Chapter 3.
Hermione was still giving everyone a wide berth. She knew that Pansy was still eager to get her to join forces but Hermione just couldn't bear the thought of teaming up with a Slytherin or Death Eater in Azkaban. She would rather stick to being a loner until Fleur and the others found a way to get her out.
She was in the exercise yard now, walking around cautiously. She had caught several of the other inmates watching her carefully and it unnerved her. Pansy nodded at her, which Hermione pointedly ignored.
Greg the prison guard was on yard duty, twirling his wand around in his fingers while he kicked at the dirt.
"Hey, Greg!" Lucius called out from the other side of the yard. Greg looked up before walking over to Lucius and a bunch of his goons. They began to engage him in a strangely animated conversation.
Before Hermione could register anything, there was a sharp pain in her head and she was on the ground.
"Fucking Golden Girl," Hermione heard, as she took a kick to the ribs. The air whooshed out of her lungs. Hermione was vaguely aware of more figures crowding around her. She wanted to call out to that useless prison guard Greg but another kick knocked the wind out of her again. The kicks were falling fast now and Hermione could no longer make out what the voices above her were saying. A coppery taste entered her mouth which she vaguely assumed must be blood.
Hermione drew her arms up to cover her face.
"Oi, get off her!"
The kicking began to stop and Hermione exhaled shakily.
"Are you okay?"
Hermione opened her eyes cautiously. Pansy was knelt in front of her. Standing behind her were two large muscled figures. Hermione recognised them as Millicent Bullstrode and Blaise Zabini from her school days. They had always been strongly built at school but seem to have spent the years since getting stronger.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Pansy repeated. Hermione spat out the blood that had been filling her mouth.
"What's going on?" Greg the prison guard asked as he ambled over, having finally finished his conversation with Lucius and the others.
"She's been beaten up, are you blind?" Pansy snapped waspishly, "Heal her."
Greg twirled his wand in his hands idly, looking down at Hermione with mild interest.
"No can do," Greg said finally, "We're only 'sposed to heal serious injuries."
"Seriously?" Pansy asked in disbelief.
Greg chuckled and roamed off again.
Hermione let out a low moan.
"its okay, we'll help you back to your cell," Pansy said to Hermione.
Hermione rolled over on her side with a groan, clutching at her bruised ribs. Blearily, she opened her eyes, watching the dust float in the beams of light shining through the bars of her cell.
She was aching all over. Hermione carefully ran her hands over her body, assessing how much she had healed up in the days since the incident.
There was a tapping at the bars and Hermione sat up painfully, hissing through her gritted teeth. A prison guard was rapping his wand on the bars of her cell.
"Lawyer visit," the prison guard grunted.
"When am I going to be able to have visitors other than my lawyer?" Hermione asked bitterly. The prison guard gave a leering smile.
"Paperwork's still bein' processed," he chuckled.
The guard led her to the usual room and shoved her inside, locking the door behind her. Fleur was sitting regally in her seat, but at seeing Hermione, stood up at once.
"Merde!" Fleur cursed, "What happened to you?!"
"You should see the other guy," Hermione joked weakly. Fleur stepped briskly over to her and cupped Hermione's face in her hands, surprising the younger girl. Fleur was usually impassive and cold.
"Hermione," Fleur said gently.
Hermione almost forgot her pain as she noticed the intensity return to Fleur's stormy eyes. The blonde withdrew her wand and began to murmur healing spells.
"Fleur, you're not allowed," Hermione warned, but Fleur silenced her with a finger on her lips.
"That's better," Fleur said finally, looking slightly relieved. Hermione stretched as much as she could in her binds, still feeling stiff and a little sore, but considerably better.
"Thanks," Hermione muttered, as they walked towards the table.
"Non, I am sorry I cannot do more. Healing is limited without potions and the necessary ingredients," Fleur said ruefully, beginning to rummage in a leather satchel by her chair.
"So, do you have any update? Is there going to be a bail hearing? How are Harry and Ron?" Hermione asked eagerly.
Fleur bit her lip.
"The bail hearing is scheduled… But will not be for some time," Fleur said carefully, "I am sorry, the system is so difficult right now that it was a struggle to get you one at all."
Hermione's shoulders sagged with disappointment. She was going to die in here before even getting a trial. Perhaps that was the intent of whoever had set her up.
"And Harry and Ron?" Hermione asked, quieter, almost afraid of more bad news.
"They are fine," Fleur answered, "On my way in today I have managed to push through the visitation paperwork they kept 'losing' around here… so they will be able to visit you soon enough."
"Thank God," Hermione sighed. It was a slight relief, although it still didn't allay the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She didn't know how Sirius lasted in here for years.
Fleur finally stopped rummaging in her bag and produced a number of quills, scrolls of parchment and ink wells.
"I have some more books for you as well," Fleur said, not quite looking at Hermione, "I figured you would already be done with the ones that I gave you last time."
Hermione eyed the blonde almost suspiciously. It was so unlike Fleur to be so… caring. Was it pity? Hermione was unsure if Fleur ever showed anyone pity. Perhaps she was genuinely concerned about her. That seemed just as out of character.
"Erm, thanks," Hermione said slowly, "So… how are you?"
"I have my own problems," Fleur shrugged dismissively. Hermione snorted.
"Sure," Hermione said, her temper flaring unexpectedly. She felt a vague tug of her conscience telling her that she was just lashing out at Fleur because she was upset at her situation, that Fleur had done nothing but help, but Hermione couldn't stop herself. "Must be really hard being a successful lawyer from a rich family with a handsome husband. I bet you have some serious problems."
Fleur narrowed her eyes, her icy exterior plunging to sub-zero depths.
"I should go," Fleur said finally.
Hermione desperately wanted to apologise, to explain she was just frustrated, but she couldn't find the words. Fleur waved her wand to signal the guards and got up to walk to the door. Just as Hermione felt her stomach sink, Fleur turned back to look at her one last time, her face slightly softened.
"If anything bad happens again, call me immediately," Fleur instructed.
Weeks passed and Hermione wondered vaguely if Azkaban had somehow managed to find a way to 'lose' her visitation paperwork again despite Fleur's efforts.
But she had more pressing things to distract herself with. She got Fleur to arrange a subscription to The Daily Prophet, which she scanned in detail carefully each day to ensure none of her friends or loved ones were in danger.
She spent most of her day writing letters or reading. When she wasn't doing that, she was forming a begrudging friendship with Pansy. After Pansy had saved her in the prison yard, she had shown Hermione how to create a shiv, how to do some basic self defense, and offered her safety by falling into the ranks of her, Blaise and Millicent Bullstrode. This time Hermione wasn't too proud and accepted.
Blaise and Millicent had shown her some of their workout routines and Hermione had taken it upon herself to mimic them when she was on her own. She would rise and complete a large number of stretches, pull-ups, push ups and other exercises until it hurt too much to continue.
Over the weeks, she felt herself getting stronger. She was safer in a group, but was still forever watching her back, forever alert. She was determined not to get caught out again like she had in the prison yard.
Since then, she had been an even more obvious target for the Death Eaters. Thankfully, it had only culminated in the odd punch or scuffle here and there and nothing more serious. Hermione could handle a split lip or a bloody nose, but she didn't want another week of being laid up in bed like after the prison yard beating.
Hermione was in her cell, reading a book, but found herself scanning the same sentence a dozen times without taking it in. When was Bellatrix going to join the block? Hermione could only hope that her transfer papers had gone the same way as Hermione's visitation papers.
As if on cue, Greg appeared, rapping at the bars of her cell.
"Visitors," Greg grunted.
"As in my lawyer?" Hermione clarified. Greg shook his head, disinterestedly.
"Nah, visitors," he replied, "Now hurry up before I change my mind about taking you to see them."
When Hermione entered the visitor room, she stared numbly in disbelief. In front of her were finally Harry and Ron. The two boys were standing awkwardly, as if unsure what to do, before running up and hugging her tightly.
"Jesus, 'Mione, you've got jacked since going to prison," Ron commented, before Harry elbowed him in the ribs.
"How are you guys?" Hermione asked eagerly, "How is everyone else? What's going on on the outside?"
"Ginny wanted to come to visit you too," Ron replied, "She's been worried sick about ya. So has mum too. But we didn't want to overwhelm you with too many visitors on the first go."
"We've been working non stop with the aurors on finding out who did this to you," Harry said, getting more to the point that he thought Hermione would be interested in.
"What is the evidence like? I only really heard about how they found my wand," Hermione pressed. Harry and Ron exchanged wary looks.
"Erm, we dunno," Ron said awkwardly, before pulling out a squashed box, "But here, mum made you some baking to tide you over."
Hermione eyed the boys suspiciously. Something was off about them. She surmised that the situation for her was probably a lot worse than they were willing to let on. She would ask Fleur. Fleur was uncaring enough that she would give her the blunt truth.
"I heard you got beaten up pretty badly," Harry continued, "Fleur said you were pretty badly injured. Are you okay now?"
"Yeah," Hermione said distractedly, "I've… I've made some friends in here and they've been helping me learn how to defend myself without magic. What else did Fleur say?"
"Been hard to see her to be honest," Harry shrugged. Hermione raised an eyebrow in question.
"She's kind of become a bit obsessed with your case," Ron said, opening the box of baking and beginning to help himself to a brownie, "She's always been right into her work, of course, but Bill said he's barely seeing her. She's working all hours of the day and night and always off at some office pushing for some new action."
"Really?" Hermione asked curiously. Fleur mostly seemed calm and cavalier when dealing with her. Almost infuriatingly so.
"Yeah, bit worried about her to be honest," Harry said, nudging Ron before the redhead could devour more of the baking intended for Hermione.
The rest of the visit passed alarmingly fast, with Harry and Ron doing their best to cheer up their friend and catch her up on all the outside world gossip. Too soon Greg had returned and was escorting her from the room after teary goodbyes.
When Hermione returned to her cell, Pansy was sitting on her bed.
"How's things?" Pansy asked, looking curiously at the large stack of books in Hermione's cell.
"As good as they could be, I suppose," Hermione shrugged, coming to sit beside Pansy.
"Potter and the Weasel still staying out of trouble?" Pansy asked, although there was no malice in her voice.
"Yeah… Yeah, seems they're safe for the time being," Hermione said, rubbing at her temples, "They said my lawyer is working around the clock on my case too."
"Did you not think that your lawyer was anyway?" Pansy asked, quirking an eyebrow, "Thought the Golden Girl would at least be able to afford a lawyer she trusted."
"I do, I do," Hermione said distractedly, "She's just… Infuriating sometimes. I didn't think she even cared what happened to me. Do you remember Fleur Delacour from our Fourth year at school? The Beauxbatons Triwizard champion?"
"Merlin, how could I forget?" Pansy sighed, "Sexiest woman I have ever seen. Course, she was a bit of an arrogant brat though, wasn't she? I spose that's what's rubbing you the wrong way?"
But Hermione had scarcely heard Pansy's question.
"Sexiest woman?" Hermione echoed in disbelief. Pansy looked at her like she had sprouted an extra head.
"Are you blind, Granger?" Pansy replied, "She's only the hottest witch out there. What I wouldn't do for a roll in the hay with her…"
Hermione was speechless. Was Pansy gay? More alarmingly, it brought Hermione to her own confused attraction towards the blonde. Perhaps it was normal, if even Pansy was feeling urges towards her.
"Hello? Earth to Granger?" Pansy was waving her hand in front of her face. Hermione blushed and shook her head.
"Erm, sorry," Hermione said, focussing on the raven haired girl again.
"Daydreaming about Delacour, huh?" Pansy smirked, "I always knew you weren't entirely straight,"
Pansy got up and began to walk out of the cell. Hermione rolled over what she had said in her mind for a second before reacting.
"Wait, what?" Hermione asked, snapping her head to look at the tanned dark-haired Slytherin in the doorway of the cell.
"Yeah, I used to wonder about it at Hogwarts sometimes," Pansy said cryptically, before disappearing into the hallway.
Hermione lay back on her prison cot, sighing heavily, her mind whirring with a cacophony of confused thoughts. She reached for the box of baking that Mrs Weasley had prepared for her, pulling out a brownie at random. A large bite mark indicated that Ron had managed to sneak back into the box before handing it over.