A/N: Hello Everyone! I wanted to apologize to all of you for such a long wait time on the update to this story. I have been trying to work on all of my stories a little at a time and also my very first book! Yay to me! (claps like an idiot...) its called 'To Love So Pure'. You can find it on Inkitt, Fiction press, and Wattpad! If you want to read it, you are more then welcome to! Thank you everyone for all the support you have shown me on this story. Also I want to remind everyone that this story is not mine originally. It belongs to someone else. I saw an asian show called 'Autumns Concerto' and fell so deeply in love with the story plot and characters. It really is a masterpiece. So I felt I had to share it with everyone else who might not be into the asian shows, and make it easier for all of you who love a good story. Full of love, passion and overcoming obstacles. If you read this story and like it, please follow and keep up with the updates. Also, review and let me know what you really think. Because there is nothing like seeing your amazing comments in the reviews and being able to reply back to all of you. Thank you again!
Hermione felt another rough tug on her arm as her aunt pulled her into the door of the house and then sharply to the left. Nelly wrenched open the door to Hermione's bedroom and shoved her harshly into the room. Hermione didnt have enough time to reach out to brace her fall and fell painfully onto the carpet floor. Turning back to look at her aunts seething face.
"Stay in here and do not come out!" Nelly slammed the door shut loudly, turning with a venomous look in her eyes. Not even making eye contact with Danny, Nelly made her way through the house and dissapeared through to the kitchen.
"Nelly, Bring me a glass of water when you come back through. I need one of theses pills." Danny sat down gently on the couch and leaned back into the pillows behind him.
Hearing Nelly's footsteps coming back into the living room, he sat up. Nelly swiped fast at danny with the meat kleaver she wielded in her hands.
"Nelly?!" Danny yelled in shock as he just barely had time to dodge the next blow. "Darling! What is the matter?!" He yelled, grabbing a coffee colored pillow from the couch and holding it in front of him as a shield as she swiped at him again.
"How could you do this to me!" Nelly swung the kleaver again, deadly intent shown bright in her eyes.
"It wasnt me! It was her! She did this!" Danny begged, holding the pillow out to keep Nelly from landing a blow to him.
"Why would she lie to me! Why Huh?!" Nelly screeched, waving the knife at him.
Danny felt his chances of getting out of this dwindling faster... He knew he needed to think of something or he would lose everything. And it was all that girls fault.
"I... I dont know. Maybe she needed money or something." Seeing the confused look in Nelly's eyes, Danny saw his chance and leapt at it. "She has been hiding money in her room... She plans to leave here or something." Danny yelled.
Nelly felt her heart break all over again. She hadnt known any of this. Taking a look down at Danny, Nelly turned on her heels and made her way to Hermione's room.
Hermione had heard it all. She sat quietly by the door. The door slung open and Nelly came bareling in. It didnt take her no time at all and she began tear through the desk drawers. Looking for the money and Hermione knew this. Knowing that she was going to find the money eventually, Hermione got up and slowly walked to her bed. Grabbing her journal, she pulled the envelope from the book and handed it to Nelly.
Nelly took the envelope with shaking hands and glanced at it, then back at Hermione with disbelief, and hurt. Her bottom lip trembled as she stared at hermione.
"I was saving money... I worked part time jobs and saved every penny I could..." Hermione said softly, finally bringing her eyes up to Nelly's. "But I swear that all of my jobs were honerable and I didnt seduce him! I havnt done anything wrong! I saved up so that you and me could leave this place! I wanted to leave because when you are not home, Danny advances on me..." A crack sounded through the room, and everything got silent except for the heavy breathing coming from Nelly as she looked down at Hermione from the floor.
Hermione looked teary eyes up at her aunt, Her right hand rested on her cheek, trying to soothe the sting still in it.
"Shut your lieing mouth!" Nelly yelled out through her tears. Pointing a shaking finger at the now standing Hermione, she glared at her in disgust. "You ungrateful brat! How could you do this to me! I am the one Danny loves! Me!" Nelly cried out. Shaking her finger in Hermione's face again. "If you hadnt seduced him, then why the hell would he come after you?! Huh?" Nelly yelled. "After all these years and not one problem, then all of a sudden, he is offering money to you!" A sob tore through Hermione's throat as she shook her head tightly.
"Aunty... You raised me..." Hermione looked pleadingly at Nelly. She couldnt understand why she wouldnt believe her. "You should know that im not that type of person!" Hermione begged.
"I dont know who you are anymore... I dont know if I ever did... Thats the scary part! If it hadnt been for you, I would have married rich and been happy for the rest of my life! But I was saddled with a kid... And raised her... Not only did she lie to me! But she is trying to steal my husband! I have raised my own thief!"
Nelly shoved the money into Hermione's hands and stomped off to her closet, jerking it open and snatching the bags at the bottom. She angrily stuffed clothing and anything else her hands touched into the bags.
"Get out!"
"Aunty please listen to me!" Hermione grabbed the bags in Nellys hands. "I want to take the exam and get into college. When I am out and have a good job, I want to come back and get you so that you may live with me. I will take care of you. I swear, I didnt do anything that is accused!" Hermione tried one last time.
Pulling her arms free from Hermione, Nelly begant to pack all of her stuff away again. "I dont need you!" Nelly screeched, taking the picture of Little hermione, her father and Aunt Nelly off the desk and tossing it into one of the bags.
Nelly stormed out of the room with Hermione's things. Hermione followed her, pleading with her the entire time to listen to her.
"Auntie please..."
"Stop calling me that! I dont want to see you ever again!" Nelly yelled. She pulled the gate open and tossed the bags out onto the streets. The picture frame fell from the bag and shattered on the ground. Hermione was thrown harshly out into the streets with her things.
Hermione felt herself closing off from the world. Her mind was going wild with everything that had happened... What exactly had happened. How did this all blow so far out of controle... And how was she going to fix it now.
Slowly Hermione turned back to look at Nelly from her spot on the concrete. Nelly's eyes zoned in on the broken picture on the ground... For a second Hermione saw a bit of uncertainty flash in her eyes, but before she was even sure it had happened, it was gone and the gate closed loudly in her face...
Wiping the tears from her face on her long sleeve, Hermione stared at the red gate with the little bit of love she had in her heart at the time.
"Auntie..." Nelly heard a soft whisper and paused in her step for a moment. "I love you, and I wouldnt do anything to betray you like that... I know your mad... When you calm down, Ill come back and see you... Please take care of yourself. Your back still hasnt fully healed yet." Nelly placed her hand to her mouth to stiffle a sob, she took one last glance at the closed gate... Steeling herself, she wiped her face with the back of her hand and jogged up the stairs and into the house. Closing the door loudly behind her.
Hermione stood slowly on shaky legs. The pain in her heart felt like it was crushing her, and the hand she held in place on it wasnt doing anything to hold her together. A whimper left her lips and more tears traced their way down her face.
Looking around her, she saw the picture of her family and bent slowly to the ground, picking it up and shaking the glass out of the frame. Running her fingers along the picture, sobbed again.
Wiping the tears from her face again, Hermione grabbed her bags from the ground and stood once more. She didnt know where to go from here or what to do... She felt as if she were the small child hermione once more... but only this time... She didnt have her auntie to help her through it.
Draco watched Hermione pick up her belonging and stand there, looking down at her feet. Cradling a picture to her heart. Jogging up to her, he tenderly took her bags from her.
"Come on, lets get you out of the cold." He said, gently grabbing her wrist and pulling her toward the sidewalk. A small pull from her haulted him in his steps. Turning back to her with a confused look, he felt a tear hit thier joined hands.
"Hermione, please dont cry over those who dont care..." He didnt mean for it to come out so harsh, but damnit he wasnt good at this type of shit and didnt know the first things about how to comfort a girl.
"Auntie cares..." It was weak and small but he heard it. "I know she cares... She just needs time." Hermione said. Feeling his heart breaking for her, he took his free hand and rubbed a thumb under her eyes, then lifted her chin up so that he could see her eyes.
"But at this moment, you need to be more worried about yourself." He stated sternly, but gently. Pulling her slowly once more, he led her down the sidewalk.
"Crabe said you could stay here as long as you need. Its a house he inherited from his uncle when he passed away and has been renting it out. But its currently vacant." Draco said, taking the key from the mailbox by the door and opening it.
Hermione hadnt said a word since he picked up from the road and he knew that she just needed to work through everything. But if he was completly honest, he wasnt really comfortable leaving her alone with the events that had just happened.
Pushing the door open, Draco led her through and shut it behind them. Flipping a switch on the wall beside them.
Hermione took in her new home for the time being. Draco stood beside her and let it all sink in.
"I think he just stocked the fridge, Goyle was staying here a few days ago... Would you like some tea?" Draco asked gently. Hermione came to her senses and nodded her head.
"Thank you... Draco... Umm, where is the bathroom? I would like to clean up a bit." She said softly. Her voice cracked slightly.
"Oh, yeah, its down that hall right there, second door to the left." He answered.
Hermione took her bags from draco and made her way down the hall. Stepping into the room, she shut and locked the door behind her. She took comfort in the fact that their were no cracks in the door and no windowns in the bathroom. She didnt know if she had it in her to have to worry about that.
Sitting her things down on a small stool next to the sink, she looked into the mirror. Her eyes were swollen and puffy. Her face chalk white... She looked like something straight out of a horror movie.
She missed her aunt already... She may not have been the best person to be around all the time, but she was all the family Hermione had left and she loved her.
But Danny... Hermione looked at the bruises on her skin and scowled in the mirror... no... That man would never get the satisfaction of ever hurting her again.
Turning on the tap in the sink, Hermione filled her palms with the cool liquid and spashed her face a few times. She could feel the weight lifting off of her shoulders. Even though she still wanted to crawl into a ball and cry... Hermione knew that crying wasnt going to solve anything. If she were to get passed this, then she needed to get back to normal the best she possibly could.
Finishing up in the bathroom, Hermione navigated her way through the unfamilier house and found Draco making up a bed in one of the rooms.
"I thought you would feel more comfortable with clean bedding." He said, placing the pillows back on the bed neatly.
"Thank you." Hermione smiled. She was surprised to find that it wasnt really forced like she thought it was going to be... There was just something about Draco that made everything feel easy. Even when it should be hard.
"Im so sorry Hermione." Draco started. "If I had been on time..." Hermione held her hand up to stop him.
"It would have still happened. Maybe not tonight, but it would have happened." She said to him. "I actually owe you a thank you." She said, with a small smile.
"For what?" He asked in confusion.
"For standing up for me." Hermione answered. She didnt really know what else to say. This boy, she just met not to long ago became one of the people in her life who she could really be herself around. He was safe and to her that was strange. She didnt trust easy, and her walls were always up. But she couldnt seem to fight it anymore, and they came tumbling down.
Draco couldnt take his eyes off of her. And to be honest, he didnt know if he wanted to. Not because she was probably one of the most beautiful girls he had ever laid his eyes on, but because he was afraid that at any moment she might come to pieces at the seams and he didnt want to leave her alone with those demons.
Reaching up, he batted some hair from his eyes and leaned over to grab a cup of now warm tea from the tray he had sat on the dresser. Holding the tea out, he offered it to Her. Gently, Hermione took the cup in her shaking hands and nodded her thanks before taking a tender sip.
"Im going to tell you a story." Draco said breaking the silence. Hermione lifted a brow up in anticipation. "Once upon a time there was a princess. She was captured by a horrible monster. The monster said in a sinister voice... 'Scream with all your might, Noboy will come for you.' The princess screamed out loudly... 'will nobody help me?! Will nobody save me?!'" Draco turned to look at hermione. "Do you know who came to save her?" He asked.
Hermione shook her head. "Who?"
"Nobody..." Hermione's eyes shown back with confusion. "Because she screamed for Nobody, 'Nobody' Came to save her." He said. "What im trying to say is that if you ever need help, you dont have to call for just anyone. Just call me and I will be there, no matter what. I will save you every time." Draco's heart raced in his chest. He didnt know where the story had come from but wanted her to know he would always be there for her... And he hoped that she knew that.
"Thank you." Hermione whispered, looking down at her hands.
Getting up from his spot at the foot of the bed, Draco grabbed the now empty tea cups.
"Ill go wash these up and get you a glass of water." He said, then walked out.
Draco stood at the counter, drying the dishes he had just washed. His mind kept going back to what snape had told him in the meeting room after the incident.
"Draco, there are other ways to settle this then just with fists."
Nodding his head, Draco finally understood what he was saying. If he was going to prove her innocence, he had to do it the legal way, that way Danny would be put in jail for his crimes.
Walking back into the room, he smiled when he saw Hermione curled under the blankets already asleep. He guessed with everything that had happened. She was exausted physically along with mentally.
Tip toeing slowly to the side of the bed he sat down softly and placed the water on her night stand beside her. Reaching out slowly, he pulled the blanket up slowly, and went to brush a strand of hair from her face, but stopped short. Feeling anger boil in his veins again, his hand clenched in a tight fist.
"Im so sorry I was late tonight..." He whispered. "If I had been here, none of this would have happened... But As far as im concerned, it will never happen again."
Hermione stirred from her sleep and rolled over when the sun blared through the window into her eyes. Groaning, she pushed herself from the bed and padded through the silent house, stopping when she came to the kitchen and noticed breakfast had been made and set on the table for her. A note lay beside the beautiful feast.
'Finish breakfast and just relax for today. I had to go to campas. Ill be back later. -DM'
Hermione smiled fondly and sat the note back down on the table, taking a smell of the breakfast, she recoiled back suddenly.
"Oh no! I forgot about Crooks." Hermione raced from the kitchen and ran back to the room to get dressed.
Theo adjusted his back pack on his shoulder and walked out of the library and into the small garden. Whispers around him caught his attention.
"Oh my God! Its that cafe girl!" Swinging his head around, he watched at a girl ran past him talking on her phone.
"Im serious! The damn thing was blasted all over campus!"
Hearing his phone go off, he immidiatly took it from his back pocket and flipped it open. He couldnt believe his eyes! Hermione and her uncle shown back at him. Scrolling down, he saw the sender of the message. GossipQueen18
"I cant believe she has the guts to show her face on campus today. This is crazy dude. Who would have known that she was that type..." Not even thinking, Theo snatched the guy walking by by the collar of his shirt.
"You saw her?" Shaking the guy roughly. "Where is she?!" The spat deadly in his face.
"She... She was heading toward the music hall..." Tossing the guy to the ground, Theo took off running. He had no clue what the hell was going on, but he could just hope that he made it to her before anyone else did.
Hermione looked around her as she walked down the sidewalk. Everyone was staring at her for some reason, and it was beginning to make her nervous. She walks around campus all the time, so why now all of a sudden is everyone staring?
Something hit hermione in the back of the head, and she turned to see what it was. A couple stood in front of her, hudled together, whispering and laughing lightly.
"Oh, sorry..." The guy said, and hermione frowned slightly but nodded her head in acceptance anyways. Hearing a small bell sound from her bag, she fished out her phone and turned the screen on.
Hermione's heart slammed in her chest, beating wildly against her ribs. Shown back at her was a picture of Danny and her on the couch when he had tried to get at her and the caption on the picture read 'Keeping it in the family'.From the picture itself without the video footage that followed, she knew it looked compromising.
Hermione felt bile rise in her throat as she panicked. Just then, another object hit her in the shoulder, and she jerked her gaze back up in humiliated shock. The couple sneered back at her with looks of disgust on their faces.
"Oh, sorry again. We were confused; we thought all of the trash was over there." The girl laughed and the boy joined in.
Turning away, Hermione sped walked as fast as she could to the music hall. If she could just reach the hall, she would be ok. She could lock herself inside and play the piano... But that wasnt the case this time, and Hermione felt tears brimming her eyes as she looked at the entrance.
Covering almost ever ince of the door and plastered across the bricks outside were the same picture she was just sent. Hermione felt like she had been punched in the stomach and she might as well have been.
With Shaking hands, She ran up the steps of the hall and began to tear frantically at the flyers. Moving more into the building as she went... They didnt seem to ever end.
A crowd began to follow her inside and spat words at her left and right. They called her sick, and a whore, and other unsavory names.
"Wow, You in a hurry to open up for business?" A girl called out, as another girl laughed and answered.
"She sure does look like she has quite the line of customers... Tell me Whats the going rate theses days? I have never been with a girl before..."
"Hermione!" It was almost a dull echo. Her ears rang loudly and she didnt know what else to do but to keep ripping at the flyers that seemed to go on forever.
"Hermione, its ok... Ill take care of it." Finally coming to a stop when Theo wrapped his arms around her and brought her to his embrace.
Once she was calmed slightly, Theo looked out onto the crowd of people and scowled.
"What the hell is wrong with you! You people dont know what the hell you are talking about! Do you get your rocks off, standing there tearing her down just because of a rumor? Huh?!" Theo yelled, and the crowd got silent.
"Oh, I see... Your hear for an appointment huh? Another paying customer?" Feeling his blood boil, Theo ran up to the guy, slamming him against the wall.
"Im gonna make you eat those words..." Theo spit, and reared his fist back, fully prepared to feed this guy his teeth for breakfast.
"Theo... please..." Hermione sniffled, just barely getting the words out. "Just leave it alone." She said, never raising her eyes from the floor.
He didnt know why he stopped when his whole body was screaming for him to follow through with the threat... even if just to show these low lives that he wouldnt tolerate their bullshit... But he did.
Grabbing the guy up by the shirt, he brought him nose to nose with him. "You are a coward and a bastard. You dont deserve to even kiss Hermione on the ass let alone look at her... Get out!" He never once rose his voice, but it took on a sinister chill. Tossing the guy into the crowd of people, he turned back toward Hermione.
Just when he was about to pull her into another hug, a can skidded through the room, and the crowd behind them began to laugh. Theo Cut his eyes toward the girl who threw the can and damn near snarled.
Stomping up to her, he grabbed her roughly by the arm and shoved her toward the door.
"Get out! All of you!" He yelled, grabbing everyone he could get his hands on and throwing them out the door untill they were all gone. Rage boiled over in his chest and he turned toward a flyer covered wall, ripping and tossing the papers around.
A whimper caught his ear, and he turned his eyes on Hermione, shaking in a corner crying. His eyes softened slightly, but the more he watched her fall apart, the more red he saw. With a vicious scowl, he began to tear angrily at the flyer. The pieces scattering and littering the floor.
"I am taking care of the situation as we speak." Cissa answered into the reciever of the phone. The school board was having a fit with everything that is happening and she was also fed up with the scandal. The media was posting lewd comments about the school in the paper and soon enough it would completly ruin the reputation of the entire school.
"I understand. I will deal with it accordingly. Thank you." Hanging up the phone, Cissa pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation.
"Do they all know?" Snaper, her atourney and most trusted friend asked.
"I dont understand. The message was sent out just this morning and already it has reach all of the legals, and the media." Snape nodded his head. "How could we hire such a family to work in the shcool like this?" She exasperated.
"So what is your plan of action for this?" Snape asked.
"Ask the family to leave the cafe and school grounds." She replied.
Draco slung the door opened and strode into his mothers office.
"You cant do that." He voiced, looking his mother in the eye.
"Draco, you have enough problems on your plate as it is, stay out of this caos!" She snapped, slamming her palm on the desk top.
"I cant, because its my fault in the first place that it happened. That man took advantage of a young girl while she was alone because I was late for our meeting. I have to prover her innocence!" He yelled back.
"Draco, the first priority is the school, not a girl who doesnt even attend. This school will quickly go down if we do not put a stop to all the nonsense!" She yelled.
Snape listened to the argument and sighed.
"Im sorry, Cissa. But I have to Agree with Draco. I believe finding the truth should be the first priority here." He said.
Cissa turned her eyes, unbelieving, on snape with confusion.
"What about the media? They will have a field day with this crap?" She spat out.
"Might I suggest an alternative? A way to take the eyes off the school while also finding out the truth behind this?" Snape asked, When Cissa threw her hands up in defeat and nodded her head, snape smirked.
"I suggest we have an investigative hearing. This is a law school. The hearing will mirror that of a real trial, with the deffensive and offensive sides. There will be a jury and judge as well. This will give the students a chance to learn from a real court like senario, also taking the media's eyes off the school and focusing them on the hearing and the people involved. And hopefully by the end of it, we will know what really happened." Snape explained.
Draco nodded his head in understanding. He didnt know why he hadnt thought about it himself. This would give him the chance he needed to finally prove to everyone.
"Im in." Draco said quickly, looking into the eyes of his, now, mentor." Nodding his head, snape smiled fondly at the boy.
"Good. Remember, I told you there was a way to do this without using fist." Snape said.
"Where do I start?" Draco asked.
Snape reached into his bag and pulled out a heavy book riddled with small sticky notes.
"Here. I carry this book everywhere. I have had it for years and it has been the main cause of all of my case wins." Opening the book, snape thumbed through the pages with draco, pointing out different things. "All of my notes are still in here. Use them as you see fit, and if you have any questions... you know your always welcome at my place." Snape said, patting Draco on the shoulder when he noticed that the boy had already started drinking in some of the text in the book.
Hermione sat a bench in the garden, watching as Theo paced like a scalded lion.
"I swear to you Hermione, I will find out who did this and when I do, Im gonna go after them." He reassured and Hermione almost couldnt help but to laugh. He was always so protective.
"Theo, really, you dont have to. It will pass eventually." she said softly. Her head was still spinning. and she still felt like she would be sick. Nothing could ever go right for her and she would never understand why.
"Are you out of your damn mind?!" kneeling down in front of her, Theo gently took her hands and squeezed them. "I wont allow anyone to hurt you like this... and spreading those bullshit lies like that... Thats hurting you... Whoever did it is mine." He said seriously. Feeling a tear trace down her face, she smiled half heartedly.
"How can you be so sure they are lies..." Hermione didnt know if she wanted the truth to come out... If it did, then her aunt would be alone... and this time, it really would be all her fault.
A frown marred Theo's face and he reached up to grab her chin, forcing her eyes onto his.
"Dont say that kind of shit. I know its a lie because I know you are not that kind of person. You cant play that bullshit with me." He said seriously again. "I have Harry looking into it. He's tracing where the text came from right now..."
Harry came running up to the bench and sat a laptop down.
"I think I caught the person responsible." Typing a few things into his computer, he pressed a button and they watched as codes began to generate across the screen. "I tracked the IP address back to this phone number, then cross searched it for registration... and came up with this name." He explained as the generation came to an end.
"Pansy parkinson?!" Theo spit out spitefully, Then cursed. "If she has the video, theres no way we can use it to prove Hermione innocent." Theo was back to pacing again.
"Even with the lack of evidence at this moment, we can still fight this and prove it." Draco said, coming into veiw from the back.
"Oh and how are we going to do this?" Theo spat.
"An investigative hearing. We take it to court, so to speak." Draco said, coming to kneel down infront of Hermione.
"And let me guess, you are going to act as her defence?" Theo chided in a sarcastic tone. Draco pointed a finger at theo and smirked.
"Yes, and I know that I can win." Looking back at Hermione. "What do you say?" He asked, waiting patiently as she took on an unsure look.
"But what about my aunt? If we win, and this gets out... Then Danny will be fired and could go to jail... What will happen to my aunt?" Hermione questioned. Draco shook his head and sighed.
"Hermione, You cant keep doing this to yourself. You need to think about what has happened to you and do whats best for you... And besides, in the long run, you will be saving your aunt from that foul beast." He sneered.
Standing up, Hermione paced for a minute.
"I know I can win this for you... All you have to do is agree." Draco pushed, and Hermione turned to face him. Firmly, she nodded her head and Draco smiled.
"Good, now Theo, Im going to put you in charge of getting the surveilence video back fom parkinson... Crabe and goyle will help me gather evidence and witnesses." Turning back to the group of people gathered and ready to take up the task of defending Hermione.
"We can do this guys." He stated.
And for the first time in a long time, Hermione felt as if a weight had been lifted from her chest... She could finally breath easily again. She knew she could trust the men in front of her. She just needed to give them the oppertunity to do what they had to...
For the first time in a long time it seemed... Hermione smiled a genuine smile.
A/N: Alright yall. So here is the next chapter. And those of you who have read my story might notice that I changed the summary. I read the old one and ... (Gag!) No wonder not many people were reading. It was... HORRIBLE! So I hope that the new one brings in new readers and more reviews. I hope you all enjoyed. Ill see you next time yall! Dont forget to fave, follow, review! Lots of love!
