A new fic from yours truly, getting back to my OTFandom the Potterverse.

I own none of the characters in this fic but totally adore the woman who does!

Read and Review!

Hermione didn't know how it happened. She thought she was doing so well in the Department of Mysteries and the ensuing battle. She was smart and she was fast but she wasn't fast enough. Not when Dolohov had managed to get a hold of her, not when she'd felt that nasty curse slice through her and she was suddenly alone. She had passed out.

Effectively this generations smartest witch had no idea what was happening or how she had gotten where she was. What she did know was that she had been in the mouldy old larder style dug out basement for long enough that she had been healed of the curses injury though she still held a scar. She also knew that in that time of being unconscious and in this space she had been assaulted. The aching and the dried blood on her thighs told her that much. Vomiting was even more unpleasant when ones stomach was empty.

Another thing she knew was that there were people above her in the... likely a cottage she supposed. She could hear them talking but it was muffled and she didn't know what was being said. No women, just men, men that were arguing and laughing and probably were just sadistic assholes. At least that was what she assumed. After all, who would abduct a 16 year old girl, sexually assault her and leave her bound naked in a cold dark larder, starving and dehydrated.

It was confirmed when Antonin, Mulciber, Crabbe, Malfoy and... Snape, entered the larder. The light flowing in with them at the tips of their wands was enough to hurt her terribly light sensitive eyes. Wincing she turned away only to be laughed at by the men, sneered at by Snape. He was not a laughing man after all.

"Awake baby... ready for some more?" Dolohov was full of bravado and malice and it turned Hermione's stomach.

"More? I assume you raped me? It's so hard to tell, you must be tiny because I'm not even sore." It was probably foolish to rile them up but if escape wasn't an option then she only hoped she could make them mad enough to end her. Dolohov looked pissed when Crabbe and Mulciber laughed at him.

"Mouthy little bitch." Dolohov snarled and back handed her, he then walked past her and got a rather cruel looking device, it looked like cat'o'nine tails only worse.

"I liked it when you didn't make a sound but I'm going to love it when I get to hear you scream. Take a seat lads." Dolohov smirked.

The witch was delirious with pain, Dolohov had attacked her mercilessly with the whip, the dozens of tails lashing and welting her skin, after a while breaking the skin. Her stomach breasts and thighs were red, bruised and in placed bleeding. She was barely aware of the man rutting inside her but it hurt, everything hurt.

"Is it... in yet?" Hermione slurred the words a little but it was enough to incense the man that thought he had bested her.

With a loud snarl Dolohov pulled out, pulled Hermione hard to turn her in a way that forced her left shoulder to dislocate and then viciously pushed himself in her, until that moment, virgin opening. The scream tore from her, hoarse and thready but enough to make the man laugh, thankfully that agony didn't last. It was over quickly and the weakened woman's stomach rolled.

Mulciber was next but he was gentleman enough to take her the traditional way, it was over quicker than Dolohov, extremely disappointing but she couldn't be sad about it. As it turned out it was a matter of pride at that point, or maybe just making a mess of her she couldn't tell. Crabbe barely even touched her which earned a laugh. Finally the appropriate response to this mess.

"Come on Lucius!" Antonin crowed at the platinum blonde man who laughed and shrugged his shoulders. Hermione was on the brink of passing out but she was aware enough to realise he had only made a show of pulling his junk out and then proceeded to... fake it?

"Just hold on until tonight... drink the potion." Lucius whispered between faked grunts as he ground his fully clothed body against her. A mere minute later and the charade was over. Lucius again made a show of covering himself before turning with a smug smile.

"Sev, you're sure you don't want a turn?" He asked his good friend.

"You know I prefer red heads." The Potions Master sneered and the men all laughed.

"Give it to her then, maybe that will shut her stupid mouth." Dolohov gestures toward her loosely and Hermione barely managed to keep her eyes focused. She was in so much pain.

"I've always considered you'd be a strikingly good guinea pig, Granger. This is going to hurt." Snapes tone was a sneer, his words a warning but his expression was apologetic. As the potion was tipped up thunder rumbling outside shook the ground.

It was yet another thing she didn't understand, didn't know would happen or how. The thunder outside was foreboding but as the potion slid down her throat into her parched system to be absorbed quickly thanks to starving, lightning struck. It was uncanny the way it arched into the entrance of Larder, the door left open. The way it seemed to jump from the impact point into Hermione's side burning her cruelly both in the side and around her wrists where they were shackled to the wall. She lost consciousness quickly. Bliss.

Before when she woke she was sore, aching pain that she felt but nothing terribly strong. This time it was pure agony as she felt the painful throbbing in her dislocated shoulder, the throbbing heat of her skin where she'd been lashed so brutally. Her ass was on fire in the worst way and vagina... she was so over having one of those at this point.

Her stomach ached from hunger pains and her throat was dry and sore, the worse of it was the constant ache of her side where she had been struck by lightning. Electricity in its purest, raw form had surged through her body and into the shackles holding her, heating them and burning her. Her body was still tingling though she wasn't sure why that was. She wasn't even sure how she survived but she was glad she was alone.

For how long though she didn't know, it appeared, just looking at the door and seeing no light at the bottom that it was at least evening of the same night. Hopefully. After all Lucius had given her a spark of hope with his little show earlier and Severus' expression only amplified it. Was someone coming for her or was something more sinister planned?

"Quickly you two." Lucius' voice hissed the moment the door unexpectedly swung open.

Two smaller figures ran down the stairs into the basement. They hesitated a moment at the sight of her, Hermione couldn't make them out, she was still foggy headed and they were wearing cloaks. It didn't matter, all that mattered was that they were taking her down from the chains. Magically binding her arm to her side because of the dislocation and wrapping her in a cloak of her own. A feather-light charm enabled the small figures to carry her upstairs

Familiar faces surrounded her, Severus, Draco, Lucius, and surprisingly Fleur Delacour astride a large golden palamino Abraxan. In the back of her foggy mind she recalled reading that Madame Maxime was one of the only people who successfully breeds the majestic creatures. The smaller frames lifted her up to Fleur who settled the girl on the horse in front of her.

"Go Fleur, straight to the castle! Throw back but don't slow down, we will have to make it look real once the alert is given. You'll have a five minute head start." Narcissa Malfoy took her hood off as she regarded Fleur. Bellatrix doing the same beside her. Snape and Malfoy disillusioned the horse and its riders while Draco was removing any evidence that they had been there at all. Fleur nodded and urged the stallion forward and into the air. Hermione passed out.

Fleur felt it the moment Hermione passed out, they were barely a few meters off the ground. She kept a secure arm around the young witch her wand gripped tight in one hand as the other gripped the abraxans mane, urging the beast to go faster and higher. They had to leave quickly even as the Malfoys and Lestrange apparated away from the cottage.

The plan was simple, recover the girl and leave. Severus would make it seem like he'd found Antonin unconscious which he was, and sound the alert. The reason Severus was there? Simple, he was checking to see if his potion would work at all. It shouldn't, it would be burning itself out like it was supposed to, hurting Hermione he was sure but it all had to be believable.

Then the chase would start and it was only a matter of minutes. They were so close to the castle though that Fleur was certain they would make it though she was loathe to consider just who would be blamed for Hermione's rescue. Would it be Dolohov who deserved it or any number of the Malfoys or Severus? She couldn't really think about it, it made her feel too bad about the situation.

Not that she had much time to think about it as a cackle behind them alerted the Veela to the fact she was no longer safe. They were there and they were slinging spells. Most missed on purpose but they came close, they had too. But Crabbe and McNair were fighting for keeps and the stallion had to actively attempt to avoid the flying spells. The castle loomed up ahead and the fighting intensified.

Fleur shifted them a little so she and Hermione were lower against the horses back using her upper body to keep Hermione more stable on the horse as she let go of the little brunette to return fire at the death eaters trailing her. She knew that Bella, Draco, Severus and Lucius were amongst them so she had to try not to actually maim or stun any and risk their death. Of course that was a pain in the ass because the other death eaters were casting for keeps which was a little frightening for the veela.

It was a saving grace when the witch glanced ahead and saw the approaching figures, staff on brooms coming to her rescue. Thankfully the death eaters saw it too. The smart ones, likely the Malfoys, Bellatrix and Severus had backed off immediately. The stupid ones, in particular Dolohov who had managed to catch up, kept coming. Crabbe and McNair were able to avoid taking hits but Dolohov was taken out by Poppy Pomfrey of all people. They were home free.

This time when she woke everything hurt considerably less than it had before. There was still an ache in her shoulder and her stomach was still extremely empty. Now it was only her side and wrists that really hurt. They were the only reminders that what had happened had actually happened to her. She stared at the ceiling above her, a stone and beam ceiling, vaulted, and she remembered.

It was only when she rolled over that she saw the woman in the bed beside her own that she realised she may not have been the only casualty in this thing. Her knight in shining armour was laying on a bed seemingly sleep aacross from her. A bottle of skele-gro beside her.

"Fleur?" Hermione whispered hoarsely.

The blonde blinked awake slowly having heard her name from beside her. Turning her head she gave a tired smile and moved to sit up. Wincing as she did she favoured her right arm before carefully padding over to Hermione's bedside.

"'Ow are you feeling?" Fleur looked the younger girl over slowly, what she could see of her anyways most of Hermione was covered by the sheet.

"Like I was captured, tortured, raped multiple times tortured and then raped again before being force fed some potion that burned like fire and struck by lightning. You?" Hermiones voice was hoarse and weak but her attitude was there in droves. Fleur winced at the information.

"I was 'it wiz a spell as we were coming into ze wards. I fell and you followed. Impact put your shoulder back in place and broke my arm." Fleur explained with a regretful sigh.

"Why was it you that came to rescue me?" Hermione asked even as she groaned and moved to sit up, the sheet slipped revealing she was still naked beneath.

The burns around her wrists and on her side were as fresh as ever and throbbing but the lashing welts were gone, the few cuts were now scars. As well as the marks and bruises from the sexual assault that had also been healed. Logically she knew different, it had definitely happened and she was internally cringing at the thought of any man within a few feet of her, but physically it was as though the rapes never happened and the lashing had been years ago.

"Why aren't the burns healed but everything else is?" Hermione changed the subject slightly. Fleur was watching the half nude girl curiously.

"Madame Pomfrey was unable to 'eal zem. Professor Dumbledore suggested we wait until Professor Snape returns to ze castle tomorrow to look at it." Fleur didn't understand how Hermione could be quite so calm.

"Why was it you that rescued me?" Fleur quirked an eyebrow.

"Monsieur Malfoy 'ad informed Severus Snape zat zere was a spy of sorts in zere midst. Zey plotted wiz a way to get you out but needed an unconnected outside source to do ze actual rescuing. Zey owled me a few days ago and I readily agreed." Fleur sat gently on the edge of the bed as she spoke.

"You put your life in danger for someone who the only thing you've ever said to was 'Are you finished wiz ze boulliabaise?'" Hermione points out looking up and carefully pulling the sheet back up to cover herself.

"You were zere when I was 'urt by ze dragon. You were horribly slandered by zat mockery of a profession Skeeter and never once did you outwardly complain, even after ze puss attacks. You were supportive and not only of 'Arry but of ze rest of us as well. You're one of ze good ones." Fleur shrugged like it really wasn't so much a big thing.

Before Hermione could say anything else the door to the room the pair were in opened and Madame Pomfrey as well as Bill Weasley, Molly Weasley, Jean and Isaac Granger as well as Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall filed into the room. Fleur smiled happily at Bill and hugged him when he gently wrapped his arms around her. Hermione watched the pair for a moment before turning to the other adults. They all seemed so hesitant.

They didn't seem to want to touch her, they didn't seem to want to come too close to her either. They assumed she was frail and broken, they couldn't have been more wrong. She was hurting, she was tired and she was starved. But she refused to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her crumble. She refused to let anyone see just how much this got to her. She was a warrior. A survivor.

"So... How are the boys? And Luna and Neville and Ginny?" Hermione asked to break the silence.

"Oh Hermione..." Jean whispered and sobbed as she moved forward and hugged her daughter to her. Hermione winced at the pain in her sides from it but she didn't dare complain.

It was a rambling mess from there, Hermione had glanced at Bill and Fleur talking quietly on Fleur's bed more than once but for the most part she was distracted by the questions and explanations sent her way. She learned that everyone else had escaped the Ministry but Sirius had been killed by Rowle. Harry was angrier than ever and Ron was a little lost but they coped well enough.

Hermione continued to listen to the adults though she was weary, it wasn't until she literally couldn't keep her eyes open anymore that Minerva and Poppy ushered everyone but Fleur out of the room. Hermione mumbles her goodbyes to them, they would still be there the next time she woke but respected that Hermione needed sleep.

"So, Bill Weasley huh?" Hermione was back to laying on her uninjured side. Fleur looked over and rolled on to her side as well.

"Oui, 'e is incredibly sweet." Fleur smiled gently but when all Hermione could manage was a small half smile it dropped a little.

"You should sleep, cheri." Fleur cooed gently to the little witch. Hermione didn't argue, she needed the sleep after all.

The following morning Hermione was actually allowed to have some clothes. She still felt horribly fatigued but she managed to get dressed and go for a small walk around the hospital wing. Fleur was being released and allowed to return back to her every day life. It was likely because of this that Fleur had found the little witch standing by a large window looking out.

"Are you going to be ok?" Fleur asked gently her accent decidedly less prominent than it had been during the Triwizard cup.

"Sure. Madame Pomfrey even said I could rejoin general population tomorrow." Hermione shrugged a little.

"Oui, zat is what I 'ad 'eard." Fleur looked out the window and frowned at the sight of carefree students milling around. Owls coming and going. As though the last two weeks never happened.

"You'll be going back to Gringotts then?" Hermione asked though the subtle question 'back to Bill' was underlying.

"Oui. Will you write me? If you're... 'aving trouble or need a friend? I know Dumbledore zinks it best not to tell ze students ze nature of your capture." Fleur wrinkled her nose when she was informed that she should keep the information to herself. That it was just as unfair again to Hermione for everyone to be privy to that information.

"I'll write you." Hermione promised gently. No matter how baffled she was by the whole Bill/Fleur thing she couldn't help feeling much closer to the blonde. After all the French Veela had liberated her and at great risk to herself.

"Merci. I must go. Be well, I will see you soon I am sure." Fleur lightly kisses the younger brunettes cheek and then left with no more word.

Hermione watched her go before sighing heavily and walking over to the bed she'd already spent the last few days in. Climbing in she curled up on her uninjured side and cried silently. She was not ok anymore, she was broken but she knew so many people still needed her. The boys definitely did. She had lost so much that she had wanted to keep. Her innocence. Her childhood and because of her capture she had lost her parents.

Jean and Isaac, though they had been against the idea, had been moved far far away from England, in fact Hermione was almost certain they had been sent over seas though she was not sure where. All because Hermiones rescue made the Grangers a target. Now she was alone, her parents gone, the boys not knowing what even happened to her. She was dying inside and the desire to cease existing was slowly spilling out to the outside.

Harry and Ron, for what ever reason, had not visited Hermione and she couldn't for the life of her understand why. When she asked Madame Pomfrey the medi-witch simply made a face and explained she wasn't sure what went on in the minds of young men. It was the best answer she would get as it seemed everyone else was avoiding her. It all added up and it all equalled pain worse than the abuse she had recently suffered.

When Hermione stepped foot in the Great Hall the following morning she was outwardly the lion she was supposed to be. A small smile that was just barely believable graced her lips letting them all know she was there and she was not afraid. On the inside how ever she was no more courageous than a mouse, shaking internally and more than a little concerned with why everyone had stopped and was staring at her.

Hermione was about to move to sit down when something hit her in the side of face, she winced and turned in the direction it came from. Vincent Crabbe had apparently spelled a piece of oatmeal to hit her in the face. Frowning she wiped it away and continued on her way to sit down. Professor Snape had barked at Crabbe to see him after breakfast which seemed to break the ice for the most part and conversation started again. Hermione had a feeling she was the main topic.

"Hey 'Mione." Neville was the first to greet her but he looked nervous. They all looked nervous.

"Hello. How are you all? I'm glad you're all ok." Hermione smiled a little more genuinely this time.

"Er, we... we're fine. What about you?" Neville asked only to wince a little. Ginny had just kicked him under the table.

"I'm fine. Ready for summer though." She smiled a little and put a little bacon and scrambled eggs on the plate in front of her, she ate slowly and barely stomached it.

"Where are you going for the summer?" Neville asked again only to receive another kick. Hermione set down her fork.

"I hadn't thought about it." Hermione frowned. Her parents were in a safe house. Would Hermione be sent to the safe house? If not then where?

"Oh, Well i'm sure something will be sorted out." Neville offered only to swallow when Severus Snape appeared behind the girl he had been talking to.

"Miss Granger, Your head of House and the Headmaster would like if you would accompany us to the Headmaster's Office." Professor Snape drawled in his usual way. Hermione managed not to cringe. Since her capture she was having trouble reconciling the fact that this man wasn't actually her enemy.

"Yes sir." Hermione mumbled lightly and was somewhat relieved to have an excuse to get up and leave the table. Harry and Ron hadn't said anything and Ginny was assaulting the only person who was talking to her. Fun.

Quietly she made her way after Professor Snape up to the Headmaster's office. It was a silent walk but she really didn't mind. She found she had less and less to say these days. On the one hand she was over the moon that Umbridge was gone and things were getting back to normal at Hogwarts but on the other hand she was... well things weren't normal for her at all were they? Instead she felt like a leper with the way people were treating her, she felt shattered on the inside and her best friends weren't talking to her? She didn't understand.

Once at the office entrance Professor Snape muttered the password and the pair went up. Hermione always a few paces behind the man which didn't go unnoticed by the potions master. He certainly couldn't blame her after what had happened, he had raged that he hadn't been told about her whereabouts sooner. He had a feeling that had to do with a little distrust on the Dark Lords side, after all it was true that he was a double agent. Even when he was told where she was he was instructed to speed up his work with the potion only to learn he then had to force feed it to the witch. It was incomplete, he had told the Dark Lord he wouldn't be able to make what was asked and that was the truth, but it was also like poison, not fatal, but there was too much stuff in it not to have adverse effects.

The pair were ushered in to the room and Hermione was sat at a seat in front of the Headmasters desk. Minerva and Professor Snape stood though they looked a little stiff even for them. The Headmaster sat across from Hermione and seemed like he was attempting to give a reassuring smile but it fell short. Hermione just didn't understand what was going on. Her friends were backing off, the staff were acting like they were treading on eggshells and she... she just needed someone to treat her normally.

"Sir what is this about?" Hermione asked curiously glancing from the headmaster to the professors standing quietly in the room.

"I wished to discuss the matter of your accommodation for the summer holidays in a few days. As your parents have been put into protective custody we have decided that given the nature of your capture and the length of your forced stay that we can't in good conscience place you with them. How ever, Fleur Delacour had stated that she wouldn't mind if you were to stay with her in her new home in London. We have had her cottage warded for yours and her protection." The headmaster explained.

"I don't get a say in this?" Hermione frowned deeply.

"No given you are still an underage witch you need to be placed with someone of age." Minerva McGonagal speaks up finally.

"What about finances, i'll need things for next year and my wand was snapped?" Hermione was so bothered by this situation. She wouldn't have even been there if... well she shouldn't have been there.

"An account has been opened for you at Gringotts by the Ministry. Cornelius' final act as Minister was to open an account for you." Albus Dumbledore explained a little loosely.

"It is filled with what they hope is enough Galleons to compensate for... damages suffered." Severus Snape spoke with disdain at the situation being explained. Hermione tensed.

"So what? They expect that the money will make what i went through better? 'Here's some Galleons kid, walk it off?' And now the support system i was hoping for i can't even go back to?" Hermione stood up, her anger getting the best of her.

"It's not like that. This is to keep you safe." Albus spoke in that infuriatingly calm tone.

"To keep me safe? I should have been safe here! Every confounded year i've been here my life and the life of my peers has been at risk! Nothing you have done so far has kept me safe!" Hermiones fists were clenched and her raw magic was at a boiling point. The peculiar thing was the way her eyes were developing bright flecks of yellow in the brown.

"Miss Granger, please calm down. No one feels worse about what happened than we do." Minerva attempts only to be scoffed at.

"No one feels worse about what happened? Not only was i beaten, had the cruciatus curse used against me and raped, but now my friends won't speak to me. Everyone looks at me differently and they don't even know what happened! I feel worse!" Hermione shook her head and stepped back looking at the Potions Master who had stood silently.

"You should have killed me the moment you were shown where i was." Hermione murmured before turning and walking out of the office. She had nothing left to say.

Hermione spent the next few days in her dorm slowly packing the things she had to pack, it was leaving day and she wasn't sure if she was upset to be leaving or upset she couldn't stay. Regardless there was little else she missed about the place than the security it offered. Her attack never would have happened if they hadn't left the castle. Though she supposed it was clear that Umbridge was going to be performing the Cruciatus curse on students for information. The woman was a bit of a zealot. Yet now Hermione was leaving and her heart was racing. She had no wand to defend herself on the train.

As well is being conflicted about leaving Hermione was finding herself sinking deeper into her depression. She had never been a particularly happy person, always ridiculed and picked on for one thing or another. Her Parents and the books and school work was where she found her solace, the worlds written on paper she could immerse herself in were a fantastic distraction. She'd felt better coming to Hogwarts, she had Harry and Ron suddenly and friends finally even if it had come hard won. She was happy for a while until things started going wrong all the time. Now she seemed back to square one as the boys nor Ginny had wanted to speak to her since she returned. She had deduced that a large part of that was because they had been cautioned against her.

It was abundantly obvious since her confrontation with the Headmaster that they were concerned some sort of seed had been planted while she was in the Dark Lords custody. After all what kind of prize was it to have one of Harry Potters best friends within your grasp. May as well turn her into a sleeper agent. The absolute worst part of that was that Hermione couldn't prove otherwise. She hadn't been there obviously but she had heard about Harry's possession from Neville, the only person who was willing to talk to her. Could Hermione be possessed at any moment and hurt her friends? It terrified her not knowing.

"Ready to go?" Neville asked in a friendly tone when she made her way downstairs. Their bags would be magically loaded on the train by the house elves.

"I guess so. You?" Hermione asked with a small half shrug.

"Yeah think so. I'll miss this place." Neville smiled looking at the common room. Hermione noticed one of the first years come in looking nervous.

"Hermione Granger? Professor Snape is waiting outside for you he wishes to speak with you." The first year spoke anxiously before disappearing up the dormitory.

"Goodluck." Neville wrinkled his nose a little at the information and Hermione just sighed and gave a half smile.

Making our way out of the portal to the Common room Hermione spotted Snape down the stairs on the next level. Chewing the inside of her cheek she made her way down to him though he did still make her nervous. She had frequent dreams about that last night, right before the lightning strike. She saw all of their faces every night and unfortunately that also included Professor Snapes face. It turned her stomach and she had more than once had to take several deep breaths or risk vomiting through her bed of an evening.

"Miss Granger, I wish to ask you... if you could perhaps contact me if you have any noticeable changes to your person." The Professor seemed a little hesitant.

"Changes? Like what? I'm not pregnant. Madame Pomfrey gave me that gross potion." Hermione rambled and that was definitely her first thought.

"And thank goodness for that. But... the potion i gave you. It was supposed to be useless but it was also not supposed to be used whilst getting struck by lightning and i... well i've already noticed a slight change in your appearance." Professor Snape made a sort of face Hermione couldn't even define.

"You mean my eyes?" She asked, she had wondered about the yellow flecks now there. No one else had looked her in the eyes long enough to notice.

"Yes, i am hoping that it stays at that and even fades but... i cannot be sure what reaction that potion may have with you in conjunction to the lightning strike. Its also concerning that we have been unable to heal the damage from the lightning." The man was nothing if not honest and thanks to recent events Hermione rather appreciated it. She hadn't really noticed they had been walking until they made it to the Entrance Hall.

"Ok... Yeah i'll owl you. Here." Hermione nodded her head, she had always maintained that Severus Snape was not truly a bad guy. He was a complete horses ass but not really a bad guy.

"I appreciate that. I've also been instructed to let you know that Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour will be waiting at Kings Cross for you, they will take you to get your new wand and make a withdrawal from your account at Gringotts before retiring to the cottage." Professor Snape offered finally, he had turned away to leave and so hadn't noticed the look of annoyance on Hermione's face.

The train ride back to the muggle world was less than amazing. Hermione was sat in a carriage with a group of people that effectively ignored her or pretended she wasn't sitting there. Any time she attempted to step into conversation the others would clam up and become awkward. She just didn't understand.

Once off the train she grabbed her things and sighed looking around for Fleur or Bill. She saw neither of them and headed for the exit of the train station unsure what else to even do. She sat down outside and glanced around a little anxiously. She hated this immensely, she felt so insecure and paranoid.

It was almost an hour after the train had dropped the students off that Hermione heard her name called from behind her. Slowly she stood to see Fleur Delacour and Bill Weasley jogging towards her. They both looked a little worried and relieved as they got closer, Hermione remained expressionless.

"Je suis desolee, 'Ermione. Time got away from us." Fleur offered apologetically as they came to a stop before her.

"It happens. Can we go?" Hermione didn't mean for her tone to be quite so cold but she was not handling things well emotionally at the moment.

"D'accord. Two stops zen 'ome." Fleur spoke softly feeling absolutely awful. She couldn't even explain why she was late.

"It's not Fleur's fault Hermione, I distracted her when she wanted to leave and time just went a little faster than we intended." Bill sounded apologetic as well even as he shrunk Hermione's trunk and picked it up carrying it easily. Fleur paled a little. Not many people knew the true nature of what had happened to her.

"Look, I know I'm putting you guys out. I didn't ask for this any of it and the last thing I wanted to do was encroach on your little love nest. But I'd really like to get a new wand and be out of the public for a while... please can we just go." Hermione was shaking a little and so jammed her hands in the pocket of her jeans.

Bill regarded Hermione with a frown, she'd obviously never been so rude before. Fleur knew better though and nodded, with a gentle urging and her hand tucked into the mans elbow Fleur effectively guided the man and her young charge out of the train station and through the streets of London. Hermione followed along hands in her pockets and head down.

The small adventure started at the Leaky Cauldron, there were some unsavoury sorts there and it made the small witch all the more anxious there was no denying it. From there they weaved along the streets and into the Bank. Hermione requested a relatively large sum of galleons to be withdrawn, she needed a wand but was also hoping not to have to return again before the new school year.

From the bank they made their way along to Ollivander's, it was a little cool and just as dusty as Hermione remembered the first time she had been there. She sort of missed her old wand but it had been snapped. Sighing lightly the little witch looked through the stacks and rows of wands but none of them felt right. They had been there a while, long enough Bill had stepped outside, before Hermione finally went to the front desk.

Hermione knew her wand was there, she could feel it but it wasn't on offer to the public it seemed. Standing at the front desk the small witch bit her lip and ran her hand along the edge as Ollivander regarded her curiously. He didn't say anything when Hermione stepped behind the desk and bent down, he didn't say anything when she lifted an extremely warn and tattered wand box though he did hold his breath.

Without considering the other two in the store Hermione carefully lifted the lid off the box and looked down at it. It was shiny white wood that looked like it was burned back at the handle though the black seemed to creep and web down into the shaft reminisce of lightning. Hermione stared at it for a long while, it was unlike any wand she had ever seen before.

"Aspen wood, 11 and 3/4 inches, inflexible... Thunderbird tail feather core." Mr Ollivander practically whispered the words his tone awed and curious.

Swallowing hard Hermione gently picked up the wand, a moment later a loud crackling roll of thunder boomed through the store as the black of the wand glowed white blue light lightning that arched up Hermiones arm. Hermiones heart was pounding and the burn at her side throbbed painfully for a moment before dulling again. This was her wand.

"I thought Thunderbirds were extinct." Fleur spoke softly after a moment, looking through the window it seemed only those in the store had heard the thunder.

"They haven't seen one since the very early 1990's. My great grandfather made this wand in the late 1800's but it's never accepted an owner before. I thought it never would." Garrick explained looking from the Veela to the young woman still staring at the wand in her hand. Her eyes seemed a little more yellow than usual but he didn't know if that was the light or not.

"How much?" Hermione finally asked looking from the wand to the man before her.

"No child, take it. I can't put a price on something so rare and you're the first that wand has ever accepted." Garrick shook his head. Hermione regarded the man for a long moment before nodding.

"Thank you, sir." Hermione spoke graciously a small sincere smile for the first time in weeks.

Garrick waved her off gently and the two girls left the store. Hermione tucked her knew wand away carefully into the sleeve of her sweater as they left. Bill smiles at seeing his girlfriend and holds his arm out for them both. They were set to apparate to Fleur's small cottage as part of a magical village just outside of Diagon Alley. Hermiones stomach protested the contact but she grit her teeth and got through it. They appeared at the small two room cottage and Bill let them in as though he owned the place.

The weeks dragged on slowly, Hermione was loosing weight, she had no appetite and no energy. She spent a decent amount of her time in her room, pretty much any time Bill was there Hermione made herself scarce, partly because she wasn't a fan of men right now and partly because she didn't enjoy seeing him and Fleur together. She wasn't sleeping more than a few hours at a time either.

Every day she would allow Fleur to try to engage her but it was stilted at best. It wasn't until that last week, the Weasley's home had been destroyed by a targeted attack from the death eaters and so they had been moved to the Leaky Cauldron, Bill had been required more often to help his family out with transport and as a protection detail for Harry.

During those weeks there mostly alone but sometimes in the couples company Hermione had received a total of 1 letter, that had been from the school with her list of required supplies. It hurt because Hermione had definitely written both Harry and Ron as well and Ginny and even Neville during the holidays. It hurt more than she would ever admit to them.

Yet that final week was slightly better with Bills absence. When Fleur was at her place of work Hermione would clean up the house which Fleur would happily thank her for of an evening when she got home. Hermione would even cook from time to time though she barely ate herself. It was one of those nights when she had cooked a light soup about a week from the return to school that things shifted in their dynamic.

"Ugh. Bonsoir 'Ermione." Fleur groaned softly as she walked in that evening. Hermione had cooked a light broth soup and some fresh bread.

"Bad day?" Hermione asked quietly.

"Ze goblins are ze worst, zey're always so angry and Bill got on my nerves right before ze end of my shift." Fleur sighed as she sat down at the table while Hermione cooked them some food.

"Want to talk about it?" Hermione asked leaning her hip against the counter top as she turned to look at the blonde.

"Non, I just wish I 'ad ze ability to get a massage." Fleur heaved a sigh and rubbed her neck.

"Well... this probably needs another half an hour..." Hermione trails off with a slight shrug. Fleur looked at Hermione for a moment.

"Are you sure?" The quarter Veela was slightly dubious, she had noticed Hermione avoid pretty much any and all physical contact.

"Sure. Wouldn't offer otherwise." Hermione smiled lightly and got the champagne from the icebox and poured Fleur a glass before walking over behind the Veela.

Fleur swallowed and took a sip of the wine before Hermione pulled the blazer off her shoulders. The jacket was draped along the back of Fleurs seat and Hermione promptly set to work. Starting at stiff shoulders Hermione worked thoroughly, enough pressure to get out the knots but not so much that it would just hurt Fleur more. Fleur struggled not to let out an appreciative groan.

"Dieu, you are surprisingly good at zis." Fleur mumbled only a few minutes later.

"My parents are dentists. So much time stooped over patients they would get stiff muscles as well. I didn't ever mind giving mum or dad a massage if they were particularly sore." Hermione explained slowly a touch of sadness in her tone.

"Do you miss zem?" Fleur knew it was a silly question but it seemed like maybe Hermione might finally open up.

"I miss everyone. I miss myself." Hermione murmured lightly.

"You miss yourself?" Fleur asked gently wishing she could see the girl so diligently working the knots in her neck now.

"I don't feel like me anymore. I'm scared all the time, i don't like being touched or talking to people. I don't know how to feel most of the time. No one has written me all summer. They didn't talk to me that last week at school. No one else even knows really, Bill doesn't know. Not everything. I'm not who i was before." Hermione mumbled her touch becoming much lighter, clearly distracted and Fleur took the opportunity to turn in her seat and take Hermiones hand in her own.

"I would 'onestly be surprised if you did know 'ow to feel. You went zrough a great trauma." Fleur reminds needlessly. Hermione would never forget that.

"I don't know what to do anymore." Hermione whispered looking down.

"What do you want to do?" Fleur countered gently.

"I want to watch them burn." Hermione looked anywhere but at Fleur.

"Ze deaz eaters?" Fleur was frowning. Hermione finally met those blue eyes with her own and Fleur was surprised to see a few more small flecks of yellow.

"Everyone." The little witches tone was cold and so angry it gave Fleur chills. The Veela didn't even try to stop Hermione as she walked away, back to the sanctum of her room.

Needless to say Fleur ate alone that evening though she didn't eat much of it and the following morning she still saw no sign of Hermione. It was Fleurs day off and she had assured Hermione that they would go Diagon to pick up her things for school. The later the morning grew the more Fleur was thinking that Hermione wasn't interested until finally at a quarter to 10 the little witch came out dressed and ready for the day. Fleur had been dressed and ready since shortly after her first cup of coffee so it was a simple thing to smile before they got on their way.

Stepping out onto the front step Hermione allowed Fleur to take her hand and they apparated to the Alley, Hermione shifted a little nervously and her palms began to sweat a little but she didn't fight it when Fleur kept hold of her hand. It was nerve wracking, the last few days at school Hermione had avoided being around the students, she set with a few others on the train but otherwise kept to herself, even still it had her anxiety sky rocketing. This was so much worse, there were so many people all buzzing around doing what they were needing to do but there were so many.

"It will be ok, 'Ermione. I've got you." Fleur spoke gently, reassuringly to the little witch. Hermione heard but didn't acknowledge.

At a brisk pace they set off, first to the tightly packet Flourish and Blotts for books then followed along to Malkins for a new set of robes and then along to gather the less essential items. Hermione was borderline hyperventilating until they stepped into the bank. It was a less than great move with so many people there in Diagon that day. Fleur was beginning to realise she had made a terrible mistake bringing Hermione today of all days.

Fleur was too bust whispering soft reassurances to Hermione, they were there to meet Bill and then leave that was all. It was because she was whispering reassurances to Hermione that she didn't notice the large blonde man approaching them, the smirk on his face malicious. Hermione how ever was watching him approach, her demeanour changing from fear to defiant with every passing step. By the time the man was a few short steps away Hermione had her wand in her hand at her side and her expression was stony, the only indicator that she was at all distressed was the slight trembled in her hand holding her wand.

"Mudblood... Fancy seeing you in a place like this... I must say its bold of you." Thorfinn Rowle had cast a disillusionment charm over the three as he had come to a stop his own wand in hand. Fleur inched her wand to her hand when she finally noticed the man.

"I didn't realise Voldemort let his dogs off their leashes." Hermione bites back her tone cold enough that it gave Fleur chills.

"The fire in your eyes warms my loins, little muddy, but the chill in your voice doesn't mask the reek of fear." Thorfinn smirked stepping closer only to have Fleur's wand pointed directly at his chest. Thorfinn just smirked as though only now acknowledging the French witch.

"You need a shield now? Tell me does she make you feel the way i did... don't deny that you had liked it... we both know those screams weren't pain." Thorfinn's smirk turned nasty. A trembled shook Hermione's body but it wasn't fear.

Of the five men that she for sure remembered having her while she was held captive, Thorfinn Rowle had been the most traumatising. They had played her so well that first day she woke when they were the only two there. Rowle and Dolohov had worked as a team to try to break her, they had not gotten any information from her but they had done some serious damage. It started with the Cruciatus curse until she was screaming and begging them to stop, Dolohov was particularly ruthless. Then came the arousal they both shared at the sight and sound of their captive begging. Rowle was a cruel man but he didn't hurt. No, Rowle was gentle, tender even in his touches. He played her body so well, she had no choice, she couldn't control her body's response to the stimulation given.

"We can find an alley and have another go if you like... your friend can come too." Rowle basically purred the words at her. Hermione was shaking now, a few more small flecks appearing in her normally chocolate eyes. Both Fleur and Rowle thought it was fear.

"I'd rather go to bed with Lucius, at least he didn't have a tiny cock." Hermione bit out nastily but it worked just like she knew it would. For reasons she didn't know most of the Death Eaters she had come in contact with rather despised Lucius. She honestly had no idea how big the aristocratic man was, he haunted her like the others but he hadn't actually hurt her.

"You little mudslut! Mind yourself!" Rowle managed to backhand Hermione, a fraction of a second before she had wordlessly cast one of the most intense Stupefy's anyone present had ever witnessed. Rowle hit the far wall with a sickening thud before hitting the floor.

Before the dust had settled so to speak Hermione had run out of the bank leaving a shocked Fleur behind. The smaller witch ran down the steps wand in hand as Fleur ran out after her shouting her name. Hermione didn't hear, she was losing it big time. She tripped on the bottom step sprawling in the ground though she wouldn't relinquish the grip on her wand.

Jumping to her feet Hermione looked around frightened just looking for an escape. She must have been a sight, based off the crowd forming a circle around her she was definitely a spectacle. Unfamiliar faces looking at her, some with disdain, some with recognition and others with curiosity. She spun looking for an escape and was about to bolt.

"Granger!" Came the name and Hermione paused turning toward the sound. Three faces of sympathy and regret. The Malfoys.

"'Ermione!" Fleur finally broke into the space around the witch.

"'Ermione come... we will go 'ome... lower your wand." Fleurs gentle words seemed to bring Hermione back enough she realised she had been brandishing her wand at the crowd. But not enough.

Hermione was frantic as she looked around she was breathing heavily, her heart was racing and the blood was rushing in her ears as she looked at the people around her, the familiar faces of the Weasley's all looking at her worried, the Neville was there with his grandmother, the old woman looking at Hermione with pity. Why pity? The woman didn't know what she had been through, none of them did! The ones that thought they knew were only guessing. No one knew, no one tired and the worst part was that those that knew some didn't want it getting out. Hermione couldn't take it.

Wordlessly the spell was cast, the sudden burst of heat parting the crowd and Hermione sprinted, panicked from the area. Fleur followed along with Bill Weasley but everyone else was surprised that the witch was seemingly so unstable. The little witch had no idea where she was running too until she was in the depths of Knockturn Alley and it only freaked her out even more. She came to a stop leaning heavily against a wall gasping for breath as the world around her spun. When it slowly came into focus it was wild, dark eyes that were starting back, familiar but wild.

"I got you." Bellatrix Lestrange gripped the girls arm and the two popped out of existence.

The only indication given to Fleur that the girl had ever even been there when she rounded the corner was the familiar crack from apparation.