Disclaimer: If only this was mine instead of the fabulous J.K. Rowling. I promise to return them as soon as I'm done screwing around with them.
Chapter three: His Girl
"Oh, come on! I'm famished!" Ron whined to one of his best friends.
Harry chuckled. "Will it hurt to wait a few more minutes?"
In response a low rumble escaped from Ron's stomach. "Just a bit. We may have missed her. Hermione always has a better sense of time than we do." After mustering up his most pathetic face, Harry finally gave in to Ron and the two headed towards the Great Hall with only a few moments left to breakfast.
With a muffin still in hand, Ron begrudgingly dragged himself towards the dungeons muttering to himself. "First little time for breakfast...Double potions...Slytherin gits..."
"Enough Ron!" Harry sighed as they began the descent towards Potions. A few steps down the stairs Harry and Ron were face to face with Lavender and Dean, Lavender's face wet with tears. "Oh, Harry, Ron!..."
"What?" Ron asked after swallowing a particularly large bite.
With Lavender unable to continue, Dean stepped forward. "You might want to head for the infirmaries. Professor Snape just left the classroom carrying Hermione. She, uh, didn't look too good. I think all she had on was his robe."
Harry had only need to hear up to the part about Hermione being carried before turning back up the stairs. Ron was shocked only long enough to hear Dean finish. Throwing aside his makeshift breakfast, Ron also ran towards the infirmary. With a significant height difference, Ron quickly matched Harry then began to surpass him by a few feet.
A few corridors away from the infirmary Ron saw Professor Snape and his resting cargo.
"Oi! Professor!" Ron called out just as Harry turned the corner. Both easily caught up with Snape and fell into step with him. "Hermione?...Hermione!" Ron struggled not to grab his other best friend away from a man that he despised.
Hermione stirred then opened her eyes, groaning as she tried to look for the recognized voice. "Ron?" Her voice was weak and raspy. Snape stopped for a moment rather than having Hermione struggle to look around her. She was surprisingly light and could manage the load.
"Yes Hermione and look! Harry's here." Ron stepped aside to allow Harry into her line of sight.
"Oh Hermione..." Harry reached out and grasped her hand.
At Harry's contact, Hermione broke down once more. "Oh, Harry!... I'm sorry!...I tried to stop him...too strong.."
"No, no! Hermione, please don't think like that. Listen," at this he looked up at Snape. "Snape is taking you to see Madam Pomfrey. Just hold on. It'll be alright." Harry turned towards the infirmary, mostly to avoid letting Hermione see tears start to well up. As they approached the door, Dumbledore was already there to hold the door open for them.
"I see Mr. Finnegan was able to find you." Severus noted as he placed Hermione on the bed. "I also sent for Professor McGonagall."
"I am here." Eyes full of tears, the Transfiguration professor approached the bed.
Madam Pomfrey walked out of her office with a tray of supplies."Now what is this commotion I-" The tray collided with the floor as her hands flew to her cheeks. "Miss Granger!" The shock was only momentary as the medi-witch within took over. Quickly she began to curtain off her bed as she conjured supplies from a nearby closet. "I'm afraid that this crowd will not do. I must ask you-"
"No way." Harry stated once more holding onto Hermione's hand. Ron quickly stepped towards Harry in support.
"I have work to do Mr Potter!"
"Please," every stopped as Hermione made herself known. "Please, let Harry and Ron stay. I-I need them." tears began again.
Professor Dumbledore nodded. "Poppy, myself as well as Severus and Minerva will patiently wait just outside of the curtain. I believe Miss Granger does need support right now."
One look at Harry consoling Hermione in an embrace and Ron holding her hand was enough to convince the usually strict nurse. "Of course, Albus. Thank you."
"Before I leave," Snape stepped forward. "I must let you know that she has been given the Munimentum Progenus potion."
Madam Pomfrey gasped, Professor McGonagall muttered, "no" under her breath and all noticed the flash of anger in the Headmaster's eyes.
"So it's true." Hermione stated, knowing that her Potions Master would be able to recognize the potion.
"I'm sorry..." Snape confirmed. "Headmaster, I must tend to a group of very upset and unsupervised students now." After waiting for a nod from Dumbledore, Snape left the hospital wing.
"Now Hermione, I need to remove this robe and change you into proper clothes while I examine you..."
Harry had to assist Hermione and Madam Pomfrey in changing Hermione into some bedclothes; Ron looked away. A moment that Harry had been dreaming about for the last few years was shattered by this situation. His looks were not lustful, instead he was full of concern and needed to know the extent of her assault. He grimaced at the flash of dried blood that he glimpsed, unable to deny any longer what he had already suspected. There were bite marks and bruises that were quickly healed in the flick of an expert wand, but not before garnering the young wizard's attention. In a few moments the patient was dressed and most of her external injuries were healed. She was still sore all throughout her body, but it was definitely an improvement. The only part that remained of her examination was between her legs, the part that she dreaded most.
Modestly covered from the waist down by a magically warmed sheet, Hermione clung to Harry and Ron, standing on either side of her and holding a hand each. She gasped at the contact, albeit as gentle as possible. Ron jaw clenched in rage inwardly struggling not to demand who had done this. She would tell soon enough and she needed him here, not in Azkaban for murder. After what seemed like hours, Hermione was finally allowed to close her legs and gently lower them onto the bed.
"You'll be fine. I already sped up some of the healing, but in circumstances such as these there's only so much magic will allow us."
"I-I understand. Th-thank you." After a reassuring pat on her patient's hand, she walked out of the curtain towards the awaiting professors.
She tried not to look shaken but her composure could not be maintained. "Oh, Albus," she sighed. "She's just a child. The damage, all will heal with time but the act must have been savage. Who would do such a thing? Here! In Hogwarts?"
"Only one type of person would be capable of such violence. Can you think of any thing other than a D-Deatheater?" McGonagall stated through a haze of tears.
"You are close, Minerva." None had noticed that Severus had returned. "If he is not now, I believe that it is only a matter of time before Draco Malfoy becomes one."