Chapter 31

                                        

                                              
Hermione sent a Patronus to announce their arrival the next day. She had no illusions that Harry and Malfoy weren't in some way sexually attracted to each other. With what Ron and Harry had told her, she knew that both of them had been subjected to repeated sexual assault over the nine months that Harry was kidnapped. It was bound to skew their perception of sex and relationships. 
Neither Harry nor Draco had explained that Draco was bound to Harry before Harry made them bring him to Court, but it did make sense. Draco must have been ordered not to say anything, and Hermione wasn't sure why Harry hid it. She was concerned about how flippantly Harry had used the bond to bring Draco to heel. It was painful to watch, though she had no love for Malfoy. She kept her tongue, though, and stood by Harry. His use of the bond worked at the trial, but after, he effectively shut down Ron and her from accompanying him home.
She wasn't even sure they were at Grimwald place, but it was the best bet. Malfoy couldn't have suggested another refuge in the state that he was in when he left. He looked positively broken. Ron had expressed a similar view when he returned from witnessing an Auror condone and facilitate Yaxley raping Draco. Ron hadn't slept well since the trial and even cried a few times. He hated that he had just left Draco there to continue to be abused.
She didn't get a reply back from her Patronus, but she wasn't going to leave Harry to his own devices. Things were not settled. There was plenty to be discussed about what happened. Just because she helped Harry escape the hospital doesn't mean that he didn't need help... and it should be someone other than Draco Malfoy. She nodded to Ron and they Apparated to the front step of Grimwald Place. She knocked, waited, and hesitantly opened the door. She dispelled the Echo Charm Moody left for Snape and walked in with Ron.
"Harry? Malfoy?"
"Mione?" she heard from the den.
She walked carefully down the hall, Ron behind her with his wand drawn. "Harry?" she responded, unsure.
"In here," Harry muttered, quietly.
She rounded the corner and saw that Harry was curled on the couch. Malfoy was asleep on his chest. Harry put a finger to his lips for her to keep silent. He gently shifted Malfoy onto one of the frayed pillows and slipped out from under him. Harry Summoned his wand from the kitchen and Conjured a red, plush blanket for Malfoy. He tenderly tucked Malfoy in and stared at him to ensure that he was sleeping. Harry sighed, exhausted, then stood up and gestured for them to go to the kitchen. He put Muffliato up immediately.
"Oh, Harry... are you okay? Sorry for dropping in," Hermione said, as Harry slumped against the wall next to the door.
"It's okay. Draco fell asleep quickly, and he was practically awake since he was arrested. He needs sleep."
"And you? Did you sleep at all?" she asked.
He shook his head. "It's hard to sleep at the same time. We're so used to having one of us up and on guard, or at least he'd put up wards. But we couldn't risk getting caught. We never slept easy."
Hermione nodded to show she understood. "Harry... how are you doing? That was intense yesterday."
Harry snorted. "That was... a remanent of the old me. I had to play my part. I warned you I would."
She looked at Ron, who nodded. "You did. You didn't mention that Malfoy was bonded to you as a slave."
"It wasn't meant to be that. It was meant to remove him from Voldemort's control. I don't normally talk to him like that."
"Harry... you can't keep him in this position," she said, flatly.
"I know that," he snapped.
"Then...."