(A/N) i 💜 u
Loves,
~Iresine

Hermione

     I gasped sharply, biting my lip so hard the metallic taste of blood flooded my mouth. I didn't care that it hurt. That's the whole point! The more pain there is on the outside, the less pain on the inside. I bit harder and harder, while my vision blurred more and more by the tears that were so annoyingly persistent.

     He had said that to me before. On the train, the first time we meet each other. I didn't think too much of it at the time. Just some petty insult by an immature kid. Nevertheless, I looked it up.

     I was horrified.

     I cried myself to sleep that night. The next morning, I vowed to never let his words get to me again. Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me, right?

     Sometimes I wonder why humans are so stupid. Whoever made that phrase had obviously never been in a situation like mine before. Okay, a stranger calls you a mean name. It stings, but you don't really care, because they're just a stranger. But when someone... someone who you know, someone who you've shared happy memories with, someone you thought had really changed... it... it really hurts.

     The look on Malfoy's face before the Gryffindors practically jumped on him was one of surprise, like he didn't know that he would be saying it, or how hurtful it was. Or maybe he was just surprised that the Gryffindors were about to tear him apart, limb by limb, but it didn't matter. The deed had been done.

     I couldn't believe that I had actually trusted him for a moment.

     A trail of heat made its way down my face, and I cursed myself for being so weak. I swiped at my face with my palm and looked at the blur of green that was the ground, my head feeling light. The world felt like it was rolling beneath my feet. My thoughts were as blurred as my vision. The noises of the world were blurry too. A loud bang, like a gunshot, pierced the air, and I looked up to see Ron barfing up something. I couldn't see it clearly, because, you know, my eyes were, um, sweating. It must've been really disgusting though, because everyone screamed an, "Eugh!" in unison, before the people in green doubled over laughing and the people in red took a step back and stared silently.

     "We'd better get him to Hagrid's," Harry said bravely, although he looked a little green. "It's nearest."

     I nodded, blinking rapidly to clear the tears, and helped Harry haul Ron to his feet. The little blonde boy that always clung to Harry like some leech jumped around us, talking rapidly, but I didn't bother to listen. I couldn't really listen, anyway. All that I could hear was one word, repeated over and over in my head.

     Mudblood. Mudblood.

     I was startled when Harry suddenly yelped and dashed behind some bushes, dragging Ron forcefully with him. I followed in somewhat of a daze. I saw Lockhart walk out of Hagrid's cabin, talking loudly about his book or something. I didn't really care. Ron made a gagging noise and barfed up something on my shoe. I looked down. Now that I was closer, I could see that it was a slug. Slimy and puke-green, it sat like some giant booger on my black Mary-Janes. I just sent it flying into the trees with a kick. Normally, I would've screamed and made a big fuss about it, but I didn't feel like it.

     I didn't feel like anything.

     Harry waited until Lockhart was out of sight, then dragged Ron up to Hagrid's door and knocked loudly. Hagrid opened it a moment later with a sour expression, but he brightened when he saw who it was.

     "Bin wonderin' when you'd come ter see me - come in, come in -thought you mighta bin Professor Lockhart back again-"

   They set Ron onto a chair and took one for themselves. Hagrid set - well, plunked was the better word - a large copper basin in front of Ron, and went to make tea for them. Hagrid and Harry chatted, Ron hurled into the basin, and I stared out the window, not paying attention to anything, my eyes fixed on the white puffy clouds that were drifting lazily through the bright blue background. Something that Harry said registered in my clouded mind, and I turned to the group.

     "Malfoy called Hermione something - it must've been really bad, because everyone went wild."

     Tears sprang back to my eyes, and I gasped and had to blink rapidly to stop them from spilling out.

     "It was bad," a green Ron said hoarsely. "Malfoy called her 'Mudblood,' Hagrid..."

     Hagrid looked at me. "He didn'!"

     I nodded, looking down. A single drop of weakness fell onto my skirt, and I buried my eyes in my palms to keep any more from escaping.

     I felt Harry's confusion and mumbled, "It's about the most insulting thing to call a wizard or witch with non-magical parents."

     "Ah."

     It was quiet for an awkward fifteen seconds. Then Ron gagged and the disgusting squelch filled the room.

     Hagrid cleared his throat loudly. "Well, I don' blame yeh fer tryin' to curse him, Ron. Bu' maybe it was a good thing yer wand backfired. I 'spect Lucius Malfoywould've come marchin' up to school if yeh'd cursed his son. Least yer not in trouble."

     It was quiet again except for the thudding of slugs hitting the bottom of the basin and the occasional hic-cough, both by Ron. Hagrid suddenly spoke again after a little while, as if a thought had suddenly struck him.

     "Harry. Gotta bone to pick with yeh. I've heard you've bin givin' out signed photos. How come I haven't gotten one?"

     The conversation went smoothly by, then. After a while, I brightened up to join in and joke around a bit. A little while after, Hagrid showed us some extremely large pumpkins (an engorgement charm, I suppose) and got mad at Ron when he coughed some slugs on them. It was about lunchtime when we decided to head back.

     As soon as we stepped foot into the castle, Harry and Ron were stopped by Professor McGonagall. I gave them a pitying smile and walked away. I couldn't help but snigger softly when I heard the word "detention" behind me and shook my head. Well, they deserved it, flying into the school like that. So... what now? Lunch was over, but they always had a few fruit plates left for the late students, so I headed over to the Great Hall to pick up a snack. I mean, Hagrid's cement treacle tarts weren't exactly the most filling thing ever, considering the fact that it hardly slid down your throat, and I had only a bit of tea and some oatmeal since morning, so I was starving. There were only a few kids in the Hall, doing schoolwork or reading and that sort. I walked towards one of the plates laden with fruit on the Gryffindor table. Ooh, that green apple looked so good. But before I could grab it, a hand snatched it away. Positively fuming, I turned towards the thief.

     Unfortunately, I couldn't tell who it was before a blindfold dropped over my eyes.

     "Hey, wh-"

     "Shh!" A voice hissed, clamping a hand over my mouth. I knew who it was instantly. But what did Malfoy want with me?

    "Be quiet and follow me," he whispered, taking my hand. I flinched, but honestly, I couldn't do anything because, um, blindfold. 

     I heard him whisper something under his breath and a shiver went through me. He was casting a spell. I didn't think it was bad though, because it didn't burn or anything. Or it was a slow-acting poison, but I didn't want to think about that. 

     He started walking, and I had no choice but to follow. We must've been a weird sight, a Slytherin leading a blindfolded Gryffindor, but whatever. I wanted to remove my blindfold, but my hands simply would not cooperate. Must be part of the spell. He lead me through a ton of twists and turns, and for a moment I wondered if we were still in the castle. I thought I was familiar with the castle, but this was a whole new route. Then it occurred to me that he might be taking unnecessary turns so I wouldn't remember the way. Well, at least now I knew that I would come out of this alive, but why would he not want me to remember it? I knew where the Slytherin dormitories were, heck, I could even get into them if I knew the password, but this was most definitely not the Slytherin dormitories. We were most definitely heading upward, steeply. The Slytherin dorms were underground, but Malfoy kept whispering, "stairs ahead" every so often.

     Where in Hogwarts was he taking me?

     After what seemed like forever but must've been around ten minutes, he told me that he had lifted the spell and I could take off my blindfold. So I did. And...

     "You like it?" I jumped, blinked, and hastily closed my mouth. I didn't realize it was hanging open like an idiot.

     "I mean, it's pretty cool," I said. Understatement of the millennium, but okay. It was undeniably Slytherin, but w o a h h h. The walls and (very high) ceiling were an emerald green and seemed to be covered with silk. (Why??) The floor was an even deeper green and was covered with a carpet so soft, it made the word soft look hard. A fireplace was present, lit with green flames like the one in the Slytherin common room, but it was smaller and the flames were somehow more friendly. The furniture was all made of ebony wood or black leather, and everything was lined with a delicate silver trim that sparkled in the cool chandelier light. It was so good, it even topped the Slytherin common room. I know! Crazy, right?

     "It was a gift to Hogwarts by my great-great-great-grandfather," Malfoy said, reclining on a leather armchair. It was really hot with the Slytherins for a bit, then it kind of fell out of fashion, know what I mean?" I nodded dumbly, staring around the magnificent room. He continued, "It hasn't been used in about twenty years. My father didn't even know about this. I found an old document about the gift in our attic and found it using the instructions. You can't tell anyone about it though." He fixed me with a hard stare. "It's my place, and I want to keep it that way."

     "Okay, if you want. Hey, where does this go?" I pointed to a stone staircase leading to a platform high above.

     "Oh, that? Only the best part in the whole room," Malfoy smirked, getting up from the armchair. "Come on!"

     I found it a bit hard to believe that anything could beat this, but I followed Malfoy up the stairs anyway. It lead to a platform with a few chairs around a circular glass table, and a huge velvet curtain in a color even deeper than the floor. I could still see playing cards and a board of that barbaric game wizard's chess (I still get nightmares about that thing) from when the last Slytherins used it twenty years ago. The room lay below like a bird's eye view painting by some painter with a really expensive taste. It was cool, but...

     "I'm sorry, but I don't get how this is the best part of the room," I said, turning to Malfoy. "I mean, it's awesome and all, but it's not amazing."

     "Not amazing?" Malfoy smirked. He walked over to the edge of the platform and tugged hard on a rope that I hadn't noticed before. The curtain parted.

     Holy.

     Heck.

     I almost fell off the edge of the platform.

     A huge window, perfectly clear and clean, with a black velvet windowsill large enough to sleep on. To the right, the Black Lake, stretched over the ground like a portal to another galaxy. The left, the large hoops rising majestically above the verdant field where Quidditch was played, each blade of grass reflecting the afternoon sunshine like a mirror. Beyond that, the Forbidden Forest, and next to it, fields of ripe, golden wheat as far as the eye could see. Above all, a cloudless sky so bright and blue it hurt to look at it, with a blazing, white sun to top it all off.

     I was in utter shock.

     "Helloo? Earth to Hermione Granger?" Malfoy waved his hand in front of my face. I closed my mouth for the second time that day, and blinked stupidly. 

     W. O. W.

     But...

    "Why did you bring me here?" I asked, my eyes not leaving the amazing sight.

     Malfoy sighed. "I wanted to bring you here to say... that I shouldn't have done it. Called you that foul name. I was... was flustered. I talked without thinking, the words just flew out of my mouth," I saw him look down out of the corner of my eyes. "My brain wants to make up excuses, but there's no excuse for the way I acted. I was wrong. And I'm sorry."

     I finally tore my eyes away from the amazing scenery and looked at the boy I had hated so much for the past few hours. He looked so small now, so vulnerable. So... not Draco Malfoy. Just a sad boy who had to grow up too fast. I realized that he was like the rest of us: able to feel, get hurt, and be overwhelmed. This was new. I felt a small pang of... wait, what? Pity??  Woah, what is wrong with me??! 

     I finally found my voice after a long moment.

     "Hey, it's okay."

     No, it was not okay! He had called me a really bad name and deserved to be punished.

     But I'm not that heartless.

     He looked up a bit. "Really? You'll forgive me?"

     I smiled a small, cautious smile. "We all make mistakes, don't we?"

     "I guess."

     It became awkward, so I slowly descended the stairs and explored for a while. Turns out, this thing was connected to a CRAZILY SWANKY bathroom and a pretty comfy office, the latter in which I spent the next couple of hours. 

     When I couldn't stand doing schoolwork any longer, (everyone has their limits! Mine just happen to be slightly larger than the average person's) I crept out and went up the stone stairs. Lo and behold, Malfoy was there, sitting on the windowsill and staring out of the window. He didn't seem to notice me come up. He looked a bit lonely, and the windowsill certainly was big enough...