Ron woke to silence. Deep penetrating silence. It was still night, the bright full moon shining in through his open window. He let out a soft groan and rolled onto his side to look at the clock on his bedside table. 3:05 am. Much too early to be awake. He grunted and rolled onto his elbows rubbing his sleep-warmed face.

Something ticked away at the back of his brain like a pebble thrown upon a window. His eyes widened when he realized that this was about the time Hermione would wake them. Her cries and the charm disturbing the entire peace. He pushed himself up to sit on the edge lifting his head, waiting, listening. His room was right above hers, he was always the first one to hear her distress.

The silence that stretched on during his wait wrapped tightly around his heart. He looked back down at the clock softly ticking away the minutes before he came to the decision to check on her. He didn't bother with a shirt, the house was warm with the changing of the season. He did put on his house shoes though on his way to the door.

A soft stifled giggle turned his head when he entered the hall and his brows furrowed tightly before he heard his sister's sultry voice.

"Oh, Harry...yes...right there..."

Ron made a face, his stomach churning. He didn't even want to imagine what was keeping them up this night. With a bitter shake of his head, he made his way to the stairs leading down to the second floor. Hermione's door was quiet, but it brought little comfort. His own subconscious mind brought a small jealousy to his heart regarding his best mate's obvious happiness. He tried to push the thought aside as he came to her door. It would do him no favors to pine over something that simply couldn't presently happen.

He kept himself as quiet as a mouse, opening her door slowly. His eyes ran over the obviously cleaned room before he looked over to the bed. She was laying on her side, the blanket wrapped around her waist. The bear she'd taken to holding having fallen from her arms down to the floor. Her hair was a mess, fallen like a halo around her head. The moon shining in from the window cast an ethereal glow over her peaceful features. She'd never looked more beautiful.

He should have just turned back right then, having completed his task, he knew he should have. But he hadn't. No, he took a step further, and another and another until he found himself standing at the side of her bed looking down at her sleeping form. He licked his dry lips nervously as he watched her side rise and fall, her deep breaths ruffling the hair under her cheek.

Just a small touch, just to reaffirm she was truly there. That's all he needed. His fingers reached down, partially out of his control, and he watched with apprehension when his pasty fingers brushed against her own. He nearly jumped out of his skin when her fingers twitched to his fleeting touch before her hand adjusted, as though reaching for him in her sleep. He watched her hand open and close for a few breath stifling moments before he reached out again.

His heart nearly melted when her small soft fingers wrapped around two of his own. Holding tight but not uncomfortably so, a morose smile formed on his lips and he shifted himself closer. He wanted nothing more than to lay beside her. Hold her close, feel her breath against his heart. He wanted it so bad it hurt. He couldn't return to bed now, not with the memory of her reaching out to him. No, he had to take the chance. He wanted this. He needed this.

Leaving his hand in hers, for now, he leaned a bit closer pulling the blanket that had wrapped around her hip free. She made a soft noise to that and shifted her body. He thought for a moment that he might have woken her but the fear passed when she let out a heavy sigh, curling her arms, and his hand, under her chin. Taking it as a sign that what he was doing was right, he very carefully lowered himself down into the bed. Her legs moved out of his way when he stretched them out and another deep sigh passed her lips. Still on his elbow, he lowered himself down further adjusting his head to rest on the pillow beside hers.

The bed wasn't large, but it would comfortably fit two people. Ron adjusted himself a little more pulling one of her legs to rest between his own. Again, she didn't protest, rather she adjusted herself closer as if sensing his warmth. Ron could have cried with pure joy when she tucked her head under his chin. The feeling of her lips lightly brushing his collarbone sent a jolt straight to his loins. He tried not to think too much about it but it was nearly impossible. He swallowed thickly bringing his free arm around to rest in the hollow of her hip. Her shirt was partially raised and he couldn't stop himself from running his fingers beneath the fabric to glide over the small of her back.

He knew somewhere in the back of his mind what he was doing was wrong. He just couldn't find the will to stop. He shifted himself closer only stoking the fire that was growing inside him. Her chest was so soft, so warm pressed against his own. He had often dreamed about what her skin would feel like grazing against his firm—if underdefined, chest.

He found some restraint then, though his hand did wander over the ridges of her muscle outlining her spine, treading lightly over the scars. His body thrummed with need but the fatigue of the day was pulling him back under. He did, however, shift his hips closer. The rhythmic rise and fall of her stomach against something that very much wasn't sleepy, kept him in a sort of hazed bliss.

She was safe and she—was his.

oOo

Ron woke with a soft groan. He was very warm. Warmer than he'd ever been. His chest was pressed against something that seemed to be radiating heat and something even lower pressed into something else that was equally pleasurable. His dream was fading now but he could already feel the results drying against his shorts. Though it wasn't until his hand flexed against something round and soft did all those 'somethings' suddenly have a name.

His eyes shot open in an instant, his entire body going stiff; his heart nearly pounded its way out of his body through his skull. The sun had risen, bringing further light to his shame but what really put the stake through his heart were the eyes that stared straight ahead at the wall.

His entire body trembled with his guilt and self-depreciation. His lips pressed tight as he released his traitorous hand from her breast. They had shifted during the night. Hermione had turned her back to him. His hands had remained around her though and obviously had shifted. One lay stretched out beneath her neck under the pillow while the other had sought out his subconscious desires.

He couldn't find any words to justify himself as he slid his hand from under her shirt. He did feel her side twitch when his fingers lightly grazed a bump between her ribs but aside from that, there was no reaction. Her eyes just stared blankly ahead. There were so many things he wished to say. So many words he desperately wanted to use to beg for forgiveness but none of them found their way to his tongue. Instead, he continued his retreat coming up to his shaky feet.

She didn't move, didn't adjust in the space he'd left behind. She just stared. Ron wanted her to yell, to scream, to kick him out of the room. Anything to prove that he hadn't just taken advantage of her altered state; but nothing came. His jaw worked to try and say something but he found his courage had run out.

He couldn't bear to look down at his sin any longer. He couldn't take the pain that welled in his chest over the pleasure he had stolen from her. He was a coward, through and through; and so, just like the night they made to rescue her from the cellar, he did nothing. A long moment passed with him just standing there, before, with a heavy head and even heavier heart, he turned away. Without a backward glance, he fled from the room.

Hermione's eyes closed to the sound of the door closing, her heart torn. She had followed the healer's instructions, believed him with her whole heart, that these people—her friends—meant her no harm. While she didn't feel physically injured, she could tell by the reaction of the man who'd come to join her in bed that something was terribly wrong. She hadn't liked his touch, no, it had felt wrong, but he hadn't hurt her.

Still, she found herself clinging to a different feeling, a feeling that the healer had brought with him. A feeling of safety that she hadn't felt since she woke to this strange world. Her mind was still years behind, the memories the other healers had returned hidden behind a wall. A wall that if she pressed close enough to, she could just barely make out who she was.

The healer had done something, he had cleared her thoughts, giving her only the simplest of instructions. Wait for his return, and do what was asked. It was in these words she found her confliction. The man hadn't told her to share her bed and she didn't remember waking to added his presence. She knew she was supposed to follow his orders but he hadn't given her any. She had waited, waited for him to speak. Instead, he had fled, leaving her more confused than ever.

oOo

Ginny yawned loudly coming out of Harry's room, she'd woken before him and let him know he'd take care of waking Hermione for the day. They had been taking turns though Ginny was the only one who actually got her dressed, it afforded her an extra half an hour of sleep on the days she hadn't drawn the short straw. Though with Hermione's health seemingly having progressed she didn't mind taking on the burden this morning.

She slipped down the stairs and up the hall leading to her room. She paused long enough to let out another lion like yawn before pushing open the door. She blinked through another tear raising yawn when she spotted her brother's house shoes beside the bed. It was then she realized that neither she nor Harry, had been disrupted during the night.

They had each woken nearly around the time she had been waking them up. Like trained dogs, they had laid there for a while before letting their more...hormonal natures take hold. It had definitely been a release both of them had desperately needed. A small blush rose over her freckled cheeks while she made her way further into the room. Having closed the door behind her, she came to the side of the bed lightly touching Hermione's shoulder.

"Hermione? It's time to get up..."

Hermione's eyes opened slowly, as though she had already been awake. The elder girl in the bed rolled onto her back giving Ginny the saddest and most confused look. It was gone before Ginny could truly process what she'd seen and she was slowly pushing herself up to heed her command.

Ginny stepped away, a small concern forming at the corner of her lips but she pushed it down to stay on task. She turned away to the dresser and pulled out a blue t-shirt with a small design around the neck, a pair of black jeans and underwear. She brought them over to the bed before tilting her head.

"Do you want to try getting dressed on your own today?" Ginny had learned the hard way the that the young woman, despite her current mental acuity, was actually very strong. She'd only managed to wrestle her into a shirt yesterday before she had to give up. Hermione had taken to hiding under the bed and Ginny had been unable to coax her out until she resigned to letting her stay in her pajama pants. Without the aid of magic, the girl had made her life extremely difficult.

Hermione nodded her head and slowly extended her arms. Ginny placed the clothes down with a relieved sigh. She stepped back as Hermione started to unbutton her shirt and turned her head to the window to give her some semblance of privacy.

Hermione managed everything but her bra on her own. Her hands didn't tremble anymore but the practiced action was lost in the void of her mind. Though it wasn't until she let out a small whine did Ginny offer to help.

Ginny stepped back to her side with deep sorrow. Her eyes traced the three lashes that ran down her back before the shirt came down. The horrific incident pushed itself to the front of her mind and she couldn't help the choked sob that rose so abruptly up the back of her throat. The noise turned the woman in front of her and Ginny tried her best to give her an encouraging smile.

Hermione's brow twitched to try and understand the girl's grief. Had she done something? If so, how could she make it right?

"I'm sorry, I'm okay...really..." Ginny sniffled softly and despite her better judgment pulled Hermione into a hug. Ginny hid her face into Hermione's neck knowing that she was risking so much but she couldn't help herself. Her own therapy was going well but there was only so much one could do in two hours a week. Then, something she had never expected.

Hermione's arms rose from her sides. Slowly, cautiously, before coming to rest gently on the back of her head and between her shoulders. Her hands didn't move to try and soothe her pain but they did hold her close. Ginny could barely restrain herself from crushing the woman in her grasp and merely let the pain flow through her.

"Ginny? Hermione?" Harry's voice called through the door with a soft knock. "Everything alright?"

Ginny sniffled loudly and made to step back, her hand leaving Hermione's shirt to wipe hastily at her face, "Fi-ine!" The squeak in her voice betrayed the true situation and she sniffled even harder as the door peeked open.

"Gin..." Harry stepped through, his cheek worried in his teeth. He watched Hermione's hands come slowly back down to her sides and took a moment to process what must have just happened. Harry's brow furrowed but his heart grew lighter. He came into the room coming to their side. He wiped away Ginny's tears letting her curl into his side before his eyes turned to Hermione. She looked at them both kindly, but he could tell she was lost. Slowly, just as Ginny had, he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into the hug as well. His eyes closed when Hermione rested her head down on his shoulder, her hand curling lightly into his shirt. It was the first time since her return that he'd been able to hold her like the adult she was. It felt so unbelievably rewarding.

He let out his own sniffle and pressed his lips to Hermione's temple, "You are safe...and you are loved..."

Ginny smiled softly and nodded her head wrapping her arm around Hermione to complete the large embrace. It was something they had all needed to hear at that moment.

oOo

"The blue...bird flies...over the green fields..."

"That's great Hermione...here how about this one?" Neville held up the next card that the healers had left for her to practice reading with. Personally, he all felt they were well below her level at this point but he wasn't going to risk changing anything.

"Courage...comes...from...fear..." Hermione looked down at her hands then trying to write out the line in her notebook.

Neville's brows furrowed when she started writing something different than what was on the card. He tilted his head just a bit closer, "Without fear, there cannot be courage... Christopher Paolini...?"

Hermione set down her pencil then, curling her feet up into the chair. Her head lowered down to her knees, her forehead rocking slightly. Neville sat up a bit straighter, frowning when her fists came to her temples. A deep whine left her throat as her fists thumped light against her head.

"Hey...hey... It's okay...I think that's much better...no...shhh..." Neville reached forward taking her wrists gently into his hands stilling them for a moment. "It's okay, Hermione...its okay..."

"That's not my name!" Hermione ripped her hands free, tangling them up into her hair and started to rock. Her eyes darted back and forth nonsensical ramblings passing her lips.

"Harry!" Neville came to his feet, coming behind her to try and pull her hands free. The more he tried to keep her from harming herself the more agitated she became.

"What? What happened?" Harry came scrambling in from the other room. "What did you do?" Harry's tone wasn't accusing rather inquisitive. She had been doing so well, breakfast had gone perfectly and she'd even seemed excited to practice her reading and writing.

"I didn't, she just..." Neville released her arms for fear of hurting her and just looked at Harry helplessly.

Harry moved around the table quickly and knelt down beside her, trying to see her face, "Hermione? It's Harry, yeah?" His heart tightened when a deep noise of despair left her throat. His hands hovered a moment before gently reaching up to take her arms. "Calm down... you're safe... remember?" Harry watched her let out a slow breath, her hands slowly releasing her hair. Her head lifted next and Harry forced a small smile on his lips. "That's right...and loved...you are so loved..." Harry leaned forward as her arms came up. His own wrapping slowly around her back. He held her head to his chest, despite the awkward position and continued to whisper in her ear.

Neville felt the tension in the room starting to wain just before a sharp knock on the door echoed through the first floor. He glanced at the clock and grimaced. It was time for her session. "I'll get it..."

"Thanks..." Harry shifted his head looking down into Hermione's face, she was calming but he feared she might try and make a break for it again. "Come on, let's go upstairs okay?"

Hermione nodded her head glancing back to the paper for only a moment. Harry helped her ease out of the chair and get onto her feet just as the front door opened. Deciding it was better that she didn't know what was coming, he led her towards the servant's stairs and out of sight.

"I am here to see, Ms. Granger?"

"Yeah, come on in..." Neville stood aside but took more notice of the man stepping into the house. His eyes running up and down his frame for any clue that he might not be who he said he was. He did see the name badge this time: S. Princeton. He put that into the back of his mind for later retrieval.

The man didn't make any other remarks or gestures that would otherwise be telling. Aside from his silent steps and straight back as he moved towards the stairs, there wasn't anything new to observe. Neville scratched his head slightly and pursed his lips. Could they all be just a little bit paranoid?

oOOo

"Harry this just came..." Ginny came into the living room with a rather important looking missive in hand.

"What is it?" Harry set down the notebook Hermione had been writing in. Once Neville had told him the entire story he had become curious. It wasn't the first curious thing she had written inside.

"Don't know, I can't open it, needs your wand signature..." Ginny passed it over taking a seat beside him.

Harry called his wand from the mantle where he'd left it and pressed it against the seal. There was a small pop and he hastily pulled out the letter.

"Mr. Potter is it with great regret that we inform you that Miss Granger's Guardian of state has met an unfortunate circumstance leading to her incapacitation. In her absence, the ministry has decided to give you temporary control over her present medical treatment..." Harry skimmed down a few more lines his eyes going wider and his face growing paler, "They...want to take her back..."