Chapter 37: Figuring It Out

A/N: Hello everybody! I hope some people are still with me! I'm soooooo sorry for the extremely long delay! I have no excuse apart from the fact that school was hectic especially with all the online learning and the extra study I had to do for the Leaving Certificate but then it turned it we didn't have a Leaving Cert! Typical! I have been fierce busy with family, catching up with people I haven't seen in years, and I have started writing a book! Still in the research stage! Now I'll shut up and get on with chapter will I? I have left ye waiting long enough!

Think, Granger! Hermione thought furiously, pacing back and forth restlessly in front of the dingy pub by the name of The Three Broomsticks in Diagon Alley where her fiancee saw her in the arms of another man. Where would Draco go if he was upset?

"Hermione?" a sudden oily voice asked. Hermione whirled around and relaxed minutely when she saw Orion, the Argentine man she was dancing the Tango with before her fiancee saw her.

"You okay? You rushed out of there so quickly I got quite worried." Orion said to her but to the curly haired witch, it sounded suspiciously fake and she didn't trust the lust and desire swirling in his dark eyes. And she suddenly noticed the greasy tone of his voice that didn't seem to be there before. The brightest witch of her age started to back away as the lust in Orion's eyes and body seemed to control his emotions and his rational thought process.

"Orion..." she whispered in fear before realization dawned on her. "This was your plan all along wasn't it? You must have used something on me today to figure out that I was waiting for Draco and you gave me something to try to break us up..." Orion arched an eyebrow and smirked evilly before taking a threatening step towards her. Hermione fingered her wand that rested in the back pocket of her jeans.

"Ah...you really are very clever aren't you, Miss Hermione Granger?" he hissed, striding forwards and backing her into a wall. " I just want to know what the famous Hermione Granger feels like, assuming you still are a virgin. I am not having anyone's sloppy seconds."

"You are disgusting..." Hermione murmured, horror displayed clearly on her features at his twisted desires and her eyes went wide as she felt the wall beneath her fingertips. Using her war reflexes, she whipped out her wand from her back pocket and pointed it at the man who was violating her. But she wasn't quick enough as Orion used brute force to force her wand hand to the rough wall which sent the witch's wand clattering to the ground. Hermione let out a yelp of pain and watched in shock as Orion kicked her wand away, sending it skittering into the alley. Then reality set in and she started to struggle against the stronger man. Since he wasn't too close to her body, she slammed her knee into his groin and he doubled over in pain as his grip on her wrist loosened. She wiggled out of his grip, running to her wand and scooping it up before running towards the Apparation point.

"You'll pay for that, Granger." Orion shouted after her and she turned to face him, tears streaking down her face and fury in her eyes. She raised her wand and shot the Body Bind Curse at him causing him to collapse as stiff as a pole to the ground. Then Hermione finally broke down in the middle of Diagon Alley. Sobs wracked her body as she realised what had happened and the shock from the near rape situation set in. Suddenly, Hermione felt strong arms wrap around her and a gentle hand tilting her head up made her see that it was her fiancee Draco Malfoy that had come to comfort her. Instantly, the young Muggleborn threw her arms around her pureblood boyfriend, tears immediately hitting the bare skin of his neck.

"I-I'm-s-s-oo sor-ry, D-d-ra-c-c-o" the witch cried as hands rubbed up and down her back soothingly. "I love you so much! I don't know what came over me but it seemed to disappear when you Flooed in the restaurant." she managed to choke out between the sobs. Draco snarled as he listened to her last sentence and his grip on her tightened , bringing her body closer to his.

"Love. Potion." he growled before softening his voice when he heard her whimper. "It's ok, love. I'm here for you now. We will get through this together and we will make sure that bastard pays. I love you so much too. That never changed."

"I didn't mess it up?" Hermione muttered, looking into his eyes hopefully.

"It is no ones fault but his, sweetheart." the blonde reassured her, his hands coming up to wipe the tears from her cheeks. "Let's get you home! There is a tub of chocolate ice cream, a bubble bath and a cheesy movie has your name on it, I think" he said in an attempt to cheer her up. It worked wonders as she chuckled waterly before tucking herself into his arms as he curled his arms around her.

"I love you, Dray" she sighed happily.

"I love you too, Mia" he replied, laying a soft kiss on her temple.

A/N: Don't hate me! I have nothing against Argentines. I just started typing and this is what came out. Hope you enjoyed that! Please leave a review!