Hi guys, sorry the update took so long. As you know this is my first and only (as of yet) story, so I have been unsure about the whole uploading thing, and tbh a bit unsure about how I was going to keep going with this one.
I've reread it so many times now and have only just got the confidence back to keep going. This is like my trial run for further stories, so maybe future stories will be better? Hopefully?
I've taken to calling Hermione 'herm' in my head, so here's some more from my little herm.
T
Chapter 3
I rounded the corner of the corridor and made my way through the large oak doors of the library; it always holds an almost empty smell, like the old pages of books have been breathing, and there is no air left, just the slither of a scent of musk from the wooden shelves. Over the years I've become quite a hermit, hiding myself away in the library, but honestly its nice to get the peace away from the drama of everything. I do love Harry, but it seems whenever I'm with him he just radiates this sense of restlessness and nerves, and generally Ron helps to rile him up and make him excited, and they just bounce of each other building themselves up into this fidgety restless mess that sometimes I just can't handle. It's annoying. They are extremely annoying.
I took my usual seat toward the back of the library where there is a small collection of tables and chairs. Usually people seat themselves toward the doors of the library, and that's where it's loudest, and there are seats down some of the aisles which is always quieter than where I usually sit, but then you don't get a good view of the people sat near the doors. Don't get me wrong, I am a hermit, but I like to people watch. Plus, the older years like the aisle seats for other reasons completely unrelated to the library so no thanks, I'd rather not watch that. I said I was a hermit not a creep.
For a few minutes after I had sat down I stared at the entrance and just sat with my body basking in the sun from the skylights above. Danny Hart was arguing with someone who'd taken that book on herbology again that he's been after since before the summer holidays, and seriously Danny? Buy. Your. Own. Miss Pince strutted over there ready to break it up, it was a lost cause by then, but she shuffled them out of the library nonetheless. I didn't get to see the rest. Some second years entered, looked round at the empty place and left. It didn't seem that much more would be happening, so I took my book out. It wasn't revision, not yet, but I might as well read back up on how to transfigure household items into useable floo. To be quite honest I find the whole process horrifying, though it might be usable its not effective and the side effects are rough.
A good half hour had probably passed before I finally decided to detach my eyes from the pages, deciding enough was enough, and yes, fine, the book is boring. Yes, ok, I'm doing this to at least appear like I'm properly trying in transfig theory this year but its so godamn boring, and I'm already getting good grades professor alright? It's the only subject I'm predicted an E in and not an O. I hate McGonagall sometimes.
I saw him sitting casually at the desk to the far right of the little sitting section, feet up on the table, reading his arithmancy book. Draco might be considered as smart as me, but I can tell you now that my transfig theory is far better than his arithmancy and that's saying something. He's probably the only person in the year that challenges my status as the most academic in the year, and it annoys me because mostly he doesn't even try! He deserved falling behind in arithmancy the lazy, blood shaming git. I looked back down as a smug smile graces my lips and I turn the page in my book. He coughed and I looked up, but he remained impassive and reflective, looking intently at his page. I looked back at mine, shifted in my seat to get in a more comfortable position facing away from him. He coughed again. I looked at my watch, the crazy little muggle thing I only wear after school hours. Its nearly time for Hagrid's but I promised myself I'd finish this chapter. Then he does it again, and now I'm sure he's doing it just to piss me off and make me leave. I let out an agitated exhalation and continued to read, frustrated that he would do that. If you don't want to be here in this close proximity to me, find somewhere else to sit. I went back to my reading. 'place the item on a firm surface, making sure that it is straight and unhindered in its posi-' *cough* ugh. Its not even a manly cough this time. Its shrill and definitely fake.
"Malfoy stop it." I said through gritted teeth, not turning to look at him.
"What?" he says pretending not to understand.
"Coughing. It's disruptive."
"Its called performing a bodily function, Granger. What? Do you want me to stop breathing as well?" he said silkily.
"Yes."
"Wow, enough with the death threats." He said coyly, and I can imagine him putting up his hands up in mock surrender, like I'm over-reacting.
"Right, I'm the one issuing death threats." I said scathingly, as I whipped my head around to face him. "Malfoy, please. After all the things you say to me, you are accusing me of being the outrageously rude one?"
"Well you did just tell me to stop breathing."
"No, you offered." I said and sat back around, looked back down at my book. It went quiet. No one else in the library. Miss Pince had returned to her desk and seemed to be looking quite fervently down at her parchment. I heard a shuffling from behind me, heard his chair screech backward, his lazy steps coming toward me. He sits right next to me and I don't even flinch. He sits right next to me and I don't look up from my book. He sits right next to me and he just opens his bloody book and says nothing. Just sits there. Reading. How dare he.
I fidget in my chair, his proximity unnerves me to no end. I put my fingers in my hair to find my palms sweaty. "Look, Malfoy, I'm trying to read." And still HE SAYS NOTHING.
"Malfoy." I demand, but he shifts his chair closer. I stay put. I will not be moved.
"Malfoy, come on I just want to read."
"Why? Are you finding me distracting?" he looks up at me. Icy blue eyes meet mine but I stare hard back.
"Yes, for a matter for fact I am at the present considering you're pretty much sat in my lap."
"Hm, no. No, I'm not. I am simply sat next to you."
"What is this? Some kind of game? I'm not interested." I say flatly, finally shifting my chair away from him. He didn't answer me.
"See you're caving in to you're one weakness?" He said.
"See you're caving in to yours? I didn't realise you tried so hard to be a clever as me."
"Hm, no, I don't, not compared to how hard you try to be as clever as you." He said. I returned to reading my book.
"Doesn't it bother you?" he asks, and I'm ready for an insult, he's lining it up.
"What." I say sharply.
"You won't be in the same league as everyone else?" he said, and he genuinely looked questioning, that insolent git.
"Oh it's all about blood status to you isn't it? We aren't in the dark ages anymore, Malfoy, maybe you hadn't realised." I began to stand picking up my book "We are made of the same things, blood, bones, it's the same. I pity you. So many people you'll close off, so many inspiring minds, revolutionary ideas, because of what? Ancestry?" I pick up my bag "you're pathetic! And if you hadn't realised, I'm not in the same league as everyone else, the purebloods I mean, I'm outsmarting them all!" the blood rushes to my cheeks, and I turn around striding out.
"Granger?" ugh! No, he can't treat me like this any longer. I can't stand it. It does affect me. It does. It needs to stop.
"Granger. I know you can hear me. It quite rude to ignore people you know." He said calmly, he hadn't even got angry and that makes me angry. He just easily insults me, like its nothing. "Hey Granger, quit it. You don't have to leave."
"Well you won't, so I'd better." I said evenly, calming myself.
"Granger?" still walking.
"Granger?" keep walking.
"Granger?"
"What, Malfoy!" I whipped back around to see a smug smile playing gracefully on his lips. It made me shake.
"Isn't is strange? You've been reading and rereading the same page for 30 minutes," then he dragged his gaze slowly down over to my lips "yet, I'm the one that gets you all red faced and puckered… and in just 10." Then he withdrew his gaze and returned to his reading.
I stood there looking at him, my brow furrowed in confusion. The last of my rage flushing immediately out of my cheeks, and this was beyond rage, I wasn't going to win, so there's no point being angry. I looked down at the floor. I didn't dare look back up at him to see that little smile. Godamn smug smile. Merlin. I turned and left. Who did he really think he was? How dare he.
As I exited the library, dignity moderately still in tact, I looked down at the muggle watch, and I'm not usually one for profanities but: Shit. I was late again. I really don't understand how this keeps happening. I'm usually really on time, if one could ever be really on time. But I just normally get it just right, you know. I had thought that a little bit of time in the library reading before having to make my way to Hagrid's would have been fine. I must've just got a bit carried away.
I started to run. Though it had been bright sunshine when I was in the library, by the time I had made it to the courtyard it had started to pour with rain. I grabbed the back of my robes and pulled them above my head. My feet clattered loudly against the stone until I reached the steps that led down onto the grassy hillside. It was muddy and wet, and I regretted not taking a cloak.
I reached Hagrid's only half alive; I was shivering and my hair was soaked.
"Get yehself insiyed. Look at yeh, half-formed ghost yer so pale." Hagrid said as he swung the door shut behind me. The boys were already longing about the small living space in the hut.
"Oh well, took you long enough 'mione." Ron said as I made my way past Hagrid.
"Yeah well I'm sorry, I got held up in the-"
"Library." Harry said.
"Yes, I was rereading-"
"That transfiguration book that you still haven't read because Mcgonagall's an idiot and you hate her?" Harry finished.
"Not the words I was going to use, but yes. Am I really that transparent?"
"It's a particular topic that you won't bloody shut the hell up about 'mione, it not hard to guess."
"Hm." I said, collapsing in the large arm chair by the fire. "So don't let me interrupt, go on." I gestured with my hands for them to start talking.
"Well actually we weren't really talking." Harry said honestly.
"I assumed yeh want'd tea hermione?" Hagrid said as he shuffled back into the 'living room' a small tray in his hand with four mugs upon it.
"That's lovely Hagrid, thanks." I said taking the mug off the tray. "So you really haven't discussed anything?" I eyed them both suspiciously, my gaze finally settling on Harry.
"Look Hermione, there's not much to tell, and I'd really rather not think about it." Harry said glumly.
"Yeah s'alright Hermione. You're making a big deal about everything like you always do. Guys deal with stuff differently, no need to talk everything through. Right, Harry?" Ron said clapping him on the back. Yeah real tough Ron.
"It wouldn't mind talkin' 'bout it, Hermione's righ, Ron." Said Hagrid and I gave him a small look as thanks. And I got the feeling that as much as I cared for Harry, Hagrid was the same, he was just awkward with this kind off stuff. Maybe Ron was right, I should stop trying to get Harry to talk to me, but he needs to know that we're there for him despite what people say. That us three have achieved more together than we ever could have alone, and I don't want Harry to do it alone. I can't imagine what all those years must have been like at the Dursley's, pushing his feelings down and ignoring them, feeling out of place and alone, but he needs to know that he's no alone now. That we don't want him to be alone. I was starting to get really frustrated with Ron, he's doing what he thinks is right, but its all wrong. He's doing what Harry says but not looking behind the words.
"Yeah, s'pose. None of it really matters though does it. Ministry are being a bunch of clowns, bloody politics crumbling in on itself. I say we'll have new minister soon." Ron said, confidently.
"Ron they wont get rid on Fudge." I said dismissing his claims, he really could be an idiot sometimes.
"Nah, ruddy Minister's wedged 'imself in ain't he? First this whole mix up wih 'arry, next he's blaming Dumbledore. All finger pointed in opposite directions. He won't take theh blame for nothin'" Said Hagrid.
"Well my Mum has never much liked Fudge anyway." Ron said.
"What's that got to do with current affairs?" I questioned
"Nothing, I'm just saying."
"Like Ron said, none of it matters anyway. We're at Hogwarts. We're safe." Harry said, though I don't think he quite meant it. We lapsed into a welcomed silence. Hagrid's place was always warm and cheerful, but this last year has been rough on us all, what with Cedric dying, and you-know-who back its hard to find a legitimate moment of peace. I mean when your mind is at rest and you're wholly relaxed. Hagrid's has always done that for me, but tonight I'm not sure. There's anew air about the place. It doesn't really feel like Hagrid's any more, but more like an escape route. Somewhere we come to feel safe, but in these times we never really do.
"Hagrid, the fire's dying out." I said.
"Yeh yer righ, Ron come with me and fetch some logs? There round the back." Hagrid asked Ron. It wasn't so much of a question though. Ron begrudgingly rose from his seat and followed Hagrid outside. Harry and I sat for a moment. He shuffled in his chair, then turned to face me properly in the arm chair.
"You don't have to keep asking me, you know?" He said softly.
"I just want to know you're alright." I said.
"I am." Then we lapsed into silence again. I watched as the last flecks of light in the fire place died.
"What the Ministry is saying is bollocks." I said and looked at him as his gaze returned to the fireplace.
"Yep."
"Fudge is an idiot."
"Yep."
"We are here for you." I said looking at him intently when his eyes wouldn't meet mine.
"I don't expect you to be." He said. There was a large thump from outside followed by howl (I assumed was from Hagrid) and a high pitched voice shouting rather rapidly (I expected from Ron). The door flung open and the two of them entered:
"I told yeh Ron! Don't you be messing aroun' with the heavy logs!"
"I was trying to make sure you could get to the small ones!" they bickered settling the logs down in front of the fireplace. I stood up.
"Hagrid, we'd better be off anyway. We're way past curfew." I said, and Harry stood aswell.
"Yeh, yer righ', well off with yehs then." He sad, always sad when we have to leave. I turned toward the door.
"Bye Hagrid." Ron said as he unlocked the latch. "Yeah, thanks for the tea." I smiled good heartedly as I said it, and walked toward the door. Me and Ron left first, leaving Hagrid and Harry to say their goodbyes.
We made our way back toward the castle.
Thanks for reading!
Leave comments id really appreciate it. What did you like or dislike, anything you thought was out of character? What else do you want to see?