Chapter 5
xoXOXox
They waited until the entire Great Hall was clear of the other class years. Hermione watched the houses file out, some in order, others pure chaos. The crimson and gold-yellow of Gryffindor, emerald and silver of Slytherin, bright yellow and onyx of Hufflepuff, and royal blue and bronze of Ravenclaw caused that same rage to swell and writhe in her chest. Separation. Of class. Of intelligence. Of loyalty and comradery. Just another way to place lines between one person and another. Another way to ensure yet again, sometime in the future, there would be a hole in the wall to let another villain slip through and create controversy. It was disgusting.
Headmaster Snape moved down the aisle, coming to stand near the door before turning to address the rest of them.
“I know how hard this was for all of you. I know, some, if not most of you, if you had had a choice, would not be here. For what little it may be worth, I am glad for all of you that survived the war, and I am proud to see you all back to finish your education and move forward with your future.”
Hermione watched the way his hands clenched slightly at his side before his eyes slowly closed as if trying to hide from the next thought he would share.
“I have argued with those in positions of power and the Mind Healers about the decisions they have made regarding your time here and your future. Sadly, I have been overruled. With that being said, I offer my sincerest apologies now for the discomfort the beginning of this year is going to bring you. I ask all of you to try your best to heal and see around the past and look at the current state of our world and each other. Compassion is a hard-won virtue and one I fear some of you will have trouble finding to begin with.”
Hermione tensed as his eyes turned to her and her boys. She could feel her lip lift in a sneer of aggravation as she realized he was talking mostly to them. She knew he meant well, and he was probably right in his request, but that didn’t stop her from hating him all the more for it.
“Not everything is as it seems. I am living proof of that. Please try to keep that in mind as we make our way to your new quarters, and you see this year’s roommate assignments.”
Hermione felt her stomach turn. That, with the guilt ridden and compassion seeking eyes, was enough to tell her all she needed to know. They were going to house them by level of trauma and healing, and she felt the color drain more from her face, when it settled, just who was as broken as her and her boys.
Her hands gripped onto Harry and Ron as she shook her head back and forth a few times. Harry’s quiet voice reached her ear as they both leaned into her.
“What is it, Hermione?”
She turned her eyes to him and then to Ron before the rage cascaded over her vision and caused her magic to roll across the table in sparks of electricity and the beginnings of flames.
“Those bastards housed us with the Slytherins. That is why he is warning us now. We are the only seven who have not found some sort of true healing from our time at that Merlin forsaken retreat.”
Both of them looked at her with wide eyes before every wall inside came up and they all turned as one unit to stare across the hall at said snakes. Hermione knew this year was doomed. She just didn’t realize how until now.
Theo walked with his friends towards their new dorms. He could feel the malice radiating along his spin from the trio behind him. Though, to be fair, it might be more honest to say Duo. It would seem that Weasley may have found an odd place of patience and compassion that none of them had been able to obtain as of yet. The other two however, they were terrifying. He had heard it said before that heroes broken made the scariest of villains. He was starting to realize that may be very close to the truth.
Snape stopped to gesture into one of the open doors and Theo watched as ten of the returning students went inside with polite but accepting smiles. On and on, down the hall, students vanished into their new common rooms until all that was left were the four of them and the now tarnished ‘Golden Trio’. Shit.
“This will be your quarters for the school year unless your therapist deems you have grown and healed enough to move to a different dorm. I know none of you are going to be okay with this arrangement. All I asked is that if you can’t see past your pain and hatred, that you just stay out of each other's way. I would prefer as little hospital wing visits as possible this year. Can you all do that?”
Theo watched Draco nod for them all, his countenance one of resigned defeat. As their still de facto leader, all of them looked to him for how to take things or act. Theo let his eyes stay dull and lifeless, accepting their fate for this last school year. All they had to do was make it out alive and intact and they could all pack and leave as planned. One year. After being under the regime of the Dark Lord, they could survive one fucking year.
The hiss of magic had him placing his body in front of Pansy, a habit they had all developed as Death Eaters became more and more prevalent in Draco’s house last year and their eyes started wandering to the beautiful, young witch. All of them may have been scared to death to defend themselves from the chaos but none of them would have let Pansy get hurt without a fight.
“Miss Granger, I understand your irritation at this newest decision made for you without your consultation, but please try to control your outbursts. Not everyone is as skilled as Mister Potter or Mister Weasley in shields.”
Theo looked through the curled fringe of his hair to watch the Gryffindor Princess close her eyes and take several deep breaths before the fiery burn of her magic receded back into her skin.
“My apologies, Headmaster Snape. It is an ongoing issue that I am still trying to learn to control. I will do my best to not harm any of your students if I can help it.”
Those dark eyes tipped up to their former Head of House and Theo tried to remember if her eyes used to be so close to Snape’s in color. Either his memory was going bad or over the past few months, something had caused them to shift to that abyssal black.
“I know none of this is your doing, Headmaster, and I will not shift the blame to someone who is blameless in this circumstance. Thank you for trying to do the best you can with the shite you have been handed.”
Theo watched as Snape bowed his head slightly in thanks before gesturing for all of them to enter the room. Draco went first, followed by the rest of his motley crew. Theo took in the room, ignoring the fact that he was the last in line and therefore closest to the dangerous wizard and witch behind him. It was all light blues and grays and creams. Colors meant to soothe the mind and soul. He missed the Slytherin common room already. At least there, he could hide away in the shadows and be ignored. Here, there was only bright light from the windows and open space. Nowhere to hide or disappear. It felt exposed. Unsafe.
“You will find each of your rooms labeled with your name on a plaque. Due to each of your personal circumstances, the ministry deemed individual rooms to be the best course of action. Make yourselves at home. Your schedule for classes should be on the desks in your rooms and your belongings have already been brought in by the house elves. If you need anything else, feel free to let me know and I will see what I can do to get it taken care of. Your first group session will be in a few hours so please make sure you are here in your common room by then.”
With those parting words, Snape turned and billowed out of their space to let them settle in. Theo followed Draco down a curving hallway set off from the common room. Finding his door to be the last on the hall and thankful he was so far from the common area; he stepped in with a nod to his friends and proceeded to methodically put away his things and check his schedule.
One year. All he had to endure was one more year.
As Harry placed his hand on the wall to his left, he knew Ron was doing the same two rooms over on his right. A door appeared before him and at the same time, it opened, and he met the soft stare of one of his best friends across Hermione’s room. Neither of them bothered with their own things but moved as one to hop onto Hermione’s bed and watch her as she went about putting away her clothing and setting her books up in that snotty, organized way of hers. Even with a mind full of nightmares and a body full of scars, she would always be that swotty little bookworm. It made a part of him settle to see it. It was so rare to get to see that side of her anymore.
He knew this year was going to be hardest on her. Though he had his own issues with his disillusionment and anger, hers was a seething cesspool of not only rage but dark magic that didn’t belong in her core now making itself a home. Being forced to live in a dormitory with the children of those who had broken her was going to be a testament to either her strength or the final push into insanity. He could only hope no matter which way she fell, he and Ron would be strong enough to hold on to her and brave the storm.
“You know Ron, Harry and I appreciate the loyalty, but you don’t have to keep following our lead in how you react to everyone else. Neither of us is going to push you away just because you managed to heal and find a way to a compassion we can’t feel.”
Hermione turned her eyes to their redheaded friend, her lips trying to tilt into an understanding smile. Harry missed her smiles.
“You know that, right? That we will still love you even if you chose to let that compassion reign?”
He heard more than saw Ron swallow before his words came low and calm.
“I think a part of me knows that. But it feels disloyal not to stand beside you no matter what the circumstance.”
Hermione moved until she sat on the end of her bed. They all shifted until they were leaning against the bed posts, feet and legs tangled in the middle of the bed together.
“You didn’t like what we said or did to Parkinson or Malfoy. And that’s okay. We both know you healed her scrapes too. We are angry, Ron, not blind.”
The small chuckle pulled one from Harry as Hermione nudged Ron’s leg with her foot.
“You aren’t upset?”
Hermione shook her head at the same time as Harry and he wondered how odd it was that the three of them could move so in tune with each other.
“Not at all, mate. We want you to be happy. You have managed to heal faster and better than Hermione or me. That’s okay. That’s good. We’ll get there or we won’t but neither of us hold it against you that you found a better way. Be who you are. We will still love you, no matter what, yeah?”
Harry watched as the wariness and heaviness on Ron’s shoulders faded as he gave them both a bright smile.
“Thanks, guys. And you know, if you want it, I always have your back. Just say the word and I am with you.”
They all shared a slight grin between them before Hermione shooed them from her room so she could finish unpacking, and they could get started. They left with laughter, complaining already about her bossy ‘mothering’ tendencies. It didn’t feel good to be back at Hogwarts, but it felt good to have something familiar again.
xoXOXox