By the next day, word of what happened had spread like a wildfire. The stories were already varied from something near the truth to Draco taking on the whole DA single handedly but Ron beating him to near death with his fists. Luckily, for Hermione, no one knew the reason for Hermione being attacked, they just assumed it was the usual animosity. Malfoy had indeed been expelled. Crabbe and Goyle were sentenced to two months of detention each and seemed much defeated as they had lost the brains of their operation. People insisted on coming up to Ron and asking for the actual story but he maintained his silence as he attempted to guard Hermione from them.
�You all knew how Malfoy was! It was only a matter of time before he attacked SOMEONE for no reason!� was pretty much his official comment.
Hermione seemed greatly pleased that no one knew the reason behind it all. She seemed happy to not ever speak of it again. She spent her �counseling� sessions with madam Pomfrey talking about everything except what happened. But, during one session, upon the healer�s insistence on the idea that it would make her feel better to talk about it, Hermione finally broke down.
She raged at the injustice of it, about how she was now afraid to walk down the hallway by herself and how she was even scared of Ron sometimes, though he would never hurt her in any way. She cried then, feeling ashamed to even think of Ron in such a negative way. At that point, madam Pomfrey sat next to her and slowly rubbed her back.
�I know it does not seem like it now, dear, but this will all blow over and you will get through this and be stronger for it.� Hermione buried her face in the older woman�s shoulder, her body racked with sobs. �Yes, let this rage and pain out now. To live with it the rest of your life will tear you apart. You have nothing to fear here.�
Hermione�s tears slowed to a soft blubber and finally stopped all together after a few minutes. The nurse let her go then and made her drink some tea and have a lie down. �I will wake you when your friends arrive to fetch you for dinner all-right dear?�
Hermione just nodded and fell asleep. For once, her dreams were not of his face coming at her and when she woke she did feel better. She finally, for the first time in over a week, was not afraid and thanked the medi witch as she left, alone, to go back her common room. �And madam? If you don�t mind, I don�t think I need these sessions anymore.�
�No, I didn�t think that you would, dear.�
Hermione smiled a true smile as she left and for the first time didn�t jump when Ron sipped silently behind her and put his arm around her waist kissing her on the cheek. �You seem happy,� he said giving her a squeeze.
�That�s because I am, Ron, I truly am.� She laid her head on his shoulder, �I�ve finally figured out exactly what I want to do with my life.�
�What�s that m�dear?�
�I�m going to counsel attack victims. Magical and otherwise.� she nodded abruptly, showing her mind was set.
�That sounds like a good idea for you then,� he kissed her on the crown of her head and they walked the rest of the way to the tower in happy silence.
The End!
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