A Love Like This

Chapter Eight

TW: a bit of implied, consented adult content at very end of chapter. Nothing graphic. I don't write full fledged adult content.
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I woke up in the nurse's office. Madame Pomfrey greeted me calmly. "Miss Abbot, you're well. You've had many visitors."

"How long have I been out?" I rubbed my head as it ached. "Days?"

"One day. Full day actually. It's nearly evening now, dear. Are you feeling alright?"

"Yeah," I sat up. Then I remembered why I passed out in the first place. "My stepfather was here. He-he was in the school."

"Pardon?"

"My stepfather he-" I swallowed hard. "He abused me I- I can't stay."

"He what?" She looked shocked. "Miss, I can assure you, we don't let anyone like that into the school."

"Can I go?" I asked anxiously. "Please?"

"If you're well enough. Fred Weasley came to visit you often today. I'd recommend finding him."

I left before I heard her sentence. It didn't matter anyway. I was heading his way anyway. I anxiously muttered the password into the Gryffindor common room and entered the room.

A bunch of other Gryffindors looked at me. Suspiciously.

"Where's my boyfriend?"

"In a class, I'm sure," Seamus said. "We heard rumors. What happened? You and him were seen running through the school like headless chickens."

"Um," I sat on the couch and sighed heavily. "Um... someone from my past is- he's here in the school. He- he um... wasn't nice to me as a kid... I'm afraid he's here to take me back to Alfriston."

"Rain?" Hermione entered the room through the painting. "Oh, thank the gods you're alright."

I stood up and hugged her. She pulled back and grabbed my face, looking into my eyes.

"Fred was so worried. He's probably fidgeting in his class right now. Rumors are all over the school."

"Who's in the school?" Neville asked. "Rain said there was someone in the school."

"My stepfather. I ran away from home, okay? And I found this place by accident. Apparently he knows where this is and that I'm here somehow."

"Oh... so he'd be taking you back?"

"He abuses me. I have bruises to prove it," I said. "We don't know why he's back. But we have to keep Rain hidden."

Some of the students were unbothered, but the ones loyal to Hermione and Harry and Ron decided to join the cause.

"Is he still in the school?"

"He's been in meeting with Dumbledore for hours. Dumbledore and Lucius Malfoy for- some odd reason."

The passing bell rang. And I knew Fred would come check the common room if I was okay. Or even back at all. I didn't want to leave the common room. I felt safe in here. So I waited for him patiently.

The painting opened and all the boys stepped inside. I softly whimpered and ran into Fred's arms. Relieved, he hugged me tightly. "You're alright, love. I passed by the room they're in and listened in."

"What did you hear?" Hermione asked.

"Something about legal custody," Fred looked worried. "I'm not going to let him take her back. She left for good reason."