Hermione heard the door to the classroom open. "Hello? Who's in here?" The girl's voice was soft and kind. Hermione heard footsteps approaching and then a light gasp. "Hermione?"

Hermione turned to look at the girl. "Hello, Hannah," she said to the approaching Hufflepuff eighth-year. Hannah's eyes were wide and concerned, taking in Hermione's appearance. She supposed she must have looked a right mess; Hannah produced a handkerchief and knelt quickly by Hermione.

"Hermione, what happened?" she asked as she began wiping Hermione's face. "I could hear you crying from down the hall." Hermione didn't answer. Hannah took note of her hair and her clothes. Though Hermione had repaired her clothes, they were disheveled - and her panties were missing. Hannah gasped loudly as she saw this. "Oh no, Hermione! Let me go get Madam Pomfrey!" Hannah began to rise, but Hermione grabbed her arm.

"No."

Hermione was looking at Hannah, fear in her eyes. "Nobody can know. Just help me back to Gryffindor Tower…please."

Hannah's face was sympathetic and conflicted. However, she nodded and helped Hermione to her feet. Stuffing her wand into her bag, Hermione leaned into Hannah as the other girl led her out of the room.

They avoided the eyes of other students in the corridors, but they could feel the stares boring into their backs. Hermione was thankful for Hannah; the girl didn't talk to her and made sure they were left alone.

It took some time to get to Gryffindor Tower. Hermione gave the password and the shocked-looking Fat Lady, after opening the portrait hole, ran off to find her friend Violet, presumably. Insufferable gossip, Hermione thought.

"Thank you, Hannah. I can manage from here." Hannah patted her back and allowed her to climb through the portrait hole. Hermione slowly made her way to Wing 98, ignoring the few people in the common room. As she closed the door to their wing, fresh tears sprang to her eyes. She ran to her room before she was seen by anybody.

Hermione stood in her room, silent and numb. She began taking her clothes off, dropping them to the side. Conjuring a large metal bin, she placed everything she'd been wearing inside and set it ablaze. Hermione watched as the flames consumed her clothes, not feeling particularly better. She moved into the bathroom, turning the bath on as hot as it would go. As the steam rose and curled, Hermione studied herself in the mirror. How strange, she mused. She felt like she should look different.

Stepping into the tub, the scalding water turned Hermione's pale skin bright pink. She winced as she sat, the water sloshing over the sides of the tub. She stayed there until the water was cold, not thinking, not seeing, not feeling.

A knock broke the silence, startling her. "Hermione?" came Seamus' voice. "You missed dinner and the last few lessons. Is everythin' ok?"

Hermione climbed out of the water, wrapping herself in her robe. Calling back, she said, "I'm fine!" Hermione dropped onto her bed, curling her feet up and drawing a shawl over her.

Seamus must not have been convinced, because he knocked again. "Can I come in?"

"No!" Hermione yelled out a bit too fast, and a bit too harshly. She heard her door handle jiggle.

"Okay, Hermione, now I'm worried. Please open yer door." Hermione closed her eyes and put a pillow over her head.

"Go away, Seamus!" came her muffled voice. Seamus let go of her door handle, leaning his forehead on her door.

"I'm here whenever you want to talk, love. You know tha'." Hermione sniffed as she heard Seamus shuffle away.

Dinner? Hermione came out from under the pillow. Severus. He would be worried about her. Could she face him? Should she send him an owl? Before she could move, she heard tapping on her window. She crossed to the window, opening it to let the beautiful black owl in. "I never learned your name. Are you Severus' owl?" The regal beast stared at her expectantly. "I don't have anything for you." When it continued to stare, she rolled her eyes and unfurled Severus' note.

H,

You didn't come to work today, and it's my understanding you missed several lessons. Are you alright? Please let me know what's going on.

Yours Always,

S

Hermione tore off the blank parchment underneath his note and scrawled her response. Giving it to the owl, she stroked his chest and went to the window. As he took flight, Hermione looked out at the grounds. Staring down, she idly wondered how long it would take her to regret jumping.

Severus paced the owlery. Archimedes would return at any moment, and he could not miss Hermione's reply. It wasn't like her to miss work, much less her classes, and to not even tell him? Something had to have happened.

The whooshing of his owl's wings made him turn, and he saw a scrap of parchment in his talon. Presenting Archimedes with a treat, he took it.

S,

Draco knows. I paid the price. Let me be.

H

His stomach twisted sickly. No. How? He'd been absolutely certain that they were alone. And what price had she paid? What had Draco done to her? Rage filled him and the parchment went up in smoke in his hand. He set off from the owlery, down the winding staircase, his only thought finding Draco.

Severus swept into the dungeons. The few students loitering in the hall scattered as he came upon them. Finding himself in front of the Slytherin Common Room more quickly than anticipated, he hissed the password through his teeth and entered.

"Draco Malfoy, my office, now." He didn't wait, knowing Draco would follow. Entering his office, Severus closed and locked the door behind Draco. His hand found Draco's throat and Draco was pinned to the wall. "What did you do to her, you stupid little boy?"

Draco, looking far from scared, stared into Severus' eyes. "Why don't you take a peek and find out?" Severus narrowed his eyes and delved into the younger man's mind. There was Hermione…and himself…how had Draco seen them? And now Draco was in a classroom, peering through a door. Severus saw him pull Hermione into the room, heard the awful things he said, and saw…

Severus withdrew from Draco's mind with a roar of fury. "I could kill you, boy!" His fingers tightened around Draco's neck, but Draco only smiled.

"Yes, that would solve your problem, wouldn't it?" he rasped. "Except for my little insurance plan, and of course the fact that you would then go to Azkaban yourself. And then who would be left to care for Miss Mublood?" His face began to tinge purple, but Draco looked unfazed. Severus held him a moment longer, before growling and ripping his hand away.

Draco put his own hand onto his throat, massaging the tender skin. "Report me, and this scandal comes out anyway. That would just be adding insult to injury for her, don't you think? There really is no winning here. There's just surviving." Draco moved toward Severus, standing at his full height. "I warned you, and you just had to run your mouth. Her attack was your fault. I'm just a man of my word."

Severus' fists shook, and it took everything inside him not to further inflame the situation. He's just trying to get a reaction. You did nothing wrong. You are not to blame. Telling himself this wasn't really helping.

Draco sneered at him. "I can understand why you waste your time with her, though. She's a great lay." He shouldered his way past Severus, unlocking and opening the door. "Very tight." The door closed solidly behind him.

Severus picked up a set of phials and threw them at the door, hearing them smash to pieces. He ran his hands through his hair, mind racing. Could he explain the situation to Minerva? Would she understand? Would Hermione be expelled? Could he take that risk?

No, he would not put Hermione at risk again. Draco had violated her to prove that he was serious about hurting them. He probably wouldn't kill her, but there were worse things.

He made his way to his quarters. Retrieving his travelling cloak, he wrapped it around himself before Flooing Minerva's fireplace. "Minerva, may I come through?" he spoke with his head in the fire. The elderly witch, wrapped in her tartan dressing gown, gave him the go-ahead.

As he brushed himself off, Minerva offered him a small sherry. "What's the meaning of this late call, Severus?" she asked as they sat down.

Severus took the small glass, answering, "I'm afraid I have to go to London rather unexpectedly. I'm afraid I can't say why, Headmistress. It's a personal matter." Minerva nodded and sipped her sherry.

"I see. Well, this is certainly unexpected, but I'm sure we can ask Horace to come and cover your classes. I know he's earned his retirement but I also know he loves candied pineapple."

Severus chuckled. Draining his small glass, he asked, "Would you please have Miss Granger come to my office tonight? I need to let her know what needs to be done over the next few days."

Minerva spluttered a bit. "It's so late, I can tell her for you."

Severus held up a hand. "Please, Minerva, I really do need to speak with her. I can go to her if that would be better. May I have your permission to Floo into their wing?"

Hesitantly, she nodded and bid him a good night. Severus watched as the flames burned green before stating, "Wing 98!" Stepping through, he saw the Gryffindor eighth-years' grate come into view and allowed himself to come to a halt. Leaving the green flames, he saw Mr. Finnegan, Miss Weasley, and Mr. Longbottom in the living room.

"Blimey, Professor, what're ya doin' here?" asked Neville.

Ginny and Seamus shared a look, a mixture of worry and confusion on their faces. Severus addressed the room. "I need to see Hermione, please. Ginevra, would you mind leading me to her room?"

Seamus stood up. "Em, Professor, Hermione's not feeling up to seein' anyone. I don' mean to be disrespectful, sir, but is this important?"

Severus smirked. "Yes, Mr. Finnegan, it is quite important. I'm sure she will speak with me." Ginny stood and led him to the hallway, stopping at Hermione's room. She knocked on the door.

"Hermione? Professor Snape is here to speak with you." Ginny looked at Severus. Making sure she spoke lowly enough so only he could hear, she said, "We know about you and Hermione, sir, Seamus and I. We're worried about her. Please take care of her." Ginny walked away as they heard movement inside.

Hermione opened her door just enough to see Severus' face. "Sir?"

Severus cleared his throat. "Miss Granger, I have something to discuss with you. Please let me in." After a moment's hesitation, Hermione moved and opened the door to admit him. The door closed, and they were alone.