Hurt

chapter 6

Naomee2309 This is a slightly shorter chapter.

The next few weeks flew. Hermione avoided Ana and the other girls as much as possible. Fred and George Weasley had started a pranking war to "avenge" their older brother after his humiliation in the Great Hall. Soon the entirety of Gryffindor and Slytherin were involved and it escalated very quickly. None of the Slytherins saw anything that Ana had done as out of line and she was now extremely popular after her humiliation of the Gryffindor prefect. Hermione wasn't sure what was going on but she figured it best to play it safe for now and give Ana a wide, wide berth to figure her shit out.

Her first practical Charms lesson was today and Hermione was ecstatic. Finally she would get to use her magic again. Her Transfiguration practical wasn't until next week. Everything had gone great until;
"It's Leviooosa not Leviosaaa" Rom mimicked in a scratchy, high voice. Hermione winced as Harry laughed and Ron continued; "She's a nightmare, honestly! No wonder she doesn't have any friends!" He said.
Hermione sped past the boys, trying not to cry. Her efforts in vain. They only hated her because she'd told them not to go to that stupid duel with Malfoy, she knew it was a trap. Dunderheads. She thought angrily as she headed to the girls bathroom. She locked the door firmly and wept bitterly, feeling so alone.

Severus watched the Great Hall uneasily. It was Halloween and Quirrel was missing, as expected. Filius had told Minerva what happened between her cubs, and Severus could hear their guilt screaming their thoughts out when the Longbottom boy started scolding them. The girl still hadn't come out of the bathroom to dinner as expected. He knew logically that she wasn't supposed to but the thought of a student, especially a first year alone with a Mountain Troll for any length of time made him worry. Even still, he appeared as stoic as ever.

Down at the Gryffindor table Neville was heartily scolding the Boy Who Should Not Have Lived and his redheaded sidekick. "She's so nice! Ron, you were way out of line, she was just trying to help you. She doesn't mean to be bossy!" he said angrily.
"She'll be fine, Neville. Girls cry all the time." Ron replied, his mouth full of food.
"She's been in the bathroom since Charms, Ron. You really hurt her. And Harry, celebrity or not I expected better from you!" Neville scolded. The two boys had the decency to look guilty.

"TROLL IN THE DUNGEON!!! TROLL IN THE DUNGEON" shrieked Quirrell. The Great Hall watched him silently in shock.
"Thought you'd want to know." he said before fainting. The Great Hall erupted into screams. Severus had planned in advance and knew where to send his students in emergencies like this. The Professors looked to each other and nodded. The games had begun.
"SILENCE!!!!!" roared Dumbledore. The Hall went dead quiet, the children looking in fear.
"All Prefects take your Houses to their Common Rooms. Professors, with me."
Severus strode over to his Prefects and beckoned them over. "There is a portrait of Merlin in the Entrance Hall. Use the password "Honour" and head through the tunnel. It will take you straight into the Common Room." he said quickly.
The Prefects nodded and Severus sprinted down the corridor, straight to the third floor. Slipping inside, he met a very angry Fluffy. He didn't have time to pull out his wand before he was knocked off his feet and one of the heads had bitten his leg. Severus roared in pain and sent a Stunner at the dogs head. He quickly conjured a guitar and made it play itself. He strode through, checking the defences. As he left, he bumped into Quirrel.
"W-What are you doing here, Severus?" he asked fearfully.
"I could ask you the same question. Albus sent me here. And I know for a fact he did not give you such a directive." Severus spat, shoving him back as the man stuttered.

"Get to the dungeons, twit. And do your job as DADA teacher." he sneered.
Severus joined with Minerva, Sprout, Filius, Hooch and Albus and they ran to the bathroom. They had to get there in time.