Hermione didn't go to dinner she just sat and waited silently fuming over the theft of her wand. Trying if anything to keep from replaying those awful, she cringed, those heart wrenching memories. Because she couldn't believe her Harry and Ron had done that. She wasn't aware that they had enough hate in them to hold a boy down and beat him up. That's something you'd expect Malfoy to do a part of her thought. But, the thing was he didn't. He never had. The rumor mill in Hogwarts was reliable and she would have surely heard about it because after all she was rooming with Lavender and Parvati. The look in the boys' eyes was the most awful part.
They were empty.
Empty of guilt, empty of every beautiful human emotion that she had tied to them, there was only a burning rage, a terrible hate. It was hard to try and convince herself that she had seen wrong because she observed everything for minute details. Could leave a room and return to notice that the fringe of the carpet had moved a little to the left. It was like some kind of betrayal. That Harry and Ron were remembering a wonderful man through violence, that the only thing they felt was anger and not grief.
The portrait opened and Gryffindor's returning from dinner poured in but she didn't see Harry or Ron. She sat there waiting her eyes gazing into space her fingers steepled underneath her chin as her elbows rested on her knees. People slowly went up to their rooms and the fire began to die a little leaving her in half darkness.
She looked up as the portrait swung open, promising if it was not them she would leave. But it was them and she was disappointed by the firmness of their stance and the slight lift to their chins. They had been talking preparing themselves for a fight. Another fight she thought wincing. But she didn't want to. They sat across from her and she distinctly felt like a teacher and winced once again dropping her hands to rest on her knees and leaned back. They watched each other warily and she decided to speak first.
"What were you two thinking?" She whispered quietly and it was a little too vulnerable for her own liking.
"It's his fault 'Mione." Harry said a hint of steel in his voice and Ron nodded his mouth a thin line.
"You have no proof." She shot back glaring at them and Harry opened then closed his mouth.
"What are you defending the ferret Hermione?" Ron asked angrily and she sat silent for a moment.
"Yes, yes I am." She said and they both continued to glare at her.
"How can you? He deserved it." Ron said heatedly.
"We were doing it for Remus." Harry muttered.
"Don't say that!" She shouted furiously jumping to her feet and they looked at the in surprise. "How dare you do him such a dishonor? Do such a horrible thing for the man who always told to use reason to solve your problems, to think rationally, and be peaceful!" She could feel tears dripping down her face and growled angrily at her own weakness. But this conversation brought back so much of the pain, that didn't even have the chance to fade.
"He would understand." Harry grit out trying to keep the blush of shame hidden. "It was the right thing to do."
"Right thing to do?" She asked in disbelief. "I can't believe you would do this to Remus and to Dumbledore." Harry's head jerked up pain clear on his face. "He wanted this place to be safe for students, all the students! You think he would proud of Harry? Think Dumbledore would approve you beating up a boy while Ron held his arms so he couldn't even defend himself! Would he Harry?" She was shouting now and Harry shot to his feet his eyes angry and pained.
"You don't know anything Hermione." He said quietly but savagely before disappearing up the stairs. Ron stood too his face flushed with a mixture of guilt and anger.
"Way to hit below the belt." Ron said.
"Don't even get me started on you Ron!" She said pointing her finger towards him.
"I won't." He said before following Harry up the stairs. Hermione stood for there for a moment before storming up the stairs slamming the door to her dorm behind her.