Since Draco had turned up on the doorstep of the Godric's Hollow house with his mother in tow, reality had begun to seep back into Hermione's life. Since she, Harry, and Ron had arrived at Godric's; after the torture at the Malfoy Manor; after Griphook stole the sword; after life had ceased to be focused on defeating Voldemort by destroying horcruxes, and become consumed by the long, bloody war, Hermione had gone numb. It hadn't been healthy, shutting herself away and retreating, distancing herself from everything as best she could. Tutoring Ginny at the kitchen table while the rest of the Order was out on missions. Being afraid of everything. Closing herself up inside a shell of bearable numbness that made the horrors of war unable to really touch her.