AN's- Wow. I saw that I got reviews pretty quick for the last chapter which gave me a major writing-happy. I've decided that unless I can't, I'm gonna start updating every...um, Saturday, but I'm going to really really try hard to so if you want to keep reading this, you'll know when to check (if it's not there, it should be by the next day or two hopefully) Well enough of this.
indicated thoughts
** indicates emphasis on a word
Chapter 10
Hermione stood from her bed, wiping the tears from her eyes. She slowly made her way over to her closet and grabbed her bathrobe and a towel. Thankful that her parents were in their bedroom, she walked across the hall into the bathroom, the only thought on her mind that her parents wouldn't notice the cuts and bruises upon their daughter any time soon. She didn't feel up to having to recollect the events of the previous hour.
As she began to peel off her clothes, she winced as some of the cuts that had begun to scab were becoming reopened. Hermione reached over to turn on the water. Once finding an acceptable heat, she stepped in, only to find herself tensing as the hot water poured itself over the fresh cuts and bruises.
Still uncertain if she wanted to see the full effect of what had happened, she examined herself cautiously. Over her left shoulder was an enormous bruise, lined with small cuts from where she landed when getting away. There were some random cuts on both her arms and some on her legs, but much fewer. She noticed a bruise forming above her knee, acrost her stomach, and felt many on her back. Still sobbing, Hermione regretted ever wanting to take the longest path home she could find. Looking one last time at her arms, she noticed finger-shaped bruises forming there, also.
After cautiously cleaning herself and all of her wounds until the hot water began to cease, Hermione stepped out of the shower and turned off the water. She slipped into her robe and wiped off a section of the fogged mirror before wrapping her hair up on the top of her head with her towel. Leaning forward, she examined the damage done to her face. Her bottom lip was slashed open and swollen. She had a scratch on her left cheek and small bruise over her right eye, but apart from that, that was about all. That's all she scoffed at herself. Right, no one will blink an eye if I walk into school tomorrow looking like I got myself into a bar fight
Sighing, she made her way back to her bedroom and pulled open the top drawer of her dresser. Once she had rummaged through it for a minute or two, she decided on a soft pair of pajamas to sleep in. After changing, she sulked back to her bed and pulled her blankets up around her. Although she tried to find a comfortable position that didn't irritate any of her injuries, the attempt fell faint as she settled for one that simply caused the least pain.
She closed her eyes, but found them soon back open. Every time she attempted to sleep, the only picture that formed in her head were those cold eyes.
~*~
Draco left Hogwarts near twenty minutes after Hermione. Harry had just come back and he didn't want to cause any further trouble, nor was he in the mood for it. He walked sullenly, lost in his thoughts, when he realized that he had subconsciously taken the path that led him past Hermione Granger's house. His eyes drifted longingly up towards it and saw Hermione's bedroom light on. Well, at least Mione got home all right he figured. Draco continued walking until he reached his own home.
Careful not to let anyone notice him, he slipped through the door and went up a flight of stairs to his bedroom. Just as he setted down, he heard the main door slam closed. Knowing that it could only be his father, he cautiously peeked around the corner. He saw Lucius down in the kitchen in a fury.
"What, did you let another of your little "whores" get away?" Draco wasn't sure if he should have said anything at all. Lucius's eyes darted up full of venom. He held his temper.
"At least I'm man enough to have them."
"What, you 'man' enough to take poor random girls that did nothing wrong and dirty them because you can't get any?" Draco retreated back into his room and bolted the door closed before his father could come up with something to shoot back at him.
Draco walked over to his bed and picked up his backpack. He emptied its contents and grabbed his first assignment as he heard Lucius going into the liquor cabinet. Looking at the first question, he knew that it was going to be a long night.
~*~
Hermione groaned as she listened to the annoying beep of her alarm clock. She had just begun to doze before it went off. Although much more sleep was needed, Hermione knew she would need every minute she could get to get ready for school.
After making her body function enough to stand, Hermione directed it over to her closet. She grabbed a pair of dark blue plaid pants with a three-quarter length blue shirt to go with it. Although she noticed that it showed a bit more bruise than she would have liked, she figured that it was no mystery already that she was banged up. It would just mean a bit longer on the makeup to try to make it less of a mystery.
She walked over to her vanity and pulled out her big thing of concealer. She decided to work on the one revealed by the shirt first. Soon, she found out that makeup wasn't doing much for her except making it look like her skin got thicker in places, so she just gave up trying to hide more than what hides quickly.
Opening the nearest drawer, she pulled out a container of mousse, deciding on scrunched curls today. She figured it would cover more area and hopefully do part of the job her makeup couldn't. Hermione didn't even want to think of what her friends would think. After finishing what she could of her makeup and hair, she glanced at the clock. Realizing that she would be late if she didn't leave soon, she quickly gathered her things and make her way out of her room.
"Hey Mom," she greeted. Mrs. Granger looked up from her paper.
"Honey! What happened to you?" She stood up to get a better look at her daughter's face. "When did this happen?"
"Oh, don't worry, Mom. Last night at Hogwarts someone dropped a glass of water. Of course me with all my grace slipped in it. It hurt a bit last night but it's fine now," she lied.
"Why didn't you tell me before now?"
I had to think up of an excuse because I don't need my mother knowing what happened last night Hermione thought. "Um, I thought you were sleeping when I got home. It was quiet in your room and I still had a bit of homework to do so I didn't want to disturb you."
"Well," began Mrs. Granger when she changed the subject. "My! Look at the time! You'll be late if you don't get to school soon. Your father had to go to work early this morning so I'll drive you."
~*~
Even though she had tried, Hermione still made it to school late. After getting a slip from the main office, she walked to her first period of class, at least thankful for the lack of people in the halls. Upon opening the door, the whole class turned their head to see who was there. Many gasps and whispers filled the room as people were already creating their own forms of gossip as to what happened to her.
Draco, who hadn't turned originally, did now after the reaction of the class and saw Hermione. Maybe she didn't get home all right last night after all he thought. Hermione smirked at many people as she passed them, knowing as they did that they still had nowhere near the power she had even when looking like that. If anything, it may have given her more.
The teacher hushed the class as she took the slip from Hermione and bid her to go back to her seat. As Hermione walked past, Draco could see the edges of a finger-shaped bruise threatening to show out of her sleeve that had been slightly pushed up. He immediately knew that whatever lies she was going to tell about falling or whatever was going to be just that: a lie. There was no way that if she fell of even if she did something to herself she would have grabbed her own arm tight enough to leave a bruise. No one in their right mind would.
Hermione sat down in the only seat remaining, which was front and center, though she didn't mind as she enjoyed learning. This particular seat happened to be directly in front of Ron, who was also thouroughly concerned with what had happened to her. He pulled out a sheet of paper, hoping no one would notice. The last thing either he or Hermione needed was more rumors of her going around.
-What happened to you? You look like someone ran you over or something last night! ...They didn't did they?
-Ron
After folding it twice, he leaned forward to place it on her desk. She looked down and opened it, immediately recognizing the untidy scrawl. Quickly, Hermione grabbed her pen and jot down a response she hoped would be acceptable before passing it back to him.
-It's nothing. Really. I dropped a glass of water at home and when I went to go clean it up, I slip in it and cut myself a bit. Don't worry about it!
-Hermione
Although she hated having to lie to her friend, she wasn't sure what he'd do if she told him the truth, especially in the middle of class. She didn't need to draw more attention to herself and add some to Ron. Upon receiving the paper back, she was expecting a wary acceptance, but found that it was not quite the case.
-Why don't I believe that. What's wrong? Something happened, I know it. Tell me when you're ready to, I'll be there.
-Ron
Hermione wondered if her excuse was really that thin. She wondered if her parents even believed her, though they didn't really have much else given to them. The teacher was reviewing and the whole class wasn't really paying attention, something they commonly did when there was a review.
An added bonus for them was Hermione coming in looking like she did. The class took to this gossip as a starving lion would ravagely tear apart fresh meat. Some of their explanations sounded so absurd, and would to a normal person, but Hermione listened knowing how close they got to what really happened. She propped up her head in her hand and took some random notes as she noticed the bruise being continually more revealed from her sleeve, and quickly pulled it down.
Suddenly, the full effect of last night settle in her brain and tears threatened to emerge, though she held them back. She realized how close it had come and what would have happened if she hadn't escaped when she did. Hermione regretted school, knowing it would be many long hours of having to think fully of what had happened, and not being able to tell anyone for fear of what may happen.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hmmm, I think that one was longer than the last one's. I got an interesting review, which I almost sort of asked for. Sila-chan:I'm glad you think the story had potential. Maybe i should have said more about this but no one else said anything about it. Hermione, especially throughout the beginning, is *supposed* to be really shallow, clique-y, popular, which basically leads to not much of a personality, though i'm sorry if you don't like her like that. Some people's personalities are like that, or as you call it "cardboard" and she's going to be like that at least through the beginning; I don't have the whole thing planned out or know really how it's going to go. But through the story, more happens and she gets a bit deeper and you pretty much get to know more of everyone's personalities as you go, sort of like regular people. Also, how she and the others are is part of the AU-Alternate Universe. That means the characters *can* go out of character. Whether or not you continue to read is up to you; it's not like i'm going to make you or anything. :)
Katy-THANK YOU for reading and reviewing it (ehem ehem) and youre also going to have to wait just like everyone else to find out what's going to happen :-p
kili-2-yumm! i love chocolate! just what i needed to get better (for i havent been feeling well) thanx a ton :) (:
April Showers2 and Cardo-well i'm glad that you like it, though i can't tell you if it was Lucius or not. Whether or not you assume or guess or whatever is up to you, but i will not verify outside of the story.
Meg-thnx, tho i liked the last one more
Jenny-thnx, n here ya go!
Don't forget that reviews are appreciated!!! there's a nice little button that gives you the form and everything! :)
indicated thoughts
** indicates emphasis on a word
Chapter 10
Hermione stood from her bed, wiping the tears from her eyes. She slowly made her way over to her closet and grabbed her bathrobe and a towel. Thankful that her parents were in their bedroom, she walked across the hall into the bathroom, the only thought on her mind that her parents wouldn't notice the cuts and bruises upon their daughter any time soon. She didn't feel up to having to recollect the events of the previous hour.
As she began to peel off her clothes, she winced as some of the cuts that had begun to scab were becoming reopened. Hermione reached over to turn on the water. Once finding an acceptable heat, she stepped in, only to find herself tensing as the hot water poured itself over the fresh cuts and bruises.
Still uncertain if she wanted to see the full effect of what had happened, she examined herself cautiously. Over her left shoulder was an enormous bruise, lined with small cuts from where she landed when getting away. There were some random cuts on both her arms and some on her legs, but much fewer. She noticed a bruise forming above her knee, acrost her stomach, and felt many on her back. Still sobbing, Hermione regretted ever wanting to take the longest path home she could find. Looking one last time at her arms, she noticed finger-shaped bruises forming there, also.
After cautiously cleaning herself and all of her wounds until the hot water began to cease, Hermione stepped out of the shower and turned off the water. She slipped into her robe and wiped off a section of the fogged mirror before wrapping her hair up on the top of her head with her towel. Leaning forward, she examined the damage done to her face. Her bottom lip was slashed open and swollen. She had a scratch on her left cheek and small bruise over her right eye, but apart from that, that was about all. That's all she scoffed at herself. Right, no one will blink an eye if I walk into school tomorrow looking like I got myself into a bar fight
Sighing, she made her way back to her bedroom and pulled open the top drawer of her dresser. Once she had rummaged through it for a minute or two, she decided on a soft pair of pajamas to sleep in. After changing, she sulked back to her bed and pulled her blankets up around her. Although she tried to find a comfortable position that didn't irritate any of her injuries, the attempt fell faint as she settled for one that simply caused the least pain.
She closed her eyes, but found them soon back open. Every time she attempted to sleep, the only picture that formed in her head were those cold eyes.
~*~
Draco left Hogwarts near twenty minutes after Hermione. Harry had just come back and he didn't want to cause any further trouble, nor was he in the mood for it. He walked sullenly, lost in his thoughts, when he realized that he had subconsciously taken the path that led him past Hermione Granger's house. His eyes drifted longingly up towards it and saw Hermione's bedroom light on. Well, at least Mione got home all right he figured. Draco continued walking until he reached his own home.
Careful not to let anyone notice him, he slipped through the door and went up a flight of stairs to his bedroom. Just as he setted down, he heard the main door slam closed. Knowing that it could only be his father, he cautiously peeked around the corner. He saw Lucius down in the kitchen in a fury.
"What, did you let another of your little "whores" get away?" Draco wasn't sure if he should have said anything at all. Lucius's eyes darted up full of venom. He held his temper.
"At least I'm man enough to have them."
"What, you 'man' enough to take poor random girls that did nothing wrong and dirty them because you can't get any?" Draco retreated back into his room and bolted the door closed before his father could come up with something to shoot back at him.
Draco walked over to his bed and picked up his backpack. He emptied its contents and grabbed his first assignment as he heard Lucius going into the liquor cabinet. Looking at the first question, he knew that it was going to be a long night.
~*~
Hermione groaned as she listened to the annoying beep of her alarm clock. She had just begun to doze before it went off. Although much more sleep was needed, Hermione knew she would need every minute she could get to get ready for school.
After making her body function enough to stand, Hermione directed it over to her closet. She grabbed a pair of dark blue plaid pants with a three-quarter length blue shirt to go with it. Although she noticed that it showed a bit more bruise than she would have liked, she figured that it was no mystery already that she was banged up. It would just mean a bit longer on the makeup to try to make it less of a mystery.
She walked over to her vanity and pulled out her big thing of concealer. She decided to work on the one revealed by the shirt first. Soon, she found out that makeup wasn't doing much for her except making it look like her skin got thicker in places, so she just gave up trying to hide more than what hides quickly.
Opening the nearest drawer, she pulled out a container of mousse, deciding on scrunched curls today. She figured it would cover more area and hopefully do part of the job her makeup couldn't. Hermione didn't even want to think of what her friends would think. After finishing what she could of her makeup and hair, she glanced at the clock. Realizing that she would be late if she didn't leave soon, she quickly gathered her things and make her way out of her room.
"Hey Mom," she greeted. Mrs. Granger looked up from her paper.
"Honey! What happened to you?" She stood up to get a better look at her daughter's face. "When did this happen?"
"Oh, don't worry, Mom. Last night at Hogwarts someone dropped a glass of water. Of course me with all my grace slipped in it. It hurt a bit last night but it's fine now," she lied.
"Why didn't you tell me before now?"
I had to think up of an excuse because I don't need my mother knowing what happened last night Hermione thought. "Um, I thought you were sleeping when I got home. It was quiet in your room and I still had a bit of homework to do so I didn't want to disturb you."
"Well," began Mrs. Granger when she changed the subject. "My! Look at the time! You'll be late if you don't get to school soon. Your father had to go to work early this morning so I'll drive you."
~*~
Even though she had tried, Hermione still made it to school late. After getting a slip from the main office, she walked to her first period of class, at least thankful for the lack of people in the halls. Upon opening the door, the whole class turned their head to see who was there. Many gasps and whispers filled the room as people were already creating their own forms of gossip as to what happened to her.
Draco, who hadn't turned originally, did now after the reaction of the class and saw Hermione. Maybe she didn't get home all right last night after all he thought. Hermione smirked at many people as she passed them, knowing as they did that they still had nowhere near the power she had even when looking like that. If anything, it may have given her more.
The teacher hushed the class as she took the slip from Hermione and bid her to go back to her seat. As Hermione walked past, Draco could see the edges of a finger-shaped bruise threatening to show out of her sleeve that had been slightly pushed up. He immediately knew that whatever lies she was going to tell about falling or whatever was going to be just that: a lie. There was no way that if she fell of even if she did something to herself she would have grabbed her own arm tight enough to leave a bruise. No one in their right mind would.
Hermione sat down in the only seat remaining, which was front and center, though she didn't mind as she enjoyed learning. This particular seat happened to be directly in front of Ron, who was also thouroughly concerned with what had happened to her. He pulled out a sheet of paper, hoping no one would notice. The last thing either he or Hermione needed was more rumors of her going around.
-What happened to you? You look like someone ran you over or something last night! ...They didn't did they?
-Ron
After folding it twice, he leaned forward to place it on her desk. She looked down and opened it, immediately recognizing the untidy scrawl. Quickly, Hermione grabbed her pen and jot down a response she hoped would be acceptable before passing it back to him.
-It's nothing. Really. I dropped a glass of water at home and when I went to go clean it up, I slip in it and cut myself a bit. Don't worry about it!
-Hermione
Although she hated having to lie to her friend, she wasn't sure what he'd do if she told him the truth, especially in the middle of class. She didn't need to draw more attention to herself and add some to Ron. Upon receiving the paper back, she was expecting a wary acceptance, but found that it was not quite the case.
-Why don't I believe that. What's wrong? Something happened, I know it. Tell me when you're ready to, I'll be there.
-Ron
Hermione wondered if her excuse was really that thin. She wondered if her parents even believed her, though they didn't really have much else given to them. The teacher was reviewing and the whole class wasn't really paying attention, something they commonly did when there was a review.
An added bonus for them was Hermione coming in looking like she did. The class took to this gossip as a starving lion would ravagely tear apart fresh meat. Some of their explanations sounded so absurd, and would to a normal person, but Hermione listened knowing how close they got to what really happened. She propped up her head in her hand and took some random notes as she noticed the bruise being continually more revealed from her sleeve, and quickly pulled it down.
Suddenly, the full effect of last night settle in her brain and tears threatened to emerge, though she held them back. She realized how close it had come and what would have happened if she hadn't escaped when she did. Hermione regretted school, knowing it would be many long hours of having to think fully of what had happened, and not being able to tell anyone for fear of what may happen.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hmmm, I think that one was longer than the last one's. I got an interesting review, which I almost sort of asked for. Sila-chan:I'm glad you think the story had potential. Maybe i should have said more about this but no one else said anything about it. Hermione, especially throughout the beginning, is *supposed* to be really shallow, clique-y, popular, which basically leads to not much of a personality, though i'm sorry if you don't like her like that. Some people's personalities are like that, or as you call it "cardboard" and she's going to be like that at least through the beginning; I don't have the whole thing planned out or know really how it's going to go. But through the story, more happens and she gets a bit deeper and you pretty much get to know more of everyone's personalities as you go, sort of like regular people. Also, how she and the others are is part of the AU-Alternate Universe. That means the characters *can* go out of character. Whether or not you continue to read is up to you; it's not like i'm going to make you or anything. :)
Katy-THANK YOU for reading and reviewing it (ehem ehem) and youre also going to have to wait just like everyone else to find out what's going to happen :-p
kili-2-yumm! i love chocolate! just what i needed to get better (for i havent been feeling well) thanx a ton :) (:
April Showers2 and Cardo-well i'm glad that you like it, though i can't tell you if it was Lucius or not. Whether or not you assume or guess or whatever is up to you, but i will not verify outside of the story.
Meg-thnx, tho i liked the last one more
Jenny-thnx, n here ya go!
Don't forget that reviews are appreciated!!! there's a nice little button that gives you the form and everything! :)