Severus looked at Vernon Dursley coming out of No. 4 of Privet Drive with a malicious and satisfied look that the potions professor didn't like at all, Severus waited a few minutes before leaving his hiding place and heading towards the house. He had a bad feeling as he opened the front door and entered the building. The house was shrouded in darkness, Severus lit his wand, walking slowly into the living room, and the scene he saw brought him back to 16 years ago when he entered Godrics Hollow and found Lily and James dead, killed by Voldemort. Erica laid on the floor completely naked, the white skin was covered with bruises and scratches, however this was not the most disturbing detail that Severus's eyes could see, but the trickle of sperm and blood that flowed down between her thighs. Severus was seized by a sudden wave of nausea and hastened to take off his cloak, wrapping it around the witch's body, it was now obvious what had happened to Erica Potter and above all who was guilty of that wicked action, Severus gently took the young unconscious witch and headed for the fireplace "Minerva Mc Gonagall's office" he said throwing the dust and disappearing with Erica from that house.
Minerva was relaxing at the desk of her office, Severus had left her the post of Headmistress of Hogwarts and he was back to being the potions professor after Slughorn had retired. She was brought back to reality when she saw Severus come out of the fireplace holding a black bundle in his arms, the woman felt that something was wrong and looking more closely at the bundle she recognized Erica wrapped in Severus's cloak "What happened? "Asked Minerva, alarmed as she approached her colleague but Severus did not seem to have heard her " we must take her to Madame Pompfey!" Severus said and walked towards the infirmary followed by a very worried Minerva. Once in the infirmary Madame Pompefey saw them "Good evening professors what can I do for you?" But Severus interrupted her "it's Potter ..." the mediwitch looked at him confused "what did she do this time?" Severus sighed and laid the still unconscious girl on the bed before turning to face the two women "Erica Potter was raped by Vernon Dursley".
Minerva sat in her office chair while Severus had remained standing, the two having let Pompfey visit Erica had returned to Minerva's office, "Severus ... what happened? " The Headmistress asked in a trembling voice, she couldn't believe it, she hoped it was a joke but in her heart she knew that unfortunately what Severus had revealed was the truth. The potions professor sighed heavily "I was at my house working in my laboratory when I was seized with a premonition that concerned Potter, at first I ignored it thinking that, in whatever trouble she was she would be able to solve it, but apparently I was wrong, in the end I kept working thinking that I would go over to check the situation, I had no idea ... it was my fault! I should have arrived there before! " The man sighed bitterly, but Minerva stroked his hand gently inviting him to continue" when I arrived in Privet Drive I saw Vernon Dursley leave the house and I realized that something terrible had happened. I entered the house and found Erica unconscious on the floor with signs of violence on her body, i wrapped in my cloak around her and you know the rest ... " the man finished in a tired voice. Minerva stood up and hugged Severus "it's not your fault Severus, nor is Erica's ... she couldn't defend herself she couldn't use the magic on that muggle as she is still a minor. I had told Albus a million times not to send her to those Muggles but he said she would be safe ... if I had even imagined ... " Severus looked at the elderly woman with infinite sadness" Minerva ... " but she shook her head "I wasn't able to protect her ... she didn't deserve what those Muggles did to her ..." Severus looked at her confused "what do you mean? what di they …? "A strange feeling made its way into his mind. Was it possible that ...? Before he could open his mouth Minerva interrupted him "It's not up me to tell you but up to Erica ... when she is ready to do it of course, but until then you will have to be kind to her and not force her ..." Severus nodded, in that moment Madame Pompfey appeared in the office and said "Erica has woken up ... if you want you can go and see her ..." Severus sighed and looked uncertain at the door, on the one hand he wanted to see Erica, talk to her, reassure her, but on the other the guilt crushed him. Minerva seeing the hesitation on the man's face put a hand on his shoulder "Go to her Severus, don't worry ..." Severus nodded and said "Can I ask you a favor? Can you also firecall Draco and Narcissa to your office and explain the situation to them? " Minerva nodded and Severus left the office walking towards the infirmary where Erica was hospitalized.
Sometimes it's not enough to be a wizard, to be a former Death Eater. All this is not enough to remain unmoved by two green eyes that seem to scream with pain. The door had closed behind Severus; his steps were tired, they were steps of someone who were dragging himself ... of someone who didn't want to move, but is forced to do so. The room was all white, full of light and he saw the image of the bed reflected on the glass of one of the large windows. The thud of his steps was the only noise to break the silence; Suddenly Severus felt a shiver running down his back and realized how high the room's temperature was, it was suffocating "Potter ..." under that white bedspread was the young witch, crouched and helpless. Severus stared at the bed as if it were his worst nightmare, unable to see her face. The professor's gaze was clouded by pain, anger, despair; he moved like a zombie , as if attacked by repeated pangs of pain that struck him straight to the heart. He felt sick to death when he met Erica's blank stare. "Professor ..." the girl had hesitated a moment before moving her mouth: it hurt because of a deep cut in her lower lip. With difficulty she lifted her face and looked for the man's pitch black eyes "Potter, you must tell me who ... who did this!" Severus already knew that it was Vernon Dursley but he needed a confirmation, Erica turned to the window and stared into the darkness of the night "It's dark ..." she simply said, as she turned to look at her professor, finding herself face to face with Severus. "You must tell me the name of that bastard! Tell me and I'll kill him! " Severus growled, the girl's slender hand reaching out to Severus, and the man took it gently in his. Erica took a deep sigh and in a whisper said "Vernon raped me ..."
As soon as Draco set foot in Headmistress McGonagall' s office he felt that something was wrong, Minerva was sitting in the chair of her office but she had a grim look "Good evening Headmistress Mc Gonagall why did you call us?" Asked his mother Narcissa Malfoy, who had a confused espression "Good evening Mrs. Malfoy, Draco ... yes I have called you on Severus's request ... For something that happened to Erica Potter ..." Draco felt his stomach tighten in a vise. After the war and the defeat of Voldemort a deep friendship had formed between him and Erica, the blond looked at the headmistress uncertain "what happened to Erica?" Minerva closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them again and prepared to tell them the events of that evening.