A/N: Wow, the reviews were awesome.

Chapter 2.

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The sight of her battered and broken body sent Severus into a mild state of silent shock. He remained calm and collected on the outside, but on the inside he was angered that one of his brightest pupils had been beaten so badly. Just from the initial sight, he could tell this wasn't a random act of violence by a mugger or thug.. this was deliberate and made to prove a point. He walked to the bed where Harry was trying his best to get her to wake up and having little success about it.

"I should think it to be wise to heal her a bit before waking her." Severus said curtly.

Harry glanced at the dark powerful man and nodded, He knew he was right -- waking her now would just be cruel.

Severus took up Harry's spot on the bed and did a quick yet thorough check over. Harry watched as the dark eyebrows knitted together with a look of wondering. He could see the different emotions playing through his potions professor eyes. The looks of knowing, anger and sympathy were all there. Severus was gentle as he lifted her shirt to just under her breast and growled.

"What?" Harry asked

"Do you know if Ms. Granger has been attacked recently?"

"None that I know of – just this." He replied

Severus nodded and let out a deep sigh, "This isn't the first time." he stated calmly, "She has bruises, scratches and bite marks that were inflicted over a week ago... this has been going on for a while."

Harry felt like he had been beaten himself – how could anyone hurt her in such a way?

Severus looked to Harry, "She is hiding the marks with a glamor – I'm going to remove them but prepare yourself to see worse."

It wasn't possible, there was no way it could be worse. He watch carefully as Severus waved his wand over Hermione, ending the concealment charms and glamors.

The sight before both men nearly made them sick. She was in a rough state and battered beyond what anyone could imagine. She had red welts, deep scratches, bruises, and swollen lumps – the anger in the room doubled. Severus then said a charm and ran his wand slowly over her body. It would glow blue on less injured spots and fire red over serious injuries. The wand glowed red when it passed her ribs and abdomen, there were no bruises on that area so he knew the injury was internal.

"Blake – he is the only one who could have done this." Harry hissed quietly, feeling like his body was being ripped in 20 different ways

Severus nodded in agreement and quickly went to work, healing everything he could with spells, potions and salves.

"Will you stay with her?" Harry asked in a deadly voice.

Severus gave a subtle nod, he knew the look of revenge just as well an anyone and what Harry was sporting was pure, unaltered anger. He almost felt bad for Blake... almost.

"Get him a few good times for me as well – men shouldn't hit women no matter the circumstances." Severus said quietly.

He knew he had done awful, horrific things in his life – but hitting the fair gender was not one of them and he had seen enough of the women who had -- he knew the looks.

"With pleasure" Harry replied and apparated out of his flat on the spot.

He walked to the door of the cozy little house. To the normal person walking by, they would think this house as a warm, happy place but now Harry knew different. He never really did like Blake but gave him a chance anyway for Hermione and now, he wished he had voiced his opinions a bit stronger. He hated himself for not noticing even though her rarely got a chance to see her and he was sorely pissed off at Ron for ditching her when she chose Blake over him -- maybe Ron would have noticed. As he reached the door, he instantly heard swearing and the slamming of furniture. Blake was awake and due for a good ass kicking. Harry let out a small growl and was positive the anger Blake was feeling had nothing on his own anger.

Harry raised his wand and blasted the door from it hinges, causing Blake to pull his wand out equally as fast. Harry wasn't taking any chances of Blake getting the best of him and quickly cast a binding spell at the other wizard -- he needed to show this wizard a lesson he would not soon forget.

"Get out of my house Harry." Blake said coolly, his eyes wide with anger

Harry narrowed his eyes and approached the bound man, "Why did you do it you son of a bitch." he growled in an eerily calm voice.

Blake let out a small laugh, "So the good for nothing whore ran to you did she. Probably for the best -- she was worthless anyway."

"Answer my question Blake." Harry seethed

"She needed it" he said with a cocky voice, "She needed to know her place and I firmly put her in it."

It took every ounce of restraint no to Avada Blake on the spot – oh how he wanted to.

"You took her wand I presume?" Harry asked, "Because I'm sure she would have protected herself."

"Of course I took it – I wasn't about to let the bitch get me while I slept."

One would think someone who was bound and facing a wand would try to make things right a bit, but Blake was clearly being an ass and had no since of self preservation.

"And you think it's alright to hit a girl?"

Blake shrugged but held a defiant smirk on his face.

"You take her means of defense and beat her." Harry growled with his statement, "And I shall do the same to you... muggle style."

Hexing and cursing would have been easier but Harry was out for blood – Blake's blood.

He reached over and drug the sandy haired wizard to his feet. Blake was a bit taller then he was but Harry was stronger, more athletic.

He pulled his fist back as far as he could and with all of his might, he punched Blake in the nose. It was satisfying to hear the crunch but not nearly enough. Harry knew Blake was going to be sore in the morning and he reveled in it – Blake needed a good ass beating for what he had been doing.

Harry fist drew back once again before it crashed into Blake's stomach – Harry was starting to feel better.

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Harry's flat...

Hermione opened her eyes to a very somber looking ex professor. She felt better then she had in months and sat up without cringing to terribly.

"Harry" she croaked out in a weak voice, yes, she was feeling better but still weak as hell.

"He will be back shortly Ms. Granger." Severus offered while pushing her back down into the bed, "You need rest." He added.

Hermione complied with his demands as she was feeling exhausted.

"You should have told someone." he stated

"I couldn't... he was watching everything." she replied, "He read my mail, placed tracking charms on me and the last time I tried to leave, I ended up with broken fingers and cracked ribs... I just felt lost."

Severus shook his head, "How long has this been going on?"

"It started after we married... but its only been getting worse lately."

Severus dreaded the next question but it had to be asked, "Did he force himself on you recently?"

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows -- why in Merlin's name did he need to know that but still, she answered.

"When I woke up the last time... he was above me and I was hardly conscious... in the end, I felt a sharp pain but it didn't last very long."

Severus let out a sigh, "I thought as much. I healed your injury but he bruised you up pretty bad internally."

Hermione closed her eyes, she was so glad to be away from Blake.

It only took about fifteen minutes from the start of their conversation before a small pop was Heard and Harry came into view once more. His eyes quickly landed on Hermione who was looking at him with concern.

Severus noticed the look and stood quickly, "Be well Ms. Granger" he stated with a gentle pat on her shoulder. He glanced at Harry's hand and smiled a genuine smile.

"Hope you saved some for me." Severus whispered as he walked by Harry.

Harry gave off a small smirk, " I only made him black out three times... a couple more couldn't hurt."

Severus nodded and disapperated on the spot... He wanted to visit Blake for a few minutes himself.

Harry approached the bed as soon as Severus was gone and kneeled beside it, "Why didn't you tell me." He whispered

Hermione let a single tear fall from her eyes, "I was scared Harry. I tried to leave him but he wouldn't let me."

Harry shook his head and glanced at his best friend once again, she did look better but still not like the Hermione he knew.

"Thank you Harry" she said while motioning to Harry's swollen and bloodied knuckles, "For saving me."