;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Chapter 5
Shit's about to get real. Slytherin house is now going to demand justice.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Hermione woke with a start and jumped out of bed, thinking she was late to her apprenticeship. The sun was high in the sky and the clock read eleven o'clock. Severus was going to be furious! She scrambled to put on clean clothes and headed to the loo to quickly freshen up.
She was charging through the common room and rehearsing an apology in her head before she remembered it was Sunday and she had been given the day off.
The events of the day before came crashing back to her consciousness. For a mere 24 hour day, it had felt more like a week. She slowly walked back to her room.
Luna was headed out as she was headed in.
"I'm going to go eat with Neville. When was the last time you ate anything?"
Hermione tried not to answer, but was followed to her bed by a wand wielding healer's apprentice.
"All I have to do is run a diagnostic on you and I'll know. You might as well tell the truth."
"Okay, okay. I ate a decent breakfast yesterday, but nothing since," the brunette admitted sheepishly.
Luna shook her head. "I suspected as much. Let's go. Now."
Hermione let herself be dragged towards the Great Hall. Neville was already waiting for them. She piled bacon, eggs, potato cakes and orange wedges onto her plate, realizing she actually was hungry.
As she was eating, she spotted Ginny eating alone. Neville followed her eyes, ready to move if necessary, but spotting only the redhead, he stayed put.
"Where's Weasley and Potter?"
Hermione briefly debated with herself about what to tell them. To divulge the truth would open a deep can of worms.
"They both got expelled yesterday. For using a curse on another student."
"What? For those two to get expelled, it must have been bad." Both of her friends looked incredulous, but especially Neville. He knew firsthand all the shenanigans the two had been up to over the years. Of course, they'd always had Dumbledore to shield them from any real disciplinary action. He also remembered that the two would have been dead many times over without the brunette in front of him.
"It was quite serious," started Hermione cautiously. "But I don't want to divulge a whole lot, especially here." She glanced around the Great Hall. As she did so, she noticed Professor Snape wasn't at the Head Table.
"Let's go for a walk. Then you can tell us. But first, the potions apprentice needs to eat more." Luna gave her a pointed look, so Hermione set to work clearing her plate.
"Drink your pumpkin juice, too. You're dehydrated."
"Yes, Madame Lovegood." The brunette made a playful scowl, but downed two glasses of juice.
Satisfied that her roommate and boyfriend were sufficiently fed and hydrated, Luna stood up and the three left the Hall.
They choose an empty classroom and Hermione set a silencing spell.
"They poisoned another student. Then when that didn't kill him, they used Sectumsempra on him and that actually did him in."
"Draco? They killed Draco? Why would they do that?" Luna knew who had been poisoned and then died from that curse. She'd assisted with his treatment.
There was silence as they waited for Hermione's answer. She didn't think she could give it. Her heart started beating fast and she began to sweat.
She closed her eyes and practiced the breathing technique Severus had taught her.
"Hermione, are you alright?" Luna reached into her robe pocket and fished out a handful of vials. Stomach soother, pain reliever, Draught of Peace.
"I carry them with me everywhere. You never know when you'll need them."
The brunette opened her eyes. "I will be alright, Luna. Thank you, but I'll pass for now." The blonde put two of the potions back in her pocket, but left out the draught.
"Did it have something to do with what happened to you at Malfoy Manor?"
"What happened at Malfoy Manor?" Neville looked between the two girls, starting to put it together but not quite.
"She got captured with Ron and Harry, and Bellatrix tortured her and the other Death Eaters all…"
Hermione jumped up and walked to the window. She stared out at the Black lake, foreboding under the grey October sky. The leaves had fallen off the trees and their barren silhouettes reflected on the water.
Fortunately, Luna did not need to finish her sentence. Neville nodded, understanding enough.
"Are you sure you don't want this draught?" Luna held it out, so the brunette walked back to her and accepted it, drank it and put the empty vial in her pocket.
"It usually makes me go to sleep. I better go back. Thank you."
The couple watched her leave. "Is she alright?"
"No, she is not. She is barely hanging on. If she did not have her apprenticeship to keep her going, she would really be bad off. I do not think she would ever get out of bed."
Hermione made it back to her room and crawled under her blanket. Once she was safely covered from head to toe, she finally allowed herself to cry. It did not take long before the effects of the draught took her into a deep sleep.
!
Severus had started his day early, purchasing two owls in Diagon Alley and then procuring some potion ingredients. He shrunk the ingredients down so they would fit in his pocket and managed to secure both owls and cages to his broom. He then flew to the Burrow.
Arthur greeted him at the door, and graciously accepted the new owl. It was clear the years of war had taken their toll, as his red hair had turned almost completely grey. He still worked for the Ministry of Magic, in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts department.
There was an air of sadness and unusual quiet at the once bustling house. It had only been five months since Fred's death. George lived above Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Bill lived with Fleur at their aunt's former beach house. Charlie was still in Romania. Percy lived in London. Ginny was at Hogwarts. Only Ron was at home, with Harry.
Over a cup of tea, Severus discovered that Ron and Harry had shared all the details of everything that had happened to Hermione. Details he knew she wouldn't have wanted to be made public knowledge. He implored Arthur and Molly to keep quiet regarding what they had been told.
The professor told the couple about the study he was conducting with the PT brew, and Molly stated she would be willing to try it. He laid out his instructions for taking it, and provided parchment and seven day's worth of doses. Every Sunday he would come collect the old vials and her notes and bring new ones.
When the two former students came down the stairs, they were surprised to see the Potions Master. He gave the owl to Harry, and apologized for killing Hedwig, after explaining why he did it.
Then he took both outside, under the pretense of giving the owls exercise after they were caged up all day.
"I want both of you to know that Hermione does not want what occurred at the Manor to be public knowledge. Do not tell anyone else. That information is hers to share, and hers only. Do you both understand me?"
They both agreed.
"You should also know that the school is required to inform the Ministry about your attack on Draco. Do not think you have gotten away with anything." He looked pointedly at Harry for a split second, which the boy did not miss.
!?
Luna replenished her little stock of pocket potions at the infirmary, then checked on her roommate. Hermione was still sleeping, and there were dried tears on her cheeks. She ran a quick diagnostic spell on her and found only depression and exhaustion. Reluctantly, she left her to rest and rejoined Neville at the entrance to her tower.
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Ginny was flying around the Quidditch pitch doing a scrimmage with her fellow Gryffindor teammates when she realized she had completely forgotten to take the contraceptive the night before.
When she was able to get back to their common room, she grabbed one out of the cabinet and swallowed it immediately. Professor Snape always left a basket for the empty vials, so she placed it in there. She knew it was too late, but had taken it just in case.
'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'
Severus flooed back to his office from the Burrow. He felt exhausted after being immersed in the sadness and helplessness that permeated through the big, empty house. Filling a glass from a bottle of whiskey he'd picked up on his errands, he sat in front of the fire and thought about Draco.
The young man's life had hardly begun when it had been cut short. His father had raised him to be a dedicated Death Eater, but destroyed him in the process.
Narcissa had been murdered as the family had fled after Harry had come back from the dead. Seeing the three of them leave, the Dark Lord had aggressively sent a hex in their direction and it had hit her. She was killed instantly. Draco had scooped up his mother's body and had continued running with his father, who was unable to carry her. Years of injuries from the Dark Lord, as well as his time in Azkaban, had left him weak and physically broken.
Not to mention the cruciatis Severus himself had inflicted on him after learning of his participation in the rape of his son's classmate.
Thinking about the day he learned what happened still brought bile to his throat. He wondered how Hermione was doing. It was the first in many days that he hadn't seen her at all. He knew that in recovery from any trauma, there were good days and bad days. Progress and setbacks. It was all part of the healing process.
He repeated to himself what he had said the day before. "Trust me, Potter, when I say I will take better care of her heart than anyone else ever has." He knew he would. He wasn't afraid to admit he loved her. She needed a chance to heal, before she could share her heart with him.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
The following day was Monday. Hermione had slept most of the day before and awoke early in the morning.
She stretched and got up and looked out the window. The sun was just starting to peek over the barren trees. A few birds could be heard chirping in greeting. She quickly dressed and tiptoed out of the room, intent on taking a walk outside.
Today would be her first day of classes since Severus had confirmed to her what had occurred against her at the Manor. Normally, she looked forward to her classes, particularly after a break in the schedule. But she dreaded today.
Now there would be three less students with her. The war may have been over, but inside Hogwarts it was still taking its toll.
The air was chilly as she pushed the large doors open at the main entrance. She was thankful for the jumper she had put on under her robes.
Fog rose from the Black lake as the sun reflected off it and she committed the peaceful sight to mind to mentally return to when panic threatened to overtake her. Realizing it had been months since she had conjured a patronus, she focused all her energy and magic. A silvery otter danced from the end of her wand and trotted towards the castle.
This seemed to be a good time to practice her breathing, while she was calm, so she closed her eyes. A deep breath in through the nose, let it out through the mouth. For several minutes she repeated this rhythm.
Hermione opened her eyes to again commit the sight before her to memory. She tried to take in every drop of fog, every tree branch, every browned cattail. When the horrific memories and panic threatened every ounce of stability she had, this is the life ring she would latch on to.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Advanced potions was Hermione's first class of the morning. Professor Snape nodded at her as she entered his classroom. She felt his eyes on her as she took a seat next to her partner and she knew he was wondering how she had been holding up since the events of Saturday.
Glancing around at the Slytherin students around her, she sensed a somber mood. They, too, were feeling Draco's absence.
After a brief reorganization of partners necessitated by Harry's expulsion as well as the younger Malfoy's demise, they started on their assignment. Wound cleaning potion, a vital potion she would make frequently in the future.
Her next class was History of Magic, then lunch, Herbology and DADA. She eyed the empty seats frequently during her classes. By the end of her Arithmancy class, her spirits were at an all-time low.
After supper, which she barely picked at despite Luna's reproachful looks, she reported to the potions office.
A few fourth years had apparently created a fake growth potion and distributed it amongst the younger Slytherins over the weekend. This caused a drop in Madame Pomfrey's stock of stomach soother.
Hermione quickly set to work dicing ginger and licorice root, bruising peppermint leaves, and cutting chamomile flowers. Five cauldrons were soon bubbling on the counter.
"How are you holding up, Hermione?" The professor had sat on a stool near the counter to supervise her potion making.
She rounded on each cauldron before answering, formulating her words in her head.
"Harry, Ron and Ginny sought me out Saturday night after I left here. Harry explained why he initiated things and apologized for letting me take all the blame. I made peace with Ron and him. Ginny apologized for destroying my things, but I don't think she meant it. I took the rest of the PT brew after that and slept all night. At brunch on Sunday, I ate with Luna and Neville. They wanted to know why Harry and Ron were expelled. Explaining why opened up a different dialogue, of which Luna filled in the blanks for Neville. I got so upset just with that little bit of conversation that she gave me a Draught of Peace and I slept all day and most of the night."
"How have you been eating?"
"Not much, unless Luna is watching me. She chased me around the dorm with her wand threatening diagnostic spells yesterday until I agreed to go to brunch with her." This coaxed a smirk out of her mentor.
She rounded on each cauldron again. Spotting that each was the proper shade of green, she added a cinnamon stick and rosemary sprig to each.
"I'm providing PT brew to Molly Weasley now, so we'll need to make more tomorrow. Come here right after class and get it started, then it can be on the four hour simmer during supper. Take half a vial tonight, half in the morning and make sure you keep notes."
Hermione nodded in agreement. She thought over the day, how difficult seeing Draco's empty seat had been.
"It's so strange, without Draco in my classes. I can't believe he's dead. I should hate him, and sometimes I do, but today I've just felt sad that he's gone." Hermione shook her head as she stirred the potion in front of her.
"Your mixed feelings regarding him are completely understandable. What he did to you, he was forced into. It tore him up inside." Severus had turned to face her. "I know you want my blanket and my couch, but this is almost ready to bottle."
When the stomach soother was done brewing, she bottled and transported it to the infirmary. Since Luna was finishing up her shift, they walked back together.
!
Somehow, word got out late Monday night that Draco had been murdered by Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. Before the end of breakfast, every student knew.
Slytherin was not taking the murder of one of their own lying down. Gryffindor stood firmly in the belief that Harry was a hero. The battle lines were drawn.
No one knew why Potter and Weasley had done it, only that Draco had died at their hands.
The second wizarding war may have ended, but a brand new conflict was raging inside the walls of Hogwarts. It started with words flung in the halls between classes, but escalated to hexing duels and all out fist fights. A Gryffindor seventh year was shoved down a flight of stairs and in return his assailants were hit with a prolonged Rectus Sempra.
In the Great Hall, a crowd of first year Slytherins simply trying to eat breakfast were hexed with the slug vomiting spell. The offending fourth year Gryffindors were surrounded by enraged students of multiple houses who had witnessed the attack. A stand off of wands ensued until a burst of accidental magic from a third year caused a fire ball to hit a Hufflepuff. Then the hexes flew until Professor Snape broke it up with an expelliarmus magnum.
Some of the students in the other two houses tried to stay out of the way and some chose a side to fight for. This caused fights within their own towers as Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs disagreed amongst themselves.
Classes were turning into refereeing sessions rather than hours of learning as arguments, fights and duels permeated each subject except potions. Professor Snape's classes were the only ones that did not dissolve into chaos, because of the tight control he maintained over them.
Visits to the infirmary increased as green and crimson students and their allies fought each other with fists and wands. Luna worked until after midnight every night.
Hermione learned war time potioneering as she single-handedly managed an office full of bubbling cauldrons every night. Professor Snape was needed to help manage the chaos. His absolute intolerance for nonsense and cheek had instilled a healthy fear of him into the students. As a result, he broke up the most fights and duels. Only two seventh year Gryffindors tried to challenge him when he caught them hanging a Slytherin in the air. It looked all too familiar to him. When he brought the student down, the overzealous but not very bright offenders tried to turn on him with a Rectus Sempa. He blocked their feeble attack and disarmed them both, then applied with sticking and silencing charms. All of it without breaking a sweat and before they knew what was happening.
Curfew was moved up to immediately after supper, and staff rounding of the castle was increased.
:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;
On Saturday, Slytherin and Gryffindor battled it out on the Quidditch pitch. Two crimson players were knocked off their brooms and a green player was shoved into a tower, breaking his humerus and clavicle. In retaliation, Slytherin players hexed multiple Gryffindor brooms and they burst into flames. When the green section of the stands cheered, they were hit with slug vomiting spells. The Gryffindor keeper then found himself bleeding from a slicing hex, and threw a petrificus totalis at the Slytherin beater.
Unable to move, he fell from his broom and hit a tower on the way down. By the time he hit the ground, he was unconscious. Two staff apparated with him to the infirmary, where the Mediwitch did a diagnostic spell. Upon discovering a severe concussion, ruptured spleen and a punctured lung, she sent him to St. Mungo's. The two staff members transported him by floo.
Unfortunately, while he was being tended to, hexing duels broke out in the stands. Only after everyone was disarmed and grounded with sticking charms did the chaos settle down.
Quidditch was cancelled indefinitely, and every student not being treated or assisting was confined to their dorm.
Nine players were in the infirmary following the game, on top of students who were already there.
Because the Potions Master and the Headmistress were both also trained as healers, they were assisting in treating the huge influx of patients. The Room of Requirement was used to treat the students with the most minor injuries, and Luna moved amongst them, treating minor lacerations, burns and slug vomiting.
Hermione was in the potions office with twelve cauldrons bubbling. Four held pain reliever, four held bloodbuilder and four held strengthener.
Hagrid was dispatched to procure ingredients from the Alleys. Professor Sprout and Neville helped with ingredient retrieval from the greenhouse. Two seventh year Ravenclaw students who had gotten an O on their potions OWLS helped with bottling while a third moved back and forth between the office and the infirmary. As soon as a cauldron was emptied, Hermione set another potion to brew.
While many staff were occupied, some sixth year Slytherins snuck into the Gryffindor common room and released twenty snakes they had created with the serpent conjuring spell. In retaliation, the Slytherin common room was set on fire. Three Gryffindors were injured by snake bites and four Slytherins had burn injuries.
Professor Snape was able to determine the type of snake bite anti-venom needed and Hermione started brewing it. Hurling snakes at each other was not an unusual activity for Slytherin students, so he was accustomed to dealing with it.
The number of students brought to the infirmary just that day alone was sixteen. Twelve more were in the Room of Requirement.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The next day was Sunday. Every Slytherin student who wasn't in the infirmary with an injury came to breakfast. Every one of them proudly wore their green and black scarves. Some had the initials DM written on their cheeks or foreheads. They staged a sit-in and refused to leave the Great Hall until Harry and Ron were arrested for Draco's murder.
When the Headmistress attempted to send them back to their tower, they began beating their fists on the table in rhythm and chanted "Justice for Draco!", "No Justice, No Peace" and "We Want Justice!" repeatedly.
Their Head of House was summoned and he listened to their pleas. If a child of a Death Eater had murdered a Gryffindor the Aurors would have already arrested them. Why was Draco's life worth less?
Rather than threaten or scold his house for taking a stand, Professor Snape chose to simply stand watch. He had experienced years of Dumbledore's favoritism to Gryffindor and demonization of Slytherin. He had for years been badly bullied by the Marauders four to one, while they got slaps on the wrist. He would get detentions for days just for trying to defend himself.
The Minister of Magic was summoned to Hogwarts, and made to explain to the Slytherins why Potter and Weasley had not been arrested yet. Because every reason he gave was shot down, a warrant was created and Aurors were dispatched to the Burrow.
After documented proof of the arrests was shown to Slytherin House, they returned to their dorms. The staff all hoped the fighting would stop, but did not let their guard down.
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Harry and Ron had known it was coming when Magical Law Enforcement officers arrived at the Weasley home. Molly screamed as magical cuffs were placed on Ron, but Arthur kept an arm around her as the Aurors apparated to Azkaban with their prisoners.
Severus arrived by floo some time later, to deliver more PT brew, and gave her a Draught of Peace. He'd brought it with him, knowing she'd likely need it due to her son's arrest. Unfortunately, the situation at Hogwarts necessitated that he return quickly. He quickly checked on his house, to ensure everyone was toeing the line, smoothed over tempers and checked on the injured who had been discharged from the infirmary and those who were still there.
Hermione had spent the day brewing, replenishing the infirmary and the potions office stock room. All week, she had barely had time to pee, let alone think about Draco or her trauma.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Harry's cell was across from Lucius' cell. His first night, he just stared at the senior Malfoy. This unnerved the man, who finally screamed at him to stop staring. Of course, this didn't deter Harry at all. When finally asked why he was doing it, all Harry could do was swear and groan and scream due to the wand oath he made to Professor Snape.
He finally screamed "You called her a mudblood!", causing Lucius to grow pale. He knew that word had been carved on Hermione's arm that day and realized Harry knew he had been one of the Death Eaters to rape Hermione. The Azkaban prisoners could not practice magic, but they could scream at each other and they did it often.
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Monday was calmer, but the storm was not over. Slytherin house was no longer on the war path, but Gryffindor house was angry about Potter and Weasley being arrested.
Classes were cancelled and every student was summoned to the Great Hall and a ceasefire was called after the Headmistress threatened to close the school if it wasn't. The wands that had been confiscated the day before were returned with strict instruction not to resume any kind of dueling. Even so, students were confined to their towers for one more day.
"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"
Hermione was given the choice of taking the afternoon and evening off from potion making. She was clearly exhausted, but so was her mentor. While she had been brewing all week, he'd been managing a house full of angry Slytherins and breaking up conflicts school wide.
The contraceptive cabinets needed to be inventoried, so they both rounded to each common room. Only a small handful were missing from each. The students had been too caught up in the conflict to use it.
They returned to the office and Hermione set to work on the contraceptive potion. She laughed to herself as she remembered the vial she had placed in her pocket over a week ago. Perhaps she would never need it, but maybe someone else might. She decided to leave it out for Luna.
After bottling and delivering the contraceptive vials, Professor Snape sent Hermione to her dorm to rest with a vial of PT brew. He had a bottle of whiskey with his name on it, after the week he'd had.
Hermione downed the vial and collapsed into bed. She took a deep breath and hoped the fighting was over. Cognitively, she knew none of it was her fault, but a tiny nagger in the back of her head told her everything was her fault. Her rape was her fault, Draco's death was her fault, the conflicts amongst the students was her fault and her friends' arrests were her fault. Bellatrix's voice sounded in her head again, something she hadn't heard in a while. "Look at the dumb mudblood whore!". Tears ran down her cheeks and she cried herself to sleep.
The next day, Hermione woke up with just enough time to throw on clothes and a robe and race to potions class. It was a lecture day, which she was thankful for. While flipping to the page her mentor had written on the board, something caught her eye. Cannabis. She placed a finger at the other page and began reading. It sounded like it would be a good addition to the PT brew, but it was not commonly used for potions. It was considered illegal and was difficult to find. But it had calming properties. She made a mental note to ask her mentor about it and left a bookmark on that spot.
"Miss Granger, what are the ingredients for the bloodbuilder potion? I believe you are quite familiar with brewing it."
She snapped to attention. This one she could brew in her sleep.
"Beetroot, spleen, marrow, boiled until brown. Then grind spinach with aloe gel in a mortar and pestle and add to the cauldron and simmer for one hour, strain and bottle."
"Perhaps from now on you will pay attention to the subject being taught and not read ahead."
"Yes sir."
That evening she showed her mentor what she'd read and asked him what he thought about adding Cannabis to the PT brew.
"If it wasn't illegal and difficult to find, I would strongly consider adding it. As it stands now, it would not be feasible."
Hermione nodded in understanding, disappointed but knowing it had been a long shot. She busied herself with doing inventory of the stock room and found herself thinking about Knockturn Alley and Hagrid's ability to procure ingredients from there. Perhaps he knew how to find it, but she did not have her mentor's permission to research it.
;;;;;;;;;;::::::::::;;;;;;;;;;::::::::::
That Thursday, Hermione was summoned to the Headmistress's office. She had been in her Arithmancy class when the Headmistress had entered the classroom and stated she was needed.
After making eye contact with her professor, she left the class. A huge lump of lead was forming in her gut. Feeling around in her pocket, she found a vial of PT brew and swallowed half of it.
Inside the office sat the current Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt and two Aurors.
"Miss Granger," began the Minister, "We are here to confirm with you the events that took place at Malfoy Manor in May. Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter told us that you were tortured and raped by multiple Death Eaters while prisoner there. Do you confirm that this occurred?"
Hermione's voice shook and it was barely above a whisper. "Why do you need to know?"
The Headmistress stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder.
The Minister sat forward in his chair and looked her in the eyes. "Because they are using it as their defence for why they attacked the younger Mr. Malfoy. I know this is difficult, but could you please answer the question?"
"Yes, I was tortured with the Cruciatis and raped after being knocked out with a stupefy spell." Hermione barely managed to whisper her answer and she was shaking.
"Can you tell us what you remember?"
"Bellatrix saw the Sword of Gryffindor and sent Ron and Harry to the dungeon with Wormtail. She put a petrificus totalis on me and began torturing me by biting me and choking me. When I wouldn't tell her where we found it, she started casting the Cruciatis on me. I remember all the Death Eaters standing around us watching and the way they were all looking at me…"
Hermione stopped as her breakfast made a reappearance. She continued dry heaving for several agonizing minutes. The Headmistress floo called the infirmary and Madame Pomfrey soon arrived with stomach soother and Draught of Peace. She took all of the anti-nausea and only half of the draught so it wouldn't knock her out just yet.
"What else do you remember, Miss Granger?" The Minister continued his questioning, but in a gentler tone.
"Bellatrix looked around at the others with that evil expression of hers and asked them if they were ready. Then everything went black. When I woke up, I was in so much pain that I could barely move. That's all I remember."
"Thank you, Miss Granger. That will be all."
"I won't need to testify in court, will I?"
"No, you will not. This will do."
She turned to the Headmistress. "May I go?"
"Yes, we are done here. Are you alright?"
"No, I'm not. I'll take the rest of the draught and the PT brew when I get to my room. May I be excused for the rest of the day?"
"Yes, you may. If you need anything, Miss Granger, just floo call me. I'll be here in my office until supper."
"Could you tell Professor Snape I won't be there tonight after classes?"
"Yes, I will do that. Just this one time."
"Thank you. Good day, Headmistress. Good day, Minister." Hermione nodded at both of the Aurors and left. As soon as she was out in the hallway, she leaned against the wall and shut her eyes. Reaching in her pocket, she retrieved the two half full vials and swallowed the contents of both. Visions of dark dungeon quarters and a green blanket danced through her mind, but she knew better than to ask. Professor Snape was teaching. He had told her she couldn't run to his couch and blanket every time something upset her.
She managed to get to her dorm before the tears spilled over and fell asleep soon after.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Luna woke up to the sound of screams coming from the other side of her shared dorm room. She wordlessly lit the sconces on the wall and raced to Hermione's side.
The brunette was thrashing around, her eyes shut, tears streaming down her face..
"No, no, no, no, please, oh god, no, no, no….."
"Accio Draught of Peace."
The potion from her robe pocket flew into her hand and she magically spelled it into the screaming girl. But it seemed to have no effect on Hermione. The screaming and thrashing did not stop.
Knowing she needed help, she flooed the infirmary from the Ravenclaw common room. Madame Pomfrey flooed over immediately and together they brought her to the infirmary.
The mediwitch spelled another vial of Draught of Peace in her, and was visibly dismayed that it once again had no effect. Hermione continued to scream and thrash around the bed.
"Luna, floo call Professor Snape. We need him up here immediately."
Luna threw down the floo powder.
"Professor Snape's quarters."
"Yes?"
"Professor, we need you immediately. It's Hermione Granger."
He dropped his tumbler of whiskey on the stone floor and jumped to his feet as it shattered.
"On my way."
The apprentice closed the connection and stepped out of the way to allow the Potions Master in.
The moment he stepped out of the fireplace, he went to the brunette's side. He listened as Luna described what happened and Madame Pomfrey told him two vials of Draught of Peace were already given.
After watching for only a few moments and listening to her heart wrenching screams, he knew what was wrong. It was time to reveal something he had known and kept secret since it had happened.
"When she was raped, she was actually placed under an Imperius curse, not a stupefy. It's coming back to her. Everything that was done to her. Now she's reliving it. This can happen with people who have been placed under it, particularly if what took place was highly traumatic."
Both the Mediwitch and Luna gasped.
"I let her think she had been under a stupefy hex, knowing this could happen, but hoping it wouldn't. I was hoping to protect her."
"She's already received the two vials of Draught of Peace. What do you recommend?"
"Dreamless sleep and I'll go fetch two vials of my PT brew." He stepped into the floo, and quickly returned with the sapphire potion and the green blanket.
As the Mediwitch spelled the potions into her, he covered her with the Slytherin blanket and sat down next to her cot. He sadly remembered his fireside thoughts days earlier. Progress and setbacks. Watching her now, he vowed to himself to stay by her side through all of it.
Hermione's screams and thrashing soon stopped, and the only sound in the infirmary was her breathing and the whispers of Luna, Madame Pomfrey and the professor as she slept. Because of her current condition, the professor briefed the Mediwitch on what had happened. She and Severus had seen Imperius flashbacks during and after the first wizarding war, but Luna never had. The only treatment was to sedate the person and wait it out. A heavy amount of emotional support would be needed after they awakened.
Severus explained that this situation was primarily what he had created the Post Trauma brew for. To treat and prevent traumatic Imperius flashbacks. Hermione's current situation told him that his current potion recipe could treat, but not prevent them. He knew when she awakened, she would likely want his couch and blanket and nothing else.
He had also created it to help with the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
While she was still sleeping, the Headmistress was summoned and made aware. She excused the girl from further classes. Provided she was able to pass her NEWTs in herbology, potions and arithmancy, she could graduate and be considered a full apprentice.
':':':':':':':':':':':':':':':':':'
Severus stayed by Hermione's side until morning. Before he left to prepare for the classes of the day, he had the Mediwitch give her more dreamless sleep and spelled more PT brew into her. He hoped to be present when she woke up, but left instructions to summon him if he wasn't.
When he'd finished the last potions class of the day, he hurried to the infirmary. As he sat down, he noted that Hermione was still asleep.
Madame Pomfrey shoved a plate at him, which he shook his head at.
"I'm fine."
"When did you eat last?"
This caused the Potions Master to pause and think.
"Last night at supper." He glanced at the Mediwitch's frown and accepted the plate without further comment. If he was a tough nut to crack, Poppy Pomfrey was even tougher.
"That's what I thought. Before you ask, I did spell nutrient and hydrating potions into her."
"Thank you. She is going to be in rough shape emotionally when she wakes up. If she wants, l will let her crash on my couch like I did after Draco died. But I'll wait and see if that's what she is comfortable with."
Hermione woke up four hours later. The lights were turned down in the infirmary, but she saw Severus sitting next to her dozing. As she sat up, he quickly awoke.
It only took a moment before the memories came back to her. They crashed into her consciousness like a bludger. Her clothes being yanked off as everyone watched, Death Eater men forcing themselves on her, Bellatrix laughing as she cried in pain as she was taken from behind, Lucius...Lucius! Draco's father! He'd brutally attacked her, too.
She heard screams and it took a moment for her to realize they were her own. People were standing over her, but she thought they were Death Eaters and pushed away from them in terror. She soon felt a heavy sleepiness and laid down and shut her eyes.
As the dreamless sleep and PT brew took effect, Severus laid the green blanket over her again. Madame Pomfrey and Luna stood nearby.
"She likes this blanket. She finds it comforting."
"I think she finds the owner of the blanket comforting as well", Luna observed.
"No, I am never comforting. I'm a mean ol' dungeon bat, remember?"
"If you say so." Madame Pomfrey chuckled at him and shook her head. She knew Professor Snape was tough as dragon's skin on the outside, but cared deeply on the inside.
When Hermione awoke again, it was daylight. She was aware of a soft green blanket covering her. She pulled it away from her face and saw Severus sitting next to her. He didn't say anything, but just watched her carefully. When her eyes locked onto his cup of tea, he brought her some. She sat up, noticing her muscles all ached.
Looking around, she realized she was in the infirmary, and looked at her mentor questioningly.
"You had a flashback. That happens quite often when a person is hit with the Imperius curse."
Hermione furrowed her eyebrows and cocked her head to the side. Imperius?
"At the Manor. Bellatrix did not use a stupefy on you, she used an Imperius. You did not remember initially, but now it appears that you do."
She nodded, tears filling her eyes. Lucius Malfoy…. She looked up at Severus and pointed at her hair and to her shoulders to represent long hair.
"Hair… long hair…. Lucius? I know, Hermione. I know. I kicked his arse, so to speak. I inflicted a prolonged Cruciatis on him for it."
She pointed at her hair again and the base of her neck.
"Hair… short hair…. Draco?"
She nodded again, her tears spilling over. He'd whispered "I'm so sorry, Hermione" as he'd climbed on top of her.
"Are you not able to speak at all?"
She shook her head. Then she pointed at him and shook her head and pointed at a nearby empty vial.
"Yes, you are still my apprentice. You haven't lost that. The Headmistress excused you from further classes, and once you pass your NEWTs in potions, arithmancy and herbology, you'll graduate and be a full apprentice."
She raised her eyebrows, looking surprised.
"You more than proved yourself these past weeks doing all the brewing for the infirmary while I referree'd a school eating itself alive. The Headmistress agrees. You are stronger than you know, Hermione Granger. You're going to get through this. You are wounded, but you are not destroyed."
Tears slid down her cheeks at this statement. She pointed at the green blanket and at him and then at the floo.
"You want to stay on my couch again? Yes, you can, but not until Madame Pomfrey sees you."
Seeing she was awake, the Mediwitch assessed her and gave her a nutrient potion and a cup of water. A house elf brought her a meal and she was told to eat at least 75 percent of it if she wanted to leave.
After cleaning her plate, Hermione flooed to Severus's quarters with him. As soon as she stepped out of the fireplace, she wrapped herself in the blanket and laid down facing the fire. She never wanted to leave this couch in these dungeon quarters. This apartment was the only place in the world she felt safe.