Chapter XXVIII – Draco Drained?

When Hermione came out of the shower that morning she found Ginny standing in the hall waiting to use the loo. "Sirius told me if I saw you to let you know an Eagle Owl arrived with a message for you. It's up in the owl house in the attic.

Doesn't Draco Malfoy have an Eagle Owl?"

"Yes." Hermione answered "I suggested we meet over Christmas; and told him to write when he knew what day he could get away from his house.

I told him I couldn't stand going so long without having sex with him. Really, it's so I can continue to drain his magical powers; they'll start returning if I don't have sex with him at least every other week."

Ginny looked at Hermione and said, "I know you're doing this because you think it will help Harry if Draco's powers are weaker; but are you sure it is really a good idea? After all, having sex with someone you hate, even for a good cause, just sounds so disgusting to me."

"It's not that bad." Hermione said. "Draco, while still a miserable rotten person, is being kind to me because he doesn't know what I'm after; and he thinks I don't know he's only pretending to change. Also, he's a great lover. He has loads of sexual experience and gives me great orgasms; the orgasms alone make it worth while even if I couldn't drain his powers.

I better go get his message; he may want to meet today or tomorrow and I have to make arrangement to sneak out of here so I can meet him." Rather than taking time to go to her room first to change; still in her dressing gown she went directly to the owl's coop.

The order had installed it in the attic, since so many messages were going in and out every day, having owls pecking at the windows every hour was getting annoying. When an owl arrived a bell would ring on every floor. Sirius, who couldn't leave the house while the ministry was still looking for him, accepted the job of checking and notify the person to whom the message was addressed. At first he tried to actually deliver the messages; but some of the owls would get nasty when a person other than the one the letter was address to tried to take it from the owl's leg.

Hermione took the letter from Draco's owl and said to it, "Wait here while I write back."

The owl hooted at her and jumped over to where food and water were supplied for the owls while they waited.

She opened the letter and was reading it as she walked. Coming off the steps she rounded a corner and walked right into Ron who was heading to breakfast. They bumped heads and Hermione dropped the letter.

"Ouch," they both said "that hurt."

"Sorry," Hermione said "I'm in a hurry; and wasn't watching where I was going."

"You dropped this." Ron said and he bent over picking up the letter. Glancing at it he saw it was signed, "Draco" and he asked, "Draco? Is this a letter from Malfoy? Why are you in contact with Malfoy?"

Hermione tried to grab the letter from his hands; but he pulled back and started reading the letter.

"Ron," she yelled "that's addressed to me; you have no right to read it. Give it back."

"He wants you to come today and meet him at the Leakey Cauldron." Ron said. "Are you seeing Malfoy? Do you fancy him?"

Hermione lunged at Ron and grabbed the letter but he wouldn't let go and they struggled for the paper finally ripping it into two pieces. In the struggle the tie of Hermione's dressing gown came undone and her gown opened.

She stepped back with the half of the letter in her hand; but Ron was no longer looking at the letter. He yelled, "You shaved your cunny hair. When did you start doing that?"

"Hermione was furious. She retied her dressing gown, grabbed the other half of the letter from Ron's hand and said, "That's the way Draco likes it when he does oral sex on me; not that it's any of your business."

She stomped away leaving Ron standing with his mouth agape.

In the letter Draco had indeed asked her to meet him at the Leakey Cauldron at noon; and she needed to think about how she could sneak out without getting caught.

She needed Sirius' help. He knew she was using sexual magic to steal Draco's powers and never said he objected; perhaps he would help. She would also need Ginny and Harry to cover for her incase Mrs. Weasley came looking for her to help around the house.

She knew she had to reply to Draco quickly; but first she had to talk with Sirius first. If he wouldn't help her sneak out everything else didn't matter. She went to his room but he wasn't there. She checked the Black family library; not there, but then she heard him talking to Harry on the way up the steps from the kitchen.

She stopped him and said, "Sirius, I need to ask you something; a favor."

"Sure," he said "let's step into the library. Harry, I'll see you later."

Once inside he closed the door and asked, "What can I do for you?"

She said, "I told you I've been using the power draining sexual magic charm on Draco Malfoy. The letter I got this morning was from him. He wants to meet me for sex at the Leakey Cauldron today. If I don't have sex with him at least every other week his powers will begin to return. I need you to help me sneak out of here so I can meet him."

Sirius smiled and said, "Just the kind of exciting, dangerous, sneaky type of thing Lupin, James, and I used to do when we were at school. Let me think.

The front door is out of the question, Dumbledore put a charm on it at Molly's request; and I don't think I could tamper with one of Dumbledore's charm without him finding out. Anyone under age going out of it sets off an alarm in her wand; she doesn't trust Fred and George to stay put.

There's a back door that goes out from the pantry attached to the kitchen into the alley that runs between this building and the buildings on the next street. Mad-eye sealed it when we first move headquarters here; but I don't think it's alarmed. I'll check; if it's not I'll unseal it. I know I can reseal it again without Mad-eye noticing.

What time do you need to leave here?"

"He wants to meet me at noon; how long will it take me to walk there?" she asked.

He thought for a few seconds before saying, "It's less than two miles; about an hour. You don't want to have to walk to fast in your winter coat and get overheated; better to get all sweated up from the sex. I'll draw you a map showing the quickest way."

"Check the door now;" she said "If I can meet him or not, I have to send a reply quickly."

Sirius went back down to the kitchen and two minutes later was back. "All set," he said "no alarm and I unsealed it. Be sure to let me know when you get back so I can reseal it before Mad-eye gets around to checking it. He checks all the security every day he's here and I don't know if he be in later today."

Hermione ran to her room, wrote a quick note telling Draco she would meet him, and hurried up to the attic to sent his owl back with her response. She found Ron sitting there waiting. When she saw him she froze for a moment; then calmly walked to where Draco's owl was perched and it held out its leg for her to attach the letter.

"Are you going to meet him?" Ron asked.

"That's none of your business." she said. "Last summer I told you were free to see any girl you wanted to; and I am free to see any guy I want. Now, leave me to my business and go take care of your own business."

"You are going." he said. "Do Ginny and Harry know about you and Malfoy?"

"Yes," she said "but they mind their own business and don't try to tell me what I should or shouldn't do."

As the owl took off she left Ron still sitting in the attic and went to find Ginny and Harry. She wasn't sure if Ron could be trusted not to tell his mother what she had planned; and hoped Harry and Ginny would convince him to keep her secret.

She found them in their bedroom playing Wizard chess and told them what she planned and what happened with Ron.

Ginny again told Hermione she didn't think she should have sex with Draco at all; and Harry told her it wasn't safe to sneak out without protection. But Hermione insisted she was going; so in the end they agreed to talk to Ron and cover with Mrs. Weasley if she came looking for Hermione.

Hermione went and got dressed in something she thought Draco would like; the peasant dress she had worn for Sirius; she thought he might also like to role play.

Ginny and Harry were about to go look for Ron, when he walked into the room.

"Do you two know about Hermione seeing Draco Malfoy?"

Harry looked away from Ron; but Ginny looked straight at him and said, "Yes, we've known all along."

"All along;" Ron said "how long has she been seeing him?"

"She's been seeing him since September." Ginny said. "They started having sex in November. But Ron, you have to understand why she's doing it."

He interrupted her with, "I understand, she thinks sex with me is boring; she wants exciting sex so she has it with any boy that's willing."

He turned to leave and Harry finally spoke up. "That's not the reason; she's doing it to help me."

Ron spun around and said, "What's that supposed to mean? How is having sex with Malfoy helping you? How could you ask her to do something so disgusting?"

Harry turned red and said, "First understand, I didn't ask her to do it, and I don't want her doing it, but she insists. She found some books on sexual magic that give spells to weaken your enemies by draining their magical powers while having sex. That's what she's been doing to Malfoy."

Ginny broke in with, "Haven't you noticed how poorly he's been in class the last few weeks. Harry and Hermione both told me Malfoy hasn't been able to learn a new spell since Hermione started draining his powers."

Harry picked up with, "And he can't do some of the old spells without having problems. Can't you remember McGonagall and Flitwick giving him extra work because he been so poor in class?"

Ginny jumped in again with, "We've both told her we don't want her to do it; but you know how she gets when she decides on something."

Ron said, "If Dumbledore finds out she'll be expelled; did you tell her that?"

"Dumbledore knows;" Ginny said "Sirius told him when he found Hermione taking the sexual magic books from the Black family library over the summer."

Ron's mouth fell open, then after several seconds he said, "Dumbledore knows and he's letting her do it?"

"Don't be so shocked." Ginny said. "Using young girls to weaken or kill your enemy by having sex has been going on for thousands of years. Hermione knows that and so does Dumbledore. Either he believes weakening Malfoy will help Harry; or he thinks Hermione is old enough and smart enough to decide for herself."

Ron said, "I don't care what Hermione or Dumbledore thinks; I agree with you guys. She shouldn't be doing it. Besides being disgusting; it's too dangerous. Especially what she's doing today; sneaking out of here alone could get her killed. How does she know Malfoy's family hasn't noticed his powers getting weaker like you lot did. They could be setting a trap to get even with her; or to capture her to get information about you and Dumbledore's plans."

"We've thought of that." Harry said. "But we can't convince her; so here's what we were planning to do."

At ten-thirty Hermione and Sirius went down to the kitchen. Sirius was to distract Mrs. Weasley while Hermione slipped out. But, Mrs. Weasley wasn't there so Hermione left and Sirius made some tea before going back to his room. He never noticed the back door opening and closing a second time.

Hermione, following the map Sirius had made, walked through some of the older, poorer streets of London and arrived at the Leakey Cauldron at eleven-forty-five. She went in, but Draco was nowhere in sight. She decided to wait there for him so she went to the bar to order a Butterbeer because it would look suspicious if she just sat there alone in a bar without a drink.

When Tom the barkeep came over she said, "One Butterbeer please."

But instead of getting one he asked, "Are you Hermione; Draco Malfoy said a girl named Hermione with bushy brown hair would be coming to meet him and I should tell her to go up to room six."

"She said, "Thank you Tom. Draco and I have some shopping to do today; I can't imagine why he wants me to meet him in a room."

A smile came on Tom's face and he said, "It not my business; but I'm sure he has a good reason. You two enjoy yourselves."

When Hermione look annoyed Tom added, "Shopping I mean."

She went up the stairs to where she knew room six was located; and Tom went back to pouring drinks. While waiting on another customer, he thought he saw the front door open and closed; but since nobody new could be seen entering, Tom assumed somebody had come through the back entrance from Diagon Alley and left without saying anything to him. That happened often enough that he shrugged it off.

Hermione knocked on the door of room six and heard Draco say, "Come in."

Draco was sitting in the ratty old chair that each room had along with a bed, chest of drawers, and a small table holding a ewer and basin. The table today also had a whip and other devices that Hermione didn't recognize.

"Hello," she said "you' got here early; it's not noon yet."

"I wanted to be ready when you arrived." he said pointing to the table.

Hermione put a smile on her face as she turned around and said, "I hope you like the Muggle clothes; I thought we could try a little role playing. Besides, I had to walk some distance and couldn't wear witches robe on the street."

"Take them off." Malfoy said. "You know I don't like anything Muggle."

"Don't you want to help me take my clothes off?" she asked. "And I could help you get your robes off to."

Draco stood up; but instead of going to her he went to the table and picked up the whip.

"Hurry up and get those Muggle things off." he said.

She was used to him ordering her around; and though nothing special about what he said. She always did as he ordered because she had to keep him happy so he'd want to continue having sex and she could drain his powers totally.

She quickly took off all her clothes and placed them over the chair. Then she said, "What do you want me to do now?'

"Lay on the bed face down." he said.

When she was in position he said, "Reach your arms up and grab the bedposts."

As she did that manacles appeared and magically snapped onto her wrists and ankles stretching her out with her legs and arms apart like the letter X.

Now she began to worry, even if Draco knew the spell to make manacles appear and attach themselves, his powers should be too weak by now to do it. She asked, "Draco, I didn't know you could do magic like that."

"He can't." a new voice said.

Hermione twisted her head toward the voice and saw Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy appear as the disillusionment charm they had been under was removed.

"Stupid Mudblood" Mrs. Malfoy said, "Didn't you think we would notice the change in our son's powers the moment we saw him do a spell."

Mr. Malfoy said, "It did take some persuasion to get him to admit he was having sex with a Mudblood. Even though he claimed it was just to get information from you about Potter and the Order of the Phoenix; he sounded like he enjoyed it a little too much.

He'll be sorry; but not as sorry as you. At least you'll be sorry until we get all the information we can from you; then you won't have to worry about being sorry, or feeling pain; or pleasure again."

Hermione tried to move but the manacles were too strong; all she could do was lie there as Mr. Malfoy said, "Go ahead Draco, give her a few lashes to let her know we mean business."

Draco pulled his arm back and cracked Hermione across the ass; again, then a third time. There was no orgasm building in her this time; she was scared.

Mrs. Malfoy said, "Draco, you're not trying to give her an orgasm; we're trying to make her talk. Lucius, show Draco how to punish a girl."

Hermione saw Draco hand the whip to his father; but he didn't take it. Instead he lifted the heavy wooden walking stick he always carried. She turned her head away; she didn't want to see what was coming.

Suddenly she felt something touch her ass and she flinched. But it wasn't the whip; it was Lucius Malfoy's hand. He laughed when she flinched and said, "I can see why you were tempted by her Draco; it is such a nice ass, soft to the touch."

He ran his hand between her legs and fingered her clitoris. Then he roughly stuck the end of his walking stick eight inches into her cunny. She yelled; it hurt her cunny and she felt a ripping inside her as he did it. She trembled again and he laughed again. "Perhaps when we're done getting information from her I'll take a turn with what's left of her before she dies."

Tears came to her eyes from thinking about what was going to happen to her. Then she heard Mr. Malfoy say, "But first the information we need. Do you feel like talking now Mudblood; or do you still need a few lashes from me to loosen your tongue."

Hermione gave no answer at first; but she closed her eyes and finally said, "I'll die before I'll tell you anything."

Mrs. Malfoy spoke up saying, "You're brave enough now after only a few lashes; but when your skin is torn off your body you'll talk. When we stick the expandable dildos in you and start to slowly rip your cunny and ass apart you'll scream out the information we want."

Mr. Malfoy said, "We're wasting time talking; lets get started."

He brought the walking stick down on her ass as hard as he could. Try as she might to be silent she couldn't help but cry out. He raised his hand again; but this time the stick landed on the back of her thighs. She hardly had time to yell when the stick hit her upper back so hard Hermione thought a rib had been broken.

She couldn't tell where he was going to hit her next which prevented her from bracing herself for the next blow. After about ten hits he said, "Are you ready to talk yet; or shall we try an expandable dildo up that sweet looking cunny."

She was in terrible pain; but finally managed to shake her head no; so Mrs. Malfoy said, "Draco, stick one of those dildos in that cunny you wanted so badly. You can have the pleasure of stretching it until it rips apart."

He picked up an instrument from the table; but Hermione couldn't see what it was because her eyes were blurry from tears. She did hear Draco say, "But mother, her cunny is already bleeding and if we rip her open any more she'll die."

"That's the idea." His mother answered. "Do you think we'd leave her alive to tell people she tricked you into having sex with a Mudblood. Now stick that in her or I will."

She heard Draco move toward her; but before he could use it, the door was blasted off its hinges and hit Mr. Malfoy knocking him against the back wall. He slid to the floor unconscious. Draco and Mrs. Malfoy both had their wands in hand but nobody was visible.

"Its Potter," Draco said "he has an invisibility cloak." As he was still speaking he fired a stunner to the left of the open doorway. It hit a Shield charm and bounced back smashing the window.

Then there was a shimmer and Harry and Ginny both appeared from under the cloak. Malfoy shot another stunner which again rang like Big Ben as it bounced from the Ginny's ring's shield charm.

Mrs. Malfoy pointed her wand at Harry and said, "Avad…" That was all she got out before Ginny hit her with a stunner that threw her against the same wall where Lucius had hit; she landed on top of him.

Harry yelled, "Expelliarmus" and Draco's wand flew into his hand.

Ginny ran to the bed and pointed to each manacle in order saying "Relashio" to unlock each off of Hermione. Hermione was in a daze and just laid there as Ginny tried to help her up. Hermione groaned in pain at each little movement. Tears dripped off her cheeks and blood trickled from her torn cunny; but finally she was on her feet. Ginny helped Hermione dress while Harry held Draco in place with a Freeze charm.

When she was dressed she managed to say "Thank you, thank you both." And she grabbed hold of Ginny hugging her.

Harry spoke, "What do you want us to do with him?" still pointing his wand at Draco.

"Let's chain him to the bed and whip him." Ginny said.

"No," Hermione said quietly "I started this. I thought I was smarter than him; smarter than you two, smarter than Dumbledore. I was wrong. Let's go home, I don't care about him or what happens to him or his parents; just take me home."

Ginny pointed her finger at Malfoy and said, "You're lucky Hermione is such a forgiving person; because right now I think I could kill you right where you stand. I still might if you don't stay away from her and us from now on; understand.

Malfoy nodded; and Ginny started to turn toward the door then suddenly whirled back and stunned Malfoy so hard he was thrown back and fell on top of his parents. When Hermione look at her Ginny said, "Well we can't let him be able to follow us and find 12 Grimmauld Place; can we? Besides he deserved some punishment. Let's go."

On the way Hermione begged them not to let anyone else know what happened. "Ginny, if your parents find out they'll tell Dumbledore and we'll all be in trouble for sneaking out."

"But you need medical care;" Ginny said "you may have serious internal injuries."

"I'll be fine." Hermione insisted; "If I need help I'll tell Sirius; he already knows I was out and he took care of his own medical need for years while in Azkaban.

Harry and Ginny finally agreed not to tell any adults other than Sirius; but they made Hermione promise not to tell Sirius that they too had snuck out. They knew Sirius might help Hermione sneak out; but he would be furious if found out Harry had done so and endangered himself.

Hermione agreed to let Sirius think that after being beaten, she had escaped, and returned to Grimmauld Place on her own.

Harry wanted to find a Muggle taxi but there were none in this rundown area of London. It took more than two hours for Hermione to limp all the way back to Grimmauld Place; even with Harry and Ginny supporting her. They had to stop several times when Hermione doubled over and moaned in pain.

They entered the back door into the pantry and Ginny peeked out to see if her mother was in the kitchen. She wasn't; but as they reached the center of the kitchen Mrs. Weasley came down the steps with an arm load of dirty laundry. "What happened to Hermione?" she asked.

"She tripped over Crookshanks and twisted her ankle." Ginny said. "We'll help her to her bedroom."

"Sit her down and I'll fix her right up as soon as I get this laundry started." Mrs. Weasley said.

"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley;" Hermione said "but I've been learning medical spells and I can fix a twisted ankle myself; and you're busy with so many things. I just want to check my spell book to be sure I have it right; if I need help I'll let you know."

Mrs. Weasley answered, "Are you sure? It will only take me a few minutes."

"No," Hermione said "I really need to practice medical skills anyway; and who better to practice on but myself. Someday you may not be there when someone gets hurt and I'll need to know how to treat minor injuries."

They got Hermione in her bed and Harry went to get Sirius. He was in the library, and after hearing Hermione had been beaten he said, "I have salve that helps heal bruises; but if she has any broken bones, or internal injuries she'll need more than salve."

Sirius hurried to his room, got the salve, and started toward Hermione's room; but ran into Ron coming out of his door.

"Are they back?" he asked. "I wanted to go with them; but we're too big now for three of us to fit under Harry's cloak. They said they would let me know Hermione was safe as soon as they got back."

"Why do you say they?" Sirius asked. "What about Harry's cloak? Do you mean Harry went out of the house with Hermione?"

Ron said, "Yes, Harry and Ginny followed her under Harry's cloak because we were all worried about her. Is she safe?"

Sirius didn't answer and Ron said, "She's alright isn't she; tell me nothing happened to Hermione." He moved to go around Sirius into her room but Sirius stopped him. Instead Sirius knocked on Hermione's door and yelled, "Hermione, Ron's here and he wants to see you."

It took about thirty seconds; but finally the door opened and Ginny said, "Come in."

Before Ron could speak, Sirius said, "Harry, how could you sneak out; you know how dangerous it is. Especially going to the Leakey Cauldron where anyone might be a Death Eater and see you."

Harry said, "You thought it was safe for Hermione to sneak out; but not me right."

"That's different." Sirius said. "Every Death Eater in Great Brittan isn't looking for Hermione; and her face isn't as well known as yours."

Harry said, "If you think I would let any of my friends go into a dangerous situation alone when I could protect them; then you don't know me very well. Didn't you and my dad put yourselves in danger to help Lupin?"

Sirius opened his mouth to reply; but Ginny spoke first, "We can discuss this later; right now helping Hermione is more important. Give me that salve and you guys get out; I have to take her clothes off so I can rub it on her."

Sirius said, "Before you rub any part of her I better check her for broken bones or internal injuries. You could do more damage by rubbing already injured areas."

Ron yelled, "Broken bones, internal injuries; what happened? Tell me what happened. I'll kill Malfoy for hurting her."

Hermione spoke up, "No Ron, it was my fault; you tried to stop me and I'm grateful. I don't want you to get into trouble because of me. I'll be alright.

Let the boys stay; after what I've done, it won't embarrass me if they stay. I'll need help getting my clothes off; I can't bend or twist without a lot of pain."

Ginny began to take Hermione's clothes off and she moaned in pain as she tried to move from side to side to help Ginny.

Ron face went pasty white and he said, "Hermione, don't move around; you're hurting yourself. Let me help. Ginny I'll lift her and you slide her things off."

Ginny looked at Hermione who said softly, "Thanks Ron; it will help."

As her clothes were removed piece by piece, purple bruises were exposed from her knees to her neck; but it was the pool of blood staining the bed around her cunny that drew everyone's attention.

When Hermione was completely naked, Sirius said, "I can check her for broken bones and heal them if necessary; but we have to stop her bleeding first. I've never had to deal with a girl bleeding from her cunny before."

Hermione said, "Do the Virginia restoring charm on me."

Sirius said, "That's only to return your cunny to a virgin state; it's not a healing charm."

"Maybe," Hermione said "but if it can repair a torn hymen; it might also repair any other damage I have."

Sirius said, "Alright, I try it; but if you don't stop bleeding we'll have to get help. I'll go slowly so I don't do any more damage."

As Sirius placed his wand near her cunny and began to push it into her, Ron yelled, "What are you doing to her; she's already hurt enough there."

Ginny and Harry each grabbed one of Ron's arms to hold him as he tried to get in between Sirius and Hermione. Ginny said, "It's alright Ron, we've both used this charm on ourselves before and it won't hurt her; it may be our only chance to help her without telling mom what happened."

Ron relaxed and stepped back saying, "Okay, but I want to hear exactly what he's planning to do to her."

As Ginny explained the charm; Sirius slowly slid his wand into her cunny until Hermione said, "Stop, that's deep enough."

He chanted the charm he had done on her in his bedroom last summer while slowly pulling the wand out. It took two minutes before he finished.

Ginny pointed her wand at the bloody sheets and Hermione's vulva and said, "Scourgify."

The blood disappeared and everyone held their breath waiting to see if fresh blood would begin to flow. After two minutes there was none; and Hermione said, "I can't feel the tear any more; and I don't feel any blood flow either."

"Good Sirius said, "But we'll have to wait until tomorrow after you can get up and move around to be sure. Now let me check for broken bones."

He repeatedly chanted "Ossifi defecto revelio" as he moved his wand over her body starting at her knees where the first purplish bruising showed up to near her neck where the highest bruises showed.

He stopped twice; the first time right above her left knee. "Slight fracture of your leg; not hard to fix." he said. Then he pointed his wand at her leg and said, "Episkey"

The second time he stopped was in the middle of her back. "Three broken ribs; this could be serious." he said. "Let me try something else." Pointing his wand at the spot he chanted, "Hemo thrombo revelio."

After a few seconds he said, "Good, no bleeding or blood clots in the lungs. I was afraid one of the broken ribs might have punctured a lung."

He pointed at the spot again and said, "Episkey" again.

"That should be it." he said to Ginny. "You can rub the salve on now. She should be fine. I'll leave; you guys have a lot to discuss. Just make sure you put the salve on thick and the bruises will be gone by tomorrow.

Hermione if you still hurt by tomorrow morning, if you get any new pains, if pain gets worse during the night, or you start to bleed from your cunny again; let me know, but I think I fixed everything."

Ginny said, "Hermione, I'll start with your back; if I press to hard let me know, I don't want to hurt you any more."

As Ginny rubbed on the salve Hermione related the story of what happened in room six. Finally she asked, "How did you guys find me; I heard Mrs. Malfoy put a silencing charm on the room."

"We didn't know where you were; we had to check every room." Harry said. "That's what took us so long. After opening every other door we knew you had to be in room six; but we weren't sure what was happening.

There was a Silencing charm on the door, and we didn't want to disturb you if you were doing what you planned; but couldn't tell how things were going through the charm."

"So how did you know I needed help?" she asked.

"It was Ginny's idea." Harry said. "She noticed room six is a corner room. We went around the corner to room five and looked through the window into room six. At first we couldn't see anything because of the angle and assumed you and Malfoy were in bed. But then Mrs. Malfoy walked into view and we knew things had gone bad. We ran back and blasted the door; you know the rest."

When Ginny finished with the salve she pulled a sheet and blanket over Hermione and said, "Try to sleep some without rolling over. I'll come back in an hour or two to check on you."

"You don't have to;" Ron said "I'm staying here. You heard Sirius, Hermione could have more injuries. Someone has to be here in case she has a problem."

Ginny said, "Hermione."

That was all she got out before Hermione said, "You don't have to stay Ron, I know I was rotten to you when you tried to tell me not to go. I'll be alright alone."

"Forget what happened earlier;" Ron said "and forget being alone. I'm staying with you until I know you'll be alright."

Again Ginny said, "Hermione."

"Let him stay;" Hermione said "if I need you Ginny he can get you. Thank you Ron; now I need to get some sleep."

Harry and Ginny left, and as soon as they closed the door Hermione said, "Thanks again Ron, but you really don't have to stay; I'll be alright."

"I'm staying;" he answered "I could never walk away from you when you need help. Now stop talking and try to sleep while the salve works on those bruises."

Hermione woke twice during the middle of the night from pains when she rolled over in her sleep. Both times Ron was there wide awake and as soon as he saw her move each time he sprung up from the chair where he was sitting and said, "What's wrong, can I do anything for you?"

The second time she said, "Help me up, I have to go to the loo."

She winced in pain as he got her into a sitting position and then onto her feet. She was still naked and he got a dressing gown to wear. She leaned heavily on him as she slowly walked down the stairs to the loo.

Once there he helped her sit on the commode and said, "I'll wait outside the door; call me when you're done."

"No," she said "just turn around; I'm dizzy from the walk and afraid I might pass out."

When she finished Ron helped her stand; but she was so wobbly he finally just scooped her up in his arms and carried her back upstairs to her room.

They found Ginny waiting there and she said, "I came to check and you were both gone. Are you alright? What happened; why is Ron carrying you? Where were you two? I was just about to go wake Harry to go looking for you."

"I'm fine," Hermione said "I had to go to the loo and I got dizzy. I told Ron I just needed to rest for a moment; but he insisted on carrying me back."

"Well I'll stay now." Ginny said. "It's four o'clock; Ron you get some sleep or mom will be wondering why you're red eyed at breakfast."

With Harry and Ginny's help Hermione got to breakfast without Mrs. Weasley noticing how sore she was. Thankfully Mrs. Weasley didn't have any plans that required their help and Hermione was able to rest all day. She improved by the hour and by evening she was back to normal.

That night as she was getting ready for bed there was a knock on her door. "Who is it?" she said.

"Me." It was Ron's voice.

"Come in." she said.

He came in and stopped when he saw he in just her bra and knickers. "Sorry," he said "I'll wait outside until you're done."

"Nonsense," she said "you've seen me with less than this on many times; you didn't wait outside yesterday when I needed help and was naked. Stay and tell me what you want."

Ron said, "Well, I guess I just wanted to check on you to be sure you're really okay. And I sort of thought we could talk to."

Hermione said, "I'm fine, but thanks for all you did for me last night."

"Anytime you need me I'll be there." Ron said. "Well I guess I'll let you get to bed then; see you in the morning."

As he turned she said, "Don't go Ron; stay here with me for a while. I lied. I'm physically fine; but I feel like I'm going to break down with the sobbing willies every time I think of what happened to me yesterday, what could have happened if Harry and Ginny didn't save me."

She started crying and he walked over and hugged her for several minutes until she said, "Thanks, that really helped."

She let go of him, removed her bra, slipped a night gown on, and said, "Hold me for a while; cuddle with me."

She pulled the bedcovers back and got in. She patted the bed and said, "Please Ron, just cuddle for a little while."

He took his shoes off and climbed next to her putting his arm over her. They didn't so much as kiss; but the next morning he woke still with his arm around her. He whispered, "Hermione, its morning. I'm going to shower and dress for breakfast."

She opened her eyes, kissed him and said, "Thanks for staying with me."

He smiled as he got up and left.

The last few days of Christmas break passed quickly; but Hermione remained mentally scarred. Ron slept with her every night; but just to hold her. He made no attempt to have sex with her; and neither did Sirius, understanding what she had been through.

But, not knowing what had happened; the twins did approach her one afternoon. There was a knock on her door as she was reading alone; she spent much of the day alone in her room. When she opened the door Fred and George were sanding there.

Fred started by saying, "How's your holiday been?"

"Alright." she lied, not wanting anyone but those people who already knew what happened to find out.

George said, "We've been kind of lonesome now that the holiday is past. We were wondering if you feel lonesome to."

"Yeah," Fred said "we thought you might like to come to our room tonight to keep us company and have some fun."

She needed an excuse and the first thing that came to her mind was, "Thanks for the invitation; but Ron's been sort of staying with me for the past few nights; and we already have plans for him to stay with me tonight."

"You're seeing Ron every night now?" Fred asked.

"Yes," she said "at least for the past four nights. We'll see how things go when we're back at school. Sorry guy, I don't want to hurt your feelings."

"No problem;" George said "we'll be back at school the day after tomorrow and we can find some girls that want to party then."

"Is Tonks in the house today?" Hermione asked. "She might be interested in partying with you guys. I sort of told her about us being together and she said it sounded like a lot of fun. Why not approach her?"

"Great idea." Fred said.

Let's check her room." George said.

When the left Hermione fell on her bed and started crying. This was what she had been thinking about for the past four days. After what happened, she had the feeling she never wanted to have sex again; she was dreading the first time Ron, Sirius, or the twins asked her to.

What would she say; her little lie about Ron had put the twins off; but what would she tell Ron or Sirius when they asked.

She didn't have to worry, the final days of Christmas break passed without Ron or Sirius bringing up sex; and they finally took the Knight bus back to Hogwarts.