Keep Holding On
A.N: Okay so this came to me when I was watching the video for the 'Glee' version of Avril Lavigne's 'Keep Holding On' and I thought this would be a good way to let out my empathy for Quinn's decision that she has to make.
Hermione POV
I was walking down the corridors during patrol at about eleven on Wednesday night as usual when I heard a noise. Someone sobbing their heart out a few hundred yards away. It was clearly a girl from the sound of her sobs so I walked on peering around for the mystery crier. I looked behind the serpent statue into the small alcove and saw Pansy Parkinson curled up on herself. She hadn't heard me coming towards her.
"Pansy? Are you alright? You know you're out after hours don't you?" my voice was gentle; she looked up and then back down to her knees.
"Oh it's you, Granger, I know I'm out after curfew but I needed to get away from the Commons. No one can see me cry there, they'd skin me alive if I did." Pansy sobbed through her explanation. I sat next to her and hesitantly placed a hand on her knee.
"What's wrong Pansy? I've never seen you this way."
"Please, swear you won't tell anyone what I'm about to say. This can't get out and you are my only confidante. I can't trust anyone else." Pansy looked me deep in the eyes with her own bloodshot ones.
"I promise, what happened Pansy?" I wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder and she leant in cherishing the safety
"Um... a c-couple of months ago I was in Hogsmeade on a Saturday and I went out from the Three Broomsticks and some-someone grabbed me. I realised that it was Vincent Cr-Crabbe so I relaxed and he t-told me that he needed to tell me something in pr-private so I followed him down the alleys to the back of Honeydukes and we-we started talking as soon as the wards were up. But then it ch-changed; he came closer and I could smell alcohol on his br-breath. I told him I was going to go back to the others at the pub and that he'd see me later in the co-commons. When I tried to leave I couldn't, he-he'd put up some charms and I st-started screaming and he was leering and telling me no-no one would hear me. Oh God Hermione, he came closer and clo-closer and I was so terrified. He raped me Hermione; he brutally raped me and then left me alone there. I could have died and no one- on one would have known." Pansy's voice dissolved into racking sobs as I took it in. When I finally comprehended it I held her closer.
"Oh God Pansy, that's-that's absolutely nightmare-ish. Did you tell a teacher?" I asked quietly
"I d-daren't, you're the first p-person to know. But that's not all; I found out earlier that I'm pr-pregnant. It's Crabbe's. I'm so sc-scared and he remembers. He r-remembers that day. He stole my innocence a-and it feels like it was my f-fault for trusting him. I keep get-getting flashbacks and now Draco has noticed m-my behaviour. I know he's tr-trying to be a good friend but I keep la-lashing out at him."
"Pansy, you can't stay in the dungeons, not while Crabbe's there too. It's not your fault, quit blaming yourself! But can we just tell Draco? Please, between he and I we can easily arrange for you to move dorms and classes and keep you away from Crabbe all the time. Please, let me tell him." I kissed the top of Pansy's midnight ebony hair
"Alright." We stood and I held her shaking hand as we went down to the dungeons. We arrived at the entrance to the commons which was simply a wall "Loyalty." The wall melted away and we stepped through. I sat Pansy down in an armchair I the deserted common room and approached the stairs which led up to the dorms.
"Password." Salazar Slytherin's portrait hissed at me as I touched the boys' door.
"It's an emergency, I need to get in. No password mate." I glared at the sneering face before me
"Says who, sweetheart?" Salazar sneered at me
"Head Prefect; let me in or I'll report you to Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore, is that clear?" I spoke to him mockingly
"Of course, miss, go on up." I nodded and ascended the stairs quickly and quietly, my flip-flops barely made a sound on the stone floor. I pushed open the door and closed it quietly behind me. My gaze filtered over the sleeping bodies and came to rest on the white-blonde locks of Draco Malfoy. I placed a muffilato around the bed and went up to it. I shook his shoulder gently.
"Malfoy, Malfoy, wake up." I spoke normally "Malfoy wake up you lazy idiot!" I shook him harder and he slowly roused.
"W-what are you doing in here, Granger? How did you get in?" Malfoy sat up and raked his hands through his hair so that it would go out of his eyes. Did I mention that he'd grown it so it hung lazily just over his eyes? Oh yes gone was the hair gel. Anyway, back on topic.
"Salazar let me in, come down to the commons. We need to talk to you." I answered
"What? You, Potter and Weasel? No thanks sweetheart." Draco sat up properly.
"No not them, Pansy! I had to bargain with her to let me do this so hurry it up and get your arse out of bed. It's about why she's been acting strangely lately."
"Right, I'll come with." Draco got out of bed and began to steer me out of the dorm, an arm around my shoulder.
"Before we go, which bed is Crabbe's?" I asked, Draco frowned at me slightly.
"The one next to the window, why?" I could tell he was suspicious. I shook my head with a sneer on my face.
"He deserves whatever he gets, and he will get it just as soon as I give him a piece of my mind." I turned and jogged down the steps, my skirt floating around my thighs. The three of us sat down and Pansy put up muffilato.
"So are you going to tell me what this is about or what? Pansy acting weird and Granger giving out death threats." Draco asked as I put an arm around Pansy again and she clung to me.
"Draco, Pansy was raped by Crabbe two months ago. He stole her virginity and he impregnated her. We came here tonight because between you and I we can move Pansy here, to a different dorm, different classes and keep that monster of a man away from her. Are you game, because I sure as hell am?" I explained Pansy tensed when I mentioned the rape
"Crabbe? Crabbe did this to you? I'll kill that son-of-a-bitch! I'm in, he's going down and we are going to be responsible for it whether it kills me or not." Draco's fists tightened in his outburst.
"Pansy, what are you going to do about the baby?" I asked softly, she looked between me and Draco's faces.
"I know it's immoral but I'm going to have an abortion; I can still do that at two months, right?" Pansy looked at me for an answer
"Of course you can." I smiled lightly, my stomach twisting
"We'd support you either way anyway, Pans, you needn't worry." Draco came and sat on the floor by our feet as he spoke
"It won't hurt will it?" Pansy was now scared, we were slowly going through the whole spectrum of emotions but that was normal for rape victims. We could deal.
"No, not much. You just take two little pills and you'll bleed it out. You have to stay in overnight but then you can forget that it ever happened if you want."
"Where are you going to sleep from now on?" Draco asked
"I don't know; I can't be on my own." Pansy sighed and leant back in her seat
"I think we should move into the Room of Requirement. I don't think... um... you should probably know that I get what you're going through because I had almost the same thing happen to me on more than one occasion. And both of you were almost witnesses once." I hesitated before speaking
"What? When? Who?" Draco sat up properly, shock written all over his face.
"Cormac McLaggen and Marcus Flint, first, second, third, fourth and sixth year. The first four were Flint." I explained, I was shocked when Draco took my hand.
"I meant when did we almost catch Flint not how long it went on for." His voice had softened
"First year, third floor corridor, he had me against the wall, his hand just kept going lower and lower from my neck down, I knew what was happening but I couldn't stop it. Then your little posse came around the corner and he dropped me. I ran back to my commons and never said a word the other seven times." I snorted "Twice a year, as if it was a treat."
"We should have noticed, I'm sorry." Draco apologised
"No biggie, come on Pansy, let's go and find our new dorm." I took her hand and we went up to the seventh floor with Draco tagging along. When the room appeared we all entered and locked the door. There was three beds all with trunks full of our things, a lit fire, a kitchenette, a few bookcases, an en suite bathroom and a bulletin board with a piece of paper on it. I went and tugged it off while the two Slytherins got comfortable. It said:
Dear Miss Granger, Mr Malfoy and Miss Parkinson,
I already have the knowledge of your whereabouts clearly since you are reading this Miss Granger which is why I took the liberty of having your belongings transferred to your new dorms. I know the situation and I suspect that with your own and Mr Malfoy's tempers that Mr Crabbe will also be aware that you know by breakfast tomorrow. The three of you are excused from classes tomorrow so that you can alter your schedules to fit your new circumstances. Oh and Hermione dear? Don't jump, Mr Malfoy is reading over your shoulder. I shall meet with the three of you after breakfast in my office and speak about what is to be done about Mr Crabbe.
Sincerely, Professor Dumbledore
P.S- I enjoy Liquorish Wands!
"How is it he knows everything?" Draco asked, slumping on his bed.
"He's Dumbledore." I sat down on my own bed. We looked up and Pansy was fast asleep in her bed. We both smiled at the sight. I changed into my pyjamas and got in bed. "Goodnight Draco."
"Goodnight Hermione." I closed my eyes and the lights went out with Draco's whisper of: "Nox."
