Chapter 1
Her first instinct was to run to him and gather him in her arms. But then she remembered all the pain and anger she'd suffered because of him and stubbornly stood her ground. She stood still behind her desk as the warring emotions battled within her. She felt relief that Harry was still alive, but hurt that he'd taken so long to go back to her without any type of communication while he was away. That was what hurt her most, the lack of communication and acknowledgement on his part. It was as if he left and didn't want anything to do with her or the children she carried.
She remembered when he left. She did encourage him to find out who it was that was sending him the emotions, and at first she could still feel him, but after a week all the ties were severed. She felt as if part of her had died that day and she didn't know if he was alive and well or if he'd died. She'd been like a robot after that. If it wasn't for Dumbledore and her unborn children, she didn't think she would have gotten out of the funk she was in.
Harry could feel everything and she knew that, so she let him feel all of her emotions full force. She wanted to let him go through the hell she went through. It was as if she thrived on letting him suffer the same way she suffered. That way if he said he knew how she felt, he would really know how she felt.
Harry was overwhelmed and tried hard to shut her out so that he can regain a bit of strength back. But her emotions just kept pouring into him like rain during a nasty storm.
"Hermione.." he pleaded. His green eyes filled with tears. But before she could answer, he collapsed on the floor and passed out. She did run to him then. Expertly she checked for signs of life. She felt a weak pulse and the breath she didn't she was holding rushed out of her like a gust of gale. She tried to awaken him by gently tapping his cheeks and it was then she noticed his gaunt appearance. It looked as if he hadn't eaten in months. He looked thinner compared to when he left and was definitely apparent in the sunken cheeks on his face.
She felt a surge of panic. She knew she'd let her pride and anger get the better of her and felt guilty. She didn't let him off the hook completely, but he was still her husband and she still had to take care of him. When he still didn't regain consciousness after five minutes, she was worried. She knew he usually healed himself quickly, but then remembered that he usually had a hard time healing himself when he'd been burdened with using a lot of his powers on something.
She wondered what it could have been that drained him of his powers as she levitated him on their way to the infirmary. The guilt started as soon as she saw his face without the blinding shutters that the hurt she felt kept her from seeing. She couldn't help herself the sight of Harry opened up wounds that she thought was long buried. At least she thought they were.
Madame Pomfrey gasped at the sight of the unconscious Harry headed for the infirmary. To her surprise, Hermione didn't look overjoyed. She knew well enough what Hermione went through while Harry was away and she had never been sure if Harry would find his way back home. She was glad that he did, but from the look on Hermione's face, she didn't think Hermione was.
As soon as Harry was set down on an empty bed, beds that were rarely occupied since Harry had graduated from Hogwarts, Dumbledore rushed in.
"Poppy, is he alright?"
"I can't be sure just yet Albus. Hermione just brought him in. I haven't had a chance to examine him myself yet."
"I'm sorry. Hermione, are you alright?" He'd been her confidante and her only family since Harry left. Her parents had tragically died shortly after Harry left which added to the pain she was already feeling at that time. Dumbledore had been there for her and had become her parent in a way.
He looked at her now, and he knew that she was hurting but he couldn't help being elated that his grandson was finally home. He'd been a constant worry over his well being, but he knew from their last conversation that Harry was determined to find the source of the feelings that haunted him.
He gathered Hermione in his arms to let her know that he was still there for her despite the fact that Harry was home. He knew that she still hadn't forgiven Harry for not getting back when he promised, but he also knew that she still loved him. Even through the hurt and pain that was apparent in her eyes, she still loved him. Now he hoped that Harry could find a way to win her back and he would do anything in his power without breaking her trust in him or straining the relationship they've grown accustomed to. He was certain, however, that they both loved each other and would be happier together even if one of them don't agree at that moment.
"Why do you think it had taken him so long to get back to us?" Hermione asked still trying to hold in the tears she knew would fall endlessly once she was alone.
"I don't know, my dear, but it would be best if we heard what he had to say, wouldn't it?" He saw Harry's eyes flutter open.
"Hermione?" he whispered barely audible.
Hermione turned around and stared at the emerald eyes that had haunted her day and night. She couldn't stay there any longer. She had to go away before she forgot exactly how angry she was. She ran out of the hospital wing and straight into her room.
Harry closed his eyes willing the pain in his heart to stop. He knew he needed rest to regain all his strength back. But he also wanted to talk to Hermione and Dumbledore.
Just as he was about to open his eyes again, something clicked in his head! Hermione was running and he didn't feel the other presence when she was near. Dear Merlin, he'd lost his children. A tear slowly fell from his closed eyes as he let out a scream almost equal to that of a mandrake root.
Dumbledore grabbed him and held him close hoping to calm him down. "Sshhh…" he whispered. Then he started rocking him as he would a baby. "Harry, you must calm down."
"Grandfather," he sobbed. "Hermione and my children…"
"They're all alright, Harry. You must rest. We'll talk after you've rested."
"I don't understand. Hermione looked so… thin" he said for lack of better word.
"We'll talk after you've rested," Dumbledore reassured him. His blue eyes no longer twinkled. He knew too well that his grandchildren, Harry and Hermione, will have a difficult road ahead of them.
Too weak to argue, Harry fell into deep slumber filled with disturbing dreams.
Dumbledore immediately went to seek out Hermione after he was sure that Harry was resting. He knew exactly where to find her. He'd learned more about her since she'd been living at Hogwarts and had officially become family.
"There you are."
"I'm sorry professor."
"No need to apologize, my dear. He's resting now."
"I just needed to get away." She looked at him and saw the sadness reflected in his eyes. They'd been there for a while now. They'd been there for as long as she'd been hurting. Since Harry left them both.
"I understand. There's really no need to explain."
She just stepped into his open arms and let out more tears. It was as if the flood gates had been opened and couldn't be shut off. She didn't know where all the tears were coming from, but she welcomed them hoping they would help cleanse all the sadness and hurt out of her heart.
Dumbledore just held on to her and let her cry on his robes. He felt like crying himself, but he knew that wasn't what she needed. She just needed him to be there for support the way he'd been in the past since Harry left.
"I'm sorry headmaster," she hiccupped.
"Now what did I say about calling me headmaster?" She smiled up at him knowing he wasn't acting like the headmaster to professor. He was acting as he'd always acted with her, as grandfather to granddaughter, as family.
"Sorry, grandfather."
Dumbledore smiled and his eyes twinkled a bit. "Now, that's more like it. Feeling better?"
"A bit."
"You need t talk to him, when you're ready. I have a feeling he doesn't really know how long he's been gone."
Hermione looked at Dumbledore as if he was crazy. But then she saw the seriousness of his face and knew that he wasn't. Her brows furrowed as it always had when she was thinking of something that was serious or of a problem that needed to be solved.
"I will," she finally said after a long pause.
Harry woke up a bit disoriented. He was surprised to find himself on a soft mattress indoors. After spending every night out doors and sleeping on the ground, he'd almost forgotten what it felt like to have some type of cushion enveloping his body. His first thought was that he'd died and gone to heaven. The next was that he was having a very vivid dream. He'd had a lot of those. He tried to sit up, but was still too weak or was it because there was a hand gently holding him down.
"Welcome back?" Dumbledore smiled at him.
"Grandfather?" It was as if he couldn't believe what he saw. He'd had those dreams many times too and woke up and found himself alone or surrounded with so many others that were lonely and lost just as he was.
"Yes, Harry. You're in the hospital wing at Hogwarts. Do you remember coming here?"
"I wasn't dreaming then? Hermione was actually here?"
"Yes, Harry. But she has class right now. She'll be back later to check on you."
Harry felt relieved. If she still checked on him then that must mean that she still cared for him. The initial cold shoulder he felt was probably due to his late appearance, he thought. He couldn't be that late for the babies delivery, could he?
He tried to get up again. "I need to see her."
"You need to rest still. You've been asleep for almost three days. Your body must know you need some rest."
"Three days!"
"Yes, Harry. Poppy had taken great care of you. She thought it was like old times. Hermione and I had been here as well when time allowed."
"Where is Hermione?"
"She'll be along after her last class. How are you feeling?"
"Better. Stronger. But not quite myself yet."
"You just need some rest. We'll talk after you and Hermione have had a chance to talk. I have a lot of questions, but they can wait."
"Alright. Grandfather?"
"Yes?"
"I missed you."
"I missed you too, Harry. We'll talk more later. Why don't you rest some more. I'll just go see to some issues waiting for me at my desk."
Just as Dumbledore walked through the door, Hermione was on her way in. Harry witnessed the affection that they shared and was a bit envious. They exchanged some words, but Harry could not hear. He didn't even want to turn on his empath powers for fear that he'd pass out again. He stared at Hermione as she walk towards him and tried to read her instead.
She was as beautiful as ever, he thought, but definitely thinner. He also noticed that she'd lost some sparkle from her eyes and he felt guilty for being the cause. He didn't have to turn on his powers to know, he just did.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Better, thank you. You?" He thought it was safer to talk cordially for now.
"I've been better." Her eyes began to fill.
"Hermione, what is it?"
"Oh, Harry, where were you!" Her voice sounded shaky and was a bit loud.
"I don't know exactly where I was, Hermione. All I know is that it was a very sad place full of lost souls. Hermione, did something happen to our children?"
"Do you know how long you've been away?"
"A few weeks, I think. It seemed longer, but I think I was only away for a few weeks."
"Harry, are you sure it was only weeks? Don't you feel older?"
"No, not really. I know I don't look well right now, but I've had to go without since I left." Hermione gasped at his announcement. "Don't worry, love, I've gone longer than a few weeks without food before, remember?"
"Dear Merlin Harry. Why didn't you find food?" Now she knew why he looked so thin and haggard.
"The place wasn't exactly Hogwarts. It was a place that in between life and death. It was a realm between life and death."
"What do you mean, Harry?"
"I don't know what I mean. All I know is that I've missed you and hoped everyday to find my way back to you as soon as I could."
The tear Hermione was trying hard to hold back began to fall. Listening to Harry explain where he'd been, though not completely, was slowly breaking through the wall surrounding her heart. Maybe I was a bit harsh, she thought. Maybe he has a very valid reason why he couldn't come home when he'd promised.
Harry realized she wasn't answering him back. She wasn't telling him how much she missed him. She wasn't saying anything at all.
"Is there something wrong Hermione? Did something happen while I was away? I can't turn on my empath right now so that I can somehow connect with the kids." Hermione gasped. She realized Harry had no clue he'd been gone longer than he expected.
"Harry, about the kids…."
"You still look great for being so far along in your pregnancy."
"Harry…."
"I'm sorry I've been away longer than I thought. It took me a while to find the source and I was waylaid by many lost souls. I think you'll be happy to see who the source was though."
"Will you please stop for a minute! You're talking as if everything is okay. Harry, everything is not okay."
"I said I was sorry for being gone a few weeks longer than I expected. It couldn't be helped."
"We'd better talk more later. You need your rest."
"Will you bloody tell me what the bloody hell I did wrong!"
"You want to know Harry!"
"Yes!"
"Fine! I'll tell you. You haven't been gone for a few weeks as agreed Harry, you've been bloody gone for over a year!"
With that Hermione left the hospital wing while Harry sat with his mouth open.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews. I know this chapter took a while to get out. I apologize and I hope you stay tuned for the next chapter.
-->