AUTHOR'S NOTE: I am so sorry for taking so long to update. RL got in the way but things are starting to slow down now so I should be able to update more frequently. This chapter is a bit of a filler for me, but it's got a lot of intense stuff in between hermione and the brother's as well as something hermione has been keeping from them.

Hermione woke up feeling happy. Her date with Rodolphus had gone extremely well and she was looking forward to her dinner with Rabastan.

Hermione carried out her morning routine with a small bounce in her step and double checked her handbag before flooing to the Leaky Cauldron.

Hermione had ordered a custom made dress from Madam Malkin's for the dinner as she felt as if she had nothing appropriate in her wardrobe. After that she would meet for lunch with Ginny. The two friends had barely seen each other since the night at the Burrow, and neither could wait to swap gossip.

The Alley was already bursting when Hermione arrived at eleven o' clock and she headed straight to Madam Malkin's.

When Hermione entered the older woman looked up and smiled.

"Morning Miss Granger. Your dress is in the back, I'll just go and get it for you." She said going into the back room.

Madam Malkin returned with an exquisite red dress in plastic covering.

"I did everything to your specifications, including that it be made of Acromantula silk. I covered it with plastic coverings to make sure that the dress stayed clean before you wear it." Madam Malkin informed her as she neatly folded it into a box.

"Thank you Madam Malkin." Hermione said breathlessly. The dress had looked stunning and she could not wait to wear it. It was a simple, floor length dress which bunched in under her breasts to emphasise her cleavage. It was perfect and she could not wait to see Rabastan's reaction.

"That will be three hundred galleons please." Madam Malkin asked.

Hermione tapped her wand on the receipt, thanked the older lady once again and left.

She walked down Diagon Alley and looked in several of the shop windows, but nothing caught her eye.

As she walked past one of the darker alleys, a hand clamped over her mouth and dragged her backwards. She struggled and tried to scream but it was muffled.

She heard him mutter a silencing charm before removing his hand from her mouth.

"Keep still mudblood and I might let you live." A raspy voice whispered in her ear.

Hermione shivered. She had not heard that voice sine he and Rowle had attacked them in the cafe after fleeing the Burrow, but she would recognise it anywhere.

"I won't let them taint their line with your filthy blood. You're not worthy to marry one of us. The only thing you're worthy for is spreading your legs. I would do the honours as you look like a delicious little thing, but I don't want to sully myself."

She panicked and started to struggle slightly. Dolohov pushed her against the wall roughly so her cheeks were grazed by the jagged brickwork. She didn't try to anything again as she knew it would be pointless. Keeping her energy would be more important than wasting it on something she knew wouldn't work.

He turned her around to face him.

Hermione saw the mad glint in his eye and panicked even more. He struck her hard with something and all she saw was a blurry figure towering over her as she blacked out.

Hermione started to wake up very slowly. She was aware that she was in St Mungo's and that she was badly hurt, but could not discern anything else. She opened her eyes and tried to lift her head but couldn't because it felt too heavy. She groaned and tried to move the rest of her body, but that too felt heavy. It was like some invisible force had her pinned down to the bed unable to move.

"Hermione?" a voice said softly. "I think she's waking up. Hermione, can you hear me?"

Hermione groaned in response.

"I'll get the healer." said Harry.

"It's okay Hermione; you're in St Mungo's. You were badly hurt, but you're going to be okay." Rabastan said reassuringly.

Hermione forced her eyes open and croaked, "What happened?"

"You were found unconscious in an alleyway just off Diagon Alley." Rabastan said worriedly.

A woman dressed in a healer's uniform entered the room and walked to Hermione's beside.

"Hello Miss Granger, I am Healer Owens. You have severe concussion due to your head injury, and several artificial lacerations on your arms and legs. Everything will be fine but we want you to stay in overnight. The auror's wish to take your statement now that you are awake. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"A glass of water please."

Rodolphus poured some in a plastic cup and passed it to her.

"Can you hold it alright?" he asked concern etched on his face.

Hermione nodded and took the cup from him. She drank greedily until it had all gone.

"What happened love?" Rabastan asked once she had finished.

"Dolohov." She replied.

It was unbelievable how the people in the room reacted to the name. Harry and Ron hissed like what she had said was forbidden. Rodolphus looked troubled, and Rabastan looked angry, upset, and murderous all into one.

He took her hand which seemed to calm him a little and asked nervously, "He didn't touch you in any other way did he?"

"No. He said he would, but he didn't want to 'sully himself' with me." Hermione replied monotonously.

Rabastan pulled her to him and kissed her forehead.

"I had to ask love. It would not have changed my opinion of you, or our union, it would just an indication of the care you needed."

"Thank you." Hermione said quietly.

"It's no problem Hermione."

Harry and Ron stood slightly to the back of the room observing the scene in front of them. They could tell that even though they hadn't known each other for very long Rabastan and Hermione were incredibly comfortable with each other. Rodolphus o the other hand, seemed to struggle with physical closeness, but was obviously concerned for her welfare.

"Did he say anything else Hermione?" Ron asked.

Hermione tried to nod but found it painful so stopped.

"Yes, he said he wouldn't let Rabastan and Rodolphus to taint their line with my blood." Hermione answered.

"Thank you Hermione. We will make sure it doesn't happen again." Harry said firmly.

"How is Dolohov still free?" Rodolphus asked.

"He fled into hiding once the battle was over and no one has seen him since."

Rodolphus nodded. He knew that it would be hard to track Dolohov down once he was in hiding, but couldn't understand why he would risk his freedom over this.

"Auror's Roberts and Smith will take an official statement from you later on. Also, I want you to have an escort in public-"

"An escort?" Hermione asked cutting Harry off.

"Yes, it's just a precautionary measure to make sure nothing happens again. This isn't the first time he has attacked you and we don't want it to happen again." Harry said firmly. He tried to make sure that there was no room for argument as he knew how independent Hermione was.

"When did he first attack you?" Rabastan asked.

"It was in the Department of Mysteries in 1995. I was hit by a purple curse and was in hospital for weeks after. The second time was just after the Ministry had fallen and we didn't know about the taboo." Hermione explained. Those were the only details that she was giving them.

"What about the letters and the break-in you had?" Harry asked pointedly.

"What letters?" Rodolphus asked demanding an answer.

"He has sent me some letters since he has been in hiding. They were...explicit in what he wanted to do to me." Hermione stated whilst glaring at her friend. She really didn't want to have to go over this again.

"What do you mean by what he wanted to do to you?" Rodolphus asked. He had a very good idea on what had been written, but he needed it confirmed.

"How he was going to torture then kill me." Hermione replied.

"He will never touch you." Rabastan growled.

"No, he won't." Rodolphus confirmed.

"You will have an auror escort with you when you leave your house alone. If you are attending public functions, or you are on dates with Rodolphus, or Rabastan and have a chaperone then we won't provide one. You should be well protected enough if you are. Does that sound reasonable Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Yes, it sounds reasonable." Hermione replied yawing slightly.

"Are you tired Hermione? Do you need more sleep?" Rabastan asked.

Hermione nodded. She didn't want to go to sleep yet, but tiredness was threatening to overwhelm her.

"Lie down love. I will stay with you." Rabastan said letting her go.

"Thank you."

"It's no problem Hermione."

"I better be getting off. The rest of my family will want to know how you are." Ron said.

"I will see you tomorrow Hermione. I will come by to see when you're going to be released." Harry informed her.

"See you soon." Hermione said sluggishly as she succumbed to sleep.