Insomnia

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters from the books or the movies. That privilege belongs to the gracious J.K. Rowling. I do not make any money from writing of this story. Again, that privilege belongs to the gracious J.K. Rowling.
A/N: Hi, everyone. I am back and ready to post a new chapter to make up for my absence. I made this chapter extra long. J

New Developments

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Madam Pomfrey jumped in shock. “Miss Granger, thank Merlin you’re finally awake.” Hermione adjusted herself to a sitting position. She gave Madam Pomfrey a confused look. “What do you mean? I only slept for a few hours, right? She asked. Madam Pomfrey sat on the chair nearest to her bed. “Miss Granger, you have been asleep for two whole weeks!”

After Madam Pomfrey forced Hermione to eat, she sat in her bed mulling over the new developments that had occur in her life. First, none other than her potions professor had in fact, raped her. While she did not blame him for hurting her, she still felt afraid of him. No matter how she tried to put the incident in the back of her mind, it kept resurfacing from the dark corners of her mind. Second, she had lost her virginity. It was forever lost and she could not get it back. The soft ache between her legs only confirmed her fears. She had dreamed about her first time. It would have been decorated with candlelights and roses. Life was grim, she had harshly concluded. Third, she had thought about telling Ron and Harry. Madam Pomfrey had told her that the headmaster had explained that she had been attacked. Dumbledore did not tell them that she had been raped and it had been by Professor Snape. It was going to be hard but if she told them, Ron would probably try to kill him or report him to the Ministry of Magic. She could not let either of those scenarios happen. Finally, Madam Pomfrey had explained that while she was asleep, she could not receive any dangerous potions. She had to have Hermione’s consent and maintain a statue of healer/ patient confidentiality. Therefore, while she was asleep, drastic changes were still in effect. That was why Hermione realized that she, Hermione Granger, Top Witch at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was pregnant.

When Monday had rolled around, Hermione had demanded that she be discharged from the infirmary. She had stated that she was well enough to be released. “I’m pregnant, not dying,” She stated when Madam Pomfrey tried to keep her another day. So when Ron and Harry came to retrieve her, she had practically run to them. Ron was the first to greet her. “Hermione!” Ron cried. He grabbed her waist with both hands and swung her around a few times before letting her go. After she regained her balance, Harry enveloped her in a hug, more considerate of her personal space than Ron. “Hermione, I’m so glad you’re awake. We were worried sick.” Harry breathed in to her shoulder. He released her. Slowly. Looking into emerald and blue eyes, Hermione dabbed away tears that were trying to escape with her hand. “Oh, I got your sweets. Thank you.” Hermione smiled. Both of the boys blushed and mumbled their apologies. Hermione was glad that both of the boys were considerate of her feelings by not asking her to recall the memories of ‘that night’. Silently, she grabbed both boys by the arms and walked as a trio to the Gryffindor common room.

Hermione had two classes today, Potions and Transfiguration. Hermione, a handful of other Gryffindor (excluding Ron and Harry), two Ravenclaws, and seven Slytherins had advanced Potions. Hermione was scared for two reasons. This would be the first time Hermione had seen Professor Snape since the attack. In addition, he did not know that she was carrying his child, since no contraceptive was used. She only had three months of school left and after that, she was free to do whatever she wanted. She had braced herself for his arrival, prepared herself. Yet, once he walked into the classroom, all of that preparation she had built up was gone in an instant.

The room had gone quiet when he had walked in. The students had become snakier these last two weeks so they treaded on thin ice whenever he was within earshot. He walked up to the chalkboard. Using the white chalk, Snape wrote the assignment using small, cramped handwriting. When he finished, he turned around and glared. “The assignment for today is Veritaserum, the truth serum. Do not mess this up or you will truly regret it and be subjected to two detentions. One with Hagrid in the forbidden forest and one with Flitch.” Most of the students looked frightened and began immediately work on the potion. Snape, however, caught a glace at Hermione Granger. She stared straight at him before ducking her head away. She is frightened of me, Snape thought. He knew that was a natural reaction for victims to be afraid of their attackers. He had seen it many times before. He just had to accept that this was how she was going to look at him now, as a monster. He had considered using Legilimency to see inside her thoughts but it was an intrusion to her privacy and thought about asking her for her memories.

When time was up, Snape had checked everyone’s cauldrons. Only Hermione and a few other students managed to successfully complete the first cycle of the truth serum. Everyone had cast a status spell on his or her cauldrons and left. The unfortunate others had received detention and had to write an essay on Veritaserum and its effects. All the students were gone except for Hermione. Her stomach did a flip as the anticipation built. Snape was the first to break the silence. “Are you afraid of me, Miss Granger?” Snape asked bluntly. The question was unexpected. Hermione had to take a moment before she answered. She responded, “To be honest, yes. I’m afraid of the monster, but not the man.” It was true. She was afraid of the monster that had used and broke her, but she was not afraid of the potions master. Snape sighed. He was glad she was not afraid of him. All throughout his life, women were afraid of him. Lily saw the darkness in him and became scared of him, severing all ties with him. His mother had avoided and resented him because he bore resemblances of his father. Yet, Hermione Granger was something else altogether. He had brutally raped her and yet she could still look at him straight in the eye. “Thank you Miss Granger for your honesty. It does not excuse my actions, though. I should have been able to overcome the curse, not be subdued by it.” Snape said. Hermione gaped at the potions master. He was apologizing! Moreover, it was sincere! She was relieved to hear it but she was dumbstruck at the reality of her situation. “Don’t worry, Professor.” Hermione said as she gathered her belongings. “I had already forgave you,” “When?” Snape asked. Hermione got up and swung her backpack over her right shoulder. “During….During our ‘encounter.’“ She replied. Snape looked confused. “Miss Granger, I have a favor to ask you.” Snape said as she brushed her hair from her face. “What is it professor?” Hermione asked through she knew what he was about to ask her. “I would like to see your memories of that night.” Hermione sighed. She dropped her book bag on the desk nearest to her. While Hermione summoned the silver thread from her temple, Snape conjured a vial. He collected the silvery strand from the tip of her wand. Hermione grabbed her book bag and headed out the door. Before she left, she tuned towards Snape and said, “Professor, do not judge yourself based on what you see.” With that, she left, leaving Snape alone with his thoughts.