Hermione, against her better judgment, did not return to her History of Magic class. Instead, she opted to head to the library to prepare for the first students she would tutoring and to work on other homework. She was not looking forward to her sessions tonight, seeing that the ones that usually needed extra help with school usually didn't even want to go to class at all.
When she reached the library she sat down at her usual table and pulled out the list of students.
6:30 – 7:00 Yvette Smithers -Transfiguration
7:00 – 7:30 Jared Short -Muggle Studies, Transfiguration
7:30 – 8:00 Deanna Carlson -Potions
8:00 – 8:30 Vincent Crabbe -Charms, Transfiguration
8:30 – 9:00 Michael Sellers -History of Magic
She couldn't help but giggle at the sight of Crabbe's name. She hadn't told Harry or Ron yet that he needed a tutor and she couldn't wait to see their faces.
She put the list away and pulled out her Arithmancy book, a length of parchment, and a quill. She knew she would have to finish it while she skipped her History of Magic class because she didn't have any other free time. Bending over the book, she began to work.
She was about half way done when students began flooding the hallway. She heard them before she saw them and she grimaced knowing she couldn't skive off Ancient Runes. Professor Dylans had hinted that the test he was giving would be worth a large part of their grades.
She didn't understand why he felt the need to test them the first week back in class. She sighed and stood up from her chair. Exiting the library, she slung her heavy bag over her shoulder. Hermione then began walking to her class. Now she would have work, once again, instead of sleeping.
Next thing she knew, she was on the floor and looking up at Malfoy and his two lackeys, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Watch where you're walking, Mudblood," he told with a laugh.
Hermione frowned and stood up. She really didn't have the energy to exchange insults, so she merely apologized quietly and shrugged past him.
He stared at her retreating back in amazement. "Excuse me…has it finally happened? The know-it-all doesn't know what to say?" he shouted at her.
She stopped and turned around to face him. "Listen, Malfoy, I'm really not in the mood right now, so can we do this later?"
He laughed and replied, "What's the matter, Mudblood? Scared to be without Potty and the Weasel?" The three of them took a step toward Hermione and she noticed the corridor had emptied of everyone but them.
She just stared at them and finally, after what seemed like hours of silence, Hermione found the energy to respond. She ran at Malfoy and shoved him against the wall. Crabbe and Goyle stumbled toward them in attempt to help their leader.
She took one hand away from Malfoy's throat and pointed her wand at the approaching thugs. "Take one more step and I will not hesitate to hex you into oblivion," she told them menacingly. They immediately stopped and just stared at her and Malfoy in wonderment.
She turned her attention back to Malfoy who was whimpering in fright. "Listen to me, you stupid jerk," she began in a cold whisper. "I am getting sick and tired of you harassing me whenever you feel like, which is in fact all of the time. Ever since we met, you have treated me worse than the dirt you walk on with no reason other than the fact that my parents are muggles."
She paused and looked at Malfoy's face, which was turning a curious shade of purple. Hermione then looked at her hands, which were still clutching his throat. She removed them quickly and grabbed the front of his robes instead.
She continued her lecture. "So now I am warning you, Malfoy. Whenever you do anything upsetting in the least, I will jinx you so bad that it will make that black eye I gave you in the third year look like a freckle." Then she shoved him out of her grasp and put her wand away.
Malfoy then stumbled back toward Crabbe and Goyle as Hermione ran to her next class. "She's going to pay for that," he told them quietly. "She's going to pay."