Everything is J.K. Rowlings. I only claim the plot. Everything else is hers, all the characters and the magic, all of it. Please let me know what you think though, I encourage feedback of all kinds, just be nice about it!

So, I know many people will hate me for this, especially after the cliff hanger I left you all with the last chapter. But I had always planned on this happening to Hermione, though after reading a lot of you begging for it not to be so I debated agreeing. But no, I know it's cruel but it had to happen. I hope you enjoy this one, well there isn't a ton happy about it but I still hope you enjoy it. There are possible triggers, so warning now.

Also, I want to give a huge thanks to all of you! Over 500 reviews and over 2K followers. That is astounding and I almost didn't believe it when I checked earlier this week, I had kind of forgotten about the tracking stuff. But Merlins' balls, that's incredible and I really do appreciate all of you sticking with me through this story, it's been almost two years I believe since I first started writing it. It's been a long journey and still not done. So thank you for your patience with me and this story. You guys are amazing.

Chapter Thirty

"Hermione? Please open up." The silence on the other side of the door was deafening. "Please. Don't make me force it open," Harry threatened, gripping his wand.

It had been three days since Kingsley had delivered the news. Hermione's parents were dead. Killed in a car crash on their way to the airport. They had managed to pack up early and had gotten an earlier flight to London. It was meant to be a fantastic surprise.

The first day Harry had heard her sobs through their shared wall. His heart clenching at the sound and wishing he knew how to comfort her. Narcissa had suggested giving her some time. The rest of the house residents had respected that notion. Harry still knocked on her door every couple of hours though, begging to be let in. Ron did too whenever he was off work. Harry knew that Theo also knocked on her door in the late hours of the night.

However, there had been silence for almost a day now and Harry was anxious. Hermione had sealed her door as soon as she walked in and hadn't been eating the food that Kilky brought her.

"Potter, you have to open the door," Theo said to him, quietly appearing at his shoulder. Harry sighed, he knew it was true. As Head of House, he had the power to enter any room but he had been trying to respect his best friends period of grieving but the silence was scaring him. "Please," the other man whispered, so quiet that Harry almost didn't catch it. But the word steeled his resolve and he gave a nod.

"I, Harry James Potter, Head of House Peverell, demand entrance into this room," he recited drawing from memory of a lesson that Narcissa and Andromeda had provided him almost a month ago.

There was a soft click and Harry knew it had worked. Still, he hesitated, uncertain of what he would find. Finally, taking another deep breath, he gently pushed on the door and it swung open ominously quiet. Taking a few steps into the room, Theo acting as his absurdly close shadow, Harry noted the soft blue color before also noticing that the bedroom was empty but the bed looked used.

"Hermione?" He called out nervously, regripping his wand. Another quick glance around the room showed it empty, so Harry went to the door closest to him and pushed it open. It was a closet, half full of clothes and mostly filled with books, a few potions ingredients neatly ordered and contained in jars, there was even a cauldron, a quick glance inside showed it was cleaned out. Still no Hermione though. Harry glanced back at Theo who now also had his wand out. Licking his lips he stepped out of the closet and moved to the other door, knowing it would be the bathroom.

A light push on the door and it swung open. Harry stumbled to his knees in his rush to reach the figure half leaning over the bathtub rim. "Hermoine?" He called out, his heart pounding in his throat as he gently shook her limp body. "Hermione!" He screamed out, shaking harder. Theo was at his side, eyes wide and looking panicked but not actually looking at the girl but all around the bathroom as if looking for a reason why.

"Mmm…" was the soft groan that resounded from Hermione's half-parted lips but the groan might have been a shout for how loud it sounded in his ears.

"Oh thank Merlin, Hermione, wake up. Please. Stay with me," Harry begged, bringing his hand around the back of her neck to lift it up off the arm it was resting on that was draped over the rim. He brought her into a better sitting position and rested her back on him. Her pulse was scarily slow and Harry felt his heart stop each time there was a long gap between them.

"Hermione!" Theo cursed. Surprised at the tone, Harry glanced up from the floor, still clutching Hermione to him to see Theo now standing with an empty potion vial in his hand. "What were you thinking," the Slytherin hissed through clenched teeth. The boy suddenly ran out of the bathroom shouting for Padma and Draco. A minute later Theo was back.

"What is it?" Harry asked, nerves mounting again.

"Sleeping Draught that might as well be the Draught of Living Death by how strongly it smells," the man replied, his voice clipped and even but his eyes were shining with emotions that Harry didn't even try to decipher. "We need to bring her to her bed," Theo continued. Harry nodded, numbly processing the information he had just been told. Harry shifted to properly lift Hermione off him when he felt her weight leave him entirely. Blinking up, Harry saw that Theo already had Hermione cradled in his arms.

Slightly bemused, Harry scrambled to his feet and followed the pair to the main bedroom where he watched Theo gently lay Hermione back down on her bed, his face unreadable. Just as Hermione was being laid down, Draco and Padma came through the door. The pair took in Hermione limply lying on her bed with Harry and Theo surrounding her.

"What happened?" Padma asked and Harry watched her eyes take on a calculating gleam her back straightening, Healer mode in full swing.

Theo held out the potion vial and this obviously prompted Draco because he grabbed it and sniffed. His eyes widening, obviously coming to the same conclusion as Theo as to what the vial had contained. "We found her in the bathroom, collapsed against the tub," Harry explained as Padma drew her wand and began casting spells softly under her breath. Draco didn't speak but went into the bathroom to further investigate.

Harry stood with bated breath as Padma continued to work, her brow furrowed and further agitating the scars crossing her face. "She didn't drink all of it," were the first words Draco said coming back into the bedroom. "I'd say about half of it is still coating the bathtub floor. Sadly the water that was remaining in the bathtub has diluted the spilled remains and so I won't be able to cipher through it for a proper understanding of what she brewed." Harry felt the knot in his stomach quiver as though not knowing whether to ease at the knowledge she hadn't drunk it all or tighten over the fact that the remains couldn't help them. Theo gave a tight nod, his gaze fixed on the woman on the bed. "We need to know when she took it, how long has it been in her system," Draco continued. "I can't brew a proper antidote without knowing the full dosage and effect."

About two minutes later, Padma dropped her wand arm and sighed, wiping a hand across her forehead. "Her vitals are weak, it feels similar to where the effects of the potion would be six hours after ingestion. If it had been the full Draught of Living Death it would be comparable to the effects of thirty minutes after ingestion. Again, I can't give an accurate reading since it was more of a mix between the Draught and a regular sleeping potion, and not the full vial at that. Plus she hadn't eaten that we know of for at least twenty-four hours more likely forty-eight, which will affect the spread of the potion."

"I can work with it," was all Draco said before he spun out of the room. Still numb, Harry felt like he was watching everything from behind a screen. He was half tempted to trail after Draco and hover over his shoulder as the man brewed the antidote but knew it would be futile and only cause further problems. His other half that longed to remain with his best friend until she was better won out. His hands were clenching and his heart racing. He wasn't sure he had ever felt so helpless before.

"What can we do, Padma?" Harry asked, his voice rough.

"Stay with her, help monitor her to make sure she doesn't slip any further. There is a spell to put someone in a magical coma essentially freezing their body so that the potion can't take a deeper effect but I don't know what it is. I'm going to call Madam Pomphrey," the woman said, worrying her lower lip. "I haven't exactly started training yet you know. You and your cousin were different, I'd dealt with those type of injuries all last year. But this, I need help."

"Go call Madam Pomphrey. We'll watch over her," Harry insisted, dragging one of the armchairs from before the fireplace and placing it next to Hermione's bedside. Theo just gave a nod but levitated his chair over. Padma quickly left the room.

Harry and Theo sat in silence watching the horribly faint rise of Hermione's chest, the only indication that she was alive. As he sat, Harry felt the guilt building. He should have burst through the door far sooner. He should have been there. He never should have left her alone. He should have taken care of her, known immediately that something was wrong, helped her and talked her off the ledge. He should have been a better friend.

"Potter stop," Theo's voice cut into his guilty spiral and Harry blinked over at the brunette beside him.

"What?"

"Stop your thinking. It's not your fault."

"How can you say that! Of course, it is."

"No, it's not. Nothing different you could have done. Hermione has been struggling for months, news of her parents must have been the tipping point. She is a remarkably strong woman but everyone has their breaking point. Just be luckily we found her at all and can now help her. No use blaming yourself for something that can't be changed."

Silence enveloped them once again, Harry observed how fragile his best friend seemed. "You're good for her," he said quietly. "I don't know what is really going on with you two, but you can't deny your close. And I've seen the two of you in the library, debating and talking, the most alive I've seen her in months and it's because of you. So thanks. Whatever you are doing, keep doing it."

Theo sat stiffly but gave a small nod to indicate he had heard. "She has helped me far more," he admitted quietly. Harry had nothing to say to that and so remained silent. Ten minutes later, Padma was coming back into the room with Madam Pomphrey bustling in behind her.

"Oh, Miss Granger," Madam Pomphrey sighed softly, taking in the still figure on the bed. "Alright, gentlemen, please step aside. If I am to work I will need space, I will call for you when I am done."

Harry was about to refuse when he caught the eye of the elderly matron. "I understand your reluctance, Mister Potter. However, right now I need to focus my efforts and cannot do so with an audience. Please, I will take care of her." The words were gentle and Harry couldn't meet the woman's eyes. He glanced back at Hermione lying still. Jerkily, he gave a nod and let Padma pull him and Theo out of the room.

The door shut in their faces and the two stood silent for a moment. Unable to simply stare at the door any longer, Harry turned and strode quickly to the Potions Room. Not bothering to knock, Harry pushed the door open and saw Draco leaning over a counter, chopping and dicing ingredients that Harry knew he should have known but didn't. Draco gave a quick glance upwards but went back to his work. His fingers moving deftly and without pause.

"Madam Pomphrey is here and is putting her into a magical coma," Harry said not liking the silence.

"Good," was all the blonde said.

"Any progress?"

"What does it look like, Potter?"

Harry fell silent. He wasn't sure what else to say. He didn't want to distract the man who could be the key to saving Hermione but he didn't like the silence either and the Potions Room was better than standing outside the shut door.

"Granger is far too smart for her own good," Draco finally said after the silence had stretched. He had turned the cauldron on now at a low boil. "To be able to dilute the Draught of Living Death and not make it lethal is impressive by any standard. To make it a passable copy of a sleeping potion to an untrained eye even more so."

"That's Hermione, I guess."

The silence continued to stretch. Draco had added the first two ingredients and had given it the appropriate number of spins before finally looking up to Harry who was still standing awkwardly just passed the door.

"Potter. Go away," Draco sighed, there was no bite to his words just exasperation. "Let me do my work. You awkwardly hovering will do no good to anyone."

Harry fiddled with his sleeve but nodded anyway. It was true. Sighing, feeling even more useless, he turned to leave. He wandered aimlessly, his guilt rising despite what Theo had said. Everyone else was probably outside and so not wanting to talk to people he went to the owlery to send a message to Ron. He should know what had happened.

The time it took to send the letter was not nearly enough and Harry was left clenching his empty hands once again. He needed a drink. That would help him. A drink would set his mind straight and calm his nerves.

Destination set, he left the owlery and quickly moved to the kitchen where he grabbed a bottle, he didn't even check what it was but saw that it was clear, and moved to the table that he usually sat at with Draco and Tracey. Not bothering with a cup he popped the top and drank deeply. Coughing slightly at the burn, he took another drink. He should have done better, he cursed himself. He should have checked sooner. He shouldn't have left her alone. He should have done his job sooner and then she wouldn't have had to send her parents away. He should have done better. No one would have died if he had just done better. It was all his fault.

The door opened but he didn't hear. The bottle was almost empty now and the water filling the corner of his eyes went ignored.

"Harry." The voice was soft as were the hands that gently rested on his shoulder. The touch to his shoulder was his undoing it seemed and he slouched further into the table and the tears fell freely, the bottle fell from his fingers. There was a crash when it hit the floor. "Oh, Harry." The person wrapped their arms around his shoulders, pressing into his back, and he soaked in the warmth that they provided, honey blonde strands falling in front of his face. There were soft words being whispered but he couldn't really hear them but he still latched onto the comfort they provided.

Harry wasn't sure how long they were like this but finally, the tears dried up and the warmth receded as the person unwrapped their hands. Quickly brushing a hand over his eyes and knocking his glasses, he righted them before turning to face Daphne. Her face was soft and her eyes were warm and she stepped closer again, bringing her hands to cup his face, her thumbs brushing the remaining traces of tears away.

"It's not your fault," she said, her voice was barely a whisper. His look must have provided his disagreement because she became firmer with her hold on his face, forcing his eyes back to look into hers. "It. Is. Not. Your. Fault." The repetition punctuated by her stern but soft tone. Harry swallowed and tried to believer her. But how was it not? It was always his fault. Always had been. Daphne made a noise and was suddenly hugging him again, her head fitting in the crook of his neck easily since he was still sitting on the tall barstool. Hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around her and couldn't help but tighten his grip. "They died, Harry. But it wasn't your fault. They were in a car crash. Nothing you could have done." Her words were muffled by his shoulder but he still heard.

"It's because of me that they were in Australia, to begin with. If Hermione wasn't my friend she wouldn't have been as big of a target. If I had just killed the bastard sooner no one else would have died."

"No." She pulled away from him again. "None of it is your fault. I told you before, you're not that important." Harry couldn't help but let out a weak watery chuckle and Daphne smiled. "No one blames you, so you shouldn't blame yourself."

He knew she was right, but it was still hard to believe. Harry stared into her eyes as he thought over her words, trying to believe. The alcohol, he was pretty sure it had been rum by the taste, was definitely clouding his head now. Her eyes were holding him captive, he wanted to drown in them, and her lips looked perfectly pink, he wanted to taste them. Her hands were still on his shoulders and his were still around her from where he had returned her hug. It felt so nice having her in his arms. The alcohol was telling him to just lean the few inches closer and everything would be alright. Swaying forward slightly, the back of his mind registered her fingers tightening around his shirt collar. Merlin, she was beautiful, he thought.

"Harry! I just got your- Oh."

Daphne was ten feet away from him so fast he was half certain she had apparated.

Blinking slowly, his reflexes still a little slow from the alcohol and the exhaustion from crying sweeping through him, he turned to see Ron flushing a deep red that blended with his hair and Auror robes and looking decidedly uncomfortable. "Ron!" He exclaimed far too late but it seemed to do the trick because Daphne promptly left the room and Ron seemed to lose a bit of redness in his face.

"Hey, mate," his best friend said coming closer. "Floo'd from work as soon as I got your letter." So that's why he didn't feel the wards alert him to someone walking through, Harry though absently. "So what's happened? Your letter just said Hermione was in a magical coma."

"She is, or she will be," Harry began, his words tumbling over themselves a bit. "You know how she hasn't been opening her door. Well, Theo finally urged me to open it anyway," he recited, his numbness over the memory of just an hour ago sinking into him again. "So I did. It had been three days, she hadn't been eating. I was worried. We all were, I know. So I opened it and...we found her in the bathroom." Ron was leaning heavily into the table now his eyes intent on Harry's face which he was sure still had tear stains. "She'd taken a potion. Some combination of a regular sleeping potion and Draught of Living Death. According to Draco, it was a genius level combination. She hadn't taken it all though. Madam Pomphrey and Padma are with her now. They kicked Theo and me out. Draco is brewing an antidote."

"Bloody hell," Ron murmured after a moment. Standing abruptly, he gave a nod to himself as if confirming his own thoughts. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up and then go see if we can visit with her now. This is your house now, no more visiting hours to adhere to and all that."

Harry snorted, but allowed his friend to drag him off his stool. The two were silent as Ron all but pushed Harry into his bathroom after turning the shower on, saying something about sobering up a bit first. Harry couldn't argue with that and so dutifully took a quick shower. Stepping out he saw Ron lounging on his sofa, Auror robes off and over the chair and flipping through a Quidditch magazine that had been on his coffee table.

"You're taking all of this well," Harry commented as he quickly got dressed. Ron shrugged.

"She's being taken care of. Madam Pomphrey and Padma won't let anything happen to her and loathe as I am to admit it, Malfoy is a great potioneer. Plus, too much is at stake for him to butcher her antidote. You found her in time and soon she will wake and we can get her the help she needs, whatever that might be."

Harry blinked at the mature statement. He could still see how tense Ron's shoulders were and his skin was still too pale making his freckles stand out far too much, but Harry couldn't help but feel pleased with his friend.

Turning back to finish dressing, Harry pulled a loose shirt over his head to match his jeans. "So...Greengrass?" Whirling around, Harry saw Ron smirking slightly his ears tinging pink.

"Oh shut up," Harry groaned.

He had been trying to forget that moment Ron had walked into. The shower had definitely cleared his thoughts and his embarrassment had risen at reliving everything. She had held him as he cried. Merlins' balls, he had almost kissed her! And Merlin how he still wanted to, obviously there was still some alcohol in his system. He couldn't kiss her, it would ruin their friendship and he couldn't risk it. Plus, as she always pointed out, he was her owner, what if she only responded positively because she felt she didn't have a choice? No, he didn't want to deal with that possible outcome so it was better the whole scene in the kitchen was forgotten.

Snickering, Ron followed him out the door and down the hall. The door was still shut and Theo wasn't there. Knocking lightly, the two waited only a moment before the door was opened to reveal Madam Pomphrey. Seeing them, she gave a small smile before letting the boys in. To Harry's surprise, Theo was already inside and had reclaimed his previous seat. Theo turned as they entered but besides a courteous nod, he said nothing and turned back to face Hermione.

Padma was also standing near the bed, her wand moving in hypnotic flourishes. "She is in her coma now," Madam Pomphrey explained before shutting the door behind Ron and Harry. "Hopefully it shouldn't last more than a day. A couple of hours should be all it takes for Mister Malfoy to brew the antidote after all. As soon as he does, we will remove the coma and immediately provide the antidote."

Ron and Harry just nodded. They silently moved closer to the bed and Harry took his seat. Ron remained standing though and went to speak quietly with Padma when she finished her spell casting. Harry saw Ron's ears pinken out of the corner of his eye but was too focused on his other best friend to pay much attention. Hermione still looked just as still as she had before he left and Harry tried not to feel to disheartened about that.

The next few hours passed terribly slow. Harry, Ron, and Theo held a silent vigil as they watched and waited, neither of them speaking. Padma remained with them, casting monitoring charms every half hour, dutifully following the instructions that Madam Pomphrey had left her.

There was a knock on the door and Draco swiftly stepped into the room, a vial filled with a burnt orange liquid. Chest tightening at the prospect of Hermione finally waking up, Padma told them to wait until she contacted Madam Pomphrey once again just to be safe.

The atmosphere was tense as the four men waited for Padma to return with the Hospital Wing Matron. It took far too long for Harry's liking but the two women finally returned. Madam Pomphrey brandished her wand and indicated for Padma to watch closely. Draco stalked closer to the bedside and Harry, Ron, and Theo backed away to give them all space. Harry held his breath as Madam Pomphrey flicked her wand to remove the coma and then nodded to Draco who promptly brought his hand under her head and raised her slightly up off the pillows to then tip the potion down her throat. Luckily, Hermione swallowed the potion without hesitation in her sleep induced state. The potion drained, Draco brought Hermione's head back to the pillow and backed away. His space was quickly filled by Harry, Ron, and Theo once again.

Time seemed to freeze as all six members in the room waiting for the seventh to stir. A rush of breath left Harry at seeing Hermione blink her eyes open. Her eyes immediately widened at seeing the crowd around her bed. Harry opened his mouth but before he could speak Madam Pomphrey beat him to it.

"Alright, all of you. Out, let me do my job. You may come back to visit afterward. Go. Out." The woman shooed all four men out of the room and Padma shut the door after them.

"Thought I was finally done being shooed out of rooms by that woman," Ron joked lightly trying to break the silence that had descended.

"Thank you, Draco," Harry said, turning to the blonde who was already halfway down the hall. The blonde stopped and turned partially back to face him. "I mean it, thank you."

Obviously, at a loss, Draco merely nodded his head and turned to continue walking. The three returned to staring at the door, Harry dared not leave it again. Luckily it was only ten minutes later that Padma opened the door again. Harry felt his stomach knots unwind at seeing Hermione sitting propped up in her bed. Far too pale but awake and alive.

The three men rushed to their chairs once again.

"Are you alright?" "What were you thinking?" "Do you realize what a scare you gave us?" Harry and Ron asked over each other. Harry was glad to see Hermione looking adequately shamed.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. Harry heard the door close and realized that the other two women had left the room. "I was just so tired and done. I didn't want to be awake anymore."

Harry's heart broke. Her brown eyes were dull again and looked dead against her pale skin. "I know it's hard," Harry spoke. "I know. Trust me."

"But that wasn't the answer. You have us, Hermione, you could have let us in," Ron continued. She said nothing and looked down at her hands which Harry now realized were grasping a tea mug. "Do you want anything to eat?" Hermione shook her head to Ron's question. "Come on, it's been a couple of days since you ate. Have some soup at least." Hermione met Rons' gaze and gave a sullen nod.

Harry promptly called for Kilky to bring some light soup. The elf did so with pleasure. A minute later and a tray and vegetable soup. The three men were quick to readjust Hermione's pilows to allow her easy access to the soup, placing her tea on the tray as well. Harry noted Hermione's light blush at their actions and almost snickered. He would have to remind her many times just how much she was cared for, even if her parents were gone, they were still there for her.

Sitting back down as Hermione took a few spoonfuls of soup. "Just so you know, Draco is probably going to question you on how you brewed that potion, he was impressed," Harry added lightly.

"Figures even when you are being an idiot you are a genius," Theo commented, finally speaking and Hermione glanced at the Slytherin.

Her face reddened again. "I really am sorry, Theo. I wasn't thinking, I know that. I just…" she trailed off and looked down at the soup and tea resting on the tray over her lap.

"I know," Theo whispered, he moved his hand as if about to reach out and grab her hand but stopped himself once his hand reached the bedcover. Harry glanced at Ron who quirked an eyebrow at him, obviously noticing the move as well. Absently, Harry was glad that his two best friends weren't hung up on the attempt of a relationship they had started a few months ago.

"Well, just remember we are here for you," Harry continued. "Literally, since Padma and Madam Pomphrey probably won't allow you to be alone for a while."