Once again I am blown away by the interest everyone has in my story.
Especially when I see how far this story reaches. It makes my heart swell.
A huge thank you to the lovely people who have left me reviews so far.
It really means the world, reading your beautiful comments!

SHATTER ME

Chapter 2

Hermione was in Diagon Alley. She was in a clothing shop trying on dresses. She normally wasn't one for everyday dresses, yet a handsome boy with black hair, grey eyes and a cheeky smile insisted she change her clothes. She didn't know why until she looked down. Her jeans were ripped and dirty like she had fallen into something; and her shirt was - Hermione quickly wrapped her arms around her body and the gaping tear in her shirt. She looked up at the boy and realised why there was a cheeky spark of amusement on his face.

Before she could say anything he shoved a dress into her hand and pushed her into a cubicle in the store. It was a beautiful long dress yet the style seemed odd. This was something her mother could have worn. Shrugging she put it on and stepped out. She spun for the cheeky handsome boy and he deemed it OK.

He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out of the shop…

Hermione cringed as she came awake. Someone was yelling shrilly by her bedside. She recognised the voice as a female voice. Between the shouts, she heard a masculine voice trying to calm the loud female down. Hermione cringed again, crying out in pain as the pressure around her wrist increased and wrenched her arm.

"Oh Hermione, sweetheart!"

Hermione recognised her mother's voice. She blinked away the tears and looked around the room slowly. Beside the bed, still holding her wrist, was her mother. She gave her daughter a watery smile, trying to hide the distress from her face. Her father stood next to her, frowning in concern. At the end of the bed stood Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore, who had clearly come to bring her parents in to visit; the only way her parents would be able to see her.

The Healer she recognised when she awoke previously stood on the other side of the bed checking the equipment beeping. She gave Hermione's mother a withering glare briefly before turning her attention to her patient. She was clearly not happy at the number of visitors around her patient. Once she was satisfied with what she saw the Healer stepped away.

"Wait!" Her mother called. "You need to correct her date of birth!"

The Healer picked up the chart again and pulled out her wand. Hermione felt a wave of nauseousness as the healer cast her spell. She was suddenly grateful she had nothing in her stomach, as she was sure it would have come up. The nauseousness was fading as she realised the Healer was arguing with her mother.

"The date is correct, Mrs Granger. I cannot change what is clear. Your daughter is eighteen years and two months old."

"My Daughter is NOT eighteen! She was born on the nineteenth of September 1979! I was present for it!" Her mother fumed, her grasp tightening again.

"Jeannie, dear, you're hurting Hermione again. Let go." Her father began prising her mother's grip from Hermione's wrist. Hermione moved her wrist as her mother let go to look as the hospital band on her wrist. It no longer read 'Jane Doe', instead reading 'Hermione Jean Granger' D.O.B. 18th May 1978 - Witch.

She was sixteen months older than she should have been. She knew six of those months were from when she was in third year, when she used the time turner for classes. But the other ten months added to her life were a shock. Hermione looked at her father, as her mother kept arguing with the healer by the door; he gave her a small smile of support. Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore were conversing quietly; Professor McGonagall seemed equally surprised at the news her student was older in such a short time.

"Mrs Granger," Professor Dumbledore turned towards the door, "If you would care to step out briefly, I will be able to explain some of this for you regarding your daughters age." Dumbledore moved his hand to the door. Hermione looked in surprise at its blackened condition. So did her mother. Her father bent and kissed Hermione on her forehead.

"I better go with her." Her father whispered to her, "Try not to fall asleep Poppet. I want an explanation from you about this."
Hermione frowned at her father, but before she could protest, he moved away and guided her mother out with Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore out of the room, leaving her to herself.

Hermione looked back to the wrist band. How on earth had she gained ten months to her life? She knew it had to do with something that happened in the Department of Mysteries but what it was seemed to be fogged from her mind. The Healer opened the door again, carrying in a tray of food. She set it on the table before adjusting the bed to a sitting position.

"If you can manage some food, I will see if we can start unhooking some of these tubes and monitors from you." The healer said kindly. Hermione nodded.

"What day is it?" She asked as the healer moved to the door. The healer turned and looked back at the girl lying in the bed, "It is the 5th July 1996."

Hermione sat back frowning as she tried to remember. She had only been gone a short amount of time. Try as she might, Hermione could not recall anything to indicate where or how she added ten months of her life. Hermione sighed, realising to herself that it may be for the best as she worked on healing so she could go back to Hogwarts. Hermione shifted to look at the food the healer brought in. Bread soaked in broth. Grimacing, she nearly pushed it aside until her stomach growled. Right now she almost wished someone would be here to tell her what was going on.

Hermione was halfway through her meal when Professor Dumbledore and her parents returned. Professor Dumbledore smiled at her and pulled a thick envelope from his robes.

"I managed to get this done ahead of the normal times for you to read, Miss Granger." He handed her the envelope. Hermione looked at the heavy parchment envelope with emerald ink reading.

To Miss Hermione Granger
Bed 1
Non Magical Ward for high risk patients
St Mungos Hospital
London

Hermione turned over the envelope and struggled to open the back. Finally, she got it open and pulled out the contents. It was her results of her OWL's. She stared at her grades. Aside from Defence Against the Dark Art's she had full marks. Hermione looked up to her dad and smiled weakly, handing it to him. Grades in class he would always understand. He was always extremely proud that she was doing so well in her magical education.

"Well done Poppet. Top marks! Again!" He smiled at his daughter, handing the parchment to his wife.

"Miss Granger is top of the year, and possibly one of the brightest students we have had at Hogwarts in an incredibly long time." Dumbledore said kindly, his eyes twinkled at her. Hermione blushed at the compliment. She looked down at the other pages in her lap. One was her new book list for the next term and also a letter confirming that she was still a Prefect for her house.

"I will be able to go back to Hogwarts?" She asked frowning as she looked up to Dumbledore.

"There will be some minor concerns regarding your ability to return Miss Granger. Largely, it is dependent on your recovery." Professor Dumbledore looked over his half-moon glasses at her in concern. "I won't let my best student in the school fall behind."

"Poppet, it is up to you what you want to do." Her father added; the worry in his voice was not lost on Hermione. Hermione looked at her mother. She was still holding her grades but there were tears in her mother's eyes. Her mother did not say a word, though it seemed that she had a lot to say on the matter.

Hermione turned back to Professor Dumbledore, "What do I need to do to be able to be fit enough to go back to school?"

"Provided that the healer in charge here is satisfied at your recovery to travel and reside in Hogwarts we can make arrangements for you to keep learning." He answered her softly. Hermione nodded, stopping as she yawned.

"How about you finish your food, Poppet and get some more rest." Her father moved the food back towards her.
"We will be back tomorrow to see you." He kissed her cheek and stepped away for Mrs Granger to say her goodbyes. She said nothing, only smiling at her daughter, stroking her limp curls and kissing her cheek softly.

Hermione watched as they left the room with mixed feelings about the visit. She was as always very happy to see her parents, yet the last look her father gave her meant she had a lot of explaining to do. It was something that she strived to avoid when she talked to her parents about the magical world; however, the prospect of still being able to go back to Hogwarts dominated her feelings; she could continue all her classes. She looked at the empty bowl of broth. She hoped that at least she would be able to have more substantial food soon.