A/N: I want to give a super special thanks to hottopicgirl, NazChick (again), and KraZiiePyrozHavemoreFun for the reviews. Also, thanks to everyone who has added me to their story alerts and/or favorites list. You guys were my inspiration to get another chapter up. This one might be a little boring, and it's short, as most of my chapters seem to be, but I thought it was good for establishing character relationships and blah blah blah, all that stuff that's supposed to be important. Also, more conflict. Always fun. Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, or lack thereof.
Hermione made her way to the entrance of Hogwarts. For the first time ever, she was doing it alone. No one sat with her in her carriage. No one walked through the doors with her. She never thought she could miss the sounds of Ron and Harry talking animatedly about quidditch or how they were going to kick some Slytherin arse this year.
As she walked into the Great Hall, she wondered who she would sit with. In the past, there had never been any question about it. In her first year, everyone was welcoming. Everyone wanted company and to meet new people. From second year on, it was easy – she sat with Harry and Ron, no questions asked.
A smile lit up on her face as she saw Neville waving her over. Thank gods for him. Reliable Neville. Although, as soon as the awkward silence crept up, she knew Neville had heard all about what had happened on the train. Although, with the way news travelled around Hogwarts, who knew what he could have heard. Looking around, she realized everyone had. People quickly looked away when she looked in their direction. And maybe it was paranoia, but she couldn't help but feel people were whispering about her. She looked down and sighed in relief when she remembered that yes, she did repair her shirt and return it to a more appropriate state.
As more Gryffindors filed in, including Harry, Ron and Ginny, she could feel glares from all directions. She also spotted Malfoy looking her way, staring daggers at her, but with a hint of a smirk on his face. He was obviously seeing the reaction of the rest of the student body. She noticed that very little of the attention was on him.
Not willing to show Malfoy that he had gotten to her, she struck up conversation with Neville and Luna.
"So what did you two do over the summer?"
"Celebrate, of course!" Neville said, with a goofy grin on his face. He had to be the most enthusiastic "Voldemort is dead" celebrator she knew. Even now, months later, he was practically trembling with excitement.
"We backpacked through Europe in search of the elusive crumple-horned snorcack. Unfortunately, we didn't find a single one. But we did see some beautiful scenery" Luna looked stumped in a rather lazy way. Neville just looked at Hermione and shrugged. Hermione had to suppress a laugh at the dynamic of their relationship. They were two of the kindest-hearted people she knew, and they were obviously made for each other. Hermione knew she could never be with someone like that, let alone be someone like that herself. Not anymore, anyway.
"Well, that sounds great. Where all did you go?"
As Neville recounted their experiences Hermione tried to listen, but kept getting drawn away from their conversation by whispers that sounded far too much like they contained "Hermione" and "slut" in the same sentence. These whispers were coming from Harry and Ron's direction.
"Excuse me, Neville, for just one second," Hermione interrupted politely, before turning in the direction of the boys. "If anyone here has something to say about me, why don't they grow a pair and actually say it to my face." Hermione managed to maintain a calm exterior, even though her insides were boiling. She had already experienced this with Ron once, in first year, but this year she wouldn't be running off to the bathroom crying. Not a chance.
Harry suddenly looked very interested in whatever was going on in the lines of the table, as he blushed furiously. Ron, however, looked over at her, face red, but not with embarrassment. "Well, we were just telling everyone here what you're really like, so they don't fall for your bullshit like I did." Seamus, Dean, and Ginny looked at him in surprise.
"Oh, Ronald, but from what I can recall you loved my bullshit. All five minutes of it that you could handle." Ron's jaw dropped at her comment, and now his blush turned to one of embarrassment. Hermione opened her mouth to continue, but quickly closed it seeing that Professor McGonagall was present and had probably already caught the last portion of conversation.
"As much as I hate to interfere in this feud between lovers, would Miss Granger and Mister Weasley please accompany me to the hallway." Hermione and Ron followed McGonagall as she led them out the doors and through the gaggle of shivering first years. They all looked on with wide, frightened eyes. She was sure she and Ron were recognized – they were iconic war heroes, after all.
"What is the meaning of this, you two?" Professor McGonagall demanded, turning to them. When neither had an answer, she continued. "Our war heroes should be a good influence on our newcomers. We need to express unity in this school, especially right now after such trying times. If the two of you can't straighten this out on your own, I will have to give you both detention. Together. Until you can resolve your issues. I will let you off this time. Don't make any more scenes. Please return to the Hall and try to keep it together until you are behind closed doors."
She strode back to the Great Hall, leaving them there alone. Ron looked at her as if he wanted to say something, but Hermione followed McGonagall without so much as a second look back. When she reached the door, however, she turned to Ron, who was trailing not too far behind her. "Next time you decide to talk about someone behind their back, make sure they're not in earshot, you dumbarse." Feeling satisfied that she thoroughly embarrassed him in front of the first years, she went into the Great Hall, and took her seat next to Neville.
The remainder of the evening's ceremony was spent in awkward silence. She didn't dare so much as look at Ron the wrong with way with McGonagall on the watch. No way in hell was she about to be stuck in detention with him for any length of time. Neville wouldn't stop looking at her, slightly in awe. Luna, of course, remained oblivious and continued conversation with Hermione about more pressing matters such as wrackspurts and blibbering humdingers.
Later than night, when Hermione was lying in bed trying to sleep, the rest of her roommates were up giggling and talking about who's looking particularly cute this year. Hermione rolled over, stuffing a pillow over face. Hermione just couldn't understand it. Then again, these girls didn't play much of a part in the war, so, lucky for them, their lives mostly went unchanged. This was why she'd always spent so much time in the library – it wasn't always just about studying. Even better grades were a positive side effect.
Hermione wasn't surprised in the least when she began to hear talk about Harry and Ron, and even herself. She tried to keep her breathing loud and even, so they would think she's asleep. She wanted to hear a bit about what they had to say.
"Harry's looking as good as ever, this year…" she heard, coming from one of the Patil twins.
"We all know you could still go for a little bit of redhead though, Lavender," the other twin said with a giggle. "He's single again, I hear…"
"Shh, she's right there," Lavender whispered even louder than the other girls. Hermione couldn't help but think what a moron she was.
"Oh, she's sleeping. She's practically snoring." Hermione was dying to tell her that maybe she should hear a recording of the sounds she makes when she's sleeping. She was pretty sure it was Padma who was talking. "Did you hear what happened earlier on the train?"
"Yes! Can you believe she is sleeping with Malfoy? What a traitor, right?"
"I don't know if I buy it…" Lavender said slowly, "Why would Malfoy ever sleep with her? I mean, have you seen her lately? It's called a hair brush…" All the girls snickered. "And I hate to say it, but Malfoy is undeniably gorgeous." The others murmured in reluctant agreement. "I never could see what Ron saw in her in the first place."
"Well, it doesn't matter. He can see what she's really like now. He's all yours. And I might have to have a go at Harry if Ginny ever backs off."
Ginny had been fortunate enough to get Head Girl this, year. Hermione felt a stab of jealousy at her friend getting to have her own room. Then, sadness overcame her when she realized "her friend" was no longer a fitting description of their relationship.
As the girls finally quieted down, Hermione found herself still unable to sleep. She couldn't get her mind off of Malfoy. As she reached up to touch her tender neck, where bruises had surely already formed, she knew revenge would be too, too sweet, and she was much too excited to sleep. There were so many ideas flying around her in her head. She wasn't even sure where she should begin. Should she try to get him expelled? Should she pursue the whole destroying his social life thing? Or should she just hex the shit out of him, to hell with the consequences!
She knew she was much too angry to start anything too soon. She needed to calm down and collect her thoughts. She wasn't about to do this half-arsed. She was Hermione fucking Granger. This would be complete and thorough revenge.
Hermione sat up in bed and fumbled around until she found her wand, some paper, and a quill.
"Lumos." Her wand illuminated her immediate surroundings. Putting her wand between her teeth, she began to write. Or scribble, really. Thoughts were coming to her too quickly, and her hand raced to keep up with her mind.
After a good half hour she put down the quill with a sigh of contentment. Finally, she felt could sleep. She carefully hid her jumbled list of revenge plots under her mattress and stowed away her wand and quill. In the morning she could review her list and do a bit of revision. And decide what was actually feasible. She wasn't entirely sure she could get her hands on a chimaera, although, with Hagrid's help, she might be able to find one...
Hermione drifted off to sleep, a smile half-formed on her lips, and had several dreams containing a Malfoy running for his dear little life.