The Care and Handling of Hermione Jane Granger
Scabior's summer and choosing a first year
Scabior returns to school traumatized, sobering news is related about Scabior's summer, new friends are drawn into the circle, Rowle changes some rules, a first year is chosen.
Slytherin Quidditch playbook: Secrets passed down every year.
1) Practice Hard!
2) Play hard (especially against those damned Gryffindors!)
3) Win every possible match!
4) Win the Quidditch cup!
5) Win the House cup
6) Beat the Gryffindors in every class, every chance you get!
7) Pass along the care and handling of Hermione Jane Granger!
Wait, what?!
Corbin Yaxley couldn't wait to get back to school. This was his last year and he intended to make the most of it! He still couldn't believe he'd made it through six years of school. He knew this would be his hardest year, though. Those damned Newts would take care of that! He wanted to get Quidditch tryouts going first thing. Number one because they were going to need a new captain and Keeper next year. He knew who he wanted to name captain but that decision was out of his hands. It was his Head of House, Severus Snape, who would make that decision!
He waited impatiently for the rest of his Quidditch team to show up. Dolohov and Higgs had just come through the crowd. Now they were waiting for Rowle, Scabior, McKeon and Flint. Just then he saw the third and second year chasers darting through the crowd. They sent their trunks onto the train and ran over.
"Oi, you lot seen Scabior yet? He was supposed to meet me at the platform!" yelled McKeon.
"Neither hide, nor hair. Maybe he just forgot, yeah? Or maybe he's running late, same as Rowle." Yaxley felt a twinge of unease. McKeon was right. Normally, he, Scabior and Flint came through the platform together. He couldn't help but worry about his third chaser. The boy didn't have a good home life. That was obvious every year that he showed up with black eyes, bruised face and busted lips. But the law was on his dad's side and there was nothing they could do. Well, there was nothing they could do over the summer but during the school year, they all made sure to keep Scabior invited to all of their houses. That gave him all school year to be out of reach of his old man.
Just then he looked up and smiled. There was a familiar head of golden blond hair headed for them. Rowle had arrived. As he drew closer, however, their smiles slowly died. It wasn't caused by Rowle but his companion. It was Scabior. Yaxley felt the bottom drop out of his stomach. He'd seen that look before. Muggles called it the thousand yard stare and listed it as a sign of Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome. 'What had that goddamned father of his done to put THAT LOOK into little Scabior's eyes?!'
Yaxley looked at Rowle, who held up a hand and shook his head. He was carrying the boy on his hip, much the way he would one of his little twin brothers. The boy hung limply in his arms, wearing his Quidditch uniform and clutching a flat Quaffle. Rowle walked past them, herding Flint and McKeon with him. He sat Scabior on the bench with the two boys on either side of him. He gently told the boy he'd be right back to get him. He straightened up and walked back to the older players.
"Did I ever tell any of you that my mother and Scabior's mum are cousins? No? Well, we are related, third cousins through our mums. Three days ago, Scabior was playing outside. He flattened his Quaffle and took it in for his mum to repair it. His dad and mum were arguing. They've always argued, though, so he knew to just wait for the screaming and yelling to die down. It did but not the way he thought it would. It ended with a gunshot. His dad stabbed his mum about ten times, then took the cowards way out and shot himself in the head. Scabior ran in just in time to watch him die. His mum had almost bled out by the time he got to her. You know he lives in a Muggle neighborhood? Neighbors heard the gunshot and called the authorities. They found Scabior, hugging his mum, begging her to wake up. His mum had left instructions to reach her cousin, my mum. They got in touch with us. Mum and dad went to get Scabior. He's been with us, ever since. That's why he didn't meet McKeon and Flint on the platform. He's woken up screaming ever since then. He won't take his uniform off, not for long anyway, only to shower and use the loo. The house elves have just enough time to clean it, then he puts it right back on. It was the last clothes his mother saw him in. I don't know how he's going to handle school. You know people won't keep their traps closed and let him heal." Rowle worriedly watched his little cousin.
"They will if Dumbledore tells them to. The man may be a demented old crackpot but the students DO listen to him." Dolohov spoke up. He could sympathize with the boy. His old man had killed his mother as well. The bastard had openly bragged about it though and got himself thrown in prison.
"Is he going to be able to play? Do I need to get another chaser?" Yaxley asked, dreading the answer. Scabior, McKeon and Rowle were three of his best players. Replaying any of them would totally disrupt the whole team.
Rowle shook his head. "No, he's going to need Quidditch. It'll be an outlet for getting rid of his anger and aggression when he finally starts healing. Right now, I'm more worried about him being alone and unsupervised. If he's asked about his parents, there's no telling how he's going to react! I can't keep him with me during the day."
"McKeon." Higgs stated. The other boys looked at him. "Get McKeon to sign himself and Scabior up for all their classes together. What time we can't be with him, McKeon and Flint can take turns staying with him."
"That's a great idea! So that has Scabior squared away, yeah?" Yaxley questioned. They all agreed. "All right, next order of business. Are we picking on first years again this year?"
The boys all chuckled, even Rowle. "Is that supposed to be a serious question? Of course we are!" Rowle answered.
"I had to be sure, you know that, Rowle. I didn't figure you'd want to, because of the boy." Yaxley laughed.
Rowle pitched his voice low. "Rule change for my firstie, I'm choosing a girl. I pick on her, Scabior gets to comfort her." He grinned and cocked a brow. Yaxley thought about it. "Are you trying to bond him with a little girl, Rowle? Matchmaking?"
"Father has told me to prepare. I'll be marrying as soon as I graduate. Wedding is set and everything! If I have to do it, I'm not going down alone!" Rowle vowed.
"But Scabior will just barely be legal as will the girl! And another thing, what if you pick a Mudblood by mistake?" Dolohov demanded.
"Her being a mudblood won't bother me! My grandfather is a mudblood, Scabior's dad was a muggle! His grandma is also a mudblood! Technically, I'm only a pureblood because my parents are a half blood and a pureblood. Scabior is only a half blood and that's just because his mother and grandpa are purebloods!" Rowle protested.
"Still, Rowle, if you pick a little mudblood and she bonds with him, she'll have no idea what she's done. Do you know what kind of damage that can cause?" Dolohov asked, aghast at the thought.
"Not if they don't realize what kind of bond it is. If it's recognized as a family bond, it won't hurt them until one or both decide to make it a deeper bond. Since Scabior is already a third year, that means he'd be waiting at least two years, if not more, before he could even think of deepening the bond. You seriously think he'll want to stay celibate for two years?" Rowle laughed incredulously. Dolohov and the others laughed. 'No, they didn't see that happening. Just last year, little girls and a few older girls were already trying to cozy up with Scabior!' Even now, there were girls walking by, sneaking glances at the young chasers lined up on the bench.
After Yaxley gave them a rundown of first week activities, including tryouts, they broke and Rowle headed for Scabior. Kneeling in front of him, he looked at McKeon and Flint. "Boys, I need you to stick to Scabior as much as possible for the next few months anyway. He lost his parents and needs time to cope with his loss."
McKeon raised his hand tentatively. "Does that mean I can set us up on the same class schedule? Me and Scabior talked about it last year but then I never heard from him after we went home." Rowle smiled. McKeon had just voiced Higgs's suggestion without even a push. "I think Scabior would very much enjoy that, McKeon, thank you for suggesting it." He picked up Scabior, with no resistance from the boy. McKeon and Flint stayed right on his heels all the way onto the train.
Yaxley led the way down to the other end of the train, where the largest, most comfortable compartments were located. The car he chose was more than big enough for them to sit comfortably. The train left the station and they sat, watching the little firsties go up and down the aisle. One by one, the older boys chose their first year until the only one undecided was Rowle.
About halfway to Hogwarts, they had just decided he'd changed his mind when there was a knock at the door. A tiny bushy haired girl opened it, peering in curiously. "Good afternoon, how are you doing?" after answering her, they waited. "I stopped by to see if any of you had seen a toad, by any chance? A boy named Neville has lost one."
Higgs kicked Yaxley and motioned at Scabior. Yaxley kicked Rowle and did the same thing. Rowle looked at Scabior and grinned broadly. Whereas before, the boy wouldn't even lift his head or open his eyes all the way, now he was staring wide eyed at the little girl. Rowle motioned the girl in. She walked over and eyed him warily. "What's your name, poppet?"
"My name is Hermione Jane Granger. What's your name?" she returned the question.
"My name is Thorfinn Rowle. I'm a fourth year. You're a first year?" he wanted to reach out and smooth down that bushy mane of hair.
"Yes, I'm a first year. I should have been a second year but I didn't turn eleven in time." She told him sadly.
"When did you turn eleven?" he could see Scabior staying perked up at the sight of this girl.
"September nineteenth. I'll be twelve this year. What's that?" she pointed behind him.
Thorfinn turned to see what she was looking at. It was his beater's bat. "That is my beater's bat. I'm a Beater on the Slytherin Quidditch team."
"What is Quidditch? I've never heard of it." The first year said, astounding them all. The same thought went through all their minds. 'Mudblood!' Scabior was still staring intently at Hermione.
"Quidditch is the best game ever played, poppet! Sit right here and we'll tell you all about it!" Thorfinn patted the seat between himself and Scabior. She started to hop up, then pointed at the Quaffle Scabior was holding. "It's not supposed to be flat, is it? Can I fix it for you?" she politely asked Scabior. They all held their breath, waiting to see how the boy would react.
Never taking his eyes off of her, he let it fall out of his hands. She knelt down, holding the ball with one hand and pointing her wand with the other. "Reparo!" the Quaffle instantly inflated. She picked it up and set it gently into his hands. "There you go, all better." Then she hopped up beside him on the bench.
Thorfinn cleared his throat. "All right now. Pay attention, there might be a pop quiz at the end of the journey." The others laughed quietly. "There are seven positions and three balls to remember in this game. The Keeper, Yaxley, guards the goals. The Seeker, Higgs, has to catch the Golden Snitch. The Chasers, Scabior, McKeon and Flint, use the Quaffle to score points. The Beaters, myself and Dolohov, keep the chasers from being hit by the Bludgers! We have the golden snitch," Higgs pulled an old one from his pocket to show her. "The Quaffle," he pointed at the ball in Scabior's hands. "And then we have these nasty little buggers!" he pulled an old Bludger out to show her. "The game isn't over until the snitch is caught. Whichever team grabs the snitch earns one hundred and fifty points!"
"It sounds exciting but a little dangerous?" she hedged, not wanting to offend potential new friends.
"That's part of its appeal, poppet." Just then, they heard the trolley come down. They all, except Scabior, jumped to their feet and waited at the door. She and Scabior kept looking at each other. She was appraising him as if he was a wild animal trapped in front of her. He looked at her with sad blue eyes. She gently placed a hand on his arm.
Thorfinn looked back and nudged Yaxley, who turned in time to see tears well up in the boy's eyes. He ducked his head into her hair and his shoulders shook as he silently cried. Hermione didn't try to struggle away; it was as if she knew he needed to cry. She simply reached her other hand up and around, patting what part of his back she could reach. The boys deliberated over their choices until Yaxley signaled them that Scabior was calmer now.
As they sat back down, Thorfinn remembered why Hermione was there in the first place. "Oi, poppet! I'm going to show you a handy little spell. Normally you wouldn't learn this sooner than your fourth year, but just for you, I'm going to break a rule and show you the spell." He showed her how to hold her wand, had Yaxley open the door to the compartment and gave her the incantation, 'Accio!' "Now, you try it. Just say Accio Trevor. It should bring the toad right to you."
They watched to see if the first year would be able to pull off a fourth year spell. With a determined look on her face, Hermione flicked her wand and said, "Accio, Trevor!" at first nothing happened, then suddenly a toad came zooming in the door. He flew straight into her hands as she laughed excitedly. They were cheering and clapping for her.
Just then, a prefect came through, reminding Hermione she still needed to get her uniform on. Neville was right behind her and very happy when he saw Trevor. As she prepared to leave, she looked at Scabior again, then walked over to him. "You have beautiful hair. My mum would be dying to get her hands into it. Do you ever put it into braids?" he shook his head, looking puzzled. "May I put some of it into a braid? Just this red part?" he widened his eyes again but nodded. She had some hairbands in her skirt pocket. As they watched, she put the red streaked hair into two thin braids and fastened them closed with some of her hairbands. Then she pulled out a hair clasp with a beaded pattern on it. She separated his bangs from the rest of his hair, pulled them back and pinned them down. "There, now you can see. My mum says it's bad to have your bangs always in your eyes. It gets them irritated and itchy."
All of the boys in the compartment, even Scabior, realized what Hermione had just done. By 'gifting' him with the hair bindings, she had just opened a bond between the two of them. Now it was up to Scabior to either reject it or accept it. Scabior reached up, felt the braids and the bangs pulled back and smiled. They breathed a sigh of relief. It was the first time, since Thorfinn's parents had retrieved him, any of them had seen him even slightly happy. The boys all felt privileged to have witnessed how one little girl was able to bring Scabior back from the edge. Now they could see how he might be able to get the healing process underway. He reached out and hugged Hermione tightly. It was the first time they had ever seen the boy voluntarily smile or hug anyone, ever!
"I'll see you at the castle. She'll have me with her for the rest of the trip. Thank you, Thorfinn, for teaching me the spell!" Hermione told Scabior and waved at the rest of them as she walked out of the compartment. After she left, there was silence. Scabior had withdrawn into himself again but this time, there was a faint smile on his face as he kept one hand on the braids she had given him.
"Wow. That was amazing. If I didn't know better, Thorfinn, I'd swear you had that whole thing totally set up to happen!" Yaxley exclaimed. Dolohov and Higgs were smiling, shaking their heads. Flint and McKeon were slightly confused but happy to see their friend smiling, at least.
They had reached Hogsmeade and were disembarking at the station. Thorfinn, with Scabior on his hip, was one of the first to leave the train. Hermione had found her way back to them and he was toting her on his other hip. "Ok, poppet, we won't be able to take you with us. Being as you're a firstie, you'll be traveling across the Black lake in the boats with Hagrid. Don't be scared of him, he wouldn't harm a fly. Next year, you'll be able to travel with us in the carriages, all right?" Hermione nodded eagerly.
Up to this point, Scabior hadn't let out a peep, not even when he'd cried. Suddenly, he let out a cry of fear. His eyes were fixed dead ahead, pupils blown wide with fear. Hermione was scared herself, watching him. They had just reached the carriages and Hagrid. The giant man looked at the boy sharply and his face softened. He took Hermione from Thorfinn, placed a gentle hand over Scabior's face, turning him into Thorfinn's chest and sent them on their way. "Hello, sweetie. My name is Hagrid. I'm the groundskeeper at Hogwarts. Find me in a day or two and I'll explain what the little lad is seeing and why he's having a bad reaction."