Chapter 92

Fred and George were walking down one of the many hallways with Lee when they heard a shout behind them and the pounding of footsteps.

"Fred! George! Fred! George!" the shout sounded behind them and they turned to see Ron running toward them.

"What is it?" George asked, noticing his face was white and he was panting for breath.

"Her - Hermione," Ron panted, coming to a stop before them and gasping for breath, his hands on his knees.

"What about her?" Fred asked.

"Sh-she ran off..." Ron said. "Before Potions."

"What?" Lee asked. "Why?"

Ron scowled.

"Malfoy and Harry got into a fight," he said bitterly. "Hermione was caught in the crossfire. Malfoy hit her with a hex, and her teeth grew uncontrollably. I think she followed Goyle who was also injured during Harry and Malfoy's fight, but I don't know for sure. He was headed to the infirmary by Professor Snape. You're her friends too... I mean I see she still sits with you, so..."

"We'll find out what happened," Lee told him.

"But that's not all...," Ron said.

"What else happened?" Fred asked.

"Professor Snape," Ron replied.

"What about him?" George asked.

"He - he said something to her before..." Ron answered. "I think he hurt her feelings. She was crying when she ran off."

"Thanks," Lee said. "We'll see if we can find out what happened."

Ron nodded and hurried off.

"She doesn't want to see anyone just now," Madam Pomfrey said when Lee, Fred and George entered the infirmary a short time later. "I'm sure she'll be fine and ready to face everyone when dinner rolls around."

"So now what?" Lee asked as they left the infirmary again.

"It might be time to let Oliver know what happened," Fred said.

"Yeah," George said. "I hope she'll be all right like Madam Pomfrey said."

"Me too," Lee said.

Hermione was on her way to dinner after having spent the time during what would have been Potions and her free period in the library in the infirmary. During her time under the reversal spell, she'd had time to think about what Professor Snape had said. As she'd thought about his words, which had been hurtful at first, she began to realize their true meaning. Madam Pomfrey had given her a mirror and taught her the spell that was needed, and told her to cancel the reversal spell when her teeth were back to normal.

She sighed as she thought about how many times she'd asked her parents - dentists of all people - to fix her teeth, but they'd refused, telling her that it wasn't the outside that counted, but what was inside. As she watched her reflection in the mirror, she got an idea and decided to let the spell go a little longer until her teeth were the size she'd wanted them to be.

She'd just entered the Great Hall and was flagged over by Lee, when an owl swooped in and dropped a letter in front of her. Intrigued, she picked it up and began to read it as she headed toward their spot at the table.
13 September 1994

I'm sorry for what happened to you, Kittycat. Ron it seems is looking out for you regardless of whether you support Harry or not. He told the twins about what happened while you were waiting for Professor Snape to start the Potions lesson and had run off. They told me what happened. I'm sorry I couldn't be there to help you. I hope you're okay and don't let them get to you. Let me know if you need to talk. I'm always here for you.

Oliver

"So," she said sitting down with them and waving the letter in front of them. "You decided to write to Oliver, hmm?"

"Yeah, well," George said.

"We were worried about how you were taking things," Fred said.

"We went to check on you after Ron came and found us after your Potions class," Lee said. "But... she said you weren't wanting any visitors."

"I - I'm okay," Hermione replied. "Really."

"Really?" Fred and George asked in unison.

"Yes, really," Hermione replied.

"But what about Professor Snape," Lee asked.

"Yeah, Ron told us what happened..." Fred said.

"But not about Professor Snape," George continued.

"What did he do, anyway?" Lee asked.

Hermione sighed. She should have known Ron wouldn't keep his mouth shut.

"Well," she said after a moment. "I suppose Ron told you that I got hit with the ricocheted spell that Malfoy used against Harry, am I right?"

Fred, George and Lee nodded.

"After that, Ron..." Hermione said and sighed again. "I know Ron meant well, but things didn't really turn out that way."

"What do you mean?" Lee asked.

"He - he brought attention to the way the spell affected me," Hermione said. "It - it really hurt. The Slytherin girls were laughing at me."

"And Professor Snape?" George asked.

"Did he do nothing?" Fred asked.

"Yeah," Lee said. "Ron told us that you ran off in tears."

"I - I thought about what he said while I was in the hospital wing," Hermione admitted. "I - I know it sounded rude, what he said, but I - I don't think that he meant it to. I - I can't explain it, but I don't think he meant to hurt my feelings at all."