Dare You to Move: Chapter One
By: Teenlaunch
a/n: This story was written before the sixth book came out. So, Dumbledore is alive and kicking. He doesn't play a big role, but it's big enough. Anyway, this is a story that has a certain value to me and if you get confused, I understand. Just ask people. I would appreciate any reviews, yes, even flames. Please check out my other stories too. Thanks. Here's the first installment.
"Why can't you understand?" Hermione Granger yelled at the young man across from her. She shivered slightly from the intense cold in the dungeons.
"Understand what? What do I not understand?" Harry Potter yelled back. He waved his arms about in frustration, swirling the cold air around. "I don't understand what I'm not supposed to understand!"
Tears rolled down Hermione's face. "Never mind, Harry. I don't know why I told you! You don't care!" She turned and ran from him until she reached Gryffindor Tower. Ron Weasley yelled after her to stop, but she refused and simply rushed past him. She collapsed on her bed and sobbed into her pillows. After her tears had dried, Hermione walked over to her mirror. She stared hard at her reflection and studied her face sullenly. When had she gotten so serious? Why did she feel this way now, even after all this time? Maybe it was because she had held it in for two months.
The door opened and Parvati and Lavender entered. "What's wrong?" Lavender asked.
"I bet I know what would make you feel better," Parvati said.
"If it's a make-over, no." The girls pouted. Hermione looked back into the mirror. "Well, then again…"
"Yay!" The girls screamed.
"I can't do this," Hermione whimpered.
"Yes, you can," Lavender whispered.
"Just do exactly like we told you," Parvati said as she pushed Hermione forward. Hermione walked into the Great Hall slowly. She was startled when a whistle came from one of the tables. Honestly, she thought she didn't look too much different. Hermione sat down at the end of the table. She noticed Harry sitting at the front, glaring at her. Ron was gazing at her too. She stared haughtily at them and turned her gaze away. Her eyes fell on Draco Malfoy. He looked barely awake, the way he was slouching, but his eyes were wide and staring.
A light clanging sounded around the hall. Dumbledore stood and silence fell. "Students, teachers, ghosts, and ghouls, I have an announcement. I have been in contact with a student from Beaubaton. Madame Maxime is letting her transfer to Hogwarts. Please welcome, Rane Symone. She's a fifth year and she is in Ravenclaw. Please, make sure you all make her feel welcome."
Half the people in the Great Hall turned to look at the new girl. She stood up from her spot at the end of the table. Her hair was long, curly, and brown. Her eyes were a bright blue and her skin was slightly olive toned. Hermione stared hard at her goblet. She could feel Harry's eyes on her. Without warning, the juice exploded from her goblet. The silverware on the table lifted into the air. Her napkin flew across the room. Everyone looked at her, even Rane. Hermione stood and walked calmly from the hall.
She broke into a run when she was outside the doors. She didn't know where she was going. She just knew she had to get away. Hermione repeated it to herself. She had to get away. Hermione stopped suddenly. She quickly cleaned herself of her juice before looking around.
She'd never been down this hallway. Where was she? How did she get here? She was panicking. Nothing looked familiar. She jumped when a soft female voice called to her.
"Come here, my child. Do not be afraid. I wish you no harm. That's it. Come closer and talk." Hermione walked toward the voice. A portrait hung on the wall at the end of the corridor. It was of a woman. She had flowing raven hair. A majestic raven sat by her side.
She smiled at Hermione. "Who…who are you?" Hermione asked.
"I am Rowena Ravenclaw. And who, might you be, young mistress?" Rowena Ravenclaw watched Hermione closely. Hermione struggled to keep a straight face.
"I-I'm Hermione Granger. Why is your portrait not in Dumbledore's office, Ma'am?"
"Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, myself, and even Slytherin adorn this wall. We each take separate watches, you see. As of now, the other founders are beyond this portrait. We each have a separate chamber as well as a common one where we most often dwell. Now, we made this room so that a student in real need would be led to us. You are a student who found us in less than a half hour, which is the record, after you entered the maze."
"Maze? What maze?"
"You did not see it? You must be in great need. People in great need, even ones without, need more than a talking companion."
"I know," Hermione sighed.
"If you wish to enter you should state your name and house clearly."
"Alright, but I have classes. May I come back later?"
"Of course. The maze is of no consequence. Since you know we are here, you may walk through the walls. Go, but come back soon, Dear."
"Hermione, where've you been?" Ron whispered when Hermione sat beside him in Charms.
"Around," Hermione answered.
"I've been stuck beside Neville and Seamus this entire time! Do you have any idea what that's like?"
"Sorry, Ron. Where's Harry?"
"Over there," Ron muttered, pointing to the row beneath them. Harry was sitting with the new girl, Rane. Hermione felt her mouth fall open in shock. What was she even doing in this class? Of course, Harry probably volunteered to show her around. Hermione felt her anger flare.
A crumpled piece of parchment hit Ron in the head. Hermione spun around while Ron read its message. Ron spun, fury stamped on his face. Draco Malfoy smirked down at them. Draco stared at Hermione. He looked at his paper and scribbled something down. He threw it down to her, making sure it hit her on the head. She unfolded it warily.
Feeling lonely?
-DM
Hermione glared. She scribbled a response and threw it back. Draco's smirk grew wider as he read.
Buzz off, Malfoy.
-HG
He responded, his words seemingly sincere to anyone but Hermione.
That's not very nice. I was only curious.
-DM
She felt her face flush in anger and she scribbled down another response, not thinking Flitwick could catch her.
You don't know the meaning of the word nice. You probably just want blackmail material. Now leave me alone.
-HG
Draco's next scribble was almost illegible.
No, I want to know what you were yelling at Potter for the other night. Is the Dream Team falling apart?
Hermione's mouth fell open in shock.
No, we are not breaking up. I don't know how you found out about that, but it has nothing to do with you. I'm just having mood swings.
Yeah, like I believe that. Then again, your mood swing this morning was pretty bad. You're a horrible liar, Granger.
What do you care?
I need "blackmail material".
Go away then, you probably have a ton. Why do you need more?
I don't.
Hermione snarled and whipped around to face him. They sat still for over a minute, neither blinking, or breathing it seemed. There was a slight cough from the large stack of books on Flitwick's desk. Their heads snapped to it at once.
"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, I am happy to see that you both have decided to settle your differences in a slightly less violent way than usual, but I have a class to teach. Next time I catch you passing notes you will be put to work, understand?" Flitwick seemed to be smiling softly. His eyes held an odd twinkle that resembled Dumbledore's. They both mumbled "yes" and Hermione looked at her notes. It took her a minute to realize Ron was sniggering.
"What?" She snapped in a whisper.
"Nothing," he lied. Hermione turned back to her book. She could already tell it was going to be a long day.
By the end of the day, Draco wasn't the only one who had questioned Hermione. Ron asked out of genuine worry, but Harry wouldn't let the matter rest when she simply blew it off as 'that time of the month'. Rane was no longer with him when he tracked down Hermione and cornered her in the dungeons. Hermione tried to walk around him, but he blocked her way.
"What is it with you?" Harry yelled. "You haven't talked to me all day, unless I forced you to!"
"You know why I haven't been talking to you. Just go away. If you can't figure it out then, just go!" Hermione turned and walked a couple feet before Harry grabbed her wrist. He wrenched her around.
"What's going on, Hermione? Ever since you found out about her you've ignored me and treated me like dirt! "
"You know something, Harry? That's all I am anymore! I'm dirt! I can't see myself as Hermione Granger anymore because of her. She's robbed me of everything! She has my hair, my good grades, even my best friend! Why do I feel like I have nothing anymore? I can't talk to you without seeing my loathing of her. I just need to be left alone."
"Why do you loathe her? You didn't before."
"Then she was innocent. Now, she's taking my place. I don't belong here anymore now that she's here."
"That's a lie and you know it. You're ashamed of her and you know it. I want to hear you tell me the truth." Hermione refused to answer. Harry slammed her against the wall. Hermione let out a gasp of pain. She looked at Harry with hurtful eyes. He let her go when she started crying. Hermione turned and ran from him again. She soon found herself before Rowena Ravenclaw.
"Why, Dear, what ever is the matter?" She asked.
Hermione glared at her but softened her expression. "I'm just mad at one of my best friends and someone in your house and my family and…I just…never mind."
"No, please, come in." Rowena suddenly stepped out of her portrait.
"How did you do that?"
"It's a spell. All the Heads may walk from their paintings. We are as real as you." Hermione watched in wonder as the former co-founder opened the portrait. She waved Hermione into the room. Hermione gasped.
The room was large. At least ten doors led off from the one room. Rowena pointed to the two on the far right and far left. "Those are our personal dwellings. This is our common room, as you can see." Four portrait frames hung beside their doors. Hermione sat down on the couch and a man suddenly burst from one of the doors.
"Rowena! I am having a crisis!" The man was tall and had brown hair. He didn't take notice of Hermione.
"What is the problem, Godric? I don't see a crisis."
"One of my house's prize students is being hurt. She just ran away from her best friend. He almost broke her arm!"
"What?" Rowena whirled. "Is this true?" Hermione looked fearfully at her, knowing she had been caught. Gryffindor was caught by surprise. "I assume he's talking about you, correct?"
"I…yes." Hermione averted her eyes.
Gryffindor placed his hand on her shoulder. She jumped. "Are you alright? Do you want to talk?"
"Well, I guess so." And talk she did. She did not only talk then but many more times. She returned to talk with them many times but she never shared her real problem. She met Slytherin, who was not as horrible as she thought, and Hufflepuff who was a tad forgetful and clumsy. Hermione started spending all her free time with the Founders and more than one person noticed.
Hermione stifled a small yawn as she listened to McGonagall. She looked to her left and then right. Harry was no where to be seen. The door suddenly opened. Harry strutted inside. McGonagall pursed her lips but soon kept going. Harry sat down in the only seat left, beside Draco Malfoy. They scowled at each other and went back to work.
After about an hour, Hermione grew bored. Ron was sitting beside her, doodling. There was a loud rustling and a loud bang. Everyone turned to the source of the noise. Harry and Draco were on the floor. Draco was pinned face-down by Harry's knees and his hands were held behind his back by one of Harry's hands. Harry's other hand was pressed firmly against the back of Draco's neck and he was pushing down with such force it was a wonder he hadn't broken his opponent's neck yet.
McGonagall strode over to them. "Mr. Potter!" Harry looked up. Draco rolled over and knocked him off his back. "Mr. Malfoy! Both of you, outside, now!" They both stalked out, neither taking their eyes off the other.
"I wonder what that was all about." Ron asked. Hermione shrugged and decided she really didn't want to know. It was absolutely none of her business.
Ron raced up to Hermione just as she was leaving the common room to go to lunch. "Hey, Hermione."
"Hi, Ron. What's up? You look like you have something on your mind." Hermione thought it slightly odd to see Ron looking so down when he was walking to lunch.
Ron sighed. "It's about Harry. He's got detention over that brawl with Malfoy."
"Oh, sorry to hear that." Hermione lied.
"Yeah, it's awful, innit? Now we can't practice Quidditch! Oh yeah, and I found out what started it all. Turns out, Harry was mumbling under his breath about Rane and you and how he couldn't understand you when Malfoy started making comments. Harry said he took the insults too far and he just tackled him, but what he doesn't understand is why Malfoy seemed really fired up at some of his comments when they were all about you or Rane."
"It is strange, isn't it? I don't really care. I suggest you drop it." They had reached the Great Hall. As they sat at the Gryffindor table, Ron glanced around, obviously looking for Harry.
"Where is he?" Ron muttered. "Oh, wait! I see him! Over there!" Ron pointed toward the Ravenclaw where an untidy head of black hair sat beside a mass of wavy brown hair. Rane threw back her head, laughing at a joke from Harry, who was laughing as well. Hermione scowled at them.
She refused to talk to Harry for the rest of the day. He again became aggravated at being annoyed. Once again, he trapped Hermione in the dungeons after Potions.
"What do you want?" Hermione asked in annoyance.
"I want to know where you've been disappearing to."
"Why do you care? Go away, Harry!" Hermione turned. Harry caught her round her waist and flung her against the wall. Stars danced in front of her eyes.
"You will tell me what your problem is! You won't talk or even look at Rane! You told me you didn't have a problem with her!"
"I don't!"
Harry grabbed her wrists and pinned them against the stone above her. "Then why don't you talk to her? Is it so hard to say hello? It wasn't for me."
"Of course it wasn't for you! You're famous, aren't you?" Hermione snapped. She gasped as she saw Harry raise his hand and felt it crash down against her cheek.
"You think I want to be like this? I have no choice! You have no idea what it's like to be me!"
"But you do have a choice of whether or not to avoid your best friend, is that it? You're just too good for me, huh? Is that it? Famous Harry Potter isn't all he's cracked up to be, is he?" Harry raised his hand again. Hermione closed her eyes and braced for impact, but it never came. Hermione's hands were released so suddenly that she slumped to the floor, and started massaging her hands to get the feeling back.
Hermione looked up when a shadow fell across her arms. Harry's back was to her. He was watching someone across from him. The other student muttered what Hermione guessed was an insult in a low voice. Harry replied curtly. The other figure laughed. They spoke loud enough for Hermione to hear.
"You're pathetic, and to think some envy you."
Harry was shaking. Hermione stood slowly, contemplating on making a run for it. Harry wheeled around. Hermione didn't have time to react. Harry raised his hand again in his fury and slapped her to vent his anger. She crumpled to the flagstone floor from the force of the blow. "That's for everything you've said about her! You're just lucky he came along looking for a fight!"
"You jerk!" Hermione yelled through her tears. The other student lunged at Harry, but Harry streaked away up the corridor. The other student chased him halfway and then gave up. He stopped and came back to Hermione slowly. She sat up and, after a quick upward glance, gasped. "You!"
"Who were you expecting, Prince Charming?" Draco smirked. "You look awful, Granger." A small frown worked its way onto his face.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious!"
"What? No thank you? No smile for your prince?" Draco smirked at the glare on Hermione's face.
"You really are demented. Do you know that? We both know you only came to investigate the noise and then decided to pay Harry back for getting you all those detentions." Hermione turned and started walking away.
"Where do you think you're going?" Draco called after her with a hint of malice in his voice.
"To my room, is that alright, sir?" Hermione asked tartly.
"No, as a matter of fact, it is not. You can't go back looking like that, Granger. Think of all the rumors that will be going around. Even I don't want that. I can't have a filthy little Mudblood steal my spotlight, can I?" Draco sneered at her back. "So, I think we both know where you need to go."
"I don't think so."
"You have a gigantic bruise on your face, Granger. Where else can you go?"
"I don't know," Hermione mumbled.
"I'll make you go to the hospital wing, Granger. Otherwise, I might be blamed for this little fiasco by your precious Potter."
"We wouldn't want that, would we?" Hermione asked ruefully.
"No, we wouldn't, seeing as I actually didn't do much of anything."
"Fin, I'll go. Just…don't tell anyone about Harry!" Hermione started walking again.
"Believe me, Mudblood, I won't." His hollow laughter sounded down the hallway and seemed to follow Hermione even as she broke into a run. When she was certain no one had followed her, she turned toward Gryffindor Tower.
Hermione collapsed on her bed a few minutes later and pulled out a small mirror. She held it in the moonlight and gazed at her reflection. She winced when she saw the damage done to her face. Draco had been right in telling her that she looked awful. If she hadn't known better, she would think this kind of him to not state the obvious. Wreck, or disaster, was a better word for her condition. Hermione sighed and fell asleep, knowing she would have to use makeup or concealment charms the next morning.
Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
-2 Timothy 2:14
Well, that's it for the first chapter, folks. It's quite a bit longer than I had thought it would be, but I got carried away typing it. I haven't read this part in so long, I just got caught up in reading it and typed it at the same time. Oh well, I'm expecting lots of reviews. See you all later. Buh-bye!
Teenlaunch