[Author's Note]
Hello again sweet readers! Thank you all once again for the wonderful support, I read every review and it truly means a lot to me that you are taking the time to share your encouragement. I know Ron hasn't been very loveable but I don't wish to portray him as the punching bag for this fic. He'll come around! Maybe, lol.

I wanted to say one more thing. This isn't going to be Harmione (Harry x Hermione). It isn't my style to usually declare pairings but I figured I didn't want anyone to be mislead either.

Chapter 3

Harry could hardly contain his excitement from Hermione saying his name, even if she had said little else after that eventful moment. It was all Harry needed to know his friend was still there. Everyone shared in the joy of this development and what it could mean for Hermione's recovery. While she had not said another word since Harry could see the effort she was making to understand the world around her. And thankfully the doctors as well as Lupin saw this too.

The following morning Harry convinced Ron to join him. It wasn't without some prodding from Ginny as well but Ron eventually agreed (Ginny's exact words had been something along the lines of "man up you prat" but Harry had pretended not to hear the exchange). When they arrived at the hospital room Hermione was perched in an armchair, half-crouching with the fairytale book perched on her knees as she turned each page carefully.

Hermione looked up from the book and tilted her head to the side, first taking in Harry and then the red-headed wizard by his side. Harry greeted first and gave Ron a nudge to do the same.

"Hey 'mione," Ron stammered. He wasn't sure why Hermione's gaze was so unnerving but Ron could feel her amber eyes piercing his soul. What did she see? His shame perhaps. There was a lot that Ron could not vocalize, not even to his best friend Harry. He regretted not searching for her longer, for believing Hermione had really died. Maybe if he had looked harder for her she would not be in the state that she was in now. He caught himself by the words already entered his mind: Barely human.

"Why don't you talk to her for a bit?" Harry asked in a low whisper. "I am going to go find the doctors."

Ron gave a nod but no sooner had Harry left did a silence fall between the two.
"Er, right then," the ginger wizard said awkwardly. Ron moved closer to Hermione, "What are you reading-"

She snarled at his sudden movement towards her and Ron immediately recoiled, murmuring an apology as he retreated back to the corridor of the room for safety. Hermione glared at him fiercely and Ron seemed to turn pale and unmoving. The corridor was exactly where he stayed until Harry returned with Hermione's doctor and Lupin. Ron said nothing of what transpired in Harry's absence but Harry could tell by Ron's discomfort that Hermione had not welcomed his presence.

It will take some time for them to get a long again, Harry tried to tell himself but felt weary. He considered that even as children Hermione and Ron had more than their share of rows despite the love they had for one another. Their habit of getting under each other's skin was only a sliver of their relationship. Harry wasn't sure if this particular example was comparable but he remained hopeful that they could still one day yet be the Golden Trio again. He yearned for them to be just as they had before Hermione disappeared and shielded himself from the fear that it wasn't possible.

Harry shook himself from his thoughts as the doctors and Lupin discussed the next step for Hermione's treatment. Everyone had agreed that St. Mungo's facilities were not a long term solution so a different option was presented after all physical examinations came back clear. Hermione would transfer to the Artemis Home for Lycanthropy, a specialized rehabilitation center for those with her condition. While wary at first, Harry was placated by the fact that Lupin was part of the staff and vowed to safeguard his friend in her recovery.

All of this was explained to Hermione who merely looked between the people with suspicious confusion. When her gaze fell to Harry he smiled warmly and promised her it was a good thing. The young woman as if perhaps understanding that she would no longer be forced to stay in the hospital room nodded mutely to this new arrangement.

Five Years Prior
The first thing Hermione noticed when she awoke was that she felt comfortably warm. However the pleasantness was quickly replaced by panic when she found herself tucked under the arm of a sleeping Greyback. Her eyes fluttered open wide as she quickly shifted away from him, stirring her would-be companion.

"What in Merlin do you think you were doing!" She said, feeling righteously indignant.
Greyback frowned, in return perceivably annoyed by the nature of his wakeup call. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, grumbling. "What are you talking about witch."

"This," she said motioning at the space between them.
"You were shivering last night in your sleep," he answered plainly, his golden eyes meeting her's with a curious amusement that Hermione found aggravatingly coy. With anyone else such a chivalrous gesture would have been noted with appreciation however this was Greyback and she only felt more suspicious.

Even though he had declared a truce and gone so far as help keep her alive, Hermione would not let herself forget who he actually was: Not this somewhat charming blond haired wild man but a ruthless killer and a henchman for Lord Voldemort.

She glared at him a little longer before the werewolf shrugged. He stood up, stretching. "Are you always this grumpy in the morning?"

Hermione said nothing and Greyback moved off down through the brush. She noticed he had a slight limp to his walk although the werewolf had saying nothing about the extent of his injuries. He muttered something along the lines of "I will be back in awhile" as he disappeared into the forest.

She didn't ask where he was going. At the moment Hermione knew she needed to take care of herself, starting with the mission of making a splint. She took a couple sturdy pieces of wood left behind unused from last night's fire (to her dismay the fire had gone out sometime in the evening).

With a violent tug she ripped her jacket sleeve, tearing it into several long pieces until she could wrap them around her leg, using the sticks to brace the injury. It wasn't perfect but it would have to do until they could find a way out of the wilderness.

Hermione thought of Harry, Ron and the others, her mind trying to drift back to Hogwarts. All she remembered was deafening explosions and the thick cloud of smoke that obscured her vision.

The Horcruxes. Like lighting rippling across her conscious mind she could feel a knife of clarity pierce the fog of her concussion. They had been hunting Voldemort's horcruxes. But what became of Harry and Ron? She wondered with dread. Hermione looked off into the horizon, not even sure in which direction Hogwarts could have possibly been in. It was entirely wishful thinking but a part of her expected to see some sort of distant sign of the battle. She knew it was a foolish whim. If Greyback was correct, which he likely was, there was several countries that separated Hermione from her friends now.

What an awful mess this is, Hermione thought as she fought back the threat of tears welling in her eyes. She was afraid that if she permitted even a single tear to fall the dam might break and she would fall into total despair. The extent of her injuries, her current company and the unknown of what had befallen her friends all made her emotions boil over as she dared to wonder the most painful possibility: What if they hadn't made it?

Stop. This isn't the time, Hermione commanded and steeled herself until she had regained composure. Harry and Ron need me and I have to find a way out of here.

Luckily by the time Greyback returned Hermione had hidden all traces of her emotions. Or so she thought but by the scrutiny of the werewolf's look perhaps it was still obvious that she had been crying. For a moment under the astute perception of the werewolf it made her miss Harry and Ron all the more for their obliviousness.

Thankfully, Greyback made no mention of it as he approached her. "There is a river down this path if you are thirsty. Do you need help?"

"No, I can manage," she lied. Hermione was determined to push through her limitations. Using a longer stick she had found to lean on she hobbled in the direction of the water. Despite her assertions that she did not need help the witch could not help but notice Greyback followed after her at a slight distance.

She sighed but tried to ignore the werewolf's gaze even though she was half tempted to turn on him in annoyance. Hermione considered the waste of energy and resigned herself to the distant supervision.

Present

Lupin had reassured Harry that the private home was the best place for Hermione. And while Harry was on the surface in agreeance there still lurked some reservations. The team of doctors assigned to Hermione's case as well as Lupin had agreed that the long term treatment facility was going to do more for Hermione than staying at St. Mungo's but Harry was not quite sure what to expect.

He Apparated to the entrance of the property along with Hermione and Lupin. With Hermione in between them they slowly made their way up the sprawling driveaway of the home. The term home was a bit of a misnomer. What Harry saw before him was more along the lines of a stately manor. Ivy climbed the brick front entrance and Harry could hardly keep track of the number of windows. The details of architecture suggested that the building had stood the test of time for centuries.

Lupin pointed off to the distance at a cottage in the eastward side of the property. "That is where my family and I live. So see? I will never be too far away if she needs me," the older werewolf said warmly to Harry.

To his mild embarrassment Harry felt much like a father sending his child off to Hogwarts for the first time; Hermione in her current state depended on him to be her advocate and although he still had some skepticisms he was grateful for Lupin's nearby presence and watchful eye. To Harry he added softly, "there is also a protective charm around the property that we reinforce during the full moon."

"This doesn't look too bad 'mione," Harry said with forced enthusiasm. The effort wasn't wasted on Hermione who gave his arm a squeeze as she silently followed between the two men. She had handled the Apparation and their new location with surprising ease. Her eyes glimmered with a sense of curiosity that reminded Harry of her former self. She was alert and altogether invested in her new surroundings. Harry surmised anything must have seemed better than the four walls of her st. Mungo's room. And indeed, Hermione inhaled the fresh air joyfully. Her eyes shifting from the birds that flew overhead to the distant rustle of the wind through the trees. She was happy.

As they approached the entrance there was an older woman waiting by the wide oak doors to greet them. She was a plump middle-age witch with a mess of blonde and silver hair fashioned back in a bun. There was something warm and inviting about her presence that immediately reminded Harry of Molly Weasley.

"Welcome, welcome Hermione. We are so happy to have you join us darling."
"Harry, Hermione, this is Madame Wright. She is one of the caretakers here and will be looking after Hermione during her stay."

Hermione said nothing but approached the older woman and gave her a cursory sniff. Madame Wright was not perturbed by this and merely gave Hermione an affectionate pat on the cheek as if it was the most normal exchange in the world. To Harry's surprise, Hermione did not snarl at the gesture. "Come dear, you can meet the others. I was just about to call them in for lunch."

They followed after the woman and as they walked she gave a tour of the home like the ever gracious hostess. "Up the stairs are the dormitories and down the north wing are staff quarters," she said as they moved. Harry tried to listen respectfully but his attention was on his friend.

She was enthralled with the space, separating from Harry and Lupin to touch everything. There was ornate gilded wallpaper adorning the long hallways and paintings of peaceful sceneries. Hermione stopped in front of an open door, mesmerized. Harry peered past her to see what had caught her attention.

A slow smile crossed his face.

Hermione had found the library.

"Of course you would," he laughed. "Somethings never change."
Hermione smiled faintly and for a moment Harry saw a glimmer of the witch he had once known. The entire room was nearly two stories of books, carefully curated in a circular room alit with expansive windows across the entire backside of the room. Coupled with several oversized leather armchairs it was the perfect space for any bookworm.

"This way!" Madame Wright called out and the pair were pulled from their exploration of the library.

After a short distance later the older witch lead them through a kitchen manned by House Elves and out through a set of French doors and into a magnificent garden. There was about twelve children ranging from young preschool age to several adolescents. Another staff member was standing in the shade of an oak tree watching her charges. She gave a friendly wave at the arriving party.

There were several small groups of children were wrestling, another few more were playing catch with a ball. But even before Madame Wright had a chance to say anything in terms of an introduction every single werewolf child stopped in their tracks and turned to face them. Only it wasn't Lupin, Harry or Madame Wright that had caught their attention.

Hermione took a step forward from behind Harry and Lupin, scanning the small crowd of children that had gathered around her. Every child present mutedly diverted their gaze to the ground while some instinctively crouched or laid down.

Harry looked to Lupin who appeared just as puzzled by this interaction. "I've never seen this sort of behavior from them," he whispered to Harry with a sense of wonder.

Each of the staff members seemed equally as confused by the situation however no one moved to intervene. Hermione straightened her posture and scanned the faces of the youths with careful regard even as they avoided eye contact. After several long moments Hermione made a slightest nod with her head and the group of gathered children went back to their games. Hermione turned away from them and sauntered off to explore the garden. Neither Harry nor Lupin immediately followed after.

"What was that all about?" Harry asked.
Lupin wore an unreadable expression, perhaps still considering what had transpired before them. "I am not entirely sure but I believe Hermione's stay here will be nothing short of interesting."