She searched through the desk drawers for what seemed to be the millionth time. She knew what she was searching for but she was having a difficult time finding it. She had a count of maybe three minutes and she wasting it searching through the desk drawers. Finally she found it. A piece of Parchment and a pen, She tucked them away carefully and awkwardly made it out of his study. She hid the paper and pen under her mattress before settling herself on the bay window with a book. She hadn't read more than three sentences before his bulky presence filled the room. She made sure her breath was normal and closed the book.

"Oh Stef there you are" she said as lovingly as she could muster without cringing. She pulled herself into a sitting position and looked at him. What she saw scared the hell out of her. "Stef what's wrong?" she asked standing up.

"What do you think is wrong you little bitch!" he yelled closing in her. His brown eyes that were once loving only held the hatred and fury she saw now.

Hermione took half a step back. "Maybe you should lie down for awhile," she said meekly.

He shook his sandy head "I'll lay down when I want to" he said glaring at her. "WHY THE HELL DID YOU RUN AWAY AGAIN!" he screamed his anger getting the better of him.

Hermione tried to take another step back but he forced her closer by grabbing her forearms and pulling her nearer.

"WHY" he yelled at her his breath reeking of alcohol.

"Because I needed to be away for awhile," she whispered although it was a lie. She wanted to be away from him forever but she never seemed to get too far in her condition.

"OH really well don't plan on being away for a VERY long time…. you are from now on restricted to this bedroom and the bathroom!!" he yelled letting go of her and turning on his heel out of the room slamming the door behind him. She instantly recognized the sound of the key turning in the lock.

She sank to the big four-poster bed instantly exhausted. "I knew what was going to happen it I got caught," she whispered. She laid down feeling the bruises forming on her arms. "What happened to you Stefan?" she whispered to herself letting her mind go into memories.

"Will you Hermione Jane Granger do me the honor of becoming my wife?" a sweet voice asked from his position on one knee on the ground.

"Oh Of course Stefan" she said wrapping her arms around his neck happily. Her curly brown hair mixing in with his sandy blonde hair.

"I now pronounce you man and wife," the preacher said "You may now kiss your bride," he said.

Stefan smiled and gently lifted Hermione's veil to kiss her ever so passionately on the lips. She smiled against his lips and too soon they were apart walking down the aisle grinning.

"Congratulations Mrs. Garrett you have a beautiful little girl" the nurse said laying the sleeping bundle in her arms. Hermione smiled and kissed her head gently before turning to Stefan and grinning "Look at your daughter Stef" she said.

He smiled and kissed her forehead "Perfect and beautiful just like her mother." He said.

Hermione teared up at the memories. They seemed like only yesterday but they were indeed almost three years ago. Her daughter Grace Mackenzie Garrett is almost two years old and learning how to speak. Hermione had never realized how horrible her situation was until she saw Grace crying in her bedroom. Hermione comforted her trying to find out what's wrong.

"Grace honey what's wrong baby?" she asked

"Daddy-" she hiccupped "he…. hit me" she said crying her thin brown curls matted to her head and her dark brown eyes filled with tears.

Hermione held her daughter close and let her cry before packing her up and getting ready to sail to England for freedom.

Hermione finally pulled out the paper and pen. She set them on her desk and started to write furiously. She didn't know how she was going to do this or what was going to happen but she somehow needed to do it soon or else her daughter was subject to the same abuse she had dealt with for the past several years. She tucked the paper away and opened the door that led to her daughter's bedroom. Her husband was probably dense enough to forget to lock that one too. She grinned and glanced at the sleeping form of her daughter in the bed.

"Oh sweetie I promise to help you and get you away from here" she whispered opening her daughter's door very quietly. She peeked out and saw no one. She slipped down the stairs to the kitchen and out the door. 'Thank the lord he is probably passed out on a couch in the den' she thought and went outside. She went into the forest quietly. "TYBALT" she whispered loudly. Soon a gray owl flew down and landed on her shoulder. 'Oh Ty" she whispered tying the letter to his leg "I need you to deliver this to Ron as fast as you can." She said "Please Ty…. I need you to do this as fast as you possibly can and don't let him ignore it okay" she whispered before he flew off. Hermione watched him and then headed back into the house silently. She practically flew up to her daughter's room kissing her head softly before turning to her own bedroom and crawling into bed suddenly exhausted.

Ron woke up to being pecked at constantly.

"Stop it" he groaned rolling over, but the pecking continued. Finally he got up and saw an unfamiliar looking owl. The owl stuck its leg out and Ron took the parchment and started to read.

Dear Ron,

I don't know how to say this. So I should probably just come out and say it. I need your help. I can't explain everything now in case HE finds me. So I want to say I am very sorry. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me and help me. I am in America. That's where I have been ever since I…ran. I need your help As Soon As Possible. Please Ronald. Apparate to 32241 Hills Road. I need you to come at midnight on August 14th PLEASE Ron….

By Hermione

Ron read the letter over a couple times. He couldn't believe it. Hermione was alive. After she had disappeared he thought he would never see her again. He looked over at the owl.

"I read it go tell her I'll be there" he said making up his mind suddenly. The owl didn't move.

Ron grabbed a piece of parchment.

Hermione,

I'll be there at Midnight

Ron

He tied the letter to the owl's foot and he flew off. Then Ron got out of bed and yawned and exited. He headed across the hallway to where Harry was sleeping.

"HARRY" he yelled once he got in the door.

Harry groaned and got up putting his glasses on.

"What is it mate?" he asked tiredly

"She's alive," he said.

Harry still half asleep. "Who mate?" he asked hoping not to wake Ginny who was sleeping beside him. Ron just shook his head and shoved the note at him. Harry opened it and started reading his mouth opening in shock.

"Wha-? How? When?" he muttered to himself

"I just got it this stupid owl pecked me til I woke up and then I read it and he wouldn't leave til I sent a note back" he said

"What did you say Ron?" Harry asked looking at him.

"Nothing except I would be there," he said

Harry nodded. "Okay August 14th is tomorrow night. You realize that right?" Harry asked.

Ron just nodded his head.

"Okay then well its almost 2 am so we can continue talking about it in the morning" he said taking off his glasses and rolling over throwing his arm over Ginny.

Ron nodded and headed back to his room. He laid down on his bed and stared at the ceiling not being able to go back to sleep.

Hermione bit her lip nervously. It had been three days since she sent the letter and tomorrow was August 14. He had to come that night otherwise nothing would work. Stefan was out of the house until 2 am and by that time her and Grace would be gone. Hermione yawned and closed her eyes again. Tonight she would go back to the forest and search for Tybalt and if he wasn't there all hope was lost for her and her daughter. Hermione got up and limped to her daughter's bedroom. She saw her asleep on her bed and Hermione leaned against the doorframe happily.

'She looks so peaceful' she thought. She stayed there until she heard Stefan's footsteps down the hallway. She quickly closed Grace's door to her bedroom and went to her bed relaxing reading a book.

Stefan came in without knocking. He looked at her reading a book so innocently that he knew something was up but he couldn't figure out what.

"So what are you reading?" he asked in a low voice.

Hermione looked up "Just a novel I found in the library" she said 'before I was confined to this room like an insolent child' she thought

Stefan nodded he was in a pretty good mood tonight and that didn't happen often. Normally he was drunk as a skunk and was in a foul mood. "So have you learned your lesson in running away from me?" he asked grinning maliciously.

Hermione closed her book. It was time to put on her act. She lowered her gaze to the flowery bedspread and nodded "Yes I did. I know now that no matter how much I try I will never get away and I should just stop trying," she whispered meekly.

Stefan was across the room in three giant steps "LOOK AT ME" he screamed.

Hermione looked up tears forming in her eyes.

"Do you mean it or are you just faking?" he asked a vicious gleam in his eyes.

Hermione looked at him "Oh I mean it" she said looking sad.

Stefan grinned, or what he considered a grin, in all formality it was more like a lopsided smirk.

Hermione looked at him. "So am I allowed out of my room now?" she asked

"NO" he raged "all you want is to pretend to be nice to me so I will give you an opportunity to leave again. Well guess what Hermione that is not going to happen now or until the day you die," he said turning on his heel and stalking out of the room locking the door behind him.

'Of course' she thought, "well that's what you get," she whispered.

When it was almost 1 am she snuck out of her daughter's bedroom once again. She smirked to herself as she walked outside and called Tybalt. He came flying to her gracefully and she untied the short letter. Although it was short and she was sure Ron was mad she was glad she only had one more day to stand. She kissed Tybalt's furry head and then headed back into the castle. She was so caught up in her own finding she didn't realize the watchful eyes watching her as she quietly entered the castle again.

'Well well well" the voice whispered in the dark "what have we here. A runaway pigeon" the voice whispered with a small cackle "tsk tsk tsk he will not stand for this insolence again" before running off into the house to tell Stefan of her findings.

Hermione got back into her room safely and instantly she hid the paper under her mattress. She crawled into bed and closed her eyes instantly falling asleep.

What she woke up to was not a pretty sight. Stefan was throwing objects across the room when she woke up.

'Stefan what are you doing?" she asked standing up.

"WHERE IS IT?" he yelled still throwing things across the room.

"Where is what?" she asked.

Stefan turned to face her and smacked her across the face. Hermione instantly moved her hand to cover her face where a red mark was already appearing she was sure.

"THE PIECE OF PAPER YOUR BLOODY OWL GAVE YOU LAST NIGHT" he yelled.

Hermione's stomach dropped. Someone had saw her and now he knew about it.

"What piece of paper are you talking about I was in my room all night last night. How else would I get out you locked the door" she said opting for the safer denial route hoping he didn't catch on.

"OHHHH REALLY WELL I DIDN'T LOCK GRACE'S DOOR DID I AND THAT IS CONNECTED TO YOUR ROOM." He yelled smacking her other check "DON'T LIE TO ME WENCH" he yelled.

Hermione looked at him tears in her eyes. "I don't have the piece of paper I burnt it last night" she whispered although it was a complete lie.

Stefan smiled wickedly "Oh is that so?" he asked grinning. "Well come on my precious wife we have things to do" he said grabbing her wrist and dragging her off to his bedchamber.

Hermione came back to her bedroom. She was beaten bloody and sore all over but she didn't say anything. She instead went into her bathroom and went to the shower letting the hot water run over her new cuts. She cried in the shower. She would not cry anywhere else. When she was finished she went into her bedroom and changed into jeans and a turtleneck although it was almost 80 degrees out. She went back into the bathroom and put her hair up before putting make-up on covering the rest of the bruises and cuts. All that showed now were the few bruises on her knuckles and she was grateful for that. She carefully went into her daughter's room and smiled at her.

'Hey baby" she whispered moving her hair from her face. "Time to wake up" she whispered.

Grace stirred and opened her eyes. "Mommy" she said happily.

Hermione smiled and picked up her daughter although it hurt her cuts she grimaced and buried her head in her daughter's fine brown curls. Hermione smiled and then went to the closet picking out a nice outfit for her to wear for the day. She chose a green and blue jumper. She put it on her and the brushed her curls into a ponytail.

"You wanna play a game baby?" she asked smiling.

Grace bobbed her head excitingly. "Yeah Yeah Yeah" she said happily as she went and got her favorite game out of the toy cupboard.

Hermione and Grace played games together until finally someone brought a tray of food up to the bedroom. Hermione grinned and shared with Grace. They played games all day and finally while Grace slept Hermione grabbed her bag and threw clothes into it. After having enough outfits for her and her daughter until she could get a job or something she smiled and looked at the time. She had only two hours until Ron should be here. Stefan was out of the house thankfully and she sat down at her desk and grabbed the rest of the paper and started writing.

Stefan,

I got away. I'm not telling you where or why. I took Grace to a loving family where we will no longer endure your tempers. I'm sorry I was not a better wife. I wish that you hadn't changed and I wish I knew what changed you. I know you wont miss Grace or me so don't try to find us it won't be any use.

Good-Bye Forever

Hermione

It took Hermione almost two hours to write that. She continually scratched a sentence out and re wrote it. It was ten til midnight and she had to get Grace. She went into her daughter's bedroom and picked her and her stuffed animal up and carried her into her bedroom laying her on the bed. She set the note on her desk and stared at the clock.

At midnight exactly there was a distinctive pop from behind her. She bit her lip and turned around her mouth almost dropped open in surprise.

Ron the crush from her youth was no more. Here in front of her was a man. A gorgeous man at that. She stared for what seemed like years. His bright red hair had matured into a bright Auburn and his freckles were not so distinct. He was tall and muscular. The sight of him was making her mouth dry.

"Hello Ron" she finally croaked.

"'Ello 'Mione" he said

Hermione didn't know what to say so she went with the simplest.

"I'm glad you came," she whispered. She hadn't told him about grace and didn't know how he would take it so she opted to not bring it up until she absolutely had to.

Ron watched the clock knowing exactly when he had to disapparate to get there as the clock chimed midnight in America. When he got there he apparated behind Hermione. Her bushy brown hair was no more. Her hair was now a shade darker of brown and fell down her shoulders in graceful waves. She didn't turn around but he knew she knew he was here. Then she turned around and Ron had to stop himself from gasping. Although you could tell she wore boatloads of make-up it didn't cover up the fear in her brown eyes or the cuts on her face.

"Hello Ron" she had said

"'Ello 'Mione" he replied.

He had planned on coming back and yelling at her for running off like that when he had been so close to proposing to her.

"I'm glad you came," she whispered.

Ron nodded his head 'anything for you Hermione" he said "come on lets get moving" he said turning around to the bed and seeing the small child curled in a ball.

Hermione bit her lip nervously "Uh Ron…. this is my daughter Grace Mackenzie" she said, "She is coming along," she added

Ron swallowed back the retort he had and nodded. The young girl could be no old than two and she was a bruise that circled her wrist. 'What is going on here' he thought as he grabbed the bags off the bed. Hermione reached down and grabbed Grace off the bed trying to hide her grimace but Ron saw it all to well.

"Are you ready to go?" he asked.

Hermione nodded. "Yes lets go," she said.

Ron wrapped her arm around her waist and held onto her tightly. Soon they had apparated to the quiet burrow. Hermione looked up at him. "Thank you Ron" she said "If you can just direct me to a couch or something by the morning Grace and I will be out of your hair" she said looking down.

"Nonsense…. there is a room upstairs" he said as he led her there. He took her to the room Ginny and her had shared numerous times. She looked around and bit her lip. "Uh…. where is Ginny?" she asked nervously.

"Upstairs in the room her and Harry have shared for the past year" he said putting her stuff down. "I'm sure someone will come get you in the morning" he said turning to the door. "Its nice to have you back Hermione…sleep well," he said before leaving.