Hermione had been at Hogwarts for two months now, and still couldn't believe she was learning magic! She hurried into the charms classroom for the day's lesson. Since Hermione was early, she'd gotten out her things and began thinking about her progress on making friends.
She'd been getting on alright with her dorm mates. They weren't mean to her like the girls at her previous school were, but they never asked her to spend time with them either… Neville was also nice to her, and Harry wasn't terrible, but he also didn't speak to her unless he needed to. She didn't care much for Dean and Seamus, which was fine, but there was something about Ron. The red-headed boy on the train with dirt on his nose. Despite his rude demeanor towards her, there was something about him that made her continue to pursue his friendship.
She was trying so hard to make friends, and thank goodness her parents had taught her how to persevere because she needed to frequently remind herself to not give up. This was it for the next seven years. The people wouldn't change, and there was nowhere else for her to go. Maybe today would be the day at the Halloween feast where the fellow Gryffindors would actually include her in the festivities. Well, the whole school was going anyways so, at least they wouldn't have a choice.
But what struck Hermione as odd was that all of the fellow Gryffindors in her year had appeared to pair off together, and had quickly become best friends. Parvati and Lavender, Harry and Ron, Seamus and Dean. That left Neville, and nice as he was, Hermione certainly didn't feel that 'best friend' connection. She felt a pang in her chest. Jealousy wasn't a feeling she had often, but the longing for friendship had allowed the feeling to expand.
She noticed her classmates beginning to file in, but no one took the seat next to her. Harry and Ron were the last ones in, and Harry took the second seat down from her, leaving Ron to sit next to Hermione. Hermione was pleased at this, though she tried not to show it on her face.
Professor Flitwick began the lecture on Wingardium Leviosa, the levitating charm. She was so excited to begin learning another new spell! The time passed quickly for her, as it always did in Charms, and before she knew it Professor Flitwick had floated feathers over to each student and had given them the remaining ten minutes to practice.
Hermione had tried to mind her own business, but she was distracted by Ron's shouting and waving his arms the wrong way. She wasn't sure what possessed her, but she turned to Ron and said, "'You're saying it wrong. It's wing-gar-dium levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long'."
Ron gave her a scathing look as he snarled, "You do it then, if you're so clever."'
So Hermione went ahead and attempted the charm, performing it so successfully that it hovered several feet above their heads.
"Oh, bugger off then. No one likes a show off."
"No, really it's not that hard," Hermione was determined to not give up her quest to help him, not realizing he didn't want her help to begin with. "Here, it's like this," she said as she reached over and put her wand hand over his, to help guide him through the motion.
Though it had seemed like a kind gesture in her mind, Ron pulled away from her touch almost instantly, "Let go of me! I didn't ask for your help!" He looked disgusted by her touch.
And as if time couldn't even be on her side, the bell rang and class was dismissed. Hermione was hurt by his blatant rejection. She was only trying to help, and she turned to tell him so, but he was already long gone.
Determined to not have ended on that note, she gathered her things quickly to try and catch Ron and explain that she was only trying to help. I can still fix this, she thought to herself as she hurried out of the classroom.
She'd almost caught up to him in the courtyard, when she heard the boys mocking...her?
"'..She's a nightmare, honestly. It's no wonder she hasn't got any friends,'" she heard Ron say. Yes, they were talking about her. Hermione felt something hot run down her cheek and realized it was her own tear. Not wanting to follow them and hear more hurtful things, she sped up and rushed past them, changing her destination to the girl's lavatory instead of the Gryffindor common room.
She couldn't be around her classmates anymore. The hope and determination from before had disappeared. They really did hate her just as much as her former classmates had. She finally let all the hurt and loneliness out as she had a good cry. The Halloween feast wasn't an option for her anymore. She couldn't be around any of them, not when they thought so little of her.
Some time had passed and Hermione wasn't sure how long she'd been there, but she was feeling better now that she'd had a good cry. Tomorrow was a new day, and maybe she'd keep to herself for a while before trying again. She'd allowed herself to strengthen her resolve. Maybe there's still food out in the Great Hall, she thought as she felt her stomach grumble, but the thought was short lived as she exited the stall and looked up to see a gigantic troll staring back down at her, blocking her only escape.