Chapter 38
Hermione
“So, what happened to you last night? Fall asleep in the library again?” Lavender asked in her high-pitched, girlish voice, catching Hermione’s eye in the bathroom mirror. The three girls, Pavarti, Lavender and Hermione were crowded at their bathroom counter, each vying for their own space to get ready. Hermione had overslept (for her at least, putting her on the same timeline as her roommates) having stayed out with the twins until well after midnight, plus the additional half hour they had hidden under the third-floor staircase to avoid Mrs. Norris. Finally, Crookshanks had come, enticing Mrs. Norris with a half-eaten Doxie, distracting her enough for them to dart back to their common room. As fun as the entire escape was, she firmly resolved not to do that too often, as she carefully glamoured the dark circles from under her eyes and charmed her curls into submission.
She rolled her eyes at Lavender, who she found far too perky before caffeine, ready with backbiting insults at the break of dawn.
“That’s right. You know me, always reading.” She said drolly, adding lip-gloss and a bit of mascara, as her roommates carefully winged eyeliner and chose eyeshadows. Lavender and Pavarti giggled, catching eyes with each other in the mirror.
“I was so surprised to get my badge.” Lavender said, stroking the gleaming prefect badge on her robes lightly. “I thought for sure it would go to you, Hermione.” Hermione met her gaze in the mirror placidly, unwilling to take the bait.
"Wow, Hermione," Parvati drawled, twisting a strand of her own glossy hair, "black really *is* your color… or, I mean, it’s… a color." Lavender snorted, echoing the sentiment, "It’s a bit…much, isn’t it? Dying your hair? Like you're trying too hard." The pointed comments stung, but Hermione tried to ignore them, knowing these girls well and anything she said would be fuel for more mockery.
“Maybe she’s changing her identity to separate from her crazy friend. Is Harry still going on about you-know-who?” Lavender said lightly.
“It’s not funny to joke about, Hermione you should talk to him, he doesn’t need to scare people just for attention.” Pavarti said rudely, blending her eyeshadow with her fingertip. Hermione rolled her eyes.
“Harry isn’t like that. You shouldn’t believe things just because the Prophet prints them.” She replied firmly.
“Is it true Hermione? Did Sirius Black really adopt you?”
“Is that why you dyed your hair? Are you trying to look like him, Hermione?” Pavarti asked.
“That’s sad, you shouldn’t change yourself to fit in.” Lavender added with small smile.
“Yes.” She said curtly, gathering her toiletries back into her bag, forcing herself to keep a calm face and steady breath. The girls giggled again. “I’m so desperate for his approval I changed my hair and eyes just to pretend we’re closer. You got it.” She sneered, flicking her hair over her shoulder and leaving the bathroom with a huff. The girl’s cruel laughter followed her as she gathered her bag and hurried down to the great hall.
The next few days would no doubt be filled with an abundance of curiosity and rude questions, and she attempted to steel herself to it. Soon enough something dramatic will happen and they will forget about me, she told herself firmly. Hermione say the twins were advertising for test subjects on the notice board in the common room and shook her head. They’d be lucky not to get expelled this year, at the rate they were going about breaking rules. She knew school was not their top priority but selfishly she wanted this last year with them, and wished they’d have a little more care.
At breakfast, Hermione learned that Harry had announced to the common room the night before that Sirius Black had been the one to adopt them, in an attempt to head the gossip off at the pass. Of course, that meant this morning they were the hot topic of conversation, the news having spread far and wide spreading with the full force of the Hogwarts gossip train.
She found herself surrounded by first and second years who wanted the details of living with a convict first hand. Hermione evaded them and sat at the table, ignoring all questions and waving them away from her before focusing on her coffee.
“My parents died.” She said loudly after her first sip. The table went quiet as heads turned to her. She glanced around at the table, touched that so many faces looking back at her reflected sadness and sympathy. She felt a slight tug of guilt at the lie, but it was far easier (and less embarrassing) to give a curt explanation. Far easier too; rather than trying to come up with another lie to omit the attack on her house, the threat to her life, and Order secrets. “Sirius Black was kind enough to adopt me alongside Harry. I do not wish to talk about my parents, kindly refrain from asking.” She dismissed them all, pulling a book from her bag and pretending to read as she drank. In truth the book could have been upside down for all she knew, the words bled together on the page as she tried furiously to keep her tears in check. Her parents were dead-to her at least. She wished the pain of losing them would go away, rather than rear up to stab her in the heart at random moments. She didn’t miss them, not really. How could you miss people who treated you the way her parents had treated her? What she truly missed was the idea of them. Sirius (and Remus, although the role was not officially stated) had started to fill that void. They cared for her, she knew that. Sirius seemed earnest about being a father to herself and Harry, but she couldn’t shake the fear that her placement was precarious. No matter what they said or how they reassured her, the fear was there.
The mood at the table was tense, whispers dominating over the usual loud and boisterous conversations. Hermione noticed Dean and Seamus sitting further down than usual, whispering and sending pointed looks their way.
“What’s up with Dean and Seamus?” She asked. Harry looked down at his plate.
“Dean thinks Harry’s lying about you-know-who.” Ron said awkwardly.
“Lavender and Pavarti too.” Hermione said glumly.
“Been having a nice chat about me this morning?” Harry snapped.
“Don’t talk to me like that, Harry. I defended you from those harpies.” She said shortly. Harry blushed and mumbled a sheepish apology she accepted with a nod.
“Lavender’s OK.” Ron mumbled. “She’s probably just confused.”
Hermione raised an eyebrow at Ron, finding his sudden defense of her roommate at the expense of his best friend very suspicious.
“Don’t take it to heart, Harry.” Neville chimed in. “Gran and I believe you and Dumbledore. My Gran says Fudge is a power-hungry tosser anyway.” Harry smiled gratefully at Neville.
“Here comes McGonagall with the timetables.” Ron said, his mouth full of scrambled eggs. She looked over, and found the green robes of her head of house directly in front of her, and she raised her eyes to McGonagall’s stern face.
“Miss Black.” She said brusquely. “Come see me after Defense, you have a free period.” She nodded, accepting her timetable as her professor moved on hurriedly to the next student.
“You in trouble already?” Harry asked with a grin, grabbing some toast and sitting next to her.
“Har-har.” She grumbled, sipping her coffee. She could feel her brain waking up, lifting her mood some. They discussed upcoming classes, starting the day with double Defense against the Dark Arts with Ravenclaw.
“Double Potions? On a Monday?” Ron whined, staring glumly at his schedule.
“With Slytherin, of course.” Harry grumbled in agreement.
"What do you suppose the new teacher will be like in DA?" Neville asked curiously.
"Can't be worse than the fraud from last year." Harry muttered sullenly.
“Have you seen Fred and George this morning?” Hermione asked, looking around the hall and failing to spot the tall redheads she was seeking.
“Passed them on the way down.” Harry said.
“Why?” Ron asked, looking puzzled. Hermione creased her brow and glared at him over her mug.
“Why what, Ronald? Why wouldn’t I want to say good morning to my boyfriends?” She snapped.
Ron barked out a laugh. “Boyfriends? The twins don’t do girlfriends, Hermione. You really think now that we’re back, they’ll keep chasing you?” He said cruelly.
“You’re out of line, mate.” Harry said sharply.
“I’m being honest, Harry. She’s just going to get hurt when they flit off to the next bird on a lark.” Ron said earnestly.
Her inner voice wasted no time in drudging up insecurities; after all the twins were handsome, charismatic, popular…while she saw herself as boring, bookish and odd; and it was true that up until now they’d remained unattached relationship-wise. However; her anger, hot and fierce took center stage as she stared at Ron, wondering where in the hell he kept all his audacity.
Hermione slipped her hand under the table and pulled her wand from her sleeve as she glared at Ron. She aimed carefully and cast a spell she’d learned over the summer. “Araneolus” She muttered into her cup. Ron itched his head lightly.
“Ron.” She said placidly, locking eyes with her so-called friend. “There’s a spider in your hair.”