Title: Smart
Author: IndependenceIndividuality, also known as I&I
Summary: Intelligence, cleverness, and five moments in the life of Hermione Granger. Genfic.
Word count: 512, I believe.
Author note: So you can see I haven't written anything since just after HBP came out and I don't know why I've written this. Blame it on boredom, aching muscles and me being unable to sleep because I know I have to get up early tomorrow. Even though it's sort of choppy and OOC, I really like it and I hope you all will, too. Oh, and of course, any and all feedback welcome. But please, no "OmG, LyKe rITe MORe!1!11!". Until next time, I bid adieu.
1.
"You're stupid." Billy Martin sneered at her as convincingly as he could without his front teeth. "Stupid, stupid, Hermione."
"And just why am I stupid?" Her voice is shrill and demanding and when she says it half the courtyard turns to look at her.
"Because," he says, as though that's all of the answer anyone would ever need.
"Because why?"
"Because you're a girl, that's why. All girls are stupid. Only boys are smart."
All the boys snicker and Hermione face goes red.
"Don't feel bad, Hermione. It's not just you. All girls are stupid. It's not your fault you can't be smart."
He's being silly. He's just being a silly seven year old boy, a silly seven year old boy who is just repeating what has been told to him and doesn't know anything about anything. Just a silly boy who, perhaps, if she'd have given it a few years, would be putting flowers instead of spiders in her hair and calling her pretty and smart instead of stupid and ugly. But she's just a silly seven year old girl, and she doesn't know such things.
"You watch it, all of you, watch it and you'll see!" She's pointing and there are tears now and teachers are starting to notice. "I'll be smarter than all of you!"
2.
Swish and flick.
Winggardium Leviosa, not Leviosa.
Well done, Ms. Granger. Look everyone, Ms. Granger's done it!
I read it in Hogwarts a History.
Ms. Granger, you are perhaps the brightest student Hogwarts has ever seen.
(Bright as in light bright as in reflective bright as in cheerful bright as in)
Bright - adj. characterized by quickness and ease in learning: "some children are naturally brighter than others".
Bright. Clever. Quick-witted. Intelligent.
Smart.
3.
"We need you, Ms. Granger. You're one of the most intelligent witches in all of Europe; we've yet to come across anyone who can decipher the Arithmancy charts as fast and efficiently as you. We need your cleverness on our side."
Smart. Say smart. she thinks but she says, "I'll do it for Harry."
4.
Her head is empty.
"Leave, Hermione! Run!" He's shouting and firing curses and pleading with his eyes. "Get the fuck out! I can't hold them long, get out!"
Her head has never been this empty since - since never and Billy Martin's face sneers childishly in the back of her mind and all she can do is stare horrified as the spell comes purple and harsh and all she can think is oh thank god not green but it's Ron and she has to do something.
Something - anything -
"GET OUT!"
"Wingardium leviosa!"
It doesn't work. It doesn't work. It' doesn't – oh no god no not greengreengreengreen.
"RON!"
5.
"It's not your fault, Hermione. It's not." Ginny says and wraps her in a blanket and coming from her this should make her feel better but it doesn't. "Don't blame yourself. Please. Please don't. It'll only make everything so much harder. You did everything you could, and we all know you're the smartes – "
"Don't–don't say that word."
Fin.