Draco's Obsession

Extinguished

Hermione's POV;

After Draco was transported to the infirmary, Hermione left the Great Hall with a heavy heart.

Ron was taken away, Blaise and Theo were sent to Professor McGonagall's office, and the others were being interviewed about the incident.

With all the chaos, Hermione didn't have it in her to stick around. And she didn't think it was right that she were to go with Draco to the infirmary. So, Alexandria promised to stay with him and keep her updated.

Exhaustion took over her entire body. But regardless of the exhaustion, her heart ached and her mind raced.

Blaise's words hit her like a brick wall. She could not deny the reckless behaviour she had unconsciously been displaying.

Hermione could not deny that she was as much to blame than Ron was.

She felt foolish.

Stupid.

Inconsiderate.

Harry had tried to warn her.

He had mentioned Ron's violent outbursts and behaviour, but she had shrugged it off, not realising that it was effecting others.

Tonight was proof of that.

It was all her fault.

She should not have brought Draco to Ron.

Or Ron to Draco.

It was a stupid decision.

The cold hit her before she realised that she was now outside in the courtyard. Not wanting to be around anyone, Hermione began the trek to Hagrid's hut.

She released the sigh that weighed on her chest and allowed the cold air to fill her lungs. She felt grounded, but it did nothing to relive the grimness she felt.

She stood on the first step outside the broken hut.

A tear streaked down her cheek as Hermione huffed a devastated laugh. The hut seemed to reflect her life.

Damaged from the outside and destroyed on the inside. She missed Hagrid and his kindness. She missed being engulfed in his warmth and wished she could listen to his words of wisdom.

She even missed Grawp. The gentle giant with his welcoming smile and haughty laugh.

Hermione knew that Grawp was much happier living in the mountains near Hogsmeade. She assumed Hagrid was keeping him company, but she was not certain.

Hermione made her way into the hut and realised that the ceiling had been completely patched. The interior needed a lot more work, but with a stable ceiling, it was a good start.

Pulling out her wand, Hermione whispered, "Incendio," lighting the fireplace to provide both light and warmth.

She fell to her knees in front of the fireplace and began sobbing alongside the crackling fire.

She hugged her knees to her chest and rested her head on her knee.

Guilt floated around her mind as she reposed the last hour in her head.

With everything going on with Draco and his mother, he did not need the chaos that seemed to follow her wherever she went. He was already under a lot of pressure, this was just adding fuel to his fire.

Blaise calling her a muggle made her feel so... worthless and mundane. So pathetic.

As if she had finally proved to their world that she was a muggle.

A tragedy to the Wizarding world.

Another sob rose from the pit in her stomach. She cried for what seemed for hours, thinking of how reckless she was.

How irresponsible and selfish she was being.

She craved her mother and father's love and warmth. The way they used to treat her like she was the most beautiful girl in the world. The way her father used to read her bedtime stories after a long day at work. Or how her mother always made sure to tell Hermione that she was the most important person to them. That she was the light in the dark world.

But it seemed she was not any of that... to anyone.

And worst of all, to herself.

A knock drew Hermione from her dark thoughts.

The door opened to show Neville standing with a sorrowful smile on his face.

"McGonagall wants to talk to you," he told her tiredly, not stepping into the hut.

"I just want to be left alone, Neville. Please," she pleaded.

He nodded his head but didn't move.

She went back to staring at the fires crackling in the fireplace. Hermione didn't want to talk to anyone, or relay the events that had gone on. Quiet and peace was all she wanted.

"Come on, Hermione," Neville spoke after giving her a couple of minutes to gather herself. "It's better to get this over with."

Releasing another deep sigh, Hermione finally stood and fixed her uniform before using an extinguishing spell to let the fire escape into the chimney and into the cold air, which she met with the opened door.