OK, found some free time. I can't believe it's been over a year since I've started this story. Has it seemed that long to you, those who have been with me through this?

Chapter 23: Out in the Open

Lucius yelled out in frustration as he threw his glass at the wall, sending shards of glass everywhere, and staining the carpet with the amber contents. Ten more minutes. That's he would have needed, ten more minutes to finish with the girl. While causing her pain had been more than arousing, even he had reached a point where he needed relief, and decided she would give it to him.

He had had her. Had her beneath him…had her bare…struggling, sobbing, trying to fight him off, but with little success. He would have had her screaming had the wards not gone off when they did, alerting him that people were approaching the Head dorms. He slapped her one last time, causing her to roll onto her side, and buried her head in the pillow.

He had managed to make it out of the room just in time to hear people running in the corridors. Ducking into the same alcove he had before he listened as his son spoke the password to the dragon and had moved inside. Knowing he didn't have much time he power-walked to the Room of Requirement, and thought of the room that he and his companions would frequent at school to get out of the castle.

The room was full of many miscellaneous objects, but he was only interested in one of them. He walked through the piles of artifacts before he found the one he wanted. The Vanishing Cabinet. He stepped into it, closed the door, said an incantation and waited. After a few moments he opened the door again and stepped into Bogin & Burkes in Knockturn Alley. He had then walked through the shop before stepping out into the streets, grabbing the nearest whore he could find, releasing himself, and apperating back to Malfoy Manor.

You Did This

You Did This

You Did This

The words continued to run through Draco's head no matter how much he tried to ignore them. At least he was stating to twitch back to life from the statue he had been for the past half hour. The occupants of the room knew better than to disturb him, less he attack them, so they left him alone to realize the situation, then they would talk to him.

The room was so full that Dumbledore had actually vanished the common room's items and had filled it with extra chairs, couches, and floor pillows. Including one extra large chair for Hagrid that was seated in the corner.

The occupants of the room now consisted of… Adults… Hagrid, Professor Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey (who were currently tending to Harriet), Lily and James Potter, Narcissa Malfoy, Sirius Black, and Students… Draco, Blaise, Astoria, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna, Theodore Nott, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Ernie McMillan, Hannah Abbot, and Susan Bones. So yes it was a bit a bit cramped, but they all managed. Dumbledore was currently asking the students how, when, and how long they each had known about the relationship between Harriet and Draco.

Hermione and Blaise went first. Each explaining how their friends had each confided in them last year after one of their night rounds. Astoria confessed how she suspected when she saw Draco and Blaise arguing, which was not uncommon, however they way they were acting towards each other was, but didn't know for sure until that day after Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts when Draco was called to Sirius' office. Ron told the story of how he found out when they went to Hagrid's, which of course, Hagrid was able to confirm. Everyone else told how they had all found out at once when they received a letter at breakfast about a month ago to go to the Room of Requirement that night.

They had all crossed paths in the corridor and found out they had all been summoned but did not know why. Upon entering the room they had found the Gryffindor and Slytherin trios waiting for them. Justin and Neville explained how they had wanted to leave but Harriet had called them back asking to be heard out. She explained how it was easier to tell the story once to everybody than relaying it a hundred times. Well, everyone sat down, and was told about Harriet and Draco's relationship. Once the story was complete everyone was given the option to stay and socialize, or they could leave and no one would think less of them for it. Everyone decided to stay.

They only two he seemed uncomfortable during all this was Lily and James. They couldn't figure out why Harriet would not tell them that she was in a relation ship, or even who with. Sirius scoffed at that.

"Would you have listened to her? Heard her out? Let her explain what she was doing? Who she was seeing? Given her support?"

James looked at his friend, trying to come up with a response but he knew Sirius was right. He wouldn't have listened. Wouldn't have supported her, or listed to her explanations. He looked at the floor and buried his head in his hands. Lily wrapped her arms around her husband and tried to sooth him, but she felt just as guilty.

"…did this…I did this…"

The whole room looked in Draco's direction. He was muttering those words over and over again.

"Draco?" Narcissa said tenderly as she approached her son and knelt in front of him "Draco, darling can you hear me?"

"I did this… I did… Mum… Mum, I didn't mean… please… no…I didn't… but I did… didn't I…"

"Shhh." Narcissa embraced her son as he continued to rant. She held him close and stroked his hair until he stopped talking, but continued to hold him. Eventually she felt his arms wrap around her, and his body started to shake. A small smile crossed her face knowing that her son was coming out of whatever daze he was in.

Someone cleared their throat and they all looked around to see Madam Pomfrey standing before them while Professor McGonagall closed Harriet's door before turning to face the crowed as well. There was an awkward pause before Madam Pomfrey took a deep breath and began to speak.

"Well… She did take a bit of a beating, but it wasn't as bad as it looked. Most of the blood was smeared across her body, making it appear that she had lost more than she actually did. There was a substantial amount of bruising, but they will heal. The cuts healed easily, but there will be some scarring…"

"Madame Pomfrey," James interrupted "was she… harmed… in any other way?"

"As I was about to say Mr. Potter, she was not, for lack of better terms, sexually assaulted…" a collected sigh of relief sounded in the room "but, it appears, whoever did this did try."

"We know who did this!" James all but yelled "And what do mean 'tried'?"

"There were, what appeared to be bite marks on her shoulder, and bruises on her wrists."

Another round of sighs went around the room, but these were more aggravated. A small sniff was made, that seemed to echo loudly than it really was. All eyes looked to where Luna was trying to keep a strait face, but the twitching of her mouth showed how much she was failing. Neville pulled her to him, and she hid her face in his arms, hiding her tears.

"Mrs. Malfoy?" Madame Pomfrey asked cautiously, and Narcissa looked up at her "With your permission, I would like to examine Draco, or at least take a look at whatever markings may be present."

"NO!" Draco's head shot up and looked strait into his mother's eyes. "Mum, please don't let them."

"Draco, they won't harm you." Narcissa soothed her son.

Draco shook his head, silently begging his mother not to let anybody look at him. Narcissa looked around until her eyes landed on a lone figure in front of the fireplace, starring concernedly at them. She turned her attention back to her son.

"What if Severus went with you?"

They both looked at Snape.

"Would you do that Severus?" asked Narcissa "Will you go with him?"

Snape nodded and carefully approached them. He helped Draco stand up, who immediately wrapped his arms around his godfather's waist. Snape led them into Draco's room, Madame Pomfrey following behind them.

Narcissa stood up and took Snape's spot on front of the fire, her back to the crowd.

"Cissa?" Sirius spoke calmly.

Narcissa didn't move, but continued to stare into the flames. Sirius started to go to her but Lily stood and stopped him. She gently approached Narcissa and laid soft hand on her shoulder. She still didn't look away from the fire but her hand slowly made its way to the top of Lily's hand and gently held it.

"My whole life, I've done my best to protect my son." She finally said "Every time Lucius raised a hand to him, or did anything to harm him I was there for him and him for me…"

"Cissa, did he hurt you too?" Sirius growled out.

Narcissa looked at her cousin. The one family member she could always trust, the only person in her life that was always there for her whenever she needed anything. However, she couldn't seem to trust her voice to say that one little word to his face, so instead she just nodded.

"Why would your husband…" James began, but was cut off by Narcissa.

"HUSBAND! Lucius Malfoy is the man I am married to. That does NOT make him my husband."

"Cissa." Sirius approached her and took her into his arms.

"Are we going to be allowed to see Harri soon?" Ginny asked being the first of the students to speak since Madame Pomfrey and McGonagall emerged from Harriet's room.

The rest of the students looked up expectantly, as though hopping they could see their friend. Professor McGonagall shook her head though.

"Madame Pomfrey gave her a strong dreamless sleep potion. She probably won't wake up until sometime tomorrow."

The students faces fell, but they understood.

"Speaking of sleep," Dumbledore spoke up "I believe it is time for all of you should be getting back to your own dormitories."

The students looked a little reluctant but one by one began to stand and move towards the portrait hole. Neville, with his arm still around Luna, approached Professor McGonagall.

"Um… Professor, would it be okay if I walked Luna back to Ravenclaw Tower, before returning to Gryffindor?"

McGonagall looked at the small blonde wrapped in Neville's arms and gave a small smile of consent. Neville smiled back and began to walk towards the portrait hole. He was about to lead them out when Luna turned back. She headed towards Lily and James and wrapped her small arms around both of them before approaching Narcissa and doing the same thing. She then walked back to Neville and turned t face everyone left in the room.

"Goodnight everyone, I hope in spite of everything, your dreams are still somewhat sweet."

The room smiled at her efforts to be comforting and she returned it. Lacing her fingers through Neville's, she led them both out of the Heads common room, the portrait hole closing shut behind them.

AN: Phew. 5 pages. Hope everyone liked it. Review Please?

Also check out my one shot. It's not really for any purpose, it's just there.