Brand New Day

Brand New Day

Chapter 2: Finding Home

Sick and tired of this world and there's no more air

Tripping over myself, going nowhere

Waiting, suffocating

No direction and I took a dive

"Come on, Ginny, we gotta go," Hermione told her, attempting to pull the girl from the bedroom. All she did was groan in resistance and lay on Ron's bed, clutching one of the soft aged pillows. "Oh, Ginny." Hermione gave up on pulling and sat at her side.

"How can you ask me to leave here after what happened?" Ginny said, sounding weepy. "I can't."

"Yes, you can. You have to leave. We'll be late for the train if you don't."

"I don't care. I miss Ron!" Ginny burst into sobs and threw her arms around Hermione's neck, as she fought not to cry herself.

"I know, Ginny. I know you do. It'll be all right, though."

There was a knock at the door. "You two coming?" It was Harry.

Hermione sniffled. "Yeah, just give us a second." She turned to Ginny. "Come on. Let's get your things."

And on the way down I saw you and you saved me from myself

And I won't forget the way you loved me

On the way down I almost fell right through

But I held onto you

---

"STUPEFY!"

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

"PROTEGO!"

"IMPEDIMENTIA!"

Hundreds of curses were being shouted at one time and Ron threw himself and Hermione down to the ground to avoid being hit. He got up to go on and Hermione grabbed the hem of his robes to stop him, but he went on anyway.

I was so afraid of going under

But now the weight of the world feel like nothing, no, nothing

Down down down, you're all I wanted

Down down down, you're all I needed now

Down down down, you're all I wanted, you're all I needed

And I won't forget the way you loved me

All that I wanted, all that I needed

On the way down I saw you and you saved me from myself

And I won't forget the way you loved me

On the way down I almost fell right through

But I held onto you

Down down down, I held onto you

Down down down, I held onto you (to you, held onto you)

Hermione regretted ever letting him go but snatched up her wand and set off into the woods with the others that went charging on, kicking and punching, using their wands or not.

The ground was sopping wet with drenched, thick mud and Hermione had to dodge trees and spells as she went on looking for Ron and Harry.

The forest was dark and if it weren't for the thousand or so spells lighting her way it would have been pitch black. A white light zoomed in her direction from the side and she ducked just in time. The curse hit a tree and burned a hole straight through it.

There in front of her stood a much larger tree, so wide, in fact, that not even Grawp could have bent it back. It seemed to be three times the width and size he'd been. Hermione gulped at the memory of him almost grabbing her up in his massive hands. Surrounding the huge tree were hundreds of wizards battling each other. She spotted Dumbledore who was fighting off two dementors and a Death Eater with ease. He probably would have yawned. And close by was Ron who had shot a Stunning Charm at a Death Eater and knocked him down. She heard him shout, "Petrificus Totalus!" to another Death Eater. He collapsed and fell over backwards.

She hadn't realized she'd been running towards him until she was grabbed from behind and pulled behind a tree. She turned to see Harry looking both angry and worried. "What did I tell you? I told you to stay down! What are you doing?" He had to yell to be heard.

"I'm not going to let you two die on me, that's what!" she shouted, yanking herself away from him and turning back to find Ron. She had to reach him before...

When she found him next, shortly after Harry grabbed her, she found him to be overcome with a circle of Death Eaters. He tried to fight them off but it was no use. And Hermione found herself to be no help. Her feet seemed to be full of cement. She couldn't scream or move at all.

'Cause on the way down I saw you and you saved me from myself

And I won't forget the way you loved me

On the way down I almost fell right through

But I held onto you

Until suddenly, she found her voice. "RON, NO!" She barely moved in inch when green lights surrounded him and what she saw next made tears brim in her eyes. Harry grabbed her around the waist again as she swayed back and forth dangerously on the spot.

She couldn't even see who it was through her tears. He was very tall and had blond hair though. But plenty of people had blond hair. So that didn't help at all. And he was laughing. Laughing!

She was forced to watch and just as Ron fell to the forest floor, Hermione fainted in Harry's arms...

"I let him go," Hermione mumbled. "I let him go."

"What are you saying, Hermione?" Harry asked from beside her.

Hermione was pulled out of her reverie like a fish out of water and found that she was quite beside herself. Harry and Seamus were playing Wizard Chess while Ginny was watching mutely, hugging her knees. Hermione realized she'd dozed off.

She looked around again to find that the sun was going down a little.

"W-what time is it?" she asked.

"Five thirty," Seamus answered, taking a second to look at his watch. "Queen to E4." The queen piece moved forward and smashed Harry's knight.

"Damn," he muttered. "Hermione, what were you saying?"

"N-nothing," she lied quickly. Harry gave her a furtive look of disbelief, but continued playing. "Are we almost there yet?"

"Nearly," Harry said, moving his rook piece left and up a space. "You should go get changed."

"Yes," Hermione said, standing. "Yes, I should. I think I will." She made for the compartment door but it swung open, knocking her back onto her rump with a loud kur-thunk! Draco Malfoy stood in the doorway looking rather smug with himself for some reason... or another. Crabbe and Goyle weren't standing behind them as usual.

"Mudblood, Potter, Finnigan and the Weaslette," he drawled, smirking. "So I hear that the Mudblood made Head Girl." She blushed as she fixed her skirt and stood again. "Figures."

"And what's it to you, Malfoy? You make Head Boy or something? Would surprise me the way you behave," she replied nastily.

He scowled at her. "Matter of fact, Granger, I did."

"Good for you," Harry said with an edge to his tone. "Get out."

Malfoy pushed past Hermione, stepping into the compartment. Harry stood so fast he knocked the Chessboard over into Seamus' lap.

"Too bad about Weasley, isn't it?" he persisted, a twinkle in his eye. He looked like he might laugh. Hermione gasped and Harry moved to pull out his wand, but no sooner had Ginny stood and had Malfoy against the door of the room with her wand, shaking all over, hate in her eyes. Everyone was a little shocked to see her react this way.

"GET THE FUCK OUT OR I'LL KILL YOU! YOU GIVE ME A REASON TO AND I SWEAR TO GOD I WILL! GET -- OUT!" she screamed, her voice straining as she trembled. "DON'T YOU DARE TALK ABOUT MY BROTHER LIKE THAT, YOU SON OF A --"

The door swung open again and Seamus, quickly reacting, covered Ginny's mouth with his hand and pulled her back, holding her around the waist to keep her from charging. The lady with the food trolly spoke. "Who was that yelling? A shout-fest going on in here or something?"

He fervently shook his head, while Ginny struggled to kick Malfoy who was smirking again. God, she would murder him if she was given the chance. In a heartbeat.

"Keep it down, please."

"Yes, of course," Seamus said. "We'll keep it down."

The trolly lady exited and shut the door again. Harry waited until he was sure she was of earshot. He then threw Malfoy against the wall, holding him by his collar of his t-shirt. "Listen to me, you bastard. You ever touch Hermione or Ginny again, or even mention Ron's name and I swear you'll regret the day you were born. You understand me?" he whispered in a dangerous whisper.

"Harry?" Hermione muttered in shock. Her mouth was opening and shutting like a fish. She could hardly believe that Draco had pushed her.

Harry gave him one last shove against the door and released him, huffing as he (Harry) found Hermione and held her to him protectively. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest.

"Oh how sweet of you," Malfoy mocked.

Ginny let out a growl and Seamus released her. She went flying and chased Malfoy right out the door. She came back inside and slammed the door, mumbling to herself. Something like,"I'll kill him, I will... I bloody will..." She sat back in her seat still muttering.

It was a while before Harry, Seamus, and Hermione sat back down again.

---

Sitting in the rocking carriage that was taking them to the doors of Hogwarts, Ginny (no longer mumbling curses of what she'd do to Malfoy next time she saw him), Seamus, Neville, Harry, and Hermione sat rather quietly, neither looking at one another. In fact, Ginny was the quietest of them all, resting her head on Hermione's shoulder. It gave everyone chills when she finally spoke again.

"I -- hate -- him," she said calmly.

"Don't know why the git bothered. Seeing as he didn't have Crabbe or Goyle with him," Harry answered.

"Where are they anyway?" she said, turning her head.

"Honestly, I couldn't care less."

"I hate him, I hate him, I hate him," Ginny repeated. Tears stung her eyes and she gave a raspy gasp of breath as she fought to hold them in. "How dare he say such things?"

Hermione patted her hand. "Don't worry."

There was a bump that nearly knocked Harry, Hermione, and Ginny from their side of the carriage. "If he even glances at you the wrong way, Hermione, I'll tear him in half."

"I'll be fine, Harry. Don't you worry either. You've got Quidditch to worry about. You and Ginny both."

"And I hope we kill Slytherin in the first match. I know we will. Then we'll see who has the last laugh."

---

Hermione lay in Head Quarters that night, lying fully awake. She couldn't sleep no matter how she tried. All she could think about was Ron and what Malfoy said on the train. Stupid, evil jerk! She wished he'd just jump off a cliff.

She had just finished an hour or so ago with Head duties, making sure all the students had gone to bed and such. Any strays were sent to their dormitories immediately.

Mrs. Norris was bustling around as usual, sniffing out anything she could. Filch, with a hundred eyes, was glaring around madly.

Hermione and Malfoy crossed paths a few times and she didn't give a first glance. She wouldn't give him the pleasure.

And after that she reported to Dumbledore, took a shower in the Head bathroom and went to bed.

But still, she had lain wide awake.

---

Draco was boasting about something Ginny, Harry, and Hermione noticed at lunch that day.

"Weasley was no use anyway. Stupid fool. He deserved every bit of what he got." He seemed to be talking as loud as possible. That was definitely a mistake on his part.

Before Hermione could stop her, Ginny had jumped over the table and yanked Malfoy to the floor from his seat.

"Weaslette, what do you think you're--" he said rudely as he stood up. He would have continued but Ginny raised her fist and WHAM!

Ginny looked down at her aching hand, hardly believing what she'd done without thinking. Malfoy was holding a hand over his eye and when he pulled it away there was a ring developing around his eye. She was shaking with rage again. She wasn't going to take his shit this year.

He made to move and slap her but Harry had dived over the table himself, and knocked him to the ground. There was a loud crash of noise as plates and people shouted, standing and climbing on tables to watch the fight. Ginny moved back out of the way and Hermione joined her side. Malfoy and Harry were punching one another, mostly Harry, beating him with all his strength. But Malfoy got a few hits in himself. But before things got too out of hand, Dumbledore, Snape, and McGonagall appeared, separating the two boys, holding them back as Professor McGonagall shrieked, "What were you two thinking? Detention! Both of you! And you, Ms. Weasley!"

There was still a raucous of noise in the Hall and Dumbledore shouted for everyone to be quiet in his loud booming voice. And just like that, it was quiet again and everyone was sitting down in their seats.

Hermione watched tearfully as Harry, Ginny, and Malfoy were jerked from the Great Hall.

---

Ginny, Harry, and Malfoy were given detention together in Filch's office, cleaning the school trophies the very same night.

And as they scrubbed and polished, Ginny muttered angrily to herself. McGonagall was sending a letter home to her parents. She didn't bother to for Harry because she knew that the Dursleys wouldn't care, and seeing as Draco's parents had died in the war a summer ago, she had no one to write home to.

Draco had a shiner from Ginny on his left eye, a bruise on his shoulder (only Ginny knew), and a cut along his jaw line. Harry had a black eye and a cut from his lip. Ginny, however, had been unharmed for the most part. She had a mere bandage around her fist. It was still a little sore. Madam Pomfrey refused to heal them properly as they'd gotten in the fight "on purpose".

She'd watched Malfoy throw his shirt off to reveal the bruise on his shoulder, possible from when she yanked him out of his chair, as Madam Pomfrey cleaned up any blood and any heavy damage. She looked away, disgusted with herself. How had she let him get the best of her?

"I hope you know I hate you Weaslette," Malfoy said in the middle of detention.

"I hope you know the feelings are ferociously mutual," Harry muttered.

"You too, Potter," he said acidly, turning his head. "You're just mad because I--"

"Keep your fat lip shut or you won't have a tongue to speak with, Malfoy," Ginny said dangerously. She suddenly glared at him with those eyes. "Or if you'd like another black-eye to make you look more like a raccoon, keep on talking. I dare you."

That shut him up...

Filch returned hours later, at midnight, and the three put their rags down, all breathing hard and tired. Filch checked the trophies that were polished to perfection and allowed them to leave.

Draco went in the opposite direction to his Head dorm.

Ginny and Harry were walking in silence for quite a while.

"I don't trust him one bit," she said as they reached the portrait of the fat lady. "Cockroach Cluster." The fat lady yawned, but didn't stir in her sleep. "Cockroach Cluster!" Ginny shouted in her haste, stomping her foot. The fat lady stirred this time.

"No need to scream," she said, swinging open.

"I don't trust him either," Harry said, closing the portrait door. "Not as far as I can throw him."

---

Meanwhile, Draco was on his way back to bed to think up devious plans to destroy the wizarding world. Not really, but he hadn't the purest thoughts in his mind that night.

---

The next day Hermione did her morning rituals, one that included straightening and smoothing her nappy curly hair, and headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

She hesitated at the oak doors, thinking to herself, Terrible things seem to happen there, don't they? Don't be a baby, Hermione. You just have to face them head on!

She breathed deeply and entered the cool room, soon joining Harry and Ginny both looking worse for wear; Harry had a black eye and Ginny just looked as if she hadn't slept the night before.

And truly, she hadn't. She'd stayed up all night missing Ron's bed, missing home for the first time ever being at Hogwarts. She didn't want to be here at all and just wanted to return to Ron's bed at Grimmauld Place. She just wanted to lye there forever and never have to worry about anything. She wanted to pretend like Ron was still alive and nothing had happened.

But as she sighed, she knew in her heart it couldn't be that way.

Ginny just stared into her bowl of porridge as if trying to find something deep within its contents.

Hermione turned to Harry who hadn't even helped himself to anything. Hermione just bowed her head in silence.

"Hermione, we need to talk," he said abruptly in that voice of nowhere. "Come on." He stood up and expectantly, she stood up after him. He didn't speak as he guided her out of the hall. Ginny didn't even notice them leave. She didn't notice that someone was watching her...

Hermione gulped as he led them outside into the bright, warm sun. She knew nothing good came after "we need to talk".

Harry stopped at the lake, his back to her still. "Harry, what is it?" she asked timidly. She touched his shoulder but he flinched away as he turned around. Her eyebrows furrowed. "Are you mad with me? Is that it?"

He shook his head. "No." He continued to speak like every word tasted funny in his mouth. "I'm afraid for you, Hermione. You mustn't stay around me anymore. I think it best that you find new friends or something." He looked away as he said this.

She felt and let the tears rise and fall from her eyes. "Harry, I don't understand--"

"Ron was killed because of me and I'm not risking the chance of you dying too."

"No, Harry! I'm not just going to forget about you just like that!" she cried.

"You have to."

"I couldn't." Her voice was suddenly whisper quiet like there was no air in her lungs. "It isn't fair to me or you. I couldn't just leave you alone."

"I'm not alo--" He cut himself off.

She gave him a watery smile. "Who else do you have?" She stepped closer to him. "I will always stay by you no matter what, Harry."

"But--"

"I knew what I was getting into the moment I met you. Ron and I both did. You don't have to worry about me." She touched the side of his face just below his blackened eye and he cringed. "Does it hurt much?" she asked, moving her hand away. He glanced at her hand and then back at her face.

Been wondering why it's only me

Have you always been inside waiting to breathe?

It's all right, sunlight on my face

Wake up, yeah, I'm alive

"No," he said in a low voice. He leaned down a little and hesitated. Just as he did though, Seamus came rushing outside, yelling out to them. They sprung apart. She didn't, however, see Harry close his eyes and sigh while gritting his teeth.

"Come quick!" Seamus yelled.

"What is it?" Harry yelled back.

"Ginny! She's gone off on Malfoy again!"

Harry and Hermione didn't wait for Seamus to turn around as they sprinted in the direction of the Great Hall.

There they watched as a circle of students surrounded someone with red shining hair, Ginny perhaps. Yes. Malfoy was lying on the ground writhing in pain or cold, Hermione wasn't sure. He seemed to have been doused in freezing water as all his clothes were soaked. So it was most likely cold and a numbing sting. Ginny still had her wand pointed at him. He looked up at her and Hermione noticed his pink cheek. She'd obviously slapped him for something because she had that look in her eyes again. Her chest was heaving up and down and her hair was mussed up some. Her wand hand shook.

"All right, that's enough of this you two," McGonagall said calmly but with an air of annoyance in her tone. "Both of you come with me now." Ginny didn't move for a moment but watched Malfoy shakily get up and walk passed her. Then, she followed, her wand lowered and hidden in the depths of her robe pocket.

Harry and Hermione shared a glance but looked away quickly. They knew without words where they were headed.

They were going to follow Ginny and find out what happened. Breakfast could wait.

---