Chapter 2

Everyone left about 2 hours later. Draco and Blaise gave her one last look as they walked out. She had hoped Ron didn't notice but he did. The door closed as the last person left, and Ron turned to look at her. His face was red with anger.

She paled and quickly ran up the stairs. He followed after her and grabbed hold of her shoulder. He wrenched her backwards and flung her down the stairs. She cried out as her body bounced down each stair. Her head pounded as she hit the floor. She had hoped he was done, but she felt his foot connect with her ribs. She just laid there and took the hits he sent her. One of the kicks hit her head, causing her to go unconscious. Just before she fell unconscious, though, she saw the door fly open and three people step in. She wasn't able to catch their faces before falling unconscious.

She woke up to the sound of a beeping machine. She slowly opened her eyes and squinted as the light of the hospital nearly blinded her. She felt movement by her right side and looked to see Draco, sitting beside her. He had his head on her bed and he was asleep. She looked up and saw Harry and Blaise sitting in the other chairs, both of them asleep as well. She smiled at the sight of them. She gently ran her hands through Draco's hair as he slept. He stirred and slowly opened his eyes.

"Hey." She said softly.

"Hey. How are you feeling?" he asked softly.

"I'm sore, but other than that I'm fine."

"You should've told one of us. Blaise and I even confronted you about it and yet you lied to us. Hermione, you could've been killed by him. You're lucky Blaise and I caught Ron's look at you before we left."

"I'm sorry, Draco. I just….I thought that if I did everything he told me to do, he would love me again." Hermione said, looking down at her lap.

"Hermione, he beat you. I don't even understand why you would still love him."

"He was just angry and his anger overtook him. He never meant to be that mean to me. He told me that himself."

"Hermione, do you even hear yourself!? You're defending the damn bastard, who nearly killed you!" Draco said loudly, causing Hermione to cringe and shy away from him slightly.

"Cara, it's alright," Blaise said, letting them know he was awake, "He's not going to hurt you, Piccola."

"I'm sorry. Every time Ron raised his voice, he would hit me."

"I'm sorry, Love. I didn't mean to scare you." Draco said, gently picking up her hand. She nodded and looked down.

"Hermione, the doctors said you had three broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a crack in your skull. Some of your fingers were broken and you had bruises all over you back. You're lucky to be alive." Harry said, causing her to look at him.

Her eyes watered up and she started crying. Draco moved and sat on the edge of the bed. He carefully held her against him and let her cry into his chest. She sobbed loudly and he gently stroked her hair. He let her cry as much as she needed to, not caring if his shirt got soaked in the process.

"I'm sorry! I was too afraid to tell you. I was afraid of what he would do to me and what he would do to you."

"Cara, we could've handled him easily." Blaise said softly.

"I was just scared." She mumbled softly.

"I know, Love." Draco said, gently kissing the top of her head.

"Hermione, Ron has been put in a holding cell in Azkaban for right now. Looking at the charges he's facing, he'll be in there for a while." Harry said.

"Harry, I can't get up in the stands and testify against him. I just can't."

"Don't worry, Love. You won't have to. We just need to take pictures of your wounds." Draco said and she nodded.

"Alright." She gave a soft yawn.

"Go to sleep, Bella. We'll be here when you wake up."

She nodded and laid her head back down. She closed her eyes and fell asleep. Draco stayed beside her head, gently stroking her hair as she slept. Blaise held one hand while Harry held the other. Draco smiled sadly as he watched her twitch in her sleep. Blaise looked over at Harry.

"You go on home. Ginny is probably worried. We'll stay here with her." Blaise said and Harry nodded.

"Keep her safe." Harry said.

"We will." Draco said, not looking at him.

Harry nodded and left. He took one look back and the scene before him made him smile. He knew, then, that Hermione would be safe with the two men. He saw how much they truly cared for her and he saw that they would protect her, no matter the cost. He smiled and left the hospital, heading home to tell Ginny everything.