A/N: I know! Another story! I should be finishing my other two stories! But what can I say? I'm a glutton for punishment! This is my second Draco/Hermione EVER! Yes! Applaud me, I know! This is going to get pretty angsty and at some points, there will be intense language, so if it does become too much, I warned you right now. Oh, and no, I don't own Harry Potter. Just in case you were wondering.

Fear

Fear was all she could feel as he pinned her to the wall. She wanted to escape into her own mind, but the stone kept cutting into her back, keeping her trapped in the painful reality she was in. She tried not show any sign of her fear, or her pain, but she couldn't fight the tears that were streaming down her face. She had tried to fight him off. But he easily overcame her. She could feel the left side of her face swelling from her he had slapped her, hard. Her wand had been tossed to the side. She was now defenseless as he kissed her neck and shoved her skirt up over her hips.

"You've always wanted this Granger," he growled into her ear, "I could see it in your eyes when you looked at me."

"Please don't do this," she pleaded, making her hate herself even more for what was happening, "Please. I promise I won't tell. Just don't do this."

"Shut up you mudblood bitch," he screamed in her face as he pulled her hair down, exposing her throat to him. Hermione opened her mouth in a silent scream. She has been through a lot, she has known fear. But what she was feeling right at this moment was incomparable to anything else. Even facing Death Eaters last year was nothing compared to this. Hermione whimpered, but stayed silent. She felt her stomach roll when his hot breath hit her face.

"You don't have to lie to me Granger. I know you want this just as bad as I do," he whispered to her, then shoved her underwear down. Hermione's fear reached an all-time high, and she began to struggle against him again. He growled before slapping her across the face again. But this time Hermione didn't stop fighting. He shoved her to the ground, and Hermione's heard the crack as her head collided with the floor. She felt her head getting dizzy as she tried to get away, but she felt his weight come on top of her and hold her down. Her breath hitched and her body tensed when she heard his belt coming loose, and the zipper coming down.

"You are going to get what you've been wishing for Granger," he told her just before she felt the pain shoot from her pelvis throughout her body. Fresh tears fell down her face as she cried out. She wanted to move, but he was heavy on top of her, his hands keeping her arms to her sides.

"It's ok love," he whispered to her gently as he continued to move against her unwilling body, "The pain will leave soon, and it'll feel good." But the pain never left. And the moments he was inside her felt like forever. Soon her cries stopped, but she whimpered as he groaned out his release. It felt like a million years before he moved away from her and zipped his pants back up. She thought he would finally just leave her alone, but suddenly he grabbed her by the throat and lifted her up into the air. She could feel her air supply lessening as he tightened his hand just a fraction. He looked into her eyes, and all she could see was pitch black.

"You keep your promise Granger, and don't tell anyone about what happened here tonight," he said to her. He pulled her face close to his, and although she couldn't breathe anymore, she didn't try to fight to get him to release her. She just dangled in his hand like a rag doll. He snarled before throwing her to the ground again. Hermione curled up into a ball, her sobs echoing throughout the empty classroom. She couldn't bring herself to do anything other than closing her eyes and wishing that the ground would swallow her whole.

~0~0~

This year had so far been emotionally and physically draining to Draco. He didn't know how he was supposed to complete his task for the Dark Lord, and hated his father for dragging him into this mess. He was, for lack of a better term, afraid. Afraid for Dumbledore, afraid for his parents, afraid for himself. He didn't know what to do anymore. He was tired of living in fear. He wished he could be a normal teenage wizard. Not a Malfoy, not a Death Eater, just Draco. Where all he had to worry about was homework, Quidditch, and girls.

These thoughts were running throughout his mind when he heard a whimper coming from one of the empty classrooms. This was a mostly deserted part of the castle, which was why he frequented it so much. To get away from everyone else and be alone to his own thoughts. He was pulled back to reality when he heard a broken sob come from the same empty classroom. He knew the moment he stepped inside that room he would be pulled into a whole mess of crap that he didn't want be a part of. But his heart won out over his head, and he stepped inside to find a bruised and bleeding Hermione Granger on the ground. He swore to himself before going to her and kneeling down. He saw that she to large bruises on her face, bruises around her neck where someone must have grabbed her. He saw some blood clumping her hair in the back, and saw her underwear a few feet away from them.

He swore to himself again before moving closer to her. He leaned down and said quietly to her, "It's ok Granger. You're safe now." What the hell are you doing Draco, he said to himself before gently placing his arms underneath her legs and around her back. She whimpered again as he slowly stood up, and was surprised at how light she was. She seemed to be in her own hell-filled world and had barely even registered he was there, which he preferred. He shifted her a little bit to grab his wand and summoned her underwear to him. He blushed lightly as he tried to figure out what to do with them before deciding to just put them in his pocket. He was getting ready to walk out when Hermione began to stir in his arms.

Draco froze as he waited for her to say or do something. He looked down to find big brown eyes staring back at him.

"Malfoy," she whispered out, her voice croaky from having a hand around her windpipe. She was surprised, but she couldn't bring herself to feel anything else.

"It's ok Granger. You're safe now. I'm going to take you to the hospital wing," he told her as gently as he could so as not to spook her. Her eyes widened even more as she clutched onto the lapel of his jacket.

"No, please don't! He'll hurt me if anyone finds out," she cried out. Draco shook his head.

"He's not going to hurt you again Granger. I'll protect you," he told her, and mentally kicked himself for saying such a thing. Hermione's bottom lip trembled, her eyes glistening with tears.

"Why are you helping me," she asked, her voice soft again. Draco sighed heavily.

"That's a good question Granger. I'll tell you when I have the answer myself," he told her before walking out of the empty classroom and heading towards the hospital wing. Draco tried to stay hidden and stealthy as possible. He didn't want people to think he had done this to her, or for her to be bombarded with questions. These types of things needed the upmost care and delicacy, something most Gryffindors lacked. He noticed about halfway there that Hermione had passed out again, and Draco picked up speed, worried about the head injury she might have gotten. He practically ran the rest of the way, trying his hardest not to jostle her too much. He was thankful for Quidditch and the physical demands of being a Death Eater, or else carrying her would have been a much harder challenge. Soon he crashed through the doors to the hospital wing, surprising Madame Pomfrey.

"Mr. Malfoy, what is the matter! What is wrong with Ms. Granger," she asked as she scuttled over to them. She gestured for him to put her down. He took a deep breath before beginning to explain.

"I found her in an empty classroom on the south side of castle. I think she hit her head on the ground, and her face is pretty beat up," he told her as she puttered around, grabbing potions and such. Draco continued, "I think she was raped."

The older witch gasped then stared at Draco, "Do you know who did it?"

"No. By the time I got there, whoever did this was long gone. She was getting ready to fight me on coming here but I insisted," he explained. He felt weird as Madame Pomfrey continued to stare at him for a moment, but she soon turned back to her patient, who was still completely knocked out.

Draco was arguing with himself on whether or not he should leave. He really didn't want to get involved, and was cursing his luck that it was he that had found the muggle-born witch and not someone else. He knew that getting involved with Granger in any capacity would be detrimental to his plans, and his life. Unfortunately, just as he decided to leave Dumbledore and McGonagall came swooping into the room.

"How is she doing Poppy," Dumbledore asked quietly, not wanting to disturb the resting girl. Draco could tell the both Professors were deeply upset.

"She's resting right now. She has a severe concussion, bruises on her throat, signifying that someone was strangling her. She also has two large bruises on her face; I'm sure from getting hit. And she was raped," Madame Pomfrey told the two Professors, her voice detached and clinical. Draco figured it was the only way for her to not be overcome with feelings. Dumbledore was solemn as he nodded, before turning to Draco.

"Can you please tell me what happened Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore told him, and Draco knew an order when he heard one.

"I found her like that in one of the empty classrooms on the south side of the school. I don't know who did this, but she was really shaken up about me taking her here. I think he threatened her as well," Draco said, trying to stay as calm as possible. He had seen a lot of things these past few months, but he hated the defeated look Hermione had in her eyes when she saw him.

"Very well. Can I trust that you will keep this matter to yourself," Dumbledore asked. Draco nodded without hesitation. Dumbledore nodded as well before turning back to Pomfrey.

"We'll keep this matter amongst ourselves. No one is to know other than Severus, Filius, and Pomona to investigate with in the houses. Not even Mr. Potter or Mr. Weasley. We shall leave that for her to decide. We must make sure that we keep the upmost discretion to protect Ms. Granger," Dumbledore told the group surrounding the young girl, unaware of a nosy sixth year that had woken up from the initial crash of Draco coming in. She absorbed all of the information, and a cruel grin spread across her lips.

The four standing was otherwise unaware of this, and continued to talk for a few more minutes, asking Draco the same questions, which he produced the same answers. They were mostly 'I don't know's, but the adults didn't seem upset by it, which calmed Draco's heart a little bit. He was beginning to regret his choice to help her. He knew that he was already in too deep, and Dumbledore was asking him to keep an eye out on her.

"I will do no such thing! My kindness has already reached its limit," Draco said haughtily, but he knew that Dumbledore could see through his façade. The old man's blue eye's twinkled, and Draco knew that he was coming up with a scheme.

"I think the best course of action is for her to stay with you until we get this resolved," Dumbledore told him matter-of-factly. Draco took a step back in shock.

"No. There is no way she's staying with me! Don't you think she would be safer with Potter and Weasley or something," Draco said, his eyes wild with fear as he looked between the Headmaster and McGonagall.

"I am inclined to agree with Mr. Malfoy here Albus," McGonagall said softly as she looked to her friend, "Ms. Granger would be much safer in her own house." Dumbledore raised his hand to silence her, and she promptly stopped talking.

"I am sure Ms. Granger would appreciate not having anyone know what has happened to her. I also believe that she should have someone watch over her, and ensure that she is safe from whoever did this to her, and herself. Although it would be ideal to have her stay with Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, or both, they are not here. However, you, Mr. Malfoy are. I understand that it will be difficult for you to get over your pasts, but I must implore you to try to put that behind you, and watch over Ms. Granger." Dumbledore looked into the eyes of Draco, his blue eyes twinkling with a knowledge that could only come from a man his age. Draco instantly knew that Dumbledore was aware of what was happening with him, and fear shot through his entire body. It felt like years before anyone said a word.

"I will assume, that from your silence, you are showing your acquiescence," Dumbledore said cheerfully, breaking the tense silence, "I will prepare a set of dorms for you and Ms. Granger to stay in until everything is resolved. I am sure that once she is awake she will not want to go to any classes, so Minerva, will you please inform all of the teachers of her and Mr. Malfoy's absence tomorrow. How long until she wakes up Poppy?"

"Sometime tomorrow. I would like to keep her overnight, to make sure that there are no complications. She should be ok to leave by tomorrow morning," Pomfrey told him, her voice a bit distracted by everything that had just happened. Draco couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Everything that he had been working for had just crumbled to dust in a matter of minutes. And there was absolutely nothing he could do about it. He felt despair and fear rise up in his chest, along with something much stronger, and powerful. Anger. He could feel the anger bubble up inside him, waiting to explode. He was angry at Hermione, for getting raped, he was angry at Dumbledore, for putting him in this position. But the person that he was the angriest with was his father. For following a madman that only wanted power, and nothing more. All of these emotions were rolling around his stomach, making him sick, but Draco simply made his face expressionless. All he could do was pull into himself, protect himself from what was going to happen if the Dark Lord ever found out what was happening. The only thing that gave Draco the tiny glimmer of hope that was trying to keep from getting squashed from the darkness was this castle. Hogwarts was the only thing protecting him now. And soon, he knew, even that would disappear.

A/N: That's the first chapter! I hope you liked it! Review! And please, don't waste my time or yours saying, "Draco would never do that!" or "That's not how it happened!" Because obviously Draco wouldn't do that, and that's not how the story went. This story isn't going to be following the book closely, that's why it's fan fiction. But please, any constructive criticism or praise is welcome!