A/N: Sorry for the late update. I wrote the first half of this months ago, but I hated it. After some rework and adding to it, I'm feeling better about the scene I didn't care for and here we are. Enjoy.

Hermione finished freshening up and changing from the hard morning. She kept repeating "don't hurt him" in her mind like a mantra. She couldn't allow it, and she knew that if they continued on the way they were, he would definitely get hurt. So, she decided she'd have to be the bad guy and put some distance between them. He would hurt, but he'd be okay. He would be alive.

She made a spot of lunch, a sandwich and some fruit, and a nice cup of tea. She was due to meet Liam in the library for her first session. She was nervous, hoping that he would be a good enough tutor to help her through her NEWTS. She took a shower to wash off the sweat she accumulated from the dragon keeping she'd done, and got ready to head to the library.

It was a quiet and seemingly long walk alone to the keep and its upper floor, which housed the library. It was grand. Something that surpassed even the Hogwarts library. She was sure it would surpass any private collection as well, having heard Malfory boast about his manor's library whenever she was in ear shot. She couldn't believe the amount of books. The room was circular. Much like the bottom addition to the keep, there were study rooms all around the perimeter. Stacks stood row after row filling the vast space. There were two more levels inside that matched the first level, minus a floor in the middle, of course. When she looked up, she could see the vaulted ceiling which felt impossibly high. A beautiful mural coved the ceiling, much like Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. However, instead of mostly naked people, it consisted of beautiful and intricate dragons. It was breathtaking.

"Hermione."

She turned to see Liam walking toward her. He wasn't much taller than she was, but his features were striking. His dark curly hair clashed spectacularly with his pale skin. It gave him a bit of an undead look. Much like what one would expect a vampire to look like, though, much shorter. His green eyes reminded her of the forest. He was lanky and slim, built much like Harry. His face was pointed and angular, with high cheekbones that looked like they could cut glass. He waved a hand at her and she smiled and waved back.

"How was your first day as a dragon tamer."

"Pretty tame, actually," she said laughing.

"Boo, that was horrible."

She snorted.

"Wasn't it just."

He led her to one of the study rooms in the back, hidden behind rows of stacks. In the room was a big circular table withe chairs stacked in the corner. There was a chalkboard on the wall opposite the door. Liam grabbed chairs for them both. He waited for Hermione to sit and pushed her in, resting one hand on the back of the chair and the other on her shoulder. She shivered at the touch. It felt hot. She felt a shiver run down her spine, but elected to ignore it. It couldn't mean anything. If she wouldn't drag Charlie into her mess, she certainly wouldn't drag an American she barely knew into it.

"Alight, Hermione, how would you like to proceed?"

"Fifty minutes on each subject with a ten minute hiatus between each?"

"Sounds good to me," he said. She pulled her books out of her backpack and arranged them into subject categories. She was looking forward to her studies. It would provide her some sense of normalcy and stability.

Liam walked to the chalkboard and began writing. She looked after he finished and was dusting off his hands. He'd written out the steps for becoming an animagus, something Hermione was very interested in.

"Let's begin," Liam said, giving her a look that Hermione could only describe as hungry, and it left her squirming in her seat.

After Hermione put the last book into her bag, she slumped back into her chair, rolling her head in a very slow clockwise motion. Her neck felt tight and her back ached. Honestly, she couldn't wait to go home and lay down.

"Are you okay?" Liam asked. Hermione trained her eyes on him. He was staring at her with concern written all over his face.

"I'm fine," she said. "Just a little stiff. I guess I should have taken some of those ten minute breaks to get up and walk around."

"You're incredibly focused," he said.

"I am, it's one of my toxic traits. In third year, gods, I was a nightmare. I ignored most everyone, so focused on my studies. Not that my friends were talking to me anyway, but even when we were back to speaking, I was withdrawn."

"Your friends don't sound like good friends," he said.

"Oh no. They are. They're the best, really. It's just… I don't know. Ron, he has a temper. All the Weasleys do. Even Charlie. Their oldest brother, Bill, is the most laid back, but even with him you can see it. Ron is the worst though. The smallest thing can set him off, but what happened wasn't very small."

"So, what happened?"

She sighed.

"I got a cat. Half kneazle. Very smart and intuitive. But he didn't like Ron's rat. I mean, that was to be expected, right? Cats and rats don't quite get along. Ron said my cat was tormenting his rat. It caused issues the whole year really. And Harry, well, he sides with Ron when we get into spats. Not because he thinks Ron is right, necessarily, but because they share a dorm and with Ron's jealousy and temper, it was just the least drama. I've always understood that."

Liam frowned.

"I can't say I approve. Your friend should defend you."

"Well, it's just almost always worked out to be easiest that way. Harry and I talked about it. I told him I was okay with it."

"Were you really?"

She looked down at her fingers. She picked at the skin around her nail beds.

"To a point. I'm used to being alone. I'm an only child. I didn't have friends growing up. I was the brainy swot with her nose in a book my whole life. People just avoided me. I've always been okay with it. Ron and Harry were my first friends. My only friends, really. I guess they've always needed each other more than I needed either of them."

She looked up at Liam who's eyebrows were pulled down and he looked angry. Very angry.

"It's okay though. Like I said, I've always been alone. I'm used to it."

He sighed.

"I know you say that, but they don't sound like very good friends, Hermione. You deserve better. You're smart, beautiful, funny, and fearless. I don't like that you're treated that way."

She stood and turned away from him. She paced. She picked at her fingers. She bit the insides of her cheeks. She did anything she could think of to release some of this energy and keep from crying. When she turned on her heel to start walking the other way, she bumped right into him. He immediately put his arms around her and pulled her tight against his chest.

That broke her. A sob escaped her and she whimpered. He pulled her closer to him and whispered in her ear.

"Shh. It's okay. I have you," he said.

Her mind was racing. She felt betrayed by the two people she was closest to. It was true. When it was convenient for them, they discarded her. She spent years working for them. Helping. Learning. She did everything she could think of to keep them alive. But when she needed them to fight for her, they never did. They never chose her. Even with this. She was sent to Romania. The thought cut her deep. She cried harder.

"I love them," she said through her sobs. "I love them so much. More than they could ever love me. It hurts."

Liam pulled back and lifted her face to look at him. He took her face in his hands and wiped her tears off with the pads of his thumbs. Her lip trembled. His brows furrowed again.

"You deserve better, Hermione."

She parted her lips to say something, but he leaned forward and kissed her.

She felt a flurry of emotions. Her heart raced. How could it be that three men wanted her, but no one ever had before? She was confused. Hurt. Lustful. She'd never felt so turned on her life. It was like a leaver in her had been pulled and she couldn't shut it off. She felt the all too familiar clutching. She responded to the kiss enthusiastically, throwing all sense of caution or propriety to the wind. He growled at her response and pushed her up against the wall. His hands roamed the contours of her body. She pulled at him, trying to get him closer, feeling the harness of his body against her. She felt like there was no way she could get any closer to him, but it didn't stop her from trying. His hands made their way to her ass and cupped it, pushing up. She jumped up and instinctively wrapped her legs around him. Their kissing became heavier. Hotter. His lips left hers, allowing them to breathe, before his lips found her neck and began kissing and sucking. She moaned. She needed him. Her breathing became heavier. He used the wall and his hips to hold her while his fingers made their way into her knickers. If she had been thinking clearly, she might have stopped him, but she was desperate for release. She wanted hands, the non phantom kind, on her. In her.

Maybe it was the toll of the past couple of days. Maybe it was the trauma of Antonin's relentless violations. Maybe it was the fact that despite however old she might actually be, she was still a teenage girl with hormones dictating her needs. But for whatever reason, even if she wanted to stop this, she wouldn't. She would let him have her.

She gasped as his fingers slid into her. The searing heat combined with the moisture of her excitement caused him to growl possessively.

"You're perfect," he said.

He rolled the bundle of nerves in between his fingers, pulling and pushing. He let it go and rubbed his fingers against her furiously. His other hand nestled itself in her hair, pulling. She moaned into his ear.

"Harder, don't stop," she whimpered. "Please, don't stop."

He continued rubbing. She could feel her muscles contracting. She just wanted release. She closed her eyes, her breathing labored. Finally, when it felt like it was too much to handle and the heat felt like she was in the fires of hell, she exploded in a wave of pleasure.

"Liam," she said, her breathy moan eliciting a groan from him.

He removed his fingers and sucked them clean, then placed a kiss on her lips and then her forehead.

"You are incredible, Hermione. Don't ever let anyone treat you less than you deserve. I'll see you tomorrow."

She watched him walk out of the room and down the aisle. She felt her heart sink and her throat restrict. All she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry. After a few minutes of deep breathing, she gathered her things and started the walk back home. She was so deep in thought, she wasn't aware of the walk home.

When Hermione finally realized what happened, she cried. She felt the water falling on her skin, the prickling and burning sensation sending waves of relief through her. She could breathe easier in the steam. She took some deep breathes, preparing for the inevitable invasion of her body, but it didn't come. She tried not to think about it. She tried not to think about the men. She tried so hard not to think about Ron and Harry, who felt like family. She tried. She failed.

While towling off, she heard a knock. She wrapped the towel around her. She thought about not answering.

"Hermione," Charlie shouted.

She closed her eyes and breathed. No, she wouldn't open the door. She turned, ignoring the knocks, and went to her room. She curled up, still slightly wet in her damp towel, and fell asleep.

When she woke, it was to pecking. She threw on some clothes and went to the front room. Hedwig. She fumbled with the latch on the window and let her in. She hooted and lovingly nipped at her hand as she untied the package. She smiled at the snowy owl and ruffled her feathers. She opened the package. Inside was a necklace. It was a silver chain with a diamond otter. A few tears escaped. She pulled out a couple of books and a package of sugar quills. Underneath was a piece of parchment. One one side was a note from Harry. The other side was a note from Professor Snape.

Hermione,

I miss you so much, I can hardly stand it. I wish you were here with us. Going to Hogwarts without you was nearly unbearable. I want you safe though. Ron isn't worried as much. He said that you're safe with Charlie and not to fret. I fret anyway.

Draco is a Death Eater. I don't have proof, but I know it to be true. He's acting weird. Gone is the entitled spoiled brat. He's seen something or done something, because he's changed. He looks thin and pale. Well, pale for him anyway. I think something is seriously wrong with him, and I think he took the mark. But I don't think he wanted to. I'm not sure what to do. I want to offer him help, but should I?

I want you safe. It hurts to know that you're in this danger because of me. If you hadn't followed me to the ministry, Dolohov would never have been able to attack you. I hold myself responsible for this. Snape has some ideas. You know, I think we can trust him. I mean, he sent the order after us, right? And he's been working on some stuff for you. I think he really is on our side.

I love you Hermione. You are my sister and one of the three people I care most about in this world. Please, stay safe, it will help me stay sane. Write back.

All my love,

Harry

Hermione was crying. How could she ever doubt him? He was growing so much. Becoming a better person. The way he wrote about Malfoy and Snape filled her with hope that he was changing. It made her so happy. She felt pride swell up in her and she wanted nothing more than to hug him.

She gulped. The fact that she doubted him just long enough to get manipulated by a man washed over her. She felt cold and sad and desperate to erase this feeling. She'd deal with it later. She turned the letter over and read Snape's message.

Miss Granger,

The necklace has multiple layers of protection on it, including a way out of any undesirable scenarios. Grab it and say Portus if you find yourself in danger. It will send you to The Burrow. Besides the portkey capability, it also has several enchantments and charms. You can't be touched by anyone with a Dark Mark whilst wearing it. I don't know if it will work for phantom Dolohov, but it's worth the shot.

This is a potion that I would like for you to take daily. It will deaden nerves and decrease your sex drive and feelings related to it. In other words, you won't be able to feel anything while taking it. Part of Dolohov's pleasure is knowing that he can touch you and that you react to it. This, while angering him, will keep you from feeling anything you don't want to feel from an assault.

We are working tirelessly to figure this out. Remain patient. Remain vigilant. Remain being an insufferable know-it-all.

SS

Included was a recipe for the potion. Did she really want to take it? Did she want to lose the ability to pleasure herself? Did she want to lose the chance to feel pleasure from someone else? Her thoughts drifted to Charlie, who made her wet at just a look, Liam, who turned her on with just one touch, and Antonin who violated her. Was it worth it to lose her feelings to be spared from someone who would continue his violation despite her ability to feel it or not? Her head was spinning.

She put the necklace on, placed a notice-me-not charm on it, and held the cool metal in her warm hands. It filled her with happiness. Patronus power, she thought. As if they'd bottled the essence of a patronus and put it all over the necklace, contained. She smiled. It made her feel better. She'd worry about everything else later. Right now, all she wanted to do was go to work and do what Hermione Granger did best: study.