Hello to my very loyal and wonderful readers. Thank you for the reviews as always. A very helpful guest suggested that I change the summary of the story. This is not my strong point. Please review or send a message if you have a good idea for a summary? I hope that you are enjoying this gorgeous Saturday. I hope that you are in enjoying this gorgeous Saturday with my story. I hope that you are enjoying this gorgeous Saturday with my story so much that you want to leave a review (there is a very obvious wink here). I don't own this world. Lark
Objects of Beauty Chapter 14
Autumn 1950
"Gryffindor!" Shouted the Sorting Hat to the collected student body. Hermione removed the old hat and placed it neatly back on the stool. She had been delayed by a day in arriving at Hogwart's. The Smith family had been making it extremely unpleasant for her to keep the better part of Hepzibah's collections. In an effort to inconvenience her they had set up a hearing to dispute Hepzibah's will for the first day of Hogwart's. Luckily Griphook had put her in touch with the right counsel and had taken many steps to ensure that Hepzibah's last wishes remain airtight.
She had ignored the whispers as she had made her way up to the front of the dining hall. On her way her gaze had lighted on the silver, hostile eyes of Draco Malfoy. She had been aware that he would be here but the reality and threat of his presence had not truly occurred to her until now. She swallowed hard. Lucius Malfoy had been at the hearing and had made an impassioned plea on the side of the Smith family. He had sneered and implied that such great magical treasures should not fall into the wrong sort of hands. The look of pure hatred that he had leveled at her after the Wizengamot sided with Hermione had her wanting to shrink back in her chair. She hadn't though, she had looked through him, politely indifferent, until he had stormed from the room.
The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers as Hermione made her way to them. Ignoring the whispers that followed in her path, she kept her head high. She smiled at Harry and Ron, settling down between the two of them. Hepzibah's death still weighed heavily on her. She missed the old witch every day.
Quickly she loaded her plate with eggs and fresh fruit and poured herself a cup of tea. "Looks like we've got Defense against Dark Arts with Snape first." Ron said looking over her schedule. "He's even more of a slimy git when he's teaching. And he favors the Slytherin's like you wouldn't believe."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you must be exaggerating."
He shook his head. "I'm not! Look, as you've pointed out on several occasions I'm not the best student but just you wait. He's not going to give you an inch." Ron's eyes lit up at a thought. "I hope that we are dueling today! I can't wait to see you trounce a Slytherin." As members of the Order the three of them had been extensively trained, sometimes by Snape himself.
"Yes, I don't think there's a spell Hermione hasn't mastered." Harry said fondly. "Although I bet you Slughorn will invite you into the Slugclub when he sees your potions." When Ron was distracted by something Seamus Finnegan was saying Harry leaned in and whispered. "Dumbledore wants us to meet him on Friday evening at ten."
"More memories?" Harry had updated her on the extensive research they had done on Tom Riddle. She still blamed Dumbledore in part for Hepzibah's death. "Did you ever find out what happened to his hand? I'm sure that's a dark curse. I think I've read about it but I can't quite seem to remember where. I'll check in the library."
"He won't say a word. Just offers me lemon drops when I ask." Harry grumbled.
Hermione glanced around the hall and was gratified to see many familiar faces. The white blonde head of Draco Malfoy caught her eye again. She had not seen him for a few years. She supposed he had been at Hepzibah's death ritual but she could not recall. Deep purple bags lined his eyes and though he had grown a lot he looked to be so thin he was almost malnourished. She felt a stab of pity for him. His father was monstrous, it was no wonder he was the way he was. She hoped that he wouldn't give her too had a time this year.
...
One moment she was hurrying back from the Gryffindor dormitory to her first class. In all the confusion of her first day she had left her book bag up in the tower. The next she was sprawled on the stone floor. Her bag had ripped and books sprayed out in an arc around her.
Carefully she sat up and assessed the damage. One knee was bleeding profusely. She found her wand and whispered a healing spell to it.
Satisfied that it was closed and clean she turned her attention to the maliciously laughing witch to her right. Pansy Parkinson stood holding on to the older Greengrass girl in her mirth.
"That was a well aimed tripping jinx, Pansy." Theo Nott smirked. With Hepzibah's death the Slytherin's had apparently decided that the rules of even the pretense of politeness no longer applied to Hermione.
Ignoring them and with as much dignity as she could muster from the hard stone floor she waved her wand and non verbally repaired her bag. The books rose up as one and piled neatly into it. She did not look at any of them.
"Pansy, stop mucking about with the filth." She heard a familiar voice say.
Draco Malfoy was standing over her and looking down his aristocratic nose. He wrinkled it as if disgusted. He stepped over her, making sure to grind his heel into a fallen quill. With a wink he elegantly offered his arm to the still laughing witch. "Shall we? Wouldn't want to be late." Pansy took his arm with a worshipful look. It made Hermione feel ill. She hoped never to look at a wizard with such a vapid expression.
Grabbing her bag and the ruined quill she followed them down the corridor to the classroom. She let them get up ahead her. Snape appeared from behind a tapestry and snagged Draco by the arm. With a glare to the other Slytherin's he sent them scurrying to the open door of the classroom.
"What do you want?" Draco growled.
"You've ignored my last two requests to talk. I only want to aid you." Snape said urgently.
"For the last time, I don't want your help." Draco hissed. He ripped his arm from the professor's grasp and stormed into the classroom.
Snape whirled around and caught Hermione watching. His lips curled. "That's five points from Gryffindor for being tardy to my class and five more for listening to conversations that have nothing to do with you." He snarled before sweeping into the room.
Hermione sighed and cursed Dumbledore again for uprooting her from Beauxbatons. He had his reasons she was sure but it made her life a bloody nuisance.
...
Snape looked around the room. The class sat in tense silence. "This week we will continue dueling while practicing our non verbal spell work. I believe Malfoy is still undeafeated?" Despite the angry words in the hallway Malfoy smirked as his classmates clapped him on the shoulder.
"Who shall we have him duel today?" Harry immediately raised his hand.
"Ah, no one brave enough then?" Snape sneered. Most of the Gryffindor's put their hands up. Hermione kept still. "As usual." Snape muttered. His eyes landed on Hermione. "Why not? Smith you're up. Although I believe that Beauxbaton's has typically been weak in your defense training. That is, if your pathetic champion at the Triwizard had anything to do with it." The class, including some of the Gryffindor's tittered.
Hermione glared at him. What was he playing at? He had trained her himself. He knew the advanced level of combat she was capable of. Regally she stood up and walked to the front of the class where Draco stood.
"Right, you know what to do." They stepped over the magical line that would protect the audience from the combatants. Snape shored up the protections with a few extra spells. The students looked at one another curiously. Snape had not done this before.
"I think I'm looking forward to this." Draco said with obvious relish.
Hermione had reached her limit. This boy had loathed and humiliated her from the moment they met. Realizing that Snape had chosen her on purpose to teach Draco a lesson for his behavior in the hall she decided not to hold back today. The Slytherin's needed to know what she was capable of. Bullies would not target someone stronger and she wanted some peace for once.
They faced one another and bowed. She respectfully and he barely bobbing his head.
"Remember, non verbals only. I shall be docking you points for every word uttered. No dark curses." Snape told them. "On my word." He looked from one combatant to the other. "Go!"
Hermione immediately dodged his nosebleed curse as she sent a series of tripping fire jinxes that were her own invention his way. She followed this up with a strong shield charm. The class jeered as Malfoy began to trip over himself. Each time his foot landed a burst of bluebell flames would scorch his feet and he would trip all over again.
Malfoy sent stinging hexes but they bounced harmlessly off her shield. When the tripping jinxes were coming to an end she let down her shield. This time she sent a flock of cheerful yellow canaries to circle his head. Malfoy gave her a disbelieving look. A series of tickling charms hit him and Hermione was lifted roughly by one foot and held aloft in the air. Blushing in spite of the battle she quickly righted herself.
"Nice show Draco!" Called Blaise Zanini as Goyle catcalled her.
Draco had canceled the tickling charms at last but before he could raise his wand the canaries attacked him, cutting his face in several places. With a small explosion the birds disappeared. Blood dripped from the cuts down his cheeks.
Hermione disarmed him quickly. The Gryffindor's erupted in cheers. Draco's face burned with humiliation. She calmly presented him with his wand, hoping that her point was made.
She turned away just as Ron yelled. "Hey! Malfoy! I can't wait to hear what you father has to say about this!"
Malfoy stiffened, realizing just how much punishment he would receive for this public failure. He turned to Smith who was walking calmly away from him.
"Diffindo!" He yelled. A long line of blood sliced down Hermione's side. She cried out in pain, blood began to gush from her wound in a worrying amount. Malfoy paled even more than usual and looked stricken.
"What are you playing at!" Harry jumped over the line at sent several hexes his way.
"Serpensortia!" Yelled Malfoy. He knew he'd gone too far. The stress of the past few months weighed on him. Potter looked ready to kill him. He had cast in a moment of panic. A large black snake grew from the end of his wand. It slithered toward Harry and Hermione. Malfoy looked to the witch lying bleeding on the floor and felt a sting of regret. He'd only meant to split her uniform open as an embarrassment to her.
"Thomas! Run and get Madam Pomphrey!" Snape's was yelling. He was stumbling over the students in his attempt to get to Hermione.
"Sectumsempra!" Yelled Harry. Blood poured from Malfoy's face and chest just as Hermione let loose an ear splitting scream. The black snake had bitten her. It turned to Harry who to everyone's surprise spoke to it in hissing tones. The snake stopped moving and waited docilely for instruction.
Snape ran by disappearing the snake. "Potter! Put pressure on her wound. Nott go and see where that blasted nurse is. Patil, go to the cupboard behind my desk and summon the bezoar. Shove it down her throat! Everyone else leave immediately!" Instructions given he knelt by his godson and began to chant.
Draco's blood pooled across the floor and mingled with Hermione's. Their eyes met in collective horror as they lay helpless on the floor.
"Here it is!" Pavarti came rushing back to Hermione. Without hesitating she shoved the misshapen stone down her throat and Hermione was plunged into darkness.
...
Hermione woke to frantic activity around her. "Stupid boy! Whatever were you thinking!" Hissed Snape. "And where, exactly did you get that spell?"
"I didn't know what that spell would do!" Harry was clearly horrified!
"Now Severus, this is not the time!" Dumbledore weakly interjected.
"Ok, that's the best I can do for the boy. Quick thinking about the bezoar. That girl would have been dead for sure. Out of my way Potter! She'll need the antivenin. Severus! Hold her head steady. Liquid as cold as ice was poured down her throat." Darkness took her again.
...
"What did that filthy half blood do to my son?" A voice screeched. Hermione was ripped from her slumber. She opened her eyes a crack. They were in what she presumed was the hospital ward. She could just barely make out Narcissa, Dumbledore and Snape on the opposite side of the cavernous room. It was dark and moonlight streamed through the windows. She half closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.
"It was an accident Mrs. Malfoy, please. The Potter boy had no idea what the spell did. He has told me this under veritaserum. His only concern was defending Miss Smith who your son attacked while her back was turned.
"Miss Smith? He attacked Miss Smith? Whatever for?" Narcissa looked from one man to the other.
"She has just bested him in a duel" Snape admitted.
"He always was such a sore loser." Narcissa was resigned.
"He nearly sliced her in two and then set a snake on them." Snape reported.
"Sliced her? Which hex?" Narcissa demanded.
"Diffindo, I believe." Snape replied.
"Ah, this does not excuse it of course but I believe that he was trying to slice her clothes open to embarrass her. The boys kept playing tricks on one another last summer. That one was quite popular." Narcissa admitted.
"Then we can put this whole unfortunate incident down to improper use of magic in a most innocent way." Dumbledore said hopefully. "I'm sure Miss Smith will not press charges if you do not."
"I suppose." Narcissa huffed. "Miss Smith of all people." She spoke almost to herself. "Draco has been under a lot of strain. Expectations have been placed on him that he hasn't a chance of meeting." Her voice trembled. "Lucius has been greedy. We are all paying."
She looked down at her son in the pale light. His body was covered with angry red scars. A line ran down the length of each cheek. Madam Pomphrey informed her that though the scars would eventually fade they would never disappear completely. A sob escaped her and she broke down by his bedside weeping. "It's all so utterly hopeless." She cried. "They're going to kill us. They're going to destroy my beautiful son." Dumbledore looked over at Snape who nodded.
"There, there, my dear." Dumbledore soothed. "Help will always be given to those who ask." Narcissa looked up, suspicious. She caught Snape's eye and he nodded.
"I know who and what you are Albus. I'm ready to make a deal if you can make an unbreakable vow that you will save my son." Despite her tears her voice had a steely resolve.
"Let's go to my office, shall we?" Dumbledore asked.
"I suppose we must. Lucius is away for...work. If we are to speak. It must be now." Narcissa said. "Wait a moment, I'll meet you in the hall." The men nodded and withdrew.
Narcissa stayed and looked down at her son for a very long time. Suddenly she turned away and walked across the expanse to Hermione. She closed her eyes completely and regulated her breathing. She could feel the other witch's eyes upon her. After what felt like several endless minutes she heard the Narcissa's footsteps retreating away from her. She breathed a sigh of relief and fell asleep.
...
Hermione was burning up. Boiling oil was coursing through her veins. Pain like she'd never known invaded every part of her body. She screamed until she was hoarse. She called for her mother and father, for Hepzibah and she cried in great gasping sobs when they did not come.
"The last of the snake's venom is going through her system. She'll live, it'll not feel good to do so but she'll live." Madam Pomphrey told Dumbledore.
From his bed Draco watched the witch buck and scream. Every time the pain ripped at her it tore at him. He had done this. She had acted with honor and he had taken the road of the coward. He had been trained to believe that she was of less value than he. Now he wondered why he'd ever thought such a thing. They had moved the beds close to one another so Madam Pomphrey could nurse them quickly as needed. Hermione screamed and thrashed wildly. Draco with his own body throbbing with pain could only watch.
...
Hermione opened her eyes. She assessed her body which was tremendously sore but whole. Daylight lit up the room. She didn't know how many days had passed. She turned her head and saw Draco Malfoy staring at her with sad grey eyes. He was the last person she wanted to see. She turned her head away again. The effort of it cost her. Pain throbbed slowly through her head in waves. Still staring away from him she asked. "How long have we been here?" Her voice was hoarse from the hours of screaming.
"Two days. They say that you'll be up and around in another week or so." Draco said softly.
"Alright." Was all she said.
"Smith, Hermione, you've got to believe me. I never meant to harm you. I only wanted to humiliate you. I was angry that you'd bested me." Draco's words tumbled out.
She huffed our a laugh. "What more could you do to me Draco Malfoy? You've gone out of your way to humiliate me from the day you met me. You've wished me murdered, called me Mudblood, plain, ugly and stupid and now you've nearly killed me. You knew I was an orphan. You must have known that I loved Hepzibah, that I'm grieving her. You could not even find it in yourself to have the kindness to ignore me when I arrived here."
She turned her head to look at him once more. His face was frozen in a mask of pain. "I don't want to know you. I never did. You are cruel in ways I never thought possible. The sad thing is that I've haven't done a thing to you unprovoked. If you are sorry, if you truly are, here is what I want. Don't speak to me. Don't look at me. Let me live my life untainted by your presence. Leave me be. Do you understand? I don't want to know you. I never will."
Draco's face crumpled and he looked away. "I understand." He whispered.
"Good." She fell asleep again and when she woke several days later Draco was gone.