A Piece of Mind

Chapter [12]

Quick warning: there is bullying mentioned in the beginning with Hermoine and Draco, plus some pretty nasty things said and like one or two curse words. If that triggers you I apologize in advance and you can skim through that whole part if you so wish as it is mostly there for background.

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Hermione was done with her friends' antics. They had a mountain of homework piled up from the week and they turned a blind eye; ignoring it until the last possible moment. Instead of working, they decided to spend half their weekend tossing a ball through hoops, or whatever you do in Quidditch.

Sunday morning Hermoine could be found sitting outside under the shade of a large tree by the river, happily finishing her toast and pursuing a book she'd been waiting to read. She smiled at a passage in her book, flipping the page in anticipation.

With the quiet murmurings of students splashing in the water or chatting on the grass, the warm breeze blowing through her frizzy mess of hair, and the fading smell of the last of this year's flowers, Hermione was comfortable.

That is, until a drawling voice disrupted her peace. Of course that git had to ruin her first day off.

"Look at this! Granger, reading a book in her spare time. What a surprise," Draco said, as loud as it was condescending, getting the attention of the students around them. Hermione frowned and returned to her book, trying to ignore him. She was outnumbered here, and he knew it.

"What book are you reading, Granger? A how-to on 'getting a life'? Or maybe trying to figure out a love potion for the new kid, Fowl. Really lives up to the name don't you think?" His gaggle of thugs laughed raucously as he pinched his nose and waved at the air like he could smell Artemis from there. Her body tensed as he got closer, the stink of stale breath filling her nose. "Tell me, are you really that desperate? It's obvious you like him, but the only way anyone would like you is against their will. Is that it?"

Hermione furrowed her dark eyebrows at him, willing herself not to let the anger and humiliation bubbling inside her show, at least not to this bloody creep. How did he know about her feelings? She barely knew about her feelings. He must be bluffing. Keeping her voice as level as possible she said, "Do you really have nothing better to do?"

Malfoy grinned, as if her lack of reaction was confirming his suspicions.

"Maybe I'll tell Fowl about your little crush, just to see how the idiot would react. Probably wouldn't understand. Don't worry, I'll take a picture for you." Still speaking loudly, laughter rippled from around them at Draco's words, the students playing in the water standing in a semi-circle around her. They were all Slytherins. Artemis was thankfully not amongst them as far as Hermione could tell. Not that it would do much good.

"Maybe, they'll get together! Imagine that, two filthy little mudbloods getting off on each other. Now, that I need a picture of." More laughter. Hermione's calm facade disintegrated, her face growing red with both embarrassment and rage.

"You're despicable," Hermione spat, her voice muffled by fury. Tears involuntarily started pooling in her eyes.

Malfoy, still laughing, paused to look at her. "What was that? I got distracted by the thought of you- and him- " He collapsed into another fit of giggles as Goyle made a crude gesture with his hands.

"I said, you're a despicable excuse for a lousy, poor-mannered, hideous, maggot-brained, pile of dragon dung!" Getting louder with each word, the silence that followed this outburst was surreal. The students around her started whispering and trading glances with their mates. Did Hermione Granger just say that? To Draco Malfoy?