Hermione lay on her bed with her Hand in her elbows and her knees down by her pillow bent so her ankles slowly kicked up and down in the air. She was reading another yet another book to get her mind off things. She heard the door quickly open which made her jump. Lately she had quick nervous emotions like that. She grabbed her wand put kept it hidden at her side.
"O, it's just you" Hermione said as Anastasia walked in.
"Are you expecting someone?"
"Umm, no, you just surprised me"
"O" Anastasia said, and then turned to go get something out of her trunk.
"Anastasia," Hermione said as Anastasia turned around, "I don't think me and you got off to the best start the other night and I was wondering if you wanted to hang out some time, maybe".
"Yea, sounds cool" there was a small silence as they both stared at the ground thinking of what to say next.
"I am busy with Headgirl duties this weekend, but I think there is a Hogsmade trip next weekend?
"Sounds good to me. What are you reading," Anastasia asked turning to look at the cover of her book. "Little Women? That's a muggle book."
"My parents are muggles, this is my favorite muggle book".
"I am too lazy to read but I grew up off the movie, are you part muggle".
"Actually my parents are both muggles"
"No, really? Mine too!"
"Yeah, it's common here"
"Really, I just thought… well with all the talk of such prejudice like the expression dirtblood is it?"
"Mudblood" Hermione said in a low voice.
"O. McGonagall told me it was no one's business that I have muggle parents and I should be proud of it. She also suggested keeping it to me because of the well, dark war."
"Yea, she is probably right, sometimes, people judge you by it"
"But why, like, I do not get it"
Hermione leaned in closer, and her voice turned to a whisper, "He who must not be named, wants to purify the wizard race, not all support him, but they believe what he is doing is right. There is a long line of wizards that believe those who are pure bloods, not muggle related at all, should be the only kind of wizard. Don't let me scare you, just be careful. People are not always what they appear to be."
"Yea, I promise"
"She told me not to bring it up but, McGonagall told me, your dad is kind of the U.S. President" Hermione said with excitement.
"Yep, that's my daddy!"
"I am fascinated by the American government, I am proud of the British but like America is so, organized!"
"Yea, umm, my father pays more attention to that stuff an never really taught me much about it, I mean yea I can name everyone in Congress, but that's it".
"Aww, I am sorry."
"Nah, it is cool, I am totally fine with it, it's life. The funniest thing is, as free as the U.S. is, I have more freedom hear, like my whole life is organized for me."
"I could not do that, like live like that, like Hogwarts has done so well with teaching me how to depend on myself."
"I hope I can get that out of it"
There was a silence.
"I have to go, I have watch duty, I'll see you later"
"Bye Hermione"
As Hermione left her and Anastasia, had both felt the start of a friendship.
Hermione meet up with Harry in the common room and they walked to McGonagall's office to see what hall they were assigned to.
"I am sending you both to the courtyard; I think one of the perfects has been helping his friends sneak out at night, and I want you two to stay low and see if this is true."
"Yes, McGonagall" they both replied and then exited into the courtyard.
"Lets hide under the tree" Harry suggested, as they walked over to a large tree that's branches were so long the touched the ground, hiding Hermione and Harry.
"Hermione," Harry said, "You have been acting weird lately. After class you go strait to the girls' dormitory and only come down for class, food, and Headgirl duties, what's up?"
"I do not know, I have been depressed, over nothing I can remember."
"I can tell when you are lying; you do not look me in the eye. I am not that easy."
"Harry you are my best friend, but you are also a guy and I feel uncomfortable telling you some things."
"And that is fine, with minor things, but this is major."
"How do you know, how do you know I am not just an over dramatic teenage girl?"
"I never said you weren't over dramatic" Harry laughed, "but you are not over dramatic with things normal girls are."
"Thanks?"
"You are over dramatic when Ron copies your notes, or when I sneak out, but not with boys or your looks," Harry said. "Wait that is it it's a guy!"
"I'd tell you that Harry, you must understand!" Hermione said starting to get annoyed.
"I told you stuff that could take my life I if someone got them out of you!"
"Yes, Harry, you told me a lot, maybe my news could threaten my life!" Hermione threw her hand over her mouth regretting what she just said.
Harry looked her straight in the eye, she could see a bit of anger and fright in his eyes, and said "What the hell happened Hermione", he said as calm as he could.
Her hand stayed tightly over her mouth with tears forming in her eyes.
"Harry (sniff) it is not (sniff) that easy" Hermione said bursting into tears.
Harry walked closer to her and gave her a hug. "You know I can fix this for you".
"You going to play hero, will not help the situati…"
She could not finish her sentence as Harry threw his hand over her mouth. She soon saw why as they saw three figures approaching the center of the courtyard. The figures moved closer, and Hermione and Harry could now recognize them. It was Malfoy, accompanied by Crab and Goyle. They all had a bottle of ale in their hands.
"Finally" Harry whispered in excitement as Hermione removed his hand from her mouth.
"Harry" she whispered, "I want to go, go and get McGonagall!"
"No way, I have been waiting for the opportunity to bust him ever since he ratted us out for going to Hagrid's in our first year!"
"Harry, I am begging you, I do not want him to see I was crying!"
"If you tell me what happened I will walk away right now and let McGonagall deal with Malfoy!"
"Opps, too late" a sarcastic voice interrupted.
"Yea, maybe for you Malfoy!" Harry replied.
"Harry let's just go" as Hermione said this Harry looked at her, more bewildered then he had ever been in his whole life.
He then figured it out, he ripped out his wand and drew it to Malfoy's throat "It was you! No wander Hermione would not let me hurt you the other day!"
"Harry what are you talking about?" Hermione jumped in, "Now we can't even bust Malfoy because you put your wand to his throat!"
At that note Harry lowered his wand. Him and Hermione turned around and started walking away but Harry turned around once more and said, "I'm watching you Malfoy".
"Yikes" Malfoy added sarcastically.
Hermione tuned him around and they continued walking. They heard them laugh and smirk behind them.
Once they got inside Hermione yelled at him saying, "Harry, stay out of my business!" and then turned her back and walked down a different hall.
Once he was out of sight she backed up into the wall and started crying, she hated keeping things from Harry, and was now scared of running in to Malfoy. She was trying her best to stop. She walked on and wiped her tears. She heard voices approaching so she hid behind a rather large pole. They got closer and then passed the pole. She sneaked a glimpse to see who it was. She saw Crab and Goyle, but no Malfoy. 'Where could he be?' she wondered.
Once they were out of sight her question was answered as she felt a hand over her mouth and an arm wrap around her stomach. "You did this to yourself" he said as he picked her up and carried her to Snape's old closet.
