In the Sky

In the Sky (novella)

"Hermione, come on, you can do it! Everyone else can," she whispered to herself, eyes locked onto the broomstick lying expectantly on the ground before her. The Hogwarts grounds were dimly lit under the pale glow of the moon, and the gentle rustling of leaves filled the otherwise still evening air. She could hear the distant echoes of laughter from the Gryffindor common room, where her friends were undoubtedly discussing Quidditch – the topic that always seemed to dominate their conversations.

She sighed heavily, her breath visible in the chilly air. "You cannot leave this school without being able to do this." With that thought, she focused again on the broom, her hand hovering uncertainly above it. Ever since her dismal performance in flying class during her first year, it had become her mission to redeem herself. She wanted to show everyone, especially the boys, that she wasn't a complete failure. And perhaps, if she succeeded, she'd finally have something worthwhile to contribute to their conversations, something other than her academic achievements.

"It's just a broomstick," she muttered under her breath, though the anxiety curling in her stomach suggested otherwise.

As she stood there, late in the evening for what felt like the hundredth time, she tried to summon the confidence she desperately needed. She knew the theory all too well: the broom could sense her emotions. If she didn't truly believe she could do it, if she was frightened, it would remain stubbornly on the ground. She had attempted to calm herself repeatedly, but deep down, the thought of sitting atop that broom still terrified her.

Hermione couldn't help but feel like a cocooned caterpillar, stifled by her reputation as the know-it-all. Sure, her friends adored her, but there was a nagging feeling that they found her insufferably annoying at times. She was the master of eye rolls, and they were quick to remind her of it whenever her chatter became too much. She wanted to change, to be less of a burden on them, and maybe, just maybe, that was why boys rarely asked her out. Ginny, with her lively spirit and effortless charm, always seemed to capture their attention instead.

"It's so unfair," she mused quietly, feeling the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her. She longed for excitement, to be the kind of girl that turned heads as she strolled through the corridors, the kind of girl that made boys drool. She wanted to be funny, captivating, and most importantly, noticed. With Ron and Harry, she often felt like just "one of the lads," a perspective that gnawed at her insides, especially after Ron's offhand comment before the Yule Ball during their fourth year. Sure, she was included in their escapades, but she was painfully aware that they didn't see her as a girl with feelings.

She leaned down, burying her face in her arms as despair washed over her. "Oh, what a pathetic mess," she thought, wishing for just a moment of normalcy in the chaos of her emotions.

"Honestly, Granger, do you really need to contaminate all of Hogwarts with your sappy girl nonsense?" a voice jeered, cutting through her melancholy. Hermione looked up, her heart sinking as she recognised the voice. Draco Malfoy stood there, leaning casually against a nearby tree, his smirk wide and malicious.

"Just go away, Malfoy," she sniffed, trying to wipe away her tears in vain. "I DO NOT need your rubbish right now, alright!?" She rose, frustration surging within her, and grabbed her broom, determined to walk away from him.

"Wow, what are YOU doing with a broom, Granger?" he called after her, his tone mocking. "Shouldn't you just let them stay in the broom cupboard after first year?" He chuckled at his own joke, and her irritation flared.

"Just leave me alone, okay? Just go away! Just for today, can you find someone else to torment?" Her voice cracked slightly as she turned to face him, anger mingling with desperation.

"Alright... Merlin... Calm down, Granger. What's your problem today? On your period? Oh wait, maybe you missed one. Did Weasley already get you pregnant?" His smirk was infuriating, and she felt a fresh wave of tears threaten to spill.