READ THE WARNING ON CHAPTER 1

Chapter 4 - Aftermath

Twenty minutes later, Harry was shaken by Professor McGonagall. He had only been faking sleep and rose up to face the professor with a questioning look. He hadn't put his glasses on yet, so his eyes crossed slightly, adding to his sleep act. McGonagall looked at him and it was obvious she had been crying. Then she crossed to Ron's bed and woke him as well.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, please put on your robes and join me downstairs."

Harry and Ron did as instructed and Harry was proud that Ron had gotten himself under control. They entered the common room and McGonagall rushed to them.

"I need the two of you to come with me to the hospital wing now. Miss Granger has been injured."

Harry did his best to looked shocked and it seemed to work. Then Ron let out a strangled cry.

"Hermione hurt? What happened?"

Harry wanted to give Ron an acting medal, but his thoughts were cut short as McGonagall ushered them out of the common room. When they reached the corridor outside the hospital wing, McGonagall finally stopped and turned to her two students.

"I think we are now well away from where others may hear us and I need to let you know what happened. This is going to be very difficult. Please let me finish before you question. I don't want to have to do this twice. Sometime earlier this evening Miss Granger left the library and was abducted and taken into a classroom. It appears that the perpetrator was Draco Malfoy. What happened next is truly horrible."

McGonagall choked back a sob as she tried to continue.

"Draco it seems incapacitated her, then proceeded to abuse and violate her. Madam Pomfrey is with her now assessing the injuries, but she has a great deal of internal bleeding that make it obvious what happened."

As McGonagall finished, Ron dropped to his knees sobbing and Harry knelt beside him with silent tears running down his own face. McGonagall gave them a minute, then put a hand on each of their shoulders. As Harry looked up, he decided it was time to put the next part of the act in place.

"I'll kill him! I'll rip him in two! Azkaban is too good for him."

As Harry bellowed, he pushed past McGonagall and into the hospital wing. He didn't get far, as the professor levitated him and pulled him back to the hallway.

"Mr. Potter, I fully understand your anger, but I have not finished telling you what I need to. Draco is not here, but has been taken on to St. Mungo's. It seems someone caught him in the middle of what he was doing and enacted their own revenge. Draco was almost dead from blood loss, but Madam Pomfrey has saved him. I am not sure that he will appreciate her efforts when he awakens and realizes the extent of his injuries."

Ron pulled himself off the floor and looked at McGonagall, questioningly as she answered his unspoken question.

"Whoever got hold of Draco castrated him and then cauterized him sufficiently enough that no repairs will be possible."

Harry and Ron looked at her and Harry couldn't help himself as he muttered one word.

"GOOD."

Once Harry and Ron had collected themselves, McGonagall led them into the wing and to Hermione's bed. She was asleep and looked deathly pale. They each dropped down next to the bed and began to cry. Would she ever heal from this? Harry and Ron remained like that until Madam Pomfrey came to talk to them.

"Mr. Weasley, I need to talk to you, somewhere private."

Ron looked at her, looked at Harry, and shook his head.

"Harry needs to hear whatever you have to say as much as I do."

Madam Pomfrey sighed and nodded her head.

"Mr. Weasley, I know you are distraught, but I have to ask you some questions and time is of the essence. You and Miss Granger are dating, correct?"

Ron nodded.

"Have the two of you been intimate?"

Ron seemed surprised, but nodded again.

"Thank you, it helps with the examination to know she was not a virgin. Now, what kind of contraception were you using?"

Ron took a breath and replied.

"Hermione's on the Potion, has been for months."

Madam Pomfrey sighed.

"Well that at least gives us one less thing to worry about."

Harry and Ron remained with Hermione for a couple of hours until her parents arrived with Professor Dumbledore. They were surprised to see him, especially accompanying Hermione's parents. Ron and Harry stood up to leave the Grangers alone and let Hermione rest. They turned to leave when Dumbledore spoke.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, can you please come with me to my study?"

Harry and Ron followed, each exchanging worried glances with one another.