Chapter 12
Getting Draco back put a bit of a string in Hermione's step. He wasn't happy though, she could tell he was furious, but really, he brought in on himself. What was he expecting? That she would just fade away because he was mean to her?
Even better was the fact that she would be heading home for Christmas at the end of the week. A week away from here would be heaven. Even though her outlook was better than it had been, it was still draining not talking to her friends, being the topic of gossip and dealing with a nasty ex. Actually two nasty ex's. Ron in his sulky, snipy ways and Draco in the all out nastiness.
She had an agreement with herself, no more getting together with friends and no getting together with enemies. Well the first wasn't much of an issue, she didn't have many friends left.
She couldn't wait to leave school behind for a week, but there was the rest of the week to get through first.
Draco was staring at her throughout lunch. She met his gaze for a while before ignoring him and finishing her meal. Getting stared at seemed to diminish her appetite, although she would not admit that to herself or anyone else.
She was disturbed when Draco got up at the same time she did. She contemplated sitting down again, but forced herself to keep going. She was not going to change her behaviour because of him.
She reached the door before him, but she could hear him just behind her. He grabbed her by the arm and yanked her over towards one side.
"You're going to regret that, mudblood." He said, standing much too close. He was trying to intimidate her.
When did he get so tall.
"What, finishing breakfast?"
"Saying things about me."
"Well, I will heap it on my pile of regrets." She said airly.
He stared at her as he turned and stormed away. Hermione could still feel his grip on her arm long after he was gone. She had a bit of a twinge of worry at his threat, but what could he do? He had already destroyed her reputation and in the process taken a bit of damage to his own. The thought made her grin. She had precious few friends left and she doubted he could shake Neville. He really was running out of things he could do to her.
She decided that he didn't deserve anymore of her time. That was easier said than done as the idea of him sitting behind her in class, plotting away was a bit disconcerting. He was extremely resourceful. Having him as an enemy for close to a decade had told her that. Maybe he would just grow up and get over it. They weren't twelve for heaven's sake. Maybe a boyfriend would send the message that she had well and truly moved on. He certainly wasn't holding back in the moving on department himself, but she wasn't sure she could stomach another male at the moment. They seriously were more trouble than they were worth.
Her treacherous mind conceded that it had been lovely while it lasted. Ten times lovelier than it had been with Ron. But one day, she will find lovely again, with a nice stable man who would stand by her no matter what. Maybe she would have a look for such a man in the library, she decided, in the mythical creatures section.
The days dragged on and eventually departure day arrived. She dressed in jeans and a sweater. Normally, she felt a bit self-conscious in muggle clothes, but today it felt right. She was in a confrontational mood.
Harry, Ginny and Ron said a guarded goodbye to her as she left the common room to walk down to the train. She could have waited for the carriages, but she felt pretty desperate to get away, so a long walk as a great excuse to hasten departuer. Neither Ron nor Harry were going home for Christmas. Why leave when they could spend a week in bed with their respective girlfriends.
The carriages passed her as she came close to the train station and she found a compartment with Neville and Padma. Both Hermione and Padma made a half hearted attempt at patrolling as their prefect duties required, but the train was pretty calm with the exception of the fifth years trying to show off for each other. Hermione felt a million miles away from the days of first kisses and crushes.
A couple of hours into the trip, she was busting and had to go to the toilet. It was a pretty tense affair as the last time she was in there, she hadn't been alone and the memories were enough to make her blush. He was on the train, she had seen him through the window of the door into the Slytherin cart. Luckily he wasn't reverting to his typical behaviour of roaming the train looking for someone to pick on. Maybe there was some hope that he would eventually grow up.
The week away was great. Germany was beautiful and the crisp cold was offset nicely by the warm fire in the hotel. Her parents were getting on well and it was a nice and sedate Christmas. She bought some CDs, read some fiction and watched movies on TV.
The day for heading back to Hogwarts seemed to arrive in a blink of an eye. She travelled straight to King's Cross from the airport and she felt like a dark cloud was settling down on her the closer she got to the train station.
Draco was on the platform, dressed in black as always, but she didn't stay on the platform to stare him down. She wasn't sure if things were different, but it felt like the repressive hostility was stronger than before, maybe it was just contrast from being without it.
One of the slytherin boys stopped her from passing in the hall and to Hermione's utter revolt, he came onto her. She slapped him and forced her way past.
Things didn't get better at Hogwarts either. The boys were much more aggressive, leering at her, making suggestive remarks and suggestions.
Something had happened. He had done something.
She wasn't sure the first few days, but it continued and started getting worse. They were saying things to her in class and in the halls. She was hiding in the library more than over, although she had retreated back into the restricted section, where few students had access.
Late one evening, she was making her way back to the common room after the library closed, when Blaise Zabini came up behind her. She couldn't help but feel anxious being alone in a hallway with one of the Slytherin boys.
"Hey, mudblood." He said playfully.
Hermione ignored him and kept walking.
"Hey." He said in a stronger tone. "I'm talking to you."
"Piss off." She said and quickened her step.
"No need to be rude." He continued and was right behind her to her distress.
He grabbed her by the waist and Hermione let out a yelp in shock.
"Let go of me."
"Oh come on." He said and walked her back into the wall. "See I know what you like. You like a bit of pureblood...attention."
Her wand was in her bag and she couldn't reach it as he was now pressing her into the wall with his body. Hermione wanted to retch and his breath on her face was making her nauseous. He put his hand under her skirt and stroked her thigh.
"Get away from me." She yelled.
"No need to be like that." He laughed.
"You heard her. Get away from her!" She heard to her left. It was Ron holding his wand straight at Zabini's chest.
"Just having a bit of fun." Zabini said and backed away with his hands up. He was still laughing as he made his way around the corner keeping an eye on Ron's wand.
"Thanks." Hermione said, fighting back the tears.
"That was bang out of order." Ron said. "You should report that."
Hermione could only nod.
"They're behaving completely inappropriately." He continued as if he was trying to convince her.
"Its gotten a lot worse since Christmas." She added trying to distract herself from the horrible feelings whirling inside her. "I know I brought this on myself for being so utterly stupid, but..."
"Doesn't mean you should be attacked in the halls."
"I was hoping it would have died down by now, but its just getting worse."
"I'll walk you back. I'm not sure what is going on, but they're behaving atrociously. I never thought they would go this far though." He rabbled on.
Hermione really appreciated having someone to walk with because she was not keen on spending anymore time in the halls on her own.
She was still in desperate need of a cry and it was only being compacted by the fact that Ron had come to her rescue. They might not be the best of friends anymore, but it was nice to know that he would still be come through if she was in real trouble.
In fact, both Harry and Ron were there the next morning, ready to walk her down to breakfast. They did their best to walk her to class when they could too. They seemed to have agreed amongst themselves that someone would come collect her up from the library in the evenings.
"What is going on?" Ginny asked as she came to get her from the library at closing time.
"I don't know." Hermione said. "Its something Draco has done."
"You have to report it."
"I've thought about it, but there is nothing to report. They haven't actually done anything. Even Blaise, other than get a bit close, he didn't actually do anything. Nothing that you can conclusively report. " Hermione said. "It must be his doing. It wasn't like this before."
Hermione felt like a twit, cowering from being harassed by Slytherins. Really, enough was enough. She wasn't some defenceless girl who needs people to protect her. She would address this tomorrow, or else she would start hexing Slytherins in the hallways.
Although it help nice that her people were finally supporting her again.
The next day, she tracked Draco down coming out of the Slytherin common room.
"Call off your boys, Malfoy." She said as she stood in his way, "or I won't be responsible for what I do to them."
"I don't know what you are talking about." He said sounding bored.
"I mean it."
"I can't control what other people do."
Hermione stared at him for a while. Anger boiling in her veins.
"So that is it? You won't do anything about it." She stated more than asked.
He shrugged his shoulders and looked down his nose at her.
"You're a fucking waste of space, you know that." She said and turned away.
"You don't belong here." He called after her.
"Get a new line, Malfoy. Your problem is that you can never come up with anything new. Its the same old line you've used for seven years now and it hasn't gotten you anywhere. In fact, it almost got you in prison. Shame that, because the world would have been a better place if you were segregated from it."
"You're the one who needs to be segregated from it." He yelled following her down the hall. "Your kind don't belong here. Can't you get that you're not wanted here. How much will it take to convince you?"
"Whatever, Malfoy. I am just not interested in your bullshit rhetoric." She said and walked on.