Gone and Back Again

Chapter Four

Hermione thrashed her body, screaming. Hot tears burned at her cheeks. The tile floor of the ballroom biting at her injured body as her howling echoed off the walls. Blood pooled on her clothing at the wounds. Bellatrix had her full weight on Hermione's chest, taunting her. Try as she might, the young girl could not buck the older witch off of her. Lucius Malfoy watched her as his crazed sister in law teased Hermione's skin with blades. Another fresh cut caused another scream to rip through her chest "Help me! Please! No!"

She jerked her arm loose of Belltrix knee, and swung for the witches head, catching her cheek. The shrill anger was the cue Hermione had knocked the bitch off enough. She took the opportunity to jerk out from under Belltrix, who was regrettably faster than Hermione knew. She was thrown forcefully onto her chest, her head smashed into the floor before having her jumper ripped to expose her back.
"Tsk tsk Muddy, you should be playing nice, I just wanted some girl chat"

Cackling, Bellatrix snatched a fistful of hair, and twisted it into her fist. "Now lets show my dear Lucius what pretty little noises you make"

Hermione found Lucius staring at her with...remorse? Did he fear for her life? Did he care? The thoughts cut short as another scream tore through as the blade was drug across her back.

"Hermione!"

She woke choking on a potion being poured down her throat. Madame Pomfrey stared at her as if she were possessed. Professor Dumbledore was watching her from a distance, his head cocked off to one side, her letters in his hand. Professor McGonnagal was patting Hermione's face with a damp cloth. They all looked the same, but not. They were still the way she remembered, but all seemed as they did from her first year of Hogwarts too. The stress of the war hasn't changed them yet.

"You're safe, child. Breathe."

It felt so good to hear McGonnagals voice again. The one woman who had always helped at all costs to ensure she was safe. It was like being with her mother, again. Tears pricked at the back of her eyes as she tried to steady her breathing. Ground yourself. How many pillars in this room? How many windows, how many beds?

"Poppy tells me that young Severus helped you here. You were close to dancing with death, dear." Dumbledore finally spoke, before holding up the letters she had addressed to him. "As soon as Poppy sees you healed, and you're ready, Minerva will bring you to my office to discuss these letters, and your stay here with us. Please take your time."

Dumbledore smiled, before making his way out of the hospital wing.

How did he find the letters? Did Severus go through my bag? Where is my bag?!

Hermione sat up, discarding her blankets and quickly throwing her legs off the side of the bed. "Madame Pomfrey, have you seen my wand and purse, please?"

The gown the healer had dressed Hermione in was quickly wrapped around her form. The scars on her body, however, did not go unnoticed.

"The chest at the end of the bed, dear." Pomfrey motioned toward the small wooden box "the Snape boy, put everything in there when he gave you to me."

Trembling, she ran to the box for her things. A slight relief washed over her, as the security charms hadn't been broken. How did he get the letters?
Her feet felt like lead as she moved back to the bed, exhausted.

"Come, Poppy, let the young lady dress." The thick brogue flooding Hermione with memories, as they left her on the side of her hospital bed.

A flick of her wand closed a curtain around her, before placing a silencing charm. Pull yourself together! There are lives at stake! You have a task to complete! Yet the tears flowed, unwelcome, as she pulled what she needed from the satchel and recited the list of horcruxes to herself.