Disclaimer: Mentions of rape, please do not read further if you cannot handle that. I own nothing but the plot bunny. Everything else is JK Rowling's. All mistakes are my own, I have no beta.

Snape sat in his study. The soothing sounds of simple classical music filled his ears. Being away from Hogwarts had some advantages, like being able to possess a muggle cellphone. His Samsung worked well for his wants. He had no one to text, only interested in the apps designed for music. Currently he toyed with Spotify, on a playlist called "The Most Beautiful Songs in the World". Quite a few were pretty good as far as classical music went, like Drifting by Nathan Ball.

He glanced down at the screen of the phone, 12:14am. The soft glow lit his face in the otherwise dark room, and it was much changed from the Severus Snape of the war. The creases and crevasses that lined his forehead and lips left by worry and anger over the years had lessened. He looked more his 43 years rather than the 50 he had previously.

Scarred as he was, the evidence of his life leading to this point was obvious. A large, thick, still mostly pink scar caressed around the side of his neck, too many to count lashed his back and torso, a large silver web crisscrossed his left arm where the magic of his Dark Mark had ripped itself from his body at the fall of the Dark Lord.

Leaning back, he rested his head against the back of the leather seat and sighed heavily. Exhaustion seeped into his muscles, but still he did not sleep. Nightmares were and are the bane of his existence. If dreamless sleep weren't addictive, he'd down the vials faster than he could blink. Instead, he hoped the easy music would drown his nightmares. Severus Snape sat in the dark until morning began seeping into the curtained windows, chasing away the shadows. At 6:30, Severus finally slept.

However his sleep was soon interrupted by frantic knocks on his door. Groaning, he levered himself up from the chair, and looked down upon himself. A leftover from war, Severus slept in black track pants and a white shirt, always at the ready. It became apparent that even now some five years later, he was meant no peace, if only for the summer. Stalking through the foyer and throwing the door wide, he glared menacingly at the frightened, upset witch before he blinked, dumbstruck.

"P-professor, I'm sorry to bother you, but I really need your help and I have no where else to go!"

"Miss Granger, surely there's someone else better suited-"

"No! Professor Snape you don't understand! I can't go to anyone else, they'd never believe me. I tried." The last part was spoken softly, and full of pain. Snape examined her, curious to her ailment. Visually, she seemed fine. The years following the war allowed her to fill out her frame. No longer the buck toothed, scrawny, knock-kneed child of eleven, nor the gaunt, injured and dirty warrior of seventeen but a respected war heroine, elegant and confident in her place. For the moment, this confidence was no-where to be seen.

"Miss Granger, surely Minerva would assist you in whatever issue you find yourself in." He grumbled, attempting to convince the girl from his home.

"Professor McGonagall didn't believe me. She didn't even talk to me more than a minute before her mind was made up!"

"Her favorite cub? Miss Granger, I find that hard to believe." He crossed his arms and looked down his long nose at her.

"Professor Snape, please." She pleaded. "I have no one else!"

"Very well. Come in. Tell me what has the little know-it-all in a twist." Snape gestured into the foyer and once he closed the door behind her, he heard her take a stuttered breath.

Hermione Granger, war heroine, brightest witch of her age turned to face him. Eyes downcast, as if ready for the rejection, spoke three words so softly he worried he might've misheard.

"I was raped."

Authors Note:

I debated for a really long while about posting this, and I do apologize if the mention of rape makes you uncomfortable. This is going to be discussed in the next few chapters, not only this one. It may get graphic, I'm unsure how far Id like to take it. Thank you as always for the love and criticism. I appreciate all of it. Ciao.