Hermione awoke early on Monday. The first class after Christmas break, and the first day of their final exam preparations, loomed before her. Hermione began her morning with a hot shower, taking her time as she washed herself. Since her attack, she had rushed through showers, touching herself as little as possible. Her time with Severus, however, had reminded her that being touched did not make her dirty. Touching herself was not some disgusting thing.

Hermione ran the scrubber over her arms, washing away her doubts. As it scrubbed over her breasts, the feeling of Malfoy's groping hands lessened. Every inch of her skin was scrubbed, washed clean, until she felt better than she had in months. She was alive. She was worthy of love. Hermione closed her eyes, the trickling water running in rivulets down her body, carrying with it the evil that had been forced onto her.

Hermione dried and dressed in peaceful silence. As she was packing her schoolbag, tapping on her window drew her attention. She crossed the room and opened the pane, letting in a Ministry owl. Hermione removed the scroll from its leg with shaky hands, and the owl swooped out again. She unfurled the roll of parchment, heart in her throat.

Hermione,

Lucius Malfoy has been released to house arrest. This is conditional. He is not to leave the grounds of Malfoy Estate under any circumstances with the exception of St. Mungo's. He is not allowed to get a job. He is not to own, collect, or otherwise be in possession of any Dark artifacts, items, books, etc. Ministry officials will check in on him regularly, and the Ministry will continue to provide the Malfoys with the monthly stipend they were receiving. And he is not allowed to have a wand.

Once we are able to convict Draco for assaulting you, Lucius has agreed to serve the remainder of his sentence back in an Azkaban cell. However, I have spoken with the Wizengamot and asked for a sentence reduction in return for his cooperation and genuine remorse for his actions. We will know more after this whole affair is figured out.

Lots of love. We missed you at Christmas. Thank you for the decanter and glasses; they'll get lots of use in the new house (don't tell Gin, it's a surprise!).

All the best,

Harry

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. Malfoy would get the news that his father was home, and he would finally leave them alone. Hermione scribbled a note to Severus, then called for a kitchen elf. "Oh, Lottie, thank you for coming."

Lottie curtsied, her large ears flapping slightly. Hermione had gotten to know this particular elf at the beginning of the year. She was olive-skinned, seemed young for a house-elf, and had several hoops adorning each ear. "Of course, miss! Miss is always so kind to Lottie and her friends. That's why she keeps Miss' secrets." Lottie gave Hermione a conspiratorial look. Hermione looked puzzled.

Does Lottie know about my relationship with Severus? She knew that Lottie had seen them when she brought dinner to the storeroom, but she didn't know of any other time they would have been seen together. Hermione held out the note. "Yes, er…well, thank you, Lottie. Can you please deliver this directly to Professor Snape?" Lottie bobbed her head, then took the folded parchment and popped out of sight.

Hermione grabbed her bag and made to leave her room, but stopped short. Her eyes alit on the necklace Severus had given her, draped carefully on her chest of drawers. She put it on, ensuring that it was securely around her neck before she left her room. Seamus was leaving his room at the same moment, and he caught himself on the wall as he avoided trampling her. "Blimey!"

Hermione chuckled sheepishly as they righted themselves. "Sorry, Seamus." She fiddled with the necklace, unused to the feeling of it. Seamus nodded toward it.

"Tha's a pretty thing. Yer love give it to yeh?" Hermione stopped fidgeting, a wide smile on her face.

"Yeah. It was his mum's. He gave it to me for Christmas." They were chatting idly when Neville rushed past them.

"Sorry, mates! I've, eh, well, I've got to meet…someone." Neville hurriedly ran from Wing 98, a dazed Hermione and Seamus in his wake.

Seamus shook his head slowly. "I don' think I've ever seen 'im move tha' fast outside o' the war." Hermione nodded mutely, and they followed Neville's path, leaving Gryffindor Tower.

—

Hermione stuffed her Arithmancy notes into her bag, making a mental note of the homework assignment. She would have to move some other things around in her study table to ensure that she would have plenty of time to complete both the Arithmancy and Ancient Runes essays on time. Professor McGonagall had offered her a lighter courseload that would still lead to graduating on time, but Hermione had refused on principle. She didn't need special treatment, she'd insisted. After being on the run, and then being assaulted, the safety and comfort of doing homework and filling her days with classes was exactly what she needed.

Hermione had barely made it to her next class when a younger boy, possibly third-year, came running up to her. Breathlessly, he said, "I was told to give you this." Hermione took the scrap of parchment he held out to her and the boy dashed away, likely off to his next class. Hermione looked at the note.

Meet me in the courtyard after dinner.

It wasn't signed, and the handwriting wasn't Severus'. Hermione looked around to see if anybody was watching or following her. Nobody. Cautiously, Hermione pocketed the note and entered the Transfiguration classroom.

Classes passed by in a haze of suspicion. Hermione continued watching around her to see if anybody appeared to be out of place. In Potions, Severus was subtly watching her any time he wasn't teaching. She probably looked quite insane, twitching at every odd sound and looking around her every few minutes. Hermione watched as Severus stood and took a turn about the dungeon, but when he passed by her, he paused. He bent low, as if reading her work over her shoulder, and slipped a scrap of paper under her parchment. He moved on, returning to his desk after a few minutes.

Hermione slid his note out from under her parchment.

Is everything alright? Stay after class.

Hermione whispered to Luna and Ginny that she needed to stay behind, and as the bell rang Luna knocked Hermione's things onto the floor. "Oh, I'm sorry Hermione! Clumsy today," she said, and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, not obvious at all," Hermione whispered to Luna before crouching down to begin gathering the fallen items. Luna and Ginny brushed past and out of the room with the rest of the class. Then Hermione and Severus were alone. Severus locked the door and knelt down in front of her.

"Is everything alright?" Severus repeated, gathering the last of her things. Hermione shook her head and handed him the other note. He quickly skimmed it, then crumpled it.

Hermione watched the agitation on his face. "Who sent it? Do you know?" Severus nodded.

"It's Draco's handwriting. Why on earth does he need to see you? Hasn't he done enough?" Severus' voice was stony and sharp. His dark eyes were alight with fury. "I'll be going with you."

Hermione shook her head. "No, Severus, you can't. People will suspect. I'll stay well away from him - he won't catch me off guard again." Severus pulled Hermione into a tight embrace, burying his face into her hair.

"If he touches you again, I'll kill him myself."

Hermione's breath hitched. She drew back, lifting Severus' face to meet her gaze. "I love you," she breathed. Severus gently pressed his lips to hers, twining their fingers together.

Breaking apart, they straightened their appearances and left the dungeon separately. Dinner was a quiet affair, with Hermione lost in her thoughts. Her friends attempted to engage her, but gave up when she drifted off more than once. The dessert course vanished, and Hermione left the hall with the others. In the rush of the crowd, however, she slipped into an alcove to wait until everyone was gone.

After several silent minutes passed, Hermione stepped from the alcove. Her stomach was churning, and her breaths were coming faster. She attempted to calm her nerves, taking deliberate breaths and wringing her shaking hands together. She walked purposefully to the large oak doors, anxious tears springing to her eyes. Furiously, she wiped them away before opening one of the doors and slipping through as quietly as possible.

The air was bitingly cold, and Hermione regretted not bringing her cloak. Snow fell, catching in her hair. She crossed the courtyard, taking a seat on the edge of the fountain. Hermione slid her wand into her hand, gripping it tightly. "Homenum revelio," she breathed, afraid she wasn't alone despite the emptiness of the courtyard.

She was right. The spell told her there was someone else present. Hermione jerkily glanced around her, standing abruptly. If there was another person here, they were invisible. "Show yourself!" she said, more calmly than she felt. The hairs rose on the back of her neck, and she spun to find Draco, not a foot away from her. Hermione stumbled backward, her wand leveled at him.

Draco stood, his hands at shoulder level, showing he was empty-handed. "Hello, Granger," he said, stepping forward. Hermione took a miniscule step away from him, keeping her wand level. Draco kept his hands raised. "You can put that away. I'm not going to hurt you."

Hermione scoffed with disgust. "Like I would believe that after what you did. You have no remorse, and I've no doubt that you would try anything at this point."

Draco gave a small shrug. "I did what I needed to do. And a bit of what I wanted. But I didn't ask you here to reminisce." Hermione felt bile rise in her throat. "No, I merely wanted to thank you in person. My father is home. He's still not free, as I demanded, but it's a start."

Hermione gaped at him. "A start? That's likely as good as you'll get! Your father admitted to terrible things, and he regrets what he's done. That's the only reason he was allowed house arrest." Hermione's legs hit the fountain edge as Draco pressed forward, his eyes flashing.

"Well, we'll see about that. Maybe I'll send another message. You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Draco leered at Hermione, making her skin crawl. "I'd love to show ol' Snape another memory of his girlfriend writhing beneath me."

Hermione stood her ground, holding his gaze. "You're vile," she spat, her heart racing. "I can't wait to see you rotting in Azkaban. That is," she added, "if you live that long." Hermione saw a twinge of fear flicker to life in Draco's eyes. Her face was stony as she sidestepped the fountain and began backing toward the doors. Draco faced her, watching, but making no move to stop her.

—

Hermione sagged against the wall, sucking in deep breaths as her vision clouded. She sank, her wand clattering down beside her as silent, choking sobs wracked through her body. She pressed her forehead to her knees, rocking slightly as she struggled to breathe through the panic. Footsteps approached, and a gentle hand pressed on her shoulder. Looking up, Hermione saw the very concerned face of Professor McGonagall.

"Miss Granger, I think you'd better come with me."