I'm BAAAAACKK! Did you miss me? We'll of course you didn't! I haven't been
gone that long! Haha… I told you I was insane… well I'm just here to
update, so don't mind me. I hope you enjoyed the default chapter, and are
now ready for the beginning of the plot line! ::YAY!:: I know, I know, that
last chapter was a weird one, but I'm weird too, so you all know where it
comes from… ::ahem:: anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter also and would
like to remind everyone that review is your friend! It will not harm you,
but may use up a second or two, and that's an awfully small price to pay
when I will love you forever in return! ::Innocent smile::
Ok on to chapter 1….
**
Hermione ran to the door. "I'm going after him," she announced, heaving open the door. Fang jumped to his feet as well did Hagrid and Ron.
"Yer kiddin' me, Hermione," he cried, "Yeh can' go out in this weather! You'll freeze!"
But she hadn't heard him. She was already out the door, on her way to the castle.
Hagrid stared sorrowfully after her as she followed the now unseen Harry back to Hogwarts through the thick sheet of snow. He could feel Ron's presence next to him and he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Do you reckon he'll be alright, Hagrid?"
He wished he had a solid answer, but he didn't. "Don't know, Ron. Don't know."
**
Chapter 1: Like silent raindrops fell… (Pretend cookies to anyone who knows the song I stole the title from {it's really not that hard}…)
She could barely raise her legs high enough to clear the snow covering and had trouble reaching the castle. She had to drag her way through the snow, and she found herself slowly loosing energy. Watching the clouds of mist puff up as she breathed made her yearn for the warm common room. She could see the huge wooden doors slowly approaching, and wondered if she would make it there before she would give up and fall flat onto her face.
Harry had startled her with his reaction at the hut. He had never exploded like that; especially at Hagrid. She felt ashamed for him, and hoped silently that Hagrid hadn't taken it personally, which he probably would. She thought she had known Harry well; now, she wasn't so sure.
Reaching the double doors she heaved them open, shaking the snowflakes from her hair and robes. Stomping on the ground to shake the layer of snow off her boots, she started towards the common room. She knew the chances of him actually being there were slim, yet she figured it was a good place to start.
Creaking open the portrait after giving the password she slipped into the warm common room, surveying the empty chairs. Her heart fell when she didn't see his mop of unruly hair popping up from above the couch or cushioned chairs. Stepping over to the fire and taking a seat, she buried her face in her hands. What had set Harry off like that? She rubbed her temples. She had never known him to be so violent with his anger. She knew that if he was angry enough he could cause damage… she wanted to prevent that from happening. But just the fact that he was so irate disturbed her. It was so unusual, so uncalled for, so…
Footprints.
She suddenly realized the slowly fading trail of footprints traveling from the portrait hole towards a curtained wall. Covered with an elaborate wall hanging depicting scenes from early Shakespearian works, and she had often spent time daydreaming, looking at the intertwining threads of many colors. But she had never looked behind the hanging before. Now that there was a stream of melting snowy-muddy tracks leading towards a seemingly stable wall, her mind began to wonder. Could there be a secret passage behind the hanging?
She crept tentatively towards the hanging, as if someone could possibly be watching her, reached over, and gave it a pull.
Recoiling quickly as if afraid something evil was going to jump out upon her, she realized all that stood behind the hanging was a brick wall.
Well, and a small door.
The door came only up to about her shoulders and was craved with elaborate pictures and designs. Flowers knotted around the borders, and even though the dye was faded, she could tell that the wood had once been bright and colorful. The pictures were beautiful, and she had never seen such work before in her life. Yet it was strange, she noted, that the door had no handle; only a rusted keyhole, from which protruded an old, decaying, gnarled key. It was a large key, and she wondered why, if Harry was here, he had never told them about this place before.
Grasping the key uncertainly, she yanked, and the door slid open. She crept into the shadowy depths of the long shallow passageway and silently hoped she wouldn't make too much noise. The rocky floor was uneven, with bricks protruding in awkward places, and she had trouble walking. She tripped several times, and she wanted to reach out to the walls next to her, but she was afraid to touch them. The place was degusting, with mold and the smell of decay in the air. It was stuffy, tight, and she wanted desperately to leave, yet seeing Harry happy was something she wanted more.
When she finally saw light at the end of the hallway, her heart leapt with joy. She stumbled out of the corridor, and fell, not realizing there was a small drop into the connecting room.
Looking up she saw a vast room filled with chairs and cushioned couches. Portraits hung from the walls, and the carpet was a deep maroon. Pushing herself up she realized Harry was huddled in a corner, his head buried in is arms as he pulled his knees to his chest. She reached out to him as worry filled her, and touched his shoulder.
"Harry?" she whispered.
"Go away, Hermione," came the muffled reply.
She tried again. "Harry please, I-"
"Go AWAY."
Hermione faltered. She was taken aback by his hostile attitude. Never had he acted so annoyed by her presence, or taken offence to her asking him if he was all right.
"Harry stop this now," she cried, "You're being ridiculous." She grabbed his wrist and wretched it way from his face. "Harry, look at me."
He threw her off and curled into himself further, hiding his face.
"Harry, look at me."
"Don't look at me, just leave me alone! I just want to be by myself!" he cried, his voice cracking as if he were about to cry.
"LOOK AT ME DAMN IT!"
She peeled away his arm and took his face into her hands. She was shocked to find her fingers melting hot tears rolling down his face, and when her eyes met red-rimmed glassy emerald-green ones. Her heart fell as he sniffled, still trying to wipe the tears from his face. "Harry, you… you never told me I… You should have… you never had to… oh, Harry…"
She wrapped her arms around him in a comforting embrace. She expected him to pull away and snap at her, but instead, after a few seconds, she felt the pressure of his arms around her torso. He buried his face into her shoulder and broke down, sobbing into her robes. She rubbed gentle circles into his back, letting him release. Whatever was bothering him, he couldn't handle anymore. She felt her shoulder dampen, but it didn't matter.
His hands clutched at her robes and his muscles tightened, and she quietly tried to calm him. She never thought he would have it in him; that he would always be able to deal with what was bothering him in a more productive way, but it seemed he couldn't. She was worried as to what could have possibly happened, to make him feel so utterly hopeless.
After he had calmed down enough to talk, she pulled away from him and leaned against the wall next to him. "Do you want to tell me about it?" she asked tentatively.
He stared into his hands. "It started over the summer."
"Vernon lost his job. He never told me why, but I suspect it had to do something with his temper, the way he was ranting about it when he came home that day. He had sent me to my room before I had even done anything, and I complied because I knew he would yell at me anyway and I didn't want to start anything. I could hear him and Petunia fighting down in the kitchen. I heard a loud thump, and a crash, and glass shattering. Suddenly Petunia started crying, and fearing he had hit her, I went down to stop him before he killed anyone. He had started drinking months ago, and he would come home drunk and order people around in his slurred voice. I figured he had been out drinking again, with the way he was yelling. I went into the kitchen, and found Petunia on the floor crying into her hands.
"I found that what I had feared had actually happened, but before I could move he was on top of me. I couldn't breathe; he jumped on me, started beating my head. He kicked me in the stomach, the ribs… I could almost feel them shattering in my chest."
He gained back his gazed look as he continued to stare into his hands. Hermione placed a warm hand on his shoulder. "That week, I couldn't move from my bed." His eyes filled with hurtful tears. "Aunt Petunia was somewhat sympathetic and helped me recover. She would sneak food into my room at night and sometimes during the day when Vernon was out or busy in his office. She wouldn't talk about it though. She had a huge bruise on her face for a week. Dudley was the only one who had managed not to get damaged. Aunt Petunia were still planning their escape when I boarded the train." He stared out into the room. "They could be dead right now for all I know."
He paused, and Hermione thought about what to say to him. But he started again before she could think of anything. "On the train, I remember, looking out the window at the trees and things passing by, and praying to God that I wouldn't have to go back there next summer. The thought of having to spend any more time in that house with that man scared me out of my mind.
"When Professor Snape started chiding me in class, it made me feel worse. It made me realize that if it wasn't for me, my parents would still be here and I wouldn't have to worry about going back to the Dursleys. If it wasn't for me, they would still be alive."
"Harry, you know that's not true-"
He didn't seem to hear her, as he continued talking. "I began to realize how they were all right… My aunt and uncle, Snape, Malfoy… all of them were right… I am worthless."
"Harry, how could you think that?" she asked.
"What have I ever done to repay them for their sacrifice?" he asked her. "I try and do something right and look what I did… Cedric died because of me. I should have died, not him."
"That wasn't your fault Harry… you didn't know he was about to be murdered."
Harry didn't respond. He seemed to have not heard her. "No one blames you for Cedric's death," she said.
"They don't have to; I blame myself."
Hermione suddenly became angry with him. "You're being stupid," she scolded, "You mean a lot to Ron and me, and especially to Hagrid, whom I think you thoroughly offended today when you yelled at him. You mean a lot to your professors, even to Snape, I'm sure, and particularly to Dumbledore. We care deeply for you Harry, and your ignorance is blinding you. How can you ignore all these people that love you?"
He simply stared at her.
"We love you for who you are, not for what has happened. You are a good person, and we know that."
She gave him a bear hug, and was relieved when he returned it. "You just need some reassurance once and a while, is all." She patted him on the back, "I believe Herbology begins in half and hour, so let's go and get our things, and maybe meet up with Ron, ok?"
"Ok."
They traveled back to the common room, and Hermione was sure to ensure no one was in sight before entering the room. "How'd you find me, by the way?" he asked.
Hermione smiled. "It's somewhat obvious when you leave a trail of snowy footprints…"
Harry faltered. "Oh."
"Don't worry about it. I won't tell Ron if you don't want me to."
"Would you?" he asked, "I'd rather tell him myself…" he replied.
"Ok," she agreed.
Fred and George stumbled into the common room. They traveled over to where Harry stood, their cheeks and noses rosy from the cold, Hermione presumed. "Hey Harry!" said one (Harry suspected it was George); "Professor Sprout cancelled Herbology this afternoon! Ron said you guys don't have class!"
Harry smiled, "That's great," he exclaimed.
"Yeah, and Lee Jordan and Ron wanted to know if you would join us our snowball fight?" asked the other excitedly.
"Sure," said Harry, and Hermione beamed. He was actually willing to interact with other people without being pressured. "And Hermione too?"
"Yeah, sure," said George.
"If she doesn't mind getting creamed," retorted Fred.
Hermione placed her hands on her hips. "And what is that supposed to mean? Don't think I can handle some snow in the face?"
"No, I was more thinking, you couldn't handle some snow in the butt," said George with a genuine Cheshire grin.
Hermione gaped at him. "Oh, I'll show YOU some snow in the butt!" she answered, and dodged straight for him.
He yelped like a small dog and spun the other way, bolting towards the portrait hole, Hermione hot on his heels. Harry laughed as Fred chased after them, screaming, "Don't kill him Hermione! I'm sure he was only kidding!"
Harry followed and found Hermione belting snowballs at George outside, who was getting hit repeatedly until his black cloak was almost completely white. Fred was hiding cowardly behind one of the huge trees, his hands over his head. "She's a madwoman!" Fred cried as Harry walked over. "She's going to murder George! Make her stop!"
Ron and Lee were laughing madly behind another tree, Ron doubled over, clutching in stomach and Lee rolling around on the ground in the snow. George was being bombarded with snow in the buttocks, and he came running over and swooped behind Harry crying "Save me! Save me!" and clutched at his shoulders, peering like a frightened child over his cloak. Harry was caught off guard, and stumbled slightly.
Hermione grinned evilly as she packed a tight snowball in her mittened hands. "You coward, get out here and fight like a man."
George shrank lower behind Harry.
Ron and Lee were bursting at the seams. Hermione turned to them, and eyebrow raised, "What, dear friends, is so hysterically funny?"
Ron was able to reach out and point his index finger at her.
Hermione took it offensively. "Oh, so I'M what you're laughing at? You think I'm something to laugh at? Well how about you laugh at this!"
Aiming precisely at his face, Hermione threw the snowball at Ron. Being caught off guard, Ron took it right in the nose, and abruptly stopped laughing. Lee burst even harder, and George and Fred were soon on the ground, and Harry began laughing as well.
Hermione scooped another snowball into her hands. "Since you all think this is so funny, who wants to be next?"
The laughing suddenly halted, and the scurrying of feet could be heard. Both Fred and George bolted towards the nearest hiding spot, and Ron and Lee, having nowhere to hide, ran across the school grounds.
Harry chuckled, and Hermione gave him a disbelieving look. "And what makes you so special?" she asked.
Harry suddenly stopped laughing, suddenly looking like a deer caught in headlights. "Oh…"
"Oh is right, Mister," said Hermione, chucking a snowball his way as he sprinted after Ron and Lee. Hermione followed, flinging snowballs at him as they went.
It turned out to be a very enjoyable evening.
*
"I'm exhausted."
Hermione snorted, her head propped up on one hand as she played with her warm cereal. "Well whose fault is that? It's not my fault you had to anger me to the extent that you did. Otherwise I wouldn't have whipped you yesterday."
Harry sighed. "Not again, you too. You've been bickering since yesterday. I thought you guys would have calmed down with sleep."
Ron yawned. "Well, it might have if I had actually been able to sleep. My back was throbbing so hard I didn't drift off till past one in the morning."
Hermione smirked as she let the cereal slide off the spoon back into the bowl. "Well maybe next time you'll remember how bad I clobbered you and you won't entice me again."
Ron sniggered, but didn't reply. Harry was the next to yawn. "We have double potions with the Slytherins today, don't we?" he asked Hermione.
She watched the cereal slide down her spoon again as Ron picked up his toast. "Yup." She sighed. "Well, at least it's Friday, and we don't have any classes after that," she answered.
Ron looked towards the door. "I suppose we should get going. Looks like Snape's on the prowl."
And indeed he was. Swooping into the doorway, black robes billowing, he eyed every student with pure disgust. A look of utter loathing upon his face, he made his way towards the Professors' table, snapping at unsuspecting students.
"Let's go," said Ron, "I don't need a detention right now."
Forgetting about breakfast, the three made their way to the common room for their things before Potions.
*
The shattering of glass echoed around the stone dungeon.
He recoiled, waiting for the blow…
"How many times to I have to tell you people TO HANDLE ALL MATERIAL WITH CARE! Sometimes, I wonder about you Mr. Longbottom, if you try to be foolhardy, or you were born that way."
Most of the Gryfindors shot angry looks towards Snape, but made sure he didn't see them. He was exceptionally moody today, and Harry and Ron figured it had something to do with the dead animals Fred and George left in their cauldron the day before when they had had potions…
Watching Snape descend on poor Neville, the Gryfindors looked on with horror, hoping he wouldn't traumatize the boy to death. Hermione was becoming more and more annoyed with Snape beating on him, and every day her anger boiled further. Harry and Ron suspected she would explode sometime soon, and tried to keep her attitude under control.
"You will not receive another vial for the potion, therefore you will receive a zero for today's lesson." Realizing the whole class was watching the ordeal, Snape became furious. "This is not a circus act! GET BACK TO YOUR POTIONS! IF THEY ARE NOT FINISHED BY THE END OF CLASS YOU WILL STAY AFTER TO COMPLETE IT AS WELL AS RECEIVING DETENTION!"
Everyone jumped and frantically began fixing their potions, cutting roots, and extracting substances. Snape circled the room like a hawk, picking on innocent victims, bellowing at the top of his lungs. His black robes swirled forebodingly as he stalked the isles, barking like a madman. Harry cringed as he heard his footsteps approaching his work desk. He could hear the sound of his metal boots clanking against the stone floor, growing closer and he moved towards his desk. His voice rattled in his ears as he yelled at other students.
Clank. Clank.
"Miss Patil! What are you doing? I precisely told you NOT to cut those before placing them in the oil… you'll have to go and fetch new ones."
Clunk. Clunk.
"Mister Thomas, you fool, dragon's scales before phoenix tears. What are you trying to do? Kill the poor person? This is an antidote, not a poison."
Clank. Clunk.
Harry looked down at the cauldron he was brewing, halting his stirring for a moment to check to see if it was boiling yet. His face fell, though, when he realized the potion was a sickly yellow, unlike the bright green they were supposed to have. There was no time to try and fix the problem, however, because he suddenly felt his Professor's presence behind him, casting a shadow across his desk.
"Mister Potter, do you have any idea how to follow directions? I can see you placed the crushed lizard pelvic bone in your cauldron before the feline eyes. This cannot be fixed. You will be receiving a zero along with Mister Longbottom. You shall see me after class."
Harry felt his cheeks begin to burn, but didn't look his Professor in the eye.
"I remember your father wasn't very adept at potions, either. He seemed to be melting a cauldron every time he was in the classroom."
The Slytherin side of the room began snorting with silent laughter as the Gryfindors looked on angrily.
"Your mother was very intelligent also, always mixing her ingredients backwards. Killed her own pet cat, too, when the professor tried her shrinking potion on the poor animal."
Hermione looked up from her table, spotting Harry clenching his fists at his sides as his cheeks turned a violent shade of rose. Shut up, you bastard she thought at Snape, wishing he would burst into flames at that very moment.
"Looks like stupidity is a dominant trait in your family tree. It seems it didn't skip a generation, either."
The Slytherins exploded in hoots of laughter as they banged their fists against the tabletops. Hermione rose from her seat but Ron grabbed her sleeve before she could move any further.
But Snape was relentless. "But I'm sure brains aren't everything, Potter. I suppose you could always find work at a zoo, I'm sure they'd accept you there." He walked around to the front of the room. "Not saying anything, Potter? Think you're still perfect?" A quirky smile ran across his face. "You'll just have to learn no one's perfect in this world, especially not you."
Hermione was way past boiling at this point. She could tell he was taking in every word, believing everything he said. She could see the tears brimming in his eyes. He'd better stop talking; he'd better stop speaking to him like that…
Snape was circling him like a hawk now, watching him closely. Harry was afraid to move; afraid he would make a wrong move.
"Are you sure you haven't been taking lessons from Longbottom these past few weeks? Because it seems to me you've become very careless with your work, and we wouldn't want famous Harry Potter to fail any classes now would we, it might be a little too humiliating for his precious-"
"STOP IT!"
The whole classroom went silent as her distinct voice sounded through the chamber. Hermione was now next to Harry, an expression of pure hatred upon her face.
"Leave him alone!"
Snape slowly turned to her. "What did you say to me, girl?"
Dun dun dun… I hope this suffices for a cliffhanger… Now, faithful readers, please REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! Or I'll have to send Snape on you…
I just want to thank all the people who reviewed on my first chapter! You really have no idea how happy you made me! Thanks go out to Berty 'n Beans (my very first reviewer! THANK YOU!), Synia, Persephone13, Super Q, Li- chan, catsrule dogsdrool, Tess, The Smiley Bandit, Nicky, ME!!!!(whoever this is), Blue Haired Trenchrat, and Kellybean. Thank you guys soooo much! And please keep reviewing!
Ok on to chapter 1….
**
Hermione ran to the door. "I'm going after him," she announced, heaving open the door. Fang jumped to his feet as well did Hagrid and Ron.
"Yer kiddin' me, Hermione," he cried, "Yeh can' go out in this weather! You'll freeze!"
But she hadn't heard him. She was already out the door, on her way to the castle.
Hagrid stared sorrowfully after her as she followed the now unseen Harry back to Hogwarts through the thick sheet of snow. He could feel Ron's presence next to him and he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Do you reckon he'll be alright, Hagrid?"
He wished he had a solid answer, but he didn't. "Don't know, Ron. Don't know."
**
Chapter 1: Like silent raindrops fell… (Pretend cookies to anyone who knows the song I stole the title from {it's really not that hard}…)
She could barely raise her legs high enough to clear the snow covering and had trouble reaching the castle. She had to drag her way through the snow, and she found herself slowly loosing energy. Watching the clouds of mist puff up as she breathed made her yearn for the warm common room. She could see the huge wooden doors slowly approaching, and wondered if she would make it there before she would give up and fall flat onto her face.
Harry had startled her with his reaction at the hut. He had never exploded like that; especially at Hagrid. She felt ashamed for him, and hoped silently that Hagrid hadn't taken it personally, which he probably would. She thought she had known Harry well; now, she wasn't so sure.
Reaching the double doors she heaved them open, shaking the snowflakes from her hair and robes. Stomping on the ground to shake the layer of snow off her boots, she started towards the common room. She knew the chances of him actually being there were slim, yet she figured it was a good place to start.
Creaking open the portrait after giving the password she slipped into the warm common room, surveying the empty chairs. Her heart fell when she didn't see his mop of unruly hair popping up from above the couch or cushioned chairs. Stepping over to the fire and taking a seat, she buried her face in her hands. What had set Harry off like that? She rubbed her temples. She had never known him to be so violent with his anger. She knew that if he was angry enough he could cause damage… she wanted to prevent that from happening. But just the fact that he was so irate disturbed her. It was so unusual, so uncalled for, so…
Footprints.
She suddenly realized the slowly fading trail of footprints traveling from the portrait hole towards a curtained wall. Covered with an elaborate wall hanging depicting scenes from early Shakespearian works, and she had often spent time daydreaming, looking at the intertwining threads of many colors. But she had never looked behind the hanging before. Now that there was a stream of melting snowy-muddy tracks leading towards a seemingly stable wall, her mind began to wonder. Could there be a secret passage behind the hanging?
She crept tentatively towards the hanging, as if someone could possibly be watching her, reached over, and gave it a pull.
Recoiling quickly as if afraid something evil was going to jump out upon her, she realized all that stood behind the hanging was a brick wall.
Well, and a small door.
The door came only up to about her shoulders and was craved with elaborate pictures and designs. Flowers knotted around the borders, and even though the dye was faded, she could tell that the wood had once been bright and colorful. The pictures were beautiful, and she had never seen such work before in her life. Yet it was strange, she noted, that the door had no handle; only a rusted keyhole, from which protruded an old, decaying, gnarled key. It was a large key, and she wondered why, if Harry was here, he had never told them about this place before.
Grasping the key uncertainly, she yanked, and the door slid open. She crept into the shadowy depths of the long shallow passageway and silently hoped she wouldn't make too much noise. The rocky floor was uneven, with bricks protruding in awkward places, and she had trouble walking. She tripped several times, and she wanted to reach out to the walls next to her, but she was afraid to touch them. The place was degusting, with mold and the smell of decay in the air. It was stuffy, tight, and she wanted desperately to leave, yet seeing Harry happy was something she wanted more.
When she finally saw light at the end of the hallway, her heart leapt with joy. She stumbled out of the corridor, and fell, not realizing there was a small drop into the connecting room.
Looking up she saw a vast room filled with chairs and cushioned couches. Portraits hung from the walls, and the carpet was a deep maroon. Pushing herself up she realized Harry was huddled in a corner, his head buried in is arms as he pulled his knees to his chest. She reached out to him as worry filled her, and touched his shoulder.
"Harry?" she whispered.
"Go away, Hermione," came the muffled reply.
She tried again. "Harry please, I-"
"Go AWAY."
Hermione faltered. She was taken aback by his hostile attitude. Never had he acted so annoyed by her presence, or taken offence to her asking him if he was all right.
"Harry stop this now," she cried, "You're being ridiculous." She grabbed his wrist and wretched it way from his face. "Harry, look at me."
He threw her off and curled into himself further, hiding his face.
"Harry, look at me."
"Don't look at me, just leave me alone! I just want to be by myself!" he cried, his voice cracking as if he were about to cry.
"LOOK AT ME DAMN IT!"
She peeled away his arm and took his face into her hands. She was shocked to find her fingers melting hot tears rolling down his face, and when her eyes met red-rimmed glassy emerald-green ones. Her heart fell as he sniffled, still trying to wipe the tears from his face. "Harry, you… you never told me I… You should have… you never had to… oh, Harry…"
She wrapped her arms around him in a comforting embrace. She expected him to pull away and snap at her, but instead, after a few seconds, she felt the pressure of his arms around her torso. He buried his face into her shoulder and broke down, sobbing into her robes. She rubbed gentle circles into his back, letting him release. Whatever was bothering him, he couldn't handle anymore. She felt her shoulder dampen, but it didn't matter.
His hands clutched at her robes and his muscles tightened, and she quietly tried to calm him. She never thought he would have it in him; that he would always be able to deal with what was bothering him in a more productive way, but it seemed he couldn't. She was worried as to what could have possibly happened, to make him feel so utterly hopeless.
After he had calmed down enough to talk, she pulled away from him and leaned against the wall next to him. "Do you want to tell me about it?" she asked tentatively.
He stared into his hands. "It started over the summer."
"Vernon lost his job. He never told me why, but I suspect it had to do something with his temper, the way he was ranting about it when he came home that day. He had sent me to my room before I had even done anything, and I complied because I knew he would yell at me anyway and I didn't want to start anything. I could hear him and Petunia fighting down in the kitchen. I heard a loud thump, and a crash, and glass shattering. Suddenly Petunia started crying, and fearing he had hit her, I went down to stop him before he killed anyone. He had started drinking months ago, and he would come home drunk and order people around in his slurred voice. I figured he had been out drinking again, with the way he was yelling. I went into the kitchen, and found Petunia on the floor crying into her hands.
"I found that what I had feared had actually happened, but before I could move he was on top of me. I couldn't breathe; he jumped on me, started beating my head. He kicked me in the stomach, the ribs… I could almost feel them shattering in my chest."
He gained back his gazed look as he continued to stare into his hands. Hermione placed a warm hand on his shoulder. "That week, I couldn't move from my bed." His eyes filled with hurtful tears. "Aunt Petunia was somewhat sympathetic and helped me recover. She would sneak food into my room at night and sometimes during the day when Vernon was out or busy in his office. She wouldn't talk about it though. She had a huge bruise on her face for a week. Dudley was the only one who had managed not to get damaged. Aunt Petunia were still planning their escape when I boarded the train." He stared out into the room. "They could be dead right now for all I know."
He paused, and Hermione thought about what to say to him. But he started again before she could think of anything. "On the train, I remember, looking out the window at the trees and things passing by, and praying to God that I wouldn't have to go back there next summer. The thought of having to spend any more time in that house with that man scared me out of my mind.
"When Professor Snape started chiding me in class, it made me feel worse. It made me realize that if it wasn't for me, my parents would still be here and I wouldn't have to worry about going back to the Dursleys. If it wasn't for me, they would still be alive."
"Harry, you know that's not true-"
He didn't seem to hear her, as he continued talking. "I began to realize how they were all right… My aunt and uncle, Snape, Malfoy… all of them were right… I am worthless."
"Harry, how could you think that?" she asked.
"What have I ever done to repay them for their sacrifice?" he asked her. "I try and do something right and look what I did… Cedric died because of me. I should have died, not him."
"That wasn't your fault Harry… you didn't know he was about to be murdered."
Harry didn't respond. He seemed to have not heard her. "No one blames you for Cedric's death," she said.
"They don't have to; I blame myself."
Hermione suddenly became angry with him. "You're being stupid," she scolded, "You mean a lot to Ron and me, and especially to Hagrid, whom I think you thoroughly offended today when you yelled at him. You mean a lot to your professors, even to Snape, I'm sure, and particularly to Dumbledore. We care deeply for you Harry, and your ignorance is blinding you. How can you ignore all these people that love you?"
He simply stared at her.
"We love you for who you are, not for what has happened. You are a good person, and we know that."
She gave him a bear hug, and was relieved when he returned it. "You just need some reassurance once and a while, is all." She patted him on the back, "I believe Herbology begins in half and hour, so let's go and get our things, and maybe meet up with Ron, ok?"
"Ok."
They traveled back to the common room, and Hermione was sure to ensure no one was in sight before entering the room. "How'd you find me, by the way?" he asked.
Hermione smiled. "It's somewhat obvious when you leave a trail of snowy footprints…"
Harry faltered. "Oh."
"Don't worry about it. I won't tell Ron if you don't want me to."
"Would you?" he asked, "I'd rather tell him myself…" he replied.
"Ok," she agreed.
Fred and George stumbled into the common room. They traveled over to where Harry stood, their cheeks and noses rosy from the cold, Hermione presumed. "Hey Harry!" said one (Harry suspected it was George); "Professor Sprout cancelled Herbology this afternoon! Ron said you guys don't have class!"
Harry smiled, "That's great," he exclaimed.
"Yeah, and Lee Jordan and Ron wanted to know if you would join us our snowball fight?" asked the other excitedly.
"Sure," said Harry, and Hermione beamed. He was actually willing to interact with other people without being pressured. "And Hermione too?"
"Yeah, sure," said George.
"If she doesn't mind getting creamed," retorted Fred.
Hermione placed her hands on her hips. "And what is that supposed to mean? Don't think I can handle some snow in the face?"
"No, I was more thinking, you couldn't handle some snow in the butt," said George with a genuine Cheshire grin.
Hermione gaped at him. "Oh, I'll show YOU some snow in the butt!" she answered, and dodged straight for him.
He yelped like a small dog and spun the other way, bolting towards the portrait hole, Hermione hot on his heels. Harry laughed as Fred chased after them, screaming, "Don't kill him Hermione! I'm sure he was only kidding!"
Harry followed and found Hermione belting snowballs at George outside, who was getting hit repeatedly until his black cloak was almost completely white. Fred was hiding cowardly behind one of the huge trees, his hands over his head. "She's a madwoman!" Fred cried as Harry walked over. "She's going to murder George! Make her stop!"
Ron and Lee were laughing madly behind another tree, Ron doubled over, clutching in stomach and Lee rolling around on the ground in the snow. George was being bombarded with snow in the buttocks, and he came running over and swooped behind Harry crying "Save me! Save me!" and clutched at his shoulders, peering like a frightened child over his cloak. Harry was caught off guard, and stumbled slightly.
Hermione grinned evilly as she packed a tight snowball in her mittened hands. "You coward, get out here and fight like a man."
George shrank lower behind Harry.
Ron and Lee were bursting at the seams. Hermione turned to them, and eyebrow raised, "What, dear friends, is so hysterically funny?"
Ron was able to reach out and point his index finger at her.
Hermione took it offensively. "Oh, so I'M what you're laughing at? You think I'm something to laugh at? Well how about you laugh at this!"
Aiming precisely at his face, Hermione threw the snowball at Ron. Being caught off guard, Ron took it right in the nose, and abruptly stopped laughing. Lee burst even harder, and George and Fred were soon on the ground, and Harry began laughing as well.
Hermione scooped another snowball into her hands. "Since you all think this is so funny, who wants to be next?"
The laughing suddenly halted, and the scurrying of feet could be heard. Both Fred and George bolted towards the nearest hiding spot, and Ron and Lee, having nowhere to hide, ran across the school grounds.
Harry chuckled, and Hermione gave him a disbelieving look. "And what makes you so special?" she asked.
Harry suddenly stopped laughing, suddenly looking like a deer caught in headlights. "Oh…"
"Oh is right, Mister," said Hermione, chucking a snowball his way as he sprinted after Ron and Lee. Hermione followed, flinging snowballs at him as they went.
It turned out to be a very enjoyable evening.
*
"I'm exhausted."
Hermione snorted, her head propped up on one hand as she played with her warm cereal. "Well whose fault is that? It's not my fault you had to anger me to the extent that you did. Otherwise I wouldn't have whipped you yesterday."
Harry sighed. "Not again, you too. You've been bickering since yesterday. I thought you guys would have calmed down with sleep."
Ron yawned. "Well, it might have if I had actually been able to sleep. My back was throbbing so hard I didn't drift off till past one in the morning."
Hermione smirked as she let the cereal slide off the spoon back into the bowl. "Well maybe next time you'll remember how bad I clobbered you and you won't entice me again."
Ron sniggered, but didn't reply. Harry was the next to yawn. "We have double potions with the Slytherins today, don't we?" he asked Hermione.
She watched the cereal slide down her spoon again as Ron picked up his toast. "Yup." She sighed. "Well, at least it's Friday, and we don't have any classes after that," she answered.
Ron looked towards the door. "I suppose we should get going. Looks like Snape's on the prowl."
And indeed he was. Swooping into the doorway, black robes billowing, he eyed every student with pure disgust. A look of utter loathing upon his face, he made his way towards the Professors' table, snapping at unsuspecting students.
"Let's go," said Ron, "I don't need a detention right now."
Forgetting about breakfast, the three made their way to the common room for their things before Potions.
*
The shattering of glass echoed around the stone dungeon.
He recoiled, waiting for the blow…
"How many times to I have to tell you people TO HANDLE ALL MATERIAL WITH CARE! Sometimes, I wonder about you Mr. Longbottom, if you try to be foolhardy, or you were born that way."
Most of the Gryfindors shot angry looks towards Snape, but made sure he didn't see them. He was exceptionally moody today, and Harry and Ron figured it had something to do with the dead animals Fred and George left in their cauldron the day before when they had had potions…
Watching Snape descend on poor Neville, the Gryfindors looked on with horror, hoping he wouldn't traumatize the boy to death. Hermione was becoming more and more annoyed with Snape beating on him, and every day her anger boiled further. Harry and Ron suspected she would explode sometime soon, and tried to keep her attitude under control.
"You will not receive another vial for the potion, therefore you will receive a zero for today's lesson." Realizing the whole class was watching the ordeal, Snape became furious. "This is not a circus act! GET BACK TO YOUR POTIONS! IF THEY ARE NOT FINISHED BY THE END OF CLASS YOU WILL STAY AFTER TO COMPLETE IT AS WELL AS RECEIVING DETENTION!"
Everyone jumped and frantically began fixing their potions, cutting roots, and extracting substances. Snape circled the room like a hawk, picking on innocent victims, bellowing at the top of his lungs. His black robes swirled forebodingly as he stalked the isles, barking like a madman. Harry cringed as he heard his footsteps approaching his work desk. He could hear the sound of his metal boots clanking against the stone floor, growing closer and he moved towards his desk. His voice rattled in his ears as he yelled at other students.
Clank. Clank.
"Miss Patil! What are you doing? I precisely told you NOT to cut those before placing them in the oil… you'll have to go and fetch new ones."
Clunk. Clunk.
"Mister Thomas, you fool, dragon's scales before phoenix tears. What are you trying to do? Kill the poor person? This is an antidote, not a poison."
Clank. Clunk.
Harry looked down at the cauldron he was brewing, halting his stirring for a moment to check to see if it was boiling yet. His face fell, though, when he realized the potion was a sickly yellow, unlike the bright green they were supposed to have. There was no time to try and fix the problem, however, because he suddenly felt his Professor's presence behind him, casting a shadow across his desk.
"Mister Potter, do you have any idea how to follow directions? I can see you placed the crushed lizard pelvic bone in your cauldron before the feline eyes. This cannot be fixed. You will be receiving a zero along with Mister Longbottom. You shall see me after class."
Harry felt his cheeks begin to burn, but didn't look his Professor in the eye.
"I remember your father wasn't very adept at potions, either. He seemed to be melting a cauldron every time he was in the classroom."
The Slytherin side of the room began snorting with silent laughter as the Gryfindors looked on angrily.
"Your mother was very intelligent also, always mixing her ingredients backwards. Killed her own pet cat, too, when the professor tried her shrinking potion on the poor animal."
Hermione looked up from her table, spotting Harry clenching his fists at his sides as his cheeks turned a violent shade of rose. Shut up, you bastard she thought at Snape, wishing he would burst into flames at that very moment.
"Looks like stupidity is a dominant trait in your family tree. It seems it didn't skip a generation, either."
The Slytherins exploded in hoots of laughter as they banged their fists against the tabletops. Hermione rose from her seat but Ron grabbed her sleeve before she could move any further.
But Snape was relentless. "But I'm sure brains aren't everything, Potter. I suppose you could always find work at a zoo, I'm sure they'd accept you there." He walked around to the front of the room. "Not saying anything, Potter? Think you're still perfect?" A quirky smile ran across his face. "You'll just have to learn no one's perfect in this world, especially not you."
Hermione was way past boiling at this point. She could tell he was taking in every word, believing everything he said. She could see the tears brimming in his eyes. He'd better stop talking; he'd better stop speaking to him like that…
Snape was circling him like a hawk now, watching him closely. Harry was afraid to move; afraid he would make a wrong move.
"Are you sure you haven't been taking lessons from Longbottom these past few weeks? Because it seems to me you've become very careless with your work, and we wouldn't want famous Harry Potter to fail any classes now would we, it might be a little too humiliating for his precious-"
"STOP IT!"
The whole classroom went silent as her distinct voice sounded through the chamber. Hermione was now next to Harry, an expression of pure hatred upon her face.
"Leave him alone!"
Snape slowly turned to her. "What did you say to me, girl?"
Dun dun dun… I hope this suffices for a cliffhanger… Now, faithful readers, please REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! Or I'll have to send Snape on you…
I just want to thank all the people who reviewed on my first chapter! You really have no idea how happy you made me! Thanks go out to Berty 'n Beans (my very first reviewer! THANK YOU!), Synia, Persephone13, Super Q, Li- chan, catsrule dogsdrool, Tess, The Smiley Bandit, Nicky, ME!!!!(whoever this is), Blue Haired Trenchrat, and Kellybean. Thank you guys soooo much! And please keep reviewing!