It had been almost two months since Hermione had woke from her coma and neither Harry nor Ron had woken up. They had been transferred into a private room big enough to hold two people, a room that at any given moment served as a memorial for the two unconscious boys.
Hermione had been run completely ragged during that time. Between working at Flourish and Blotts, and monitoring the two boy's conditions, she had no time to sleep and barely ate a thing throughout the day. It was becoming quite noticeable as she began to lose weight, and she was on the verge of resembling a skeleton with the dark circles that were permanently etched under her eyes. As she arrived at St. Mungo's to start her shift, she was greeted by Mrs. Weasley.
"Hermione dear, go home and get some sleep. This isn't healthy, and please take this with you," she said as she thrust a large container containing one of her delicious home cooked meals for her to eat.
"Mrs. Weasley, I can't just leave them here. It's my turn to sit with them and I don't care how tired I am."
"Hermione, look in a mirror. You are not healthy. You have lost too much weight, and you aren't sleeping, go home. I'll stay with them," she responded before pushing Hermione out the door of the hospital room.
After she arrived at her flat, she put down the food container and slumped down on the couch. Minutes later, she was sound asleep.
Hermione awoke the next morning to an owl pecking at the window. Hermione had no idea who would be writing to her, and shook with a slight nervousness as she untied the letter from the owl's leg.
Ms. Granger,
If you could please come and visit me
as soon as possible it would be
greatly appreciated. There are several
matters that we must discuss.
Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress
Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and Wizardry
Although Hermione was curious as to what Professor McGonagall wanted to speak to her about, she did not feel that she was ready to return to Hogwarts. It was too soon; so many of her friends had died there and so many were still recovering from their injuries. However, she knew she had to go and quickly scribbled a response.
Professor,
I am available to come speak to you
later today. I should arrive in
Hogsmeadee around 11am.
Hermione Granger.
After changing into clean robes and fixing her appearance a bit, Hermione apparated to Hogsmeade for her walk up to Hogwarts. She looked up at the castle in the distance, and the tears welled up in her eyes. There were so many memories surrounding her; spending time in Hogsmeade with Harry and Ron, the Shrieking Shack, helping Sirius' escape, and of course, the final battle. It was all too much, she couldn't go but she knew she had to. She said she would be there, and she was going to go in. She took small, tentative steps at first, eventually increasing them in size and speed. Before she knew it, she was walking up over the lawn, past Hagrid's old cabin, and through the doors leading towards the Great Hall at Hogwarts. Classes were currently taking place, so she did not have to worry about running into anyone she knew, and with quick steps, she headed straight for the Headmistress's office.
After guessing everything she could think of to move the Gargoyle guarding the entrance move away, the stairway finally appeared, not because she had gotten the password right, but because Minerva had come down to meet her. Together they went up to the office.
"Tea, Ms. Granger?"
"Yes please, Professor."
"Hermione, once a student leaves Hogwarts, they do not usually return, but Molly Weasley has informed me that you wish to complete your studies at the beginning of next year."
"That is correct Professor, but also if…" Hermione's eyes filled with tears again, and her lower lip began to quiver. "If Harry and Ron wake up, will they be able to return as well?" she managed to get out.
"Yes Ms. Granger, they too will be allowed to return, however, I suggest that you begin studying on your own now. The courses have become substantially more difficult since you left us, and I recommend you get a head start on these," she said as she handed Hermione five books that covered Defence Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Arithmancy, Charms and Transfiguration. "You may also want to begin to look inside yourself to unearth what animal lies within you, as I will be coaching a select few students to become an animagus."
Hermione nodded. "Thank you Professor," and got up to leave.
"Oh and Ms. Granger," McGonagall called after her. "They will get better, don't worry about that. They will be back with you soon, I'm sure of it."
As Hermione walked through the main doors of Hogwarts, and took a detour towards the lake. Settling into the base of a tree where she, Ron and Harry always met, she stared off into space, and soon fell asleep.
Hermione opened her eyes and she was no longer at Hogwarts. She was still asleep under the same tree, but in what appeared to be a Mediterranean Country. She was in a beautiful garden, with lush green trees, waterfalls, and fountains littering the landscape. She felt at peace in a situation she knew, under normal circumstances, would be incredibly frightening.
She got up from under the shade of the tree and began to explore the garden. It appeared to go on forever into the distance. After wandering for a few minutes she came upon three old women who beckoned her forward.
"Hermione Granger, welcome," said one.
"Who are you?" Hermione asked in a very curious manner.
"We my dear, are the Fates. The Greek Goddesses of Destiny," said another.
"Destiny… what does this have to do with me?" Hermione wondered.
"Many years ago, I spun the thread of life for a young Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. I am Clotho, whose job is to spin the thread of life for all, and I remember each one clearly," the first woman said.
"I am Lachesis and as she was spinning the thread, I allotted the length of the thread. The length determines how long a person will live," the second woman said.
"And my name is Atropos. It is my responsibility to cut the thread of life, which results in the death of the person," the third woman stated.
Hermione nodded but still did not quite understand what was taking place around her.
"Neither Harry Potter nor Ron Weasley were supposed to be injured in the second war against Voldemort, but due to circumstances that were beyond the control of even the Gods their life lines were shortened. Both are near death and although the threads of life were spun to be much longer than the years that have passed, it will not be possible for both to carry on. One will die from their injuries, and one will recover."
"Hermione, it is up to you to determine which one of them will continue on with their life, and which will have their thread of life cut short," Atropos stated.
Hermione looked at them with tears of horror in her eyes and said "No! You can't make me choose! I can't. I can't. I can't."
"You must, for if you do not make a decision soon, both will die. You will have seven days to decide."
The fates then began to fade from view.
Hermione woke up with a start.
She was back under the tree at Hogwarts, and sat stunned for a few minutes. She began to cry, and cried harder then she ever had before, tears flowing freely down her face with no end in sight. She cried for hours that day never moving from the spot under the tree.
Eventually the tears began to slow down, and Hermione wiped her face with her hands, got up and walked through the darkness back to Hogsmeade to apparate home.
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