So this is my first Harry Potter fanfic but its been a few years since I read the books...but i did read them 23 times sooo...we'll see. Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I dont own anything found in this entire story I am only going to use this disclaimer once because obviously I'm not making money off of this.
This takes place in sixth year.
EDIT [2016]: Going through old stories I found this today. I've decided to rewrite it. I may or may not write more chapters but I thought I should fix the glaring grammatical errors from when I first wrote this story at 14 years old. Things are definitely going to change quite a bit so if you read this story already it may be worth a re-read. If you're just finding this for the first time? Bear with me while I work out the later chapters.
"Oi! Hermione!" Ron called.
"I am not a dog, Ronald," she chided, stepping through the portrait and into the common room. "What is it?" she asked, impatiently. Not that she needed an answer. Obviously, the pair had been working on homework long before she had arrived. Although in her opinion, they should have started much sooner. They had had the whole weekend to work on their work and they had waited until it was nearly curfew on Sunday night. How would they check out a library book if they needed another source?
"Would you help us?" Harry flashed a sheepish smile.
Hermione surveyed their "study" area, scrutinizing the mess of disorganized pieces of parchment scattered across nearly every surface. 'Pathetic,' she sighed inwardly, shaking her head at their sad excuse of a study session.
"It's Transfiguration. We're trying to turn these notes into essays!" Ron exclaimed, as if it would sweeten the deal.
'Of course,' She thought. 'Actually taking the time to learn something would be too much, wouldn't it?'
"Please," Harry and Ron pleaded in unison.
"Fine," she sighed, running a hand through her hair.
Several hours later, both essays were completed. She bid the boys goodnight, as she climbed the stairs to her dormitory. Exhausted, she changed into an oversized tee shirt that had once belonged to her father. It was an all time favorite of hers an image of Mickey Mouse. The design had faded so much it looked like a program struggling to come through on the telly. As she crawled into bed she made sure to close the curtains tight around her.
Every day was exactly the same. She went to classes, studied, helped these two do the homework they never put any effort into, ate, and slept. No change or variation each day melting into the next. One long blur of anxiety waiting for His next move. Ever since the fiasco at the Ministry of Magic at the end of last term each of her days were an incredible dichotomy of mindless education and terror. They all pretended everything was fine. They acted as though muggles weren't dying.
There was no one with which she could discuss her fears for her parents lives. Ron's parents were in the Order and faced the dangers that came with fighting on the front to discuss her parents with him would only make her feel as though she was complaining about nothing. The same went for Harry. How could she even begin to discuss these fears with the boy whose parents had lost their lives already. Every moment she spent associated with the order another target was painted on her back. At any moment that target could get large enough to have her parents in the crossfire. What else was she to do? This was her fight. She was a muggleborn. She had to fight for her way of life. Even if it terrified her.
So she was forced to wait with baited breath hoping that this war could end without placing her parents in the path of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named or his Death Eaters. Knowing that she had no choice but to continue to draw attention to herself in order to keep Harry safe and save the world. It was enough to drive anyone a little mad. She just needed to find someone to talk to.
Her deep thoughts were interrupted when Lavender and Parvarti walked in gossiping, clearly they had no idea she was present.
"You'd think she'd have made some sort of move, hanging out with those boys all the time." Said Lavender in a clearly snarky tone "But no, little Miss Perfection Granger has no interest. She's probably a lesbian." She spat the last word. Hermione lay in her bed shocked into silence by the knowledge that Lavender would say something so mean. She had of course never been laboring under the delusion that they were best mates. She just didn't think Lavender could be so harsh.
Parvarti spoke up at this point, "Just because she doesn't go jumping into Harry and Ron's beds doesn't mean she's a lesbian."
Hermione's heart went out to the girl who was standing up for her. 'I knew Parvarti was on my side. She would never s-' Her kind thoughts were interrupted by Parvarti's next words.
"I mean little innocent Hermione Granger just wouldn't do anything like that, she's got the libido of a first year."
Hermione fumed, just because she didn't snog random guys must mean she's either gay or uninterested? Her blood boiled, the only thing that saved the two girls some powerful hexes to the face was their exit from the room.
As the girls moved back down the staircase Hermione pulled her knees up and rested her chin on her arms. 'Do people really think that about me? That I must either be innocent or gay? Come on, Hermione you're being childish.' she thought wiping away the one silent tear that rolled down her face. 'Who cares what two stupid girls think anyways?' In truth she really did have much bigger problems to worry about.
However, something about their commentary had gotten under her skin. She knew she was innocent. She had had a sweet little relationship with Victor Krum but with him living in Bulgaria they had quickly become nothing more than pen pals. She was seventeen now. Surely she should have more experience with relationships. She shook her head trying to lose the thoughts of her roommates cruel words.
She rolled over to get some sleep. She had classes tomorrow that she had pay attention in and being exhausted wouldn't help. She drifted off to sleep imagining all of Lavender's pretty hair falling out.
The next morning she woke up the way she did every morning, to Crookshanks sticking his soft face to hers. She opened her eyes and sat up softly petting her sweet familiar. She drew open the curtains around her bed. Making her way to the bathroom she showered, donned her robes, and then considered her reflection.
Usually she pulled her hair back into a huge knot on top of her head and left everything else the way it was. Today she transfigured her hair into soft curls, even though she knew they wouldn't last through the heat and steam of potions. She changed her eyes to look a little brighter, and her face a little smoother toned.
Exiting her dormitory, she walked down to the common room. Harry and Ron were there waiting for her as usual. She walked over to them, half expecting a comment on her appearance. When none came she wasn't overly surprised but she was still disappointed. They started to make their way down to the Great Hall. Neither Harry nor Ron noticed that she was falling further and further behind.
She watched them round a corner until they were no longer in sight. She paused leaning against the cool wall of the corridor wondering why what Parvarti and Lavender had said bothered her so much. She ducked her head, her newly transfigured hair covering the Gryffindor emblem on her robes. She was usually so level headed. She knew she was pretty enough. Besides, that surely what was in her head mattered far more than what was on her face. Her inner musings were interrupted by a voice.
"Hey," It sounded like a boy,
Hermione just ignored it, confident the greeting was for someone further down the hallway. She shifted her head so that her hair covered her face a little more.
"Whats a pretty thing like you doing all alone? Your boyfriend she keep you on a tighter leash you never know who is going to snatch up the opportunity to help a pretty girl."
She had heard his footsteps getting closer, but hadn't realized how close he was until she felt a hand reach out and tuck a bit of her hair behind her ear. Looking up for the first time she nearly screamed.
Her wand was drawn in the next instant pointed sharply in the horrified face of Draco Malfoy.
"Holy Shit Granger!" Malfoy cried out, backing away quickly.
'Ew he was hitting on me! Did he really not realize it was me?' she thought to herself.
"Malfoy!" She yelled back. "What were you doing!"
"I had no idea that was you!" He looked at his hand as if horrified that it had touched her. He noticed the truly horrified expression on her face which sparked an idea. "What did you do to yourself Granger?" he inquired, moving closer to her, watching her squirm at his sudden change of attitude. "You look half decent," he added and reached out to touch her hair again, stifling his laughter at the look on her face.
She looked like she was going to be sick. Malfoy's eyes light up at this. If this was how she reacted when he flirted, it was almost worth the disgusting concept of flirting with a mudblood. He turned away laughing and made his way to breakfast. While he walked he mused on Granger's priceless expression when he had touched her hair again.
'Why did she look so disgusted? Does she not think I'm attractive?' That was a new concept to him. Everyone always wanted him. He frowned. But, that frown soon made way for a smirk, he had found something even more fun than taunting Potter.
"Hey, Hermione, where did you disappear to back there?" Harry asked genuinely concerned for his friend.
Hermione gave him a slight smile. "Bathroom," She answered evenly.
"You should have said something, we would have waited for you," he said, his smile faltering a bit.
She caught him glancing over her shoulder at the Slytherin table. She turned around and found herself looking at Malfoy who blew her a kiss and then winked. Harry noticed and glared back. Turning back to her food she muttered something about not being hungry, and picked up her bag and left.