A/N: Chapter Warnings – Bad language and discussions of rape

Chapter 18: Meetings, Draco and the Hospital Wing

Severus Snape walked down the hallways of the current hideout of the Dark Lord. He approached the main drawing room and looked at the members of the meeting.

The first thing he noticed was that the recent breakouts from Azkaban were sat comfortably at the table along with Lucius Malfoy and the Dark Lord.

"Ah Severus, how wonderful for you join us" the horrific voice of his 'master' announced, smiling evilly at his followers.

There was a hiss that sounded like it came from Bellatrix. Yes, the demented witch absolutely loved Severus! She didn't trust him and would always be telling the Dark Lord that Severus couldn't be trusted, this often made things difficult for Severus as it meant that he had to prove his worth and was often rewarded with a Cruciatus. He had enjoyed her being in Azkaban. Hell! He had enjoyed it whilst there was no Dark Lord at all and all evil supporters were in prison. But now, the reprieve was over and it was back to dancing around the truth, dangerous lies and one word differences between life and death.

Severus hid his thoughts; he never knew when the Dark Lord was searching through his mind, he took his seat.

"Now, my loyal followers, we are to take a subtle approach on attacks. The ministry doesn't believe I am back so we are to keep it that way. Am I clear?" the Dark Lord hissed.

"My Azkaban escapees, you are going to be sent to try and gather followers. You are going to be sent to all werewolves, giant and troll colonies and convince them to join my cause. If you come back empty handed, you will forfeit your life. Now go!" he ordered his followers. They all quickly jumped up and began to move so that they could plan strategy and how they were going to bargain the loyalty of some of the most fearsome beasts.

"Not you Bellatrix, you are to stay here. I have some...other...necessary uses for you" the Dark Lord told her whilst stroking her cheek with his thumb.

Bellatrix grinned at the implications and giggled. She loved pleasing her master after all.

Severus and Lucius grimaced and shared a look of disgust. They were aware of the nymphomaniac tendencies of Bellatrix, and were equally disturbed by the Dark Lords voyeuristic behaviours.

The Dark Lord turned to Lucius.

"Any news Lucius?" he asked.

"My lord, I have located what you have been looking for. However, the enchantments and security around said object are near impossible to break. I tried and didn't succeed, I didn't want to raise more attention than necessary, and I also don't want to lose my job. I have been working on getting support from within the ministry and have been succeeding better than I could've hoped for" he informed his master.

"Very good Lucius, I am most pleased by your work. Also, quite right to not raise any suspicion. I need you on the inside Lucius, you have made me proud" the Dark Lord praised one of his oldest followers.

Lucius accepted the praise and nodded in thanks and out of respect to his master.

The Dark Lord then turned to Severus.

"Any news Severus?" he asked.

Severus nodded.

"Dumbledore appears to be disappearing for days on end. I have no idea where he goes but it is suspicious. He is letting the ministry official take over without a fight which tells me there are more important matters for him to be dealing with. Secondly, the gamekeeper didn't return when term resumed, which is also most suspicious. I think the headmaster is planning something, he hasn't informed the Order yet, so I can assume that nothing is a solid plan yet. He is of no threat to you and our cause at the current time" Severus informed his master.

"Very good Severus, you keep an eye on him, and listen out for any information. You have done well my friend" the Dark Lord told Severus.

Severus nodded in respect, and the two men were dismissed by their master.

"Drink?" Lucius asked Severus.

Severus stared at his oldest friend bewildered.

"It's 6am, I have classes to teach shortly and I have no desire to do so with a headache, the students cause that just by entering my classroom" Severus told him.

Lucius grinned at his friend's sense of humour and poured two glasses of whiskey anyway.

As they drank, Lucius took the opportunity to catch up with Severus.

"How is my son doing?" He asked.

"His grades are at a record high Lucius, you should be proud" Severus told him honestly.

"Good, Malfoys always come out top" Lucius stated having no concern for his sons grades only his reputation.

The two gentlemen conversed for a while before Severus had to leave as school would be beginning soon. He bid Lucius farewell and apparated back to the school gates.

He quickly made his way back to his quarters, and was pleasantly surprised when he noticed that his favourite student, and loyal friend, had disobeyed his orders and stayed put.

"I wanted to make sure you were alright" Hermione said to him looking pale and frantic with worry.

Severus' face softened and his heart beat faster. He couldn't believe that she had been so worried about him.

"I'm fine, breakfast will be starting soon and we need to get you out of here before we feed your fans with more rumours" Severus joked.

She gave him one last hug, which he returned, and she picked up her things and snuck out of his quarters.

Hermione made her way to the great hall for breakfast, she was nervous; she didn't know what Harry had said to anyone or what she expected him to say.

She entered the great hall and let out a great sigh of relief, Harry wasn't at the table. She sat down next to Neville instead, and had an in depth discussion about Herbology.

Hermione and Neville headed to their first lesson together; ironically it was potions class first. Neville's favourite.

Hermione glanced at Neville, who was already having a case of the jitters, as they got nearer the classroom. Hermione giggled, she wondered what would happen if she told him of the other side of Severus Snape that she had the privilege to witness.

"Oi! Granger" a familiar voice called.

She turned to look at Draco, who was ushering her to an obscured alcove so that he could speak to her.

She told Neville that she would catch him up. Neville looked at Draco with suspicion; he still didn't trust him around Hermione.

Draco held up his hands in surrender, as if to show that he meant her no harm and Neville backed off and headed into the potions classroom.

Hermione and Draco stood in the alcove and waited until they were sure nobody could see or hear them.

"You alright? We haven't spoken in a while and I thought you looked a bit down" He said to her.

"It's been a bit explosive over the last few days, so much has happened. We don't have time to go into detail over it all, I want to tell you everything, but right now we really need to get to class before we are late" she said to him. He hugged her and agreed and they stepped out of the alcove, after making sure the hallway was clear, and they made their way to the classroom.

"Twenty points from Gryffindor. Five points from Slytherin, for being late. Now sit down" Severus ordered his friend and his godson. Actually, right now they were his students and he had to treat them accordingly.

The whispers broke out in the classroom that Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger were both late and had entered a classroom together. They had also seen that Draco had pulled Hermione into the alcove before the class had started.

"Bet they're fucking" one student muttered.

"It's the only explanation, sneaking around in alcoves" another student whispered.

Hermione flushed red and Draco glared at the other students, daring them to say anything more about it.

Severus on the other hand, was trying to keep himself composed. He knew there was nothing going on between the two students and found it hilarious that the other students were so stupid to even come up with that solution. Also, he was engrossed with the delicious pink flush that had spread over Hermione's face. He snapped himself out of it and focused back in the class.

"Miss Granger, seeing as you are late I thought you might have an insight as to where Mr Potter might be?" He asked her.

She looked towards where Harry normally sat and noticed that the seat was empty. She glanced back to her professor and shook her head.

"No sir, I don't know. He wasn't at breakfast either" she commented.

Severus raised his eyebrow in question at her and Hermione subtly shrugged her shoulders with a mildly concerned look on her face.

The silent conversation did not go unnoticed by Draco. Developments had truly taken place and he vowed to listen to her later.

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Classes soon let out for the day and Hermione immediately headed for her tree by the lake to meet Draco and the inquisition that he was sure to bring with him.

He didn't disappoint.

"So what's going on?" He asked her.

"Severus found out that I nearly jumped off the astronomy tower. He went mad and took me to his office." She began.

Draco winced in sympathy for her.

"That must've been fun" he said sarcastically.

"Yes, fun" Hermione repeated.

Hermione's face lit up with a secret smile, she knew exactly how that conversation had ended and it wasn't entirely disastrous.

Draco's eyes widened at the implications she had made and went to ask a follow up question. But Hermione held her hand up, asking him to wait and let her tell her story first.

"Professor McGonagall also found out about everything and went to Dumbledore's office where she slapped him and practically ripped him to shreds" she continued.

"Then Harry overheard Professor McGonagall and I talking about it and called me out on it. Harry knows, I told him everything. We haven't spoken since and I have no idea how he's going to react. I was upset after I told him so I went to see Severus and I fell asleep on his sofa. He let me stay and I snuck out this morning" she finished.

Draco was shocked; he couldn't believe that so much had taken place in such a short space of time. He was elated that Dumbledore finally got what was coming to him and could believe McGonagall and her actions, that woman scared the shit out of him. He was worried that Potter would go all reckless and impulsive and it would hurt Hermione in the end but they would have to wait for that. Then there was this thing with Severus. Draco knew that something more had taken place but he didn't dare ask outright, that would cause her to flee. Well, he wasn't Slytherin for nothing. He grinned.

"My godfather is a good kisser then?" Draco blurted out rhetorically.

A very unladylike squeak emitted from his friends mouth and she quickly looked down at her hands as her face flushed red.

'Oh yes, something has happened' Draco thought as his grin widened.

Hermione couldn't look Draco in the eye, she wasn't used to talking about her intimate life and especially not Severus' either. He would kill her.

"Nothing really happened. He comforted me and I fell asleep" she tried to be convincing, knowing that she wasn't the best liar.

"Uh huh. Sure Granger, if that's what code for making out is these days" he grinned again.

Hermione glared at him and silently asked him to drop it. He relented and decided not to press her further, he would ask his godfather later.

They sat for a few more moments before deciding that they were hungry and should probably head to dinner.

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Once there, Hermione went from relaxed to full on panicked when she found out that Harry hadn't been seen all day and hadn't shown up to any of his classes or meals.

Hermione bit her lip and didn't know what to do. She was worried that she had pushed him to do something stupid and would never forgive herself if she had.

"Hermione! I'm so glad I found you. I was asked to give you this note" Neville smiled at her, happy that he could be useful and responsible.

Hermione thanked Neville and read the note. She paled and felt scared, nervous but also felt adrenaline pump through her veins. She walked out of the great hall unaware that a set of eyes were watching her every move and had got up to follow her.

Hermione spat the correct password and ascended the stairs and knocked. She waited for an invitation and then walked into Dumbledore's office. She was sick and tired of this.

She walked in and noticed Dumbledore and Harry sat at the desk and they asked her to come and sit down.

"Right, let's have a chat" Dumbledore said to the students.

"It seems a slight rift has been created between the two of you. What has been going on?" Dumbledore asked knowingly.

"You know what's been going on" Hermione snapped at the headmaster.

"Miss Granger, I am in no mood for your tone" Dumbledore told her.

"Hermione has accused my godfather of something terrible. I'm having trouble believing her and I don't want to condemn her either. I know you are aware of the situation and besides, Sirius has no idea what has been going on here, or what Hermione has been saying about him. How is he supposed to defend himself when he had no idea he's being slandered?" Harry told the headmaster.

Hermione's heart stopped and she couldn't breathe. There was that ringing in her ears, white noise. She was sweating and felt herself fading.

Harry was going to tell Sirius, Sirius would know that she had told someone and he would deny it. Of course he would. But if Harry told, she was dead, she was going to die. Dear gods, what was going to happen to her when Sirius got to her?

"You didn't Harry, please tell me you didn't say anything to Sirius" she whispered, her throat tightening.

Harry regarded her with a worried expression on his face. He had said nothing to his godfather, Harry was just angry that Sirius had no clue about the stories Hermione had been accusing him of. Was this her reaction to being called out as a liar? Or was it genuine fear that Sirius would come after her?

Harry didn't know what to think. He didn't want to find out that one of the people he loved the most were lying to him. But he couldn't tell which one was the liar and, whichever one was the liar, would destroy him either way. He knew that no matter who had lied, it was going to kill him, and he couldn't handle the thought.

"See the problems that are caused by telling people about this Miss Granger. I understand the position you are in, but I will not sympathise with the consequences you will now face with your friend" Dumbledore stated blandly.

Hermione came back to reality and pulled herself together. She needed to say her piece and then she needed to get out of here before either man saw her fall apart.

"Tell me sir, have you ever been raped? Sexually assaulted?" Hermione asked.

"Now Miss Granger-" Dumbledore was cut off.

"No, you listen to me. You do not understand me, or this situation, nor do you have the desire to. You talked about me seeing the problems of talking about my assault. But the truth is that it's what you don't see, that are the consequences of this" she snapped, she had both their attentions now and damn, she was on fire.

"You didn't see how my friends ignored me. You didn't see my night terrors where I threw up and pissed my bed. You didn't see me lose my mind out of fear that he would do it again. You didn't see the look on his face, void of emotion, as he assaulted me twice. You didn't see the way my vagina was hacked up like a piece of meat at the damage that had been done. No sir, you do not understand!" she yelled.

And with those gruesome images planted in the headmaster and Harry's minds, she fled the room, she couldn't take it anymore.

She ran through the corridors blindly. She was going to be sick; she was going to pass out. Sirius was going to get his revenge on her for squealing.

Hermione ran out of the castle and into the rain, she heard a voice yelling at her to come back and that she was going to get into trouble. It sounded like Umbridge. But Hermione didn't care, she kept running until she reached the forbidden forest and she eventually stopped on a tree stump, she lay down and closed her eyes. She prayed for the forest beasts to eat her.

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Severus was interrupted by an annoying pink puffball, and was told that a miscreant student had run into the forbidden forest.

Severus sighed, stupid teenagers and their emotions. He agreed to the hags demand and prepared himself to go out in the rain for a trip into the forest.

He used 'point me' to locate the student and was floored when he came across a passed out Hermione, asleep on a tree stump. He tried to revive her, but she wasn't responding, she was frozen to the bone, and was extremely pale. It was obvious she needed medical assistance and fast. Severus picked her up in his arms and carried her as quickly as he could to the hospital wing.

Poppy threw him out so that she could run tests on Hermione, and it left Severus pacing in nervous circles in the corridor outside the hospital wing.

"We heard Miss Granger had been admitted to the hospital wing and came to see her. She left my office in quite a state earlier" the voice of Albus Dumbledore filled the silent corridor.

Severus turned and saw an impassive Dumbledore and a nervous looking Potter. They had said something, done something that had resulted in Hermione being in her current state.

"What did you do to her?" He whispered at them.

"Now Severus, you have to understand-" Dumbledore began.

Snape roared, actually roared. Harry jumped out of skin, he had never heard something so completely animalistic coming from a human.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO HER?" Severus yelled at the pair.

Harry wanted to run, even Dumbledore looked slightly wary of Severus' current state.

Suddenly, Madame Pompfrey came out of the hospital wing looking extremely pissed off.

"Would you mind keeping your voices down, this is a place for healing" she snapped at them.

She then composed herself and her expression became more troubled. She looked at the headmaster.

"Albus, we have a problem. It appears Miss Granger has suffered some trauma that only sexual assault can cause. I fear the damage is so severe that it may have rendered her infertile. The poor girl" Poppy informed the headmaster as she began to cry for the student.

Harry looked at Dumbledore who was looking at the floor in shame. He knew in that moment, that Hermione had been telling the truth the whole time and he felt ashamed of himself and angry that he had ignored his friend instead of helping her. Harry then looked at Severus who was glaring at Albus and then turned his glare on Harry himself.

Harry then noticed the troubled look that crossed the potion masters face and Harry would swear, for the rest of his life, that he saw Severus' eyes well up with tears and fall down the professors face.

With a deep breath Severus walked back to the door of the infirmary and then paused before he went in. He turned and waited until he had the attention of both the boy and the headmaster. When the headmaster and the boy were looking at him, he fought the urge to hex then both there and then.

"You will both leave her alone" he said darkly and with the promise of death if they didn't obey.