Author's Note

Please be advised that the below chapter contains scenes of violence, language and adult themes. Please also bear in mind that jealousy can cause a person to act violently as you will discover.

Chapter 15

I don't take note of my surroundings until something makes me stop in my tracks. My ears and eyes are on high alert. It is just after nine at night and I did the stupid thing of walking away from the Three Broomsticks. I want to kick myself for being so irresponsible. Slowly I turn around just as a pair of arms wraps around me. The arms are strangely familiar but lack the warmth of Harry's arms.

"You scream, I will make it all the more difficult for you, Mione," rasps Ron as he deliberately grinds his hips into the small of my back. The alarm bells start ringing when I feel the hardness of him.

"Let me go, Ron."

"No…Not tonight," he hisses enveloping me in the stench of liquor that is enough to make my stomach churn. He roughly drags me into an alleyway and shoves me up against the wall as he presses himself into me. He tries to kiss me on my mouth, but I turn away and that just angers him and he backhands me.

"You were supposed to my girlfriend, Hermione. Not Harry's and I am going to make sure you live to regret every moment you spend with him, starting right now," he growls as he fumbles with the top button of my jeans. This cannot be happening. This cannot be happening. Not to me.

"Ron, don't do this, please?" I whimper as flashbacks of Bellatrix's torture appear as clear as daylight in my mind.

"Do what, you fucking whore? This," he laughs mockingly as he gropes my buttocks, "Or this," he snarls as he closes his huge hand over my breast and gives it a hard squeeze, "Or this," he moans…The fucking bastard moans as he deliberately grinds into me letting me know how aroused he is. Harry, where are you? Please find me. I close my eyes and pray…pray to the Lord above to send someone to save me from this madness. He continues grinding into me as he tries to kiss me, but I keep on turning away from him. I try pushing him away, but it only angers him further and he backhands me again…It's so hard, my head jerks back into the wall behind me causing me millions of stars to appear in front of me. I feel my jeans give way and then he starts fumbling with his jeans while he breathes his disgusting alcohol breath all over me. It is enough to make me sick to the stomach. In fact, I want to vomit. I feel the bitter taste of bile as it rises up, threatening to choke me. As he frees himself, my eyes fly open just as Harry…It has to be Harry…and a couple of other guys are running towards us. Before Ron realises it, three guys pull him away from me and I slip to the ground, wrapping my arms around my legs and an anguished cry bursts forth. My face is throbbing. My eyes are smarting and burning and my head is pounding madly.

"You keep your fucking hands off her, Ron," Harry yells as he punches him in the face. "I've just about had enough from you. She is my girl. Not yours!" I anticipate Harry to punch him again, but he thinks better of it, "You not fucking worth it, Ron. Leave Mione alone and leave me alone," he continues.

"Harry," I barely whisper just as Dean and Saemus drag him away from us. God knows what they are going to do to him and I don't care. Harry runs to my side, drops to his knees and wraps his arms around me.

"I'm sorry, Mione. I didn't mean to walk off like that. I am sorry. Why…Why did you walk out? Why, my love?"

"I was pissed off with you," I whisper as I slide my arms around his neck desperate to absorb his warmth, "Harry," I sob, "Take me home…"

"Mione," he murmurs as he cups my face between his hands. He turns my head to the side and gingerly touches my bruised jaw causing me to flinch.

"I'm sorry…Let's get out of here," he whispers as he carefully stands with me hanging on for dear life. He plants a soft kiss on my forehead and then he spins on the spot, sending us into oblivion. I don't know where he is taking us. I hope we aren't going back The Burrow. I don't think I'll be able to look Molly in the eye once she has heard about Ron's attempted assault. The thought brings a fresh bout of tears that spin with us…With a soft rushing sound, we land on a soft patch of grass in…I take in the neighborhood and the fact that I can see the bell tower of the university not far from us.

He doesn't give me a moment to check out our surroundings as he quickly walks through the gate. He fumbles in his pocket for his key. He inserts it into the lock and we step into the foyer of the apartment complex we were set to move in to, two days from now. Thankfully most of our stuff is here. We just have to go back to The Burrow to fetch Luna and the rest of our belongings. He walks up the stairs, to the end of the passage and unlocks our apartment door. Once the door is closed behind us, only then does he lower me to my feet, but he does not release me. He leads me through the open-plan livingroom, diningroom and kitchen, along the passage leading to the two bedrooms, study and bathroom.

He takes a right into the main bedroom and carefully leads me to the bed, "Sit down…please?" he asks softly as he removes my handbag from my shoulder. He then places his hands on my shoulders and gently eases me onto the bed. I can't even look at him because I am burning with shame and guilt.

"It's…It's my fault, Harry. If I wasn't with you, then he wouldn't have…"

"For fucks sake, Hermione, stop giving him the fucking benefit of the doubt. No man has the right to violate another woman. Only a sick fuck like Ron… For once," he says, softening his voice to a mere whisper, "For once, stop giving him the benefit of the doubt…He had no right to hurt you. No right at all. He didn't hurt you, did he?" he asks as he kneels in front of me and he gently entwines our fingers together.

"Apart from my bruised jaw? No… He tried to assault me, Harry. The bastard tried. He kept on kissing me. Fondling me and groping me. It was fucking awful. His hands were all over the place and he kept on…He kept on kissing me and he reeked of alcohol."

Swallowing hard, I close my eyes and try to restore some calm to my shattered nerves, "He must have known how much that would hurt me, Harry. He knew what Bellatrix did to me and all I could see was her fucking face mocking me…and his hands…his hand were all over me," I barely whisper.

"Come," he murmurs as he gently pulls me to my feet. He takes me by the hand and leads me into the bathroom. He quickly turns on the shower and while it warms up, he starts undressing me. He does not break eye contact with me as he undresses me, until I am standing in my undies. He cups my face, and turns it to the side…He lets out a low whistle and then cold anger flashes across his face. His fingers are gentle as he examines me for any fractures and his touch is so, so soothing. His fingers are firm yet gentle and they are so warm against my cool skin. I close my eyes so that I can focus on his touch.

"No broken bones, at least," he says softly as he tugs me towards the shower. I peek at him from beneath my lashes and I manage a small smile because he is still fully-clothed and ready to get into the shower.

"What about you?" I whisper.

"I am going back to The Burrow to collect the rest of our things, Mione."

"In your wet clothes?" I ask as we stand beneath the hot water. He laughs softly as he wraps his arms around me, "You are leaving me on my own, Harry?" I barely whisper over the hard lump in my throat, "After what I've just experienced, you are going to leave me alone."

"I won't be gone long, Mione. I go now or tomorrow. Either way you are going to be on your own for a couple of hours. I don't see you coming with me…Not after this…At least not yet," he sighs, "I don't want to leave you on your own."

"Then don't, Harry. Please don't leave me alone…" Biting my lip, I silently plead with him to listen to me. I don't think I'll be able to get through the night without him to comfort me should the nightmares return. I start panicking at the thought. I clutch his hands while I attempt to bring my fear under control, but it does not work. I am going to lose it and to make matters worse, the scar on my wrist starts throbbing. I have not felt it for a few weeks, but now it is throbbing madly. I shrug away from him and look around for anything to lessen the pain, but there is nothing in sight. I then proceed to dig my nails into the soft flesh of my wrist.

"Mione?"

The alarm and panic, mingled with concern is evident in his voice, his eyes and his face, but this is the only way I'll cope, "Leave me alone, Harry. Get out. Go away. Fuck off. I don't care, but just leave me alone." My voice trembles as if being alone is the answer when I know it isn't. It will just bring everything rushing back and that coupled with what Ron tried to do to me is just too much. I sink to the tiled floor of the shower and I wrap my arms protectively around myself and a strangled sob bursts forth. It's sad and deeply painful, but I can't seem to stop. It gets louder and louder, until I have to cover my ears.

"Mione?"

I don't miss the tremor or pain in his voice, yet he doesn't go. He slides next to me, wraps his arm around me and tugs me into his frame where he gently eases my head onto this chest. He reaches for my deceitful hand that is trying is trying rip my wrist apart and he forces it upwards to rest on his chest. He murmurs a soft incantation which in turn makes the water warmer and the steam billows around us.

"Mione, my beautiful girl," he whispers hoarsely. This draws my attention to look at him and I am surprised and touched at the same time to see tears sliding down his cheeks. He wipes his eyes, but the tears keep falling, "Just breathe, my love," he murmurs, "Just breathe."

"Harry," I sob as I fist the material of his shirt into my hand so that I can get closer to the warmth he exudes. His warmth is like one of the those fleece blankets you use in the winter months - warm and cosy - and right now, he is warm and cosy and exactly what I need.

He dries my hair and my body while he keeps eye contact with me. In fact, he looks devilishly handsome with his still-damp hair and glasses sitting skew on his nose…again and it makes me smile. I am feeling a bit better now that the stench of Ron has been well and truly washed away with Harry's showergel. I grab his hands to stop him from drying my hair and I move them to my hips so that I can readjust his glasses. I smile tentatively at him as I reach for his glasses and I readjust them so that they sit comfortably on the bridge of his nose and he rolls his eyes.

"You have got to stop doing that, Mione," he teases as he shakes his head.

"If you used contact lenses, you wouldn't have this problem, Harry, but considering you are so damn stubborn, there is no hope for you," I retort.

He tilts his head to the side and sighs, "I happen to like my glasses."

I shake my head, "No, you don't, Harry. I've seen you take them off and give them a disgusted look as if they have well and truly exasperated you. You should get contact lenses and besides, I like to see your eyes without you wearing them."

"I don't know what you are talking about," he says as he looks away from me to my hands resting against his chest.

"Harry, you don't lie very well, you know that?" I tease.

"How so?" he smirks as he eyes me from beneath his lashes.

"You just don't know how to lie, Harry," I tease as I grab his hands and drag him out of the bathroom and into the bedroom we are going to share tonight. I cannot wait to climb into bed and curl myself next to him while he holds me securely in his arms and recounts our adventures from our school years. He likes to reminisce and I let him because it is all part of his healing. For the last two months, his moods have improved and he is less broody…and now this had to happen…on his birthday, when all I wanted was to give him a good time and Ron spoiled it for everyone involved.

"I'm sorry about your birthday, Harry," I whisper.

"Don't be. It wasn't your fault. I blame myself, really, for walking away from you like I did when I knew you were only trying to help, but seriously, Mione, you have to stop giving him the benefit of the doubt. Why the guilt? It's not as if you and Ron were an item or anything like that. He lost his chance, Mione. He killed it for you and you can't blame yourself for that. You did nothing wrong."

"I should never have kissed him. He poured his heart and soul into that kiss and I ruined it for him. I pushed him away because I did not feel the same way about him. I don't love him, Harry. I love you. You were the man I wanted to kiss. You were very much on my mind at the time because I was trying to understand what I felt for you. I knew it was more than friendship and his kiss only clarified that and I felt it even more when you told me you had to face Voldemort on your own. That killed me because I knew you wouldn't survive….You can't imagine the joy I felt when you fell out of Hagrid's arms to confront Voldemort. I was beyond happy. I can't really describe it. It was in that moment I knew I loved you and it was that moment I knew you love me too."

"Mione," he breathes, "I have loved you for the last three years. It didn't matter that I was 'with' Ginny for a short while. It didn't matter that it was you I wanted to kiss after that Quidditch match - the one I missed because I was in detention. It was you I wanted to kiss-"

"But she got there first," I finish for him.

"And I was confused for a long time after that," he laughs before sobering, "Until recently…You were all I thought about in the moments before Voldemort used the killing curse. There was so much I had to say to you, but there was simply not enough time…I love you," he whispers, "And I know this may be presumptuous, but Mione-"

Shaking my head, I press my finger to his lips, "Don't ask it now, Harry."

"Why?" he murmurs softly.

"Because I need to kiss you," I reply and before he can respond, I kiss him. I pour my heart and soul into our kiss as it speaks volumes. It speaks when I cannot find the words I want to say. My fingers automatically thread themselves in his still-damp hair and it makes me smile, but I don't break our kiss. The temperature between us steadily increases until we are panting. He wraps his arms around me and lifts me off my feet enabling me to wrap my legs around his waist.

"Are sure about this?" he murmurs as he gently lays me on our bed. The thought really does make me smile and I simply have to kiss him again. I start loosening the buttons of his shirt as he trails kisses along my jawline and neckline, right to the hollow at the base of my throat. His lips are like fire against my cool skin and I simply cannot get enough. I need skin-to-skin contact. He continues kissing me drawing many sighs of pleasure from my lips. He moves back to my mouth, laying claim to it once more while my hands busy themselves with the task of peeling off his wet shirt. It's a long process, but I persevere. Eventually I manage to push it off his shoulders and toss it to the floor beside the bed. By this point his mouth is lavishing undivided attention on my one breast while he kneads the other with his free hand. I move my hands along his arms over his shoulders to his back and I skim my fingers along his spine all the way to his chinos. I move my hands between us so that I can remove his belt and loosen his button and zip. I am acutely aware of his straining arousal that is simply begging for freedom. To spare him from further discomfit, I make quick work of his chinos and before long, they are lying on the floor on top of his wet short. His hands are everywhere at once as he relentlessly lavishes attention on my body, however as I push his jocks off his hips, he pauses, opens his eyes and stares directly into mine.

"I don't know if this is a good idea, considering what you went through. I don't want to scare you," he says softly as he cups my face between his hands. "I really don't want to scare you off, Mione."

"You won't scare me off. You didn't do anything wrong…If you make love to me, it will help, Harry. Please?"

"Mmm, what if I hold you?" he says softly as he nudges my legs apart to accommodate him.

"Are you sure that is what you want, my love?" I whisper as I take delight in skimming my fingers in lazy circles along his back.

"He sighs softly as he reluctantly rolls off me, "I don't think we should. Not tonight, Mione."

I turn to my side so that I can look at him. He slides his arm around me and pulls me flush against his body. I push my leg between his so that they are tangled together and I close my eyes listening to the soothing thump-thump of his heart beneath my ear.

"This is exactly what I want," I whisper before drifting off into a dreamless sleep.