NOTE! - This chapter has scenes of abuse. If this is a trigger for you, please don't read it. I don't want to cause harm to anyone.

This is a non-canon story. Different couples, different situations, etc. I am changing a lot from the book and doing it my own way. If you don't like it, you don't have to read it. If you do like it, then please, leave me some reviews because I love reading about what people think of my stories.

Disclaimer – I own nothing except my own ideas. Everything else belongs to Rowling.

Chapter 15

The entire school was bustling with excitement over their Christmas plans. Everyone that year had elected to return home for the holidays, missing their families more than usual. However, there were a few students who had one more uncomfortable task before they got ready to head home; Slug Club Christmas Party.

Hermione glanced around her dorm, noting the already packed trunks from her dorm mates, before her eyes landed on Ginny. She smiled at her only female friend as Ginny walked back and forth from her trunk to her dresser, applying more makeup, and fixing her hair repeatedly.

"Gin, you already look gorgeous and Harry's already in love with you. What are you fussing over?" Hermione gave her a playful smile.

"Not all of us have natural beauty like you, Hermione." Ginny chuckled softly. "I don't wake up looking this good. There is a process involved."

Hermione shook her head and unwrapped the towel from around her waist before slipping into her pink peach silk dress. She focused on her wandless magic and made the dress zip itself up while her hair began to style itself. Once that was done, she picked up her mother's pink crystal necklace and attached it loosely around her neck. She didn't bother with any makeup since she had never been one to use those products before.

"Hermione, are you sure you don't want to try asking Ron to escort you to the party?" Ginny tentatively asked, knowing how her brother and his friend weren't on speaking terms at the moment. "I mean...you never told me if you found a date…"

The mention of Ron being her escort immediately pulled her thoughts to that day, a month ago. Her embarrassment in the Great Hall from Ron...Draco's comfort...and then Harry's discovery. She wondered now what it would be like if they hadn't oblivated Harry's mind instantly. Would he have accepted them at this stage? She would never know now. All she knew was that it had almost killed her to have to obliviate her best friend, and she still felt the guilt every day...every time she laid eyes on Harry.

Shaking her head a bit, she returned to the posed question by Ginny.

"I have an escort." Hermione corrected her quickly. "Not a date...just an escort. It's...McLaggen."

"Cormac!?" Ginny shrieked. "My goodness Hermione...first you bag Viktor Krum and now Cormac!? You are going to be glared at a lot tonight."

Hermione frowned at that. She had agreed to go with Cormac because he was already going to the party and Slughorn required everyone to bring a date or a friend. Hermione never even considered how popular Cormac was among the girls in their year. Now, she realised how huge of a mistake she made. She looked up at Ginny, relaying her mistake with her eyes to her friend.

"Like I said, Ron is still free." Ginny reminded her.

"No." Hermione said with a newfound determination in her voice. "Besides, I don't think Lavender would appreciate that too much."

"Ugh, fuck Lavender!" Ginny snapped. "She's not good enough for him and we both know that. You're the right one for him."

"Ginny, stop." Hermione sighed and picked up her wand. "I do not love Ron. I do not want to be with Ron. I'm sorry, but I don't think I will ever be the one Ron wants."

Hermione walked out the room, before Ginny could plead anymore for her brother's case, and made her way to the front of the Gryffindor's Common Room entrance. As she stepped through the portrait, Cormac walked over to her with a corsage in his hand.

"Beautiful flower for a beautiful woman." Cormac greeted as he roughly pulled Hermione towards him. He grabbed her left hand and slid the corsage over her wrist.

"Cormac...you shouldn't have." Hermione said softly as she looked around her at the other students. Every female eye was glaring down at her. She sighed softly and removed the corsage. "This isn't a date, Cormac, I trust you know that."

Cormac shrugged and shoved the corsage into the chest of the nearest female student before grabbing Hermione's hand and dragging her off to the party. That was when Hermione realised that she was going to be in trouble tonight. As they arrived at the party, Slughorn greeted them rather enthusiastically for a moment before moving to another couple. Hermione looked around quickly at the elaborately decorated room and sighed softly. Neither Harry or Ginny were here as yet, but she quickly spotted Neville playing waiter and gasped in relief.

"Neville!" Hermione called out to him while pulling her arms away from Cormac. "I'll be right back."

Cormac barely nodded as his eyes were glued to the delightfully dark Carrow twins. Hermione walked over to Neville quickly and clutched at his hand.

"I need a hiding place." Hermione pleaded.

"Blimey Hermione, you look gorgeous but terrified." Neville noted. "Why not just leave?"

"Because I just got here and I don't want Slughorn to be upset." Hermione groaned.

"Go, behind the curtains there. No one is there." Neville said, pointing to the sheer looking curtains.

Hermione nodded and sneaked off. She watched from her hiding place as Harry and Ginny walked in, smiling up at each other before Slughorn pulled Harry away. Now that Slughorn was fully invested in Harry, Hermione used that opportunity to sneak out of the party. She gave Cormac one more glance, sighing in relief as she noticed that he was stuck in a conversation with Professor Trelawney. Hermione slipped between the entrance doors and breathed in deeply.

The hallways were empty, and slightly dark as Hermione decided to make her way across the castle to Professor Snape's office. The DADA teacher's room had become a safe haven for her lately and she had grown to adore the dark and brooding Professor Snape, who had also begun to genuinely care of her. He had been secretly working with her and Draco in teaching them more and more spells, charms, and skills.

As she slipped out of the east side of the castle, and onto the courtyard, the intense cold air hit her hard. She gasped in surprised, wrapping her arms around herself as she ran across the fresh blanket of snow to the other side of the courtyard. She sighed in relief as the warmth from the castle, once again, consumed her as she stepped into the main hallway.

Her mind began to wonder to Draco, as her heart instinctively began beating faster. He had been worried about her going to the party with Cormac for some reason, but she had promised to come see him before she went to bed, just so he could see that she was alright. She shook her head as she walked faster, secretly smiling at her jealous boyfriend, knowing that he really had nothing to be jealous of. She couldn't wait for the war to end so she and Draco could start to finally live their lives out in the open together.

She shook her head and controlled her emotions as she stepped into the long lessons hallway. As she neared the DADA classroom, someone covered her mouth with their hand and dragged her into an empty classroom. At first she smiled under the person's hand, thinking it was Draco, but once she inhaled and realised that it wasn't Draco's scent, her eyes widened in fear.

"My my, Hermione." the voice of Cormac McLaggen echoed around the empty classroom. "You couldn't wait for me? You didn't even ask me if we could leave. Now that wasn't very nice, was it?"

He dragged her over to the wall at the front of the classroom and pressed her body against it, pinning her with his own body.

"I expected much more from you, Hermione." he whispered into her ear. "I thought this was going to be the start of something amazing. The two top Gryffindor students, dating...falling in love...getting married...working for the ministry. Of course, with me by your side, it'll be much easier for you to get a job in the ministry. You know, with my family's spectacular reputation and all that."

Hermione growled angrily and tried to push him back with her body, but he glared down at her defiant body, pulled her slightly forward before slamming her into the wall hard, causing her to whimper in pain.

"Now now, pet, let's not be so...angry." Cormac's voice slowly began to get darker. "I have a problem, Hermione, which I hope you can help me solve. The answer to this problem will determine whether or not I hurt you. You see, my dear, I'm not only smart, good looking and belong to a very prominent wizarding family, but I can also have any girl in this school. However, I've always wanted you, Hermione, but from how you ran away from me at the party today, I'm thinking you don't want me. So...shall I change your mind? Here are your options, either I force you, you agree willingly, or I imperio you. Either way, I will have as mine. What's your answer Hermione? As you can clearly see, the outcome remains the same; I get YOU."

"Fuck off, Cormac." Hermione seethed out as she tried to push off the wall once again.

Cormac sighed softly, reached up and grabbed a chunk of her hair before pulling her head back, only to slam it once more into the wall, causing her to scream out in pain as blood began to trickle down her face. Darkness threatened to consume her, but she fought through it, knowing that she couldn't let him get the better of her. She was the brightest witch of her age for crying out loud.

She closed her eyes and focused on the wandless magic that Snape had begun to teach her and Draco. Before Cormac could stop it, an unknown force was propelling him across the room, slamming him into the wall. Hermione used that chance to make a run for it. She pulled her wand out and waved it, skillfully around the door, pulling down the wards that Cormac had hurriedly placed, but she wasn't quick enough. She didn't expect Cormac to be on his feet so soon, nor did she expect him to be able to cast an Expelliarmus on her. She cursed under her breath as her wand flew out of her hand and across the room, landing on the floor before rolling away.

"Wandless magic...of course." Cormac chuckled darkly to himself as he waved his hand in the air, causing her to fly back to the original spot, pinning her painfully against the wall. "I see now. You want me to force you."

As he approached her slowly from across the room, the straps of her dress ripped themselves, revealing her bra covered breasts. She tried to think of what to do, but nothing came to mind. She felt tears roll down her eyes as her dress was further ripped down the center of her body. By the time it fell off her body completely, Cormac was once again pressing against her body. The wandless magic he was using to pin her against the wall was making her body contract around itself. She felt as if someone was harshly, and quite literally, squeezing the life out of her. It was then that she remembered about the wards being taken down, which meant that someone could hear her.

"Help!" she began shouting.

"Scream all you want, Hermione." Cormac spat at her. "No one is going to hear you with my wards up. But guess what...I love screamers."

"Help! HELP!" Hermione kept screaming as Cormac started to unbuckle his pants, staring hungrily into her eyes. "Please help!"

"Yes, beg for help, I like that." Cormac growled as his pants fell to his ankles.

He kicked them away before unbuttoning his shirt and tossing it aside. Hermione couldn't help but lower her eyes to his hard and swollen member. The impact of what was about to happen to her finally settled in and she began screaming once more for help. Cormac pressed himself against her and lifted her legs. She tried to kick him away, but he wouldn't have that. He growled angrily as one of her feet made it's way to his stomach, knocking him back a bit.

"I'm growing tired of this resistance, Hermione!" he bellowed. "I was going to go easy on you because I'm pretty sure you are a virgin, but fuck it. You want to fight me so bad, then I'm going to just fucking take you."

Hermione closed her eyes, breathing heavily as tears kept falling down her cheeks. Cormac reached out and ripped her underwear off as he lifted her leg once more, positioning himself at her entrance.

"Please! Someone help!" Hermione screamed out once more. "Anyone...just...help me…"

As Cormac pulled back to slam into her, she felt a cold breeze waft over her mostly naked body. She opened her eyes to see a pair of familiar black pools staring into her with concern and guilt. She looked past her savior to see Cormac laying on the ground, trapped in an Incarcerous Spell.

"Miss Granger, I -" Professor Snape looked at her as if he was ready to lecture her, but from her shaken naked form, the only thing he could do was cover her. He pulled off his robes and placed them around her body as he pulled her away from the walls, now that Cormac could no longer focus his hold on her. "I don't think you want to be seen like this once Dumbledore and other Ministry officials get here to deal with this piece of dung. So, tell me what you want. What will make you feel safe right now?"

Hermione opened her mouth to say something as she noticed both Harry and Ginny standing in the doorway. She had no idea why they were there, but suspected it had something to do with Snape. Her eyes narrowed in on Harry's green orbs and a bigger guilt washed over her. After being oblivated to forget about seeing her and Draco together, Hermione had sworn to never do it again to him. Now, she need to keep that promise.

"My wand." she choked out through her tears.

Snape nodded and quickly went to retrieve her thrown wand. He handed it to her before she lifted it, pointing it at Harry.

"Forgive me." she murmured as she turned the wand slowly in her hand, restoring Harry's memories from that night.

Harry's eyes widen in surprise as he began to remember that night a month ago. He looked over at Hermione in shock, shaking his head as he stepped into the room. He wanted to ask so many questions, but he also knew that now was not the time. Ginny looked on quietly, not sure what to do at the moment.

"Hermione...are you alright?" Harry asked softly, glancing at Cormac still struggling with the ropes.

"Harry, I know this is going to anger you right now, and I know you have a lot of questions, but please...can you go get Draco for me?" Hermione looked at him so desperately that the anger melted away.

He nodded his head and turned on his heel to leave. Ginny made a move to go with him, but Snape quickly stopped her.

"Miss Weasley, we will need you to stay here as a witness." Snape stated. "Will you please take Miss Granger into my office. Hermione knows how to get to my chambers from there."

Ginny merely nodded and waited for Hermione to slowly walk over to her.

"I'll deal with things here, but I will be sending Madame Pomfrey to you." Snape explained before they walked off.

He waved his wand in the air, summoning his patronus and instructing it on where to go, and who to speak with. Hermione, with the help of Ginny, walked along the corridor to the DADA classroom. She hadn't realised how physically hurt she was until she tried to walk. Now, she felt as if she had broken every bone in her body.

Ginny headed for the staircase, but Hermione quickly shook her head.

"No Gin." she said weakly. "Snape's quarters isn't there. It's over here."

Hermione led her to the supply closet, opened the door and picked up the only bottle of Veritaserum on the shelf with his other potions. Ginny looked on in surprise with a slight frown. As she placed the bottle back down, a single black door appeared on the wall. Hermione turned the knob and stepped through into Snape's living quarters. Ginny looked around in awe at the surprisingly well organized and simply decorated living room. There was a leather living room couch set, sitting in the center of the room with a black coffee table in the middle. The walls were lined with book shelves, no doubt holding various books that she didn't want to even venture towards. There was a small kitchenette to the left corner of the room and another black door to the right that no doubt led to his bedroom. Ginny watched as Hermione walked over to the love seat and settled down, wincing as she moved.

"Hermione...how did you know about Snape's quarters?" Ginny wondered.

"Let's wait for Harry and Draco to get here, ok?" Hermione suggested as she slowly lowered her entire body to the couch, lying down, groaning a bit.

"What can I do to help you?" Ginny asked. "Do you want to talk about what happened?"

"No." Hermione breathed out. "I need Draco."

Ginny, who was never one to miss anything quickly realised the truth. Hermione and Draco were together. He was the reason why Hermione was so determined to not be with Ron.

"How long, Hermione?" Ginny wondered.

Hermione looked over at Ginny and sighed softly. Her friend knew the truth.

"Friends since first year, dating since I would say...the ending of fourth." Hermione answered honestly.

"Blimey, Hermione, how long were you planning to keep this a secret?" Ginny snapped.

"Till after the war was over, Weaslette." Draco's voice sounded from the doorway.

Draco ignored the glare from Ginny and rushed over to Hermione's sighed. He dropped to his knees and clasped her hand tightly, reaching up with his free hand to brush strands of her hair behind her ear.

"I am so sorry, my love." Draco said gently. "I should have snuck into the party and watched you from afar."

"No...I'm the one that's sorry." Hermione rushed out through her fresh falling tears. "He saw...what belonged to you...I feel so...guilty for that."

"Hush hush." Draco pressed his forehead to hers. "Nothing that happens to you would ever stop me from loving you, or even wanting you."

Harry stepped up next to Ginny and watched the bizarre scene before him. He'd never seen Draco act so gentle with anyone before, and he'd never seen Hermione cling to someone so much before either. From the freshly returned memories he had received, he could tell that there was more to Draco than everyone believed. The way he treated Hermione like a queen was enough of a point to that. Ginny glanced up at him in shock as they both realised that the couple in front of them were just as in love with each other as they were.

"Let me see what he did to you, my love." Draco whispered as he pulled his wand out and pointed it at her. "Legilimens."

The entire incident of what Hermione had gone through entered his mind as he began to clench his fists. He pulled out of her mind once Snape entered the scene and stood up quickly, clutching his wand tightly. He gave Hermione a look that she'd seen many times before and turned on his heel to leave.

"Harry! Stop him! He's going to kill Cormac!" Hermione pleaded.

Harry went into action mode immediately and grabbed Malfoy's arm, swinging him around and pinning him against the nearest wall. Draco sneered angrily at Harry as he tried to push him off.

"Draco, you hurt him, you get sent to Azkaban with him." Hermione groaned out. "That is not part of our plan! Remember our plan!"

Draco's eyes softened slightly as he looked over to Hermione, remembering, once again, his whole reason for living. He took a deep breath to calm his anger as Snape stepped into the room with Dumbledore behind him.

"Ah, I see there is a party in my living room." Snape growled out at everyone around him.

He walked past Harry and Draco, heading straight for Hermione, as he pulled his wand out, waving it over her body, casting a full diagnostics spell. He frowned as he lowered his wand.

"First of all, I don't know how you are not already passed out from a concussion because you have some bad bruising to your head. Your body itself though is very sore, I assume it was from him pinning you against the wall rather hard with his barely controlled wandless magic, am I right?" Snape asked her. "If I'm correct...when he pinned you with his wandless magic, he was unconsciously squeezing every part of your body, including your lungs, which is why you're having problems breathing right now?"

Hermione merely nodded her head in agreement, inhaling and exhaling deeply.

"May the actual medi-witch be the one to assess the patient, Severus?" Madame Pomfrey's voice echoed around them as the tough seasoned witch walked past everyone towards Hermione.

She quickly performed the same spell as Snape, frowning as well as she leaned down to inspect Hermione's head. Everyone watched on as she began to apply an ointment to Hermione's head before looking for various potion vials.

Draco moved to other side of the couch, reaching down to clasp Hermione's hand in his own, bringing the rest of the room to life again.

"Ok, someone explain now!" Harry snapped suddenly. "Draco? Hermione? How? When? What the hell!"

"Mr. Potter, allow me, since I have known as long as those two have known themselves." Dumbledore stepped in. "But first, Miss Granger, let me assure you that Mr. McLaggen is on his way to Azkaban as we speak. In these cases, veritasium is used immediately and once the truth is revealed, action is taken. There will be no need for a trial."

"Thank you." Hermione relaxed slightly.

"Now, Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley...what we are all about to explain to you must never leave this room. Is that understood? Do I have your words on that?" Dumbledore continued.

"Yes." Harry said confidently.

"We can't tell Ron?" Ginny asked with a bit of uncertainty.

"No, Ron Weasley cannot know because he will not be able to accept this as well as Mr. Potter or yourself can." Snape piped in.

"If you cannot make this promise, I will have to obliviate you, and ask you to leave." Dumbledore pointed out.

Ginny looked away, confused and torn. She couldn't betray her family like that. The Weasleys were known for not keeping secrets like these from each other. The biggest secret as of recent had been the opening of Fred and George's joke shop. But something like this...something that could affect the war...she couldn't hide that from her family, especially her brother, who was still ⅓ of the golden trio. So, with great reluctance, Ginny shook her head at Dumbledore.

"Obliviate me." Ginny said softly. "I would rather not know what's going than know the truth and be forced to hide it from my brother."

"Ginny!" Harry erupted. "You can't be serious! After everything Ron has been putting Hermione through these days, you're picking him over her? That's not right!"

"I'm choosing family, Harry." Ginny snapped. "I know you won't understand that since you have none -"

Gasps echoed around the room as Ginny quickly covered her mouth with her hand, staring at Harry with a look of utter regret on her face.

"Family is not based on blood, Weasley." Draco's voice erupted with a dark tone to it. "Family is made up of those whom you chose to call family. You call me a blood purest when your family is clearly the one here who only cares about blood. For the past 6 years, Potter's family had included Hermione, Ron, and everyone in this room, including Snape and myself, albeit he hadn't realised it yet. How dare you insinuate that he doesn't have a family or he doesn't understand family loyalty!"

"I'm not!" Ginny shouted. "I...look, I'm sorry Harry. But...family is blood."

With that, Ginny turned on her heel and exited the room, leaving everyone staring after her in disbelief.

A/N

I must apologize profusely for this long delay. Sometimes real life takes precedence over everything else, and March has been a very busy month for me. But things are dying down now, so let's continue, shall we? Let me know what you think about this one! Thank you for sticking with me!