7Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter but am twisting it to my amusement
(and hopefully yours)
A/N: This is kind of like two chapters in one so bare with me! It could also be a little graphic.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"My dreams came true,
When I found you,
My miracle,
If you, could see, what I see,
You're the answer to my prayers,
Yeah and if you, could feel, the tenderness I feel,
You would know,
It would be clear,
That angels brought me here..."
~~~~ Angels brought me here
~~~~ Guy Sebastian, a.k.a. Aussie Idol
"I can't live like this anymore!" Hermione screamed, hurling a book at the wall. Ginny sat, hoping she would just say her problems rather than bottle it up. "Where's the quill?" she ranted. "The quill, the quill...where is it?"
Poking through her trunk, she prized it out of the compartment and found the Muggle textbook. She opened the book to a new page and tore a line through it with the quill. The page glistened with the blood, her blood. She ran lines up and down the page, began naughts and crosses on her arm. Ginny was frightened. Hermione was insane.
Blood began to spill over her arm and stain the bed. The crisp, white sheets had droplets of red on them and Ginny just watched, somewhere between fascination and horror. The quill was cutting Hermione's arms. It was...Ginny tore her gaze away.
"Ah..." she breathed. The page was turned and Hermione began some sort of diary entry. Ginny waited until she was finished before looking at her again.
"Hermione," she began. Hermione looked up, her brow creased in confusion.
"Ginny? Where did you come from? How much have you seen? Why are you - "
"Ginny, yes. I came from the Great Hall. Seen everything, here to comfort you," Ginny replied wanly. Hermione shut the book and shoved it back into her bag, quill included. A quick wave of her wand and the bed was clean again.
"Ginny, my life is a lie. You don't - "
"I know everything," Ginny cut in sharply. Hermione's ranting silenced.
"What?"
"I know everything. About you going home, your Uncle, Cainbridge, Draco," she paused. "Snape."
"But how...did Harry or Ron tell you?"
"On the contrary, it was after Snape...attacked you, you were rattling on about things that I asked Dumbledore about. He told me nearly everything. The rest I figured out myself."
Hermione picked up another book and hurled it at the wall. It hit with a slam and Hermione rummaged through her trunk. She found a glass object and threw it. It broke into a million little slithers and tinkled as it hit the stone floor. Ginny waited patiently.
Finally, after everything had been thrown, Hermione slumped to the ground, tears not coming, just emotional overload. Ginny was at her side instantly.
"It was bad, wasn't it? He was there the whole time, wasn't he?" she whispered. Hermione felt tears prick her eyes painfully. Ginny cradled her head in an effort to control her. Tears began to flow down her face and Ginny took her answers as a yes. It had been bad, he had been there.
She kissed her friend on the forehead. Hermione had always been more of a sister than a best friend, and it hurt Ginny to see her 'sister' in such pain. Hermione looked up at Ginny with a weak smile.
"So, why did you leave holidays early?" she asked. Ginny tried not to cry. Then she began her painful story.
~*~*~
'Meet me tonight, straight after dinner, large oak tree on other side of lake.' The note was scrawled in Draco's handwriting as he had carefully dropped it into her bag at Potions whilst asking her for an ingredient.
Hermione wondered what was so secretive, but didn't mention it to anybody. She busied herself with homework and said that she wasn't hungry when it was dinner time. The others nodded, leaving her in peace.
After fifteen minutes though, she was bored waiting and went down to the lake to find the tree. It wasn't hard. She sat and waited until she saw the doors open and a blonde haired figure emerge. The doors shut quickly and they figure hurried over to the tree.
"Hermione? You there?" Draco whispered.
"Yes," she replied. He smiled briefly before running over to her side and sitting next to her.
"Why all the secret meeting?" she asked. He looked at her, his face buried in shadow. He didn't respond but took up her hand in his and kissed it softly.
She looked at him, wondering what he was doing. His lips trailed up her arm and he sucked softly at her shoulder before kissing the soft creases in her neck. His lips felt warm and comforting, contrasting to her Uncle's malice.
"Draco, no, please," Hermione whimpered. He tightened but sat back up against the tree, his face unreadable.
"What's your Uncle like?" he asked suddenly.
"What?"
"What's your Uncle like?" he repeated.
"In what respect?"
"To being treated by your parents."
"Oh. Well, they think he's fine and can't see what I whinge about. It's hard, because I have absolutely no one to turn to."
"What about me?" Draco asked, anger hidden beneath his voice now.
"Well, it's harder than you know. My life would be harder than yours."
"What do you know?" he snarled softly.
"Draco! Honestly! Your father's a Death Eater and your mother watches him torture you! That would be a blissful thing to me!" Hermione retorted.
"You assume, Granger! You assume so god damn much! You think that you're hard done by but you know nothing of my life, Mudblood!" Draco said coldly. Hermione flinched at the coldness cutting sound in his voice.
"I'm going," she announced, getting to her feet.
"Too chicken to discover my life? Yeah, that'd be right! But you know," he said, grabbing her wrist, "nothing in my life is normal."
"Yeah? Well what are your problems? Come on! Tell!" Hermione challenged. Draco released his grip.
"Telling you of Hostia would be to hard," he whispered to himself. Hermione chose to ignore this and ran to the castle, leaving Draco with tears sliding quietly down his face.
~*~*~
"It's over between me and Draco," Hermione yelled hysterically.
"Hermione? What did you actually see in Draco?" Ginny asked after a moments silence.
"I...I just thought I could change him. I thought that maybe he was a nice person, but I know he isn't."
"Right," Ginny replied quietly, nodding her head.
"I...I need to do something Gin, can you leave me for a while? I have to write something," Hermione added, seeing Ginny's face.
"Fine."
"Thanks."
~*~*~
"Harry, can I borrow you're broomstick?"
"Hang on, Dean. Sorry, what?"
"Can I borrow you're broomstick?" Hermione repeated. "Please?"
"Why?"
"I want to practice something I read about in a book."
"Oh, fine. Here's the key to the padlock, and you've got an hour and a half."
"Thanks Harry!" Hermione gushed as she grabbed the key and sprinted off.
"You sure that's what she wants it for?" Dean asked his neighbour as they continued their DADA homework.
"No. But what else could she use it for?"
~*~*~
"Hey Ron! Ron! Have you seen 'Mione?" Harry yelled at his friend. Ron glanced up from his intense conversation with Parvati.
"Nope, sorry mate. Haven't seen 'er for hours!"
"She probably just lost track of time..." Harry mumbled.
"Harry? HARRY!" Ginny called.
"What?"
"Hermione never slept in her bed last night."
"Oh - "
"And this was on her pillow," she added, waving a pale yellow letter. Harry glanced down at it. Harry and Ron.
Harry's stomach gave a lurch as he took the envelope and dragged Ron out by the back of his robes.
"What? Harry, have you gone insane? I finally manage to talk to a girl with minimum embarrassment and you pull me away. Why? Why did you - "
"Hermione didn't sleep in her bed last night and this," Harry waved the envelope, "was on her pillow." Ron mouthed an obscenity.
"Open it!" he begged. Harry nodded as he tore the envelope. Pastel paper, sheets of it, were inside.
Dearest Harry and Ron,
I'm sorry to do this to you. I don't know where to start this letter and where to finish it.
My life, as I told Ginny, is just a big lie. I'm a Muggle born witch, I don't belong at Hogwarts. As Ron said in first year, It's no wonder I didn't have any friends because I was a nightmare. I was blessed though after the troll incident to meet you two up close.
In second year, you saved my life and the schools'. If it wasn't for you then I may still be petrified, or worse, dead. I can only say thanks.
Third and fourth year were when Ginny really started to grow up a lot faster that I. She developed feelings of love, friendship and compassion for a certain Gryffindor. I could see Ron was similar about some one else.
Ron's ears turned red.
Fifth year was the hardest yet. After losing Sirius, and hurting others, I could see no end.
I went home, and was introduced to my long lost Uncle. My nightmare began.
From the very first moment, I could see he wanted something that he thought I could give. That first night I screamed and cried. He merely hit me and hit me, telling me to shut up. I couldn't understand how it could be so awful.
My parents forbid me to see you, to get to know my Uncle better, and banned me from going to see the Old crowd. Every time I saw my Uncle, my feelings of fear and resentment grew. My parents went to work for the day, early in the morning. He would wait ten minutes, then come in and stay until they were about to get home. The things he did still make me cry and they are far too horrific to write down.
I was blue and black, but luckily one day, my Uncle was forced to do some shopping and my parents went out. He did, knowing that to keep me he had to stay on good terms with my parents. So he went out and I broke into my trunk. I dug out a book on concealment spells and practiced. That's why you never suspected a thing, Unfortunately, he came home extremely early, and it was twice as bad that day. He slapped me so hard for closing my eyes and gripped me so hard that he broke my wrist. I merely kept trying to please him.
Then I used the charm and returned to school. Maybe I looked different, because some people approached me and others ran. I was hurt unbelievably.
I got through sixth year, and told you I could not return to Ron's house or visit the old crowd. Remember I said that my parents and I were going away? Yeah, well, it ended up that my Uncle and I went away.
Away from my parents gave him 24 hour access to me. He never thought twice. He would go all day, he was extraordinary, never stopping. At times he would stop for a toilet break where I would stick my head out the window and vomit violently before he would return and resume. One day he asked me to do a rope spell on the bed. I did not understand but he raised his hand and I quickly did so. He pushed me onto the bed and ropes immediately coiled themselves around me.
"I made alterations," he said. "The more you resist or try to pull away, they will pull tighter, hurt more, and make it easier for me."
I was terrified. I tried desperately to please him, submit to what he wanted. But it did not matter, it never did. The ropes cut me, deep gashes into my skin. They broke two ribs as well as an ankle. But it did not stop my Uncle.
I repaired my ribs and ankle with another spell I knew and this angered him. He hit me so hard that he broke my wrist again.
So many times I considered ending it all. The thought of just running outside and freezing in the ice occurred to me. But then you would never know why, you would think it something you had done. So I pushed on, blocking the thoughts of freezing out of my mind and desperately focused on pleasing him, and sustaining fewer bruises. One night he told me I was softening. I only tried to smile before he poured himself back in.
A few weeks later, I returned to school. You discovered my secret, I started seeing Cainbridge and saw something else of Draco. You know the rest. Some days ago, I learnt why Ginny left early. I can't believe you two, Harry! After everything I always said!
Then Cainbridge pressed charges, but my Uncle fought them, winning. I returned home, he tortured me once more. School came again and I told Draco the basics.
After Draco cursed at me, my heart split. After everything I had been through, he tossed me aside. Enclosed is a letter to him, please don't read it, just give it to him in a few weeks.
I'm sorry Harry that I stole your Firebolt, I promise I'll raise some money to pay you back for it. And I'm sorry Ron for hurting you.
I'm not sure where I'm going to go. I considered the places I know, but I'll be found. For now, I'm a fugitive, and have no idea what I'm going to do.
I'm sorry. I've gone like a 'candle in the wind'.
Hermione.
Harry looked at the letter, fighting back tears. Ron had tears spilling over his cheeks, dripping onto the floor.
Harry pulled out the letter to Draco and threw it aside. He didn't need this. He just didn't need this.
"Harry?" Ron asked, his voice breaking.
"Yes?"
"Can I have a hug?" he whispered, like he never had asked before. Harry tried to smile, but ended up just sobbing into Ron's shoulder.
~*~*~
"She's gone, isn't she?" Ginny asked immediately. "She's run away, hasn't she?" Harry could only numbly nod. "Oh god," she sobbed, throwing her arms around Harry.
~*~*~
Hermione flew on her broomstick, climbing in altitude. 'What would happen if I fell off?' she contemplated.
~*~*~
"Where's the other girl?" Draco sniggered as he walked past Harry, Ron and Ginny at breakfast.
"She...she's not feeling well. She...she's staying in her room," Ginny lied. Draco studied her for a minute.
"You sure?"
"Would she lie?" Ron hissed.
"I dunno. Looks like it."
"Get lost," Harry whispered fiercely.
"Fine," Draco retorted. He stalked off to his table, thoroughly annoyed that they had lied. Was she really sick? Or just avoiding him? He wanted to say his story on Hostia, but he knew that she would never want him back.
~*~*~*~*~*~ Flashback ~*~*~*~*~*~
"Daddy! Please leave Hostia! Please!" Draco yelled at his father. The six - year - old watched in horror as his father withdrew his wand. "Daddy, NO!"
"Seca," he murmured. Blue light shot from the end of Lucius Malfoy's wand. His son darted in front, taking the gash on his back. He flinched, but made no noise.
"I told you what would happen if you interfered!" Lucius roared. A spell was cast and Draco felt himself fly upwards, watching helplessly as his father announced the killing curse. Draco shut his ears and eyes.
Bright light crossed his vision and when he opened his eyes, his sister was on the floor, dead. Draco whimpered before he was ordered to go to his room, his father pulling him.
"Oh, honey!" Narcissa burst, running to her daughter. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
~*~*~*~*~*~ End flashback ~*~*~*~*~*~
"We really should give him the letter you guys," Ginny said, staring over at Draco. His eyes were shut and when they opened they were faraway. Harry followed her glance and frowned at Draco. What was his problem with him? Harry shrugged and turned back to Ginny.
"She said a few weeks, not a couple of hours," he replied. Ginny sighed and looked up at the owls that had just flooded through the opening in the roof. Why had Hermione decided to run away?
~*~*~
"Mr. Potter?" the Potions teacher asked.
"Yes, Professor?"
"Can I see you for a moment?" Harry nodded and made sure his potion was fine to leave before weaving through the cauldrons to the professor.
"Yes?"
"I've noticed your marks were terribly low with Professor Snape. Could you tell me why?" she asked, rather kindly for a Slytherin head.
"He would find some way of ruining it. So I got no marks. Plus, even when I managed to hand them in, he always criticized them and marked me down or I just plain couldn't concentrate on what he wanted."
"Ah. Well, I will say Mr. Potter, that even for a rather...misleading amount of marks with him, with me you are one of my finer students."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry mumbled, blushing slightly.
"I would also like to inquire where Miss Granger is this morning?"
"Oh...she...um...she wasn't feeling well," Harry replied.
"Has anyone ever told you you're a bad liar, Potter?" Draco drawled.
"Shut up, Ferret," he muttered. Draco did flinch.
"Where's the girlfriend? Hmm? I don't believe she's not feeling well. She's somewhere else, Professor. They aren't telling you the truth!"
Ron watched as Harry turned on Draco, steam nearly coming out his ears. Ron was frightened at the amount of anger in his face. Draco, was visibly worried too.
"You wouldn't know a thing about girlfriends, Malfoy," he hissed.
"Yeah? Didn't you notice Hermione and I were together?"
"Oh, yes. Of course! How could I forget? Now, let's see. Her heart was so broken when she stormed off, that she ran away!" Harry yelled, in his anger forgetting to cover the story of her running away. Draco opened his mouth, but when he realised what Harry had said, he tried to think of something else. The result was that Draco kept closing and opening his lips.
By now, the entire Potions class had stopped with their Potions and were watching the pair. Orandi Stone watched them with her green eyes, interest flickering.
"She what?" Draco whispered. Harry realised what he had said. Oh well, may as well come out with it.
"She ran away, yesterday. She wrote a note to Ron and me, and one to give to you in a few weeks. Too late now, I suppose," he mumbled, taking out the other envelope and handing it to Draco. "So don't you dare tell me how to treat a girlfriend, because at least mine still sits with me."
Draco didn't appear to notice as he asked the teacher if her could read the letter.
"You only have five minutes and you're dismissed," she said.
"Please, Professor?" he begged. "This could be really important!"
"Oh...alright," Stone sighed. Draco whizzed out the door, clutching the letter.
~*~*~
Dearest Draco,
It's over between us. Whether I return for N.E.W.T's or not I don't know, but I can't stand the way you hurt me so.
Hermione
Draco looked at the letter, a picture falling out of the envelope of her only a few months ago. Her hair was still curly and her eyes were trying to smile. It was probably from the holidays.
He picked up the photo and tore it in half, the half again and then into tiny pieces that flew in the wind.
"You'll never understand!" he screamed as he tossed the shards of paper. "My life is hell, everyday of the week! I hate you, Hermione! I hate you!"
Draco slumped to the floor, tears streaming down his face.
~*~*~
"What did you do?" her mother demanded.
"Nothing, I just needed a break."
"Well, you can stay a week. If your Uncle wants you longer, you can go away with him in a week. But no longer here."
"Fine," Hermione responded. Being with her Uncle actually sounded good for a change.
~*~*~
"Hermione has come home for a week. She's almost decided I think that she'll go with you," Hermione's mother said to her Uncle.
"Oh? Good, I won't mind the company. Any chance I could steal her for half an hour? Something I'd really like to show her," her Uncle growled.
"Sure! Take her for as long as you want! If you want, we can keep dinner and you can come down later. Hazel and I were going to go to bed early because we have an extremely early patient in the morning. Just try not to make too much noise. Though, you never do anyway," Michael replied.
"Thanks."
Hermione ran up the stairs to her room, knowing what would be coming. She heard the creaking of the stairs and began to undo her robe. Maybe, she thought, she might actually try and enjoy this. After all, no one else loved her.
"Hermione?" Michael Granger asked, opening the door. "You're Uncle wants to show you something. I said you could have dinner later, that ok? And mum and I will be gone early early tomorrow morning and be back probably around midnight. Busy patients, you know?" he asked. Hermione just nodded. Oh well.
"Ok, well, here comes your Uncle so I'll leave you two in peace and hope you have fun with whatever it is and I'll say good night to you both now so as not to disturb you later," he said, nodding to the pair. Hermione nodded again. Hermione's father walked down the stairs as her Uncle staggered into the room.
"Ah," he grinned. He closed the door and locked it before collapsing on top of Hermione and tearing her clothes off in record time.
~*~*~
"Hope it's a nice time in - wherever you're going!" Hazel called out.
"Thanks!" Hermione's Uncle yelled back. They got into the car and immediately her Uncle locked all the doors.
"Now," he hissed, "I want a silence charm, a charm that makes it look like someone is driving - no funny business and windows so that no one can see in, just make it that there are a couple of books on the back seat. Oh, and finally, I want those seats to be folded down and you naked in the back," her Uncle commanded. She nodded numbly, waving her finger around and casting the spells that he had requested.
"Done," she said softly.
"Not quite."
"What isn't done?"
"You aren't naked."
"I thought you might like to...touch things," Hermione replied stiffly.
"Thoughtful. Getting used to this, aren't you, little girl? Well, now that you mention it. I would like to fondle things, so get into the back like you are and get this thing going."
Hermione allowed herself time to get her Uncle in and then herself. Then she activated the dummy driving doll and the car started to drive it's way to the airport. It wasn't even out the driveway before he started on her coat.
He bit at the buttons before unbuttoning them down to her feet. Hermione slid her arms out of the sleeves, leaving her other clothes. She had decided on a pair of tight fitting pants that showed off her slim legs and a beautiful pink top that had clip buttons and accentuated her breasts and hips.
"Nice clothes. Pity though. You never remember to tell me where the zipper is on your pants," he whispered in her ear.
"It's at the front where I thought you'd find most pleasure. There's a second one at the back," she whimpered quickly.
"Thanks."
He undid each button on her top, slowly revealing what it so cunningly hid.
"Don't take your arms out." Hermione nodded.
He looked at her bra and tried to figure out how to open it.
"Where does this open?" he growled.
Hermione turned and he straddled her legs to stop her getting away. He saw the clip and undid it with his teeth and it fell away. Running his arms around her stomach, he lifted her body up, arching her back, and bit at the top of her ear. His tongue trailed the inside of it as one of his hands left her stomach and clawed upwards, towards her breasts.
They were squeezed and pulled, twiddled and supported before he spun her over and clamped his teeth onto her nipple, rubbing his nose into them. Hermione moaned, she had to admit that it was a new experience. Her Uncle was surprised but didn't let it falter in his bite. His hands dug for her front zipper and unzipped it with such force that he was shocked. Then he lifted her up, breasts in his face, and undid the back one. She kicked off her pants and felt the last shred of clothing be forced off. His hands massaged her body as he wrenched off his shirt and pants and buried himself inside her.
He was emptying into her, letting it run free of his body and into his mistress'.
"So where are we going?" Hermione whispered.
"A surprise. But a place where sex is everything, and we can get married. And you'll never go back to that school again. You'll be with me 24 hours a day, and you're parents will never find us. You can pleasure me when I need it, which is every - single - minute!" he yelled, slapping her face on the last three words. Hermione let them come, not willing to stop them. "You'll never be dressed, unless I want to strip you, but over there, yes, they like to pass the girls 'round!"
Hermione just nodded, arching her back up to him. The car came to an abrupt halt as Hermione looked outside to see a checking squad of police.
"It's the police!" she whispered.
"You're spells worked, did they not?"
"Yes."
"Well then. Submit to me!"
Hermione allowed his tongue to claim its possession, allowed him to claim her for eternity.
"Yep, nothing in their, just travel books and magazines. Ok, sir. Keep driving and thanks for your co - operation!" the policeman said, walking away. Hermione tried to make a sound but her Uncle rammed himself up and forced her to shut up.
The car began moving again and the driver turned.
"We don't have much longer," he announced. Hermione let him take his last moments before changing himself and then cradling Hermione's breasts.
"These will be mine soon, your whole body. And then, then you will feel sex like you never have before!"
Hermione nodded numbly and dressed herself. Oh well.
~*~*~
"Welcome, Mr. Granger! It is nice of you to join us in Africa! And this must be your engaged wife. Why! She is a pretty one! I'm sure we'll have fun!" a black guy said, shaking her Uncle's hand. She walked behind him slowly, hoping he would forget she was there. A second later, she was in his arms and being kissed.
"Nice to see a pretty girl for a change," her Uncle said.
"Yes, yes. My, can I be first, Mr. Granger? I want a piece!"
"Well, she's been in training for quite some time. And unlike the others, she can silence your houses and cloud the windows so people can't see or hear anything."
"What a bonus!" the man said, delighted.
"Oh yes. That's why I say, she'll be a great one. Greater than the others."
Hermione could only listen. This was obviously routine. She wasn't the first one.
"What's her name?"
"Hermione. But I just think 'little girl' is better. After all, she isn't quite 18 yet. But she's wonderful. She has a real weak spot if you place your hands on her hips, and she's been taught with force, so no easy going, just push and pulling," he said, throwing her into the truck.
"Yes," agreed the man.
~*~*~
"Girl?" her Uncle yelled, slapping her face. "We don't want to make a bad impression on our new friends and family. Wake up or I'll slap you again!"
Hermione opened her eyes and blinked in the dimness of the light. Her Uncle's raspy voice silenced as he snapped his lips over hers. Then it stopped and Hermione saw a few lights on in a house. A few teepee's dotted themselves around the house and a few young kids could be seen in the house. The truck stopped and the man got down.
"We have another!" he yelled. Out of the teepee's ran ten or so men, all around 25 - ish. One younger one came, probably closer to twenty and he smiled kindly but sadly when he saw Hermione. She smiled weakly before she was hauled off the back of the truck into someone's arms.
"I'm taking her first!" the younger one said. Some of the other's booed, but a few other's whispered that he ought to get into practice. She was taken to the teepee furthest away from all the others, meters from the house. He placed her on his little bed and looked sadly at her.
"I feel sorry for you," he spoke.
"Why?"
"Because normally the young ones don't last more than a few months before they try to run away and get caught. Then they're brought back and killed."
Hermione tried to keep her face the same.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"Hermione. What is yours?"
"Mine is Dylan. I...Do you want me to hurt you?"
"No, but that is what I'm here for."
"And that is my job. But I don't want to hurt you."
"Then give me to someone else. They won't care."
Dylan leant over and kissed her. Hermione melted at his warmth and wrapped an arm around his neck. It fingered through his hair as he climbed up on to the bed. He lifted her up so he was on the bottom and entangled his right hand in her hair, his left on her waist.
"I can't do this," Hermione said, pulling away.
"Why not?"
"I've learnt to do it forcefully. You're too soft, too genuine."
"But you're gorgeous, and I want to do it slow."
Hermione looked at his deep blue eyes and lost her sense of sanity as she submitted to another kiss.
~*~*~
"What did you think, Dylan?" Hermione's Uncle asked at breakfast.
"Oh! She was fantastic Mr. Granger. I'd really like to keep her, may I?"
"Absolutely not! She's for sharing, a toy, not for loving. I have already fallen in love, I cannot do it anymore with her. It does not work that way! No, you will pass her 'round whilst I find others."
"Oh, ok Mr. Granger."
"Good. Now, I really must get going."
"Good bye Mr. Granger."
"Good bye, Dylan."
~*~*~
"Take her slowly and she'll submit to anything," Alfred passed on the next morning. The others nodded.
"Can I have her today?" Mike asked.
"Sure."
~*~*~
"I've been told slow, but I'm not that patient," Mike said.
"Fine."
"But I am hard."
"Fine."
"Don't you care, you slut?"
"I'm only being told what I already know."
~*~*~
Dear Harry, Ron and Ginny,
I'm sorry. I'm fine. Weather's fine.
Love Hermione
"She isn't fine," Ginny seethed.
"Where could she have gone?" Ron asked.
"Dunno. But from this paper and the tool she used to write it, I'd say an under privileged country, say, Africa," Harry replied.
"Africa? Why would she be there?" Ginny queried.
"Because her Uncle's making her do it," Harry responded.
"Huh?" Ron asked.
"Look," Harry said. He got out his wand and tapped the sheet of paper. Letter began to swirl and then they resolved themselves into letters.
I'm glad you found the trick. I couldn't bare if you hadn't.
At the moment, I'm in Africa. I returned home to my parents and Uncle and then he took me away. I'm in a camp of about twenty people, all except one of whom I'm a sex toy to.
I've made a friend, Dylan, and he's told me that the young ones (I'm not the first) that try to escape are murdered when they are captured. The others either commit suicide or have so many babies that they die in mid - birth. The other option is that they waste away.
I wish that I hadn't run now, it seems so stupid. Compared to here, that's a sanctuary. I'm lucky to even get two pieces of bread and two glasses of water a day. Dylan says I've already wasted away to half of what I was a week and a half ago.
I'm so scared, you guys. Everyone just takes me, I've gotten no sleep since I got here. But there is nothing I can do. I'm sorry Harry about your broom, consider the money plan on hold. Buy another and if I get out of here, I promise I'll pay you back.
I have to go now because I can here someone coming and I don't want them to catch me.
Hermione
"Oh god," Ginny breathed for the second time in three weeks.
"Well, she has a friend. That's good, isn't it?" Ron asked. Harry and Ginny looked at him.
"Are you mad?" Ginny asked, knocking on his head.
"Have you looked in the mirror?" he retorted. Ginny scowled. Recently, the cold had gotten to her and she had broken out in really bad eczema.
"Do you reckon we should tell him?" Harry asked, him meaning Draco.
"It wasn't addressed to him," Ginny replied.
"Was that from Hermione?" Draco asked, rushing over to them.
"What would you care?" Ginny said.
"Was that from Hermione?" he repeated, louder.
"What would you care?" Ginny raised her voice.
"Yes," Ron said.
"It was?" Draco asked. Ron nodded. He nudged Harry and Harry hurriedly tapped the paper to turn it back to the original copy. He read it before digging out his wand.
"There isn't any secret message, we tried," Ginny sneered.
"Let me try," he whispered, tapping the paper. He watched as the letters swirled and formed words. Ron snatched the paper from him.
"Hey!" Draco yelled.
"It wasn't addressed to you. Butt out!" Ron cried back. Then he ran up to the common room with the letter.
~*~*~
"Hi Hermione," a voice said from the doorway. Hermione turned.
"Hullo Dylan," she whispered. He fumbled in his pockets for the bread from breakfast. He found it and handed the slice to Hermione.
"They're getting suspicious with my bread disappearing. I don't know what to do," he said, looking down at the small girl in front of him. There was nothing left of her. Her skin was pulled tightly around her bones and her face was grey and hollow. She took the bread and nibbled at it, her appetite near diminished with the lack of food.
"I need some vegies or fruit. Could you get an apple for later?" she said, so softly he had to lean down to hear her.
"I can try," he replied. He knelt down in front of her and brushed her matty brown hair with his fingers.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I came for a purpose. I'll leave with a life undone. But when I die, can you send this message to a friend? Just say 'Harry' and it'll fly."
"You aren't going to die!" he protested.
"Dylan. I don't have much longer. I can see it in your eyes. I'm not even used any more. I just sit here and hope some food will fall from the sky."
"Why don't you use a spell?" he asked.
"Food spells won't work because I'm not in a magic enough country. And I can't disappear somewhere else because I don't have enough strength and I don't have a licence. I could kill myself."
"I'm sorry," Dylan repeated.
"I told you, don't be. Give me a kiss and a soft hug and I'm going to try and sleep."
"Ok," Dylan whispered. He wrapped his arms around Hermione's frame before pulling away and giving her a soft kiss. Then he scooped her off the floor and placed her in the bed and wrapped the blanket around her shivering body.
~*~*~
"Hermione!" Dylan whispered again. He shook her slightly and she tried to open her eyes. "Hermione! Everyone's asleep! We can run to the airport together and get back to England. I've got your coat, we can run Hermione!"
"I couldn't. I'm too weak," she rasped.
"Try a disappearing spell. Put a silence charm on the teepee and try that spell!"
"But I could kill myself!" she protested.
"Or die here. Come on! Let's give it a go!"
"I'll try," she crackled. "One...two...three...'crack!'"
~*~*~
"Stupefy!" Hermione whispered. Two flight crew, a man and woman, fell to the ground. Dylan dragged them into the corner and stripped them of their clothes.
"Their ID's!" he cried. Hermione waved her fingers.
"Done."
They dressed quickly, not looking at each other.
'Flight 1698 to England is now in the final stages of boarding. We are still waiting on Lucy Gardiner and Muhammad Price to accompany this flight. Could all passengers please hurry.'
"Quick!" Hermione whispered.
"What do we look like?"
"Oh god," Hermione realised. She quickly flicked her fingers and they were mirror images of Lucy and Muhammad.
"Cool! Now, let's get going," Dylan said, hurrying off. He picked up the bags and ran quickly to the flight gate.
"Sorry, Lucy's coming. Traffic, you know?" Dylan said. The clerk nodded. Hermione caught up quickly and handed her ticket in.
"Better get going quickly now," the clerk said. Hermione and Dylan heard the words halfway across to the plane. They jumped up the stairs and the door was shut.
"Only just made it, Lucy!" a girl said from behind Hermione. She turned.
"Oh, yeah. Sorry, Julie. I got caught up. Do you mind if I take a nap? I'm really tired," Hermione asked. Julie chewed her lip.
"Ok, there's one down there. But Muhammad, you ok then?"
"I'm not - Yeah I'm fine," Dylan countered.
"You're not what?"
"I'm not very good at this."
"Ha! I thought you were going to say you weren't feeling well!" Julie laughed. "Don't worry, you'll pick it up quickly."
Hermione walked down the aisle, smiling at the passengers before falling into the bed in the shut off compartment. She wasn't even on the pillow before she was asleep.
~*~*~
"Can I just check on Lucy?" Dylan asked.
"Sure," Julie said. Dylan stumbled down the aisle and peeped in through the door. Hermione was fast asleep. He smiled and slipped in. He lifted her up and place her under the covers, pulling the blanket over her.
"Dylan?" she murmured.
"Shh..." he said, stroking her hair off her face. "It's alright, love. Keep sleeping. I'm saving all the extra food so you can eat something. It's ok," he whispered. He softly kissed her forehead and down her nose, finally meeting her lips and engulfing them with his warmth. Hermione emitted a very small moan and pulled him down on to her. His body was warm and comforting next to hers, and she immediately felt secure. She attempted to loop and arm around his neck and waist.
"Please don't leave," she whimpered. He assured her he wouldn't, kissing her again and stroking her hair.
~*~*~
"I feel better after those apples," Hermione whispered later. Dylan nodded. They caught a cab to Hermione's place and she called for Harry's broom. It soared through the air to her and she gripped it tightly. "Mount it like this and push off when I say. Ready? Now!" The pair kicked off and Hermione steered the broom quickly through the clouds.
Within minutes they were out of sight and Hermione placed a quick invisibility spell on them, so they couldn't be seen.
An hour later Hermione touched down near the lake and removed the invisible spell.
"Where are we?" Dylan asked.
"My home, Hogwarts. Can you carry me through those doors? Here," Hermione muttered. She performed a quick, but elaborate spell and Dylan could see what she saw. "Through those doors turn right and you'll see this gargoyle that has 'Me' underneath it. Say 'Shooting Stars' and a staircase will wind up. Jump on and open the door at the top."
"Ok," Dylan said. He picked Hermione up and walked up through the doors and found the gargoyle quickly. "Shooting Stars," he announced softly. The gargoyle jumped and frowned but then started spinning. Dylan clambered on and opened the door. An old man with a long, white beard turned and stared at Dylan.
"Is that Hermione Granger?" he asked.
"Yes," he replied.
"Oh gosh," he whispered, running up and grabbing the girl.
"And you? You are a Muggle! How on earth did you get here?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Once I got going I couldn't stop. Anyway, read, review and I'll have the next chapter up soon.
Erm...I also have to confess something. Any of you that read any of my other stories apart from this one and 'Alter Ego's' will go into uproar because I've put them on hold. I have about six or seven others, plus two long, one booklength, fics, so expect none of them to be updated for a while.
I'll make it official by putting 'On Hold until further notice' but at the moment I just can't keep up with the fics and other stuff.
Plus I go back to school on Jan. 29, so it'll be hard writing and juggling homework. I'm only so young! And I already get heaps of homework. Life is so not fair! *grumble, grumble*
Translations:
The quill could be like a 'Secare' quill, meaning to cut
Seca - Cut (Cookies to anyone who's seen it other places!)
And for every review written the house elves have disobeyed Hermione's efforts in SPEW and have decided to give hot chocolates (with double marshmallows if requested) and a piece of yummy cake. If you don't like one or either of these, I'm sure something else can be arranged and if you are part of SPEW then please, won't you review for me?!?!?!? :-)
A/N: This is kind of like two chapters in one so bare with me! It could also be a little graphic.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"My dreams came true,
When I found you,
My miracle,
If you, could see, what I see,
You're the answer to my prayers,
Yeah and if you, could feel, the tenderness I feel,
You would know,
It would be clear,
That angels brought me here..."
~~~~ Angels brought me here
~~~~ Guy Sebastian, a.k.a. Aussie Idol
"I can't live like this anymore!" Hermione screamed, hurling a book at the wall. Ginny sat, hoping she would just say her problems rather than bottle it up. "Where's the quill?" she ranted. "The quill, the quill...where is it?"
Poking through her trunk, she prized it out of the compartment and found the Muggle textbook. She opened the book to a new page and tore a line through it with the quill. The page glistened with the blood, her blood. She ran lines up and down the page, began naughts and crosses on her arm. Ginny was frightened. Hermione was insane.
Blood began to spill over her arm and stain the bed. The crisp, white sheets had droplets of red on them and Ginny just watched, somewhere between fascination and horror. The quill was cutting Hermione's arms. It was...Ginny tore her gaze away.
"Ah..." she breathed. The page was turned and Hermione began some sort of diary entry. Ginny waited until she was finished before looking at her again.
"Hermione," she began. Hermione looked up, her brow creased in confusion.
"Ginny? Where did you come from? How much have you seen? Why are you - "
"Ginny, yes. I came from the Great Hall. Seen everything, here to comfort you," Ginny replied wanly. Hermione shut the book and shoved it back into her bag, quill included. A quick wave of her wand and the bed was clean again.
"Ginny, my life is a lie. You don't - "
"I know everything," Ginny cut in sharply. Hermione's ranting silenced.
"What?"
"I know everything. About you going home, your Uncle, Cainbridge, Draco," she paused. "Snape."
"But how...did Harry or Ron tell you?"
"On the contrary, it was after Snape...attacked you, you were rattling on about things that I asked Dumbledore about. He told me nearly everything. The rest I figured out myself."
Hermione picked up another book and hurled it at the wall. It hit with a slam and Hermione rummaged through her trunk. She found a glass object and threw it. It broke into a million little slithers and tinkled as it hit the stone floor. Ginny waited patiently.
Finally, after everything had been thrown, Hermione slumped to the ground, tears not coming, just emotional overload. Ginny was at her side instantly.
"It was bad, wasn't it? He was there the whole time, wasn't he?" she whispered. Hermione felt tears prick her eyes painfully. Ginny cradled her head in an effort to control her. Tears began to flow down her face and Ginny took her answers as a yes. It had been bad, he had been there.
She kissed her friend on the forehead. Hermione had always been more of a sister than a best friend, and it hurt Ginny to see her 'sister' in such pain. Hermione looked up at Ginny with a weak smile.
"So, why did you leave holidays early?" she asked. Ginny tried not to cry. Then she began her painful story.
~*~*~
'Meet me tonight, straight after dinner, large oak tree on other side of lake.' The note was scrawled in Draco's handwriting as he had carefully dropped it into her bag at Potions whilst asking her for an ingredient.
Hermione wondered what was so secretive, but didn't mention it to anybody. She busied herself with homework and said that she wasn't hungry when it was dinner time. The others nodded, leaving her in peace.
After fifteen minutes though, she was bored waiting and went down to the lake to find the tree. It wasn't hard. She sat and waited until she saw the doors open and a blonde haired figure emerge. The doors shut quickly and they figure hurried over to the tree.
"Hermione? You there?" Draco whispered.
"Yes," she replied. He smiled briefly before running over to her side and sitting next to her.
"Why all the secret meeting?" she asked. He looked at her, his face buried in shadow. He didn't respond but took up her hand in his and kissed it softly.
She looked at him, wondering what he was doing. His lips trailed up her arm and he sucked softly at her shoulder before kissing the soft creases in her neck. His lips felt warm and comforting, contrasting to her Uncle's malice.
"Draco, no, please," Hermione whimpered. He tightened but sat back up against the tree, his face unreadable.
"What's your Uncle like?" he asked suddenly.
"What?"
"What's your Uncle like?" he repeated.
"In what respect?"
"To being treated by your parents."
"Oh. Well, they think he's fine and can't see what I whinge about. It's hard, because I have absolutely no one to turn to."
"What about me?" Draco asked, anger hidden beneath his voice now.
"Well, it's harder than you know. My life would be harder than yours."
"What do you know?" he snarled softly.
"Draco! Honestly! Your father's a Death Eater and your mother watches him torture you! That would be a blissful thing to me!" Hermione retorted.
"You assume, Granger! You assume so god damn much! You think that you're hard done by but you know nothing of my life, Mudblood!" Draco said coldly. Hermione flinched at the coldness cutting sound in his voice.
"I'm going," she announced, getting to her feet.
"Too chicken to discover my life? Yeah, that'd be right! But you know," he said, grabbing her wrist, "nothing in my life is normal."
"Yeah? Well what are your problems? Come on! Tell!" Hermione challenged. Draco released his grip.
"Telling you of Hostia would be to hard," he whispered to himself. Hermione chose to ignore this and ran to the castle, leaving Draco with tears sliding quietly down his face.
~*~*~
"It's over between me and Draco," Hermione yelled hysterically.
"Hermione? What did you actually see in Draco?" Ginny asked after a moments silence.
"I...I just thought I could change him. I thought that maybe he was a nice person, but I know he isn't."
"Right," Ginny replied quietly, nodding her head.
"I...I need to do something Gin, can you leave me for a while? I have to write something," Hermione added, seeing Ginny's face.
"Fine."
"Thanks."
~*~*~
"Harry, can I borrow you're broomstick?"
"Hang on, Dean. Sorry, what?"
"Can I borrow you're broomstick?" Hermione repeated. "Please?"
"Why?"
"I want to practice something I read about in a book."
"Oh, fine. Here's the key to the padlock, and you've got an hour and a half."
"Thanks Harry!" Hermione gushed as she grabbed the key and sprinted off.
"You sure that's what she wants it for?" Dean asked his neighbour as they continued their DADA homework.
"No. But what else could she use it for?"
~*~*~
"Hey Ron! Ron! Have you seen 'Mione?" Harry yelled at his friend. Ron glanced up from his intense conversation with Parvati.
"Nope, sorry mate. Haven't seen 'er for hours!"
"She probably just lost track of time..." Harry mumbled.
"Harry? HARRY!" Ginny called.
"What?"
"Hermione never slept in her bed last night."
"Oh - "
"And this was on her pillow," she added, waving a pale yellow letter. Harry glanced down at it. Harry and Ron.
Harry's stomach gave a lurch as he took the envelope and dragged Ron out by the back of his robes.
"What? Harry, have you gone insane? I finally manage to talk to a girl with minimum embarrassment and you pull me away. Why? Why did you - "
"Hermione didn't sleep in her bed last night and this," Harry waved the envelope, "was on her pillow." Ron mouthed an obscenity.
"Open it!" he begged. Harry nodded as he tore the envelope. Pastel paper, sheets of it, were inside.
Dearest Harry and Ron,
I'm sorry to do this to you. I don't know where to start this letter and where to finish it.
My life, as I told Ginny, is just a big lie. I'm a Muggle born witch, I don't belong at Hogwarts. As Ron said in first year, It's no wonder I didn't have any friends because I was a nightmare. I was blessed though after the troll incident to meet you two up close.
In second year, you saved my life and the schools'. If it wasn't for you then I may still be petrified, or worse, dead. I can only say thanks.
Third and fourth year were when Ginny really started to grow up a lot faster that I. She developed feelings of love, friendship and compassion for a certain Gryffindor. I could see Ron was similar about some one else.
Ron's ears turned red.
Fifth year was the hardest yet. After losing Sirius, and hurting others, I could see no end.
I went home, and was introduced to my long lost Uncle. My nightmare began.
From the very first moment, I could see he wanted something that he thought I could give. That first night I screamed and cried. He merely hit me and hit me, telling me to shut up. I couldn't understand how it could be so awful.
My parents forbid me to see you, to get to know my Uncle better, and banned me from going to see the Old crowd. Every time I saw my Uncle, my feelings of fear and resentment grew. My parents went to work for the day, early in the morning. He would wait ten minutes, then come in and stay until they were about to get home. The things he did still make me cry and they are far too horrific to write down.
I was blue and black, but luckily one day, my Uncle was forced to do some shopping and my parents went out. He did, knowing that to keep me he had to stay on good terms with my parents. So he went out and I broke into my trunk. I dug out a book on concealment spells and practiced. That's why you never suspected a thing, Unfortunately, he came home extremely early, and it was twice as bad that day. He slapped me so hard for closing my eyes and gripped me so hard that he broke my wrist. I merely kept trying to please him.
Then I used the charm and returned to school. Maybe I looked different, because some people approached me and others ran. I was hurt unbelievably.
I got through sixth year, and told you I could not return to Ron's house or visit the old crowd. Remember I said that my parents and I were going away? Yeah, well, it ended up that my Uncle and I went away.
Away from my parents gave him 24 hour access to me. He never thought twice. He would go all day, he was extraordinary, never stopping. At times he would stop for a toilet break where I would stick my head out the window and vomit violently before he would return and resume. One day he asked me to do a rope spell on the bed. I did not understand but he raised his hand and I quickly did so. He pushed me onto the bed and ropes immediately coiled themselves around me.
"I made alterations," he said. "The more you resist or try to pull away, they will pull tighter, hurt more, and make it easier for me."
I was terrified. I tried desperately to please him, submit to what he wanted. But it did not matter, it never did. The ropes cut me, deep gashes into my skin. They broke two ribs as well as an ankle. But it did not stop my Uncle.
I repaired my ribs and ankle with another spell I knew and this angered him. He hit me so hard that he broke my wrist again.
So many times I considered ending it all. The thought of just running outside and freezing in the ice occurred to me. But then you would never know why, you would think it something you had done. So I pushed on, blocking the thoughts of freezing out of my mind and desperately focused on pleasing him, and sustaining fewer bruises. One night he told me I was softening. I only tried to smile before he poured himself back in.
A few weeks later, I returned to school. You discovered my secret, I started seeing Cainbridge and saw something else of Draco. You know the rest. Some days ago, I learnt why Ginny left early. I can't believe you two, Harry! After everything I always said!
Then Cainbridge pressed charges, but my Uncle fought them, winning. I returned home, he tortured me once more. School came again and I told Draco the basics.
After Draco cursed at me, my heart split. After everything I had been through, he tossed me aside. Enclosed is a letter to him, please don't read it, just give it to him in a few weeks.
I'm sorry Harry that I stole your Firebolt, I promise I'll raise some money to pay you back for it. And I'm sorry Ron for hurting you.
I'm not sure where I'm going to go. I considered the places I know, but I'll be found. For now, I'm a fugitive, and have no idea what I'm going to do.
I'm sorry. I've gone like a 'candle in the wind'.
Hermione.
Harry looked at the letter, fighting back tears. Ron had tears spilling over his cheeks, dripping onto the floor.
Harry pulled out the letter to Draco and threw it aside. He didn't need this. He just didn't need this.
"Harry?" Ron asked, his voice breaking.
"Yes?"
"Can I have a hug?" he whispered, like he never had asked before. Harry tried to smile, but ended up just sobbing into Ron's shoulder.
~*~*~
"She's gone, isn't she?" Ginny asked immediately. "She's run away, hasn't she?" Harry could only numbly nod. "Oh god," she sobbed, throwing her arms around Harry.
~*~*~
Hermione flew on her broomstick, climbing in altitude. 'What would happen if I fell off?' she contemplated.
~*~*~
"Where's the other girl?" Draco sniggered as he walked past Harry, Ron and Ginny at breakfast.
"She...she's not feeling well. She...she's staying in her room," Ginny lied. Draco studied her for a minute.
"You sure?"
"Would she lie?" Ron hissed.
"I dunno. Looks like it."
"Get lost," Harry whispered fiercely.
"Fine," Draco retorted. He stalked off to his table, thoroughly annoyed that they had lied. Was she really sick? Or just avoiding him? He wanted to say his story on Hostia, but he knew that she would never want him back.
~*~*~*~*~*~ Flashback ~*~*~*~*~*~
"Daddy! Please leave Hostia! Please!" Draco yelled at his father. The six - year - old watched in horror as his father withdrew his wand. "Daddy, NO!"
"Seca," he murmured. Blue light shot from the end of Lucius Malfoy's wand. His son darted in front, taking the gash on his back. He flinched, but made no noise.
"I told you what would happen if you interfered!" Lucius roared. A spell was cast and Draco felt himself fly upwards, watching helplessly as his father announced the killing curse. Draco shut his ears and eyes.
Bright light crossed his vision and when he opened his eyes, his sister was on the floor, dead. Draco whimpered before he was ordered to go to his room, his father pulling him.
"Oh, honey!" Narcissa burst, running to her daughter. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
~*~*~*~*~*~ End flashback ~*~*~*~*~*~
"We really should give him the letter you guys," Ginny said, staring over at Draco. His eyes were shut and when they opened they were faraway. Harry followed her glance and frowned at Draco. What was his problem with him? Harry shrugged and turned back to Ginny.
"She said a few weeks, not a couple of hours," he replied. Ginny sighed and looked up at the owls that had just flooded through the opening in the roof. Why had Hermione decided to run away?
~*~*~
"Mr. Potter?" the Potions teacher asked.
"Yes, Professor?"
"Can I see you for a moment?" Harry nodded and made sure his potion was fine to leave before weaving through the cauldrons to the professor.
"Yes?"
"I've noticed your marks were terribly low with Professor Snape. Could you tell me why?" she asked, rather kindly for a Slytherin head.
"He would find some way of ruining it. So I got no marks. Plus, even when I managed to hand them in, he always criticized them and marked me down or I just plain couldn't concentrate on what he wanted."
"Ah. Well, I will say Mr. Potter, that even for a rather...misleading amount of marks with him, with me you are one of my finer students."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry mumbled, blushing slightly.
"I would also like to inquire where Miss Granger is this morning?"
"Oh...she...um...she wasn't feeling well," Harry replied.
"Has anyone ever told you you're a bad liar, Potter?" Draco drawled.
"Shut up, Ferret," he muttered. Draco did flinch.
"Where's the girlfriend? Hmm? I don't believe she's not feeling well. She's somewhere else, Professor. They aren't telling you the truth!"
Ron watched as Harry turned on Draco, steam nearly coming out his ears. Ron was frightened at the amount of anger in his face. Draco, was visibly worried too.
"You wouldn't know a thing about girlfriends, Malfoy," he hissed.
"Yeah? Didn't you notice Hermione and I were together?"
"Oh, yes. Of course! How could I forget? Now, let's see. Her heart was so broken when she stormed off, that she ran away!" Harry yelled, in his anger forgetting to cover the story of her running away. Draco opened his mouth, but when he realised what Harry had said, he tried to think of something else. The result was that Draco kept closing and opening his lips.
By now, the entire Potions class had stopped with their Potions and were watching the pair. Orandi Stone watched them with her green eyes, interest flickering.
"She what?" Draco whispered. Harry realised what he had said. Oh well, may as well come out with it.
"She ran away, yesterday. She wrote a note to Ron and me, and one to give to you in a few weeks. Too late now, I suppose," he mumbled, taking out the other envelope and handing it to Draco. "So don't you dare tell me how to treat a girlfriend, because at least mine still sits with me."
Draco didn't appear to notice as he asked the teacher if her could read the letter.
"You only have five minutes and you're dismissed," she said.
"Please, Professor?" he begged. "This could be really important!"
"Oh...alright," Stone sighed. Draco whizzed out the door, clutching the letter.
~*~*~
Dearest Draco,
It's over between us. Whether I return for N.E.W.T's or not I don't know, but I can't stand the way you hurt me so.
Hermione
Draco looked at the letter, a picture falling out of the envelope of her only a few months ago. Her hair was still curly and her eyes were trying to smile. It was probably from the holidays.
He picked up the photo and tore it in half, the half again and then into tiny pieces that flew in the wind.
"You'll never understand!" he screamed as he tossed the shards of paper. "My life is hell, everyday of the week! I hate you, Hermione! I hate you!"
Draco slumped to the floor, tears streaming down his face.
~*~*~
"What did you do?" her mother demanded.
"Nothing, I just needed a break."
"Well, you can stay a week. If your Uncle wants you longer, you can go away with him in a week. But no longer here."
"Fine," Hermione responded. Being with her Uncle actually sounded good for a change.
~*~*~
"Hermione has come home for a week. She's almost decided I think that she'll go with you," Hermione's mother said to her Uncle.
"Oh? Good, I won't mind the company. Any chance I could steal her for half an hour? Something I'd really like to show her," her Uncle growled.
"Sure! Take her for as long as you want! If you want, we can keep dinner and you can come down later. Hazel and I were going to go to bed early because we have an extremely early patient in the morning. Just try not to make too much noise. Though, you never do anyway," Michael replied.
"Thanks."
Hermione ran up the stairs to her room, knowing what would be coming. She heard the creaking of the stairs and began to undo her robe. Maybe, she thought, she might actually try and enjoy this. After all, no one else loved her.
"Hermione?" Michael Granger asked, opening the door. "You're Uncle wants to show you something. I said you could have dinner later, that ok? And mum and I will be gone early early tomorrow morning and be back probably around midnight. Busy patients, you know?" he asked. Hermione just nodded. Oh well.
"Ok, well, here comes your Uncle so I'll leave you two in peace and hope you have fun with whatever it is and I'll say good night to you both now so as not to disturb you later," he said, nodding to the pair. Hermione nodded again. Hermione's father walked down the stairs as her Uncle staggered into the room.
"Ah," he grinned. He closed the door and locked it before collapsing on top of Hermione and tearing her clothes off in record time.
~*~*~
"Hope it's a nice time in - wherever you're going!" Hazel called out.
"Thanks!" Hermione's Uncle yelled back. They got into the car and immediately her Uncle locked all the doors.
"Now," he hissed, "I want a silence charm, a charm that makes it look like someone is driving - no funny business and windows so that no one can see in, just make it that there are a couple of books on the back seat. Oh, and finally, I want those seats to be folded down and you naked in the back," her Uncle commanded. She nodded numbly, waving her finger around and casting the spells that he had requested.
"Done," she said softly.
"Not quite."
"What isn't done?"
"You aren't naked."
"I thought you might like to...touch things," Hermione replied stiffly.
"Thoughtful. Getting used to this, aren't you, little girl? Well, now that you mention it. I would like to fondle things, so get into the back like you are and get this thing going."
Hermione allowed herself time to get her Uncle in and then herself. Then she activated the dummy driving doll and the car started to drive it's way to the airport. It wasn't even out the driveway before he started on her coat.
He bit at the buttons before unbuttoning them down to her feet. Hermione slid her arms out of the sleeves, leaving her other clothes. She had decided on a pair of tight fitting pants that showed off her slim legs and a beautiful pink top that had clip buttons and accentuated her breasts and hips.
"Nice clothes. Pity though. You never remember to tell me where the zipper is on your pants," he whispered in her ear.
"It's at the front where I thought you'd find most pleasure. There's a second one at the back," she whimpered quickly.
"Thanks."
He undid each button on her top, slowly revealing what it so cunningly hid.
"Don't take your arms out." Hermione nodded.
He looked at her bra and tried to figure out how to open it.
"Where does this open?" he growled.
Hermione turned and he straddled her legs to stop her getting away. He saw the clip and undid it with his teeth and it fell away. Running his arms around her stomach, he lifted her body up, arching her back, and bit at the top of her ear. His tongue trailed the inside of it as one of his hands left her stomach and clawed upwards, towards her breasts.
They were squeezed and pulled, twiddled and supported before he spun her over and clamped his teeth onto her nipple, rubbing his nose into them. Hermione moaned, she had to admit that it was a new experience. Her Uncle was surprised but didn't let it falter in his bite. His hands dug for her front zipper and unzipped it with such force that he was shocked. Then he lifted her up, breasts in his face, and undid the back one. She kicked off her pants and felt the last shred of clothing be forced off. His hands massaged her body as he wrenched off his shirt and pants and buried himself inside her.
He was emptying into her, letting it run free of his body and into his mistress'.
"So where are we going?" Hermione whispered.
"A surprise. But a place where sex is everything, and we can get married. And you'll never go back to that school again. You'll be with me 24 hours a day, and you're parents will never find us. You can pleasure me when I need it, which is every - single - minute!" he yelled, slapping her face on the last three words. Hermione let them come, not willing to stop them. "You'll never be dressed, unless I want to strip you, but over there, yes, they like to pass the girls 'round!"
Hermione just nodded, arching her back up to him. The car came to an abrupt halt as Hermione looked outside to see a checking squad of police.
"It's the police!" she whispered.
"You're spells worked, did they not?"
"Yes."
"Well then. Submit to me!"
Hermione allowed his tongue to claim its possession, allowed him to claim her for eternity.
"Yep, nothing in their, just travel books and magazines. Ok, sir. Keep driving and thanks for your co - operation!" the policeman said, walking away. Hermione tried to make a sound but her Uncle rammed himself up and forced her to shut up.
The car began moving again and the driver turned.
"We don't have much longer," he announced. Hermione let him take his last moments before changing himself and then cradling Hermione's breasts.
"These will be mine soon, your whole body. And then, then you will feel sex like you never have before!"
Hermione nodded numbly and dressed herself. Oh well.
~*~*~
"Welcome, Mr. Granger! It is nice of you to join us in Africa! And this must be your engaged wife. Why! She is a pretty one! I'm sure we'll have fun!" a black guy said, shaking her Uncle's hand. She walked behind him slowly, hoping he would forget she was there. A second later, she was in his arms and being kissed.
"Nice to see a pretty girl for a change," her Uncle said.
"Yes, yes. My, can I be first, Mr. Granger? I want a piece!"
"Well, she's been in training for quite some time. And unlike the others, she can silence your houses and cloud the windows so people can't see or hear anything."
"What a bonus!" the man said, delighted.
"Oh yes. That's why I say, she'll be a great one. Greater than the others."
Hermione could only listen. This was obviously routine. She wasn't the first one.
"What's her name?"
"Hermione. But I just think 'little girl' is better. After all, she isn't quite 18 yet. But she's wonderful. She has a real weak spot if you place your hands on her hips, and she's been taught with force, so no easy going, just push and pulling," he said, throwing her into the truck.
"Yes," agreed the man.
~*~*~
"Girl?" her Uncle yelled, slapping her face. "We don't want to make a bad impression on our new friends and family. Wake up or I'll slap you again!"
Hermione opened her eyes and blinked in the dimness of the light. Her Uncle's raspy voice silenced as he snapped his lips over hers. Then it stopped and Hermione saw a few lights on in a house. A few teepee's dotted themselves around the house and a few young kids could be seen in the house. The truck stopped and the man got down.
"We have another!" he yelled. Out of the teepee's ran ten or so men, all around 25 - ish. One younger one came, probably closer to twenty and he smiled kindly but sadly when he saw Hermione. She smiled weakly before she was hauled off the back of the truck into someone's arms.
"I'm taking her first!" the younger one said. Some of the other's booed, but a few other's whispered that he ought to get into practice. She was taken to the teepee furthest away from all the others, meters from the house. He placed her on his little bed and looked sadly at her.
"I feel sorry for you," he spoke.
"Why?"
"Because normally the young ones don't last more than a few months before they try to run away and get caught. Then they're brought back and killed."
Hermione tried to keep her face the same.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"Hermione. What is yours?"
"Mine is Dylan. I...Do you want me to hurt you?"
"No, but that is what I'm here for."
"And that is my job. But I don't want to hurt you."
"Then give me to someone else. They won't care."
Dylan leant over and kissed her. Hermione melted at his warmth and wrapped an arm around his neck. It fingered through his hair as he climbed up on to the bed. He lifted her up so he was on the bottom and entangled his right hand in her hair, his left on her waist.
"I can't do this," Hermione said, pulling away.
"Why not?"
"I've learnt to do it forcefully. You're too soft, too genuine."
"But you're gorgeous, and I want to do it slow."
Hermione looked at his deep blue eyes and lost her sense of sanity as she submitted to another kiss.
~*~*~
"What did you think, Dylan?" Hermione's Uncle asked at breakfast.
"Oh! She was fantastic Mr. Granger. I'd really like to keep her, may I?"
"Absolutely not! She's for sharing, a toy, not for loving. I have already fallen in love, I cannot do it anymore with her. It does not work that way! No, you will pass her 'round whilst I find others."
"Oh, ok Mr. Granger."
"Good. Now, I really must get going."
"Good bye Mr. Granger."
"Good bye, Dylan."
~*~*~
"Take her slowly and she'll submit to anything," Alfred passed on the next morning. The others nodded.
"Can I have her today?" Mike asked.
"Sure."
~*~*~
"I've been told slow, but I'm not that patient," Mike said.
"Fine."
"But I am hard."
"Fine."
"Don't you care, you slut?"
"I'm only being told what I already know."
~*~*~
Dear Harry, Ron and Ginny,
I'm sorry. I'm fine. Weather's fine.
Love Hermione
"She isn't fine," Ginny seethed.
"Where could she have gone?" Ron asked.
"Dunno. But from this paper and the tool she used to write it, I'd say an under privileged country, say, Africa," Harry replied.
"Africa? Why would she be there?" Ginny queried.
"Because her Uncle's making her do it," Harry responded.
"Huh?" Ron asked.
"Look," Harry said. He got out his wand and tapped the sheet of paper. Letter began to swirl and then they resolved themselves into letters.
I'm glad you found the trick. I couldn't bare if you hadn't.
At the moment, I'm in Africa. I returned home to my parents and Uncle and then he took me away. I'm in a camp of about twenty people, all except one of whom I'm a sex toy to.
I've made a friend, Dylan, and he's told me that the young ones (I'm not the first) that try to escape are murdered when they are captured. The others either commit suicide or have so many babies that they die in mid - birth. The other option is that they waste away.
I wish that I hadn't run now, it seems so stupid. Compared to here, that's a sanctuary. I'm lucky to even get two pieces of bread and two glasses of water a day. Dylan says I've already wasted away to half of what I was a week and a half ago.
I'm so scared, you guys. Everyone just takes me, I've gotten no sleep since I got here. But there is nothing I can do. I'm sorry Harry about your broom, consider the money plan on hold. Buy another and if I get out of here, I promise I'll pay you back.
I have to go now because I can here someone coming and I don't want them to catch me.
Hermione
"Oh god," Ginny breathed for the second time in three weeks.
"Well, she has a friend. That's good, isn't it?" Ron asked. Harry and Ginny looked at him.
"Are you mad?" Ginny asked, knocking on his head.
"Have you looked in the mirror?" he retorted. Ginny scowled. Recently, the cold had gotten to her and she had broken out in really bad eczema.
"Do you reckon we should tell him?" Harry asked, him meaning Draco.
"It wasn't addressed to him," Ginny replied.
"Was that from Hermione?" Draco asked, rushing over to them.
"What would you care?" Ginny said.
"Was that from Hermione?" he repeated, louder.
"What would you care?" Ginny raised her voice.
"Yes," Ron said.
"It was?" Draco asked. Ron nodded. He nudged Harry and Harry hurriedly tapped the paper to turn it back to the original copy. He read it before digging out his wand.
"There isn't any secret message, we tried," Ginny sneered.
"Let me try," he whispered, tapping the paper. He watched as the letters swirled and formed words. Ron snatched the paper from him.
"Hey!" Draco yelled.
"It wasn't addressed to you. Butt out!" Ron cried back. Then he ran up to the common room with the letter.
~*~*~
"Hi Hermione," a voice said from the doorway. Hermione turned.
"Hullo Dylan," she whispered. He fumbled in his pockets for the bread from breakfast. He found it and handed the slice to Hermione.
"They're getting suspicious with my bread disappearing. I don't know what to do," he said, looking down at the small girl in front of him. There was nothing left of her. Her skin was pulled tightly around her bones and her face was grey and hollow. She took the bread and nibbled at it, her appetite near diminished with the lack of food.
"I need some vegies or fruit. Could you get an apple for later?" she said, so softly he had to lean down to hear her.
"I can try," he replied. He knelt down in front of her and brushed her matty brown hair with his fingers.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I came for a purpose. I'll leave with a life undone. But when I die, can you send this message to a friend? Just say 'Harry' and it'll fly."
"You aren't going to die!" he protested.
"Dylan. I don't have much longer. I can see it in your eyes. I'm not even used any more. I just sit here and hope some food will fall from the sky."
"Why don't you use a spell?" he asked.
"Food spells won't work because I'm not in a magic enough country. And I can't disappear somewhere else because I don't have enough strength and I don't have a licence. I could kill myself."
"I'm sorry," Dylan repeated.
"I told you, don't be. Give me a kiss and a soft hug and I'm going to try and sleep."
"Ok," Dylan whispered. He wrapped his arms around Hermione's frame before pulling away and giving her a soft kiss. Then he scooped her off the floor and placed her in the bed and wrapped the blanket around her shivering body.
~*~*~
"Hermione!" Dylan whispered again. He shook her slightly and she tried to open her eyes. "Hermione! Everyone's asleep! We can run to the airport together and get back to England. I've got your coat, we can run Hermione!"
"I couldn't. I'm too weak," she rasped.
"Try a disappearing spell. Put a silence charm on the teepee and try that spell!"
"But I could kill myself!" she protested.
"Or die here. Come on! Let's give it a go!"
"I'll try," she crackled. "One...two...three...'crack!'"
~*~*~
"Stupefy!" Hermione whispered. Two flight crew, a man and woman, fell to the ground. Dylan dragged them into the corner and stripped them of their clothes.
"Their ID's!" he cried. Hermione waved her fingers.
"Done."
They dressed quickly, not looking at each other.
'Flight 1698 to England is now in the final stages of boarding. We are still waiting on Lucy Gardiner and Muhammad Price to accompany this flight. Could all passengers please hurry.'
"Quick!" Hermione whispered.
"What do we look like?"
"Oh god," Hermione realised. She quickly flicked her fingers and they were mirror images of Lucy and Muhammad.
"Cool! Now, let's get going," Dylan said, hurrying off. He picked up the bags and ran quickly to the flight gate.
"Sorry, Lucy's coming. Traffic, you know?" Dylan said. The clerk nodded. Hermione caught up quickly and handed her ticket in.
"Better get going quickly now," the clerk said. Hermione and Dylan heard the words halfway across to the plane. They jumped up the stairs and the door was shut.
"Only just made it, Lucy!" a girl said from behind Hermione. She turned.
"Oh, yeah. Sorry, Julie. I got caught up. Do you mind if I take a nap? I'm really tired," Hermione asked. Julie chewed her lip.
"Ok, there's one down there. But Muhammad, you ok then?"
"I'm not - Yeah I'm fine," Dylan countered.
"You're not what?"
"I'm not very good at this."
"Ha! I thought you were going to say you weren't feeling well!" Julie laughed. "Don't worry, you'll pick it up quickly."
Hermione walked down the aisle, smiling at the passengers before falling into the bed in the shut off compartment. She wasn't even on the pillow before she was asleep.
~*~*~
"Can I just check on Lucy?" Dylan asked.
"Sure," Julie said. Dylan stumbled down the aisle and peeped in through the door. Hermione was fast asleep. He smiled and slipped in. He lifted her up and place her under the covers, pulling the blanket over her.
"Dylan?" she murmured.
"Shh..." he said, stroking her hair off her face. "It's alright, love. Keep sleeping. I'm saving all the extra food so you can eat something. It's ok," he whispered. He softly kissed her forehead and down her nose, finally meeting her lips and engulfing them with his warmth. Hermione emitted a very small moan and pulled him down on to her. His body was warm and comforting next to hers, and she immediately felt secure. She attempted to loop and arm around his neck and waist.
"Please don't leave," she whimpered. He assured her he wouldn't, kissing her again and stroking her hair.
~*~*~
"I feel better after those apples," Hermione whispered later. Dylan nodded. They caught a cab to Hermione's place and she called for Harry's broom. It soared through the air to her and she gripped it tightly. "Mount it like this and push off when I say. Ready? Now!" The pair kicked off and Hermione steered the broom quickly through the clouds.
Within minutes they were out of sight and Hermione placed a quick invisibility spell on them, so they couldn't be seen.
An hour later Hermione touched down near the lake and removed the invisible spell.
"Where are we?" Dylan asked.
"My home, Hogwarts. Can you carry me through those doors? Here," Hermione muttered. She performed a quick, but elaborate spell and Dylan could see what she saw. "Through those doors turn right and you'll see this gargoyle that has 'Me' underneath it. Say 'Shooting Stars' and a staircase will wind up. Jump on and open the door at the top."
"Ok," Dylan said. He picked Hermione up and walked up through the doors and found the gargoyle quickly. "Shooting Stars," he announced softly. The gargoyle jumped and frowned but then started spinning. Dylan clambered on and opened the door. An old man with a long, white beard turned and stared at Dylan.
"Is that Hermione Granger?" he asked.
"Yes," he replied.
"Oh gosh," he whispered, running up and grabbing the girl.
"And you? You are a Muggle! How on earth did you get here?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Once I got going I couldn't stop. Anyway, read, review and I'll have the next chapter up soon.
Erm...I also have to confess something. Any of you that read any of my other stories apart from this one and 'Alter Ego's' will go into uproar because I've put them on hold. I have about six or seven others, plus two long, one booklength, fics, so expect none of them to be updated for a while.
I'll make it official by putting 'On Hold until further notice' but at the moment I just can't keep up with the fics and other stuff.
Plus I go back to school on Jan. 29, so it'll be hard writing and juggling homework. I'm only so young! And I already get heaps of homework. Life is so not fair! *grumble, grumble*
Translations:
The quill could be like a 'Secare' quill, meaning to cut
Seca - Cut (Cookies to anyone who's seen it other places!)
And for every review written the house elves have disobeyed Hermione's efforts in SPEW and have decided to give hot chocolates (with double marshmallows if requested) and a piece of yummy cake. If you don't like one or either of these, I'm sure something else can be arranged and if you are part of SPEW then please, won't you review for me?!?!?!? :-)