Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

17

Hermione tried to forget last night. Forget about almost getting caught by Filch, Peeves being scared of her, and most of all the three-headed dog. However, she noticed Harry and Ron weren't letting it go. They were discussing about the break-in at Gringotts and whatnot and whether the thing the dog was hiding was valuable or dangerous. 

Part of Hermione wanted to investigate further, but she didn't want to get into trouble. So to stop herself from being tempted, she avoided talking to the two of them. But they probably were thrilled about that. Mail soon came to the Great Hall. Hermione got her usual sweets from Grandma but also a letter from a mystery writer. She reached to carefully opened it when she was taken aback from Harry's package of an obvious broomstick. Soon Harry and Ron went rushing out of the Great Hall. Hermione sighed before going back to her letter. She opened it and unfolded the letter until she read a strange message. 

There's nothing strange or bad about befriending beasts whether they are pure and sweet or dangerous and dark. Your family found great use of this. I have witnessed this myself, and you too will soon see. 

Hermione was bewildered with what this was even supposed to mean. What was did it mean about befriending beasts? Did it have something to do with the Three-Headed Dog in the forbidden corridor? Hermione bolted from her seat as she hurried out of the Great Hall, losing the rest of her appetite. She was storming up the stairs when she overheard Harry's voice. 

"Well it's true," Harry spoke, "If he hadn't stolen Neville's Remembrall I wouldn't be on the team..." 

"So I suppose you think that's a reward for breaking rules?" she found herself speaking without meaning to. Harry and Ron turned and were glaring at them. 

"I thought you weren't speaking to us?" Harry asked, crossing his arms as best as he could with the broomstick in his arm. 

"Yes, don't stop now. It's doing us so much good." Ron shot at her. Hermione growled, keeping her head high up. She had walked passed them when Harry spoke to her. 

"What's that letter in your hand?" he asked. Hermione peered over her shoulder. 

"Thought you didn't want me speaking to you?" she reminded them before storming to her room. 

Hermione didn't know when but two months soon flew by. She couldn't believe it really, but mostly it had something to do with the strange message that she had been given. She didn't understand it and researching wasn't helping her at all. She decided to give up and focus on her studies, but part of her was still curious about the message and what it meant. 

On Halloween morning, Hermione was thrilled to hear Professor Flitwick was going to let them make objects fly, which was something she was looking forward to. But they were working in pairs and Hermione was sadly with Ron. Hermione went focusing on the lesson of Wingardium Leviosa as Ron was busy trying to keep his distance from her. Once Professor Flitwick had given them the go ahead to try their spells, Hermione pulled out her wand, ready to preform the spell when Ron's messy wand work caught her eye. 

"Wingardium Leviosa!" Ron shouted, waving his arm like a windmill. 

"Stop! Stop! Stop! You're going to take someone's eye out. And you're saying it wrong! It's Wing-gar-dium, make the 'gar' nice and long. And it's Levi-o-sa, not Levios-a" Hermione advised him. 

"You do it then if you're so clever." Ron snarled at her. 

Without missing a beat, she flicked her wand and said, "Wingardium Leviosa!" 

The feather rose off the desk and hovered about four feet above their heads. 

"Oh, well done!" Professor Flitwick cried out, clapping, "Everyone see here, Miss Granger's done  it." 

Hermione smiled as she felt a warm feeling come over her, being praised for her hard work as she ignored Ron's sulking. 

By the end of class, Hermione walked through the corridors, hugging her books to her chest, feeling great about herself when suddenly... 

"It's Levi-O-sa, not Levios-a!" Ron said to Harry and a few other boys walking ahead of her, "She's a nightmare, honestly! It's no wonder she hasn't got any friends!" 

Hermione tighten her grip on her books before running ahead, bumping into Ron, but she didn't care. She just wanted out of there. 

She stayed in the girl's bathroom for the rest of the day, crying her eyes out. She felt stupid for feeling so sad about what Ron had said about her. But it wasn't just Ron's words that hurt her. He was right. She still didn't have any friends. And for what? Because she was different? Because she enjoyed the lessons and homework and studying? She knew she came off a bit bossy but she couldn't help it. She just wanted to help people but if they didn't want help then she must accept to let them fail or get hurt or killed or expelled or whatever it may happen to them. 

She wiped her now puffy red eyes at the end of her sleeves, gasping for air a bit. She finally felt she was out of tears to shed. She decided enough was enough of this crying. Ron and Harry and everyone else weren't going to give a damn at all because she was sad they insulted her so why should she give a damn or give a tear of what they think about her. Keeping her head up, she walked out of the stall ready to go into the Great Hall with her head held high... only to be stopped when her eyes landed on a Mountain Troll.