Disclaimer: In its use of intellectual property and characters belonging to JK Rowling, Warner Bros, Bloomsbury Publishing, et cetera, this work is intended to be transformative commentary on the original. No profit is being made from this work.
A/N: Written in response to the artwork 'At A Glance' by Gotle for the Hawthorn & Vine Reverse Challenge 2014. Please google Gotle's work to see the amazing inspirational piece!
PROLOGUE
Amidst the laughter in the hallways, there's a thin web of uncertainty and distrust that hangs all over the castle.
She wants to believe that it's really just Peeves who's secretly threading a tapestry of terror for the sick fun of it, but each pulse of Harry's scar reminds them that there is a gulf between sly deceit and twisted evil.
Even when she has her arms linked with Harry's and Ron's, when their giggles chime in with the merry atmosphere, it's hard to shake off the uneasiness.
The unpleasant feeling intensifies as they walk down the hallway, red-rimmed cloaks brushing by green-rimmed ones, and the familiar silver-blond mop that makes bile rise in her throat appears. She braces herself for the spiteful words to come her way, the ones that are tinged with a horrible naiveté that she doesn't quite know how to fault because discrimination is in his blood.
Nothing.
Ron puts on his best belligerent expression, ready to face any challenge head-on, but she tugs at him. Instead, she's the one who turns her head. She can't muster the same look as Ron, but she doesn't have to think any further.
All she can do is look surprised, because when his grey eyes meet hers, it feels like everything around her has been sucked into –
A vacuum.
Ron immediately hurries her along with his arm protectively around her back.
"Come on, Hermione," urges Harry. "Don't let him suspect anything."
She hasn't believed Harry before, his rants that Malfoy has become a Death Eater and is about to unleash terror from within the stronghold of Hogwarts. Now she can't help but wonder if it's true after all.