Welcome back to the story. This chapter was wretched to write. I didn't want to write it, but I decided Madame Pomfrey was important to my story, so this had to be included. As of right now, she's not a main character, but rather a character that knows the truth and observes. She notices Hermione's PTSD idiosyncrasies.
Trigger Warnings for sexual assault flashbacks and nightmares.
I recognize that the order Pomfrey treats Hermione seems weird. But I've gone through a lot of different therapies, and sometimes, my therapists let me experience my flashbacks and worst fears so that I can learn how to handle them. Seeing me in these states also helps my therapist.
Please follow/join my Facebook group LiterarianRose FanFic. It would mean the world to me.
With the curtain drawn tightly around Hermione's bed in the Hospital Wing, Madame Pomfrey cast a strong muffliato around it. Each bed of the wing had wards to protect the interest of whatever student or faculty that had the misfortune of falling into one of these beds, but knowing the nosiness of Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, Madame Pomfrey just wanted to be sure that Hermione's privacy was ensured, although she did have doubts that Mr. Potter or Mr. Weasley would be able to break down the wards without Ms. Granger's help.
With the muffliato cast, Madame Pomfrey was able to listen to Hermione's wild screams, and they instantly filled her with dread. She had heard screams like this when she was first starting as a medi-witch during Voldemort's first reign of terror. Poppy could not deny the truth staring her in the face: Hermione Granger had been raped.
The fact that Ms. Granger had been raped filled Poppy with so much dispair, she nearly collapsed to the ground in tears. As it was, Poppy's hands were shaking and she froze in her actions. Ms. Granger was so strong. The faculty talked about her strength and her power as a witch just as much as they talked about the upcoming war or Albus talked about socks. The faculty would coddle her when they saw Hermione as the shadow of her former self that she was bound to become.
Hermione's wails, though they were the original culprit of Poppy's reverie, tore Poppy from her thoughts. While casting for Hermione's vitals, Poppy listened intently for any hints on who hurt her charge. Hermione's most common statements were "I swear I'll be good" and "thank you for the pain." Poppy was growing nauseous with what those words implied. She was aware that there were men with certain... proclivities, and she was also aware that some people saw no problem with not getting consent and believing that it was implied. Hermione's screams told her story of trauma simply because they were screams. The man who had hurt Hermione had done so with the knowledge that Hermione was not consenting and decided to get off on hurting her. If Poppy ever learned who had dared harm the precious girl in front of her, the dragons protecting their eggs during the Tri-Wizard Tournament would look gentle in comparison.
Only once Hermione's screams turned to whimpers/screams of pain and no more intelligible words passed the girl's lips did Poppy slip a tranquility draught potion into Hermione's mouth and encourage her to swallow by massaging her throat while whispering "swallow this, dear." Poppy winced when Hermione's eyes flew open in fearful remembrance, flinched, and then swallowed. Hermione kept swallowing and swallowing. Her mouth was drying quickly from her intent to swallow until Poppy grabbed Hermione's hand, squeezed, and said that it was okay and she could rest. As soon as Hermione was done swallowing, she went back to whimpering and trying to make herself smaller. The potion would take effect soon enough, and then Poppy would be able to see what was happening and had happened to the girl's body.
Only a short while after the potion was in Hermione's system did Hermione stop screaming and settle, laying her head back on the pillow and staring but not seeing the ceiling.
"Ms. Granger." Poppy was ultimately hoping for a response, but she may have intentionally given Hermione a larger dose than was necessary simply because she didn't want Hermione to have to relive the trauma by seeing the diagnosis. "Ms. Granger, I am going to run diagnostics on you." As she was speaking, Poppy moved down the bed to stand beside Hermione's feet. "I'm going to start at your feet and work my way up. You will be healed in no time." At least physically, Poppy couldn't help but to think.
The first cast did not bring back too harsh of results. Hermione had bruises on her ankle that showed that she had obviously been restrained. Poppy could also tell that there had been rudimentary healing done to the bruises already, which was sickening since the bruises were still fairly bad. Poppy made short work of these bruises, and then sent diagnostic spells through both of her legs, which showed bruises on both of Hermione's knees. This had Poppy choking back a sob yet again. She hoped that these bruises were from kneeling too long, but her medical training told her that Hermione had been slammed down to her knees quite forcefully. Poppy was honestly surprised that the diagnostic test came back without broken kneecaps the bruising was so bad.
Poppy had to steal herself. The most difficult diagnostic spells to cast were those on the reproductive and genital areas. Spellwork wise, they were still simple, but casting them required a steel heart or the results would immediately be lost. Poppy knew that if the results were too damaging to her own psyche or heart, her magic would hide the results from her. This was to help healers not get distracted and be able to treat other injuries before returning to the, well, the injuries that caused people to loose their faith in others. Poppy knew her heart was too large for her own good and that was why she had chosen the path she had with healing. Looking up at Hermione's dosed face was enough, though. Poppy had to find out the extent of the damage, simply so she could heal Hermione and she would never have to dose the girl like this again.
With a deep breath in, Poppy cast the spell and instantly steeled herself for the results. All of the preparation in the world, however, would not have been enough. As Poppy saw the results beginning to flicker in the air, a sign that her magic believed her too weak to know the truth, Poppy couldn't help her outburst at her own magic, telling it in no uncertain terms that if Hermione could live it, she could know what it was.
Poppy couldn't help to let out a strangled sob when the results glowed brightly over Hermione. How could Hermione withstand all that it said she went through? Poppy had never seen such a horrendous list for one area of the body, especially a list that was mostly red, showing that the severity of the damage was quite extreme.
Chemical burns to the anal canal, vulva, and vagina.
Tearing of the anus and vagina.
Internal bruising of the anal canal and vagina.
Bruising of the clitoris.
Bleeding welts of the clitoris and vulva.
Poppy could barely stand to see the diagnosis above Hermione. Without any hesitation, Poppy dismissed that diagnosis and cast one on the rest of Hermione's body. Poppy was thankful that only one of this list was red, but her heart hurt seeing "bleeding cuts to both nipples" above Hermione. The majority of the diagnosis Poppy could tell was from a whipping as they all referenced welts and bruising. The other two were muscle fatigue of the jaw and arms.
Poppy sighed. This would be a long night of healing. She was suddenly very thankful that the year had been relatively painless in the case of injuries. The only damage control she had to would be for Murtlap since that hag of a DADA professor seemed to believe I corporal punishment. Otherwise, she had all of the potions that she could need for Hermione. She took one look at the dazed form of Hermione and bustled out from behind the curtain to retrieve what she would need, focused on doing what she could for Hermione's body.
"Madame Pomfrey! How is she?!"
"Will she be okay?"
"What's wrong?
Poppy swallowed stiffly. It was not her place to tell anyone what Hermione had gone through. "Mr. Potter. Mr. Weasley. I understand that you are concernes for Ms. Granger, but the best thing for her would be if you simply returned to your day and studied." Harry and Ron immediately started to protest, but Poppy help up a hand. "She has simply overworked herself. It seems that your misadventure made her believe that she will never be prepared to sit her OWLs. You know how she can be."
Harry and Ron nodded at her and at each other. That was their Hermione.
"Can we see her?" Ron almost begged out, but before he could finish, Poppy was giving a resounding no and ushering both of them out of the infirmary.
"She will be released tomorrow. Do not bring this meltdown up to her. She needs to re-enter her routine immediately upon release. Do you understand?"
Harry and Ron both murmured a "yes ma'am" while also looking rather put out.
"Good. You would probably ease her mind greatly if you took it upon yourselves to study for your exams. That way, she will be able to focus on herself and not you two. Now, Shoo!" The boys reluctantly wandered off grumbling about how even in a fit, Hermione somehow found a way to get them to study. Once the boys passed the threshold, the doors to the Hospital Wing closed tightly and Poppy was instantly off to gather supplies and treat her charge, doing her best to feel smug that the boys listened to her false diagnosis and not focus on the defeat coursing through her veins.
Poppy awakened with a start, shoved her feet into her slippers, and was out of her bed chambers before the first scream had really finished. Hermione had apparently had a nightmare or she had awakened and not recognized her surroundings. As Poppy rushed through the curtain, she realized it was most likely a coupling of both. What Poppy saw was horrible to watch and caused her stomach contents to threaten a reappearance.
Hermione's eyes were wide open and flooded with tears, and her fingers were coated in blood. Poppy stared at Hermione's hands. How on Earth did the girl manage to mangle her hands while asleep in the Hospital Wing? As soon as the question finished in her mind, Poppy's attention was drawn to the apex of Hermione's thighs. There were gashes on the inside of Hermione's thighs that were weeping, and Poppy instantly knew that Hermione had tried to "clean the trauma" off of herself while in the midst of a psychotic break. Poppy knew she needed to move, but she needed to calm her stomach. Within a matter of seconds of recognizing what was happening, Poppy was on the move.
"Hush, girl. Hush." Poppy started to raise her arms but hesitated before wrapping Hermione in her arms against her chest. "You're alright. I've got you." Poppy started rocking Hermione back and forth, trying to calm both her own and her charge's nerves. Hermione, though, would not be consoled.
"Whyyyy?!?!?" Hermione continued to wail over and over again. She tried to reach up to pull her hair, but Poppy intervened and wrapped her hands tightly in Hermione's.
"You're okay. I got you. You're in the hospital wing." Poppy was continuously cooing in Hermione's ear. Suddenly, Hermione came to realize where she was and her shaking and crying instantly stopped. She sheepishly looked up at Poppy, apparently not noticing her blood that was... everywhere.
"Madame... Madame Pomfrey. How... How did I get here?" Poppy knew in that instant that she couldn't bring up Hermione's injuries or trauma. Hermione would talk about it when she was ready to someone she trusted. After all, she didn't even remember the flashback that had brought her to the Hospital Wing or notice her blood-coated hands and bleeding thighs.
"Oh, dear. Mr. Weasley found you staring blankly at a book and shaking. When he tried to get you to move..." Poppy did not like lying to her charges, but this was a must. Hermione's mind would find it's path to healing in its own time. "well... you just started screaming. Neither him nor Mr. Potter could get you to calm down. So they brought you here, to me."
Hermione stared up at her. Had she honestly lost it because she was studying? No. She knew this was related to Dolohov and Crabbe Sr.
"Oh. Well... that sounds like me. I just want to get the best marks I can."
Poppy sighed. She wanted to be there for Hermione to talk to, for Hermione to realize it was safe to be a rape victim; there was no stigma. She would not force the issue though.
"Yes, dear. I told the boys that you just needed to rest. I would discharge you after you got a good night's sleep." Poppy brushed Hermione's hair out of her face. Poppy was debating casting a silent scourgify as to not retraumatize Hermione even more. "Speaking of which, I think it is time you go back to bed. I know you will want to get a start on those books as soon as you wake. We just have to take care of a little mess first."
Hermione smiled at the medi-witch and chuckled but stopped when she finally looked down at her hands. Screams of horror were instantly breaking their way through Hermione's throat. Madame Pomfrey would know for sure.
"Ms. Granger, please. I know. I know. Just let me clean you up." Poppy was gushing, but Hermione couldn't hear her. Madame Pomfrey would tell. Everyone would know. Hermione had to say something now before it was too late.
"Madame Pomfrey! Please, please, please," Hermione was reaching for the medi-witch's hand without a care in the world for the blood on them. "Don't tell. Please. I can't bare for people to know."
Poppy just patted Hermione's hand. She needed to make a decision and make a decision now. Hermione was obviously terrified at the prospect of anyone knowing, and she feared that letting on to Hermione that she knew she was raped would deter Hermione's mental focus. Hermione would never forgive herself for excelling in her grades, and that would just magnify the trauma. With that thought, Poppy made her decision.
"Tell who what dear? It simply looks that you have a rather heavy start to your monthlies. It is nothing to be embarrassed about. You must have just been laying just right that your hands got all messy."
Hermione blanched. Couldn't Madame Pomfrey tell the difference? I mean, honestly. What kind of healer did that make her? Oh well, she would go along with it.
"Oh... Oh, well yes." Hermione stammered out.
Madame Pomfrey patted Hermione's hand one last time before casting a scourgify and a silent episky.
"See? Right as rain, my dear."
Hermione nodded. She was blessedly clean.
"I'll see you in the morning, dear. I'll give you a very small dose of tranquility draught when you wake just to keep you from getting to worked up. Do come back if your nerves are getting to frayed... or if you... oh nevermind. Just know I'm always here for you."
Hermione relaxed when Madame Pomfrey stopped rambling. It almost sounded like the medi-witch knew her secret, but that couldn't be, could it? Madame Pomfrey would have brought it up. She would have talked to Hermione, made sure she was okay. She simply couldn't know. That's the only reason that Madame Pomfrey wouldn't talk to her about what happened with Dolohov and Crabbe Sr.
"Thank you, Madame Pomfrey. I will. Goodnight."
With that, Hermione laid back on her side and promptly fell asleep. Poppy watched from the very edge of little curtained room. Hermione might realize that she knew when she looked back on tonihhg, and maybe the girl would come to her. It didn't matter, though. However, the Tranquility Draught might make her memories fuzzy. Poppy knew what had happened, and she would be watching the girl and her interactions to make sure that she was okay.
Poppy slowly closed the curtain and walked back to her bed chamber. She would lay in bed, but she knew if she fell back asleep, the sleep would be fretful and full of nightmares of what truly happened to the Gryffindor princess. Poppy thought she had stopped crying over Hermione's trauma, but as soon as her bed chamber door closed tight, she threw herself onto the edge of her bed, buried her head in her arms, and sobbed herself to sleep.
Well, I'm thankful that this chapter is over. This might get edited and changed eventually, but for now, this is what I have produced. Leave a review down below to let me know how you are feeling about the story so far. Draco and Hermione have an actual conversation next chapter! He will truly start to realize that something is wrong with her, she isn't the girl he's always wanted but couldn't have. Will that make him stop wanting her? Heck no! He wants to fix her.