Notes: Like the HP series, I have no claim to the plot which was created by Erica. From Darkness begins after the final war in a time of rebuilding and regret. Hermione, blind and lost, struggles to find her place while many seem already secure in the new world. A story of hopelessness and hope, depression and happiness, solitude and companionship…DHr. For Erica, in hopes that this lives up to what you imagined.
Special Thanks to Nicoli—Your Email was greatly appreciated.
From Darkness
By Rei (Of Reminiscence)
Previously in From Darkness Chapter Five: The Convergence of the Twain
"Hermione finds out everything tonight." Draco's words, low and carefully chosen, resonated between the group. "You have no right to hold anything back from her."
"Its like my scar Hermione. Like when I knew Voldemort was up to something, you will know if Dark Magic is at work—I think the intensity of it knocked you unconscious." Harry moved his bangs away and absently rubbed the old scar.
The black robed man carefully balanced the wand between two fingers as he stunned the girl with a sharp burn mark into her side. "I couldn't believe that it was you who helped Harry at the end. Of course you have always been there haven't you? Your books, scrolls, potions, and your know-it-all attitude…"
"Better to bask in the glory of the cripple and the sick than to give into a warped creature once called Tom Riddle."
"They sent a dream wraith and it's center is on this paper. Obviously it's not his style."
What? Hermione pushed herself away and up so that she stood on her own two feet. Her balance swayed for a moment but then held steady. "What does is say Harry?" She felt Harry's hesitation and grabbed the shoulder of his cloak thinking of pounding it out of him if he didn't answer. "Harry!" She faintly recognized her own voice being a bit hysterical.
"It says 'Welcome to your new world Hermione'".
Chapter Six: The Interlude between Conflicts
They crowded around the kitchen table at the Weasley house hammering out restructuring plans for Hermione and the The Order of the Phoenix. Hermione's flat, while everything had been properly moved out and moved into storage, stayed in her name with a proper look over every couple of days from Mrs. C.
The dinner was just about finished by now yet Hermione still accepted a last buttered roll from Ron. A member of the old order dropped off his report as he changed shifts and Mr. Weasley frowned over its contents. Hermione some how knew or felt what the letter said.
"They know I'm here." She tore the roll in half and paused before biting into the faintly warm bread. It had been almost three weeks since she had moved in and although she missed her privacy, she hated the thought of leaving so soon. A return to the solitude often dealt with involved strangers seemed more depressing.
Harry leaned back idly playing with his fork—something Hermione realized Draco wouldn't have done. She inwardly scowled at that idea and concentrated on the second half of her roll.
"It couldn't have been entirely unexpected—they know we're a family." Harry tossed the fork back onto the table and suddenly leaned forward making the chair creak uncomfortably in Hermione's ears. "We need to find a place they won't look for you, but first thing is that we need to do is make a list."
"Are we gonna check it twice?" Fred and George grinned until they saw Molly's annoyed face but retained that twinkle in their eye when they saw the tinniest smile from Hermione.
"Voldemort."
"No Ron…" Harry shook his head. "Voldemort didn't send dream wraiths or letters. When he wanted something done or someone hurt he didn't play with them."
"Well if it isn't Voldemort and all the Death Eaters are still locked up then who sent the bloody letter?"
"We don't know if all of Voldemort's supporters were caught Ron." Hermione paused shocked about how close she came to sounded like her old self. Harry and Ginny chuckled while Ron's face looked like he was sulking. "Only Voldemort knew every supporter by name and face."
Arthur nodded, "Right Hermione but if they know you're here then we need to find someone with a name and power to help out."
"Dumbledore could help if he was well."
"He's helping out but Hermione couldn't stay with him—it makes the target seem better than ever."
Molly hurriedly picked up the dinner plates and sent them to the sink for washing. Her nervousness caught on until Arthur laid his hand down on her shoulder. "Who are you thinking of?"
Her voice was a harsh whisper, "Snape."
Harry, and Ron shook their heads at the same time. Harry's voice, while clear, was very strong, "No it's partially his fault why Sirius isn't here and I don't trust him."
Hermione ate the last bit of her roll before taking a gulp of her tea. "Not that I'm complaining, but he is worth more than the Healers."
"Draco Malfoy" Ginny squirmed under Harry's gaze. "He's been extremely helpful and any doubt of his loyalty died years ago. Far as I'm concerned the only trouble is his choice in bed partners."
Everyone laughed except Hermione who was left frowning, "Couldn't we just find a place secluded?" Her side ached again from the healing burn, and Hermione gently touched her hand to her rib cage. The wraith had come close, almost too close.
Later on that night Hermione slept in the spare bed on Ron's room. Her hair, only slightly damp from the brief towel dry, laid across the pillow. A soft chime and Hermione knew it was almost ready for dawn. Ron's heavy breathing from the other bed did nothing to lull her to sleep. As her friend called another name Hermione's face heated and hurriedly turned her body to face the wall.
Voldemort's perversion stuck in her mind like nothing else and Ron's call from his sleep was a constant reminder. She appreciated staying with the Weasleys but after tonight, she knew for sure that she was no longer comfortable staying in the same bedroom with Ron—not when he drew such a nostalgic ache in her chest of once was.
A maturity had passed in those long months where Hermione knew or rather felt the end to the constant companionship they had lived with at Hogwarts. Her anger set away and logic brought to the surface, Hermione instinctively knew the physical and human comforts the boys—no men—had taken. Harry was already married and Ron (she curled up as he called out again) would probably be married as well. The close circle of childhood friendship was there, but it felt old—like a band of gold needing a constant expansion to fit.
Her father once asked her if they ever declared 'All for one and One for all' and Hermione knew if they hadn't before they couldn't now—the trio of musketeers, while not abolished, was certainly neglected.
She sighed and threw back the covers unable to sleep. The cane, which carried her wand in the built in compartment, was right beside her bed and Hermione grabbed it, cautiously making her way to the door. The Weasley house was dark and (except for the ticking clock) strangely silent. The end of the cane tapped, tapped, and tapped against the floor until it came to the nothingness and drop of the staircase. She grabbed the railing and counted until she came to the fifth squeaky step where she stepped forward and met the floor. She continued walking to the living room where no popping or intense heat had told her that the fireplace only contained the dying embers. She sat smoothing out her sleeping pants and caught herself before she started wishing for a book. Her CD player was almost out of batteries and she wanted to save what was left.
"Can't sleep?"
Hermione clenched her hand around the cane's handle before recognizing the voice. "Harry, I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you."
"You didn't. Ginny woke me up—" Seeing Hermione face he chuckled and strode forward, "No its more like she talks in her sleep and she had a nightmare."
"Oh, Ron too. I guess it runs through the family." Hermione felt him drop back on the couch and turned towards him. "Is something wrong?"
"I'm just thinking you know? Lots of things will change and many already have, but I'm thankful for the things that won't change." Harry moved his hands forward until they gently grasped Hermione's face. She felt him run the pads of his fingers over eye lids and lashes before resting his palm on her shoulders. "I am sorry that you are in such pain."
"I didn't know any of this would happen you know? We're the good guys, and I never wanted to lose you or Ron."
Harry's grip on her shoulders increased, "What are you talking about? We're all here, just like Hogwarts."
"But everyone has moved on. You and Ginny are married and Ron is somewhere else most of the time--what room is there for me now? I know I didn't fight much, but before I could research and create potions."
Harry stared into the blank eyes that stared listlessly over his shoulders and cursed himself. "You mean more to us than books and brews Hermione." Harry smiled before pulling her into a deep and strong hug like the ones she got from him in long ago Hogwarts. "You'll always be the original member of the Golden Trio Hermione and don't you dare forget that. After all, I owe most of good grades to you." He laughed at Hermione's shocked face, "Fine okay—I owe all my good grades to you."
Harry held her a moment longer before brushing back her hair, "Now tell me, would you be against hiding at Malfoy Manor?"
Hermione drew away and sat back against the couch, "Draco has been very kind." The half past mark chimed and Hermione blinked toward the creaking stairs and Molly's path to the kitchen. Hermione nodded when Molly asked about tea and rubbed her hands together to dispel the morning's chill. "His mother has also been gracious" Hermione said thinking about that distant dinner invitation.
Harry nodded, "Ginny worked with Draco, you know after the defeat. He's not the person he met in our first year, and if your not completely against it, Dumbledore has seconded Ginny's choice."
Hermione thought fast and grabbed Harry's hand, "You wouldn't leave me there though right? You'd come to visit." Hermione could of the endless corridors and the cold emptiness of Malfoy Manor and shuttered.
"Harry, could you come here a moment?"
Harry chuckled at Molly's call, "Its likely she wants to know if Ron ate the pumpkin pie. Wait here a moment, and don't be silly—you'd kill Malfoy if we left him with you for too long."
Hermione smiled as Harry moved towards the kitchen but was unable to dispel the coldness she felt. Her hand clutched the cane as she stood up intent on warming herself closer to the fire. Instead, the coldness spread until Hermione was sure she was hearing things. A hum increased from the barest whisper until it roared in her ears. Hermione dropped the cane in an effort to shield herself away from the sound but it seemed useless.
"Hermione!"
Harry's voice was just barely over the roar before it tremendous noise halted into deafening silence. Hermione turned around and for a brief moment thought that she saw Harry face before a brilliant light burned her eyes. Hermione shook her head—no she knew she saw Harry because he had aged since she saw him last. For that brief instant…hope flared up in Hermione's chest and then crashed feeling a shard of glass cut into her cheek.
"What's happening?"
Hermione came to the conclusion that she had been unconsciousness for a few minutes. The sound of curses and the damaged they caused surrounded them.
"They've breached the first defensives. Molly, take Hermione to Dumbledore and asked for more reinforcements."
Hermione came to her senses and reached out to Harry's voice, "No Harry—let me stay, they're here for me."
Molly grabbed Hermione's arm and shoved the cane between them, "That's the silliest thing I've heard. Hush dear we'll be there in a moment."
Hermione hated the twist her insides felt as they apparated into Dumbledore's study. Furious whispers erupted and moments later they departed. Hermione thought she might have been alone in the room, but Dumbledore's coughing spell proved otherwise. She managed to sit upright, bit couldn't hold back the dizziness she felt.
"You'll be alright in a few moments Miss Granger—You're just feeling the after effects of the guardian spells." Dumbledore knelt before her and pressed a warm cup into her hand, "Luckily for you we were having hot chocolate. Not to worry, McGonagall has sent for more help, I have sent for more hot chocolate, and Molly went to see Narcissa Malfoy. Everything will be just fine."
Everything hadn't been fine. A member of the Order had died saving Arthur and many more were wounded. Harry chuckled when he saw Hermione's worried face and greeted her with a hug, Ron had to stay at the Healers for observation. They spent another few hours together until Hermione departed with Molly into the carriage bound for her new home. Several Aurors accompanied them, but none would pass the gates.
Hermione took Molly's hand and allowed the older woman to lead up to the step to the manor. Hermione had of course been to Draco's home before but she had never actually entered through the front door.
"I want you to stay to all the main areas of the Manor Hermione. Narcissa has been generous but her husband did die for his crimes… Its not that I want you to be looking behind your back, I just don't want you looking for trouble." Molly knocked sharply at the door and asked from Mrs. Malfoy when someone (Hermione assumed a house elf) opened the door. "We'll send letter and visit as much as possible but we have to keep your presence here away from prying eyes."
They heard the approach of heels and Molly greeted Narcissa with eloquence that must be taught to all 'pureblood' families. "May I present Hermione Granger, and express my deepest gratitude…"
Hermione curtsied and felt Molly's soft warm hand give her over to another hand which, though it was a lot thinner, was just was warm. She sighed and stepped over the threshold into her new home.
"We'll send you a letter in a few days dear."
The door closed and Narcissa gently tugged her away from the door, "Draco, take her upstairs to her room."
Draco planted Hermione's meager possessions (mailed earlier by owl) on the bed and described to her the contents of the room. He called a House Elf (Meeky) and instructed her to take Hermione's measurements.
At feeling the elf's trembling fingers Hermione drew back, "Thank you but no Draco, I have my own clothes."
Draco stood forward and gripped Hermione's arms, "We have more money than we have use for Hermione, at least allow us to spend it on something worth while. You're here so we can take care of you."
Hermione forcefully pulled herself away, "I don't need charity."
"What do you need?"
Next time on From Darkness Chapter Seven:
"Hermione…Hermione…" The ghoul's mouth fell open and the remains of the Dark Lord spilled forth.
Hermione felt the wraith crawl up the length of her body and shuttered. "You're not real. Draco told me you're not real—go away…"
Draco took her hand and laid it upon his defined cheekbones, "Don't pretend."
Hermione eyes blinked once and twice and yet the image still remained. The image of Draco, his hair long, eyes searching, struck her. "Draco?" The image vanished and the pain returned,
"Lestranges? I thought they were all killed…"
The girl giggled and Draco eyed her in horror, "Ring around the rosies, pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes, we all fall down!"
Author's Note: Sorry for the shortness and delay, but I hope to get the next chapter up soon!