Chapter Four: Beatings, Babies, and Apologies

It had been three weeks since Sairae had left the school. Ron went immediately to Dumbledore.

"Where is she?" Ron demanded. Dumbledore refused to reveal to Ron anything that Sairae did not want said.

"Mr. Weasley, I have already told you that she doesn't wish to reveal her whereabouts. I'm sorry if this upsets you, but it is her wishes." Dumbledore said to him with so much patience that you would believe he was talking to a three year old.

"Do you know what he does to her?! Do you have any idea?! He beats and rapes her just because she's a witch. Headmaster, that isn't right at all. She didn't go home because of some family emergency. He's just going crazy without being able to touch her in some violent way!" Ron yelled at him.

"Mr. Weasley, I didn't know. How do you know?" Dumbledore asked him. He looked at the boy as if he were the most honest person in the world.

"The day she left, I told her that I read her diary and all about what he does to her." Ron said to him in all seriousness.

"Then we must find out how to get to her." Dumbledore said while reaching for a quill, ink, and parchment.

"Say my name! Say it!" Brandt screamed at her while he had her tied to the bed. He was thrusting into her with all his force. He wanted her to feel what it was like to fuck someone.

"Brandt…" Sairae finally whispered before passing out. He hadn't let her eat in a week. He also hadn't stopped beating her head, stomach, and the rest of her.

Brandt beat her for passing out. He screamed at her. "You little bitch! Get up! Get up! You can't sleep through me!"

After Sairae didn't wake up for three hours, Brandt decided to take her to a hospital. She looked so helpless in his arms that no one asked any questions.

"Mr. Michaels, we're sorry to inform you that your daughter's condition may have her in the hospital for a week or so." The doctor, Dr. Chestling, said to him. "We need to know what happened to her."

"She's been going out a lot and I don't know what she does." Brandt said to them.

"Well that explains the rest of what I'm going to tell you. She's pregnant." Dr. Chestling said.

"She's what?!" Brandt yelled.

"Sir, I know it's hard to believe and her being so young." Dr. Chestling said as Brandt cut him off.

"When was it conceived? Do you know?" Brandt asked persistently.

"I would say around Christmas." Dr. Chestling told him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Brandt looked at Sairae. She slept with someone while she was at that godforsaken school. Brandt knew it.

Sairae stirred after awhile. Brandt kept a hawk's eye on her. He didn't need the boy she was screwing to just show up and make her disappear with his weirdness from that school.

Just as Brandt thought this, a young redheaded man showed up with an elderly man by his side.

"Hello. I'm Headmaster Dumbledore. We were informed that Sairae Jamieson is residing in this hospital." Dumbledore spoke to Brandt as he took his hand to shake it.

"What'd you do to her?!" Ron demanded of him. He took the man by his neck

"Beg your pardon, I don't know what you're talking about!" Brandt yelled back at Ron.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about! You hurt her. I know you did. And if I ever see you alone, I swear I'll kill you." Ron threatened him.

"Mr. Weasley, leave Mr. Michaels alone. This is neither the time nor the place to discuss this. Right now we have to find out Ms. Jamieson's condition." Dumbledore said to Brandt.

"She's okay. Although I think I know why she's pregnant. I think this boy here is the reason my sweet, innocent little girl is now going to suffer being a teenage mother." Brandt said.

"She's pregnant? Well if she really is, it wasn't me you arse! She wouldn't sleep with someone because you damaged her."

"Mr. Weasley, leave the man be. We will discuss that later." Dumbledore said eyeing him. He also pulled out a small vile of what looked like veritaserum. Ron nodded at Dumbledore and went and sat down in the waiting room.

"I don't believe we will be discussing anything. What you don't seem to understand is that my little girl is in there pregnant and in a lot of pain. I want nothing to do with the two of you. I'm sorry, but I never liked your lot. I only did this because her poor mother made me promise on her death bed that I let her do what she wants so that she could have a happy life." Brandt was amazed at how much of a great actor he really could be.

"I understand quite well, Mr. Michaels. I just come to make sure that Ms. Jamieson will be returning soon. She has been turning in her work regularly, but she really needs to be at school to graduate. Would you like something to drink to calm your nerves?" Dumbledore asked Brandt.

'If I say no, then he'll think there's something wrong with me.' Brandt thought to himself. Brandt nodded and took the cup from the elderly man.

Brandt fell asleep and Dumbledore used his wand to transport himself and Mr. Michaels to a safe place.

Sairae stirred. She opened her eyes and looked around at the room around her. It looked a lot like a hospital room.

"Hey there stranger." Ron greeted her from the doorway. He was leaning there with his sleeves rolled up staring at her.

"Hi." Sairae answered. God she missed him so much. He was so beautiful.

He stared at her. She looked so battered and hurt. There were bruises on her face along with cuts along her face and body. He looked to her stomach, soon it would be a lot larger than what it was now. He didn't know if she knew.

"Are you alright? I was so worried about you. I mean you didn't owl me back and then we find out you're here. I hoped that we would get to you on time, but we didn't. I'm so sorry about this."

"It's not your fault. I'm just glad that he had enough sense to get me to a hospital. I mean I could be dead."

"I know. Don't scare me like that again!"

The nurse came in. "How are we both feeling, now that we're up?"

"I'm fine, but I don't know about Ron here."

"Who's Ron?"

"Him. You just asked how both of us were doing."

"I meant you and the baby dear."

"What baby?"

"The doctor didn't tell you? Sweetie, you're pregnant."

"I'm pregnant?"

"Yes sweetheart."

"Did they tell you?" Sairae turned to Ron.

"Yeah, they did. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. It's his, isn't it?" Ron asked her. He already knew the answer, but needed to know for sure.

"Yes. He's the only person that's ever, you know…"

"Yeah I know. We're going to get you out."

Ron took her hand and apparated with her. They were in a small house near Ron's very own. This is where Dumbledore wanted to take Brandt to interrogate him.

Sairae heard Dumbledore talking to her step father.

"Mr. Michaels, did you ever harm this young woman?"

"Yes, I did. I beat her a lot."

"Did you ever force intercourse on her?"

"Yes, I wanted her. She's the hottest young woman I have ever seen." Brandt said while looking at her like she was a piece of meat. Ron wanted to kill him. He nearly lunged at him until Sairae fell to the ground.

"Sairae. Sairae! Wake up! Are you okay?" Ron asked her. She nodded her head. Dumbledore handed her a goblet of something. She drank it. Suddenly she was feeling a lot better. Ron watched as the bruises and cuts healed into scars.

"Did, did it get rid of…?" Sairae asked Dumbledore while looking down at her stomach.

"No, no it didn't. It can't do that. It'll be okay. All your professors have been notified of your home problem. They will also be notified of your current situation. I will make sure you graduate."

Ron watched her as she looked at her step father. He knew what she was thinking without thinking it.

"I know. We won't let him get near it. I'll claim it as my own. I told him that I never had sex with you, but if you want to make sure that you keep it, I'll help you."

"Thank-you."

"Did they say when I was due?" Sairae asked the room in general.

"It was conceived around Christmas." Brandt answered. The veritaserum was making him answer everything truthfully.

"Then that means the baby's due in September." Ron said counting the months on his hands.

"Wow, it's already February. What am I going to do?"

"Whenever you need help, someone will be there." Dumbledore answered her. He nodded to Ron. Ron picked Sairae up and took her outside. Dumbledore had a portkey in place. They used it to get back to Hogwarts. Once there, Ron immediately took Sairae to her room. She needed more rest and time to heal. Ron never left her side. When the weekend was over, Sairae was ready for classes again. It was Monday morning and Sairae had Transfiguration with McGonagall for advanced Animagus. She couldn't wait to begin her actual practical lessons because she missed them being at home for the past three weeks or so.

"Now class the first thing you must do is think of the animal you wish to become." McGonagall said as she looked towards Sairae. The girl was patiently taking notes and being as astute as she had been for the past four years.

Sairae was nervous as McGonagall watched her every move. It was like she was waiting for her to screw up. Sairae looked over at Draco Malfoy and Ginny Weasley, they were talking about something. Sairae thought it was odd that Ginny would even think of talking to Draco let alone actually doing so. She was so amazed by Ginny every day. Ginny made it into this class because of her outstanding O.W.L.S. Ginny was an outstanding witch.

Sairae left Transfiguration and went to Potions. She would see Ron in that class.

"How was your advanced Animagus lessons?" Ron asked her as he kissed her forehead outside of the dungeon classroom. Snape hadn't opened the door for them to enter yet.

"Oh wow Weasel, you found yourself a girlfriend." Draco drawled sarcastically.

"Malfoy, shut up! I saw you talking to Ginny in Transfiguration so I don't see why you have to be mean to Ron!" Sairae exclaimed.

"That's none of your business!" Malfoy said raising his hand. Sairae mistook the gesture and cowered against the dungeon wall. Draco noted this movement as a threat and immediately dropped his hand.

Ron stood in front of Sairae, shielding her. Draco watched Ron look from himself to the girl.

"I'm not going to hurt her. I didn't mean for that to come as a threat. I'm sorry." Draco said to her. Everyone gasped at Draco. He just apologized to a Gryffindor. He was not acting himself. Ron thought it might have something to do with his sister.