A/N: I don't usually write for the Harry Potter section, so this is my first one. Constructive criticism would be appreciated, and flames too.
This is in the time-line of the Prisoner of Azkaban movie.
WARNING: A little bit of a HP/HG romance. Any non-likers of this pairing have been warned.
Invisible
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Hermione Granger."
Hermione froze. She knew that voice. But he was here, of all places to be. Where she had hoped for some peace and quiet from Ron and his silly whimperings of Scabbers' untimely end by Crookshanks.
"Go away, Malfoy." Hermione turned towards him, hand on wand lest the time came for a need of hexes.
Malfoy's shocking blue eyes widened, his voice dripping scorn as his accomplices giggled naughtily to themselves. "Or what?"
It was a challenge. All it did was just strengthen her resolve to do something about him.
"Or something very bad will happen." Hermione kicked herself. Great. Just great. You had to say something that sounds so cliché he probably won't listen to you anyway.
Malfoy threw up his hands is mock fear. "Oh, no! I'm so frightened! Help me, help me!"
Hermione finally had enough of his taunting and turned her back to leave.
"What's wrong, Hermione? Afraid your hex won't work?"
Hermione was perfectly sure that her hex would work. All her spells did. She kept her gaze resolutely in front of her and walked steadily back to Hogwarts.
"You know it won't. Typical."
She kept on walking.
"You don't deserve to beat Hogwarts, mudblood."
Hermione froze. She had heard it so many times before, but it still hurt. It still struck a raw nerve in her.
"Stop it!" Hermione spun around to face him with her wand out in front of her, tears streaming down. "Stop calling me that!"
Malfoy grinned maliciously. He had gotten the little know-it-all right where he wanted her.
"Or else what, mud-"
The rest of his sentence was cut off, as a stone hit him from behind. Malfoy looked around, his gang of Slytherins doing likewise.
"Stop it whoever you are! I'll make mincemeat of you!"
A disbelieving snort was heard close behind Hermione. Another stone came hurtling out and found its target.
While Malfoy blundered around the tiny clearing, Hermione suddenly felt a hand covering her mouth and heard the gentle swish of a cloth as it was pulled over her. Startled, Hermione struggled to get away from her captor until a soft, deep and familiar voice comforted her.
"Stop moving, Hermione! Malfoy and his gang will see us in no time, keep on moving like that."
Hermione shifted around and saw the gentle face and signature round glasses of Harry Potter. Instinctively calming, she stopped moving and stood with baited breath as she watched Malfoy look for her.
"That little witch. She'll pay. Come on guys, no need to waste our time on a mudblood." Malfoy placed extra emphasis on the last word, hoping to make the witch jump out from her hiding place in rage.
Indeed, Hermione would have done just that if Harry hadn't held her back underneath his invisibility cloak.
"Let me go! That Malfoy. I'll show him!"
"Malfoy's not worth it, Hermione! Just let it go."
Since the Slytherins had gone, Harry had thrown off the invisibility cloak that had shielded them. Hermione turned on him.
"That's easy for you to say. You've never been called a mudblood! You have no idea what it feels like!" Hermione snapped.
Hermione turned away from him angrily. Everyone said that they understood. And Harry was no different. Even now he was at a loss for words, startled at Hermione's merciless onslaught.
Harry had known what it felt like. Oh no, he hadn't been called a mudblood by Malfoy, but had been called far worse things by the Dursleys. That was almost as bad.
Hermione sniffed and wiped her eyes with the edge of her robe. No one could ever contemplate what it felt like; no one who hadn't been called it.
Hermione hated herself for caring so much about what Malfoy said about her. It was her only weakness. Unless of course, you count a certain green-eyed wizard, that was a whole different ball game.
She shook her head angrily. Why do I have to think about that now? Hermione hated it. That sudden blush that came to her cheeks, the faster beating of her heart whenever he came into the room; it did not register well with Hermione's logical thinking.
"Hermione, don't be that way." Harry pulled her into a warm hug. "I just didn't think before I said it. I'm sorry."
Hermione completely melted into his arms. How could she not except the apology?
"No, I'm the one who should be sorry, Harry. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. You didn't mean it."
Harry smiled at her. Hermione hated it when he looked that way at her. As if he knew that she was completely at his mercy. But, he couldn't know that. How could he? No one knows. At least, I think no one knows.
"Now that we've made up, can we go back to Hogwarts?"
Hermione was snapped back into reality as Harry spoke, her eyes diverted shyly away from him. She started when she realised that his hand was on her arm. His green eyes searching her own as if to read her very mind and soul.
"Yeah, um, sure." Hermione kicked herself again. She had managed to act cool around other equally good-looking guys, but why not Harry?
Harry's different. No one could ever have that smile that makes me turn to mush. That way in which he knows just how to hold me and make me feel better. That feeling that with a single look he could read me like the pages of an open book. Those wonderful green eyes that make me feel so warm and happy.
But it's useless for me to be carrying on like this. Harry could have any girl that he looked at. Why me? A mudblood, when he could have Cho if he tried hard enough. I feel like I'm invisible next to Cho. He would stare right through me.
Hermione smiled to herself despite these unhappy and despairing thoughts as she caught the eyes of her crush. With a blush, she turned away and looked at the stairs she was climbing.
But then again, Harry's different.
