Geeze, this chapter has been a long time in coming. For quite awhile, I contemplated deleting this story. I have changed my mind. Eventually I will go back in and edit the first three chapters, for they have mistakes and awkward sentences.
I'm not sure how long this story will be and if it will be purely emotional or if there will be a journey leading to the actual demise of Voldemort. I do enjoy writing original fiction and like to spend most of my time working on that. Character development and emotional maturing happens in my fanfics.
So, again, I'm not really sure where I'm taking this yet. Bear with me, please. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
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Never explain- your Friends do not need it and your Enemies will not believe you anyway.
-Elbert Hubbard-
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Harry heard a loud click on his windowsill followed by a soft hoot. Looking over from where he'd kept vigil over Hermione, he saw that Hedwig had finally returned.
"Come here, girl," he whispered, not wanting to disturb the young witch's sleep.
Hedwig flew to Harry and held out her leg. She made no noise and was more solemn than Harry had ever seen her. The owl's gaze lingered on Harry's patient before Hedwig turned and pecked Harry gently on the finger.
"Take this to Dumbledore, Hedwig," he said in a quiet voice. "It's urgent."
With one last look at her master and then the still form on the bed, Hedwig took off.
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It was hours before Hermione woke. Harry, tired and worried, had fallen into a light sleep in an old chair by his bed. At the sound of the sheets rustling, Harry's eyes snapped open.
"Harry," Hermione said. "You should have gotten some proper sleep." Even exhausted herself, the young witch still managed to chastise Harry like a mother would.
Despite himself and their unfortunate situation, Harry grinned at her. "Yes, mother," he said, ducking his head.
Looking fresher and more determined, Hermione smiled and eased herself up. With the help of Harry, she found a comfortable position with pillows supporting her back.
She took his hand when they were both settled. Harry noticed a new spark in her eye. "I want to tell you the rest of the story, Harry. You deserve to know."
Harry nodded dumbly and waited for her to begin. It seemed a lengthy sleep had restored more than just health to Hermione. Her spirit had taken on a new stubbornness. Harry hoped that meant she also trusted him completely, that she would spill the entire story to him.
"After my aunt and uncle took me home from the hospital, I spent most of my time in my room. The first day that both of my relatives were out of the house at the same time, I went downstairs, took the manual can opener we had for power outages, gathered a number of cans of food, and some boxes of crackers and cereal. I never wanted to have to come out of my room again." Hermione took a stabilizing breath and trudged on. "There was a panel in the back of my closet that blended in with the wall. My relatives knew naught of it and I was able to store all my food back there. I also took some plastic silverware and a disposable bowl, knowing my relatives never lowered themselves enough to eat off anything but my mother's fine china. They never noticed, or if they did, they didn't care enough to bother me about it."
Harry smiled sadly, knowing what it was like to have to scrape around for food because those in charge of your care couldn't be bothered themselves.
Hermione took a sip of the warm water from her cup that was still on the nightstand. "It was easy, really," she told Harry with sincerity. "I had a sink so I could clean up after myself and I'd wash the cans out after I ate from them so that they didn't smell. Five days after I had taken the food, I heard a knock on my door. I didn't know what to do. They knew I was in my room. There was no running. I answered the door. It was my uncle. There was something different about him though. When I got closer to open the door all the way, for I didn't want to anger him more, I knew what it was. He reeked of alcohol. He also hadn't shaved in days. I learned sometime during that beating that he'd lost his job."
A tear slipped down Hermione's cheek. She angrily pushed it away and gave a defiant sniff. "I couldn't take it anymore. I left. That was my first mistake. Dumbledore had put up a sort of protective ward around my house. When I left, I became vulnerable. But what was I to do? Stay and die at the hands of my own family or leave and risk dying at the hands of a Death Eater?"
Harry shuddered. It was like looking at a mirror. He could understand and appreciate what Hermione had to say, even if he felt awful that she had endured all of it. He nodded to her sharing his understanding.
She continued. "It was a day after I'd left that I noticed the first Death Eater following me. I knew I had to get to safety, soon. I'd no where to sleep and no muggle money on me so I went to the library."
Harry didn't know whether to laugh or not. It was absurd, yet genius.
"Every night, an hour before they closed, I would go to the library and read. Twenty minutes before they locked up for the night I would go into the restroom and stand on the back of a toilet in there. The staff never did a thorough check of the building. Normally, one woman would just poke her head into the restroom and call a warning that they were closing. She'd leave and I'd wait for thirty more minutes. I slept in the children's section where they have the couches for the parents. In the morning, I'd wake in time to hide in the restroom until the library opened. After almost a week of this I was discovered. A librarian had forgotten her purse, but not realized it till she was almost home. I was all settled into the children's section when she came in. I acted grateful that someone was in the library and told the woman how hysterical I had been, being locked in after closing. I lied and told her that I was using the restroom and when I came out all the doors were locked. She smiled and asked if I needed a ride home. I declined and took off on foot. I'd found some change lying next to the sink at the library, so I was able to buy some food at a 24 diner about a block from the library. When I left, I wasn't paying much attention. I was tired and did not know where I could sleep that night. It was then that I was grabbed by the Death Eaters."
Harry was awed that Hermione had made it this far. He hugged her, taking care not to bump where she was sore.
"I found my way to the park. I was taken by the Death Eaters a few days ago. They didn't want to apparate anywhere for fear of alerting the ministry of magic in a muggle area- and they were stupid. It wasn't on Voldemort's orders or anything- they just wanted a fun plaything. But when they figured out I was Hermione Granger, they decided they would take me to their master. The night they decided this, they got drunk to celebrate. While they were passed out, I gave them the slip. I'm sure they've tracked me, but I know we're safe inside the wards around your house."
Famous Harry Potter stared at Hermione. "How did you know of the wards?" he asked, too surprised to address any other part of her tale.
Hermione looked nervous. "I know you don't like people talking about you or being overprotective, but Dumbledore told Ron and me before summer break this past term. He wanted us to know why he would not let you go with one of us straight off, especially given the, um, happenings at the Ministry of Magic."
Harry's mouth formed a soft "oh." He was surprisingly not upset about her reference to Sirius. The more pressing matter of Hermione's difficulties and injuries made his line of focus clear and his emotions did not become mixed with sadness.
With the adrenaline of recounting her tale wearing off, Hermione's eyes began to flutter. Harry carefully eased her back, making sure her blankets were secured around her without putting too much pressure on her ribs and bruises.
"Thanks, Harry," she said quietly. Hermione let out a sigh and allowed her eyes to close completely.
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Harry,
Thank you for caring for Ms. Granger. For reasons I know you will understand, mainly the blood wards, you will have to stay at the Dursley residence for a bit longer; however, I have arranged for a group of Order members to retrieve Ms. Granger from Number 4 Privet Drive at eight o'clock tomorrow morning. They will expect her to be ready. I understand that Ms. Granger has been injured. I have enclosed in this package various healing potions. Please administer according to label of each. An Order member with the necessary medical knowledge to treat Ms. Granger will also be with the group arriving in the morning. Stay put for now. I cannot tell you where the Order members are bringing Ms. Granger, in case this owl is intercepted. I will have you know, though, that after I discuss recent, tragic events she has endured, she will be lodged at the school. You will be able to join her at a later time.
Sincerely,
Professor Dumbledore
Harry folded the note and gently placed it on his desk. He opened the box the school owl had delivered and found the healing potions of which the headmaster had spoken. He sat on the edge of his bed and read the instructions on each bottle.
The first jar was a basic bruise-healing paste, which Harry knew would ease Hermione's soreness greatly. Feeling bad for interrupting her sleep, he woke her.
"Hermione, Dumbledore sent us a letter. You are being retrieved by Order members in the morning at eight. He also sent some potions and salves for you to use."
The young witch nodded her understanding.
"This one is a bruise-healing paste. I understand if you don't want me touching you, but in your current condition, I think it will be the least painful for you if I apply it." Harry met Hermione's gaze.
"I trust you, Harry," she told him, her eyes revealing her deep-rooted confidence in the green-eyed wizard. "Go ahead."
Hermione hissed as Harry pulled Hermione's shirt up to just below her brassiere. With fingers that shook from exhaustion and worry, Harry gently smoothed the paste across the worst of Hermione's mottled skin. The brown-haired young woman bit her lip, eyes watering. Harry watched as the swelling greatly decreased and Hermione's breathing became steadier.
"Sorry," he murmured, apologizing for the pain he knew his application had caused her.
"Don't be silly," she ordered. "I would be rather crazy if I held a bit of discomfort against you when I now feel so much better." A true smile lit Hermione's face, giving Harry the resolve to finish his ministrations.
Harry opened a small jar of Star Grass salve. "This is going to twinge a bit," he warned. He gently worked it into her shoulder, where swelling and lacerations seemed the worst. "How is your back?" he asked.
"It's actually fine," she told him. "It wasn't touched once."
Harry smiled for small blessings. "This is a bottle of Dreamless Sleep," he informed her, holding up a small vial. "Take it and I will apply the essence of murtlap to your. I'm then going to go downstairs and make lunch for my cousin and aunt. If you wake, don't move or try to go anywhere. I will be back up shortly."
Hermione grinned, feeling calmer now that she wasn't feeling as much pain. "Aye, aye," she mocked playfully, before taking the vial and downing it in one gulp.
Harry had been watching her struggle to stay awake, as he'd applied the salve to her injuries. Now he leaned over her and made sure her unconscious form was in a comfortable position. He stretched her out and took the jars Dumbldore had sent to his desk. The murtlap essence had to be mixed with a basic healing salve the headmaster had sent so that he could apply it to the cuts he'd found on her knees and arm. He was now glad that he'd been so thorough in his initial diagnosis and letter to Dumbledore. Paste made, he gently covered Hermione's knees and shoulder with the yellow goo and pulled the covers over Hermione's body.
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Hm, well I know not many will probably read this. Any who first began this story and wished for me to continue, have probably now given up all hope. I have already begun work on the next chapter. I do hope this warrants a few reviews at least. I know where I am taking this and I know what I'm doing with it. Hope this chapter was good. I promise it's not going to be this monologue intensive the entire time. Hermione needed to tell her story. The was the way she wanted to tell it. :D Hope it wasn't too tedious.