Disclaimer: Gasp! loosing creativity on disclaimer... Okay I admit, these characters do not belong to me nor do the settings and such. I'm only allowed supervised visits...whew! saved that one.

Chapter seven: Hermione

It was supposed to be Harry. They were supposed to be married. It was supposed to be perfect. She used to dream of passion and love, raven black, unruly hair and sharp green eyes...to be caressed and held. But it wasn't. She has nightmares of violence and lust, white blonde well-kept hair and malevolent grey eyes...groping and biting. Her body would relive it every night unless she was given a dreamless sleep potion. His touch clinging to and within her body like an echo that follows her wherever she may try to go to escape it. She started to cry again. God, when did she become so weak? She's safe and she knows it yet...

Draco's final words to her continued to haunt her. Hermione shuddered in her sleep. God, it's happening again. The pain...He enjoyed it and whispered words of adoration meant to said by her husband, maybe fiancee if she thought she was ready. But it was his enemy...evil and cunning, telling her she was beautiful, claiming that she belonged to him.

NO!

You're so beautiful.

Please...please...

Shhh...

No...D-Draco?..just please sto-

Never...I've waited too long for this...OH! Yes...Yes...

no...ow...ow...no...Draco...

I won't stop until you say it.

(sob) don't...(groan)... you're hurtin-

Just say it...

Never...

(growl) Lie to me, Hermione and I'll stop.

I...ow...

Say it!

Hermione bolted upright in her bed, tears flowing down her cheeks. As she struggled to regain her breath, Hermione looked at her surroundings, just to be sure. Yes, it was her room. After a week in the hospital wing, her first night back in her Head Girl room seemed to last forever. Draco's Head Boy room used to be across the hall from Hermione and she kept feeling that he would come back even though Harry had moved in and assumed the title.

The young woman opened the door and stepped into her private sitting area looking to the small sofa to make sure that he was there. Ron was too tall for the furniture to lay out fully, so he slept with his head propped up against his hand. Drool had begun to run down his arm from his half open mouth. Hermione felt safer. Harry wanted to be with her for the first night but his fiancee had insisted on Harry getting a full night of sleep. Hermione would wake him every other hour while she slept in the infirmary. Lack of sleep was beginning to wear on him though Harry would never admit it. She carefully walked past her friend towards the bathroom.

Once in the bathroom, she began to draw a bath, letting the water run as quietly as possible. Hermione slipped out of her nightdress and surrounded herself with bubbles smelling of roses and lillies. Vanilla was her preferred scent but now the smell would remind her of Draco's "adoration". He loved the way she smelled of vanilla, innocent and sweet. Hermione cringed and sank further into the bathtub. Ginny had visited the day after Hermione was discovered and had confirmed that everyone knew of the Gryffindor Golden Girl's brutal rape by the Slytherin Prince. The tension was mounting between the two already rival houses. Hermione dreaded having to return to the halls of Hogwarts, especially returning to Potions. Would she ever be able to enter the dungeons again? Hermione shuddered.

Two more weeks but she already knew. How Draco did was beyond her reason. The bookworm was methodical about everything, including her cycle. Hermione blew a patch of bubbles away from her nose. Her hands slid to her abdomen. Everyone will know how it happened. She had a choice. Even her mother, who was a devout Catholic would not blame her and even insisted on choosing the doctor.

Could she get rid of it? Could she keep it?...Could she keep Harry? She knew that he would understand but understanding is not the same as wanting nor is accepting the same as embracing. Hermione sighed and dropped her head below the bubbles and into the water.

Suddenly the door flew open, causing Hermione's head to shoot out of the water.

"Hermione!"

"Ron?" Face full of bubbles, she could still recognize his voice.

"Oh!" Ron turned to leave, seeing more than he needed to since some of the bubbles had shifted.

"What are you doing in here?"

"I- I woke up. Your door was open and- and you were gone. I called for you several times. I.. I thought.." Ron turned towards Hermione again. "I was scared for you, thought the worst...Uh, Mione? You need more bubbles."

She shrieked and reached for her robe as Ron left the room, closing the door behind him.

A few moments later Hermione emerged from the bathroom, robe tightly closed around her. Ron was waiting for her and patted the seat beside him. She obliged with an uncomfortable smile.

"I didn't see much, promise." Ron stated, quickly assuming this was the root of his friend's concern.

"Oh, Ronald! To be honest, you're the fourth man to see me naked within a week. It's okay."

"Fourth?"

"The Bastard, Professor Snape, Harry and you. Four."

Ron looked at the floor. "How many scars do you have?"

"Just a few. Which did you see?"

"Hip, thigh and your... your...left.. He bit you!.. Oh! Oh, 'Mione! Please don't cry. Stupid, stupid! I didn't mean to say anything."

Hermione bit her lip to stop herself. "It's okay...Well, not okay but I know that you're just concerned... I'm tired, Ron... I'm going to bed."

"Oh, sure...I just thought something was bothering you. Stupid! I mean-
"I know what you mean but I just don't think that I can talk to you about it. At least not yet."

"Yeah, I just proved how great I am at this...Hermione, this was why we stopped seeing each other, huh? We have fun and we're great friends but when it came down to it...we really can't talk, huh?" Hermione made a small whisper. "What?"

"He made me say I loved him."

Ron tilted his head. "Who?"

"Malfoy. As he was r-raping me, he made me say 'I love you'." Hermione began to sob and hiccough. Ron didn't hesitate to hug her as he rocked back and forth. "I just wanted it to end. He said that he wouldn't stop until I said it. It hurt so much! I said it just once and I thought that I would die. He didn't even care that it was a lie. He even thanked me..."

"You did what you had to. No one would fault you for that." Ron struggled to control the anger that was started to boil within him. I'm going to kill him, Ron thought as he ran his hand over Hermione's hair. I am going to kill that fucker... slowly.

"Harry knows. He overheard me in a nightmare that I had...He looked exactly like you do now." Ron flinched as he realized that she knew what he was thinking. "Ron, can you sleep in the room?...The spells that were lifted for you and Harry cover the room as well...I'll transfigure a bed for you."

"Of course, 'Mione... Whatever you need."

"It's a start." She never wanted to be left alone again.

Say it!...Please Hermione.

I...I love you...

Say it again.

no...

(satisfied groan)Thank you, Hermione... What do you say?

OW!..you're welcome.

You're mine. I swear that I will have you again and when I do... Mark my words, my darling, I will never let you go...

A/N: Stayed up xtra late to make sure this chapter would be ready for tomorrow. Just needed to make sure that everyone understands that Draco is a royal prick in this story (in case the last chapter wasn't enough indication) Gasp! Mace just pointed out a typo in one of my prev chapters. Gee thanx, Mace! It was only your job to notice those things B4 I post them! If its not noticed or if readers don't think it's that big of a deal, I'll stop worrying about it. Can not stop thanking you guys enough for reading and rev. Cheers!