Chapter 10: Lady?

Hermione

Our favourite Brunette was never this scared in her life. Of course, even if you count the menaces also called Harry Potter, Wendell Versenheiuch, and Ron Weasley, in her life, this was still scarier. She stared at the evidence of her looming death. It happened as she woke up. When she saw everything… at first she was dazed. It was only two days from the troll incident, her slight concussion still clouding her usually fast thinking and making her groggy (thought she absolutely can't imagine herself hitting he head on the wall during the troll incident, but since Madam Pomfrey told her herself…), but then BOOM. It was like a neon image she can't get out of her mind even if she closed her eyes and not look at the evidence glaring up at her. You're going to die, You're going to die, You're going to die, and you're going to die!

.GOD!

She assessed herself hoping , Is this dream? But no. Everything seems so real! Did she have wounds? Not that she can see, but she was afraid to look much at her body, not wanting to see gaping open wounds spilling blood, but she was sure her body, along with her head (concussion) was in pain. Did someone attack her and she was too tired to notice the pain?

SHOOT.

She winced as a wave of pulsing pain washed through her.

"Par…Par… Par-vati?" She said in a very shaky voice, tears spilling out the corner of her eyes. She was clutching her sheets, completely forgetting to take the concussion potion. And it's taking its toll on her. Her head was starting to hurt again, and her body wasn't helping much, as everything, was hurting especially on the—

"Hermione?" Parvati Patil swiped open her velvet red curtains, and gasped at the evidence that Hermione was going to die. Hermione closed her eyes, waiting for the scream that was surely going to wake the others up.

It never came. Instead, Parvati started laughing. Hermione's eyes snapped open. Why was she laughing? Was she the one who did this to her? Parvati patted her head. "Congratulations, Hermione!" The brunette glared at her though her vision was becoming blurry with tears. Parvati isn't going to help me… I'm going to die here! "You're congratulating me on dying?" Parvati looked puzzled.

"What?"

"Can't you see I'm dying? There's blood everywhere in my bed! Everywhere in my body hurts! I'm dying! Help me out here!" She said as Parvati started cracking up, waking Lavender who looked at them, and went closer to see what the commotion was about. "Oh dear! Congratulations, Hermione!" Hermione's concussed brain wasn't helping her concentrate. "WHY IS EVERYBODY CONGRATULATING ON ME ON DYING?!" She said, wincing once again as the pain in her head intensifies. Parvati seemed to finally understand Hermione's confusion. "You really don't know?" Hermione nodded, gripping her stained sheets tightly in her small hands. "You're having your very first period! You're a lady now!" And then the older girls, who apparently had heard her scream, chose the moment to come inside the dormitory. "What's going on?" Katy Bell and Angelina Johnson came in, and gave a surprised gasp as they looked at all the blood in Hermione's bed. "We have a new lady in the house!" They gave each other a high five then settled down on Hermione's desk. Hermione blinked at them. "What's a period?" The other girls laughed.

"I didn't know Hermione had humour." Lavender gushed, giggling. Parvati nodded while Katie started talking about her experience on the matter. It wasn't really helping Hermione at all. "Seriously. I don't know what a period is. What is it? Do boys have it too? Why do you people know it? Why is my body in pain? I'm not gonna die? Why—"

"Hold your hippogriffs, girl!" Angelina Johnson grasped her arm as Hermione released her verbal onslaught. "Period, or menstruation, is something that happens only to girls, which meant you're already a lady once you get that. No, you're not going to die." As Angelina explained everything, which Hermione tuned out as she got on the pregnant part, she realized how silly she had been. "And, your mother is supposed to tell that to you once you've arrived at the age 10 or 11!" Hermione reddened, both from embarrassment, and also because of anger and shame. She didn't have a mother.

At least one who cared for her.

Trixie Versenheiuch was too busy telling Hermione off for being weird and uncanny to actually teach her on normal stuff that happens to girls. And maybe she had been absent when the teacher discussed periods at school. But the girls didn't know that. Professor McGonagall hadn't mentioned it, too. And with everything happening between her abusive household and her excitement with the Wizarding world, she hasn't read one book about this. At all. So, she just smiled. "Must have forgotten about it… I.." Her face turned red, but now more out of embarrassment. She didn't need more people knowing about this, seeing her blood everywhere. "Need… washroom…" She said, and the girls seem to get her. After drinking the concussion potion, she escaped the embarrassment, going the loo, the red tinge still on her cheeks.

Oh, the morning isn't starting well for her.

Normal POV

"Hermione, please eat! You have Quidditch practice the whole day today!" Neville was urging a gloomy brunette at breakfast. "Not yet sure, Neville. Only If Madam Pomfrey clears me or not. I hope she doesn't…" Neville cocked his head to the side. "Why? You said you don't dislike Quidditch as much as before. What happened?" Harry looked down. Maybe it was because he was there.

You really need to stop caring. The girl obviously hates you. His inner Harry told him. And Harry inwardly agreed. Neville was just beside Harry, so he could hear everything the boy was telling to the girl beside him.

"Noth—"Granger had started to say, until Lavender, who was across Harry, smiled. "It's because Hermione just got her—mmmmfp!"The girl was stopped by the two older girls from the Quidditch team. Who both had a hand on Lavender's mouth. "Nu uh, Lavender. You mustn't embarrass Hermione more, okay?" A wink was thrown Hermione's way from Katie Bell, who smiled half-heartedly. Then Alicia Spinnet arrived, completing the three chasers. "Congrats, Hermione!" Hermione grumbled, and put her head down on the table. "Oh. It's starting?" Katie Bell nodded. "Hermione, tell Madam Pomfrey later if it still…" Hermione nodded, head still on the table. "Okay. Congratulations again!" Then the three chasers left.

"Did you win something, Hermione?" Neville, slow as ever, asked. The brunette looked up at him, annoyance deep in her chocolate brown eyes. "More like a curse."

"Don't say that, Herm!" Hermione glared at Parvati at the word Herm. "It's a blessing! Don't you know that girls with—"

"Not. Helping." Hermione snapped, which made the other girls giggle. "Hurts?" The brunette nodded. "I'm going to go…" She looked at the two girls. "Want us to come with you?" Hermione shook her head and opened her mouth; and another verbal onslaught began. "Neville, if these two tells you some stuff that should be best left to biologically female-born entities, please tell me at once and I will be in the infirmary. I shall deal with these two dum dums if they ever utter a single word about the matter I so explained that no one especially non-female human beings should know about because my reputation here in Hogwarts would be forever tarnished and I don't want that"—Hermione breathed. She looked at Neville once again, who looked more confused. "Okay?"

Neville just looked up at her, obviously dazed. "Farewell." And Hermione Granger left them without waiting for the response from Neville. Said boy turned to the two boys—Ron was on Harry's other side, and was listening when Hermione started talking really fast. (Neville had reverted back to his old normal self when the troll incident became known to the school.) "What did she say?"

Harry and Ron could only shrug.

XXX

"Hermione, Why aren't you as fast as you we're before?" George was scratching his head at me. Fred look quizzical too. "You prat." Katie hit George's head with the bat. "Why do you keep on asking?"

'Because it's the match tomorrow, and we may need Hermione, since it's Slytherin we're up against." Fred said, still looking at me with a weird expression. "You've been trying really hard, but you seem to tire more today, get more irritable, and—" He suddenly looked at George. "Forge, are you thinking—"

"—right at the same pace, Gred." I scowled. They won't get it, their boys. I looked at Angelina. "Come on, Hermione, we need to do something about you're speed." Angelina placed a comforting arm on my shoulder. "It's for the pain." Alicia whispered next to me.

"I've already taken the potion Madam Pomfrey gave. Why does it still hurt?" Katie smiled next to me. "It's because there's a separate potion for the athletes. Come on, before those prats realize what's happening and make a spectacle about it. your head?" I nod, indicating that my concussions okay now, and I only have to take one more potion for the pain to permanently fade. It's nice to have friends, isn't it?

That evening, I was about to go down the girl's dormitories, trying to go to dinner, when I heard Angelina's voice. "That's horrible!" Another voice sighed. "I don't really feel comfortable talking about it… "I trembled. It was Harry Potter talking. Of course, since he's there, another person would be.

"Harry, you have to open up! We didn't even know you were having a horrible childhood. Bloody hell! That cousin of yours and his equally horrible friend, That… was it Mio?" I was right. Ron Weasley was there. I feel my eyes widen as realization sinks in. No… he knows… he knows about me… now everybody's going to hate me…. Angelina, Katie…. Even Neville! I bit my lip, trying very hard not to cry. How did he know?

"Yes. Her name was Mio Versenheiuch." Absentmindedly, my hand slithered to my neck, where my assurance, my necklace was. Then I remembered it wasn't there. "That girl… she must be very horrible. I am not even surprised she found a friend like your cousin. You know, birds of the same feather, flock together. Your Uncle and Aunt even like her!"Angelina and another female voice exclaimed. Alicia Spinnet. Harry was quiet. Was he going to tell them? My real identity? That I'm as horrible as Dudley? I know. I knew how horrible he was. And I also know how foolish I was.

This was the end. I might as well pack my bags or go back to what the old me experienced. Rejection, ridicule, embarrassment, loneliness…

"Please don't tell this to anyone." He said, his voice sounding retired. "Yes, Harry, you're secret is very safe with us. But are you sure you don't want to tell Dumbledore?" Katie's voice said. Who else is there? "No."

There was a pregnant pause.

"Uh… Oh look at the time! It's dinner!" giggles. "What? I'm hungry!" Ron's voice said indignantly. "Come on." There were sounds of shuffles, and the portrait door opening and closing, and they were gone. I walk slowly to the velvet chairs, and collapsed on the couch seat in front of the fire. I clutched my hair in both hands. Why is this happening to me? Suddenly, a hand appears over mine. "Hermione." I look up to Neville's pudgy face, which showed a determination—that scared me a bit. "Why are you so shaken by the things Harry told us?" I bite my lip. "What do you mean, Harry told you?" I look up to his eyes, because someone told me that the best way to lie is to look at the person in the eye. Neville levelled his eyes with mine. "I saw you. Hermione, I thought you we're my friend" I wince. Here goes… he's going to hate me now…

I closed my eyes, waiting for the rejection that was surely to come. Why did you do that to the very person who rid us of the dark lord?

Instead;

"Am I really that horrible that you don't trust me?" I blinked, and then stood up suddenly. "It's not that!"

"Then what is it?" I'm surprised by Neville's perseverance, he usually doesn't pay attention to his surroundings, and he is easy to frighten. But now… "I'm scared." Now, he looked confused. "About what?"

Should I tell him? "I'm scared for Harry. I didn't know he was abused." I lied. Of course, I didn't know he was being abused, and that shocked me, but I'm not really as scared for him as I should be. I shouldn't be. The hardships I experienced were far more hurtful than what he experienced. And that didn't stop him from being awful to me. Male Hermione—the male voice I've been hearing in my head—said. I don't know… Female Hermione said inside my head. But I am very scared for him. I sighed. "No… Neville… What do you think about Mio?" Neville sat on the chair next to mine. I sat down too.

"I think she's horrible." I blink once again. I can never tell the truth to anyone, then. "Oh. Oh. Me too." I stood up. "I'm going to dinner."

"Hermione, wait!" I stop, but didn't turn. "I may think she's horrible, but I don't judge the person she really is. Her actions may say she is evil, but I don't know her as much as I do you. You are kind, caring, compassionate, and whatever Harry did to you when you where still blonde, I know you can forgive him." I turn to him. "You… You know?" He nodded. "I just realized it now. Remember, I saw your picture in the train, and Harry showed us the class picture both of you had."

"I.." I choked. "Oh Neville…" I run and hug him. "Please don't leave me alone and make me friendless again! I don't want to experience rejection once more! Please, Neville, you're the only once I can trust. The other's think I'm horrible and I'm a bully, and… and… I should be better dead!" He patted my head. "No, don't say that! And I won't leave. I promise, Hermione. Now can you please tell me your side of the story? Maybe I can help." I shook my head. "I will tell you, Neville. But… I don' want you to help. Please?" I added when Neville looked weirdly at me. "I just don't want any contact with Harry… I remember…" And that was when I broke down. "What is it?" Neville was panicking, not knowing what to do with me. "When I was young… I was abused too… and I experienced more daunting tortures than he did. It's just… I don't want to remember anything about it…" I looked helplessly at Neville. He won't understand at all… unless… It's alright, Hermione. Female Hermione said. It would be better if you don't keep this to yourself. The male Hermione was quiet. And so I decided.

I told everything to him.

XXX

"We Welcome you, to our first Quidditch event! SLYTHERIN VERSUS GRYFFINDOR!" George patted me in the back, while Fred did Harry. I avoided my gaze from the Gryffindor Seeker. I know I should try my best to forgive him, despite the horrible stuff I have done too. "It will be alright, Mione. We will do our best so you won't have to fly. But if you do, do not think on how you are so high up, but think on how you're too close to the ground. That way, you won't get nervous. And, whatever it is you're experiencing, You're still an important part of the team." George's kindly smile calmed down my nerves a little bit. Yesterday, he was the kindest to me, well, Fred also is kind, but he really likes to tease me. I give George a small smile.

"Here we have, GRYFFINDOR! Wood! Johnson! Spinnet! Bell! Weasley! Weasley! Granger! And POTTERRRRRRR!" I took a deep breath and rode my broom, which was a second-hand one. I looked over to Harry, who seemed content with his Nimbus 2000. I look away from him again, trying to block the flashes. One by one, my teammates zoom out of the small building we we're in. I could hear the screams outside. "Come on, Mione, our turn to show off our skills." Fred and George said, on either side of me. My heart was beating loud, but since I'm with these two, I felt safe. So I was smiling as we flew out of the dug-out. I saw Neville smiling at me from the stands. Ever since yesterday, he had been nothing but supportive of me. He might not be much, getting scared easily, but I still feel like he's the most precious person in the world. "And here comes, SLYTHERIN!" Lee Jordan said a bunch of names I did not hear nor care about. As the others took their places, hovering several feet from the ground, I took my place in one of the benches near the dug-out. I wasn't paying attention to Madame Hooch who said something about being fair.

"AND THEIR OFF! Alicia gets the Quaffle, nice Alicia, A pretty and fair flyer, she-"

"JORDAN!" I wasn't even able to smile at Professor McGonagall, who had just reprimanded Lee Jordan, the commentator, fearing that my face would freeze to a permanent fake smile if I did, because my nerves are seems like my mind had just reminded me that I am a child, twelve years old. Calm down, Hermione. This might actually be fun. The female voice told me. It might be fun, but it is a dangerous game. The male one whispered to me. I originally thought that the male voice was the bad part of myself so I had always ignored it.

Ugh, confusing!

I opened and closed my palms, which were clammy, and sweat dribbled down the side of my face. George… I hope your promise comes true… I look up to see the said redhead hit the bludger so hard, sending it rocketing off to one off the Slytherin beaters, who gave him a glare. A bitter sense of dread crept up on me. If all Slytherins we're like Malfoy, George might be in trouble. Fred suddenly appeared in front of me, hitting another bludger, which I didn't notice was heading towards me. "Nobody's taking out our sub!" He yelled as he turned and smiled at me. "Don't worry 'Mione. We'll win." I gave him a small smile.

They played a few more minutes, Hermione taking note of all the Slytherin's positions. She had noticed that only the Captain scored. The chasers would pass it to him, and they tried to cause diversions to others The beaters we're a little too slow for Fred and George. Their seeker wasn't doing anything. I look up at where our team's seeker was. Harry Potter was almost fifty feet up the field, looking down, searching for the snitch. For a second, I thought he looked at me, but a cruel face flashed on my mind, and I look away.

Only to see two Bludgers hit George Weasley's body at the same time. I watched, every fibre of my being frozen to horror as George slowly fell of his broom. Time seemed to slow down. Somebody screamed. It was a shrill sound, and that was when I realized that it was me screaming. Before his body hit the ground, I exhaled a sigh of relief as Fred landed him softly in the grass. I run to them, not minding Madam Pomfrey, who suddenly appeared there. "It was those Slytherins." Fred murmured angrily. "The bludger was enchanted. It kept on following George." My eyes widened. "Enchanted?" Fred nodded. "'Mione, if you don't want to play—" I put up my hand, because at that moment, George groaned. "Mr. Weasley, Please stay still, I must examine your wounds first—"

"I want… to watch…Hermione—play." His head rolled, though he winced, and I noticed he avoided moving his left arm and waist. "Oh, dear. Broken arm and Pelvic bone… This will take a while to heal, and it seems that the damage was great." Madam Pomfrey looked sternly at Fred . "You're brother will not play anymore." Was she expecting him to force George to play in that condition? My mind wondered. Fred only nodded, which seemed to shock the Matron. "Yes. Please tell that to him. Also, it would be better to chain him at the bed post." Madam Pomfrey's eyes softened. "Please… I want to watch." I clasped George's hand. "George, please don't strain yourself. Go to the hospital wing. I… I promise. We'll win." I turned to Fred. "I will play." I said, with all the courage I could muster. Fred smiled, and offered me George's bat. He turned to his brother, already being levitated by Madam Pomfrey. I watched them, as Fred ruffled George's red hair, being careful not to jostle his arm and waist.

"I will take care of Hermione, Forge." I shook my head. "No, Fred, if you want, you can go with George. I don't know much about twins, but all I know is that even without magic, their bond is special. If one is hurt, the other feels part of his twin's pain, right? The closer you are together, the faster he heals." Fred seems surprised at my knowledge on the magical bond twins have. "Yes… that's true. Err… thanks, 'Mione." I smiled at him. "Wood!" Fred called, and Oliver called for a time out.

"Sorry, Slytherins kept me too busy, can't call for time out." Oliver looked at George. "You okay, mate?" His we must win attitude seemed to fade; only leaving concern for his beater. "Never better." George said sarcastically, earning a giggle from Katie Bell, and the rest of the team members. I ignore the pain in my chest "Oliver, I want to play." The said Keeper looked at me with speculative eyes. "Are you sure?" I nodded, pushing down the terror I felt. "I won't let anyone who breaks the rules get away with hurting George." I said, narrowing my eyes at the Slytherins. I may not know who did this to George, but I know who I will target. But before that, I need some questions answered.

"Isn't what I'm about to do barbaric?"

XXX

I shifted in the old broom. This isn't comfortable, at all. I am now only about 10 feet up the field, looking for bludgers. Naturally, the Slytherins don't treat me as a threat, and now they're all pinning at Oliver, whose face was red from protecting the tree hoops. The chasers we're trying to get the Quaffle, but where being peppered by the two beaters.. Bludger, Bludger… I notice one coming my way. My heartbeat had accelerated, but George's smile appeared in my head. I raise the bat, and with a sickening sound, like when the crack of a whip…

Wendell's whip…

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I will not lose. The bludger I hit shot clear from the Slytherins. I chase it, managing to send it to a Slytherin whose back was turned.

Their first mistake, taking me for granted. The three Gryffindor chasers gave me smiles as they sped off with the ball, still followed by two (oh, so the one I hit was a chaser). A beater sent a bludger at me. "Mudblood." He spat. I recoiled at the name, remembering another nickname, one uttered almost every day to me at my old muggle school… "NO." I told myself. "You promised George." I hit the bludger to another chaser. The captain of the Slytherin team, Marcus flint, I think, smirked at me. "So how is your poor Weasel doing? Have they fixed his bones yet? I would simply love to break them again." He laughed and then sped away, leaving me fuming. No one messes with George. No one messes with me when I am on my period. NO ONE. I felt like ripping the hair out of Marcus Flint's oily head. .

Thoughts not fit for a twelve year old…

For the rest of the game, I didn't know much of what happened, I noticed Harry zooming around the field, a man in green colours hot on his tracks. I sent Bludgers to him, to Marcus Flint, to anyone on the opposite team. I must look mad, sending Bludgers left and right, effectively sending out the opposite teams Keeper. It's a good thing Oliver had (how he did it, I don't know) removed the enchantment from the Bludger, because the Slytherin beaters we're starting to send all the bludgers they encounter to me now. I increased the force I used on every Bludger. This continued for many more minutes before…

I heard a strangled yell.

Looking up, my eyes widening once more, I saw Harry Potter, his hand on the length of his broom, feet dangling about forty feet up in the air. His broom was bucking, like an uncontrollable horse. If he falls, he might die. Feeling cold shivers up on my spine, I thought, I might never be able to forgive him if he dies. He might die.

HE MIGHT DIE! With all the air I could muster, I yelled his name, hopefully jostling him to do something, Let go of his broom, Let Katie or someone save him. He can't let go. It might toss him somewhere where the others can't catch him. I thought.

Then a thought entered my mind. Why don't you think of catching him? Female Hermione whispered in my head, making me whimper. I can't… I fear… that if I get close to him, I might get flashes of my old life… I knew it was an excuse. An excuse just to not have any contact with him. I look away from his frightened form, my hands shaking on the wood of the broom, my eyes threatening to tear up. "Useless girl..."

From the stands nearest to me, something black and purple caught my eye; Professor Snape and Quirrel.

They we're muttering things, eyes smoldering one thing: Harry.

And,

They weren't blinking.

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