"Davi, Delaney, Donnelly," a voice called.
Deirdre opened her eyes and breathed deeply. She had been "meditating" for the past half hour while waiting for the D's t be called. She tried so hard to appear centred, but Hermione knew panic when she saw it. She hid the terror better than Hermione, but it was still there with her shallow breaths, and her blue-green eyes scanning the great hall.
"Any chance you want to handle this, Sloan?" O'Malley rolled his eyes and gestured to Deirdre.
"Breathe, Deirdre," Skylar reminded her. "You'll be fine."
"Fine?" Angelina rolled her eyes before beaming at Deirdre. "You'll be fantastic!"
Fred, George, Lee and Josh all echoed Angelina's cheering to a reddening Deirdre. Who wasn't looking any calmer. Hermione stood up and took Deirdre's hands knowing how often this helped calm her when Luna did it. She put aside her own nerves and smiled up at the tall girl.
"Look at me, Deirdre," Hermione gave her clammy hands a reassuring squeeze. "You've studied, you know this. I believe in you. And we'll all be here after."
Deirdre breathed and smiled at her. "Thanks, Hermione," she sighed, stooping to kiss her cheek.
Did she just... Hermione stared up at Deirdre feeling her own cheeks grow red. You love Hiro, and she's dating some guy named Newt. Just be there for your friend...oh you are a HORRIBLE person!
Hermione was given more fuel to deride herself when Deirdre kissed Angelina's cheek as well. The two squeezed hands before Angelina wished her luck and she took off.
Skylar elbowed Hermione with a knowing glint in their amber eyes.
Hermione sank into her chair and buried her nose in her DADA book.
Time passed and Hermione watched each of her friends get called up. Soon they're group consisting only of Fred, George, Skylar and herself remained. She wished desperately that one of them told them what to expect. Hermione's heart pounded and she reviewed each likely spell to come up for the third time, her breathing becoming shallow. Was she doomed to fail? What if she-what if Hermione just couldn't cut it? Hermione's stomach flipped as she thought about the impending failure. She clasped her shaking hands and bit her lip.
"Calm down, Hermione," Fred said.
"Yeah," George agreed. "You don't see Fred and me freaking out. And you're leagues beyond us!"
Hermione squeaked and nodded. "S-so you're not nervous at all?"
Fred shrugged. "I don't reckon there's anything to be nervous about."
"Yeah," George agreed. "I don't fancy taking too many NEWTs anyway."
Skylar placed their hand on Hermione's shoulder. "You-"
"Sanderson, Sloan, Smith, Snape and Song," the voice called from the exam room.
"Hermione," Skylar said as they approached the line. "Breathe, it'll be fine. You've got this."
Hermione nodded before taking her place in line. "You do too. Good luck."
"You too."
Hermione was finally called, her stomach not wishing to give her a moment of reprieve, she entered the room with the judging eyes of seven adults on her. She clasped her hands together and wished she could simply sink into the floor.
What are the chances of being sent off to Azkaban if I turn into a cat and dash off now?
"You must be Hermione Snape," a blonde lady roughy of an age with McGonagall asked with a smile. "I'm Madam Bones. I see you've done incredibly well with the written for this subject."
Hermione gulped and nodded. "Th-thank you, Madam."
The seven arbitrators had her perform various jinxes and curses. Hermione focused as hard as she could, making each as well as she could. It had to be perfect. Nothing less was acceptable. Even with her stomach's protests and her weakening limbs. After each spell, the arbitrators conferred and made marks on their clip boards.
They're judging you-they know you're a failure! Hermione bit her lip, feeling blood pool underneath her buck teeth. I wonder if people would think notice them as much if I wasn't always biting my lip...why the hell am I thinking about that now?!
"Thank you, Miss Snape," Madam Bones smiled. "You'll be hearing from us in August. But in the mean time, your father let slip that you've had some practice with a patronus?"
Hermione forgot to breathe as her tired limbs grew cold and her stomach churned. When, how fucking WHY did he say that. I can barely conjure wisps. Am I going to fail because he-
Hermione coughed and sputtered. "N-not w-well, Madam."
"I see," she nodded. "But for someone your age to get anywhere with them is unheard of. How well is not well?"
"Erm-" one of the arbitrators, Baxter, spoke up. "The test is done, Madam Bones."
"Oh, this won't be on the test, Miss Snape," Madam Bones assured her. "But if you could indulge an old woman."
"Where is this going, Madam?" Baxter said with more conviction.
"Where ever the fuck I please, sir," she beamed gleefully. "Could you perhaps give us a demonstration, Miss Snape?"
Hermione squeaked and shrank. Seven pairs of judging eyes glared holes into her. She couldn't make herself small enough. There it was, failure. Hermione was a failure. She wouldn't make anything good enough. The taste of failure was bitter in her mouth. No, that wasn't the taste of failure...
Suddenly, it no longer mattered that Hermione didn't eat that day, acid burned at the back of her throat and the room spun around her. Hermione gasped for air and fell to her knees. She wretched and coughed, trying to get herself to stop.
"Great!" someone snapped. "All because you were a prodigy ages ago. I hope you're happy, Amelia!"
"I can't imagine something so embarrassing!" Pansy giggled with Malfoy. "Throwing up in front during your OWLs. Poor kitten, you must be mortified!"
Hermione was. She slumped lower, wishing again that the floor would swallow her where she stood. Would she ever live it down? Hermione searched her exhausted mind for a witty retort but found none.
"Leave her alone," Harry said. "Hermione's not the one who frightened away a grigg simply by laughing."
"Sod off, Potter," Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Always playing the hero, aren't you?"
Pansy smirked evilly and turned her dark eyes to Hermione. "Potter has to defend you? I can't imagine how disappointed he is in you. Reduced to a sidekick."
"Sidekick?" Malfoy sneered. "That honour goes to Weasley. She's third fiddle, if that."
He's right...
Hermione turned to Harry and Ron who looked absolutely livid. Harry's green eyes narrowed, shooting daggers at Malfoy while Ron's ears flushed to the same scarlet on his tie and robe trim.
She carefully reached out to both their arms. She was well-practiced as the voice of reason, if with them avoiding her for half a bloody year.
"Don't let them get a rise in you," she said before turning her gaze to the Slytherin brigade. "They're just saying whatever they can to cling to whatever shred of relevance they might have left. After years of being the centre of the universe it must be so hard for you two to realize don't matter. Welcome to the real world, bitches."
"You-you-" Pansy seethed. "Bucktoothed bitch!"
"Oh, come up with some new material, Pansy," Hermione rolled her eyes. "Fuck it, we have more important shit to deal with than you."
"Right," Malfoy sneered. "That oaf's beast has a date with an axe. I heard Nox likes to drink before an execution, I bet it takes more than one strike. I hope it hurts like hell."
Hermione wanted to rake her nails across Malfoy's pale, pointed face, gouging out his vile colourless eyes. She wanted to tell him that he was vile, disgusting piece of shit while she did it. No feline consciousness to blame, it was fully Hermione that envisioned herself doing this in that split second.
Harry busied himself with holding a struggling Ron back, and Hermione saw her chance. She extended herself to her full height and approached Mafloy, backing him up into a tree. She bared her teeth and rose to the balls of her feet.
"You think you're something special don't you?" she hissed.
Malfoy must have remembered Hallowe'en as he shrank against the tree's trunk despite his height advantage.
"The only thing that makes you remarkable to any of these idiots is your father's inherited, ill-gotten wealth. And what are you with out that?" she let out a bitter laugh and dug her nails into the tree bark over his shoulder.
Her nails broke. This seemed so much more intimidating in my head...
Malfoy didn't seem to notice, trying t stop his pale lip from quivering.
"Just a scared little boy," Hermione hissed. "I told you once that you should adapt or face extinction. Continue to fuck with us and I promise you'll wish for extinction."
"Wait till my father-"
"He won't get the chance before your life becomes hell!" Hermione seethed. "Try me, bitch!"
Malfoy whimpered and squinted his eyes shut, preparing for whatever Hermione was about to do.
Hermione moved her hand and regained her balance, grateful Malfoy didn't realize how awkward her stance had been. If she'd learned one thing from her father, it was how to be intimidating.
"You may leave," she gestured behind her.
Malfoy, Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle couldn't move fast enough, but before they got too far, Hermione turned on her heel and addressed them.
"Oh, and Malfoy," she sang. "Try my patience again, and I swear you will never see me coming. I make myself clear, yes?"
"Erm-of-of course, Hermione," Malfoy choked. "Let's go!"
Once they were out of sight, Hermione deflated.
"THAT WAS BLOODY BRILLIANT!" Ron's blue eyes grew and he gaped at her.
"Ouch! My hand disagrees." she hissed and drew her wand to evict the splinters from her beneath her nails and stop the bleeding with a muttered "Epiksey."
Harry smiled. "And the Oscar goes to..."
Ron and Hermione turned to Harry, equally bewildered saying: "The what?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Muggle award for actors. Sorry, I forgot. Let's get to Hagrid's."
Buckbeak basked in the sun, tethered to a spike and oblivously feasting on ferret carcasses. Hermione approached the creature, hoping that the protest would work. With one hand she stroked his curved beak, while the other clutched at the time turner under her robes.
If this doesn't work, I'll save you. I promise.
Harry scratched the contented hippogriff's neck, staring at him sadly. She wondered if he was thinking the same thing.
"We should get in and see, Hagrid," Ron sighed, petting Buckbeak's eyebrows.
"Yeah," Harry nodded.
"We remember the plan, right?" Hermione insisted. "We-"
"Went over it a thousand times, Hermione," Ron groaned ushering her away by the small of her back. "We've got this."
Last time someone said that to me, I vomited in front of everyone...
She turned and stole one last glance at Buckbeak. She wondered if any part of him knew why student's were suddenly giving him so much attention, or why Hagrid withdrew. It must have been so confusing for him. It wasn't fair, he didn't do anything wrong. Buckbeak was a good hippogriff, sweet and kind and-Hermione stopped herself. If she broke down now, she wouldn't be help to anyone.
Hermione poised to knock and froze.
Harry did knock.
"What're you three doing here?" Hagrid demanded with tears glinting in his black eyes. "Yer shouldn' be here."
Harry stood straighter. "We're you're friends, and we're here to support you. Simple as that."
"But I want ter-" Hagrid sniffed. "Yer three are too young to see this."
"Was I also too young to face Voldemort twice?" Harry asked, his voice perhaps grimmer than he intended.
Hermione set a hand on his arm as he shuddered. Was he thinking about the chamber? Nearly dying...or Quirell's death? It shouldn't have surprised her any of that haunted him, but he hid it so well.
"Hagrid," Harry swallowed. "I didn't mean-erm-listen. I don't care what you think we're too young for. You're our friend, and we're here for you."
"Fine," Hargid wiped his eyes with a pink, flowered handkerchief. "Come on in then."
Hagrid sat at his table and once the door was shut began to sob. "I can' even look at him! Knowing that he's about ter-he's a good boy, Harry. He doesn't deserve-I shoul' at least be able ter face him, y'know?"
"It's okay," Harry tried to comfort him.
"Erm," Ron gulped and patted Hagrid's arm. "There, there, big guy? Hermione, why don't you put on the tea?"
Hermione nodded, stroking Hagrid's shoulder as she went by. She kept her eyes on the gentle half giant falling apart as she waited for the water to boil. Would Hagrid recover? If they failed was there any-
Failure is not an option, you stupid piece of shit! Your friends are relying on this, a life hangs in the balance...
The plan was simple. Drink the tea and all three of them start retching. Hagrid would have to bring all three of them in, and wouldn't know about the gathering students in front of his hut. If it didn't work, Hermione would use the time turner. Maybe release him during the protest. It would cause enough confusion. He could get away.
Hermione opened the sugar bowl to place cubes into the teas, but instead of sugar, a pair of beady black eyes stared back at her. The rat leapt at her from the bowl and she let out a shriek.
"Hermione!" Harry rushed up to her. "What is it?"
Hermione lunged and wrapped both hands around the balding grey rat. "I think I found Pet-erm-Scabbers," she gasped.
"Scabbers!" Ron gleefully cried cupping his hands around him. "You're alive, mate! Oh, I thought that demon cat ate you!"
"I think you might owe Hermione an apology, mate," Harry said.
"That's not important right now," Hermione drew her wand. "That's not-"
Harry gripped her arm and whispered in her ear. "The plan, Hermione. We still need to get Hagrid from here."
"Right," she nodded, narrowing her eyes at the trembling rat, who disappeared into Ron's pocket.
Hermione tried to rework the plan, it'd be suspicious if they insisted on tea now. She mused, staring at an equally pensive Harry when a tapping at a window drew their attention.
An speckled brown owl Hermione recognized from the owlery hooted.
Deirdre, you genius!
"What the-I shoul' be here!" Hagrid sniffed. "With Buckbeak. What does Dumbledore want right now? And why is Lupin asking on his behalf?"
I guess I'm off base. But this is great!
"Dunno," Ron knit his fiery eyebrows. "But you should go."
"Yeah," Harry nodded. "If Dumbledore's asking it must be important."
"But, Buckbeak-" Hagrid sobbed.
Hermione set a hand on his arm and looked up at him. "Hagrid, please."
Hagrid nodded and left. Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way away from the hut, not believing their luck. Hermione listened to Ron cheerfully tell Sc-Pettigrew how much he missed him. She wondered how to break the new to him. Should she just reveal him for what he was then and there? Her thoughts were cut off when she spied Crookshanks with a familiar, great black dog.
Neither Harry, Ron nor Hermione knew just how much their luck would take a turn for the worse.