Scars From The Past

Lisa Oceans Potter

Rating: PG13
Genres: Drama, Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 4
Published: 16/07/2003
Last Updated: 28/12/2003
Status: paused

"Give me a reason to believe that you're gone/ I see your shadow so I know they're all wrong/ Moonlight on the soft brown earth/ It leads me to where you lay/ They took you away from me but now I'm taking you home (Evanescence "Even In Death")". It has been five years since Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Draco Malfoy's lives were lost to the magical world. Now, after all that time and after Hermione Granger, Lavender Brown and Virginia Weasley had to learn how to live without their "hearts", something happens, bringing back memories that take them to a place they wished they could forget…

Chapters

1. Memories from the Past

2. When Memories Leave Their Time

3. Return Home and Old Friends

4. Author Note

1. Memories from the Past

Disclaimer: You know what? I own everything...everything! *starts
laughing like a mad-woman* No, I'm kidding. I just own Maya Miller,
Mathilde, Jessica, and the plot. I want to thank JKR (who invented
the HP characters), Jacy (who has the patience of beta-reading for
me. Thank you!), my best friend Katia (you rock!) and my "angel".
Thank you for all you support!

Summary: "Give me a reason to believe that you're gone/ I see your
shadow so I know they're all wrong/ Moonlight on the soft brown
earth/ It leads me to where you lay/ They took you away from me but
now I'm taking you home (Evanescence "Even In Death")". It has been
five years since Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Draco Malfoy's
lives were lost to the magical world. Now, after all that time and
after Hermione Granger, Lavender Brown and Virginia Weasley had to
learn how to live without their "hearts", something happens, bringing
back memories that take them to a place they wished they could
forget.

Important Note: This story was written before the release of the Book
5, so I'm just telling you that Sirius is very much alive, thanks
very much, however another life has been lost in his place (you'll
find out who in the story). Thank you for the attention.

Scars from The Past

Chapter 1: Memories from The Past

The alarm-clock was already sounding off for some minutes,
until one smooth hand appears from the covers and turns it off.
Seconds later, one large yawn can be heard and two stretched arms
appear from under the white sheets, followed by a sleepy head. One
girl, twenty-five years old, extends herself in the large bed,
preparing herself for a new day at work. Her long brown hair is
secured in a tress braid and her brown eyes are trying to adjust
themselves to the light that was coming from the semi-open window.
The girl closes her eyes and let her ears catch the sound she most
loves to hear in the morning: the sound of the waves coming and
going. That was the best sound that could come into her room when she
prepares herself to sleep, and was the sound she expects to hear
first thing in the morning. After a few minutes in bed with a smile
on her face, letting herself be enchanted by the beautiful melody
from the sea, the girl drags her legs off the mattress and gets up.
Once standing, she stretches and walks towards the mirror besides the
window. When she sees her reflection, she takes off the elastic
securing her hair and starts taking out the braid. Seconds after, a
cascade falls down her back stopping at her waist, waving with help
of the sea breeze coming in from the window, making the white
curtains sway lightly. She starts to brush her long hair until she
secures it in a pony-tail. She goes to her huge cupboard beside her
bed and opens its doors. She takes out black trousers and a white
chemise; even on a hot day, that was the kind of clothing that makes
her comfortable at work. While preparing herself to take a bath,
after putting her clothes over the bed, a knock is heard on her
door. "Can I came in?" asks a voice.
"No, you have to pay," she answers.
A muffled laugh can be heard from outside and the door opens. A girl
with red hair down to her elbows, smooth and flaming, with a jean
skirt and a white top comes in.
"You're too funny," answers the girl.
"I know." answers the friend, holding a towel. "Why did you come
here?"
"I just wanted to say I'm going to work and that Lav has already made
breakfast."
"Tell me you're kidding, Gin."
"Nope. Sorry Mio, but it's the truth," answers the red-haired
girl. "Lav made breakfast?" repeats the brown-haired girl. She
lowers her voice. "Is it edible?"
Ginny releases a laugh.
"To be honest no; I had to eat cereal. Lav said she had a nightmare
last night, and because she didn't want to fall asleep again, she
decided to cook."
Hermione lowers her head, defeated.
"Very well. Are you going to work?"
"Yes," answers Ginny "Lav just left, she said she wanted to arrive at
the hairdresser as quickly as possible."
Hermione rolls her eyes. "That means that I have to clean the
kitchen, right?"
"Yep," Ginny says, "I'm sorry, but I'm already late and my boss can
get really pissed off when there are any kind of delays."
Hermione smiles.
"You're the best journalist that can possibly exist, Ginny. I doubt
your boss will punish you for being five minutes late."
"Even so, it's better not to risk it. You don't mind, do you?"
"If I did, I wouldn't let you pass through that door," answers
Hermione, "But go; I want to take a bath before going to
work." "Thanks Mio, I will pay you back."
"The person who has to pay me back is Lavender. I don't even want to
imagine the confusion of that kitchen."
"I advise you to take a deep breath before going in. You know how Lav
is when she's cooking."
"Unfortunately," Hermione grumbles.
The two friends laugh until Ginny says goodbye and Hermione enters
the bathroom.

While the water runs down her body, Hermione can't help but
let her mind go back in time, go back to that terrible night, to the
year when everything collapsed for the three friends.
~*~
"Hey Mio, happy birthday!" exclaim Lavender and Ginny, entering
Hermione's room.
Hermione gets up from her bed and looks at the clock: it was midnight
and she just about to turn twenty (even if she had been born at four
thirty in the evening.)
"Thanks!" she answers, still a bit sleepy.
Both Lavender and Ginny sit on the bed, each one at Hermione's side,
and both give her their gifts:
"For the birthday girl," says Ginny.
Hermione gives them a small smile. "It wasn't needed," she answers,
accepting the gifts.
"Of course it wasn't, but we wanted to give them any way," answers
Lavender. "Come on, open them!"
Hermione agrees with her head but, when she's preparing to open
Lavender's gift, the phone rings and Ginny gets up.
"I'm going, but you can open the gifts if you want." Hermione nods
head but she resolves to wait for her friend. After a few seconds,
Ginny appears with the phone in her hand "It's the guys," she
says, "They want to talk to the birthday girl."
Hermione smiles and takes the phone.
"Yes?"
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" exclaim three different voices
Hermione moves the phone away. When she knows there's silence, she
puts the phone to her ear again.
"Guys, there's no need to yell!"
"We know!" exclaims a voice, one that Hermione recognizes as being
Draco Malfoy.
"BUT IT'S FUN!" yells other voice, that didn't make any doubt of
being of Ronald Weasley's
"Mione?" asks the sweetest voice, the voice Hermione most liked to
hear: Harry Potter's voice.
"Yes, Harry?"
"I just wanted to say that we're going there, now."
"Now?!" exclaims Hermione, "But Harry, it's midnight and I don't
think it's safe for you to come here."
"That's nonsense; you know that I'm dying to try my car."
"But Harry, you live miles away from here. It's dangerous!"
"Come on Mione, don't get started. We're going to spend the whole day
with you."
"But...," starts Hermione; however Harry's voice appears from the
other side of the line.
"But nothing Mione, we'll be there in an hour, ok?"
Hermione looks at her friends. They nod their heads. "Ok but be
careful, all right?"
"Promise," answers Harry's voice. "See ya later."
"See ya later," repeats Hermione and one sound is heard, signaling
that Harry had hung up.
The three friends exchange a look before jumping off of Hermione's
bed and starting to prepare themselves for the boys' arrival. They
had decided not to live with the guys because they were capable of
making them go mad. The girls had decided to live together in a
country house close to the Muggle London so that Hermione could be
close to her parents, while the boys lived in the magical world close
to the Ministry.
Two hours had passed and there was no sign of the boys. The
three girls, prepared for a fun day, were sitting on the sofa and
chairs on the living-room looking at the enormous clock on the wall
over the fireplace. One more hour passed and Lavender turned the TV
on.
"...no one understands how the accident was possible," says the
announcer on the screen, where images of a car accident start to be
shown. "Clues that could justify an accident of this type can't be
found. Many specialists, who are already in the local area, say that
the truck must have been out of control because of a dead animal
which appeared on the road." The three girls notice that the truck
was turn to the side, that car had been literally crushed to pieces
and, in that moment, the truck was being lifted. Hermione raises her
eyebrow. The car seemed oddly familiar. "It has come to my attention
that the car involved in the accident is a white sportive Honda."
Hermione looks to the screen shocked: that was the description of the
car Harry had bought. It's then that the announcer appears,
preventing the girls to get a better look at the car. "This accident
involved three deaths," the three girls exchange a scared
look, "three young adults, about twenty years of age, all of them
male." Without wanting to hear more, Ginny starts to cry, followed by
Lavender and, finally, Hermione, who couldn't believe her friends
were killed in a car accident. It didn't seem possible and, moreover,
she felt guilty for not being successful in coaxing Harry and the
others not to come out at that hour. She felt so guilty.

Two days later, on a rainy afternoon, a crowd of people could
be seen, all dressed in black, around three grave-stones where three
names were written with three different
messages:

Draco Thomas
Malfoy
02-25-1978 to 09-19-
2003 A loyal friend, who
will never leave our
lives

Ronald Arthur
Weasley
05-18-1978 to 09-19-2003
Companion and true Gryffindor, who will never leave our
hearts

Harry James
Potter
07-31-1978 to 09-19-2003 Light
of hope, loyal and true friend, who will never leave our souls

In spite of the number of people that had come together on that sad
day, the cries which affected them the most were coming from the
three girls that were in front of the three grave-stones
respectively. It is then that something happens which shocks
everyone. The girl in the middle, with long wavy brown hair, snaps
her wand and throws it over Harry Potter's grave. Her example is
followed by the other two friends and, while the girl with red hair
throws her broken wand over Draco Malfoy's grave, the one with long
dark blonde hair throws hers over Ronald Weasley's. The three friends
were thinking in the same thing - They had to get way from that place
to get away from everything they were feeling.
~*~

Hermione opens her eyes and shuts the water. She couldn't
help but let several tears fall down her face. She still felt guilty
about everything that had happened and her soul still hurt just from
thinking about the accident. Shaking her head, she comes out of the
bathroom, dresses, and prepares herself for one more day at work as a
doctor.

~**~

"There, in two or three days, you can go back to school." says
Hermione, putting a bandage on the leg of the eleven years old
boy. "Are you sure it won't take longer?" asks the boy.
"Hmm," murmurs Hermione "Trying to skip classes, eh?!"
The boy lowers his head. "No," he whispers and Hermione
smiles. "There's no need to be embarrassed," she answers.
The boy looks at her and nods his head.
"So, when can I came back, I can take the bandage off?"
"In three days, you can come back." The boy nods and gets up from the
stretcher, while Hermione sits in her chair behind her desk. She
pulls out a pad and starts writing. "Give this to your mother, she
knows what it is."
The boy nods his head.
"Thanks Dr. Granger."
"It was nothing Michael, but be careful, ok?" the boy smiles, says
goodbye and leaves the office. Hermione holds the phone to her
ear. "Mathilde, you can send the next patient in." she says and hangs
up. Seconds later the door opens and a twenty-four year old woman
with long blonde hair comes in and goes to Hermione.
"This is the card Doctor. I'll send him in."
"Thanks Mathilde." says Hermione thankfully, and the secretary gets
out of the doctor's office but, after a brief moment, she enters
again with a man. She excuses herself and closes the door.
Hermione, who had been looking at the card paying no attention to the
name there or to the man, puts the card over her desk. "Excuse me for
saying this but, why did you come here? There's nothing on your
card." She looks again at the card, "Or I'm missing something?" She
still doesn't look at her patient, who had sat down in one of the two
chairs in front of the desk:
"The Doctor is correct, as always," answers the man and Hermione
feels her heart stop beating. "Though, there's no surprise; I'm
talking to Hermione Elizabeth Granger, the most brilliant student at
Hogwarts."
Hermione raises her head slowly and gives a small scream when her
eyes stare into two green emerald eyes. Quickly, Hermione closes her
eyes. This couldn't be happening. In front of her was a memory, a
ghost that belonged to her past. The ghost of Harry Potter.

~**~

Ginny lets out a strong breath of frustration; her desk was
in a state of total confusion where papers were everywhere, and
nothing could be found where she left it. Normally she was very
organized, but this morning, something didn't let her concentrate. A
voice inside of her was saying that something was going to happen.
She just couldn't say if this something was good or bad.
"Ginny!" calls a voice. She looks up and sees Jessica, a friend of
hers, in front of her desk. "Call for you; line four."
"Thanks Jess," says Ginny, thankfully. She looks for her phone and,
when she finally finds it, presses the key number 4. "Yes?"
For a few seconds, nothing is heard until.
"Ginny?"
Ginny feels her heart stopping...that voice.
"Yes?" she repeats, with her voice trembling a little.
"Come outside," answers the voice.
"Who is it?" asks Ginny, however the only answer she receives is a
dead connection. Ginny bites her lip. That voice. for how long she
hadn't heard that voice. but that was practically impossible; he was
dead. However, in spite of the fear she was feeling, Ginny gets up
from her chair and leaves the building.
While the lift was going down, Ginny was trying to remember the voice
on the phone and, while her mind was saying it was a lie and a joke,
her heart was saying that was the truth.
When the doors are pushed open and Ginny gets out from the lift, she
feels her heart stopping.
In front of her was Draco Malfoy.
~**~

Lavender closes the cash-register to go on a lunch break
when the door opens and a man comes in.
"Good morning!" compliments the man.
Lavender closes the machine and looks at the agenda. There was
nothing to be done in that hour.
"Good morning." she compliments, looking up. "Can I help you?"
She notices the man had a round cap in his head, which was odd since
it was a very hot day:
"I believe you can," he answers and Lavender looks at the stranger's
eyes - blue-sapphire. It was those eyes. Lavender could feel herself
entering shock and the man takes the round cap off, reveling flaming
red hair in a small pony-tail. "Can you fix my hair, Lav? I've been
thinking cutting it for a long time."
Lavender couldn't feel anything besides shock. Ronald Weasley was in
front of her? Alive?
"Ron?!" she asks, with her voice trembling. "But you're dead."
"No Lavender, I'm alive and here, in front of you." If the relief
that she was feeling wasn't so big, Lavender was sure she would have
fainted right there believing she was dreaming. How? "I know what
you're thinking." continues Ron, "How can I be here, in front of you
when, supposedly, I should be dead?" Lavender nods her head,
incapable to find words "Well, if you fix my hair, I promise I'll
tell you everything."
Without knowing how, Lavender grasps the hope that was really Ronald
Arthur Weasley who was in front of her and runs to the man's
arms. "It's you? It's really you? Or this is a dream?"
"Believe it Lavender," answers Ron against the girl's hair. "this is
the most pure truth and this isn't a dream. It's reality."
~**~

Ginny could feel the strength of her legs disappear in the
very second her eyes fall onto two grey ones which belong the man in
front of her. How could he be alive when he was dead? When he was
suppose to be dead and buried with her brother and best friend? How
could he come back from the dead? How?!
"Draco?!" she asks, grabbing the door so she wouldn't fall. The man
nods his head.
"In the flesh," he answers.
"But how?! You... You died five years ago!"
The man lowers his head.
"No, I pretend to be dead - like Ron and Harry."
Ginny starts to feel her heart stop beating.
"My brother and Harry?!" she repeats Draco nods again.
"They're alive, just like me."
"How do I know you're not a fraud?" she asks, feeling a little rage
inside of her. "How do I know you're not someone who is playing with
my pain?"
"Ny!" exclaims the man and Ginny shivers -only Draco Malfoy called
her that, since the night they shared their first kiss "Remember when
I called you that for the first time?" Ginny's eyes start to fill
with tears. "Remember when we were close to the lake and I kissed
you? When we were apart, I called you by that and I promised I'd
always call you by that name."
Ginny bites her lip and one tear falls down her face. No one had
knowledge of that night. She and Draco had promised not to tell
anyone.
"It's really you?" Draco nods his head. "But how? I saw your body...I
went to your, Ron and Harry's funeral."
"I know, but that accident needed to be done." He pauses. "If you
want to walk a bit, I promise I'll explain everything."
Without knowing why, Ginny steps away from the door, comes close to
the stranger and gives him a kiss. Without delay the man puts his
hands on her waist, and Ginny understands that it's really Draco
Malfoy who's in front of her. When she pulls away, Draco cleans the
tear that had fallen from her eye and both smile. Then, Ginny grabs
Draco's hand and escorts him to around the city, anxious to know what
had happened.

~**~

Hermione opens her eyes again hoping that all this was a
dream and that Harry Potter wasn't on her office. How could he be
there when he was dead? How could he been in her office when no one
in the wizarding world knew were she was? However, her breath stays
suspended when her eyes fall over a black haired man with green-
emerald eyes and a scar with a lighting form, which is visible with
help of the small breeze that coming in from the window behind
Hermione. She opens her mouth, but closes it again. How could someone
have the courage to do something like this to her?
"What joke is this?" she asks in a whisper, but high enough for the
stranger to hear.
"What are you talking about?" he asks.
Hermione looks at him, completely angry.
"Who do you think you are?" she asks, in a higher voice. "Do you
think you can come here, and play with the others?"
The man starts to look confused.
"Hermione let me explain. I know that five years had passed,
but..." "Five years since my life transformed in a living hell!"
interrupts Hermione getting up from her chair." Five years since me
and my friends knew the real meaning of pain! How do you dare to come
here, and play with our pain?"
"Hermione, you're not letting me explain."
"I don't think you have something to explain. The only thing you want
is to ruin my life even more and make me feel even guiltier then I
already feel since five years ago. But you know what? I will not give
you that pleasure, you're very wrong if you think that
way!" "Hermione..." he starts, but a knock is heard on the door:
"Dr. Granger," says Mathilde.
"Yes?" asks Hermione, feeling relieved by Mathilde's
appearance. "Dr. Framn asks for you're presence urgently in the
surgery-room." "Thanks Mathilde, I'm going immediately." says
Hermione thankfully. When the secretary closes the door, Hermione
looks at the man. "If you excuse me, this is urgent. I believe you
don't have to come here again when, when in reality, there's nothing
wrong with you. Excuse me." With that, Hermione leaves her office,
leaving the stranger there, alone.

2. When Memories Leave Their Time

Disclaimer: In the first chapter

Authors Note: I want to say thanks to jacy, whose helping me posting this fic here and for beta-read my story. Thank you.

Important Note: A special thanks to PhoenixFirebolt, who told me about the mistake on the dates, craved in the grave-stones and the mistake on the flashback. Thank you. And, of course, thanks to everyone that review.

And I want to apologie to take so long to post this chapter, sorry for the long delay.

Chapter 2: When Memories Leave Their Time

Hermione was exhausted. The operation had been much longer then she was hoping and she wanted to return home, take a good bath, read and sleep. She closes her eyes and lets herself fall in one of the many chairs which were in the hospital hall beside the surgery- room. It was strange how destiny could be ironic. She had left her office with a madman saying he knew her and that he was Harry Potter. When she entered the surgery-room, she met a young man twenty years old who, with three other friends, had gotten into a car accident. A doe had appeared in the middle of the road some distance away from the area where Harry and the others had their deadly accident. However, destiny was better this time. All the victims were out of danger, though they would have their wounds for the rest of their lives - like she had. Hermione shakes her head. The wounds they had were totally different from hers and she was the one who would help them beat the band. Hermione leans her head against the white wall, behind her. Who would have thought that Hermione Elizabeth Granger would end up being a doctor, psychologist and surgeon? Lavender, Ginny and the guys, when they found out what she was doing, thought she was crazy and that she wouldn't bear the pressure, but she proved they were wrong. Now, she could help others when she couldn't help her friends.
She opens her eyes and looks around. «There's no point of staying here thinking about the past.», thinks Hermione, «The best I can do is return home, take a good bath and rest.». And with that, Hermione stands up and prepares to return home after a long, strange and tiring day of work.

~**~

Ginny is arriving home with Draco Malfoy, when the sound of a car makes both of them to turn around.

"It's Lavender!" she exclaims, seeing Lavender's metallic and sportive BMW "And it seems that she's with..."

"Weasley," states Draco, seeing Ginny's face full of happiness.

When Lavender parks the car in the garage, Ginny runs to it and hugs her brother, who was getting out of the car. She was so happy to feel her brother so close to her. She had missed his sense of protection, the chess games and even the discussions that both of them had. Lavender also hugs Draco; for her, it was impossible for the two boys, and Harry, to be alive, and in front of her. It seemed a dream and she knew that, if it was, she didn't want to wake up ever again. The four friends exchange briefs words before entering the house, hoping Harry would appear with Hermione so it could be possible to all be together again.

~**~

That was the thing she most liked to do; that was the thing which made her think about other things: riding her motorcycle. Hermione was riding a Yamaha pretty quickly, black and blue. Riding the bike, Hermione felt like she was a bird. The fresh sea breeze made her long brown hair fall into her face and made it look gold, due to the sunset. The melody from the waves already filled up the air and enchanted her ears.

Finally, she stops in front of the house were she lived with Lavender and Ginny; she couldn't explain it, but whenever she saw the beautiful pastel country-house with the sea's melody, she felt relaxed and calm. She knew they couldn't find a better place to live. She wouldn't have chosen any other place. Hermione parks her motorcycle between Lavender's BMW and Ginny's sportive dark red Pegaut: «It seems they're home. », thinks Hermione, while she dismounts her motorcycle, moves away from the garage before closing it and approaching the back-garden of the house. Hermione turns around the corner and smiles when a small sea breeze caresses her hair and she looks at the pure sea waves, heading against the white and soft beach sand. It was there she liked to go after a tiring day at work, and she knew that no one could break her bond with the sea.

However, when she's about to sit on the net, tied to two strong palm-trees, a window opens and Ginny appears.

"I knew I had heard you!" she exclaims, looking at her friend. "Come inside."
Hermione rolls her eyes and starts walking towards the door, when the door opens and Ginny appears with a huge smile and grabs her hand.
"What is it, Ginny?"
"C'mon!" answers the girl pushing her friend by the hand. Ginny looked like an eleven year old girl, and not a twenty-four year old one "You're going to freak."
"Ginny, can't wait? I had a long day and I just want..." Hermione stops when she enters in the living room and looks at two different men - one with red hair and other with blonde. Both get up, but Hermione steps backwards.
"Hermione?" asks Ginny, feeling her friend's hand turning cold.
Hermione closes her eyes. What the hell was happening? Was she going insane? How could they be there, in front of her, when they were dead? What was happening? Without waiting to find an answer to all those questions, Hermione releases Ginny's hand and runs away from the house. She needed to get away from there, get away from that nightmare, get out of those memories. When Ginny tries to go after
her friend, Draco grabs her arm.
"Let her go." he says

"Don't you understand?" asks Ginny, releasing herself from Draco's grip
"She feels guilty for what had happened to you; she still thinks that it's all her fault you died."
Lavender gets up from the chair and sits beside Ginny.
"She's right. Despite all the pain and the years that have past, she still blames herself for what happened. She still says she could have stopped you, that night."
Draco and Ron share a look, before focusing their attention in the two girls.
"She needs to know the truth," starts Ron, "We need your help."
Ginny sits, followed by Draco:
"I guess we have to give her, more time,” he murmurs.

Meanwhile, Hermione had decided to go to a farm that was a short distance from her house. She enters by the front-gates, says a quick "hello" to the owner, a good friend of hers, Lavender and Ginny, and runs to a stable. She whistles loudly and looks around. "Thalassa!" she yells.
In the middle of the dark, a beautiful white mare appears, with white manes, even though it had some grey locks, and dark brown eyes. The mare comes closer to Hermione, who pets her before putting on the saddle and the reins and jumping to the horseback. When she sits, Hermione grabs the reins and gives a signal with it; at the same time she touches the mare with her heels.
After a few minutes, salty drops sprinkle Hermione and refresh Thalassa while she rides between the sea waves. The night was full of stars and, due to the beautiful and shiny Full Moon, the tide was full but calm. When a small wave hits Thalassa's hooves, Hermione pulls the reins and the beautiful mare stops immediately. Hermione looks at the sky at the same time that a strong sea breeze appears and makes her hair curl with a mysterious shine. It's then that the sound of hooves makes her lower her head and turn around. In the middle of the moonlight, a brown dark horse with black manes appears, with a man on its back. Hermione stares at the man's eyes and, despite the darkness, Hermione can see that they are bright green. She realizes that it is the same man that had appeared in her office: «What does he want now? Honestly. ». She prepares herself to tell Thalassa to start walking, but the man's voice makes her stop.
"Are you going to run again?" She feels herself trembling listening to that voice, but she breathes deeply and looks at him.
"What do you want?" she asks, really annoyed. "Wasn't it enough to come to my office and drive me mad? Are you trying the same thing now?"
"Relax!" exclaims the man raising his hands, but making a signal with his heels for his horse walk.
"Don't you dare move another step!" exclaims Hermione. "I don't know what you're trying to do, and I don't know where you see the fun in this, but I don't!" The man looks at her, but makes the same signal to his horse. "I said," continues Hermione, "to not come any closer!"
"Hermione, I know that five years is a long time, and that this seems to be impossible but I swear to you that what's in front of you, isn't a ghost. It's me."
"Harry James Potter died five years ago,” answers Hermione. "He died in a car accident that I could have detained. Do you understand now why I don't see the fun in all this? Because I know they're dead! I saw their bodies!"
"Hermione, I swear to you that it's me and that I'm here, that this isn't a joke. Just like it was Ron and Draco you saw at your house."
"Liar!" yells Hermione, "I saw them dead and I learned to live with the guilt!"
"Hermione, if you let me explain, I promise I'll take away all your doubts but, please, give me a chance!" implores the man. "Don't you even think that now that I found you, I'm going to let you go and disappear for another five years."
"I didn't disappear for five years!" answers Hermione. "And how do I know you're not someone who studied my past, and now wants to have some fun with me and my friends?" She was feeling herself get out of control, and she knew that wasn't something good.
"Hermione, you have every right to doubt me," answers the man, "But let me talk to you and I'll explain everything that happened."
"You're dead!" she exclaims, at last. She didn't care about how insane that sounded, but the truth was that the only thing she knew - it was impossible for Harry Potter to be in front of her:
"If I was dead, would I be here, talking to you?"
"Please," starts Hermione, as tears appear in her eyes, "go away."
"Hermione, I can't do that." he says, approaching a little closer.
Hermione closes her eyes and turns her head towards the sea. She knew it didn't matter how many times she asked him to leave - he would keep trying to talk to her, "Not now, that I found you again."
Hermione breathes deeply and looks at the man again and it's then she notices how close both animals are.
"Continue." she whispers, even though she just wants to get away from there and from that man forever.
"I know I've been 'dead' since five years ago." Hermione lowers her head. She was sick of having to deal with the feeling of guilt, and the man seems to notice that. "Hermione, don't be afraid...it's really me. I came back so we could talk face-to-face, and I promise that I'm going to explain everything." His voice was the same as Hermione remembered - the many times at Hogwarts when Harry and Ron had something important to tell her and they needed her help, they would make their voices sound as desperate as they could until she agreed to help them.
"Prove to me that you're the real Harry Potter,” she says suddenly.
She needs proof that he really was Harry James Potter. The man leads his hand towards his head, but stops.
"I know that my scar isn't going to prove anything to you, so," he looks into Hermione's eyes, "I have a better example." Hermione bites her lip waiting for him to continue. The man pauses without taking his eyes of Hermione's, until he proceeds. "In our Seventh Year before Ron, Draco and I went after the Death Eaters that attacked Hogwarts on Christmas night, I went to the Hospital Wing, where you, Lavender and Ginny were recovering from the attack. Out of all of us, you were the one who had been hurt the worst and I remember sitting down beside your bed, and look at you sleeping peacefully. I remember how in that moment, I thought that it was all my fault, and that if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be on that bed. That if I wasn't so selfish neither you, nor the others, would be in such conditions. I remember perfectly the feeling of guilt I felt that night for putting all of you in that position, you especially." He paused quickly. "It was then that my feelings spoke up and I kissed you, on the lips. You told me you had been asleep when I asked if you remembered anything about that night. But I know you were awake that night, Hermione Elizabeth Granger because, when I kissed you, you kissed me back."
Hermione doesn't know what to say after the man had finished. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. No one knew what happened that night, not even Ron, Ginny or Lavender. Hermione had kept that secret deep inside her heart; she had never discussed it with anyone, and had never told Harry that she had heard him talking that night.
She swallows hard, despite not liking the way everything was happening; everything was looking impossible but, at the same time...
"Ok." she starts, after a long silence, "Speak."
The man nods his head and gets off of the horse, followed by Hermione. Both of them sit on the sand with a certain distance between them and he starts:
"Like I said, I haven't been dead all these years and..."
"And can I ask how that is possible?" interrupts Hermione.
"Simple," answers the man, "neither Ron, Draco nor I died in that accident."
"But they found your bodies, Harry!" She opens her mouth - she had just called him Harry. «It was all that I needed. » thinks Hermione, getting angry with herself «Now he'll believe he's succeeding in confusing me and he really must be enjoying my pain». "The night of the accident, they found your body and the others, in the middle of the ruins and, according to the doctors, you were already dead when they put you on the ambulance." She was trying to sound as cold as possible, but she felt like she would start crying any moment for being forced to remember everything one more time. The man nods and
turns his attention to the sea.
"There's just one way of putting this in words: that was a trap...ambush, if you want this in other terms."
Hermione raises her eyebrow.
"Pardon?" She asks, confused. «An ambush? What has he been thinking?»
"It was an ambush." he repeats. "It was the Ministry's idea of killing me, Ron and Draco in the Muggle world. The Ministry helped us try to make everything perfect so it could seem like a real and deadly accident, but everything was being done with magical protection. I swear I tried to warn you before we got away from home, but they didn't let me. The men from the Ministry wanted everything to seem real and that's why that neither you, Ginny nor Lavender had been warned. Before I left home I tried to call you, but we needed to be quick so nothing could go wrong. We all knew that you would see the accident on the news, before we could say anything to you. Then you all disappeared from the wizard world, and no one was able to find you since then."
He had sadness in his beautiful emerald green eyes, but that doesn't make it impossible for Hermione to feel angry:
"And you want to know why, Harry?" she asks, sarcastically. «Good one, keep calling him Harry, he must be at the point of laughing at your face. » He looks at her.
"As matter of fact, I do." he answers.
"So you want me to tell you?" asks Hermione, without caring that she was now completely mad. "It's simple, really. My best friends just died in a terrible car accident, just like another close friend of mine, for the simple reason that they wanted to spend the day with me, Harry, with me!" she points at herself. "Can you imagine the pain and guilt that has been inside of me since then? No, of course not! You were too busy celebrating your great success while I was dying inside because I was a totally idiot, just like my best friends were entering in a cliff of grief without bottom!" She breathes deeply and closes her eyes. It's then that she feels something touching her arm. She stops the tears from falling and looks at the eyes in front of her. They were so real...The same since as the last time she had seen them...
"Hermione, I'm sorry. If I had known that you would end up feeling like this, I would never have done what I did. I know it was very selfish of me to make you go through something like that, just like Lav and Gin.... I would have made it another time, other way..."
"Now it's too late," she interrupts in a whisper.
"Hermione, I'm sorry." he murmurs, giving her a hug and the girl starts crying on his arms. «No! », exclaims Hermione in her mind, «He's comforting you in the same way, just like he used to do five years ago, but that doesn't mean anything...it doesn't prove anything.» She can feel his hands on her back, comforting her in the same way he had five years ago and she couldn't deny that it really seemed to be the same Harry who was there, hugging her. 'He already gave so many proofs. Why don't you believe him?' When the tears stop falling, Hermione steps away from the man and looks into his eyes.
"I just have one more question," she murmurs.
"Yes?" he asks in a soft and relaxing voice.
"Why, on my birthday?"
The man shakes his head.
"Like I said, the Ministry wanted to make everything real and, your birthday seemed to made sense. I really don't know how to explain; maybe they used your birthday as an excuse for not having time any
other day."
Hermione raises her eyebrow.
"No time for the famous Harry Potter?"
Harry shrugs.
"I couldn't change the day if I wanted their help. But I swear I would have changed the day if I knew what was going to happen."
He seemed sincere and Hermione sees the sincerity in his eyes. For her, they had always been like mirrors or crystals. They had always showed her everything he was thinking or feeling and that was what made it difficult for him to lie. And those eyes were his eyes.

Hermione can't believe she was looking at Harry again, despite everything that happened. She focuses and notices that she can see what's going on in his mind. She could see he was really sorry for what he had done, not just to her but to everyone that he knew he had hurt. She could also see that he was telling the truth when he talked about the guilt he felt, and Hermione couldn't help but think that it was right for him to suffer a little. «What are you thinking, Hermione Granger? He already suffered enough, how can you ask for him to suffer more? » There was something more that made her look at his eyes with more attention. She could see something different in his eyes, something she had never seen before. Biting her lip, she moves her face more towards his. This was crazy and she knew it. «What the hell are you doing, Hermione Elizabeth Granger? Are you going to kiss him? A man that has been dead for five years? No, that's not right!».
She could felt his warm breath on her cheeks. It's then that she understands that, deep inside her soul, she did want to kiss him, however.
"Beautiful mare you got there!" exclaims Harry, turning his attention to both horses in front of them. Hermione lowers her head. She was crazy, there wasn't another explanation. How could she want to kiss her best friend - her best friend, who had been dead for five years?
"I think the same." she answers, looking at her mare. "Thalassa."
Harry raises his eyebrow.
"Thalassa?!" he repeats.
Hermione blushes.
"I know it sounds stupid, but I like the name."
Harry gives her a small smile.
"It's different."
"What about yours?" asks Hermione.
"Pilgrim."
"Pilgrim?!" asks Hermione, without knowing if she should laugh or think he was playing with her.
"Don't you like it?"
Hermione rolls her eyes.
"Maybe." she answers, and then she gets up. She looks at Harry and extends her hand. "Lets go, the others must be really worried." Harry nods and, with Hermione's help, he gets up and both of them prepare themselves to go back home.

3. Return Home and Old Friends

Disclaimer: Same as the one in the first chapter, but I want to say thanks to E.C.R. Potter, who gave me the main idea of this chapter with his story "Return of the Lion" - you'll see what idea I'm referring to if you continue reading -. You're a great writer and I think you will surprise us with the next stories you'll be writing. But for now, I just want to say thanks for your permission and say that I'm anxious to read the rest of "Different Paths" and "Over the Rainbow".

Important note: I'm really, really sorry for this delay. Usually, I don't take almost three months to post a chapter but...er...lets just say, I didn't had time to come here. Hope you all forgive me. Please?

I dedicate this chapter to E.C.R. Potter, moglie and all my reviewers.

Chapter 3: Return Home and Old Friends

"Say that again," says Ginny, just after Ron had finished the same story Harry told Hermione.
"We're asking you to come with us to the wizarding world. Voldemort is getting stronger, our group is getting smaller and Dumbledore is too weak to go to the battle," answers Draco.
"And you want us to leave everything behind and help you, with what purpose?" asks Lavender and Ron looks at her:
"Despite that you have a hair salon, that Ginny works on a newspaper and that Hermione works as a doctor, you're very powerful and you'll be able to help us, in many ways."
Hermione lowers her head and Harry continues:
"We know we haven't seen each other for five years, and now that we appear, it's to ask for your help, but we need you. The wizarding world needs you."
Ginny bites her lip before looking to the three boys and taking a deep breath.
"I'm coming with you," she says.
Lavender and Hermione look at her and Draco smiles:
"I knew I could count on you, Ny!"
Lavender looks at Ron.
"Do I even have to answer?" Ron smiles and shakes his head.
Hermione looks at her five friends, before lowering her head:
"Don't count me," and with that, she leaves the livingroom.
Lavender and Ginny get up and follow their friend who climbed the stairs and locked herself in her room.
"Hermione, what's going on?" asks Lavender, through the door.
"Simple, I'm not going!" exclaims the girl's voice. "You two can do the job!"
"Hermione don't be an idiot!" exclaims Ginny, "We need you!"
"Ginny's right Hermione, we need you!"
Lavender and Ginny turn around and see the three boys. Ron puts a finger to his lips and makes a gesture with his head towards Harry.
"Let's leave them alone," he whispers and the four friends return to the other floor, while Harry stands outside of Hermione's room:
"Harry, I'm not going!"
"Hermione, open this door so we can talk!" he exclaims.
Harry waits a few seconds until a click is heard and Hermione opens the door.
"I said I'm not going, Harry!" she says.
"Mione, please!" begs Harry and Hermione lets him enter before closing the door behind her. Harry sits on the edge of the bed while Hermione stays standing, looking at him with her arms crossed:
"I'm not going to repeat myself," she says and Harry looks at her.
"Mione you know you're essential, you have knowledge that..."
"Ah!" she interrupts. "So nothing of this has to do with my return, it was to be with my intelligence! Well, for your information Harry James Potter, I'm not going back! I have my life and my job here, and I can't turn my back on those who need me just because my intelligence is needed in other place!"
"The wizarding world is your home," answers Harry.
"You're dead wrong. This world had always been mine, or did you forget that I'm Muggle-born?"
"Hermione we're not asking for you to go back because of your intelligence; we're asking you to come back because we need you."
"Say that to my patients, Harry," answers Hermione. "Do you know what I did in the hospital today? I had to operate on a boy who, with three others, had an accident that gave him wounds that will last for the rest of his life, and you know what? They're going to need my help, not because of my intelligence, but because of my job. Because, besides being a doctor, I'm also a psychologist and a surgeon!" Hermione didn't care if she was raising her voice. She approaches Harry, and puts a finger on his chest. "Well, I want it to be clear as water that I'm not going to leave my patients just because it hit you on the head to come and call me back to a world that belongs to my past just because you need my intelligence. There're lots of people that are as clever as I am who can be useful. Now, if you don't mind, I think everything is clear!"
Harry lowers his head and gets up from the bed:
"Unfortunately, yes," he answers. "I'm just sad that your decision is what it is." He looks at his friend. "Goodbye Hermione," he says and with that, he leaves the room.
Hermione stays looking at the door of her room, long after it had been closed. She has just found out her best friends were alive, and she had say goodbye again. Hermione grabs a picture of her and her friends, taken when they were twenty, and throws it against the wall, before sitting on the ground and start to cry.

~*~

The days passed between a lonely house and a hospital full of work. Lavender and Ginny already said goodbye to Hermione, and return to Hogwarts by the floo powder that Ron had given to them. Hermione couldn't deny that everything seemed different without her friends, but she couldn't be sorry about her decision. All of her patients were so kind and all of them liked her, which was a relief to Hermione. She was always prepared to go to work, until one night, when the impossible seemed happened...

The phone rings loudly and Hermione sits on her bed, with a jump and picks up the phone:
"Yes?"
"Hermione, listen to me carefully and don't speak. The hospital is being attacked. There's a group of men with masks and sticks destroying everything and they're killing people, patients included. The police think we're making this up, and the men said they aren't going to stop until they find someone. I'm just calling you to warn you no to come and that..."
Suddenly everything goes silent and Hermione looks at the phone.
"Maya!" she calls, "Maya, what's going on?" Hermione bites her lip and jumps from the bed, starting to dress herself quickly while her friend's voice appears in her head. 'They're a group of men with masks and sticks, destroying everything and they're killing people, patients included.'; 'The men said they aren't going to stop until they find someone.' Hermione puts her belt around her waist and looks to the mirror. "Death Eater," she says and with that, she runs out to her motorcycle and goes towards the hospital as quickly as she could.

~*~

Hermione gets to the hospital in less then a half hour, and she can't help but put her hand over her mouth when she sees it - above the hospital, in the sky, was something she never thought she'd see after leaving the wizarding world: the dark mark. Her eyes fall over the eerily quiet building. 'Or they put the Silentus charm over the building or they killed everyone! '. Just the word "kill" was enough for Hermione tremble. 'Ok, this isn't the time for being scared! '. Slowly, Hermione approaches the building and gets in by one of the windows, in one of the waiting-rooms that is always open. When she's inside the building, Hermione sees a group of adults and children who were tied and gagged in a corner. She puts a finger to her lips and approaches them, before taking a gag of one of the adult's mouths.
"They appeared out of nowhere, and started shouting at everyone," starts the man, before Hermione even ask any questions. "They said they would kill us if we made any noise."
Hermione bites her lip:
"You can get away by the window without making noise," she murmurs, "But you stay in charge to put everyone together. The police must be arriving soon. Can I trust you?" The man nods his head and Hermione starts taking off the ropes. "Now set the others free, and get out of here without making noise."
The man nods his head again.

"I heard one of the men saying they were going to the third floor."
"Thanks," answers Hermione, while getting out of the room.

~

Hermione walks in the halls until she comes to the cardiology floor and stops her tracks. In front of her were bodies of people she knew and including Maya. Hermione runs towards her:
"Maya, c'mon, wake up! It's too soon for you to go, c'mon!" She starts shaking her friends. Nothing mattered, not even the hospital being attacked by a group of Death Eaters - Hermione wouldn't let her friend go that way.
Suddenly, she feels something being pressed against her neck.
"Hermione Granger, I presume?"
Hermione turns around and sees a masked man besides her.
"Yes?" she asks
"Finally, I found you," he answers. "Get up."
Hermione puts Maya's body on the floor:
"As you wish," she says, but instead of getting up, Hermione puts her both hands on the floor, trips the man with her legs, and he falls to the ground at the same time that Hermione grabs his wand. 'Let's see if I can do it! ' "Stupefy!" The man faints when the spell hits him and Hermione can't help smile. "Well, good to know I'm not rusty." She sits on the floor beside her friend and points the wand towards her. "Enervate! C'mon May, don't give up now!" Hermione takes a deep breath. "Batuscoros!" A red light hits Maya's chest, but Hermione knows she was only going to answer to the spell if she was alive. It is then that Maya opens her eyes.
"Mi!" she asks, looking at her friend "What the hell are you doing here?"
Hermione stops her friend from getting up:
"Listen Maya and don't make any questions. There's just one way to stop these men, but I'm not going to tell you," she adds, seeing Maya opening her mouth. "I just ask you to trust me, and for you to look for my patients."
"What are you saying?" asks Maya. "What are you going to do?"
Hermione gets up:
"Call the police; tell them it's a matter of life and death."
With that, she starts running down the hall. Maya sees her friend disappear, before going to call the police.

~

Hermione starts walking through the hospital, sometimes passing Death Eaters who never knew what hit them. But, as life had taught her, nothing was perfect. Hermione arrives at the division where the babies were, putting a spell around it so they could be protected. She doesn't notice a man approaching her until he presses a wand against her back.
"Don't turn around," he says and Hermione lowers her wand. "You have been very difficult to catch, you know?" Hermione has the feeling that she knew that voice but, from where? "My Lord is going to be so happy when he founds out that I finally found you." Hermione turns around to punch the man's face, but he grabs her wrist. "Slow down Miss Granger, we don't want anything to happen to you before you could see the Lord, do we?"
It's then that Hermione remembers those cold grey eyes in front of her:
"Malfoy!" she hisses.
"I'm happy to see that you haven't forgotten me," answers Lucius. "Well, shall we go now?"
"I'd rather die then go with you anywhere."
"Trying to be brave, are you?" he asks, pointing his wand towards the babies. "Now, which one is going to be the first victim?"
Hermione's face turns white:
"Don't do anything to them, they're just babies!"
"Oh, how touching...what a heart of honey," answers Lucius.
"I'll go with you," says Hermione, "Just don't hurt them."
Despite the mask that he had, Hermione was sure Malfoy was smiling.
"Goo..." but Lucius don't finish the phrase because he falls to the ground, knocked out. Hermione looks behind her and opens her eyes wide when she sees Harry in front of her:
"Hermione?!" he asks. "What in the world are you doing here?"
"That's a stupid question Harry, since I work here." Hermione passes around Lucius. "Can you tell me what you're doing here?"
"I'm an Auror, Hermione, just like Draco and Ron."
"Ah!" exclaims Hermione. "Well, if you don't mind, I have people that need me."
Harry grabs her wrist:
"Hermione, please, come back."
Hermione's eyes lock with Harry's:
"You don't need me," she murmurs.
"On the contrary," answers Harry, "You're very important."
"No Harry," answers Hermione, in the same lowered voice. "What you need is my intelligence."
Hermione gets free of Harry's grip but when she's about to pass beside him, Harry's voice makes her stop.
"I need you, Hermione."
Hermione looks at him.
"And I needed you Harry, for five years."
With that, she gets away, leaving Harry alone with an unconscious Lucius Malfoy.

~*~

"She's being stubborn!" exclaims Ron, just after Harry finishes telling them about what happened with Hermione.
"No, she's scared," answers Ginny.
"Scared of what?" asks Draco.
Lavender looks at him:
"Give her a break," she starts, "Hermione has gone through more then you think."
"She was the one who tried to be stronger because she saw us falling in a cliff," continues Ginny. "She was always there taking care of us or taking care of her patients and I've never, ever, see her cry after your supposed funeral."
"She has always been the stronger of us three," finishes Lavender. "I think she's scared that this is all part of her imagination."
"That attack wasn't her imagination!" exclaims Ron.
"There's something more that you're hiding from us, isn't there?" asks Ginny and everyone looks at her. "And there's no way to hide that; I know my brother better than he thinks and that look of 'we better keep Hermione within our reach or else...' doesn't sit right with me."
Draco looks at Ron who just raises his eyebrow. Harry breathes deeply and looks at the two girls:
"Ok, in spite of everything, if you're going to help us, you need to know the whole story." Ron and Draco look at him, but Harry continues. "There are many people that are working as spies for Voldemort, and it's come to our attention that he needs someone to continue his lineage."
"And what does that have to do with Hermione?" interrupts Lavender.
"As you know, Voldemort's mother was pure-blood while his father was a Muggle," starts Draco, "The same as with Harry - his father was pure-blood, while his mother was Muggle-born. For some unknown reason, a child conceived between a pure-blood and a Muggle is more powerful then a child conceived between two pure-bloods. And, even though many pure-bloods try to ignore that fact, the truth is that the most powerful wizards in the wizard world are Voldemort and Harry, both of which are half-blood."
Ginny swallows hard:
"So, you're saying that You-Know-Who wants Hermione to be the mother of his child?"
Harry nods his head and Ron continues:
"All the spies said that You-Know-Who wants a warrior at his side. A warrior with unlimited power, loyal to him, who will take over his throne if something happens to him."
"So that's why you want Hermione here, right?" asks Ginny.
"Exactly," answers Draco.
"We're still looking for a way to protect Hermione, but we can't find anything," Harry says running a nervous hand through his hair. "Honestly, I don't know what to do anymore."
Lavender bites her lip:
"Why doesn't one of us stay with her?"
"You know how Hermione is, Lav," answers Ron, but Lavender shakes her head.
"I wasn't talking about coming back home..."
"You were talking about what then?" asks Draco and its then that G
Ginny understands what's going on and looks at her friend:
"The hospital!" both exclaim at the same time.

~*~

"From this attack resulted ten deadly victims, thirty serious wounded and more than sixty others. No one understands how and why the hospital was attacked." This was the news that could be heard on televisions and radios everywhere. No one could understand the reason why the hospital had been attacked, why the patients had been attacked and, most importantly, was there going to be other attack. Everyone in a critical state had been sent to others hospitals, but all the staff and police said everything was under control and that the hospital could to return to normal function soon. The damages were paid for and the amount wasn't very high, but even so, the hospital knew it had to help the families that were affected by the attack. For now, anyone who entered the hospital would see it functioning normally.
Hermione is walking through the psychology floor when Maya appears.
"Hermione, operating room, immediately."
"Ok." Without wanting to waste a second, Hermione starts walking faster and reaches the operating room in minutes "What do we have?" she asks, while she puts on the dressing gown.
"A man with a broken leg, took strong blows to his chest some deeper cuts on the rest of the body and face."
Hermione puts the gloves and approaches the man:
"Remus," she whispers, looking at the man's face. She shakes her head and looks at the nurse at her side "Is there anything that could reveal his identity?" Hermione puts her hand on the man's trousers and feels his wand in his pocket. In a quick movement, she hides the wand under her gown at the same time Maya appears at her side, with an ID.
"Remus Lupin," she answers.
Hermione looks at Remus' face:
"Mr. Lupin? Mr. Lupin, can you hear me?" Nothing. Hermione looks at the nurses. "Let's start with his leg." She looks at Maya. "Take care of his cuts and see if he as any ribs broken."
Maya nods her head and everyone takes a deep breath, ready for a long afternoon.

~*~

Half an hour had already passed since Hermione got away from the operating room feeling completely exhausted. She was now seated in one of the chairs beside the operating room's door, trying to recuperate from her unfortunate meeting with her old professor. She puts a hand over her waist, and takes a deep breath after feeling the wand:
"What did I get myself into?" she murmurs.
"Mi?" calls a voice and Hermione sees Maya, beside her.
"Yes?"
"Some tests were done to the patient you just operated on."
"And what's his condition?"
"It's incredible - he doesn't have any internal damage."
"But you don't know what put him in such a condition?"
Maya shakes her head:
"The only thing I can tell you right now is that he's in the room 315. Someone told me he should be waking up soon."
"Thanks, Maya," answers Hermione, leaning her head against the cold wall of the hall.
"Mi, I know that you probably don't want to talk about this, but what happened the other night? That night when the hospital was attacked and you came, even though I told you not to?"
Hermione smiles:
"Since when do I listen to you, May?" she looks at her friend. "This hospital is my place of work, where my patients lay and my friends are; I wouldn't leave you alone in that situation!"
Maya gives her a shy smile:
"Thanks for showing up Mi, I don't know what could have happened if you hadn't."
Hermione's smile widens:
"See? I shouldn't even have listened to you!"
Both friends start laughing. However, it's then that a nurse appears.
"Dr. Granger?" Hermione looks at her. "The patient you just operated on is awake."
"Thank you." Hermione says goodbye to Maya and calls the lift that would take her towards her patient, a person who belonged to her past. When the lift stops on the floor Remus' room is, Hermione feels her legs stiffen. She looks at the door with the number 315 and opens it, taking a deep breath. She puts her head inside the room and sees Remus playing with the remote control. She sees that, for him, nothing was good enough to be seen on the television, since he turns it off, puts the remote control over the bedside table and looks in her direction.
"Didn't see you there," he says.
Slowly, Hermione starts walking towards Remus and puts her hands on her waist:
"Tell me something; is this 'lets make Hermione mad' week? Or is this a disgusting joke that took five years to be thought up?"
"Hermione, I was in London, fighting against some Death Eaters. Sirius had just been cleared, and I was going to visit him. I didn't want to hurt myself, and was brought to a Muggle hospital. And you can be certain that I didn't want to shock you. Even though it is a very pleasant surprise." He looks to Hermione's eyes.
"Yes, very pleasant." answers Hermione, sarcastically.
"Well, I can see you're still mad with us. But you should came back home. Many people miss you!"
"I am home, Remus. The wizarding world was just my temporary home, one that filled my head with lots of illusions. I'm happy with my life. I have a great job, which was difficult to achieve, I have an incredible house, exactly as I dreamed; friends. What else could I ask for?" Hermione looks at her watch and prepares to leave, when Remus makes her stop.
"Family. Real friends. You have all that in the wizarding world."
"Correction - I had a home and true friends." Hermione grabs his card. "Tomorrow we'll begin with the physical therapy and in a month or so, you can leave here." Hermione puts his card in place, and leaves the room.
"I'm sorry you think that way Hermione." answers Remus to the empty room.

~*~

On the next day, Hermione enters Remus' room with another doctor but stops short when she sees Harry and Sirius talking with Remus in hushed voices. Hermione clears her throat and the three men look at her.
"Visiting hours ended a while ago, so I ask that both of you leave since Mr. Lupin has his therapy now."
"Dr. Granger, can I talk to you?" asks Harry. Hermione, feeling reluctant, nods her head. She turns to the doctor at her side:
"Give me two minutes." The man nods and Hermione, with Harry, leaves the room:
"Hermione he can't stay here," says Harry.
"I need a good reason, answers Hermione.
"Maybe because he's a werewolf?"
Hermione is paralyzed for a moment:
"Shit, I forgot about that."
"So it seems." answers Harry and Hermione gives him a deadly look.
"Harry, I don't think it's the right time for you to lecture me."
"But it's time for you to give me a lecture, right?"
"Don't be stupid!" she exclaims. "I forgot, ok? And you know what? I'm not surprised, since the hospital has just been attacked by Death Eaters and I have a hospital full of work until I don't know when! And, to make my life worse, I'm reminded that one of my patients is a werewolf and that he can't be here!"
"Let me take him to Hogwarts; Madam Pomfrey can take care of him."
"What Remus has can't be treated by Madam Pomfrey; it has to be treated here."
"And you think it's safe to let him stay here?" asks Harry. "You know very well that's dangerous."
"Don't be an idiot, I'll take him to my home!" answers Hermione, "And now, if you don't mind, I have a patient waiting for me."
When Hermione tries to enter the room, Harry grabs her by the arm. "For you to be in danger?" he asks. "You know very well that werewolves are dangerous for Muggles, or any humans for that matter."
"And did anybody say that I was going to look out for him as a human?" asks Hermione, before releasing herself from Harry's grip and entering the room.
Harry stays looking at her back before following after her. 'I do hope this works' he thinks.

Continue...

A/N: Once again I ask for your forgiveness, for the delay. I'll try to post sooner, but can't promise anything. Anyway, will you please review and tell me what you think? Thanls ^_^

4. Author Note

Important author's note:

As you may have noticed, I wrote some chapters thinking about E. C. R. Potter's fic “Return of the Lion” and, due to that, I decided to stop translating my fic, for now. The real reason for that, is not because I took some ideas from E. C. R. Potter's fic, but because I think there's a chapter I've written that's too similiar with one from “Return of the Lion”. And the chapter in question (in my fic), is one that affects all of the story. So, I decided to stop posting this fic for a period of time (don't know for how long), and make all the modifications needed. I just wanted to tell you that.

Thanks for the attention.

Lisa Oceans Potter