Chapter 8. Dreams

POV Hermione

Hermione opened her eyes and took in the scene around her. "How did I get here?" She asked herself. She could tell she was still in the castle, but it wasn't a part she was very familiar with.

"DRACO! WE NEED POMFREY NOW!"

The shout startled her. She turned to see where it had come from and followed the sound down a hall on her left. She saw the shock white hair of Malfoy who was kneeling next to Theo over the body of someone she couldn't see.

"Oh my gods guys what happened?" They didn't answer. She quickly approached them, walking to the head of the body they were frantically casting spells on. Before she caught a glimpse of who it was, she heard a shuffling beside her, against the wall. "Ron?" She whipped out her wand, confused as to why, but she didn't feel safe. As she got closer she noticed he was bound with ropes, she froze. There was something wrong… she jerked her head back to the boys behind her, cautiously walking towards them, her heart racing.

"Draco! Listen to me! You have got to pull it together! She is going to die if we don't get her out of here!"

"Who is going to die?" No answer. "Guys what happened? Who is….Oh my god! Is… is that me?"

Why am I naked? What happened to me?

She was suddenly hit with a wave of intense pain. She braced herself against the wall, and a scream ripped through her. She stumbled over to the boys. Theo was still working on healing her while Draco was pacing erratically.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

She was temporarily blinded by the light that erupted from his wand. When she could finally open her eyes she caught the sight of Draco's spectral dragon gently flying around in front of him.

"To Headmistress McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey; Hermione has been attacked, contact the Aurors, were down the old, abandoned corridor on the south side of the castle."

Attacked? By who?

She turned her head to look back at Ron again, and another wave of pain rushed through her head.

No.

The forms of McGonagall and Pomfrey came sprinting down the hall, but Hermione barely noticed. Her eyes were trained on Ron's body against the wall.

"This isn't possible." She said aloud, hoping they would hear her, but convinced they wouldn't. She figured she must be dead and her soul had just not moved on yet.

"Weasley drug her down here and assaulted her." Theo provided. "Draco felt that something was wrong, and we came running, we found her unconscious on the ground with Weasley on top of her."

Her eyes didn't leave Ron, even as Hagrid picked him up and slung him over his shoulder, even as another wave of pain coursed through her body, even as the world around her began to fade to black.

--

She thought for sure she was dead. Everything around her was black and there was never-ending pain. Time seemed to cease to exist wherever she was. How long was she here, minutes, days, years? It felt like eons had passed by with nothing but her mind to occupy her. Her mother always preached that witchcraft was sinful and against God.

This must be hell.

From her peripheral she saw a light appear, it was warm and welcoming, inviting her towards it. She approached slowly, remembering the muggle saying that you go into light when you die, but she had been here in darkness for so long she had assumed this was it. Maybe she hadn't died yet, and was stuck in Purgatory. As she inched closer to the light she thought she could hear voices; ones she recognized.

Malfoy?

The world around her was enveloped in the light. It felt like a warm hug… like love. She closed her eyes, savoring the reprieve from the pain she had been suffering. When she opened her eyes she was standing in the hospital wing. It was dark outside, and the castle was still decorated for Christmas. From behind her she heard a voice she didn't recognize say her name.

"Mr. Malfoy, you were the first one to find Miss. Granger?"

The man was tall and Hermione figured from the scarlet robes that he must be an Auror. He was flanked by 2 other, one of them Hermione recognized as John Dawlish; he had been the one to interview her for her statement that she gave for Malfoy's trial.

"Yes. Theo and I had seen Hermione leave the Great Hall with Weasley. I was worried, because they had already had a fight before then that had left her in tears."

"Care to elaborate? What kind of fight?"

"I only caught part of it, but he was angry that she had come to the ball with Viktor Krum, called her a traitor to her house and school, then threatened to out some information about Krum that is personal which caused Hermione to tell Krum to leave, so that he would be protected."

"What information is that?"

Hermione tensed. She didn't want Viktor to be outed because of this investigation.

"It is not something illegal, just personal to Krum, and it's not pertinent to the story so I will not be telling you that."

"You don't really have a say in that Mr. Malfoy. We will order the use of Veritaserum if you are not willing to cooperate."

"You can't do that!" Hermione yelled. She walked up to the group of Aurors and placed herself between them. They may not see her, but she felt better by being here.

"Do what you have to do! You are the one wasting time, the information pertaining to Krum is not relevant to what happened to Hermione! And you are doing her a disservice by focusing on the personal lives non important characters!"

"I would suggest that you calm yourself Mr. Malfoy, you are still under probation, and the Wizengamot would be pleased to see you misstep."

Hermione was seething. They were lucky she didn't have the ability to do anything but stand and watch, she would skin them alive if she did.

The door to the hospital wing flew open revealing the angry form of McGonagall. She glided in, placing herself between the Aurors and Malfoy.

"Great minds, Headmistress, they think alike."

"Auror Robards if you wish to continue being granted access to my school, you best remember your manners. I will not tolerate unwarranted threats towards my students!" Her eyes were full of fury as they bore into the group of Aurors.

A grin swept across Hermione's face. Her beloved Headmistress was fierce in her loyalties and if she was on your side, she would go to the ends of the Earth for you.

"Headmistress McGonagall, Mr. Malfoy here is being uncooperative in regards to our questions, and becoming irate."

"I don't appreciate being lied to Auror Robards, I heard the entire exchange from out in the hall. You have no need for the information regarding Mr. Krum. I was also a witness to the exchange and I can attest to not only what happened between Miss. Granger and Mr. Weasley, but also to the fact that Mr. Krum's personal information is not your business."

"Yes Headmistress, of course."

McGonagall turned to Malfoy and gave him a smile before taking a seat next to him.

Hermione huffed, satisfied that the Auror's tail was adequately tucked between his legs. She turned and finally saw her body lying in the hospital bed, the red diagnostic bubble floating above her, realizing she was not in fact dead, just critically injured. She assessed herself but continued to listen to the exchange going on across the room.

"Mr. Malfoy what happened after Miss. Granger left the ball?"

He turned to McGonagall, silently asking if he should bring up the bond and how he knew she was in danger. She gave him a nod and squeezed his hand for encouragement.

"Not long after she left, I was hit with a surge of fear. Hermione and I share a soul bond so I knew she was in trouble."

"A soul bond?" Robards looking back and forth between Malfoy and the Headmistress for confirmation.

"Yes sir. So I ran out of the Great Hall to find her. When we did, she was naked and bloodied on the ground with Weasley on top of her. His trousers were undone and his penis was partially out. I immediately cast Incarcerous to restrain him and Theo began working on the healing spells. I sent a Patronus to Headmistress McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey and when they showed up I carried her here to the hospital wing."

The world was once again beginning to fade to black. Hermione closed her eyes, desperate to hold on to the memory. When she opened her eyes again she was surprised to see that she wasn't back in the void, but right where she had been before.

--

It was daytime now, and Malfoy was sitting beside her holding her hand. She looked around and noticed McGonagall talking in hushed tones to Pomfrey by her desk. The diagnostic bubble was a deep amber and Hermione noticed that all her wounds were fully closed.

"Mr. Malfoy."

Draco looked up, "Did he…did…"

"She was violated, but there is no evidence to suggest he succeeded in raping her. She has also passed the neuro assessments, so as long as she wakes, I see no lasting physical complications"

He gasped in relief, putting his face in his hands as his shuddered cries broke through. Theo, who was sitting beside him, placed his hand on his back attempting to comfort him.

Hermione couldn't move. Ron had tried to rape her? She thinks she realized that from her being naked, but hearing it voiced made it reality. She began to hyperventilate, the world swirling around her. She collapsed to the floor, and cried, hugging her knees to her chest.

"Please, make it stop." She begged, as the world faded to black once again.

--

She stayed on the floor even as the world changed around her. She couldn't fathom how someone she considered as her best friend would do this to her. What was she going to do now? Did Harry know? Question after question flooded her mind, trapping her on the floor; each one more devastating than the last.

"What if she doesn't wake up Theo?"

Hermione rolled over to see Malfoy sitting with Theo opposite her bed. They were holding each of her hands and Hermione could tell that Draco hadn't been sleeping. His eyes were sunken in and his pale skin looked dull and translucent.

"Drake, you heard Pomfrey, shes passed the worst part; and considering her injuries, I can't believe she has come as far as she has, as quickly as she has."

"Its been 3 weeks Theo. Healing never takes this long."

"But you are forgetting Draco; this isn't a magical injury. He beat her within an inch of her life. Muggle injuries don't always respond to magic, and vice versa."

3 weeks?

"Nobody has been by to see her. Not even Potter."

"Harry hasn't come? That can't be right. Why wouldn't he come?" she was on her feet now, pacing. "This must be a mistake. You're lying, Harry wouldn't do that to me…he wouldn't." But she never thought Ron would do what he had done to her either.

"Potter is a asshole."

Pansy Parkinson. Pureblooded and beautiful. A true embodiment of her upper class upbringing. Here. With snacks.

"You know she will hex you if you tell her that." Theo said, grabbing a Treacle Tart from the basket.

"I'm not going to lie to her. What kind of friend doesn't visit you after you're nearly murdered by the 3rd golden trio member?" She pulled up a chair beside Draco. "How is she today?"

"No change since yesterday." Theo provided glancing towards Draco.

Pansy's face softened, and gently rubbed Draco's back. "There's still time."

"I understand that Pans, I do, but the two of you don't seem to get that there is more at stake here! It's not your fault; if you've never felt the pull of a soul bond, how could you?" He shook his head, and pushed his hair back out of his face. "I had the bond for one hour. One! And I can't imagine living without ever feeling it again…but here I am facing that prospect right now, and I'm so fucking scared Pans! So please, just….find a different way to be comforting."

Hermione didn't know what came over her, but she slipped to the floor in front of Draco's chair and placed her hand on his knee.

Lightning shot through his whole body and he jumped up. The diagnostic bubble above the bed now a soft yellow.

"Draco what's wrong?"

"I felt her, for just a second. I.. I'll be back."

Hermione stayed sat on the floor for a moment, thinking. "When I touched him, the bond reacted and I started healing. Maybe if I can somehow…ugh! What can I do? I'm not even sure what's real!"

She threw up her hands and walked over to an empty bed. Climbing into it she lied back, closing her eyes. She didn't know if she needed rest where she was, but she felt tired.

"Just a quick nap"

--

When she opened her eyes, everything was dark and quiet. She was still in the bed in the hospital wing, but the Christmas decorations were gone. She stood up and wandered over to the bed that her body was in. As she approached she heard a voice, it was quiet and soft. When she passed the privacy curtain she caught sight of Malfoy lying in bed beside her, gently stroking her face.

"Granger, I don't know if you can hear me, but I need you to wake up. Please. I've only just found you; I can't lose you, not now, not ever. Please." He ran his fingers through her wild locks.

"I can hear you Draco. It's you who can't hear me." Frustrated she collapsed on the chair beside her bed. She had no clue how to reach out and she hated it, hated feeling useless. She had her head in her hands when she heard it. Singing. She stood and looked down at the bed and there he was, Draco Malfoy singing to her, Hermione Granger.

"If I ever were to lose you, I'd surely lose myself," he started barely above a whisper, "Everything I have found, dear, I've not found by myself. Try and sometimes you'll succeed, to make this man of me. All my stolen missing parts; I've no need for anymore. I believe; and I believe, 'cause I can see, our future days; days of you and me."

She walked around to stand behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder. She felt the pull again and knew he did to. She watched him place a kiss to her head and he returned to his singing.

"Back when I was feeling broken, I focused on a prayer. You came deep as any ocean, did something out there hear? All the complexities and games; no one wins, but somehow they're still played. All the missing crooked hearts, they may die, but in us they live on."

She had an idea, she removed her hand from his shoulder and walked around to the other side of the bed. She reached out to touch herself on the shoulder but her hand slipped through, as if she were a ghost.

"Okay. Plan B."

She climbed onto the bed and placed herself in the exact position of her body. She looked at Malfoy who was rubbing his hand across her jaw. He pressed his forehead to her and continued his singing.

"All the promises at sundown, I've met them like the rest. All the demons used to come round, I'm grateful now they've left. So persistent in my ways. Hey, angel, I am here to stay. No resistance, no alarms; please, this is just too good to be gone. And I believe; and I believe, 'cause I can see, our future days; days of you and me. You and me. It's just you… and me."

"Alright Malfoy, now or never."

She leaned forward and planted a kiss on his lips.