Title: Hermione's Constant
Rating: K
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Hermione
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Word Count: 194
Summary: Hermione can always depend on her books.

Notes:

The Stratified Agate Competition: Level 1 – Childhood moment of one member


Eight-year old Hermione sits on the swing with her book. For once in her young life, the book isn't open and her nose isn't buried in it. She's too busy watching all of the kids play together.

Deciding to be brave, she takes a deep breath, stands up, places her book on the swing, and makes her way over to Janice and Dawn.

"Hi, can I play with you two?" Hermione asks, doing her best to sound assertive and strong.

Dawn wrinkles her nose as if she smells something foul, but it's Janice who speaks. "No way. Get out of it, Know-It-All Granger. No one wants you here."

Hermione sniffles and feels her eyes well up with tears, but she holds them at bay. She turns and goes back to her swing. She picks up her book and sits down again. She watches for a moment as Dawn and Janice giggle, pointing at Hermione as if she's from the circus.

She swallows down the hurt and opens her book. She now sees the truth. Excluding her mum and dad, her books are the only things she really has to depend on in her life.