I Married A Monster

by harrypotterlover2242

(Story's in Hermione's pov.) Soon after the war, she meets and falls in love with a mysterious new man. But after they get married, everything changes. Then after the birth of their son, Hermione becomes a prisoner to her husband's will and abuse. Stuck for two more years. until one night, when her and her nearly 3 year old son finally make their getaway. What will her husband do?

Sleeping with the enemy.

"Hello. I am sure you all know who I am. But I am going to tell you anyway."

"My name...is Hermione Jean Granger, and this is my story, about how I fell in love and married a monster, and escaped for my life with my only son. Though only to fall again when I finally came face to face with the true love of my life. But first, please allow me to fill you in from the very beginning."

---

"In the late spring of 1998, after the downfall of the Dark Lord, and the world finally being able to find its peace, and humanity, Ron and I had finally..made it official.

It was great at first. Surprisingly, he even helped me locate my parents in Australia, and bring them home. But soon, we eventually came to realize..that we were just too different. We had different goals and perspectives of life. So, we ended up mutually deciding to go our separate ways in January of 1999."

"After a year passed, I thought I would never find someone who could connect with me in ways that Ron never could. That is until I met Raymond Clarke. But to me, he was just Ray."

"We met at a ministry gathering. A Valentine's day party if I must be exact. Sounds pretty cliche, I know. But it happened. The moment our eyes met across the room, it was like love at first sight. So I thought.

The second that he approached me, he levitated a single rose from one of the closest tables, and offered it to me. He was so handsome, and sharp witted, and incredibly charming, and funny. So funny.

The moment that I spotted him, he drew me in instantly. With his alluring aura, and his captivating smile that seemingly sparkled like a diamond when caught by the sunlight. He was also very tall, and masculine. His muscles nearly seeped through the maroon dress suit that he wore. Seeming to flex everytime he moved.

His hair was like dark chocolate, and it shined under the party lights as it layed stylishly tousled on his head to perfection. Not only that, but he had a strong jaw that was coated with a thin layer of stubble that looked like it had been run through with a comb. Every other man that I have seen with one had never enticed me like this before, but Raymond made it surprisingly attractive.

His eye's were another story. The moment he looked at me, his striking blue eyes pierced right through me. Right into my very soul. To say that I had fallen head over heels for him was an understatement. I had been put completely, and helplessly under his spell."

"We talked and laughed nearly the entire night, and after that, he never left my side. Life was perfect. I had my family and friends, a good, but new job in the department for regulation and control of magical creatures, and finally, I had a man who understood me, and made me immensely happy. There was an nine year age difference, but it never bothered us."

"Everyone loved him right from the start. He really did seem like a dream that was too good to be true. A dream that I wish so much to never wake up from."

"We were together for nearly two years before he finally proposed to me on new years Eve, two thousand and two. How romantic right?."

"Our engagement party went viral of course. There wasn't a single soul in the wizarding world who didn't know about my engagement. But we managed to keep it small, and private. Just us and our closest friends and family. It was wonderful. Though as he clung to me while our loved ones celebrated us, little did I know...that I was about to make the biggest mistake of my life."

"We finally married in September, two thousand and three. Just a week after my twenty-third birthday.

Although, a few weeks after the wedding, I began to notice some odd changes in Raymond. When he wasn't playing the perfect husband, He was moody. It was slow at first, but then after he got premoted as the new senior undersecretary to the minister for magic himself, Kingsley Shacklebolt in December, he became exsessively possessive, and jaundiced whenever I was around other people.

I had told him for a while that he was just being silly, but he had only gotten worse. Soon after that, we were arguing on a weekly basis over every little thing that I did without consulting him first. Then, in January of two thousand and four, I found out that I was pregnant."

"That was the first time that Raymond had ever struck me. He was convinced that I had betrayed him. I can still remember it as if it were yesterday, and I remember that that was the first time that I had ever been truly frightened of my Ray.

---

After he struck me hard across the face, I cry out as I fell to the floor in his study on my knees by the force of it. I cannot see. My vision blurs from my tears, and I cannot move because of the utter shock coursing through my body.

After a few moments, I slowly reach my hand up to touch my cheek where he had hit me. It stings. It's numb, and it's throbbing. I can feel heat coming off of it to.

As the realization of what he had just done sunk in, my eyes widened through my tears as I slowly turn to look up at my husband in total fear, and bewilderment.

I know he said it was too soon for children, but sometimes things happen because they were meant to, and I was actually really excited until now. His demeanor has not been the best lately, but I never thought that he would react this way.

"How-, how could yo-, you?," I finally manage to get out in a whimper with my hand still held over my cheek as I stare horrified up into the piercing eyes of the stranger. Who was suppose to be my husband.

"Wipe that stupid look off your face, you slag," Raymond snarls viciously as he towers over me. Making me lean away from him on my other hand.

Shock fills my entire body again to the point where I am shaking.

"What?," I splutter in a shaky voice while trying to restrain a sob as I blink incredulously up at him. My hand still clutched to my face.

Within a second, he bends down and aggressively grabs my wrist in his hand, and starts to squeeze it, despite my whimpers of pain and surprise as he begins speaking to me through his teeth.

"You just couldn't wait, could you?, you just had to go and get yourself knocked up!," he remarked angrily in disgust of me as a tear finally escaped and trickled down my cheek.

"Who is the father, Hermione!?," he then growls at me as I struggle to free myself with no luck.

"Raymond, please stop, you're hurting me," I whimper again as I try to pull away but he only squeezes my wrist tighter.

"Who is it!?," he demands in his now not so flattering deep, husky voice as he Ignored me before adding.

"Is it Potter?," he snarled. Which catches me off guard as I instantly stop fighting him to look furiously into his fierce blue eyes.

"What!?, no!, Harry is my best friend, you know that!, I would never betray you!," I cry out in pain, anger, and frustration as I try to rip my wrist from his grasp again. Only this time I succeed before hurriedly getting to my feet as he does the same.

"And if I ever did, YOU would be..THE LAST person I would tell," I speak bitterly. Emphasizing my every word as I stare hurt and angry into his cold, blue eyes.

Anger instantly flashes in his eyes, and he snarls his lip at me before suddenly grasping my jaw in his hand as he roughly pinned me against his bookshelf. Making me gasp as he pressed my back harder into the shelf.

"You are mine. Remember that. If another man so much as touches you, he is dead," he threatens posessively as his voice deepens to a darker tone.

I tense in fear as he continues while taking a step closer to me. Closing in all the space between us to a suffocating degree as he pressed his firm body to mine.

"You better hope..that baby is mine, because if it isn't...," he grumbles ominously as his furious eyes dart down to look at my stomach.

"I assure you, there are worse punishments then violence, my dear," he declares as he stares menacingly into my wide eyes whilst tightening his grip on my jaw.

His threatening words send a chill down my spine as I freeze in horror at all the possibilities running through my head.

After a long moment in dead silence, he lets me go and moves away from me as he strides over to his study door before grabbing it roughly as he turned to face me.

"Now, get out," he says to me. His voice dripping with venom as he glares at me.

I am too shocked to move. But eventually I find the strength to move my legs as I cautiously make my way over towards the door. Holding my hand protectively over my stomach as I pass over the threshold. But just as I do, he speaks to me once more.

"Why don't you go make yourself useful for once, and leave me to do my work in peace," he says coldly in disdain before slamming the door behind me.

I flinch as soon as he slams the door, and then within a second it was like every emotion possible hit me all at once, and I had to cover my mouth to hold in my sobs as I squeezed my eyes shut to hold in the flow of tears that were trying to burst free.

Then another feeling hit me as I hurried up the stairs to empty my stomach."

---

"I wouldn't say that I had been rudely awakened. It was more like I had been snatched out of a dream, and thrown into the lion's den. My perfect marriage had turned out to be nothing more but a sham, and I was stuck. Literally.

My face didn't bruise. Luckily. But the one's he left on my wrist were easy enough to hide. Thanks to the cold weather. Although he never struck me again throughout my pregnancy, it didn't stop him from stooping as low as verbal, and mental abuse.

The worst part is, and it may seem pathetic, but everytime that he apologized to me, I would forgive him. Because even though I feared him, a part of me still loved him.

After he found out that I was pregnant, Raymond became even more controlling. He wouldn't let me leave the house without him. He took my wand, and he hardly let anyone visit me. I was practically on bed rest for six months, and I had to do it all alone."

"After my son, William, Remus, Clarke was born in September, Raymond started coming home later after work, and he was always intoxicated. That's when it started again. Whenever he wasn't going after my self esteem, he was beating me for the littlest of things. Whether if someone was showing me the slightest ounce of concern and sympathy, or if the house wasn't completely spotless, or even when our son would not stop crying.

I felt completely helpless. I mean, what kind of mother couldn't even sooth her own son. Ray always said that I was a worthless excuse for a mother, and maybe he was right.

However, six months after Willaim was born, I can officially say that any love that I had left for Raymond then, was nonexistent the second he threatened my sons life. He could beat me time and time again, but I would die before he could ever lay a hand on my son."

---

"Ugh!, will you shut that fucking thing up already!," Ray yells as he covers his ears in repulsion to drown out his sons frantic wailing as I hurry to Williams crib before lifting him up, and gently rubbing his back whilst desperately trying to pacify him.

"Nothing you are doing is working, Hermione!," he bellows at me in anger and frustration as WiIliams crys grow louder.

"Ray, please, you know he doesn't like it when you shout!," I plead to him over my sons screams as I sway from side to side. Tears now welling up in my eyes at the heart wrenching sound of my upet son.

Raymond snarls at me before holding his arms out to me.

"Give him to me!, if you won't shut him up, then I will!," he roars before practically lunging at me as my eye's widened in terror. Then I quickly, but gently lay my crying son back down into his crib, and whip back around just in time to shove him as hard as I could away from the crib.

His drunkard self stumbles, and crashes into my sons dresser as I stand like a shield in front of my son's crib as he continues to wail.

The second he falls to the ground I know all hell was about to break loose. But I try to put on a brave face for my son as Ray struggles to get to his feet.

"You leave my son alone, you bastard!," I cry furiously. Though deep down I am shaking in fear.

As soon as he gets to his feet he growls at me as he lunges at me again. Grabbing me by the throat, and throwing me down to the bedroom floor before starting for the crib.

"No!, get away from my son!," I shriek as I jump to my feet and leap up onto his back. Causing him to cry out as he stumbled back before crashing down onto the bed with me underneath him.

It takes a moment for him to gain back control, but when he does, he rolls on top of me, and straddles my waist as he pins my arms firmly to the mattress before backhanding me hard across the face.

I shriek at the searing pain as soon as his hand connects with my cheek. It was like as if my cheek had been split open as heat instantly rushed to the surface under my skin.

"You dare attack me, you little bitch!," Raymond snarls down at me as he wraps his long fingers around my neck, and starts to choke me all whilst our son cries in utter terror.

I immediately reach up to pry his grip from my neck while using my body weight to try and push him off of me, but as soon as I do, a wicked, lecherous grin flashes across his face once the realization of his body pressed against mine hit him like a ton of bricks.

I immediately notice the salacious twinkle in his eyes, and I knew exactly what his intentions were. My eyes widened in horror, but before I could react he removed his hands from my neck to pin my arms above my head.

Then he bent his head down to suck on the skin of my neck before trailing his grimy tongue down to my collar bone. Then within another second later, he tears my pajama blouse open to reveal my white lace bra.

"No!, Raymond, please, don't do this in front of William!," I beg while choking back sobs as I desperately try to wriggle underneath him to burst free. But he his too strong.

He continues to ignore me, and our screaming son as he trails his vile tongue down between my breasts to my stomach. But when he removed one of his hands from my wrists to snake it underneath my pajama shorts, I took the chance to try and reach for the table lamp, but I only managed to grab its cord before he groped me. Making me cry out as a sob finally escaped through my lips.

Though I didn't give up. I knew he was only doing this to humiliate me. To take away my last bit of control.

But I couldn't let him. I had to stop it. For poor Williams sake more than mine. So I wriggle even harder underneath him as I tug and pull on the lamps cord to pull it closer, but then he jabs his knee into my side.

"Don't be like that, baby, you use to love this," he growls at me in an lubricious voice as he continues to touch me.

"You're a monster," I mutter bitterly in a shaky voice as I instantly start to feel sick to my stomach before a whine escapes me while my son is still screaming his head off. Ugh!, why can't I reach the lamp!?.

"You've been holding out on me for far too long, dearie, it's time you fulfill your wifely duties," he growls once more. Only this time his voice deepens dangerously as he then removes his hand from me to frantically undo his belt buckle with his free hand.

I stop for only a second to gawk in horror before squirming relentlessly.

"No!, stop!, our son!," I wail helplessly in anger as he presses his whole body weight on top of me. But I continue to struggle as I pull frantically at the lamp cord in my free hand, until it finally tips over, and I am able to reach it, and smash it over his head just before he could penetrate me.

Glass shatters everywhere, and within a second, he's knocked out cold, and falls over the edge of the bed, onto the floor as a loud cry of anguish bursts out of me in instant relief.

I cover my face with my hands as I weep and pant breathlessly. Then with a long and shaky deep breath a couple moments later, I pull myself together as I jump up from the bed and hurry over to Williams crib before lifting him up into my arms to comfort him.

Now that my husband lays unconscious on the floor, I am finally able to calm William down as his cries turn into choking spitting sounds.

"Shhh, it's alright now, mummy's here," I whisper softly to my William as I place a light kiss on his little forehead while gently cradling the back of his head just before a tear slides down my now brusing cheek as I stare at my motionless husband.

---

"I actually tried to leave him that night of March two thousand and five, but with no magic we didn't get very far. When he finally caught up to us he practically dragged me back by my hair before battering me to unconsciousness.

After that, Raymond had locked me up in our room until I could earn back his trust. My son and my books were my only source of entertainment. I had become a prisoner in my own home, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

Anytime anyone tried, it would only make it worse. So, for my son's sake, I stopped fighting him, and I shut out my family and friends. Maybe I am pathetic. Maybe I am weak. But I had to do what I though was right for my son. Everytime I fought Raymond, my son would be the one to suffer.

I couldn't do it anymore. As long as Raymond was getting his way, my son was oblivious. The way he should be. That's what really mattered. Not me."

"Now, I know you're probably all pretty angry, and fed up. Wondering when Raymond will meet his fate with karma, so that my son and I can be free. But the truth is, Raymond broke me. I spent the next two years of my life playing my part as the doting, obedient wife. Even though it made me sick everytime he was near me. Everytime he touched me.

It killed me inside, but once I had finally fooled him into believing in my submission, he finally allowed me to visit weekly with my loved ones.

However, on this week in question, on August 15th, two thousand and seven, me and my son finally made our getaway. But for how long? I did not know."

---

It was a warm summer evening, and I had finally talked Raymond into letting our son spend the evening with his grandparents while we went and had dinner at the burrow.

It almost felt like old times again. Except for the uncomfortable tension in the room, as if everyone wanted to whip out their wands and all have a go at him. But they played it off to protect me.

However, towards the end of the night, when I was in the middle of a deep, private conversation with Ginny, Raymond approached me from behind, and wrapped his arm firmly around my waist to show me his disapproval of us as the tension between the three of us grew. Like as if he knew what we were talking about.

"Hello. ladies, what are we talking about?," Raymond asks in a kind voice with his usual charming grin. But I know it's fake. I know it's killing him inside to think that we were talking about him. About my marriage to him.

Ginny tensed awkwardly as she flashed me a nervous look before instantly composing herself to turn and play along with him as she smiled warmly up at him.

"We were just talking about Williams upcoming birthday party," she admits excitedly as she flashes me a reassuring look out of the corner of her eye. At least it wasn't a complete lie.

"Three is a very special number you know, it comes before four," she playfully adds with a smirk at me as I lightheartedly roll my eye's at her. As if. William is the sweetest, most behaved toddler that I have ever seen, and it's surprisingly so, despite the life he was born into.

"Don't get too cocky, Gin, James will be four next April," I tease back with a smug grin as she sucks in her cheeks with her hands on her hips.

"Don't remind me," she scoffs as Iaugh in amusement.

"You're planning my sons party..without me?," Raymond chimes in as a joke, but he shoots me a look that says otherwise.

"Well, we were just thinking up idea's is all, nothing for sure yet," Ginny replied to save my arse when she noticed my slight discomfort.

"Oh, of course," he politely responds as he bows his head at her before tightening his grip on my waist.

"Would you mind if I had a couple minutes alone upstairs to speak with my wife?," he then asks kindly. Though I can practically hear him grinding his teeth as he fakes a smile.

Ginny looks at me as fear flickers in her eyes, but I step in before she can reply.

"It's alright, Ginny, we'll pick this back up later," I say with a kind smile as if I wasn't utterly terrified as I reassure her.

Ginny nods at me.

"Of course. My old room is empty. You can use that. I'll just go and see if mum needs any help cleaning up then," she replied as I nod at her in return before she reluctantly turns and walks off.

As soon as she's out of sight, Raymond digs his finger nails into my hip as I inwardly hiss in pain before reluctantly leading him up the stairs.

Once we reached Ginnys old room and opened the door, he roughly shoved me into the room. Making me gasp as I nearly fall to the floor as he swiftly shut the door behind him.

I catch myself on Ginny's bed frame, but just as I went to turn and face him, his fist connects with my cheek. Causing me to yelp as I fall down onto my hands and knees. Tears instantly blocking my vision at the intense burning, throbbing sensation on my cheek as I exhaled quick sharp breaths as if all the air had been knocked out of me.

"Do you think that I am a fool?," Raymond snarls knowingly as he towers over me.

"You think that I can't tell when someone is lying to me?," he adds as he sneers down at me in contempt while I continue to pant through the pain.

"What were you saying to her?," he fiercely demaned, but I couldn't find my voice.

"Answer me!," he exclaimed furiously as he suddenly kicked me in the ribs. Knocking me to the floor as another yelp escaped me.

"Are you planning to leave me?!," he growled dangerously as I lay there gasping for air while holding myself up with my hands.

"Are you!?," he yells before something snaps inside me, and I pull myself up enough to glare up at him.

"No!, I'm not!..you bastard!, even though I should!..because you don't deserve me!," I brusquely cry out as my voice starts to shake from the anger, and adrenaline running through my veins.

Both of our eyes widened at my bold outburst. It was like a twig had snapped. Maybe knowing the fact that William wasn't here to be used as leverage gave me the confidence that I needed to finally stand up to Raymond.

After his shock wore off, an anger that I had never seen before flashed in his striking eye's. This is it. I'm dead.

I purse my lips at him so he wouldn't see them quiver. But before I knew it, he pulled me up by my hair and threw me up against Ginny's wall before pinning me there by holding me by the throat.

"I don't deserve you!?," he growls vehemently into my ear as he tightens his grip underneath my jaw.

"You, are lucky to have me!, you should feel grateful that someone like me, is willing to shag you!," he declares in contempt as he practically spits on me.

"Willing?, is that what you call it?, seems more like force," I mutter bitterly between short breaths as I glare directly into his blazing eyes.

I knew I shouldn't be provoking him, but I couldn't hold it back anymore.

His nostrils flared at my words, then within a second, he punches me in the stomach as I cry out. Forcing me to double over in pain as I feel all my dinner wanting to come up before he agressively pulls me back up. Pinning me to the wall again as I inhale a sharp breath.

"Let me tell you something, darling!," Ray snarls. Growling the last word in derision as he leans in until I can feel his hot breath on my face.

"No other man, in their right mind, would ever want to touch..such a worthless, pathetic, homely chit like you. Especially, one with a petulant, neurotic child..attached to their hip," he says in disgust through his teeth.

"Don't talk about him like that!, he is a sweet boy!, who only just wants you to love him!," I snap furiously as my tears finally trickle down my cheeks.

"But you are incapable of love," I mutter in a voice filled with hate as Raymond starts to squeeze my throat to the point where I am gasping for air while he curls his lip at me in repulsion before suddenly flinging me to the floor like a sack of potatoes.

"If you ever..leave me, I will kill you both with my bare hands," he says to me in an icey voice so cold, it cuts through me like a knife. Sending instant chills down my spine in terror, because I believed him.

After that, he made his way over to the door and swung it open before turning to face me.

"Freshen yourself up, and don't come back down until you've sorted out your priorities," he coolly remarked before exiting the room and shutting the door behind him after one final look of disgust at me.

I listened until his footsteps rang out, then I finally broke down in sobs before the door swung open again a few moments later.

I gasp and look up. Expecting to see him come to finish me off, but it's just Ginny. Standing there in the doorway in shock at the sight of me. A broken mess on her bedroom floor.

"Oh my god, Hermione!," Ginny exclaims as she rushes to my side to help me up onto my feet.

"I never should've left you alone with him, I'm so sorry," she apologizes in deep regret as she keeps a hold of my arm until I'm finally on my feet.

"It doesn't matter. He threatened William, I have to go get him and get away from here," I urgently reply. Out of breath.

"Can you do me a favor?," I ask as she immediately nods her head at me.

"Of course. Do you know how long I have been waiting for this moment?." she answers eagerly in trepidation.

"Can you occupy him just long enough for me to get William somewhere safe?," I ask anxiously as she nods at me again.

"Of course, but where will you go?," she asks worriedly as I start chewing nervously on my bottom lip.

"The only safe place that I can think of is hog-," I start as I tense uneasily before she cuts me off. finishing my sentence knowingly.

"Hogwarts," she says in accreditation as I nod at her in response. Then her demeanor changes as her posture straightens, and she swiftly reaches into her back pocket before pulling out her wand.

"Here. Take this," she says in a serious tone as she held it out to me.

I blink at her in surprise and disbelief before shaking my head at her.

"No. I couldn't," I reply dismissively as Ginny rolls her eyes at me.

"Well how else do you expect to get there?, you certainly cannot go down to use floo, can you?," she patently states as I exhale a long breath in frustration before reluctantly taking her wand from her. But as soon as I did, I couldn't hold back the smile that tugged at my lips at the feeling of it in my hand.

I closed my eyes in content for a moment before glancing up to see Ginny smiling sadly at me.

"What about you?," I ask in concern but she only shakes her head at me.

"Don't worry about me, I'll have Harry send professor Mcgonagall a patronus to let her know that you're coming, and then I'll catch up with you as soon as he's gone," Ginny responds with a warm smile.

I nod at her, then sigh once more as I nervously run my hand through my hair before glancing down at the wand in my hand, and that's when it hit me. I was finally gonna get away from him. I could feel that sense of urgency and excitement as well as disbelief as more tears welled up in my eye's. But this time they were happy tears.

"Thank you," I whimper gratefully as Ginny flashed me a sweet smile before stepping forward to hug me as I inwardly wince at the pain in my ribs when she wrapped her arms around me.

"Of course, Mione, you know I will always be here for you," she murmurs earnestly into my ear before pulling away to gently grasp my arms.

"Now go," she urged before stepping back as I nod at her once more.

"Be careful, Gin," I warn in apprehension, but she scoffs at me.

"Please, there are seven more people downstairs with a wand, and a grudge and only one of him. he's the one who should be careful," Ginny countered while smirking in amusement. Though you could definitely see the look of hatred in her pretty blue eyes.

"Now go, hurry!," she exclaims as she waves her hand towards her wand in my hand.

I nod at her one last time as I flash her the most greatful smile I could muster up despite my tender cheek. Then with a long deep breath I disapparated with a loud crack.

As soon as I successfully apparate outside of my parents house, I hurry inside as fast as my feet could take me.

"Mum!, Dad!," I frantically call out for them as I slam the front door behind me. Now completely overwhelemed by the adrenaline of fear and trepidation coursing through my body.

"In the kitchen, darling!," my father calls back to me as I hurry to find him. Though to my disappointment once I enter the kitchen I find him all alone.

"Where's William?," I ask hurriedly as my father turns around to face me after putting their clean dishes away. Though upon seeing how agitated I was, and the mysterious absence of my husband, a worried frown lined his features.

"Your mother has him in the bath," he replies whilst drying his hands on the dish towel as I puff out another frustrated breath.

"Daddy, please, you have to get him out of there now," I beg. Panic starting to rise in my voice as my father makes his way over to me.

"Darling, you are starting to scare me, what is going on?, where is Raymond?," my father asks in earnest solictude as he gently grasps my arms, but I take an inpatient step back.

"I'm leaving him, and I'm taking William somewhere safe," I urgently confess as my dads eyes nearly pop out of his head.

"Please, I don't have much time," I plead just before I hear my sons call, and I whip around to see my mum standing in the doorway to the kitchen with my son on her hip.

"Mummy!," William squeals excitedly as he claps his little hands together.

"William!," I cry out in relief as I rush over to my mother and gently but quickly take him from her before pressing a long tender kiss on his head.

"Hermione, dear, are you alright?," my mother asks in alarm as I shake my head at her before inhaling a sharp breath.

"I don't have time to tell you the whole story right now, but I have to get William out of here, and hide us somewhere safe," I say in one long breath as I retrieve Williams bag from her before setting William down to slip on his little sandals.

"Well, where are you going?," my mother asks worriedly.

"The little you know the better," I regretfully reply as I lift William back up into my arms, and throw his bag on to my shoulder while my parents exchange sad, knowing glances as if they were experiencing the sense of deja vu.

They had a hunch.

"I love you," I murmured to them as I kissed them both on the cheek.

"I will contact you as soon as I can," I add to reassure them as I take Ginny's wand out of my pocket.

"Be safe, darling," my mother says in a loving voice after exchanging more glances with my father.

"I will," I softly reply as I nod at them before disapparating away a moment later with a loud crack.

A few moments later, we apparated just outside the Hogwarts gates with another loud crack, and after the spinning stopped, I instantly breath a sigh of relief as I position my son more comfortably on my hip.

After that, I point the wand in my hand at the big iron gates to alert my presence to the headmistress. Only a second later a blue light zooms down the length of it and they finally open.

I froze where I stood. Pondering how could I have gotten a response so quickly, until a tall, dark shape stepped out of the shadows, and into the moonlight.

As the figure came closer my jaw nearly fell to the dirt in disbelief as I instantly recgonized the man standing directly in front of me.

"Professor Snape," I utter in complete surprise as he takes a few more steps closer towards us.

"Good evening," he responds in his same deep, rich voice as I hold my son a little tighter to me. It hasn't changed a bit. It was just how I remembered it. Except maybe a little warmer in tone. Not as cold and harsh as before.

"What are you doing out here..all alone in the dark?," I question awkwardly as I hitch my sons baby bag better on my shoulder.

"Waiting for you, obviously," he drawls with a bored expression as he absentmindedly twists his wand around in his hand.

His reply surprises me, and I can't help but gape at him before quickly composing myself by shaking my head.

"Why would you..be waiting for me?," I ask in bewilderment, but he only raised his eyebrow at me. Then it hit me as I sigh in realization while hoisting my son up higher onto my side. Despite the pain in my ribs.

"Harry," I proclaim knowingly in slight embarrassment as a small smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth.

"Indeed," he confirms as he quirked his eyebrow at me.

"Potter..sent me a message as well. He asked me to look after you. To make sure that your...husband...stays away from you, and your son," he reveals to me in slight suspicion with knitted eyebrows as his voice grows slightly colder again while he stares questioningly into my vulnerable eyes, then my sons. Who only blinks up at him as if he were trying to figure out the man standing in front of him.

I tense uneasily as I drop my eyes to the ground. Then I turn my head to press another sweet kiss on Williams temple as he lightly pats my shoulder as if he knew to comfort me. Which made me smile.

When I finally look up to find his curious black eyes watching us, I exhale to blow off the awkward moment as I shift anxiously on my feet from side to side.

"No offence, professor, but, you don't have to do that. You don't owe us anything. I can take care of us myself, we just need a safe place to hide," I politely declare while trying not to sound as scared as I really am as my eyes flicker down to the wand in my hand before I gently rub my sons back.

Though I know from the way that he narrows his eyes at me, that he knows I'm afraid. I had to look away as he continued to look at me deep in thought. Why could he read me so well? It was unsettling.

"Maybe it is because you're weak now," my brain told myself. But I quickly dismissed it when he finally spoke to me.

"Care..to explain why?," he finally asked with keen interest as he raised his eyebrow at me once more, but I just shook my head at him.

"No," I murmur as I pull my son closer into a protective embrace before giving him a pleading look. Begging him not to continue, and thankfully he doesn't.

"Very well. The headmistress..is waiting for you," he impassively responds with a slight bow of his head before motioning up the path towards the castle. To which I sigh in relief before hoisting William up a little again. Which caused his bag to slide off my other arm as I struggle to pull it back up.

"Do you need me to take that?," Snape suddenly speaks as I instantly look up in surprise.

"I'm sorry?," I splutter incredulously as he quirks his eyebrow at me again.

"The bag," he says patently as he motions his hand towards the bag hanging at my elbow.

"Oh, no, you don't have to-," I stammer awkwardly while looking down at my sons bag before shaking my head as soon as I realized what he was asking me. Then I stop mid sentence with a sigh before gazing curiously up at him.

"Why do you want to help me?," I ask questioningly as a frown starts to line his slightly aged face, and he tenses slightly in discomfort.

"It is..the least..I could do," he reluctantly answered as he gazed earnestly into my guarded eye's.

The sincerity in his eyes astounded me. Was that an apology? or was I over thinking it.

I quickly try to compose myself before hesitantly holding my arm out to him as he slowly took a step forward to take it from me. But the moment his fingertips grazed my forearm, it was like a tingly sort of electricity shot up the length of my arm. Making me gasp slightly as I instantly look up at him to see him frowning down at me before he swiftly pulled it off my arm, and turned with his back to me to lift the bag up onto his muscular shoulder.

What the hell was that? Did he feel that to? Is he disgusted with me now? Those were the thoughts flooding my mind as I swallow the lump forming in my throat before gently switching my bewildered son over to my right side side.

Then with another deep breath, I slowly approach him simultaneously as he turns to face me.

"Thank you," I speak gratefully a couple seconds later as I softly caress my sons golden brown hair while eyeing the bag on his shoulder.

He only nods at me in response before breaking the awkward tension.

"Shall we?," he remarks impassively once again as he motions towards the direction of the castle, and I eagerly comply with a quick nod of my head before he starts the long walk up the path with me at his side.

The walk was silent, and the awkward tension only increased as we trudged up the hill towards the path to the grand front doors. That is until my son decided to break the uncomfortable silence. Thank Merlin.

"Mummy, who is that man?," he curiously asks. Finally voicing his curiosities as he points his little finger in Professor Snapes direction.

"Spoke too soon," I thought as I start to blush sheepishly when Snape turns his head finally to look at us with his usual raised brow.

"That's professor Snape, sweetie, he use to teach mummy here at this school," I sweetly tell my son as I can now start to feel heat rise in my cheeks. No doubt they're probably turning pink as I reach up to caress his little cheek just as his big blue eyes (his father's eyes I must add) widened in wonder and amazement.

"This is a school!," he practically squeals as he claps his little hands in excitement.

I couldn't help but to laugh at his enthusiasm, and smile lovingly at the big smile on his face. Merlin, I would do anything to see him smile like that every day.

I take a glance at Professor Snape, but he looks away. Although I could swear I saw him smirk for just a second.

"Will he teach me when I come to school here?," William continued cheerfully as he gently poked me in the jaw to get my attention.

"I don't know, baby, possibly," I coo lovingly as I lightly brush his hair off his forehead with my fingertips before glancing sheepishly up at Professor Snape again as he looks down at me with a deep expression of concentration, and curiosity.

"I hope so," William says as he flashes Professor Snape a warm grin . Which made me blush at the nonplussed expression on his face before I turned my head to look down at my son, and started to tickle his stomach until he was giggling uncontrollably.

"That's enough out of you, little man," I murmur lightheartedlyy as he grasped desperately at my hand with his little fingers. But to no avail.

"Okay!, mummy, okay!," he squeals through his laughter as I finally stop before pressing a loving kiss on the top of his head as he wraps his arms around my neck in a hug.

When I look back at Professor Snape, he is watching us ruminately, and I can't help but to wonder what he is thinking. Is he annoyed by us?

By the time we neared the castle doors a few minutes later, William had nearly fallen asleep with his head on my shoulder when Professor Snape spoke through the dead silence of the night.

"Would you really...allow me..to teach your son?," he asks curiously. His deep voice being the only sound in the night as we walked closer to the doors enough for me to see the inquiring look in his black eyes under the flickering light of the torches.

I tense slightly in discomfort as I hold my son tighter to my chest.

"Well, of course," I utter nervously in a quite voice before clearing my throat before quickly adding.

"I mean I-, I didn't approve of your ways of teaching back then, but I thought-, I still think...that you are one of the best professors that Hogwarts has ever had," I stammer uneasily in a hushed voice. Though in great respect as we made our way up the stone steps before he turned to gaze down at me in shock.

His gaze made me blush, and I could literally feel my cheeks flush as he stared at me. Completely taken aback. I bow my head after a moment. Maybe I've said too much?

However, before either one of us could speak to clear the air, the doors suddenly swing open beside us. Startling us as we instantly turn to see the Headmistress, Professor Minerva Mcgonagall, standing before us with her hands folded in front of her as she gazed at us with pursed lips, and a quizzical eyebrow.

We quickly composed ourselves before making our way inside as the doors closed and locked themselves behind us. Now normally when I'm being locked inside somewhere I am instantly filled with dread. But I know for Hogwarts, that it wasn't an unusual thing, and honestly it made me feel better. Safer.

As soon as the last clink of the lock sounded, I immediately let out a breath that I had not realized that I had been holding in for the last five years. One of relief, and peace.

As I held onto my son, it finally hit me that we had gotten away. We were finally free from him. That realization instantly brought tears to my eyes as I bury my face into my sons hair to hide them.

When I am finally able to restrain my tears, I glance up to find them both watching me with concern. Until Professor Mcgonagall's eyes wave warmly over my son in awe.

"So, this must be William," she finally says to me in admiration as my hand instinctively reaches up to caress his head.

"Yes," I softly reply with a kind smile as he stirs slightly before moving his head to rest against my shoulder.

"It's good to see you, my dear," she kindly remarks as she steps forward to lightly pat my sons back.

"It's good to see you too, professor," I sweetly respond before she waves me off.

"Oh come now, Hermione, as long as you are here, I insist..you call me Minerva," she lightheartedly demands as she points her finger at me. Which makes me blush slightly as I nod at her.

"I will try," I murmur with a shy smile as her face lit up.

"Good," she warmly responds as she gently squeezes my hand before stepping back to stand next to an impassive Professor Snape.

"Well, it is getting late, and I'm sure you have both had a very long day," The headmistress remarks a moment later as she smiles at my sleeping son.

"Now, I've managed to set you up with your own room last minute, but it is in the dungeons I'm afraid, if you don't mind?," she continued cautiously in a kind voice as my eyes widened slightly in surprise simultaneously as Professor Snape whipped his head to look at her before she winked at him, and he narrowed his eyes at her.

"I'm sure Severus here would be pleased..to show you the way," she added with a smug expression before turning to look expectanly up at him as I watched with another blush creeping onto my cheeks when he glanced at me, then back at Professor Mcgonagall.

"Very well," he says as he rolls his eyes at her before adjusting the strap of my sons bag on his shoulder.

"Wonderful," Minerva beamed as she quietly clapped her hands together as I tried to hide the smirk on my face by pressing my mouth gently to my sons head.

"Well then, sleep well dears," she cooed before turning to walk away, but I stopped her with her formal name, and she turned back around to face me with a stern look. Which made me flush sheepishly.

"Minerva," I say shyly as I cradle my sleeping sons head.

"How much did Harry tell you about me?," I ask anxiously as her face falls, and she starts shaking her head at me.

"Nothing that we need to discuss tonight, my dear," she kindly dismissed with a sad smile as I nod at her with a grateful smile in return before tensing uneasily at the thought of her knowing about what Raymond does to me. Has done to me I should say.

"Goodnight," she says with a slight bow of her head before turning on her heel to make her way back up the stone staircase.

As soon as she is out of sight, I turn to Professor Snape and he nods his head towards the direction of the dungeons as he turns to lead the way.

The walk down into the dungeons was as silent as our first, but surprisingly not as awkward. Dare I say even his presence made me feel safer. That's what shook me the most.

After Several minutes we finally stopped outside of a large wooden door, and right away he took out his wand and unlocked it before opening it to let me in as he cleared his throat.

"I hope these quarters..are to your liking," he politely remarks as he motions his hand towards the open door.

"Thank you. I'm sure it'll be perfect for us," I kindly reply with a grateful smile. Though he only nods at me before handing me Williams bag.

"I will have Minerva block your floo..from anyone without invitation. That is...if Potter hasn't already," he solemnly declares before slightly rolling his eyes as I smile knowingly at him from behind my son's head after hoisting his bag back up onto my shoulder.

"I'm sure he has, but thank you anyway," I respond politely as he nods at me once more.

"Well, you know where my office is. Have a good night, Mrs. Clarke," he says a moment later with a bow of his head before bypassing me to continue his way down the corridor, but as soon as he addressed me by my husbands name, my smile vanished and I nearly felt sick to my stomach as I hurriedly turn around to stop him before I knew what I was doing.

Professor," I call just loud enough for him to hear so as to not wake my son as he stops and turns to face me.

"I would appreciate it...if you didn't address me by that name," I eagerly state while trying not to let the bile rise in my throat as he stares questioningly at me.

"I don't know how much Harry has told you, but my husband..is a vile man. I want nothing more to do with it," I bitterly admit as the only explanation as tears prick at my eyes just at the reminder of him.

"Very well...Miss Granger," he awkwardly replies with another bow of his head, and I could have sworn there was actual shame in his eyes, but then it was gone.

"Goodnight," he speaks once more before turning on his heel, and disappearing around the corner.

As soon as he is out of sight, I inhale, then exhale a sharp breath to hold in my tears before stalking into the room and closing the door.

Once I closed the door, I set his bag down at my feet before pulling Ginny's wand out of the pocket of my jeans as I began to wave it with my free arm over the door while muttering some protective enchantments.

After that, I made my way through the dark, into the sitting room before liting the fireplace with one flick of the wrist as it Instantly lit up the room in a glowing, flickering orange light.

As soon as I could see, I glanced around the rather large room in wonder. Everything was dark wooden, and stone with green rugs and curtains that hung on every window. But that was to be expected for a room in the dungeons. It was however, otherwise quite charming, and well hidden. Which was beyond perfect.

I stand there for a moment, just gazing into the fire. Half expecting it to turn green as my husband walks through, but I have to believe that Harry had gotten to it first. That we really were safe here.

After a moment, I tear my eyes away from the hipnotic flames to retrieve William's bag before making my way into the nearly empty bedroom to find it similar to the sitting room.

The floor was stone with emerald rugs as well as the curtain that hung on the only window above the queen sized four poster bed. To which was was large, and dark wooden with black silk sheets and an emerald velvet comforter that was laid on top.

When I'm done examining the room, I quietly pull back the covers before gently laying my son down into the bed as I carefully pull the covers up to his chest. Then I reach down into his bag to pull out his favorite teddy bear that my parents had given him when he was born, and I carefully slide it under his arm before lightly caressing his hair as he nuzzled his head against the pillow.

After I'm sure that he's comfortable, I sigh in relief once more as I comb my hands through my curls. Then I quietly sneak into the bathroom to refresh. But as soon as I get in there and look into the mirror, I grimace at my own reflection when I see the purple and blue bruise appearing from where he had hit me across my whole cheekbone nearly an hour ago.

Afraid of what I'd see, I reluctantly pulled the end of my blouse up enough to reveal my left ribcage. Only to find another bruise appearing the size of his midfoot. I couldn't stop the gasp that escaped me as my hand flew to my mouth.

That's when I finally break down into floods of tears. Though I try with everything in me to not wake William. I drop down onto the floor, onto my knees as I hold my hands over my mouth to muffle my sobs.

Everything came crashing down all at once. The nearly six horrible, vile years married to Raymond, and the guilt and regret I had for my the life of my son. I thought pretending to be the perfect wife was the right thing to do. I thought it would protect William. Give him some normalcy, but I lost myself. I wasn't protecting him at all. He was slowly losing me. That was the most selfish thing I had ever done.

I failed him, as well as myself, and my family and friends. By not leaving him the second he first struck me that day in his study. Which I should have. Back when I had magic to leave. But now I have been without magic for nearly four years. Tonight was the first time since before William was born that I had been able to use magic.

They all deserved so much better than me. I can't believe I waisted a total of eight years of my life on that monstrous man, and nearly five year's married to him. Year's that I'll never get back.

Then, when professor Snape addressed me by his name, it only reminded me. I know it wasn't intentional, but I can't help it but to feel hurt and angry. Though only at myself. I am the only one to blame for all of this. It was my biggest mistake. But if I hadn't made it, I would not have William. Seems selfish I know. Maybe I am now. But I don't know what I would do without him. He was the only good thing that came from my marriage to Raymond Clarke. My only blessing. My only reason to fight. Too keep fighting.

I cried for what felt like hours. Though in reality, it was probably only minutes. I had no more tears left to cry. So after gathering myself, I pulled myself up onto my feet to carefully wash my face before tying my hair up in a bun on the top of my head as I finally exited the bathroom, and to my relief, William was still sound asleep. My poor little baby must have been exhausted.

At the sight of him, I quietly tip toe over to him to gently kiss his forehead before tip toeing back out of the room, and closing the door with a gentle click behind me.

Though as soon as I do, I all of a sudden start to hear a hissing, crackingly noise just before the flames roared green, and a figure steps through the fireplace. Into my new sitting room.

My eye's widened in fear as I instantly pull out Ginny's wand to defend myself and my son. But after a couple of seconds, when I realize who it is, I immediately relax with a loud sigh of relief when I see Ginny brushing the soot off her jeans.

"Ginny," I softly exclaim as I hurry over to hug her as she straightens up.

"Oh, Hermione, thank Merlin you're alright," she says as she sighs in relief before pulling away to frown at my cheek as she gently grasped my chin for a better look. But I pull away at the pity in her eyes.

"I'll be fine," I murmur dismissively with a reassuring smile as she nods sadly at me.

"Are you alright?, where's Harry?," I ask worriedly as I lightly place my hand on her small round stomach before crossing my arms over my chest.

"Yes, we're fine," Ginny sweetly responded as she gently caressed her belly.

"Harry's at the ministry trying to get your floo blocked. He asked me to come wait with you until it does," Ginny then answered. Slightly out of breath as she walked around the glass coffee table to sit down onto the black leather sofa.

I nod thankfully at her in response as relief filled my entire body. Do I know Harry Potter or what.

"Where's William?," Ginny asks curiously in concern as she shifts uneasily on the sofa. Which causes me to narrow my eyes at her in suspicion.

"He's asleep in the bedroom, why?," I answer cautiously as I motion to the closed door behind her before taking a few steps closer to the sofa as she tenses anxiously.

"We can't find Raymond," she hesitantly confesses as if she was preparing herself to be scolded as my eye's widened in shock.

"What!?," I exclaim in fear before I could stop myself simultaneously as her finger flew up to her lips to shush me. That's why she was worried about me.

I froze for a moment, praying to Merlin that I haven't woken up my son, but after a minute all remained silent, and we both relaxed before she motioned for me to sit down onto the sofa.

"What do you mean you can't find him?, what happened?," I ask inquiringly in a hushed voice as I take a seat next to her while she shifted to get comfortable.

"After you left, I tried to get Harry out of there without him suspecting anything, but when you never came back down, he flipped out. He accused us..of turning you..against him," Ginny calmly started to explain before scoffing in contempt as I started to feel a lump forming in the back of my throat.

"The absurdity..of it," she remarked in detestation while shaking her head as she curled her lip disgust.

"He tried to attack us, but mum shot a stunner at him before he disapparated," she continued as my jaw dropped before I swallowed the lump in my throat. Then I tensed at the pang of guilt in my gut.

"After he left, Dad, Ron and George disapparated to check on your parents, and Harry went to the ministry...while mum and I...took a quick trip over to your house," she admitted before shifting as she flashed me a nervous expression.

"You did what?," I exclaim incredulously with wide eyes. Though not as loud as before as she smiled sheepishly.

"What about the kids?," I demand with furrowed eyebrows as she turns her body fully around to face me.

"Angelina and Ziylah stayed with them," she explained to reassure me, but it only made me feel worse.

Angelina Johnson/Weasley. George's wife of eight years. Who now have two kids of their own. Six year old Fred II. After his brother and our friend, and a nearly seven month old daughter named Roxanne.

Ziylah Atkinson/Weasley. Ron's wife of three years. They met in mid two thousand and four when Ron quit his job at the ministry to take over the shop, Weasleys Wizard Wheezes in place of his brother with George.

She actually attended my wedding as his date. It was slightly awkward at first, but I was happy, and Ron was happy, and overall, she is very kind, and down to earth. Very sweet, sporty, and funny as well. A good partner for him. She fit in pretty quick. It didn't take long at all.

They now have a two year old daughter named Ella, and are in fact, as of recently, preparing for their second child.

Harry and Ginny on the other hand, have been married for nearly six years, and now have two sons. Three year old James Sirius Potter, and one year old Albus Severus Potter. Which was very sweet on Harry's part. I can only imagine how Professor Snape feels about it. Maybe I'll find out.

Not only that, but they are now expecting a baby as well. Their third child.

"Ginny, Ziylah is only a month ahead of you," I state worriedly in concern as Ginny lightheartedly rolled her eyes at me.

"She's fine, Hermione, we're fine. We're still in our first trimester, plus, she's a hard nut. There hasn't been anything that woman can't handle. She reminds me a lot of you and mum," she earnestly insists with a warm smile as she caressed her stomach.

I sigh at her words as I brush some loose strands of hair off my face. How could she still think that of me? I don't understand.

"You are the audacious one, Ginny," I finally reply in self contempt as I smile softly at her. To which she frowns at me as she blinks at me in disbelief.

"Are you joking?, Hermione, look at where you are," she counters incredulously as she motions her hand to the room.

"We wouldn't be here without you," I declare as a matter of fact as I shook my head at her.

"I helped you once. So what. It's still inside you. Besides, you don't need to worry. We were only in there for five minutes," she solemnly proclaimed with a huff as I bowed my head to massage it.

"We went there to pack all of your things, and then we found something," she started again as I looked back up at her when I could practically hear the smile on her face.

Yep. I was right. She had a grin on her face that almost reached ear to ear as she looked at me with excitement in her blue eyes, and it made me narrow my eyes at her as she reached behind her to pull something out of her pocket.

"And I figured...it was time for you to be reunited," she continued as she finally pulled my wand out of her pocket before flashing me a sad smile in admiration when my eyes instantly widened in surprise while they zoomed over the viny leaves in awe.

"Ginny," I breathed in veneration, and wonderment as my eyes teared up just looking at it. But she only smiled in response as she reached with her other hand into her other pocket to pull a little dark object out before waving my wand at it with a hushed enlarging charm as it Instantly grew to the size of her hand.

That's when I realized that what she was holding in her hand was my enchanted beaded bag that I had used during our hunt to destroy Voldemort. My bag that I had charmed to carry anything that I desired. I haven't seen it in ages.

Then she handed them to me, and as soon as I held my wand in my hand, I gasped softly at the immediate connection we made as I felt a jolt through my fingers. It was home, and it knew it.

After four years, it was home. I can't even begin to explain what this feels like. It was almost overwhelming to have this much power and control back in my hands. But let me tell you something, it felt damn good.

"Now you never have to go back to him," Ginny remarked assuredly as I finally tore my eyes away from my wand to look at her in awe.

"I can't believe you two did this," I murmur in disbelief as she beams at me.

"Well we had to. No great witch deserves to be without her wand. Especially you," she coos with a warm smile as I close my eyes to stop them from watering before reaching to pull her wand out of my pocket.

"Especially you," I earnestly repeat in great respect as I hand her her wand, and she takes it with a broad smile before leaning forward to hug me.

"How can I ever thank you?," I whisper gratefully into her hair.

"By fighting for that little boy, and becoming the Hermione we all know you are. You can come back now. He will never make you feel weak again," Ginny replies a moment later in a voice so serious, so sincere it was hard not to believe her as she gently squeezed my shoulders to emphasize her words.

It was at that moment, when I tightened my grip on my wand, I felt more empowered then I ever have as all the anger and hatred, and regret For Raymond Clarke coursed through my body. It felt like if he walked in here right now, nothing would stop me from hexing him until I had him begging me to stop. Like he had done to me.

"You see. There it is," Ginny proudly remarked with a grin as soon as she pulled away, and saw the fire in my eyes as she squeezed my upper arm to comfort me.

I blink thrice at her, then I puff out a breath as a small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Maybe she was right. Maybe now there is still hope for me to make things right for William.

"You're parent's would be so proud of you," she kindly states in admiration as I swiftly look up at her when I was suddenly reminded of my parent's.

"My parents, how are they?," I ask hurriedly as her eyebrows quirk in slight surprise before she beams at me.

"They're a bit shaken up, but they're tougher than you realize, Hermione, Dad said we should have seen it, your mother was fire, she was about ready to attack him with the kitchen stool when dad and the boys got there," Ginny warmly declared in amusement and deep respect as my eyes widened in shock and amazement.

"Must be where you get it from," she added teasingly, but I was too astonished to react.

"As soon as they got there, Raymond disapparated. They're fine," Ginny stated reassuringly as she reached forward to squeeze my hand, and I couldn't stop the laugh that escaped me as I felt this overwhelming feeling of love and relief rise in my chest.

My mother was never an aggressive person. She wouldn't even kill a bug. She'd let it go. So to hear about her like this, all because she was trying to protect me, made my heart skip a beat. Now, all I wanted was to see her, and embrace them and tell them how much I love and miss them.

It was at that exact moment when the flames roared green, another figure stepped out of my fireplace as me and Ginny both instantly stood. Wands at the ready to defend ourselves. But again, we were immediately filled with relief once more as the figure stood up straight to look at us before holding his hands up in submission.

"Harry!," I practically squeaked as I lowered my wand before rushing over to hug him. Despite the aching pain in my rib.

"Are you alright?," I utter worriedly as I feel him nod in response.

"Did you find him?," I ask in concern as I pull back a little with my hands on his arms. But he shakes his head at me as he swaps worried glances with his wife.

"No, there's no sign of him, but we have arranged for a couple aurors to keep watch over your parent's house for the time being," Harry regretfully replied as I nod gratefully at him.

"It'll be alright, Hermione, he's the undersecretary, he wouldn't dare go back there, not if he wants to risk his job," Ginny chimed in to comfort me while she walked around the table again to stand next to Harry as I turned my head look at her. But after I did, Harry gently grasps my chin when he finally notices the bruise on my cheek due to the flicker from the fire.

"Blimey, Hermione," he says with a scowl as I tense while slowly removing my hands from his arms.

"Are you alright?," he asks in solicitude as I pull away at the pity in his eyes.

"I'm fine, Harry," I insist to reassure him as I step away from him before crossing my arms over my chest while trying to look convincing, but he just stares at me in disbelief. Then anger flashes in his eyes.

"Did he hurt you anywhere else?," he asks inquiringly as he goes to gently reach for my arm as if to examine it, but I quickly pull my arm from his grasp.

"No, Harry," I respond in perturbation just before I accidentally bang my elbow into my rib. Causing me to snap my mouth shut to try and restrain my gasp of pain as I close my eyes to hide my shame.

After the aching pain decreases enough, I swallow the lump in my throat, and finally open my eye's to see Harry frowning suspiciously at me as Ginny watches me with concern. Which makes me tear my eyes away from them in discomfiture as I cover my ribcage with my hand and right forearm.

"Hermione, show me," Harry urges eagerly a moment later as I stubbornly continue to stare at the floor, until I sigh in defeat. I don't really have a choice now. They already know something is wrong.

I tense as I reluctantly turn to the side, and start to lift up the side of my shirt to reveal my ribcage. Though my eyes remain on the floor, I immediately hear Ginny gasp.

When I finally gather enough courage to look up at them, I see anger flash in Harry's green eyes again as he stared at the large bruise on my rib.

"Hermione, why didn't you tell me how bad it was?," Ginny asked sadly as I pull my shirt back down to cover it from Harry's furious eyes.

"Because it wouldn't have made any difference," I reply regrettably as a matter of fact as I lightly place my hand over my rib as if to block it from Harry's sight completely as Ginny's expression fell crestfallen.

"Wouldn't of made a difference?," Harry retorted incredulously with knitted eyebrows as I glanced at him in shame.

"Hermione, that man abused you for years, and who knows what else you haven't told us about," he continued angrily as he motions his hand at me, and I instantly look away in disconcertment while wrapping my arms around myself before sneaking a glance at Ginny, who suddenly had this look of horror on her face, and I knew exactly what she was thinking.

"If you had come to us sooner..I could have gotten you out of this," Harry earnestly declared in frustration at me as tears welled up in my eyes, and my lip started to quiver before I swiftly lift my head up to meet his eyes.

"You don't think I know that?," I counter brusquely as my voice started to shake before I sucked in a sharp breath to restrain it. It was all coming back. I was on the verge to just break down and cry all over again.

"You think I don't know how incredibly stupid I am?," I add as I bowed my head in remorse to hide the tears that trickled down my cheeks before I gently dropped down to sit on the edge of the little table.

"He broke me. Made me believe such horrible things about myself. Apart from not having magic, I was terrified to leave...because I thought that I couldn't raise William by myself," I whimper between shaky breaths as I fiddle uneasily with my fingers. Then I frown as I crinkle my nose slightly in anger while shaking my head.

"But I was doing it all alone. Ever since William was born, Raymond never tried, never helped," I mutter bitterly as I inhale through my nose before exhaling it sharply.

"He still..hasn't tried to get to know his son, he only puts on a charade in front of people, and it breaks my heart to see it..because William..is being fooled into believeing that his daddy actually cares about him," I whimper once more in anger, sorrow and regret for my little boy as more tears slide down my cheeks before I swiftly reach up with both hands to wipe them away with a sniffle while Harry and Ginny swap glances of sympathy.

"The only thing that Raymond cares about is his job, and his reputation. I am beginning to think that he has never even loved me," I coldly declare with a huff as I purse my lips to keep them from quivering before sighing deeply as Ginny sat down beside me.

"Then why would he pursue you?," she asked in bewilderment with sad, confused eyes as I wet my lips while shaking my head in ruminate thought before it suddenly hit me, and I glance up at Harry simultaneously as the realization dawns on his face as well.

"Me," Harry stated knowingly in culpability as he shifted on his feet while brushing his hand through his still untidy black hair as me and Ginny looked at each other in apprehension.

"I'm the one who got him that job as the undersecretary," Harry confessed in an abashing voice as me and Ginny swiftly gaze up at him in shock.

"You what?," I sputter like a hiss so I did not wake my son as Ginny gaped at us in trepidation.

Harry tensed in disconcertment, guilt, and anger at himself before he turned to kick the nearby empty bookshelf next to the fireplace.

"Fuck," he grumbled while turning back around with his hands in his pockets as I slowly dropped my wide eyes to the floor in consternation.

I sat there gaping at the floor as my mind whirled with thoughts at the alarming realization. I opened, and closed mouth many times before finally finding my voice again.

"So, all this time...he was just using me to get to you and Kingsley," I implied incredulously as I blinked up at him before I gasp as I felt what was left of me crumble.

I then puff out a breath as I bowed my head while gripping the tables edge with both hands for support.

My mind raced. I was hurt, heartbroken, humiliated, and angry. But as soon as I felt hot tears stream down my face, I furiously wiped them away with another sharp inhale as I arch my back before staring coldly into the fire. I refuse to cry any longer over that monster. Then after a moment, a breathy laugh escapes me as they watch me with concern.

"Why am I surprised, I mean, it all makes sense now," I remark shakily between panty breaths and my laughter as I throw my head back slightly before rolling my eyes at myself.

It explains why he courted me. Explains why he married me. Nor why he didn't want to have children. It also explains his controlling and abusive behavior. He didn't want me to leave him, due to the fear that he would lose his chance at becoming future minister for magic if we had divorced. That vile, conniving, dreadful, sordid, diabolical man only wanted power. He never loved me.

There was that feeling again. Like I wished more than anything for him to be standing here in front of me right now, so that I could confront him, then slap him hard in the face. Like he had done so to me many times before.

"Hermione, I am so sorry," Harry spoke in deep remorse a few moments later as he knelt down in front of me while I stared stony faced into the fire. Then eventually I sighed heavily in defeat before turning to face him.

"It's not your fault, Harry. You didn't ask for this life. It chose you. I know you can't help it," I solemnly reply with teary eyes as Harry frowns unexpectedly in disapproval at my words before he stood to turn his back to me.

"You were just trying to help," I quickly add to try and comfort him, but he ignores me as he begins to pace in front of me and Ginny. Who watched in woe.

"So in the end, I'm the one who ruined my best friends life, and the life of her child," Harry grumbled in acrimony towards himself as my face scrunches up to the verge of tears in empathy, and anguish.

"Harry," I whimper with a sniffle.

"I thought that once the war ended, I could finally be free from all of that, I thought my friends could-," Harry continued in frustration before stopping mid sentence with angry sigh as me and Ginny glance teary eyed at one another before I turn back to Harry in regret.

"Harry, you will never be free. There will always be people trying to get to you. You destroyed the darkest wizard of all time, you have more glory now then ever," I proclaim regrettably through my sniffles in sympathy as he scowled down at the floor with his fists clenched.

"I should have hexed him when I had the chance," he grumbled angrily a couple moments later as Ginny stood up to squeeze his hand comfortingly.

"No, Harry, you have a family to think about now, and besides, it wouldn't have taught him anything," I protest in a brisk, cold voice at the mention of my husband as I shake my head before he turns to frown knowingly at me while Ginny gently caressed his arm.

"Then what am I suppose to do, Hermione?, how can I take care of my family..when I've doomed yours," Harry countered almost helplessly with a sad glance at his wife before he motions his hands towards the bedroom door where my son is asleep inside as Ginny reaches one of her hands up to gently squeeze his shoulder.

"Tell me how I can fix this," he urged apologetically as I gaze up at him in dejection and slight awe before glancing thoughtfully down at the two carat, Brilliant Earth, Aria diamond wedding ring that sat on my left hand.

It was the same as the day that Raymond gave it to me. It was beautiful, really, but now to me it had lost all it's charm, and if I'm being completely honest, it was never really my style. It never felt like me.

As I stared at my ring, I was painfully reminded of my husband, and within a second all the anger had come rushing back. Then before I could stop myself, I slid it off my finger and stood up to swiftly flick it into the burning flames as Harry and Ginny gasped in astonishment.

"Hermione!," Ginny hissed as she stepped around Harry to look into the fireplace as the flames surrounded my ring.

As soon as I realized what I had just done, my back stiffened as I swallowed the lump in my throat. But I didn't care. I then turned to Harry with a hard expression as he gazes dumbfounded at me.

"You can finally help me divorce that monster, once and for all," I state in a rancorous voice as Harry and Ginny swapped surprised glances before gazing at me in wonder. Then Harry nodded at me.

"Right, yeah, of course," he replies. Still a bit wonderstruck as his lips curl up into a smile. Which makes me unable to hold back my smile as I embrace him with a long sigh.

I smile at Ginny as she smiles warmly at me. Then after a few seconds, I inhale suddenly as a memory hit me, and I tense in Harry's arms before he pulls away in concern to see the trepidation in my eyes.

"Hermione, what's wrong?," he asks anxiously as I slowly turn away from them to look into the fire at my ring. Though however engulfed it was by the flames, it would not burn. But I watched them try as the fire hissed and crackled.

"The last thing that Ray said to me was that, if I ever left him, he would kill us," I murmur uneasily with a nervous gulp before pursing my lips in fear, but not for me. But for William. My sweet, innocent little boy.

I only hear them shift on their feet beside me before I turn to face them.

"Harry, I don't care..what happens to me, but if he finds us, he will kill William," I declare as panic starts to rise in my voice as tears prick at my eyes while Harry stood there speechless in alarm for a moment, but before he could respond, Ginny cut in apprehensively in disbelief.

"No, he has to be bluffing. Why would he do all of this, only to risk it all?," she claimed incredulously with furrowed eyebrows as I huff in agitation.

"Ginny, that man is completely mental," I retort as she tenses while absentmindedly caressing her belly.

"All that I am saying, Hermione, is that it doesn't make any sense. There has to be something else. Something that we don't know about him. Something more that will explain his obsession with you," Ginny counters defensively in apprehension and earnest curiosity as Harry nods in agreement with his wife before finally responding to me.

"Mione, can you think of anything, anything that he may have told you?," he asked almost urgently as I immediately frown deep thought while anxiously chewing on my lip. Trying to think back to any smidge of information that I could remember before I shook my head.

"Nothing..other then that he said that he came from a troubled family in Scotland. But he never liked to talk about it," I answer after a minute as I pause before hanging my head in shame with another huff at the realization of how dumb I sounded.

Neither of us had to say anything. We all knew now that that was Raymomds attempt to hide the truth. It was obvious that he had never loved me, but now it was clear. He had been deceiving me the entire time, and I let him. Curse my blasted heart. Curse my blasted judgment. It all went to nothing the day I met Raymond Clarke. Maybe I was never meant to be loved. Nor a wife. But most definitely, I was not meant to be a mother. William was an accident. But a blessing nonetheless, and I was eternally grateful to whomever's higher power that gave him to me.

After a few moments in a sorrowful silence, Harry and Ginny glanced knowingly at each other as I slowly lifted my head up to look expectantly at them. Then as he looked back at me, it looked like a light flickered in his green eyes as he gazed at me in determination.

"So, what do you think then, Hermione?, you up to do some investigating like the old days?," Harry remarked suggestively as a small smile appeared at the corners of his lips. Which made me knit my eyebrows together as I blinked at him in comprehension.

"You mean like..when we were twelve?," I claim ironically as a small smirk tugged at my lips while he shrugs at me.

"Yeah, but this time we won't get points taken away," he replied sarcastically as me and Ginny both roll our eyes at him in amusement.

"I have the ministry on my side now," he adds with a smug expression as Ginny smiles warmly at him while I shake my head with a deep sigh.

"Come on, Hermione, don't you want to make him pay?," he urges eagerly as Ginny gently squeezes his arm.

"Of course I do," I immediately respond as I turn my head to look at him with furrowed eyebrows.

"Trust me, no one wants justice more than I do," I earnestly declare in a bittersweet voice as I sadly glance over at the bedroom door in regret where William is sound asleep on the other side.

"Then it's settled," Harry proclaimed as a matter of fact as I turned back to gaze anxiously at them.

"Just tell me what to look for," he continued in a voice filled with empathy as I glance at Ginny, and she nods encouragingly at me. Then I sigh as I bite nervously down on my lip again.

"Anything. Just anything that we can find on him," I answer helplessly as I shift on my feet while wrapping my arms around myself.

Harry only nods at me in response before Ginny chimes in.

"He came to Hogwarts before us, maybe one of the professor's know something," she kindly advised to encourage me while wrapping her arm around Harry's as we both looked at her in consideration.

"Did he say what house he was in?," she asked curiously as I glance sheepishly at my feet before gazing knowingly at Harry.

"I'll give you one guess," I mutterly patently whilst rolling my eyes at myself as Harry and Ginny swapped another knowing look.

"Then it looks like you know who to talk to first," Harry playfully replied with an amused smile playing on his lips as I tense with a slight grimace in disquietude before exhaling a breath.

"Great, like it wasn't awkard enough already," I mutter anxiously as I bow my head to hide the blush I felt creeping onto my cheeks as I nervously chew on my lip once more.

"How do you mean?," Harry asked questioningly in confusion as Ginny quirked her eyebrows at me in curiosity. Causing me to shift sheepishly on my feet.

"Well, um, once we got here, he was already waiting for me at the gate, no thanks to you," I awkwardly start to explain before quickly adding to it with a sharp, pointed look at Harry as he stiffened with a sheepish expression while Ginny raised her eyebrow at him before rolling her eyes.

"And then um, as we were talking, I think...he somewhat, indirectly..apologized to me...before offering to help carry Williams bag," I continued as I puffed out a nervous sort of laugh while blinking in thought with another blush at the memory of the moment that we had shared. Though I decided to leave that part out however as I slightly waved both of my hands at myself in a circular motion before awkwardly crossing my arms over my chest again.

"Really?," Harry asked in surprise as both of his and Ginny's eyebrows practically shot up to their hairlines.

I shyly nodded at them in response.

"And I also may...have complimented him," I confessed with another sheepish expression as I pressed my teeth together.

"You did?,"Ginny uttered astoundingly as Harry gazed at me in surprise mingled with curiosity.

"William was asking questions about Hogwarts. He was curious about him, what was I supppose to do?, talk him down right in front of him?," I huffed as I motion one hand towards the door while I place the other on the back of my hip before tiredly wiping any stray hairs off my face.

"I mean, his methods were harsh, but his skills were brilliant," I quickly added in wonderment as I placed my other hand on my hip while chewing on my bottom lip.

"Even you have to admit to that," I implied to Harry with a nod of my head as he nodded at me.

"Yeah, I know. Why do you think we named our son after him," Harry warmly countered with a smirk at Ginny as she nodded at me.

Well now I felt guilty.

"I have no more hard feelings, and after everything that he has done to help us, we owe him our gratitude," Harry continued. Though he was more earnest this time as he wrapped his arm around his wife.

"No, I know, you're right," I knowingly reply with a sigh as I shift awkwardly on my feet before turning to stare into the fire once again as I wrap my arms around myself.

"Will we really be okay?, me and William?," I murmured anxiously after a couple moments. Though my eyes never stray from the Orange flames.

"Of course you will," Ginny cooed reassuringly as she stepped forward to comfortingly squeeze my arm.

"You're goin to be fine, Hermione, I've blocked all entry to this room except our house and the burrow. Professor Mcgonagall will handle everything else," Harry chimed in assuredly as Ginny turned her head to smile lovingly at him while I couldn't help but to still be worried until Harry pulled me into a hug.

"He's not getting in here,"he solemnly swore to me as I tightened my hold.

"Thank you," I whispered gratefully as I gently squeezed the back of his shoulders before he pulled away to flash me a warm, reassuring smile.

I nod at him as I take a deep breath.

"You both better get home. You have children waiting for you," I kindly remarked as they beamed at me, then at each other.

"And so do I," I added as I turned my head to gaze lovingly at the bedroom door.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow?," Harry asked as I flashed him a warm smile with a nod of my head before he pressed a kiss to my cheek, then he grabbed a handful of floo powder, and with a nod at his wife, he was gone a second later.

A moment later, Ginny turned to me and gently grasped my arm again.

"Don't blame yourself, Hermione, he had us all fooled," she murmured knowingly as I sighed deeply.

"But I should have known. I ignored all the signs," I regretfully replied as I shook my head at myself while staring back into the flames.

"People make mistakes, Mione, but you're free. You're on the right path now," Ginny encouragingly declared as she squeezed my arm once again.

"Do you really think I can do it?, take care of William by myself?," I spoke softly a minute later as I finally turn to look at her in trepidation, but she just smiles at me in admiration.

"It's like you said, you already are, and besides, you're bloody Hermione fucking Granger, I believe you can do anything," she started out with a big grin as she winked at me before her face turned earnest, and I couldn't stop the laugh that escaped me before I rurned fully around to hug her. I really needed to hear that.

"I love you," I whisper sweetly through my chortles.

"I love you too," Ginny warmly replied before we pulled away.

"Okay, go," I urged with a grin as I nudged her arm towards the fireplace as she giggled at me.

"Enjoy him," she beamed as her eyes flickered towards the bedroom door where my son slept before I turned to smile at it, then back at her.

"Goodnight, Gin," I said.

"Goodnight, Hermione," she replied before she grabbed a handful of floo powder, and disappeared with the green flames.

After she left, I eagerly grabbed my wand and my bag off the little table, and hurriedly, but quietly entered the bedroom to see my son snuggled up with his teddy bear. He looked so peaceful. I couldn't help but smile.

Then I turned around to face the closed door as I started to feel anxious again. Though I was probably just over worrying.

However, I twirled my wand thrice in hand before raising it at the door. Where I began to mutter protective enchantments on it as I waved my wand up and down the length of it.

After I was done, I felt much better as I took a long deep breath. Then I changed into some pajama shorts and a t- shirt before carefully crawling into bed and getting under the covers beside my son, and as soon as my head touched the pillow, I sighed in peace. Though I decided to keep my wand close to me. Just in case.

As I laid there, I lightly caressed his hair before placing a gentle kiss on his cheek. Then soon, I finally drifted off into a peaceful sleep. One I had not had in four year's.

(A/N Hey guy's! Surprise! Another new one for ya! I hoped you all enjoyed it! Y'all are probably pretty pissed huh lol Raymonds a piece of work huh:\ I made him up! he's my very own character! William is adorable isn't he? :) You like how the story is in Hermione's point of view? I hope so!

Severus was something huh 0.0 How will he react when he sees the bruise on her face? Will Raymond find them? What will he do now? follow and stay tuned to find out! If you liked it don't be shy to say so! I appreciate any positive reviews! Gotta keep me going somehow lol

Feel free to check out my profile for other stories if you haven't already! I will also be releasing two more new stories along with this one! But as I am now juggling 6 stories, be patient with me! I will update as soon as I can!)

(Till next time guys! Byeeee!)

(To be continued...)