Disclaimer: I do not own anything!
A/N: How are you, dearies? I hope you are all well while in quarantine. Wash your hands and stay safe and please please please, don't go out to do unnecessary things. That being said, why don't you stay at home and read some nice little fanfics? :)
Enjoy this chapter, lovelies!
Chapter Three: Third Year
Hermes chanced a glance outside the windows in the Gryffindor Tower and shivered. The black-cloaked creatures of nightmares swarmed around, making Hogwarts extra drearier. Although he perfectly understood that it was necessary to strengthen the defences of Hogwarts due to the possible attack of Sirius Black, Hermes mournfully thought it would have been better if they chose any other means than dementors.
The screams he heard during their train ride still kept him awake at night. The way the compartment suddenly grew unbearably freezing, echoes of unidentified cries loud against his ears, the dementors quickly became one of the most unpleasant creatures he had ever met. And he'd seen quite a lot, mainly because he was best friends with someone who unluckily attracted hideous creatures.
"Hey, you're back!"
He pulled his gaze away from the window to see Harry Potter strolling in. Ron already abandoned the Quidditch magazine he had been reading a while ago and was now quickly walking towards Harry.
"Hey," Hermes called, sauntering closer to his friends. He frowned, noting the exhaustion in Harry's eyes. "Tough lesson?"
"Yeah," he sighed, moving past his best friends to collapse on one of the overstuffed couches near the fireplace. "Bloody hell, I just want to sleep."
"You haven't finished your Charms essay due tomorrow," Hermes reminded.
Harry released a massive sigh and threw him a withering glance. "Thanks for the reminder, Hermes," he sarcastically replied.
Hermes grinned and shrugged his shoulders, plopping down on Harry's right side. Ron quickly claimed the other spot.
"So, the Patronus Charm?" Hermes urged, wanting to hear more about this intriguing charm. Ever since Professor Lupin defended them from the dementors in Hogwarts Express, Hermes had been itching to put this spell into practice, too. He was truthfully a little jealous that only Harry could attend these extra lessons with their DADA professor.
A wide, brilliant grin spread on Harry's face. "I've produced an incorporeal one," he excitedly recounted. "Not exactly corporeal yet; it was more of a mist than a true form. Professor Lupin reckoned it's still progress."
Hermes nodded. "Even adult wizards have a difficult time producing an incorporeal one," he said, remembering a passage he read from one of the many books about the Patronus Charm. "I wonder what your Patronus would look like."
Harry shrugged. "Who knows," he murmured, snatching the Quidditch magazine from Ron's hands.
"Oi!" the redhead exclaimed. Harry compromised by offering him the other page.
"So," Harry continued. "I came across Malfoy and her stupid cronies a while ago."
Hermes' ears perked at the mention of the Slytherin. "Yeah?" he asked.
"Let me guess," Ron said after a ridiculous snort. "She made that stupid imitation of a dementor again."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Of course," he said. "But, besides that, she made this comment that bothered me."
When Hermes merely wordlessly looked at him, he continued, "She pointed out some of Professor Lupin's weird… behaviour." He absentmindedly rubbed his scar, which, Hermes finally accepted was purely out of habit. "I dunno… he seems really tired for some days, yeah? Like bone-deep tired. Like he'd been through an exhausting battle or – "
" – he's a werewolf?" Hermes helpfully supplemented.
Harry's green eyes widened while Ron's mouth fell open. Hermes, realising he voiced one of his speculations aloud, grew sheepish. "Well, I haven't really proven anything yet," he quickly added.
"Why the bloody hell did you even think that?" Harry asked under his breath. He cautiously looked around, trying to see if anybody was listening to their conversation.
"I have nothing against him, really," Hermes continued in a whisper. "I mean, Professor Lupin's brilliant and so far he'd been the greatest DADA professor we've ever had, but I can't help but notice stuff…"
"Like?" Ron urged.
"Like the scars on his face… how Snape had to take over Professor Lupin for a day after the full moon. Snape was bloody hinting it, too! Lessons on werewolves…" Hermes finished.
"Bloody hell, you're right," Ron said, considerably paling.
"Still, he's brilliant," Hermes insisted. "Just because he has lycanthropy doesn't mean he is less of a human. Also, there's the Wolfsbane Potion. I'm sure if Dumbledore hired Lupin, he'd known about his affliction and made arrangements about it."
Harry thoughtfully ruffled his already messy hair and frowned. "Nobody must know," he said after a full minute, giving Hermes a stern glare.
"I won't gallivant around and spread rumours without proof," Hermes claimed in indignation. "Besides, if it really is true, it isn't my secret to tell."
"Malfoy's going to have a field day if she discovered a werewolf's teaching us Defense Against the Dark Arts," the redhead added with a scowl. "'My father will hear about this! Think you can let a bloody werewolf teach us? Hogwarts has really gone to the dogs.'"
"What the hell was that, Ron?!" Harry exclaimed, releasing a boisterous laugh that attracted curious eyes from their other Housemates.
Hermes was also snickering under his breath. "Malfoy definitely sounds like that, mate," he said, prompting Ron to throw the Quidditch magazine towards the curly-haired brunet.
"Wait a minute, you're telling us Fred and George willingly gave that… that piece of parchment to you?"
Harry sighed for the umpteenth time. "Yes, Ron, how many times do I have to repeat myself?" he asked, clearly annoyed.
Ron made a face and shifted on Harry's bed, draping his legs on top of Hermes' stomach. "Get off, Ronald," Hermes said, pushing his long legs away but Ron kept them in place. "I'm not gonna lie, mate, but maybe they're just pulling your leg," Ron pointed out.
"I hate to say this, but I agree with Ron this time, Harry," Hermes said, gravely nodding. Ron rolled his eyes and kicked him, smirking when Hermes hissed in pain. "I agreed with you, you git." Hermes then grabbed the blank parchment from Harry's hands and shot a series of spells. It was only after he muttered his tenth spell when he returned the supposed map. "How did they call this again?"
"The Marauders' Map," Harry explained. "And it's legitimate, mates. I'll show you."
He placed the tip of his wand on the blank parchment and whispered, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
"What the f – " Ron snatched the parchment and surveyed it with eager eyes.
"What? What? Let me see," Hermes said, reaching out to snatch it from Ron's hands. His eyes widened upon seeing that the parchment was blank no more, an accurate sketch of Hogwarts right at the middle of it. His eyes travelled to the written greeting on top and read aloud, "'Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers, are proud to present the Marauder's Map."
"I wasn't done look at it," Ron whined, but Hermes was already busy flipping through the map. Little footprints scattered around the perfect blueprint of Hogwarts. His eyes immediately darted at the Gryffindor Tower and almost fell off the bed when he saw his name, Harry's and Ron's clumped on top of Harry's bed.
Harry wore a proud grin on his face. "I told you it's legitimate," he said.
"Who're Messrs Moony, Wormtal, Padfoot, and Prongs?" Ron asked after successfully snatching the map back.
"Dunno," Harry said. "Fred and George didn't know either, but they practically worshipped them." He absentmindedly rubbed his scar and leaned against his bed. "They said these blokes knew secret passages that not even Filch knew. It helped them with their shenanigans and all."
Ron scowled. "So that's why they're rarely caught!" he exclaimed. "Sneaky bastards. Wait until Mum hears about this."
"Don't tell Mrs Weasley about this," Harry said with a sharp glare. "The fewer people know about it, the better."
"But why would they just give you something so… so handy?" Ron whined, perturbed that they thought of skipping him, their brother, just to give it to Harry.
"Said I might need it more than they do," Harry replied. "As the Boy-Who-Lived and all."
Hermes still eyed the parchment in suspicion. "Harry," he said, "don't you think we should be more careful? Remember Riddle's diary?"
"It's not the same, Hermes," Harry insisted. "This doesn't respond or anything. I think it's made by pranksters rather than evil teenage versions of a dark lord."
Hermes sighed, knowing he had a point.
"So, I have an idea," Harry then said, a brilliant grin splitting on his face.
Hermes groaned, not liking the expression. Ron, however, perked up and grinned. "Go on, mate," the redhead urged.
"What do you think about sneaking off to Hogsmeade?" he suggested, wagging his eyebrows. "You know, buying some sweets at Honeydukes."
The sanest of the Golden Trio looked at him in horror. "That's a terrible idea, Harry Potter!" he exclaimed. "What if we come across dementors along the way and we get killed. Or worse – "
"Expelled?" Harry and Ron quipped in unison, identical teasing grins on their faces.
Hermes turned into a brilliant shade of red.
Ron laughed loudly. "Three years had passed, ladies and gentlemen, but Hermes Granger still hadn't sorted out his priorities," he declared.
"Shut up, Ronald," he said, chucking a pillow at his head.
"Come on, Hermes," Harry pleaded, already rummaging inside his trunk to pull out his Invisibility Cloak. "I know a passage that will bring us straight to Hogsmeade." He waved the handy map in the air and grinned. "Besides, this map can tell us if a professor is nearby. What say you?"
Hermes still hesitated. "I still don't think it's a good idea," he grumbled.
"We promise to buy you your favourite toffees until the school year ends," Harry promised.
The curly-haired Gryffindor scowled. "That's not fair, Potter," he snarled, annoyed that they knew one his weakness were toffees.
"Come on," Ron whined, slinging an arm around his shoulder. "Live a little, Hermes Granger."
Hermes groaned loudly. "I really dislike you both right now," he grumbled.
Harry slung his arm over his shoulder's too and grinned. "Ready for another adventure, Golden Trio?"
Hermes sighed, believing that he would die young for befriending these two idiots.
"You poor, poor thing," Hermes cooed, scooping Crookshanks into his arms and glaring darkly at Ron.
"How can you love someone looking like that?" Ron whined, pointing an accusatory finger at the smashed face of the half-kneazle.
Hermes snorted. "And you think your precious Scabbers is a beauty," he sneered.
"Don't listen to him Scabbers!" Ron exclaimed, comically placing his hands over the ears of his oversized rat. Crookshanks started snarling at the ugly rat, prompting him to jump down from Ron's arms and scamper back into their dormitory. Hermes' cat twisted violently in his arms until he had no choice but to put her back on the ground.
"If your stupid cat kills Scabbers, I'm going to kill you, Hermes," Ron threatened with a glare.
Harry finally decided to emerge out from their dormitory. "Times like this I'm really glad Hagrid bought me an owl instead," he said, swinging both of his arms over their shoulders. As the shortest of the group, he had to tiptoe a little just to reach them. Hermes once pointed out he should eat more if he didn't want to be left behind, but Harry merely gave him a glare and a challenge for Hermes to live with his relatives for a month.
"What do you reckon Hagrid will bring to class this time?" Ron asked, eyeing his monster book with disgust.
"Who knows?" Hermes said with a deft shrug. After Hagrid showed them the baby dragon back in their first year, he wouldn't be surprised anymore if he managed to drag one of the acromantulas from the deep part of the Forbidden Forest to be their lesson for the day.
Once they arrived near the edge of the Forbidden Forest, the half-giant was still nowhere to be found. It was unfortunate that the Gryffindors had Care of Magical Creatures with the Slytherins. That meant Malfoy would be there, and she would undoubtedly start being annoying again.
Hermes couldn't stop himself from rolling his eyes when Iris Malfoy taunted Harry once more about the dementors and his fainting spell. Hermes tried to grab onto Harry to keep him in place, but The-Boy-Who-Lived was already stomping closer to a smirking Malfoy.
As he watched their exchange of insults, Hermes once again wondered what Iris Malfoy's ulterior motives were when she secretly helped them last year. There was a small hope in him that perhaps his words had finally reached her heart, now questioning everything that was taught to her, but once school started, the Slytherin was still the same. He wasn't entirely sure why he was disappointed, though, and tried not to think about Malfoy ever since.
Harry and Malfoy's banter was cut off once Hagrid came, a broad, excited grin behind his bushy beard. Hermes silently groaned; a happy Hagrid didn't bode well.
"Good morning!" he greeted cheerily. Harry gave Malfoy one last withering glare before sidling between Hermes and Ron. "Terday, I have a special little treat for yeh lot!"
Malfoy didn't bother hiding a snort. Hermes shot her a glare, but the Slytherin merely smirked in return.
Shame, she hadn't changed at all.
"Buckbeak, come here, boy," he called out.
It was comical how all of them held their breath in fearful anticipation. Hagrid tried to introduce blast-ended skrewts on their first lesson that year, much to Hermes' horror. The half-giant reassured that they would all take it up on fourth year instead because he had just started to breed the babies.
Hermes heard hooves before a magnificent creature, with a body, hind legs and tail of a horse, and with wings, front legs, and head of a giant eagle came into view. His steel-coloured beak was large and menacing. Hermes shivered slightly when his orange, beady eyes connected with his own.
"Can anybody tell me what he is?" Hagrid asked, fondly patting the creature's enormous head.
"Hippogriff," Hermes answered breathlessly, forgetting to raise his hand.
Hagrid beamed. "Quite right, Hermes. Take 10 points fer Gryffindor," he said with a proud smile.
"But Hagrid," the Gryffindor slowly continued, "hippogriffs are Class XXX."
His bushy brows met at the middle. "Quite right, too," he said, a little confused. "Err… take another 5 points fer Gryffindor, Hermes."
Hermes held back a groan and tried not to smack his forehead. Trust Hagrid to overlook the small insignificant fact that Class XXX creatures should only be handled by competent wizards, well-trained to handle creatures that could potentially cause harm or death to other people. Since there was only a half-giant, who generally think that all creatures were safe to handle, surrounded by wide-eyed third years and with a proud hippogriff at the very front already spelt disaster.
"Swot," Ron whispered disguised as a cough. Harry snickered and Hermes hit the pointy end of his elbow against his chest. The bespectacled wizard lightly glared at him.
"So," Hagrid said, mightily clapping his hands to get their attention, "first thing yeh need ter know about hippogriffs is that they are very proud creatures. Very easily offended. Yeh do now want ter insult a hippogriff." A warning glint appeared in his dark eyes as his gaze swept throughout the crowd. "That might be the last thing yeh'll ever do."
Hermes nervously swallowed and eyed the hippogriff.
"Now, who wants to come forward and say hello?" Hagrid gleefully asked.
Hermes and Ron didn't hesitate in pushing Harry forward. The Gryffindor stumbled a little but managed to regain his balance.
"Harry! Brilliant!" he exclaimed, gesturing him to come forward.
Harry glared at his best friends. "You're the bloody Boy-Who-Lived," Hermes said with an innocent grin. "I'm sure a hippogriff's powerful beak won't be your cause of demise, Harry."
"Some friends you are, you wankers," Harry said. Ron snickered while Hermes grinned.
"Remember, don't break eye contact," Hermes ordered once Hagrid grabbed Harry's shoulder and urged him forward.
Hermes nervously watched as the hippogriff eyed Harry with his large, orange eyes. Somehow, he was starting to regret volunteering Harry when the hippogriff stood at his tallest height and looked down at Harry.
"Easy," Harry said, staring intently into his orange eyes. He raised his hand, a universal sign he meant no harm, and slowly inched forward. "Easy." Then, he gave a deep bow without breaking any eye contact.
Hermes finally released the breath he didn't realise he was holding when Buckbeak bowed in return and snuggled his beak against Harry's palm.
"Well done, Harry!" Hagrid exclaimed, throwing a dead squirrel into the air for the hippogriff to capture. "Another ten points ter Gryffindor!"
Harry proudly grinned at his best friends. Ron gave a two thumbs up while Hermes shook his head, murmuring "Show off" under his breath.
But then, to their utmost surprise, Hagrid suddenly lifted Harry off the ground and placed him on the hippogriff's back.
"Hagrid, no!" Hermes exclaimed in horror, but it was too late. Buckbeak opened his mighty wings and started to run, gaining momentum until he jumped into the air and started to swoop around. Harry released a scream, followed by a boisterous laugh, and Hermes scowled. Typical Potter, enjoying this bloody dangerous stint.
"That was dangerous, Hagrid," Hermes murmured at their professor, who was also clearly enjoying.
"Oh, lighten up, Hermes," Hagrid said, clapping his back. Hermes shot forward with the force, deepening his scowl. "Buckbeak wouldn't do anything to Harry. He's a good boy."
"That is a Class XXX, sure," he continued under his breath, crossing his arms and nervously waited until the hippogriff landed back on the ground.
Harry slipped away, his hair impossibly messy due to the wind, but his cheeks were flushed and his green eyes alight with excitement. The class broke into excited clapping and Hermes hesitantly joined in. At least Harry was safe back on the ground.
"Well, you aren't dangerous at all, are you," Malfoy suddenly spat, pushing Neville to the side.
Hermes' eyes widened when the infuriating Slytherin stomped closer to the hippogriff. Buckbeak was already standing up to his fullest height.
"Malfoy, bloody hell!" Hermes exclaimed, but his warning fell into deaf ears.
"You great horrible brute," she snarkily commented with that stupid, stupid smirk on her face.
"Malfoy, no," Hagrid cried, horrified.
But it was too late. Buckbeak stood on his hind legs, opened his wings, and released a squawk that was most definitely not friendly. Iris realised the grave offence she made and shrieked, shielding her face with her arm when the hippogriff slashed at her with his sharp talons.
Hagrid immediately jumped in between them until Buckbeak calmed down.
On the ground, Malfoy was crying in pain, a huge gash on her arm.
"Serves her right, that jealous bint," Ron murmured under his breath. Hermes was just getting over his initial shock and watched as Hagrid scooped the injured Slytherin in his arms, hurriedly going into the castle to bring her to the Hospital Wing. Malfoy was screaming bloody murder, threatening Hagrid that she would tell everything to her father, until they were both out of sight from the forest.
Iris scowled at the bandage wrapped around her arm. So maybe she was exaggerating a bit; well, she could actually move it around already and technically it was just a small gash. Still, it was painful as hell and it was enough to put her into a bad mood.
Madame Pomfrey already told her she could go back to her Common Room but one glare from the student, the mediwitch finally relented to let her stay the night.
Her cronies had yet to come by. Crabbe and Goyle were most probably still wolfing down their meals. It was annoying that it was Blaise and Theo who dropped by, teasing her about her injury and even jokingly suggesting to write stupid things on her bandage. Of course, she didn't agree. What was she, twelve?
Sighing in boredom, she leant her head against her pillow. She hoped Crabbe and Goyle would come over so that she could order them to bring her things. She could already start her Potions essay and maybe finish it before she went back to her Common Room.
Footsteps from the Hospital Wing door perked her up. She tore her bed curtains away, hoping it was her cronies, but scowled upon seeing Hermes Granger instead.
"What the hell are you doing here?" she snapped, realising that he was clutching her designer satchel. She eyed him suspiciously, an indecipherable look in his eyes.
"Hagrid cornered me and told me to give your bag," he said, dropping the said bag on her lap.
"Why didn't that oaf give it to Crabbe or Goyle instead?" she murmured, pulling out her wand and using it to poke her bag at all corners. "Finite Incantatem." It almost disappointed her when nothing happened.
"Merlin, Malfoy, I'm not petty enough to hex your things," he snorted, realising what she had done. Iris shot him a glare, but Hermes merely rolled his eyes. "If you must know, your two buffoons are still busy shoving food into their throats. Honestly, I think they have separate stomachs for the different courses."
She snorted in return. "I could say the same about Weasely," she pointed out.
A corner of his mouth twitched, but he didn't reply. Instead, he still stood beside her bed, silent.
"Do you need something else?" she snapped, growing a little uncomfortable with his gaze. She loosened her tie and glared at the closed window. Bloody Merlin, it was getting warmer in this room.
"Your injury…"
She looked back at him, eyes narrowed once more. "What's it to you?" she said, absentmindedly cradling her injured arm against her chest.
Hermes turned slightly pink before releasing a resigned sigh. "Never mind," he grumbled under his breath.
Still, the annoying Gryffindor didn't leave. "If you have nothing else to do, can you please leave, Granger?"
He sighed once more and started shuffling away. Halfway to the door, Granger stopped and turned around. He rummaged something in his robe pocket and threw it towards her before she could shield herself. Whatever he gave her hit her squarely on her forehead.
"OI!" she exclaimed, rubbing on the sore spot.
The corner of his mouth twitched once more. "Get well soon, Malfoy," he said, turning around and finally leaving her alone.
Iris suspiciously looked at the thing on her lap. Surprised, she recognised it as a toffee candy Granger loved to munch on. She grabbed the little sweet, murmured another "Finite Incantatem" just to make sure. When nothing happened, she looked back at the closed door of the Hospital Wing in confusion.
Curiosity finally outweighed her suspicion. She knew Granger abhorred sweets (something to do about his parents, she wasn't quite sure nor cared) except toffees. Iris wasn't exactly a big fan of the said sweet, though.
Finally peeling off the wrapper, a sweet smell teased her nose and she realised she hadn't had dinner yet.
She popped the candy inside her mouth and chewed a little as a small blush appeared on her fair cheeks.
Buckbeak was going to die, Hagrid's job was on the line, all because of the bratty Malfoy.
Hermes was fuming when he heard the news from the distraught Harry Potter. Although it was questionable why Hagrid had to bring a hippogriff to class, a freaking Class XXX at that, it was all of Iris Malfoy's fault why she was injured in the first place! Hagrid had fairly warned them hippogriffs were easily offended after all. If the Slytherin just listened and didn't do anything overtly stupid, no one was going to get hurt. But no, oh no, Malfoy just had to tell everything to her father. They had connections far and wide, even reaching the ministry, which finally declared Buckbeak to be dangerous and sentenced him to death. Lucius Malfoy also wanted Hagrid sacked and threatened to withdraw a considerable sum of money from Hogwarts if Dumbledore refused to.
"We have to go," Harry urged, dragging both Ron and Hermes to Hagrid's Hut. "Maybe we can still do something about it."
"Harry," Hermes said with a sigh, trying to keep up with him, "even Dumbledore is powerless. What more can we do?"
Ron was slowly turning red with rage. "Stupid Malfoy!" he exclaimed. "This is all her fault."
Hermes' lips turned into a thin line, concurring whole-heartedly. He mentally punched himself, thinking that Iris Malfoy had a shred of goodness in her soul. Now, Hermes was wholly convinced that the only explanation why Malfoy helped them back in second year was purely for personal gain. He didn't care what real reason she had.
He scowled and ran faster. And to think he had given her a piece of his favourite candy! What a terrible waste.
As they dashed out of the castle, hidden behind one of the tall rocks was Iris Malfoy herself, flanked by her cronies.
"Look at him blubber!" she exclaimed in glee, laughing loudly alongside Crabbe and Goyle.
The Golden Trio skidded into a stop, barely a foot away from the Slytherins. From Hagrid's Hut, they could already hear the gentle half-giant's noisy cries, begging to at least spare Buckbeak's life while he willingly resigned.
"Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?" Malfoy spat, an ugly sneer on her pretty face. "And he's supposed to be our teacher!"
Crabbe and Goyle snickered in unison.
Harry growled. "This little – "
"You foul," Hermes started with a snarl, stomping towards the Slytherins, "loathsome, evil little cockroach!"
He had reached her by then, staring down at her with as much hatred as he could muster. There was a brief surprise in Iris' eyes, before she schooled her emotions until all that was left was her irritating smirk.
"Granger," she said, "come to see the show?"
His hands shook with unsuppressed anger, which wasn't left unnoticed by Iris. The Slytherin slowly looked back into his honey-coloured eyes. "Go ahead, Granger," she drawled, a challenge in her eyes. "Hit me."
He still hadn't forgiven her little slap back in second year. His cheek stung for days, her pure hate tingling his skin. But he knew physical violence wasn't the answer. His mother always told him that to resolve a problem, mouths should be used, not fists. And, Iris Malfoy, no matter how loathsome and evil she was, was still a bloody girl. Hermes had vowed even at a very young age that if he were to resort to physical violence, it wouldn't be towards a girl.
"Scared, Granger?"
Something in him snapped as he glowered and pulled out his wand from his robe pocket. As quick as lightning, the wand tip was pressed against her pointy chin. He could hear his mother admonishing him, but insistently pushed her aside. He had decided right there and then hurtling spells wouldn't count as physical violence.
It gave him the satisfaction to see that nervousness seeped through her ice-cold glare.
"Scared, Malfoy?" he mocked. Malfoy's eyes turned steely, lifting her chin higher and silently daring him to hex her.
"Come on, mate, she's not worth it," Harry said, gripping his arm. Hermes stood his ground but finally relented when Ron started to pull him away from her, too.
"One day, Malfoy," he swore. "One day you're going to get the karma you deserve."
A scowl formed on her face when he finally allowed his best friends to pull him away.
His back facing from her, Iris released a soft, cruel laugh. "I always knew you were a ninny, Granger."
"That's it!"
Hermes turned around and before anyone could blink, he swung his fist and hit the closest thing beside Iris. It was unfortunately Goyle's nose, said Slytherin now crumpled on the ground and cradling his bleeding, broken nose. Malfoy's eyes were as wide as saucers, clearly not expecting that.
"Hermes!" Ron exclaimed, surprise and awe mingling in his voice.
"Thank the heavens above you're a bloody girl, Malfoy," Hermes snapped. Then, reaching out for his wand once more, he pointed it at Goyle's broken nose and murmured an angry, "Episkey". Goyle wailed in pain again, but the bleeding had stopped and his nose wasn't crooked anymore.
Malfoy composed herself and gave him the darkest glare. She stomped away and barked Crabbe and Goyle to follow, not giving the Golden Trio another glance back.
"Bloody fucking hell, Hermes!" Ron gushed out, a huge, surprised grin on his face. "I didn't know you had it in you."
"Merlin, that felt good," he confessed, almost feeling regretful for saying such words. He looked at his hand and tried to curl it into a fist, but blinding pain shot from his knuckles up to his shoulders. He hissed in pain and cradled it to his chest. "But I think I broke my hand. I don't think a simple Episkey would heal it."
"Come on, mate, let's go to the Hospital Wing," Harry suggested.
Hermes' eyes darted at Hagrid's Hut. "But Buckbeak… and Hagrid." Harry was already shaking his head.
"We still have a few hours before Buckbeak's supposed execution," the raven-haired Gryffindor insisted. "Let's get you fixed up first before we go to Hagrid. I'm sure it wouldn't take long."
Hermes sighed and finally relented. "Fine," he said. He flinched once more when pain shot up to his arm. "Merlin Almighty, this is painful."
Harry released a laugh and clapped him on his shoulder. "You were bloody brilliant back there," he pointed out.
A grin, albeit a pained one, grew on Hermes' face. "I was, wasn't I?" he asked.
Hermes longingly looked over his shoulder, Hogwarts growing smaller and smaller as they neared the carriages that would bring them to Hogwarts Express.
Third year had finally come to an end. The whirlwind of surprises still caught him off guard as he reminisced the last few months of their third year. Hermes wasn't quite sure which one was the most shocking of them all – that Sirius was actually Harry's godfather and had been searching him to explain his side or Ron's beloved pet rat was actually Peter Pettigrew in Animagus form. The latter part was admittedly the most humorous, now that he properly thought about it. He knew Ron still hadn't gotten over the shock that the pet rat he had loved and showered countless affection ever since he was young was in fact a grown man and a traitor.
"I'm going to miss Hogwarts," Harry mournfully murmured. Hermes gave him a sympathetic glance, knowing he'd have another terrible summer care of the Dursleys.
"We'll Owl you, mate," Ron promised with a sad smile, patting Harry on the back.
"You can come to visit," Hermes suggested, but Harry was already shaking his head.
"I don't want to impose," he replied. Before Hermes could protest, Harry continued, "Besides, I think Dumbledore doesn't like me spending summers away from the Dursleys."
Hermes frowned. "What? Why?" he asked.
"He didn't outright say it, but he discouraged any activities that would separate me from the Dursleys for more than a day," Harry grumbled. "Dumbledore never tells me anything."
The curly-haired Gryffindor nodded his head, wondering how many more secrets their Headmaster was keeping from them.
"Wait, but the Quidditch World Cup will be this August!" Ron exclaimed with wide eyes. "You can't miss this! Yes, even you, Hermes."
Hermes groaned. Ron had been yammering about it nonstop ever since it was announced and had assumed they would be coming with him.
"Well, now that you mention it, maybe I can Owl Professor Dumbledore or something," Harry said, hope shining in his green eyes.
Before they could talk about it further, Iris Malfoy with Crabbe and Goyle stood in front of them.
There was accusation in her eyes. "I know you had something to do about Sirus Black and the stupid hippogriff's escape," she snarled.
"Where the bloody hell did you get that idea?" Harry asked, crossing his arms across his chest.
Malfoy's eyes narrowed into thin slits. "When something bad happens, of course the Golden Trio is always behind it," she bit back.
Well, she wasn't entirely wrong. Hermes' neck felt strangely empty, now that he didn't have the Time-Turner slung across his neck. He regretfully surrendered it to McGonagall before they left for summer, but he knew it was for the best. Now that both Harry and Ron knew how he was able to breeze through all of the subjects he took up this school year, he didn't doubt that they'd force him to use the Time-Turner for more dangerous shenanigans. The Invisibility Cloak and Marauder's Map already let them get away with almost everything. Hermes didn't want them breaking more roles in the name of adventure.
"You really do have a wild imagination, Malfoy," Hermes coolly said. Her grey eyes snapped at him. "Can we all just go on our merry ways? It's the start of summer, for Merlin's sake."
She stood at her fullest height and stared him down. "If I discovered that you lot are behind this, my father will – "
"Will what?" Hermes cut off. "'Hear about this'?" He rolled his eyes when her cheeks turned into red due to fury. "That's old news, Malfoy, and we don't really care. I do hope you'll have a brilliant summer, though, and not think about us too much."
His eyes swept at her silent cronies and smirked. "How's the nose, Goyle?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow. The burly Slytherin paled and looked away.
Malfoy bristled and stalked away, closely followed by her so-called friends.
"Merlin, Hermes, you can be terrifying if you wanted to, you know," Ron said, snickering under his breath. "Did you see Goyle's face? Classic!"
"I don't understand why Iris Malfoy is using all of her energy to terrorise us," Hermes said with a sigh. If she'd directed that energy to studying, maybe she might finally topple him from being the top of their class. Emphasis on 'might', of course.
Harry absentmindedly rubbed his scar and frowned. "You act really differently when Malfoy's bullying us," he pointed out.
Hermes frowned and looked at his shorter friend. "Whatever do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean," Harry continued, "you're all smiles and warmth and Merlin, people call your hugs as the Hug of Warmth. And you get irritated with us all the time, but you're never… you're never that hostile. Unless with Malfoy."
"Malfoy's evil, Harry," Ron explained. "Of course even our swotty best friend would become all antagonistic when that little shite opens her bloody mouth."
"Well, that's true, too," Harry said with a shrug.
That was the end of their conversation and Ron and Harry quickly moved on to discuss the latest stats on International Quidditch. Hermes tuned them out and instead dwelled on Harry's words a while.
His behaviour really changed every time he interacted with Iris Malfoy. Truthfully, he hated himself the most when he was interacting with Malfoy. He couldn't help but feel that she actually brought out the worst in him, and Hermes didn't like it one bit.
As they clambered inside the carriages, Hermes firmly vowed to himself that he would avoid Iris Malfoy at all cost next school-year. If it meant he had to ignore her insults, then so be it. He didn't want to stoop down to her level any longer.
A/N: How was it? Tell me in your reviews!
When I started this fic, my intents to build on Hermes and Iris' relationship during their Hogwarts years and to give more POV to the female version of Draco Malfoy. I, for one, still think the greatest blunder in history was Draco Malfoy's lack of a strong redemption arc. Cursed Child doesn't count, although I still thank him blessedly for bringing Scorpius Malfoy in the Harry Potter universe (I mean, honestly, Scorpius probably salvaged the cringey plot of the whole play). Imagine if Draco's redemption was as wonderful as Zuko from A:TLA, eh? MERLIN THAT WOULD BE BRILLIANT!
So, anyway, I didn't realise I'd be having so much writing about the Golden Trio. With Hermione's change of gender, I think the dynamic among the trio would have changed, too. Hermione was almost akin to a mother figure to the trio and well, Hermes may still condone their stupid actions, but I really can't stop imagining him trailing around them anywhere they went, peer pressure and all.
Okay, I may be rambling by now. I think that's the effect of being cooped up in my house for a really long time. I miss talking to people huhu
Anyway, that's it for now! Drop a review for happiness!
With love,
WickedlyAwesomeMe