First off, I have to say. You all are a bunch of savage Ron haters! The amount of people who said he didn't get beat up enough last chap astounded me. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE when you all express you hate for that boy, but still. Absolutely amazing. So just for all of you who thought Ron didn't get enough, I added a small but deliciously Ron-bashing scene at the end of this story (which is coming up precariously quickly, unfortunately.) So stay tuned! Thank you all for the reviews last chapter! I can't thank you enough! This chap is a bit calmer, but I hope you all will like it just the same.

Hermione looked at herself in the mirror, and felt tears prick her eyes at the sight of the pink lines that criss-crossed her chest and stomach.

"Hermione, there was nothing I could do, or I would have," Severus said in a quiet voice as he moved from the doorway to stand behind her. It had been two days since Weasley had cursed her, and though he applied dittany to Hermione's wounds as soon as he arrived home, it was to no avail. Dittany had to be applied to Sectumsempra wounds within minutes of the curse being performed. He had known that, but he still felt as though he had to try. He knew how much he hated his scars, and he didn't want Hermione feeling the same way.

Hermione glanced back at him and shrugged as she pulled her shirt back on, tugging it down quickly. "I know, Severus. It's not the scars I am upset about. It's how I got them."

Severus nodded, and wrapped his arms around Hermione. "He's out of your life now, Hermione."

Hermione returned his hug briefly, and moved out of his grasp before he could tighten the embrace. "I know. I just...I feel sad. He truly believed it, Severus. In his mind, he was acting in the only way he knew how. I just...I can't hate him. I don't ever want to see him again, but I can't hate him."

"I would never ask you to."

Hermione grimaced as she walked to the bed and flopped onto it. "Is it strange I still can't honestly believe that happened?"

"Hardly," Severus snorted. "The part I still find unbelievable was the fact that he managed to get so far. His magical capabilities are absolutely laughable. It's unerringly shocking to think that was him."

"Merlin, I know. I think he thought about doing that the first time he came for me. The only way he could have done that was by devoting himself to learning all the anti-magic spells and enchantments that he used on the place to keep me in." A thought struck Hermione and she turned to look at him as he sat down. "Did I ever tell you where he hid my wand?"

Severus shook his head.

"It was under the bed."

"...what?"

"Under the bed the entire time I was there. I was above it the whole time. It all could have been avoided it I had just checked under the bed. But no, I thought that since he had thought the whole thing out so thoroughly, he would've hidden my wand farther away."

"So it is glaringly apparent that the only times Weasley can be clever is when he doesn't even mean to."

Hermione giggled. "Apparently."

Severus stretched out on the bed, and noted how Hermione scooted a few more inches away from him, but he ignored it. He turned to look at her, and smirked. "You were out thought by Weasley."

"So were you!"

"I beg your pardon, but reading and decoding a message is far more difficult than simply looking underneath the bed."

"My message wasn't difficult at all! I'm rather surprised Ronald didn't notice it, actually," she added thoughtfully, with a sly glance at Severus.

"No, but neither was simply lifting the sheets and glancing under the bed. Something Weasley did have the foresight to do."

"For pete's sake. Fine, I admit it. I should have combed the room thoroughly, but there's no point in regretting it now. We got out alive," she said, a bit sardonically.

Severus nodded his agreement, and remained silent. The odd twinge in her voice at the last few words struck a chord somewhere in him, but he couldn't place it. So he contented himself with following the path of her curls. It was something that never ceased to amaze him; that one person could have so much hair. But staring at her mass of curls, and picking out the individual strands, was actually a highly peaceful activity that Severus enjoyed doing in the morning before she awoke.

"So," Hermione said suddenly as she rolled on her side, and arched an eyebrow at him. "'50 points from Gryffindor, Weasley?'"

Severus wondered for a second about what she was referring to, and then he remembered, and flashed Hermione a grin. "Catching an opponent off guard and confusing them gives you the upper hand in most, if not all, fights. I figured that would be something that would give him the greatest pause. And I was right," he said. "The look on his face showed that out of everything, that is what he was least expecting, and that was my goal."

Hermione laughed. "You even gave me a turn, for a second. I couldn't see behind him, and then all of a sudden your voice sounded out. It was like a literal throw back to Hogwarts."

"That was my intention."

"Well, I had to ask what that was about, Professor," she said cheekily.

Severs growled and rolled over, pinning her to the bed before he leant down, pressing his lips against hers. Her squeal of surprise was soon lost as she gave way to the kiss, returning his sudden hunger. He shifted his weight to his elbow, never breaking the kiss, and moved his hand to slide down her shoulder gently.

He felt Hermione stiffen perceptibly underneath him, and he paused. "Hermione..." he looked down at her questioningly.

Hermione looked away and opened her mouth to respond, when a loud knocking sounded throughout the house. "Someone's at the door," she said hurriedly as she nudged Severus off her, sidling out from underneath him before she hopped up and head out of the room.

Severus wondered at her strange behavior, but followed her out of the room anyways, grabbing his wand on the way. He knew Weasley would probably never come to his house again, but it was always better to be safe rather than sorry.

Hermione hurried down the stairs, and opened the door to see Neville and Harry standing there. The two looked like they had been deep in discussion with each other, but they both turned to face her at the same time, relief flooding their faces. Severus decided to leave the trio to their greetings, and he turned to take up residence in the sitting room.

"Oh my god, Hermione!" Harry rushed forwards and enveloped her in a tight hug, burying his face in her neck. Hermione felt his body tremble in her arms, and she hugged him tighter, rubbing her hand up and down his back.

"Oh, Harry," she whispered. "I'm alright."

"I was so worried," he said, his voice muffled from her hair. "Neville told me Snape had gone looking for you and then your letter came, but I never imagined – I just – Ron, he – I can't believe it."

Hermione shushed him and gradually released the boys hold on her. She flashed the teary eyed Harry a smile, and turned to hug Neville. His shoulders shook as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Hermione, I'm so glad, I was so worried–I'm sorry."

"I know, Neville. I know. I'm sorry too," Hermione said in a quiet voice. "Come in, yeah?"

The boys nodded and followed Hermione into the sitting room. Snape was already on the armchair, appearing rather interested in the tome he held in his hands. He nodded almost imperceptibly to Hermione and the boys before turning back to his book.

Neville looked only slightly unsettled by the dour man's presence, but he swallowed and steeled himself as he took a seat on the couch. He turned to face Hermione, looking her up and down with a critically concerned eye. "Your letter didn't explain much, Hermione. Just telling us that Ron kidnapped you and held you in his apartment. He didn't hurt you at all, did he?"

Hermione felt a tinge of surprise at the steely look of anger in Neville's normally genial and kind eyes. She had talked with Severus for a long time on what to tell Harry. He had been inclined to let her do as she would, but she had talked him into a giving a grudging opinion. Severus thought that the boys, especially being Ron's friends, deserved to know all that had happened. Hermione agreed, to some extent, however she wasn't quite comfortable with telling Harry exactly what spell Ron had used on her. "Not really in the physical sense, Neville. He did grab me rather tightly at one point, and cast a spell that was meant for Severus. But Severus was very quick on reacting, and nothing happened. It was a different kind of hurt he caused," she added softly.

"I just...I just can't believe he would do something like this, especially to you," Harry said with a shake of his head. "I mean, I had only a moments difficulty believing he had cheated on you, but this?"

Hermione shrugged. "He was under the impression that he was doing good. He thought Severus had coerced me in some way, and that he needed to break whatever spell had been put on me. He wasn't thinking clearly."

"That doesn't excuse him," Neville said in a hard voice.

Severus' lip twitched at hearing the boys tones. Yes, he was of quite the same opinion. Hermione had been friends with Ron for ten years, and in that regard, he understood why she was slightly less inclined to think the absolute worst of him. Severus, however, had no such relation with the boy, and his opinion of the redhead had already been nearly nonexistent. Now, if Weasley suddenly found himself faced with a charging mountain troll and no wand, Severus wouldn't have the smallest prick of sympathy.

"I know, trust me, I know," said Hermione. "I don't think I could ever forgive him for that. It's just hard to think that a friend of 10 years could do something like that to you. It's just a painful, confusing situation. I'm glad he's gone though."

The boys nodded in agreement with her words.

"But I don't want you to think you can't be friends with him because of me!" Hermione added hastily. "He hasn't done anything to you guys, I don't want you thinking that you have to cut your friend out of your lives because of stuff between me and him. Especially you, Harry," she said, giving her best friend a sympathetic look. "He's your mate, and I know that. Please, please don't think you have to shun him because of me."

Harry simply looked at her, and raised his eyebrows. "Hermione, he was a right prick to you. The fact that he thought he was doing good lessens what he actually did only by a little. He kidnapped you, held you against your will, denied you your wand. I think the only good thing he did was he didn't try and force himself on you."

Hermione sighed, but the edges of her lips twitched. "Yeah, alright. He was a prick. And what he did was wrong on so, so many levels. I know that. I just...I don't know what I feel. The biggest part of me wants to hate him so wholly that the thought of him being on the other side of the globe is like Christmas came early to me, but the other part can't help but remember who he was before all this happened. He was one of my best friends, we went through school together, had amazing times together, I mean, he helped defeat the Dark Lord with you and I. It's just too much history to simply forget."

Severus had to restrain a snort. Stupidly sentimental witch.

"Yeah, I know," Harry conceded. "He's a dick, but he was, and still is, almost all of those other things."

"I'm actually inclined to just give his arse the boot, actually," Neville spoke up. "I won't stand for what he did, to anyone, and I don't want to be in association with someone like that, regardless of the intentions. He hurt you, Hermione, far more then you're letting everyone think. I can't let that go, and I don't want to. Although," he turned to Harry. "I do understand if its harder for you, mate."

Harry nodded, and gave his friends a tight smile. "I'll have to figure out what's best for me, because it appears you've already made up your mind never to see him again, Hermione. And I doubt Snape'll let him get within a ten-mile radius of you from here on out."

"Ah, it appears intelligent things can come from Potter's mouth. How interesting."

Hermione giggled. "Severus, come off it."

Severus looked up at her, feigning innocence. "I was merely making an observation."

Hermione opened her mouth to retort, but she was quickly cut off by Harry's laughter.

"It's alright, Hermione," he said lightly. "It's actually kinda nice to get a compliment from Snape after all these years."

"Compliment? Don't let your ego get ahead of you, Potter," Snape interjected, though his eyes held a glimmer of amusement.

Harry snorted in reply, but let it go. The trio spent the rest of the afternoon in lighter spirits, and with many a moment of happy Ron-bashing. Hermione joined in heartily, and Severus threw in a snide comment here and there whenever the topic veered back towards Weasley.

The time came eventually for Neville and Harry to leave, and they did so with many promises of visits within the week from Hermione. She finally shooed the boys out and closed the door behind them with a heave. She loved her friends dearly, but she was exhausted after an afternoon with them, especially after recent events. She headed back to the sitting room, flopping wearily onto the couch. "What time is it?"

"Quarter to seven."

"So early? Ugh." Hermione rolled over so she could look at Severus; he hadn't moved from his position in the chair the entire afternoon. "I want to sleep already."

"Have you a prior engagement?"

"What? No."

"Then why don't you?"

"Why don't I what?"

"Sleep," Severus said exasperatedly, putting his book down. "By all accounts it is the evening, and if you desire sleep, you should claim it."

"Well, when you put it that way..." Hermione trailed off into a yawn as she stretched and sat up. "I guess I'll go to bed."

Severus nodded. "I'll be up in a few hours. I have some more reading I wish to do."

Hermione stood up and went to his chair, bending down to give him a light kiss before she headed upstairs. She closed the bedroom door softly behind her, and went to the bathroom to undress herself. She moved in front of the mirror as she peeled her shirt off, and winced at the sight of her body.

The pink scars criss-crossing over her chest and midsection were so vivid against her paler skin. The contrast was stark, and ugly. Hermione traced a finger down the biggest slash that cut between her breasts, and frowned. He did this. Ronald.

Suddenly, she felt a great wave of anger ride over her. Ronald had kidnapped her, attacked Severus, and her, and by the end of it he had still felt no remorse. It had been because of her damned familiar and Severus' spell that he had finally realised what she had been trying to tell him. And now he was gone, out of her life, but not before leaving her with a dozen reminders of what he had done.

She could never look at herself again without remembering that someone who was once her best friend had done this to her. Hermione picked up the glass that sat on the bathroom sink, and filled it with water. She brought the cup to her lips, and was about to take a sip before her eyes found the scars again. Tears pricked her eyes, and she threw the cup at the mirror with a sob. The shattered glass tinkled as it fell on the counter, and her now jagged appearance in the mirror shook her.

She would never be able to forget him. And she hated it. She sobbed again before she sat down hard on the tub's edge. She heard footsteps pound up the stairs, and she burst in to tears. She didn't want Severus to see her over-reacting like this.

The door burst open, and Severus took in the scene with shock. "Hermione. What in the blazes happened?" His eyes took in her bent, shaking form, and the glass that scattered on the floor. "Are you hurt?"

Hermione shook her head, burying her face in her hands to hide her sobs. Severus knelt down beside her, and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Hermione."

She twisted away from him. Severus pulled back, stung. What was causing this? She had been pulling away from him since she woke up yesterday morning. She had acted no different, but whenever he went in to touch her, to let her know the things he couldn't speak yet, she turned away, finding an excuse to do something else.

He looked at her again, and realised she was wearing only her underwear. He could see the edges of one of the scars, and it hit him. Before she could push him away, he scooped her up and strode back into the bedroom, setting her down in front of the floor length mirror that stood in the corner. "Hermione. What's happening?"

"I hate him," she replied slowly, looking at the ground with her arms wrapped around her waist. "I can never forget him now. These...these scars will be here forever."

Severus sighed softly. That was it. "Are you upset about the scars?"

"It's not just the scars, Severus! One of my best friends, someone I shared the better part of my life with restrained me against my will, attacked the person I'm with,at – attacked me. I'm angry, Severus, angry, sad, upset, hurt, pissed off, and now I have these fucking things to remind me every day of what happened."

Severus watched Hermione in the mirror, watched how her eyes couldn't tear away from staring with plain disgust at the scars. He knew what she was going through. It was always, and would always, be painful to bear a living, constant reminder of a terrible memory. He understood her turbulent emotions with almost perfect clarity, and realised right then what he should do. He started to undress. "Show me another scar, Hermione," he said softly as he unbuttoned his vest. "Anything."

Hermione turned to look at him, the confusion plain on her face. "What...why?"

"Just because," he said, yanking one leg of his pants off, quickly following with the other and kicking the garment aside. "Find another mark on your body."

Hermione continued to gaze at him oddly, but did as he asked. She held out her elbow, where a tiny, thin white line could be seen just above the point. "There's this," she said, finding herself quite bewildered at Severus' strange behavior, and the fact that he was now standing in front of her in nothing but his boxers.

Severus nodded when he saw the mark she pointed out to him. "Where did you get it?"

"It was in grade school, before I got my Hogwarts letter. There was a bully in my class, who loved to make fun of my teeth, and my hair, and how I always got good grades. One day when the teacher wasn't looking, he reached across and swiped at me with his pencil after I answered another question correctly."

Severus bit back a smirk. Leave it to Hermione. "Are you still angry over that?"

Hermione laughed suddenly. "Why would I be? It was years ago. I haven't spoken to the kid in years either."

Severus nodded, but didn't reply, instead he gestured towards her. "Find another one."

"Oookay." A few seconds later, Hermione pointed to a light patch on her knee. "I got this during the summer after my first year of Hogwarts. Me and my best friend were bike riding, and she ran into me and knocked me over."

"Are you still angry about that?"

Hermione looked up at him, and cocked her head to the side. "No."

Severus nodded, and held out his arm. A long, silver line ran down the length of his forearm, and Hermione swallowed as she tried to picture what the original cut had been like.

"See this?" he said. "I got this during the summer before my fourth year. I lived in a bad neighbourhood growing up, and my father's home was situated where some of the worse teen gangs were. I was cornered one night, and since I couldn't use magic, I couldn't protect myself. I felt so humiliated," he continued softly whilst Hermione ran her fingers gently down his arm. "I'm a wizard. I had all the power to stop them and more, but I couldn't. This scar was a reminder of a moment of weakness that I hated with every ounce of my being."

"And now?"

"Now, it doesn't bother me."

Hermione gulped again as a fresh wave of tears threatened to spill over. "I jus–"

"Shhh." Severus grabbed her hips and turned her around, his hands holding her wrists down so she couldn't cover herself. He leant down, his lips tickling her ear. "Your scars don't define who you are, Hermione. They help shape you, but they don't define you. You have every right to be angry, but don't be angry about things you can't control. You'll have them for the rest of your life, there's really no use."

Her lips twitched before they started to tremble. "But they're so..." she ducked her head and mumbled something.

Severus massaged her wrist lightly. "They're what?"

Hermione took a deep breath. "Ugly. They're ugly. Hideous. And I hate him for it. For everything."

Severus paused. Ugly? He almost laughed. "Oh, Hermione," he said quietly. "How can you think that?"

"Because! Look at them."

"I am," he said. "I cannot see anything of the sort." He moved his hand to her stomach and she stiffened beneath his touch, but didn't stop him. He traced the outline of one of the scars, his breath tickling her ear softly as he slowly ran his hand over each scar. "They are beautiful, Hermione, because they are a part of you."

Hermione bit her lip at Severus' words. She would be angry, sad, hurt, and myriad of other things for a long time, but she felt the doubt, self-consciousness, and worry she had built up start to ebb. The moment she had seen what Ron had done to her body, she had worried how Severus would feel about it. She wasn't vain, the scars didn't bother her that much appearance-wise. It was how they got there that was so upsetting. It was Severus she had been worried about, worried he wouldn't like her quite so much. Her rational mind made quick work of telling her how silly and foolish it was, but she couldn't help it.

But now, feeling his fingertips brushing over the scars as he whispered in her ear of her beauty, the doubts seemed to just slip away.

Severus led Hermione to the bed, pressing her down til she lay prostrate beneath him. He decided he would show her exactly how desirable she was, scars and all.

Their passion was long and heated, and it wasn't for a few hours until they finally settled under the duvet, Hermione's hand lazily drawing patterns through the sparse black hair that spattered Severus' chest. Her eyes started to droop, and she snuggled closer to him.

"Thank you."

Sometimes having a past such as Severus' can give him unique advantages, such as knowing exactly what to do for someone who's been through something like Hermione. Sweet, isn't it?

Yet another author's note - I'm so proud of all of you who figured out the letter! Ahah, I must be blind, because if I didn't write it, I wouldn't have seem it until Severus had figured it out. But props to you clever things! Even though that makes Ron look even more dimwitted, but I doubt anyone cares about that. I know I don't.