Disclaimer: I own nothing, no really, I don't own anything.

A/N: My very first fan fic so please be gentle with me, at least at first. J

Start of seventh year. She couldn't believe it. Her last year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was only three days away. Hermione thought to herself of all the exciting times she had there, save those when she had almost been killed thanks to Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. All in all, she enjoyed her time at Hogwarts. She loved her classes and the library was magnificent, but she knew deep inside the real reason that she loved Hogwarts so much. It meant that she wouldn't have to see him very often except an occasional meeting at Hogsmeade which were safe, or at least they had been safe until the end of last term. She didn't blame him; she never did; she always blamed herself. He wouldn't just do it for no reason she told herself over and over again. She always thought she had done something, anything, and she had talked herself into believing it. That was the biggest tragedy of all, well, that and lying to her head of house and mentor, Professor Minerva McGonagall. She thought back to that day returning from Hogsmeade last May.

She had met him there like she had always done, felt safe within the confines of the village. He wouldn't do it here, she thought unknowingly to herself. As lunch drug on, she began to realize how wrong she could be.

"Hermyonny… you are eating too much, you are gitting fatter. You should not eat zat way. What ave you been doing at zee school?" he asked her.

But it wasn't just that, it was so many things that had snowballed over time. She pushed her food around her plate not looking at him. For some reason, she thought that not looking at him would help her.

"Look at me!" he said as he grabbed her harshly by the arm. "I do not know why I am here, you are worthless to me! I should leave now and be done wif you!"

She looked sideways toward him expecting but not expecting what usually followed these exchanges. As their lunch ended, he grabbed her by the arm and led her out the door. He pulled her around the corner as she most feared. Like her most usual way, she apologized profusely. Thinking back, she couldn't even remember what she pleaded with. As she graciously received the punishment he bestowed upon her, his mark was left swiftly on her cheek and lip. He left as he usually did, threatening if she made any move to share her reward with anyone. She complied only with a nod as a single tear escaped her right eye. There just weren't that many tears left to cry that hadn't yet found their release. He kissed her harshly and dispassionately, as she made no move to return the kiss. All she could feel was the split in her lip ripping wider and wider. As he always did, he explained how she made him do it to her and gave her instructions for her behavior.

"When I see you next time, you will be thinner.. yes?" he said not so much asking as demanding. She merely nodded in agreement as he swept away with his robes cutting through the air as he walked. She put her head down and gathered her own already too large robes around her walking back towards Hogwarts.

She had no sooner made her way into the castle as her head of house came towards her parchment in hand.

"Miss Granger, you have done so well that I had to come and see you immediately," she began before seeing her top student's face. "Great," Hermione thought to herself, "how am I going to explain this." Her teacher stood pale faced in front of her and gently inquired, "What has happened to you dear?" Professor McGonagall asked her. This had confirmed what she had expected for quite some time. A small bruise above the eye now and again, a puffy lip once and awhile. "Umm… nothing, I just slipped that's all," Hermione lied, "I was coming out of…um, the…uh, candy store and I slipped, I'm so clumsy." Hermione knew that her beloved professor knew she was lying but Minerva McGonagall let it go. "I see," was all she replied as she walked back toward her office. Hermione walked back to her rooms and sat down on her bed alone. She enjoyed having her own rooms, especially since now she had so much to hide. That was the beginning of the downward spiral that would slowly start to spin out of control.