Chapter 4
Eventually they made it to the local park. It wasn't anything amazing. Just a swing set, slide and a see-saw, but they'd go anywhere to get away from Dudley and his gang. They both sat down on the creaky swing set, slowly swinging back and forth. Ignoring the strong winds pushing against them, odd weather for July but in England the weather has no rules.
"I'm bored" stated Harry "I bet Ron's having fun at the Burrow right now. Probably playing Quidditch with Fred, George and Ginny"
"I'm bored too, but there's no where to go" She replied. "Is there anywhere we could go? A skatepark or something?" She pushed some of her hair out of her eyes, that stuck to her face from the wind.
"You can skate?" Harry asked
"No, I was just suggesting it. Imagine me on a skateboard" She began laughing at the thought.
"Would it be like the first time you were on a broom?" He laughed with her.
"Oi! I was scared I would fall". A strong gust of wind pushed yet more of her hair into her face. She took a hair tie off her wrist and processed to tie it back. While lifting her hands up above her head, her top lifted slightly revealing bottom of the scar she got in the Department Of Mysteries.
Suddenly Harry stopped laughing, and there was a dramatic shift in his voice. The scar brought all those memories flooding back "Do you think it's my fault you got hurt, and that he's dead? It is my fault isn't it?"
Hermione noticed the shift in Harry's attitude and looked sternly at him. "Harry, it's not your fault at all, why would you think otherwise? We all chose to fight with you, Sirius included. He was there by choice, you didn't force him"
"I guess. But he died because of me Hermione. You got hurt because of me, and you'll always have a scar to remind you" At this point there were tears swelling up in Harry's eyes. Hermione stood up off of her swing and pulled her friend into a tight hug.
"None of this is your fault Harry James Potter. I know it" She whispered into his ear during the hug.
"How are you so sure?" He asked back
"Because I know you Harry, I know you'd never purposely inflict pain" Hermione pulled away from the hug before it because uncomfortable long.
"What about when I cursed Bellatrix? I did that on purpose Hermione"
"Most of that was Voldemort inside your head, it wasn't you"
Harry began to wipe away tears, not wanting Hermione to see him like this. "It's okay to cry Harry"
"Awe! Is icke baby Potty crying?" At that moment Dudley and his gang appeared behind Hermione (who was still facing Harry). "Should we go get your mommy? Oh wait" Dudley continued to mock him with Malcom, Piers, Jake and Gus behind him.
Hermione left the anger levels rising and her knuckles forming a fist "Go, away" she spoke without turning around to face the boys.
"Reverse roles? Harry's the damsel in distress and you're the knight?" Snickered Piers.
Harry was desperately trying to stop the tears but he couldn't stop them, he was thinking about Sirius. Seeing the pain her friend was in Hermione spun around to face the boys. "Go away. Now" she commanded, her eyes now a deep maroon rather than brown, a feature that changed once the witch turned angry. Most of the boys backed away at this, not wanting to get into a fight with a girl because of the nicknames they'd receive for it, like 'Woman Beater'. Dudley however didn't back down.
"You can't tell me what to do Freak." He spoke roughly. Just as he was about to spit another insult he was silenced by a sudden fist to the face by Hermione.
"Leave!" She almost screamed, her knuckles hurting from the impact of hitting Dudley's nose.
Dudley stumbled back from the impact. "Get her". Those two words sent the Malcom forward to grab her by the arms and twist them behind her back, keeping her in place.
"Hermione!" Harry quickly stood from his swing, finally noticing what was happening.
Ignoring the blood running down his face Dudley continued. "You remember our rules Gang? She swung first, we have the right to hit back, no matter if she's a girl. Jake, get Potter and bring him to me." As if Jake were a foot solider following his general's orders, he grabbed Harry by the shoulders and dragged him to Dudley's feet, easily overpowering Harry's struggles.
"Don't hurt him!" Begged Hermione, "he hasn't done anything!"
"Shut it Girly" Malcom pulled her closer to his body to subdue her. This is when Hermione noticed, how tightly he was holding her... and how close... lets just say he seemed a 'little too happy to see her'. His groin was rubbing against her butt and she let out a squeal and tried struggling more.
"Get off her!" Harry argued, while being hauled over to his cousin.
"Shut it Potter." Jake swung his fist into Harry's stomach. Making him quickly bend forward even with Jake's vice-like grip around his collar.
"Harry! Please don't hurt him!" Hermione continued to struggle again Malcom, as he became more and more... excited.
Dudley began to imitate Hermione's cries "Please don't hurt him" Dudley mocked. "Thow him down Jake", and as commanded Jake threw Harry down to the ground by Dudley's feet. Before Harry had time to move, a strong kick was sent to his rib cage, immobilising his movement.
"Harry!" Hermione half begged and half cried.
"Jake, keep him down there, but conscious. I want him to be awake for what you do to her" Dudley ordered. Jake kicked Harry again in the ribs and placed a foot on Harry's head, hard enough to keep him down but not so hard that it would knock him out. Dudley started catching the blood from his nose in a tissue he had produced from his pocket. "You three" he said, addressing Gus, Malcom and Piers "take her under that subway, you know what to do". •{That place where the Dementor attacked}•
Fear shock Hermione. What were they going to do to her? At least they'd stopped hurting Harry she thought. For now. Who knows what Dudley and Jake will do to him. Malcom linked his arm around her left shoulder while Gus with her right, holding her above the ground and carrying her to the under path, with Piers following behind.
"Jake, keep him down there." Dudley then crouched down to the floor so he was addressing Harry. "Wanna know what they're doing to her in there?" As if on queue a scream echoed from the under path, followed by the sound of a loud slap. "That's probably Gus shutting her up". Dudley commented.
"Let her go" Harry breathed. Accidentally inhaling dirty from his shallow breaths.
"Why would we do that Potter. You're in no situation to bargain. Besides I think my men are enjoying her" Said Dudley, still crouched down.
Hermione screamed again
"Please. If you stop them... I'll fix you nose" Begged Harry
"Dad's got your stuff Potter, you can't do anything." Dudley tried to cover their conversation so that Jake didn't understand anything. It didn't matter though as Jake was stood like a Buckingham Palace Guard, blank expression ignoring their conversation. Dudley stood up and began a conversation with Piers. Seemingly forgetting about Harry, who was literally under their feet.
After a few more minutes of hearing muffled screams there was a final loud slap, followed by then 'thudding' sound of a body hitting the floor. Harry prayed that it wasn't Hermione's body that fell, but he doubted she had managed to over power one of the boys...
Then he say her. Jake pulled Harry to his feet while Malcom was carrying an unconscious Hermione in his arm, followed by Piers and Gus. Malcom dropped Hermione to the floor and Jake realised his grip from Harry, and the gang just left them there.
Harry dropped to his knees. Ignoring the throbbing headache and the pain in his ribs, to see the damage done to Hermione. Her eye was swollen, with her neck had obvious bruises from being strangled and her top was ripped down the middle. Harry stopped and then sat in shock. Her top was ripped. It suddenly hit him. What if they raped her? No. Not even they would sink that low. But then why else would her top be ripped? He needed to get her to a St Mungos, it wasn't a magic injuries but Magical Doctors would heal her faster that muggles. He didn't have a wand to apperate.
Ms Figgs! Her fire place was connected to the floo network. Harry quickly lifted up Hermione, being careful to not hurt her more, and stumbles to Ms Figgs house. Hoping she was home.
Harry was in luck, and 2 hours later, he and Hermione were laying in twin beds in St Mungos. Harry had broken his rib and was waiting for the Skelegrow to hear it. Hermione was still unconscious and healers were still trying to find the extent of her condition. Though Harry did get one piece of information, she hadn't been raped, however the top and bruises suggest that they may have molested her.
Muggle police were currently arresting the boys, including Dudley. Of course the police thought St Mungos was a private hospital and not a wizard one.
Harry was laying on the bed next to Hermione's, watching for any sign of her waking up. His bones were nearly fully healed, but she had a long way to go. A sudden pang of guilt struck Harry. She was hurt and it was all his fault. It was his fault that she came to Privet Drive, his fault she got these injuries.
A mediwitch was collecting data from various monitors that Hermione was hooked up to "when can I know what they did to her?" Harry asked desperately.
"As I have already said, when she wakes up Mr Potter." Then she looked at the data "which should be by minute now. I'll send in a doctor" she then briskly left
Hermione was waking up? Harry quickly sat up in this bed, ignoring his rib pain, and waited eagerly for Hermione to wake up.
Suddenly there were 3 large gasps for air, and then repeated coughing. Harry stood up to have better view of what was happening. She was awake, but the cannula she was using to breathe had fallen off. Harry quickly replaced it under her nose and her breathing quietened and her eyes opened.
"Never get hurt again"Harry begged.
"Where... am... I...Harry?" She spoke between deep breaths
"St Mungos. Do you remember what happened?"
"...yes... why... does... talking... hurt?"
"I don't know, the medi-witches won't tell me anything until you'd woken up. Which is now. A doctor is on his way" Harry smiled down at Hermione
"Are... you... hurt... Harry?" She asked
"Just a broken rib and a headache, but after taking some skelegrow I'm all okay now"
"Hello Miss Granger" in walked a doctor "I am Dr Williams, how are you feeling?"
"...sore... . What's... happened... to... me?"
"Unfortunately this is a long list:" he magically produced a clipboard with a list. Which he read and then spoke aloud.
"Damage to vocal chords
Bruises to the left lung
2 broken ribs
Fractured skull
Dislocated left shoulder
Bruising on the chest
Broken left arm
Internal bleeding
Broken nose
Fractured frontal bone
I understand this may be hard to hear Miss Granger. Do you need anything or would you like to spend some time with Mr Potter?"
"With... Harry... please..."
"Call if you need a doctor" he said and then curtly left.
"Hermione, what did they do to you?" Harry asked
"Can... You... look... in... my.. mind?... Talking ... hurts" she suggested
"I'm not very good at Legilimency, I didn't do well in the lessons. But I will try" Harry began to focus onto Hermione's mind, she mad it easy as she was in a weakened state.
--PG 13--
His vision went white and images of Hermione's past flashed by until he reached the attack. Harry worked his way into Hermione's memory. He was watching it as if he were a spectator, floating above them. What he saw what Hermione pinned to a wall buy Piers and Gus, while Malcom has his hand under her top, fondling her. Harry couldn't watch this, he had to look away but he also had to know what they did to her. He heard the rip of her top and a loud scream followed by a slap.
"Shut up you Bitch" grumbled Gus.
Malcom went back to his fondling. And then after he stepped away sticking his hand down his trousers to pleasure himself this made Harry feel sick to watch. While Malcom did this, Piers and Gus started pummelling her with punches. Some to her face, others to her stomach and ribs. After a few minutes of punched Hermione let out another scream for help. Gus brought his hand up to around her next until she was purple in the face and barely conscious. He gave her a hard slap across the face and threw her to the ground. Ending the torture and Hermione's memory.
--PG 13 Scene Over--
Harry woke up back into the room. To see Hermione crying, he forgot about how she was having to re-lived watching what they did to her. "I'm so sorry Hermione" he reached out to hold her hand but she flinched away.
"Don't... touch...me!"She said
"Hermione. It's only me" Harry said
"I'm... sorry ...Harry. Just... don't" She rasped
"It's okay, I understand." Harry shuffled backwards "I'm sorry they hurt you"
"Not... your... fau..." the words drifted away as she fell asleep. Her body exhausted from the day
Harry felt hurt. She was scared of him, they had made her scared to be around him... How would he be able to tell her now? Tell her that he Loved her...