Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Note: I added a couple of couples in here, so no hating on that. Of course I had Tonks and Remus survive the war, sorry about that, but my Harry Potter world doesnt exisit without Tonks in it. So here it is. Please read and Review.
Wide Awake: Chapter 5
Hermione arrived home late that night, exhausted and drained from her day at the office. When she agreed to take the case, she never imagined that when Bellatrix Lestrange's file landed on her desk that things would end up like this. As if the nightmares were not enough, she now had to face her torturer every week until she deemed her 'fit to dwell in society'. She thought about asking Tonks to assign someone else to her case, but then she realized that she might actually be able to help this woman. The One thing that she could remember thinking when she was beneath the dark witch at Malfoy Manor was that she pitied this woman. Though most would find that an insane idea, she knew that there was more to this woman than met the eye. She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, she was beginning to get a head ache from all this thinking. Just then her phone rang.
"Hello?" Hermione said.
"Hey Mione." It was Harry's voice.
"Hey Harry, how is it going?" Hermione asked.
"You sound awful, you alright Mione?" He asked concerned.
"I'm just a little tired, and I feel a head ache coming on." Hermione replied.
"Oh well make sure you get a potion for that before it gets worse, we all know how bad your headaches can get." Harry said genuinely concerned.
"No worries Harry. So what's up?" Hermione asked reaching into her cabinet for a bottle of aspirin.
"I was just wondering if you would like to come over for dinner tomorrow? Ginny would have called but she is staying late at practice tonight." Harry asked.
"Is Ron going to be there?" Hermione asked.
"Yes of course Mione." Harry said with a hint of an eye roll.
"What time?" Hermione asked, she took the aspirin and sat down in one of the arm chairs in her living room.
"7pm sharp." Harry replied.
"I will be there. Do I need to bring anything? Wine perhaps?" Hermione suggested.
"Sure…and yourself of course. I know Ginny will be excited to see you." Harry said smiling.
"See you guys tomorrow." Hermione said.
"Bye Mione." Harry said.
Hermione hung up the phone and closed her eyes. Tomorrow was going to be a long day, seeing Ron wasn't going to make things easier, they had still not really gotten over one another, but she couldn't deal with a relationship right now. Ron was sweet, but he was still as dense as he had been in school, and Auror training hadn't done much to lessen that. She sighed and forced herself up the stairs and into her bedroom where she prepared for bed. She fell asleep almost instantly.
The next morning she awoke feeling slightly rested, her head ache was gone, but not the feeling in her chest where Bellatrix had settled. Seeing her yesterday after two years of nightmares and countless spells to hide the cut on her arm, brought up painful memories, memories that she wanted to forget. She shook her head and got ready for the day.
"Hey Mione, you okay?" Tonks asked walking into Hermione's office later that day.
"Yes, I am fine Tonks." Hermione replied looking up from the paper she was reading.
Tonks sat down in one of the chairs in front of her desk and surveyed the younger woman with concerned eyes.
"You know, you're a terrible liar." Tonks said smiling.
"I have been told." Hermione said flatly.
"Look I don't know what happened with Bellatrix, but I know that it shook you up, and I know that it wasn't easy seeing her yesterday. But you can't let it get to you Mione, you are stronger than this." Tonks said.
Hermione said nothing. She knew that Tonks was right. She had been through so much, seen so much, that she shouldn't let someone like Bellatrix bring her down. But the power that the older witch wielded over her was powerful, it was powerful then when she was being tortured, and it was just as powerful now. Eventually Hermione knew that she would have to forgive at some point, and if she was going to treat Bellatrix, she needed her mind unclouded and steady.
"You're right Tonks. I have been dealing with this in my own way, and I appreciate your concern, but I need to do this slowly. One wrong move could have disastrous consequences." Hermione said after a few minutes.
"I agree, but Mione, lets be real, as your friend I am concerned, and I know that you have to deal with this in your own way, but having your mind clouded…it can be…" Tonks trailed.
"I know Dora." Hermione said softly.
Tonks meant well but she couldn't keep the irritation out of her voice. Tonks raised her eyebrows shrugging.
"Look, I will see you at Harry's tonight, just try and keep your mind off of it." Tonks said standing.
Hermione nodded and Tonks left her office. Hermione sat back in her chair, closing her eyes. Tonks was right, but that wasn't the point, the point was she didn't want to talk about Bellatrix. She already knew that taking her case was going to be daunting, but she had never thought it would be so hard. She shook her head, ridding herself of the thoughts of Bellatrix. She looked at her watch, it was 5:30, she still had time to go home and take a shower before going over to Harry's.
An hour and a half later she arrived at Grimauld Place with the bottle of wine she had picked up on the way over. She knocked and waited.
"Hey Mione!" Harry said as he opened the door to let her pass.
"Hey Harry." Hermione said with a small smile hugging her best friend.
"It's great to see you." He said as they broke apart.
"You too, where is Ginny?" Hermione asked looking around.
"In the kitchen, come on." Harry said leading the way.
Hermione walked into the kitchen and saw Ginny standing at the stove stirring a pot of sauce.
"Hey Gin, Hermione is here." Harry said as they walked into the kitchen.
Ginny turned around and beamed at Hermione. There was something different about her, but she couldn't quite place it.
"Here Harry, take over." Ginny said handing Harry the spoon.
Harry took it and began to finish dinner. Hermione and Ginny left the kitchen, passing the sitting room where, Neville, Luna, Ron, Lavender, Remus, Tonks, and Dean were all sitting and laughing over drinks. Hermione smiled at them as Ginny ushered her up the stairs.
"Ginny, what is going on?" Hermione asked as she was led into hers and Harry's bedroom closing the door behind them.
"I wanted you to be the first to know Mione…you're my best friend and I didn't want to announce it without telling you first." Ginny said quickly.
"Slow down Gin…tell me what's going on." Hermione said, her voice laced with concern.
This was out of the ordinary for Ginny, she never really ever kept anything from Harry, but this was obviously something that she wanted said to her before him, it must be a surprise or something.
"Mione…I'm pregnant!" Ginny exclaimed.
Hermione was in shock. She had never expected this.
"Gin…that's wonderful!" Hermione said.
"Really?" Ginny asked.
"Yes Gin, it is great! But how come you told me first and not Harry?" Hermione asked.
"You're my best friend Mione, and I didn't want you to feel left out. I am going to announce it tonight at dinner, but I wanted to tell you first." Ginny replied.
Hermione's expression was unreadable, Ginny approached her friend put a hand on her shoulder.
"What's wrong Hermione?" Ginny asked.
"Nothing, I am happy for you really Gin, I am." Hermione replied.
"I am not talking about my news Hermione; I am talking about what is going on with you." Ginny said.
"There is nothing going with me." Hermione said quickly.
"You are a terrible liar." Ginny said softly.
Hermione said nothing she just broke down, Ginny wrapped her in her strong arms and held her as she cried.
"Oh Ginny…It's horrible." Hermione cried.
Ginny led Hermione to the large King sized bed and they sat down, Ginny continued to hold Hermione as she cried.
"What is it Mione?" Ginny asked.
"I…I am treating Bellatrix." Hermione replied.
Ginny stiffened, but continued to rock Hermione.
"Tonks mentioned something like that. She and Harry were going to take the case together, but Harry refused." Ginny said.
"I felt like…maybe I can change her. But I didn't know that it would affect me so much." Hermione said sitting up and facing Ginny.
"Well Mione, if anyone can help her, you can." Ginny said honestly.
Hermione wiped her nose on the back of her sleeve. Ginny ran her thumb over Hermione's tear stained cheek, wiping the tears away with a calloused thumb.
"I hope so. I mean Tonks came by to see me today, and she told me that I needed to forgive Bellatrix for what she did to me…in order to successfully treat her." Hermione said.
Ginny nodded and considered Hermione's words for a moment. Hermione had told her in length what had happened at Malfoy Manor, Ginny remembered the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach as Hermione recounted the torture and fear she felt when Bellatrix had straddled her and carved those letters into her arm. But Ginny sensed that there was something more there than just fear, but a subconscious thought of desire and lust in those brown eyes. Ginny remembered how she talked about Bellatrix, there was fear, but there was desire as well.
"Well, she does have a point Mione." Ginny said after a few minutes.
"I know, that is what I am afraid of." Hermione said darkly.
"Look Mione, just keep on doing your job, don't let her get to you. I know the nightmares have slowed down and they haven't been as bad, but you need to find a way to deal with her." Ginny said.
"I know." Hermione said.
"Because if anyone can get though this, you can Mione." Ginny said squeezing Hermione's shoulders.
"Thank you Ginny. I'm sorry that I haven't been much of a friend lately." Hermione said.
"Oh don't be ridiculous Mione. We all get busy. You just focus on you and your job." Ginny said rubbing Hermione's back.
"Ginny, thank you." Hermione said.
"Anytime." Ginny said smiling.
Just then there was a knock at the door.
"Dinner is ready girls." Harry said through the door.
"Be right down." Ginny said.
"Come on, don't want to keep everyone waiting." Hermione said getting to her feet.
The two women left the room and joined their friends downstairs. Dinner went by with out incident. Everyone was excited about the news of Ginny and Harry having a baby, and Dean announced that he and Lavender were getting married. Everyone had a great time drinking and eating. Hermione forgot about her issues for a while. After a couple of hours everyone was saying their goodbyes and leaving the house.
"Hey Mione." Ron said as Hermione grabbed her coat.
"Yeah Ron." Hermione answered.
She had been sort of avoiding Ron during the party, she didn't want to bring up old emotions about their relationship.
"I was thinking, maybe we could go for coffee sometime soon." He said hopefully grinning at her.
"I don't think that is such a good idea Ron." Hermione replied.
Ron shrugged.
"It was worth a try." He said.
"I really am sorry Ron." She said placing a hand on his arm.
"Me too." He said.
Hermione said her goodbyes to Harry and Ginny and left the house. Once home she showered and dressed in a baseball shirt and sweat pants. She was tired with every fiber of her being, but she couldn't fall asleep. Ginny and Tonks's advice still ran through her head, maybe she really did need to forgive Bellatrix once and for all.
"Maybe that will be a topic for next session." Hermione said to herself.
She rolled over and fell asleep a few minutes later.