Dead and Gone

During the war, Hermione went M.I.A. Everyone thought she was dead and after a few years, everyone moved on. Including Ron. But what happens when she resurfaces, seemingly unharmed?

Chapter Two: Nightmares

"Where have you been?" George asked as he pour some tea into Hermione's cup and then into his own and sat down.

Hermione stirred the tea. "I'm not really sure." She said and took a sip of tea.

George watched her from across the table. Something didn't seem right. He considered bringing up his dream, but thought it might upset her if it was true. Taking a sip of his tea, he realized that if what happened to her in his dream had actually happened to her, then he didn't want to know. He was just happy to see that she was alive again. If anything had happened, he would ask later. Not now. Now he needed to figure out why she didn't seem quite right. Something was off about her, he just couldn't put his finger on it. She seemed different. Of course she seems different. God only knows what she's been through the past three years. Replied the voice in his head.

"I can put you in Fred's old room. Just be sure not to touch anything until I get in there and clean it up some."

Hermione took a sip of tea. "It's that messy?"

George shook his head. "No, not that. Just some of the stuff in there could be dangerous. He was always messing around in there." George laughed.

Hermione put her cup down and leaned back in her chair. George watched her hands. They were steady. Calm. He furrowed his brow a bit when he saw scars that circled both wrists. Breaking his train of thought, he realized that Hermione had said something. He looked at her and tried to think of what it was. A small smirk began to form on her face.

"You didn't hear a word I just said, did you?"

George leaned back in his chair and took a sip of his tea. "No. No, I did not."

Hermione laughed and George thought it seemed a bit forced. "I said thank you for letting me stay here until I find my own place." George nodded. "Suppose I should go talk to Ron tomorrow."

George shifted in his seat. "Um, Hermione?" She looked up from starring at her teacup. "You…don't still have feelings for him, do you?"

Hermione swallowed. "I'm not sure. Why?" she said carefully.

George watched her and licked his lips nervously. "He got married almost three years ago."

"Three…three years ago? But the war was three years ago."

George nodded. He hated having to be the one who told her. "A few months after the war he married Lavender Brown. They've got a baby on the way."

Hermione stood up as anger rushed through her veins. She ran her hands over her face and began to pace back and forth. Stopping, she looked at George. "I was missing only a few months, and he goes and bloody gets married! Did he even bloody look for me? Or even bloody care!"

"Of course he cared, Hermione. We all cared! We looked for you for over a year." George said, now standing.

Hermione shook her head. "I never should have even come back." she said and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know. But I obviously don't belong here anymore." She said as the door closed behind her.

George swore and followed her out of his flat and down the steps into his shop. The bell above the door rang as Hermione walked out and he followed her. Finally catching up to her, he grabbed her arm and spun her around.

"What the hell do you mean you don't belong here anymore?"

"It's pretty obvious, George. Everyone has moved on with their lives. If I come back now, everything will get messed up. Harry and Ginny finally have a life together. Your store is doing great. Your parents rebuilt the Burrow. Ron…well its pretty clear that Ron doesn't love me anymore. And as much as I hate him for that, I can't just waltz back into everyone's lives like nothing had bloody happened. I'm sorry George, but I can't do that." She said and started to walk away.

"Is that what you're afraid of? That they won't care about you?" Hermione stopped walking. "Hermione, you will ALWAYS belong here. We've always cared about you. That's not going to stop. Ever."

George sighed and starred at the spot Hermione had just been standing. Sometimes he hated the fact that he taught her how to apperate. Walking back to his flat, he left the teacups where they sat on the table and walked down the hall. He pulled off his clothes until he was in just his boxers and climbed in under the blanket. Suddenly very tired, sleep overtook him easily and he told himself that she just needed time to calm down and she would be back in the morning.

George woke with a start when he heard mumbling. He climbed out of bed and walked down the hall to Fred's old bedroom. Peering in, he didn't see Hermione and continued down the hall to the kitchen. The teacups still sat on the table, untouched. There was a sound of muffled screams and he turned around.

In the middle of the living room was a large table made of pieces of metal and steel. Tied to the with wires, and gag in her mouth, was Hermione. Beside the table was a smaller table full of knives, needles, bottles of different colored liquids, medicine bottles, hammers, and wires. Out of the shadows of the living room, came someone he didn't recognize. He watched in horror as he walked over to Hermione and placed a hand on her neck and forced her to look at him. He looked at the table and picked up one of the knives. Holding it up, it glinted in the moonlight shining in through the window. Looking back down at her, he gave a sadistic smile. Walking around the table he watched her struggle, the wires cutting into her wrists.

As George took a step forward to try to help, he found himself chained to the wall. All he could do was watch as the man placed the knife on Hermione's skin and began to cut her. She screamed into the gag and the man smiled. George pulled against the chains, yelling at the man to leave her alone. He ignored George and went over to the table again. He picked up one of the bottles with clear liquid in it. Uncapping it, he poured it over the fresh wound and Hermione screamed. The man cocked his head to the side. George heard him say something about salt water and he closed his eyes as the man picked up one of the needles and a medicine bottle. Taking some into the syringe, he smiled at her. When George didn't hear her screaming, he opened his eyes. He saw the man lean in a bit, a serious look on his face.

"Are you ready to give up? Just one nod and you could be free of the pain. One nod and you'll be in my position. Free of pain. Full of so much power." Hermione glared daggers at him, her body shaking. He took the gag off her and waited.

"Go to hell."

The man smirked and stabbed her in the stomach with the syringe. Hermione's scream almost made George deaf in the one ear that he did have. The man inject the liquid and pain radiated throughout Hermione's body and she screamed again. Leaving the syringe sticking in her stomach, he grabbed another knife and poured the salt water on it. Cutting through her skin, he smiled at her screams.

"Darling, we're already there."