Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out. I had to figure out where I really want this story to go , even after this chapter and on top of that, I've been super busy! I really hope you like this chapter. As always, please review. They really are what keeps me writing this story.

Chapter 4

Blaise slowly moved over toward her. His mouth formed a sneer as his eyes roamed her immobile frame. He stopped right in front of her and placed his hands on her shoulders. Her eyes, wide with fear stared straight at him, waiting for his next move. Suddenly his fist knocked against the side of her head and she fell sideways, unable to catch herself in any way. Her head hit the stone floor and lights shot across her vision. Though her vision was blurred she was still able to feel Blaise roll her onto her back and move overtop of her body.

She could still feel his hands running over her body. Still feel him tearing her shirt down the front. Could still feel his cold hands sliding up the skin of her stomach and overtop of her bra. She could still feel the tears sliding down her cheeks. She was utterly helpless. She couldn't move. She couldn't beg.

"Fuck Granger. You have such a hot body under those robes. I got a glimpse around that tiny skirt you wore today, and even then I could barely resist shoving you against a wall. I want to fuck you straight into the stones. I want you to be bruised all over when I'm done with you. I want to break you. And I always get what I want." He ground into her, and she could feel how much he wanted her. But then he stopped, and through her tear-blurred eyes she could see why. Draco had stood up. He stepped closer to the pair, and Hermione prayed that maybe he was going to stop this disaster before it could go any further. Maybe he did have a heart in there somewhere.

"I think it's about time I joined in the fun. Don't you?"

Blaise smirked and slid backwards a bit, off of Hermione. She glared up at Draco, anger finally setting in through her fear. They were playing with her like a toy. She wouldn't allow them to break her like this. She couldn't do that to Harry and Ron. She couldn't do that to the Order. She would never betray them. Especially not for these worthless terrorists.

"Kneel bitch."

Hermione found herself shooting up into the kneeling position before Draco's feet. She hated the control he had over her and her body. She hated everything about him. She hated that he thought he was perfect. That he could get whatever he wanted all the time. She always had worked for everything she received. Her parents made her work for an allowance. She studied hours now for the grades she got. But his parents probably paid for him to get his good marks. They could buy obedience from anyone. And she hated them all for it. She channeled all of that hatred and spite into the look she gave him.

"What are you thinking?" he asked. And she told him. She had no choice.

"You and every bloody Slytherin gets whatever money can buy. You buy people. You buy creatures to be your slaves. You all think you're so perfect. That no matter what, you will always get whatever you want. Even he thinks he can," she said with a nod at Blaise. "But that's not right! We are all human beings. We have rights. You can't go around treating us all like trash. You are all so stuck on yourself you don't see your own greatest flaws. None of you have an ounce of humility and love in your body. You will never win because you don't care about anyone but yourselves and when it comes right down to it. Each of you will betray each other to get to the top. It makes me sick!" She was so worked up, she almost missed the way his eyebrows raised just a bit. Like he didn't believe she thought that. But it was there. Hermione couldn't figure out why he would have any disbelief.

'Maybe I can learn more from this situation than I thought.'

There was a long period of silence as they stared at each other. Finally Draco grabbed her roughly and pulled her to her feet. And Hermione experienced a confusing slew of emotions. Part of her dreaded her next order. But part of her anticipated it. She hated waiting around for answers, and waiting to find out what would happen next was almost as bad.

"I love my mother. Don't ever say that we don't love each other. She loves me and I love her. A lot of families aren't as lovey dovey as your precious Weasleys. But maybe it's you who doesn't understand. At least we are open about what we want. We don't get stepped all over like you mudbloods and blood traitors. You deserve it because you let it happen."

He obviously had more to say, but at this instant, a thundering knock came from the door. "Hermione! Hermione! Are you alright?" Harry's voice penetrated the room.

Ron's soon followed. "Malfoy! Zabini! We know you're in there! Let us in!"

The hammering continued.

Draco shoved her hard enough that she fell to the ground. "How do they know we're in here?" he hissed. Blaise jabbed a wand into her throat as she pushed herself to her feet. "HOW DO THEY KNOW?"

"I...I don't know."

Draco took a deep breath. "How can they find where you are?"

"Marauder's Map?" she whispered.

"What is it?" He growled over the banging on the door as he grabbed both of her arms hard enough to bruise.

"A map of Hogwarts. It shows where people are."

Draco groaned. Quickly he waved his wand over her and her clothing weaved its way back together. Dirt from the floor whisked away. He stepped back from her and with a nod to Blaise, they both moved across the room. Blaise flicked his wand and the lock clicked open. Moments later, the door slammed open and Harry and Ron came sprinting into the room.

"Get away from her!" they screamed. And then they realized that Hermione was standing alone in the center of the room. They blushed a moment at their dramatic entrance being wasted, but soon ran forward to approach Hermione. Harry pulled her behind himself and Ron pointed his wand at the two Slytherins.

"Are you alright?" Harry whispered.

She wanted to say "No! I was nearly raped. I'm under their control. My reputation has been ruined. Help me!" But she couldn't. So instead she nodded.

"Hermione. Their dots were right on top of yours. How did they hurt you?"

"They didn't."

"Then what..." His hand dropped from her arm as an idea of what had been occurring popped into his head. "Please tell me...please tell me it wasn't what I think it was."

"No! No of course it wasn't!" she cried out on the outside, but inside she was appalled by how close his assumption had been to what had happened.

"Then tell me what was going on!"

"I can't!"

"Why not?"

"I...Ugh! I can't tell you!"

"Are you under a spell?"

She shook her head "no" while screaming "yes with all of her might inside of her mind.

The entire conversation took a matter of seconds. But it proved to Hermione one thing. That Harry and Ron weren't going to be able to save her. They didn't even know she needed saving. She was the only one who could do it. And she had no idea how to actually manage it. But one thing was for sure. Anything Harry and Ron did to them would only make them more angry. So she was going to have to make a decision right away, and it wasn't particularly a nice one. Hermione quickly jumped in front of Ron and knocked his wand aside as he cast his first spell in Draco's direction. Whatever it had been flew to the side of Draco and shredded a book into miniscule scraps a mere three feet from his head.

"Don't hurt him."

"What the bloody hell are you doing Hermione?" Ron growled. Harry was staring at her suspiciously.

"If you are going to hurt them, you are going to have to hurt me first."

"Why are you protecting them?" Harry asked quietly.

"I was thinking the exact same thing Potter." Malfoy drawled from behind her. She glanced backwards and wasn't surprised to see the mild look of shock upon the two Slytherin's faces. She looked back at her two friends. Probably soon to be ex-friends.

"If you hurt them, you are just as bad as they are. Do you want to be like that?"

"If you would answer my question then I would believe that Hermione. I'm starting to think you're forming some kind of allegiance with those two." Harry said. "Don't you remember all of the things they've done? All of the things they've said about you? About me and Ron?"

She teared up a little bit, but held firm. "I understand much better than you think I do Harry. But I will not let you hurt them." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before continuing. "I...I want you both to leave. I will be alright."

Harry's defiance was completely written across his face. "Leave? Not without you. We came to save you Hermione!"

"You bastards did something to her! What did you do?" Ron pointed his wand around her.

Hermione's temper flared. "Why don't you listen to me!" She shoved him backwards. You both just assume that I am lying to you. And yes Harry I know you think I'm lying to you too. Ever think maybe I don't need to tell you both everything?"

"When it's this big then you do need to tell us," stated Harry, trying to be reasonable. "For all we know you could be siding with them. I know the real you would never do that. But maybe they did something to you. Something you don't even know was done. You need to let us protect you."

"You need to leave. Right now."

"No." They both said firmly.

Hermione pulled out her wand and aimed it at Harry's chest. "Don't make me use this against you. You know that I can." She shifted to point her wand at Ron. "Both of you. Leave."

Ron's face was bright red. "Hermione. You're siding with them over us? We've been here for you all these years!"

"Don't pretend to understand my reasons Ronald. Just go."

The two Gryffindor boys slowly backed toward the door, never turning their backs on the distraught face of Hermione Granger, and the two smirking, surprisingly silent Slytherins. Once they were out the door, Harry stopped just short of closing it. "We won't forget this. You are no longer welcome in Gryffindor Tower Hermione. You'd better find somewhere else to stay, but I pray for your sake it's not with them." He finished with a glare at the two Slytherins. He knew deep in his heart that this was their doing. But there was nothing he could do. Nothing he could prove. Nothing that would make a difference. They were losing their best friend and there was no way they could fix it. He slammed the door shut, and their footsteps were heard echoing down the long dungeon hallway.

As soon as the echoes faded away Hermione fell to the ground in a heap. All her strength left her as she realized that now, she truly was alone. Before she hadn't been able to get help because of the spell. Now she couldn't even feel the support of their friendship buoying her spirits that little bit. Her ties to the Order were severed. Her friends were gone. The respect of the students and worse, her professors was shattered. All she had left tying her to the world were the two assholes who took it all from her in the first place.

Hermione heard footsteps slowly approaching, but she didn't care. They could do what they wanted. She had nothing left to lose. Her gaze rose to meet silver eyes that seemed to see right through her.

"Tell me why you defended us."

She lowered her eyes to the floor and was silent for a long time. When she finally spoke, it came out as barely a whisper. "If they hurt you, you would hurt me."

Draco was silent a few moments.

"Do you really think we would hurt you for whatever those two did?"

"Yes."

"You may be right. But now that you are no longer the beloved Gryffindor Princess, part of the Golden Trio, how are you going to keep living in Gryffindor Tower. Potter said you aren't allowed there anymore and the world knows that his word is law around here. What are you going to do?"

Hermione was silent a while as she thought about that. No one would let her stay with them. No one would trust her. No one would be there for her. The whole school was against her now that she was a traitor. Even the professors wouldn't help her. Who did that leave her with? And then the answer slowly came to her. She wasn't pleased with her only option, but it did take the blame off of her shoulders. She already felt guilty about throwing aside Harry and Ron's friendship. She didn't want any other decisions falling onto her shoulders now. And she knew that Harry wouldn't take away his decision until she answered his question. The one thing she wasn't allowed to answer. The biggest rule she was forced to follow by her captors. So finally she answered. "I will do whatever you say I should do."

She didn't look up, but she knew it as well as he did. They were starting to win.