A/N: I don't own Harry Potter

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Assignment #9- Beauty Therapy - Task #2 - Hot Stone Massage:Write about a character feeling like they're weighed down by something.

Winter Funfair

Southern Funfair – Light the Menorah - (character) Hermione Granger

Eastern Funfair - Yuletide – Step 1 – decorating - (setting) Hogwarts

Warning: mentions of child abuse

Word Count: 755

"What's your problem now?" Professor Umbridge snapped looking at Lavender. Lavender glared at her, but her entire body was shaking. She wasn't sure if it was fear or rage at this point. It wasn't her fault someone had set off an entire bag of exploding snaps right outside. It wasn't her fault that unexpected loud noises spooked her. She wished she wasn't like this, like her body was always waiting for something to happen. She knew why, but that was something she could never, would never admit. Everyone already assumed there was something wrong with her. She'd tried clearing her mind, but she could already feel their eyes staring at her. She could hear them thinking how she was a freak, how much of a loser does one have to be to jump out of the seat and curl into a ball at the sound of a few exploding snaps? She wondered for a moment why she was hearing their thoughts, maybe she was just making things up, but she knew she wasn't. How else would she know that Ron was thinking about Hermione, or what Parvati was planning to do on her date? Lavender blinked her eyes. There were just somethings she didn't want to know.

"It's fine," she answered. "Just thought I saw a spider, Professor," she whispered knowing no one would believe. She sat back in her seat trying to ignore their whispering, trying to ignore the eyes she knew were staring at her. She looked down at her book and pretended to read the words that wouldn't help a fly defeat anything. She sighed in relief when the class finally ended. She waited until the other students had started to file out before she rose from her seat. She wanted nothing more than to go hide under her bed, where the loud noises were muffled by the blankets and pillows she had stashed under there. Thankfully, the house elves left them alone after one time they'd seen her crying. One of them had even been nice and brought her a biscuit and a cup of tea. He'd never asked what was wrong, but she knew he wouldn't have judged her if she'd told him. She wondered if house elves fell in love, and if they did, was it ever with the wrong kind of person?

"Lavender, wait up a moment," she heard someone call. She froze, she recognized the voice, but there was no way that person wanted to talk to her. She debated pretending she hadn't heard and keep walking, but she waited to long to make that decision. She turned to face the speaker and nearly took off in the other direction. It was her, Hermione Granger, the princess of Gryffindor. Lavender didn't bother to pretend she liked Hermione. The girl was perfect in every single way; good grades, great with magic, smart, cute if she actually wanted to be, in short, everything Lavender wasn't.

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice snapping a little more than she'd wanted. Hermione didn't seem to notice, but gave Lavender a smile. She couldn't help but wish Hermione had left her teeth alone, she was cuter before.

"There's going to be a meeting, next Hogsmeade weekend, about learning defense, like a study group," Hermione said. Lavender could tell the other girl was choosing her words carefully. She didn't disagree with the idea, no one knew who, or what, might be listening.

"We are 'learning' defense," Lavender muttered. Hermione snorted a little.

"From her? No, this is going to be real defense, if you're interested. You can bring Parvati if you'd like. We'll be a the Hog's Head." With those final words, Hermione joined the crowd leaving Lavender standing there watching her leave trying not to stare at her ass. Defense, real defense, now that was something, maybe if she knew how to defend herself the sounds wouldn't cause her to panic as much. She was about to call out to Hermione, tell her she'd be there, but the girl had already vanished. Lavender sighed, she'd have plenty of time to talk to her later, but the idea of Hermione alone, without Ron and Harry. She shook her head. No, those thoughts were wrong, those thoughts were the reason for the cracking leather of the belt, the reason for the screaming, the yelling. No, those thoughts only invited pain and loudness, she'd have to put them aside until she learned to defend herself, until then, the perfect princess could just stay away.