Chapter 3 Broken
It was time for Charms, and Harry hadn't seen Hermione anywhere. He met up with Ron a few minutes before. He told Harry that he hadn't seen her all day, that he figured that she had gone to Charms early to speak with Professor Flitwick about their last quiz. However, according to the professor, he hadn't seen Hermione either.
"She must be doing something important if she's missing class, right, Ron?" Harry asked his friend with a worried look on his face.
"O-of course, mate… Yeah, she's probably doing some… Head Girl stuff. You know, official business… stuff." Ron quickly came up with an excuse for her absence, but he could tell that Harry didn't buy it for a minute. He seemed satisfied, though, even though they both knew that if something was up, she would've let someone know.
"Professor? Professor Flitwick?" Harry raised his hand high and made his wand set off sparks to catch his eye.
"Yes, Mister Potter? What is it?" the professor asked.
"We need to see the headmaster…about… things."
"I'm sure you do," he replied, an eyebrow raised. "Class, please turn your books to page 257. We will be reviewing…"
Harry turned to Ron, frowning and worried about their friend. Ron returned the look and reluctantly opened his tattered book to the assigned page.
………………………
Hermione shuddered and held herself in the bath. The door was securely shut and locked with 5 different charms and a dead-bolt. I let him touch me… how could I let him touch me…? Ugh. It wasn't your fault, Hermione. It wasn't your fault. He raped you. He touched you in a way that you didn't appreciate, and he violated you. It was NOT your fault. She cried at this, hugging herself tightly and letting the pink bubbles and purple foam in the tub console her.
After drying herself off, she went to her bed and hugged her bear, Mr. Flufflekins. He always cheered her up in the past, but he couldn't do shit for her now. She lay there sobbing until she fell asleep.
Draco quietly entered her room and watched her sleep. He sighed, watching her fragile body rest. She'd been broken, and he couldn't stand it. He ran to the owlery and sent out an order form to a shop in Hogsmeade. I hope they get that order in before sun down. I want Hermione to smile her stupid toothy smile again. I hate it when people are depressed around me..
As he walked back to their commons, he ran into the dastardly duo – Potty and the Weasel. "Well, well… I thought you two would have gathered your wits and gone off to join a traveling freak show. The poor boy and the scarred freak—their main attractions!" Man, am I ever off today. What happened earlier must've made my wit disappear…
"No, Malfoy," Harry said. "We're looking for Hermione. Have you seen her lately, or is your head so far up your arse that all you can see is what you ate for breakfast?"
He scowled. "No, Potter, I have not seen her," he said, glaring at Ron. "However, I think you can find her in the library with her nose buried in a book, as usual."
The two Gryffindors glared at him and stormed off in the opposite direction. With that, he headed back to his room, hoping that Hermione had not awoken from her slumber. He didn't know what the hell he'd do, or what he'd say… he'd never had to console a rape victim before.
He opened the door, jokingly saying, "Honey, I'm hooome…" , not expecting anyone to respond.
"Yes, dear… I'm right here on the couch."
Draco winced. What's she so angry about? If anything, I thought she'd be crying her eyes out. He opened up the door and sat down next to her.
"I'm sorry about what happened. I never expected anything like that out of him," he said, placing a comforting hand on her trembling shoulder.
"Don't be. I'm just angry at myself…" She looked down at the hands folded neatly in her lap. "I wasn't strong enough to protect myself. I couldn't save my innocence. I'm just… weak."
Draco's eyes widened. Hermione… weak? Before he knew what he was doing, he had wrapped his arms tightly around Hermione. "Don't go saying things like that. You're not weak. You're Hermione Granger. You've got the best grades in the school, and you're the most level-headed person I know. You've got your wits about you, and you punch like a beast," he said, wincing at the memory of their encounter in their third year.
Hermione wiped her eyes and placed a hand on his arm. "Thank you…" she whispered as silent tears continued to fall down her reddened cheeks.
Draco closed his eyes and rested his head against hers. She smells like green apples… Oh, no you don't, Draco. You can't start smelling mudbloods. That's just… un-Malfoy-ish. Let go of her… let go of her… He found that he couldn't let go. He couldn't bring himself to let go of this girl.
"Draco… can we stay like this? Just for tonight?" she asked. "I don't want to be alone right now."
"What, are you scared, mu—Granger?"
"Just a little," she answered. "Oh… Draco?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for not calling me 'mudblood'."
"Yeah." He wrapped his arms gently around her waist and let her rest her head on his shoulder.
(A/N: So… there's the end of the 3rd chapter. I hope you enjoyed reading it, and I hope you like what comes in the next chapter …when I get around to writing it…
Stay tuned!
--Cho-cho)