OK so I wanted to say thank you to my reviewers. I am glad you guys have liked this story so far. Someone brought up the idea of Hermione having a pet. I thought about it but with her being gone so much and really only being close to the members of the team it would be hard. And having an owl brings a whole slew of problems but never fear there will be some sort of magical animal in this story.

I do not own Harry Potter or Criminal Minds. I hope by now everyone would know that but still...

On with the story.

4 weeks had passed since that first girls lunch and true to their word the women had met up for lunch every week they could. They had their last lunch the day before they were called out on a case. The team had spent the last 5 days in Dallas Texas and were now going back home. As Hermione sat on the plane she was reflecting over the last 5 days.

FLASHBACK

They had been in Dallas for the better part of 5 days trying to find an unsub who was abducting seemingly random people cutting words into their bodies and then killing them before dumping their bodies all around the city. Because of the nature of the attacks and the randomness of the victim selection partnered with the abductions taking place in broad daylight Hotch decided that Garcia should come along and plug herself into the city's network of cameras in real time rather then try to stream them to Quantico.

For Hermione however, the first time she saw the pictures of the victims, she felt herself go cold. Memories of Bellatrix and Malfoy Manor came flooding back to her. The whole case she was distracted and if the team had noticed they said nothing to her. The last night in Dallas the team went for dinner. Hermione left early telling Penelope she was going to go for a walk then to bed so she did not worry, since they were sharing a room. By the time Hermione had finished with her walk and went back to the room it was late. However Penelope was still not back yet from hanging out with the team. Hermione decided to take a shower and turn it. After she finished her shower she stepped out and wrapped a big fluffy towel around her body and went to the sink to brush her teeth. She did not hear Penelope come back to the room and was surprised when the door to the bathroom swung open and Penelope Garcia stood there in the doorway. Hermione had not time to cover up her arm and Penelope saw the word that had been cut into her arm. The look on Penelope's face was a mixture of sadness and concern as she quickly apologized and closed the door.

Hermione silently thanked Merlin, Godric, God and anyone else she could think of that she had Kingsley set up a couple false reports regarding her scar just in case someone spotted it. She finished up brushing her teeth and got dressed. After she was done she walked out and sat on her bed and faced Penelope.

She told Penelope the story that had been laid out for her to tell. It was very close to what really happened just a few things different.

At the end Penelope asked "Why did you never say anything to us?"

"Honestly I did not want anyone to treat me like a victim, or think that I am breakable. It is still hard for me to talk about. I guess this case just hit a little too close to home for me. I am sorry for being so short lately"

"Oh Mi, it is fine. You had every reason to be. But are you more afraid of what the team will think or what Reid will think?"

Hermione looked at her friend through her red eyes. "I think it is a little of both. I don't want Hotch to think I can not handle a case, I don't want the rest of the team treating me differently, and I don't want Spencer to think I am broken." She finished as she started crying again. Even though the story was not the whole truth it was close enough, and Hermione had been holding it all in for days.

END FLASHBACK

Hermione and Penelope stayed up late that night well into the morning talking. Eventually Penelope convinced Hermione to tell the team the truth. She reminded Hermione that no one would think differently of her. But they did deserve to know what had been going on inside Hermione's brain the last few days. So when Hermione got up to make herself a cup of tea on the jet she made up a plan.

"Guys can I talk to you all?" Hermione asked as she sat back down and set her cup of tea on the table.

"Sure, Are you okay?" Asked Hotch as everyone gathered around Hermione

"No not really" Hermione said "But I have to get this out. Please let me say everything first before you say anything. Alright?" She looked around at the faces of her team as everyone nodded their heads in agreement looking worried.

Hermione started her tale.

"First of all I owe all of you an apology. I know I have been short and out of it on this case and I think you deserve to know why. When I was 17 years old, Harry, Ron, and I were out camping in the forest. We did not notice anyone around us until it was too late. We were abducted by a few members of a cult. They followed this very insane leader. He believed that anyone who did not follow him had dirty blood. When we were captured they separated me from the boys. They locked the boys in the cellar and one of the more fanatical followers decided to have some fun with me. She thought we had stolen something of hers which was totally unfounded. But she insisted." Hermione could not look at her team so she was focused on the table in front of her. She took a sip of her tea and continued "She tortured me for what seemed like hours but really I was told it was closer to only 30 minutes. She kicked me, hit me, pulled my hair, spit on me. She ended up fracturing my wrist and almost breaking a couple of my ribs. I remember screaming in pain telling her we never stole from her, but she would not listen. When she got board she sat on my legs and pulled out a dagger."

Hermione rolled up the sleeve of her shirt to reveal the word MUDBLOOD carved into her skin.

"She wanted to always remind me of what I was she said. I don't know how but Harry and Ron were able to escape the cellar and came looking for me. The knocked the women out and grabbed me. To this day I really don't know how we made it out alive, but we did and we never looked back. A few weeks after I was healed I was informed that the women, the leader of the cult and several other followers were killed while trying to avoid arrest."

Hermione took a napkin and wiped the tears that had started to fall from her eyes.

"So that's my story. That is why I have been out of it and short with everyone for the past few days. I think seeing those pictures made me relive it all over again. I have gotten over it for the most part and when I need to I have always been able to talk to Harry and Ron. This was the first time I was alone."

Hermione dared to look up at her team J.J and Emily were crying silent tears as Penelope had an arm around each one. Morgan was shaking in anger his face was stern. Spencer looked like he wanted to be sick. And Hotch looked like a big puzzle had just been solved for him and he understood a great mystery. Surprisingly Rossi looked more suspicious then anyone else. He was looking at Hermione like he did not fully believe her.

"Why did you not tell us this before Hermione?" Hotch asked in a soft voice

"I did not want anyone to treat me like a victim. I did not want you to think I could not handle a case because I had a bad experience when I was younger."

"A BAD EXPERIENCE?!"Yelled Morgan "Hermione you were fucking tortured and your arm cut into by some insane person and you call that just a bad experience?"

"Yes I do. It happened when I was 17 years old. I don't talk about it to people besides Harry and Ron because they were there. I have never let it effect me this badly before. I just don't want anyone to pity me or think I am that broken girl they know." Hermione said looking straight at Morgan. He had gotten out of his seat and kneeled down next to Hermione's knees.

"Hermione. I see you like my sister. I would never think you are broken and I would never pity you. You are the bravest person I know. To go through something like that and never say anything. I can only being to imagine what these last few days have been like not having your two best friends near you to talk about it. You can always come to me and talk if you need to. I know I am not Harry or Ron but you are still a part of this family. I AM sorry you have been dealing with this alone."

"Is that why you call Ron and Harry your boys? Is this what you meant when you said you have been through a lot together?" Asked J.J as she manged to control her tears.

"Yes. We grew up together, but there are some things that you go through that cement relationships permanently. We have seen each other at our lowest and darkest moments. And we have pulled each other from those times. Nothing can ever change that. Thank you guys for understanding. I am sorry I kept it from you guys."

"I understand Granger" Hotch said looking into her eyes. "You have Friday off. Tomorrow is Thursday. Why don't you take an extra day off. You have had a lot going on these past few days. We can handle the paperwork."

"Hotch I am not broken."

"I know that. But seeing this case and keeping it all inside has put you through a lot. You need that time to be able to put yourself back together. This is not me doubting your ability or pitying you. This is me knowing that you are human and I want you at your best. I will not accept anything less then what you have been showing us these past few months. Take the extra day to do that. Come back fresh on Saturday."

"Alright Hotch. Thanks." Hermione said as she got up and walked over to Emily and J.J to comfort them.

She did not notice Rossi's eyes following her with a questioning look.

okay so this chapter was hard for me to write. Even though it is not what happened in the books or the truth behind her scar Hermione still has very powerful emotions attached to talking about what happened and it is close enough to the truth to bring those emotions out. I am writing as fast as I can but there is so much I want to put in here that I don't know how long this story will run any more even using the time jumps... eh oh well.