"Oh Merlin! What happened?" Mrs. Zabini came down the stairs, pulling on a dressing gown. "Who's hurt?" She asked panicked.
"Mum, calm down." Blaise soothed. "This is Hermione Granger." He introduced.
Her eyes widened. "Good Merlin! What happened to her?"
"I found her, being beaten by her boyfriend in muggle London. She's been raped." Draco said through gritted teeth, glaring at an imaginary head that resembled Krum.
"Oh, dear god." She breathed. "Poor girl…" She muttered. "Alright, out of the way, boys, I need to get her into the kitchen, so I can patch up her head and hopefully wake her up." With that, she levitated Hermione into the kitchen and called for house elves to bring warm water, towels and some bandages. She set to work on the head wound, whilst the elves got her some fresh clothing.
Meanwhile, Draco and Blaise sat in the main bathroom, an elf cleaning up Draco's wounds.
"Bloody Krum," Draco muttered. "He can pack a punch."
"Have you seen the bloke, Drake? He's huge!"
"Of course I have, and I'd probably be dead in an alley way if it weren't for Granger."
Blaise raised an eyebrow. "Elaborate, please."
"We were getting into it, Krum and I, and I don't even know who was winning, but Granger did the smart thing and petrified him before she collapsed completely. OUCH." He said loudly as the cut on his eyebrow was tended to.
"Sorry, sir."
"It's alright. Just be gentle." He reprimanded.
"So, what's she going to do when she wakes up?" Blaise asked. "Scream and run?"
Draco snorted. "Probably. But I swear if she goes back to that bloody Krum…" He let I hang in the air.
"Do you think we should tell Potter and Weasley?"
Draco thought for a minute. It would be a good idea to alert them, and let them know. After all, Draco and Blaise were no longer seen as enemies, since the war had been finished. "I think we should, before they jump to conclusions and assume she's been kidnapped by rogue death eaters."
"Do you want to send an owl?"
"Yeah, but I'll do it. I know what I'll say."
"Okay, Drake, your call."
"There you go, Master Malfoy. All finished."
"Thanks." He said, before they headed to the kitchen, to find Granger sitting at the table in the kitchen, watching as Mrs. Zabini waved her wand at the hair that was covered in blood.
Her eyes widened as the two boys stepped into the kitchen. She cowered slightly. Blaise saw this and concern flooded into his eyes. "Hey, it's okay, we're not going to hurt you. You're safe, now." He soothed, sitting down opposite her.
"Draco is the one that saved your life, darling." Mrs. Zabini told her softly.
Her honey coloured eyes moved to Draco, a questioning look on her face. "T-thank you."
Draco took a deep breath. Granger, stuttering? He couldn't conceal his anger. "That bastard deserves to rot." He said angrily. She flinched away from him and his expression softened. "I'm sorry."
She looked down. Tears glistened on the top of the table, and Mrs. Zabini pulled her into tight hug. "Nobody is ever going to hurt you here." She stated firmly. "Hush, you're safe now." She soothed as a small sob escaped the once strong Gryffindor.
"Listen, Granger, I'm going to owl Potter and Weasley, so they know where you are." Draco said gently. "Mrs. Zabini, do you mind if she stays here? Malfoy Manor is not the place for her at the moment."
"Of course." She said kindly, cradling the broken girl to her bosom. "Blaise, make sure she has a room set up."
"Yes, mum." He kissed her on the cheek, making sure to leave room away from Hermione, in case he should scare her. He and Draco walked out together, before heading separate ways.
"Mrs. Zabini?" Hermione whispered.
"Yes, dear?"
"I don't mean to sound rude… but I don't think I can stay here."
Mrs. Zabini was startled. Not offended, but startled. "Why is that, child?"
"Viktor… he might get worried." She whimpered. "I don't like it when he gets worried." She sounded like a small child, and Maria Zabini couldn't help but feel her motherly urges take over.
"Oh, honey," She soothed in her rich voice. "You can't ever go back to him. He's a bastard." She told her softly.
"He's not." She protested weakly. "He loves me."
Maria found herself crying slightly. "Anyone who does that to a woman, doesn't deserve love, darling."
"But I love him so much. He just needs a little help." She whispered.
"Hush now, we'll speak of this in the morning. It's very late right now. I think it's time to get into bed and get some sleep. You've been through quite a bit, dear."
Hermione nodded, and allowed the kind woman to lead her up stairs and through the corridors, before stopping at a door and ushering her into the bed concealed by it.