now we'll see how they're all fairing. poor Hermione and harry, anyway, this isn't all the bad things to come. keep reading!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Chapter 8: Will It Be Ok?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Harry helped her get up. They exited the room leaving a whimpering, bleeding Malfoy behind. As they were walking Harry took off his cloak. They stopped walking and he put it on Hermione. Hermione felt sick to her stomach. She bent forward like if she was going to vomit. She was cold. The castle was freezing.

"Hermione come on. We're going to the Hospital Wing. We'll tell Dumbledore." Hermione looked up to Harry thinking of what the Headmaster would say if he knew what had happened to her. Harry saw she really looked sick. Then she collapsed. Harry scooped her up in his strong arms before she could fall to the floor.

He started to walk away fast, when he noticed that Ron wasn't following him. He turned around with Hermione in his arms.

"Come on Ron! What are you waiting for," he said angrily.

"Sorry...It's just that she looks so fragile and small..." he trailed off.

"Oh Ron! She is small and fragile." He growled in frustration. "Now let's go!" And with that they hurried and ran to the Hospital Wing. When they got there Ron opened the door for Harry to come in, since he was still carrying the unconscious Hermione. Ron ran up ahead of Harry and yelled for Madam Pomfrey.

"What is the meaning of this Mr. Weasley? Why are you yelling? Who do you got there Potter? Why are you carr–."

"Malfoy attacked Hermione Mam." Interrupted Ron.

"Oh my goodness...here, over here, put her down on this bed," she said fast. She motioned for Harry to lay the small girl down on one of the beds. "Now get out of here. Let me examine her. Oh, but first both of you go find your Head of House and the Headmaster. We must inform them immediately. Now shoo go..." Harry was reluctant to go and have to leave Hermione with that bastard still on the lose, but he had to go for her sake.

When they were out in the corridor Harry said, "Ron you go find McGonagall. I'll go get Dumbledore." Ron nodded in agreement and they ran in opposite directions.

Harry stumbled into the Headmaster on his way to his office.

"Harry is something the matter?" He said smiling calmly, but seeing Harry's urgent expression his face became serious.

"Professor, you've got to come with me to the Hospital Wing. Hermione was attacked by Malf–."

"Lead the way and tell me exactly what happened, Harry." They started to walk fast to the Hospital Wing.

"Me and Ron found them, sir. He was attacking her...forcing her to..." Harry found he couldn't even finish his sentence and Dumbledore walked even faster, taking longer strides.

When they got there Ron and McGonagall were already there waiting for Pomfrey to finish her examination with Hermione.

"Albus, did Harry inform you of what happened?" Asked McGonagall.

"I would like the whole story, Harry, Ron, if you please?" Said Dumbledore as he turned from McGonagall to the two young men.

Harry and Ron said everything they had seen. And by the end of it all Professor McGonagall was looking ghostly white and about ready to faint, while Dumbledore looked calm, but his eyes were not twinkling and anger flashed through them as he thought of how someone could hurt one of his best students, or just any of his students for that matter.

Then Madam Pomfrey slid the curtains the separated Hermione from the rest of them to the side and she came to them.

"Albus," she said. She had an angry expression and yet her face looked grave and sad. "I hope that you really punish whoever it was that attacked her beca–."

"We told you it was Malfoy that...hurt her." Said Harry angrily.

"Poppy exactly what is wrong with her. Can you decipher?" Said Dumbledore calmly.

"Of course I can," she went on angrily. "She wasn't raped but she definitely struggled..." All eyes were on the Medi-Witch as she said the word 'raped' so bluntly. "She has bruises all over her body." Harry felt anger soar in him. "Where is Mr. Malfoy?" She asked.

"He's in the 6th floor in the 4th room on the left." Explained Ron.

"Thank you Ron. Minerva please go find Professor Snape, and tell him about the recent events that have taken place." Said Dumbledore serenely.

"Yes, of course." Finished McGonagall sternly as she went.

"Poppy, how exactly is she? Will she wake soon?" Asked Dumbledore.

"Right now: I put her on a Sleeping Draught. Even though she is unconscious, she's really hurt The potion will allow her to wake tomorrow at around noon perhaps."

"May we see her?" Asked Ron turning to Madam Pomfrey.

"I suppose. But she won't wake 'til tomorrow, so mind you don't even try it." She warned.

Harry and Ron nodded and moved towards Hermione's bed. She looked so peaceful, Harry noted, even though her eyelids were red and her face was shiny from were the trail of tears had rolled down.

Harry stared at her and took her small limp hand in his palm and caressed it with his thumb, just as Professor Snape was coming in.

"Sir, what exactly is this I hear about Granger and Mr. Malfoy? What is going on?" The greasy teacher inquired with his soft evil voice.

"Severus, Mr. Malfoy attacked Hermione...and tried to force himself upon her." Snape still showed no emotion whatsoever. His eyes were pitch black like always, but that was it.

"And?" Was all that Snape said.

"And, Severus, if these two boys wouldn't of stopped him, this child would have been taken advantage of!" McGonagall said pointing at Hermione, "if she's here now, how exactly do you think she'd be fairing if he would have succeeded!" She snapped at him. "I don't even want to think of that." She whispered to herself, nonetheless they all heard. And she went on, "Albus how could this of happened here?"

"Severus, Minerva, please calm down, we need to discuss this in my office, would you to be kind enough to accompany me?" Requested Dumbledore. And with that the three adults left to establish a proper punishment for Malfoy.

"Boys I would advise you to go and get some sleep for tomorrow. I believe Miss Granger will need you for the day ahead," said the Medi-Witch.

"No Mam. We wanted to stay right here with he–" began Harry.

"Harry, mate. She's right. We both need to shower and rest, so we can be here with her when she awakes...she will need us." Ron reasoned with Harry, who very reluctantly nodded. He wanted to stay with her, but he couldn't think of himself at a time like this, when Hermione needed him the most. "I know you want to stay, but we need to think of her for tomorrow." Finished Ron as if reading Harry's thoughts.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

REVIEW!