Disclaimer: I do not own or have any rights to Harry Potter.

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Chapter 9. Snape has a big mouth

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Hermione struggled against Malfoy, fear gripping her as he moved in and shoved his tongue down her throat. Fighting the urge to gag, Hermione managed to get one leg free and used it to knee Malfoy in his nether-regions. Malfoy collapsed in pain, cradling his bruised privates.

"FILTHY MUDBLOOD WHORE!" he yelled, or squeaked, as Hermione took off down the hall. "You'll pay for that!" he screamed as she rounded the corner.

As she ran, Hermione found herself outside the entrance to the Gryffindor common room. She gasped out the password and moved into the sanctuary her house provided for her. She sped up right through the empty common room and up to her room and hid under the safety of her duvet.

This was where Lily found the shell-shocked girl in the afternoon after classes.

"Hermione?" she inquired, "Are you ok? Why were you not in class?"

Hermione didn't answer, just stared at the opposite wall as Lily bundled her up in a warm embrace, concern flowing through her emerald eyes.

"Come on," she said. "The guys are worried about you, and I'm worried that if you don't quell their fears they'll go do something stupid. Do you want to come down?" she asked quietly.

Hermione nodded. "Just give me a minute, I'll be down in a bit."

Lily nodded and quietly left the room leaving Hermione sitting on the bed collecting herself.

"Was she there?" asked James as Lily entered the common room.

Lily nodded. "She seems to be shaken up but won't talk about it."

Peter scoffed from the corner, bringing to him the others attention. "That's not new, she won't talk about anything, and we don't know anything about her!"

The others turned on him again, Lilys eyes wide at the accusation and the other boys using thier best death glares. "You remember the day she came here?" asked Remus, back from the hospital wing sitting comfortably on the couch, Peter nodded. "Do you remember her condition?" again Peter nodded. "Then show a bit of sensitivity she has obviously been through a lot," Remus snapped uncharacteristically.

Sirius who had so far remained quiet spoke up from the corner. "I know her," he said quietly, his blue eyes soft. "And I trust her, if you don't Peter that's fine, just don't mention it around me."

"Why not?" the smaller boy asked, "I'm entitled to my opinion."

"And I can't be held responsible for my actions," Sirius said menacingly, his eyes hardening, making Peter cower and nod.

"It was Malfoy," said Sirius. "I'm sure of it."

"You don't know that Sirius," reasoned Lily.

"Did you see him in class Lily?" he shot back.

Any comment Lily had was cut short by Hermione's appearance at the bottom of the stairs, wearing a long sleeved shirt to cover the bruises on her wrists.

"Hermione, are you ok?" asked Sirius moving to her side. "You weren't in class."

"I…I wasn't feeling too well," she said not wanting to think of what Malfoy could do if she told anyone what he had attempted in the corridor.

"That," said Lily. "Would most likely be due to the amount of food you eat."

Hermione looked at Lily, shocked that she had even noticed her eating habits.

"We all notice it Hermione, don't think we don't," said James. "You need to eat more."

Hermione just nodded dully and the others dropped the obviously uncomfortable subject. Hermione borrowed Lily's notes and caught up on what she had missed in a quiet corner of the common room. Sirius however frowned as he saw her hand shaking slightly as she wrote, but decided to let it rest for the time being.

It was James who eventually broke the silence. "Hogsmead this weekend," he said. "Are you coming Hermione? It's a great village."

Hermione paled slightly. "I'll see, I think I have some work to do though."

"But its Hogsmead," said Peter. "You cant miss the Hogsmead trip."

"If Hermione doesn't want to go she doesn't have to," barked Lily. "Stop pestering her."

"What about you Lily, are you going?" asked James.

"Most likely."

"Would you like some company?" he asked.

"I would love it," she replied, this sent James off his chair and four other pairs of eyebrows to shoot up. "That however, does not specifically mean your company."

James face fell at his and Hermione couldn't help but feel sorry for him and decided she would try and convince Lily to go with the Marauders.

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When the Hogsmead weekend arrived Hermione stood and said goodbye to her friends, having convinced Lily, much to the delight of James, to go with the boys.

Hermione was glad to see Malfoy and his goons leave for Hogsmead also, and was glad for the solitude to go through some more books.

When she reached the library however she found she had already used most of her resources. Grabbing the last few books she found a nice quiet corner to read in.

A few hours later Hermione sighed and picked up the last book, 'A time travelers guide to the way of time' hoping this would help her, most of the others she had read were either incomplete, inconclusive or out of date.

She looked at the time and decided to check the last book out, while she was checking it out she asked Madame Pince if there was any new material on time travel, but had no luck.

Upon entering the dormitory downhearted, Hermione placed the book under her duvet and went to take a shower. She was shocked however when she looked in the mirror. There were dark circles under her eyes, still void of the rich chocolate brown she had grown up with, her skin was pale and taunt, most of her clothes had become baggy, adding to her friends fears, and to top it off she had deep purple bruises on her wrists. As she stared at her reflection she found herself wondering the same thing she had wondered at Lily's 'why can't I cry?'

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One night after a discussion on their favorite spells Sirius proceeded to carry a sleeping Hermione up to her room. He kicked at the particular piece of wood to disable the stairs and started to make his way up. What he wasn't expecting however, was the stairs to disappear from under him. The next thing he knew he was at the bottom, entangled with Hermione.

"Are you alright?" he asked, looking down at the now open hazel eyes, when she nodded sleepily he continued. "I guess Lily found out our secret huh?" he grinned.

"That, would be obvious." Hermione said a little disappointed that their routine was broken. She disentangled herself from Sirius and returned to the couch.

"Are you not going to bed?"he asked her.

She shook her head. "I wouldn't be able to get back to sleep now."

Sirius just nodded and transfigured a blanket for her out of a piece of spare parchment.

She smiled in thanks as he laid it over her and moved back to one of the sofas.

Neither sleeping student was woken in the morning as their fellow Gryffindors smiled at them and quietly made their way to breakfast.

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A week before Halloween Hermione was walking with the Marauders through the corridors when they bumped into Snape.

"Snivellus," Sirius said to him. "Going to try and jinx us?" he asked.

"I'm not that stupid Black," he sneered. "I learnt my lesson in fifth year, I wouldn't challenge you when I'm outnumbered." His gaze fell to Hermione. "You're good at defense, I'm sure you know all about dangerous creatures."

Hermione could feel the Marauders tense behind her as she nodded to Snape, wondering how far he would take this.

"So tell me, what's your view on Werewolves?"

The others didn't react, each as curious as the other to what Hermione would say.

"They are cursed." she said. "Its not their fault, they are normal everyday of the month bar one."

"But they're dangerous beasts, are you not afraid of them?"

"They are only dangerous beasts one night a month, and yes I would be afraid on that one night." Hermione said logically, feeling her anger rise. "But every other day they are human, more so then some others who aren't even cursed."

Hermione could feel the relief flow from the boys when she spoke.

Snape just sneered. "Well then would you be saying that if you knew one?" he asked.

She looked at him curiously 'he wouldn't tell, surely' "What do you mean?" she asked eyes flashing.

"You should be scared," he said maliciously. "There's one standing behind you."

Hermione saw wands raised in anger, but before any spell was cast she spoke two words that shocked all five boys.

"I know."