A/N: Hey, brilliant reader. Just want to warn you that this chapter includes potentially distressing scenes, please know that even as what I write is fiction, I am completely aware that events like this do often happen, the world is truly awful. If you have ever experienced this or know of someone who has, I am truly sorry. This is all completely made up, I am not writing from my own or anyone else that I know's personal experience as that would be rather insensitive. Please note that this story is rated 'M' for a reason, and although the scene won't get anywhere near graphic, I would just like to remind anyone who's maybe a younger reader, that ya might want to skip a few lines of this chapter. Love you all and I am so thankful for all of your reviews, etc.

Chapter 8 - Found

"As a reminder, the Hogwarts Express will be leaving Hogsmeade station at approximately nine o'clock on Saturday morning for those of you who wish to return home for Christmas. There is an exception, however, for those of you who wish to return home but are attending Professor Slughorn's event. For those students, we have arranged another train that will leave Hogsmeade Station at nine o'clock on Sunday morning. Please remember that there are only two carriages of this train that are available to students on the Sunday morning, therefore if you are not attending Professor Slughorn's event, it is only acceptable to travel on the Saturday, or you will have to remain in the school for the break. Thank you."

Ron pushed his baked beans around his plate as he listened to Professor McGonagall reiterate the same thing for what felt like the twelfth time that week. "How many times is she gonna go on about that bloody party?" Ron asked, frustratedly.

Harry shrugged his shoulders as he ate his cereal. "I imagine they're quite worried about the Death Eaters and Voldemort." He said nonchalantly, causing many people around them to jump and give him questioning looks.

Ron looked between all of the starers until they had stopped. "Will you stop saying his bloody name?" He reprimanded, heatedly.

"What's up with you?" Harry asked, defensively.

"Sorry. It's just Lav - she hardly ever leaves me alone. The only reason that she isn't sat on my bloody lap right now is because I told her you get grumpy in the mornings." Ron huffed as he looked up and down the table nervously, hoping that Lavender wouldn't spot him and run over.

Harry couldn't help but laugh at his best friend and the situation he got himself in. "She is a little-"

"Clingy? Obsessive?" Ron finished for him. Harry just nodded and chuckled again. "You going to the party?" He asked in a mimicking tone.

"Yes." Harry laughed. "You could've gone too, if you just-"

"Don't even start, mate." Ron dismissed as he waved his hand in an equally dismissive motion. "Just me on the train then." He assessed. "With you and Neville going."

"What about Lavender? Haven't you asked her to stay for Christmas?" Harry teased.

Ron rolled his eyes. "As if. She's staying here anyway, her parents reckon it's safer. Mum would have a fit if we spent the first Christmas since Dad got better at Hogwarts."

At that one sentence, Harry was brought back to the frightening reality that the wizarding world was experiencing right now, and a pit of guilt formed in his stomach. But not only guilt; realisation dawned over him, how were his two best friends acting so pettily when there were much larger issues at hand. "Just talk to her. Please." Harry's voice was tired, resembling the uphill battle he was fighting, yet it was slightly hopeful.

Ron just sighed and rolled his eyes. "No. I'm sorry, mate. But this is something she needs to get over herself." He said sternly.

Harry rubbed his eyes and hoped that the starry darkness he could see in his lids could conceal him from the situation.

Hermione stared into the mirror of the girls' bathroom as she wrung her hair with a towel. She was the only one that remained to stay for the party out of the girls in her dormitory, but the silence or being alone didn't bother her. She, had stayed of course, Hermione would never catch a breath without her having to be there, but Lavender had clearly chosen to be anywhere but their dormitory this evening. Hermione's nerves were far too great to worry about loneliness, anyway. Cormac and her hadn't spoken since Hermione had asked him to the party, which didn't bother her in the slightest, although it somehow made the uncomfortable glances make her feel that much more uneasy. She still wondered why she had even asked him, her original plan hardly mattered, why she even thought Ron would notice that she was attending the party with someone else was beyond her, he clearly didn't care even if he had figured it out.

Expressing her frustration through her hair, Hermione swiped her wand from her bed and muttered a drying charm, her curls instantly became bone dry, but still wildly untamed. Hermione rolled her eyes and muttered a few words of anger as she attempted to control her hair, eventually relenting and using the same styling charm that she used on the night of the Yule Ball, to make her hair appear somewhat presentable. She let out a sigh of further frustration as she weighed up the options of dresses that lay on her bed. Of course, Hermione had already planned her outfit weeks before this evening, but for some reason she was prolonging the 'getting ready' part as much as she could.

Finally deciding on a yellow dress that complimented her figure, despite the fact that there was no one coming to the party that Hermione wanted to impress, she sat down at her dressing table, which instead of using as a vanity area, Hermione used it to work at. She looked into the mirror briefly, not really that bothered about wearing any sort of makeup. Her gaze fell to a photograph that sat at the corner of the table. This one was moving, as photos usually did in the wizarding world. It was actually quite a similar photo to the still-standing one that sat on her window sill back at her family home. There her younger self was, placed in the middle of her then two best friends that stood laughing with her. They were under the tree that sat near Hagrid's Hut, Hermione had so many fond memories of being under that tree. Before she could realise, a tear steadied down her face as she watched a certain redhead particularly closely. His contagious laugh gleamed up at her, a laugh that Hermione doubted she would ever hear again with the knowledge that she had elicited it. This was the reason that she was so hesitant and negative about getting ready, he was the reason. This night was supposed to be such an exciting affair, when she finally managed to muster the courage to invite Ron, Hermione began counting down the days to this event. Now, she almost couldn't wait for it to be over. Shutting her eyes, steadying her breath, she plopped down the photo and returned to stare at the mirror. She noticed a fleck of determination in her eyes this time. No, she thought, this night was not going to be ruined by him. She would not allow for it. He chose someone else over her, and she wouldn't let that affect an event she was once looking so forward to. There was no chance he could ruin it, he was hundreds of miles away at the Burrow. So, swallowing the sudden sadness, Hermione actually did apply a bit of mascara and even some lip gloss. Studying herself in the mirror for one final time, she let out a sigh and made her way across the room, turning the light off and closed the door. Here goes nothing.

Hermione walked alone to the party, Harry and Luna (who he had invited last minute) had offered to wait for her, much unlike her actual date, but Hermione insisted that she'd go alone, expecting that she would take longer to get ready than really necessary. Once she had arrived, her eyes sought out Harry, who she made her way over to. They only made small talk as Hermione scanned the room, nervously, hoping that Cormac wouldn't notice her.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked, noting that Hermione was rather off.

"Yes. Sorry, Harry. It's just, I don't want Cormac to find me." Hermione admitted.

"Why?" Harry chuckled. "I thought you were the one who asked him."

"Only to make Ron jealous!" Hermione blurted, instantly regretting it. She couldn't believe how stupid it sounded.

"Right." Harry smirked and Hermione just rolled her eyes.

Unfortunately, Hermione hadn't been unable to escape Cormac's lurking for very long. He soon found her, leading her to a table with some people he was seemingly trying to impress. Hermione sat at the end of the booth, her arms folded and her eyes rolling at every snide or arrogant comment that Cormac had made. He was now discussing Quidditch, Hermione stifled a scoff when he gushed about what a brilliant keeper he was, and that he was the school's 'finest'. Hermione didn't know what she was more annoyed about; the fact Cormac had just lied about something so silly, or the fact his lie had made her think about the one person she was determined to not let ruin her evening.

Luckily, Hermione managed to escape Cormac and the group of strangers he was schmoozing, under the pretence that she had to use the loo and would be right back. However, Hermione had no ambition to return, time felt like it was going by slower and slower and she could not wait until she could leave the table. Hermione dived into the sea of people and spent the rest of the evening mingling with different attendees, often finding Harry and catching up with him. But at some point, Harry had seemed to have left the party, which Hermione didn't view as a bad idea. The night was soon coming to a close and Hermione was rather satisfied that she had managed to escape Cormac, thus far, at least.

But sadly, not everything could go smoothly, just as Hermione was making her way to grab a final drink before heading back to her dormitory, when the person she had been avoiding managed to intercept her path.

"There you are, Granger! If I was none the wiser, I would say you've been avoiding me these last two hours." Cormac looked down at her with something in his eyes that Hermione couldn't quite identify - but it made her feel uneasy.

"Avoiding you? That would be rather silly, I was the one who asked you, after all." Hermione reasoned, hoping that there was more conviction in her voice than she could hear herself.

"Well, that's why I thought we could finally have some alone time." Cormac smirked.

Hermione smiled back, but she secretly wanted to cringe. "I was just about to get a drink, if you'd like to join me." She suggested as she pointed at the drinks table behind her. But as she began to turn, Cormac grasped her wrist rather forcefully.

"Actually, Granger, I was thinking that we could leave this sorry place." Cormac stated as he looked around the now emptying party with a scathing look.

"Oh - okay." Hermione replied, tentatively. Cormac placed a hand on the small of her back, nearly pushing her out of the exit. Neither of them said a word as Hermione let her lead him to wherever he had in mind. She was beginning to feel apprehensive as they made their way through dark corridors. The school was pretty much deserted anyway, but there was an eerie silence as they continued down an even darker corridor, barely lit by a few weak candles that lined the walls.

"Where are we going?" Hermione asked in a small voice.

"Shh now, Granger. Just making sure we'll be alone..properly alone." Cormac said mysteriously.

Hermione squirmed slightly, his hand still pressed to her back. "Actually, Cormac, I'm starting to feel rather tired and was just hoping we could go back to the Common Room or someth-"

Cormac hushed her again, this time a little frustratedly. Hermione furrowed her brows at him, there was no need for his abrasiveness. Finally, Cormac pushed her through to an empty classroom, which looked as though it hadn't been used for years. Hermione moved away from him and folded her arms as he looked up and down the corridor.

"Why here?" Hermione asked, impatient with his mysterious silence.

"Granger, if you just shut up then this will be much better for the both of us." Cormac all but spat as he kept his back to her.

"What will go much faster?" Hermione asked, despite her rising anxiety that rose higher as he turned around and she saw the look in his eyes.

"Don't be so naive." Cormac neared her, Hermione edged back herself until she felt a desk hit her legs. She grabbed hold of the desk to steady herself.

"So," Cormac all but whispered with a smirk on his face as he walked closer to Hermione.

"S-so?" Hermione asked, her nerves began to rise as she realised just how much taller and larger he was than her.

Cormac put a large hand on her neck which quickly found its way to the strap of her dress, which he pulled down off her shoulder. Hermione shuddered, not with desire, but with fear. She didn't like where this was going, she and Cormac had barely spoken all evening and Hermione was not in the mood to do anything with someone she didn't really like.

"C-Cormac." Hermione whispered as he stared at the top of her dress. Although she didn't want to be naive, she hoped that he wasn't looking at her breasts. Being under his gaze made her feel nervous and she shifted uncomfortably. This however, only made him latch on to her arm, almost painfully and Hermione let out a gasp.

"Oh, you're not going anywhere, Granger." Cormac's voice was menacing and Hermione gasped again as he grabbed her leg with her left hand.

"Please, Cormac. I don't think this is a good idea." She pleaded, anxiously.

Cormac ignored her protests and instead used his hand to yank her face up to his. He closed his eyes and began to lean in. "No! I - I'm sorry, Cormac but no." Hermione stated, using her arms to hug herself and heading towards the door. But before she could leave, she felt Cormac grab her arm and tug it so she was forced to spin around.

"Nobody says 'no' to me." Cormac growled, angrily.

Hermione felt helpless and tears began to prick her eyes. She could do nothing but watch as Cormac kissed her neck, pulling at her other strap. Trying with all her strength, Hermione still couldn't so much as move under Cormac's grip which started to hurt her wrists. Hermione's breathing began to quicken with panic. "Come here." He demanded. Hermione shook her head and stepped further back.

"Come here, you disgraceful bloody Mudblood!" Cormac demanded as his hand went up in the air. Hermione felt a new wave of tears as she tried to stifle a sob. Hermione winced, fumbling for her wand.

But then.

Hermione thought she could hear footsteps but decided it was probably just the pounding of her heart in her ears. But then, when she thought Cormac was just about to move his hands higher than they already were, she heard what she thought was a punch. Her eyes shot open and Hermione thought she was in a strange trance. She couldn't believe the sight that lay before her. But before she could gauge what had already happened, she was all too consumed by what happened next.

"SHE SAID NO!" Ron roared as he pinned Cormac down to the floor. Hermione felt like a statue. She couldn't move if she wanted to, her breathing was still short and fast and tears still rolled down her cheeks.

In hindsight, Ron had no idea what on earth he was doing. He knew it was a stupid thing to do, Hermione would surely kill him if Cormac didn't first. But Ron couldn't help but see that Hermione looked so uncomfortable, he had to make sure that she was at least safe.

He didn't really know what he was expecting to come out of lingering around the party. The only reason he was still in Hogwarts was because he slept late and Harry had had an early lesson with Dumbledore because the old headmaster was leaving that day or something, so no one realised he needed waking. He kept a low profile all day, only Harry knew he had stayed back and he wanted to keep it that way; if Lavender found out he had missed the train she would go crazy, more than probable that she would insist he stayed the whole holiday. That would be the worst case scenario. As soon as he knew the party had began, he retreated to the Common Room which he knew would be deserted. Involuntarily, his mind kept drifting off to the one person who he knew hadn't a care in the world about him. The one person who he had started this academic year with being so close to. Hermione. He could only imagine how beautiful she looked, and the thought of some slimy creep like McLaggen getting to enjoy it made his stomach turn. He knew it was quite hypocritical of him, he had been spending the last month in the arms, well the lips to be more precise, of another girl. But it was different, he thought. Hermione could find anyone she wanted, the list of people that wanted her didn't stop at McLaggen. The thought made Ron's stomach turn even more. He leaned his head back against the sofa, thoughts of what that disgusting git could be doing to Hermione meant that he couldn't sit still. All thought going out the window, Ron jolted up and made his way to the last place he expected to be tonight.

The noise of the dying party only travelled through the hall faintly, and Ron passed a few people who were leaving. He cursed himself and hoped that he wouldn't be caught by Hermione. He realised that this idea was probably rather stupid. She would obviously cross paths with him, probably laugh at his embarrassing, sad self and then leave with Cormac by her side. The thought ignited a fire of jealousy within Ron, which was probably why he continued to make his way to the party.

He stopped just as he approached the corner. Just around from where he stood was Hermione. And McLaggen. Ron hated the thought. But before he could dwell on it for much longer, he noticed the two of them stumble out, his heart caught in his throat. McLaggen had his groping fingers latched to Hermione's back, which made Ron feel an emotion he didn't know he could possess. His heart ached as he caught Hermione's face in the slight light, she looked uneasy and even nervous. It took all of Ron's might not to pry that git away from her. McLaggen all but shoved Hermione down a sketchily dark corridor. Once again, all thought failed to occur and before he could make a second judgement, Ron was following them.

McLaggen walked quickly and urgently, Hermione struggling to keep up despite the fact his hand hadn't left her back. Ron kept a safe distance in the shadows so if they turned back, it was highly unlikely that they would see him. They walked for what felt like miles, Ron had no idea this part of the castle even existed, of course a strange bloke like Cormac would know about it. He knew what he was doing was probably wrong, Hermione may not've been nervous at all, in fact she could be enjoying it. But something in Ron told him that she wasn't okay and he wasn't about to leave her in the slimy mits of McLaggen.

Ron cursed himself, he dropped his wand and had to duck behind where the wall stuck out, expecting them to turn back at the sudden noise. But the sound of footsteps suggested they hadn't. Ron retrieved his wand but cursed himself again; he had lost them. He sprinted towards the turning, there were multiple hallways that they could've gone down. Merlin knew which one.

Deciding on a plan, Ron gripped his wand tightly and sprinted down the corridor on his right. He was running so fast he nearly missed the sound of her fragile voice. He spun around the spot, launching himself at McLaggen.

"Listen here, McLaggen, you foul bloody git. If you so much as breathe near her again, I'll do a fat lot more to your sorry face than that!" Ron threatened through gritted teeth, prodding McLaggen's now bleeding nose with his wand. Thankfully for McLaggen, he said nothing but scrambled to his feet, looking at Ron in astonishment. "Now, fuck off." Ron said angrily. McLaggen held his nose in one hand and looked between Ron and Hermione with a confused expression before running out of the door frame.

As Hermione felt her breathing return to normal, after comprehending everything that just happened, she watched as Ron's chest rose and fell with anger. She couldn't believe what had just happened. What had just happened? She tried to ask herself, but before she could think, Ron had turned swiftly and took her in his arms.

"I'm so so sorry, Hermione." He muttered against her hair.

"Yo-you saved me." Was all Hermione could manage, albeit in a small and stuttering voice. "He-he- he nearly, he could've-"

"Shhh" Ron said soothingly, juxtaposing to how Cormac had silenced her earlier. Ron used his finger to lift her chin, softly. "I know. If I ever see him again I'm gonna hex him through to the next dimension." Ron stated, firmly.

Hermione laughed through her tears. She loved how Ron was able to make her laugh even after what could've very nearly just happened. "Thank you for saving me." She repeated in a whisper.

"I'll always be there to save you, Hermione." He whispered back. The softly spoken words warmed Hermione's heart as much as it made it break. The truth was, as much as she believed his words, she wasn't his to protect. He was someone else's. She wasn't his to promise to keep safe, someone else was. And he didn't belong to her, he belonged to someone else. The more than melancholy thought was what made Hermione reluctantly retreat from him, using her arms to hug herself. She looked up at his puzzled expression.

"Are you okay?" Ron was slightly hurt that she pulled away, but his feelings were not the priority right now. Any feelings of upset were instantly replaced with determination as he looked at her broken expression. Of course she wasn't okay, she was bloody molested. McLaggen would pay for what he did to her. More than just with a punched up nose.

Hermione watched fearfully as his face went from confused to a sort of angry determination. Before she could stop him, he marched out of the classroom with his fists clenched. Hermione rushed after him, having to nearly jog to keep up with him. "Ron, what are you doing?" She asked.

"Gonna bloody kill him." Ron responded almost mechanically, continuing with his strides despite the fact Hermione had stopped. Hermione furrowed her brows, she had never seen him act so, so scarily.

"No, Ron." She called as she once again tried to keep up with him. Now that she had finally caught up with him, she tried unsuccessfully to stop him by tugging on his arm. She had barely slowed him at all.

"Let go of me, Hermione." He seethed.

"Not until you stop!" She retorted. But Ron ignored her. "Ron! Please just stop!" She cried. Much to her amazement, he did heed in his tracks. He turned to look at her, his angry expression softening the second he did. "Please." She all but mouthed.

"Don't you understand what he did to you, Hermione!"

"I do." Hermione sighed. "But if you do anything more to him, you could get in trouble and it's not worth it." She reasoned.

"Not worth it?!" Ron echoed. "Hermione, he hurt you." His voice crumbled at the words.

Hermione's heart melted at the care in his voice, she practically threw herself at him. Her arms flung around his centre and he stroked her hair whilst also holding her. They stood there for a good few moments, Hermione nestling her face to his chest every so often. "I'm fine, Ron. Really. He didn't even kiss me. Well, not on the lips, anyway."

"What?"

"I'm fine." She insisted. "Just rather disgusted, that's all. I just want to go to bed."

Ron stood back and held out his hand. The familiar notion made Hermione's heart break even further. It was a notion that she hadn't experienced in such a long time. It brought her back to earth. He still wasn't hers, despite the mountains of care he had just shown for her. This still wasn't right. Ron lowered his hand, sensing her hesitation. "Is everything alright?" He asked cautiously.

Hermione looked up at his eyes. She sighed as she registered their transcendence. "I-I'm sorry, Ron. I can't." She whispered, fighting the lump in her throat.

"Can't what?" Ron asked, his eyebrows furrowing with sadness as he watched her obviously fight back tears.

"Be with you. Not even like this. It's too painful." Hermione felt the tears slip down her cheeks at her words.

Ron grasped her hands and held them in his, rubbing circles with his thumb. Hermione felt her heartbeat quadruple at his gentle touch. "Why?" Ron asked in a quiet voice.

Hermione was still lost in his eyes. She shut her own quickly, shaking her head. "I just can't." Was all she could answer that question with. "Thank you so much for tonight. I don't know how or why you found me, but thank you." She released her hands from his hold and started to walk away, but was quickly stopped by his hand on hers again.

"Please, Hermione." He whispered.

"I can't do it, Ron. I just can't." She insisted.

"Do what?" Ron had an incling what her answer was but wasn't completely sure. He had to know. He had to know why she had been avoiding him for weeks, why she couldn't even hold his hand now.

"You don't understand, Ron. You don't understand how hard it is for me, for me to watch you with someone else. You don't know how it feels to watch someone you feel so strongly for, feel so strongly for someone else." Tears were cascading freely, now.

Ron shook his head, feeling his own eyes prick with tears.

"And that's okay, Ron. It's not your fault." Hermione continued. "You can't help how you feel. But neither can I, and, and this is too much for me to endure. We can't be friends, Ron. I'm sorry." Hermione turned again, walking away quicker, wiping her tears away. This time, Ron let her go, even though everything she had said couldn't be more wrong. It was his fault. He liked Lavender, yes. But not in the same way he felt for Hermione. He could do nothing but watch regretfully as she headed down the corridor. His heart speared with her words.