Title: These fists can fight for two
Author: Miss-Judgey
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
Hermione
"Harry? Do my eyes deceive me or is that Ron and Lavender?"
"Mmmhmm" Harry grunted, refusing to look up from his plate.
"Since when?"
"Yesterday"
"Oh. Ha!"
I had come in to the great hall to find Ron and Lavender sucking face at the table, their faces so closely linked that only a mess of orange and brown hair was visible. In fact, they were so engrossed in their activity that the disgusted taunts of their peers went unheard. Harry was pointedly looking in the opposite direction, and was playing with his food in a manner which suggested that his appetite was lost. Looking around the table, I noticed that Harry was not the only one.
"Did you know that he liked Lavender?" I asked, sitting down on Harry's other side.
"Not until he told me they were going out."
"Oh" I said, feeling a pang guilt. The boys rarely kept things from me, and when they did it was only because they knew it was dangerous or stupid. They obviously felt that it wasn't worth bothering me about, or that I was too busy with my own problems to care. The idea that my two best friends weren't sharing everything with me like they used to hurt more than I would have imagined. But really, I coudn't blame anyone but myself. If I had of been a better friend recently than they would have told me. I was shaken out of my reverie when my stomach grumbled loudly, loud enough for other people to hear. Harry turned around and looked at me with a raised eyebrow. I laughed nervously and turned to look at the spread of food on the huge table. I realised I hadn't eating at all the day before, but when I started looking at the amazing spread of food, none of it seemed appealing to me. In fact it disgusted me. I looked around the table at everyone else shovelling down their breakfasts and felt my stomach turn. Knowing that it would raise suspicion if I didn't eat, I started to load up my plate with fruit. Fortunately, I was saved from eating when Harry abruptly said
"Do you think they intend to come up for air anytime soon?"
"Unlikely."
Harry sighed heavily and dropped his spoon with a loud clang before standing up.
"Coming?" he said, looking down at me.
"Oh…sure" I said, taking one last glance at Ron and Lavender before following suit.
Harry and I walked out of the Great Hall in a comfortable silence. We had always been close, far closer than me and Ron. The unfortunate events of Harry's life had made him a much more mature boy than Ron, and his perspective on life was so much more down to earth. His reserved silence and hunched shoulders told me that something was wrong with him, but I knew him well enough to guess that he wouldn't want to bother anyone about it. He was like that, keeping everything to himself. He really was a Gryffindor. Before I could ask him if any was wrong, he let out a sigh.
"So how is everything going with Malfoy?" Harry asked
I had seen this question coming. I knew better than to try to lie to Harry, and decided that he was probably mature enough not to blow up at the idea of me being civil with Malfoy.
"Really well, actually. He hasn't called me mudblood once."
"You're kidding" Harry said, surprised.
"Draco Malfoy has been nice? Freaky."
"Yeah, it is a bit." I said. Harry had just spoken my exact thoughts on Malfoy's strange behaviour over the past couple of days.
"Well if he gives you any trouble you'll tell me?"
"Of course"
"Good" Harry said, putting an arm around my shoulder in a protective way.
As we reached the transfiguration room Harry took his arm away and I turned to face him.
"Harry…" I said hesitantly
"Yeah?"
"Thanks"
Harry looked at me blankly for a moment before saying
"What for?"
"Don't worry" I said, smiling. Trust Harry not to know that he has just made your day.
He looked at me suspiciously but didn't say anything. I wondered if maybe now would be the right time to ask him if anything was bothering him. I contemplated it for several seconds before deciding not to. Harry would tell me when he was ready to, there was no point in trying to force him to confide in me. He was giving me my space, so I would give him his.
I looked up at Harry to find him shaking his head.
"Ron and Lavender. I still can't believe it."
I laughed and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Me either"
At that moment, the door to the transfiguration room opened and Harry and I went in to find our seats. As a number of Ravenclaw students filed in to the room, Harry breathed a sigh of relief
"Well at least we won't be sharing this class with Slytherins this year. I don't think I could have dealt with them this morning" he said, waving to Cho Chang.
"Oh…yeah. Great" I said, feigning relief. I was surprised to find that I was disappointed that I wouldn't be seeing Draco Malfoy. I never thought I would see the day when I would look forward to seeing a Slytherin, particularly Malfoy.
As McGonagall introduced the morning's lesson I let my mind wander. I thought about everything from Ron and Lavender to my situation with Draco as I stared unseeingly in to the distance. With my head resting on my hand I fell in to a relaxed day dream. It wasn't until Harry began to pack up beside me that I realised it was the end of class. An hour and a half had passed, and I had no idea what had been taught or discussed. Hoping that no one else noticed, I stood up and pack up my things.
Ron was waiting for Harry and I outside the classroom and he brightened up when he saw us.
"I'm starving!" said Ron, falling in to step beside Harry.
"Ron, we only ate breakfast an hour and a half ago" said Harry, with a laugh
"I know, but I didn't really get a chance to eat much…" said Ron sheepishly
"Eugh, gross. So your faces were attached for the whole of breakfast?" said Harry with a hint of anger in his voice.
"Ha. Yeah I guess so" said Ron, either ignoring the tone of Harry's question or simply not hearing it.
At that point in the conversation we reached the main staircase. Harry and Ron waved goodbye to me and walked down the staircase and out the doors of the castle on their way to Care of Magical Creatures while I walked past the staircase on my way to Arithmancy. As I walked along the corridors alone other students passed by me like blurs. They talked and laughed as they walked to class with friends, or jeered at other students as they walked by. Some of them yelled out to me, but I couldn't bring myself to answer them. Somehow, I felt so separate from them, like they existed in a world completely apart from my own. My head was spinning and my legs felt like jelly, but I kept on walking. I walked on past professor Vector's classroom and started to ascend the staircase towards mine and Draco's dormitory. No one noticed my presence so I doubted they would notice my absence. After what seemed like years, I reached the portrait hole.
"Salvus" I whispered and the portrait opened. I climbed through the portrait hole and stepped in to the dormitory. I dumped my bag unceremoniously on to the floor and stumbled in to the lounge area. I walked past the large lounge chairs and mine and Draco's desks. I noted absently that Draco's desk was covered in text books and writing implements, whilst mine was completely bare. I walked into my bedroom and collapsed limply on to my large four-poster bed. As I lay there on my bed, my stomach growled with hunger and my throat felt cracked and dry. With my last ounce of energy I kicked off my shoes and lay back down. With a sigh of relief, I fell in to a deep sleep.
Draco
That afternoon, with a lack of better things to do, I decided to visit Severus. I had known Severus since I was quite young, and he knew me better than anyone. He knew my family situation and had been there for me during my early years at Hogwarts. And plus, he was the only professor who could give me what I needed. It was only the beginning of term and I was already stressed out of my head. I hadn't slept properly in weeks, and the exhaustion was beginning to take its toll on my psyche. I reached the door to Severus' office and knocked without hesitation.
"Enter" yelled Severus from inside
I pushed the door open and stepped inside Severus' office, closing the door behind me immediately.
"Draco. I was wondering when you were going to grace me with your presence" drawled Severus from behind his desk.
I smiled, glad to be in the presence of the only trustworthy adult I knew. There was something about the man that just exuded strength, the kind of strength that tells you that no matter what the problem, he would always have a solution. It was comforting, and I had to admit that from the day I met him, I had wished the sarcastic man was my father.
"Geez sorry, it's only been like 2 days" I said jokingly.
Severus only gave me a warning glance and walked out from behind his desk, motioning towards one of the comfortable armchairs in front of the fire. People who didn't know Severus well would expect his quarters to be dark and gloomy but they were actually quite comfortable. In fact, it was the only place in the world that felt like home to me. I don't know whether it was simply because of the décor, or because the room belonged to Severus, but his quarters always felt so warm and safe to me. As I looked around the familiar room, I caught Severus' calculating gaze.
"Well?" he said
"What?" I replied, with mock confusion.
Severus just raised one eyebrow and leaned back in his chair. I sighed heavily and mimicked him.
"I was hoping that you would be able to give me some calming draught" I said. I knew Severus well enough to know that he didn't appreciate people speaking indirectly.
"Only if you will tell me why you need it" he said calmly. I didn't expect him to be surprised; he got requests like this all the time from his students.
"I haven't been able to sleep properly for months."
"Why do think that is?" asked Severus, unsatisfied with my answer.
"My father was very clear this summer that anything other than the best would not be tolerated. I am worried that I may not be able to produce the results he is expecting. Living up to his expectations is really important. You know what will happen if I don't"
Severus nodded understandingly. He knew what the punishment for failing would be as well as I did.
"Well, you know that I am always available if you are struggling with your school work. Or with anything, for that matter" Severus said, as he walked over to his potion stores.
"Thanks, sir"
Severus handed me the calming draught and sat back down.
"Is there something else you wish to discuss, Draco?"
I looked up at Severus and saw that familiar look in his eyes. The look that says he already knows exactly what you want to say.
"Well, there is actually. It is regarding Hermione Granger, sir."
"Ah, yes. I knew you would ask eventually" said Severus
"Don't get me wrong, I am not concerned about some Gryffindor. I am just curious. She is not acting like her usual insufferable self." I said, using disinterest to mask the hint of concern in my voice.
"You know that I can't tell you anything that Miss Granger would not want others to know. All I can tell you is that it is none of your business" said Severus, walking over to the door.
"But I have to live with her!"
"I am well aware of your living situation, Draco" replied Severus in a bored voice.
"Don't you think I should get to know?" I protested angrily, but Severus just opened the door and motioned for me to leave.
"Don't argue Draco, Miss Granger's private affairs are not up for discussion"
I sighed and walked over to the doorway.
"Fine. Bye sir."
"Goodbye Draco" said Severus, shutting the door behind me.
Annoyed at Severus, I began walking back to the dormitory, slipping the calming draught in to the pocket of my robes. I hadn't missed the knowing smile on his face as he had closed the door, and his refusal to tell me confirmed my suspicion. Granger had lost someone, but that wasn't all. There was clearly something else going on and if I didn't find out what, I knew it would drive me crazy. After affirming inwardly that I was only curious, not concerned for a Gryffindor, I made my way to Charms.
Hermione
I slowly opened my eyes and looked around the room. It was dark and I noticed with surprise that I had slept through the whole afternoon of classes and dinner. I rolled over and looked at my muggle alarm clock. It was 1 a.m. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew I should have been concerned that I had missed all of my classes, but I couldn't really bring myself to care. I climbed out of bed and walked in to the bathroom. I locked the door behind me and undressed. I closed my eyes and stepped on to the muggle scales I had brought with me from home. After taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes and looked down at the scales. 108 lbs. I felt elated. That was at least 15 lbs less then at the start of the summer. Well at least I was doing something right. I stepped off the scales and turned the shower on. As I pulled my hair up in to a bun my mind wandered once again to Snape. His kindness confused me. I stepped in to the scalding water of the shower and contemplated his actions. He said that I could talk to him, that he was there for me. But why would he care about me? He had never shown any signs of concern for me before now, so what had changed? He was not acting at all like himself, and he wasn't the only one. Malfoy was behaving so strangely. I had never expected to receive sympathy from the likes of Snape and Malfoy, and I didn't really understand it at all. As I turned off the shower I decided that something strange was going on, and that I would keep my distance from Snape and Malfoy. Although, considering that Snape was my teacher and Malfoy lived with me, that could be difficult. I pulled on a bathrobe and walked through my bedroom and out to the shared living area. I picked up my bag from where I had dropped it that afternoon and started to pull out my school books. If I was going to avoid suspicion, I had to make sure everything seemed normal. So I started to pull out my books and quills, arranging them on the desk next to Malfoy's. When I was satisfied with the way it looked, I walked back in to my bedroom. While I was awake, I figured I may as well make use of the time. So I got down on the floor and started to do some sit-ups. I decided I would not stop until I had done 200, or I had passed out.
Snape
When I noticed that Miss Granger missed lunch I thought nothing of it. I reasoned with myself that she could well have been studying with friends, or simply getting something from her dormitory. However, that afternoon when she missed potions I began to feel concerned. In her time at Hogwarts, Hermione Granger had never missed a potions class without a very good reason. Then to make matters worse, she was not at dinner. At first, my mind jumped to the worst conclusions. Visions of Granger lying on the floor in a pool of blood passed through my head and I began to panic. I could not have Granger dying on my watch, not when Dumbledore had asked me to watch over her. However, I told myself to calm down and think of the possibilities. She had looked exhausted yesterday, so perhaps she had merely gone back to her dormitory and fallen asleep. I had noticed her leaving breakfast with Potter that morning and she looked perfectly happy, so there was no reason to jump to the terrifying conclusions. However, her absence at several meals since arriving back at school confirmed my fears. Granger was definitely going through something, and without help it would only get worse. As much as I hated to be seen coddling students, especially those outside of my own house, Granger's situation was an exception. And besides, Dumbledore asked me to look out for her, so I was only doing my job. I decided that the next day I would deal with the whole thing, even if just to calm my nerves. If something happened to Granger, I wouldn't be able to live with myself.
A.N:
