Hello! Chapter 4. After this one i will warn you there is a pretty serious turn around for Hermione and Lavender, its very abrupt but i'll explain it later in other chapters.
Reviews feed the muse
Three weeks into the year Hermione could be found during her free time usually in the library, most of the time with Jay sitting studying beside her. It was on one of those particular occasions that Lavender actually spoke to Hermione for the first time since they had left the Great Hall that first night. Lavender had silently moved into the library and found the studying duo, she cleared her throat to draw their attention.
"I'm morally obligated to inform you that it's the beginning of the full moon tonight. I've taken my potion but I will still be forced to change." Lavender explained flatly and Hermione regarded her for a moment.
"Alright, would you rather I slept on the couch the next few nights?" Hermione inquired after a moment and Lavender shook her head.
"I'll probably just sleep it out." The blonde mumbled before turning and leaving the library.
Hermione and Jay had both watched her go before they both sighed softly both with similar thoughts. They had both tried to befriend the wolf but to no avail, Lavender had let Jay down gently but until now the dirty blonde werewolf only ignored Hermione. Frowning Hermione looked back down at her books only to look up when a soft voice beside her rouses her.
"Is it hard to live with her when she wont talk to you?" Jay asks softly and Hermione shakes her head.
"Its harder for her to live with a castle full of people that treat her like she has the plague." Hermione states softly sorrow in her eyes for a moment.
"But she could have friends. You and I have both tried to be her friend. I even saw Pansy Parkinson talk to her the other day. Lavender just walked away." Jay muttered looking down at the table.
"Don't be sad Jay, its hard for Lavender. She feels like a monster and is treated like one when in all actuality she is just a teenage girl like the rest of us. She didn't ask for this but now she has to deal with it. The magical world has never looked particularly kindly on werewolves." Hermione explains gently touching Jays shoulder.
Momentarily Hermione forgets about Lavender when the young witch beside her startles at being touched and even shies away from the hand on her shoulder. Frowning Hermione pulls her hand back and stares seriously at the young girl beside her. Gently the brunette reached out again and gently touched Jay's arm despite the alarmed look on her face.
"Jay... Do... are you happy at home?" Hermione hedges gently worry clear in her eyes.
"I'm fine." Jay mumbles not really answering the question.
"You know, you can tell me if you have problems at home. I'm here to help you Jay." Hermione says softy but Jay shakes her head and stands quickly.
"I've got to go." She mumbles gathering her things hastily and bolting out of the library running into Pansy Parkinson on her way out.
Pansy frowns watching the little blonde leave before looking back at Hermione who was worrying her lip. As she approached the table she noticed Hermione pick up a little book that looked like it might have been a sketch pad. There were doodles all over the cover of it she noticed when she has next to Hermione in the seat the 1st year had just fled from.
"What was that about?" Pansy asks finally and Hermione shakes her head and sighs softly.
"I... I have a sneaking suspicion that she is abused at home and I tried to ask her about it." Hermione explains sitting back and looking at the sketchpad.
"Her running might just confirm that. I could talk to her." Pansy offers taking the sketchpad off of the brunette and opening it.
Both witch's gape when they see the skilful sketches within, the book must had been new when she had arrived as the first sketch was of the castle from the black lake. Flicking through the next few pages they saw the sorting hat and the candles in the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall. Then the sketches became people, the first was Poppy and Minerva staring happily at one another, the next was Hermione with a fierce look on her face that made Pansy chuckle.
Then came Lavender with a sad look on her scarred face but Hermione found the likeness astonishing and though the sorrow ran deep she couldn't help but think of how beautiful Lavender still was. The final page they looked at was one of Pansy and Hermione couldn't hide her smirk as to her this sketch confirmed her suspicions.
"Actually Pansy why don't you take this and go find her. Don't ask her outright but I think she has a crush on you. I'm sure you could get her to open up. Not like that you perve, she's barely 11." Hermione rolled her eyes when Pansy gave a lecherously playful grin at Hermione's words.
"Yeah yeah. I know, Granger. I'll tell you what I find out but you got to tell me... Madame Pomfrey and the Headmistress?" Pansy inquired seriously a slight quirk to her lips.
"Definitely. I should probably tell them they aren't as subtle as they think they are if Jay has spotted it." Hermione snickered at this and Pansy had a shocked look on her face before she giggled.
"Pansy you giggle? Merlin what is the world coming too." Hermione teased and Pansy gave a mock glare.
"Who knows, I mean I didn't take you for a lesbian either. Worlds just full of surprises." Pansy retorts only for Hermione to wrinkle her nose.
"How'd you figure that one out?" Hermione was frowning now wondering what had given her away. Pansy indicated the sketchpad.
"The way you looked at the sketch of Lavender. No straight girl looks at another girl like that." Pansy pointed out her tone surprisingly gentle now.
"Oh..." Hermione flushed slightly.
"Its got to suck yeah? The girl you have feelings for doesn't give you the time of day. I'm sorry Granger that blows." Pansy sounds apologetic now and Hermione just shrugs.
"I will get over it I guess. Go find Jay. She sneaks into the charms classroom sometimes if you cant find her." Hermione urges after shrugging nonchalantly
Pansy just patted Hermione on the shoulder and left the library and the brunette went back to her studying though her mind just couldn't remain focussed. Between Jay and Lavender she could feel a head ache coming on. Cutting her losses she packed up her things and headed for the hospital wing in the hopes of finding some adult conversation. What she found was particular adult but I wasn't conversation.
When she had walked into the wing the beds were all empty but the door the Poppy's office was ajar so Hermione shrugged and made her way over with a smile on her face, she knocked as she walked in instead of waiting for an answer. She quickly covered her eyes and cursed herself for not waiting for an answer.
Poppy was sat on her desk with her blouse unbuttoned to the waist and a tall Scot standing between her legs. The Mediwitch's hands were gripping slim hips as a hand moved between her legs beneath her skirt, Hermione was extremely glad she couldn't see anything too terribly sordid but simply knowing what was happening was mortifying. She turned and walked right back out the door as Poppy shrieked indignantly and Minerva made some odd strangled sound.
Minerva was the first the move out into the medical wing and Hermione slumped heavily back on a bed with her eyes covered as she mumbled to herself about burning eyes and needing a drink. To let her frustration show Minerva pulled her wand and shot a mild stinging hex at the brunette who yelped and finally uncovered her eyes to glare at the headmistress.
"You saw nothing Granger!" Poppy grumbled as she came out of the office a moment later her face flushed no doubt with arousal as well and extreme embarrassment.
"I wish I saw nothing. I come up here for a chat and walk in on that? Merlin's balls!" Hermione exclaims indignantly.
"I can assure you no balls were involved." Minerva smirks at the brunette who mock gags.
"I just bet you bloody slut." Hermione retorted the mirth swimming in her chocolate eyes softening her words.
"Slut? You're just jealous I have... what do you kids say? You're just jealous that I have game." Minerva grins a little proud of herself and Hermione and Poppy both roll their eyes.
"I'm not jealous, i'm shocked. You used to be the stoic and stern Professor McGonagall and now you're reverting back to your sex crazed teenage years or something. Its quite the mind fuck." Hermione stated shocking both Poppy and Minerva with her swearing.
"I cant believe you just swore. You must be upset about something." Poppy points out as she and Minerva moved over to the bed opposite the one Hermione was sitting on.
"I'm not upset. I'm frustrated. Lavender has only spoken to me to tell me about the moon and nothing else in the last three weeks and i'm pretty sure Jay is being abused by her parents or someone at her home. Pansy's been my closest friend lately! What is going on!" Hermione grew more and more agitated the longer she spoke and after a moment Minerva moved over and sat beside the brunette pulling her into a hug.
"You just need to calm down. Lavender lives with you so she will talk with you eventually, as for Jay what do you want to do about that?" Minerva asks addressing both issues and effectively calming the young brunette she had always been fond of.
"I will have to get back to you on Jay really, I don't want to push her too much too soon. Besides i'm pretty sure she has a crush on Pansy so I sent Pansy to try and talk to her." Hermione explains frowning a little.
"You trust Pansy not to make a bigger problem out of it?" Poppy asks after a moment.
"Yeah I think so. Pansy really has been great since we came back to school. She hasn't had a bad thing to say really. She was totally shocked and amused to learn about you two." Hermione added the last grinning when both women looked surprised.
"She knows about us? How?" Minerva inquires seriously.
"Jay, she's an amazing drawer. She sketched you both gazing at each other. I don't think anyone else knows." Hermione informed smiling at the two relieved women.
"Well good. Not that i'm ashamed but the rumour mill spreads faster than wildfire." Poppy sighs softly and Hermione nods.
"Don't worry i'm apparently rather transparent as well. Pansy knows i'm gay, as does Neville and Luna." Hermione wrinkles her nose only for Minerva to laugh at her.
"You're so cute when you do that." The older woman explained when Hermione glared at her.
"I am not cute, you old bat. I am fierce and determined!" Hermione stands and straightens her clothes looking entirely indignant.
"I dunno it is pretty cute." Poppy piped up and Hermione moved towards the door.
"Here I thought you would help alleviate my stress and all you've done is scar me and make it worse." Hermione grumbled walking out of the hospital wing.
Deciding she needed a nap she went straight to her and Lavenders rooms and went up to her bed, she lay down and fell asleep within minutes. Gem had climbed up and curled up in the dip of Hermione's back as she lay face down on the bed. She was warm and comfortable and the sleep was much needed.
Hermione woke gasping in pain in the early hours of the morning and sat up on the bed clutching her arm. She was aware of the other occupant of the room until a soft whine met her ears and a moment later in the relative darkness a werewolf covered in soft short sandy fur appeared. With another whine the wolf hesitantly reached out with a clawed hand and gently touched the rarely shown scar on Hermione left arms.
Usually Hermione might have jerked her arm back and covered the scar but the deep concern in the shining yellow brown eyes of the werewolf held her in place. Lavender whined again and dipped her head licking the offensive scar before pressing her large wolfish head into Hermione's stomach both offering and seeking comfort. Hermione didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around the wolf's head as Lavender moved on the bed and lay with her head on the brunettes lap.
"Lavender, you're gorgeous." Hermione whispered into the darkness, the wolf whined again softly as the brunette began to tease her ears.
The two stayed like this for the rest of the night and when the sun began to rise Hermione found herself watching raptly as Lavender seemed to shift back to her human self so fluidly. They both flushed faintly when they realised Lavender was entirely naked and Hermione found herself hoping to all that is holy that Lavender wouldn't scent her sudden arousal.