Chapter 4: More than Rape.

During the last few weeks of the holidays, Harry would keep in touch with Hermione by writing to her or visiting her, sometimes with Ron. They went shopping, or to the Leaky Cauldron or just have a friendly Wizard's duel. Ron, like Mrs Weasley, had taken a liking to Varee very much.

"If you ever need a babysitter, call me! I'll do it for 5 Knut's!" Ron said while teasing the baby with a stuffed dragon.

Hermione just laughed. She had never seen Ron so caring to another person in her life. It had been quite amusing to watch. Harry watched Hermione a lot. The cuts and bruises he had seen before disappeared and she seemed to heal now. 'Must have just had a little accident.' He thought. Then he sighed a little as he watched Hermione laugh. 'She is so beautiful.' He thought. He suddenly realised what he thought. 'You're falling for her.' Harry's inner voice teased. 'Shut up.' Thought as he scolded himself for hearing these inner voices again. Every Wizard and Witch had one, and they were all either very helpful or very annoying.

As weeks went by, the holiday's ended and it was time to go to work again. Something Hermione was fearing. She woke up early and got dressed for work. She spent most of her time feeding Varee and Crookshanks, bathing Varee and preparing her lunch for when she would apparate back home. When she stepped out of the house, she placed some flowers on her mother's grave and apparated to her work, or torture as she thought of it.

Hermione appeared at her small desk at the Daily Prophet office. She picked up her assignments for the day and started to do her research for her articles. After re-reading her article, she left it for Cho to check up. She knew Cho would hate it and tell her to re-write it. Hermione would mentally tell her to get a life. During the lunch break, she apparated back home to eat her lunch and check up on Varee. She changed Varee and headed back to work. When she reached her desk, Cho was there, tapping her foot.

"Where have YOU been?" Cho snarled.

"Just at the toilet Miss Chang." Hermione replied.

"Well, funny how you seemed to disappear inside a cubicle, isn't it?" she said pleasantly. 'Busted.' Hermione thought.

"Well…I…err…I didn't disappear." Hermione stuttered. 'When in doubt, deny it.' She remembered Fred and George tell her.

"Yeah…well, you're just lucky that there aren't any other article writers as damn good as you. Otherwise you'd be fired before you could say 'Harry'." Cho glared at her.

"But that doesn't get you off the hook for leaving. You'll have to work overtime to make up for it." Cho said and left.

Hermione stood there slightly confused. Cho had actually liked her article? She'd shown it in a strange way but Hermione was glad she wouldn't have to re-write another article. But hated that she'd have to work overtime. That meant Malfoy would be able to…

Hermione shook the thought away. She didn't want to think about it. She sat down at her desk and started on her afternoon's work. After what seemed like minutes, work ended for all the other employees. Hermione still worked on, knowing she wouldn't be able to escape the torture ahead. She tried to work for a long time. Malfoy usually appeared when she was about to leave. After writing the last section of her article, Hermione put her quill away with a shaky hand. It was then she heard his footsteps come from behind her. He put his hands on her shoulder and turned her around, kissing her hard on the lips. He then, basically dragged Hermione into his separate office. After throwing her across the room, he locked then door and stepped up towards her. He picked her up and started to kiss and bite her neck while he unravelled her beautiful, long, curly brown hair. Hermione stayed silent. Trying not to let out her whimper, but failing miserably. Her whimper was then followed by a hard hit to her face.

"You know I don't like that." He spat and started to undo the buttons to her robes.

Hermione looked away from his face as he did so. Her chest was now seen and her hands started to shake as he started to work on her bare flesh. Sensing the shaking he pinned her down hard.

"How many times must I tell you Herms, I don't like that." Malfoy stated evilly and started to beat her. Hermione cried out in pain, and with each time she reacted to a hit Malfoy hit her harder. Blue bruises started to form everywhere on her. Malfoy then lifted her up and slammed her against a wall. By this time, Hermione was surprised she had managed to stay conscious. Hermione started to shiver, as she knew what would happen next. She braced herself for the even greater pain that would soon befall her. A few seconds later, it came. She yelled in pain as she felt Malfoy's manhood inside of her. He then started to thrust. Slowly at first but then faster. His nails dug into her, leaving long traces of red scratches on her back. He moaned in delight and smiled. Hermione cried tears of pain and she felt her blood drain out of her. After what seemed like an eternity, she felt Malfoy pull away from her. Hermione collapsed on the floor, feeling barely alive. Her breathing was raspy and she curled up into a little ball. Malfoy used a spell to clean up his robes that had been turned red with Hermione's blood. He then snickered and kicked her in the side. Hermione fell over and lay on the floor.

"That's for dirtying my robe with your foul blood." He said.

He then stomped on her stomach.

"That's for being a mudblood." He laughed a cruel laugh.

He bent down and lifted her up so that she was just standing. He then punched her hard on the face.

"And that's for loving Harry!" he spat at her and then dropped her limp form on the floor.

Malfoy stalked away and left the door open for her. Hermione lay bruised, beaten and used. Her eyes, which were now a deep shade of blue leaked with tears.

"Harry." She whispered hoarsely and passed out.

***

Harry shivered a little. For the past few minutes he seemed silent and worried. Ron noticed this and looked up from his game of chess with Ginny.

"What's wrong Harry?" Ron asked. He didn't receive a reply from the boy who sat on the couch and stared at the fire.

"Harry?" Ron asked again.

"He's spaced out again. Left for his own world." Ginny commented looking at him.

"Yeah." Ron said and returned to his game of chess. He grinned as he made the next move.

"Checkmate." He muttered and left.

"WHAT! I was winning! You must've cheated." Ginny moaned like she use to when she was a child and lost a game.

"I didn't. I'm a supreme master of this game." Ron said striking a pose. Ginny threw a pillow at him.

Harry suddenly stood up.

"I'm going out for a second." Harry told them and left. He was completely ignored as the two Weasley's were caught up in their own pillow fight.

Harry stepped out into the cold January night. It was dark and snow still lingered. He walked away from his apartment and to the park that was just 10 minutes from his apartment he stayed in with Ron when they weren't working or on holiday.

When he had been inside, he had a disturbing vision of Hermione. She looked half-dead. She was bleeding and there were bruises and scratches on her back and arms. What disturbed him most was the look on her face. She looked so weak and helpless. Her eyes looked empty and lifeless. He had heard her whisper his name, she sounded so weak. He shivered. It looked so life like. He froze on the spot as he heard his name again. It sounded just the way Hermione had said in his vision.

"Hermione?" Harry said. No response. Harry feared the worst and walked into an alley. He transfigured to his animagus form; a hawk. He soared into the air and flew in the direction of Hermione's house. In less than 15 minutes, he had arrived. He returned to his true form and knocked hard on the door calling Hermione's name.

"HERMIONE! OPEN THE DOOR!" he yelled. He saw Crookshanks at the window. The look on his face told Harry that Hermione was not at home.

Harry turned around and thought of places Hermione could be. He visited the oak tree by the lake where her mother had been buried. There was no sign of her there. He flew to the Leaky Cauldron and asked if Hermione had came by. Everyone in the pub shook his or her head. Harry flew to Hogsmeade and searched at The Three Broomsticks, Zonko's, Honeydukes, the owl post office and even by the Shrieking Shack. No Hermione. 'Where could she be?' Harry thought. His frantic search for her was failing. He then thought of where she worked. 'The Daily Prophet.' Harry thought. He turned into a hawk and flew high into the sky. He flew all the way into the hubbub of the London streets. He had a vague idea to where The Daily Prophet Office was. He flew by the Leaky Cauldron and noticed an open area vibrating some magic off it. He headed towards that direction. He turned back to his human form and looked through the windows. It was dark inside. He walked to the door and thought it was strange to see it still unlocked. He walked in and muttered 'Lumos.' The tip of his wand lighted and Harry walked down many halls. They winded in different directions until he finally came into a wide hall with a lot of desks. Each desk had a name engraved on it. Harry read the names, looking for Hermione's. Hannah Abbot, Judith Bains, Cho Chang…they were all in alphabetical order. Harry walked up a few more desk rows until her came to the G section. Gamble, George, Granger. Harry looked at her desk and saw she wasn't there. Her desk was empty, except for a few pieces of old parchment. Harry looked around for any other doors. There were three in total. The first two he checked were storage cupboards. When he opened the third door, he reached a small hallway. There was door at the other side with a plaque on it. It read 'Editor.' Harry opened the door. He switched on the lamps and nearly screamed. Hermione lay lifeless to the corner of the room. Harry ran over to her. She was cold and her robes had been ripped.

"Holy Shit!" he remarked as he saw all the wounds all over her body. He checked her pulse. It was feeble, but it was still there. Her breathing was raspy and irregular. She had bruised eyes, cuts on her lips and sore spots on her neck. Harry scooped the girl up. She felt so light and cold. Harry rushed out and looked for the nearest fireplace. He spotted one to the side of the room and brought out some Floo Powder. The flames burst to life and he jumped into them, travelling to Hermione's home.

Harry reached Hermione's living room. He ran upstairs holding her gently but tight. He found a large bed and placed her on it. H e conjured different bowls filled with medicated water for her wounds. He was glad Madam Pomfrey had crammed medical knowledge into him when he was in sick at Hogwarts. Harry conjured some cotton balls and dipped them into the water. He gently wiped he wounds. He cast a spell so that the cotton would work themselves while he looked at her other wounds. He cleaned bleeding guts and placed packets of peas over some swellings and bruises. After Hermione was cleaned up, he dressed her carefully with some nightgowns he found in her wardrobe. He placed the covers over her and she slept silently.

Harry went downstairs and looked into the flames. He then threw some more dust on to it and he could see the living room he shared with Ron. Ron had fallen asleep on the couch.

"Ron! Wake up!" Harry shouted. Ron kept sleeping.

"RON!" Harry yelled. Ron stirred but remained sleeping.

"WAKE UP YOU LAZY FAT ASS!" Harry bawled out. Ron awoke then and peered at the flames groggily.

"Harry? What's up?" Ron asked rubbing his eyes and yawning.

"A lot. Now, go to your mum's house and ask her to come to Hermione's right away." Harry ordered.

"Ok…but why?" Ron asked curiously.

"Just do it!" Harry said irritably," And tell her to bring first aid supplies." Harry said and turned away. Leaving Ron confused.

Harry ran back upstairs. Hermione was looking pale and she sweated a lot. Harry brushed some strands of her long hair away.

"Everything will be ok Herms." Harry comforted. He then heard crying from another room. He followed the sound, and he found Varee in her cot. Harry picked the child up and rocked her gently. Varee held on tightly to him and sniffled. Harry sighed and walked over back to Hermione's room carrying the child. 'Did she leave Varee here all by herself?" Harry thought. He then heard the worried purr on a cat. Crookshanks sat on the end of the bed looking at Hermione with sad eyes.

"She'll be alright. Have faith in her." Harry said to the cat.

A moment later, Harry heard the Weasley's arriving. He looked outside. Ron looked frantic as Mrs Weasley took charge of everything. Mr Weasley looked exhausted. Harry opened the door and let them all in.

"Can you explain what's going on now?" Ron asked looking a little annoyed.

"Follow me," was all Harry had said.

All three red heads followed Harry into Hermione's room. They all gasped at the sight of the frail girl. She was pale, sweaty and her breathing was irregular.

"Hermione…Harry, what happened?" Mrs Weasley asked and ran over to the girl in the bed.

"She was…raped and assaulted." Harry said quietly. All the Wealsey's gasped in shock.

"Who's the bastard! I'll kill him!" Ron yelled in rage and slammed his fist into the wall.

"I don't know. I found her lying, nearly half dead." Harry said looking sadly at the girl in the bed.

Why hadn't I seen it before? Those scratches and bruises on her arms. The way she winced everytime she moved her back in Hogsmeade? Harry couldn't think of it. Tears of rage appeared in his eyes and he held Varee closer to him.

"Alright. She seems to have lost a lot of blood. We need to get that blood back into her. She'll need bed rest." Mrs Weasley said.

She conjured up medical devices and a blood pack was set up. It linked into Hermione's arm. The blood that pumped into her was gradually making her lose her pale appearance. She was starting to look more alive.

"Maybe one of us should stay here with Hermione. To check up on her. I'll send an owl to the Daily Prophet telling them she can't go to work." Mr Weasley said.

"I'll stay with Hermione. And Ron, maybe you could look after Varee." Harry suggested. Ron agreed. He was good with Varee and he wanted to help out. Harry handed him Varee who was falling asleep in Ron's arms. The Weasley's would leave soon and Ron would send Harry some clothes for him to wear while staying with Hermione. Mrs Weasley gave Harry advice on what to do if anything should happen and to immediately tell her of any improvement.

"Harry, Hermione may be have some mental and social problems when she wakes up. Have patience in her," Mrs Weasley told Harry before leaving.

Harry waved as the all left and closed the door. He then walked back into Hermione's room and looked sadly at her figured. Tears started to form but he wiped them away. How could this happen? He bent down beside her and held her hand gently. She was so pale and fragile looking.

"Please live Hermione. You can't leave me." Harry whispered.