Chapter 5- Overpowered

Hermione's whole body ached as If she'd run a marathon. Her eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the brightness. Minerva was sitting in a chair next to her bed, fighting to stay awake.

"Minerva?" She whispered hoarsely. Minerva sat up and grasped Hermione's hand.

"Oh dear! You're awake. You've had everyone so worried. You fell down the stairs in the heads room."

"I didn't fall. Someone pushed me."

Silence met her statement and someone walked into the infirmary.

"Hermione!"

Hermione smiled as best she could, "Harry! What are you doing here?" Harry came to the other side of her sick bed.

"I couldn't let you lay here all by yourself! You were always there for me while I was in here every week." Harry joked, grinning widely. Hermione sighed and let herself relax.

"Did you see who pushed you, Hermione?" Minerva asked doubtfully. Hermione frowned angrily, "I didn't see but someone did push me! It only could have been someone with the head password!"

Minerva nodded soothingly. "Who did you give the password to?"

"No one. You'll need to ask Ernie." She looked back to Harry, wondering what he was thinking.

"You should get some more rest. You hurt yourself pretty badly." Minerva squeezed her hand once before leaving the infirmary.

"Mione? Who has the password?" Harry asked urgently. Hermione blinked at him owlishly. Hadn't they just gone over this?

"Umm Ernie and his girlfriend. That's all I can think of because I never gave it to anyone, not even Ginny!" Harry paused for a moment giving her a strange look.

"Why didn't you give Ginny the password?"

Hermione flushed and looked away from his curious gaze, "I well…Ginny and I had a little disagreement on the first day back. I'm sure we'll work it out."

For a moment Harry looked shocked at the idea of them fighting, "What was it about?"

Hermione cleared her throat, "You know I don't want to complain about this. Ginny and I will work it out. Promise."

Harry frowned and left without another word. Hermione had a feeling she knew where he was going.

"Gin!" Harry called out and watched the red head smiled at him. She pulled him in for a hug.

"Hi Harry, why are you here?" Ginny pushed a lock of red hair behind her ear.

"Hermione had an accident." Harry watched her reaction closely, just like he was being trained to do. Ginny stilled and anger flashed in her eyes for a moment.

"What happened?"

"Someone pushed her down some stairs in the head common room. She said she never gave you the password so no one will suspect you." Harry said knowing that was what Ginny was thinking. That Hermione blamed her.

"Why would it have been me?" she exclaimed harshly, crossing her arms defensively.

"Because you're fighting with Hermione."

"She really told you? What a snitch." Ginny was red in the face and breathing harshly with her anger.

"No she had to tell us who had her password and I asked why you didn't have it."

Ginny paused for a second, "What did she say?"

Harry raised an eyebrow, "That you had a disagreement on the first day back and she wouldn't say about what."

Ginny let out a breath, "Well it's none of your business. It was nice seeing you." She started to head up to the common room.

"You aren't going to see her? Someone pushed her down a flight of stairs Gin!" Harry shouted incredulously. Ginny seemed torn for a moment. Harry had always meant a lot to her, something no one understood. Hermione had understood, at first.

"I'm sure she'll live." Ginny said softly and disappeared into the portrait for the Gryffindor common room. Harry stared after her, shocked. This wasn't just a disagreement. Why hadn't Hermione said anything about it in her letter? Harry was more confused than ever.

Hermione was released from the infirmary the next day after a lot of arguing. It was Sunday afternoon and she had classes on Monday. The second week of school was important, almost as important as the first. Madam Pomfrey finally agreed, sending her on her way. Harry had come to say goodbye around dinner time yesterday. He hadn't said anything about Ginny, but Hermione knew Harry had talked to her.

She was patrolling the halls after diner when she heard laughter coming from the girl's loo. She pushed the door open and saw Malfoy sitting with Moaning Myrtle. He was smiling brightly as Myrtle continued whatever story she was telling.

"Excuse me." Hermione hated how timid her voice sounded. Malfoy whipped around looking surprised. He smirked when he saw Hermione standing at the door, looking lost. She clenched her wand in her hand as fear made her do. Why was she so afraid of him? Malfoy stood and turned to Myrtle.

"I'll see you next weekend, alright?" He said politely. Myrtle giggled, "Oh thank you Draco. It's so nice to have someone to talk to."

Malfoy smiled winningly and pushed passed her out of the girl's loo. Hermione hurried after him, torn between just letting him go or giving him the mandatory detention and deduction of points. He was walking further down the hall, ignoring Hermione as if she were just a portrait on the wall.

"Malfoy!" Hermione hollered in a flare of anger. He paused in his walk and turned to her with a smile.

"I wondered if you would even say anything. It's rather pathetic how terrified you are of me." He said knowingly. Hermione flushed red and gripped her wand tight enough to hurt.

"Do you have permission to be out after curfew?" She spat, anger overpowering her fear for a moment.

He shook his head and crossed his long lean arms over his broad chest. Hermione's eyes followed the moment with a hawk-like manner.

"Then you have detention with Professor Snape Friday night at seven. Ten points from Slytherin as well."

His smirk never left his face, "Alright. I suppose you want me to go to bed now, right."

She glared, "You have to, Malfoy."

He shook his head, tossing his blonde hair out of his eyes, "Obviously not. Don't worry Granger; I'm not planning to let a bunch of serial killers into the castle. It wasn't much fun the first time."

Hermione stiffened, thinking of how many people were hurt by his actions. Malfoy seemed unfazed and he drew his wand he toyed with it.

"I want to see your wand, Granger." He said softly almost nervously. Hermione scoffed and let out a bitter laugh.

"Hardly. What business could you have with it?"

He looked up at her, really looked at her, and Hermione could see the blue specks in his grey eyes, "Because you feel something when you hold mine."

She let out a shaky breath looking away from his intense gaze and pulled out her wand. Her fingers ran over the rough edge before handing it out to him abruptly before she could chicken out. She was so scared her whole hand was shaking, but her curiosity overpowered her fear. Why did her magic recognize his wand?

Malfoy's empty hand closed over the handle of hers. Hermione watched his expression carefully. His eyes dilated and he drew in a breath. Her eyes locked with his in a moment of understanding. Malfoy shoved her wand back into her waiting hand and before she could utter another word he took off down the hall, moving gracefully for a man so tall. She wished she would stop noticing such little trivial things about him.

Hermione let her heart return to its normal pace before heading towards the heads room. A shiver of fear went through her when she remembered being pushed down the very stairs she was walking up. She was worried that Minerva hadn't found out who pushed her, or maybe she had and just hadn't told her. Hermione really didn't know who would want to hurt her, but people did things for stupid reasons.

Hermione closed her door behind her and crawled into bed fully dressed. She was suddenly exhausted and had a feeling she would only have a harder day tomorrow.

The morning flew by for Hermione with the usual classes and curious glances wherever she went. She made a decision to corner Ginny during lunch. Hermione was tired of fighting and being avoided. She hadn't done anything wrong, but she had a feeling her mother was right. Ginny wasn't just upset about the loss of points.

Ginny was alone when she left the great hall and Hermione ran after her.

"Ginny!"

She paused but didn't turn around, "What?" She snapped but she didn't sound as angry as before.

Hermione bit her lip, suddenly nervous, "I want to know why your upset with me."

Ginny looked outraged, " You know why! You took points from-

"Don't give me that, Ginny! People call you a slut and the next day you're laughing with them. What are you really mad about?" Hermione shouted, oblivious to the students surrounding them.

Ginny turned beet red, "You left me!" She snapped her mouth closed in frustration.

"What are you on about? I'm right here!"

Ginny scowled, "You were the only one I had during the war, the only one who would stick up for me or include me in anything. Then the moment Ron noticed you and Harry left you were gone without a look back at me. Do you know how scary it was being in a safe how and then coming here and watching so many people being tortured? I had no one!"

Ginny took a deep breath, "You were like a sister to me and then you left me high and dry. I had to fend for myself. Now you can do the same."

Hermione was too stunned to stop her as she ran away. Students were crowding the halls, looking at her with mixed expression.

"Get to class, the lot of you!" she screamed before tears started to course down her face. The sea of faces disappeared except for one.

A pair of grey eyes held hers for a long moment.

"Quite the show, Granger? Is she really that petty? So what she had to watch people be tortured? You were tortured and I don't see you blaming anyone." He said casually with the same arrogance she remembered. But his delivery and what he was saying didn't match up.

"What would you know about it Malfoy? Did your father tell you all about it?" She hissed hurtfully.

"Yes. He did." He said blandly. Hermione couldn't look at him another second and turned away.

"She'll come around Granger. Don't you worry?" He called after her, but Hermione didn't stop until she was safely in her room.

A/N: I hope everyone likes it. I'm back in school so updating will be slow until I work out a schedule. Reviews!