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?

A/N: This is a short chapter. I hope you like it. It's kind of an important chapter. And thank you so much to everyone who has left me reviews. They're the reason I keep writing. :)

Chapter Ten: Breakfast and Tears

George watched Hermione as he piled some scrambled eggs. She starred down at her plate, her face covered in tear stains and her eyes red. He filled his plate and sat down across from her. Leaning back in his chair, he took a bite and continued to watch her. She hadn't said anything since her breakdown in the rain last night and George was getting worried. Something had finally snapped to make her act that way. Taking another bite, he waited to see if she would say anything, but she simply starred at her plate of food.

Sighing, he took a sip of tea. "Are you going to tell me what happened last night?"

After a moment, Hermione's eyes met his. Her heart ached. He was angry with her. She looked back down at her food. She couldn't tell him. She couldn't tell him how she wanted to hurt his family. Could she? He had been understanding so far, even after she tried to kill him. Could she tell him that she wanted to attack his family and he not hate her for it? No. It wasn't possible. He would hate her. Yell at her. Throw her out. She couldn't tell him.

George ate some more of his food and sighed again. "Tell me what happened, Hermione." When she didn't answer or bother to look up, he stood up and was at her side in two long strides. Pushing her chair a bit so she was facing him, he grabbed her shoulders and she let out a small yelp.

"What happened last night?" He asked. She didn't looked at him and he shook her a bit and waited until she looked at him. "What. Happened?" he said, his voice dangerously low. "Why did you want me to kill you?" She still didn't answer him and he shook her again. "Answer me!"

Hermione winced at the sudden rise of anger in his voice and tears welled up in her eyes. "I can't be here." she whispered.

"What do you mean?" he asked, still not letting her go.

"What I…what did to them. What I wanted to do…it hurts…"

George furrowed his brow. "Hermione, kitten, you aren't making sense."

Hermione shook her head slowly and closed her eyes as the tears started falling. "I can't believe I did that…I can't….I can't make it better…" She looked at him with pleading eyes. "Just tell me how to make it better…"

George's eyes widened and he licked his lips nervously. "Hermione, luv, can you…I mean, your emotions, are they…"George took a deep breath. "Can you…feel…again?" he asked carefully.

Hermione's lip trembled and she nodded. She threw her arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder. "It hurts. God, it hurts so much. Please George, just kill me. Please, make it stop. Tell me how to make it better. Please, God, it hurts. Please, George, it hurts. It hurts so bad..."

George closed his eyes and swallowed back the tears. Holding her tight against him, he let her cry.

"This is going to be painful for her." Luna said, starring down at the now sleeping Hermione.

"What is?" George asked. "What's happening to her?"

Luna looked at him with sad eyes. "She's certainly not empty anymore. But she's in pain. A lot of it."

"Why?"

"She can feel again, George. She'll be feeling all the remorse she would have felt while torturing those souls. And the guilt of having all those thoughts. Her path to healing is going to be painful."

"Guilt of what thoughts?" George asked.

Luna frowned. "I think it's best if she told you." The blonde looked back at Hermione's seemingly innocent face. "This could quite literally drive her insane…"