A/N- You all have been so amazing. The overwhelming show of support is just awesome, I can't thank you all everyone who has followed, favorited, read, or reviewed, you're my heros. Congrats to BoredRavenclaw620 on being the 100th reviewer! Onward we travel, dear friends...
Trigger Warning: Assault and attempted sexual assault. Nothing too terribly graphic.
Disclaimer: None of this story belongs to me except for the aforementioned characters in previous chapters. I haven't made a single knut off any of my stories. My bank account tells no lies.
Chapter 8
September 5, 1995
Hermione was nervous. She knew that she should be able to compartmentalize her feelings, her emotions shouldn't be quite so obvious, but she couldn't help it.
The young Gryffindor had snapped at both Harry and Ron at breakfast over them asking her for help on one of their homework questions. Harry had squeezed her hand reassuringly under the table, letting her know that he understood in his silent, steady way, but Ron had gotten angry at her and blown up. He had stalked out of the Great Hall, scowl on his face, and Hermione felt like crying.
She had been actively avoiding Ron for two days now, ever since he had tried to pin her against one of the shelves in the library so he could "take their passion to a new level". He hadn't succeeded since Madam Pince had turned the corner at most opportune time and ordered them to leave her silent sanctuary. While Hermione had been extremely angry that she had been kicked out of the library for the first time ever, she had been grateful that the librarian didn't stand for such things as Ron was trying to accomplish.
This, however, didn't mean that she wanted to be fighting with Ron today. She had too much on her plate that day and the last thing that she needed or wanted was Ronald being snide or rude to her. That, however, had gone right out the window because she had apparently offended his delicate sensibilities when she had told him to stop being a complete waste of space and do his own fucking homework.
Ginny and Neville chuckled into their hands at her words. Harry, though the words had been aimed at him also, had leaned over and kissed the side of her head before soldiering on without her assistance. The rest of Gryffindor had cottoned on rather quickly that they should tread carefully around Hermione that day.
Harry reached down and squeezed her hand again as they made their way through the corridors to Transfiguration. Ron still hadn't resurfaced from his tantrum in the Great Hall so she assumed that he would meet them there. He wouldn't dare skip class now that he was a prefect.
Just as she figured, Ron was seated in his usual seat at the front of the room when she and Harry arrived. Knowing that she usually sat in the middle of the two boys, she groaned softly to herself. In no way did she want to make the argument between them worse by sitting next to Ron before their tempers had successfully coolled.
Ron said nothing when she sat next to him, something she was immensely grateful for. The trio waited in silence for the rest of their classmates and Professor McGonagall to arrive. The animagus was the last to arrive and she gave the classroom a stern look before starting.
"I was so impressed with the pairs last time that your partners from last time will become your permanent partners for the rest of the year. Please move accordingly." Hermione brightened slightly. She had actually enjoyed working with Draco during their last class so the fact that they were now permanent partners could prove to be a pleasant experience all the way around.
To her surprise, Draco once again moved to sit next to her in the front row. He smirked her way as both Harry and Ron glowered and glared in their direction from their seats next to Goyle and Daphne. Both lion and snake took diligent notes once more on the animal to animal transfiguration that she said they would be covering for the next couple of months or so.
Truthfully, Hermione had transfigured so many animals into other animals that she wasn't worried in the slightest about their lessons. Obviously she had never tried to transfigure an elephant or anything it's equal, but anything short of a horse she was confident in.
Hermione and Draco both performed the spell correctly in the first thirty minutes of class. While she normally would have been proud of herself and her partner, Hermione went silent and began reading the chapter for Ancient Runes over again. Draco seemed perplexed at her actions and leaned over into her personal space.
"Are we still on for tonight, Granger?" She had completely forgotten that they had made plans to meet and practice their Transfiguration skills on each other. She sighed and raked her hand through her wild curls.
"I'm so sorry, Draco. I have to meet with Professor Snape after dinner and then I have rounds with Ron after that. I don't think there's enough time in the night for me to meet you as well." Draco didn't seem upset in the slightest at her words.
"Understandable. When do you want to meet then?" She chewed her bottom lip as she pondered his question.
"How about Monday night, right after dinner?" Draco nodded his agreement before he reached out and pulled her hand from her hair. His elegant, fine-boned hand smoothed her hair back down to where it was semi-controlled.
"No need to get upset about not making it. It'll be alright." She felt her cheeks color slightly.
"Sorry. I'm just distracted today. Too many things going on in my personal life." Draco's eyes hardened and he pulled his hand away from her hair. When he spoke, his voice was hard.
"What? Can't decide who to choose, Potty or the Weasel?" Hermione didn't understand the incredibly fast change in personality. She tried to make sense of it as she stammered out a response.
"No, it has nothing to do with them, Professor Snape is going..." She trailed off for just a moment before her voice turned haughty and cold. Who was he to question her about her life? He had been a complete prat and wanker to her up until their moment in Flourish and Blotts.
"It's none of your fucking business, Malfoy. My life is my own just as yours belongs to you." She didn't wait for an answer before she turned back to her text book. Silence reigned for several minutes before Draco broke it.
"I'm sorry, Granger, I shouldn't have been so hateful. It just makes me sick that you've been mooning over the Weasel. He doesn't deserve you and he never will." Hermione sighed a and buried her face in her hands.
"I don't moon over him, not anymore. I've been avoiding him because I know he's going to ask me out again and I know I'll have to be honest this time. Last time, I fobbed him off with some half-arsed excuse that I couldn't deal with a relationship because of my parents. I can't take the easy road again, what kind of lion would I be?" Draco chuckled, obviously in a much better mood.
"You'll make due, Granger. You don't back down from anything." She gave him a grateful smile before turning back to her book. The rest of the class passed in silence and Hermione was grateful. She hoped against hope that Draco would keep her confession to himself. The last thing she wanted was for Ron to hear the truth from a Slytherin.
When Professor McGonagall dismissed their class, Hermione parted ways with Harry and Ron so she could try to distract herself with homework in the library. Madam Pince glared in her direction, but remained silent since she was alone.
Hermione worked for the whole hour and a half on her arithmancy homework. While she was already three assignements ahead of schedule, she didn't want to become complacent and fall behind. This was her O.W.L. year, after all. To fall behind would be most irresponsible of her.
When the bell rang overhead to dismiss classes to lunch, Hermione gathered her books and parchment so she could head to the Great Hall for lunch. She did her best to focus on everything except her meeting with Professor Snape that evening. She took her usual seat next to Harry and he threw a reassuring arm around her shoulders. She knew that he was just trying to be her moral support, trying to keep her calm, but it really didn't seem to be doing much for her.
Lunch passed quickly and Ron was still giving her the silent treatment. Truthfully, she didn't mind all that much since it kept them from fighting further. Once they were finished eating, Hermione gathered her bag up over her shoulder and started off on her own to go to her double Ancient Runes class.
Hermione knew that while she thoroughly enjoyed Ancient Runes, it wasn't her passion. Only Transfiguration held that title. Draco accompanied her in her double class, but they were seated on opposite ends of the classroom. He was seated with Daphne and Blaise while she, as the only Gryffindor, took a seat next to Terry Boot and Ernie McMillan.
Hermione did her classwork flawlessly and made sure that she filed her notes away perfectly. Once they were dismissed, Hermione gathered her things and placed them carefully into her bag. She heaved a deep breath as she concentrated on getting through the upcoming meal.
When she reached the Great Hall, Hermione took her customary seat between Harry and Ginny. Even though Ginny had absolutely no idea what was happening in her world in just an hour, she still did her best to play mediator between Ron and herself. Even though Ginny was Ron's sister first, Hermione could appreciate the level of loyalty that went into her actively taking Hermione's side.
The dishes all disappeared from the Gryffindor table leaving Hermione with nothing to do and nowhere to go except to the potion's classroom to see Professor Snape. While excited and nervous to get the results of the paternity potion, Hermione dragged her feet because she was scared of the results. What if Jake and Miranda Granger weren't her parents after all? Would she be able to handle the truth?
Harry squeezed her hand in a reassuring way. She appreciated that her very best friend was doing his level best to reassure her that he was there for her regardless of the results. Hermione smiled his way and held her bag out to him.
"I have to go meet Professor Snape. Will you take my bag to the common room? I'll take it up to the dormitory once I get there." Harry leaned over and kissed her cheek so close to her mouth that she couldn't help but wonder if she had been mistaken that it was her cheek.
Ron continued to glare in her direction as she started to leave. She just couldn't make herself care at the moment. Without a second glance to the rest of the Great Hall, Hermione headed out the doors and took the stairs to the dungeons. She was grateful that she didn't meet anyone on the way to her dreaded potions professor's classroom.
Hermione paused outside his door for a few moments to gather her wits. She was nervous about what she was to learn, but she didn't want to show weakness. Therefore, she readied herself for the ridicule she was bound to face when the results were read no matter what they were.
When she knocked on the door in front of her, Hermione waited patiently until she was beckoned forth to enter. It was only Professor Snape in attendance so she was a little surprised that he didn't have additional people there to mock her. She wasn't entering into this with her eyes shut. No matter what the results were, she would be mocked.
Professor Snape beckoned her forward to come join him in front of the boiling cauldron on his desk. While she wondered just why exactly he had seen fit to move her potion to it's own pride of place on his desk, she reminded herself that her professor was doing it so he could rid himself of her in potion's class. Of course he would move that to his desk. He sneered in her direction, but for some reason, it didn't seem like he was really all that into it.
"Please take a seat in front of my desk, Miss Granger. It wouldn't do to have you passing out while I drain your blood for the potion." She nodded faintly, slightly nervous about the blood draining he spoke of. Her professor produced a small knife, no longer than a swiss army knife, and gestured for her to give him her wrist.
Only a tiny bit apprehensive, Hermione offered him her wrist, vulnerable side up. Professor Snape raised a questioning eyebrow her way, making certain that this was the way she was sure she wanted to go. When she gave a definitive nod, the time for doubts past, Professor Snape made a slicing motion that she wasn't sure even cut her wrist until she felt a slight sting from the bleeding.
The Slytherin whispered a spell over her arm and the blood began to flow faster from her vein. The potion called for right at around half a litre of blood and Hermione had been sure that without the spell, they would have been waiting quite awhile. When her Professor finally sealed the wound on her wrist, leaving behind a four centimeter scar, Hermione could feel that she was lightheaded. She had been sure that she wouldn't be affected by the small blood loss, but apparently that wasn't the case.
Professor Snape gestured for her to sit back and conjured a glass of water for her to drink while he completed the potion. She sipped on the cold liquid, reveling in the way it seemed to wake her up just a little bit. She watched, completely captivated, as he added her blood to the potion and stirred it the allotted amount of times. Professor Snape broke the silence.
"You're sure you want the answers, Miss Granger? Now is the time to turn back if your foolish lion's courage has fled you." She considered fleeing for half a second, but decided against it in just half a second. She gave a resolute nod.
Her professor waved his wand over the potion and muttered the incantation that went alongside it. The steam rolling off the top of the liquid started to form before her eyes. It took several seconds for it to spell out words that she could read, but when it did, her heart stopped. Disbelief clouded her features and bee body went numb.
Severus Snape and Alexandra Nott
Both she and her potions professor stared at the words suspended in the air before them. Neither said a word, probably because they were in equal parts of shock.
Suddenly, Hermione regretted her curiosity and her propensity for discovering the truth. Jake and Miranda Granger had been the most amazing parents; they had accepted her, they had guided and supported her, and above all, they had loved her.
The man that was her biological father couldn't stand the very sight of her. He had bargained with her in terms of this potion and his freedom from her continued presence in his class. He had made very clear his feelings about her.
Hermione had wanted the potion made so she could possibly find her true family so they could be reunited and that they would love her. It was clear that she had been foolish for having a dream such as this. Severus Snape would never love her as Jake Granger had and it broke her heart.
Suddenly, she couldn't handle being there in his presence any longer. Hermione was aware that running from your problems never solved anything, but she was realistic enough to know that she couldn't emotionally handle being there with him in a such a personal moment knowing he hated the very thought of her.
Hermione turned and fled.
The last thing she saw before the door banged open in front of her was her potions professor still staring at the suspended steam above the cauldron and the words formed there.
Hermione didn't care who saw her running through the corridors. She just wanted to be safely ensconced in Gryffindor Tower, she wanted to be curled up in her bed with Harry next to her, his arms around her while he tried to calm her down and comfort her. She wanted nothing more than to forget this disaster of an evening had even happened.
This had been her plan until she had ran straight into Ron on the sixth floor. He fell into a suit of armour, barely catching it in time to keep it from falling, while she fell to the hard stone floor. She sat there and wondered just what in the blue fuck she was going to tell Ron. He righted himself and held his hand out for her so he could help her up. She grasped it and he smiled.
"I didn't realize you were so excited to do rounds with me, Mione. You didn't have to plough into me."
Double fuck! She had completely forgotten that she had rounds with Ron while she was having her mini mental breakdown. She just wanted to say fuck it and go hide in her dormitory, but she didn't trust Ron to keep his mouth shut about her skiving off. Therefore, she heaved a deep breath and started to work on centering herself so she could get through the next two hours.
Ron actually took charge of their rounds and decided to start where they were on the sixth floor. It would have made more sense for them to start in the dungeons and work their way up, but she didn't want to take the chance of seeing Professsor Snape again before she had properly freaked out about the fact that he was her father.
Hermione did the bare minimum needed to get through rounds. She didn't to out of her way to find people sneaking around near curfew time, but if she caught them outright then she took points. Truthfully, she and Ron didn't encounter many people.
The only person that really stuck out in her mind was Pansy Parkinson wandering the halls on the third floor. If she had actually cared more, Hermione would have attempted to discover just what she was doing, but the truth was that she just didn't care. She had taken points while Pansy called her a useless mudblood and they had went on their way.
Hermione couldn't help but to chuckle to herself when she considered Pansy's words. She wasn't a mudblood any longer. It was well known that Professor Snape was a half blood and if the potion was to be believed, Alexandra Nott was her mother, a pureblood princess if she had ever heard of one.
Hermione stopped suddenly, swaying on her feet slightly from the dizziness still present from her donation of blood. If Alexandra Nott was her mother, that meant that she was dead. It was no secret to anyone in the school that Theo Nott hadn't had a mother since the day he was born. For some unexplicable reason, this saddened her. While she was sure that her mother would have hated her for her blood line, she would have liked the right to confirm that for herself. Instead, she would never find out how her mother had felt about her.
Hermione was so lost in thought that she didn't realize that Ron had led them into one of the empty classrooms down the transfiguration corridor. He locked the door behind them and it was the telltale click of the lock falling into place that drew her back to reality.
This was it. Ron was going to ask her out again and she was going to have to be honest. Why couldn't he have picked any other day? She watched him rake his hands through his hair before he turned nervous eyes her way.
"Listen, Mione, I know you've had a lot going on in the last month or so. I know you've had some major life changes. I told you I would give you space so you could learn to deal with it, and I feel I have. Therefore, I'm asking you again. Will you be my girlfriend?" Hermione groaned on the inside. This was the last thing she wanted to be dealing with right now. Gathering the inner strength that she knew made her a Gryffindor, she spoke.
"Listen, Ron." His eyes hardened, but she continued on anyways.
"I haven't liked you in that way for awhile now. Not since third year. I'm sorry that you didn't realize that, but I wouldn't feel right agreeing to date you when I feel for you as I would a brother." Her redheaded friend was silent for almost a minute. When he did speak, his voice was full of disdain.
"You realize this is a chance of a lifetime for you, right? Nobody else is going to want to be with you. You're not very pretty and you scare blokes away with your smart talk. You should see the favor I'm doing you."
Hermione couldn't believe what Ron was saying. Sure, she knew she was far from the prettiest girl at Hogwarts, but he was supposed to be her friend. He wasn't supposed to insult her just for the sake of hurting her. Therefore, she raised her chin, squared her shoulders and did her best to act as if his words didn't affect her.
"I wouldn't call it the chance of a lifetime. If there aren't any other boys that want to date me, I'll just have more time to focus on my studies. I'll find someone after school. I tried to be nice and tell you that I didn't feel for you like that, but you have to act like a child. That's no favor to me." Ron sneered at her.
"I can't believe you tossed me over. Who was it? Harry? Fuck, I bet you even want Malfoy." Hermione froze. Was she that transparent? Was her attraction to both men clear to even Ron, the most emotionally repressed individual she knew? As soon as she didn't reply, Ron exploded.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me! You want both of them? You're such a whore, Hermione!" He inhaled sharply before he continued.
"Harry won't ever want you, Hermione. He's the Chosen One and he needs someone that fits the station, not a girl that's only passably pretty and loves to make him feel stupid. Malfoy, well, that just makes me sick. He won't touch you with his friend's dick because you're just a filthy mudblood to him." Hermione did her best to not react to his words, but she couldn't help it. His words cut deep because she knew they were true.
Quicker than a snitch, Ron's hand snaked out and slapped her. Her vision went spotty as she tried to remain on her feet. The dizziness left over from her blood loss made it quite difficult. After just a moment, she felt her wand be wrenched from her inner robe pocket and she heard it clatter on the floor across the room. Ron was suddenly in her face and she could see that he wasn't the same sweet boy that she had been friends with the last five years. His breath was hot and smelled of sausage, turning her stomach.
"You think you can humiliate me, Hermione? That's not going to happen. I'm going to show you exactly what happens when you choose my best friend and Malfoy over me. Once I've taught you your lesson, I'm going to obliviate you. I'll have the convenient story that you got seperated from me during rounds and I found you bloody, bruised, and naked. You won't know any different. It's going to be beautiful."
His hand fisted in her hair and dragged her to her full height, as inconsiderable as it was. Once she somewhat had her balance, Ron pointed his wand at her and cast a slicing hex at her clothing. The hex didn't just cut her clothing, also slicing through the soft, tanned skin of her chest, belly, and legs. Rivulets of blood were trailing their way to floor.
She did her absolute best to bring her clothing back together so she could hide her nudity, but it just wasn't possible. His spellwork had been sloppy, as it usually was, and it had left her clothing as little more than rags.
A punch landed in the softness of her belly, doubling her over and forcing her to vomit from the very force of it. Hermione did her very best to catch her breath so she could fight back, but it was extremely difficult. Her friend's fist came out of nowhere once more, exploding her nose. More blood rained down into her mouth and spilled down over chin. She was struggling to not choke on the unexpected fluid in her mouth.
Her eyes darted around the room and landed on the sight of her wand laying a good twenty feet away from her. Despite the pain and the blood, she leapt across the stone floor, the dirt from the floor mixing in her spilled blood to make a sort of paste that ground itself into her tender skin as she slid.
Ron seemed to understand instantly what she was after so he threw himself on top of her. Once he was straddled over her hips, he forced her to roll onto her back. He bent his head, Hermione didn't understand at first, and caught her senstitive nipple in his teeth. His bite made her cry out in pain. He chuckled into her bare breasts.
"You could have had all this, Hermione, and I would have made sure that you enjoyed it. It wouldn't have hurt at all. Now you have to learn your lesson and your proper place." His fist came down on her face again, the force of it tearing something in her neck.
It was when she felt him cram his fingers inside her, his sharp nails scratching her raw as he pumped in and out of her, that she finally got a reprieve. Her magic, by no direction from her, hurtled him off of her and into one of the stone walls. He groaned, but didn't pass out. Very slowly, he crawled to his feet again.
Hermione could feel her magic alive inside her now and it was rippling through her. She could feel it in the tips of her toes and the ends of her hair. Ron finally cast a look in her direction, she was still on the ground, and started.
"Hermione? What the fuck happened to you?" She had no clue what he was talking about so rather than answering, she did her best to stand again. Blood was slowly trickling it's way down her legs now and she could only hope it was from the scratches he had left rather than from his breaking her innocence.
Once on her feet, she wobbled dangerously from lack of blood and the dizziness that ensued. Ron struck again, rushing her. His shoulder ploughed into her midsection, knocking her back onto her back again. Her magic flared a final time and it felt as if her mother was pressing soft kisses all over her in comfort. She had never experienced her magic feeling anything like this before. Ron flew off of her once more, this time not rising once he was slumped on the ground.
The door banged open and Hermione turned her head as slowly as she could so as not to cause herself more pain. Draco was standing there, mouth open in a most undignified way, staring at her. After just a moment, he was on his knees next to her and stripped his robes off so he could wrap them around her.
"What the fuck happened to you, Granger?"
He gathered her into his arms and she could smell his scent wrapped closely around her, bergamot and sandalwood. For some reason, it was as comforting to her as Harry's scent of mint, citrus and just a hint of leather that reminded her of her old saddle. Her hands grasped his oxford and she was startled to see that she left it bloody. When she spoke, her voice was raspy.
"Ron, he...he wasn't happy...I turned him down." She felt Draco huff angrily before standing. At this point, Professor Snape wasn't even rating in her thoughts. It all became too much, and Hermione's world went dark.
-O-
Draco was hiding from Pansy. She wouldn't leave him alone in the common room, she kept sitting in his lap and attacking his mouth with hers or making disparaging comments about the fact that he was "stuck with the mudblood" for his partner in Transfiguration. Finally, he could take no more and left the common room in a huff.
He watched from his secret alcove as Pansy tried to follow after him. Draco knew without a doubt that if he returned to his friends after she had gone, either Daphne or Millie would tell her that he was back. She was relentless.
Draco had told her many times that they weren't an item, they weren't going out, and he only wanted to fuck her when he was in the mood for it. He hadn't touched her since June and she still managed to chase after him like he had said nothing at all. Sometimes, Draco wondered if his father was behind her actions, Lucius wanted him to make a proper match after all, but Pansy had never said anything and he didn't dare ask.
Draco found himself wandering the school, doing his absolute best to avoid the prefects on patrol. The last thing he wanted was to be caught when he was a prefect himself. He knew Professor Snape would find his bevaior most unbecoming and tell Lucius. The last thing he needed was another lesson with the Cruciatus.
The Slytherin had made his way to the transfiguration corridor because he was secretly disappointed that he hadn't been able to meet with Granger. He couldn't explain his feelings, frankly, he'd be thrilled if he didn't have to, but he had wanted Hermione Granger as his own since their third year when she had smacked him hard enough to bruise his face.
He was no stranger to physical punishment. Lucius had been "teaching him" since as long as he could remember, but something inside him had changed when Granger, the most non-violent person he knew, had lost her temper with him and struck him. It made him realize that he really was a little shit, that he was just an extension of his father rather than his own person, and he had respected her for it since.
Draco couldn't act on his feelings, however. His father would have tortured him for who knew how long and he probably would have had Granger killed. She wasn't safe with her muggle parents and until that changed, Draco didn't dare make a move on her.
When her parents had been killed over the holidays, Draco had assumed that she had been moved into one of the safer wizarding homes of her friends. Severus had mentioned that Dumbledore was her guardian now so he could only assume she was with an Order member. Now that she was safer, he didn't mind being more friendly to her, even starting a relationship with her if he could. He had been tortured before and as much as he didn't relish the idea, he was tired of being told what to do and how to act.
Draco had been surprised to see her in Diagon Alley. Even though they had started with suspicion between them, the following conversation had been the most pleasant that they had ever shared. He had enjoyed it. What had thrilled him the most was the flash of betrayal in her eyes when she had seen his arm around Pansy's shoulders. It was proof that his feelings weren't one-sided.
Draco wasn't stupid, however. He knew for a fact that she was in love with Potter. While it did kick his competitive nature into overdrive, he didn't find that he was jealous. It was confusing as all fuck since he had made clear to anyone that he had dated before that he didn't share. He just continued to tell himself that he had to get the girl close first before he needed to deal with the other issues.
A loud thud pulled him out of his thoughts. It was in the classroom he had just passed. Knowing he would probably regret it later, he tried to open the door only to find it locked. With a quick wave of his wand, the door banged open and the scene before him stunned him to the point where his mouth hung open and he was rooted to the spot.
Granger, well he assumed it was Granger since Weasley was on the floor behind her and they were patrolling partners, was nearly naked, bruised, and bloody. She was laying on the floor and looked as if she wasn't going to remain conscious much longer.
Finally getting in gear, Draco rushed forward and took his robes off as he went to her side. He could see that she was injured all over, but he wanted to save her modesty also. He wrapped his robes around her as gently as he could, lifting her into the circle of his arms. He couldn't get over how different she looked.
While he had always known that Granger wasn't the prettiest girl at Hogwarts, he had always found her attractive. Her chocolate hair and chocolate eyes had been warm and caring, something he would have loved to have aimed his way. Now she looked completely different.
Her facial structure hadn't changed, neither had her height or weight. Her considerable curves remained just as they had been as well. Now, however, her hair hung down past her waist in sleek black curls, the dry and frizzy locks long gone. Her eyes were a bright shimmering blue and he could have lost himself in them. Her skin wasn't pale, but she wasn't overly tan either. There was an adorable sprinkling of freckles over the bridge of her nose. In that moment, he wanted to count exactly how many there were.
"What the fuck happened to you, Granger?" He wasn't sure she realized it, but she was snuggling into his chest. Even though she was hurt, it felt amazing to be needed by this incredibly strong woman.
"Ron, he...he wasn't happy...I turned him down." Righteous fury flared inside him, especially when he looked down and saw blood trickling down her inner thigh. He wanted to question her further, but she had finally passed out from either the trauma or the pain. Either way, he didn't blame her.
Draco spotted her wand on the ground across the room. Before he made for the door, he bent and retrieved her lost wand and laid it across her chest. He slid his own into his hand so he could cast a petrificus totalus on Weasley. The last thing he wanted was for him to wander off from the scene of the crime.
After locking Weasley inside the room, Draco hurried towards the Hospital Wing. There weren't any students for him to run into, honestly, by this point there probably weren't any prefects to run into either. He was three corridors away from the Hospital Wing when he spotted the Weaselette and the daft Ravenclaw sneaking their way out of an alcove. When they spotted him, they froze, certain they were about to get in trouble. Draco had no time to deal with them, however.
"Weasley, go get Potter. Tell him I have Granger and I'm taking her to the Hospital Wing." She started forward as if she wanted to check on Hermione herself, but he growled at her.
"Go fucking get him." Weasley stopped and nodded before grasping the Ravenclaw's and dragging her away down the corridor.
Draco quickly made his way the rest of the way to the Hospital Wing. When he banged through the doors, he was quick to yell for Madam Pomfrey as he laid Hermione down on the nearest bed. The aging witch appeared before him and started when she saw the state that Hermione was in. She didn't recognize her, however.
"Who is this, Mr. Malfoy?" He smoothed Hermione's hair back off her forehead while he answered.
"It's Hermione Granger. I don't know why her apprarance changed, but she needs help." Madam Pomfrey didn't need any further prodding. He had known for two years that Hermione was one of her favorite students.
Draco couldn't help but finger one of the curls that spilled off the top of her pillow while he waited for Potter to show up. It was soft and shiny even though it was also caked in blood and dirt from herself and the castle floor. It was on his fourth time of twirling her curl around his finger that the door banged open and Potter entered. He didn't seem to notice that Draco was anywhere next to her. Madam Pomfrey was fetching potions so he came forward and grasped her hand in his.
"Hermione?" Draco decided to speak.
"I don't know why she looks different, but I promise you, it's her." Potter's head snapped up and noticed Draco for the first time.
"What happened to her? If I find out you hurt her, I'll -." Draco cut him off.
"If I hurt her, why would I bring her to the Hospital Wing?" Potter seemed to realize how stupid he sounded so he just repeated himself.
"What happened to her?" Draco shrugged.
"I found her barely conscious on the ground in one of the transfiguration class rooms. Your best mate was on the ground halfway across the room. When I asked her what happened, she said Ron wasn't happy she has turned him down." Potter could have killed someone in that moment, it was obvious. He didn't say another word, just bent and pressed a kiss to Hermione's forehead before storming back out of the Wing. He could only assume that he was going to fetch a professor, probably their Head of House.
Potter hadn't been gone more than five minutes when the doors to the Hospital Wing banged open once more. Professors Dumbledore, Snape, and McGonagall entered, worry etched on all their faces. It was in this moment that Draco recalled that Hermione had been distracted and nervous about something to do with Severus. He wondered if the older man would let it slip. It was definetely odd to see a look on his face similar to one of caring and worry.
They didn't approach him, but stopped to speak with Madam Pomfrey. Judging by the serious looks on their faces, Draco had a feeling things were only going to get more complicated.
-O-
Harry had never been more livid in his life. He knew that it was dangerous to be in his position and have a weakness, but he couldn't help it. Hermione was his weakness more so any other person in the world. Nobody hurt her and didn't pay for it.
It was easy to find the locked door down the transfiguration corridor. With a swish of his wand and a non-verbal incantation he didn't realize he could perform, the door banged open. Ron was laying face up on the floor at the far side of the room, blood coloring his robes. Harry couldn't see any evidence of it belonging to him so he was going to assume it belonged to Hermione.
With another swish of his wand, he released Ron from what Harry assumed was an immobilization spell. The redhead groaned and started to crawl to his feet and for a moment, Harry wondered if Malfoy had gotten the wrong end of the stick.
"What the fuck happened here, Ron?" He hadn't planned on asking Ron anything, just delivering the justice Hermione deserved and getting back to the Hospital Wing. Ron's tone of voice when he answered was full of loathing.
"You just had to do it, didn't you? You had to steal the one thing I had going for me." Harry stopped short. What the fuck was he talking about? He let Ron continue to get his bearings.
"What the fuck are you on about?" Ron sneered his way as he leaned against the desk behind him.
"It means she told me that she wouldn't date me because she didn't have feelings for me. I told her she threw me over for you, for Malfoy. To my horrendous surprise, she didn't deny it. She wants you and Malfoy. She's a traitorous whore, that's what she is." Harry tried to process his friend's words. The conversation with Ginny came back to him and it suddenly made sense.
Of course she liked Draco Malfoy. While Harry was smart in his own way, he wasn't intellectual like Hermione. He didn't read books to learn new things like she did. Malfoy did. Harry and Hermione connected on an emotional level whereas he could see her connecting with Malfoy on an intellectual level.
While he was thrilled to discover that Hermione had feelings for him just like Ginny had told him, he was completely astounded by the fact that he didn't feel jealous of the fact that Malfoy could possibly want his best friend either.
Judging by the way Malfoy had been hovering next to Hermione's still body, worry in his eyes, there was an extremely good chance that he wanted her just as much as Harry did. He was brought back to reality when Ron continued his rambling.
"I told her I was the best she was going to get, that you needed someone who could live up to the image of the Chosen One. Malfoy would never want her, she's just a filthy mudblood, after all. I just don't understand -." Harry cut him off again.
"Don't worry about what Malfoy and I want. What happened between the two of you?" Ron laughed a laugh that Harry didn't even know he was capable of making. It sounded demented and evil at the same time.
"I just showed the little bitch that nobody makes a fool out of me." Harry didn't need any more confirmation than that.
He lunged at his former best friend and let his fists fly. It didn't matter where Harry hit him, as long as there was the satisfactory thud of skin on skin, he was thrilled. He was like a man possessed, moving quicker than he thought he could previously. Ron landed a few punches on Harry, but he didn't seem to feel them. He could feel the blood trickling from his nose down into his mouth, but he couldn't feel the pain from the actual blow.
When Harry finally made himself stop, Ron was laid out on the desk, chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. Harry kicked the desk to catch his attention.
"You ever touch her again, I'll kill you. They need me to kill Voldemort so don't think I'll get in too serious of trouble." He didn't wait to make sure that Ron had understood. He didn't even wait to make sure that he was still breathing. Harry simply turned and left so he could head back to the Hospital Wing.
He was sure that he was a sight for sore eyes, he knew he was covered in his own fair share of blood. He didn't care. Let it serve as a warning to those that would harm Hermione. When he re-entered the Hospital Wing, Malfoy was still standing guard at Hermione's side. It seemed weird to think it, but he was glad that the blond had stayed with her.
Professors McGonagall, Snape, and Dumbledore were speaking softly amongst themselves. When the door banged open, they turned to see just who had entered. Professor McGonagall gasped when she saw him and rushed forward. Her hands smoothed back his unruly hair and took in his injuries. Madam Pomfrey followed after her, her wand already making quick work of his obvious injuries.
"What in the name of Merlin happened to you, Potter?" He pulled his wand so he could siphon some of the blood off his robes.
"I found Ron. He told me that he taught her a lesson for making a fool out of him because she didn't want to date him. I showed him exactly what would happen to him if he ever touched her again." The strict Gryffindor gasped again and dropped her hands.
"Where is he, Potter?" He shrugged his shoulders as if he didn't care.
"Same place I found him. Third classroom to the right of your classroom. Don't mind the mess." Without a word, Professor McGonagall hurried off after the other injured boy.
Surprisingly, Professor Snape remained silent. Harry made his way to the bed so he could take Hermione's hand in his own. It was Professor Dumbledore that came forward and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"You know I have to give you detention for that, correct, Harry?" He shrugged the older man's hand off his shoulder. Nobody seemed to give a fuck about Hermione and the fact that she was laying there injured.
"I don't give a fuck how many detentions I have to serve. I'll serve them happily. It was worth the satisfaction of showing Weasley that if he ever touches her again, I'll make sure he doesn't live through it." Harry was confused to see an approving look on their dour potions professor's face. Professor Dumbledore narrowed his eyes.
"You know how serious that statement is, don't you, Harry?" Harry sighed and turned to face his Headmaster.
"I understand exactly what it means. You don't fuck with the people I care about. Hermione is the most important person in my life and I would happily kill for her. I suppose if you want me to not kill Ronald Weasley, you'll keep him the fuck away from Hermione. Besides, if Voldemort is to be believed, our world needs me to kill him. He's convinced I'm the one who has the power to bring him down. Guess if that's the case, I won't be going to Azkaban." Harry knew that he was acting out of his normal laid-back nature, but he wanted to stress to the Headmaster how much he needed to keep Ron away from Hermione. Dumbledore watched him for a moment before he spoke.
"One night of detention, to be served tomorrow night, with Professor Snape. Report to his classroom at six p.m." Harry nodded and didn't say a single word against his punishment. Instead, he turned to Madam Pomfrey.
"What are her injuries?" She cast a glance at the Headmaster and he hesitated a moment before he gave her a small nod. She sighed before beginning.
"Her nose was broken, along with her cheekbone. There were bruises all over her body. There was a torn muscle in her neck that we think happened when she was struck. She suffered more than one blow to her midsection and it bruised her spleen and lacerated her kidney. There were abrasions all over her body. She has cuts down her body in a line, suggesting that it's from the curse that cut her clothes away." Harry froze. He hadn't realized that she had been naked. His head came up quickly.
"Was she raped?" His fury was simmering inside him again and he was doing his best to control it. Madam Pomfrey looked downward.
"Her nipple had teeth mark lacerations around it and she had something pushed inside her. It tore her some on the inside. It's my estimation that it was a hand with sharp nails. Since her barrier is still intact, I feel I am safe in the assumption that she was not technically raped." Harry wished that he had killed Ron. It was too much that he had hurt Hermione, but to discover that he had sexually assaulted her as well was just over the top.
Harry chanced a glance up at Malfoy and saw that he appeared to be struggling with anger as well. Harry knew he was right now about how the Slytherin felt for Hermione. He turned his attention back to the mediwitch.
"Why does she look like this? What happened to her?" Professor Dumbledore stepped forward and laid his hand on his shoulder again and this time Harry allowed it.
"That's a story for tomorrow, I think. Your friend is going to be just fine and she needs her rest. You and Mr. Malfoy both need to return to your dormitories." Harry knew that there was no way that he would be able to stay with her so he eventually nodded his head.
Harry leaned down and pressed another kiss to Hermione's forehead. When he stepped back, he watched Malfoy finger one of Hermione's long sleek curls. The black of her hair really did make her look stunning.
Both boys left the Hospital Wing together and remained silent until they reached the staircase. Harry turned and offered his hand to Malfoy. It didn't escape his attention that this was exactly what happened before their first year but with very different results.
"I owe you, Malfoy. I don't know what's going on with you and Hermione, but if she accepts you, I will too. Thanks for saving her." Malfoy grasped his hand in his own.
"I didn't save her. She had somehow thrown him off of her without a wand. I picked it up and brought it to the Hospital Wing with her. I'm not sure what's going on between us either, but at the very least I would like to be her friend." Harry caught the meaning to his words.
"At the very least? Are you in love with Hermione?" Malfoy looked distinctly uncomfortable, but finally met his eyes.
"I've been in love with her since she slapped the shite out of me our third year." Harry chuckled to himself.
"You caught on quicker than I did. I didn't fall for her until the Yule Ball." Now Malfoy chuckled. They backed away from each other.
"Later, Malfoy." He nodded and started down the stairs.
"Later, Potter." Harry watched him for just a moment before he turned and made his way up the stairs, the complete opposite direction of Malfoy.
-O-
Severus sat at the bedside of his long-lost daughter. She had briefly woke long enough for Poppy to force a sleeping draught down her throat. Once she had disappeared back into her quarters, Severus had sneaked back into the Hospital Wing so he could keep watch at her side.
Realizing that his daughter had resurfaced again was like heaven on earth. Wizards had no concept of what heaven was and what it stood for, but as a half blood, he did. He could say with complete certainty that his prayers had been answered.
He had dreamed of having his daughter return to him every night since Albus had informed him that she must be taken. There was a huge amount of resentment for the old man since he hadn't even deigned to tell Severus why she must disappear. It had been a bone of contention amongst them for nearly fifteen years.
Now she was back. Severus didn't know her as he wished and he wasn't sure if she would let him remedy the situation, but he truly hoped she would. He knew he was a hard man that lived a hard life, that he wasn't the person most people would list as an amazing parent. However, he knew that he loved his daughter with his whole heart and he would die for her any day of the week. He didn't claim to be perfect, but he knew he had that going in his favor.
Severus felt terrible for freezing up when he realized that she was indeed his daughter. She had ran from the room, probably not in the best state of mind on top of blood loss. The fact that she had been assaulted directly after leaving him made him feel more guilty for that than anything he had ever done in his life.
The Slytherin never thought that he would applaud Potter being an arrogant prat before, but it had happened today. He sincerely wished that he could have been the one to beat Weasley bloody, but Potter acting as a stand-in would have to do.
He and Albus hadn't spoken of the fact that it was obvious now that Hermione was his daughter. Her appearance now was a dead giveaway. Severus had never found himself to be a handsome man, but when he saw the best traits of himself and Alexandra mixed perfectly in his daughter, he could proudly say that his daughter was exquisite.
Severus supposed that there would be several conversations to be had the next day in regards to her parentage and just what had happened between herself and Weasley. He was also curious to see how she would react to the fact that both Draco and Potter seemed very interested in her.
Severus heaved a deep sigh. He needed to head down to his quarters and attempt to get a little bit of sleep. Tomorrow wasn't going to be an easy day for any of them.
Severus bent and pressed a kiss to her forehead much the same as Potter had and fingered the silky soft hair on her pillow. She truly was the best of him.
He stole out of the Hospital Wing as quietly as he had entered, the door closing quietly behind him.
A/N- Oh emm gee! This chapter is a monster! I really should have made it two, but there just wasn't a good place to split it up. Please don't send me any messages about how I'm terrible for making Ron the bad guy. I warned everyone that Ron was going to be a complete douche rocket in this fic and Molly isn't going to be much better. Don't like it, move along. As for the readers that understand my inclination towards Ron bashing and don't seem to mind, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Leave me your thoughts, they keep me motivated, especially when I struggle with keeping my eye on the prize!
Next chapter, several difficult conversations are had and Hermione discovers exactly why she was taken.
Love,
Alicia