Please read the notes at the bottom to understand why I have rewritten the first chapter and what is happening with this story. Read all of the notes before reading this improved chapter. Thank you.
Hermione Granger always had this feeling that she didn't fit in with her own house or that's how it started. Everyone else in Gryffindor was close together and was always having fun with one another except Hermione. She was usually forgotten ignored, teased, and anything else you can think of. Hermione was honestly sick of it but what was she supposed to do.
There were times where people noticed her or didn't make fun of her was when they needed help and only then was she useful. She scowled at the thought of how many people had done this to her. It wasn't every now and then. This was not starting to happen every single day and Hermione just couldn't keep up. Oh, Hermione wished she could be rude or just tell them that she was done and they had to figure it out on their own but of course she didn't or couldn't. She didn't know which one but it was one of them.
Hermione wished she could give everyone a taste of their own medicine. Hermione wanted to scream, shout, yell at people so they would know what was really on her mind but she had to remind herself that it would just make things worse than they already were. So Hermione just sat there and let everything happen even if it killed her inside.
Hermione glanced around the library and sighed. She had always come here to hide away from everything that bothered her. This was her safe place. A place where she belonged but as of recently her housemates had noticed and were now starting to come here and corner her. Making her escape impossible.
Everyone in Gryffindor was now starting to use Hermione nit just the people in her year. Sure Hermione had read all the books and knew so much past her year and even things that weren't gone over here but that didn't give everyone else an excuse to be lazy. Most of the time it was Lavender Brown who seemed to have it out for Hermione but refused to tell her why. Another thing Hermione had to add to the list of unknowns to her housemates.
Hermione had been trying to ignore them as she usually does but lately, things just seemed to be getting worse. Her housemates were becoming crueler and meaner than usual. She wanted to ask why but no one would pass her a glance. She was just something they used. Not a person but Hermione had to just let it go. She didn't want to make things worse.
Hermione signed as she thought about Harry and Ron. They had started to join in with the Gryffindor's more leaving Hermione behind. Hermione guessed that was the reason it was getting worse. Without the chosen one and a pureblood by her side what was stopping them from harming her. She had tried to talk to them but nothing good ever came from it. Sending letters, talking in person, hell even just standing next to them but they never noticed her or they chose to ignore her.
Ever since their third-year things were never the same. They had blamed Hermione for not wanting to save the Potter's. Hermione had tried to explain that they couldn't save Harry's parents because it would break time but did they listen. No. After that, the two boys had distanced themselves from Hermione and they haven't really spoken since. Even now they barely spoke. When Hermione had gone to the Burrow only three people talked to her. Ginny, George, and Fred. Not a word from the boys.
Hermione didn't want to admit it but it really did hurt her. It hurt her some much more than it should have. She should have seen it coming but no. She didn't want to admit it to herself but here she was thinking about it. She needed to talk to someone about this but who? Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff had their own bullying problem with their students. The only ones who didn't were Slytherin but they wouldn't give her the chance or time of day. Hermione scoffed. She found a table in a hidden part of the library and hoped no one from her house would come looking for her.
Hermione's mind was everywhere. She had always had this problem. She tried her hardest to have her thoughts together but it never really happened. She never understood why she was in Gryffindor anyway. Sure she had fit some of the requirements but she aligned more with the other houses. Slytherin being the main one. She never understood it but she always felt a connection to that house. Almost like a, I belong their feeling.
Sometimes Hermione wished she stayed in the muggle world or was sorted into a different house but thinking about that again would it have been better. The only house that treats their friends like family is Slytherin and Hermione didn't understand how or why but that's what she longed for. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw intrigued her but it never stood out to her as Slytherin did.
As Hermione was pulling out her book she heard two voices that made her want to melt into a puddle of darkness. Lavender Brown and one of her so-called friends had come into the library seeking Hermione. Probably to do their homework, Hermione thought darkly. Lavender's friends felt more like followers in Hermione's opinion. She should have known her peace and quiet wasn't going to last. It never did.
Hermione glanced at the two girls before ducking down trying to hide in the shadows hoping that neither of them saw her but of course luck was never on her side. They had spotted her and were now making their way towards Hermione faster than she would have liked. Hermione wished she was anywhere else than here right now. She would have to find another place where people wouldn't bother her.
But now it was too late to try and run or hide. For now, she was stuck in this endless cycle of misery.
Hermione sighed, rubbing her eyes. She knew it was too good to think that she had finally gotten away from her tormentors. Now that they were here she wasn't going to get anything done. Why was it always her? She was starting to understand how Harry felt all the time.
'Why doesn't anyone notice that I need help. Why doesn't anyone see that I need help? Why don't people see that I just want to be left alone?' Hermione thought to herself, is that too much to ask!'
While Hermione was dreading what was coming next she failed to notice that two people had noticed her. As she was lost in her thoughts these two had been observing her since the start of their fourth year. For once in her life, she was going to be saved.
Saved by the two most unlikely people anyone could have thought. Hiding behind a bookshelf in the shadows.
Daphne Greengrass along with Pansy Parkinson weren't ones to interfere. They would rather watch something unfold and they only ever stepped in if they absolutely needed to or if it was for one of their housemates. Never did they think they would do it for a lion but something about Hermione made them want to save her. Something about her made them want to stop the people that teased her. Something about her just stood out to them. There was just something the drew them to her but they had no idea what or why.
Pansy and Daphne looked towards the three Gryffindor before sharing a look. They knew they wouldn't be able to not get involved so sharing a sigh they stepped out from their hiding place and made their way towards the table where three lions were. Lavender and the other girl were standing with an annoyed expression while Hermione was sitting looking around for any escape she could get. Any way out she could find.
"We're sorry to keep you waiting, Granger… Pansy and I got a little sidetracked. I hope you're still up for helping us with our defense against the dark arts homework and study session." All movement stopped when Daphne had said that. Lavender's eyes were wide with fear at seeing Pansy and Daphne. Lavender's friend had basically run off the moment the two Slytherin's appeared. Hermione's brown eyes were looking at the girls with shock and confusion. Why were they here? Why were they saving her?
Pansy smirked, as she watched the girl runoff. She and Daphne shared a snicker. Most Gryffindor's fleed at the sight of a Slytherin because they were afraid of them. So much for the bravery trait. "Why are you still here Brown? Do you have a reason or are you just standing there to try and absorb the knowledge from books without even reading them? That's an all-new low even you Gryffindor's. You must be losing intelligence at this point." Pansy lifted a single brow as Lavender shook her head but continued to stand there and look at the Slytherins with a dumbstruck expression.
"If there isn't a reason then shew! No one wants to see your ugly face. I mean I don't know who you think you are putting on all that makeup because if you think it's helping you it's not." Daphne and Pansy snicked again and age them a wave of her hand as if to dismiss them as the two Slytherins sat down across from the muggle-born, and put their books in front of them.
Lavender still stood there acting as if the Slytherins hadn't just insulted her. Hermione was hiding a smile behind her hands and trying her best not to laugh at the girl. A part of Hermione wanted to feel bad for her but couldn't bring herself to do t. Her face was just priceless. "I said leave… or is that too much for your little brains to process and handle," Pansy said with a sneer. Daphne was just glaring at them. If looks could kill Lavender would have died by now.
"I never, I will Talk to you in the dorms Hermione!" Lavender said with fake happiness and fake smiles that the other three saw right threw before hurrying out of the library leaving the other three girls alone. Daphne and Pansy now had smirks on their faces and smug expressions while Hermione sat across from them with shock and confusion still on her face but amusement as well.
"So Granger… do you want to tell me why your own house is messing with you?" Daphne asked. She paused and Pansy looked around "And why Potter and Weasley aren't here to protect you?" Pansy asked.
Hermione finally snapped out of her state and blinked at the girls. She hadn't expected this and had no idea what to say to the girls. Slytherin's tended to avoid her at all costs because they didn't want to dirty their blood with her and she was a member of the golden trio so she was even more of a target. Now two of them had just saved her and were now talking to her willingly. No one ever wanted to talk to her willingly. She wasn't needed so she wasn't there. A feeling bubbled up into her but it wasn't an uncomfortable one but it made Hermione feel weird.
All Hermione was good for was her intelligence. That's all she was known to have. She was pretty, she wasn't athletic, she was just very smart. That's what she was good at so that was the only thing she was good at in other people's opinions.
Tilting her head to the side Hermione continued to look at the two. She needed to know the answer as to why they were helping her. Mustering up all her strength she asked one question. "Why?"
Pansy and Daphne blinked at this, as a frown came to her lips. Their eyes widening as they realized something. They had never really bothered to pay attention to anyone outside of their house let alone the muggle-born bookworm of Gryffindor. Now looking at the girl both could clearly see the girl's eyes and the hidden details that you would miss had you not been in Slytherin.
Hermione's eyes flashed a different color for a second before returning to her normal brown. Daphne and Pansy didn't understand the flash and chose to ignore it for now. They could always ask her later if they needed to but right now her eyes said a million things that Hermione would never admit. Her eyes looked like they wanted something. The gaze was of a Slytherin. No one had noticed. Not one person and looking at them now they asked themselves how but they knew the answer.
No one in Slytherin wanted to notice. No one wanted to think that a lion was like a snake, but something was off about Hermione Granger and they were damned if they didn't figure it out. They felt the draw to her. They felt a connection to her. This was something they couldn't ignore and they refused to ignore it any longer. They were Slytherins and Slytherins were the best. Nothing got the better of them.
"And why not?" This made Hermione frown, looking at the girls in the eye, she didn't understand people that well. There was something in their eyes that looked back at Hermione but she didn't understand. She didn't understand anything anymore. Hermione's life just seemed to blur together at this point. She didn't have anyone. She was nothing to anyone. Her parents abused her and everyone in school used her for her intelligence. She was all alone. It was just her and books. She would always be by herself. Alone.
Hermione only understood books. Books gave her all the knowledge she now held. They gave her some kind of power over everyone else. They were safe. They didn't hurt or leave her. They were always there for her when she needed an escape or an answer. What good would people do? She had seen the horrors of what people were capable of. The killings, the lies, the torture. Books never did that. Books were her sanctuary.
"One both of you are Slytherin." Hermione stated, glazing at one of their green and silver ties, "Second, I'm a muggle-born, and you guys don't like them, thrid I am in Gryffindor and a member of the so-called golden trio. Your not the nicest people in school either. There are a lot of reasons why. "
This made both Slytherin's smirk, they knew they weren't the easiest people to get along with but they liked keeping the people who wanted to get to know them for superficial reasons away and the real friends close to them. They didn't need the entire school to like them. Most of them are fakers anyway. Some people were here only for money, fame, or other selfish reasons. They also didn't want to get caught up with some blood traitors or mudblood. Even thinking about it made them disgusted. Slytherin's always stick together.
As Hermione was about to say something, a voice called out, "Hermione! There you are! I have been looking for you all day!" the voice made Hermione snap her mouth shut and not say what she was going to, the Slytherins. Hermione paled drastically. She knew the owner of that voice and this wasn't going to end well. It never did. Hermione was now slightly shaking in her seat and the two Slytherins took notice.
The voice came closer and red hair came into view, making the Slytherins sneer as he continued to talk, not even noticing that they were talking to the girl he was semi glaring at, "I need help on my homework. And your nowhere to be found...I should have guessed you were here…" the last part was muttered but the three girls could still hear him. The Slytherins were looking from Hermione to Ron to Hermione. They could easily tell that there was something wrong.
"Weasley…" Pansy sneered as the redhead turned his eyes on the Slytherins. His glare intensified and grabbed Hermione's arm and pulled her out of the chair making Hermione almost scream in pain. She more like yelped in pain causing the redhead to drop Hermione.
She landed on the floor causing her robes to fall revealing to the Slytherins bruises on her arms and chest. Both Slytherin girls' eyes widen. You could clearly see through the white shirt all the bruises, cuts, and what looked to be scares, listers, bruises, and any other injury you could see on someone's skin. The Slytherins were outraged by this. There were millions of questions that popped into their heads but the main one was who. When they figured out who was doing that they were going to make sure they regretted the day they were born.
"Ow, Ron!" Hermione glared at her so-called friends, as she fixed her robes and stood up, "What do you think you're doing?!" The next thing she knew she was getting pulled out of the library, not even having time to grab her want or any of her books. His grip on Hermione visibly tightened as she yelped in pain but this time he refused to let go.
The two girls that were left were glaring as they watched the muggle-born being dragged out of the library, then glancing down at the belongings still on the table. He wouldn't even let her grab her things before forcing her to do his bidding. It was no secret to the Slytherins that the Gryffindor forced Hermione to do their work for them. That was the only reason Gryffindor has the grades they did. Without her, all of Gryffindor would fail except maybe the first years to some degree.
The two quietly gathered the belongings then glanced at the way they could still hear yelling from the male Weasley. Another scowl made its way on their faces. They really hated the Weasley family. Everyone outside of Slytherin thought so highly of them but they didn't know the truth. If they saw what they had done when no one was looking they would be shunned. Daphne held Pansy's hand tightly as they remembered what had happened so many years ago. When they lost part of their family to the so-called light side.
"What was all that about Daphne, Pansy?" the boy leaning against a bookcase reading a book asked, closing the book and pushing himself off the bookcase. The two girls continued to look and listen as the yelling got further and further away. Tears were brimming their eyes at this point whether it was out of anger, sadness, frustration, or fear. They didn't know which one. Maybe it was a combination of all of them but one thing was for certain. They needed to save Hermione Granger no matter what. "What's got you two so interested in a Gryffindor and not just any Gryffindor at that….Hermione Granger? Really? What's going through-" he stopped talking and frowned when seeing the look on the girls' faces and the tears threatening to fall. It took a lot to make anyone in Slytherin show emotions when around other people meaning this was important.
"Blaise…" Daphne started, glanced at the boy who was giving her a look of confusion as well as indicating he was listening, "We need a….meeting...can you spread the word?"
Blaise's eyes widened, he understood the term meeting. What he didn't understand was why they would want one, but nodded non the less, "I can do that…. but can you tell me why?" Blaise at this point was now panicking. A house meeting was not to be taken lightly. House meetings were meant for something important. Anyone in Slytherin could tell you that. They had year meetings for people in their year and if needed to tell other years you would have a house meeting. House meetings were not very common. In fact, Blaise couldn't really remember the last true house meeting they had.
Pansy took her eyes away from the direction Hermione was dragged in as her dark blue eyes narrowed, "Let's just say… there are Slytherin eyes in Gryffindor..." Pansy trailed off. She didn't want to explain the new information they had just found out. That could come later. Right now there number one priority was to get Hermione Granger some safety and to find out who was hurting her and why.
This was enough to make Blaise stiffen and nod as he left to spread the word, he glanced at the two girls and sighed, "You must have saw more than that…" he knew meetings were only held if something needed to change or someone needed protection. This meant that Hermione Granger was in much more danger than they originally thought. Being around Potter and Weasley was already dangerous but the looks on their faces and the way their bodies were were giving off that there was more. He wanted to press but decided against it. The girls weren't going to tell him anyway.
He hoped he was wrong on what was going on...but he had a feeling he wasn't wrong. He knew Slytherins never got involved and tended to just observe. As long as they stayed together they stood tall and proud above the rest.
'Tonight...all hell is going to break loose' Blaise thought, making his way to find every head of Slytherin in each year. He had to spread the word about the meeting.
He only hoped Snape never got wind of this meeting...he could only hope not but little did anyone know that a certain potions teacher had been in the library at the same time as all of this happened. He had heard and saw everything and was now making his way to his classroom with these new thoughts in his head and preparing for the new member of Slytherin house.
Daphne and Pansy grinned as they heard whispers at dinner, the word was getting around. The Slytherins were to have a whole house meeting tonight. Most house meetings were planned at least a few days ahead but this one was planned in a few hours at most. This was an emergency house meeting.
A meeting that hadn't happened in years. Sure they had meetings but nothing like the one they were about to have. This meeting was different from their usual meetings. This meeting was a house adoption meeting.
This only happens when someone from the Slytherin house brings something up that shouldn't be happening in the school.
It didn't happen often, but there really had been no reason to have this house meeting. There was a reason now. There was a big reason for one now. Only time would tell if the house adoption but the two girls had a feeling it would. They knew this was going to work out in the end even if Blaise or anyone else through against that feeling.
A Slytherin always recognizes another Slytherin no matter what. There was no mistaking the gaze of a Slytherin.
Both Slytherin's recognized the look in Hermione Granger's eyes. She had a haunted look in them, but they also had the look of wanting knowledge and wanting to prove themselves. Look of ambition. The look of cunning and being a born leader. As well as proving to be powerful.
Hermione had all those looks in her eyes. The eyes of a true Slytherin. Now thinking about it Hermione had demonstrated multiple qualities of a Slytherin but no one noticed because no one was looking. The girls had felt so stupid looking back and realizing she had this look in her third year.
Anyone could tell the girl had changed a lot since her first year. Back then she had just been a know it all, nothing Slytherin about that but now her eyes had changed. She wasn't a Gryffindor to them anymore. She was a lost Slytherin. Even though she was a muggleborn they didn't feel disgusted by her. All the other mudbloods, blood traitors, Hufflepuff's, and Gryffindor's had made them feel dirty but her. She was different but they didn't know what it was.
The look of ambition, the look everyone in Slytherin should know well from when they look at one another or in a mirror. This is why the two told Blaise to make the meeting happen. This was going to change whether Gryffindor liked it or not. Whether anyone liked it or not. No-one dared to stopped them. This meeting was going to happen.
And happen it shall.
Though Daphne and Pansy were a little worried about how Snape would react and take the news. He was a Slyhterin after all. He would either accept it and be cool having the smartest and powerful witch in his house or very unhappy that she's their muggleborn or maybe even go a completely different way. There was no telling with that man but everyone in Slytherin held respect for him. He was the only person to have ever protect Slytherin's and he was one meaning he knows the pain it is to be one. The struggles just because you're in Slytherin.
They just wanted to keep this meeting for only the students, the other Slytherins. She knew once she told them what she saw there was going to be a week or two long watching period. It was only cut short if their life was threatened or determined early that they were in need. The girls didn't know how long the period was truly going to be because one wrong move on Gryffindor's part could bring everything to an end quickly or draw it out. There was really no telling with those people.
Daphne and Pansy knew they would all see what they saw in the waiting period.
They would also see how she was treated by the other lions. By her own house. By the people that are supposed to protect her. By the people, she's supposed to call her friends. Call her family.
Something the girls didn't like and knew they wouldn't either. Slytherin might not be the easiest people to get along with but if there was one thing they were good at it was protecting their own. When you mess with one Slytherin you mess with all of them.
Hermione's house was to take care of her, and by the looks of this, it wasn't happening. Pansy tapped Daphne on the shoulder and pointed to the Gryffindor table where they saw the girl picking at her food, making Daphne narrow her light blue eyes. This wasn't an uncommon occurrence.
Neither of them could remember any time where they saw the girl eat a lot. This worried them too. Why wouldn't she eat? Sure she put food on her plate..but never actually ate it. Other times the bookworm would just skip meals. Her robes were starting to hang off her body and if this continued she would become an unhealthy weight. She was almost killing herself like this.
What was going on with the muggleborn? What was happening that no one could see. Just what was she hiding.
It didn't help the way the two saw the other Gryffindor's treat the girl. Harshly. Like she was an outsider, only allowed to be there when they found her useful. Only ever seen when they needed her not when she needed them.
And they said Slytherin was cruel. What they were doing was cruel too. They were being crueler than Slytherin bit of course since they were Gryffindor's they could never do anything wrong. This world was very cruel to people. Very cruel indeed.
Hermione Granger sighed as she pushed the rest of her dinner away, she wasn't hungry. She seemed like she never really was anymore. She had lost her appetite and food seemed to have lost its appeal. She really wished she could eat normally but no. She was getting weaker and if she didn't start eating more she wasn't going to be able to do much. She would be a dying corpse.
'I should have skipped tonight and stayed in the dorms till everyone left then went to look for my things' Hermione thought as she glanced around the great hall at the happy chatting people around her. She felt that longing feeling some back as she watched everyone around her. She never got to have the things that everyone else got. She knew life wasn't fair but weren't good things supposed to happen to those to wait. Hadn't she waited in her suffering state long enough?
Everything was so different from her first year, she saw things differently. Nothing like how it used to be. Her friendship with Harry and Ron had changed...so had her look on the wizarding world. Nothing was the same to her anymore. The muggle world was different. The wizarding world was different. Everything was different and it would just continue to change. Nothing was the same and never would be the same.
Her so-called friends or housemates would look at her with disgust or glares. Talked behind her back. Sent glares at her if she was talking and no one else was around. No one noticed the pain in her eyes. No one ever helped her. The more she went to school the worse it got. The more she did anything the more people seemed to hate her. She was helping them but no she still wasn't good enough for them.
Same thing with her parents.
She had been abused since she was a small child and after finding out she was a witch it only got worse. The beatings, starving, being forced to sleep outside in the snow with a tank top and shorts on, almost being raped, and more. There was no end to it. Things were just getting worse with everyone the longer she was alive. She didn't know what to do anymore. She was out of options at this point. Deadends everywhere.
Things were falling apart. Her life was falling apart but was it really together in the first place? Was anything as it seemed?
It wasn't like anyone noticed though. She wasn't worth being noticed. She wasn't worth anything to anyone. She wasn't even there when she was.
No one noticed Hermione Granger...unless they needed help with something. It was then she was useful. She was slowly losing herself in this world or in this universe.
That is all she was...the walking homework helper...puzzle solver.. brightest witch of her age... mudblood... failure... and so much more but she was never Hermione Granger.
Sometimes she wished someone would change that. That someone would notice her and help her. Even if it was one person she would be grateful. Saving her from herself and others would help.
Though Hermione would soon be learning she should be careful what she wished for...because sometimes it might come true, and not in the way she intended. No matter what she could have wished for or predicted would happen this one never crossed her mind.
Hello everyone. You might be wondering why I have changed this chapter and that is because my partner who works with me on this account who wrote the first chapter originally didn't actually write it. He had taken it from another story and copied it. It was brought to my attention by the latest review written by azutara4ever. The first chapter was basically copied word for word from the story 'A Slytherin's Mudblood' by Aslin's Fire. I couldn't believe he would do such a thing to me and to you guys. We basically write the chapters together but I didn't know how to start this story so he decided to copy from someone else. I deeply apologize for this and have taken steps to make sure it doesn't happen. I had no idea this was happening until this morning when that review was left. I will also be going back and rewriting the earlier chapters and chapters he was written to make sure nothing else was copied.
I am the only one that uses this account but we share the google docs that these chapters were written on. I didn't think he would have copied anything so I never looked into it. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will also be taking a look at the other stories that I have posted to see if I can find whether or not they were copied as well. This is a peeve of mine when something like this happens. It just pisses me off so much.
It is wrong to take credit for other people's work. I have spent my entire day trying my best to fix this chapter but if it's still too close to the original let me know and I will change it even more. I hope you guys understand that I am working to fix this problem and that he will no longer be helping me write stories on this site anymore. Thank you for all the love and support on this story and I will stop at nothing until this is finished and I will continue to update new chapters on my own. I hope this helps you understand that copying isn't right and don't make the same mistake he did. As always leave your reviews on if I need to change it even more. I hope this doesn't inconvenience anyone. As always I hope you have a great day or night depending on where you are. Thank you all again for hopefully understanding and I will see you guys next time. Byeeeee.