Hey guys!!! I'm back from Yellowstone and ready to write again!! ;) This chapter is kinda deep so if a flashback of rape bugs you, then skip this chapter; it isn't terribly important to the plot.
Chapter 11: That Night
Bellatrix Lestrange stood before me, slowly turning to examine her outfit in the mirror. I leaned against the doorway to Ginny's bedroom with my arms folded across my chest; I was too thrilled that they were leaving me alone to go on their little mission. Once Ginny had finished inspecting herself, she faced me with rumpled eyebrows.
"Hermione, I need your opinion;" She inquired with Bellatrix's obnoxious jeer of a voice. "Is this convincing?"
I had to remind myself that she wasn't the real Bella to prevent myself from tackling her to the ground and ripping her hair out.
"If you were a model promoting Crystal Meth, yeah, I'd buy it."
"Alright, that's the response I was looking for."
"Happy to help, Gin."
The robes they'd stolen were much too large for Ginny, so my helping hand down the set of stairs was much appreciated. The cottage was empty except for the four of them, but that would change soon. Fleur had earned the option to get Fridays off early at her new job as a business secretary and they were taking all precautions. No one must know that Harry, Ron, and Ginny were using their well-thought out disguises to sneak into Gringotts Bank and steal one of Voldemort's last Horcruxes. I was the only one aware of this scheme, but according to the rest of the Wizarding World, I'm still AWOL and probably dead. They stood before me, at the back door that leads to the sandy horizon. I'm not stupid; I know there's a high probability that they won't return alive. But I refuse to cry. I must save my strength for the challenge in my immediate future; my son is due any day now. I plan to turn from and not say goodbye, to save the heartbreak and pain. But as I stare sadly at the tiled floor, a soft hand gently clasps my chin between their fingers. Ron Weasley pulls my face up to face his. I feel the tears cascade down my cheeks upon seeing his worried expression.
" 'Mione you could never turn away from me; you love me too much." He whispers gently so that only I can hear.
My self-control is gone and the needy, hormonal Hermione kicks in. Our lips lock and I lean into him. His hand leaves my chin as he wraps his arms around my waist to pull me closer. My toes are barely touching the ground while sway on the spot, the sea breeze coming from the slightly ajar glass door rustling lightly through our hair. It was a beautiful moment…… then Ginny spoke up.
"OI RON!! Quit eating her face and join us in saving the world!!"
We broke apart right as Ginny barked the order from across the beach; she and Harry were already at the shoreline. Ron smiles down at me one last time and kisses my forehead gingerly. He then surprises me again by leaning down and planting the softest kisses imaginable on my distended belly. I nearly start hysterically sobbing as he strides over to where my best friends stand waiting for him. I can't take it; I have to let him know.
"Ron!! I LOVE YOU!!" I call from the house.
He turns to face me as he reaches the others.
"I love you even more, 'Mione." He calls back. And then they're gone.
I stood there for a moment, letting the light wind dry my tears before stepping back inside the cozy house. I moved like a robot, pouring myself tea, snatching a good novel from one of Fleur's bookshelves, plopping carefully down on her wide sofa in the family room. My intentions were to read the entire book to drown out and numb the pain of what had just happened, but my crazy hormones kicked in just as I sat down. I hadn't even completed the first chapter when my eyes drifted shut and I fell softly onto the cushions beneath me. And that's when the nightmare began.
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"Babe, I'm over this place. How 'bout you and I go up to my room and we'll have a little party of our own?" Cormac McLaggen whispered in my ear from behind.
I rolled my eyes; was he really that desperate to get some action. He had one hand up my gown and another massaging my thigh obscenely under the table as I sat in his lap. Cho Chang stared at me with raised eyebrows and Ginny and the Patil twins glared viciously at him. I can do it; I can put up with this filthy-minded jock for three more hours. It's not like I like him. I only asked him out to piss off Ron.
"Geez Mac! NO! How many times are you going to ask me that?!? I asked for a strawberry lemonade, not an under-the-table groping!!"
He smirked and stood immediately, pushing me gently off his lap.
"You got it baby!" He whispered before slapping my ass and taking off to the bar.
I yelped and made to reach back and slap him upside the head, but he'd already high-tailed it to the bar. Cho waited patiently until she knew for sure that Cormac was out of earshot before speaking up.
"Hermione, we would all be able to keep our lunch down so much easier if you and your playmate took 'this' outside of our line of sight." She drawled, sucking on the olive from her Cosmo and raising her eyebrows even more.
Cho and I never really had a best friends stage in the whole time we knew each other; Hell, we'd always hated each other with a passion. She'd always been jealous of Harry and I's close relationship and used it as an excuse for their break up, that she was being cheated on and had to end the unhealthy relationship. The truth is, Harry and I are just really good friends and that's all we'll ever be. Cho, however, can't even bother to try and share with others. I force a casual smile onto my face and chuckle lightly. Cho's eyes widen; she's used to people backing down at her cheeks.
"Please, I only asked him to piss Ron off for a while. I'm dumping McLaggen as soon as this party comes to an end." I say simply munching on a cocktail shrimp.
The others nod in understanding. It's all they can do because McLaggen is already back with my lemonade. He sat down next to me with his arm around my waist as I took a sip. It tasted funny, like there was a hint of alcohol mixed in with the strawberry but I chug it anyway; my mouth is parched and this was really refreshing. Fifteen minutes and three drinks later, talking without slurring is impossible. I can barely make out the looks of worry on everyone's face; even Cho appears scared for my well-being. Right before he speaks up, it hits me. Cormac spiked my drink.
"Geez Hermione, you sure don't take your alcohol very well. Guys, she looks really sick; I'm going to put her to sleep. Sorry to leave so early but she needs the rest."
"Whadyouputinmadrink?!" I accused drunkenly.
I try to stand up and leave on my own; I refuse to allow this to happen. Upon trying walk away from his false sincerity, I stumble after tripping over my own feet. Cormac catches me and pretends to comfort me as I begin to panic.
"Hermione, calm down!! You're too wasted to walk on your own!! You clearly need help just standing."
"Dontouchme!! Gerroffofmeyouperverttt!!" That can't seriously me speaking; it's too shaky and slurred.
"You need sleep, Hermione. I'll catch up with you guys later."
Before I'm out of earshot, I hear Ginny whisper something to Harry.
"Harry, the drink she ordered was non-alcoholic."
They have realized too late; I'm already being dragged out the holly covered doorway to Slughorn's office. I struggle and whimper as Cormac pulls me with him. My feet can't follow his steadily quickening pace fast enough and he supports me with a muscular arm around my waist. The torches lit along the hallway become increasing dimmer.
"Nooooooo….. pleeeezidontwaanttoo. Letgoooooofmee! Pleezdonrapeme!!! SOMEBUUNNYHEELP!!!" My drunken slurs transform from sobs to screams in seconds.
His hand slaps over my mouth, silencing the feeble pleas. He begins to shush me.
"Hermione, I love you; why would I do that to you?"
He continues to whisper these empty words of comfort until we reach his room. Since McLaggen bought his way into being elected Head Boy, he got the private suite with it. I am laid gently across the gold and maroon bedspread, still struggling and slurring. With a flick of his wand the door zooms shut and locks with a resounding click. There's no way out; I'm trapped in here with a guy I don't even have romantic interest in. I can't decide what's worse, the fact that no one can hear me scream or that I'll never be able to fight him off of. My green mini dress ripping along the side and being whipped from my body causes me to snap back to reality. I'm in nothing but my bra, underwear and the heels that matched my once intact outfit. The waterworks and the jumbled mumbles start up again.
"Pleeezdondooothistooomeee!! Ihateyou!! IHATEYOU!! STOPTOUCHINGMEE!! OhGodheelpme!!!"
Something is jabbed into the side of my head and I hear him utter a curse I thought I'd never have experience in my life.
"IMPERIO!!"
Having your mind wipe of all thought is absurdly pleasant. I completely forgot of the situation I was caught up in. Until his voice began to echo in my mind.
"We are in love Hermione; you want this. You need me. People do this when they're deeply, madly in love, and you love me dearly."
Fighting it was torture, but I knew that if Harry could do it, so could I. The more I fought, the more painful everything became, and I knew he had almost breached my mental barrier. Slowly, I finally gave in. My eyes flickered open, blank under his ruthless control. I smiled a crafty smile; very un-Hermione-ish. My arms moved on their own accord, wrapping themselves around his waist and my legs followed soon after. Soon, we were both naked, with him positioned between my legs. I couldn't think for myself, so it never occurred to me that this wasn't consensual, that I was being forced into an act of passion that I never intended to share with Cormac McLaggen. Pain enveloped me as we officially began to have sex; I still had some control over myself as I gasped at the burning in my crotch. He mistook this as I gasp of pleasure and proceeded to thrust as hard as he was capable, giving me no time to adjust to him. He slammed me roughly against the headboard behind me, becoming rougher with every breath. On the inside, I was shrieking as if my life depended on it, but on the outside, I moaned as if I was enjoying this demeaning violation. I was beginning to regain some control of my actions and went to war against the barrier in my head. Cormac, getting exceedingly rough, slammed my head back up against the headboard, completely shattering his control over me. It takes me a moment to realize that I'm the one in control of my actions, and he notices as well. I reach over to the nearby nightstand and grab the first thing my hand touches; an iron bookend. He tries to stop me, but even though I'm insanely drunk, I'm determined not to let him violate me anymore without a fight. I smash the palm size metal into the side of his head twice before he rolls over in pain and pulls himself out of me. My makeshift weapon clatters to the floor as I stumble shakily to the door. I don't know how I planned to get out; my wand was back in my room and this door was locked. I jiggle the lock violently and scream for help. Two hands suddenly wrap around me and trap me; one around my waist, another over my mouth. He pulls me up against him and drags me back to the bed, kicking and sobbing. I can feel the blood from his wounds trickling into my hair. I know that he plans to hurt me for what I did. No sooner than I am shoved onto his bed, Cormac raises his hand and delivers an echoing smack to my cheek. It hurt like Hell; I roll my head to the side and spit out blood. His face becomes blurrier the harder I try to focus, but the anger is clearer than day. My eyes shut slowly and I pass out as McLaggen begins to rape me again.
After what feels like hours, I chance a peek at the outside world from the relaxing paradise in my mind. I open my eyes to see that it hasn't been that long; Cormac is still ravaging my limp form. Anger bubbles in my veins and I want to kill him for what he is doing to me. I want to hurt him as much as he's hurt me and show the same emotion he shows now; total indifference. I know I could never prevail in a fist fight, but battling using words is my field of expertise, however. I seize his wrist, using all my remaining strength to pull myself up and face him. He smirks at me. He knows that I can't fight him like this. With all my will power, I utter the first sentence this evening that isn't strung together in one word.
"Cormac McLaggen, you unfeeling bastard."
His arrogant look of victory softens as I pass out again and sink back into the pillow. Somehow I manage to dream pleasantly and completely shut out Cormac's domination over my unconscious form. I feel later that I am on a completely different bed, one that feels familiar. It's my bed. I smile as my eyes flutter open to gaze at the sun's warm rays that are surely streaming in through the window. No such thing. My maroon sheets are coated in vomit and a raw stench is in the air. Instinctively, I reach up to wipe my face; the foul green mixture is smeared on there as well. I sit up and a migraine throbs to life as I take in my surroundings. The girl's dorm is empty; I am the only resident, lying naked in a pool of my own vomit. Blood coats the inside of my thighs and bruises can be found almost everywhere. I feel my face again and find not only the cold vomit, but several cuts and scratches as well. My stomach churns as I hear the voices of my roommates coming up the stairs.
"I don't know where the Hell she could be!! We checked with McLaggen and he claims to have taken her to the nurse before taking her up to the dorms, but Madam Pomfrey hasn't seen Hermione in person since Ron's accident!! He did something to her!! I just know it!!" Ginny Weasley snarls. She and the girl that she'd been arguing with stop just short of the door; the handle jiggles slightly as Ginny is gripping it firmly.
"Gin, you don't know that for sure. Harry and Ron could have taken her to breakfast early; she most likely has a hangover and needs t-" The door is opened in the middle of Pavarti's sentence and she stops speaking upon quickly sweeping the room with her eyes.
I am no longer sitting up waiting for them to enter and comfort me. Nope, I am vomiting yet again, my throat burns from the acids that erupt from my esophagus. I've rolled over and the floor between mine and Ginny's bed is sickening to stare at. A pair of hands pulls my already sticky hair away from the range of fire and a bucket is shoved up to my face.
"Breathe Hermione, just let it all out." Ginny soothes and strokes my hair lightly.
I'm amazed I still have anything left in my stomach after seeing all the puke on my bed. I cough one last time before rolling back over and sobbing hopelessly into my tearstained pillow. The bucket clatters and the bed shifts slightly as Pavarti climbs on to comfort me as well. They don't try to speak to me, just sit there and hold my hands as I cry myself silly into the ruined bedspread. I close my eyes for a while before sniffling one last time and sitting up to face them. They both look terrified but relieved that I've calmed down.
" 'Mione, what the HELL happened to you?!?! This cannot have been from a hangover!!!" Ginny is furious, but thankfully not at me.
"Cormac raped me." I whisper almost immediately, grabbing the pillow and snuggling with it. "I tried to fight back and I begged him to stop, but it fell upon deaf ears; he didn't even fucking care. He completely drowned me out for his own pleasure. God, Pav, if you could've heard the pain in my voice you'd have ripped him to shreds."
It's silent for a moment, and then my two friends jump up and begin to move around. I've zoned and am totally ignoring them.
"Pavarti, I'm going down to Madam Pomfrey's and telling her about this; you stay here and find something warm for her to wear."
Ginny is charging down the stairs and Pavarti is rummaging through the coat closet looking for my clothes. I get up and walk to the mirror on the wall in a zombie-like state. I stare at myself and somehow don't flinch away from the monster staring back at me. My hair is matted down by dried blood and tangled beyond recognition. Blood is mixed with vomit all over the rest of my body; my legs are the worst. Scratches and bruises dominate the skin there and even the slightest movement is painful. I have a black eye and hickeys cover my throat and breasts. Slowly, as if I am afraid my refection will bite me; I place a bloodied palm on the mirror and scream louder than I have ever screamed in my life.
" 'Ermione? 'Ermione, 'oney, vake up!!"
"I'm bleeding……. I'm not even human!!! Don't touch me……..PLEASE STOP IT!!!"
" 'ERMIONE!!!"
Someone is shaking my shoulder and I know that I can't ignore them like this forever. I slowly open my eyes, waiting a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the light before looking at my visitor. Fleur stands before me, bent over and worried looking. Her hair is coming out of the tight bun she secured it in this morning and she's clearly in a hurry. Somebody else must have died.
"'Ermione, zere iz too be a final battle; all Order members must participate. 'Urry and get up; we must leeve for 'Ogwarts immediately!!"
