Of Beatings and Illegitimate Kids

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 1: Unexpected Rescuer

Hermione's POV

I lay on the floor, trembling, whimpering. A man with dark hair towers over me, eyes fierce, hands rough.

"Harry, please! Leave me alone! Why are you doing this to me! Why?" I pleaded.

Harry grunted and moved forward, reaching down, clawing at me. He got a hold of me and ripped my shirt. I felt exposed and embarrassed, and pleaded him to stop.

He just kicked me and yelled at me to "Shut up!"

"No! Harry, you've got to stop. This isn't like you!"

"Shut up!" Harry screamed. "Shut up!"

I stood up and tried to cover myself. Harry only took this as an opportunity to push me back down.

At that precise moment, the portrait hole opened and Blaise Zabini climbed through. He stared at us for a moment and then shouted, "Petrificus Totalus!" at Harry and he fell flat on the floor.

Blaise quickly got a pillow from the common room couch and gave it to me. I held it up in front of my chest and then grabbed Blaise's arm.

After a moment of silence, Blaise said, "I came here looking for Draco, and instead I find The Harry Potter beating the crap out of Hermione!" He paused. "Hermione, come with me."

I grabbed my ripped shirt, repaired it, and put it back on. Then I followed Blaise out of the portrait hole.

He led me all the way to the Room of Requirement, and, upon entering, I saw a couch, a bookcase, and thousands of ointments and healing potions.

Blaise told me to sit on the couch. I did, and he went off for a few minutes.

When he returned, he said, "It's okay, Hermione. You'll be okay. Here." Blaise took my arms and put some of the ointment he'd gotten on all of my bruises. Then he rubbed something else on all my cuts.

"Thanks," I said softly.

"Your welcome, Hermione."

I tucked my knees up to my chest and hugged them. Then Blaise put his strong arms around me, protecting me, keeping me safe.

-X-X-X-

I woke up feeling like it had all been just a dream. But then I looked at my arms and legs, remembering excruciating pain. I looked at Blaise, who was already awake and who had sat by me the entire night.

I pinched myself for good measure, but I knew that it wasn't really a dream.

"Blaise," I whispered. "I'm scared. Harry's not right. I think he's sick."

"I know you're scared," Blaise said, putting his hand on my arm. "but there's nothing we can do."

"Hang on," I said. "I just thought of something. You're a pureblood Slytherin, and I'm just a muggle-born. Why are you being so nice to me?"

Blaise laughed. "Not all of us are like Draco. As far as I'm concerned, Miss Head Girl, he's just stupid."

I laughed too at this and then said, "I'm still tired, so I think I'll go back to sleep."

"Okay," Blaise said. "I'll be right here with you.

-X-X-X-

Blaise's POV

When she's fallen asleep, I went and found a blanket, which I gently placed over her delicate body. She looked so calm and serene when she slept, it was hard to keep my eyes off her. To distract myself, I got a book to read, but my eyes kept straying to Hermione and I got a tingling feeling inside my stomach.

When alas she awoke, she said she was hungry, so we went to the Great Hall and sat with some of the other late sleepers. Dumbledore, bless him, was still there, and gladly spoke to anyone with something to say.

When we'd finished eating our breakfasts, we walked together to the entrance of the Great Hall. Then a few awkward moments passed.

"Well," I said. "I guess this is where we part."

Hermione smiled oddly. "Yeah. I guess it is. Bye."

"Bye," I said. And when she'd gone, I whispered," Bye - Hermione."