"There she is. Hermione! Hermione!"
She watched as Ron and Harry pushed their way through the crowd to get to her side. "Where the hell have you been?" Ron demanded.
"I was getting supplies for Potions," she said, gesturing to her bulging bag. Ron opened his mouth, but Harry beat him to it.
"Why didn't you tell us where you were going?"
She blushed and shrugged. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause trouble, I just…I got distracted."
"Oh, thank God!" Molly appeared beside her along with Ginny and Luna. "Hermione, you gave us such a fright!"
"Where did you run off to?" Ginny inquired. Eyes lighting up, Hermione pulled up her shoulder bag.
"You'll never guess…What?" The bag was empty save some Potions' supplies that she did not remember purchasing. She sifted about in the bag. "I…I found something…"
"What is it, Hermione?" Harry asked, peering into the bag. "You ran off to get Potions' supplies?"
Where did it go? she thought in a panic, looking about the alley.
"What are you looking for?"
"Um…nothing I guess…I went to get some supplies." Hermione sighed heavily. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I wanted to get these before…well, I just went to get them. I'm sorry, Mrs. Weasley."
"It's okay, dear." Molly herded them back towards the bookstore. "Let's get the rest of those books so that we can end the day."
Hermione could not wait to get back to her room. The day had not gone according to plan and she wanted to be by herself. The others took much too long to get their books and Ron was all too glad to voice his relief that she was not the Head Girl. When they did return to the Weasley house, Hermione hurried up to the room she was sharing with the other girls and locked herself in, much to the curiosity of the others. Setting down the shoulder bag, she stared at it for a while.
"I can't believe it ran off."
The bag began purring suddenly. With a gasp, Hermione undid the clasp.
Bright golden orbs gazed out at Hermione and she got down on the floor to be at eyelevel. Tiny gray paws appeared from the bag, followed by the body of a cat. It was slick with long black stripes along its back and side. There were three dark blue spots on its chest. But that what wrested her attention was the terribly long thin tail with a vicious white barb at the tip. The tail whipped around so fast that the air popped around it.
It peered at her curiously, dark pink nose sniffing away at her outstretched hand. A sharp angry mew filled the room and she pulled back, eyes wide. It crept along the bed on its belly, keeping its gaze on Hermione while also taking in the room. Biting her lip, she tentatively reached out for it as it curled up on her pillow.
"Where did you go?"
"Hermione?"
It froze, eyes on the door. Then it flitted back into the bag. Throwing the flap over to hide the creature, she went and opened the door. Ron and Harry came in, looking a little worried.
"Are you sure you're okay, Hermione?" Harry asked. Hermione nodded, distracted by how close Ron was to her bag.
"Of course Harry. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because we know how much being Head Girl meant to you."
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes in impatience. "I'm sure you did."
Ron sighed. "Look, Hermione. I know it's not-"
"Shut up, Ron." Hermione pushed him away from the bed just as he was about to sit near the bag. "Go away."
"Hermione-"
"Go away!" She glared at him. "You haven't been supportive once since I got that stupid letter and trying to pretend you care now is just patronizing!"
"Well, I can't see why you would care about that bloody position? After everything you've been through, I figured-"
"You figured wrong. I've wanted to be Head Girl since first year and you knew that! Don't pretend to care, Ronald. Just get out."
Ron's cheeks flushed angrily. "Well, I can see how someone like you would want to be a pompous smartass with a badge."
Hermione clenched her fists tightly. "You stupid prat," she whispered, tears coming to her eyes. "You stupid…go to hell!"
Harry moved aside as Ron stormed out. Hermione stomped her foot down with a frustrated scream.
"I can't believe this is happening to me!"
Harry touched her arm. "Hermione, it's going to be okay-"
"Don't treat me like a child, Harry," she snapped. "Just…please, just leave me alone."
He nodded and left. Closing the door behind him, Hermione sat down on the bed and covered her face to stop the flood of irrational tears. A low murmur drew her attention to the bag. Golden eyes stared out at her. The murmur started up again, softly vibrating her skin. She sighed, curling up on the bed but keeping her eyes on the bag.
"Get a grip on yourself, Hermione," she muttered. "It's going to be alright."
With her little creature to keep her company, the time leading up to the return to Hogwarts went by quickly. Because of how she obtained him, Hermione kept its existence to herself, not quite sure the others would approve of her trip to Knockturn Alley, nevertheless bring something back with her. Also, she had no idea what it was that she had living in her shoulder bag. Its disappearing act was also an issue.
But slowly it had warmed to her, so much so that, at night, it would slip out of the bag and curl up next to her chest, tail slowly swishing up above their heads. When Hermione had time alone in the room, it prowled the dark corners of the room and the only way she was able to find it was by the ever-present popping air.
After saying goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Hermione boarded the plane ahead of the others. She found an empty compartment near the luggage car and, after putting up her trunk, she sat near the door with the shoulder bag clutched close. The bag hummed, as it was want to do on such occasions. She peeked into the bag, wiggling her finger in front of the eyes.
"Hey, Hermione!"
Neville had just popped his head in, smiling pleasantly like he always did. "I haven't seen you in a while! How has your summer been?"
"Oh, um…" She pulled her finger out of the bag and smiled. "Fine, I suppose. You know how it is."
He nodded, sitting across from her. "Trying to relax before school, hm? I heard Luna was with you all? I'm sure Ginny liked that."
"They had a lot of fun together. I heard you went to Spain with your grandmother."
"Yes, Grandmum wanted to get out of the country. It was a great trip! We traveled along the Riviera and got to see quite a bit of…oh, hi, Harry!"
Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Luna piled into the compartment, putting up their trunks as they greeted Neville. Ron started to sit next to Hermione, but a dark look from her put him in a seat by the window, glaring at her. Since their fight, the two had not spoken to each other. If they could, they avoided each other, and when they couldn't, Ron made it miserable.
Hermione tried listening to Neville's vacation narratives, but as the train began to pull away from the station, she became anxious. The bag hummed again and she knew if it got any louder, she would need to do some explaining. So she got up in the midst of Ron talking about on of the Quidditch games.
"Oh, I suppose I'm boring you, am I?" he snapped when she opened the door.
"Ron, stop it," Ginny snapped.
"No, no I won't!" He stood as well when Hermione turned to him. "You have gone past disappointment, Hermione. This sulky, sad mood your in is ridiculous! So you're not Head Girl? So what? You don't need that to prove to everyone that you're a smartass!"
"Just like you don't ever need to prove how much of an idiot you are?" she hissed. She whirled around on her heel and strode down the hall towards the luggage car. The car was relatively quiet save the sound of the train passing over the tracks. She checked to make sure nobody had followed her before unclasping the bag.
"Come on, Easter."
It slinked out, wary of the swaying train car and the new surroundings. She sighed, pulling Hogwarts, A History out of her bag along with a few biscuits wrapped in a napkin.
"Ron is…ugh, a pretentious little git! I am not in a mood. I am over it." Easter sat down in front of her, licking the white barb pensively as it watched her. She stroked its back. "I am, I promise. I just… I can't stand Ron!"
Chest thrumming, Easter padded over to some trunks, rubbing its side against it. The white barb passed by the trunk's lock and it melted away with a hiss. Eyes wide, Hermione hurried over to inspect the fizzling remains of the lock. Easter sat beside her, head tilted to the side as if wondering why she looked so shocked.
"What are you?" she inquired, pulling Easter into her lap. She caught hold of the bottom of the barb, which irritated the creature enough to hiss at her. "Shh. Quiet, Easter."
The tip of the barb was as sharp as its retractable claws but unlike the rest of the barb, the tip was black. There was no liquid to suggest it secreted acid, but she hesitated to touch it, gaze moving to the melted lock. Easter hissed again, swatting at her hand. She released the barb, frowning.
"I need the library."
When it stiffened in her arms, Hermione looked to see it staring at the door. It disappeared into her bag just as she started to hear footsteps approaching the luggage car door. She gathered up her things and ducked behind a pile of trunks before the door slid open. Two sets of footsteps walked in.
"Well?"
"It's here. It has to be."
"I don't see anything."
"I'm telling you. Just, calm down. I'll find it. Look, check this out."
Hermione peeked around the corner of a trunk to see two figures kneeling down near the lock.
"What is it?"
"Look at it. It's got to be here on the train."
"Well, where is it?"
"How the hell should I know? This thing isn't exactly precise. I just know it's on the damn train."
She slumped down further on the ground when they moved closer. "How do you suppose it got out?"
"That's not my issue. I need to find it before we get to Hogwarts."
"Damn, someone's coming."
Hermione rose up a little as the door slid open. "Damn. I told you this was a bad idea, Blaise."
"What are you doing back here, Nott?"
She frowned. What was Nott doing back here?
"That's none of your business, Zabini. But, seeing as this is off limits to anyone who's not a prefect, I can only imagine what you and Malfoy are doing over here."
"Your imagination is very dull, Nott. But, judging by your positions, I can see we're interrupting an incredibly intimate affair."
"Go to hell, Malfoy."
"My trunk is back here, Cruller, and I need something from it. And I don't see Nott turning us in, seeing as you're not supposed to be back here either. Now, move."
Hermione gasped as the trunks were knocked down on top of her during the scuffle that ensued between Blaise and Nathan Cruller. She managed her way up out of the trunks, only to find herself amongst four very surprised Slytherins. Feeling horrible from the hits she had taken from the trunks, she took a couple steps back to lean against the wall.
"What are you doing in here, Mudblood?" Draco snapped. She glared at him.
"I could ask you all the same thing."
"There's that tone," Blaise noted and Draco nodded.
"Like she has authority, when everyone knows she's not Head Girl."
Nott's eyebrow rose as his eyes flitted over Hermione. "You're not Head Girl?"
She lifted her chin, unwilling to be swayed in any way. "That's besides the point. You shouldn't be back here."
Nott chuckled. "That's disappointing."
Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Lord, Nott. Have some pride."
Hermione moved away from the wall. "I don't have time for this-"
"Woah, woah." Cruller grabbed her arm before she could get to the door. "What the hell were you doing in here, Granger?"
"That's none of your business," she snapped, pushing him away forcefully. "And don't you dare grab me again."
Blaise laughed. "Not even muggleborns want you touching them, Cruller. How pathetic."
Hermione could sense some tension mounting between Draco and Blaise, and Nott and Cruller. The four Slytherins did not like each other and for good reason. While Nott and Cruller had openly supported Voldemort even though they did not actively fight during the last battle, Draco had disappeared at the last minute and Blaise had always been ambiguous about whom he supported. Their actions did not put Draco and Blaise in a good way with students who had been more vocal. Because of the way the final battle turned out, the Ministry pardoned all students so long as they had not actually fought.
Not that Hermione felt for any of them. They were all bad in her book and she wanted nothing more to do with them, especially Draco. She left quickly before the boys could say anything more. When she returned to her compartment, the others looked surprised at her appearance.
"What the hell happened to you?" came Ron's loud inquiry.
Hermione looked down at herself. Her clothes were a little ripped and her arms had some bruises.
"Nothing."
Nobody looked like they believed her. "Hermione, are you-"
"Will you all stop asking me that?" she muttered, sitting down. "I'm fine. I was…walking around."
"Where's your bag?" Luna asked. Hermione's eyes widened and she looked down.
"Oh no!"
She rushed out of the compartment towards the luggage car. It was empty now, with the trunks restacked. Her shoulder bag was nowhere to be found, however, and Easter would not respond when called. Flush with anger at herself for forgetting the bag, she hurried back to the compartment to make sure she had not kicked it under one of the seats. Ginny frowned at the vigor with which Hermione was searching for the bag.
"Hey, Hermione, calm down. I'm sure it will turn up. Where did you leave it?"
"Luggage car," she muttered absentmindedly, pushing Ron's legs aside to peer under his seat.
"What were you doing in the luggage car?"
Hermione cast Ron sideways look before going to the door. "I need to find my bag."
"Hermione, if it's not in the luggage car, then where else could it possibly be?" Ginny asked. The tips of Hermione's fingers got cold and she sank to her chair.
"Oh, this is so bad."