A/N: Ok, I know that I just updated this story a few days ago but I got such an amazing response for the last chapter and I just love to write this story so I'm updating again. This one is dedicated to Koyuki 14 and DancingBabe because they reviewed the first chapter and I completely forgot to answer their reviews. So, I'm sorry guys, but I love you so that makes it all better. MANY MANY thanks to:

Koyuki 14: Thanks SOOOO much! I know, it's sad but that's kind of what I like about it. It's just a lot more real and complex than my other stories. As for your second review, you show him Koyuki! Kick his ass!

DancingBabe: Thanks a lot! You rule!

computer boy: Thanks!

Rainan Strife: I know it is. Umm, well, it will get better but it kind of goes back and forth from good to bad. At least, I think it will. I haven't planned that far ahead yet.

scrivania: I'm glad you like it! I don't know, you'll just have to wait and see. Hee hee, I'm mysterious like that.

IsabellaPaige: Thank you!

Pau-0803: Thanks! Yeah, it really should be done, who cares who does it?

allie00: You'll just have to wait and see. Yes, they probably do. Lol, you're right. Thanks for reviewing!

Hermione-Potter-52036: Thank you very much, that means a lot to me!

angelraine: Martyr is a better word than stupid but it's not like she's choosing to be one. If you've read the books, I'm sure you'll have realized that Ron and Harry aren't the best at picking up on stuff like that.

Sarah: I don't know, I think I disagree with you there. I think that anyone can get lost in an abusive relationship, no matter how strong and tough they are. I think they'd need help and support from other people to overcome it, which Hermione isn't allowing. And I personally didn't think of Hermione as an exceptionally strong character. I know that many people do but I don't really. I mean, I think she can be quite strong, but at other times, she loses her nerve. I'm glad you're enjoying it anyway though. Thanks so much! And that last comment is really sweet, thanks so much for that. Merry Christmas to you as well and I too wish you and your family agreat year.

luv sean faris: Well, I've never written a story quite like this so I'm pretty uncertain about it. I made you cringe? I suppose that's good in a rather morbid way. I'm glad you like it though.

CareBearErin: I'm really glad you brought that up, I was hoping someone would. I look at it the exact same way. Unfortunately, not everyone really gets it that way so I have to really explain and justify my opinion sometimes, but I'm glad that someone thinks about it the same way I do. Thanks for reviewing! By the way, I think your name is adorable.

modelicious: I don't know… you'll just have to wait and see. Lol, I am updating very quickly, aren't you proud?

xxlightningboltxx: Are you saying you hate my story then? Gasps! I'm hurt! Yeah, that doesn't really make sense, why would you read them if you hate them? Now I'm confused though because you seem really excited about continuing to read it but you just said you hate stories like these. I'm lost.

his-lil-shortie: I know, but I love that you love it!

Airlady: Thanks!

Chinese Dragon Keeper: I know it is, but I'm glad you like it. Thank you, I shall!

seghen: Wait, I'm an evil jerk or someone in the story is? I sure hope you're not talking about me! You'll have to wait and see, I'm afraid.

Chapter 3: Exposed

I looked, horrified, at the sight before me. The person I had knocked over was sprawled out facedown at the foot of the stairs. I couldn't even tell who it was but he or she was lying in a pool of their own blood. I tried to scream but nothing came out except for a hoarse sound.

I ran down the stairs, nearly tripping as I went, and kneeled beside the person. As soon as I did so, I saw that it was a male. The muscular but lean body told me that. I shook my head, focusing my thoughts on the problem before me. I touched his neck and nearly screamed in joy when I found a pulse: very faint, but there at least. But who was it? I struggled as I tried to gently turn the heavy body over. It took me several minutes to do it but I finally did and put the guy's head in my lap to support it. I brushed away the blond hair that fell in to his eyes and paled as the face was exposed: Draco Malfoy's face. He was bleeding heavily from a large gash in his forehead. I had knocked Draco Malfoy down the stairs and now he was passed out and bleeding a lot. Shit.

I closed my eyes to keep from vomiting at the way this situation had gone from bad to so much worse. Knocking a regular person down the stairs was one thing, but Draco Malfoy? That's something entirely different. I knew how much he hated me and how he would seek revenge when he found out I had done this to him. Who knew? Maybe he would call his father or something and they would corner and Crucio me. I shook my head once again as my imagination ran away with me. That was preposterous, it would never happen. Besides, Malfoy's father was the least of my problems right now. I just had to make sure Malfoy lived through this.

I ripped a piece off of my robes and held it to Malfoy's forehead, putting pressure on the wound in order to stop the bleeding. When I was satisfied with it, I got up and attempted to pull Malfoy up with me. It wasn't going to happen, no way was a tiny girl like me going to move a brute like him. I looked around me and the sight of completely empty halls made me remember that everyone was in class. With a pain I realised that I wasn't. Oh well, I would just have to miss one day.

I bit my lip, debating an idea in my head and finally decided to do it. I whispered a levitating spell and directed Malfoy's limp body through the air with my wand, steadily making my way to the hospital wing. I reached it with little problem, besides hitting Malfoy's already damaged head on a wall every once in a while. I set him down gently on his feet and threw his arm around my shoulders and my arm around his waist to support him. I pushed the doors of the hospital wing open and Madam Pomfrey was instantly at my side, talking quickly and bustling about.

"Miss Granger!" She cried. "What has happened?"

She prepared a bed quickly while she spoke and the two of us carefully set Malfoy down on it before I answered.

"He fell down the stairs," I said, finding my voice. "I saw it happen. I tried to stop the bleeding on his forehead."

Madam Pomfrey took a look at the gash on his forehead and made an approving sound.

"You did a good job," she said. "Thank you. I'll take care of Mister Malfoy here and you may either stay with him or leave."

"Oh, I'll just leave," I said hurriedly, already making my way to the door. I didn't notice when I dropped a book that had been inside my robes but she did.

"Oh, Miss Granger," Madam Pomfrey said, catching my arm and making me flinch. "You forgot your book and-"

The woman looked at me and saw the look on my face before dropping my arm.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" She said. "Did I hurt you? Here, let me have a look."

She didn't wait for a reply and began rolling up my sleeve.

"Please, don't," I said weakly but it was too late. My sleeve was rolled up and my scars, both fresh and old, were exposed. I cursed that concealing spell as I saw her purse her lips at the sight.

"Go sit on the bed next to Mister Malfoy," she said quietly, walking to her office to collect something. "I'll come see you in a moment."

I sat down on the edge of the bed in dread for only a second before I could do it no longer. I stood up and wandered over to Malfoy, stopping at the side of his bed. I tilted my head and studied his face. He really was beautiful. Yes, that's right, I had a bit of a crush on Draco Malfoy. I had had it for a long time, but I had never admitted it to anyone, especially Harry and Ron, knowing that they would freak out. It didn't even matter since Malfoy was such a prick and even his amazing looks couldn't make up for that.

I traced my hand gently down his face, over his pale brow, down the high cheekbone, across the strong jawbone. I reluctantly drew back and something on the arm thrown over his stomach caught my eye. I picked up his arm and noticed thin, pale scars and markings all over it. They weren't like mine though, they looked… different. It was hard to describe how but they just looked meaner and deeper. Before I could take a really good look, though, his other hand shot out and grasped my wrist. I shuddered in pain at his grip.

"Hands off, Granger," Malfoy said and I found myself looking in to his stormy grey eyes. "Don't ever touch me again, understand mudblood?" I nodded and he frowned at the extreme pain I was feeling. He wasn't holding my wrist very tightly but it didn't take much to put me in pain.

Malfoy turned my arm so that the underside of my arm was facing up and his frown deepened as he laid eyes on all the scars and bruises and marks. He began to trace them with him index finger, something inside him making him forget about the fact that I was Granger, mudblood, Saint Potter's friend. I shivered at the feeling of his finger on my skin and all of a sudden I remembered what he was seeing. I wrenched my hand from his grasp and jumped back, terrified. He looked up at me and I saw that the shield that he always wore over his eyes was there no longer. He had let his usually steely silver eyes turn into a warm grey with flecks of blue in them.

"Come here," he said and I shook my head violently. "Come here." The second time he said it, my legs began to move, much to my dismay, towards him. I stopped beside his chest and he held my gaze a second longer before he began examining my arms again. And I let him.

"Did you do this to yourself?" He asked, tracing one of the scars. I turned my head andpeered at it. Ah yes, I remembered that one. It was from several months ago, right after the first time Jason and I had had sex. It was been rough and painful and afterwards, I had staggered in to the bathroom and made a long cut with Jason's shaving razor.

I was about to answer when Madam Pomfrey returned.

"Mister Malfoy," she cried and just like that, Malfoy's mask was back. His face expressionless, his eyes a hard silver. "Leave her alone, she's been through enough!"

Madam Pomfrey slapped his hand away and led me to the bed next to his.

"Now, Hermione," she said gently, using my first name for the first time. "I have my suspicions about how you got these scars but I'd like you to tell me for yourself."

I was very uncomfortable and aware of Malfoy's eyes on me. I shook my head weakly.

"Please don't make me do that," I said, tears welling up in my eyes.

"Shhh, child," she said. "Don't worry, I know it's hard. But I need to know this, are there any more?"

My hands moved subconsciously to my stomach and Madam Pomfrey looked at me for a second before moving my hands away and lifting my shirt up to my ribs. She gasped in shock. I looked down and shuddered. My stomach and abdomen looked as bad as ever. I put my head back as Madam Pomfrey began spreading a cool gel on my arms and stomach.

"This will ease the pain a lot," she explained. "I can't make them go away, though."

"That's ok," I whispered and turned my head to the side. I saw Draco staring at my stomach in something that resembled sadness. He turned his head and his eyes caught mine. I smiled slightly as the tears rolled down my cheeks. His eyes were warm again.

A/N: I really hope that this chapter pleases you as much as the last one, if not more, and that the response and amount of reviews are just as good, if not better! So review and let me know what you think!