Author's Note: Oh, my god! I can't believe how late this is! I'm so sorry! What with Thanksgiving week and everything. I've been hella busy with family. But, I never forgot about this story, let me tell you! I kept thinking of what to do next, how would Harry and Ron react? Would Ginny be nice or bitchy? Was I rushing it? Well, here it is, and I hope you like it! Thank you all for you're reviews. I really appreciate them! Also, thank you for doing the poll. Since it's really a one time think, to which you can choose two. If you want to keep voting, just put two of the ships you want to see me write in your review and I'll count it into the poll!

Chapter 8

September 1st, 1996

The whole day Hermione had tried not to worry, but every other couple of minutes she was looking down at her watch, checking the time. The Welcoming Feast was at six and she was mostly worried about seeing Harry and Ron again. Though the past couple twenty-four hours or so hadn't exactly been the best, when she woke up, she knew she was going to spend most of her time with those four Slytherins.

And she did. All day, they spent it out by the lake. Pansy, Blaise, and Theo all splashing around in the water, while Hermione laid out on a blanket in the grass flipping through the pages of a book, and Draco sat against a tree chomping into an apple and reading the Daily Prophet. She didn't know how she could feel so calm, especially with Malfoy only a couple feet away. But as the minutes ticked by in passing moments, everything just sort of felt serene. She loved that she wasn't thinking about the beginning of summer, that she wasn't worried about her astounding thoughts and feelings for Malfoy. The the only thing currently on her mind was a couple defensive spells and the impending arrival of her best friends.

When the feast finally did roll around, she separated from the Slytherins promising them that she wouldn't change, just as they promised her the same (aside from Draco). It was certainly weird how trusting she was of them, how easily she had been able to accept them into her now depressing life and they only seemed to make that life less dull. They gave her more purpose to live.

She sat down at the Gryffindor table, feeling a little out of place as it was still empty. She looked up at the staff table, all the teachers in attendance except for Professor McGonagall. Dumbledore gave her an encouraging smile, that twinkle in his eye making her think of their last meeting. When he had given her a little more hope. Some of his words finally made since now and she found herself smiling back. Not some half-arsed smile that everyone had been receiving since her arrival, but a true-honest-to-Godric smile that made her look like the innocent girl she used to be. And deep down she still was, emotionally.

When her eyes landed on the bat, the man who had saved her life, her smile faltered. Not because she wasn't grateful, but at the mere fact he was looking right back at her. She could have sworn she saw a slight curve to his thin lips and his head dip in that of a nod of encouragement. She imagined it, surely. She hadn't spoken to Professor Snape, not once. Even if it was her imagination, it gave her more hope, and she nodded back, but the look was gone, had been while she tried to think if it was just a play of the lighting. No, it was real. She needed it to be real. So it was.

It was when she heard the sound of a hundred clitter-claps that she suspected the 2nd to 7th years were coming to get seated before the 1st years would be sorted. The talking and laughing of friends reuniting echoed off the ceiling in the entrance and then the doors to the Great Hall opened and students filed in.

It wasn't long before she was being squished from both sides, then inquired by hundreds of questions. She closed her eyes and tried to stop the bile that started to rise in her throat at their touch. Why did she have to be reminded then, why? She didn't want to think of his touch when she was being sandwiched between her two best friend. Calmly she cleared her throat and removed their arms, giving them both a look. "Personal space, please," she said, smiling in relief when Ginny Weasley walked over, pushing her brother aside to sit next to her. The indignant 'hey' coming from Ron, making her shake her head.

She never had to be afraid of Ginny being too close, the redhead wasn't exactly touchy-feely. Not since her first year at Hogwarts. "Hermione," the Weasley girl smiled at her pleasantly. "It's good to see you. I hope these prats aren't bothering you. How was your summer?" she was happy for the polite conversation, but not too excited about the topic.

Harry and Ron looked at her expectantly.

She didn't want to tell them. She didn't want their pity. Her parents were dead, maybe Harry could understand. But he wouldn't understand the whole extent of it. And she wasn't about to start babbling about her rape.

She was saved when the doors swung open again and new 1st years toppled into the Great Hall with looks of awe on their tiny faces. Eyes wide, mouths hung open... They were cute, and so innocent. Hermione remembered when she had first stepped foot into the castle. She'd been so mesmerized by it. So, excited and eager to please... Happy to be apart of a world were she could be normal, but then again, she wasn't really normal in this world either, was she?

The sorting went by quickly, or maybe that was because Hermione zoned out. Harry had nudged her when it was over and the food arrived. "Are you alright, 'Mione?" he asked, his tone was concerned, and she just smiled with a nod, before she dug into her meal. She knew Mrs. Weasley hadn't told them what had happened. She bet the whole Order knew. They had too, it couldn't be kept a secret. Hermione Granger was raped by a Death Eater. Not to mention an orphan now.

As the meal continued, Ron moved around to sit infront of her and Harry. She'd once again zoned out while Ginny talked to Padma and Harry and Ron began to talk about the rubbish that was Quidditch. She ate her food like a zombie, wishing to go over and sit with a group of four Slytherins, but she was stuck. She didn't want Harry and Ron to know of her new friends just yet.

"Don't you think, Hermione? Hello, Hermione," she looked up when she saw Harry's hand waving in her face and she looked at him.

"What? What do I think?" she asked, seeming a little thick. They just looked at her like they couldn't believe she hadn't been hanging onto their every syllable.

Harry moved his head closer, and Hermione had to beg her body not to flinch or move away from him. "That Malfoy is a Death Eater..." he said and looked over to the Slytherin table suspiciously.

Hermione frowned and looked from Harry to Ron, the redheaded boy stuffing his face, but agreeing wholeheartedly with a nod. "What makes you say that?" she asked, hoping her voice didn't sound as preposterous as it had to her own years.

"Hello," Ron rolled his eyes with a mouthful. "His father was a Death Eater!" he said and just stuffed some more bread down his throat. God, was that an awful sight. She loved Ron, but seriously, did he have to eat like such a pig...?

"And he wasn't on the train," Harry pointed out, like it was a major key point to their accusation.

"Malfoy is not a Death Eater," Hermione told them, knowing that her voice was coming off as clipped and stern, if the look Ginny gave her was anything to go by.

"How do you know?" Ron mumbled, and the sight of the food in his mouth making her sick.

"He's been here all summer, well, since I arrived anyway," she said and looked down as her food disappeared and a nice dessert of ice cream replaced her dinner. "He's not a Death Eater," she said quietly, keeping her head down while she ate.

She could feel the looks she was given, but she ignored them.

/-/-/-/

September 4th, 1996

Days had gone by. Homework filling up most of her time. That and Harry and Ron constantly asking her for her help. She never had a minute to actually seek out her new friends and talk to them. But, they weren't in any better shape. The first week of school was always the worst. And they were pretty busy too. They'd give each other secret looks across the hall. Silently telling each other they'd meet up soon.

Although she loved both Harry and Ron, and only kept things from them for their own benefit, they were really starting to bug her with all their questions. 'Are you alright?' Everyday, every time she saw them, it was the same three words.

Was she alright? No, not really.

Was she going to tell them that? No.

They didn't need to here it, because they'd only worry.

She came out of Arithmancy, knowing full well she had lunch next. And she wondered what to do. She really wanted to see Pansy and Theo, Blaise too... Maybe even Malfoy, but not from across the room. She wanted to sit with them like she had been ever since August. She wanted to see the sweet thing Blaise did for Pansy, she wanted Theo to try and make her laugh, she wanted to feel like her heart was going to explode every time she looked into Malfoy's eyes.

Before she knew it, she was standing infront of the open doors, looking into the Great Hall, as everyone ate and enjoyed their meal. She looked to the Gryffindor table and then to the Slytherin table. She'd been beaten, broken, and bruised. She had scars that would take a life time to heal. She was going to do this.

Slowly she started towards the table. Some people began to look at her oddly. But, she just held her head high and walked over to the four Slytherins. Seeing Pansy's smiling, excited face, she smiled back. Theo moved over to make some room, pushing a third year out of the way in order to do so. She gave him a scolding look before sitting down.

"Hey," she greeted, before leveling Theo with a look that meant business. "That was very rude, Theo," she admonished in that tone of hers, although knew very well to take it lightly with him. The boy was fragile, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.

Many of the Slytherins sneered at her, mumbling words, that maybe she would have taken offensive last year. But now were nothing to her.

She sat between Theo and Pansy, feeling Pansy grab her hand, she turned and shared a look with her, their lips smiling.

It seemed like the rest of the hall was quiet for a long time, a plate appearing before Hermione. But, before she could dig in, she felt a tap on her shoulder and heard someone clear their throat.

She didn't have to even look to know who it was. But, she slowly turned and saw Harry's scowl and Ron's red face. Behind them stood Ginny, arms crossed, but her heated gaze was set on the boys not Hermione.

"I tried to keep them at the table, but no, they don't listen to me," Ginny said, obviously feeling like expanding to such friends wasn't a bad thing.

"Shut up, Ginny," Ron spat and then stepped closer to Hermione. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Are you barking?" he asked, his hands flailing while he talked.

Hermione just looked away from him to Harry. "I'm sitting with some friends, that's all," she spoke, keeping her voice level and not allowing them to bring her down and make her feel ashamed. She wasn't ashamed of the four who sat with her. Not even Malfoy.

Harry didn't speak, he just glared. While Ron's mouth gaped. "Friends?" he asked. "Friends? They're not your friends, they're Death Eaters!"

While the whole hall had resumed back to their eating and chatter, now they were once again silent. Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Watch your slithering tongue," she said and stood, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked at the boys. "If you two are really my friends you will accept that Theo, Pansy, Blaise, and Draco are my friends, as well."

She didn't know why Ron's face got redder, or why Harry's eyes bulged. And then Ron began to take another step forth, about to get into Hermione's personal space, Ginny came to the rescue and pulled him back. Pushing him away and yelling at him to shut up when he began to sputter out things.

Harry just stared at her and her expression softened. "Harry..."

"Draco?" he asked. "He's Draco to you now?"

Hermione looked at him. Confused, she'd didn't understand- Oh.

"They were here when I got here," she told him. "They're not bad people, I promise... Please, Harry..."

Harry shook his head and stepped away from her. "My parents didn't think Wormtail was bad either, look where that got them." He said and turned on his heel and left.

Hermione sat back down, not allowing him to get to her. Theo lightly nudged her side, while Pansy took a hold of her hand once again, giving it a comforting squeeze. She smiled at the both of them. Gazing down at her plate a moment later. She felt eyes on her. The hairs on the back of her neck standing up. She knew who it was, but she wasn't going to even look at him. Not now, when she needed a moment to catch her breath.