A/N: Thanks for the reviews.

DISLCAIMER: Only the plot and the Aussies in the story – Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, oi, oi!

Chapter Twenty-one

Day One Hundred and Twenty-two…

How do you tell someone you love them? How can you admit it to someone, who in reality you spent near seven years hating, that you were completely and overwhelmingly in love with them? Hermione gave a sigh as these thoughts swirled in a constant motion through her mind.

Telling Draco she was in love with him was the thing she had been trying to tell him since he woke from his short-lived coma. Running a hand through her long, brown, curly hair she flipped the page of the book she was reading – the one Harry had given her. It was truly interesting and Hermione was pleased she had the ability to read and stew over thoughts at the same time.

"Hello Hermione."

Hermione looked up from the book and smiled at Luna, gesturing for her to enter the tent fully. Luna sat across from her and looked around absently before peering at Hermione curiously.

"Is something on your mind, Hermione?" asked Luna.

Hermione smiled, "Am I that obvious?"

"No."

Hermione gave a short laugh and closed her book; marking which page she was up to with a bookmark, "Luna, how do you tell someone something really important if you don't know how they will react?"

"You just tell them. No one knows how a person will react about anything, no matter how well you know them."

Hermione nodded and bit her lower lip. Draco was with Blaise and Pansy helping Ginny in the centre tent after Hermione requested some time to her self. Luna stood and gave Hermione a squeeze on the shoulder as she left. Hermione gave a sigh and stood up, pacing around the room aimlessly. There was no saying how Draco would react to such a huge declaration. He could get scared and back away from Hermione or maybe accept the extent of her feelings. It was a two way street with no saying which way things could go.

Hermione finally left the tent and headed down a slowly forming dirt path from the common traffic of people towards the centre tent. She walked in unnoticed and made her self a warm cup of tea. Spotting Harry sitting by him self, fiddling with a napkin, Hermione walked over and sat beside him.

"Hey," said Harry glancing up at her, "You look as troubled as I do."

"Probably for different reasons," Hermione said feeling certain that was the case.

Harry nodded, "In eleven days I face him Hermione. And I am terrified."

"You have every right to be Harry. No one would feel any different."

"Everyone is expecting me to be full of this unwavering courage."

"If they do then that's just stupid. I'd like to see them have the knowledge that they or someone dear to them has to march off to a life or death battle and feel nothing but bravery," replied Hermione bitterly, "You are human Harry. You feel fear, you feel love, and you feel anger… he doesn't, just hate."

Harry nodded seeing Hermione's point of view. Both fell silent and looked around the room. Harry fixed his eyes on his busy girlfriend as she helped her mother organise that day's lunch. Hermione glanced around searching for Draco but when she found him her eyes narrowed. Draco was grinning and laughing with Pansy, standing behind him her arms around him with her head resting on his shoulder as she whispered in his ear. Blaise was sitting across from them rolling his eyes, looking over to Hermione. He seemed to glance back at Draco shaking his head slightly.

"Excuse me," said Hermione standing up suddenly.

She walked out of the tent, ignoring the cry from Draco hurrying out after her. Hermione walked briskly to the always-waiting log knowing full well Draco was running along hurriedly behind her. At the log he grabbed her by the arm and spun her around.

"Nothing was going on!" yelled Draco.

"Oh really? Well what I saw said completely different!" yelled back Hermione, her brown eyes blazing with anger.

"She is a friend. You hold your friend's hands don't you?"

"Yes! But I don't throw my self at them!"

"What?"

"Oh do not act like you have no clue what I am on about because I know full well you do, Draco!" screamed Hermione, "Every time she is around you I'm completely forgotten! And yesterday morning… did you really think I believed you when you told me nothing was wrong? Something happened between you and that Little Miss Parkinson – and I bet my entire LIFE that it is related to you and her being together!"

"Yes it did, but it was dealt with, Hermione!"

"Are you sure about that Draco? She seems to be taking all the opportunities to keep your sole attention on her!"

"I told you already that Pansy has a need for attention."

"But how hard is it for you to sit down and tell her where to draw the line?" cried Hermione in protest, "Or do you enjoy her being all over you?"

Draco looked back at Hermione in surprise, "Enjoy?"

"Yes Draco, enjoy!"

Draco shook his head angrily, "You are my girlfriend, not Pansy."

"Wow, that is surprising. It would be nice if it didn't appear the other way around."

"Jealousy doesn't suit you."

Hermione stepped forward angrily, keeping her face inches from Draco's, "I may appear jealous to you but I'm really trying to stop myself looking a fool around my peers. It's called protecting ones dignity, Draco."

With that Hermione stormed away, wanting to create some physical distance between her and the boyfriend she was now feuding with.

--

"Face it Granger, he'll be mine before this war is over."

Hermione turned from entering the tent and looked at Pansy with narrowed eyes, "Do all you can to break us up Pansy. It'll just make people question the judgement of giving you protection."

"No it won't," said Pansy stepping towards Hermione, "It'll make people wonder why such a smart girl like you got messed up with the likes of Draco to start with."

Hermione took a deep breath, stopping her self from whipping her wand out and wiping that smug, pug faced look off her face.

"Oh, Granger at a loss for words?" hissed Pansy stepping forward, "Listen Granger, Draco isn't like you. He is a man who wants action with his woman. Not just the hand holding, hugs and little kisses here and there. The woman who can give him that isn't you, it's me because I'm not a prude like you."

"No, you're not," snapped Hermione, "So it must be hard for you to walk around without your legs spread wide like normal."

Pansy's mouth fell open in shock as Hermione turned and entered the tent, flopping down on the lounge, taking deep breaths. She closed her eyes and swallowed a lump in her throat. She jumped a little as voices filled the tent. Opening her eyes Hermione saw Ginny walk in followed by Blaise and Draco. Hermione averted her eyes from Draco, who merely headed into his bedroom with Blaise. Ginny gave Hermione a frown and gestured to their bedroom. Hermione followed Ginny in, closing the door behind her.

"What is going on?" asked Ginny sitting on her multi coloured quilted bed.

Hermione flopped down on her purple quilt covered bed and stared up at the ceiling, "Parkinson is in love with Draco."

"Okay," she said slowly, "And what else?"

Hermione turned her head to look at Ginny, "I think he likes the attention she gives him. She throws her self at him and he doesn't stop it. Merlin! He loves it and that alone encourages her!"

"Have you told him this?"

"We argued about it Ginny. Before you came back with Blaise and Draco, Parkinson and I exchanged words. He is, in her words, a man who wants action. Not the hand holding, hugs and kisses."

"So basically Parkinson is doing all she can to come between you both?"

Hermione nodded.

"What are you going to do?"

Hermione sat up, her mind set on her decision, "There is nothing I can do Gin. I can't force him to stay with me no matter how much I care for him… in the end it's his choice. Her or me. In the end either I'm going to get hurt or Parkinson is."

Ginny nodded looking at Hermione with a sympathetic smile, "He'd be a fool to not pick you Hermione. After all, you are a way better catch then she is. Parkinson's only got the blonde, idiot thing going for her… and maybe the pug nose."

Hermione laughed knowing Ginny would find a humorous spin to put on the entire thing.

"But you know, maybe a letter would help you explain to him what's going on in your head. After all, that is what helped get you two together to start with," suggested Ginny before hugging Hermione and leaving the room.

--

Dear Draco,

I know you would probably prefer it if I spoke to you face to face but I guess I can explain myself better on paper. After all, as a little birdie told me, a letter is what helped bring us to each other.

Draco, inside me is this huge fear that I am going to lose you. Not to death or your father but to Pansy. You and her have a huge history and I am one hundred percent sure that it wasn't entirely bad. You are used to each other – the good habits and the bad. You know everything there is to know about the other and vice versa. With me, its still in the learning stages, isn't it?

Pansy knows what you want in a relationship and I guess I am yet to truly know what you want from me. Perhaps this is just a fling. Perhaps it is a mistake. Perhaps it isn't. Perhaps it is fate. But there is no perhaps about one thing I am certain of, and it is huge. I have been trying to find a way to tell you and I feel that this is the one way I can tell you, without feeling stupid or any other horrible emotion.

I love you Draco. I really and truly do.

I don't want you to think that you have to stay with me because of that. If anything I want you to make the decision of what you want. I can't force you to stay with me. If you think Pansy is whom you want, then so be it. I can live with that choice, Draco. Naturally it will hurt but I am a strong person – I will cope and you know I will.

I leave the ball in your court, Draco.

Love Hermione.

Hermione took a deep breath before folding the letter and sticking it into an envelope. Draco was out to lunch with Blaise and Ginny and wouldn't be back for another half hour. Standing, she walked to his room and left it on his pillow before leaving. Walking out of the tent, she strolled along slowly, stopping when Ginny came running towards her looking frantic.

"What is it?" asked Hermione as Ginny yanked her to the edge of the camp, "What's wrong?"

"They are talking about freeing Flint and Montgomery. They can't find anything to charge them with- other then Death Eater charges. Hermione… you need to tell them!"

Hermione felt chills run down her spine, "I-I can't. T-they'll make it tell them in front of everyone!"

"Hermione they raped you and branded you! If you don't say something Charlie will."

Hermione ran a hand through her brown hair, "When are they making the choice?"

"Tonight at the meeting. You have until then to decide Hermione," said Ginny quietly, "Look, I'll let you do some thinking and keep Blaise and Draco with me, okay?"

Hermione gave nod and headed off towards the log. At the log she sat down and wrapped her arms around her legs, resting her head on her knees. Just when she believed the nightmare was ending something managed to reawaken it for her. Would it ever go away and let her live in peace?

Blood spilled into her mouth and down her chin as her lip busted from the hit… They stalked towards her, almost tauntingly slow until her back hit a trunk of a thick tree…"My, my, what fun I will have in playing undress the witch." … Bile filled her mouth as she felt her jeans become undone… Not wanting another punch or slap she swallowed the vomit and bit her bleeding lip as her pants were yanked down… She closed her eyes as one-stepped forward his hands roaming her naked body literally poisoning her skin of all innocence… Tears cascaded down her cheeks as her body was jerked from her rough movements as the second Death Eater took over for his personal, sick, humiliating fun…"Time to let everyone see what you really are!" snarled one as the other forced the heated metal to her arm…

Hermione blinked her tears away forcefully as the memories of her past and nightmares faded away. She knew this day would come, where she would stand up and finally tell everyone who was responsible for raping her and branding her. She did want justice, yet she felt too scared to do it. She knew they would be there, smirking at her in such a mocking manner.

Hermione bit her lip and took a deep breath lifting her head up.

"Oh, poor Draco break your little heart, Granger?"

Hermione turned her head and looked at Pansy in annoyance, "Not now Parkinson."

"What, not in the mood to tell me to go away? Finally realised I was right all along?"

Hermione turned and jumped off the log pulling her wand out, startling the wandless Pansy, "Not so tough now are we, Parkinson? No! I told you I wasn't in the mood to deal with your miserable patheticness and I meant it! Right now I have a lot to deal with and I do not need you throwing snarling comments at me! If Draco wants you he will have you! Okay?"

Pansy nodded and Hermione put her wand away, looking up to see people watching. Pansy turned and left in a hurry. Hermione turned away from the crowd and stalked back over to her log. She sat down and tried to block the noise out but two voices penetrated her mind.

"Draco she is a mad woman! She held me at wand point going on about me being pathetic and miserable and having crap on her mind!"

"Great Pansy, look can you just… just go find someone else to annoy? Like Blaise? He's in a mess over a woman and needs some female perspective."

Hermione looked down at her hands and kept focused on them, even when Draco himself was standing before her, the noise of paper rustling in his hands. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath.

"I love you Draco. I really and truly do."

Hermione said nothing and shifted her gaze from her hands to his shoes, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear in the process.

"I don't want you to think that you have to stay with me because of that. If anything I want you to make the decision of what you want," he continued before letting out a sigh, "The thing is Hermione, I do want to stay with you."

Hermione finally looked up at Draco and bit her lower lip as his grey eyes searched her brown ones.

"Hermione… I… I love you too."

Hermione couldn't help it. Her entire body seemed to light up, with her brown eyes smiling once more along with her mouth. Draco gave a laugh and hugged her, kissing her on the forehead.

"You won't ever lose me," he said softly, "Like I said, Pansy and I are long over. Yeah there were good times but with you… its different and in a really good way as well."

"I'm sorry for doubting you," said Hermione pulling back a little, "I really am."

"I should have told Pansy to stop it. I just… I wasn't thinking."

Hermione nodded and hugged him again; "You have a lot on your plate, with your mother and all."

Draco nodded and kissed her gently, "Swear to me that we will never let this happen again – that no secrets shall exist between us?"

"I swear, do you?"

Draco nodded though Hermione thought she saw something like concern cross his face. Hermione ignored it; just glad they had sorted things out before they truly went too far.

"Speaking of not keeping a secret," said Hermione, "If I don't confess who… who raped me the Order plan on releasing Montgomery and Flint."

"Then you need to speak up," said Draco instantly.

"I know. But it's not that easy Draco. I wish it was, but… I don't feel strong enough. What if they don't believe me?"

"Then they can ask the scums with the truth potion."

Hermione gave a sigh feeling stupid for not realising that. That still didn't ease up her concern at being considered a liar. Draco placed his hands on her shoulder's making Hermione meet his eyes once more.

"I will be by your side when you tell them," said Draco firmly, "Remember that you are never alone in this."

Hermione gave a nod and soft smile before leaning in to hug Draco, resting her head on his chest.

--

"Good evening," said McGonagall, "This evening we are here to discuss the release of two Death Eater's. Bring them in Hagrid."

Hagrid walked in, holding Flint and Montgomery roughly by the back of their necks. Both winced constantly and stumbled in their walking. At the front of the centre tent, they were bound to the two chairs, placing them under the critical eye of the full tent. Hermione kept looking away from them, clutching onto Draco's hand tightly, much to Pansy's ultimate disgust.

"These two will be down on a permanent record as You-Know-Who's followers. However, if we are to punish them for anything we need proof. As there is none-"

"Wait," cried Hermione standing up with a look over at Charlie who was about to stand up but stopped at Hermione stood, "T-there is something."

McGonagall looked at Hermione curiously, waiting for her continue, as was everyone else.

"O-on day sixty-seven of this war," said Hermione steadily, "These two Death Eaters dragged me from the battlefield. They did this… because… they knowingly raped me… and branded me."

"YOU BASTARDS!" roared Ron jumping up from his seat and running towards them, yanking his wand out.

Hagrid jumped up and grabbed Ron, pulling him back, despite looking as if we were ready to murder Flint and Montgomery himself.

The entire tent was in an uproar in fact. Lupin and Moody with Ginny trying to best to calm him down were holding Harry in his seat. The Weasley brother's other then Charlie and Ron were doing their best to restrain themselves.

"ORDER!" bellowed McGonagall in her amplified voice.

Instant silence filled the tent with Hermione wanting nothing more then to vanish from view.

"Miss Granger," said McGonagall, "You will need to testify under the truth potion. Come forward."

On shaking legs, Hermione walked to the front of the tent and sat in a chair to the far left of her attackers. Both smirked at her just like she knew they would. Ignoring them Hermione opened her mouth as the potion was tipped onto her tongue.

"State your first and last name," ordered McGonagall.

"Hermione Granger," replied Hermione in her monotone.

"How old are you?"

"Eighteen."

"Are your parents alive or dead?"

"Dead. They were murdered."

"Who by?"

"I don't know."

"Who raped you?"

"Marcus Flint and Bruce Montgomery."

"Where?"

"In the west forest."

"Did one of them or both of them rape you?"

"Both. First Flint then Montgomery."

"Did they brand you?"

"Yes. With the word Mudblood."

"Which arm?"

"The right one."

"Tell us how it happened."

Without waiting Hermione went right into the story. The people in the tent listened in horror as Hermione, in her monotone voice, told them every important detail. It went on for a good twenty minutes with no one speaking up. Ron and Harry remained seated, both stunned at what their dear friend went through. Even Ginny, who knew some details, was horrified, holding onto Harry's hand tightly. Both Draco and Blaise listened, hiding their looks of pure anger aimed directly at Flint and Montgomery.

When Hermione finished the potion wore off. She took deep breaths, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"You may step down Miss Granger," said McGonagall softly.

Hermione jumped up and ran down the steps, dodging hands reaching out from her friends. She fled from the centre tent, not for the log but for her tent, wanting to hide in her bedroom until it all went away.

A/N: So finally everyone knows who raped Hermione. What will thee punishment be? And will Draco confess the one thing he knows of Hermione's parent's murder? If so, how will she react to it in her current state of mind? Review to find out!

Until next time!

Love yas!

Love Coz!