Author's Note: As a matter of fact, I'm a bit confident about this chapter. We're finally moving away from the hospital, so things should get a bit interesting. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorited, and alerted this story. You guys are awesomely fantastic! :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, but I own Healer Kerrie and a new character, Eliza Markovitch. Ooooh. Ahhhh.

Tears of a Mourning Bookworm

Chapter Five: Introduction of a Comforter

It was the last day of winter break, and despite Hermione's condition, she had been desperate to return to Hogwarts. Something about "crossing bridges".

"Hermione, you can't go back to Hogwarts now," Harry argued.

She folded her arms. "I'm of age, Harry. I can back to Hogwarts if I want to."

Harry could see the sadness behind her confident expression. They were in her hospital room, and had been debating for ten minutes. He was afraid about how the other students at Hogwarts would react to what had happened to Hermione.

"It's because Crookshanks survived, isn't it?" Harry asked, pointing to Hermione's cat. Kingsley Shacklebot had found Crookshanks under the rubble of what used to be the Granger's home just the day before.

"No," Hermione snapped. Harry wondered if Hermione had gotten good at covering her feelings by witnessing Ron and Lavender snogging several times. "But," she continued, "at least someone brilliant survived this." She gingerly pet her cat, but didn't smile.

"Hermione," Harry said gently, taking a step towards her. "You survived this. That's two brilliant someones."

Hermione looked up at him and gave him a weird look that he hadn't seen before. Maybe she was trying to smile? After all, she hadn't smiled for five days ever since Leo Cortell had forced her to review the most terrifying memory that she had ever expierenced in her entire life. "That's sweet, Harry," Hermione said.

For a moment, Harry thought that she was joking, but her expression was now serious. He felt heat rising up his neck and to his cheeks.

The door swung open, and low and behold, there was Healer Kerrie. She was holding a clipboard, and her expression displayed clear curiousity. "Miss Granger," she said, "are you returning to Hogwarts tomorrow, along with your other classmates? Or do you wish to stay here for the next week or so to recover?"

Hermione looked at Harry, then back at the Healer. "I'm returning to Hogwarts," she said defiantly.

Healer Kerrie's eyebrows raised, but she didn't comment. "In that case, you're being assigned to a Comforter. It's mandatory, whether you're of age or not, considering your condition."

"What's a Comforter?" Harry asked.

Hermione sighed. "They're people who help others who are going through 'difficult times'. Like therapists. You haven't been assigned one," she added after looking at Harry's facial expression, "because Comforters are Ministry positions. The Ministry of Magic doesn't want to hear about Voldemort."

Healer Kerrie shuddered at the mention of Voldemort. "Er...anyways," she said, shaking her head quickly. "Your Comforter should be here any min -- "

"Hello," a harsh-sounding voice echoed throughout the hospital room. A woman with short, black hair and in all deep purple robes strolled gracefully into the room, looking at everything around her with an accusatory gaze. "I'm Eliza Markovitch, the Comforter. You are Miss Granger?" She looked right at Hermione, who nervously nodded. Then Eliza glanced over at Harry. "Harry Potter. Pleasure to meet you." Something told Harry that she didn't mean it.

"Pleasure to meet you, too," Harry said awkwardly.

"I'll be at Hogwarts to meet with Miss Granger every other week day," Eliza said. She placed her hands on her hips.

Harry gulped. He didn't want this woman to help Hermione, because she probably wouldn't be able to help her. Hermione didn't seem to fond of the situation either, because she was giving him a look that screamed 'help me'.

"You should probably go now," Harry told Eliza Markovitch before he knew what he was saying.

"Excuse me?"

He clenched his hands into fists and locked his jaw for a moment in a sad attempt to keep himself from responding. "You told Hermione what you needed to tell her, so you can go now."

"Fair enough," Eliza said harshly, wrinkling her nose. And with that, she turned on her heel and stomped out of the room.

"Harry," Hermione said with a surprised tone, "what was that for?"

"Something's not right about her."

"You don't need to protect me all the time. I know that you mean well, but you're going to get in trouble -- "

"Don't waste your breath," Harry said, looking away from the hospital room door and then straight at Hermione. "You know that I'll always protect you, no matter what."

--

Harry had never seen Hermione out of her hospital bed, except for that one time when he had set her on his lap. But he didn't want to recall it, because he was rather embarassed about that action. Now, he noticed, she had trouble walking. Most of her bandages were now gone, their purpose served. Hermione was limping and if she hadn't been supported by Harry, she probably would have fallen down after taking a few steps.

"You'll need a wheelchair. I've gotten one for you," Healer Kerrie said. "And yes," she added, "even wizards have those contraptions. They're just a bit different." She took out her wand and waved it at a closet door in the corridor, and out came a wheelchair, moving towards Hermione. It parked behind her and she sat down.

"I look like an idiot," she said stiffly.

"No, you don't," Harry said in a firm tone. "People will understand why you need it."

"Now, Miss Granger," Healer Kerrie announced, "you don't need to push the wheels. I've Charmed this wheelchair to respond to your thoughts and needs, but it's not a miracle worker. Simply think about which direction you wanted to go, as if you were walking. Don't worry, dear, as long as you take your medicine as instructed, you'll only need this for a week at the most. And Kingsley Shacklebot was able to recover your Hogwarts trunk from your house. Thank goodness you used an Indestructable Charm on it."

Hermione beamed at the Healer, then at Harry. "There was loads of important stuff in there," she told him. "Even pictures of mum and dad." Her smile was now a sad one, and Harry's mind desperately searched for a subject to change to. But before he could say anything, Mrs. Weasley, Ron, and Ginny were marching down the corridor towards them.

"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed, rushing to her side. He kneeled down beside her, opposite of Harry. "You're completely mental to return to Hogwarts. But anyways, how are you? Are you better?"

Hermione nodded and smiled at him. "I really do look like an idiot, though."

"Of course not," Ginny interupted. "It's understandable."

"That's what I said," Harry agreed. Ginny smiled at him, looking almost hopeful for some reason, but he switched his attention back to Hermione and Ron.

"Hermione, dear," Mrs. Weasley said happily, motioning for Ginny to move over to that she could get closer to Hermione, "I've got everything that you need. Now if you get nervous and decide to change your mind about going back to Hogwarts while you're there, just send me a letter and I'll be there faster than a Firebolt could get to you. And if there is anything else that you need, just let me know, I'll -- "

"Mum," Ron said, "she knows. She's smart."

Mrs. Weasley smiled weakly. "Yes, yes, of course. I was just making sure. Now, then, we best be on our way, then? Harry, do you have your school trunk?"

Harry reached down and held up his trunk, as well as Hedwig's cage. "Yup."

"Right then. Well, let's go. And Hermione, are you sure -- ?"

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley."

--

"It's Hermione Granger!"

"I read about what happened to her in the Prophet. Terrible, really..."

"Why is she in a wheelchair, though?"

The whispers that Harry had dreaded surrouded him, Hermione, and the three Weasleys the moment they set foot in King's Cross.

"Ignore them," Harry whispered in Hermione's ear.

She nodded. "I already am."

"Good."

The whispers got louder and more frequent, but they continued their way straight towards the Hogwarts Express.

"I'll take that," a man, sporting the Hogwarts Express worker's uniform, pointed towards Hermione's wheelchair. "Sorry, but you can't go through the door with that, nor can you go down the corridors. It's too wide."

They decided not to bother with arguing with the man. Hermione reluctantly attempted to stand up, supported by both Harry and Ron. "You can get your wheelchair back once we've reached our destination," the man told them as Harry and Ron helped Hermione up the stairs onto the train, then down a corridor into an empty compartment.

"You guys forgot your luggage," Ginny said as she open the compartment door, pulling four trunks.

"How did you -- ?"

"Dean helped me," she said. Normally, Harry would have witnessed her giggle about mentioning her boyfriend, but she simply shrugged. Dean Thomas poked out from behind Ginny. He helped Harry and Ron store the school trunks on the shelves above them. "See you later," Ginny muttered, following Dean to another compartment.

"Do you need anything?" Harry asked as he sat down next to Hermione, who had chosen to sit right next to the window so that only one person could sit right next to her. Ron had obviously wanted to sit next to her, but he didn't say anything as he plopped down opposite of them.

"I'm fine," Hermione said weakly, staring out the window.

Harry knew better than anyone that she was lying right through her teeth.

"You're not fine," he said in a low whisper so that only she could hear.

"I am," she said at the same volume. "I knew what was going to happen when I made the decision to return to Hogwarts with you guys, and I know that it's not going to get any better. But it would have attracted more attention if I showed up later."

Harry realized that she was right. Either way, it wasn't going to be easier. And as if on cue, Draco Malfoy strolled into the compartment.

"Looks like the Mudblood survived, eh?"

Author's Note: Yes, I know, I stole the name and purpose of "Comforter" from Stephenie Meyer's The Host, but she kinda stole the word "Seeker" (not the purpose, though), so it all sort of evens out, you know? Or maybe not. Oh, about "Delusional First Years: Mission HHr", it's completed. I might add a sequel, but I have a new idea for another humor story. The title will (most likely) be: "I Accidently Kissed Harry Potter" Haha. You love it already, and you know it. So anyways, pretty please review! I reply to all reviews personally :D