The days passed quietly. She was often in the libraries studying and completing her homework weeks before it was due. The books slowly pilled around her as each night turned to day. She poured herself into studying so she could pass the time without ripping her hair out.
Daphne was attached to Theo's hip at all times except the few classes where she sat with Hermione. She felt a tang of jealousy whenever she spotted Daphne with him, her only best friend had been stolen and replaced with books.
Around the time of their first Hogsmeade visit of the year, she had accomplished the impossible.
Hermione Granger grew bored of schoolwork.
So, she began taking nightly walks and once she grew bored of walking, she would lay in the grass near the lake.
The still water glistened with the promise of being swallowed whole. She spent hours staring into the pool of black hoping to see the squid she often caught swimming from the window of the Common Room. Crookshanks often tried to swat the glass in an attempt to intimidate the giant beast.
The squid successfully avoided her gaze each night, and each night she would collapse onto the ground in defeat.
She looked to the sky next, connecting stars to form shapes and people. She made up little creatures that would dance in the night sky. They would spin in graceful circles with their hands linked, free and happy.
The night before their Hogsmead visit, the stars displayed her father's frogs with wings. They flew around her head, giggling and singing.
They made her eyes feel heavy. She would only close them for a few moments.
--
She woke to the sun shining bright in her eyes.
And to someone hollering threats and swears.
"Merlin, Granger! What the hell is the matter with you? Have you gone mad?" Malfoy was sat on the grass beside her grabbing his ankle. "I could have fallen into the lake, or worse," he shuddered. "I could have broken my arm and missed quidditch practice."
"A shame, truly, the squid would have loved a little ferret snack." She snickered and sat up to gather her bag and cloak.
"Don't act bold, Granger, I'll drown you in the lake myself." He conjured wraps and tagged them around his ankle. "You're lucky flying a broom doesn't require using ankles."
"You're not even injured, Malfoy." She stood and looked down to where he was sitting. She was actually lucky it was too early for a crowd otherwise he would have caused a scene as large as when he got scratched by a Hippogriff.
"I could have died, you know, I may have to inform my father about this." He rose slowly and leaned on the tree. "He'd be very upset to know a mudblood has gone mad and harmed me."
"Yes, I can only imagine the disappointment on his face once he learns you're not only dumber than a muggle-born, but also weaker." She spun on her heel and headed towards the castle. She needed a shower and Malfoy whimpering over tripping on her was taking precious time away from it.
"Those fights didn't count, Granger," He shouted behind her. "Next time you'll be spending the night in the hospital wing."
"Bollocks." She whispered under her breath. She knew this one didn't actually count, but why the hell doesn't the last fight? She figured it was because no one actually won and they were both dragged to Dumbledore.
She made it back to the dorm without Malfoy chasing after her, most likely so he could milk being 'injured' for a few days. She took a long shower and combed through her hair countless times in order to remove the dirt that collected during the night.
Once she was finally dirt free, she walked around the castle. She explored each hall and noted each crack or imperfection on the old walls and stairs. She lost count when she wandered to the Astronomy Tower. She sat near the fence that kept clumsy students from falling nearly thirty stories, and surveyed below her. Potter and his nitwit companion were sitting on the grass chatting. She noticed Crabbe and Goyle led by Malfoy, with an over-exaggerated limp, towards the Golden Boys.
Before she could see the predictable argument about to occur, she felt a chilled hand rest on her shoulder.
"Professor Twelaney, you frightened me!" Hermione gasped when she noticed the looming figure above her.
"I apologise, my dear." The Professor's hair was wild and her eyes were awfully bug-like. "I just would like to let you know that I am deeply sorry for what Professor Umbridge has done to you and Harry."
Hermione blinked and peered down to her left hand. She had been covering up the scars scrawled across her hand with bandages since the night they were written. "Did he tell you?"
"No, dear." Twelaney lifted her hand from Hermione's shoulder. "There will be many horrible things she will do within the time she is present, but I know you will be strong. Just know that she will not be an issue in the coming years. And dear," She backed up a bit. "You will gain many more scars than the ones you have gained this year, do not let any of them define you."
"What do you mean?" She lifted her gaze but the allusive woman had already gone.
She sighed and leaned her head against the cool stone. She heard many stories of the Divination professor accurately telling the future of her students, but she assumed they were all calculated guesses. The same could be said about her prediction just now, but how could she have known about her scars? Her mind raced thinking of all the people that could have told her. She hadn't even told Daphne about the ones on her hand or back, and Snape wasn't exactly what you would call a gossip.
It had to be just bloody guesswork. She must have seen Potter's scars and put two and two together. Hermione puffed air and blew her hair out of her face. She glanced at her watch and realized she had missed all her meals, and it was nearly time to walk to Hogsmead.
--
"Hermione!" Daphne gave her a crushing hug. "I didn't see you at lunch or dinner, were you studying?"
She smiled and hugged her friend back gently. "Yes, I was just struggling with the potion Snape taught us last class."
Daphne nodded and dragged her along the path. "Come on, let's get some butterbeer, Theo's already there."
She let Daphne lead her to the little pub that held the students favorite drink. She had come to buy more quills but decided it would be fun to spend some time with her friend again.
They sat at a big table filled with other Slytherin's chatting and drinking. Hermione's stomach bubbled, her fellow housemates were full of life and happiness outside of the castle. They often were found sulking around Hogwarts since any other behaviour would be marked as suspicious. She also suspected they enjoyed intimidating the other houses.
She sat next to Daphne and let Blaise throw his arm around her. She could feel mirth pooling off him.
"I haven't seen you in ages, Hermione! Luna misses you, you know." He was swaying slightly, as if he was drunk off happiness.
"I'm sure if she needed to, she would manage to find me." She took a sip of butterbeer and felt the tasty drink slide into her stomach. "Since when are you close to Luna, anyway?"
Blaise chuckled and turned to Theo instead of answering her question. She rolled her eyes and asked Daphne what they planned to do after they left the pub.
While Daphne was listing off all the sweets she wanted to try at Honeydukes, Hermione noticed the door swing open and Malfoy walked in leaning on Pansy.
"Did you hear? Draco twisted his ankle this morning." Daphne grinned. "Won't tell us how, though." She waggled her eyebrows.
"How am I supposed to know? I'm not the cause of all his misfortune." She grumbled.
Daphne giggled. "In his mind you are."
Pansy led him to two open seats at the end of the table. It was awfully gross how she was cooing over him, but even grosser watching Malfoy enjoy it. Hermione gagged in Daphne's direction signaling her eagerness to depart.
Once they had all finished their drinks, Theo, Blaise, Daphne, and Hermione left the other Slytherin's to go to Honeydukes.
The small group walked around Hogsmeade with their arms linked and full of sweets. Daphne convinced them to try all the new ones even though Hermione warned them of cavities.
"They're awful for your teeth, Daph!" Hermione exclaimed watching her friend shove the tenth piece of candy into her mouth.
"Oh please, Hermione, if I really need to I'll floo out to your parents and have them do whatever they do to my teeth."
She rolled her eyes and pointed to Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop. She picked out two new quills and ink that was supposed to last ten times as long.
The group made their way back to Hogwarts once all the shops began to close. They settled in quietly in the Common Room.
Hermione played Blaise in chess a few times, this time winning each game.
"Ugh, it's hell playing against you!" Blaise dropped his head into his hands. "How do you know every move I'll play?"
Hermione laughed and set up the pieces. "I'll go easy on you this time."
"Turn off your psychic abilities this time, will you?" Blaise commanded his pawn to move forward.
Hermione won three more times before Blaise gave up. He laid across the couch and complained.
"You've got to be cheating." He shoved his face into a pillow and grumbled.
"Quit your moaning, how would I even cheat in chess?" She sat in front of the fire and raised her hands to warm them.
"Dunno, but it's the only possible explanation." His voice was muffled.
Theo grabbed the pillow under Blaise's face and smacked him with it.
"What the hell!?" Blaise jumped up and snatched the pillow back from a snorting Theo.
"Just let him win next time, Hermione, and we won't have to listen to his whining." Theo sat with his hands behind his head.
"Yeah, right." She smiled.
"Oh, has Draco given you any trouble in Transfiguration lately?" Daphne asked.
"No, he just sits the farthest away he can and completely ignores me." She explained. This was one of the few truths she's told about Malfoy, it must be too close to lunch for him to pick fights with her.
"Good. He's a prick, honestly." Daphne grumbled.
Hermione giggled. "Yes, you've said."
The chatter grew quiet as the night progressed and she stared into the fire with a relaxed smile. After weeks of watching the lake in solitude, she felt at peace surrounded by friends. Things felt okay for the first time since she arrived at Hogwarts. She just hoped they'd remain that way, at least for a little while.