Disclaimer: I own nothing...all belongs to J.K. Rowling

I thought this chapter would be an informative chapter to help answer some of the questions I have received. If you have any more questions that are considered background or questions you don't think will be answered as the plot develops please tell me.

Once again thanks for reading and reviewing. (The more reviews I receive the faster I will write more.)

Paragraphs in italic (other than the letter) are scenes in which Draco and Hermione are watching

Chapter Three: Show and Promise

Once he had finally gotten Hermione to calm down she laid back into bed and both of them got some well needed sleep. As the morning sun broke through her thin curtains Draco gently lifted himself from her bed. He took a short cut through their bathroom to go and get some fresh clothes from his room. After grabbing what was needed he heading into the bathroom. As he shut both doors he checked his pocket and pulled out two wands, his and Hermione's. He wanted to make sure she would not have magic to do anything stupid.

He quickly undressed and stepped into the shower, so many things continued popping up in his head. Even though he knew some of the facts certain areas of what Hermione had told him still seemed to be missing parts. Such as why did she have a step-father in the first place, what happened to her real father? And why of all people did she address the note to him? Why not one of her Gryffindor friends?

He started to hear rustling and faint words being called from Hermione's room. He swiftly got out of the shower, used magic to dry off and dress and proceeded into her room to see what was going on. He found her sitting on the edge of her bed looking absolutely miserable. As he looked closer he realized she was reading a letter, which from the seal on the back he could tell was her Hogwarts letter. Being completely unaware that he was even standing behind her half-closed door she continued to read.

Dear Miss Hermione Granger,


We are pleased to inform you that at your final and last year at Hogwarts you have been appointed Head Girl. You will be accompanied by Mister Draco Malfoy who has been appointed Head Boy. Along with this privilege comes responsibility. You are allowed to take and distribute House Points but only when needed.

This year a slight change will be added to the duties of Head Boy and Girl. Because of the foreshadowing and waning of Lord Voldemort's return unity and friendship between houses is a must. Because you and Mister Malfoy belong to the two most opposing houses Professor Dumbledore has requested that to enforce friendship you and Mister Malfoy will be sharing a common room with separate bedrooms for you and Mister Malfoy.

I hope you see the arrangements fitting.
Professor Minerva McGonagall

Seeing that she was done reading he pushed the door fully open, "So it seems you have been told we are to become friends as well." "Yes, Draco I have been told." "Granger, I have a few questions I need answered." Oh God what information does he want now. "Granger, you told me last night you were abused by your father. Why? I thought you and your father were close?" "Well, Draco...see I never told you the whole story." "Then get telling Granger." "Why should I tell you Malfoy?" "Ah, I see old ways never die." "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Draco made a quick grab into his pocket and pulled out his wand. "It would mean that instead of being nice and telling me out right you have to do it the difficult way. Now tell or I will make you tell me in ways you wouldn't want."

Hermione looked down at the floor. As she got ready to begin revealing the facts to Draco her body began to slightly shake. This was going to bring back memories she didn't want discovered. "Draco, I can't tell you. You wouldn't pick up on all the facts. So instead, I will show you." She went over to her bag on the floor and pulled out a black book with a silver tie. Before he could open his mouth to question she simple stated. "This diary is unique in that instead of writing my memories I can simply transfer my memories into moving scenes where I can travel back to them any time needed. The diary was a gift from my mother when she noticed it all starting."

Hermione pulled the silver tie out of the diary and first tied it around her own wrist then tied it around Draco's. As soon as her hands left the ribbon she and Draco were taken back into her memories to the first time her father abused her. Draco was surprised at the scene that met his eyes.

"Granger! I am sick and tired of your know it all attitude. Every time I make even the slightest mistake it seems you are there to make a fool out of me. Well no more. You will learn your lesson no matter how I have to teach you." Her father was standing ten feet away from her holding a wooden stick in his hand.

"Granger what the hell is he going to do to you?" Malfoy whispered over to Hermione. He was definitely a little shaken when he looked over to find her in tears. "Just...just watch." Was all she managed to get out before the first blow came. Even though she was just standing there watching she noticeably flinched.

Her father continued to hit her with a stick. Blow after endless blow. Soon Hermione was on the floor covered in blood and tears.

The next thing they knew Hermione and Draco were transported to another memory.

Hermione was standing in what appeared to be the main room of the house. She was on looking as her mother and father continued to fight. Her father held a gun in his hand, a gun which appeared to be fully loaded. "I'm not going to continue to let you abuse our daughter." Her mother was trying to stand strong against the man she once freely married. "And how do you plan to stop me?" "I will turn you in to the police. You will be reported. And if you shoot me they will find out anyway." "Oh really? Well you aren't going to get the chance to report me. I will not live to see that...that bitch of a girl have a great life." He held the gun up high pointed it at his head and shot. It was all over for him.

At the exact moment the memory Hermione fell to the ground so did the Hermione standing next to him. Draco knelt down so that he was level with her. "Hermione I'm so sorry. I never knew." This was the first time Draco had ever apologized to someone out of his free will. "No one ever did." Hermione meekly said through tears. Just when he thought things couldn't get any worse they were transported to another seen.

Hermione had her wrists and ankles rope tied to the bed. She had nothing on except her undergarments. Drops of sweat and tears were falling off of her face. The door to her bedroom slowly opened and her stepfather stepped into the room holding a belt and knife. With no words spoken between them he walked up to her and brought the belt down hitting her over and over again. With every hit he would move the belt slightly off to the side of the area just hit. Once he was sure her whole body was covered with wounds from the belt, this taking several hours, he put and fastened the belt around his waist as though it was not tainted with his own stepdaughters' blood. Next he reached over and picked up the knife. This would be the fun part. He would first slash words into her skin such as worthless, bitch, pathetic, then would come the phrases, you were a mistake, should never been born...The final step would be to take the knife and dig it into her skin about one third of an inch deep then slowly pulling it out. After this last step was repeated about ten times he would untie her and throw her wand to her allowing her to only close the wounds enough to keep her from dying then to provide a concealing charm.

Draco didn't try to stand, he didn't know if his legs would support him. Sure he had been abused by his own father but nothing like this. So both her father and step-father had abused her, how horrible. That was the last scene they were brought to. Once back in their common room Draco was glad they didn't have classes today; it was already dark. "Hermione, why didn't you tell someone? Why didn't you at least tell Potter or Weasley?" "I couldn't, I didn't want them to worry about me. I wouldn't have told you, you forced me to. You have to promise me not to tell anyone. Not a soul can know. I would be in so much trouble with my father." "Fine Hermione... I promise."