All things Harry Potter belong to J.

WHERE LOVE BLOOMS

CHAPTER7

HURT AND CONFUSION

The sunlight streamed through the open curtains as Hermione awoke. She did not remember falling asleep but maybe that had been helped by the effects of the calming draught. The events of the previous evening flooded back to her, as she stretched her body a dull ache travelled down her spine. It reminded her how violently she had hit the wall when Draco attacked her, she still could not believe it had been him that had taken Ron from her.

Rising from the bed she caught her reflection in the mirror, still in her dressing gown she could just see the bruises on her wrists showing at the edges of the sleeves. She made her way to the en suite and turned on the shower, removing her gown she saw the ripped material of her bra. A feeling of utter disgust swept through her body, after fumbling with the clasp she pulled the damaged garment from her body. She threw it in the bin quickly followed by the matching panties, she never wanted to see them again.

Hermione stepped under the shower, the warm water ran down her body. Her mind replayed the previous evening, reminding her of everything she had felt from being so scared at what Draco was going to do, to the confusion when he admitted to killing Ron and finally to the anger she felt toward Snape. Had she been right to be so angry at him, now she had calmed down she realised that she may have taken everything out on him. A tear slowly fell down her cheek she placed her head under the falling water, trying not to break down.

"Get a grip, Hermione! This won't help. You have to be strong." she said out loud to herself. Grabbing the soap she began to wash, determined not to go to pieces again. She had to bring Draco to justice, so the first thing she would do would be to contact Harry. Hopefully with his position at the Ministry he would be able to help track Draco down. After drying off she grabbed some comfy jeans and a sweater, pulling her damp hair into a ponytail she opened the bedroom door.

The smell of cooking bacon mixed with fresh coffee hit her senses hard, making her mouth water. She hesitated not sure what to do, she never imagined that Snape would stay. How on earth was she going to face him, when she had no idea how she felt about what he had done. Hermione made her way downstairs to the kitchen, she slowly pushed the door open.

She was surprised to see Ginny at the cooker with what looked like a full English breakfast on the go. Harry was stood leaning on the counter top beside her, he looked as though he had not slept.

"Hermione!" he exclaimed as he noticed her stood in the doorway. Moving toward her he pulled her into a bear hug, Ginny came beside them and placed her arms around them both.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked. They broke apart, Ginny moved back to the cooker leaving the two friends to talk. Harry took Hermione by the shoulders "Did that bastard hurt you?"

"Not really, Severus stopped him before he had chance." she replied "Oh Harry! I'm so glad you are here. I was going to contact you straight away, we have to catch him."

"Don't worry we have started already, after Snape called us here last night and explained everything that had happened. I contacted the Ministry and met with them at Malfoy Manor." Harry pushed his hand through his hair. "We have been there all night trying to trace the apparation but it is proving difficult. We think it must be an old escape route that was set up a long time ago and we cannot seem to get a fix on where they went."

"Come, sit down." Ginny interrupted, placing two plates full of food on the table. "You both need to eat, Harry has only just got back." Picking up another plate she joined them as they sat at the table.

"I came back hoping Snape would still be here." Harry said "I think with his knowledge of the Malfoys he might have been able to provide us with information that could help us."

"He stayed for a while after you had gone." Ginny said looking at Harry. "We sat here and talked for a while, he is not the man he used to be. I was surprised at how he has mellowed, I suppose him not being under so much pressure has helped."

Hermione was surprised at Ginny talking about Severus like that, she had held a grudge against him since his stint as headmaster.

"I told him he should stay till this morning but he was adamant that you would not want to see him here when you got up." she continued. "He told us about taking Draco to Lucious, I really think he was doing what he thought was best. I mean he has been friends with them for many years and he let his guard down because of that friendship."

"Oh I don't know!" Hermione sighed. "I was just so angry last night."

"You know there are a couple of us who had suspicions about Lucius covering up for Draco at the Ministry." Harry said while brandishing his sausage loaded fork in the air. "But with no proof there was nothing we could do. Severus said he was hoping that going with them this time they would not be able to wriggle their way out of it."

Hermione pushed her half empty plate away and was graced with a disapproving look from Ginny.

"You are getting to be as bad as Molly, trying to feed me up." she said, smiling slightly as she reached over and squeezed Ginny's hand. "I can see what you are trying to say, Severus is a loyal friend and it makes sense in a strange way but..."

"I think you need to talk to him, Hermione." Ginny interrupted "It might help you clear things in your head. We have had a lot to take in, it might become clearer if you hear his side."

"You're right. I will owl him now, I think I need to see him." she said as she rose from the table.