About a month and a half passed after Hermione and Snape actually had a misunderstanding. Now everything became as boring as it used to be. Today however was suppose to be the best day in the whole week, it was Friday. Hermione got up early and had a private breakfast with Severus in their chambers. It was all so delicious. She had finally started eating in along time. 'All my worries will come back…soon, that's for sure'
It was true, Hermione had been having a great month so far and Snape and her actually became a lot closer. She loved their conversations, he was so smart and intellectual. Even though she loved her girl talks with the Ginny, Pavarti and Lavander she still enjoyed a more intelligent one once in a while.
Parting for her classes Hermione made a mental note to sit in the back of Divination. They had gotten a supply teacher for a while. Mr. Gullok. If there were one word to describe him it would be Gross. The man spat as he talked and quite frankly, it was just wrong. Shaking her stupid thoughts away Hermione finally got to her first class where she met no other than Ginny, Pavarti and Lavander waiting for her outside the classroom.
"Morning Lady Snape." Suddenly they all called her that, it was an inside joke. Hermione blushed every time they did it.
"Hey people."
"What's up Mya, I see you didn't come for breakfast this morning. What do you always have to spend time with your husband now?" Lavander was a drama queen. They all laughed at her comment.
"So…what sup Pavarti?" Hermione tried changing the subject. Truth was she was extremely worried, for Pavarti was horridly pale with dark circles under her eyes.
After a few minutes Ginny snapped her fingers in front of Pavarti as though she was asleep, "Pat? Hello? Anyone home?"
"Seriously, what's the matter with you." Lavander sounded her worried self.
"Nothing, nothing." She answered in a small voice.
Hermione made for them to come closer, they did so. Making a circle was their way to talk privately without being heard.
"Pat, are you ok?"
"Not now…please…just..not now."
"What happened?" Ginny asked demandingly.
"Will talk later all right?" they nodded in union, for the rest of the day they'd keep a close eye on the girl.
Their first, second, third class of the day went by incredibly slow. That's partially because they were dying to know what their friend was keeping for herself. Lunch came. Hermione made her way down to meet her friends and try getting whatever Pavarti wasn't telling out of the girl. Upon entering the hall Hermione looked around she saw everyone, except Pavarti.
She jogged to meet Ginny and Lavander who were looking dead serious, "We can't find her."
Her heart started beating fast. 'Relax, she's probably just not feeling good.' . "She might be in her room."
"We've checked there already."
"No sign of her." Ginny sounded worried. Lavander scared.
"Ok, ok…lets think. She can't be gone. I mean what happened to her that's so bad?" they thought for a moment.
"Last Saturday she came back really late and she was all jumpy and weird."
"Right. Well first thing we need is to find her."
"She no where to be found Mione. We've looked everywhere." Lavander sounded dramatic.
"Lets go look for her. She's probably just not wanting to tell us so she's hiding somewhere." Ginny said thoughtfully.
"I agree. Lets separate ourselves and meet in the common room in half a hour." They nodded. And sat out to find Pavarti.
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Meanwhile at the teacher's table sat Snape watching Hermione sprint into the Great Hall. Apparently she didn't find whoever she was looking for. He watched as her friends went to meet her half way. 'No idea why she likes those girls so damn much'
Severus hadn't noticed but it had been almost five minutes since he had stopped eating and was watching closely as his wife. His food untouched. He sensed she was tense, and almost scared? That's the exact moment when he lost his appetite. 'Something's wrong.'
Hermione and her friends left running out of the Great Hall and Snape found himself speculating what ever happened. The only thing he knew was that tonight would most certainly not be an easy night.
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Hermione looked everywhere. She was now feeling a strange sensation in her stomach. She knew her friend wouldn't just disappear without any motive. But what was it? That question bugged her for the rest of the search trip she was doing. Half a hour later she ran upstairs in hopes of finding out if either Ginny or Lavander had found Pavarti in the bathroom not feeling well or something.
As she neared to the two girls her heart tightened. They were alone looking desperate. Luckily they had had that time to look for her as a free period. But now they had one last class to go to, Potions. Hermione felt dizzy at the thought. She really didn't want to go see Severus right now, she needed to find Pavarti.
"Any luck?" they shook their heads.
"You?"
"Nothing." They made their way to a distain couch on the far corner.
"Ok. Lets see. She's no where basically…we've looked for her for half a hour without any luck…I think we're screwed."
"I know. I just don't get it…I mean Pat? She's not like that."
"That's what worries me the most." Lavander confessed in low spirits. After a few silent minutes Hermione said in a small voice.
"We should get going for Potions…if we don't find her afterwards then I guess we should go see Dumbledore." They nodded in agreement.
With low spirits sighing all the way, the three girls made their way to their last class for the day, Thankfully. This was going all wrong, this was suppose to be a great day for Hermione it was Friday for Merlin's sake!
Taking their usual sit in the middle of the class the three friends did their assigned work silently. Each had a thought of her own, but they all narrowed to one person…Pavarti Patil. After an excruciating hour and a half the bell ran.
"You are dismissed." Snape said bitterly, no one wasted one more second. Standing up every single student raced for the door. For freedom. Hermione stood up and followed the two girls out. 'Please don't make Severus call me back…please…please.' It was almost as if her had read her mind.
"Lady Snape stay behind." Said the frosty careless voice of the person who she really didn't want to see at the moment. Sighing she stood frozen waiting for all the people to leave. Lavander and Ginny whispered to her, "We'll find her. After he's done with you meet us in our room." She nodded. As the door closed she turned around and made her way to his desk.
"Yes?"
"Could you help me labeling some stuff?" he asked innocently. Snape would casually invite her to do some work and then get to the questions, it was a perfect plan. Unfortunately she wasn't so stupid.
"Can we just get to the questions. I really don't have much time."
"All right. What's the matter?"
"Why?"
"You look different."
"You always think I'm in trouble or upset. Well…I'm not." She reassured her, while mentally thinking where would be Pavarti's next move.
"Ok, maybe I just wanted to have you for a while."
"What?"
"Come here."
Hermione cautiously walked over to his side, "What is it?"
"I just want to have my wife next to me at the moment. Do you have a problem with that?"
"No seriously, what do you want?"
He pulled her close to him by the waist, "I want you for a couple of minutes." Leaning down he place sweet little kisses on her lips. Hermione closed her eyes. 'This is just perfect! Now he wants to make out…huh…' pushing him back lightly she whispered hoping he wouldn't mind.
"Umm…I've got to go meet some people. But we can do…whatever it is you want after ok?"
"Why are you always so busy?" he whispered through her hair, for her was now standing hugging her tightly.
"I just really need to go all right?" he nodded and let go of her. Reaching up she kissed him tenderly but quickly. He groaned as she pulled back.
"See you at…dinner?" he asked hopefully.
"Sure."
"Catch you later."
"Yeah, yeah…"
Hermione didn't wait any longer. She let in a hurry to meet the girls upstairs. She had a feeling they had found Pavarti. Or at least that's what she hoped dearly.
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Opening the door she slipped in the room rapidly. Hermione sighed in peace as she noted Pavarti among Ginny and Lavander. Walking slowly over to them she finally didn't feel as worried.
"Pat, what the fuck were you thinking?"
"You scared the shit out of us!"
"Never do that again." They hugged her tightly, only to notice she flinched as the girls drew near her.
In a serious voice Hermione asked carefully, "Pat. What happened?"
In a quick motion Pavarti swung forward and hugged them crying her eyes out. they stood like that for a good twenty minutes. After they were sure Pavarti wasn't crying as hard they continued.
"Can you tell us what happened?" Ginny asked trying to sound caring and friendly.
"Oh, girls. I …I … don't know where to begin…"
"It's ok. Just take deep breaths." Lavander had always had that motherly way in her. After a silent while she began meekly.
"It was all so fast…I … had gone to see Dean…when.. when" she begun to cry once again. This was taking longer than Hermione had expected it would. 'Damn, I was to meet Severus for dinner!' looking at her watch she saw it was too late, an hour too late. Sighing she stroke the girl's back calming her down.
"When I got there…I could smell whiskey… you know how he likes to drink…apparently all guys do…but I king of got used to it…and, when I went to greet him…he..he.." more tears came.
"Take a deep breath. And finish, I'm dying to know!"
"He began…to..touching me, and kissing me…but I .. I don't like to do anything when he's drunk so you know…I tried…getting away so temptation wouldn't get to me….but he's…sooo strong and…and he…he…didn't stop…he's roommate wasn't there…huh…I know we were already together…but he never fucked me without me actually wanting …you know…" as she finished all four girls hugged tightly.
"Pat, you are telling us he…raped you?" (She nodded.)
"Are you hurt?" Hermione asked worriedly. Pavarti started to cry even harder. 'I guess that's a yes.' She closed her eyes. This was way too much. Pavarti was way to dear to her, she couldn't take it. Hearing on of her best friends had been raped by her own boyfriend? That doesn't make any sense!
"Not that much…just…just my legs…and...and… and arms…and the rest…"
"Oh Pavarti! You know you have to tell someone!"
"What am I suppose to say? Yes my boyfriend raped me…I mean he could have just waited you know!"
"But he was drunk…" Lavander whispered.
"I'll think of something." Pavarti tried sounding strong and confident, but it didn't work. After a long silent while Hermione stood up feeling sick. If Pavarti's boyfriend, the only guy who was sure to have sex with her any time he wanted had raped her than Draco would too.
"Mya you ok?"
"Mione? Say something? Hermione?" they were worried. She was crying quietly shaking her head helplessly.