Chapter Nine: Discovered

Hermione Granger could not have been more content that it was a Saturday when she had awoken. She wasn't even able to stretch her arms and legs because the pain she was in had been most unbearable, so, she remained in her bed, trying to think of a spell that could help her through this pain.

Hermione knew that it would be easiest to go to Madam Pomfrey, who could get her fixed up as quickly as saying Quidditch. She was pretty sure that she had no broken bones, so no Skelegrow was needed, and she just needed a few spells to mend the pain. But no, she couldn't do that.

No matter how much pain she was in, she couldn't go to Madam Pomfrey. She would ask why she was in so much pain, and how she had come to injuring herself so badly. And what was she supposed to tell her? "Oh I fell down the stairs…" Even Neville, who was perhaps the largest klutz out of everyone that she knew, hadn't managed to do that one, so how could prim and proper Hermione Granger?

She was a smart which anyways, other than the fact that what she had been doing to herself for the past few months had seemed like something that only a completely foolish git would do… She could easily find some more powerful healing charms, and brew up a potion if she had too.

Later in the day, probably around noon, Hermione had been in the library, working away furiously on an Aritmancy assignment, when she heard someone plop down in the seat across from her. Immediately she was frightened. Just the thought that Harry could be sitting just inches away frightened her immensely, and for the first time in her life she was relieved to hear the drawling voice of Draco Malfoy.

"McGonagall wants us to draw up Prefect schedules for patrolling. Here's the list of names, have fun mudblood."

"Excuse me?" Hermione said ignorantly, first glancing down at the list of names, than up at Malfoy.

"I said McGonagall wants us to-"
"I know what you said!" Hermione snapped, glaring up at him coldly.

"Than why'd you ask Granger?" Malfoy said, drawling his sentence out more and more with every word.

"Because you must be mistaken if you think that I am going to be drawing this up all by myself. They made you Head Boy, for Merlin knows what reasons, so you're going to take on the responsibilities."

"You wish Granger," He responded, getting up to walk away, and just as Hermione found herself calling out "Malfoy!" she heard the distinct sound of someone dropping down once again into the seat in front of her.

"Good," Hermione started, quite pleased that she had obviously gotten through to him. "Now I'm not going to be able to set aside time until after I finish the Aritmancy assignment…and of course the Charms paper…so how about just after dinner?"

Hermione looked up, expecting to see Malfoy, but instead met the cold eyes of Ron, who indeed looked extremely unhappy, frustrated if you may, in a tattered maroon T-shirt.

"And why exactly do you need to set aside time to see Malfoy?" Ron asked through gritted teeth.

"What reason do you think Ronald?" Hermione asked, rolling her eyes as though it was obvious they needed to draw up Prefect schedules.

"I don't know, you tell me," He said, his tone not softening at all.

"We need to draw up Prefect schedules together…Head Duties," Hermione added in when Ron continued to look angered and slightly disbelieving.

"Oh…" he said, his eyes remaining hard, though the rest of his facial expressions relaxed.

"Anyways… what did you want Ronald?" Hermione sighed impatiently.

"Oh yeah…that. I was just wondering if perhaps you'd, like to go for a walk with me?"

"Ron, can't you see I'm busy at the moment? I have loads of homework to do, and this Arithmancy assignment is going to take me ages!"
"I see how it is then," Ron started, his face becoming red, "You have enough time for Malfoy, but not your best friend?"

Hermione was beginning to get frustrated with the third degree. Why did Ron have to be so easily tempered? "No, it's not like that at all Ron and you know it! That is strictly Head business, not enjoyment. We can go for a walk another time, but as you can see, I'm extremely busy at the moment."

"Please Hermione, just a short one, we haven't been able to catch up at all since we've been back! I feel like I haven't seen you in ages!"

Hermione was about to object, but knowing how stubborn Ron could be, knew there was no use. "Fine Ronald, but only a short one! Than I have to get back to work! I'll meet you in the Great Hall in a few minutes, just let me grab a sweater and put my books away."

"Why can't I just come with you?" Ron asked, again with the 20 questions.

"Because Ronald," Hermione sighed, every minute growing more irritated by his childish behavior, "Only the Heads and the Professors are allowed to know the password."
"Not even Harry and I can know!"

"Not even you and Harry, no."

"Blimey!"

"Ronald stop it or else I'm not going with you for a walk at all." He abruptly shut his mouth with a slight pout placed upon his face, threw his arms up into the air, and headed out of the library and in the direction of the Great Hall.

"So Hermione… How have you been lately? How was your summer?"

Hermione walked along the side of the lake slowly, taking into deep consideration what she should respond. After all, she couldn't just say "I've been terrible lately! My parents had been abusing me furiously all summer, almost as terribly as Harry has been since the end of last year!" No, that would never do, instead she heard a meek voice that hardly sounded like her own say, "I've been okay, just busy is all."

"Oh…all right than… that's good I s'pose. Err… How's things with you and Harry been lately?" Hermione nearly choked on her own saliva at the mention of his name. What does he know? Did he see the scars? Did I forget to conceal a bruise! Oh no… "I mean, I don't see you two hanging about much, and sometimes it seems you're hardly going together at all!"

"Oh, ummm…. Everything's going just fine Ronald," Hermione smiled at him delicately, trying her best to keep it from seeming fake. "I've just been so busy lately I haven't had any time to see him is all."

"But you've had time to see me," Ron said timidly.

"Well, you caught me at a good time is all."

"Oh…Just, Hermione…if things aren't working out with you and Harry, than…you know…maybe you could give…us a try?"

Hermione's heart sank. How she wished she just COULD give Ron a try. She'd love to see what it was like to be with him. Why oh why did Harry have to ask her out first? Why did she have to say yes! Maybe none of these events would have happened if she had said yes. Even her parents' abuse might have been prevented, for if Harry had never hurt her, she would have stayed at The Burrow with him and Ron. Why Ron, did you have to be too late?

"I'm sorry Ronald…I really am, but I can't. I'm going with Harry now, and I couldn't do that to him." Ron looked at her as though this reason wasn't good enough, so she swallowed the thick lump in her throat as she chocked out "I- I love him."

"Oh…" was all Ron could say.

For a few minutes they walked on in silence, Hermione wishing deeply that she could use a Time Turner and turn back the past few months events, and begin all over, first with saying no to Harry, and getting Ron to ask her out in some way.

But she couldn't, and that was something most unfortunately, but there was nothing she could do about it now. There would be absolutely no excuse she could muster up to explain to Dumbledore why she wanted to use a Time Turner when she could make it to her classes perfectly fine, they were no longer double booked thank Merlin. And there was definitely nowhere else she knew of where she could get one…so no, she would just have to keep dreaming.

She felt a few drops of rain splash on her head, and was nothing short of ecstatic to be able to have an excuse to mumble to Ron about needing to get inside before it began to poor, and finish her homework, before scurrying back into the large castle.

Hermione had finished her Charms and Arithmancy later than expected, and as she looked up to her wall clock in her bedroom, saw it was nearly 9:30 already. She decided it was time to straighten things out about the Prefect's business, and headed out of her bedroom, through the bathroom, and towards his bedroom door.

She rapped lightly upon it 3 times, and there was no response. Pressing her ear against the door, she heard nothing, and decided to knock again.

"Malfoy? Malfoy are you in there?" Once again there was no answer, so upon deciding Malfoy wasn't in his room walked back through the bathroom into her, room, and quickly peered down into their common room, which she saw was also empty.

Big surprise, Hermione thought bitterly. When there's work to be done, he's nowhere in sight, but when I want him out of my face, he's in his room shagging…

Back in her room Hermione closed her door, and flopped down on her neatly made bed, and stared at her bedside table, where she had recently placed a picture of herself, Harry, and Ron back in their third year. It was right after a trip to Hogsmeade, and they were all posing richly, holding bags of candy from Honeydukes and feeling quite brilliant after having a butterbeer.

How I only wish it were still like that… Hermione thought, feeling warm tears pierce her cheeks. Things will never go back to the way they used to be…never…

Than, as naturally as breathing, Hermione took out her razor from the drawer of her night stand, and began to cut her wrists slowly…rhythmically, watching the blood poor from her body steadily.

It doesn't hurt…not as much as you've hurt me…

Suddenly, her door was opened, and she heard Malfoy's voice begin to drawl "Schedule's due on Thurs-" Before Malfoy's mouth dropped open in complete shock at the sight before him.

Hermione dropped her razor in disbelief, and tried covering her arm, but she knew it was too late. Knew he had seen… And knew that Malfoy was not wrong in being dumbfounded as he stared openly incredulous at her and said "Bloody hell."

Sorry it has taken me so long to update! I truly am. I was hardly home during the March Break, and when I was, I was either working on my homework, or sleeping... so I truly am sorry! And I am quite disappointed in myself for this chapter's ending... I've already ended a chapter saying "Blood hell" and was debating on either that or "Oh Merlin" but ended up just choosing Bloody Hell.. just seemed to fit more into disbelief! Anyways, truly hope you enjoyed!
Love Always
Carly Jayne.