⚡︎
┄┄ .•* 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟏 *•. ┄┄

𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒚

────── *•. ⚡︎ .•*──────

Hermione was getting sick of almost dying and being unconscious. Trust her to try and save someone and end up knocked out or cursed by a necklace.

The time she was unconsciously passed in a blur. She didn't have a notion of time in her head, so she couldn't possibly know how many days had passed. The only thing she knew for sure, was that she could feel a burning pain in her chest, that as time passed it slowly decreased, like a flame running out of oxygen. 

A few months after she had been cursed, Hermione started to be more aware of her surroundings, sometimes, on the verge of waking up. But she never did. She could feel everyone around them, every time her hand was being held, every time someone shook her shoulders, pleading for her to wake up, every time someone kissed her on the forehead. And sometimes, if she was lucky enough, she could strain herself enough to hear voices. She was never sure of who was talking to her, her brain too weak to process, but she could hear them.

"Come on, Mia. Don't leave me. Not again. You have to wake up."

"She'll wake up. She's strong like her father."

"Mimi? I love you. Come back."

"You look cuter when you smile. . . ."

Hermione wished she could wake up at those moments, but all she could do was urge herself to listen. . . .

"Ron almost died the other day. Harry saved him. You would've laughed. I miss you."

"She knew this would happen, didn't she?"

"I think she was saving Katie."

"Bloody hero-complex!"

"She's almost worse than you are, Annie."

"What? I've never been cursed—"

"Ahem!"

"—. . . . by a necklace! Shut up! You were the one who cursed me!"

"Why won't she wake up, Moony?!"

"Give her time, Sirius. . . ."

"Time?!  It's been months! I want my daughter back!"

But she couldn't wake up. As much as she wanted to, Hermione was too weak to wake. And yet she tried. Sometimes being able to twitch a muscle or mumble a word in her sleep. But wake up? She couldn't.

Not until April rolled around and Hermione was finally able to open her eyes. 

She fluttered them open, blinking as she got used to the light. The pain in her chest was mostly gone, and she didn't feel anything at all. She felt as if she had awoken from her slumber, and yet she was exhausted. Her muscles felt limp, her skin was pale and she was sure she had lost a few pounds. Her head hurt slightly if she tried to think too much, but otherwise, she was fine.

Gingerly, she turned her head to the side and a small smile crept on her face at the sight of a big black dog laying on the floor beside her bed.

"Dad?" she called out in a raspy voice, not having talked for months, clearing her throat in the process.

The dog snapped its head to her and in a minute, Sirius was in his place and crushing her into a hug.

"I thought I lost you," Sirius mumbled in her hair. "Again!"

"I'm sorry," Hermione said with a breathy laugh as they pulled away. "I was trying to save Katie and then she pounced at me and I guess the necklace must've slipped and then. . . . Well, you know. . . ."

"You're really stupid," Sirius said sternly and a gasp was heard before Annora swatted him in the head, making Sirius fall off the bed, so she could take his place and hug her daughter.

"You're not stupid, honey," Annora said, "you're really brave."

"That's what I meant," Sirius huffed from the floor, groaning dramatically as he turned on his back, clutching his stomach.

"How do you feel, Mia?" her mother asked.

"Like Sleeping Beauty," was Hermione's simple answer and her mother snorted.

"So, no pain?" Sirius asked standing up and Hermione shook her head.

"The pain isn't there anymore," she smiled tiredly. "How long have I been, um, asleep?"

"Well, seeing as it's April," a voice drawled and Hermione turned to see Regulus.

"April?!" she screeched. "I missed everything! I missed Harry on crack!"

"Believe us, it was plenty entertaining," James laughed as he too appeared, Evan, Lily, and Marlene along with him, and Hermione scowled.

"I missed skipping on Slughorn's Christmas Party! I missed Ron almost dying!" she said looking crestfallen much to the amusement of the dead and nondead adults. "I missed Christmas!"

At the mention of Christmas, everyone in the room tested up, something Hermione did not miss. "What's wrong?" she asked nervously, looking around.

"Uh—well, during Christmas holidays," Annora began tensely, taking a hold of her daughter's hand, "the Grangers were attacked."

Hermione's eyes widened in horror.

"You can't just leave it at that, Annie!" Evan said. "She's thinking the worst happened!"

"What happened?" Hermione asked.

"The wards around the house—" Sirius began before being cut off by Hermione.

"Wards?"

"The Order was making sure they stayed safe," Sirius explained and Hermione nodded gratefully. "The wards set off an alarm and we were able to get there before anything drastic happened. The Grangers are fine, but they've been sent to a safe house, in Amsterdam. No one should find them there."

Hermione released a breath she didn't know she was holding and gingerly nodded. "How long will they stay there?"

"As long as they're safe," Sirius replied and Hermione nodded again.

"We'll leave you to rest, Mia," Lily said promptly, giving a pointed look at every one. If it was for them they would've stayed there for hours and hours, but Hermione had just woken up from being cursed and she was still weak.

"What? Why? I wanted to talk to Mia!" James huffed and Lily rolled her eyes.

"And I don't want to sleep!" Hermione whined, snapping out of her thoughts. "I just slept like. . . . a whole lot!"

"You look dead-er than us," Annora deadpanned. "Whether you want it or not, Lily is right. You have to sleep."

Hermione groaned as she let her head hit the pillow again. Her mother and Lily were right. Seconds after she closed her eyes, Hermione was asleep, relieved that in this version she wouldn't have to wipe the Granger's memories. Though she wasn't too happy about the fact that they had to live in a safe house, possibly for the next two years.

The next time Hermione woke up, she found the room dark, the curtains were drawn back and she could see the moon shining on the window of the room she assumed was in Grimmauld Place. She looked around and smiled softly at the sight of Fred looking incredibly uncomfortable on a chair, one leg thrown over its arm, the other one stretched out on the floor. His head was lying against the wall and in general, Hermione couldn't grasp why his arms seemed to have a fight in his sleep.

"Fred?" she called out, as she hoisted herself into a sitting position, groaning as she felt her arms weak, and sat up against the headboard. She giggled when he saw him mumble something in his sleep, his lips parted slightly and surprisingly not drooling. "Freddie?"

Again he didn't respond but showed signs of acknowledgment when he said "Mimi," back, throwing his head to the side, promptly causing all of his body to fall on the floor with a thud, making Hermione burst into laughter.

"Bloody hell," he groaned from the floor, standing up and his eyes widened at the sight of Hermione awake, laughing at his face. "Am I dreaming?"

"Honey, you can't make up this much beauty in your subconscious," Hermione said cheekily, a grin growing on her face. 

Fred breathed out a laugh and darted towards her, bringing her into his arms, holding her tight and not wanting to let go. "You're awake."

"Really? Not even a witty comeback?" Hermione says with a teasing smile as she hugged him back and Fred lets out a laugh.

"And now I wish you were asleep again," Fred said with a scowl pulling away, her still in his arms.

Hermione was about to snap back at him when he crushed his lips to hers, his hand coming to cup her jaw. Hermione sighed into the kiss, making him smirk, and kissed back, her hands resting on his chest.

"You're right," Fred said breathlessly as they pulled away, and Hermione frown. "I couldn't possibly have imagined you. My brain isn't that mad."

"That was awful, Freddie," Hermione deadpanned and Fred pouted. Hermione smirked and teasingly bit his bottom lip, proceeding to kiss him again.

Yet, after a second, she pulled away.

"You're a tease, Black," Fred said narrowing her eyes.

"But you love it," Hermione said back, cheekily and Fred rolled hiss eyes only to chuckle when her stomach grumbled.

"I'll go get you something," Fred said standing up. "Don't die!"

"I'll try!"

Going back to school was sure to have Hermione in a bad mood. She had spent the following two weeks of her waking up in Grimmauld Place, getting healthier and making sure she was fine before she went back to Hogwarts. She had spent most of the time with her parents, Fred and George, Moony, Dora, and when they were there Bill and Fleur.

But now she found herself in Dumbledore's office, having floo'd her way there.

"Miss Black! Glad to see you awake," Dumbledore said with a twinkling smile and Hermione scowled.

"You won't be for long, now will you?" she said bluntly, looking pointedly at his blackened hand.

Dumbledore sighed and gave her a small smile. "Everyone must go eventually, Hermione. There's nothing we can do about it. And some things are meant to be. No matter how much we try to change them."

"But did you?" Hermione snapped back. "Did you really try not to ut the ring on? You know, it's pretty easy, Albus. You just don't put the ring."

"Somethings are meant to be," Dumbledore echoed. "And if I were to live, then everything could've changed. It's essential that I die. I beg you to not interfere with it."

Hermione didn't answer but nodded reluctantly, her jaw set straight. Without waiting for her to be excused she took her to leave from his office and walked down the staircase, heading to the Great Hall as lunch was being served.

She walked through the doors and almost rolled her eyes as people looked at her, and gasped as if they had seen the dead. She grinned at her friends and they were all quick to their feet, coming towards her, with every intention of barreling her into a hug. Hermione had other ideas. She sprinted past them and threw herself at the Transfiguration Professor who had been talking with a student.

"MINNIE!"

⚡︎

—A/N—

I know it's a short chapter, but more is on the way.

The sixth-year will be ending shortly, just a few more chapters to go.
And then we finally have the seventh year with all the drama and battles!

And that is why I need to ask!

Would you be opposed for me to rush the battle forward or at least not include some main events? (E.g.: Godric's Hollow or the Ministry Break Out?)

Because they are pretty unnecessary with Hermione's knowledge.

I could just hurry everything up and kill the bastard.

OPINIONS HERE! (thank you)

Thank you for reading! 

~ Lexi