AN: So sorry about the wait. I appreciate all constructive reviews so thanks and cookies to all reviewers

AN2: I wasn't going to include the interlude in this story – but then I decided that I wanted to continue the story from some of the events in there so ended up adding it in any way (I know it's weird).

Chapter 34 - Picking up the Pieces

Ginny opened the door to the basement and almost skipped down the stairs. She clanked over at Voldemort, who was scowling back at her, before turning her full attention to Harry. He was finally getting some rest on the bunk inside the cell that Hermione had made for him. Curiously there was a seat and table up against the bars, but Ginny found a plate of half eaten Ginger Newts and realised the Professor McGonagall must have been in visiting.

Harry rolled over at opened his eyes at the sound of Ginny's appearance, he got up and approached the bars. Harry lifted his hand and gently touched the pads of his fingers to the wound above Ginny's eyes. Ginny smiled at him but reached up and guided the hand to her lips instead. "I'm fine Harry, I have had worse wounds from quidditch. Besides if you wipe the salve that Kreacher put on off then you get to deal with him!"

Harry withdrew his hand from Ginny's grip, conscious that the love of his life was actually kissing Voldemort's hand. Ginny reached forward and caressed his face, "You need to feel this, I know you Harry, I know that you don't want me touching this body, but you need to know that I love you and I know that this is all going to work out." She told him.

Harry looked in her eyes, a little startled to hear the words falling from her lips, Ginny's style was normally a bit more rough around the edges, He smiled.

"Well that's better," Ginny stated, though she didn't know what had caused him to smile.

"You always know just what I need Gin, I love you for that." Harry told his girlfriend quietly.

They stood there in a comfortable silence for a few minutes until Ginny tried to stifle a yawn. "I know you think yourself as some sort of wonder woman, but perhaps you should get some rest?" Harry said to her half joking.

Ginny looked at the wooden chair by the cell and pulled her wand out, she transfigured the chair into a soft comfortable armchair, before doing the same to Harry's chair. The tired wizard raised an eyebrow in Ginny's direction "McGonagall would be impressed!" he exclaimed at her wand work.

"Who do you think taught me that?" Ginny replied smugly. In actual fact while Harry, Hermione and Ron had been out on the run doing Merlin knew what, Ginny had found herself in Professor McGonagall's company quite a bit. It had been as though the two had formed some sort of invisible bond. "Speaking of, I see she was here." Ginny gestured at the Ginger Newts, which she had learned were the Deputy Headmistress's favourites.

Harry awkwardly ran his hand through his mess of hair as he sat in the armchair and Ginny did the same poking her foot through the bars and resting it against Harry's thigh as she did so. "Yeah she came to tell me that you were ok and the Hermione...how bad is she?" he asked anxious to hear a positive response.

Unbidden tears sprang to Ginny's eyes, she took a deep breath, "She is strong Harry," and this was the only answer she could give him.

Harry reached down and gently squeezed the foot resting against him, "She is the smartest and strongest person I know Gin. Without her none of us would be here, I can only imagine how abandoned she felt these past weeks. When she was at the Manor, Ron and I were lost without her, well I was anyway, I'm not sure about Ron. I honestly don't know how she does it." Harry spoke softly, he could see how tired his girlfriend was and how desperate the situation was with Hermione.

He longed to see Hermione, she was after all the first person he considered family since she looked out for him like a sister.

"Fleur got her through it," Ginny answered as she lay her head on the arm of the chair. She smiled as a sock clad foot made it's way through the bars and rested itself in her lap.

Harry looked at Ginny in surprise at the comment, "Fleur?" he asked.

Ginny giggled and began to tell Harry how Fleur had taken care of Hermione, how they both had come to realise that they had fallen in love and Hermione's promise to find Harry and bring him back to Ginny. They talked for a long time before falling asleep in the chairs, feet resting in each other's laps and content smiles on their faces.

Voldemort, still in his body bind, willed the teenage body he was wearing to roll over as he was disgusted at the sight he saw before him. 'Love' he scoffed in his own internal monologue. He had never had any use for the emotion because look how weak it made them. He never would understand why these pathetic people would subject themselves to it.

Minerva, pushed herself up from the couch and stretched her tired body before making her way up the stairs to check on Hermione. She quietly opened the door to the room and glanced over at the bed. Hermione's eyes had snapped to the door but she relaxed as she saw Minerva's comforting face. Minerva walked quietly around to Hermione's side of the bed and sat in the chair, reaching out to take Hermione's hand in her own, but as she saw the deep purple bruising on the hand she hesitated. Hermione saw the action and reached up to close the gap between the two hands.

Hermione whispered as she rested her hand in Minerva's "It doesn't hurt nearly as much as..." she paused suddenly embarrassed and not wanting to finish the sentence.

Minerva smiled down at Hermione, she sighed, "I know lass, I know." She told the young witch. "Luna is brewing potions on the kitchen that will help heal your body." Minerva quietly told Hermione, both witches being careful not to awaken Fleur.

Hermione nodded, "Please tell Harry."

Minerva held up her hand," I have spoken with Harry, he wants you to get better and that is what is important now."

Hermione scowled for a moment but gently nodded her understanding and then winced at the pain in her body as though it was proving her Professors point for her.

The wince had not gone unnoticed by Minerva, "You should sleep, it is the best way to encourage your body to heal." She told the young witch.

Hermione's eyes went wide with fear, "I can't." She whispered very quietly.

Fleur's arm protectively squeezed Hermione, as though the blonde could sense Hermione's sudden discomfort in her sleep.

Minerva smiled tenderly, "Nightmares?" she asked and sighed as Hermione confirmed, "Oh lass I am sorry."

Hermione stroked Fleur's protective arm around her, taking comfort in it's presence as she found herself unable to meet her professors eyes. Hermione was feeling a deep sense of shame as a flush spread across her features. It was as though admitting the fact that she was having nightmares made her weak. Minerva understood why the young witch felt this way; in fact she probably understood it better than Hermione did herself. She decided that she would need to have a talk with Hermione about it at a later time.

"Don't think on it Hermione, even though they are not real nightmares are still terrifying and though you may think it is illogical I can assure you it is still perfectly natural. The heart does not always follow the most logical course of action." Minerva told her.

Hermione smiled gratefully at the kind words she was hearing.

"I can however put some other fears you might have to rest," Minerva said.

Hermione noted that Fleur's breathing had changed, she knew her love was awake now and squeezed Fleur's hand as she gave the Professor her full attention.

Minerva noted that Fleur's eyes were on her as well as she continued, "Bellatrix has had the Dementors Kiss administered to her this very evening."

Hermione felt tears spring to her eyes, though she could not explain why. The young witch pressed herself against Fleur and felt Fleur hold her tight as Minerva continued to speak.

"I was there when the kiss was administered and I can confirm that it was completed correctly," Minerva took a breath as she spoke as she forced the wave of emotion in her rise at the memory of the horrific event. She cleared her throat, "I can assure you Hermione, there is no way to retrieve ones soul after the kiss is performed, myself and Kingsley have arranged for Bellatrix to be held in an area more secure than Azkaban where what is left of her will be cared for, though she will never know it. It shall be one of the roles of the unspeakable department to ensure her care and prolonged detainment." Minerva's voice softened as she held Hermione's hand, "You do not need to worry about her coming for you again, she will not. Neither through physical acts nor through occlumency. She will never harm you again Hermione."

It might have been the realization of the release of the hold that Bellatrix had held over Hermione that had caused her to cry. Perhaps it was grief over the pain that had been caused by Bellatrix, or at the loss of the live she might have lived had she never met the wretched woman. It may even have been guilt at the fact that the woman had suffered a fate worse than death because of her actions. Most likely it was a combination of all of these things. Regardless of the reasons, Hermione sobbed.

Fleur held Hermione safely in her arms as her paramour sobbed, she gazed at Minerva, hoping that she was conveying her gratitude to this remarkable woman. Minerva had seen the look she was getting from Fleur, but chose to focus on stroking Hermione soothingly on her head. Minerva did not want to maintain the morbidity that someone was grateful that she gave Bellatrix to the dementors. It had been a necessary evil but it was still a hard potion to swallow.

Minerva wondered if Narcissa would ever forgive her, but as she tenderly stroked Hermione's head and the young witch calmed and slipped into a sleep, she realised that while it would nice to be forgiven by Narcissa, it was not what was important. Keeping her cubs safe was all that was important.

"Mother?" Draco said as he entered the kitchen to find his mother sitting in the same seat she had been sitting in two hours ago. He knew that there was something deeply troubling his mother but whether it was the fact that they had deserted the Dark Lord for the side of light or something more he just didn't know.

Narcissa made no acknowledgement that she had heard her son as she continued to stare at the forgotten bottle of Firewhiskey Minerva had left on the table. The bottle label was black and Narcissa knew enough about fire whiskey to know that that fact alone meant it was a rare and exceptional blend. The only word on the label was "Regret" which held its own bitter lesson. However Narcissa knew that a near black label meant that the bottle had come from someone's personal stores, perhaps Minerva's own.

Draco sat at the table next to his mother and let his eyes follow her gaze to the bottle, he read the label and grimaced. Reaching over he picked up the bottle and hurled it into the fire place, there was a magnificent shattering sound followed by the roar of the alcohol fuelled flames. The act had succeeded in drawing Narcissa out of her haze.

"I suspect that was a very expensive bottle from Professor McGonagall's private stocks you just destroyed." She told her son as she turned to look at him.

Draco shrugged, "What is done is done," he said before adding, "Regret was consuming you, it is time to let it go and move on Mother. I do not know what it is that has you feeling like this, but I hope to Circe it was not regrets?" Draco asked.

"Aunt Bella has been given the kiss," Narcissa answered her son.

Draco considered his mothers statement as he examined her, clearly she grieved for her sister, but he suspected that there was more to it than that.

"Mother, please accept my condolences for your loss," he told his mother and then he stood to leave. Draco hesitated, his entire life he had learned to hide his true emotions, to keep his thoughts private, but things had changed and he was starting a new life now. Draco stood by his mother and awkwardly put his hand on her shoulder. Narcissa stiffened at the touch, "Mother, I know she was your sister, but she made her own choices and controlled her own destiny as do we." Draco told his mother.

Niarcissa stood and pulled Draco into her arms, "I know Draco," she said and then to his horror she began sobbing. For a moment Draco stood stiff as a board as his mother leaned on him and cried over the past and the loss of her sister, but soon he was holding her.

Narcissa stepped away and gently stroked her son's cheek, "I had feared that your father and I had led you too far down the wrong path, I will spend the rest of my life correcting that mistake." She told her son. Draco inwardly groaned but gave his mother his best smile as he led her up to the bedroom she was using so that she should rest.

"Do you know Hermione?" Narcissa asked as he was leaving. Draco froze in the doorway.

"Not well, I..." he faltered for a moment, "I did not treat her well in school, why?" Draco asked.

"I want to help her after your aunt's..." Narcissa stopped, "after everything we have done to her." She corrected her original statement.

Draco thought about this for a minute, "She likes books; it's all I really know about her mother."

Narcissa nodded at this, "Good night son," she told him.

"Goodnight Mother," Draco answered and he gently closed the door.

The next morning Ginny floated into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for herself and Harry to find Luna still brewing.

"A watched cauldron never brews Luna, when was the last time you slept?" Ginny said as she began to fix some eggs.

"Oh it's alright, I slept for a few minutes through the night. Fred and George are coming soon, to take over." Luna replied.

Ginny smiled as she glanced at Luna, "How much longer do you think?" she asked her friend.

"Not long, the shop is really starting to take off you know..." Luna replied as she made another counter clockwise three quarter stir in the cauldron.

Ginny grimaced confused, "What are you talking about?" she asked as she stirred the eggs

"Moving in with Fred and George of course," Luna answered as though that were the most logical step for the conversation. A moment later she realised that this had not been what Ginny had meant, "What were you talking about?" she asked nonchalantly as though she had not just told her friends that she was quite literally shacking up with not one but two of her brothers.

Ginny blushed at the thoughts going through her mind before pulling herself out of her imagination and back into the kitchen, "The potion, how much longer for the Skelegrow?" Ginny said her tone a little incredulous.

"Oh." Luna said, "Well the pain potions are done, there is a pepper up potion in the cupboard so we won't need that until this evening, Hermione refused the dreamless sleep potion so I will brew that tonight as well. This one," she indicated the foul looking Skelegrow, "should be done in 2 hours give or take."

Ginny's eyes were wide, Luna had thought of everything, then she scowled, "You aren't giving Hermione pepper up potion?" she asked.

"Professor McGonagall sat here half the night and was so drunk I had to ask Mr Kreacher to put her to bed, she will be feeling it this morning." Luna told Ginny.

Ginny snorted as she put the scrambled eggs onto two plates and grabbed toast as it popped out of the toaster, "Wont she need a hangover potion?" She asked her friends.

"I asked Mr Kreacher to put one by her bed," Luna answered with a smile as though Ginny was asking her perfectly routine questions.

Ginny reached into the fridge and grabbed some orange juice and stuck it under her arm before grabbing the two plates and heading for the basement, "Thanks Luna, we really appreciate you doing this," she told her friend as she used a plate of scrambled eggs to gesture in the direction of the cauldron.

"It's no trouble for friends Ginny," Luna answered with a smile.

As the door to the basement closed behind Ginny, the back door opened and the twins burst into the kitchen.

"That's what we like to see eh Fred?" George asked

"Our woman brewing up a cauldron full of potions, right George" Fred replied as he placed a kiss on Luna's cheek and George placed a kiss on the opposite.

Luna smiled as she started to sort through the supplies that her boys had brought.

Fleur woke up as Hermione was trying to quietly slip out of bed, "Mon Dieu what are you doing mon amour?" she said as Hermione sank to the floor, unable to hold up her own weight.

"I have to pee, and I want to shower." Hermione answered angrily as she tried to push herself up.

Fleur got out of bed and made her way around to Hermione, helping her to her feet, "I zink you should wait until you 'ave 'ad ze Skelegrow." Fleur said.

"Well you tell that to my bladder!" Hermione snapped.

Fleur knew that Hermione wasn't angry at her but just tired and sore and in general displeased with the situation, she helped Hermione to the bathroom to relieve herself and then helped her back to bed. Thinking that at least she could perform a cleaning spell on Hermione she grabbed her wand.

It was as though a switch had been flicked within Hermione as the sight of Fleur about to flourish the wand in her direction cast her back to the cellar where she had been mercilessly subjected to the cruciatus curse by Bellatrix. Hermione opened her mouth and screamed, pushing herself off the bed to the floor trying to get herself out of sight of the wand. Fleur inwardly cursed at the sound of Hermione's already battered body hitting the ground and ran around the bed to help her. Hermione shrank away from Fleur's outstretched hands, trying to push herself under the bed and out of reach.

"'Ermione," Fleur called out softly, "mon amour I would nevair 'urt you." She kept talking trying to get Hermione to realise where she was and that she was safe.

The bedroom door burst open and Professor McGonagall swiftly entered the room looking for intruders. Hermione froze, she was trapped, if she went one way she would be going towards whoever just entered the room, if she went the other way she would be going back towards the witch who had originally tried to cast the spell at her.

"Professor if you would lower your wand, I can assure you zer is no danger." Fleur said before turning her attention back to Hermione. "Mon amour you are safe 'ere wiz me, no 'arm will come to you."

Hermione turned towards the sound of Fleur's voice, realising that the words Fleur was saying were true, she felt a blush spread across her face. Fleur noticed the realisation and the blush and let out a breath that she had not known she was holding.

"I'm sorry." Hermione said quietly to the floor, ashamed of her behaviour and not wanting anyone to see her like this.

"Non Ma petite, it iz I who is sorry, I should 'ave warned you before waving the wand in your direction." Fleur apologised.

"Well, I shall go and get us some breakfast and check on these potions Miss Lovegood has been brewing." Minerva said excusing herself and leaving a more than capable fleur to handle the situation.

Professor McGonagall returned to the witches in the room just over a half an hour later with bacon, eggs, toast and an array of potions. "Here we are," she said as she laid the tray on the bedside cabinet and held the Skelegrow out for Hermione. "Now you will need to drink the whole glass, it does not taste good and you will need to stay in bed for at least today." Minerva told Hermione.

Hermione opened her mouth to protest but Minerva carried on talking, "No arguments Hermione, take the Skelegrow." She said and she thrust the potion into Hermione's hand and stood expectantly. Hermione drank the whole potion and found that the glass was removed from her hand and replaced with another, "this is a pain potion, it will take the edge off." Minerva said and she was all business as she waited for Hermione to drink this potion. Hermione complied without even an attempt to argue, again the glass was replaced with another, Hermione raised her eyebrow questioningly.

"It's a calming draft just to see you through the day, you won't need it as you get stronger, but you are underweight and that is one of the reasons your hands shake and you are so weak, the draft will help calm your nerves so that you can eat." Minerva explained.

Hermione opened her mouth again to argue but was cut off by Minerva, "Harry is sitting down in the basement in a cell waiting for you to go and visit him, would you really make your brother wait any longer than is necessary, because I can assure you not one person in this house will take you to see him until you are strong enough to make the stairs yourself." Minerva pursed her lips and gave her best 'do not test me on this' look.

Hermione could see no way around it and honestly did not have the energy to fight, so she drank the calming draught and found that the glass in her hand was, once again replaced. "No more potions!" she exclaimed exasperated with the whole situation.

"Very astute Miss Granger, now eat your breakfast," she indicated to the tray that had now made its way to her lap of her own accord, "and drink your pumpkin juice." Minerva indicated at the glass in her hand and smiled before leaving the room.

Fleur sat on the bed a little dumbfounded as she snagged a piece of bacon from the second plate on the tray, "You were nevair so obedient wiz me when I was taking care of you." Fleur stated as she pouted.

"Yes well you give me wiggle room, that woman is ruthless!" Hermione said but she was smiling.

It was the smile that put Fleur at ease, she took comfort in it and found it reassuring, perhaps everything would be ok afterall.