TITLE: A fear of home

AUTHOR: ARen'T I a ToRtureD SoUL

RATING: Strong R

EMAIL: Ryan_Omira@mail.com

CATEGORY/FANDOM: Harry Potter

CHARACTERS: Hermione, Snape, mentions many others.

SUMMARY: What if home was where the fear was? Where would you go then?

AUTHOR'S NOTES: There is violence in this story, and there maybe a point where non- con is involved. If anyone reads the author's notes, please put the word "pain" in the review. Just remember that you have been warned.

Hermione stood there, with nothing to say, so she lied.

"It's okay now, he is getting help for it, I will be fine. "

With that, Hermione nonetheless ran from the dungeons before Snape could say anything. Snape's face immediately changed from that of sympathy to anger. He was angrier with himself for being nice to the little mudblood; he knew better. He put his anecdote away, and retired to his quarters. As he walked, he chastised himself for being so careless. Him—being nice, caring even? It was preposterous. He undressed quickly and sat atop his blankets. He sighed heavily and closed his eyes. If she wanted to be beaten let her, he thought. And quickly fell to sleep.

Hermione was afraid that Professor Snape would say something to Dumbledore. She wondered why he even cared. She turned in her bed most of the night. And she groggily got up the next morning. The halls were busy. Most people were packing for Christmas break, but she was reluctant to. She looked at the note her mother had sent her, and finally, she opened it. It read:

Dear Hermione,

I fear that if you return, something bad will happen. I have to leave to visit your grandmother, and I cannot take you. I do not want to leave you alone with that man, that would make me just as bad as he is. I want you to come home, since I will be coming back during the middle of your break. I am leaving the decision to you, though I miss you greatly.

With all my heart,

Mother

Hermione crumbled up the letter and returned to her room. She would be going home for Christmas.

^^^Two weeks later ^^^

Hermione stood at the doorstep of her house, looking on as her father searched for his key. She was suspicious of his behavior, since he was being so nice lately, but she unenthusiastically followed him into the house. She went directly to her room, and unpacked her things. She put her wand in her closet, and went downstairs. Her father had informed her that she would be cooking the meals until her mother returned, so she began preparing for dinner.

She sat at the table with her mediocre plate of mashed potatoes, corn and meatloaf, and waited for her father's opinion. He ate his food very quickly, and went upstairs. Hermione could care less. She cleared the table, and went to her room. But her father had beaten her there. He sat in front of her closet, admiring the wand that she had hidden only hours before. He stared at it as if he hated it. She knew what would come next. She began backing away from her bedroom, while John Granger stood up abruptly.

"It's strange, how such a small instrument can ruin my life. My job, my marriage, my reputation. Hermione this is your entire fault. I hate you as much as I hate this putrid piece of wood."

With that, he snapped the wand in half. He ran toward Hermione, and tackled her to the ground. Her power hungry father held down her arms with one hand and proceeded to rip her pants from her body with the other. Hermione closed her eyes. Her father's ministrations hurt as he moved above her. But Hermione let no tears fall. Finally, he stopped. He lifted from her fallen body and went to his bedroom. Hermione lay there. She lay there until she fell into a cold sleep.

The rest of Hermione's break went without incident. Her mother returned with the news that Hermione's grandmother was good and well. Hermione never mentioned what happened that night, she was too ashamed. Her father stayed away from her too, and he even gave her money to replace the wand he broke. She packed her Christmas gifts and went back to the train station. She would be gratefully returning to Hogwarts.

Author's Notes: Sorry for the long wait. I will be posting chapters as much as possible now. And I apologize for the long wait.