QL, Appleby Arrows, Beater 1 (reserve).

Theme: Hypocrisy

Prompts: (object) pocket watch, (dialogue) "You think you're so clever, don't you?", (dialogue) "I wouldn't blame you if you hated me."

Word Count: 1224

Beta(s): Hope, Cynthia

Hermione kept her gaze down as she walked the halls of Hogwarts for her eighth year. She held a pocket watch in her hand as she thought through everything that had happened recently. Her footsteps echoed through the empty halls, and her tears remained unshed.

Despite saving the wizarding world, there were still some people who didn't like her. However, unlike before with the Slytherins and Malfoy, it wasn't because of her blood. The students didn't care about what she had done in the past, or that she was muggleborn, or even that she was getting Outstanding in all of her classes. They didn't like her for her.

"You think you're so clever, don't you?" a fourth-year had uttered in passing at her. "But you're even more stupid than I first imagined!"

Hermione had heard many similar comments, but nobody would explain. That was until now, until a first-year Hufflepuff had the kindness in her heart to absolutely destroy her self-esteem.

"Do you remember me?" she had asked, and honestly, Hermione hadn't. "I was lost in my first week and you just said that I had to figure it out; because it'll make me better at finding things."

"But you found your way, didn't you?" Hermione had asked her, wondering why that had been a bad thing. She had to find her own way around when she was a first-year and that had made her more independent.

The Hufflepuff shook her head sadly. "I missed my first potions lesson, and dinner that day. A Slytherin found me wandering around and took me to the Great Hall, where I got help."

Hermione was left reeling at that point. How was she supposed to have replied to that? "So people don't like me because I didn't give you directions?" she questioned.

The blonde bit her lip and looked around. "People don't like you because you're mean. You think you're really clever… but clever people know when somebody is in trouble or when somebody needs help. I've heard you got good grades… but…" She had shrugged before walking away, not finishing her sentence.

That led to Hermione simply wandering the halls herself. She had presumed the comments had been jealousy, but it turned out she was wrong.

When first-years were lost, she told them to figure it out themselves, that's what she had to do; she didn't have any friends to help her find the way. When people got stuck on their homework, she told them to find a book, or what book to read; but that's how she learnt everything she knew. And when people did something stupid, she called them out on it. If they knew what behaviour they were exhibiting, then they could change.

It was everything she had dealt with in the past. Hermione had clawed her way up to be who she was. She had helped to save the wizarding world from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Yet… it turns out she hadn't been liked.

"Hermione?" a familiar voice called.

Hermione looked from the cobblestone floor, to find Ginny standing before her. She quickly put away the pocket watch. She blinked in mild surprise when she saw how close Ginny had gotten; she hadn't heard her coming.

"Are you okay?"

A sigh left the eighth year's mouth as she shook her head. "Honestly, no. I didn't realise that nobody actually likes me. And from what I've heard… I wouldn't blame you if you hated me, too."

Ginny's eyes widened and she moved closer. "Hate you? What are you talking about?"

"I thought I was helping others to be me, as I was told I had to be a role model, but it seems they all hate me for it… or at least they don't like me," Hermione told her, biting the inside of her cheek. The words running through her head. So clever. Stupid. Know when to help. How could she have let others feel as sad and lonely as she had when she started?

"I don't think anybody hates you, 'Mione'," Ginny spoke, stepping towards her and leading her towards a bench. "Perhaps you've just been a bit closed off since we returned to Hogwarts."

Closed off? Hermione had been planning on writing Ron and Harry a letter to say she was going to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas; she didn't really have a reason why. Study more. Make sure she has good grades. But she knew that it was because she didn't have her parents to visit, that had been the best part of her Christmases. The war distracted her. "Maybe."

Ginny rested her hand on Hermione's. "What's going on?"

Would it be selfish to tell Ginny that she missed her parents, knowing that they were still alive, and knowing that Ginny had lost somebody to death? Or would she be a hypocrite for keeping it in despite constantly asking Ginny and Ron to talk about their loss? Holding something in when she's forced it out of others.

Maybe her being a hypocrite was what had caused this dislike for her. She hated how everybody had treated her in the past, and just because she pushed aside her feelings and was able to look past it, to grow from it, didn't mean that everybody could. It was unfair for her to want to be treated with kindness and respect when she hadn't shown that to anybody else.

"I miss my parents," she admitted after what felt like hours but was probably only a few seconds. "I miss them telling me about their day, and praising my accomplishments, and that disappointed look my dad gives me when I've done something wrong."

An arm slipped around her shoulders in a half hug from Ginny. "Want to talk about it?"

Hermione pulled out the pocket watch; it was circular and well taken care of, the majority of it was a shiny bronze, with silver accents on the face of the watch. "It was my father's. Well… is my father's. I was going to give it to Ron as a Christmas present. But without my dad's blessing, it feels like I'm betraying him. Handing off his pocket watch to my boyfriend."

"I know how that feels. It must be harder for you in some way; he's still alive, you could ask him but you can't." Ginny let out a sad breath of air. "I have one of Fred's old jumpers, and he'll never know. I can't ask him, therefore, he can't say no - not that he would."

The younger girl shifted to face towards her more before continuing, "but if you are able to regain your parents' memories, then he might have a different opinion. I don't know how to help you with that."

Hermione nodded, taking in all of her thoughts. "Well, for starters, I should be a bit smarter and actually help people instead of hindering them." She pocketed the watch; maybe she'll hold onto it for a little longer, just in case. "That is going to start with just being a good friend. So, tell me… is that a new jumper?"

Ginny grinned as she glanced down. "Harry brought it for me!"

The two friends grinned and then started to talk about their relationships. Things wouldn't be fixed overnight, but at least this was a start.