23 January 1994
When the Gryffindors returned from Yule break, none of them were happy to find that their seeker got his broom confiscated. Even Hermione's brothers chose sides, while they did listen to her side of the story they still felt she was at fault for the broomstick being taken. Percy was a bit miffed but he didn't ignore his sister over a broom stick, although he was so busy with studying for NEWTs, Headboy duties, his girlfriend, and keeping tabs on Ron's homework, it didn't make much a difference. Fed and George handed the Marauders Map to Harry so he could sneak out to Hogsmeade to show not all Weasleys were against him. Most people believed Hermione worked the whole scheme herself, jealous that she no longer had the best broom on the team. Even the other houses blamed the girls for handing Slytherin the quidditch cup before the season was over. Slytherins spent a week applauding them whenever they entered the great hall, fanning the flames of hatred. What disappointed Hermione most was Neville, fair, shy Neville who always seemed to understand her, refused to even look at her. He didn't even like quidditch. Luna would just smile and shake her head sadly when she saw the divide in her friends.
Hermione and Eloise were left alone to work on Buckbeak's trial, the boys seemed to forget all about it and Luna was easily distracted when it came to magical creatures. The pressure was getting to Eloise, the heated glares from most of the school. Before holidays, she was flourishing with friends. She would voluntarily answer questions in classes and even speak politely to people outside of their group. Now, it was just like first year all over again, Eloise went back into her shy shell and would only talk to Hermione. Even Luna found herself talking to a book when she tried, not that it stopped her. Harry would look at Hermione when he thought she wasn't paying attention, strange longing looks but when she turned to him he would look away quickly.
Without the buffer of their friends, Eloise noticed that Hermione was sneaking off a lot at random times during the day. She would question Hermione about her strange behavior but Hermione was not allowed to tell her, Eloise gave her the silent treatment after 3 days of pestering. Hermione was, like Eloise, collapsing under the pressure of her family's and school mates hatred. She ignored Percy's rules of extra sleep and meal times, instead just worked through them. Working on Buckbeak's case, finding out about Sirius Black, and studying acclumency became her new side projects. On top of all that she could never find her cat when she needed him for a cuddle. He was far too independent, wandering the grounds, hunting for his own food. She was alone in the library when a bowl sticky toffee pudding, her favorite dessert, was shoved under her nose.
"You know, I wouldn't throw you away over a broomstick...even a Firebolt." Malfoy whispered as he sat down beside her.
"Congratulations." Hermione grunted and pushed the savory treat away, it was making her stomach ache with longing. When was the last time she ate?
"Don't be like that. You don't eat enough." Malfoy snorted and shoved the pudding back to her. Hermione looked between her favorite treat and the boy she detested most, suspiciously. He was relaxed next to her, his legs stretched out under the table, his robes were immaculate and he had a sly smile on his face as he watched her.
"What did you do to it?" Hermione asked bluntly.
"Nothing, nothing at all. Just wandering around the library with your favorite dessert...wondering why you're here, instead of defense." Malfoy smirked.
"I skived off. More important things to do." Hermione sniffed and turned away from him.
"No, you didn't. You never skive off and I bet if I asked any of our friends in Hufflepuff, they would say you were there." Malfoy grinned as she blushed furiously.
"What do you want?" Hermione snapped.
"Just for you to enjoy this lovely treat I brought you." Malfoy raised his hands in surrender with an innocent smile on his face.
"Ha! Sure!" Hermione snorted indelicately and waved her wand over the sticky pudding, muttering as many revealing charms as she could remember.
"I've got to say, paranoia doesn't suite you." Malfoy whispered close to her ear, Hermione batted him away with her hand and continued muttering revealing spells she learned from the books she got from Nanet.
"I can't find anything wrong with it." Hermione frowned and sniffed it, the smell made her mouth water.
"You're ridiculous." Malfoy grinned impishly as he took the spoon and took a large bite. "Delicious and poison free." He handed the spoon back.
"Why?" Hermione eyed him critically, hesitant to take the spoon. Malfoy rolled his eyes and cast a cleaning charm on the spoon for her before shoving it into the bowl. Hermione took a small bite and immediately closed her eyes, groaning.
"This is delicious. Where did you get it?" Hermione asked as she took a much larger spoonful.
"One of the house elves has a crush on you. Begged me to find you and cheer you up." Malfoy grinned in victory.
"A house elf, hmm?" Hermione hummed pensively as she devoured the desert in front of her. She could feel him staring at her the entire time and squirmed, becoming self conscious. "Taking orders from elves now?"
"Only because I wanted to." Malfoy leaned back in his chair, smiling smugly at her. It unnerved her even more, not used to this Malfoy who was not baiting her friends. Hermione turned away and continued making notes on magical creature executions. There was an awkward silence before Malfoy leaned close to read over her shoulder. "What's this?"
"Helping Hagrid, trying to save Buckbeak since your father is so set on killing him." Hermione said gruffly as she pushed him away with her shoulder.
"The bird tried to maul me!" Malfoy said indignantly but only got a distracted hum in response. The silence hung oppressively between them, even Malfoy fidgeted in his seat as if waiting for her to say something. "You know...I'm scared of disappointing my father too."
"Uhh..." Hermione's head snapped up at that but Malfoy wasn't looking at her, he ran his fingers through his blonde locks and traced a knot in the wood of the table.
"I'm heir of House Malfoy, father spent a lot of time making sure I knew what was expected of me. I'm supposed to be the best...but I'm not, not in classes. You are, a Weasley." Malfoy sneered and spat her name but still did not look up. "Father told me all about the Weasleys before first year...weak magic, inferior intelligence, low blood..." Malfoy whispered. "Then father tells me you must be different. Seventh child, first daughter born to the house in seven generations. There's power in numbers...especially seven. He told me to watch you, after Yule last year. Said things were happening and you would be in the middle but...he was so disappointed when I came home this summer with nothing strange going on..."
"Wha-" Hermione almost choked at his confession when a loud gasp made her look away from the sullen blonde.
"Hermione! What are you doing...here...with him?" Eloise demanded in a harsh whisper. "And with food in the library!" Hermione just blinked owlishly up at her friend who had previously been giving her the silent treatment.
"I knew I smelled something foul." Malfoy sniffed the air dramatically, his sneer back in place. The smiles and playful looks gone as the haughty, cruel boy came back.
"Hey!" Hermione gasped, turning to glare at the blonde. Even if Eloise was ignoring Hermione for not being able to tell her of the time turner, it didn't mean Malfoy could mock her in front of Hermione.
"Don't worry about who...Hermione-" Malfoy purred her name as he leaned over the petite redhead to glare at the Eloise. "- talks to when you can't remove your ugly head out of your filthy arse to talk to her. I'm off, have to take a shower, I feel disgusting after speaking to the spotty mudblood for so long." Malfoy stood up at his full height, his fingers gently travelled up Hermione's arm before he turned and left the stunned girls behind.
"What the hell was that?" Eloise demanded harshly.
"I don't know, honestly. I have absolutely no clue what the hell just happened for the last 20 bloody minutes!" Hermione exclaimed, blinking sluggishly.
"Did he do something to you?" Eloise persisted, her blue eyes wide with concern as she lowered herself so she was kneeling in front of her friend.
"No! I don't know...he was just weird...I don't know..." Hermione shook her head in confusion while her friend looked at her doubtfully.
-0-
"Master Harry, sir...if Dobby could says something?" Dobby said tentatively as Harry dumped his and Ron's bags in their dorm room.
"What is it, Dobby?" Harry asked absently as he looked under Ron's bed for his chess set.
"Master Harry's Myne has been been...sad." Dobby whispered, shrinking back from Harry. The boys head popped up, hitting his head on the bed frame.
"Ow! Bollocks!" Harry exclaimed as he pulled himself from under the bed. "What's that?"
"Master Harry Potter, sir has been...mean to his Myne, sir." Dobby said apprehensively.
"Well, she went behind my back and got my broom taken away, Dobby." Harry said patiently, turning his back on the elf to continue looking for her the chess set.
"But...Myne did not, sir. Master Harry's Myne tried to talk to Master but Master Harry yelled at his Myne." Dobby slowly made his way towards Harry.
"Her and her friend got my Firebolt taken away." Harry snapped, Dobby flinched away from him, covering his head.
"Master Harry love his Firebolt more than his Myne and friends?" Dobby asked, his voice thick with tears.
"No! I just don't think my friends should go behind my back to get my gifts taken away!" Harry said defensively.
"Okay, Master Harry, sir. Dobby just be worried about his Myne...had old Little Master cheer Myne up." Dobby sighed sadly.
"What?" Harry shouted, looking at the shaking elf for the first time. He felt his stomach clench with guilt as Dobby shied away from him, covering his head as though Harry would hit him.
"Dobby not trying to be bad, Master Harry, sir!" Dobby exclaimed. "Dobby know not to talk to Master Harry's Myne but his Myne be so sad! Old Little Master wanted to make Master Harry's Myne smile!"
"You are talking about Malfoy, right?" Harry asked stiffly.
"Yes, Master Harry, sir! Dobby only want Master Harry happy and Master Harry happy when his Myne smile!" Dobby exclaimed, his knees knocking together as he trembled. Harry sat heavily on his bed with his head in his hands. He really wanted to make up with Hermione, even Eloise, but every time he brought it up to Ron, the red head would complain about his nosey sister.
"Thanks Dobby. I'm sorry for yelling at you." Harry sighed and patted the trembling elf on the shoulder.
-0-
"Are you sure that beast is even domesticated?" Eloise smirked as Hermione clutched Crookshanks to her chest. They spent the afternoon by the lake where they found Crookshanks coming out of the forbidden forest.
"Yes, he is...he's just more in touch with his baser instinct." Hermione sniffed delicately and scratched the ginger cat behind the ears.
"I've hardly seen him at all since Halloween, unless he was terrorizing your brothers rat." Eloise scrunched up her nose in disgust.
"Consider Scabbers a family heirloom. He's was Percy's for...9 years, but he gave him to Ron when our parents got him Hermes for getting his Prefect badge." Hermione grinned, hiding her pain that her brothers were currently ignoring her.
"Is that normal?" Eloise asked with an arched brow.
"Isn't it?" Hermione turned to look at her friend.
"Well most rats only live a few years..." Eloise trailed off, biting her lip in thought.
"I dunno, never really thought about it. Just figured he was magical, somehow. Maybe magical rats have longer life spans?" Hermione pondered curiously as they reached the portrait hole, even the fat lady glared at them before opening.
"I don't know, maybe we should research it?" Eloise enquired.
"Research my br-" Hermione's smile fell from her face as Harry stood in front of her, looking very uncomfortable.
"Can I err...talk to you?" Harry asked hesitantly. Both girls nodded mutely as he lead them to a couch on the other side of the common room. Hermione fidgeted as she sat in the middle, Harry was shooting worried glances at the little redhead. "Uhh..I just wanted to uhh...apologize for being so cold to you."
"Really?" Eloise was the first to find her voice.
"Uhh...yeah, I mean I'm still pretty upset you went behind my back but...Hermione you were only trying to protect me...so.." Harry trailed off uneasily as Hermione seemed frozen, staring at him blankly.
"You want to be friends again?" Eloise said slowly, as if clarifying. She knew that Harry was only extending the apology to her because Hermione would never accept it otherwise. It was hard to miss all the longing stares Harry sent her friend since Christmas. It seemed his anger with the little redhead faded fast but he still glared menacingly at her when he caught her looking.
"Yeah, I miss yo- I miss being friends with you both." Harry blushed and cleared his throat.
"You're so stupid!" Hermione smirked as she lowered her head to his her face with her hair, she clenched her fists to stop herself from hugging the boy next to her.
"I know. It's just I don't get nice gifts and well...my cousin always took anything of mine away. So, when you made a big deal about my Firebolt, I just kind of lost it." Harry mumbled under his breath sadly. Eloise could barely hear him but Hermione could hear just fine and she wrapped her arms around Harry's neck, practically crawling into his lap. Crookshanks hissed angrily as he jumped down to avoid the teenagers embracing.
"You're so bloody stupid! I thought the broom was cursed and you would die, you bleeding twit." Hermione sighed sadly as she hugged Harry tight. Harry wrapped his arms around the redhead with a goofy smile on his face.
"Oi! You guys may want to calm down a bit!" Eloise whispered, a smug smirk on his face as they both turned red. Hermione slid off of Harry's lap after seeing most of the common room watching them.
"I'm still mad at you, bloody ponce." Hermione grumbled as she smoothed down her skirt. "I will forgive you this time but-"
"Hermione!" Ron's angry shout seemed to echo down the stairs, followed by heavy footfall.
"What, Ron?" Hermione looked at her brother quizzically as he dragged a sheet behind him looking angrier than she ever seen him.
"Scabbers! Your ruddy cat murdered Scabbers!" Ron shouted angrily and shoved the sheet in her face. There were a couple drops of blood and some long ginger hair stuck in the fibers of the sheet he was waving.
"Ron, I...had Crookshanks with me outside all afternoon..." Hermione jerked back from her brother, trying to disappear into the couch.
"Well, your cat bloody well killed him!" Ron screamed hysterically.
"I'm sorry...I-cats chase mice...I thought he was out on the grounds...I'm sorry, Ron." Hermione whispered.
"Well, sorry isn't going to bring Scabbers back, now is it?" Ron demanded harshly.
"I'm sorry!" Hermione cried, traitorous tears burning her eyes.
"You just can't let anyone have anything, can you? You have to the newest broom, the only familiar, the new robes, new books...everything!" Ron shrieked, his face as red as his hair. "Better watch out, everyone. The demon cat could be after yours next!" Ron pointed to where the cats were laying by the hearth, Crookshanks lifted his head to lazily look at Ron before stretching out and laying back down amongst the other cats.
"Ron! I'm sorry! I didn't want Harry's broom taken or for Scabbers to die!" Hermione yelled.
"Yeah, well, you made it happen!" Ron snapped, poking her hard in the shoulder.
"Hermione didn't do any of that! I went to the professor and Crookshanks is a cat, you wanker! Cats chase rats, it's a fact of life. Don't put your hands on your sister like that again!" Eloise lost her temper when she saw Hermione flinch and stood up. Harry hopped up as well, unsure of how to get his friend to calm down. Looking around, he saw Fred and George get up to join them.
"She's my bloody sister I can talk to her anyway I choose! Who the hell are you to tell me what to do, you spotty slag?" Ron glared up at the girl.
"Not if you're going to put your hands on her!" Eloise shrieked, poking him as hard as she could in the chest. Hermione and Harry both moved to get between them.
"That's enough!" Hermione shouted.
"I'm not done with you!" Ron exclaimed, turning back to his sister.
"Yes, you are. You're going to say something monumentally stupid that you will regret if you don't stop. I'm sorry about Scabbers. I'm sorry someone anonymously sent Harry a broom at the same time a nutter breaks out of Azkaban for him. I'm sorry that I got a new broom and you didn't. I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm fucking sorry, Ron!" Hermione grabbed Eloise and pushed past her brother to rush up to the girls dormitory.
"Ron, you need to stop and think about what you say." Fred whispered harshly.
"Yeah, you never cared about Scabbers much anyhow. Hermione is our sister and you can't just yell at her like that." George said sternly as he pointedly glared at his brother. Ron gaped at his brothers incredulously before turning to Harry for support.
"You always did say Scabbers was useless, mate." Harry shrugged.
"You taking her side, now?" Ron demanded, unhappy that no one seemed to be taking his side.
"Nah, just repeating what you said. I'm done fighting with your sister over a broom and I'm not fighting over a rat that mostly just slept for the last 3 years." Harry said bluntly.