So, I am back! After months of being gone, I think I have a new story. At least it is in my head. Any helpful comments are welcome, and please review! That keeps me going knowing someone is looking forward to the next chapter.
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters and setting belong to J.K. Rowling. Only the plot is mine.
A split second was all it took. The small second to make the decision to help Ron off the ground, was all it took to nearly take Hermione Grangers life.
Harry spun around, his arm shooting out to help Ron off the ground. He could hear the troll moving, destroying things without a care. He could hear the Hermione screaming, still stuck under the sinks.
The whooshing of the club was the only hint as to what would happen next.
CRASH!
Rumble fell on him as he spun around, not believing there was anything left for the troll to destroy. That is, until he caught sight of a blood soaked mane of hair.
Behind him, Ron was on the ground again, groaning for his help, but Harry stood frozen. Fuzzy images of his mother falling before him, a dream that was a constant reminder of were his home was, ran before his fearful eyes. The small girl reminded him too much, far too much of his mothers death to move or even think about helping her.
With glazed over eyes, he watched the bright flash of light come from behind him. The troll fell, stunned or dead, he didn't really know. Professor McGonagall and Snape shoved passed him, running toward the pool of crimson essence.
The last thing he saw before being escorted out of the room was the broken body of 12 year old Hermione Granger.
It was a week later before anyone besides the Professors saw Hermione. Students were whispering and shoving one another in front of the doors to the hospital wing, the news getting out that the girl would be released today.
Harry stood at the back of the crowd, a guilt that hadn't left him for seven days, gnawing at his stomach. Thoughts of her revolved in his head in a endless cycle. Her scream, the crunch, her blood. They all painted way to the fact that he had every opportunity to help, to save her, but he got scared. Scared for himself, scared he would fail. Then he would remember the way she fell, her body curving, and twisting, one hand reached out, looking for someone to save her. Just like his mother did.
He looked up as the whispers stopped, followed by the loud creaking of the doors opening. Pushing his way to the front, he caught sight of her. Her hair was no longer soaked with blood, her hands banged all the up to her elbows. Her eyes darted around, fearful, but empty. Professor McGonagall had one hand on her shoulders, and was commanding the students to move and return to their classes.
They were just passing by when her eyes connected with his, showing him the pain, and fear. Blaming him for not saving her, for not doing a damn thing besides watch. Just his mother did.
Then he felt angry. How dare she blame him, he didn't know how to defeat the monster. Doesn't she know he wanted to take it all back, to risk his life for saving her. Did she even take a second to think about his feelings? Why couldn't she save herself? She was Gryffindor for a reason!
Harry started panting, his anger at her for being so helpless, for putting her life on his young shoulders. A red haze seemed to surrounded him as he pushed his way back through the crowd.
That was the day he started hating Hermione Granger.