Hey all - sorry about the formatting issue with this chapter previously. Not entirely sure what happened but whatever it was, it looks to be fixed. I know I've been gone a while but rest assured that, for the time being anyway, I'm back! Unfortunately, my Muse decided to pack her bags for 13 months for the HP verse and this is the first time that she has decided to play ball!
Chapter Seven
"Miss Granger?" The headmaster asked gently, kneeling before the sobbing young woman before him. "I cannot help you if you don't tell me what has happened."
Hermione looked up at the man through her tears, trying desperately to calm herself. But each time she tried to open her mouth, her tears started again.
The old wizard sighed quietly. "Perhaps a Calming Draught?"
She shook her head, she did not need the numbing quality of the potion she needed to just get her fear out. She heard the rustling of the headmaster's robes and found her body suddenly on a plush surface. Peeking out, she found herself curled in the centre of large, round, and soft chair.
Dumbledore seemed to understand that she needed a few minutes to compose herself, and simply sat behind his desk, answering letters and conjuring tissues for her until she was able to get control over her emotions.
When she had finally managed to stop the crying and had reduced it to the occasional sniffle, Hermione sat up straighter. "I need to report something, headmaster."
The old wizard sat back and smiled kindly to her. "What is it you need to report, Miss Granger?"
Refusing to cry again, Hermione lifted her chin and locked eyes with him. "Draco Malfoy attempted to rape me."
Dumbledore appeared lost for words as he stared at her in silence. "Miss Granger, this is a very serious accusation to make." He raised a hand to stall her words when her mouth opened. "Don't misunderstand me, I do not for one minute disbelieve you, but you are going to need to be able to substantiate such a claim."
Hermione nodded and chewed her lip. "I'd be willing to submit my memories to a Pensieve, and you can find Malfoy in an alcove just down the corridor from here, I petrified him and got away."
The headmaster regarded her solemnly, before nodding and sending his phoenix off to retrieve the boy. Hermione looked at him in fear. "You're bringing him here!" She shrieked.
"No, Miss Granger, he will be met by his head of house and Madam Pomfrey in another part of this office and questioned, Madam Pomfrey will likely wish to test his…body."
Hermione trembled and fought back tears of shame and hurt, her brown eyes so filled with pain. "Will I have to see him?"
Dumbledore rose and rounded his desk, approaching her slowly. "No, dear girl, you will not. I will ask you to allow me to extract the memory using Legilimency to ensure the memory is not tampered with. Then I will call his father to come collect him, and he will be suspended until the School Board can be assembled to assess the situation. It is likely they will wish to discuss the events of this evening with you, but again, you will not be forced to see nor interact with Mr. Malfoy. Is this acceptable?"
The Gryffindor nodded and sniffled. "Do you believe me?"
"I cannot say either way, it would look unprofessional on my part. I believe that you believe this happened, and this is enough for me to take this seriously. Now, find the memory in your mind, I will cast Legilimens on you, and extract the memory. I must warn you, it will be unpleasant to see this again, but it is for the best that I am able to show the School Board exactly what has transpired."
She nodded and allowed him into her mind, tears making silent tracks down her cheeks as she recalled exactly what had happened. When the headmaster moved his wand to her temple, she saw the silver strand that was her memory of the event pulled out and placed into a vial.
"The memory is still in your mind, think of this as a sort of copy. If you wish, I can ask Madam Pomfrey to give you a bottle of Dreamless Sleep, just for tonight."
Hermione shook her head. "No, I don't want to become reliant on something like that to stop nightmares. I accept I'll have them, and deal with them as they come. Can I go see Harry now?"
There was a momentary pause that was enough for Hermione to worry. "I'm afraid that won't be possible, Miss Granger. Mr. Potter has been taken ill and is currently in the Infirmary. You may, of course, stop by the hospital wing to see him, but he will, unfortunately, be unable to converse with you. Perhaps you could spend some time there before Madam Pomfrey returns to continue his care?"
Hermione didn't bother saying goodbye, she tore out of the office and raced to the Infirmary, finding Harry tucked up in one of the beds, his face pale. She waited for hours, holding his hand, until Pomfrey returned. It was only when she was falling asleep that the mediwitch was finally able to shoo the young girl away.
Closing the door behind her, Hermione glanced quickly into the room once more, her eyes taking in Harry and smiling sadly. "I'll be waiting for you," she whispered, and let the door fall shut, taking her view of Harry away.
-oo0o-
Running at full speed through the corridors of Hogwarts, Harry stormed into the Great Hall, his eyes sweeping over the Gryffindor table until they landed on one head of frizzy hair. He moved quickly to stand behind his best friend and tapped her shoulder, so she knew he was there, then yanked her to her feet and hugged her hard.
"We need to talk," he whispered to her, feeling her nod and hold him just a little tighter.
They parted and Harry snagged some toast and bacon, made a sandwich and led her out of the hall, and out the main entrance to the grounds where they could talk in peace. Harry waited until they were a safe distance from anyone else before he started.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you- Dumbledore gave me a brief version of what happened. Are you hurt?"
Hermione chewed her lip and shook her head. "No, just…sickened, and ashamed," she whispered.
Harry gently pulled her bruised lip out of her teeth. "No, you have absolutely no reason to feel ashamed, 'Mione. What Malfoy did is fucking disgusting, and if the School Board don't expel him, I'll bloody kill him myself."
The witch gave him a watery smile, lip once again being chewed. "Are you better now?"
He smiled. "Yeah, long story short, Voldemort tried to get into my head again, right at the same time Snape did and it overloaded my brain."
"Oh, Harry," she sighed.
He shrugged. "I'm okay, honestly. I'm more scared about the fact you've had to be alone for two days until I woke back up. Has Dumbledore called you back at all for what happened?"
Hermione shook her head and lowered her eyes, tears falling down her cheeks. "No," she whispered. "I just…I want it to be done so I can put it behind me."
Blinking stupidly, Harry gently touched her shoulder. "Hermione, you can't just move on like this never happened. You need to talk about what happened, with McGonagall, or Madam Pomfrey. Someone who can help. You were assaulted, 'Mione. This wasn't someone pulling your hair or using a Stinging Hex on you. Malfoy did something unspeakable to you, you need to be able to process that."
Brown eyes widened and then narrowed. "I know what I need to do to move on, Harry. Don't think for one minute you understand how I feel!" She snapped.
Harry backed away and raised his hands in surrender. "I'm not saying I do. But, well, I know we're trying not to talk about it, but the marriage law…you're going to have to let someone touch you. What if what happened makes you panic? You'd be making it so much harder on yourself by not dealing with it."
He knew she was hurting, and defensive because of it, but he also knew she needed to process what was done to her- or whoever she ended up marrying would end up having no choice but to force her into sex if she panicked. He was pretty sure the Ministry would not allow assault to stop anyone from being forced to marry.
"I don't need to be told this, Harry! You're not exactly helping right now!"
He sighed. "Alright, just think about it, okay? I don't want you to be ignoring this for it to become worse down the line. You're my best friend, 'Mione, I only think about what's best for you."
Her face softened. "Okay, I promise to think about it. Now, can we just get through today?"
Harry hugged her gently. "Sure. Let's go to lesson and we'll come down to the lake for lunch?"
She agreed, and the pair left for their first lesson, arm in arm. Harry spied Snape watching them from near the Entrance Hall and nodded to the wizard once in acknowledgement. Snape nodded back, and swept away, but not before casting a concerned look at him. Harry shook his head at the odd behaviour and put it out of his mind for the moment.