Save Me from Myself
Disclaimer: Again, I only own the plot.
Author's Notes: Well, here's the next chapter! There is some self-mutilation in the next few chapters. It is brief, and won't last through the whole story.
Chapter Two: Food, Dorms, and Nightmarish Secrets
Hermione sat beside Harry and Ron during the feast. Just being back in the Great Hall brought peace to her. She smiled as Ron waited impatiently for the sorting to begin so that it could end. The sorting hat had a new song. It was very different. Even Ron paid attention to it.
Listen all who hear my song
The war has started
It won't be long
I have sorted many
Throughout the years
So listen to my song
Listen to my fears
I was created by the Founders Four
I was made to sort, but also
So much more
I will sort you where you belong
I want you to know, that I am never wrong
But now's the time
To stop the fights
And the cries that fill the nights
One must join as one and all
You must do it soon, within the hall
The war has started
It won't be long
Before we find out
Who was wrong
Now you have been told
So, let the sorting now unfold
It was short and to the point, and Hermione, Ron, and Harry intrigued. Soon, however, both Harry and Ron remembered their growling stomachs, and their interest in the sorting was gone. They both quietly applauded when it was over.
When the sorting was over, Dumbledore stood to make some announcements.
"Welcome one and all to another year at Hogwarts. Firstly, the Forbidden Forest is off-limits. Secondly, Mr. Filch would like me to remind you of all the things not permitted in the corridors. Seeing as how there are so many, the list is posted on his office door. I am proud to announce that our Head Boy is Draco Malfoy," applause mainly from Slytherins, "and our Head Girl is Hermione Granger." Applause came from everyone but the Slytherins. "Finally," continued Dumbledore, "we have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He was not feeling well this evening, and you will therefore meet him tomorrow. Well, now that all the business is finished, tuck in."
With a clap of his hands, the tables magically filled with all finds of delicious foods. Hermione didn't feel very hungry, so she had two chicken legs and a small side of mashed potatoes with gravy. Harry and Ron were grabbing everything in sight. Hermione smiled in remembrance of how many times they had done this.
Soon, the feast was over. Hermione was glad. She was ready to go to bed. Dumbledore announced that he would like her and Draco to stay afterwards. So, she said goodbye to her friends and reluctantly walked to the Head Table.
Draco walked up to the Head Table and met Hermione with his trademark smirk. The two of them stood in front of the table waiting for Dumbledore to finish speaking with Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall. Draco was tired and bored. He wanted to slip into bed and fall asleep. He stole a quick glance at Hermione. She looked like she felt the same way.
"I'm certain you two are very pleased at having been picked for the Head positions," Dumbledore said to them.
"Yes, professor," they said in unison.
"I know that you two are not as pleased at who you will be living with. However, as Hogwarts top students, you rightfully received these positions. Therefore, I want it made perfectly clear that you two will try and act civilly towards each other, especially in front of the others. I don't care if you like each other, but you will respect each other. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir," they both muttered.
"Right then. Shall we proceed to your dormitory?"
"Yes, sir."
They were lead out of the Great Hall and down a corridor that they had never been down before. They stopped in front of an older portrait. There was a beautiful girl on it. She had long black hair, and charcoal eyes. A snake was wrapped around her neck, and a lion was at her feet. How appropriate, Draco scoffed to himself.
"This is the portrait leading to your common room and adjoining rooms. You can also reach your house common rooms through other portraits in your rooms. The password is 'Serpentine Bravery.' Goodnight."
"Goodnight, sir," said Hermione.
"Serpentine Bravery," said Draco.
The two walked in, and Hermione went straight upstairs. Weird, thought Draco. I expected her to spend the whole night admiring the room. It really isn't bad. And it was nice. There were two sofas, one red and the other silver. The Gryffindor and Slytherin colors were nicely slashed together in all of the décor. I wonder why Granger didn't stay to look at the books.
Hermione had run up the stairs and into her room. She didn't stop to look at the décor in the common room, and she didn't pay much notice to anything in her own room. For some reason, seeing that portrait had brought back memories of her nightmare. She hated it. She knew Draco was probably laughing at her, but she didn't care.
Hermione threw herself onto the large bed. It was soft and warm, and her nerves calmed as her head hit the big pillows. She soon fell asleep. But, as always, her sleep was riddled with tossing and turning, and finally, her nightmare. Her soft face scrunched with fear. She sat up and screamed at the top of her lungs, and then she fell to her pillows and began thrashing around as though trying to fend off something.
Because she was asleep, she didn't know that her scream had reached the ears of Draco Malfoy, who had fallen asleep on the sofa, reading a book.
He heard the scream. It startled him out of a fitful sleep. It took him a moment to realize that it was the Head Girl who was screaming. Not really knowing why, Draco ran up the steps. He ran into Hermione's room and saw what he never expected to see from her.
Hermione, the Golden Girl, the Head Girl, the Mudblood, was thrashing around and screaming in her bed. Her face was contorted with fear. Draco had never seen anything like that before in his life, except from his mother. It scared him.
He didn't know what compelled him to do it, but he walked cautiously over to Hermione and gently put a hand on her head, as he had done on the train. She stopped screaming and rolling around, but her face was still filled with fear. He sat down beside her and ran his hand through her hair.
Her face slowly relaxed. In spite of that fact, Draco continued to run his hand through her long, soft hair. He didn't really know why he was doing it. He suspected, though, that it was because this was what he did when his mother had a nightmare, and Lucius was out of the house.
Hermione suddenly turned toward him, her eyes still closed. She smiled slightly. Draco smiled unconsciously. He released his hand from her hair and just watched her for a few moments. When he saw her eye lids start to flutter, he hastily left the room.
Draco went into his own room and mentally smacked himself. Then, he literally smacked himself.
"What were you thinking? She's a mud-." He couldn't bring himself to say it. He had been able to think it before he'd gone into her room. Now he just couldn't do it. It was as though seeing her in a truly weak point, he saw that she was like everyone else, even like him.
I'm losing it. What is going on with me? I'm a Malfoy. Not that it really matters anymore. Lucius disgraced our name. Besides, I can't stand him anyway. What is going on with me? I must still be tired. That's it. Everything will be back to normal in the morning.
Draco took off his shoes, socks, and shirt and got into bed. He soon fell asleep. He didn't even hear Hermione in her bathroom.
Hermione never knew that it was Draco who had saved her from the monsters in her dream. His presence, though, was soothing and strong. When she felt it leave, though, she opened her eyes. She cried. She ran into the bathroom and sat on the floor. Tears were running down her face.
Because she was still in her clothes, she reached into a little sheath hidden by her pants near her ankle and pulled out a small, yet rather sharp, knife. She pulled off the glove on her right arm and found a place for another cut.
The feel of the blade digging into her skin was painful, but it was a good pain for Hermione. She watched as the blood flowed from her arm and onto the floor. After a minute, she pulled out her wand and muttered a spell. A bandange came out of her wand and wrapped itself around the wound.
Hermione sighed and went back into her room. She changed into a black tank top and black pajama pants and got into bed. Tomorrow, everything will get better. Everything will start to go back to the way it was before. I hope so, anyway. With those last thoughts, Hermione fell into an almost fitful sleep.
Author's Comments: Well, there it is. It didn't turn out as long as I wanted it to, but the next chapters will be. Or they should be anyways. Please R&R! I'll try and update the next chappy as soon as I can. I have finals this week, so I doubt anything new will come up until Friday. Thanks for reading!