Chapter 2: Hermione's letter

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For all of the first week of school, Hermione was as happy as a girl could be. Nothing seemed to faze her at all. She was always smiling and laughing. Harry even noticed that her bruises were fading, as well as the color returning to her skin. She even began to gain weight. Upon arriving at school, she was so pale and thin, but she was returning to the same old Hermione that they knew and loved. Everyone was going wonderful.

That is, until the first practice of the Quidditch season. Harry (who was now the captain) had scheduled them to be first. The practice had been going smoothly and Harry had decided to let them take a break. Just before they went back to practicing, the Slytherin team came walking onto the field.

"Can I help you?" Harry asked, trying to sound nice but failing.

"Yes, by getting off our field. We reserved it for three, and you have it up until three," Malfoy said. Unfortunately, Malfoy was the Slytherin team captain, which everyone knew would make for interesting matches.

"It's two thirty, Malfoy. Take a seat and wait," Harry snapped, catching sight of the clock above the teacher's stands.

"I don't think so, Potter. We need the extra time. We have to train our new chaser," Malfoy said, nodding to the third year boy who was proudly standing by him.

"Train him on your own time," Harry said.

"Snape said we could do it now," Malfoy said, thrusting a note to Harry.

"I don't care what Snape said. Madam Hooch said we had it until three and you get it when we leave. Now sit down and let us finish," Harry said.

"Get off our field," Malfoy said, stepping closer to Harry.

"Get off ours. Hooch and McGonagall both said that it's ours until three!" Harry argued, glaring into Malfoy's steel gray eyes.

"We'll just have to take this to Snape," Malfoy said.

"As if I would ever go to Snape for anything," Harry said.

"We'll just see about that," Malfoy said. Just before the two lunged at each other, a voice called out and stopped them.

"Stop fighting!" a familiar female voice said coming from within the Slytherin team. The team parted and there, standing in a sea of green and silver, was none other then Hermione Granger herself. "I said stop it! This is stupid. Now, there is an easy way to solve this. Want to hear it?" Hermione asked with her hands on her hips and a frustrated look on her face. The Gryffindor team gaped to see their own prefect standing there amongst their enemies. What was she doing?

"Hermione, what are you doing here?" Harry asked, confused.

"Shut up, Potter," Malfoy snapped. He looked at Hermione, awaiting her answer. Harry surprisingly noted that he wasn't glaring at Hermione, but he was looking at her almost softly, affectionately. "What's your idea?"

"It's very simple. It's called letting them have their time. Now, we can wait for a half an hour until they are done. Ok?" Hermione asked him. Malfoy nodded. Hermione turned to Harry and walked over to him, pointing a finger in his face. "And you, Harry, don't start a fight that you don't intend on losing, because one of these days you just might," Hermione told him. When she turned around, her hair hit Harry in the face, only semi-accidentally. Everyone watched as Draco slipped his arm around her small waist and they walked off the field.

Bruises fade father, but the pain remains the same

And I still remember how you kept me so afraid

Strength is my mother for all the love she gave

Every morning that I wake I look back to yesterday

And I'm OK

"Someone tell me I'm seeing things, please. Did Draco Malfoy really just put his arm around Hermione Granger's, our Hermione Granger's, waist and walk away?" Katie Bell asked in shock.

"Unfortunately, you're not. I saw the same thing," Alicia Spinnet admitted, in equal shock.

"I can't believe it's true," Angelina Johnson said, sitting down on the bench. "I mean, I heard the rumors the other day from Marietta, but I couldn't believe them. I thought that some sick kid was just bored and made up the sickest rumor ever. I ignored them, thinking to myself 'why would our sensible Hermione ever date that awful Draco?' I mean, it's completely irrational."

"Wait a minute, you know? And you didn't even tell us?" Ron asked, nearly exploding with anger. How come he didn't hear? How come no one told him?

"We thought it was just a stupid rumor! We dismissed it as nothing," Alicia admitted, Katie and Angelina nodding.

"We can't believe it either," one of the Slytherin team members said. None had followed Draco except for the new chaser. They were just as confused about Hermione as the Gryffindor's were.

"I'm going to find her after practice and talk to her," Harry told Ron and Ginny. Ginny was one of the beaters, along with a brunette fifth year boy named Scott.

"Harry, you look really upset about this. You can't just go up to her and yell. You have to handle this cautiously," Ginny advised.

"Can I beat up Malfoy?" Ron asked.

Ginny glared in response then turned back to Harry. "Be calm with her," she said before mounting her broom again.

"Hey Harry, it looks like rain. Should we stop?" Scott asked.

"There's one thing you'll learn about being a Gryffindor player, Scott: Rain isn't any problem," Harry said, mounting his Firebolt. "Let's go team!"

After practice, which indeed did get rained on, the team made their way up to the Common Room, everyone covered in mud and dripping wet to the bone. Harry went up to his dorm and changed into a white T-shirt and a plain pair of slacks and set out to find Hermione. When he didn't locate her in the Common Room, he made his way to the library.

"Harry? Harry are you in here?" Lavender Brown shouted.

"Miss Brown! Please be quiet!" Madame Pince chastised the blonde.

"Oh, sorry," Lavender said in a whisper.

"What do you want, Lavender?" Harry asked, coming out from one of the isles and up to his housemate.

"Harry, you need to come with me right now," Lavender said, an urgency in her usually light-hearted voice.

"Why, what happened? Is it Ginny? Ron?" Harry paused and took a worried breath. "Is it Hermione?" he asked.

"Come on," Lavender said, taking off in a quick pace. She led Harry to the Common Room, quickly uttering the password as they made their way. When they got into the Common Room, Harry was surprised to see that everyone was crowded around the couch, a frantic and terrified sob heard over the commotion of the students. Harry pushed his way through the crowd to see Hermione on the couch, Ron and Ginny at her side. In Hermione's bleeding and bruised hands was a letter.

"Hermione!" Harry said, kneeling down in front of her.

"Harry, oh Merlin Harry. I can't believe it. It's not fair. It's just not fair," Hermione sobbed, her whole form shaking. She brought a bloody hand to her forehead and leaned forward on her knees, Ginny rubbing her back and giving Harry a worried look.

"What happened?" Harry asked the siblings.

"We don't know. She won't tell us," Ron replied softly. He resumed rubbing her back while Ginny comfortingly stroked Hermione's hair.

"Hermione, please tell me what happened," Harry said, getting closer to her. He carefully lifted her chin so that she would look at him. Her cinnamon eyes were red, her face wet with tears. Harry couldn't help but noticing that she had new bashes and slashes on her face.

"I'll never escape this…this pain, this torture, this ache, this suffering that will never go away! It's following me," Hermione said hysterically.

"Hermione who did this to you?" Harry asked in a low voice so that none of the observing students could hear him.

"I'm not crying because of that! Here," Hermione said, shoving the letter at Harry. She turned to Ron's embrace and sobbed in his shoulder while Harry read the letter.

Dear Miss Hermione J. Granger,

I regret to inform you with great sadness that your mother, Mrs. Sandra Granger, was emitted into a Muggle hospital this morning. She suffers for a concussion, three broken ribs on her right side, her right arm broken in two places, and several opens wounds. It has been requested from your father that you come home as soon as you desire so that you may be with her in her time of need. You can choose to have your work sent ahead for you or on hiatus until your return. A guest may accompany you on your train ride there and back, but not during the visit. Once again, I'm terribly sorry. Please send your request through Professor McGonagall.

Sympathetically,

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore

After finishing, Harry looked up at Ron and handed him the letter. Harry embraced Hermione while Ron read, the whole Common Room buzzing with curious questions. Ron took after Harry's careful advice and read the letter at in angle at which no other student could read it to protect Hermione's privacy. When Ron finished, he handed the letter to a worried Ginny. When she finished, tears were streaming down her own eyes.

"Oh, poor Hermione," Ginny whispered.

"What is going on in here?" McGonagall demanded, the students parting to let their head through. When she spied who was the center of commotion, she sighed and shooed the students away. "Come now, Miss Granger," she said, Hermione getting up and allowing the professor to usher her out of the Common Room.

"Where are you taking her?" Ron asked, standing up.

"To the Hospital Wing to calm down. You may visit her tomorrow," McGonagall replied.

"We can't be with her tonight?" Harry asked.

"I'm sorry Mr. Potter, but no," McGonagall said with a respectful nod before leaving the Common Room.

"Whoa, I wonder what happened to her," a girl asked her friend.

"It looks like someone beat her," another replied.

"I wonder why someone would beat up Hermione," a boy said.

"Maybe they were jealous of her," a girl replied.

"I can't stay here and listen to this," Harry said, getting up and going into his dorm. Ron followed him.

"Hey, it's Ron and Harry! They would know what's going on," Dean said when they entered the dorm.

"What happened to Hermione?" Seamus asked, walking over to their beds.

"Nothing," Harry lied quickly, Ron shooting him a surprised look. They held gazes for a moment then Ron gave a nod of realization.

"C'mon, we don't buy that. We know something happened to her," Dean said.

"She looked awful," Neville added in a slight whimper.

"Look, we're her best friends. We'll handle it," Ron said.

"Sorry, mate. We're just concerned about her," Dean said, taking offense to Ron's harsh tone.

"Let's all just calm down. It's almost dinner," Harry said, getting stressed with everyone. They all agreed and went to their respected beds to wind down.

That evening at dinner, Ginny, Harry, and Ron faced question after question. News had spread fast about Hermione's episode in the common room and everyone wanted to know the details. But, the three remained silent the whole evening, answering people by shoving more food into their mouths.

"Professor, can we visit Hermione tonight. Please? We have to see how she's doing," Ron begged as they made their way back to the common room, spotting the emerald-dressed witch amongst the people making the journey to their respected houses.

McGonagall turned around and eyed the two boys behind her. They looked up at her with concerned eyes and determined faces. She sighed. "Only for a while. I don't want you to upset the poor child," McGonagall replied.

"Do you know who did that to her?" Harry called before she was off again. She stopped and turned to him.

"I didn't ask," she said simply before leaving.

"That means it's up to us to ask," Ron to Harry as they fought through the crowd, moving perpendicular to them so that they didn't miss the passageway.

When they entered the wing, they found it empty, except for one curtain drawn around a bed, a light coming through it. They knew right away that it was Hermione and went to the bed.

"Hey Herm," Ron greeted when they pulled the curtain aside. Both boys kissed her on her temples at the same time in affection and worry.

"Hey," Hermione replied softly.

"Herm, what happened to you?" Harry asked, sitting down on the bed.

"You'd break down and cry if your mother was in the hospital, too," Hermione replied.

"I only wish that was the matter with mine," Harry replied.

Hermione gasped at her own words. "Oh, Merlin, I'm sorry Harry. I didn't mean it like that," Hermione said.

"I know," Harry said.

"Hermione, that's not what we mean. We were asking what happened," Ron repeated, pointing to one of the bruises on her arm.

"It—it's none of your business," Hermione stuttered, cradling her offended arm.

"Hermione, yes it is. You're hurt. You need to tell us. We're your best friends and we care about you," Harry said.

"Just stay out of it. It's none of your business," Hermione seethed through her teeth, now aggravated with them.

"Hermione, please just tell us. I promise we won't tell anyone. We just want to help you," Ron said.

"If you really wanted to help me, you would LEAVE ME ALONE!" Hermione shouted, throwing the covers off her body and running out of the Hospital Wing.

"Madame Pomfrey! Hermione's run away!" Ron called as he and Harry prepared to go after her.

Madame Pomfrey came from her office and sighed. "Poor child," she said, watching as Harry and Ron ran after the younger girl in a futile attempt to catch her.

-End of chapter!

What did you all think? Were you surprised? Expecting it? Oh, and as a reply to the newest review, this was never a one-shot. It was a finished fic that needed editing, so I'm changing it all now. I update as often as having 20+ stories can allow! Please review!

-Serenity