Chapter 11

A soft padding on her shoulder woke Hermione from her slumber the next morning. Grumbling she rolled over onto her back only to have her cat jump on her chest. Reaching up she stroked his head, feeling his purring vibrate through her body.

'How did I get to bed last night?' she wondered. 'I mean, I remember falling asleep by the fire but after that, nothing. I must have woken and not remembered,' she shrugged.

Finally pushing the cat off her chest, she slipped on her slippers and grabbed her dressing, wand safely tucked in the pocket. Turning back to call Crookshanks she spotted a piece of paper on the bedside table. Walking back over she picked it up, studying the familiar scrawl.

Miss Granger,

I, unlike you do not have the luxury of sleeping in as I have classes to attend. If you would like some breakfast, there is a kitchen adjoining the sitting room, other wise call the house elves by pulling the cord to the right of the fireplace.

You are free roam the house as is your familiar. There is a small library to the right of where you entered yesterday. Please note however, you are not permitted to view the books in the forbidden section. You will know. If you do, I will know. The door to the left as you exit your room leads to my office in the dungeons if you desperately need anything. It would be wise however if you were to catch up on the study which you have missed. You are deaf, not dumb.

Please be ready at 3.30pm this afternoon as there is a meeting which you must attend with the Headmaster. I will collect you to take you there.

SS

Sighing she put down the note and got dressed into a comfortable pair of pants, a top and turtleneck jumper. Sighting the wand holder she had received for her birthday from Harry in the bottom of her trunk she slipped it under the sleeve of her jumper along with her wand. Now it was within easy access.

After making her bed she called the Kitchens, giving them a note for some breakfast. Surprisingly she found the note quite easy to write. The potion the day before must have helped her with her co-ordiation. Two minuets later they called back with a tray coved in fruits, juice and a bowl of porridge. Hermione's stomach rolled at the slight of all that food and chose to only eat a few strawberries. When she was done she sent it back with a house elf. Dragging her bag out in front of the fireplace which was merrily crackling away she started on her Transfiguration notes, reviewed the spells and theory she had missed in her absence. Within the hour she had finished Transfiguration and by lunch she had finished all of her revision from the past few weeks. Writing out notes to her teachers she inquired as to what they would be doing the days she had been away and what they would be covering this week, just to be sure that she caught up on every thing.

After the messenger house elf disappeared with a pop she studied the books covering the floor. Embarrassed by her own messiness she packed everything back up and headed for the library. There was quite a large section which she was permitted to borrow from but compared to the rest of the library she didn't know how large it was as she couldn't see the rest of the library from behind the red rope and wasn't game to step forward either.

Looking around, she spotted many different books on magic, at least on one on every topic. But it was a small section at the bottom of the shelf which surprised her; a section of classical Muggle literature. Who would have though that Snape would be in possession of Muggle literature?

Leaving that thought to ponder later she picked out a book on restorative potions in hope of finding something to possibly help herself.

ooOOoo

At around 3pm, the Professor arrived back from the dungeons in very foul mood. Even from the library Hermione was sure she could feel the door slam. Sneaking to the door she watched as the Potions Master stalked around the room, moving piles of papers until he eventually sat down on the sofa with a rather large brandy, swallowing half in a rather large gulp. It was at that point he noticed the figure peaking out from the library door. Glancing at her with an ice like glare she sank back into the small room, closing the door. Sitting back on the comfortable chair, legs tucked underneath she opened her book again, but no matter how much she concentrated on the words on the page her mind travelled out the door and back to the man sitting on the sofa.

Giving up on the book, she put it back where she had found it seeing as there was nothing remotely useful which she could find. Taking a deep breath she opened the door to the library and walked into the sitting room. Sliding into the seat by the fire she stared into the flames for several minuets before she plucked up the courage to turn around and face the Professor.

Staring into those cold black eyes she was unsure of what to say. However, even if she did have something she wanted to say she would have been cut off.

"Are you ready to go?" the Professor asked standing up and placing the empty glass on the table beside the lounge.

"To the Headmasters office?"

"Where else?" he bit back.

"Just let me get my cloak." Standing up she returned to her room dumping her school bag by the trunk. Fishing out a clean looking school robe she slipped it over her casual clothes checking her wand was in place. Glancing in the bathroom mirror she grabbed the brush from her toiletries bag and attempted to make her hair behave but to little avail. Chucking the brush down, she moved back into the sitting room just as the Professor stepped out of a door way to her right. Clearly he had changed out of his robes into a clean set.

ooOOoo

Following his lead the unlikely pair made their way towards the Headmasters Office. Along the way they Hermione received many odd glances but everyone kept their comments to themselves as far as she could tell.

Past the Gargoyle and up the elevator-like stairs they finally stood before the wooden door to Dumbledore's office. Without knocking the Professor entered, Hermione in his wake.

"Ah, I see Severus and Miss Granger have finally made it," said the Headmaster, as cheerful as ever. When Severus made to walk out the door Albus called, "Where are you going Severus? You too are to attend this meeting."

The Potions Master just scowled, changing his direction and stalking over to what appeared to be his customary spot in the office. "As cheerful as usual I see Severus. Anyway, Miss Granger, take a seat please," he told her gesturing towards a seat in front of his desk which looked as if it had been placed there especially for her. Cautiously sliding into the seat she took in the occupants of the room for the first time.

Dumbledore was sitting behind his cluttered desk while the previous headmasters lined the walls above. Professor McGonagall was to the left also seated in a comfortable leather chair. The Matron was slightly behind her, also seated. Professor Snape was behind her leaning against the window frame beside the fire place.

They had been talking for awhile and although she couldn't see it in their faces, Hermione could sense the tension thick in the air. They all appeared to be dreading something. Or were they just disgusted by her presence? Her filth suffocating the air?

Although the conversation had mainly taken pace between the three seated adults, the Headmaster finally turned to the dark figure behind Hermione. After what could only be described as tense words the Potions Master made his way to between the ladies and Hermione conjuring his own seat, which unlike the others, was a stiff, hardback wooded chair. Taking is seat with fluid like grace he turned towards Hermione.

"The Headmaster seems to think of me as an interpreter of some sort for this conversation as he and your Head of House have a few questions to ask," he signed. Hermione had an idea of what was coming. The simple thought made her stomach clench in response. All she could do was nod as the sweat began to form on her hands. Really, what else had she expected, tea and a chat about the weather? But she hadn't been thinking things through and could only think of how thoughtless she had been.

Words were spoken by the Headmaster and Snape continued. "They wish to now what side effects you have had towards the potion which as put you in this state."

"I can't hear at all. My co-ordination has been off but after the potion from Madam Pomfrey I can now write and walk but I think it is wearing off. And I don't know if it is a side-effect of not, but I can sense things, magic I suppose…" she trailed off, her eyes wandering to a small knot in the wood of the desk as if it was the most interesting thing in the room.

"Auras," he supplied. Hermione caught the sign in her peripheral vision and shook her head a little.

"It's more than that, but yeah, I can sense auras." Snape relayed her answer while she continued to brace herself for the questions she knew that was going to eventually come.

"Minerva wishes to know how you are holding up in my presence," he said, the irritation of the question seeping out and engulfing Hermione. Pushing the feeling back she though of an answer to satisfy the Transfiguration teacher.

"I'm doing well. I'm sleeping fine, the Professor does not hassle me, leaving me to my own devices and during the day I got a lot of catch-up work done," she answered having enough courage to look her in the eye as she spoke.

Once again the message was relayed to the satisfaction of Professor McGonagall. Several questions were asked but it did not seem that she was required to answer as the Professor answered them. However the questions and answers alike remained unknown to her.

Finally, all too soon for her, her Professor turned his dark ebony eyes on her.

"Hermione," he called as if trying to get her eyes away from the desk to look at him. Reluctantly she turned her eyes to meet his hiding under their veil of stringy black hair. "Hermione, we need to know what happened."

There was no need for him to elaborate any further. They all knew what he meant. She was to recall the events of the Friday evening which she was attacked. Taking a deep breath she started still looking at him, his icy eyes conveying a strange sense of hope for her. She talked about her day briefly and then her evening in detail, as if in the case she went for too long they would just give up and tell her to leave, but that was not the case.

As her hands moved he spoke, repeating her words. When she talked about her shift, her eyes slid back to the desk and the quickly becoming familiar knot.

Her stomach clenched as she spoke, her legs automatically drawing up under her body. She blocked out the nurse, her Transfiguration teacher and the Headmaster slowly from her mind until it was just her and Professor Snape. Eventually her hands began to clamp up, no longer projecting readable thoughts.

Her breath ragged and shallow she replaced her hands in her lap, tears slowly running down her face, splashing on her robe. Looking towards her hands, she hid her face in shame. She had told them how she was taken from the corridor and into the abandoned classroom.

"I'm going to put you in your place"

"Mudbloods are only good for one purpose"

"I'll be back"

"mmm…just the way I like it"

Memories of him invaded her mind reminding her of the filth that she was.

Without warning there was a hand on her forearm, callused, gentle, and warm but she pulled away, jerking out of reach, her head shooting up. It was clear to the Professors and nurse that she wasn't ready to fully reveal what had happened, not fully accepting it herself.

"Would you like to go back to your rooms now?" he asked with uncommon kindness. Nodding slightly she stood not bothering to say her farewells to the others as the tears coursed down her face. Head bowed, arms around her torso she made her way back to her room, again in the shadow of her current caregiver. She paid no attention to the stares she received, completely blocking out everything except herself and where she was going, she safety of her room.

Nearing the second floor entrance, Harry and Ron came across the pair but before they could speak to Hermione they were intercepted by Snape.

"I tell you now, Miss Granger is currently in no state to entertain you at this moment," he told them icily. "If you have any problems please see Professor McGonagall and do not badger me," he told them.

"What do you mean 'no state to entertain'? She's our friend!" protested Harry.

"Five points from Gryffindor, Mister Potter. Miss Granger is currently in need of personal time, private time. She needs time to think about and come to terms with certain facts," sneered Snape.

"What do you know about her needs?" asked Ron.

Snape glared at him. "Certainly a lot more than you. Now out of my way before Gryffindor finds itself in last pace for the house cup solely based on your disrespectful behaviour."

A movement behind Snape stopped their further protests. "Please," Hermione signed, "I don't want to talk. Just let us go."

"Alright then," Harry replied to her. "Come on Ron, let's get out of here." Grabbing his friend by the sleeve of the robes when he didn't move, the two carried on down the corridor as Hermione and the Professor continued on their way.

ooOOoo

The rest of the afternoon saw Hermione locked away in her room, finally accepting what had happened to her. Snape ignored her cries but they still ate away at him. Eventually the cries subsided into the sound of running water.

As she sat on the shower floor she finally looked at the tattoo on her inner thigh. It was the mark that symbolised all evil in her mind. She had been raped. She had been tortured, raped and left for dead. Only a monster would do this and this monster deserved to die, to pay for what he had done. He deserved to pay in blood for soiling her body and forever marking her body and mind. This was something she could not live with. She had to clean herself.

This was her last though she repeated over and over in her mind as she clenched her wand in hand.