It was closing in on May and the trial of the Azkaban guards was to start tomorrow. Hermione was petrified of seeing them again. The Ministry prosecutors had been working with on how to answers the questions on the stand and she had been meeting with her therapist ever day.

I had also been seeing more of her. I had moved into the little house in Hogsmeade and at first she seemed to enjoy helping him get settled. But as the trial approached she became more and more distance. I felt that I was losing all the ground I had worked so carefully to gain.

One thing I know that upset her was that during a Weasley brunch, a post owl delivered a letter from Ginny. It said she was okay and had settled in Sydney but mum had lost it. She began to cry that she had lost her little girl after secretly hoping she would have come back by now. Hermione felt guilty and left shortly after and had not returned to the Burrow since despite mum's constant invitations.

Things weren't getting easier but more complicated. I didn't care though; I was in this for the long haul until she told me to fall off a flying hippogriff.

I sat straight up in bed. I had had another nightmare and was covered in sweat. I yanked the covers off and turned so my feet were now on the floor. I wasn't sure that I was going to be able to go through with testifying. I knew that I needed to and had to get them punished. I just didn't know if I was strong enough. I felt certain I was headed for St. Mungo's.

Ron had been wonderful to me. But as we grow closer together, the more I want to run away. When he came too close all I could see were the guards. He wasn't pressuring me, but the simplest touch would set me off.

My therapist said that the trial and conviction would aid me in my healing process, but that the memories would always be there. She recommended a pensieve. I could put my memories in it and the details would be less horrifying. I would remember the incident just not as clearly, but I could retrieve it from the pensieve if I wished. However, I wasn't allowed to get one until the trail was over according to the Ministry. Apparently, once a memory is put in a pensieve it is inadmissible in certain criminal cases, this being one of them. That made no sense to me seeing that the memory would be preserved, but I went along with the insanity.

Having sat on the edge of the bed for quite some time, I stood up and went to take a shower. I had to go to the Ministry, yet again, to meet with the prosecutors. I was tired of going over everything again and again. I know what happened; I'm not going to change my story.

When I went down to breakfast I found Ron was waiting for me.

"Hey 'Mione, do you want me to fix you a plate?"

I was already in a bad move so I took it out on him, "I can do it myself Ronald. I'm not a child so stop treating me like one."

"Sorry," he said stepping back and giving me some room.

"Why are you being so understanding? I'm being a bitch to you."

"I can imagine what you're going through so it's best if I just let you go through it, right?"

I really just didn't get it, if I were him I would have headed for the hills by now. "Thanks. Why are you here anyway?"

"I wanted to escort you to the Ministry."

"Do you think I'm in danger or something?" I grinned but his face was stoic so my smile faded. "Ron, is something going on?"

"There have just been a few threats. We knew that exposing corruption in the prison was risky. The guards protect their own and all."

I felt like I was going to start crying and then I did. "'Mione, I'm here there is nothing to worry about, their just idle threats. I shouldn't have told you."

"No, I asked. I'm glad you were honest."

I finished my breakfast and Ron had a second one. The journey to the Ministry was uneventful and he walked me to Prosecutor Williamson's office and told me he'd see me at lunch. I still harbored some resentment toward him, but I also couldn't help but feel relieved that he was around.

I felt bad leaving 'Mione but she needed to be there to help them prepare the case. I wandered down to the Auror's Office and took a seat at my neglected desk. Since Hermione's return, I had mostly been on desk duty and wrapping up the Azkaban investigation. I, however, had spent every moment trying to watch after Hermione.

"Hey." I turned to find Harry.

"Hey mate, what are you doing here?"

"Working on tying up some loose ends; plus, this is a workday. Funny thing is I don't see you around here much."

"Well, I've been preoccupied."

"I've noticed and so has everyone else. Mate, you've got to start pulling your weight around here, people are tired of covering for you."

How could he say this? I was so annoyed, I was corrected a mistake that we all made.

"You know why I'm not here and everyone else does too. It's my duty as a friend and an Auror to be there for her."

"Being there and losing your job isn't going to make up for the guilt Ron."

"Don't you think I know that I have to live with this everyday for the rest of my life?"

We were getting quite loud and Shacklebolt came over to tell us to keep it down. He then called me into his office.

"Weasley, I think I've been pretty understanding about keeping you off assignment but I need you to start field work again."

"Now? I need to be here for the trial."

"I'm not sending you away. Besides you're a wizard; you know how to apparate."

Internally I was having a panic attack; I couldn't leave Hermione at her most vulnerable time. Shacklebolt handed me a file and explained the case. It really wasn't that big of a deal and Harry was assigned to it too.

"Look, I don't want Harry being the only one working on this case. There is a lot of local work to be done on it and perhaps it will start to wean her off of you and you can get on with your life."

"Get on with my life? Hermione is my life."

"When you took the oath on your first day you pledged that fighting dark wizards was going to be your life. Most people here have families Weasley and they manage it just fine."

I left the office and slammed the door behind me. The people in the office were staring at me as though I was about to be hit by lightening. I stomped to my desk and plopped into my chair.

Harry came up behind me. "I'm going to need you on this one."

"I know, I'll read the file and we can talk strategy."

"Good."

Ron had promised to meet me for lunch and with the way he had been treating me lately I was surprised he was late. Thirty minutes to be exact. I was waiting at a small Muggle sandwich shop. I was looking over the menu out side the door when someone grabbed me.

The next thing I knew I was in the alley and someone had struck me across the face. I was on my hands and knees as the blows continued. "Listen bitch, I'd leave town if I were you. If you testify at this trial you won't make it through the weekend."

He started to kick me when some Muggle passersby saw what was going on. Several good Samaritans came running to my aid.

"Where did he go, he was just here." Someone said.

People were asking how I was and if I saw which way the man went. They were scrambling to call the police and I begged them not to that I just wanted to forget about it. They arrived anyway and I told them the same thing. They wanted me to seek medical treatment but I refused. I finally broke away, walked around the corner, and apparated to Hogsmeade.

My stomach growled loudly as Harry and I were working on the new case. Merlin I'm hungry, I thought.

"Shit!" I looked up at the clock on the wall. "Harry I was supposed to meet Hermione for lunch almost two hours ago."

"Send her an owl that you'll see her for dinner or something. We are making some real headway here. I'll have Terese go out for some something."

"I guess; I just feel bad about it."

"She'll understand that you have a job mate."

I quickly jotted down that I was held up at work and I would see her tonight. I used a Ministry owl and then got back to work.

Harry and I had some rather ordinary sandwiches and had been working close to an hour when a Hogwarts owl flew through the window with a note addressed to me.

Mr. Weasley,

Hermione was attacked. She is in the hospital wing at Hogwarts. She will recover.

Prof. McGonagall

"Harry, 'Mione was attacked. She's at Hogwarts." I gave him a panicked look.

"What are you waiting for," he said, "let's go!"

I was really groggy. Madam Pomfrey had given me something for the pain. She healed my broken ribs while scolding me for apparating injured. I was still heavily bruised and sore.

After apparating to Hogsmeade I stumbled to the castle where Hagrid found me. He carried me to the hospital wing and notified Minerva. I still don't know what happened to Ron and I was getting concerned that something did happen. Not long after I thought that, Ron had sent an owl saying he was held up.

"Nice of him to finally let you know where he was" said Minerva. "I'll just send him an owl back letting him know where you are."

I didn't really want her to but it was done. I didn't want to start another investigation with myself in the middle. I started to doze off when the doors of the hospital wing burst open. Ron ran directly to my bedside while Harry seemed to stay back and talk to Madam Pomfrey.

Ron looked like he was close to tears and it shocked me to see him looking so vulnerable. "Tell me what happened?" He asked as he looked at the bruises on my face and arms.

"I was waiting for you outside that sandwich place when someone grabbed me and pulled me into an alley."

"Do you know who it was?"

"No, he masked his face."

"Well, did he say anything?" Ron seemed to be getting frustrated with my answers.

"He told me not to testify. He said something like if I did I wouldn't make it through the weekend."

"Don't worry; I'll take care of everything." He put a comforting hand on my arm but I freaked out.

"Don't touch me! Just stay away from me. If I had just gone to the Muggle world none of this would be happening. I could have been starting a new life instead of having to piece together a shattered one. Ginny would never have left, you'd have a sister and Harry would have a wife." I laid there and began to sob uncontrollably.

"Please don't say that," he begged. "I can't lose you again. I'll make everything alright, I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep Ronald." I rolled onto my other side with my back to him. I wanted him to leave but he wouldn't he just sat down in the chair not saying anything.