This is a short Chapter but it provides insight into the dynamic of Draco and Hermione's relationship with one another.

Warnings: This is chapter contains sensitive topics such as rape. If you are uncomfortable with this topic please do not read on. Thank you for all of the lovely reviews I've been getting as well as the favorites and follows. It really makes my day to see those.

Enjoy

-Charrissee

Chapter 6:

Draco knew they were in danger a mere second before the door burst open. Death Eaters swarmed the small cabin. Awakening from a deep sleep it took several moments for him to realize that several things were wrong. First his best friend Blaise Zabini had his wand raised and pointed a Draco's chest. His eyes were wide, pupils dilated turning his eyes into twin abysses; two pools that lead to an unfathomable darkness. his mask had been discarded and there were tell tale scratches and bruises on his face. Secondly two death Eaters held a flailing Hermione between them. She was bleeding. Badly, and her hair was shorn completely to the scalp, her bare head bared for all to see. She looked at him with pleading eyes, tear tracks evident on her face. And lastly, his wand lay in Zabini's balled fist.

"So this is where the Malfoy blood traitor has been hiding since the war." Zabini grinned, his skin pulling tight over perfect, wolfish teeth. "Holed up with his Mudblood whore." One of the Death Eaters grabbed a fist full of Hermione's hair and yanked her to her feet. Zabini bent low, his face inches from Draco.

"The war's not over, blood traitor. It's just beginning." He backed toward Hermione, giving her a soft caress along her cheek before slapping her hard enough to send her head flying backwards.

"Since you like entertaining Purebloods so much, you can give me a little demonstration." He ripped open Hermione's shirt and Draco felt his heart sink into his stomach. He made to jump out of the bed. Zabini's wand halted him.

"Stupefy!" Draco froze and fell to the ground. The Death Eater continued to explore her body, tossing her forcefully on the bed that Draco had been laying in.

She screamed relentlessly, tears running down her pale cheeks. No…

Zabini and the other death Eater laughed.

"Nothing like a little show, dibs on next!" Draco felt panic and revulsion that wasn't his own swirl through him.

This wasn't happening. The Death Eaters cackled. Hermione flailed uselessly.

Draco awoke in a pool of his own sweat and tears. He was gasping, his pulse wild and irregular. He frantically scanned his surroundings. He was still at Hogwarts.

"Hermione." His voice was hoarse. He had been screaming in his sleep again. Though every night he casted a silencing spell on his new quarters. It had become more of a necessity rather than a habit.

He crawled out of bed and stumbled into the adjoining bathroom. He braced himself against the sink and looked at his face. A grimace glowered back at him. Lack of sleep had taken its toll months ago and now his skin looked sallow and sickly, his eyes sunken into his sockets. Soaked blonde hair flopped over into his eyes.

That had been the worst day of his life. He had felt so helpless, so useless. They had raped her repeatedly, the sounds forever burned into his psyche. He hadn't been able to protect her, something that before that day he wouldn't have cared about. He had laid on the floor frozen, unable to do anything, but listen as they took turns with her. she had gone limp after a while and he felt her defeat like a knife to his heart. After, they tossed her at Draco's side. she had curled away from him, crying silently.

"This is a message from your Father. Don't return home. Don't Contact your family. To you, they are dead."

And then they had gone.

Stripping his wet clothes as he went, Draco walked into the shower. The hot water cascaded down his skin, burning his flesh, but Draco was beyond caring. The images flashing through his mind numbed him to everything except the all encompassing guilt. No matter how long he stayed under the heavy stream, he knew he would never be clean again.

He dressed quickly in sweats and a plain Muggle band t-shirt he had borrowed from Hermione awhile back. He paused for a scant moment before heading out his quarters and toward Hermione's.

He had to see her.

Hermione sat wide awake on the edge of her bed. She had not attempted sleep; it would be pointless." She had grown so accustomed to sleeping next to Draco every night, and without him, it was like her security had been whisked away.

In the week since they had been back at Hogwarts, teaching her fellow peers, she had relied strongly on pepper up potions and adrenaline charms. But she couldn't live this was forever. But the memories were always too much. She took a deep breath and made to pick up a book on the table beside her when a knock interrupted. Her heart fluttered and she had to squash the hope that had begun to blossom. I can't expect Draco to come rescue every minute of everyday.

But i need him…

Hermione dismissed her last thought and opened the door. Draco was leaning against her door frame, his wet hair hanging in front of his eyes; eyes that were locked on her with an intensity that would have made her uncomfortable, if it wasn't Draco.

"Draco?"

He didn't speak and instead stepped into the room, pulling her into his arms. Hermione instinctively put her arms around him, burrowing her head into the crook of his neck. Another nightmare. We're hopeless without each other, she mused.

"You can't keep doing this to yourself Draco," she whispered against his neck. She shut the door with a flick of her wrist.

"It wasn't your fault," she assured him. She had never once blamed him for that night. He had been just as helpless as she.

He didn't speak as he released her and began turning off the many lights she had on. Hermione couldn't help the sigh of relief that escaped her. He's going to stay. And this time it felt as if it were for good.

She crawled into bed next to her best friend, curling immediately into his side as he lay down on his stomach.

"Goodnight Hermione."

"Goodnight Draco." I love you, Draco.