I forgot to mention at the beginning of the story that the main characters (Blaise, Draco, Hermione, Harry etc) are around the ages of nineteen and eighteen. I'll get to careers during the story, so please don't get mad at me.

Enjoy.

Chapter Three

"Blaise!" Mrs. Zabini called frantically. "Blaise, we have a problem!" She went into his room, and he sat up straight in his bed.

"What's wrong?"

"I'll tell you what's wrong, Blaise. She wants to go back to him, is what's wrong!" She ranted. "She told me she 'loves' him."

Blaise cursed. "What do you suggest? Mum, she's a stubborn one, she is. Look, I'll talk to her about it in the morning. Tell Velma to wake me as soon as she stirs."

Maria nodded at him. "Why would she want to, Blaise? The monster hurt her so badly, and she thinks he loves her." A tear rolled down her cheek and she wiped it away. "How can she honestly love someone who did that to her?"

"I don't know, mum. Maybe it hasn't set in yet. Maybe she needs to get over the shock before she realises he doesn't love her. But I'll tell you one thing, she didn't deserve it. She may not be my favourite person, but she's as pure as they come, and she has been destroyed."

Maria was surprised at the amount of passion radiating from her son, and smiled at his kindness and compassion, hoping one day, he would be able to put it toward a girl he loved.

"Goodnight, Blaise. I'll see you in the morning. I'm taking the day off work, so I can help you with Hermione."

"Alright, mum. Goodnight." She kissed him on the cheek, an Italian tradition, and disappeared to her own room.

The morning came, and along with it, a crack was heard next Blaise's bed. He opened and eye to find Velma standing next to his bed. "Sir, Miss Granger has woken up." She informed him.

"Thank you, Velma." He said, before jumping out of bed and slipping a shirt on. He quickly made his way to her room, and knocked on the door.

"Granger, it's Blaise. Can I come in?" He asked cautiously.

"Alright." She said from the other side of the door.

He opened the door and stepped in. "Listen, Granger –" He stopped. She was desperately trying to wipe tears away from her eyes, and control the sobs. "Are you a-alright?"

She looked up at him, and turned her head down. "Yes, I-I'm fine." She lied. In fact, Hermione Granger was not fine at all. She had broken down in tears the moment she had realised where she was and felt the already healing scar on the back of her head.

He wasn't convinced. "Hermione," He said softly. "Please, I know you're lying. You're not fine."

"I'm fine." She repeated.

He sighed. "Listen, I know you plan on going back to Krum, but you can't. It's not safe."

"But he loves me. And I love him. He just needs help –"

He was suddenly angry. "No, he's a bastard! Do you not realise what he did to you?" Silence. "He RAPED you, and he BEAT you. Draco got himself into a fight with one of the biggest seekers in the world, just to save you from him, and you want to go back?!" He shouted.

She shrank back and whimpered. "I love h-him." She repeated. "He needs m-me."

Blaise sighed in frustration. "I know you think you love him, but –"

"He LOVES me!" She burst out. "It's not his fault I make him worry, it's not his fault I annoy him! But he loves me, and I love him, too!"

His blue eyes darkened. "Listen here, he does not love you. Far from it. Heck, I can prove it if you like? I'll show you. Come on; let's go see the monster that raped you." He sneered.

"He would never hurt me! It was just a fight –" She was crying now.

"In which he RAPED YOU!" Blaise bellowed. "When Draco turned up here, with you in his arms, it scared the crap out of me. I honestly wanted to run and hide from what he had done to you, because nobody deserves that, Granger, NOBODY." He ranted. "I was so angry at him because he did that, not just because it was you, but because it was someone. A person, Granger, and a woman, at that." He took a deep breath, calming himself.

"But we're –" She began.

"Get it through your thick skull, Granger. You're not going back to him. Understand?" He said coldly.

She back away from him, scared.

"Don't you see, Granger, don't you see what he's done to you?" He turned on his heel and opened the door, ready to walk down the corridor, but her small voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Why do you care so much?" She asked.

He turned around slowly, contemplating his answer. "Just because we're Slytherins, doesn't mean we're heartless, Granger." He said softly. "We care because nobody expects it."

Her eyes met his and they shared a silent understanding before he walked out the door, set on finding Draco. They needed reinforcements quickly. Female reinforcements.

Hermione sat in the room she had been designated, and sighed. It was a wobbly sigh that showed her just how much of a mess she was. She sat on the silk covered bed and rubbed her temples.

Zabini was right. No, Blaise, was right. Viktor had hurt her. He'd… raped her, and she wanted to go back to him. She was a nutter.

Tears slid down her cheeks, and a sob escaped her throat. How could he do this to her? He told her he loved her…

With that thought, she curled up on her bed and cried.

Meanwhile, Blaise had found Draco. He had been waiting by the doors for someone.

"What are you doing, mate?" Blaise asked.

"I'm waiting for Potter and Weasley to show up."

Blaise looked at him with a questioning look. "I don't think it's a good idea, Drake. Do you really think she should see her male friends?"

Draco thought for a moment. "You're right. But Girl Weasley is coming, too. But we still need to explain the situation to them."

"You didn't tell them in the note?"

"No, I told them I'd explain it when they got here, and not to overreact."

"I suppose." He paused. "Listen, mate, I was thinking we need someone who can relate to Granger, someone who knows what she's going through… I was thinking Pansy."

Draco's eyes went wide, and he looked at Blaise incredulously. "You're serious?"

"Yeah, I mean the whole thing with her dad… You know, she could help Grang – Hermione through it, if you know what I mean."

Draco thought about this for a minute. "But Pansy?!" He groaned. "She'd chuck a fit about Granger. I mean, she'd chuck a fit about helping me."

"Well, after what you said to her, I don't blame her. But I think she'll help, if we don't tell her it's Hermione. We'll relay the situation to her, and then tell her it's Hermione Granger."

"Are you sure you want to trust her, Blaise?" Draco asked helplessly.

Blaise nodded, and as if on queue, there was banging at the door.

Draco opened the door with a grim look on his face. "Potter, Weasley." He nodded at the three to come in.

"What is this about, Malfoy?" Harry Potter asked tiredly.

"I told you, this is about Granger." He said. "Come and sit down, so I can tell you what's going on." They sat. "You have to promise not to go off your nut until I've explained it all. No interrupting, do you understand?" He said sternly.

"Alright, just tell us what's going on." Ginny Weasley said, holding onto her boyfriend's hand.

Blaise watched as Draco took a breath and stepped back a little more. "Last night, Hermione Granger was raped."