CHAPTER 3:
Asleep (The Smiths)
Sing me to sleep
Sing me to sleep
And then leave me alone
Don't try to wake me in the morning
'Cause I'll be gone
Don't feel bad for me
I want you to know
Deep in the cell of my heart
I will feel so glad to go
Hermione spent the rest of her day in terror. She finished her work, then headed home. She changed out of her work clothes into jeans and an old Abbey Road t-shirt. She then wandered into the kitchen, checking the time as she did so. 5:22
"Shit!" she yelled as she bolted to the stove. When the kids were at Hogwarts, Ron required she have dinner on the table promptly at 6 pm, and not a second later. She threw a pot of water on the stove, and began to make a quick alfredo sauce while the pot was brought to a boil. 5:27 Finishing the sauce, she threw the pasta in the pot, then rushed to the dining room to set the table quickly. 5:46 She drained the pasta as fast as she dared, not wanting to burn herself with the scalding water, then tossed it in the sauce before plating it and putting it on the table. 5:58 With her remaining 2 minutes, she lit a few candles, hoping the romantic atmosphere may take the edge off of his anger. She then sat and waited. The remaining few seconds felt like an hour to Hermione.
The candles hadn't helped. While her prompt dinner service had given him no added reason to be angry with her, he was still furious about her "romantic lunch with those two evil Slytherin bastards". He was rough that night, hitting her, punching her, whipping her — but never where anyone would see if she "covered up like a married witch ought to". And when he took her that night, her tears couldn't fall, wouldn't fall. Hermione Granger-Weasley had officially given up. When he pulled out, his sticky cum clinging to her, she lay there as he rolled over and went to sleep. She lay there, and prayed for death. It was all too much. As her eyes fluttered closed at long last, she begged to whoever was out there that she wouldn't wake in the morning.
A/N: Sorry for yet another short chapter. Originally it was much longer, but I opted to shorten it because I felt that I, as someone who had never been abused, could not accurately write the scene — though I am much more familiar with the desire to never wake up... but don't worry folks! Hermione isn't suicidal. Things will pick up for her in the morning. :) Also, man, am I cranking these out! This will (probably) be the last for tonight but expect more tomorrow.