Hello my beautiful people!
My lovely reviewers and dedicated readers!
If ever you were to listen to the song this story is named after it is this chapter!
Also, I and my Beta want to apologise in advance if there is a delay in future chapters. Both she and I have a couple of things going on (one being me actually writing up the next lot of chapters and connecting the ending to this chapter.)
I promise it is not intentional and you won't be disappointed.
Needless to say don't stay quiet. (I fully expect you to be noisy as hell regardless hehe)
So to try and appease your wait time here are some songs I have played writing this story shaping it to get to this point
Chris Isaac - Wicked Game (I imagine Sirius chilling to this playing a guitar ripped jeans and open shirt showing his glorious chest)
Montaigne - Im a fantastic wreck (Dayn - my babe and first beta got me onto this artist and song - also this song wrote chapter 18 - if it is done soon you will understand.)
Prince - Raspberry Beret - If you didn't pick up on it go back and read chapter 16!
Pearl Jam - Black, Corduroy, basically all songs cause you don't hear Eddie - you feel Eddie.
Taylor Swift - Yeah most of her songs and yes I know this is eclectic.
Lindsey Stirling - ALL HER MUSIC - especially Shatter me.

Promise we wont be long away.
Much Love
Natstar
XOXO

SHATTER ME

Chapter 17

The remaining Christmas Holidays were spent at Grimmauld Place, with just Mr and Mrs Weasley, Harry, Ron, Ginny, Sirius, Remus and frequent visits from Tonks. Ron still wasn't talking to Hermione, though she did extend the olive branch and offered to read his homework and check it for him. She still found that she was still experiencing mild nausea with potions, yet kept that piece of information to herself as she desperately wanted to just have everything go back to normal when she returned to Hogwarts. The only thing that seemed to be happening on an almost nightly basis now was the nightmare.

She was in the shattered world of grey glass. Her red dress streaming behind her as the things at the edge of her vision taunted and teased her as she ran between the mountainous reflections. It seemed like a maze, yet more terrifying than the one Harry had entered because each giant glass fragment held a reflection of her, in her red dress tumbling from a height. Hermione turned round one as the things chasing her seemed to grow closer and she found herself standing on a precipice.

The grey smoke that would always surround her feet had gone. She was standing on a fallen piece of the shattered smoky glass. Hermione looked down and the grey below seemed to swirl and swell around more jagged pieces. If she threw herself from it, Hermione knew she would be torn to pieces. She looked down at herself laughing bitterly; she would be shredded worse than she was now. Something at the edge of her vision caught her eye again. This time it wasn't the things but something reflected in the glass. The grey in the glass was moving. It was reflected in all the shards behind her, in the shards that towered over her; like something large rising up. Hermione's eyes widened as she recognised what was in the shattered reflections as a roaring sound swept between the glassy spires.

The tallest shards were nearest to her, and Hermione felt something drip onto her from above. This time the wave was coming out through the shards. The glass shuddered and splintered around her as the roaring grew near. Hermione took a step back and nearly fell from the edge. Below the swirling grey between razor sharp points; before her she could see the wall of water rushing towards her, the drops from above soaking her, making the smooth glass where she stood slippery. Something at the corner of her eye caught her eye again, this time not the masses of ocean rapidly coming at her but one of the Things chasing her. Black outlined, pointing a wand at her. Hermione gasped, slipping on the glass and falling backwards off the edge of where she stood. She watched as the glass shattered and the water crashed over her, around her pulling her down. All there was surrounding her was the coldness of the ocean pressing in on all sides filling her lungs. She did not know which way was up. But fought through it trying to escape the image in the back of her mind of the face on the Thing…

Ginny awoke with a shout as water splashed over her. At first she thought it was a joke until in the darkness she saw Hermione's thrashing from in the room that they shared for the last night before going back to Hogwarts. Ginny scrambled out of bed into water knee deep.

"Hermione!" Ginny waded over to Hermione's bed. She just reached it when the water around her swept her off her feet as the door vanished and water began pouring out. Hands caught her as she tumbled through the doorway pulling her out of the deluge that seemed to come from their bedroom. With the water now receding, Ginny watched from her parents embrace as Sirius and Remus raced in.

Hermione's face was covered in a soaked blanket and her arms and legs tangled in soaking wet bedding. Harry and Ron skidded to a stop down the stairs behind the Weasley's staring in shock at the water still streaming in rivulets down the staircase.

"Hermione! Wake up! It's just a dream." Sirius shouted as he pulled her face free of the soaking blankets Hermione gasped for air coughing up water at the same time. Sirius wiped the wet strands of her hair from her face.

"I got you, Princess, I got you." Sirius soothed as Hermione expelled the rest of the water from her lungs. Blinking she looked around confused in the semi darkness. Out on the landing Arthur pulled out his wand and began drying the staircase, suggesting to Molly perhaps a strong cup of tea for everyone would be a good idea. Molly muttered in agreement and helped her husband by directing the children downstairs. Remus stood and began drying out the room and turning on lights.

Hermione clung to Sirius breathing heavily. Her throat felt raw and dry despite the water that was just in her lungs. As the lights flicked on she gasped at the destruction of the room.

"Wh-what happened?" She croaked.

"You were having another nightmare, I am guessing. The dream had begun to manifest physically as you dreamed." Sirius said quietly. Hermione's large brown eyes stared at Sirius in shock.

"It is known to occasionally happen only for the wizarding community." Sirius continued, "Usually it is with small children not yet able to control their magic. However, it can also manifest in adults, it's less common, but possible."

Mrs Weasley reappeared in the doorway with a towel. "Come on dear, let's go get you something clean and dry to wear." She said kindly as she stepped into the soggy room. Hermione nodded and pulled away from Sirius, her nightgown clinging tightly to her body. Mrs Weasley wrapped the towel around her and escorted her from the room. Remus squeezed the water from a blanket on Ginny's bed, tasting it before spitting.

"It's salt water." Remus said mildly surprised.

"Like tears?" Sirius asked standing and drying himself from sitting on the soaked bed.

"No, more like the ocean." He pointed above Sirius. "If I am not mistaken that is seaweed." Remus stated. Sirius reached up and pulled the dark green leaves off the light shade, raising his eyebrows.

"Seaweed" He confirmed, and then paled. He recalled the only time Hermione had nearly drowned in the ocean was the day Sirius escaped and swam back to the mainland. He had nearly reached land when he saw Hermione in the waves. It wasn't the only time she had been in the ocean, yet the other times were much more pleasant memories. At least for Sirius they were.

"I am sorry if I ruined anything important." Hermione said quietly, sipping her tea that was dosed with lemon and honey, soothing her raw throat.

Ginny and Hermione were both thankful that they had packed the night before as their cases were waterproofed enough that nothing inside was damaged. Hermione was more relieved that her books and homework were still intact than anything else. As no one was able to go back to sleep for the last few hours of the early morning, Mrs Weasley cooked them all breakfast and sent the boys to pack as they still had not finished.

The trip back to Hogwarts was uneventful for the most part. Luna joined Hermione and Ginny, in the compartment with Demelza and a couple of other girls in Ginny's year, after Lavender barged past Ginny and Hermione straight into Ron on platform nine and three quarters. They left Harry behind, with the snogging couple and found a carriage well away from them. As the carriage pulled to a stop in front of the castle entrance They were a little surprised to see Sirius, standing with Professor McGonagall.

"I thought he wasn't coming back now that you are going back to normal classes?" Ginny asked as she waited for the others to disembark. Hermione narrowed her eyes at Sirius.

"I suspect it's not classes that he is here." Hermione said quietly letting Ginny step out first. Hermione moved to the door, stopping as Sirius stood with his hand out to help her step down.

"Merlin's beard, you didn't offer me!" Ginny said sourly as she turned to wait for Hermione. Hermione took his hand laughing.

"Ginny, even I know that you would hex me if I tried." Sirius smiled at the red head, still holding Hermione's hand as they ascended to where Professor McGonagall waited, releasing her hand as the stopped before the Head Teacher.

"Miss Weasley, you may continue onwards. Miss Granger, you and Mr Black will follow me." Professor McGonagall addressed them and turned back into the castle. Ginny waved them farewell as she stepped inside to talk to her friends who were waiting in the warmth of the castle. Professor McGonagall directed them into her office indicating that Hermione take a seat in front of the large mahogany desk.

"Mr Black has confirmed with Professor Snape that you seem to be fit enough to resume normal classes." Professor McGonagall began as she took her seat behind the desk.

"I have checked with all the teachers and understand the majority of your classwork is up to date with the rest of the students. In fact in several you are ahead on several topics." Professor McGonagall gave Hermione a rare smile. Hermione returned it briefly waiting for the reason why Sirius was standing behind her and not in London.

"However, there do seem to be some concerns regarding certain topics, such as Potions. Professor Snape stated that you still seem to be affected by the fumes from potion making." Professor McGonagall paused, studying Hermione. Hermione for her part kept her face impassive, except for a slight narrowing of her eyes and her back straightening.

"As practical classes for Potions are only twice a week we will let you proceed, but Mr Black will be in attendance in class to be sure you can cope." Professor McGonagall explained, "Furthermore, you are to remain in the rooms given to you last term."

Hermione now unable to hide her outrage, stood up, "What? I thought I was able to return to Gryffindor Tower!"

Professor McGonagall motioned her to sit. Hermione did, much less composed as before.

"Miss Granger, we understand that you are experiencing rather vivid nightmares. Mr Black has rightfully informed us that they are becoming rather severe." Professor McGonagall stood and walked around the desk.

"To ensure that you are not at risk to anyone if you do have another, we believe it is best for you to continue to remain in the rooms." She said, handing Hermione her class timetable. Hermione stood anger flashing in her eyes.

"Very well. If that is all Professor?" Hermione asked in an icy tone, just short of rudeness. Professor McGonagall shook her head and watched as Hermione exited swiftly from the office shutting the door quickly, not quite slamming it.

"Are you sure that you want to be that close to her Black?" Minerva asked the man before her.

"I know that Albus has shown you her memories Minnie. You know very well it has to be me." Sirius stepped towards the door.

"Be careful Black. That is all I ask. For both your sakes, be careful." She said to her favourite ex-student. Sirius nodded and left quietly. He walked slowly back towards the rooms that he and Hermione still shared, thinking about his day.

As soon as the Hogwarts Express departed, he had apparated to Hogsmeade going straight to Dumbledore's office. He discussed at length the nightmares that Hermione was having including what she described of what she dreamt. The headmaster was extremely concerned for the girl, and advised that Madam Pomfrey had tried to get in touch with the healer that was presiding over Hermione's initial recovery, but she had gone missing. Both the Order and the Ministry were searching for the Healer. Sirius had asked what on earth would Voldemort want with a healer. He was advised that medical information could tell a lot on someone that they were looking for. The example he gave chilled Sirius to the bone.

There were so many things at play, with both Harry and Hermione seemingly at the centre of the main schemes from the Dark Lord they were hearing through the Order. They all knew Harry and Voldemort's desire to kill the boy; he was a target from the first war, as a victim from it, having been pulled out of the wreckage of his house away from the bodies of his dead parents.

Yet many did not understand the reasons why Voldemort was targeting Hermione. Especially when reports were to capture not kill her. Many believed that it was simply because she was to be made an example for her being a muggleborn. Sirius suspected that would happen if he did manage get a hold of her, but only after painfully extracting the information locked in her mind. Sirius sighed heavily; he was never going to let that happen so long as he had breath in his body. He put a hand on the door pausing as he heard noises beyond it.

Muttering the password he pushed it open only to duck as what seemed to be the leg of the coffee table flew past him. The room before him was in a complete shambles. In the centre of it stood Hermione her eyes blazing with anger and hurt. Sirius slipped his hands into his pockets stepping forwards slowly and looked over the carnage of the room with a critical eye, raising an eyebrow at her.

"You!" She snarled, "You had no right to say anything!" Her wand pointed at his heart. Sirius smiled at her but for the first time she could remember it did not reach his eyes.

"Unfortunately Princess, I had every right. You have been under my care since you first got out of Hospital." Sirius's voice was deadly calm.

"Really? Was that including before my parents were murdered or after?" She yelled, tears breaking and streaking down her face.

"Or before I went to the Department of Mysteries or after I came back?" she hissed.

Sirius frowned, but had no chance to reply.

"How long Sirius? I am genuinely curious! Pray tell how long I have been in your so called care?" Hermione's voice grew hysterical as she flicked her wand and sheets of paper flew towards him lining up in mid-air, overlapping into a mural. He was saved by the wall of paper hiding the open shock on his face, as he recognised all his sketches even the ones from all those years ago. She had over lapped them in such a way that they had made a larger picture of her face. He stared at the paper wall.

There was silence from the other side of the room. Sirius drew his wand and sent the pages scattering he realised that Hermione was no longer standing there. Her bedroom door was hanging off its hinges and could see that she wasn't in her room, even from where he stood. Sirius swallowed hard.

Hermione didn't know how she did it but all she knew was that she was now standing outside of the room she was just in. She didn't care she just ran, the corridors weren't completely deserted as she dodged around small groups heading to one of the only places she ever went when she was upset – the Astronomy Tower. She leaned over the parapet letting the freezing wind buffeted her face, as she tried to control her fast beating heart.

Ice crunched behind her and she turned on the spot. She had rushed past Draco Malfoy in her need to escape everything else in the castle below. Hermione wiped her eyes looking him up and down. He looked like shit. She realised too late she had said that out loud when Malfoy snorted.

"Then I guess right now you look as good as I do Granger." Malfoy retorted. He leaned back against the wall hands in his pockets, watching her.

"So what happened? Another lovers quarrel with Weasel? Or Potty?" He asked dully. Hermione turned away. She didn't want to talk about it; her mind was still overwhelmed with the images of the sketches. Her head hurt from the anger and the hurt. She leaned out again and took deep breaths, the coolness doing little to the pain in her head.

She jumped as a hand grabbed her and pulled her away from the edge. She opened her eyes and saw Draco. He was staring at her in horror. His mouth moved as he said something to her, but a stabbing pain from behind her eyes had her clutching her head in her hands. She staggered against him, crying out as the pain lanced her again. Everything after that was black, as her weight sagged against Malfoy in a dead faint.

/\/\/\/\/\

Harry was watching the marauders map in his dormitory, searching again for Draco Malfoy, his obsession as he still believed that the Slytherin was up to something nefarious. Ron had scoffed at him for it and left him to find Lavender. Harry watched as the little dot called Draco Malfoy had climbed the stairs to the astronomy tower. He sat up as he then saw another dot move towards the Draco dot, labelled Hermione Granger. Harry got up and ran from the common room looking up just in time to avoid running into people. He ran towards the seventh level staircase that would take him to the tower. He looked on as the Draco dot moved towards the Hermione dot.

Harry burst out onto the top of the tower and saw Hermione collapsed on the ground with Draco leaning over her. Harry had his wand out directed at him. Draco knew he couldn't get his wand out so he put his hands up slowly.

"What did you do to her Malfoy?" Harry demanded moving closer. Draco stood and backed away from the prone Hermione.

"Only pulled her from the edge. I thought she was going to jump!" Malfoy said backing away. "Then she fainted! I didn't do anything!"

Harry knelt beside Hermione and brushed her hair off her face. She was out cold. Turning he pointed his wand and shouted "Expecto Patronum!" The stag appeared and Harry told it to go find Sirius. It turned into a ball of light and vanished through the floor. Harry looked around as the light faded to find Malfoy used the opportunity to get off the tower away from the angry Gryffindor. Harry wanted to go after him but Hermione needed his help more.

Harry had managed to get her part way down the tower when he heard footsteps race up towards him. Sirius shifted back into human form mid step as he approached Hermione.

"Give her to me; I will get her to Madam Pomfrey." Sirius said cradling her in his arms.

"What happened?" Sirius asked as he turned and began descending quickly.

"Don't know." Harry puffed slightly.

"I found Malfoy standing there and Hermione on the ground." Harry said as they raced down another flight of steps and through another corridor.

"I was watching Malfoy on the map." Harry continued. "He was already up there when she went up there."

Sirius remained silent as they hurried towards the hospital wing. They burst through the doors shocking Madam Pomfrey and a student who returned with a head cold. Sirius continued past them to a bed and lay her upon it.

"Put her here. Is there any idea what happened?" Madam Pomfrey asked them as she directed to the other student that they could leave, hurrying over and began casting diagnostic charms.

"We can't be sure, Harry only found her after she was unconscious." Sirius said quietly, slightly out of breath. Harry went to open his mouth but Sirius shook his head. It was not a time to shout for Draco Malfoy's guilt. Harry glared at his Godfather and began to leave.

"Where are you going?" Sirius asked, watching Harry's retreating back. Harry stopped at the door, "To find out what happened!" And then he left. Sirius didn't go after him.

"Poppy, is she going to be ok?" Sirius asked the Healer. Madam Pomfrey looked sharply at him and summoned the curtains to give her some privacy.

"At this stage I really can't say. It seems like she has only fainted. When she wakes we will know more. Now I need to ask you to either stand to the other side of the curtains or even better go and fetch Professor Dumbledore. He requested to be called if Hermione ended up here again." Madam Pomfrey ordered him shooing him out from behind the curtains so she could change Hermione into pyjamas and tuck her into bed. Sirius glared at the curtains and stormed out.

Hermione stood or floated above the shattered grey world of glass spires, in each flashed different images. Memories. They were memories. Hermione watched as the shards flew and begin to piece back together around her. Each time the shards collided something within her felt like it clicked back into place. Each time the shards became whole, the greyness around her swirled light over dark. Dark over light. Ever changing. Distinct and indistinct.

Hermione remembered waking up and seeing Professor Dumbledore's troubled face. She remembered that they needed to help Harry. She remembered protecting the door from two Death Eaters who had tried to outflank Dumbledore. She remembered Sirius fighting his cousin Bellatrix. She remembered her brilliant idea to give Sirius the advantage of the duel. She remembered the grey.

The whispering, the wind, and the Veil.

Hermione remembered the frightened little boy with grey eyes and black hair on the bed and the lullaby. She remembered two handsome black haired little boys beaten for being little boys and the story of a fairy and two brave little princes. She remembered clothes shopping and midnight snacks in the kitchens in Hogwarts. She remembered pranks and first kisses. She remembered the werewolf, the rat, the dog and the deer. She remembered bloody hands and a bleeding body.

She remembered birthday kisses and water fights in Gryffindor Tower; motorcycles and dancing with new friends. She remembered the bride and groom, and dancing a tango. She remembered packing boxes and the moment she felt herself be born. She remembered the peanut butter sandwich with chocolate sauce and sardines.

Hermione remembered the Cowboy and the Indian, Luke Skywalker, Sandra Dee, Captain Hook and Mr Smee; holding baby Harry and dressing up as a fairy. She remembered Babysitting Harry and Pad Pad, and waking up in a hospital bed.

She remembered Remus and the funeral. She remembered the cell, five by five and the madman it housed, with the Dementors at its door. She remembered the dog in the ocean and being in her house for the very last time, in the wrong time.

She remembered Professor Lupin and his confession of love, her panic attack and falling from the sky. She remembered a tropical summer and the man she had come to love. She remembered snow in a bikini and flirting with the enemy. She remembered the Terrace House and two friends betting on her Animagus form.

She remembered a beautiful Midnight blue cloak and a deep red dress with a plunging vee neck, dancing with the man she adored.

She remembered a glittering ring and being pulled away before she could answer him.

She remembered her red dress fluttering around her and the floor rising up fast to meet her.

Lastly she remembered the dark shape of someone pointing a wand at her and the face of the wizard that tried to break her mind…