Unofficial Portkey Archive

AN: Once again, thank you for the continuous support! School's rolling around the corner and I'm scrambling to finish all my summer assignments. Grrr. Well, as a reader asked if this story was complete or not-- it is not. I'm writing it as I go and I'm rather frightful of that dreaded writer's block that always hits me now and then. I'm rather scared about this chapter. It sheds light in a lot of dusty corners and well, that's all I'll say. Enjoy :)

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and its characters belong to JKR

I stand alone in the storm
Suddenly sweet words take hold
Hurry they stay for you haven't much time
Open your eyes to the love around you
You may feel you're alone
But I'm here still with you
You can do what you dream
Just remember to listen to the rain
--Listen to the Rain, Evanesence

Run. I spun on my heels and flung my hand towards the door, grasping the knob tightly with my snow white knuckles and giving it a harsh turn. It was stuck. It was never stuck. I rattled the door a couple more times, refusing to give up, refusing to believe that I was stuck in the situation that I was in. Damn it, open! I mentally screamed and felt my shoulders sag. If only I had my wand with me. I could get myself out and away. Far away.

From Ginny Weasley.

"Hermione," she called out steadily, making me freeze in my position of utter disarray. "Don't run from me...I'm Ginny, remember me?"

My eyes darkened as I found myself turning around to face her. She had called me Hermione. It hurt to hear that name being associated to me. It felt like someone was digging a knife into my chest and turning it over and over again. Time had matured Ginny Weasley. I could feel it. Her features were the same, but different in the slightest ways. Her eyes were duller, her eyes tired, but she was still Ginny. She resembled Molly Weasley even more so, now that she was a mature and grown woman. My heart stirred but I stopped myself before I could dwell into past emotions again.

"Remember you? Of course I remember you, Ginny," I tried, I really tried to keep a steady tone. But my voice trembled like a feeble autumn leaf clinging onto dear life and I couldn't stop it. "Ginny Weasley, my best girlfriend right? Ginny, the Ginny that use to tell me about her childhood crushes? Ginny, the Ginny that abandoned me just like the rest of them," I laughed loudly but I didn't care. She had placed a silencing charm around the room anyway.

Ginny's expression did not change. Her lips were in a thin line, her blue eyes observant. She sucked in a slow breath and suddenly bowed her head.

"I'm sorry."

Sorry? I felt the urge to break something. Anything. I resorted to shaking my head and trying to see through blurred vision. Why was my vision blurry? I didn't know. I just kept on shaking my head. "That doesn't fix things," I said in a voice so alien to my own ears. "It doesn't do a damn thing!" I screamed hoarsely and slowly sank down to my knees. I ran a hand through my hair, briefly brushing my damp cheeks. Damp cheeks? I cringed. Was I crying?

"I know, I know," Ginny answered desperately, her own voice breaking. "But it's been haunting me for years, Hermione. You're not the only one lost, you're not the only one."

"I wouldn't be lost if people like you didn't exist," I spat. "Besides, I'm not lost anymore. I'm fine. Fine here," I wiped my eyes roughly and stared around my room defiantly. "This is my home now. This is my life now. Please," I muttered, "don't take this one away from me too."

Ginny made some sort of a noise, a sniffle. I glanced at her to see round droplets of tears rolling down her own pale skin. I didn't want to feel the way I did, the weakness that coursed through my veins. But it was so sudden. I thought everything would be fine. That I would be able to deal with everything now, after all it had been four years. I thought that if any one of them would appear in my life again, I could handle it. I could take them on.

But I couldn't.

It still hurt. Everything was still as fresh as morning's dew.

"Oh Hermione," she whispered and slowly approached me. Knowing it was futile to get up and attempt opening the jammed door again, I simply stayed in my position on the carpeted floor and felt Ginny crouch down beside me. "I'm not here to take anything away. I'm here to give you back everything you've lost--"

"By sending me to Azkaban?" I smirked. "Wow, how many galleons will you get for this? 1000? 2000? A million? Oh it'll be headlines by tomorrow won't it? 'Death Eater Hermione Granger caught after four year absence!' That looks like good news for the wizarding world doesn't it? Another baddy caught and thrown in with the Dementors to suck away all their happy little thoughts..."

"Hermione! Listen to me," she whispered fiercely and placed a hand on mine. I shivered at the contact, my eyes darting towards Ginny's tear-streaked face. "I know the truth Hermione. I know . I knew you got my letter but I knew you would rip it up into pieces so I left a charm on it beforehand. I was hoping you could accept my words before deciding to kick me out of your life. Please, just give me five minutes."

The sincerity in her eyes appalled me. But it could be an act. Just like before. But something in me reached out for this younger woman before me. Something in me hoped. Hoped for the slightest bit of light to shine through my dimly lighted life. I knew hope was something I shouldn't dwell on, just like trust and friendship and love. But I still felt it, and I found myself mumbling, "I've already given you more than that, haven't I?"

I heard her sigh, whether it was in relief or exasperation, but she gently squeezed my hand which I immediately pulled away. I glanced up at her blankly. "Well? You've only got five minutes."

"Can we talk somewhere else?" She looked around my crammed but tidy room and smiled softly. "I was rather surprised when I popped in and the floor wasn't littered with thick leather-bound books."

I stood up slowly and shrugged. "I'm sure you're not here for small talk."

Ginny's smile faltered as she stuffed her hands into her black robes. "Well, why don't we just apparate outside..."

"I haven't done that in years," I murmured. "I might splinch myself."

"Oh," Ginny paled slightly and her eyes watered. "It shouldn't have been like this."

"You think I don't agree?" I laughed bitterly and nodded towards the door. "Fix this first and I'll meet you outside the building. I better tell Penny that I'm going to go pick something up."

"...Penny?"

"My roommate," I answered and watched as Ginny nodded and pulled out her wand, muttering something before the door clicked open. Seconds later she had disappeared from the room with the littlest sound. I had to marvel at the fact that Ginny had become quite adequate in apparating, making my heart suddenly yearn for the world of magic all over again.

Shaking my head, I decided to get this over with before I clearly lost my mind. I quickly pinched myself before exiting my room, wincing in pain and realizing I was not back in bed and rubbing the sleep from my eyes. This was no nightmare and I wasn't going to run away. I couldn't run away. I grabbed my keys and saw that Penny was lounging on the couch flipping the channels with the ice cream carton still hugged to her chest. I smiled to myself and called out to her, "I'm just going to go out for a few minutes okay?"

"Oh, sure. Where's the owl?" She asked, looking over her shoulder.

"Oh, out the window," I lied and slipped into my shoes. Without another word I had slipped out the door and entered the elevator.

I pinched myself once more. Ouch. I was awake. I sighed and rubbed my suddenly cold hands together just as the elevator arrived at the lobby. Was this really happening? Had Ginny Weasley really popped up in my room again and told me she wanted to talk? Just talk? The thought sounded so absurd that I had to laugh. The security guard gave me one worried glance but I found my mind only focusing on one sole person. Ginny.

I didn't want to feel like I was seeing an old long lost sister again. I didn't want to feel as if I was getting a piece of my old life back again. I didn't want to feel as if I was going back to anything. But I felt something. And I didn't think I wanted to accept it.

"Hermione!"

I almost turned away from that name, but I stopped briefly in front of the lamppost and turned to my left. The dim orange light made Ginny's hair glow even more bright and fiery red. The youngest Weasley took a few steps to stand before me. She was so tall now...I looked away, not wanting to reflect on past memories. The cool night air tickled my nostrils and I sniffled a sneeze.

"I know we're wrong. We're all wrong," Ginny began and confusion immediately filled my head.

"About?" I asked softly.

"You," she replied. "You're...you're innocent."

My heart skipped a beat, maybe even more than that. Maybe I had died and gone to heaven. That was why I could hear the pleasant word innocent. How many days had I screamed to myself, to the world I had left behind, that I was innocent? How many days had I cried myself to sleep knowing very well that I was running away from something that I didn't do? For so many years, I had screamed out to the night sky that I was just one word.

Innocent.

"You're innocent," she repeated. "When I realized everything was a mess, I knew I had to fix things. I had to make things right."

"Fix things..." I echoed.

She nodded fiercely, leaning on the lamppost for support. "Everything was so wrong...everybody was so different. You were such an important part of our lives. With you missing, we were missing a part of ourselves...and so we allowed time to change and mold us into different people. I got so scared Hermione...everything and everyone that I once knew so well felt so far away," she breathed and looked at me with glassy blue eyes once more.

I bit my lip, praying that I would not break down again. I didn't understand. I didn't get it. Ginny had been along with the rest of them...the betrayers. I was confused. So confused that my head was pounding and my chest squeezing in pain.

"But then I found out that everything wasn't really that hopeless. You were innocent," she continued. "You're not a Death Eater. You didn't kill anybody. You didn't kill Remus Lupin."

I immediately went teary eyed. For so long I had waited for someone, anyone, to say those words to me. To say I didn't do it. I didn't do anything to hurt anybody. I would never hurt my loved ones.

"You're just Hermione," Ginny whispered. "It had all been a setup...Voldemort thought," she flinched slightly,"...thought Harry would definitely break down and give up when he realized his Hermione had betrayed him. He wouldn't fight anymore. He would just turn his back on the wizarding world that depended on him solely. But he didn't. Voldemort thought wrong. Harry was furious. Furious with everything and everybody, and most of all the Dark Lord. Harry didn't turn his back to the wizarding world...instead, he fought. And he won..."

"But he turned his back on me," I said hoarsely and shifted my gaze towards the sky. Not a star could be seen, washed out by city lights. But the moon was there. No lights could wash away the moon that shone so serenely up in the darkened night.

"He didn't want to," Ginny insisted. "He didn't want to."

"But he did!" I couldn't help but raise my voice. "He did and he didn't believe me. He didn't trust me well enough to know that I would never, ever, hurt anybody that was dear to me or him." My throat hurt. My eyes stung. It hurt just talking about him. Him, my once best friend and love of my life. Him; the one that turned his back on me along with everyone else.

"He was confused! He was going through so much in such a short amount of time! He was heartbroken when he heard the news that Hermione Granger killed his guardian--"

"But if he had trusted me enough, he would never have thought it was me. He would have never believed it if he trusted me enough...loved me enough."

"You can't blame him entirely..." Ginny's voice shook. "He thought he saw you. He thought he saw you kill him, Hermione. And we all did. We all saw you kill him."

"But it wasn't me."

"I know," Ginny quickly added. "I know. That's why I'm here. Right when I figured everything out...I took Pig from the Order and sent him out with a letter addressed to you. It's hard to believe but Pig's the best owl that we've got in the Order...he can track anybody down no matter where they are and what they look like. Of course, Hedwig isn't any worst but I knew Harry would notice her missing if I used her...but still, I was surprised when this," she took out the tracking device, "told me you were all the way in America. But I was determined to find you and make you understand that everything's going to be okay again."

"It's not that simple," I muttered. "You know the truth. How? When? Who else knows? Can you answer those questions for me? So what if the whole world knows that Hermione Granger is innocent? Am I suppose to just prance back into your world--"

"It's your world too," Ginny cut in.

"Your world," I muttered stubbornly and continued, "I can't Ginny. I can't just go back thinking nothing ever happened. That no one ever turned away from me, thinking that I was...evil. A bad person. A Death Eater. Even now, the thought sickens me."

"Now answer my questions," I finished, and oddly my voice did not shake, hanging onto the chill of night as the breeze picked up and whirled about our feet.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you," Ginny replied so softly I barely heard her, but she caught my cold expression and she hastily continued, "You just have to trust me Hermione. I know you're innocent. I'm not lying. I know. And...and I'm the only one that knows."

I smirked and shook my head. "That's wonderful Ginny. You just know. So you expect me to trust you when I once did? Look what happened then! And you still expect to me to go back when you're the only one out of thousands, -millions-, that want me dead?

"Yes," she said solemnly. "Please. Come back, if not for me, for Harry."

I flinched at that name. Looking away again, I bit my lip so hard that I instantly tasted the metallic liquid of blood. "How can I trust you when you're being so vague Ginny? How can I go back...for him? Him of all people? His betrayal hurt the most, you know that. I still can't erase that memory...the way he looked at me Ginny. Do you know how it feels when someone you love so dearly stares at you with such utter hatred beyond anything you've ever felt? Do you?"

"...No," she whispered, and mumbled something under her breath. But I still caught it.

"But someday, I will."

Hogwarts never looked as splendid as it did that night. The hallways were lit with rosy light radiating from burning torches, casting intricate shadows on the old, ancient walls of the castle. Students were cheerful, teachers being pleasant, and even Peeves had decided to lay back and enjoy the festivities in the third floor corridor leaving everyone fearless of being attacked by Dungbombs or anything just as unpleasant.

I was heading up the marble staircase towards Gryffindor Tower, feeling overly joyous yet melancholy all at the same time. Tonight was graduation night for the class of 1998 and I knew I would be leaving the place I had treated as home for good. A couple stopped snogging when they caught sight of their Head Girl approaching, but I didn't bother telling them to go do their business in a more private spot. I was in a far too good mood to snap at younger students.

"Hermione!" Dean Thomas greeted cheerfully before the portrait of the Fat Lady. "Shouldn't you be up in the dormitories getting yourself all ready for the big night? I hear the other girls have been up there for the whole day!"

I shook my head in disbelief, muttering the password (maestoso lights) for the Fat Lady. "Honestly, one hour is enough for me. I don't see how anybody can stand in front of the mirror that long, especially the mirrors at Hogwarts. They're not exactly the nicest things, always making snide comments about your appearance," I stepped into the portrait hole followed by Dean. "And I see you're not ready either."

"Well, I can't look too good or else I'll outshine Lav," Dean said laughingly. "I'll just go up later and throw on my dress robes."

"Alright then," I smiled. "I'll see you then."

"See ya, bet Harry can't wait to either--"

"Talking about me behind my back?"

I turned around abruptly to see the famed golden boy of Hogwarts trotting down the steps from the boy's dormitories. His face was lit with a charming smile, his green eyes glowing with happiness behind his round-framed glasses. He too wasn't dressed in his dress robes yet, but simply wearing a white button down shirt and black dress pants. "Harry," I managed to say. No matter how many times I had seen him for the past seven years, he always managed to take my breath away.

"Mione, you better hurry up. Grad is in an hour and I wouldn't want my date to be late nor showing up with a handful of textbooks in her arms," he teased, approaching to give me a peck on the cheek.

I flushed lightly and Dean made an odd sort of noise before announcing that he was going to go up and get ready as to not disturb the vibes being sent around in the common room. I was going to ask him what on earth he meant by that, but before I could Harry had swept me off my feet and was carrying me off towards the girl's dormitories. "Um Harry--"

But before I could warn him, he had already taken a few quick strides up the stairs and before we knew it, we were sprawled at the bottom of them again. I laughed whole-heartedly, seeing Harry's disheveled state but he merely made a face. "Guess being Head Boy doesn't allow you to do everything."

"You silly git," I poked him briefly on the chest before hopping to my feet. Harry remained on the floor though, much to my annoyance as I placed a hand on my hip. "Well, aren't you going to get up already?"

"Help me up?" He blinked innocently, stretching out one hand.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't contain the giggles that filled my stomach. "Oooh you're such a big baby," I muttered but when he simply gave me a huge pouting expression, I couldn't help but grasp his outstretched hand in mine. "Now up you get--"

But before I could react, I found myself falling towards him from a sudden jerk. I landed ungracefully in Harry's arms while he laughed with amusement. His breath was light and warm, tickling my senses as his scent filled my nose making me suddenly light-headed. "Potter," I tried to scold in my best McGonagall voice but I ended up breaking into another fit of giggles. "We're going to be late because of your horrid behavior."

"Well Miss Granger, care to take the responsibility of being late with me?" He spoke gently into my ear, causing myself to melt into his arms comfortably.

"Yes--no ," I quickly snapped and it took all my willpower to pull away. I briefly nuzzled the sensitive spot under his chin before pulling him up with me. "I'd love to be late with you some other time, but being Head Boy and Girl, we really should set an example--"

"Of what a completely blissful couple should do," Harry finished brightly for me and pulled me up to his chest, the smell of the Quidditch Pitch and something along the lines of pine filling my nostrils once more. His gentle fingers traced the line of my jaw, pausing feather-like on my lips only to drop away again, making me yearn for that touch again. He leaned down ever so slightly, tilting my chin upwards to catch my lips in his own...

And I knew I would be late for anything if only to have his lips on mine for just a mere second. The taste of his lips was the tang of pumpkin pie and butterbeer, with something that was just Harry and Harry alone. The feel of his hair through my fingers, the warmth from his lean body and the feeling of utter security and peace made me feel as if I was flying. Minus the feeling of complete fright of falling, because I knew he would always be there to catch me.

"Mmm, Harry?" I whispered.

He answered with a sort of incoherent mumble.

"We're really going to be late," I said more loudly this time, pulling back slightly to stare into his glazed eyes. "In fact, we are going to be late so why don't you go down ahead and I'll try to get ready as quickly as I can?"

"I could wait--"

"It's fine. If one of us is on time, that's good enough," I smiled softly and turned to head up the stairs that Lavender and Parvati were descending. They were dressed in beautiful dress robes in the shades of a deep wine red and royal blue, both girls with their hair swept up into elegant buns. "You two look wonderful."

They smiled, showing their nice white teeth. "Thanks Hermione, you better hurry yourself. You've got about half an hour," Lavender warned and her eyes darted around the common room. "Wow, it's so empty in here."

"Must've scared them off..." Harry's voice trailed off before he grinned at me. "Well, I'll go and grab my robes. I can't really do anything about my hair," he looked up incautiously and ruffled it to make it even more messy. "Ah well, I'm not about to go do what Malfoy does to his hair."

He looked absolutely adorable then, standing there fiddling with his hair. Personally, I was glad that his hair wasn't like Malfoy's and that he wasn't planning to tame it the way Malfoy did his. I liked his hair messy, and the more unruly it was the better he looked. At least, that was my opinion.

But I didn't have time to think about my boyfriend's messy hair, as I was very much unprepared for the graduation dinner and dance tonight. I bade good-bye to the three of them and hurried up towards the dorms. Being head girl, I had been entitled to a private room but Harry and I both chose to stay in Gryffindor Tower. It just wasn't the same when you were isolated by yourself in the far west wing of the castle. The constant noise and cheeriness was one of those things that made Hogwarts feel like home.

I quickly slipped on the thin, silky material of my new dress robes. I had wanted to wear the same robe I had worn to the Yule Ball since I didn't want to make such a huge fuss over a simple matter such as clothing, but the other girls in seventh year insisted that I buy something new for such a special occasion. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror and tilted my head. The light peach pink colour didn't look all that bad on me and I knew I would have to thank Ginny for spotting it for me.

The robe caught the light streaming in from the open window, the material sparkling under the sun's setting rays. I picked up my wand and waved it over my head, straightening my bushy mass of hair instantly. I looked thoughtfully at my appearance, constantly hearing Parvati's shocked voice saying, "Oh! Be adventurous and try something different !"

Nibbling the bottom of my lip thoughtfully, I waved my wand again and came up with the exact same hairdo as Lavender's. No, no, no, that wouldn't do. After ten minutes of wrist flicking, I finally stopped and stared intently at my reflection once more. This time, I had produced longer hair that reached my waist with gentle cascading curls. Anyone who saw me would know it had been wand magic, but that didn't kill the fact that it was a lovely hairstyle. I smiled with satisfaction and slipped into my matching stiletto high heels when I heard something.

It seemed to be a low murmur of some sort...but no, someone was screaming? I swiftly exited the dormitories, wand in hand and senses alert. The common room windows were still open, as no house elves had come up to tidy up yet. Something told me not to go. To just go back upstairs and just...just ignore whatever force was pulling me towards the portrait hole. But if something, or someone, was screaming, it was my duty to do something about it.

I exited Gryffindor Tower and nearly fell flat on my face. Did the castle just shake?

Footsteps. I heard footsteps. They were echoing from down the hall in quick, rhythmic beats. I hurried down the hallway towards the moving staircases to see Padma Patil of Ravenclaw and Seamus panting and looking awfully pale and shaken. Padma's once perfectly placed hair was in disarray as was Seamus in his robes. I didn't know what to ask but they answered all the questions whirring about in my head.

"Something's going on in the Great Hall," Seamus said breathlessly.

Padma nodded vehemently. "We automatically dashed out right when the screaming started...oh Hermione," she sucked in a shaky breath. "What's going on?"

I didn't know how to answer her, but I briefly gave her a pat on the shoulder before leaving them with a good-bye. Something happening in the Great Hall? That was where graduation was going to be, wasn't it? Was someone wrecking havoc? Peeves? No...it wouldn't have made everyone so panic stricken. The screaming become louder and up ahead, students in seventh year were pushing and swarming out of the double doors of the Great Hall. I hurried towards them, frustrated that I couldn't move any faster in the shoes I was wearing.

"It's her!" someone shrieked shrilly but I couldn't tell who.

I thought that the sea of moving students had stopped moving for a second, just to stare at me with wide-eyes. I saw their expression of utter horror, wide-eyed and all, before they all sped by me. I felt someone knocking into my side and I momentarily tripped onto the cold, stone floor. The confusion I was feeling was suffocating. Why was everyone so panicked? What was going on? I wanted to know.

I pulled myself up only to fall back in pain. My ankle was throbbing wildly, but I needed to get to the Great Hall. Was Harry alright? And Ron?

"....Hermione."

I looked up quickly and saw the familiar face of Neville. I sighed in relief, seeing that he was alright except for the deep cut on his forehead. "Neville! What on earth is happening? I heard the screa--"

"I...I would think you'd better get yourself out of here quick," Neville said shakily, and his eyes darted to and fro from my face to the hallway behind me. He seemed...frightened. Of...of what?

"Neville? Calm down..."

"No!" he suddenly spluttered and backed away a few steps. "I'm not trying to be mean Hermione. You've never been anything but a good friend to me but...but you've got to go."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "What are you saying?"

He nervously looked at me and then tore his eyes away again. "They're not going to let you go when they catch you. They won't. I'm sorry Hermione," and he sincerely looked so. "I can't help you anymore but to tell you to run while you can."

"Now stop talking nonsense Neville," I muttered anxiously and managed to stand back on my feet. "What's wrong? Is Harry okay? How about--"

"Hermione ! You have to go--"

"There she is!"

"Stun her!"

I looked over Neville's shoulder to see Tonks and Professor Vector brandishing their wands wildly, pointing them...at me. My eyes automatically shot towards Neville with complete frustration and confusion, but the pained look in his eyes suddenly made me turn and start running. I felt something hot yet ice cold brush against the thin material of my dress robes. It streaked red by me, and I knew it had been a stunner.

Why? What was going on?

I was approaching an exit, a nearby door that led to the lake. Then I stopped, briefly, and wondered why I was running. I didn't have to run. I had to go back and get things straight. I had to go back even if suddenly Order members and professors were trying to stun me. There had to be a misunderstanding.

I stopped abruptly and turned around, seeing Tonks and Professor Vector, now joined by Snape, running towards me. I felt like I was watching them in slow motion...it was an odd feeling, seeing your professors and someone you had trusted wave their wands crazily at you. It didn't seem like a joke. I opened my mouth to shout at them, to tell them it was me, Hermione. Hermione Granger. Why were they chasing after me as if I had done something horrid?

But when I had finally found my voice, another figure had joined them.

I saw him at a distance, slightly behind Snape's left shoulder, half his face behind Tonks now vibrant lime green hair. But I recognized him all the same. But at the same time, I didn't. The look in his eyes...I didn't recognize it all. The warmth and the love that once twinkled so lively in them were gone, replaced by a look of hate and anger that made me automatically fall back a few steps. He was pale, so pale...his scar so suddenly clear against his stark white skin...blood trickling down his pale cheek amongst blood-crusted hair...

Are you alright? I wanted to ask.

But I couldn't.

Not when the next words I heard were...

"Get her, now ."

I felt my eyes widen, my senses numbing and I had blocked out all noise except for his. I heard him repeat those words, over and over again, his lips...those lips that had once been on mine and brought me sweet heaven...I saw the stark green contrast of his robes against him.

"GET HER!"

And that was the last time I ever saw him, when I ran away that day.




AN: To clear a few things up, you may be wondering why Seamus and Padma hadn't freaked out when they saw Hermione. This is because they had run out before they had seen what others saw. As to why the Order members are at a Hogwarts grad, well, it's Harry grad isn't it? Hehe, just there for the festivities and for extra safety in case of sudden events. There are also some things which may not seem to make sense, but I won't point them out because I might just be hinting too much. Well, hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and reviews are loved =)