A/N: Very Dark at beginning. Eighth year, and pureblood!Hermione. Probably cliche. Sorry. Hope you'll read anyway.

Same Disclaimer: I own nothing, and get no money for it. Just the happiness of someone reading my fiction of fiction. thank you.

It was the end of the war. Well, it had ended approximately two months before, but now Hogwarts was filled with laughing and happy people. Certainly there was healing to be done, but they had survived the worst, and now hoped for new beginnings. Everyone who fought on the side of the light now moved around the Great Hall chatting, drinking and nibbling on hors de oeuvres, and thinking of the offer that Minerva McGonagall had made to the group that would have graduated this year.

Hogwarts had become a headquarters of sorts for the summer. While the Ministry and its Aurors rounded up the last of the fleeing Death Eaters, those who had been on Tom Riddle's hit list, and those who had spied on Tom Riddle and his flock, were safe in the wards of the ancient school. Or so they thought.

A force of good had been twisted to rage. A mind filled with utter jealousy bent to seek revenge for wrongs imagined. The actions of this soul would uncover secrets buried for the past thirteen years; they would change the lives of many witches and wizards celebrating in the Great Hall of Hogwarts.

777

Hermione found it slightly amusing that they had defeated the Dark Lord, worked as a team in fact, but now, the Slytherins stood on one side of the room, while the Gryffs and associates, as she would call them, were on the opposite side. It reminded her of those movies about teens going to their school dance, all the boys on one side, the girls on the opposite.

Draco happened to look over during her musings, and she smirked. He gave her a slight nod, so she nodded back. She knew she shouldn't be looking at him. She couldn't seem to help herself… he'd grown into one of the most gorgeous men she'd ever met, or seen. And he was so fit! Hermione averted her eyes not wanting him or his friends to notice her looking. She had a slight crush yes… Hermione sighed, he would never ask her out. And she knew that's how the purebloods did it. He flirted, she might be oblivious about many things, but she'd noticed him flirting with her. She figured it just came naturally to him. Hermione jumped as a hand touched her arm, and she saw Malfoy smirk at that. Shaking her head a bit she turned and saw that Ginny was the person touching her.

"Have you seen Ron?" the other girl asked.

Hermione had to think about that. "No… at least not for a while. Of course he's a bit perturbed with me currently, so that could be why." She took another look around the Great Hall with a frown on her face.

Ginny just shook her head. "He just needs to get over it. I mean, really, Harry and I dated, but we're fine just being friends. He had to know that your relationship would have developed into something before now if it was supposed to."

Hermione shrugged. "There were times where I thought it might, but now…. I just don't feel that way. And he's so angry..."

"Poor, 'Mione," Ginny sympathized, and rubbed her best friend's shoulder. "My brother can be such a git."

"He's one of my best friends, Gin. I love him… but as a brother."

"I know," Ginny made eye contact with Hermione to show the petite brunette that she, Ginny, didn't have any anger about Hermione not dating Ron. None of her family did. "Don't dwell. I'm going to go ask a few more people."

The redhead walked away, but Hermione found herself worried. Ron wasn't in the Great Hall. Come to think of it, neither was Pansy Parkinson. Hmmmm, she wondered if the two were together. It would be weird since Pansy didn't seem fond of Ronald, but, well it wouldn't hurt for her to take a look around.

777

Draco Malfoy felt free. He, his family, and his friends had survived the war brought about by that insane megalomaniac. For a long time Draco had thought, no he had believed, that the only way out of being a part of the dark was death.

He'd also thought that his father was among the top of the Death Eater's ranks. Then one day, when the snake had been calling Lucius. His father's eyes had met his, and he'd known. Lucius wanted no part of this. He played a part to keep his family alive, had raised Draco the same way to keep him safe. It had been difficult for Draco to realize his entire belief system might be flawed. Draco had done the only thing he could do to help himself, his parents, and the side of the light. He'd gone to Dumbledore.

Voldemort was staying at the Manor. Draco had been pulled into a room, dark, hot and smelling of sweat. The Dark Lord had commanded him to find a way to get the Death Eater's into Hogwarts, and lastly kill Dumbledore. The young Malfoy's heart had begun beating erratically. He was told he would do these things to bring honor back to his family because his father had been thrown into Azkaban; arrested at the Ministry stealing a prophecy for his lord. He'd failed both in getting caught, as well as dropping the so called prophecy. Draco knew that this was Voldemort's way of punishing Lucius. He fully expected Draco to fail, and in doing so, Draco would earn a death sentence. The snake-man explained that Draco would 'receive the honor of his brand', the Morsmordre, after he'd succeeded at his tasks. Draco wanted no part of that.

So he'd gone to the old man, and after being tested with veritaserum, he'd been taken to the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. Draco had not been surprised to see Potter, Granger, and a gaggle of Weasleys. However, his Aunt and Cousin were also there, and that did somewhat surprise him. He'd known this group didn't trust him at first. It didn't help, the animosity between himself and the Golden Trio. Strangely enough, after he had blown up and started screaming about the horrors he'd seen, his hatred for Voldemort, and his worry for his parents and friends, who all shared his feelings, he'd started being treated differently. And that is how he, his parents and his very Slytherin friends had begun working with the Order, and had begun friendships with Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs.

Draco caught Granger's eyes and nodded. She nodded back and then looked away. He'd found himself thinking about Granger quite a bit. Once he'd gone through his metamorphosis, and had forged his own belief system from the things he saw, he'd known that the blood purity issue was a load of shite. When that had clicked in his head he'd realized that he'd been spouting this crap for the last seven years, and it meant nothing. He'd been horrible to people. Draco had begun working on atoning for these sins. He'd spent time with Granger, had gotten to know her, and realized that she was an amazing person. She was also beautiful. He had never let himself notice it.

He watched as the Weaselette approached her, startling the petite genius and making her jump. Draco couldn't help but smirk at her as she caught his eyes. He almost sighed. She'd never look at him with anything but friendship; he knew he was lucky to have that. He had destroyed any chance he had over a seven year period.

She was frowning now. It made him frown, but he held himself still as he watched her leave the Great Hall.

777

It had been about a half hour of looking and she still had no clue where Ron or Pansy were. Honestly, she doubted they were together, but it seemed funny in her head. She finally turned left into a part of the school that was under construction and began hearing voices. Hermione frowned as she realized it was really only one voice, and then another sound of weeping.

She recognized Ron's voice as she drew closer, and figured he was probably being mean to the Slytherin girl. Honestly, was this necessary? The war was over, it was time to start building a new world together. With a huff, Hermione turned the corner about to read Ron the riot act.

She gasped at what she saw before her. Ron and Pansy were definitely together, however they were not doing anything she'd considered.

Pansy lay on the ground, her robes in tatters, and her body showing a myriad of colors; purple, black, red… Ron stood over the Slytherin, his face a picture of fury. One of his fists was clenched, the knuckles white, but Hermione could easily see that they were bruised, scraped and bleeding. In his other hand he gripped his leather belt. He was shouting at Parkinson.

"You stupid whore! You think you're too good for me! I'm just as much a pureblood as you!" he screamed. "I'm going to show you! I'm going to show you how good I am! Then you'll always know. You'll always be marked as mine…" he leaned in then, hissing, "I'm going to fuck you, Parkinson. You're going to love it," he drew out the words. "And I'll keep fucking you until your belly's full of me. Then, when you're carrying my child," Ron chuckled darkly, "Well, let's see what those other purebloods think then."

Hermione felt a horrible fear gripping her body. He was crazy, she didn't even recognize him. She had to do something to get Pansy free from Ron. The terror pooled in her belly, but she took a deep breath. "Ron?" she spoke softly, hoping to calm him, but his head snapped up at her voice.

"Well, well, well… lookee here, if it isn't someone else who thinks she's too good for me," his mouth twisted in a sneer. "Little fucking tease."

"Ron, what's going on?" she asked. In the meantime she slid her wand down into her hand. Merlin, she thought frantically, she should have sent her patronus off.

"Don't even think of drawing that wand, 'Mione," he snapped, and pulled his wand, pointing it at her. "I was just introducing Parkinson here to her betters. I'm a fucking hero… she's just a failed Slytherin. I'm giving her a huge honor." he chuckled and groped his cock through his pants as he said 'huge'.

Pansy was now looking at Hermione and weeping. She kept mouthing the word, 'run'.

"Why don't you let Pansy go, Ron," Hermione suggested.

"Now, why on earth would I do that?" he scratched his nose with his wand. "Can't have you, might as well as see what pureblood pussy feels like."

Hermione took one step forward even as his words made her nauseous. She didn't know who this boy in front of her was. The anger, and the vulgarity… "You want me, Ron, not Pansy. Why don't we make a deal?"

He just looked at her, still sneering.

"You let Parkinson go, and you get me. I won't fight you."

"You're lying," he hissed, and kicked Pansy in the belly.

"I'm not," she took another step forward. "Please? Please, Ron? I'm right here."

Something alit in Ronald Weasley's eyes. "Take off your jacket."

Hermione slowly slipped the jacket off of her arms and let it drop to the floor.

"Now your shirt."

Hermione started to tremble, but did as he demanded. She just had to get Pansy free, and then she could get herself out. She held her hands up and couldn't help but shiver in the drafty hallway. She stood facing one of her closest friends as he stared at her lace covered breasts. All she could do was pray someone would find them.

"Pants," he hissed. He began to rub himself.

"Ron, ple-" she began but was interrupted.

"NOW!" he roared, and kicked Pansy again.

"All right, all right," she told him as tears started rolling down her face. She got her shoes and jeans off, and stood, wrapping her arms around herself trying to hide her body which was barely covered with her knickers and bra.

"Hmmmmm, lookee lookee what my bushy bookworm has been hiding…" Ronald leaned down, grabbing Pansy by the hair, and shoving her, adding in a sharp kick to her backside as she went. "Get out of here," he snarled. "Don't come back, or you're dead…. While I fuck you."

Pansy moved slowly, pain radiating from every pore of her body. She stopped next to Hermione and looked as if she would speak.

Hermione shook her head. "Go, Pansy, you're safe now." She murmured to the other girl.

With sobs tearing from her throat, Pansy moved off and headed for the stairs that would take her away from Ronald Weasley.

"Ron..."

Ron didn't let her finish, "Shut up! This is all your fault, Hermione. You were supposed to LOVE me! We were supposed to win the war, defeat the Dark Lord, and then you and I would get married… but what do you do? You piss it all away," he shrieked.

Ron stared, fury and rage boiling in his veins. He had thought that the only fun he was going to have was in punishing that stuck up bitch, Parkinson. He had come across the Slytherin on the fifth floor. She'd sneered at him for the last time. After she'd passed him, only giving him a short nod. A short nod. He was a bloody hero, and he damned well deserved better than some Slytherin whore dismissing him so easily

"Ron, I do love you... but like a brother." She pleaded.

"Not. Good. Enough," he snarled. His face was extremely red with white splotches sticking out on his forehead and jawline. "You were always supposed to be MINE. I was supposed to be your first, last and only." Before she knew what was happening, he sent off a stupefy.

It slammed her into the wall behind her and she cried out. Hermione was dizzy, but heard him approaching. She heard him cast the Impedimenta spell, and she was bound at his feet.

Ron leaned over her. "Yes, this is a beautiful thing to look at it. Perfect." He reached down and grabbed a handful of her hair, and started dragging her.

Hermione cried out. "Please!" the stone floor and rocks from the crumbled ceiling cut into her tender flesh.

Ron laughed, "Oh, 'Mione, now isn't when you should be begging. You should at least wait until I'm on top of you… when I'm inside of you, making you my woman. You won't ever be anyone else's. It'll be so good, you'll be begging me for more. " He managed to get her where he wanted her and started groping at her with rough hands.

She screamed and screamed as his hands took turns in fondling her and then beating her, his feet kicking her cruelly. All the while he worked on removing his own jeans. Occasionally, he would get agitated, and shove one of his hands down to her womanhood. He would roughly start rubbing against her clit, but he was moving his hand hard against her, rubbing the fabric of her panties against her sensitive areas. It hurt, and there was no pleasure. Her cries almost sounded like a wounded animal, and she knew it was only a matter of time before he was shoving his cock into her, hurting her and taking her virginity.

777

Minerva had managed to get the two sides to meet in the middle and now all of the warriors against Voldemort chatted. Perhaps not as exuberantly as before, but it was a start. She didn't know whether to be pleased or to worry seeing Mr. Potter speaking with Severus and Lucius.

Harry was the first to hear the crying, and he turned to see Pansy Parkinson crawling down the stairs. "Merlin!" he cried out as he raced over to the girl. He was not alone; Ginny, Neville, Luna and the Slytherins were right behind him.

"Pansy!" both Draco and Blaise yelled out.

The girl grabbed onto Harry and Adrian Pucey, who were the two closest to her. "Weasley, he's got…. He's got Granger!"

Ginny gasped, "Ron? Ron did this to you?"

Pansy sobbed and looked into Ginny's eyes, "Yes," the girl whimpered, "please hurry, please… she… she's in danger…"

"Where, Pansy?" Adrian asked as Harry called for Madame Pomphrey.

She pointed. "Where the wall crumbled." Daphne Greengrass moved over and pulled Pansy into her arms, now both girls were crying. "She sacrificed herself for me… why? Why would she do that?"

Luna approached Daphne and Pansy, while they waited for the medi-witch to arrive. "Pansy, I want to help you control your pain a bit until Madame Pomphrey arrives." Narcissa Malfoy also approached and the three ladies worked together to make Pansy feel as comfortable as possible.

All of the boys, along with Severus, Lucius, Minerva, and Ginny, raced up the stairs and headed for the area of Hogwarts where the wall had collapsed. They could see the smears of blood on the way indicating Pansy's path to them.

They heard the screaming before they saw anything. It was a horrible, wheezing noise. They could tell whoever was screaming was in agony, and had been for some time.

"No, no, no," Hermione screamed. He'd beaten her, and she could feel the blood in the back of her throat. The stench of firewhiskey and blood made her sick. Now he was removing his pants and the look in his eyes was worse than anything she'd experienced before. This was so much worse than when Bellatrix did this to her.

"Crucio!" he shouted, laughed and continued pulling his pants down. "Oh, 'Mione," he moaned, stroking his dick. "This fucking is going to be so good… well, at least for me!" Ron didn't even wait for his pants to hit the ground before he was on top of the girl he'd professed his love to.

Even beaten, and close to unconsciousness she tried to fight.

"Ron!" Harry shouted just as the redhead dropped to his knees and started rutting on Hermione.

At the same time, Ginny yelled, "Expelliarmus!" which ripped her brother's wand from him.

"Stay out of this!" Ron raged. "This is between me and 'Mione!"

Ginny choked on a sob, for a moment thinking she would vomit. Her brother was in the process of raping her best friend; one of HIS best friends.

Harry rushed the redhead, shoving him off of the crying girl. Even though Ron was bigger, Harry had momentum on his side, as well as surprise. The redhead slammed into the wall and Harry rolled away, drawing his wand.

"Stupefy!" Severus shouted coming around the corner

Lucius added in, "Incarerous!"

"No!" Ron was furious and kept fighting to get back to Hermione. Though he was bleeding, and now wrapped with thick magical ropes, he kept trying to get to Hermione.

777

The boys moved to her quickly. "Oh, Merlin, Granger," Draco whispered. He immediately removed his robes to cover her partial nudity; her bra and knickers were ripped to shreds, and her body looked… damaged. All he wanted to do was destroy Ronald Weasley… destroy him in every way possible. Hermione looked… broken. Draco made sure that the cloak was around her securely, but also gentle enough to not cause her pain. He ran his hand down her hair softly.

"'Mione!" Harry cried. "Oh Gods, 'Mione!"

"Look at all the pretty boys," she murmured, her bloodied eyes squinting. "Pansy?''

"We have her, Granger," Blaise said gruffly, none of his normal arrogance showing. He couldn't believe this Muggle-born had given herself to save Pansy…. A Slytherin… child of Death Eaters. As soon as she heard the words she seemed to relax a little.

"Thas good… worried… is my mom here? Can't catch me…" her words were extremely slurred.

"We will pull Weasley behind us," Severus snarled. "Let's get her to Poppy."

"I'll take her," Adrian murmured and picked up the small girl.

He started to move with her when she opened her eyes and smiled at him, "Adie, when's MaMa coming home?" she whispered, and then passed out.

Adrian shuddered as it felt like he'd dropped twenty feet from his broom. It couldn't be.

Lucius had been next to the boy, and heard the words as well. "Great Merlin!"

"There is only one person who ever called me Adie," Adrian whispered.

"What is going on?" Harry asked. He'd heard Hermione, but thought she was just hallucinating.

"We will have Poppy perform the tests while she heals Ms. Granger," Severus announced. "Let us make haste."

"What is going on?" Harry's anxiety was continuing to rise as the others became silent.

No one said a word until Madame Pomphrey was taking care of Hermione. Pansy had already been moved up to another of the infirmary's cots, and she lay silently watching the proceedings, shaking every few moments.

Harry was taking a healing potion for his arm. He'd strained it when tackling Ron.

"Is she going to be okay," Daphne asked weakly. She knew she was asking not only for herself but for her friend Pansy as well. The girls had only recently started to really get to know Hermione, Luna and Ginny. She knew they were on their way to being friends, but… for Hermione to give herself to save Pansy…

Madame Pomphrey said nothing which just seemed to increase the fear and anxiety in the room.

It was a full room, everyone piling in to make sure the girls were all right. Lucius and Severus had handed Weasley off to Aurors that had been at the party downstairs. Kingsley had stayed to make sure Hermione and Pansy were all right.

"Tell me what startled you when 'Mione spoke to you out there," Harry demanded.

For a moment it looked as if no one was going to answer him, and then, surprisingly, Lucius Malfoy spoke. "Mr. Pucey is not an only child. He had a sister, Ariadne. Two years younger than he. When she was five, and he was seven, Ariadne disappeared; kidnapped. Everyone searched for her. The Ministry, the Pureblood Conclave; the whole of the wizarding world… that was thirteen years ago, Mr. Potter."

"She was never found," Adrian said hoarsely. "Everyone assumed she was killed, or died somehow. My little sister disappeared…. Ari used to call me Adie. She followed me around when I would spend time with my friends. She was so bright, and beautiful."

"How did Hermione know to call you that?" Harry frowned. "Perhaps it's just coincidence."

"We'll know soon enough," Severus intoned. "Poppy is checking the lineage."

"Not yet I'm not, Severus," Poppy Pomphrey sounded grim. "Ms. Granger has internal bleeding. Quite a bit of it actually. Her skull was fractured. Go get me the rest of the blood replenishing potions out of the top drawer next to my desk. Also a sedative please. I do not wish for her to wake up any time soon. It is quite good that you didn't apparate with her. Miss Granger's body would not have survived that."

A keening began to sound from the depth of Pansy's throat. "Please don't die," she cried. "Please, Granger, please."

"Merlin," Draco muttered, wiping his hand over his face, something hard and twisting low in his gut.

"'Mione," Harry was distraught. Ginny was weeping, and leaned into her ex-boyfriend's side. He wrapped his arms around her, and took comfort, just as she was.

A ruckus sounded from outside of the room, and the Weasley family poured into the infirmary. "Hermione! Is she alright?" Molly Weasley demanded to know. The girl was like another daughter to her. All she'd been told was that Ron had hurt her. Now, looking at the girl on the bed, Molly paled in horror. "No! What did he do? Arthur, what did he do?"

Arthur pulled Molly, Ginny and Harry closer to him. "It's all going to be okay. It will. Hermione is strong, and brave…. And Poppy is the best at her job."

Hermione gave a gasp on the bed, coughing, "Adie! Adie!"

Adrian Pucey moved forward, pulling away from the others as they tried to grab him. He knelt by the bed, even as Poppy worked on her from the other side of the bed. He reached out, taking Hermione's hand. "It's alright, Poppet. I'm here."

Above him, Poppy Pomphrey sighed. "Alright." She spoke softly, then looked up at the entire group, before addressing the young man who held Hermione Granger's hand. "She will pull through this," as soon as the words were out of her mouth a collective sigh of relief echoed through the room. "But it may take a while. There was a tremendous amount of damage done to the poor girl. Her spleen was ruptured, bruised kidneys, four broken ribs, lacerations, damage to her trachea, the toes on her left foot were crushed, and we're going to have to use Skele-gro for that. Her skull was fractured, and both bones in the lower half of her left arm." Poppy sighed. "She's not going to be on her feet any time soon. No matter the healing we can offer, there is still the damage she received out in the wilds with Mr. Potter, and Mr. Weasley. She was malnourished and exhausted. And of course we mustn't forget what this will do to her mind. Such trauma…"

Everyone was murmuring in shock and horror.

"Poppy, was she…? Did he manage?" Molly swallowed past the lump in her throat. "Ginny told us what he was in the process of doing…"

"No. He did not manage to wreak that kind of harm upon her person. But it was close from what my diagnostics tell me. Now I am going to do the blood tests to see if our Hermione is really Ariadne Pucey."

"Ariadne Pucey, that is a name I have not heard in so many years," Arthur murmured. He too was heartbroken over his youngest son's actions. He just wanted to grasp onto anything that had nothing to do with the vicious attack. He, just like Molly, looked at Hermione as another daughter. And that one of his caused this harm to her made him burn in rage. Ron was so much bigger than the petite girl lying on the bed. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and was surprised to find Lucius offering him comfort. Narcissa had moved to hold Molly.

Molly's eyes were wide with shock, "Is it possible? Could our Hermione be Ariadne?"

Not one person had left the infirmary. The Slytherins- Adrian Pucey, Pansy Parkinson, Daphne and Astoria Greengrass, Draco Malfoy, Marcus Flint, Blaise Zabini and Theo Knott, were over near the empty cots, while the rest of the young adults, including Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws – Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley, Fred and George Weasley, Katie Bell, Oliver Wood, Luna Lovegood, Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones and Neville Longbottom, stood across from them. The adults- Severus, Minerva, Kingsley, Lucius and Narcissa, and Molly and Arthur stood closer to the door to stay out of the way.

She knew it was a dream. She was a little girl, her dark, curly hair quite a bit lighter from spending so much time in the sun. Currently she was running through a field, chasing after bright colored butterflies. She was dressed in a white linen shift, with a white bow in her hair, and she could hear her big brother behind her, laughing as he and his friends chased her. Adie always told her she was too clever for her own good. It confused her a bit, seeing as how she didn't have a brother.

The boys had caught her spying on them, and now chased her to give her a 'punishment'. That in itself was causing her giggles. Their form of punishment was to tickle her. All of the laughter seemed to have a strange echo to it.

Abruptly, black clouds rolled over the sun, making the entire field dark. She turned back around to face where her brother and the others should be chasing her, and came to a sudden halt. Before her stood a tall man, dressed all in black, she was unable to see his face, but she felt the menace, and began screaming as it reached out to grab her.