DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters used hereafter.
CHAPTER 12: PAINFUL THOUGHTS
Hermione rushed back in the direction of the Gryffindor common room feeling as though a huge weight had been lifted off her. Everything that had happened still bothered her, but knowing that Dumbledore was on the case made her feel so much safer than before.
She hurried through the corridors hoping to catch the others so they could all go down to lunch together before the quidditch match. Just like she used to do with Harry and Ron. Harry and Ron… her heart did a flip. Thinking about them gave her a horrible sensation deep in the pit of her stomach. She might never see them again. She probably WOULDN'T see them again. Dumbledore was a great wizard and maybe he could make her feel safe and protect her from dark wizards while she was at Hogwarts, but he couldn't send her back to her own time. Nobody could. Not yet anyway.
Hermione shook herself angrily. Here she was, only just after having gotten the whole thing off her chest, and she was making herself depressed again. Having been lost deep in her own thoughts Hermione's feet had taken over and guided her back to the common room by a second nature and she found herself standing in front of the Fat Lady. "Well dear? Are you going to stand there all day or are you going to give me the password?" Hermione made an apologetic face and quickly said, "Mimblus Mimbletonia". The Fat Lady swung forwards on her hinges admitting her into the common room.
It was nearly deserted except for a solitary figure beside the fireplace that Hermione recognised at once. She grinned, forgetting all her previous thoughts, and strode over towards the figure, whose head was drooping slightly to one side telling her he was asleep. Standing in front of him, she pulled out her wand and muttered a few words that made brilliant blue flames shoot out of the end of it and catch the edge of his robes. Stepping back she prepared herself for his reaction.
At first he just snorted and twitched as the flames slowly crept up, singeing and charring the edges of his robes, but as the flames moved up them, he began to flail about slightly more as though he was having a nightmare, until finally he awoke with a scream and leapt up batting himself to put it out. When this failed he rushed across the room and grabbed a vase that was sitting on the table, chucking down the flowers it held and pouring the water inside over himself. Hermione couldn't control her laughter and bent over double. Looking up at the sound he realised what had happened.
"Think that was funny do you?" he muttered.
Hermione couldn't reply though because she had fallen over laughing and was rolling around on the floor holding her sides. Just as he pulled out his own wand the portrait hole swung open admitting Lily, James, Remus and Peter. They all stopped dead in their tracks, looking from a soaking wet, bright red Sirius to a similarly red Hermione who was rolling around laughing her head off.
"Been playing with fire again, Sirius?" asked James casually.
Sirius scowled at him. "No, James. I haven't. It was her!"
Everyone laughed. Lily helped Hermione, who was still chuckling, to her feet.
"I'm sorry Sirius," she laughed wiping a tear from her eye, "I couldn't resist."
"Obviously not." Glared Sirius, "In future, if you have to wake me, do it the old fashioned way please."
"And miss you screaming like a girl and pouring water over yourself?" grinned Hermione.
Sirius just glared at her again and stomped off in the direction of the boy's dorm.
"He's just annoyed that you outsmarted him." Grinned James.
Remus walked over to where Sirius had thrown down the flowers and picking them up presented them to Hermione,
"M'Lady." He grinned bowing deeply, "Or should that be good sir. Not many young ladies go around setting people on fire."
Hermione laughed and took the flowers, "Why no I believe it's not, but you have to remember, before Lily I never had and girl friends. There was just Har…" she stopped, a lump developing in her throat. "Never mind," she said quickly, "Thank you for the flowers."
"What's wrong Hermione?" asked Lily concerned, "Before me there was who?"
"It doesn't matter. Old friends. I'll never see them again anyway."
She really didn't feel like talking about this just now. Why did everything always remind her of home? 'Because this is home!' she snapped at herself. It was true. This was home. Just with different people.
Remus noticed her reverting into her own thoughts and quickly made to change the subject.
"So, the match this afternoon?" he said loudly his eyes on her pained expression.
"Uh… yeah." Added James, catching on, "You like quidditch Hermione?"
This was not the right thing to say though because Hermione's eyes moved to look at him and her expression changed to an even more pained one. It was too much. James looked too much like Harry and here he was talking about quidditch just like Harry used to… or would.
Lily stepped forwards and took her by the arm.
"Come on, let's go get lunch." And she steered Hermione out through the portrait hole.
When they'd gone James turned to Remus and Peter, "What was that about?"
"I have no idea." Sighed Remus, "I thought I'd, I mean, we'd been getting through to her. At least a little bit."
"You like her don't you? I can tell." Grinned James.
"What? How do you know that? Well, it doesn't matter. I'm just worried about her."
"We all are mate. There's a lot we don't know about her."
"Yeah," replied Remus, "Well, at least she went to Dumbledore about those fits of hers."
"She did?" asked James surprised.
"Yeah, I persuaded her to. I'm glad she did. Well, let's get Sirius and go down to lunch. You guys need to eat before a match."
The two turned and left, forgetting about Peter who was left standing there. Nobody ever noticed him. Maybe it was for the best though? They'd say anything in front of him without noticing which would make it easier to do what Lucius Malfoy wanted. That night still scared him; he'd never forget it. Turning he walked out of the common room and down to lunch.
Meanwhile Lily and a rather dazed Hermione were making their way down to the Great Hall for lunch when they bumped into someone Hermione had hoped she could avoid. There at the bottom of the main staircase stood Lucius Malfoy himself. He had noticed the two and had moved to intercept them.
"Get out of the way Malfoy." Hissed Lily, "Now's not a good time."
"Oh?" he said in a silky voice. "And why not?"
"It's none of your business, now go away before I… before I…" stammered Lily.
"Before you what Evans? Call a teacher? Take points away from Slytherin? It doesn't matter to me in the slightest." He smirked.
"What is it you want?" asked Hermione suddenly catching Lily off guard.
Lucius smirked again and faced her, "I'm curious Granger, how is it that you came to be in this school? Not many transfer so late into their schooling."
Hermione looked up into his stupid smirking face. Why was he asking her this now? What did it matter to him? He was the bastard who did this to her anyway. She was so tempted to just tell him that right now to his face but she knew she shouldn't.
"What's the matter Granger? Cat got your tongue?" he smirked again reminding her of how much she hated him and his son and finally pushing her over the edge.
She couldn't take it any more. Wrenching her arm from Lily's grip she launched herself at him. Her fists pounding at every inch of him she could reach. She couldn't hear anything except her own heart beating painfully against her rib cage.
Suddenly she felt herself being thrown backwards by an invisible force, her back knocking painfully into the banisters of the stairs and all the sound coming flooding back to her ears like an oncoming torrent. People were screaming and shouting and Lily was calling her name.
"Hermione! Hermione! Are you ok?"
Picking herself up Hermione steadied herself on the banisters and looked up. Malfoy was still on the floor, thankfully looking bruised and bloody and standing behind him, wand raised, was a boy with a hooked nose and long, black greasy hair. Snape. His face was expressionless as he stared at her with his penetrating stare.
"Just go." He snarled menacingly as he helped Malfoy to his feet.
Lily grabbed Hermione by the arm and dragged her off in the direction of the hospital wing.
It wasn't until Hermione was sitting on a bed in the hospital wing did she noticed that she was sporting a bloody nose and numerous cuts. She chuckled to herself.
"I don't see anything funny about this." Muttered Lily dabbing a few of the cuts with a damp clothe.
"Well, not really funny. Just ironic." Replied Hermione.
"Ironic?" asked Lily.
"Yeah, it's just that. Well this is the second time I've beaten up a Malfoy without a wand." She'd said it before she realised what she'd done.
"The second time?" asked Lily taken back.
"Um… well… It doesn't matter." Stammered Hermione.
Lily laughed, "Yeah, right. I believe you. There's something going on between you and Malfoy. Something must have happened. How else would you know him and why would you hate him so much?"
Hermione smiled sheepishly, "I guess I haven't exactly been discreet about that have I." "No, not really," smiled Lily now working on Hermione's bloody nose with the cream Madam Pomfrey had given them. Hermione smiled too in spite of herself.
"I can't tell you anything you know?"
Lily's smile faltered slightly, "No, I know you can't but I'm always here for you."
"Thanks Lils." Smiled Hermione just as the door burst open admitting Remus, James, Sirius and Peter.
"What happened?" asked Remus, his face full of concern.
"Oh, nothing," dismissed Lily, "Hermione's just practicing her muggle dulling."
"I am muggle born you know." Grinned Hermione but her grin didn't quite reach her eyes. Thinking of her parents was painful for her but she didn't want to worry the others anymore. This was her problem. Not theirs and she'd have to deal with it herself.
Now she had even more to think about. The dreams and fits, Lucius Malfoy and now, a Snape who obviously hadn't turned spy for Dumbledore yet…
A/N: Again, I'm really sorry again. I can't keep excusing myself but I am pretty busy right now so I'll just have to update when I can. This chapter actually spent a while just sitting on my computer before I got around to editing it etc. This chapter isn't very action packed but there's a few important things in there that may help tell you what's going to happen, also some important character stuff too. Please read and review.
needcouragetowrite: you ain't getting a cookie! Just kidding, you can have one if you're good. Thanks for the review, I hear where you're coming from with the lack of action but it was a necessary chapter in terms of everything coming together, as is this one to an extent.
Raspberri13: no, I think you might be confused with another story. She's definitely going to classes. Thanks for the review!
PaulC: I don't know how to spell it in that situation either… you really thought this was my best to far? Thanks. I really enjoyed writing it actually. I hope you like this one as much but I dunno, I'm not as happy with it as the last.
amrawo: here's the next chap. Sorry about the wait. Glad you liked the twist, I was a bit worried about it but it seems to have worked ok for now.
ilovefieryredheads: thanks for the review, I'll try not to get to absorbed in work.
Kidden: glad you liked it. thanks for the review!
demonic angel23: glad you like it, here's the update!