"To lock up suffering is to risk it devouring you from the inside."

Frida Kahlo

Hermione sat on a white bed in the infirmary, her eyes staring at the wall in front of her. Her gaze did not waver, she had not blinked once since Remus had entered the infirmary. She hadn't even looked at him. She had been cleaned and her dirty clothes had been replaced by a white hospital gown. Minerva's face was grave, but Madam Pomfrey's was even more so, which did not bode well.

"Helena?"

Hermione did not react, she was still staring at the wall in front of her. Remus called out to her several times, walked past her, shook her, but Hermione did not blink and was still staring at the wall in front of her. She didn't seem to be aware that there were other people in the room. She seemed disconnected. Her body was present, but her mind seemed to be hundreds of thousands of miles away, and nothing seemed to connect the two.

"What's wrong with her?"

"I have no idea, Mr. Lucas. And I'm not qualified to deal with mental illness. And her physical wounds are also far too deep for me to heal properly, my diagnostic spells are not good enough. I deal with broken arms, not cases as serious as Miss Grace. I've called a mediwizard friend of mine, she's being transferred to St Mungo's later today."

"What's wrong? What on earth... And what do you mean by mental illness?"

"I'm sorry, Mr Lucas, but there's nothing more I can do."

Madam Pomfrey patted him on the shoulder and then walked out of the infirmary, leaving the Guardians with Remus and Minerva, all four of them staring at Hermione. Remus sat on the bed next to her, looking both lost and desperate. He looked like he was about to burst into tears, he didn't know what was wrong with Hermione, but it looked very bad.

"What's wrong with her?" he asked the damned couple, who certainly knew more about Hermione's condition than he did."

"It seems that her mind has given out. She was tortured for over two months Remus Lupin. We only got her back two weeks ago."

"Two weeks ago? But why only now? Why take so long to come back? Why do you want to help us now when we've been struggling for years? We're completely lost, we never asked to be Time Chosen, we never asked to save the world, damn it! Why didn't we die like everyone else? Why did Hermione have to be tortured again?"

"We rescued her from the dungeons of Malfoy Manor. She was in a terrible state. She still is, but she needed to get her strength back before she could return to the normal world. She stayed with us in the Underworld for ten months."

"Ten months? But you just said two weeks."

"Time passes differently in the Underworld, don't forget that. It changes from period to period, time is not always the same, but for us, Hermione Granger stayed with us for ten moons."

"Explain it all to me. Why am I never told anything? Why am I always left out of everything? I mean, come on, tell me what happened?"

"We don't know everything. You have to understand that we are forced to be in the Underworld. We have no choice, and only occasionally can we communicate with the outside world. We realised that Hermione Granger was in a very bad way. By the time we found her, it was too late, she was already locked in her mind. We nursed her back to health, because she was about to die. Her body was put in magical stasis, so she didn't age at all. Her body aged for a twp weeks, her cells only renewed themselves over a period of two weeks. But the ten months of magical stasis allowed her to regain her strength, she repaired her mind, she healed her internal bleeding, and most importantly she healed her magic."

"What does that mean?"

"The torture she endured for weeks had an impact on her mental health, her physical health but also on her magic. She drew on what she could to survive. She tapped into her magic. Her magic was broken, that's why we got her back"

"And locked inside her mind? What the hell does that mean?"

"You have to understand that she's in a similar state to Alice and Frank Longbottom in your reality. The only difference is that she won't react at all. It's as if she's not aware of being around people. And we don't know for sure, but we strongly suspect that she has put herself in that state."

James was still staring at the place where Remi had disappeared, not understanding how he could disappear so suddenly. There was no way to disapparate into the HQ, it was a security measure that had been in place from the beginning. He was jolted out of his thoughts when he heard a thud from outside. He motioned to Harry to be quiet and go hide. He cautiously walked out of the HQ and saw the guards shaking over his head.

"Not again, damn it!"

Two intrusions in three months was a lot for 'the most protected place in the UK', as Helena had said. He really didn't know who would land at his feet, but he certainly wasn't expecting him. He stared at the corpse in front of him for a moment, not daring to move. He finally shook himself out of his torpor and checked his pulse, but it was no use as the body was frozen. He heard footsteps coming from behind him, and saw his son, hesitating, chewing on his blanket.

'What's wrong with the man, Dad? Why does he look like Uncle Gideon?"

It was Harry's new habit to call everyone around him 'uncle' or 'auntie'. For some, like Alice, Frank, or Gideon, it was no problem, but he would always remember the look on his face when Harry first called him that.

'It's nothing Harry. Let's go to your room, shall we?"

James turned away from Fabian's corpse and stood in front of Harry to stop him looking. His son was far too young to be looking at a corpse, his life was traumatic enough, he might as well not make it worse. He grabbed him and carried him to his room, and put him to sleep with a spell before putting him to bed. He hated using magic on his son, disturbing his sleep like that, but now he had no choice.

He sent a patronus to Moody and a note to Sirius and Remus, warning them. He returned to Fabian's body and stared at it, not knowing what to do. Fortunately for him, Moody quickly arrived at the scene.

"Potter! What's happened?"

"As with Black, the magical protections shook and Fabian fell. He is cold, his heart is not beating. I haven't called Gideon yet, I didn't know how to tell him."

"Well, I will. We need to get him into a room. Ideally, we'll even have him autopsied at St Mungo's to determine the cause of death."

"Why has he turned up now? It's been over three months now."

"Does his corpse look like he's been dead for three months?"

"I don't know, I've never studied corpses."

"Well, I have. And I assure you he hasn't been dead for more than five days. Or he was preserved in a very strict manner, without decomposition."

The two men decided to take Fabian's body to a room on the third floor, Harry was asleep on the second floor and James had assured them that it was out of the question for his son to sleep next to a corpse, who knows what would happen if Harry woke up and suddenly decided to visit the rooms?

Sirius and Remus eventually arrived, while Moody informed Gideon that they had found his brother. The two marauders were worried and despite Regulus' claims, they had always hoped that Fabian had survived, but they were suddenly brought back to reality.

"What about Helena? Is there any news?"

"Not at the moment. Moody will try to convince Gideon to take Fabian to St Mungo's for an autopsy, he also has to warn Dumbledore."

It was at this point that Gideon stormed in and climbed to the third floor, only to collapse at the sight of his lifeless twin brother. Moody entered after him, but did not go up.

"Change of plan. Helena has reappeared at Hogwarts. She's on transfer to Hogwarts. Gideon agreed to have his brother examined, but he wanted to spend some time with him first. We're all leaving in ten minutes for Mongoose. A forensic scientist will be there to examine him. Black and Lupin will stay with Prewett. Potter, you're in charge of finding out what's going on with Grace and I have to go and see Albus."

"I can't leave HQ like this. Harry is asleep upstairs, he's only three, I can't leave him alone!"

"I'm not sure he's sleeping."

"Of course he is, I cast a spell on him on purpose."

Moody pointed his wand behind him and James turned to see Harry, his hair a mess, his stuffed wolf in his arms.

"Daddy, why isn't the man who looks like Uncle Gideon moving? And why is Uncle Gideon sad? And why can I hear Auntie Helena's voice in my head?"

"Harry, you should know... Wait, what? Can you hear Helena? What's she saying?"

"Is she sad? She talks funny. Kind of like you do when you talk about Mom."

"Is she crying? Is she sobbing? Does she have a strangled voice?"

"I don't know, Dad. She's just sad. I couldn't understand what she was saying, but she always says the same thing, so I understood."

"What's she saying, Harry?"

"I'm sorry, Fabian. I'm so sorry. She keeps saying that. What does that mean?"

"You asked me why Gideon was sad. It's because his brother, Fabian, has passed away. He's joined Mummy, you know?"

"He's in the clouds with Mummy?"

Moody cut the conversation short and then went to find Gideon. They had to be quick, you never knew what the Death Eaters were up to. James had protested, he didn't want to take Harry to a hospital, but he had no choice, no one could keep him, he was going to have to make do. Moody was the one who carried Fabian's body, while Sirius and Remus supported Gideon and James explained to Harry where they were going.

St Mungo's, since the Ministry had fallen, had been placed under fidelius by the Headmaster, but they had all been there at least once, so there was no problem. It had been complicated to set up the spell, it was very complicated to get in the first time, you had to pass a number of tests to make sure that a Death Eater wasn't trying to get in, the new veritaserum had been very helpful with that. There were no attacks, so the wizards could treat their patients in peace.

Harry was in James' arms, desperately looking for Remi. It was Harry who found him, moving in James' arms and pointing. James agreed to let go and the boy ran towards them.

"Uncle Remi! Why did you leave without hearing the end of my story? And who is the man next to you? And why are you so sad? Is it because Auntie Helena is sad too?"

Remi looked slightly confused by Harry's flow of words, but the couple behind him seemed amused. The closer he got, the more familiar they seemed to James. However, he couldn't see how they could possibly know them. If he had met them before, he would have remembered their spectacular and majestic appearance. He wasn't sure how, but the solution appeared to him, but it was too implausible.

"Is this... My question will certainly seem strange, even more than strange, but are you Lady Anastasia? And you, Sir Raphaël?"

The woman nodded with a small smile, and James immediately knelt down.

"Harry, on your knees!"

Harry raised his head to look at the lady, he had only been looking at the man, then when their eyes met, Harry turned and walked away screaming. James looked at his son, dumbfounded. He had just run away from one of the greatest witches of all time, screaming in fear. He pulled himself together and went after her, only to return to the Guardians, panting.

"Daddy, no!"

"I'm sorry, I don't know what got into him. What's going on, Harry?"

"She's mean" said the little boy, pointing at the Guardian.

"I'm sorry? Tell me why you're saying that."

"Auntie Helena told me. That if I found myself with a very beautiful lady, with very white skin, with black clothes and a powerful aura that I had never seen elsewhere, I should leave as soon as possible."

"And why did Helena tell you this?"

"Because she hurt Uncle Remi. She broke his neck."

"Harry, you can't survive with a broken neck."

"Um... Well, actually you can, James Potter. Helena Grace is right. But I'm not human, so I was able to prevent Remi Lucas' death.

"Do you always say the first and last name of the person you're talking to?"

"Yes, I do. And I wouldn't hurt you Harry Potter, you don't have to worry about your health."

Harry didn't seem any more reassured but didn't dare to say anything more.

"And what are you doing here, if I may ask? You should have been dead ages ago. So should your husband."

"My husband and I had a few minor setbacks in our youth. And here we are, nearly ten centuries later, saving everyone's ass."

"Don't exaggerate either. You show up after seven years."

"You're wrong. We didn't have time to finish our explanations, but we have helped you before."

"And for what?"

"Do you really think that after weeks of research you would have found the solution to the Lupryadalis miraculously? It's thanks to us that you dreamt about them, we managed to get into your mind and implant the dream."

"I would like to know something. How do you know each other?"

"We met in a rather peculiar way, but to put it simply, we work for the same person."

"We don't work for her. We are her slaves. If we could, we wouldn't be locked up in the Underworld, doing nothing, we would help you, but we have no choice. We've only helped you twice, and both times in direct defiance of His orders. Ever since we left Hogwarts, we've been getting magical shocks, reminding us that we don't belong here. I'd like to know how Helena Grace is doing before we leave, but I don't think that's going to be possible."

"Why are you so sad, Uncle Remi? I'm sure you'll be able to hear Auntie Helena soon too."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Harry hears Helena talking to him. Well, not directly to him. She hears Helena talking. According to him, she repeats that she is sorry to Fabian."

At that moment, they heard screams of rage and saw Gideon storming out of a corridor. He was walking towards Remi, looking angrier than ever.

"She killed him! She killed my brother, damn it! Don't you dare tell me I'm wrong! The Death Eaters would never have killed him by strangulation! For your fucking secret he died! For nothing, because they know!"

"What is he talking about? Does he know? And who else knows?"

"Yes he knows. Helena and I were arguing and they both heard us. And apparently Helena killed her brother to save the secret, but that seems really strange to me, she would never do that on her own."

"Are you saying that my brother begged her to kill him?"

"What does he know?"

"Everything. We had no choice."

"How could you be so oblivious? I mean... Do you realise the consequences?"

"Of course I do! It's been eating away at my life for years. Of course I realise the consequences. Damn Proserpina! Just because I'm not immortal doesn't mean I don't think! Just because I'm not Her slave doesn't mean I want to be!"

"Proserpina? Are you the weird Guardians who almost killed them?"

"And to answer your question, indeed, other people know, or at least part of the truth. Voldy and Bellatrix Lestrange."

"It's impossible... How could they have known?"

The Guardian could say no more, she felt her body gradually fade away, before disappearing completely.

"Good luck Remi Lucas, you'll need it for the next few years, we'll meet again one day, I'm sure, but not for many years I'm afraid."

Pluto faded away as well, leaving a confused Remus and the other people confused. Fortunately, they didn't have time to ask their questions, as a mediwizard arrived to tell them about Helena. He seemed surprised to see so many people, in these times of war, people were reluctant to travel, so to come to the hospital so accompanied was more than special. They had all insisted on staying, even Gideon who was still angry at the young woman, his brother's murderer.

"So here we are, Helena has a lot of bruising all over her body, both her ribs are broken, and one of them is starting to puncture her lung, she got there just in time. She has several internal bleeds, she is severely malnourished, everything good for her body is down. I don't think she will be able to recover full mobility in her arm, or even if she will be able to walk again without limping. Her condition is very critical, the next few hours will be decisive. She's drawing on her reserves, both physical and magical."

"And mentally?" sighed Remus.

"She's a unique case. Given her injuries, it's not surprising that her mind has given out. And you should know that in everything we've studied about the effects of torture, it's always the same thing. The mind cannot be repaired. Patients go mad under torture. The term is not correct, but it's so that you understand."

"And how is Helena a unique case?"

"Her mind didn't break like the others. We have forensic experts who are trained to get into the heads of patients, and they're all positive. The mind is empty. No memories come flooding in, nothing. But that's not the case with Helena. When he enters her mind, a wall stands in front of them. A material wall, I mean. Built of bricks. They can't get around it, by any means. And that's unique. We have a theory, we think she's trapped in her mind, she can't get out. She's stuck in her head in a way. That's where it differs from other patients. She doesn't react to the world around her. Where others can walk, grab things, smile, see, she can't. We can walk past her, we can walk around her. We can walk past her, make as much noise as possible, she won't move."

"And how can we get her to come out of the walls she has built for herself?"

"I haven't the slightest idea."

"Last thing. Was she raped?"

The doctor's face gave him the answer. His face was even more serious than before. How could he say that and still be tactful? It was impossible. He picked up his wand and cast a spell, and then a steady, metronome-like noise was heard. Many did not understand. But James and Remus did. They had both heard this noise during a particular time in their lives. James became nauseous at the thought, he really wanted to vomit, while tears welled up in Remus' eyes.

"It can't be. Tell me it's not true! It can't be true. No, it can't be true."

"I'm afraid it is, Mr Lucas. Helena Grace is pregnant."

And James rushed out of the room, running as fast as he could to the nearest toilet, vomiting his breakfast.