Unlikely Friends

Thanks everyone for all the feedback. I\'m afraid I didn\'t have time to do indivual thanks this time. :)


Title: Unlikely Friends Part 9
Author: Shannon
Pairing: Draco/Hermione, Hermione/Snape (friendship)
Rating: R
Warning: Contains Rape, not graphic in this part or any other but it suggested.
Disclaimer: Not mine, If you recognize it, it belongs to J. K. Rowling
Distribution: Hermione’s Library (http://hl.shadesofgrey.us/efiction/viewstory.php?sid=29) Twisting the Hellmouth, Tainted Love, WLS
Spoilers: Going to say anything through OoTP to be safe. Probably nothing really specific.
Summary: Hermione’s attacked and can’t tell her usual friends and ends up finding support in unlikely places.
Author’s Notes: Takes place 6th year. I’m assuming all 6th years are rly aly around 16.
**Draco and Snape are slightly OOC, but it is necessary for this to work.

Thanks to Blaze for beta-ing this part for me

Part 9

Hermione put the last of her things in her trunk. Tonks was going to be here soon to take her to Hogsmeade. Dumbledore had told everyone that the family emergency had been taken care of and Hermione would be returning on the train tonight. And since it wasn’t safe for any student to be out alone Tonks was going to accompany her and bring her to the school.

Most of the students hadn’t thought much of Tonks bringing her. The only one’s that knew who the other woman was were students whose parents were involved in the Order, or of course, the one’s whose parents were Death Eaters. In either case everyone believed it was because Dumbledore was concerned for her safety.

Tonks and Moody were aware of the attack. Dumbledore had convinced her that he needed to tell them. He would need Aurors available for their plan to work. Hermione was fairly confident that they wouldn’t tell anyone else. If the others in the Order were to find out it would just be a matter of time before Harry and Ron knew. She was going to tell them, but she was hoping it would wait until after Lucius Malfoy was back at Azkaban where he belonged.

The last two weeks had gone by rather quickly. Once she had managed the simple charms she was able to progress faster than expected. She hadn’t experienced any more accidents with her spells in almost a week. That was why she had decided it was best to return to her dorms.

Draco had also told her that Harry and Ron were becoming more suspicious about her absence. They didn’t believe it was likely that she would willingly miss so much school. He had also heard them mention a map. Hermione hadn’t explained but knew she had to return before they decided to use the map. The last thing she needed was the two of them attacking Snape because he had her in his rooms.

“Hey Hermione,” Tonks said stepping out of the fireplace. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

“I have to be, the boys are getting suspicious.”

“I can always take you back to Headquarters,” Tonks suggested.

Tonks knew everyone was anxious to put this plan to catch Malfoy in to action. She was more worried that they were rushing the younger witch into something she wasn’t ready for yet.

“No, I have to do this Tonks,” Hermione smiled slightly, “I can’t hide forever.”

“Well then let’s get out of here, so we can make it back before dinner.”

Tonks stepped into the floo first. When she disappeared Hermione stepped in and followed her. A few seconds later she stepped out of the fireplace in a backroom at the Three Broomsticks. Dumbledore was having the trunk moved after she left.

“Ready to head back or did you want to stop somewhere first?” Tonks asked as Hermione brushed ashes from her clothing.

“Well then, can we stop at Honeydukes,” Hermione asked, “I can bring the boys back something.”

Tonks agreed and they headed down the street to the candy shop. After purchasing several items for Harry, Ron, and Ginny they headed back in the direction of the school.

“Professor Snape discussed all the safety precautions with you right?” Tonks asked as they walked.

She had been unsure of Snape being the one to talk to Hermione but Dumbledore had insisted that the girl was too jumpy around everyone else. She trusted Snape and right now saw more of him than anybody. He also knew better than anyone the measures she would need to take to be safe.

“Yes,” Hermione nodded.

Snape had talked to her for a long time the night before about her safety. In his rooms he could be sure no one could get to her. The rest of the school was as safe as it could be but Dumbledore could only do so much to keep the danger out. Many students, mostly from his house, had parents that were Voldemort followers. That meant that it was always possible a Death Eater could be on school grounds. The headmaster couldn’t refuse to let parents in to see their children. Nor could he guarantee that none of the older students wouldn’t be a danger to her.

He had made her promise not to go off alone, not even inside the school. Stay close to Harry, Draco, or Ron as much as possible. If she couldn’t be near one of them, for whatever reason, find someone else. Even if it was Neville, it would be harder to attack if she wasn’t alone.

She had also promised to never go anywhere without her wand. Not for any reason. Yes, Lucius had gotten it away from her before, but there was no reason to make things easier on him. If the attack came from an older student chances were good that they wouldn’t be able to get the wand. He also suggested that she not stick it in her bag or pocket as she usually did. Keeping it in her hand would give her an advantage, and may even deter any attackers.

He also insisted that she agree to not accompany the boys on any of their after curfew adventures. If they were going to insist on looking for trouble, she would stay out of it. The invisibility cloak wasn’t fool proof, as Harry had proven in their third year. She could still be seen. It would be that much longer for anyone to realize she was missing if everyone believed she was safely in her room.

Snape had also suggested that she tell her friend as soon as possible. As much as he didn’t like them, they could do a lot to keep her safe if they knew what was going on. He understood her fear that they would do something stupid, but they would be more useful if they were prepared for danger.

She had agreed to at least think about the last one. Snape had suggested that if she decided to take his advice on it, he would also recommend telling them with Dumbledore or Mcgonagall around so that a professor would be present to control them.

“We’re here,” Tonks said as they approached the castle doors, pulling Hermione from her mental list of rules.

They walked through the doors just as everyone was arriving at the great hall for dinner. Part of Hermione wanted to head as quickly as possible to her room and just see the boys when they came back later. The other, more rational part of her knew that they would be suspicious if she did that. Before she could make a decision either way Harry, Ron, and Ginny came running toward her.

“Hermione you’re back,” Ginny said hugging her.

“Hi,” Hermione said quietly.

Tonks saw her Hermione stiffen as soon as Harry moved forward to hug her, and quickly intervened.

“Guys give her some room. It’s been a long trip she’s kind of tired.”

“Sorry,” Harry and Ron both muttered.

“You coming to dinner?” Ron asked.

“Would you mind terribly if I just went up the dorm. I’ll talk to you all when you get back?”

“I guess that’s fine,” Ron agreed reluctantly.

“Then I’ll see you in a while,” Hermione smiled and she and Tonks headed to the stairs.
*****

Hermione was reviewing the last of her advanced potions lessons when the other students started returning from dinner. She stayed seated in the large chair hoping to discourage anyone from trying to touch her as Harry had done earlier. She was happy to realize so many of her housemates had missed her, and were glad she was back but she still wasn’t ready to let them get to close.

“Hey Hermione,” Ron said as followed Harry to the couch next to her. “How’s your aunt?”

“She’s doing much better,” she closed her book and smiled at the boys. “I’m sorry I was gone so long. How have your classes been?”

“The same, Trewaleny predicting my death. Snape being Snape,” Harry responded. “Mcgonagall said your homework was being sent to you?”

“Yes, I’m all caught up on everything. I can’t wait to get back to classes.”

“Only you would think that,” Ron muttered as Ginny came to sit next to them.

“Malfoy was looking for you at dinner Hermione,” Ginny told her.

“He was?” Ron, Harry and Hermione all asked in surprise.

“Yeah, said he heard you were coming back and wanted to talk to you about your advanced Arithimancy work.”

Hermione frowned, obviously the boys were suspicious of the Slytherin looking for her. The homework wasn’t really a good cover, they had the same classes for years and he had never approached her before for help. Harry and Ron were aware that things had changed over the past summer for Draco but five years of hostility didn’t just disappear.

“Why would he want your help?” Harry asked.

“Well, um, I’m the only person in the class with higher scores than Malfoy, so he didn’t have a lot of options if he needed help you know,” Hermione pointed out. It was really a lie, both of them did very well in that class. They’re scores were closer to equal though.

“Well I told him he would have to find you tomorrow,” Ginny said, “That you were tired from you trip and had come up here right away.”

“Thanks Ginny,” the older girl smiled.

They sat and talked for several hours before Hermione told them she needed to turn in. She would talk to them more in the morning at breakfast. Ginny watched, eyes narrowing slightly, when she noticed that every time one of the boys touched Hermione she would jump away, or at least stiffen.

Ginny said goodnight to Harry and Ron and followed Hermione up the stairs to the girl’s dorm, bypassing her own and going into the older girl’s room. The room was still empty, the other sixth year girls hadn’t come up yet.

“What’s going on Hermione?” Ginny asked as soon as the door closed behind them.

“Nothing Ginny,” Hermione sighed, she had been afraid the younger girl had noticed something, “I’m tired is all.”

“Tired doesn’t make you afraid of Harry and Ron.”

“I’m not afraid of them,” Hermione sat on the edge of the bed and watched Ginny pace.

“Then why do you jump every time they try to touch you?”

“I-I don’t,” Hermione said nervously.

“Yes you do,” Ginny insisted. “Something’s going on, it’s not just the jumpiness. Hermione, something’s happening here, I see it even if the boys don’t.”

“Why do you think that? And why would it have anything to do with me?”

“Well, we go to Hogsmeade you leave early to study,” Ginny said. “That’s not really odd I guess, except that when we get back you left the school. You’re gone for weeks, with just an occasional note saying don’t write me, I’ll be back soon. Dumbledore announced the day after you left that Hogsmeade weekends are cancelled until further notice.”

“We were staying with family and they…” Hermione tried to explain.

“They don’t know about Owl Post, I’ve heard,” Ginny frowned, “But now you come back all jumpy and escorted by an Auror who happens to be an Order member. Draco Malfoy is looking for you, which is odd enough but the fact that he even knew or cared that you were coming back tonight is even weirder.”

“Ginny, it could all be a… Nothing’s going on.” Hermione insisted again.

“I can’t make you tell me anything, but something happened that day,” Ginny sat on the bed next to Hermione’s and watched her carefully. “Sometime between you leaving the boys at the Three Broomsticks and you getting back to the castle something bad happened.”

“No it didn’t.” Hermione said her head down. She hated lying to her friends but she didn’t see any other way.

Ginny reached into her robe pocket and pulled out an old piece of parchment, unfolding it she handed it to Hermione. The older girl’s eyes widened when she saw the familiar paper. She had been so concerned about the boys using the map, it hadn’t occurred to her that the youngest Weasley would use it.

“Where did you…?”

“I took it from Harry’s trunk while they were at Quidditch practice not long after you left,” Ginny explained. “I know you never left the school. Or at least that you were back within a few days. Why were you in Snape’s rooms all this time?”

“Ginny I can’t…”

“Why can’t you? Did he do something to you? Or Malfoy? He was there a lot.” Ginny said angrily.

“No Professor Snape and Draco have been great,” Hermione defended, “Without them I don’t know what I… The boys can’t know.”

“Fine I won’t tell them anything,” Ginny agreed. She had a feeling that it was something they should know but it was Hermione’s decision.

“I guess telling you will make it a little easier to follow the rules.”

“Rules?”

“I didn’t go home,” Hermione ignored the question the younger girl had asked and began, “I was attacked on my way back to the school.”