. We are talking about someone not abiding the rules of war and taking advantage of his situation in a thoroughly reprehensible manner."

Hermione couldn't bring herself to turn back. She was too ashamed. She was so angry at herself. So many different things were running through her head as she slowly felt the world turn sideways. The last thing she remembered was trying to reach out and catch herself as she fell to the hard ground.