Hermione sat up in bed, startled. She looked around in confusion, only to be greeted by white walls, a small bed with steel railings on each side, and the smell of disinfectant and hospital chairs. She analyzed the room again, squinting due to the artificial light that was so bright it made her pounding head hurt worse than it already did, if that were possible. She lay back down carefully, trying not upset her sore body. The last thing she remembered was Bellatrix asking her about Harry again and Greyback dragging her into the dungeon where she fell into an unpleasant sleep.

She sat there in confusion as a man with grey hair, glasses, and white robes walked into the room and shut the door behind him. In his hand was a clipboard with a vanilla folder flipped open, and it read "GRANGER, HERMIONE". She looked up at the stranger in the room and he smiled gently at her as he sat in the chair next to her bed.

In a calm but still authoritative voice, the man looked at Hermione and said "Ahh, I see you've woken up Ms. Granger. How are you feeling this afternoon?" Hermione looked at the man, still confused, and asked the first thing that popped into her head, "Where am I?"

The man answered, "Well, you're at ST. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Beings. I'm your Healer, Healer McNeilly. You arrived here 2 days ago in the arms of a Mr. William Weasley. He brought you here in pretty bad shape, and it is my understanding that you were held captive by Death Eaters." He said in much too calm a voice.

Recognition crossed Hermione's face and she responded with a quiet "Oh." And then panicked asked "Wait, if Bill brought me here…. Does… Does the family know I'm here?" Hermione asked, panic stricken.

Healer McNeilly looked at her worriedly and replied "I asked Bill not to say anything regarding the details of your admittance here, but I do believe that he'll be coming by later in the day to check on you. He has every day since you were brought here, actually. You can ask him then."

She looked up at the healer and nodded her head curtly.

Why did this have to happen?

She really didn't want to have to deal with the others right now. She was just so exhausted and embarrassed.

How could I let this happen?

Her heart clenched, thinking of how everyone would react.

The healer was looking at Hermione again and he asked again "Ms. Granger, how are you feeling?" She looked up again, surprised to hear him speak and said quickly, "My body is a little sore and I have a headache." she responded, voice cracking, "I'm also very thirsty."

The healer started scribbling madly on his clipboard and looked up again-his eyes tore through hers. She looked away, feeling as if he could see right through her. He cleared his throat and said "Ms. Granger, we should really talk about what you recall from your kidnapping so you can be healed properly and keep the record accurate."

She looked up at him this time meeting his eyes and said harshly

"I rather not talk about it."

Healer McNeilly paused for a moment, and then continued as if he had not heard the bitterness in her voice, "You have been through a great ordeal, and I understand your pain, but we need to know what exactly happened to you while you were away. We found some evidence of sexual assault and must clarify what actually happened."

Hermione felt as if she couldn't breathe. There was no way she was going to tell them what actually happened. Not only would she be mortified, but she really did not want to relive the experience. She really did not want to talk about this. She just wanted to forget it happened and move on. There was no need to dwell on the past.

But Hermione was a smart girl and knew that sooner or later, people in the Order were going to want to know what happened. God, she thought, I hope they didn't tell Harry, he'll sit at the Dursley's, blaming himself for the rest of the summer.

With Harry and Ron in her mind, she inwardly groaned. She panicked when she thought of how Ron was going to react. She couldn't possibly tell HIM what happened- Harry either, for that matter. Ron would probably be repulsed by me, she thought. Who would want to be near someone who's tainted by someone so… so horrible? Quickly she banished the thoughts of her and Ron ever being together and responded to the healer.

"Your suspicions are correct." She said shortly.

The Healer let out a heavy sigh and said "That's what I thought. Now, just in case, we ran a pregnancy test and your tests came back negative. However, it's fairly soon and you'll have to come back for re-examination."

Hermione felt bile and relief in her throat. How horrible it would be to pregnant with such a disgusting man's child. She would hate it. She would never be able to even look at it.

The healer continued, unaware of Hermione's thoughts, "I would also like to tell you that you retained mostly minor injuries, cuts and such. You had a two broken ribs that caused some internal bleeding but were healed quickly, and you have some damage to your body from the Cruciatus curse that might have you feeling dizzy and out of breathe at times, but that should fade in time. " He paused and looked up from her chart, where he was reading her list of injuries and regretfully said "I am sorry to say though that the scar on your right arm isn't going to fade. Unfortunately, whatever knife was used to make such wounds was cursed to insure that the scars can never fully heal and there is no counter curse. For this as well, I am incredibly sorry."

Hermione looked down at her right arm to see in healed, raised, white skin the word "MUDBLOOD". She felt defeated knowing that they had left her with something she could never get rid of. It was not only a reminder for her, but a reminder to everyone around her of how weak she was. Her eyes filled with tears as she thought returning to school at sixteen, endorsing prejudices against her own kind, and knowing that she was forever scarred by the war.

Hermione hoped that she could manage to hide enough of her skin that people wouldn't ever see the hideously evident scarring, but she knew it would slip or someone would see it when the arms of her fell as she was lifting books off the top shelf of the library. The embarrassment was inevitable.

She nodded at the healer and he said "You can be released tomorrow, but I would like to keep you overnight. I'll be back to check on you later."

She again nodded as she lay down and turned her back to the door. She heard the healer leave the room and let out a heavy sigh. The last thing she wanted to do was deal with this. Thinking back to those three nights that she spent in Malfoy Manor made her feel physically ill. A few tears escaped her as she laid there.

She was lying there, staring at the white ceiling, for nearly an hour when someone knocked on her door. She jumped slightly from the sudden noise as Bill Weasley entered the room.

Hermione smiled slightly at him and he gave her a courteous smile back. He sat down in the chair next to her bed and made an attempt at breaking the silence by saying "How are you feeling?"

She looked at Bill and came to the realization of how similar he was to Ron. Not only in looks, but personality. Ron, like Bill, could be joking and poke fun, but he could also be serious, and under that rough exterior, and having the emotional range of teaspoon, was a heart of gold.

Ron and Bill were also quiet dashing in looks, although Bill had a scar reaching from his eyebrow down his cheek; it matched his rough exterior perfectly.

It was then that she realized how very little she knew Bill. She saw him when she visited Ron on holidays and such, but she never had really talked to him. He was more of an authority figure to her than a brother.

Hermione almost teared up as she thought how sweet he was to her even when he didn't have to be. It was nice to have him there, just to sit in silence, because the loneliness had truly started wearing on her. Hermione took a shaky breath to stop herself from tearing up any more than she already had and said "As good as I possibly could be after everything that happened. Sitting here really isn't helping me much at all, really. With all this free time, my mind just keeps wondering back to what happened."

Bill sighed and said "Yeah, I know. Do you remember everything that happened?" he asked without looking her in the eye. She could tell he was uncomfortable because he was narrowing his eyes at the bed and not looking at her…. Something Ron would do.

Hermione's hands played with a string coming from her blanket and responded in a near whisper, "Yes. Thank you for saving me. I know you put your life in danger to do so, and I appreciate that."

Bill looked up at Hermione, still not directly meeting her eyes and said "Hermione, you're like family-of course I came to get you. I'm so glad to see you're alright. I-I'm really sorry I couldn't get to you in time to protect you." He finally looked up at her and with his voice shaky went on "We don't have to talk about it, Hermione. Right now, it doesn't matter anymore. You're still you. Ron is going to be so happy to see you're okay. Well, that you're alive."

"So, you told him then?" she sighed.

Bill looked confused "Of course. I mean, me and Dad were separated from the team. Our mission was to get you back safely."

Her eyes met Bill's and in a more confident voice retorted, "I knew you would tell him I was captured. That was inevitable, but I mean you told him what happened, everything?"

Bill's eyes lit up with recognition and he looked back down. He took a deep breath and said "No, I didn't. I didn't feel it was my place to tell him something so…. Personal." He said slowly, than added, "My dad and mum know though. You know I couldn't keep that from them. Don't worry. They won't say anything to Ron." He finished.

She nodded her head, looking down at her hands and didn't respond. The room went very quiet. Bill suddenly spoke up, "You will tell him, though, won't you?"

She looked away from her hands and spat a little too harshly, "I will when I see it fit. That time isn't right now." she ended without so much venom in her words.

Bill again nodded and hesitantly said, "Well, I didn't know if you were ready to see anyone yet, but Ron wanted me to ask you if you'd see him as soon as you were awake."

Hermione's heart fluttered a bit, knowing how much Ron was worried about her. Feeling slightly better, she responded without thinking out her response, "They can come whenever they'd like to." She instantly regretted this, but she couldn't take it back now because Bill's eyes are shining with happiness.

Bill, with a much more jolly voice said, 'Great! Dad's got business with the Order, but should be back around 3. So, I'll go get them and bring them back with me, as long as you're sure." Bill smiled and Hermione couldn't help but smile back at his happiness.

Chuckling slightly she replied "Sounds great. I'll see you then."

Bill claps his hands together and takes a deep breath and says, "Yeah, alright." and walks out the door.

The smile on her face instantly vanished when the drunk-with-joy Bill left. What was she supposed to say to them, to Ron? Oh god, this is going to be horribly awkward. Hermione inwardly groaned. She knew Ron was going to want to talk about what happened, but Hermione didn't think she'd be able to tell him everything. She just didn't want him to think differently of her. Pity her. Be disgusted by her. How could she tell him something she's so ashamed of? She let this horrible man take control of her. She thought herself not to be a woman. She felt so stupid. She let him take the only thing she had any real control over. Her virginity was literally the only thing she had anymore. Now she didn't even have that.

If Hermione were honest with herself, she knew it would have been Ron she gave it to. Hermione felt so horrible for taking that moment away from him. Not that they had anything in the first place, but now she knew he'd never want her.

Hermione started to feel tears run down her cheeks and she sat in her bed, wiping her tear stained face. They weren't the anguished cries she let take control of her at Malfoy Manor. These were the cries for her purity - from stealing something she felt was special and she knew she would never be able to get it back. He'd stolen her innocence, that vile wolf. He'd stolen the one thing she thought never would be.

Her mind kept wandering back to the night he ran his fingers through her hair, as if he thought it were sensual for her, and viciously groped her curves .The scratches he left on her stomach that still hadn't fully healed and she was trapped in memories of the disgusting things he did to her. The ghastly sounds of his grunts of pleasure were equivalent to the howls of mandrakes. She felt dirty. Hermione kept ridiculing herself for not trying harder to escape. She could have done something to get him off of her. Anything. But no, she froze up in fear. She was supposed to be a Gryffindor, she thought angrily, and she was anything but that night. She felt disgusting.

A petite woman came in with a tray of food and left it on the night stand by Hermione's bed. In a kind, motherly voice she said, "Here you are, deary. You eat up." and left the room without another word. Hermione looks at the tray of food, unable to make herself eat.

She rolled onto her side and tried to take a nap before everyone got there, but, for some reason, sleep never came and she simply lay there for a spell, staring at a crack in the ceiling.

Just when she thought she was finally drifting off, the door is slammed wide open and Ron frantically looked around the room. Hermione sat up in bed and stared at Ron, wide eyed. His blue eyes landed on her and he breathed out her name as he quickly approached her bedside. He wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace.

Ron inhaled her sent and held her until he felt Hermione squirming underneath him. He let go and Hermione who had a dazed look in her eyes. Ron looked at her, noticing how frail she looked with the dark circles under her chocolate brown eyes. He sat in the chair, but grabbed hold of her hand in what he finds to be an appropriately friendly gesture. Ron couldn't help but think about how small her hands were.

Hermione felt Ron grab for her hand and couldn't help but feel safe with his big, rough hand securely holding hers. She looked up at Ron to see him studying her and she felt self-conscious under his gaze.

He was looking directly at her as he began, with so much concern Hermione's heart clenched, "How are you feeling? Are you tired? You know, we're taking you back to the Burrow. My mum is so worried about you. Don't worry, you're parents are protected. Sorry, you might not be able to see them for a while. Bill told me what happened... Hermione, how are you feeling?"

Hermione smiled at him, amused, and said "Ron, you're rambling."

He stopped and a little color flushed to his cheeks and ears. He mumbled an apology and looked up at her with the saddest eyes she'd ever seen. Hermione felt her stomach flip and looked away. He asked again, much quieter than the first time, how she felt and she looked up at him and replied, "I'm fine Ron, really."

He looked down at her hesitantly to ask, "Hermione, what did they do to you?"

She shifted uncomfortably and said "Do we really have to talk about it? I mean, it just happened, and I just rather not think about it." Hermione realized suddenly that she was crying again and quickly wiped the tears away.

Ron sat quietly, unsure of what to do. He realized that her hand was still resting in his, and squeezed her little hand gently for reassurance, using his other hand to wipe a stray tear from her face.

Ron quietly told her, "It's going to be okay, Hermione. We can talk when you're ready."

Hermione took a deep breath and said, "Ron, I'm sorry. I tried to get away, but Greyback was there and he overpowered me and took my wand." And she starts wiping the tears away again.

Ron looked at her and felt so useless. There she was crying- this beautiful girl that he's crazy about- and he had no idea what to do.

"Hermione, don't be sorry. I know you tried your hardest. It's okay. You're safe now and that's all that matters." Ron said.

She looked up at him and rested her head on his shoulder, drenching it with unshed tears. For some reason, seeing Ron made everything about that night ten times worse, and she felt like she physically needed him there to feel better.

He wrapped his arms around Hermione and rubbed her back with one hand as he smoothed her hair with the other. He kept whispering soothing words in her ear as he hushed her.

When Hermione pulled away, the hospital gown she was wearing rolled up her arm slightly and Ron caught a small glimpse of something. He grabbed her wrist and she froze. He looked down and read "MUDBLOOD" across the inside of her forearm.

He rubbed his thumb over it and sighed. He kept looking at it, wishing to banish it and whispered, "Oh, Hermione."

He looked up at her with remorse and whispered, "This isn't going to go away is it?"

She looked down and shook her head. She looked up to see Ron looking over her head with his jaw clenched. She could tell he was angry and just didn't want her to see it. His grip on her wrist tightened a little and she said "Ron." His eyes drifted back to hers and he said "Harry doesn't know."

For some reason she was relieved to hear this and said "Good. He shouldn't hear about this while he's still on Private Drive. We'll tell him when he gets to The Burrow in August."

He nodded his head and looked away from her. Hermione couldn't think of anything to say, so she sat there silently until finding the courage to say, "I'm glad you're here, Ron."

He locked eyes with her and in a deep, honest voice said, "I'm glad you're here too, Hermione."

He grabbed her hand again and they sat in a comfortable silence, both appreciating the other's presence.