A/N: Hi everyone! Thank you for reading, especially if you've stuck with me from the very beginning. I wanted to address a comment about Hermione being weak. I agree that from one prospective she does appear that way, but have you noticed it's only when she's dealing with Ron? Domestic abuse victims are some of the strongest people out there because they put up with so much. Sorry I just wanted to address that she's stronger than you think. As the story continues Hermione will change (last chapter was kind of a turning point... I mean who else would go in and destroy all of someone's secret stash?) and things will be different, but just hold on. We're getting there. Thanks again for reading. Please review, because your reviews help me be a better writer and may help carry this story on. As always, I own nothing.

Chapter 16: The Locked Door

Ginny nodded and helped Harry maneuver Hermione to her dorm. She was still crying when they got there. They tried to get Hermione to talk but she wouldn't say anything, much less tell them the password to get into her room. So they had to knock and wait. Hopefully Zabini was in there. To their surprise, Malfoy opened the portrait.

"Granger? What happened?!"

"Save it Ferret! Move!"

Harry pushed passed Malfoy.

"Save it Boy Wonder. Let me at least open the door to her room for you. She spelled it before she left this morning."

Malfoy made quick work of the charms Hermione had secured her room with and opened the door for them. Ginny got Hermione in the room and told the boys to back out while she got Hermione changed and cleaned up. The poor girl was covered in glass and alcohol in addition to the tear stains down her front.

"Potter. What. Happened?"

"I don't think you should worry yourself about her. I mean she's just a filthy Mudblood to you anyway."

Draco visibly flinched. "You don't know anything," he said clinching his fists.

Before Harry could get another word out, the two boys heard banging on the portrait.

"Let me in!" Ron bellowed.

Harry went to open the portrait but Draco grabbed his arm.

"What Malfoy? He's probably just concerned about Hermione."

Draco wasn't happy at all. He swore the Weasel would never enter again. But he promised Hermione he wouldn't tell anyone about what he had seen.

"Potter. Blaise doesn't want him in here."

"But that should be Hermione's choice. Not your friend's. It's her room, too. Now let go of me!"

Draco took two steps back and put a locking charm on Hermione's door. He wasn't letting the Weasel get in there.

Harry opened the portrait and Ron came rushing in. "Where is she Harry? Where's my bloody girlfriend?"

Before Harry could point to the door, Ron caught sight of Draco.

"What the fuck are you doing here, Death Eater? Came to see if my bloody girl needed you? Well get the fuck out of here and stay away from her!"

Draco just crossed his arms and smirked. Blaise was really missing a good show.

"I'm here waiting on Blaise. Not that it is any of your business, Weasel."

Ron huffed and went for Hermione's door. "Let me in you bloody bint!" He kept trying to open the door without any success. "I'll blast this bloody thing down if you don't let me in now!"

Harry was perplexed. Ginny wouldn't have locked the door. Why was it suddenly lock? He looked over at the blond snake and noticed the growing smirk as Malfoy watched Ron struggle. Why would he lock her door? Something was going on.

"Ron, why don't you go clean up the mess in the dorm and I'll bring Hermione back to the common room when she's calmed down. Ginny's in there with her right now so give them a little bit."

Ron turned on Harry and just glared. After a few minutes Ron stomped off, hopefully back to the Gryffindor common room. Harry stayed rooted in his spot. What was that glare for? He didn't take too long to think on it and spun around to Malfoy. "Why would you lock the door?"

Draco didn't take long to come up with a cover story. "Obviously, she didn't need him barging in as much as she needed one of us to. He was going to barge in there like the uncivilized plebeian that he is. I would rather not have to clean up the mess Granger would have likely made if he had stormed in on her in less than presentable garments."

Harry gave him a narrowed looked and plopped down on the couch. Draco stayed by Blaise's room, leaning against the wall.

"I'll ask again, Potter, what happened?"

Harry looked defeated but answered anyway. "I'm not exactly sure. One minute we were playing around at the Quiditch pitch while Hermione was watching, and the next, Hermione took off towards the castle. We quickly flew down, dismounted, and put our brooms away before we headed after her. I found her smashing all of Ron's booze on the floor."

Draco stayed silent. What was he supposed to say to that? And Potter was just going to let Weasley into her room? Obviously the git wanted to continue beating her into submission. How could Potter not see that?

Ginny stuck her head out of the door. "Umm Malfoy? She's whimpering for you."