Author's Note: Ok this chapter is going to be a surprise to you all… hopefully

Warning: Contains language that may not be suitable for you.

Rating: PG-13 to R

An Unexpected Visitor

Hermione slowly made her way out of her room, and then stopped abruptly as she heard quiet, but angry voices downstairs. She walked down a few of the stairs and recognised her mother's voice, then her father's as he yelled back. They obviously didn't want her to hear what they were talking about. Her father was drinking, again, and her mother was saying he was a pig, an asshole and a wanker for what he did to her and Hermione last night. She'd never heard her mother speak like that. Not only that, but she knew. 'How? She was unconscious!' Her question immediately answered however.

"I wasn't unconscious after you hit me, I was scared. Too scared to move and too scared to yell. It didn't help that I was shocked to see my husband raping my daughter!" she yelled at him, blatantly forgetting that she was supposed to be being quiet.

"She's a freak and she deserves what she got" he replied with a cold, heartless tone. 'No surprise there' thought Hermione, slamming her eyes shut to shut away the tears.

"I don't know why I ever loved you. You are the most fowl creature I know. Get out, get out of my house now, go back to who you know as real family" she shouted, pointing to the door. He got up and walked towards her. She hastily got up and ran from the room but he caught her and pinned her to the wall, next to the fireplace, right next to the stairs, where Hermione could see everything. She was hiding behind a banister and was too high up the stair case for her mother too see her, but she was still feeling awkward for being here, and feeling bad she could do nothing because of the state she herself was in.

Her mother didn't seem to be scared any more, she wanted to stand up for herself, and was yelling to him saying that she was doing this for her and Hermione. What she saw next was enough to surprise even the most experienced person.

Suddenly, he pulled out a gun.

Hermione had no time to think, she leapt downstairs, ignoring the pain, and leapt on her father. She knew then that he had no intention of using it, it was just to scare her mother but at that point in time, it didn't matter.

..Suddenly there was a pop, and a tall, lean figure appeared in the kitchen. This was unknown to Hermione, her mother and father..

Her father finally pulled Hermione off of him after many slaps and punches in his, and her, direction. She fell to the floor and got up quickly. Hermione was stood facing her father. She was crying, he was crying and her mother was crying.

"This is all your fault" he said to her, and pulled up the gun. Before Hermione could think, her mother had jumped in front of her and her father had pulled the trigger. 'What!' she couldn't think. Her mind was screaming, but numb in shock and despair. Her mother was on the floor, and her father was stood in the same place opposite her.

His knees gave way and he fell to the floor, crying. He didn't mean to hit her, he loved her; it was Hermione he hated. He picked up the gun, and looked at Hermione.

Hermione was standing in the same place opposite her father. She couldn't think, she didn't understand. This wasn't right. This didn't happen to good people. She saw him fall to the floor, and pick up the gun. 'Wha… N…' She couldn't think, she was speechless. He then pulled the trigger.

The tall lean boy in the kitchen watched as Hermione's expression changed from a blank one too a speechless one. He walked out to see Mr Granger committing suicide. He ran to Hermione as he watched her fall. He caught her, but she cringed and elbowed him in the stomach forcing him to let go to gasp for breath.

Hermione fell to the floor. She couldn't think, her mind was numb. All she knew was that her mother was dead. She felt her knees give way as she fell to the floor and leant over her mother's body, crying hysterically. Unknown to her, the tall lean figure now knelt down behind her was pulling her jumper up.

"I'm so tired of being here, suppressed by all of my childish fears. If you have to leave, I wish that you would just leave, because your presence still lingers here and it won't leave me alone. These wounds won't seem to heal, this pain is just to real, there's just too much than time cannot erase, when you cried I'd wipe away all your tears and when you scream I'd fight away all of your fears. I've held your hand though all of these years but you still have all of me. You used to captivate me by your resonating light, but now I'm bound by the life you left behind. Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams your voice it chased away all the sanity in me. These wounds wont seem to heal, this pain is just too real, there's just too much that time cannot erase, when you cried id wipe away all of your tears and when you screamed id fight away all of your fears.

These wounds wont seem to heal, this pain is just too real, there's just to much that time cannot erase."

The tall lean figure knew why she had cringed, that was a movement of pain. He pulled up her jumper to see bruises covering her back, especially over her ribs. He looked at her arms, covered in small scratches he recognised as blade cuts. He didn't know what to do. All he could think about was to get help. She needed help and he sure as hell needed help at this point. He didn't even want to be here, and now he was helping Granger, the only girl he hated, and with a vengeance. However, now he was here, he felt something rip at his heart at the sight of his enemy. He swiftly flooed to Dumbledore.

When he got back, Hermione hadn't moved. She was now sat down though, and was cradling her mother's body in her arms, still crying hysterically into her mother's hair.

Dumbledore looked at those in front of him and knew immediately what had happened. "Draco, take her upstairs to her room and keep her company. Don't let her back down. She needs you right now." 'What? Why me?'

"What? Why me? She hates me why would she need me?"

"You found her, you saved her."

Draco looked at his headmaster with a pleading and disbelieving look. 'I haven't saved her' he kept looking but Dumbledore's expression didn't change.

"Fine!" He looked at the out-of-control Hermione cradling her mother's body. "I can't move her, I tried earlier but she elbowed me when I touched her. Professor, she's covered in bruises!"

"Take her Draco."

Draco sighed, but walked over to Hermione. How was he supposed to do this without getting bruised himself? 'All you care about is yourself!' He stood behind Hermione, not letting her know it was he who was there. She'd never trust him that way. He slowly rapped his arms around her, tight, to let her know she was safe, and lifted her up.

'What the? Ouch, get off me, mum!!!' she thought. Hermione was still speechless, but now she had two unknown arms around her, hugging at her bruises. She suddenly felt very dizzy and passed out from the pain.

Hermione had come too when she felt her self being laid gently on her bed. She opened her eyes to see none other than Draco Malfoy next to her dresser pulling out some her of favourite pyjamas. She couldn't help feel safe around him, for when he walked back he couldn't look her in the eyes. He had no idea she was awake. He didn't have that slimy, cocky git look on his face but he had this warm but sad and weakened look. She watched him as he took out her Pyjamas and set them on her bed. He also watched him as he took off her clothes, not looking at her breasts as he took her bra off and caressing her bruises lightly, which sent shivers running down her spine, but she tried not to move. She had to feel some respect for him. Right there and then all she could think about was him. He finished dressing her, when realisation set in. Why she was there. She sat up and looked at him.

He looked back at her with a look of guilt and shock. He didn't know how she was going to react to this. He looked at her as he saw tears falling down her face and his worst enemy falling apart right there and then. He was uncertain about what to do, but thought about what he would have wanted. Draco walked over to her and sat on the bed next to her. He took hold of her from behind and hugged her to tell her she was safe and everything was going to be ok.

He hugged into her tight not letting his grip falter. All she could think about was what happened, and totally ignored that fact that Draco Malfoy was hugging her trying to calm her. She turned around and cried into his black shirt, griping it tight as to let her anger out on his shirt.

"Why me!" she cried pulling his shirt back and hitting his chest. It didn't hurt physically but it hit him hard deep down inside him, somewhere he didn't know he had.

Draco sat there with Hermione in his hands. He tightened her grip on her and she stopped crying hysterically, thought she was still crying, a lot. He didn't understand why he was here, and doing this, but that was the way it was. He sat there rocking her, as her crying bought back memories and he felt his own eyes well up with tears. He tried to shut them, looking up at the ceiling and sniffing but it didn't work. He broke down.

Draco was hugging Hermione tight. Hermione was crying into his shirt, holding it tight as to tell him to not let her go. Draco had broken. He swore he wouldn't, and now he was doing it in front of the Mudblood. His thoughts whirled as he thought about the past and his current situation, but not once did he get up to walk away. He hugged her tighter, crying with his face in her hair. It smelt good. He heard a creak from the corridor and his head shot up protectively. In the doorway, stood Lupin, tears streaming down his face yet he didn't appear to be crying. He noticed Draco was looking at him. Their eyes made contact and Lupin smiled. There was an awkward silence then-

"Malfoy, why are you here?" 'That's a good question' thought Draco, his head turning to face the floor. A force hit him as he remembered exactly why. He shot his head back to Lupin. Draco looked fearful "What Malfoy, tell me, what is it?" but Lupin knew exactly why Draco was there. There couldn't be any other explanation. Though exactly why Draco Malfoy the Pureblood wanted to protect Hermione Granger the Muggle Born was still unexplained. Draco couldn't tell Lupin what was going on, he had now added guilt to his fearful expression. "It's the Death eaters, isn't it? They're after Hermione". Draco nodded.

"I came to warn her and… and to get her out of here somehow"

"How? She can't apparate yet!"

"I figured as much. I bought some floo powder with me. I didn't know where I was going to take her but I had to get her and her… her away from Granger Manor, and fast. They plan to attack tonight!" shot Draco. It wasn't a total lie.

Lupin looked back at him, "Shit!" he turned around, looked down the stairs and turned back "We need to get her out of here, come on, lets go!"

"Professor, she can hardly hold herself. How is she supposed to floo?" asked Draco.

"You hold onto her and floo yourself, she'll fly with you," said Lupin in I-thought-that-was-obvious tone.

"Oh" he felt his face redden but only slightly, he'd never had to travel with more than one person, especially someone who couldn't floo somewhere themselves! "Hermione? We need to get you out of here now." He looked at Lupin "She needs her school books and stuff."

"I'll get that, ill try find everything she needs, just go Malfoy."

Draco got up not letting go of Hermione, partly because she wouldn't allow him to. "Hermione, can you stand?" She looked at him, and stood. Draco smiled at her and walked with her to the door "See you soon sir. Wait! Where am I going to go?"

"I'm not sure, you can't go to Malfoy Manor, the Burrow isn't safe and I don't think she should go to…" he trailed off realising Draco didn't need to know about the Order "just ask Dumbledore". Draco nodded and smiled. He then half carried Hermione down the stairs.

"Professor, I have to –"

"I know, Draco, I heard the entire conversation. You will go to Hogwarts. You will floo to the Hospital Wing, she needs … repairing, and some sleep" said Dumbledore, almost as if he didn't want to explain.

"Right" said Draco. He lifted a bag out of his pocket and handed it to Dumbledore who took it. Draco took a scoop of it and walked into the fireplace. "Hospital Wing, Hogwarts!" They were soon covered in green flame, swirling through somewhere and then in less than 2 seconds they were at Hogwarts. Draco walked out of the fireplace, with Hermione in hand. Just then, her knees gave way again and she fell to the floor. An almost elderly woman came bustling up to them. "Professor, she needs healing and some sleep, says Dumbledore. I'm sure he will explain everything to you," said Draco, picking up Hermione, putting one of her arms over his shoulder. She nodded and directed Draco and the only-half-with-it Hermione to a bed.

"Oh, she's already in her Pyjamas, that's good. What exactly is wrong with her?"

Draco thought about this, shutting his eyes as to hide his pain. "Take a look at her for yourself, Professor, I don't want to say..."

She looked back at him giving a why-are-you-being-so-nice-yet-so-strange look, but he ignored it. She looked at Hermione and saw the cut on her lip and light bruise on her cheek. She gave a pleading look to Draco who returned a worried look. She pulled up her top and gasped. Apparently this bought Hermione to her senses, as she shot up and looked at her Professor as she pulled down her top.

"What do you think you are doing?" she shouted

"Hermione, I can help you." Replied Poppy.

Hermione glared at her, then turned to glare at Draco giving him an I-trusted-you look. "Hermione, I know this is hard, trust me, I know. But she's telling the truth, she can take away the pain, you know she can" said Draco wearily.

Hermione sighed, she was sick of the pain, that was true. "Fine". Reluctantly, Hermione let her Professor search her body. She examined her and took her temperature. She did lots of funny tests that confused Hermione. That kind of showed how confused Hermione was right now.

Suddenly, Poppy looked up from her current test and gasped. Hermione knew what it was about. She couldn't hold it back, she broke down, again, there and then. Draco gave his Professor a questioning look and sat next to Hermione holding her tightly again. Poppy finally found the words-

"Hermione, were you raped?" Hermione cried harder at the last three words, and nodded. Draco looked at the Professor in shock, and held Hermione closer to him sitting next to her on her bed.

"Hermione, you will need to take some potions". Hermione nodded, she had been expecting this; they were to stop her from becoming pregnant. She didn't even want to think about that possibility.

Professor gave Hermione the potions and then came over with the Dreamless Sleep potion Harry had used in forth year. "Take this, you need rest".

"Don't let anyone in here, please. Not Ron, Harry or any Weasley. I don't want anyone to see me like this. And I don't want anyone to know either, so please tell Dumbledore to tell no one, Professor." Said Hermione. Draco and Poppy nodded and Hermione drank the dreamless sleep potion. Before she knew it she was in a land of nod, sleeping peacefully, dream free, unlike Draco…

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