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Chapter 2: The Guest
Harry and Ron loathed History of Magic. It was right after lunch, and Ron declared that it made his dessert do flips in his stomach. The things Professor Binns preached about were fairly interesting, just not in his class. As they made their way to the classroom, they were stunned to find the students outside of the room, all of them whispering nervously.
"What is it doing in there?"
"Do you think it's safe to go in?"
Harry and Ron exchanged glances. What was going on?
"Excuse me," Harry said, moving through the crowd to look into the room. His jaw dropped.
Sitting at a desk in the front, her hands folded neatly in front of her, her head high in the air sat none other than Hermione Granger. Harry couldn't believe this girl. How stubborn she was, and yet, how brave. Ron joined him and he shrank back. "Oh no…"
Harry felt his temper rising. She was a girl, not a flesh-eating slug. Why were they all afraid of her? Seamus Finnigan rolled up a piece of parchment and threw it at Hermione. It hit her in the shoulder and bounced to the floor. Seamus snickered. Soon, others were too. Hermione didn't even glance at them as hoards of parchment came flying at her.
"Stop, stop!!" Harry yelled. "Get a hold of yourselves! What's wrong with you all?"
The paper-throwing ended at once along with the laughter.
"What do we do, Harry?" Neville Longbottom asked from behind him.
"Yeah, I don't want to go sit near a contagious Muggle-born. Look how dirty she is," Parvati hissed.
"Do what you like," Harry said. "I'm late for class," and he went inside and sat down next to Hermione.
He gave her a small smile, but she didn't return it.
Ron turned to the crowd, shook his head and sat down next to Harry. Soon, more students began filing in.
"If you expect me to grovel at your feet, you're sadly mistaken," Hermione told Harry, not looking at him.
"What?" he asked. "I---"
He was cut short when Professor Bins entered through the chalk board. He gave them all a peering look, and opened his book. The class followed suit. He was about to open his mouth, when he noticed Hermione. He floated back. "Are you lost?" he asked.
"No," Hermione said, opening her own tattered book. "What page are we on?"
"Miss…"
"Granger, Professor. Hermione Granger."
"Ah yes, I heard about you," Professor Binns nodded solemnly. "Unfortunately, I cannot allow you to stay in this class."
"It's okay, Professor Binns… she's here with me," Harry said.
Hermione gave him a puzzling look.
Professor Binns shook his ghostly head. "Law is law, Mr. Potter, no matter what head of kingdom you are. I will ask you to leave only once, Miss Granger."
"Or what?" she challenged.
Professor Binns held up his hand, and two guards came into the room. "Problem, Proffesor?"
Professor Binns nodded at Hermione.
"Granger," One of the guards said. "Let's go."
Hermione crossed her arms. "No. I'm here to learn along with everyone else."
"You have your own classes for that," the guard said, and took hold of her arm, pulling her out of her seat.
"Let go of me---" she started.
Harry had enough. What was the harm in letting her stay? "Look, just calm down," he told the guard, standing up as well.
"To the dungeon or vanquished, Mr. Potter?" the guard asked, squeezing her arm roughly until she whimpered.
"Look, get out of here," Harry whispered to her.
She gritted her teeth and kicked him in the stomach. He doubled over, the wind knocked out of him.
"To the dungeon or vanquished?" the guard repeated, yanking Hermione's head back.
"The dungeon! The dungeon," Harry panted, slowly getting back to his seat. He just realized the class was hovered around him. "I'm alright," he said.
"You're going to pay for that," the guard hissed, throwing her out the door.
Ron shuddered at the sound of her body hitting the wall outside the room. "Sure you're alright?" he asked Harry.
Harry nodded. He had a feeling Hermione was in for far worse.