A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks for reading my story. This chapter might be a little triggering, so be warned. Anyway, I own nothing, but please read and review!

Chapter 15: The Breakdown

Weeks passed and Draco started staying in the Head's dorm more often. Hermione worked with Draco once a week to help him with his class. Hermione was pretty shocked at the lack of current information Wood was teaching his students about the muggle world, but she did think he probably knew more than the other teachers that taught it previously.

Draco tried getting Hermione to laugh more often and thought they may be getting closer to being friends. She seemed more open and willing to help him as they studied more. They had covered automobiles and airplanes recently, and he was having fun learning about these new carriages. He guessed they were the best way to travel since they could not apperate or port key. Hermione had gotten excited about describing the machines to him while trying to get him to understand. Her analogy of an enclosed broom for many people probably worked the best.

Hermione gradually talked more to the snakes when they were in the common room. Blaise and Malfoy were both entertaining when they were not making fun of her. One morning after Malfoy had stayed over, Hermione and the Slytherins walked down for breakfast together. As they entered the Entrance Hall, Hermione felt a tug and found herself face to face with Ron.

"Why would you ever walk with them? You're supposed to walk with me! They're the enemies! They'll hurt you! How could you socialize with them?"

"They aren't that bad Ron."

"They'll always be on the wrong side. I forbid you from speaking to them!"

"You can't forbid me from doing anything."

"Watch me," he said as he slapped her across the face.

Why did he have to drink this early in the mornings?

She walked into the Great Hall with her head down. The less attention the better. Did anyone see their interaction? Draco saw her walk in and looked at her questionably. She shook her head at him, trying not to let the other Gryffindors see her silent communication. However, Draco and Blaise had realized when Hermione stopped walking with them and hung back slightly to see what caught her attention. They had been in the middle of a conversation, after all. Both heard the hushed tones of the Weasel's voice and the sickening crack as he slapped her across the face. No one else noticed but them.

Blaise turned back to do something but was stopped by Draco's arm.

"We have to do something Drake."

"Not right now. He'll just hurt her worse."

"You've got to be kidding me."

"No. She'll stop him when she wants to. There's nothing the two of us can do."

"You say that like you know something."

Draco stayed silent instead of giving a response. Of course he knew something. Who else picked her up off the flood and helped clean her up before she completely gave out?

"Fine. Don't share. But I don't want him in the dorm without one of us being there."

Ron didn't speak to her at the table. He ignored her questions. Blatantly. Harry and Ginny noticed the tension in the air but didn't say anything. Hermione ate her breakfast without any incident, minus the glares Ron kept giving her between bites.

It was Saturday so Hermione planned on spending time with her friends. Harry, Ron, and Ginny wanted to fly on the pitch so Hermione dutifully followed. She sat in the stands watching the trio fly through the air. They started talking strategy so Hermione tuned them out.

She turned her attention to her own thoughts. What was Ron's problem? What was Malfoy's deal? Why did he care? She quickly decided Ron would never treat her like that again. Something needed to be done about his drinking. So without another thought, Hermione's Gryffindor nature won out. She climbed down the stands and headed to the castle. Before she knew what she was really doing, she had made it to the Gryffindor common room. She climbed up to Harry and Ron's room and went directly to Ron's bed. She pulled open his trunk and started accio-ing his alcohol stash out of his stuff and shattering it next to his bed.

Before she had the last bottle in her hands, two strong arms wrapped around her, jerking her back. Ron was screaming at her, as Harry pulled her away from his stuff. But she didn't hear Ron's voice. She couldn't hear anything.

Harry looked at her concerned. Hermione had tears streaming down her face. Before Harry could do anything Ron was right there in her face shaking her and yelling. The tears never stopped, but what worried Harry the most was that Hermione's expression never changed. She didn't even act like she knew Ron was screaming profanities at her.

Harry pushed Ron away and pulled Hermione to him. He steered her down to the common room to Ginny.

"I don't know what's wrong, but I think we should take her to her dorm."