*Several months earlier, at the beginning of 5th year*
I ran down the corridors, no particular destination in mind. I just knew that I needed to get away from the great hall. Returning to Hogwarts had not been the wonderful experience of years past. Tears flowed down my face as I recalled my conversation earlier that day on the Hogwarts Express.
Making myself comfortable in our compartment, I began to notice people staring in as they walked by. Ron refused to make eye contact with me, Harry, who was seated next to me, kept his nose buried in a book he'd quickly pulled out of his bag when I entered and Ginny was reading a copy of Witch Weekly.
"What's going on?" I asked no one in particular. Ron shot me an angry look.
"As if you don't know. Did you forget to mention anything this summer?" He spat.
"What? Of course not. I was with my parents on holiday." I answered honestly.
"He's referring to Viktor Krum." Ginny said in a bored tone from behind her magazine, Harry sighed.
"What about Viktor?" I asked, confused.
"Oh give it up Hermione, the whole school knows you slept together." Ron mumbled, crossing his arms.
"How?!" I whispered, shocked.
"So you don't even deny it?!" Ron shouted. Harry sighed again and put his book away.
"Viktor told his friends in Slytherin - and they made sure everyone else knew." Harry grimaced.
Tears began to flow freely down my face.
"Why would he tell something like that to his friends?" I sobbed.
"Ginny, why don't you tell her what you heard. It might be easier coming from you." Harry asked, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Ginny closed her magazine and set it on the seat next to her.
"Hermione, I was hoping to wait until we were alone to discuss this, but apparently now is the time. We ran into Pansy Parkinson in Madam Malkin's this summer. She told us about you and Viktor." She began.
"Tell her the rest, Ginny." Ron barked after a few moments of silence, "tell her how her stupid decision has impacted all of us."
"Ronald, I was getting there." She sneered at him before softening her expression and turning back to me, "Hermione, she told us that Viktor had only been using you for sex."
My heart stopped, that explained the sudden breakup and finality of Viktor's last letter. I'd naively believed him when he said that he needed to focus on his career and that a long-distance relationship wasn't feasible. I'd believed all of his lies and believed us to still be friends.
"How does this impact you, Ronald?" I asked, bitterly. Ginny glared at him before picking up her copy of Witch Weekly and flipping through a few pages. Once she'd found what she was looking for she handed her copy to me so that I could see the article. It was a very small opinion piece, contributed by a reader.
Hermione Granger: Heartbreaking Harlot
Article by Posy Parkinson
The title and author caught me off guard. How was I a harlot, and why the hell did Posy Parkinson care?
"Posy Parkinson?" I questioned Ginny.
"No idea why she wrote it," she replied honestly, "I'm sure it was at the behest of her darling daughter Pansy. Just read it."
Hermione Granger: Heartbreaking Harlot
Those with children at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry might recognize the name Hermione Granger, the muggle-born friend of Harry Potter. Those of us with well brought up children may not be aware of her. This is simply because our children understand the importance of keeping good company, they would not associate with the likes of a harlot.
You read that right, my fellow witches! Hermione Granger is the harlot of Hogwarts! Not only has she managed to ensnare Harry Potter under her spell, she has also captivated the attention of the Weasley family, in particular the youngest sons, Fred, George, and Ronald. The deviant behavior rumored to take place in Gryffindor tower is enough to make any mother tremble with fear.
If her interest in four of her fellow classmates has not been enough to bring shame to her family, she has set her sights on a gentleman in the quidditch world spotlight: Viktor Krum! This information has come direct from fellow students at Hogwarts, several of whom speak directly with Viktor Krum himself! The pair attended last term's Yule Ball together and it is rumored that they partook in illicit behavior on the very grounds of Hogwarts!
My fellow mothers, please, do not allow your sons to fall victim to the charms of this young harlot and do not allow your daughters to be tricked into giving away their honor as this young witch has done.
I sat back, shocked.
"My mother has been getting owls all summer. This is not the only article that has been written. She also wrote a small piece for the Daily Prophet, but it was shoved to the back pages." Ginny explained.
"How can people believe this?" I asked, still unable to tear my eyes away from the page.
"The same way they believe all the lies Rita Skeeter wrote about us last year. It's the same nonsense." Harry explained, "people are believing it all over again."
Dinner had been unbearable. I felt as if every pair of eyes in the great hall were on me. The Slytherins snickered openly, Pansy Parkinson looking as smug as ever. Gryffindors had even distanced themselves from me. Only Harry and the Weasleys had stayed nearby to show their support.
But it wasn't enough. My heart was breaking all over again, the pain of Viktor's betrayal struck a new nerve. I was thrown into this without any warning, not even an owl from those who I considered friends. It took every last ounce of energy to keep from breaking down in the Great Hall. As soon as it was possible, I attempted to slip away from dinner, knowing every pair of eyes was upon me anyway.
A/N: Thank you to those who provided your feedback in the last chapter. Hopefully this will help with a bit of back story and show why Hermione has decided to go dark. I'll provide more backstory in the next chapter as well. Hope you enjoyed this!
