AN: So, I know this is one of the shorter chapters I've written, but big things are definitely brewing! As always, I welcome reviews: the good and bad - just don't be ugly!

Chapter 9

The couple was surprised by the dark, humorless voice that spoke from behind, "Well, well. If it isn't the Death Eater and his whore. I see you've decided to finally go public with your twisted disgusting preferences. Have you no shame Hermione? You used to be the best of the best, and now you're nothing but a common prostitute shared among the scum of society. How could you?"

Hermione gave a small yelp and backed up to the café they had been dining at. Severus felt a rush of anger course through his system. He drew his wand and pointed it at the adolescent's throat. "Potter, that was out of line, even for you. I expect you to apologize immediately."

"What are you going to do Death Eater? I know you received full absolution from the Ministry. Hell, who could have missed that article on your Order of Merlin, first class. But that doesn't mean I don't know the real you. Know what you've done. And it all makes sense, seeing you with that whore. You turned her against us while she was chained up in Malfoy Manor, somehow, someway. She hasn't been the same since. And it's all because of you and your despicable Death Eater friends. You wouldn't dare curse me here on a busy street. It would only show the ministry that you aren't the saintly spy for the side of Light you claimed to be."

"I hardly care what the Ministry, or the Daily Prophet for that matter, says about me. It is only for the feelings of your friend, who has been alone and completely lost without the friendship of yourself and Weasley, that I will keep myself from hexing you where you stand. Oh lofty hero of the Wizarding World, did you ever check your facts before so wildly accusing your friend of deeds you know nothing about? Or did you simply charge in, wand drawn as you usually do? Did you ever stop to think that perhaps she had changed because of the events of the war, torture she has undoubtedly had trouble dealing with? That hardly makes her a Death Eater. I am not sure what you have been told about Ms. Granger, but did you even bother to check with her?" He watched the anger on Harry's face turn to confusion. "Now, I am taking Ms. Granger away from your presence before you can do any more harm to the poor girl. She's been through quite enough without her best friend accusing her of activity she's never been guilty of." With that he grabbed their bags, tucked a sobbing Hermione gently under his arm, and disapparated with a loud CRACK, leaving behind a thoroughly confused Harry Potter.

Severus stood with her outside the castle gates letting her finish having her cry. Odd how standing up for her in so public a manner only served to affirm thoughts he hadn't previously been willing to admit to. There was certainly no turning back now.

XXXX

Hermione knew what was coming.

They had returned to the castle, their lovely afternoon spoiled by her sordid past, and now he was going to toss her aside. He couldn't possibly want an apprentice that was accused of whoring with Death Eaters. He needed to distance himself as much as possible from his past in order to maintain the record of hero he had attained after the war ended. She knew that, it was logical. However, it didn't stop the pain at the realization that she would not only be losing the last friendly figure in her life, but also the one place in the castle she ever felt at home these days. Perhaps it was time for her to move on. Move to an entirely new country. She could do that. She had just enough saved up to start fresh somewhere new. She could confess her past once more – a cleansing purge of memories for her own sake, certainly not for him– watch the disgust build until he exploded, then chuck her things in her trunk and be off. No one would miss her; no one would look for her.

She started almost violently from her thoughts as Severus sat down next to her and asked, "Just to be clear, I did not just make a complete ass of myself, did I?"

She was confused. That didn't sound like an angry or disgusted confrontation. "Why would you think that?"

"Well you could hardly be guilty of the things Potter accused you of. I've spent enough time in your company the last several weeks to know that, even if Potter is too dense to see it. I just wanted to make sure I did not say anything out of line, since I don't actually know what happened. I tried to stay as vague as possible, but I did feel the need to conjecture some, particularly after his mention of your time trapped in the Malfoy Manor." At the mention of that accursed place, he felt her bristle beside him. His voice grew soft as his hand found hers, "Hermione, tell me what happened. Share that heavy burden with me."

It was only then that she was brave enough to look up to his face, and was shocked to find his did not show disgust or repulsion. She felt a flicker of hope. Perhaps he was different; perhaps he wouldn't turn away from her. She certainly already knew that he was vastly different from Harry and Ron, but was he different enough? It was in that moment, seeing the look in his eyes that she decided to bare her soul to him, hoping that the kindness she saw in him was real.

She took a deep breath and looked down, unsure where to begin, but knowing that if she didn't start now, she never would. "I'm not sure how long we were locked down in that cellar room. The darkness was complete, and the walls were well insulated. We had no idea how much time passed, and that horrible anticipation only made things worse.

I remember drifting off, something we all did off and on, and being awoken by a prodding wand and sharp fingers around my arms. I was taken upstairs to another dark room. All I could see was a single ray of light from a covered window." She paused and took another deep breath. Severus gave her hand a small squeeze, but she hardly noticed. She had been sucked in to the power of her memories.

"I don't remember with any clarity what happened next. I just know I was in a room full of Death Eaters. Their laughter bit at me from every direction, much like the curses they threw at me. Then it became more than just curses and hexes. I felt hard leather and metal biting into my skin. My robes were shredded, my body beaten, and they did not stop. I remember my flesh crawling as hands moved over my skin, more pain, more hexes. I don't know what happened from there.

I cannot be more grateful that Dobby came to our aid when he did. I think… No, I know they would have killed me, slowly and as painfully as possible if I had stayed in that house any longer. I am just so sorry he had to pay with his life for such a heroic rescue."

Severus said nothing, just sat with both hands wrapped around her one. She didn't cry audibly, but she could feel the wetness of tears running steadily down her face. But he did not run. He sat there, his unwavering stillness more comforting than she would have guessed.

"You have survived, Hermione. You have lived through things that have broken stronger wizards. I, unfortunately, have been privy to the sorts of things Death Eaters do, so I have an idea what they put you through in order to have their fun." He spat the word, and she could tell that he was holding back a more violent reaction. "But the important thing is that you survived."

His vehement statement only served to make her cry harder. He didn't know, wouldn't continue to praise her strength if he knew the full truth.

She braced herself for the one last piece of information that had to be spoken before she could consider her purging thoroughly complete.

"Severus…" her voice came out barely above a whisper. "Severus, there's one more thing. Something that may change your mind." She paused once more; steeling herself for what she knew was about to come out of her mouth, and what his reaction undoubtedly was going to be. "I found out, after that last battle… I found that… well…" His hand gripped hers still, and she tried to pull strength from him to let out this one last statement. "Severus, I found out after the battle was over that I had miscarried sometime during the fight."

She felt him stiffen beside her, his hands clenching hers tightly.