Please go follow/add my Facebook page, LiterarianRose FanFic. It means a lot to me. Thank you Starryar for helping me perfect the letter.

I want to acknowledge that I know this story is INCREDIBLY rough for a lot of us. It is rough for me to revisit and write. With that said, I also think it is important for survivors to have a voice, and this is how I am using mine. By giving survivors a fictional story with a strong female who experiences bad things that ends well.

I hesitate to say HEA because the aftermath of rape is lifelong. Hermione DOES heal, though. Those are the kind of stories that I need when they involve rape, so that is the kind of story I am writing.

Please jump in my DMs on here or Facebook if this triggers you and you need someone to talk to. In the USA, RAINN is the network that has a free helpline. In the UK, RASASC is the national network with a free helpline.

May we all find freedom from our abusers and healing on the path of life.

Narcissa heard Theodore yelling and was out of bed in a flash. She grabbed her night robe and apparated to Draco's personal library. While it would have only been a bit slower to have walked there, she needed to know what the letter said as soon as possible. She had spent the day in a blind panic in regards to Hermione Granger. Neither of the boys knew that she had went out to shadow the girl in her animagus form. In fact, she wasn't sure either of them even knew she was an animagus. She was registered, of course, but she so seldomly had cause for changing that she didn't spread the news far and wide. Purebloods were private by nature, and she enjoyed having this secret from everyone in the world.

Narcissa's stomach churned as she sat down on one of the ornate chairs that Draco had chosen for his rooms. She was truly fond of the rich colors her son had such a proclivity for. Her mind could not be distracted from her thoughts, though. Within the hour of Hermione's ill-fated research night, the bruises had been apparent around her neck and were starting to show on the girl's face. In her fox form, Narcissa could smell the men on Hermione, and her heart broke for the girl that Dolohov had tortured. As she sat there, remembering the look of defeat on Hermione's face, she could not wait any longer for her son and Theodore to enter the library.

"Draco! Theodore! Please get in here this instant." Narcissa's voice was steady and clip, showing no signs of the anxiety rushing through her body. "If you honestly think I didn't hear Feroce or you, Theodore, you are sorely mistaken. I insist that you get in here, so that we may all make a plan to help Miss Granger." Narcissa paused as the door to Draco's library opened and she saw her son, disheveled hair and all, and Theodore, who had some slightly bleeding cuts on his face and arms. "I assume that is what all this ruckus is about, after all." With a flick of her wrist, the sconces were lit. "Come sit down so we can read this letter."

Draco humphed in annoyance. He was never one to take orders well, and upon waking only shortly after going to bed, Draco was similar to an insulted Hippogriff. Narcissa stayed seated and held out her hand. Theodore placed it in her hand.

"Feroce brought it here, but…" Theo started to state. Narcissa took one look at the front of the envelope and gasped.

"Your owl denied a directive for the letter! Theodore! You must really train your owl better than this. Feroce should know better!"

"Mother, this is not the time for such antics." Draco slumped down onto the couch. He was worried sick about Granger, but if he let his body tighten in anxiety for one more minute, he was scared that he was going to break a bone. "Feroce did what he thought best, which is to bring it to his master. If he denied a directive, he did so because of the situation he was in all day. You do know that Theo here sent Feroce to watch over Hermione all day, don't you?"

Narcissa tried her best not to glower at her son. She knew he was right regarding Feroce, but her upbringing did not allow her such graces. Her father would have killed the bird on principle.

"Yes, yes. I'm well aware of where Feroce was all day." Narcissa looked down at the letter and took a breath to steady her voice. "Let us see how Miss Granger is faring, shall we?"

With that, she sliced upon the envelope and pulled out the letter inside.

"Dear Harry,

We hope this letter finds you in good health and that you are having as good a summer as possible. We were wondering if you and Hermione have had a falling out, as we have noticed that she is refusing Hedwig and Erroll?

Draco! I really must insist that you not roll your eyes at the proper etiquette of asking for help. The letter continues…

If not, perhaps you could help us—the Hermione that returned at the end of the year appears to be very different than she usually is. She is always a bit run down after the year's end due to her academic drive, but she is usually recovered by now. This year, something is different. Not only is she refusing owls, she is only speaking to us to refuse food. She must be keeping up with her fluids though, as she still remains conscious and capable of movement, but she has lost so much weight in such a short period of time."

Narcissa's voice faded off in an attempt to control a sob. She had seen the girl at the station. She should have taken her then and paid the price later. It was a testament to Hermione's strength that she was still breathing, let alone functioning on some basic level. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to find Theodore standing beside her with tears in his eyes. She hadn't seen the boy cry since he had lost his mother, and it pulled at her heartstrings to see him so emotional again.

"Mother…" Her eyes moved to Draco and saw that he had sat up and buried his head in his hands, his fingers threaded through his hair and twisting. "Continue… please."

Narcissa took a steadying breath and fortified herself for the rest of the letter. If this had been written this evening, it would mention the bruising that Hermione was currently sporting. She did not want to read her parent's description of the abuse, and she was sure that neither Draco nor Theodore wanted to hear more about her abuse. She still had not worked up the nerve to ask for any details that they might have gleaned on the train.

"We hope that you can help us understand or give us direction in how to help her. Perhaps she has contracted a magical illness? We have been reluctant to bring her to our regular doctor if this happens to be the case. They would just force her into a program."

Narcissa took another deep breath as a plan started to form in her head.

"If you have not had a falling out, we think it would do much good for Hermione to see a friend, unless you think it best to send for a professor?

We are very worried for our daughter.

With love and great concern,

Dr. Wendell and Monica Granger"

The room fell into silence after Narcissa read the closing. Theodore dropped his hand to the back of Narcissa's chair, which he had taken to standing behind so that he could read over her shoulder. He was all but frozen. Narcissa slowly placed the letter into her lap and raised her head to look at her son, who was now pacing around the room.

"Draco… my dear, we can…" before Narcissa could finish, the sound a vase shattering against a wall echoed through the room.

"Oh, yes, Mother. Tell me. What can we possibly do!? She is refusing food!" Draco went to pick up a small statue of a dragon, but it was whisked out of his reach by his mother's nonverbal spell. He turned instead and tried to send his fist through his wall. "How in the bloody hell are we supposed to help her."

"Draco! If you would stop destroying your rooms, I would tell you." Narcissa snapped her fingers and a small elf appeared at her side, "Tilly, we are in need of tea, you know how we each take ours, and parchment and ink. Do see if you can get that owl of Theodore's to come inside. We are in need of his services as well."

Theo and Draco looked at each other. Theo's eyes were wet with unshed tears, and Draco looked as if he had the conviction to cast the killing curse for the first time in his life.

"Mrs. Malfoy, how we are going to help her? They are expecting help from Potter or The Weasleys, not us. She won't accept our help."

"Don't be so quick to assume things, Theodore. But I need both of you to sit down before I tell you my plan. And Theodore, I do hope that you are up to writing a letter tonight."

The Dr. Grangers had decided to not move their daughter from the couch. They lifted her head and gently tucked a pillow under it before tucking an afghan tightly around her small body. After a moment of hesitation, Mrs. Granger tucked another blanket around her daughter. They then retired to their bedroom, hoping that they would hear from Harry soon.

As it was, they were awoken at four in the morning to rough tapping upon their bedroom window. The first thought to flash through both of their heads was that they were getting robbed, but then, as the fog of sleep cleared from their heads, they realized that an owl was tapping viscously at their window.

"Wendell! It has to be from Harry!" Mrs. Granger started pushing her husband out of the bed. "Hurry up!"

"I'm going, I'm going, Mon." Mr. Granger tossed the blankets off his legs and walked to the window, pulling the curtains apart and going to open the window. "Huh, I wonder why he didn't use Hedwig?"

"Wendell, now is not the time to wonder about his choice of owl." Mrs. Granger had also gotten out of bed and come to stand beside her husband. "What does the letter say?"

"If you would give me a second to open the letter, I could tell you."

Mrs. Granger huffed and tore the letter from his hand before marching over to their light switch.

"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Granger,

Unfortunately, I must keep this short as this owl seems intent on a speedy reply, and Hedwig does not much appreciate her territory being taken up by another owl.

I have no idea what is going on with Hermione, but your letter concerns me. I'll send a letter to McGonagall, I wouldn't be surprised if her, the school nurse, or another medi-witch show up within a few days. Hermione could probably solve the problem in an hour if she felt well, but since she doesn't…

Alright, this owl is getting really snipy about the length of time this taking.

Expect help soon,

Harry Potter"

"Wendell…" Mrs. Granger whispered into the air of their room. "Help is coming. Our little girl is going to get help."

Mr. Granger pulled his wife into his chest and kissed her head.

"Hopefully, Harry is right, and help comes tomorrow."

Both of them were startled when they heard the owl start tapping on their bedroom door.

"It seems our Hermione has a guardian, now." Mr. Granger whispered with a chuckle as he went to open the door. As soon as he did, Feroce flew out of it in search of Hermione.

"Let's go to sleep, Mon. Help will be here tomorrow."

I know this is a bit shorter than some of the other chapters, but I need the next few scenes to be together. It just makes more sense for them to be in the next chapter.

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