Harry, Ginny, and Neville stood around the kitchen table looking down at the letter. Nearly an hour had passed and they'd each exhausted all of their ideas on how they could convince the Hospital to see their side of things.

"You can't  let them take her Harry, she's been doing so much better..." Ginny wrapped her arms around her chest looking back down at the letter.

"I know...I know, Ginny I do..." Harry waffled his head, "We'll just have to show him tomorrow when he comes..."

"But what if something happens with the healer today...?" Neville glanced towards the ceiling. "What if this was all temporary...?"

"It's not. I'm sure of it." Harry glared darkly down at a knot in the table. "We just have to have trust that this... this will all work out in the end..."

"We'll support you, Harry, no question..."

Ginny and Neville nodded the heads. A deep silence falling into the room. They each avoided the other's eyes all knowing what everyone was thinking but too afraid to say aloud. Why had healers taken her memories in the first place?

"Hey...Harry...now that you're her ward... can't you ask why this all happened?" Neville caught his eye and for a moment he wasn't sure if he'd been heard then, he saw it, right there in the corner of his eye. The recognition.

"You're right...Neville, you're brilliant."

"How do you get access to it?"

"Can't I just ask now? Don't they have to-"

The sound of the front door opening and closing shut all their mouths. They each shared a look before coming into the hall.

"Ron! Where've you been?"

"Out...I needed air okay?" His scowl confused all of them, what's more, he didn't even pause when he skulked past them and up the stairs.

Ginny made a small face when the smell of horrid perfume wafting off him as he passed. "Why does he smell like a whore house?"

oOo

"Should we go check on them?" Ginny set down her plate, laden with a simple turkey and lettuce sandwich.

"How long has it been?" Harry turned to look at the clock tossing a crisp into his mouth.

"Nearly 4 hours..."

"Yeah...maybe we should..."

"Let's be careful about it...We can use a spell to look through the wall in the spare room."

"Right..." Harry followed her out to the hall about to take the stairs when two things happened at once: the door overhead and the front door opened. Ginny and Harry paused blinking at the sight more readily before them.

"I've got it, thank you Neville." Luna gave the two at the far end of the hall a bright smile as she came through the small threshold. She had a healer and Neville behind her, as well as the aid of two crutches that came all the way up to her elbow.

"Luna! You're walking!" Ginny couldn't help the joy that burst forth from her throat and rushed down the hall to get a closer look.

"Bit harder than I remember but I haven't fallen yet." Luna's voice was just as light and airy as it had been remembered. Her spirits obviously lifted.

"We can make a room for you downstairs until you can manage the stairs... can't we Harry?" Neville was beyond jubilation at this point and it definitely showed.

"That would be ideal," The Healer who came with them was an elder woman with a kind face and even kinder smile. "Do you need to rest dear?"

"No, I want to give the friend who saved my life a hug." Luna didn't take notice how the healer scrambled to catch her crutch from falling to the floor when she wiggled her hand free to wrap her arm around Ginny's neck.

Ginny held her carefully but chuckled, all the same, giving the smaller girl all the love she had. "Actually it was Hermione's potion-"

"Samuel?"

All heads turned to the man on the stairs who blinked at them slowly as if waking from a deep sleep. He looked down at Harry for a long moment before looking at the case in his hand, a small look of confusion fluttering over his features before looking back at the woman who had obviously addressed him.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be making a potions delivery?"

"I...I was... that's what I'm doing...?"

Harry felt his entire world starting to tilt, a deep shiver running all the way down to his toes. The man's voice had lost all confidence in his words. Though the timber had remained the pacing was substantially different. Harry didn't think twice as he bolted up the stairs.

"Hermione?!"

Ginny released Luna as carefully as she could and turned to run after him before thinking of something better. The Healer had come to a stop at the bottom of the stairs, completely bewildered by the urgency going on around him. He made a small noise when Ginny ripped the case from his hand thumping it down to the floor to open it.

"Be careful with that!"

"What's going on Neville?" Luna leaned into the boy for support as the Healer who'd been helping her rushed over as well.

Ginny pushed through the various potions, easily detecting the extension charm and pulled out a wooden chest from the very bottom. She scrambled to turn it right side round and locate the lock. Her heart skipped when noticed it had been broken and with a trembling hand pushed the lid open, revealing the empty vials inside.

"They're gone... they're all gone..." Ginny turned the box for the others to see before turning her head up the stairs. The sound of a door banging open catching all their attention.

"I didn't put that in there..." Samuel was still completely confounded by the entire circumstance, too afraid to move in either direction.

"You! Stay!" Ginny pulled her wand pointing it at the man's face who merely put his hands up in surrender before watching her run up the stairs.

Harry entered the room as though he was ready to battle the devil himself. His wand raised and glowing at the tip with his unbridled power. His eyes quickly took in everything before landing on the woman laying on her side tucked safely in bed. He did take note that the window was open, the soft early summer breeze wafting into the room.

"Hermione?" Harry rushed without thought to her side dropping his wand to the bed to take hold of her shoulder. He gave it a rather firm shake before just rolling her onto her onto her back. His hand rose to take her face when her brows furrowed, stilling his hands, a low soft whine coming from deep inside her throat.

"Harry...?"

Hermione opened her eyes just enough to see a blurred figure leaning over her. She raised her hand up to block the sun glaring from overhead to get a clear view of her friend's panic-stricken features.

"Whas...wrong?" Her words were heavily slurred as though she had just woken from a long sleep. Her face still pinched in confusion from being so rudely awoken.

Harry's jaw dropped for a brief moment, the words he wanted to say tumbling out into gibberish. He could only shake his head slightly and offer out his hand to hers that lowered down to help pull herself up.

"Harry! They're gone!" Ginny was partially out of breath when she came to the doorway her eyes and face just as shocked as Harry's had been when Hermione had addressed him.

Hermione brought a hand to her head that was still much too wobbly to form any real linear thought. She blinked a few more times before looking at Harry's hand in hers. "Where...?" A small headache was starting to build itself behind her eyes and she leaned forward to rub them. She didn't recognize the room she was in, at least not consciously. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she felt it was familiar but it was like a distant childhood memory.

"What's... what's the last thing you remember?" Ginny came just a bit closer. This was already more self-aware than she had been in days. Her worried eyes looked at Harry, slightly tilting the box to show him the empty vials.

Hermione frowned deeper, still rubbing her eyes, "There was a hospital...I think...?" It was all too fuzzy, all too faded. It was worse than the time she had woken the first time in Snape's secret room. She knew time was missing, she just couldn't ascertain how much. It was similar but different all the same. Nonetheless, it was still headache inducing.

"You're...at Grimmauld Place..." Ginny closed the box slowly coming over beside Harry.

"I... remember that house...this certainly isn't it..." Hermione lowered her hands down looking around at the crisp clean walls and beautiful decorations.

"We made some changes..." Harry slowly came to his feet. Was this it? Had she fully been returned to them? Was this the moment they had all been working towards?

"My head hurts..." Hermione winced and shifted on the bed to try and sit up more properly. Her hand left her temple as she felt the tell-tale signs of a nose bleed coming on. Just as she made to grab the bridge of her nose, a large stream pressed forth easing some of the pressure inside her aching skull. Unfortunately for those witnessing, it wasn't so cathartic.

"Go get the other Healer! Now!" Harry had almost been relieved when Hermione had moved to sit up but when the blood broke free he felt as though they'd ended one nightmare straight into another. He winced and pulled his outer shirt off quickly pressing over her nose to try and keep it from getting everywhere but it truly was hopeless.

"I'm b-ine...itz dust a nozebeed..." Hermione brought her hand over Harry's, her eyes becoming more clear by the minute.

"Yeah? Let's let the Healer decide that..." Harry moved from the side to sit beside her, keeping her head slightly tilted.

"Harry...?"

"Yeah?" Harry shifted his hand to try and look into her eyes. His mind was turning in fifty directions at once he wasn't even sure they had even had a proper conversation.

"I dink... I'm going to..."

Harry's heart jolted when her body pitched back. He scrambled to grab hold of her as she went down. He narrowly avoided her head crashing into the wall before he managed to turn her so she wouldn't choke on the blood that was starting to slow down.

"What's all the shouting about?" Ron had come down from upstairs to all the commotion only to be pushed into the room and out of the way by Ginny with Luna's Healer on her heels.

"What happened?" The healer shooed Harry from Hermione's side and started to pull her to lay properly on the bed. Her wand moving over her body casting diagnostic spells too fast for anyone to follow.

"She-I woke her up and uh...she said her head hurt..." Harry took a step back looking at Ginny, "What about the other guy?"

"Neville has him, Hilda called for the Aurors and the Head Mediwizard..." Ginny motioned to the Healer now working her magic over Hermione; a slow breath passing her lips, "Will she be alright?" It was a question none of them wanted to ask.

"Oh yes, it's just a migraine..." Hilda nodded her head slowly, looking up briefly at the sigils floating overhead. "Is she prone to nosebleeds?"

Ginny, Harry, and Ron shared a look before giving a rather mixed series of useless answers. None of them really had ever seen her have one, but the circumstances weren't all that typical either. Hilda pursed her lips and looked back down continuing to work at clearing the blood away and returning what could be. "Best to let her rest now..."

"I'll stay..." Ron looked at Harry and Ginny, "I've obviously missed whatever has happened...At least I can be of some use..."

"Alright, Hilda can you stay too?"

"Of course." The woman tucked her wand away before bringing the blanket up under Hermione's chin.

"Let's go get some answers." Harry turned to the door with a new look of determination on his face.

oOo

"How could this have even happened?" Harry's voice was hard as stone as he regarded the Head Mediwizard, "How can someone just...walk into a hospital and take something that was sure to be under lock and key!"

"As I told you already, Mr. Potter. Healer Princeton has the necessary wand signature to open nearly any door. So long as he's the one holding it, the wards will release to him."

"But how? Wouldn't the wards pick up the Imperious Curse?" Ginny was just as frustrated as Harry. Thus far they'd all been fed nothing but political double speak and had received very few answers to how a simple potions deliverer had done all this in the span of two days. It just seemed ludicrous.

"Again the potion that Healer Princeton was put under is like the Imperious Curse, it doesn't actually replicate the curse's actual signature."

"So basically you're saying anyone with a potions kit could high-jack one of your workers and have them do their bidding?" Neville had joined the conversation now, his mind wandering to the safety of his parents.

"The potion that was given to him is exceptionally complex, the likely hood of anyone even being able to remotely brew something as that to fool our wards is next to none."

"Well obviously someone has." Harry looked to Ginny for a moment each one sharing a secret thought. "I think it's more than clear where we stand on letting Hermione go back."

"Your concern is well founded I admit, and I must agree that until the culprit is found, it might be best for her to stay here...as for her memories, however... There's nothing we can do until whoever has them has been caught..."

Shacklebolt had remained mostly quiet during the small pissing match between Harry and Alsteir, a heavily ambivalent look on his face, "We shall have Aurors stationed at the Hospital with the expressed purpose of escorting the healers. One seen, one unseen. We won't let anything happen to her Harry, you have my word as Minister."

"Thank you..." Harry leaned back with a heavy sigh rubbing his brow.

"Sorry to interrupt," Hilda spoke softly as she came to the doorway a hidden smile in the corner of her aged lips, "But I think all of you are going to want to follow me."

Everyone but Luna had come to their feet. The blond had stayed completely silent during the entire exchange, merely watching all those involved go back and forth. Her eyes turned up when Neville made to sit back down a soft smile of acceptance on her face, "Go, I'll be right here." She gave his arm a gentle squeeze and a soft push so he would hurry to follow. Her eyes watching their backs as they all turned to make their way up the stairs.

Harry was the first to enter behind the Healer, his heart beating a bit faster with each step. As he came into the room he saw Hermione sitting up in the bed, with Ron by her side in the chair from the desk, lightly holding her hand. His brow ticked a little as he made room for the others to follow; watching Hermione's face turn from a sort of tranquil look to one of concern.

"Miss Granger, could you tell them what you told myself and Mr. Weasley here?"

Hermione shifted, obviously uncomfortable with all the attention she was receiving. It was clear she didn't understand much of what was going on, but instead of a far-off spacey look, her brow furrowed with concentration trying to discern just exactly why she was suddenly the world's most fascinating person.

"I'm...19?" Hermione glanced over at Ron who had squeezed her hand, a gentle if lopsided smile growing on his face.

"19?" Harry echoed her in a soft whisper, his own mind churning.

"Yes, and what's the last thing you remember?" Hilda smiled softly trying to keep her voice calm and smooth so as not to worry the girl any further.

"Waking up...in the Hospital...after the battle...We...we won..."

Ginny could barely contain the odd noise of a suppressed sob that tickled the back of her throat. Her hand coming to her mouth to try and keep herself quiet but the tears had already welled up in her eyes. Hermione was back, she was...completely back!

Hermione gasped as she was suddenly overtaken by her friends all climbing onto the bed to wrap their arms around various limbs. She was just grateful that she wasn't injured anymore or she may have had real trouble fending them off. She gave them a weak if tired smile as they all tried to wrap their arms around her.

"Mind her-ah...rib."

Hilda had tried to warn them, but Hermione had already smacked Ron's hand out of the way of her possibly forever Achilles Heel before she let the boys and Ginny wrap her up tight. She'd never felt so safe, she'd never felt so loved as she had at that moment. It truly was a happy ending worthy of a fairy tale, and yet something was missing. Someone was missing.

oO 2 Months Later Oo

"So you're really moving out?"

"Yeah, we want to, you know...stretch our wings a little." Neville blushed brightly looking down at the box of Luna's things in his hand.

"If that's what you want to call it." Hermione chuckled softly shaking her head. "That the last of it?"

"Yep, off to life's next grand adventure." Neville leaned down giving Hermione a small hug with an arm he could spare before turning out towards the front door.

Hermione gave Luna a small wave from where she leaned on the kitchen doorframe to watch them load their things. Luna was still walking with the aid of a crutch, but only one now. She had been making wonderful progress. It was nice to see the both of them having found happiness in the other.

"You know...we could do something like that..."

"Not a chance Ron, you're a horrible roommate." Hermione smiled softly turning to give him a kindhearted look, "Maybe if you learn to clean up after yourself a bit more, I'd consider it." She pointed to a small bit of leftover crumbs on his shirt from the cookie he'd possibly eaten hours ago before rolling herself from the frame to head for the stairs.

They both had been playing a small cat and mouse game with the other. Hermione, not really sure where she felt in regards to seeing him as anything more than an adopted brother, with Ron trying to woo her at every turn. She had to give him an answer sometime, but she just didn't feel ready to make a solid plan.

Her nights were filled with horrible nightmares that only her Therapist was aware of. Though one night, she had forgotten to cast a silencing charm over her room and she had found herself seeking comfort in Ron's gentle embrace. It hadn't felt the same as the one she desperately tried to remember. It was gnawing away at her; the feeling of another's hands. It was nearly impossible for her to just allow herself to accept the comfort Ron so desperately tried to give her. Her guilt had let things go too far one time already.

It had been one of her darkest nights, a rather loud storm crashing away outside. Her dream had been most dreadful, the realist dream she had ever felt, the smell, the cries, the tormented screams. All disorienting, all-encompassing. It had been the night she'd forgotten her spell. The night that Ron had come to her side. She had invited him in with tears rolling down her face, desperate for any sort of human comfort. She didn't want him, but she needed him at that time. She needed to feel safe. She needed to feel loved. He had held her all the through the night and into the morning. Neither one really taking any true thought into where their touches might have led. It was then she had made her first mistake.

In a desperate bid to try and remember, she had kissed him, hoping to release the memories locked inside her mind. But it wasn't him, it was never him. As much as she wished it could have been, for convenience sake, it wasn't. It had felt wrong, all the way to the pits of her stomach. He had tasted bitter, like stale chocolate and his lips were far too soft. She had turned away trying to hide her look of disgust into her pillow but the damage had been done. She had tried to find the courage to tell him that they couldn't be, but the weak part of her had kept her silent. She hadn't forgotten the silencing spell since.

Hermione took a slow breath making towards the stairs, though she could feel her ever-present shadow coming up behind her. She knew she'd brought this upon herself with her own actions. Yet still, she found herself torn on what to do. It wasn't like there was anyone else willing to give her a chance and after all they'd been through, didn't she at least owe him something? An explanation? Anything? Why did her fear still her tongue so tightly? Why was she afraid to lose him? Like she had lost another...

"Hermione..." Ron lightly placed his hand over hers on the railing, "If you...did want to...you know...with me...You would tell me right?"

Hermione looked down slowly at the hand covering hers, as kind as it was, it wasn't his. She gave him a slightly forced smile and shifted her hand giving his own a squeeze, "Of course...you know me..."

"Yeah, right..." Ron licked his bottom lip. He could still taste her kiss, though it was weeks ago, his body burned to feel her again. His desire had only grown stronger, but he knew he had to wait, she had to come to him. He wouldn't allow himself to make the same mistake he had before.

Hermione gave him a small if sad smile and turned to continue her way up, her hands coming in to wrap around her waist. Something she had taken to doing to help try to comfort herself. She was stronger than this, she knew she was. She just had to make herself believe it again.

"What're you going to do today?"

"Study."

"Still?"

"That's who I am Ron," Hermione called out her last quip turning down the hall towards her room. She wanted to take the make-up NEWTS and become an officially recognized adult in the wizarding world. Minerva had offered a chance to take the test for any 7th year who had been unable to because of the battle. They had the entire summer to study for it and would be able to take the test three days before the new term. It hadn't left much time for Hermione, in her opinion, to catch up on the time she'd lost.

It had been a trying few weeks after she'd come to. All the questions, all the explanations. Why this, where that? When did this happen? She'd seen so many Healers she was sure she never wanted to set foot back inside St. Mungo's again. She'd even taken to seeing a private Therapist, on her own money just to avoid ever going back into that place.

Now, it was time to start her life, truly start her life. Problem was, she didn't feel complete. She didn't feel as though everything had been returned. There was still something missing, just there, in the darkness. They never did find out who had taken her memories, and they had never found out who had taken over the Healer. It was still an open investigation by the Ministry's standards. Though Hermione was starting to believe, that she, not they, had the answers to all the unanswered questions. If only, she could remember what had happened that final day.