You're a Fox?

You Lost Her, Remember?

Hermione's Pov:

Run.

Run.

Run. Always running.

It's my second time running from my feelings.

But this time is different. This time I'm running away from the castle, into the forest, away from my friends and comfort, to the dark wonders of the woods.

I'm running because I like Draco Malfoy. I like the Slytherin King, the boy who has helped me come out of my shell, who has helped me get my son, and who I believed cared about me... But I was wrong... At the end of class and all through lunch, it was all he could do not to practically snog that pug-faced brat. 

So once I've made it past the grounds, I place my book, shoes, socks, and sweater on a table out the front of Hagrid's house, and start to sprint through the treeline. 

Scratching sticks, sharp stones, and splitting shrieks.  Running as fast as I can, I trip on a root and fall to the ground, my arms wrapping around my head to protect me from the debris of the forest floor. Staying on the ground, I curl so that I'm still on the forest floor in the fetal position, I stay there till the bird's noise dies down and the light fades.

A harsh wind hits my face. As I open my eyes and turn onto my back, to see a skeletal, black leather face staring down at me. A Thestrals, nuzzling the side of my head with its muzzle, sniffing my hair, and smelling my face. Laughing and giggling, I slowly raise my hand to stroke the side of its face, before long there's a whole heard of them around me, smelling and nuzzling, protecting me from the dangers of the forest, and with the rhythmic breath of the Threstrals, I drift off to sleep.

"ER'MIONE" rough hands grab my shoulders, lifting me from the ground, and cradling me into a strong embrace, as I struggle to stay awake, faintly aware of a scratchy feeling on my face, my eyes parting slightly, and I see Hargids long beard brushing my face, as he carries me through the dark.

Dark twisting shapes, morphing and moving, such a familiar sight to me by now, only these were different, yet still so familiar...

It's the vision...the one that Ronald saw in the forest when he opened the locket, of Harry and I... I never did have the heart to tell them that I was there, that the fear drove me away before I could even realize that Ron was there with Harry... I only saw that vision...

Swirling and swaying, the being turn, and I am unable to turn away from the image, I'm stuck, staring at myself and my best friend...only it's not Harry, it's hair turning platinum blonde, his figure becoming taller and less lean, more built, it takes me a moment to realize that its Draco. but that is not me...in my place is a girl with long, straight, dark brown hair, pale skin, and a very thin figure...In my place is Pansy Parkerson.

Arms snaking and withering, the image never stops moving in and out of focus, as voices taunt me, 

mudblood 

traitor

freak

Hermione...Hermione..."HERMIONE"

Bolting up, my head smashes into a hard surface, gripping my head, I hear a yelp and a groan of protest. Blinking back the few tears that had sprung to my eyes, I look up to see Neville rubbing his forehead, Luna beside him, staring intently at me,

"Are you ok, Mione?" I don't know who spoke, but I couldn't reply, my throat closing up, as a lead weight pressed onto my chest, gripping below my throat, trying to claw whatever it was away, Neville ran to Madam Pomfrey, and they both came running back hurriedly, as she quickly poured a potion down my throat, I felt something almost acidic burning my forehead and found myself unable to move, as I struggle to remember where I am.