The remainder of their first week back at Hogwarts passed uneventfully. Hermione had successfully done well in all her first lessons, showing how much she had worked over the summer. All the professors had been impressed with her (apart from Professor Snape, who simply didn't criticise any of Hermione's work during the first lesson, which in the world of Professor Snape was the same as 20 house points). Saturday dawned bright, with the last remnants of summer hanging in the air. Today she, Ron and Harry had planned on going to visit Hagrid, and then Hermione was going to write her first letter to her parents. She woke early, whilst the rest of the girls were still asleep and idly lay on her bed for a while reading Year with a Yeti. Finally, when the others started to slowly wake up around her, Hermione got up, pulled on a pair of jeans and a new top her mother had bought her over the summer and headed down to the common room.
She had expected to find both Ron and Harry there but instead only Ron was draped into a squashy armchair, staring off into space absentmindedly. It wasn't until Hermione had reached the side of the chair that Ron jolted out of his reverie.
"Harry's gone down to Quidditch practise, he left a note," Ron said, slowly pulling himself out of the chair and handing Hermione the ripped bit of parchment.
'Gone to Quidditch practise. AT DAWN!' read the note in a slightly scruffier handwriting than Harry normally wrote in
"He seems really pleased about that," Hermione said with a slight smirk. Ron grinned and turned towards the portrait hole. They walked to the Great Hall mostly in silence, Ron yawning all the way. When they reached the room the celling reflected a beautiful blue sky with a few fluffy clouds gently floating by.
"Why don't we go and watch the end of the practise, he'll be finished or finishing soon and it's such a nice day" Hermione asked, smiling at the ceiling.
Ron nodded and walked over to table and proceeded to take half the toast from the nearest plate of toast and marmalade. He was about to walk away when he doubled back to the table and grabbed a sausage from the nearest plate, biting into it hungrily.
"Hungry?" Hermione asked, relieving him of the toast and shaking her head. He grinned stupidly and stuffed the rest of the sausage into his mouth. Hermione made a noise of disgust in the back of her throat; really did he have to be such a pig sometimes?
Together they walked out of the great and hall and down the front steps into the grounds. The air was mild and a slight breeze lifted Hermione's hair, it was a beautiful day. Once they reached the Quidditch pitch it became obvious there were none of their Gryffindor house mates were there.
"They're probably in the changing rooms for a talk or finishing, we can just wait in the stands for a bit," Ron said, leading the way up to seats halfway up the stands.
Hermione leaned back, her face towards the sun, casually munching the marmalade toast. It was a good way to start a day.
"Isn't that the kid who follows Harry around like an annoying puppy?" asked Ron, pointing towards the opposite stands.
Hermione squinted, in the highest stands indeed sat Colin Creevey, clutching his camera to his chest.
"Yeah it is. Do you think he followed Harry out here at dawn?" She asked.
"Probably, he'd follow him into the lair of the giant squid!"
Hermione cracked a grin and there was a pause before a thought entered a her head
"By the way how's Ginny doing, I haven't seen much of her?" she questioned, turning her head to face Ron now and taking another piece of toast.
Ron shrugged. "Don't know, she's keeping pretty quiet really and at home she doesn't normally shut up so…"
"She'll settle in," Hermione said, hoping she would. Ginny seemed so nice when she had met her.
"Yeah, I've seen her walking round with some friends so I bet she's fine," Ron said, not seeming too bothered.
At that moment they were both distracted by the appearance of seven red and gold clad players walking on to the pitch, all holding broomsticks. Hermione sat up slightly as Harry spotted them, raising her hand to wave.
"Aren't you finished yet?" shouted Ron from beside her.
"Haven't even started yet," Harry called back with a grimace "Wood's been teaching us new moves,"
Hermione and Ron watched happily as Harry mounted his broomstick and soared off into the sky, racing Fred and George around the stands. Hermione smiled, he always looked so natural and free on a broom. Just as Wood caught up with Harry, Fred and George Ron nudged her in the ribs to get her attention.
"What?" she asked, spinning to face him.
"Look," he said pointing to the entrance of the stands where seven green and silver shapes had appeared.
"That's not good," muttered Hermione.
Ron shook his head and they watched as the Gryffindor team all soared towards them; Wood started shouting immediately as they landed.
"Slimy gits, what do they think they're doing?" Ron asked, visibly bristling beside her.
"Come on let's go down and see," Hermione replied, standing up and walking towards the steps. Ron followed immediately.
It didn't take long to climb down the stairs and just as they were crossing the pitch to reach the group, Harry and the rest of the team mates glanced towards them.
"What's happening?" Ron asked Harry as they reached him, "Why aren't you playing? And what's he doing here?"
Hermione turned her head to look where Ron was glaring to see Malfoy smirking at them. She hadn't noticed him until now. Annoyance flared up inside her immediately. She really hated Malfoy.
"I'm the new Slytherin Seeker, Weasley" Malfoy said, a smug look on his pointed face. "Everyone's just been admiring the brooms my father's bought our team,"
Hermione's eyes fell on the broomsticks in each Slytherin players arms, all of them were sleek and shining and all had 'Nimbus Two Thousand and One' neatly lettered on the handle. Hermione felt disgusted at the lengths Malfoy had gone too to get on the Quidditch team. It was pitiful.
"Good aren't they? said Malfoy in reply to Ron's shocked face. "But perhaps the Gryffindor team will be able to raise some gold and get new brooms too. You could raffle off those Cleansweep Fives, I expect a museum would bid for them."
Hermione watched as Fred, George and Ron's ears all glowed red at the Slyhtherin team howling with laughter at them. Pure anger at their anguish made her snap out.
"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in; they got in on pure talent."
For a second Hermione was pleased when she saw the smug look on Malfoy's face flicker and then he opened his mouth to retort.
"No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood," he spat viciously.
Around her the Gryffindor team erupted. Hermione had no time to process Maloy's words. Fred and George attempted to jump on Malfoy. Alicia Spinnet shrieked "How dare you!" In outrage and to Hermione's horror Ron plunged his hands inside his robes for his wand. He yelled "You'll pay for that one Malfoy" and pointed his wand at Malfoy's face.
Hermione jumped as a huge bang erupted from Ron's wand along with a jet of green light which flew out the wrong way and hit him in the stomach, sending him sprawling to the ground behind him.
"Ron! Ron! Are you all right?" yelped Hermione, rushing towards him. If he'd hurt himself trying to defend her from something Malfoy had said…
Ron opened his mouth to reply to her but to Hermione's horror instead of words, a large belch sounded and several slugs dribbled down his chin and into his lap. Behind her the Slytherin team erupted into loud laughter. Hermione was completely at a loss for what to do.
"We'd better get him to Hagrid's, it's nearest," said Harry. Hermione nodded and grabbed one of Ron's arms, pulling him up and putting his arm around her shoulder, he seemed too weak to stand properly.
As Colin Creevey got in their way and Harry lost his patience with him Hermione's heart was beating wildly against her chest. Ron had hurt himself because of something Malfoy had said to her. What on earth could the word he had used actually meant Hermione couldn't imagine. Something so bad it had made everyone that angry. Mudblood.
"Nearly there, Ron" Hermione said, trying to give him some comfort as Hagrid's cabin came into view. "You'll be alright in a minute … almost there …"
As they staggered towards the cabin the front door swung open and, Hermione's heart leapt up into her throat, Gilderoy Lockhart strode out in a set a pale mauve robes, his blonde hair shining in the morning sunshine.
"Quick, behind here," Harry hissed, taking most of Ron's weight and dragging him behind a bush. Hermione followed slowly, part of her wanting to stay where he could see them.
"It's a simple matter if you know what you're doing!" Lockhart was calling back to Hagrid. "If you need help, you know where I am! I'll let you have a copy of my book – I'm surprised you haven't already got one. I'll sign one tonight and send it over. Well, goodbye!" Lockhart gave a cheery wave and strode towards the castle, Hermione sighed as she watched his retreating form.
After a little while, Harry pulled Ron out of the bush. Together they supported him up to the front door where the knocked urgently. Hagrid appeared within seconds, a cross look on his face that brightened immediately when he saw who it was.
"Bin wonderin' when you'd come ter see me – come in, come in – thought you mighta bin Professor Lockhart back again."
They supported Ron over the threshold of Hagrid's one-roomed cabin and deposited him in one of the chairs beside his huge round table. Harry quickly explained what had happened.
"Better out than in," he said, seeming completely unperturbed and placing a large copper bucket in front of him. "Get 'em all up Ron."
"I don't think there's anything to do except wait for it to stop," Hermione voiced anxiously, watching poor Ron's pale face bent over the bucket. "That's a difficult curse to work at the best of times, but with a broken wand…" Hermione trailed off, continuing to watch Ron as he belched up more slugs, feeling so sorry for him and slightly guilty.
"What did Lockhart want with you, Hagrid? Harry asked. Hermione turned her head towards him.
Hagrid's face darkened "Givin' me advice on gettin' kelpies out of the well," he said, setting down a teapot he had just prepared. "Like I don' know. An' bangin' on about some Banshee he banished. If one word of it was true, I'll eat my kettle."
Hermione eyebrows shot up at Hagrid's words. He was being very rude about a teacher and quite prejudicial.
"I think you're being a bit unfair." She said, her voice higher from being slightly offended. "Professor Dumbledore obviously though he was the best man for the job-"
"He was the on'y man for the job," Hagrid interrupted, offering a plate of treacle fudge. "An' I mean the on'y one. Gettin' very difficult ter find anyone fer the Dark Arts job. People aren't too keen ter take it on, see. They're startin' ter think it's jinxed. No one's lasted long fer a while now. So tell me, who was he tryin' ter curse?" Hagrid jerked his head at Ron.
Before Hermione could open her mouth to reply, Harry spoke. "Malfoy called Hermione something. It must have been really bad, because everyone went mad."
"It was bad" Ron said hoarsely, raising his head from the bucket. He was extremely pale and sweaty but seemed determined to tell Hagrid. "Malfoy called her 'mudblood', Hagrid-"
Ron bent his head down again and the sound of splattering slugs greeted them. Hermione's heart quickened at Ron's distress at the word.
"He didn'!" Hagrid growled, swivelling to face Hermione, his face thunderous.
"He did," she said, timidly. "But I don't know what it means. I could tell it was really rude, of course…"
"It's about the most insulting thing he could think of," Ron said, gasping as he raised his head again, his eyes seemed to apologise to Hermione as he looked at her. "Mudblood's a really foul name for someone who was Muggle-born – you know, non-magic parents. There are some wizards – like Malfoy's family – who think they're better than everyone else because they're what people call pure-blood." He burped and a small slug fell into his hand. Hermione's blood seemed to have turned cold and she could feel her eyes prickling. She blinked rapidly. "I mean the rest of us know it doesn't make any difference at all. Look at Neville Longbottom – he's pure-blood and can hardly stand a cauldron the right way up."
"An' they haven't invented a spell our Hermione can't do." said Hagrid, his voice full of pride. Hermione felt her face heat up furiously in embarrassment.
"It's a disgusting thing to call someone," Ron said angrily. "Dirty blood, see. Common blood. It's mad. Most wizards these days are half-blood anyway. If we hadn't married Muggles we'd've died out."
The rest of the day continued and although Hermione acted much like her normal self the horrid words of 'mudblood', 'common blood', dirty blood' seemed to have nestled themselves in the back of her mind. Did other wizards really see her as less of witch, less of a person because of her parents?
AN: So I know this chapter very much follows the book chapter exactly but I couldn't leave it out - I think it's so essential to the whole of Hermione's story. Her first time being called a Mudblood, how everyone reacts and this is how I imagine she reacted. Let me know if this is how you think she would first react to be called Mudblood? Pretty Please review xxx