A/N: I have to thank the Roxette song of the stories title for giving me the idea for this fic. It is post Hogwarts as well. Please enjoy.
Summery: Hermione is a top Auror caseworker, with partner issues. She is determined to work alone despite what she is told. That is until something horrible happens when she goes to confront the worst dark wizard group in England. How will she cope? And will she learn to work with her new partner and get through her past and present personal issues?
WARNING: Rape scene ahead. Read at own discretion.
DISCLAIMER: Only the plot.
Run To YouChapter One: The Attack
Hermione, 21, sat at her desk sorting through the files with her normal serious look upon her face. The door to her office was closed to keep the noise from other office rooms out as she finished organizing the file for the assignment she'd completed last month. But in the back of her mind her biggest assignment nagged her greatly. She stood with a sigh and left her office to hand the file into the head of the Auror department, Kingsley Shacklebolt.
People who passed Hermione in the hall said nothing to her. No one ever did except Harry and Ron. To everyone Hermione was the Ice Queen. Miss Independent. She talked to no one, other then her two best friends, so no one, but said best friends, said anything to her. In fact, no one liked Hermione that much. She walked around most of the time with her nose in a file and if she was disturbed for whatever reason she would snap. Nothing but work mattered to Hermione.
Hermione knocked on Kingsley's door and walked in with her polite smile, "Good morning sir. I have completed the case about those robberies at Hogsmeade. The two men have been charged and appear in court next week."
"Excellent," nodded Kingsley, "Now… Maria has transferred to the Auror department in France. She claims you took control of everything and didn't give her a chance to do any of the work."
"Well, I could handle it," shrugged Hermione, "Maria wasn't happy here anyway."
"That is what you say about all your partners."
"That is because it's true."
Kingsley sighed, "Hermione you need a partner. One day you are going to realise you need a partner but it will be too late."
Hermione gave Kingsley a disbelieving look, "Kingsley, I am capable of handling my cases. Is that all?"
"For now."
Hermione turned and left shaking her head. Why didn't they understand? She could deal with everything on her own. She didn't need a lousy partner to mess up her perfect work. She entered her office and shut the door grabbing the file containing her biggest assignment since becoming an Auror two years ago. She opened it and tapped the photo of one of the men involved with his pug-nosed partner.
"I will get you Blaise Zabini," muttered Hermione, "And you goons of partners."
The office door opened with the arrival of Harry and Ron. They looked over at the empty desk and both sighed in unison.
"Another partner?" said Harry in a bored tone, "How many is that for this month?"
"Three. Twelve in total for this year alone," said Hermione going through her notes, "I hate this! I know Blaise Zabini and his men raped those women! I just need to prove it!"
"And you will… when you get a partner and agree to work with them," said Ron bluntly, "Some cases are to big for one person to handle."
"I can handle this on my own. I know what I am doing and what I have to find."
"You always say that," sighed Harry shaking his head as Hermione stood up and collected her robe and wand, "Where are you going?"
"To confront Blaise Zabini," replied Hermione firmly, "It's now or never. I know where he will be. I won't be long."
"Hermione, no," said Ron grabbing her by the arm, "Are you insane? You need someone with you. A partner maybe?"
Hermione gave Ron an annoyed look and yanked her arm from him, "I can handle this Ron. I'm not a bloody moron."
"It's too dangerous," said Harry seriously, "You could be the next victim."
"Yeah right. Like I am going to let that happen," snapped Hermione before leaving with a crack.
HD
Hermione ran down the steps of Knockturn Alley. She rounded a corner keeping her hood up so no one knew her appearance. She stopped outside a sly looking pub and walked in. She scanned the room and sure enough at a table in the far corner sat Blaise Zabini with his goons all around him and Pansy on his lap whispering in his ear. Hermione rolled her eyes. Pansy had always been the pure sucker for a bad boy. She walked over and pulled out her ID badge when Blaise gave her the whole, 'who the hell are you?' look.
"Hermione Granger," said Blaise as Hermione pulled her hood down, "To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from you?"
"I need you to answer some questions for me," replied Hermione glaring at him, "Starting with, did you or any of your… idiot's rape Marcia Krum?"
"Marcia Krum?" sighed Blaise pretending to think seriously, "Hmm… isn't she that bimbo wife of Viktor Krum?"
"Just answer my question Zabini."
"No… no… but say, Crabbe didn't you have an affair with her?"
"Oh yeah sure," nodded Crabbe sniggering.
"See, Granger? No rape there. An affair instead."
"Well that's funny," said Hermione stepping forward and leaning on the table with her arms as she got close to Blaise's face, "Marcia is telling a different recount of events altogether. But who else, hmm? There is Lavender Brown, Padma Patil, Hannah Abbott, Cho Chang… all these women are claiming you or one of you other dim wits here raped them!"
"If it's rape Granger, where is the evidence of it?"
"There is none. But I know you lot did it. And once I have that proof, your going down," snarled Hermione before standing up, "All be back. Don't go leaving England any time soon."
Hermione turned and left, slamming the door on her way out. She turned in the direction of Diagon Alley and headed for it, pulling her hood up. As she stepped up the first step two strong arms grabbed her from behind pulling her backwards. Hermione fought furiously against the arms and tried to reach for her wand, but the hooded person took it before she had the chance. Angrily she kicked and screamed before being silenced with a single hissing word. Though no one could hear her, Hermione continued to scream as she was dragged up an empty alley forcefully. She looked around her fearfully, praying that someone would stumble upon them by accident before what she knew what was coming would happen.
'Stupid Hermione,' she thought over and over before thinking the one thing Kingsley warned she would think, 'I wish I had a partner.'
Her attacker bound her arms above her head to the wall and her feet to the ground. The attacker removed his hood revealing Blaise Zabini himself. Hermione swallowed a lump in her throat as he yanked her robe off her, ripping it at the sleeves. Hermione closed her eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks, one falling pitifully after the other. She bit her lower lip as he yanked down her grey muggle work skirt, black stockings, and underwear.
"Payback is a bitch, Granger," he hissed in her ear before ripping her white blouse open and yanking his own pants down, "All those pathetic women got on my wrong side and this," he paused as he thrust himself inside her, "was their punishment."
Hermione ignored him as he bit her breasts and continuously thrust himself in and out.
'Think other things Hermione,' she told herself before her mind snapped, 'Fight back. Do what you can to stop it.'
And that is what she did. When he tried to attack her lips as well she head butt him, wriggled her body the best she could, but doing that earned her a punch in the gut and slap across the face.
"Behave!" he growled as he finished with a groaning climax.
Once he was done, he stepped back and fixed his pants and pulled his hood back up. He walked over to her and grabbed her by the face.
"Keep this to your self, bitch," he said before waving his wand four times.
One did nothing, not that Hermione could think of, two unbound her hands, three returned her voice and four unbound her feet. At the last spell Hermione fell to the ground weakly with a sob escaping her mouth before she could stop it. She pulled her underwear and stockings up along with her skirt and fixed her blouse the best she could. She grabbed her tattered robe and found her wand discarded a few feet away. Collecting it she stood and apperated back to the Auror office. Her arrival sent shock waves through the entire department. Harry and Ron were quickly called for and took Hermione into their office.
"Ron get Kingsley," said Harry seriously as Hermione sat in his chair just staring at the floor with tears falling down her cheeks, "Hermione, what happened?"
Hermione shook her head and looked at Harry before saying quietly, "W-we need to get the rape test done before the evidence deteriorates. A-and go back to the scene in case something is found. This could catch him. This could solve the case, Harry. This is what we need."
"You getting attacked is not needed Hermione," replied Harry sending a message ahead to St Mungo's, "Who did this?"
"Your not listening to me," said Hermione standing up with her hands shaking, "Get a rape test done, now!"
"Calm down Hermione," said Kingsley walking in looking grave, "Harry get her to St Mungo's. Order them to do the rape test and give her a sleeping potion. I am ordering Hermione to rest for two weeks. Ron, get a team to Knockturn Alley and see if anyone saw or heard Hermione before and during the attack, but do not confront Zabini. Not yet."
"It's still my case!" cried Hermione as Harry held her by the arm, "I want to complete it!"
"Go now Harry."
HD
The next two hours were a blur for Hermione as reality set in of what happened to her. A female Doctor did the rape test and gave the results to Harry. Hermione only had to look at his face to know nothing had been found. That was the first spell. A cleaning one that would eliminate all evidence. Hermione turned her face away from Harry as they cleaned her wounds and then administered the sleeping potion.
When she woke again, the next day, she was in a new ward with the door closed. Hermione sat up and saw a tray of food ready to be eaten, but she wasn't hungry. If anything she wanted to go home and have a shower then curl up in bed and cry until she would fall asleep. The female Doctor from the day before checked her over and gave her a card of a good therapist that would help her deal with what happened.
"I don't need to see one," said Hermione softly, "I just need to catch the bastard."
Once she was released Hermione apperated to her small tidy apartment. She placed the card on her kitchen bench and walked across the dining room to the little hall that led into her bedroom. She walked into the ensuite bathroom and turned the shower on before undressing. She couldn't look at her body in the mirror and turned her face away as she stepped in. The hot water stung the wounds on her chest and stomach but with the pain came relief. For one brief moment it took away the fresh images of her attack.
Hermione scrubbed her body clean with the soap and washer. She washed her hair three times before it felt clean. She turned the shower off and wrapped a white towel around her.
At the mirror she wiped the fog from the glass and looked at her face. Her long brown main came to her elbows and it looked horrible. Opening the vanity draw she pulled out muggle scissors and cut it at her shoulders. A long clump fell to the ground followed by more and more until it was done. Satisfied, Hermione put the scissors away and brushed her teeth.
She walked back into her room and dressed into her baggiest clothing possible. Red track pants and a black jumper. Crookshanks climbed onto the bed with her and curled up beside Hermione protectively as she sobbed into her pillow until she fell asleep.
HD
His hands were all over her, with his lips nipping and biting at her flesh. She screamed for him to stop but it was pointless. He wouldn't stop, he wouldn't give up. This was payback for making him look a fool, for knowing the truth and not being afraid to admit it.
"Hermione," he said vengefully, "Hermione!"
"Hermione!"
Hermione sprang up screaming in between sobs and saw Harry sitting on the edge of her bed worriedly. She leant forward to him as he hugged her for what would be the first time in years. She cried into his shoulder as he rubbed her back until she calmed down enough to talk properly.
"What are you doing here?" asked Hermione wiping her tears away, "You should be at work."
"It's ten past seven in the evening," replied Harry, "But how are you coping?"
"I slept the day away. But the nightmares won't stop. I have to catch him Harry," said Hermione forcefully, "Not just for me, but for all the other women."
"I know. But Kingsley is getting you are partner. You have to co-operate with them Hermione. You know that."
Hermione didn't reply and stood up from her bed. She wandered out to the kitchen with Harry following.
"Is Ginny at home?" asked Hermione opening the fridge and pouring her self a glass of water, "Want some?"
"No thanks. She is. She was going to come and see you today."
"She knows?"
Harry nodded earning an annoyed look from Hermione, "Hermione, she is my girlfriend and future wife. Of course I am bound to tell her. Plus you both are best friends."
Hermione sighed and tipped the last bit of water down the sink, "I don't want everyone knowing what has happened. That is the last thing I need… when can I go back to work?"
"Two weeks. Kingsley's orders that you take time and… heal from what happened."
Hermione groaned, "I am going to go insane."
"You are going to rest," said Harry firmly, "Visit people – visit your parents."
"No," said Hermione firmly, "No, I am not visiting them."
HD
"Kingsley wants to see us," said Ron poking his head into his and Harry's office the next day, "It's important too."
Harry nodded and followed Ron to their boss's office. Kingsley gestured they shut the door behind them before they sat in the two spare seats.
"What's going on?" asked Harry.
"Although Hermione's mafia case has become personal for her now, I feel I cannot take it from her and give it to someone else to complete. She will want to complete it as a way of getting closure of what happened to her," said Kingsley, "Which means I am going to have to get her a partner who will put up with her independent ways and make her share the work load."
"That is the impossible," sighed Ron, "The longest partner she has had is Jim. He lasted two weeks."
Harry nodded remembering poor Jim all to well.
"Actually I think I have found the perfect man for the job. He seems to be just as stubborn as she is and actually requested to be placed with her."
"Who is it?"
"Draco Malfoy. He has been working in Germany for the past year and wants to come back to England. He says he knows Hermione."
"He gave Hermione nothing but a hard time at school," said Harry, "You can't put him with her. Not after what just happened."
"I understand. But look guys; he is the only one I think who can force Hermione into working as a team. If she doesn't accept him then I will have no choice but to take the case from her and assign it to some other team."
Harry and Ron sighed. Deep down both knew this was the only way and that Draco was the perfect man for the job, not that either were willing to admit that fact out loud.
"Fine," Harry said, "But you can inform Hermione when she returns."
"Of course I will," nodded Kingsley.
"Good luck with that," added Ron before leaving with Harry.
HD
Hermione peered out the window of her front door to see Harry and Ron standing on her front porch. She unlocked the door and let them in with a small smile. Small smiles were all she could manage now. Ron gave her a brief hug and then held out a new book he brought her.
"I know it doesn't… change things but I thought it might help keep you from going insane," shrugged Ron, even he admitted his wasn't good with dealing other peoples emotions.
"Thanks Ron," said Hermione studying the cover of the book, which was about the history of magical communities worldwide.
"You cut your hair," said Harry noticing it for the first time, "I only just realised."
"I got sick of it being so long," mumbled Hermione placing the book on her coffee table, "I'll be back in a second. I just need to use the bathroom."
Hermione wandered into her room as Harry and Ron sat on the lounge.
"Why would she cut it?" frowned Ron, "It took her forever to get it that long."
"A rape victim generally tries to re-establish their personality by sometimes making a drastic change. In other words, Hermione cutting her hair is her way of trying to escape the terror of what happened by changing her appearance."
Ron gave a nod of understanding, "Well, it suits her that length."
Harry nodded in agreement as Hermione reappeared and sat on the single seater with her legs drawn up to her body, "How was work?"
"Oh good… good. Ron and I had to testify in court about the Robinson murder," said Harry, "Other then that it was paper work."
"Yeah. Tonks said she hopes you are doing good. So does Lupin," added Ron.
"Does everybody in the city know what happened?" asked Hermione with an irritated look.
"Only Auror's and a few other people."
Hermione just nodded and fiddled with her jumper sleeve, "Oh, um, do you both want a coffee or something?"
"No," both said in unison.
Hermione looked at them curiously. Both looked as if they were hiding something from her but wouldn't say a word of whatever it was. Harry noticed Hermione's studying eye and quickly stood. Even he knew her profiling skills would see through their act.
"So, we better go. Ginny will have dinner ready soon," said Harry glancing at Ron, "If you want to join us Hermione, you are more then welcome too."
"No," said Hermione shaking her head, "I'm having a night in with some toast and my new book."
"Sounds thrilling," joked Ron trying to make Hermione smile. He succeeded slightly with her giving a half smile, "We'll come and see you tomorrow. And I will bring you chocolate so you can have a date with that instead of toast."
"Thanks."
Hermione farewelled her friends and locked the door behind them. She walked into her kitchen and cooked some toast smearing it with strawberry jam. She curled up on her sofa and turned her television on for noise before indulging herself in the book Ron thoughtfully brought her. But two hours later she was sound asleep with the images of her attack swimming constantly in her nightmares.
HD
"How is she coping?" asked Ginny climbing into bed beside Harry as he read the paper.
Harry folded the paper up and dropped it to the ground beside the bed. He drew Ginny closer with his arm around her waist, "The best she can. I think a visit from you will help her speak out about what happened. All Ron and I know is she was raped… she hasn't said anything else about it really."
Ginny nodded snuggling closer to Harry, "Maybe. Has she contacted her parents at all?"
"No. She will in her own time I suppose. But she is as stubborn as they are."
"It's been three years now Harry. A lot has changed since then."
"I know," said Harry with a nod, "But we can't force Hermione into talking to them. She will when she is ready and I guess contacting her parents is the last thing on her mind at the moment."
"Hmm… well let's get some sleep," suggested Ginny running her finger up Harry's stomach and chest, "But I do have other ideas if you are interested."
Harry gave a chuckle, mingling with a deep seductive growl as he pulled Ginny closer.
HD
"NO!" cried Hermione falling off her lounge with a thud. She looked around her and realised she had spent the entire night asleep on the lounge. Her book was beside her with Crookshanks looking at her from the other side of the lounge room.
Standing up, Hermione picked the book up and closed it before placing it on her coffee table. She headed into the bathroom and had a hot shower, once again scrubbing her body clean from the invisible hands that tortured her during the night. After showing she dressed into loose jeans and a crème coloured hooded jacket. She dried her hair and let it curl wildly. After a breakfast of a mere apple and coffee she looked around her house wondering what to do now. Everything was clean, as it was always. Crookshanks feed bowl was still fairly full, as was his water. Seeing the kitty litter tray needed changing, Hermione busied her self-doing that before coming to a halt. Now what?
The ring of the doorbell saved her from walking throughout her house in a bored manner. She walked over and peered out the window seeing Ginny dressed in her normal stylish manner, holding a covered container, probably containing her famous stew. Hermione unlocked the door and let her best friend in before locking it behind her.
"Sorry I came around without warning," said Ginny placing the container on the bench, "But after I heard I just wanted to come around and Harry said you could do with some friendly company."
Hermione half smiled. She knew Ginny was the one she needed to see, the person she could break down in front of without feeling weak and stupid.
"Come on Hermione," said Ginny leading her over to the lounges, "Let it all out. I can tell you have been holding it all in."
Hermione nodded and the tears began falling as she told the recount of horrific events. Ginny held onto Hermione's hand the entire time just listening with tears in her own eyes as Hermione pushed her self through the retelling of events.
"I couldn't do anything," said Hermione at the end, "I tried, Ginny. I swear I did… and I was too weak. I was powerless. There is no evidence that Zabini did it, only my mind. And these days they won't use a pensive thanks to those scums of Death Eaters… I'm so stupid."
"No your not."
"Yes I am!" cried Hermione angrily, the anger directed at her self, "I should of taken someone with me. But no, I was too proud! I just wouldn't believe that I needed help!"
"Not every one can tell the future," said Ginny softly, "You didn't know what would happen. Don't blame yourself."
Hermione just closed her eyes in a bid to stop more tears from falling. She lent forward and rested her head in her hands taking a deep breath. After sitting up she looked at Ginny with wide brown eyes.
"What do I do Ginny?" whispered Hermione helplessly, "I can't sleep without having nightmares. I want to go to work but I am too scared to leave the house. What do I do?"
Ginny gave a slow nod and sighed, "Firstly, lets go have some stew. It always helps with calming people down. Then we will work out what needs to be done after that. I am staying with you all day today. I am sure my restaurant can survive one day without me."
A/N: This is my first M rated fic. Wow… anyway what do you all think? Please be honest with me on this.
Until next time…
Love yas!
Love Coz!