Hurt

Albus, Byron, and the young man watch as Remus rests Hermione on a bed. A woman bites her lip as she surveys the damage. “It will take a while for her to heal,” she whispers and leans over the slumbering girl. “Who did this to her Albus?” she asks.

Albus shakes his head and rests his hand on Remus’ shoulder when the younger man sits in a vacant chair. “We’ve no idea. She will tell us when she’s ready,” he replies.

“Should we inform Harry and Ron that she is at Hogwarts?” Remus asks.

Albus sighs. “No, not yet. When she’s well enough to leave bed we need to see how she adjusts to everything. She needs to stay with you so that transition is easier.” Byron shakes his head.

“She will be returning to the manor with us,” he murmurs and motions to the younger man.

Remus stands and glares at him. “She wouldn’t let anyone touch her at the house but me. Do you really think she’ll let you take her?” Hermione shifts and lifts her head. Her eyes lock on Remus so he smiles sadly at her. “How are you feeling?” he asks and moves over to her bedside.

“Poppy, could you get her something to eat?” Albus inquires. The woman nods and leaves the room so the unknown young man sighs.

“Grandfather, what happened to her?” he asks.

“She was raped and badly beaten, Alaric,” Albus murmurs.

Hermione grips Remus’ hand so he settles on the edge of the bed.

“By who? Why’d they do it?” Alaric asks. Hermione struggles to sit up and leans against Remus’ shoulder.

Remus watches as Poppy sets a tray of food in front of Hermione. “Here you go dear,” she murmurs and removes the lid from the platter. Hermione’s eyes flick over the bowl of soup, the sandwich, the mashed potatoes, and carafe of juice. The older woman steps back and looks to Albus. “She shouldn’t try to eat too much solid food yet,” she says.

Albus nods slightly then looks to the others. “Let’s go. Give her some peace,” he says and opens the door. Byron, Alaric, and Poppy leave the room so he looks at Remus. “Come on Remus,” he murmurs.

The younger man starts to stand so Hermione whimpers and looks at him pleadingly. Remus shakes his head at Albus and pulls the chair to the bedside. “I’ll sit with her, Albus,” he replies and settles in the chair.

Albus nods and shuts the door. Hermione bites her lip as she returns her gaze to the tray. She picks up the spoon and fumbles with the soup bowl, spilling it over the tray. Remus frowns and spells the mess away so her lip trembles.

“Hermione, do you want help?” he asks softly and summons more food from the kitchen. She sniffles and slowly nods then looks up at him from the curtain of her blood-matted hair. He stands and reaches for the spoon in her hand. Her eyes flicker as his skin burns warm on hers. “Here,” he murmurs and slowly begins spooning the soup to her mouth.

She watches him as he tears bits off the sandwich and holds them out for her. “Who did this to you?” he asks. Her eyes grow wide and she whimpers softly. Remus shakes his head slightly and sighs. "Tell us when you're ready to."

~~~~~~~~~~

“Um, I know I’m going to regret asking this but… what the hell is going on here?” a man demands when he opens the door.

Hermione shifts against Remus’ side and stares at the new man. “Sirius, you’re supposed to knock,” Remus says. The man snorts.

“Forget that, what’s with this?” he snarls and motions to the two. Remus rolls his eyes and pours more juice into Hermione’s glass.

“She was raped Sirius. She’s scared, insecure, and hurting. She wouldn’t let anyone touch her save me,” he replies evenly and wipes his hands on a napkin.

Sirius’ eyes widen then he frowns. “I’m so sorry Hermione. I had no idea,” he whispers and settles on her other side. She shifts farther away from him, into Remus’ lap.

Remus wraps his arms around her as she lays her head on his shoulder and stares at Sirius. She looks at Remus when he picks up her untouched juice glass and takes a sip. He sets the glass back down and holds her closer when Sirius stands.

“I have to get those books to the classroom. Care to join us for dinner Hermione?” he asks and smiles at her. She shrinks back at the gesture so his smile falters.

“She’s on bed rest Sirius. Poppy said she needs to stay in bed until she feels better,” Remus murmurs. Sirius nods in response then bows slightly to Hermione before leaving the room.

Hermione reaches for the juice glass and sips on it as she watches Sirius levitate a stack of books out into a corridor through the bedroom doorway. She looks at Remus questioningly then flicks her gaze to the other man's back.

"Why is he here?" he asks softly. She nods minutely so he chuckles. "Well, he showed up on the doorstep one day about a month ago. Said he fell straight into a pub in America. Weird how those things work."

~~~~~~~~~~

Alaric paces Albus' office as the two older men watch him. "I want to help my cousin. She's lying down there hurting while we're sipping tea and eating scones; doing nothing! I want that misbegotten scoundrel's head on a silver platter!" he snarls and slams his fist against the wall.

Albus shakes his head. "We can't do anything until we find out who did it to her. Just sit down and-"

"My god Albus... I think I know who is responsible for this! I know there was a planned attack tonight but I was not called in. All I have to do is ask around to find out... and find out I shall," Byron murmurs darkly. Alaric settles in the chair next to his grandfather.

"You think they targeted Aunt Helen on purpose? What did she do to them?" he asks.

Byron shakes his head. "It's not Helen they were after. It was Hermione. You-Know-Who has had his eye on her since she became friends with the Potter boy." He stands and motions to Alaric. "We must go. I want to be updated about her condition on a daily basis even if nothing has changed. And I will continue informing you of the goings on as always. Maybe we can prevent this from happening to another student."

Albus nods and sees the pair of them out. "I shall let you know." Byron nods and descends the spiral staircase after Alaric.

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A/N: Well, now we know how the young man is related to Hermione... and that her grandfather is a Death Eater. Albus must like two stories instead of one.. heh. Yes I brought Sirius back. I was enraged when Madam Rowling killed him off and I like him. Oh well. Onto the next chapter!