Disclaimer ~ I own nothing as always. Characters are the property of J K Rowling.
A.N. ~ IMPORTANT MUST READ!
This chapter deals with rape. While I refuse to ever do graphic rape scenes I do feel that you should be informed that rape is mentioned in this chapter. I hope that no one is in anyway offended by this.
Also to the anonymous reviewer who pointed out my mistake with Dumbledore's name (it came out Tumbletown, stupid word editor) thank you and it has been fixed :)
It was the last week in September and Hermione was in her room having just finished the first prefects meeting since the train. It had been a busy few weeks for her, between her advanced classes, homework, and head duties, she was exhausted. Things had not gotten better between Draco and herself, but they hadn't gotten worse either. In fact Draco had not said a word to her since that day in the bathroom, not even one insult had been aimed at her. Even when they had head stuff to work out he only made gestures, letting her do all the talking. He treated her as if she wasn't even there, and even though she didn't fully care, it did sting just a little. Hermione didn't like knowing that she had hurt someones feelings, even if that person was Malfoy. It bothered her that he couldn't even stand to insult her anymore, let alone be in the same room, leaving when ever she entered. She hated to say it, but she actually missed him scowling at her, and calling her names. Hermione checked her watch and saw that they were meant to go meet with Dumbledore soon. They had to go and get the finalized plans for the ball approved before they did anything else. They had spent the afternoon with the prefects going over the plans for the ball and what would be expected of each of them. Hermione was happy to see Ginny, who was a sixth year prefect and Ron considering Hermione had barely seen them or Harry in awhile. Of course she also had to see Lavender, and be reminded of the fact that she and Ron were together.
Lavender, she thought. As much as she wanted to hate her, she just couldn't. Ron wasn't kidding when he said she had change. She wasn't the same silly, obsessive, attention seeking girl that she once was. The death of her parents had obviously hit her hard, rocking her to her core, and it changed her. Now she was quieter, and kept to herself most of the time. Hermione was trying to come to terms with the fact that Ron had made his choice but part of her just wasn't willing to give up that easily.
Hermione checked her watch and then checked her reflection quickly. She had on dark blue bootcut jeans, vintage silk rose cami, and black mid-calf boots. She had put on a light coat of lip gloss, and dark eye liner, and then had thrown her hair up into a messy pony tail. Liking what she saw, she grabbed her notes for the ball and headed down to the common room, where she found Draco waiting. He had become his usual pratish self during the meeting, glaring at those he found to be beneath him, and throwing in his two cents when he felt the need.
"What are you staring at Granger?" Hermione looked at him surprised. She hadn't even realized she had been staring at him. She crossed her arms in front of her before speaking.
"Decided to speak to me again Malfoy. I was wondering if you were ever going to get over your childish behavior."
"Shut your trap Granger! I speak to who I feel like speaking to, which doesn't include filthy little know-it-alls. Now lets get this over with so I can go be with people who matter." Draco sneered, before turning quickly and heading out the portrait door. Hermione shook her head. To think I actually missed that. Be careful what you wish for Hermione, cause you just might get it, she thought before sighing and following him out of the room.
The meeting with Dumbledore went well, and he approved everything Hermione and Draco presented to him. He decided that even though it wasn't a Hogsmeade weekend they could go that weekend to shop for what they needed, and that was why they were standing in front of Honeydukes arguing.
"Look Granger, I have better things to do then be here with you all day, so lets hurry this up." Hermione rolled her eyes at him, before responding.
"Like this is fun for me, Malfoy. Here," Hermione tore the parchment she was holding in half and handed one half to Draco. "Now you don't have to worry about us being seen together, or spending any time in my presence. You get the stuff on this list and I'll get the stuff on mine." Draco shook his head.
"No way Granger, we go together."
"What? Why?"
"Because it will take longer this way, not to mention I have no idea what you want and am not in the mood to be bitched at by you if I get the wrong things." Hermione shook her head.
"Oh please Malfoy. You just want me to do all the work, and that is not going to happen. So why don't you stop being a spoiled little prat, put on your big boy pants, and just go purchase the items on your list and then meet me back here." Draco was pissed.
"Listen to me you stubborn, hard headed little bitch. As much as it pains me to be anywhere near your ugly arse, its getting late and its not safe for young girls to be walking around by themselves. Just because the Dark Lord is gone doesn't mean the other evils in the world are." He sneered while Hermione scoffed.
"I'm sorry Malfoy, but did you just say that you are worried about my well-being." Draco stepped back, scowling at her.
"Hell no! I'm trying to protect myself, because we all know that if anything happens I am going to be blamed for it." Hermione rolled her eyes at him.
"What ever Malfoy. I'll see you in a few hours or so." Draco watched as she spun around and stomped off before turning and heading off in the other direction, muttering profanities under his breath.
Hermione was having a great time purchasing everything on her list. While Draco was getting all the decorations, she was handling the food and drink portion. They were going to have special candies made from Honeydukes, special tea cakes from Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, and other tasty treats from different shops. After making all the arrangements Hermione headed back towards Honeydukes to meet Draco. Seeing that he wasn't there she decided to run into The Three Broomsticks for a quick drink. As Hermione walked she thought about how much fun the upcoming ball was going to be. They had made the announcement at breakfast that morning and everyone was looking forward to it and were actually excited about how they would be receiving their costumes. As Hermione let her mind wander she didn't notice the dark figure that had been following her since she and Draco had arrived in Hogsmeade. Due to this fact she wasn't able to stop the stunning spell that was shot at her, only moments after she entered the alley next to the pub. Hermione lay there in shock as she watched someone in dark robes descended upon her and disapparate them from the alley to a dingy room. Hermione watched as the person took out there wand and said the counter curse, setting her free. Hermione jumped up trying to reach for her wand that seemed to have disappeared.
"Looking for this?" She looked up to see the hooded figure holding not only his wand but hers as well. Hermione looked around, realizing at one that she was in the same room that Sirus Black had dragged Ron to in their third year. She was in the Shrieking Shack , but the real question was why.
"Who are you? What do you want with me?" She asked trying to keep the fear out of her voice. The figure moved towards her slowly.
"I want Harry Potter to pay for what he has done. You didn't think that he could defeat the Dark Lord and not deal with the consequences, did you? I must say that originally I was going to kill you. An eye for an eye so to speak, but I have come up with something much better." He started to step closer to Hermione. "I must say you have become quite beautiful. Its a shame that such beauty and such curves should be wasted on a dirty, filthy, little mudblood, but it will only make this so much easier." He didn't have to say anymore, for Hermione to know his intentions. As he came forward she tried to get around him, yelling for her wand at the same time. He grabbed her, but Hermione refused to go down without a fight. She clawed, kicked, and scratched at him, trying to fend him off. She could now see that her attacker was wearing a death eaters mask and she realized what Malfoy meant earlier that day. The death eater threw her to the ground, and pointed his wand at her.
"CRUCIO!" Hermione screamed in pain as the curse was inflicted on her body. allowing the death eater time to jump on top of her and pin her down. Hermione struggled and fought as he started to tear her clothes from her and every now and then pausing to hit her, or curse her again. Hermione let out a heart wrenching scream as her innocence was stolen from her, knowing that no one heard her and that no one was coming to save her.
Hermione slowly tried to stand up but she fell back down, the pain too much to take. She didn't know how long she had been there but her attacker had left long ago, leaving her in a bruised, bloody heap on the floor. She crawled around and grabbed her torn clothes and put them on slowly trying not to move any more then she had to. She could see her wand lying in the corner.
"A..accio wand." She whispered, watching the wand fly into her hand. She stood up slowly, using the wall for support. She looked around, refusing to cry. She knew that she had been raped but she just couldn't wrap her head around it. She kept trying to tell herself that it was all a horrible nightmare and she was going to wake up safe in her bed at any minute. Unfortunately though the pain that was rushing through her body was too real for that to be true. How could you let this happen? What are people going to think of you? Oh God! How am I going to get into school without anyone seeing me? Hermione thought for a moment before remembering the secret passage that led from behind Dervish and Banges to the fourth floor of Hogwarts. She disapparated to Hogsmeade, landing across the street from the shop. She looked around and making sure that no one would see her, she went and entered the passage, soon arriving back at the school. The hall was silent but she could hear noise coming from the Great Hall, indicating that everyone was at supper. She went down the hall to their common room and said the password, relieved when she finally walked in and heard it shut behind her. She walked slowly into the center of the room and looked around, not really sure what to do. She couldn't tell Harry, he would blame himself, and Ron would flip out and go on a rampage. There was Ginny but she would insist on telling Harry. Hermione was so deep in thought that she didn't hear the portrait open, or the sound of someone entering the room.
After leaving Hermione, Draco walked into the different Hogsmeade shops, gathering the items on his list and making sure that they were sent straight to Hogwarts. When he was done he went back to Honeydukes to meet Hermione, angry to find that she wasn't there. It was already dark, and he didn't want to miss supper. Thirty minutes later Draco was searching for her, absolutely furious at the fact that she had been making him wait so long. Pain in the arse, mudblood, bitch! Where the hell does she get off making me wait for her. I bet she already left. Shes going to regret this, no one ditches Draco Malfoy! She will pay! With that last thought Draco went to one of the awaiting carriages and headed back to Hogwarts, ready to hex Hermione the moment he saw her.
Draco walked into the Great Hall and immediately searched the Gryffindor table for her. He could see Potter, and the Weasel and Weaselette, but she was no where to be found. Draco walked over and sat next to Blaise, helping himself to the food in front of him.
"How was shopping with Granger, Draco?" Blaise asked, watching him carefully. Draco glared at him. "That bad huh."
"First the crazy bitch gives me the bigger half of the list to go purchase, then has the nerve to ditch me after she told me to meet her. I swear Blaise, I'm going to hex her! Who does she think she is?"
"Come now Draco. She obvious..." Blaise was cut off by the loud and irritating voice of Pansy Parkinson.
"Hi Drakie! Where were you today? I looked everywhere for you." She said sitting down on the other side of Draco and slipping her arm around his. Draco pushed her off of him.
"Not like its any of your business but Granger and I had to shop for the ball." At the mention of the word ball, Pansy got all excited.
"We are going to have so much fun Drakie-pooh. I was thinking we could go get our costumes next weekend. I saw this cute plug and socket costume set that..." Draco shook his head.
"Stop right there Parkinson. First of all if you had actually listened this morning instead of squealing like a banshee, you would have heard Dumbledore say that our costumes are being picked for us and secondly we are not going to the ball together." Pansy glared at him.
"Of course we're going together Drakie."
"No we're not Pansy and do you want to know why." Draco glared at her. "Because I can't stand you. You have got to be the most annoying slag I have ever met and I would rather go play with a hippogriff then have to listen to your whiny voice all night."
"How dare you Draco Malfoy! Is that anyway to speak to the woman who will one day bare your children!" Draco and Blaise both laughed at this.
"Children? Pansy I would never have children with you. Hell, I'd rather have children with Granger."
"What!" Pansy screamed jumping out of her seat. "You.. you...I hate you Draco Malfoy!" She then spun around and stormed out of the Great Hall. Draco laughed. He knew that would piss her off. He turned and noticed Blaise staring at him strangely.
"What?" Draco asked taking a sip of pumpkin juice.
"I was just picturing it. You know? You and Granger having children together." Draco choked on his drink.
"What! Why in the world would you picture that!" Blaise chuckled and held his hands up in defeat.
"Now, now Draco, don't get your knickers in a twist. I was just thinking that with your looks and her brains, or hell even her looks and your brains, you would have the perfect child. It would be brave and chilverous like her but also cunning and ambitious like you. It would probably be the greatest witch or wizard of their time." Draco just stared at his friend, slightly disturbed by how much thought he had put into this. He was about to say something back when they were interrupted.
"Wheres Hermione, Malfoy?" Harry asked, walking up to him with Ron and Ginny in tow. Draco shrugged his shoulders.
"How the hell should I know Potter. I'm not her keeper."
"She went to Hogsmeade with you, ferret, so we would assume she came back with you!" Ron said angrily.
"Well you would be wrong Weasel. We split up the shopping and she was supposed to meet me but instead she ditched me and came back on her own."
"Not possible." Ginny said catching everyones attention. "There is no way Hermione would have come back here without making sure you got everything you were supposed to. Shes too much of a perfectionist, I'm actually surprised she let you go off on your own." Draco thought about it for a minute. He had to admit, what the Weaselette said made sense. In the short while they had lived together, Draco had noticed certain things about the Gryffindor girl. She loved to make lists, she was a neat freak, which was a good thing because so was he, and she had to be in control of everything.
"She probably went to make sure everything arrived properly. I'm sure she will be down soon." Blaise said, shrugging the whole thing off. Draco watched as the three Gryffindors returned to there table. He continued to eat but kept his eyes focused on the entrance to the Great Hall. Where is she? He couldn't help but feel like something wasn't right. "You're worried? Aren't you?" Draco looked over at Blaise quickly.
"Somethings wrong Blaise. I'll be back." Draco got up and headed out of the Great Hall. Shes fine. She is probably in her room fawning over some fabulous outfit she found or something. Draco told himself as he headed towards their dorm. He wasn't sure why he gave a damn about where Hermione was but something inside of him just wouldn't let it go. When he reached the portrait he quickly said the password, not noticing the looks of sadness on the lion and snakes faces as it swung open. He rushed into the common room and stared in shock at the sight in front of him. Hermione was standing in the middle of the common room with her head down and it seemed as if she hadn't realized he was there. Draco looked her over in horror, knowing right away what had happened to her. Her blouse was torn and missing buttons, as if it had been ripped off of her and he could see the torn black lace of the bra she was wearing. Her skirt had a tear in it and there looked to be blood on it. He could see that her legs were covered in bruises, cuts, and blood and he was pretty sure that he could see what was left of her black lace panties clutched in her hand. Draco was furious.
"Granger." He said softly, not wanting to scare her. Hermione's head shot up and and Draco almost gasped at the sight. Her hair was a mess, she had dirt and blood on her face, but the thing that got to him the most were her eyes. The fire was gone from them and instead they were dull, almost dead looking.
"Malfoy! I...um." She started trying to fix her hair and her clothes. Draco took a step towards her and noticed that she quickly stepped away from him.
"Merlin Granger. What happened to you?" He watched as she started to look around the room quickly.
"I...I went and... the shopping...I went to meet .. but you weren't there...and ... I...I was going... but a death eater he...and the Shrieking Shack and...he r...raped m..me." Draco wasn't stupid, he knew the moment he saw her that she had been raped, but to hear her say the words made the fury inside of him ignite once more.
"Okay Granger. You sit here and I'm going to go get Dumbledore and Madam Pom ..." He was cut off by a hysterical Hermione shaking her head at him.
"NO! You can't tell anyone! Please Malfoy! Please! Promise me you won't tell anyone! Draco please!" She begged. Draco was even more shocked now. Never had he ever seen Hermione so out of control, nor had he ever thought she would beg him for anything. The thing that shocked him the most though was the sound of his first name coming out of her mouth. In the seven years they had known each other they had never spoke one another's first name. "Please. I don't want anyone to know. I'm so ashamed." Draco slowly walked over and sat on the chair closest to where she was sitting.
"You didn't do anything wrong Granger. No female deserves to have that happen to them. You shouldn't be ashamed." Hermione shook her head as her tears spilled down her cheeks. "Look I know you don't want anyone to know but you really should have Madam Pomfrey look at you." Hermione shook her head.
"No she'll tell Dumbledore. I can heal my cuts myself." Draco ran his hand through his hair.
"Its not the cuts I'm worried about Granger. He could have hurt you inside and if he didn't use a contraception spell."
"OH MY GOD! NO! NO! NO!" Hermione screamed as she started to claw at her stomach as if trying to rip something out of her. Draco tried to calm her down.
"Granger! Granger! Hermione!" This seemed to catch her attention shocking her into staring at him. "I think I know of a spell that can be used up to twenty-four hours after having..." He was going to say sex but that wasn't what happened to her. No. What happened to her was nothing more then complete violence. "... after what happened. I have the book with the spell upstairs. I can get it and do it if you want, but just know that I'll have to touch my wand to your stomach for it to work. Will you be okay with that." Hermione looked at him warily for a minute but then slowly nodded her head. "I'll be right back." Draco got up and ran up the stairs to his room. He knew the spell by heart, his father making sure he knew it so they wouldn't have any less then pure heirs. The reason he needed the book was for a different spell, one that would tell him who the monster was who did this to her. He grabbed the book, found the spell, and grabbed one of his potion vials, hiding it in his robe. He quickly went back down to the common room and sat next to Hermione, who shift away from him uncomfortably. He looked up at her and gave her a small smile. "Are you ready?" She nodded at him before turning her head away from him. Draco placed the tip of his wand to her stomach and said the spell. When he was done he went back over to the chair he had originally been sitting in.
"Why are you helping me?" She asked him, staring down at her hands. Draco thought about that. Why are you helping her Draco?
"We may not get along, and we may have had our differences in the past but no one should have to go through what you did today." She nodded. They sat in silence for a moment before Draco asked the question that had been burning within him, since she told him what happened. "Hermione. Were you a virgin?" He saw her tense up before her shoulders slumped and she nodded.
"He took away the one thing I can never get back." She sobbed. Draco watched as she cried, not really sure what to do. She soon stopped and he watched as she stood up slowly.
"Are you hungry? I can make you something." She looked over at him and shook her head.
"I just want to take a shower and go to bed." She said.
"How about you go take your shower, and get into bed and I'll bring you up a sandwich. You really should eat something." Hermione just stared at him for a minute before nodding her head and turning around to head up the stairs. Since her back was to him she didn't see Draco lift his wand and read a spell out of the book in his hands or see the red and blue strand come out of her back and into the potions vial he held. Draco waited until he could hear the water running before holding his wand over the vial and said "ALIO APERIO!" He watched as a purple mist rose from the vial and spelled out the name of the culprit. Draco felt his anger rise and a sneer placed itself on his face as he looked at the name.
Antonin Dolohov
So! Did I do okay? Once again I hope I didn't offend anyone. I would love to hear what you all have to say so please feel free to review.