Redemption II

Chapter 61

"Where's Hermione? It's dinner time." Ginny set down the last plate on the table. Ron was already 'holding himself over' with a dinner roll while Harry was bringing over the big pot of stew. They'd all sort of stuck to the schedule more out of a need for some routine than anything else. They weren't as strict as before but it did ensure that they would at least eat when they were home. Harry had started Auror training with Ron during the week and Ginny was getting ready to go back to school for her final year. She had become Hermione's frequent study partner most days and Hermione had been most patient with answering her questions. The past almost felt like a long forgotten nightmare. Almost.

"I'll get her. You stay out of the rolls." Ginny smacked her brother's hand as she passed and gave him a small glare before making towards the library that had become Hermione's domain.

"Worse than Mum, she is," Ron grumbled after she'd left and took another roll merely to spite her before Harry grabbed it on the way to his mouth.

"She's got a temper to match. Best do as she says." Harry chuckled softly at the put-out look Ron gave him before he started serving out their dinner.

Ginny smiled softly when she located Hermione in the stacks of books that had almost become as tall as she was. How they hadn't found her in a literature avalanche yet was truly a miracle. Ginny kept her steps heavy so as not to startle her but when she came closer she realized that Hermione wasn't actually sitting up but rather propped up on a stack of books made impromptu pillow. Her quill was still in hand moving slightly smudging out whatever she had been writing.

"Hermione?" Ginny came around to her side so she would be able to see her when she woke though her brow furrowed when she saw the tears running down her cheek and onto the page beneath. "Hermione?" Ginny hesitantly placed her hand on her shoulder giving her the smallest of shakes.

When she didn't immediately wake, Ginny's eyes glanced briefly to what she had been writing and her heart sunk just a bit further. Questions, lines, and lines of questions. All on the same topic. The final question ruined by her sudden nap: 'Where is Sna—' Ginny didn't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out what had been written and she knew the day had finally come when Hermione would start questioning her survival.

Harry had shared with her all he'd known when they'd found her. Of course, Ginny had been there when he'd found Hermione but only Harry had seen clearly who had actually brought her. The sun had obscured nearly all marked features of the man she had come to learn was Snape. It had been hard for Ginny to swallow and she was sure Ron hadn't even taken a bite.

They had only shared when Hermione had asked and kept their information specific to the question. Having been warned by the Healers that her mind was still extremely fragile. That despite having most of her memories back there was still so much to be cautious about. They couldn't explain her behavior the day before when Harry and Ginny had asked about it. They hadn't even told them why they'd taken her memories in the first place. Said they were bound by Hermione's former self with patient confidentially. Even her Ward hadn't truly been informed before her trip down the stairs.

But all that was months ago. Nearly a lifetime in teen-years. Ginny and Harry had discussed what they should tell her when the time came. She just wasn't truly ready for it to come if she were honest with herself. Ginny ran her fingers through Hermione's hair tucking the curls behind her ear before gently thumbing away the tears.

Hermione took in a deep breath, her brow furrowing tightly before her eyes fluttered open. Ginny gave her a kind smile and ran her fingers through her hair at her temple letting her adjust to her surroundings. "Hey... it's dinner time...you hungry?"

"Mmhmm..." Hermione let out her breath with a slow stretch looking down at the quill in her hand for a moment. She released it slowly before bringing her hand up to wipe away the tears, the ink that had been smeared on her fingers getting all over her cheeks.