"Time to wake up Miss Granger"
A muffled groan escaped from the bushy haired brunette as her eyes fluttered open. Blinding white light stung her eyes and caused them to water as she snapped them shut. Releasing another groan Hermione slowly sat up and pressed her fingers to the bridge of her noise she tried to focus her thoughts.
What was the last thing that she could remember? After a few moments of careful thought her eyes widened in a panic and her hand darted from her face to rest where she had felt Godric's sword pierce her chest.
A frown of confusion formed on her brow as her fingers failed to locate the fatal wound. Glancing down she exhaled heavily in surprise as there was no wound to be found on her body: no blood stains, no ripped seams in her shirt…nothing.
"I had hoped I wouldn't be seeing you here for a very long time Miss Granger"
Looking up her eyes widened as she recognized the being standing a few yards in front of her.
"Professor Dumbledore" she whispered as she looked up at him in confusion. The elderly wizard smiled down at the intelligent Gryffindor as she slowly got to her feet though his smile soon grew melancholy as Hermione observed her surroundings.
"Sir what is this place?" she asked as she turned her attention back to her former Headmaster.
"This Hermione is a world between two planes of existence…the first being that of the living and the second being that of the dead" Her brown eyes widened as a thoughtful look formed on her face. Looking about the place it seemed as if they were in a classroom, a place she had felt safe a comfortable in and everything was completely white.
"Then why am I here Professor? Surely I'm….dead" Dumbledore nodded his head.
"You are correct Miss Granger however because of Bellatrix's Horcrux inhabiting your body and the sword of Gryffindor effectively destroying it your body died but your soul was transported here"
The look of confusion on her face indicated that she clearly did not understand what he was saying.
"The sword destroyed the part of Bellatrix's soul that existed inside of you and effectively killed you by stopping your heart, because a soul and body died at the same time what remained inside, your essence to be exact had no place to go. Your soul could no longer inhabit your body but it didn't belong in the world of the dead so it was transported here to exist between two worlds until you make your decision"
"My decision Sir?"
"Yes Miss Granger, you have been given a wondrous gift; the choice to either pass on into the world of the dead or to return to your body and live your life"
Falling onto her backside Hermione sat there with shock plastered across her face. To be given the choice to either die or return to the living was something she had never truly thought about but now the choice was right in front of her and she didn't know what she wanted. Dumbledore approached her and slowly bent down with his hands rested on his bent knees to look at her.
"I know you have been tried and tested Hermione. I know that you bear horrible scars from what Miss Lestrange has done to you and I would not fault you for not wishing to return to a world that has inflicted so much pain on you."
Hermione listened to his words attentively but slowly the sound of distant sobbing drew her attention. Noticing that her attention was being drawn away from his words, Dumbledore ceased to speak and listened as well to the sound of heart-wrenching sobs.
"Ms Delacour" he stated sadly, Hermione frowned sadly at the sound.
"She's crying…" whispered Hermione "I wish she wouldn't"
"And why is that Miss Granger?" asked the elderly Wizard.
"I'm not worth her tears…Do you know what will happen to her if I were to not return Professor? Would she lead a happier life if I didn't go back?"
"Why do you think Ms Delacour would be happier without you Hermione?" he asked curiously. Swallowing the tight knot in her throat tears began to gather in her eyes.
"I've put her through such misery…I've hurt her, left her on her own when I should've been the one to protect her…I don't deserve anything from her but…perhaps I can make it up to her by not going back, at least that way I can never hurt her again and she could find someone…someone else"
Standing to his full height his eyes shone with disapproval.
"There is no way of knowing what the future has in store for Ms Delacour…" Tears were now spilling down Hermione's cheeks to dampen the collar of her shirt.
"I don't know if I can…if I can go back Sir…after everything that's happened…I'm not the same person anymore, not the same person Fleur fell in love with, not the same person Harry and Ron befriended…"
Dumbledore released a sigh before pointing over to what appeared to be a window.
"Take a look through there Miss Granger before you make your decision…maybe it will give you an insight into how much you really are worth to the people who still love you even after everything that has transpired"
The brunette looked at the window before getting to her feet. As she approached it she glanced back over her shoulder to find Dumbledore gone. Suppressing the anxiety that flooded her she stepped closer to the window and peered through it.
She could see into the Great Hall, the Weasley clan were sat at in the furthest corner where Fred's body lay lifeless on one of the beds. Her heart went out to them as she saw Molly Weasley sobbing uncontrollably into Arthur's chest with George sat on the bench behind them with a lost look on his face.
Her eyes lingered on the heart wrenching scene before finally being drawn to where her body lay. The sword had been removed from her body and was now being held by Harry as he sat with his head bowed forwards on a chair next to the bed her body lay on. His shoulders were shaking as tears streamed down his face.
"I'm so sorry Hermione…I'm so sorry…" he kept repeating as he continued to try and hold back his sobs.
"There's nothing to be sorry for Harry" she whispered softly as she watched her best friend break down. Hermione felt her heart break for the poor young man, he always felt such unnecessary guilt for things he had no control over.
"Zere iz nozing you could 'ave done 'Arry" Hermione's attention fell onto the tear streaked face of Fleur Delacour and a horrible pain stabbed at her heart as she witnessed the state of her love. Tear streaked cheeks, red puffy eyes and a heart broken expression across her gorgeous face.
"It iz my fault…I 'ad so many chances to stop 'er from putting 'erself in 'arms way, so many chances to keep her safe if only I 'ad refused to let her go all zose months ago back at Shell Cottage zen zat evil woman wouldn't 'ave sunk her claws into 'Ermione…"
"No...No it wasn't your fault…" whispered Hermione in despair as she listened to Fleur.
"…I should've protected 'er…I should've kept her safe, zat night when she came to me with such 'orrible wounds I knew zat ze risk of losing 'er was great but I still let 'er walk out ze door…I'm so sorry mon amour, so so sorry"
A sob escaped from Hermione as she turned away from the scene.
"I've got to go back…they can't…they can't think that this is their fault, I won't let them live with that guilt" stated Hermione as she walked away from the window.
Dumbledore smiled as he watch the teen walk towards the centre of the room.
"As you have probably noticed your injuries have vanished Miss Granger, this will not be the case once you return to the living I'm afraid. You're body sustained a great many injuries and although the stab wound that ended your life will be altered into a non-fatal wound it will still be very painful"
Hermione nodded slowly before determination shone in her eyes.
"I understand Sir but I can't have the people I love thinking I died because of them" she stated. Dumbledore nodded.
"Do you know why you weren't put into Ravenclaw Hermione when you first entered Hogwarts despite the fact you appeared to be much better suited to that house?" asked Dumbledore as the room began to slowly fade.
"No" stated Hermione.
"It's because no matter how hard things got for you, no matter how demanding the situation was of you, you would always put you're loved ones first. Loyalty and bravery. The signs of a true Gryffindor"
A smile formed on her tear streaked face as she watched Dumbledore fade away with the rest of the room.
"Thank you Sir" she whispered as she closed her eyes.
"Help will always be given to those at Hogwarts who deserve it"
Mere moments later excruciating pain stabbed at her chest forcing her eyes to open and a cry of agony to tear itself from her lips. Clutching a hand to her blood soaked chest her chest heaved to get oxygen into her burning lungs.
"Hermione!"
"This isn't possible…the girl had no pulse…no heartbeat"
Her eyes darted to the side where they latched onto the shocked but concerned blue eyes of her love. Her body started shaking uncontrollably but she latched onto Fleur's hand who in turn tightened the grip as tears trickled down onto their knuckles.
A small, pained smile formed on Hermione's face as she gazed up at Fleur who started to cry with happiness.
"Mon amour…" whispered Fleur sweetly as she kissed the hand she clutched in her own for dear life.
Their relationship was far from perfect and it would take a lot of time and effort before Hermione could begin to recover from her ordeal and Fleur from the war. But she was willing to work for it, to go through all the pain and heartache.
Because Fleur was worth it.
And that is that ladies and gentleman. Broken Bodies and Shattered Souls is officially completed but how will Fleur and Hermione work on their relationship? Will they really be able to have a happy ever after with Bellatrix Lestrange still roaming about? I shall start on the next story as soon as possible and if you are interested to see what happens next then please stay tuned for more.