A/N ~ Warning! Talk of trauma and PTSD(?) due to Sexual Assault.

~December 19th, 1994~

"No..." Garnet groaned, her head aching. She felt hands touch hers and instinctively pulled away. "Don't!"

"Love?" she heard George and tried to open her eyes.

"Georgie..." Garnet whispered.

"I'm here." he whispered back.

She squinted and saw a tall dark shadow nearby. "Severus...?"

"I'm here, Garnet, you're safe." he said, trying to keep emotion out of his voice. This told Garnet someone else was here.

"A-adrian?"she squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again, her vision beginning to clear.

She felt the other side of the bed shift. "I'm here," she heard him say.

Garnet looked at him. "Thank you." she said.

He shook his head, a sad smile on his face. "I'd do it again."

Garnet moved to sit up and winced when her head throbbed.

"Take it slow, Miss Prince. You may have a headache for a while." Madame Pomfrey said.

George helped her sit up.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Hungry..." she said, "Did I miss Dinner?"

She watched George and Adrian exchange glances, and noticed Snape grimace.

"You've been unconscious for over twenty four hours, darling." Garnet jumped when she heard her fathers voice coming from a chair off to her left.

"Daddy?!" Garnet was surprised when she saw him.

Adrian moved as Mr. Prince got up and sat to give his daughter a hug.

"Wait," she pulled away from her fathers, "Did you say I've been out for over a day?"

"You ended up with a concussion." her father brushed her hair from her eyes. "It's lucky he didn't crack your skull."

His words reminded her why she was laying here, "Flint?" she looked to Severus in fear.

"He's gone, Garnet," he assured her. "He won't be returning to Hogwarts."

Garnet nodded, still shaking.

"I'm sorry Severus called you, Daddy. I know you had just started working with that group in Greece tracking the Hippocampus migration." Garnet gently touched the back of her head. She felt dried blood and cringed.

"Garnet, do you really think I would choose work over seeing that my daughter was alright and that her attacker was thoroughly punished?" he shook his head. "I'm glad you're finally awake." he kissed her on the forehead. "I'm going to go have a word with Severus and Madame Pomfrey."

"Are you leaving right away?" she asked.

"No, darling, I'll wait a bit. I need to make sure you're back on your feet." he looked at George briefly then back to her and grinned, "But I doubt my services will be necessary."

Garnet blushed.

He got up and followed Snape and Poppy away from the students.

George watched Garnet grimace when she turned her head. Then she touched her neck.

"My neck hurts," she looked at George, who couldn't look her in the eye. "What?"

"Flint gave you a pretty bad hickey, I'd hazard to guess he almost broke skin." Adrian's face was full of disgust.

"Ugh..." Garnet's stomach turned. "How did you find us?"

Adrian shrugged, "I was running to the Common Room to grab something I told Farley I'd let her borrow. When I round the corner and saw what was going on... next thing I knew I hit him." He looked at his hands, then back at her. "So Professor Snape... he's your dad's cousin?"

Garnet nodded. "He's also my Godfather. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't plan to tell anyone. A few found out on their own." she looked at George.

"I get it. Didn't want to be seen as teachers pet." Adrian smiled. "I won't tell anyone."

"Thank you, hun." She smiled.

"I'm going to get going. I'll update Fred and the others on how you're doing." he told George, who nodded. "You get some rest. I'll talk to you later." Adrian gently hugged Garnet.

George let out a loud breath.

"Oh my word, Weasley, calm down. I'm gay. I'm not going after your girlfriend." Adrian said, exasperated. Then he and Garnet laughed at the look on George's face.

George thought about it a bit, "That...explains a lot, really." he chuckled.

Adrian smiled, then headed out the door.

George and Garnet were left alone.

"I waited for you in the Entrance Hall before Dinner, but then Hermione and Ginny had come down and said you'd be along shortly. I didn't even think to go looking for you." his voice wavered.

"It'd not your fault, Georgie." she said. "How did you find out?"

"Once dinner started, I was watching for you. I figured you got tied up doing something, so I didn't give it another thought. Halfway through, Filch comes running through to the Head Table and talks to Professor Dumbledore. He and Professor McGonagall got up and left." George rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. "As dinner was finishing up, McGonagall came and got me quietly. When I saw you laying here..." he swallowed hard, anger apparent on his face, "and Pucey told me Flint tried to force himself on you. Flint was lucky he was already in Dumbledore's office waiting for his Mum to come get him, or I would have beat him to a pulp."

He scoot closer to her and touched her neck where Flint practically bit her. Garnet winced.

George took a shaky breath, "I'm almost afraid to ask. Do... do you remember anything that happened?"

Garnet nodded. She looked at their hands.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, half afraid to hear what she may say.

She shook her head slowly.

George lifted her hands and kissed them gently, "If you change your mind, you know I'll listen."

"I know George." she leaned over and rested her forehead against his.

George went hesitantly, afraid to touch her.

Severus and Alatar stood back and watched a moment.

"Are you going to tell her she's had multiple seizures while unconscious?" Snape whispered.

Alatar took a deep breath, "I'm hoping it was a result of the concussion and they slow down now that she's awake."

Snape shook his head, "Still, six seizures in twenty-four hours, she needs to be warned, just in case."

His cousin stood and watched his little girl, battered and bruised, possibly scarred for life.

"I'll tell her in the morning." he sighed," That Pucey boy, he's come and gone, so have a couple others, but George, he's been here almost non-stop. He really does care for her?" Alatar asked Severus.

"Aye," he replied.

"The kid needs to get some rest." Alatar nodded his head, then walked over the the young couple. "George, you see she's awake and she's doing well. Why don't you finally head back to your Common Room and get some sleep."

George looked at Garnet, who smiled and nodded at him.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt." George smiled, "These cots aren't exactly the most comfortable things." he whispered.

Garnet kissed him on the cheek, "Go, get some rest, come back in the morning before breakfast maybe?"

"I love you," he whispered to her.

"I love you too, George," she whispered back.

The red haired boy hesitated before standing up and heading out of the infirmary.

Garnet sighed.

"Alright dear?" her father said.

"You said I've been unconscious more than a day, but I'm still so tired." she yawned.

"Maybe try to get a good eight hours of solid sleep tonight." her father suggested.

Garnet looked at Severus, "Is there a chance I can get something to eat first? I'm starving."

Snape nodded, then waved his wand and a tray of food had appeared from the kitchen.

Alator watched his daughter dig in to her food, a worried expression marring his face as he recalled her younger years, the doctors appointments, the countless seizures. She grew up so fast, and next year will be her last at Hogwarts.

"What's wrong dad?" her questions brought him back to the present.

Her father smiled at her. "Nothing, Garnet, just thinking."

She nodded and took a bite of her meatloaf.

Then she looked at Severus, "Watch out, Professor, your robes are going to get dirty."

He and Alator looked at her quizzically, but then three Slytherin walked in to the infirmary.

Goyle threw up on the floor just as Snape jumped out of the way. Garnet lost her appetite. Crabbe was right behind him, molting feathers.

"Serves you two right eating candy from a box with no name on it." Draco sneered in disgust.

Garnet grinned to herself. She knew they had gotten into her box of Weasley's Candy she had left in the Common Room.

Crabbe and Goyle were ushered to beds away from Garnet.

Draco noticed Garnet just then.

"Prince!" he gave what she could only describe as an elated smile. He walked over to her cot. "How are you?"

Garnet nodded, "I'm doing ok."

Draco nodded, then realized Snape and Alator were standing there.

"Well, um, glad to see you're awake." he nodded.

Garnet smiled. "Thanks."

With that, Draco left.

Garnet shook her head. Boys were definitely a weird species.

~December 20th, 1994~

The next morning, Garnet woke feeling better. Her head still hurt, but it wasn't anything she couldn't handle.

She looked around and saw her father, asleep, in the chair. She carefully stood and covered her father with the sheet from her bed.

"Miss Prince!" Madame Pomfrey started, but Garnet shushed her quickly. "My apologies. Miss Prince, how does your head feel?" she asked.

Garnet nodded, "Much better, but I need a shower." she combed her fingers through her hair and wrinkled her nose.

Madame Pomfrey nodded, but pulled her towards the back of the infirmary. "You can get one in the shower back here." she insisted.

Garnet really didn't feel like arguing.

As Garnet washed, she let the water run over her head, and down her back. She pressed her forehead against the cool wall and closed her eyes. Her mind kept flashing back to the smirk on Flints face.

She shuddered. She was disgusted by him, and felt dirty. She blamed herself. "Why didn't I fight back? Why did I let him touch me?"

Garnet grabbed the washcloth and soap and began scrubbing herself, trying to wash the memory of him touching her off her body.

Once she was satisfied that she was "clean", she shut off the water and exited the shower.

There was a pile of her clothes setting on a stool waiting for her.

Garnet smiled. George must be waiting for her.

She dressed quickly and headed for the cot to find George and Fred, sitting and talking.

Fred saw her first and his eyes were that of concern.

George stood as she approached, "Love, you alright?"

"I'm fine, George, why?" she smiled.

"You're awfully red looking." Fred raised a brow.

Garnet didn't realize how viciously she was scrubbing herself. Her skin was red in different places.

She just shrugged.

"Your neck looks better today." George smiled sadly at her.

Madame Pomfrey nodded as she approached, "A mark that size, I couldn't do it all at once, but I think one or two more applications of the ointment I have and the mark should be completely gone. You can leave when you want, Miss Prince."

Garnet thanked Madame Pomfrey. She turned and realized her dad wasn't asleep in the chair where she left him.

"Was my dad still sitting here when you got here?" she asked the Twins.

They both shook their heads.

"Hmm," she thought for a moment. Garnet figured he's gone to find Severus.

"I'm sure he'll say bye before he leaves." George smiled at her, then lifted his hand to brush his thumb across her cheek.

Garnet flinched at his touch, which made George's heart hurt.

Garnet acted like nothing happened, "I'm starving." she said, "let's go to breakfast." she took his hand and tugged him towards the door.

Garnet ignored all the whispers and eyes staring in her direction. She was done. Let them talk. She knew the truth. She was tired of being the center of gossip.

"Garnet, what's your dad doing with Snape?" Ron asked before shoveling more food in his mouth.

Garnet looked up and saw her father and Severus walk in.

She stood as they approached and Mr. Prince gave her a smile.

"I'm heading home, darling, I think you're in good hands." he said.

"Okay daddy." She smiled back at him.

"You have fun at the Yule Ball. I want to hear all about it." She nodded and he kissed her forehead, shook Snapes hand, then headed out.

"Miss Prince, I take it you're feeling better?" Severus asked her.

"I am," She smiled.

Snape nodded, "My door is always open." and he walked towards the teachers table.

Garnet sat down. George looked up at her and smiled.

She picked up her fork and let out a breath.

~December 23, 1994~

After Lunch, George and Fred were walking with Garnet around the second floor.

"Peeves is being a real piece of work," Fred laughed, trying to ease the tension between Garnet and George.

The two had barely more than held hands all day. Every time George would move to put his arm around her shoulders or hug her, she'd flinch or go pale. After a bit, George simply stopped trying to touch her.

"Oh yeah?" Garnet smiled at Fred, "How so?"

Fred smirked, "He was in a suit of armor this morning. I'm not familiar with Muggle Christmas songs, but I'm sure the words he was using were not the right ones."

Garnet laughed. "What words were the suits trying to sing?"

Fred shrugged. "Oi, what time is it?" he looked at his watch, "Oh bugger, I have to go, I promised Angelina I'd practice dancing with her." he smiled and headed the other way, "see you two at dinner. Behave yourselves."

Garnet blushed. She wanted George to hold her, but every time he touched her shoulder or moved to kiss her, Flint's face popped into her head, and the feeling in her gut when he was touching her came back.

It wasn't fair to George, and she felt awful. She needed to get over the traumatic experience and deal with it.

Taking a deep breath, she let go of George's hand and wrapped her arms around his waist. She put her head on his shoulder and kept taking breaths until the tension in her chest disappeared.

George was taken by surprise when she grabbed him. He felt her breath quicken, and her hands gripping the back of his shirt.

He wrapped his arms around her, "Garnet, love?"

When his arms tightened, Garnet's mind flashed to Flint touching her waist and squeezing her breasts. She began shaking.

"Garnet!" George loosened his hold on her, but she tightened hers.

"Don't!" She said, "Don't let go." she closed her eyes as his arms tightened back around her.

George did as she said, confused and worried.

Garnet buried her face in his shoulder as tears began to form.

George closed his eyes and took a shaky breath. He just held her until her shaking stopped. He pressed his cheek to hers. "Talk to me love," he begged.

Garnet sniffed, "Just trying to erase the bad memories."

George nodded. Unintentionally his hands slid down to her waist and she tensed. George loosened his hold on her, "Don't do this to yourself."

Garnet shook her head, "It's not fair to you though." she whispered.

"No, it's not fair to you. I can wait, you need time to heal." he picked her chin up and made her look at him.

"I'm fine, the bruise on my neck is gone, the headaches have disappeared," she said.

George shook his head again, "Physically, Garnet, but you were assaulted. It's going to take more than a couple days to be okay again."

Garnet kissed him. "I'm already feeling better," she said.

George didn't fully believe her. "Are you?" he asked. He watched her face as he touched her waist. Her nostrils flared as she held it together.

Leaning in, he kissed her gently. His fingers combed through the back of her hair, pulling her into the kiss deeper, his thumb rested on her neck. He could feel her pulse racing and her hands were shaking. He broke the kiss, hating doing this to her.

"Say something, love." he insisted.

"I..."she took quick breaths, "I..." she swallowed hard.

"You're not alright," he said.

"But..." tears began to fall down her cheeks, "why? Why is it affecting me so?"

"I will never, ever, hurt you intentionally." he looked her in the eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes to help you feel safe again, love."

Garnet lip trembled and fell to her knees. George just knelt down beside her, letting her cry.