A/N: Chapter One: Hermione, Ron and Harry are horcrux hunting, struggling with the weight of voldemort's soul hanging over them. Ron leaves, and the increased exposure to the locket causes difficulties for Harry in particular. After experiencing a vivid dream of Voldemort's revels, and an assault that takes place during, he is filled with a desire to replicate the events that he's seen. Naturally, he turns to Hermione. He rapes her and places her under the imperious curse. It is only after he has reached completion that she is able to apparate wandlessly to Grimmauld place, naked and with no possessions.
Similar warnings to before: This fic contains topics of a sensitive nature. If you are a cub, or if you're quite sensitive to difficult themes, just don't read it.
Anything you recognise belongs to JK. And yes, Dumbledore is a bit of an ass in this chapter, but some of you should be able to understand. If not, then you will do later on.
Chapter Two - the Aftermath
Once Hermione had wiped the bile from her lips and cleaned the carpet wandlessly as best she could, she moved into the living room and reached for a blanket that rested on a worn armchair from the nights that she and the others had stayed there at the start of her journey.
She wasn't safe, she wasn't safe, she wasn't safe…
A Death Eater had been here. She wasn't safe.
With renewed determination she moved to the fireplace, tucking the blanket tightly around herself and securing it over her breasts. She pinched some floo powder from the antique snuff box and threw it shakily into the fire.
"Hogwarts, Headmaster's office."
A few mere moments later, the face of Albus Dumbledore appeared in the flames, and Hermione fell to her knees in relief.
"Professor Dumbledore, sir!" She sobbed. "Harry, he-"
"Is he with you, Miss Granger?" Dumbledore asked. "You know that it isn't safe to return to Grimmauld."
"I know, sir, I do! But I had the leave, there was nowhere safe, and here isn't safe either! Please! Can you help me? I need you to help me."
"Of course, Miss Granger," he murmured soothingly. "Can you remember the answer to the security question we put in place?"
"Security? What? I need to come through! Please!"
"The answer, Miss Granger. I need to ascertain that you are, in fact, you."
"I-" She sobbed harder and placed her face in her palms, rocking slightly as she tried to clear her mind of the torment. "I-"
"Take your time, dear."
She took a deep breath and lifted her head. "Hogwarts, a History. Page 76."
"Excellent! Come on through, Miss Granger."
His head vanished from the flames and Hermione lurched forwards, pushing herself into Dumbledore's office with the fear that if she waited even a second longer, the option would be taken from her.
"Have a seat, Miss Granger."
"Thank you, Professor."
"Now, may I ask about your state of dress? I assume this isn't a fashion statement?" His eyes twinkled, but Hermione was definitely not in the mood.
"Harry, he assaulted me!" She spat. "I woke up to find him on top of me. He raped me, and put me under the imperius curse! He has my wand…"
"These are very serious allegations, Miss Granger."
"They're true, I swear! I'm telling the truth!"
"The truth, Miss Granger, is very subjective. Unless you are willing to provide your memories of the events and subject yourself to questioning, I am afraid that allegations will stay, simply allegations."
"So I need to share my humiliation to be taken seriously?"
"Sadly, Miss Granger, yes."
"But you believe me, don't you?"
"I was not present. At this moment of time, I can observe that you are traumatised and lacking in clothing. What is to say that your assailant wasn't someone using the polyjuice potion? Or that Harry was under the imperius curse? You see, this makes justice, sadly, difficult to be found without distinct evidence."
"But, my body. Surely you could find some genetic proof there?"
"Is that a muggle invention?" Dumbledore chuckled. "Ingenious! We shall have to look into it. Would you consent to my bringing you to Madam Pomfrey for a check over?"
"Thank you, Professor."
"I understand you will not wish to wander the halls in your current state?"
"Definitely not!"
Again, Dumbledore twinkled in his own charming way, and extended an arm to help her up. "Do you mind if I do the honours my dear? I only wish to transfigure your attire into something rather more convenient, and to disillusion you for our little journey."
"Please do."
It was with no small amount of trepidation that Hermione allowed the Headmaster to point his wand towards her. She closed her eyes and took a deep, soothing breath.
"All done. Now, we must be going."
Her hand tucked in his elbow was the only thing that kept her from falling down the marble staircase and the staircases following. It seemed the Headmaster had a great deal of influence over the castle itself, the staircases moving flawlessly into a direct route to the infirmary. Similarly, doors appeared where she hadn't seen them before, and tapestries shifted to reveal hidden hallways. She noted them with only the bare minimum of interest, but Dumbledore smiled as if he were simply escorting her for a stroll.
"One perk of my job, I will admit. There is something very flattering about a castle reacting to your needs, wouldn't you say?"
His comment barely registered, but if it had, she would have thought of the room of requirement, and the safe haven that it had provided in her fifth year. A room that could be anything she wanted it to be. Alas, for the only time in her life, Hermione was speechless and trapped in a single trail of thought.
I'm not safe. I need to be safe. It's not safe. I'll never be safe.
"Poppy," Dumbledore called calmly. "Poppy, I have a patient for you."
"Coming Albus!" The no-nonsense matron bustled into view, her eyes widening with shock as Dumbledore removed the charm on her impromptu patient.
"Well dearie, let's get you into a bed, shall we?"
She grabbed Hermione gently towards the bed, and Hermione complied, sitting awkwardly onto the edge. She slowly shuffled herself back, hissing as the pain became apparent.
"That's it, let me have a look at you. What happened?"
The girl froze up, tears welling once again and her arms drawing tightly around herself. "I- I can't…"
"Never mind, then. Albus! With me!"
The curtain was drawn across and Hermione sat frightened as she tried to listen to the conversation happening close by. She heard nothing, for quite some time, and the fear grew with each moment that passed. What would Madam Pomfrey think? Would she pity her? Or would she blame her? What if Harry had done damage that couldn't be fixed? She could be broken forever, always with a reminder of her ordeal. She sunk lower and lower into her thoughts, a dark chill taking hold of her. When the two returned, they found the brunette huddled small and fragile on the bed as if she were a small child. When she looked up at them, it was the huge eyes of a wounded deer.
"It's okay, child. Dumbledore here has told me what has happened. What an awful attack." She tutted, and gathered items from a drawer next to Hermione's bedside. With a small flick, a metal cart came to join her, and madam pomfrey carefully laid out her materials.
"You will need to leave," she informed Dumbledore. "I will call you once she has been seen to, and then we will be able to further discuss this in my office."
Without looking to see if the man agreed, she pulled the curtains closed once more, and placed a sheet over her patient to provide some modesty. After the day's events, Hermione found it rather unnecessary.
2 hours later, Hermione had been poked and prodded all over, and numerous diagnostic charms cast before she was given several potions for pain, healing, and contraception. She took the latter gratefully, revolted by the thought of carrying such a child. If anything could be worse than the events themselves…
She was dozing, the mix of medicines coursing through her veins and providing her with much needed relief. She knew all of the ingredients of each potion by heart, and if they acted as sedatives, why would she complain? She was just feeling the grips of sleep take her when she was shook awake by a gentle hand.
"Miss Granger."
"Hmmmm," she tried to shake the hand off. "I need to rest."
"That you do, my dear. But not here."
Hermione opened her heavy eyelids slowly and frowned at the man beside her. "Not here? Where am I going, Professor Dumbledore?"
"Somewhere safe."
"Am I not safe here?" She whispered quietly. "Where is safe?"
"Come with me, and I'll explain everything."
She rose slowly out of bed and pulled a Hogwarts issue robe over her nightgown as she joined the headmaster where he was stood by the window. "Sir?"
"Ah, very good, Miss Granger. Let's go, shall we?"
He offered her his arm once more, but it was with trepidation that she allowed herself to be removed from the care of Madam Pomfrey. She kept her lips closed as they walked, waiting for them to arrive at a destination where she could ask questions. The halls were empty and the window's dark. No students should be out of bed at this hour.
He led her in the direction of his office, but turned to the right just before reaching the familiar space. Hermione frowned, eyes wandering the walls of the corridor that they walked in. It was more narrow than the usual for Hogwarts, suggesting that this was not an area for students to be traipsing around. Indeed, she had never been here in all her years as a student.
"This is a staff and visitor's wing, Miss Granger. It is usually hidden from students. Each professor's office leads to one of these rooms, where they can find a reprieve from their students."
She glanced at him. "Then how do they know when someone is at their office out of hours? Or when someone is in trouble?"
"There are charms for that, Miss Granger. And the schedule of patrolls keeps everyone informed of the goings on in Hogwarts."
He stopped at a heavy wooden door with a brass door handle, similar to every other door in the corridor. "This shall be your room while you heal. Would you like to enter?"
Hesitantly, she reached for the doorknob and pushed it open to reveal a sitting room with a fire already lit and two doors on the left side. A large sofa sat in front of the fire along with an armchair and a small coffee table. In one corner sat a writing desk with parchment and quills neatly laid out.
"You will need to set your own password for these rooms. Unlike the dormitories, there is no portrait guarding the door. The handle itself is sentient. To set the password you need only to grasp the handle in your left hand while pointing your wand at it with your right. Think the word that will be your password, and then use this same action each time afterward to open it. As it is linked to both your password and your magical signature, no one will be able to enter without your being present."
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," she murmured thickly. "Thank you so, so much."
"It is no problem at all, my dear. May I take a seat?"
"Of course, sir." She blushed. "I'm sorry I didn't offer sooner."
"It's alright, Miss Granger. I find we put too much effort into formalities. May I order you a pot of tea from the kitchens?"
She nodded and took a seat on the sofa, while her Headmaster took the armchair. A click of his fingers and a small elf appeared, clean and tidy. It was wearing an outfit that was clearly Hogwarts issue, and Hermione smiled.
"Hello there."
"Hello, miss! Spiffy is here to serve Missy's needs! What may I do for you, miss?"
"A pot of tea would be lovely, please, Spiffy."
"Coming right up!"
With a small pop, the elf vanished.
"At home already, Miss Granger!" Albus Dumbledore crowed happily. "Very good, very good. Should you require anything else, simply click your fingers and call for Spiffy, he will happily see to you."
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore."
Spiffy returned with a tray containing a large pot of tea, two teacups, a milk jug and a small bowl of sugar. There was even a plate of chocolate biscuits on the side, and a small rumble reminded Hermione that she was hungry. She offered the plate to Dumbledore before taking one herself, and they both sipped their tea in silence for a few minutes before she spoke.
"Professor? Why did I need to leave the infirmary?"
"Because I could not risk other members of staff or students finding out about your predicament, Miss Granger. It would be far too dangerous information in the wrong hands."
"I wouldn't want anyone to find out," she said to her teacup. "But why would it be dangerous? Do you think someone would use it to hurt me?"
"Indeed I do, Miss Granger. I also believe it could be used to harm the Order, which is why I must ask that the information stays between us."
"You think that people would start to doubt Harry." Her voice was flat. "You think that this could compromise the war."
"Yes, Miss Granger. That is my belief. I am glad you are capable of understanding the situation. You are, indeed, a very clever witch."
The words, meant to placate her, only made her flinch at the term used to describe her in childhood. Childhood seemed so very irrelevant, now.
"You don't want me to go back to him, do you? Because I don't think there is anyway that I can. Please, Professor. Please. I just can't."
"I wouldn't presume to send you back to a situation in which you might become distressed, or a role in which you may become a liability. Should you return to Harry's side, it will be of your own free will. For now, I would like to suggest that you remain at the school to study for your NEWTs. Think of these last few months as simply an extended summer break.
"You may remain in these rooms until the start of the next term, in a week's time. That should give you enough time to heal and restore some of your strength. Then, to keep up appearances, I suggest that you move back into Gryffindor dormitory. Wouldn't want people to ask you too many questions, after all. I imagine that would make things very difficult for you."
"Thank you, Professor. What reason will be given for my return?"
"Among the students, simply that you wished to take your NEWTs. Among our allies, simply that you are doing research for the cause. And among the order, the truth. That you have suffered and survived an attack from Voldemort's soldiers, and have returned to Hogwarts for your own safety, as well as to provide the research that we so desperately need."
"What will I be researching, sir?"
The Headmaster rose from his chair, and patted her knee. "That is a discussion for when you are feeling better. For now, you need to rest. I shall have the necessary items of clothing and equipment sent to you as soon as possible.
"Good night, Miss Granger."
"Goodnight, Professor Dumbledore."