Innocence

Standard Disclaimer Applies!!! WARNING! THIS CHAPTER MAY CONTAIN SCENES OF EXPLICIT SEX! You may either skip these parts or deal with them. In either case I cannot be held responsible for any damage done. You have been warned.

A/N: Terribly sorry it's taking me so long to update all of my stories. I haven't been home much and I spent some time in the hospital recently so my computer access has been limited!

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Dumbledore, Remus, and Snape were waiting for them. Draco resisted the urge to attack Snape and instead wrapped his arm tightly around Hermione's waist. Dumbledore motioned for them to sit and they complied.

Remus spoke first. "I would like to say that I am highly disappointed in two people in this room. The first being you Severus. Why didn't you answer the call?"

"I've explained before that I never got a call, Remus," Snape said, and Hermione thought that for a moment, when his eyes strayed to her, he actually looked saddened, "Had I known that he had sent for her, I would have gone as well. But I never get told anything around here lately!"

"Of course, Severus. We know how much this has upset you, but there's nothing we can do to change the past," Dumbledore said softly.

Remus cleared his throat and spoke again. "The second being," Hermione braced herself, "myself." Everyone looked at him in surprise, "I shouldn't have made you keep yourself so distant from everybody. I'm actually quite glad you went against my orders. Otherwise we were afraid you might… do something drastic…"

"I… er…" Hermione looked around at the people in the room and fresh tears sprang into her eyes. She tried her best to push them away, but a single one slipped free. She quickly wiped it from her cheek. "Thank you all for your concern."

"If you do not wish to continue this assignment, the Order will completely understand, Hermione," Dumbledore said, "I'm sure we could find someone willing to take your place-"

"NO!" Hermione yelled, "I don't want anyone else to go through that! I'm fine- I'll continue as planned."

"Hermione… are you sure?" Remus asked.

She nodded resolutely. "As sure as I've ever been about anything in my life."

"From now on I will not fail to protect you, Miss Granger. You have my word," Snape said in a surprisingly gentle voice.

"Th- thank you, Professor… but it really wasn't anybody's fault. I took the assignment knowing the risks-" Hermione said, taken aback.

"Regardless… I gave my word and I do not intend to take it back," Snape said, "And now if you'll excuse me, I must take my leave. Good evening."

"Is there anything else?" Hermione asked.

"As a matter of fact, there is," Dumbledore said, "I would like to discuss your education… at our last meeting the teachers and I came to a sort of conclusion. What would you two say to taking your N.E.W.T.s early and coming to work for the order full time?"

"What? But- what about…" Hermione hesitated.

"Misters Potter, Weasley, and Longbottom and Miss Lovegood have already been asked and accepted," Dumbledore said.

"Longbottom?" Draco asked in disbelief.

"Yes, Mister Longbottom has an exceptional grade point average and is well over qualified for the job. As are you both…" Dumbledore peered over his spectacles at them.

"But… What about Hogwarts? This is my home… how can I just leave?" she asked.

"You will have until after Christmas vacation to think about this, and then we will be testing the early graduates," Remus stated, "However I suggest you make your decision before then."

"Very well," Draco said, "Good evening."

"Oh! By the way," Dumbledore said before they left, "We missed you at dinner? May I ask where you two had snuck off to?"

Hermione blushed. "Oh… um… we were-"

"On a date," Draco finished.

"I see," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "Good for you."

They exchanged puzzled looks before they left the office and headed for their common room. They sat on the couch in silence for a few moments before Draco spoke.

"You don't have to keep doing this," he said.

"Yes, I do," she replied, keeping her face forward, "Snape said he would do what he could to protect me and I trust him. That's that. End of discussion."

"But-" he sighed, "Fine, let's go to bed. It's been a long day."

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Hermione woke the next morning before sunrise and slipped out carefully. If I'm lucky the Death Eater's meeting will still be going on…

Hermione arrived in her usual black robes and hooded cloak, masking her face. (Only the most trusted know who she actually is.) Voldemort looked incredibly happy to see her.

"Come and take your usual seat dear, we're almost finished," he said, and Hermione complied, "Now, back to business. I have been informed that Harry Potter and a small group of students at Hogwarts are graduating early. Is that right?"

"Yes," replied a monotonous voice that Hermione vaguely remembered. Rita Skeeter is in league with Voldemort?

"Thank you. This is very good. We will attack at his graduation and finish him off once and for all. We have more than enough people among us to overthrow Dumbledore and his pathetic school. And the Ministry will have no idea…" he chuckled, "Crabbe, go and show them the plans… I have other business to attend to."

"Yes Lord Voldemort." With that instruction the Death Eaters left the room.

"Oh, and make sure I am not interrupted! Whatever needs to be done, I will trust you all to do it yourselves," he snapped.

Hermione swallowed air. This is bad… maybe I shouldn't have come today… But that was in the past and the only thing she could do now was to hope that Snape fulfilled his promise.

"Um... that was Rita Skeeter wasn't it? I wasn't aware that she was working for you..." Hermione said casually.

"She isn't, my pet," Voldemort said with a slight laugh, "I have her under the Imperius curse."

"What do you intend to do with her when she is finished with her work?" she asked.

"When her purpose is fulfilled I will of course obliviate her memory. I can't exactly have her running to the Ministry, now can I?" he smirked, "Now come here."

Voldemort motioned for her to sit in his lap and she complied. (I am not going into extreme details here, because even writing it would make me sick!!!) With a flick of his wand Hermione's clothes were gone. She gasped and tried to cover herself but a spell had bound her hands. He did as he pleased with her and she did the best she could not to throw up in his face. She hoped to the Gods that the expression she forced on her face was one of pleasure or something similar. He moved her body (magically) to a round bed at the very back of the room and followed her. He had already removed his robes and was working on his pants. Hermione began to squirm against the spell.

"Stop," she said as he crawled over her, "Get off… please, stop!"

"Excuse me?" his eyes narrowed, and he slapped her across the face, "Do not presume you can tell me what to do."

Tears sprang into her eyes at the pain and what he was about to do. There was only one hope… she had seen wandless magic done before but it was a rare gift. She hoped it worked.

"Expelliarmus," she whispered and Voldemorts wand was thrown out of his hand, the binding spell broken. She threw her body full force at him, knocking him away from her briefly. She scrambled off of the bed and across the room, but barely made it three steps when she heard something that turned her blood cold.

"Crucio!" Voldemort cried and she fell to the floor in pain. He placed a silencing charm on her as well as bound her hands and feet. "Mobilus Corpus." Hermione's body was lifted back onto the bed and he once again crawled over her and did the unspeakable. (Guess exactly what he did… DUH!)

The door flew off it's hinges and Snape (or who Hermione hoped was Snape) flew into the room. He gasped at the scene before him. Hermione was obviously under the effects of the Cruciatus curse and had obviously just been deflowered by the Dark Lord. Controlling his anger, at himself and at Voldemort, he spoke.

"I have urgent new that cannot wait, Milord. It is concerning Dumbledore…" he said.

"Can it not wait?" Voldemort growled.

"I'm afraid not sir," Snape said, feigning regret.

"Very well," Voldemort lifted himself from Hermione and clothed them both with a flick of his wand. He released the spells on her and left her there, bleeding and crying. Snape came in again moments later.

"I'm so sorry, Hermione… I…" he sighed, "I'll apparate you back to the castle…"

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Hermione ran, tears streaming down her face, to Dumbledore's office. She found Remus, Draco, McGonnagal, Dumbledore, and Madam Pomfrey already waiting for her inside. She said nothing but simply collapsed on the floor in a faint.

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Preview of CHAPTER 10

She woke a few hours later in the hospital wing surrounded by Remus, Draco, Dumbledore, McGonnagal, and Snape. She blinked a few times before she burst into tears and covered her face with the sheets. Oh no! Snape must've told them! How will I ever face Draco again?

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There… chapter done… I warned you! Don't complain about it being sick or twisted because I already know that! I wrote it, remember? It's just part of the story so deal, kay? And don't report me, cause it wasn't that graphic and I'd hate to have to repost the whole damn thing! Thanks for caring, everybody! Next chapter coming soon, I hope! This one is at the top of my list!