The red and gold Snake.

Chapter 8: All Hallows eve

October had arrived, spreading a damped chill over the grounds of Hogwarts. Hermione sighed as she walked up the stairs towards the Gryffindor common room and saw Ginny Weasley passing her by. The girl had been looking pale the last couple of days and Percy had forced to take some pepper up potion Madame Pomfrey had in stock seeing that the flue was spreading in the school like a raging fire. But it didn't really seem to help. The twins did everything I their power to cheer her up though and Hermione couldn't keep herself from admiring the love they had for their little sister. Talking about the Weasleys... Hermione paled a bit when she noticed Ronald Weasley and his two friends Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas walking her way. She looked around herself to find a way out but didn't find anything, seeing that she had just walked up the stairs.

"Granger! Just the girl we were looking for." Ronald spoke gleefully.

"Boys." She muttered.

"How is our transfiguration essay going?" Seamus asked, looking at the stack of books she was carrying in her arms and her bag swung over her shoulder.

"I told you I am not making it for you." She answered between gritted teeth. "I want to get the errors out, but I don't make your homework because you are too lazy and stupid to get your arses to the library yourself."

"Take that back." Seamus spat, grabbing her free arm and pushing her against the wall.

She shook her head, keeping her chin up high in proud.

"You're nothing more than an insufferable, useless, bloody, know-it-all traitor." The words leaving Ronald's mouth hurt a lot, but she didn't show it to him and his cronies.

"What are you good for if you're not doing our homework?" Seamus asked, grabbing her arm a bit harder, digging his fingers in it. She was sure he was leaving marks on her.

"For the I don't-know-how-maniest time, I'm not doing your homework!" She spat, looking braver than she felt. "Now get off me or I swear you will regret it!"

"How? By calling your Snake friends?" Dean asked meanly. "Oh wait, one of them noticed what a nerd you are and quit hanging out with you." He sniggered when he saw the girl flinch. "It's only a matter of time before the others notice it as well and dump you as a pile of rubbish."

"We don't like traitors." Ronald spat, wanting the spotlight back on him. "Maybe we should lock you out of the tower for good next time. You belong in the dungeons anyway."

She knew he meant it. Ever since she befriended the Slytherins they had been bullying her. Of course she had kept it a secret for her friends, her pride keeping her from being seen as helpless.

She had lost count of times the girls in her dorm would ignore her, not speaking or acknowledging her at all. Or the times boys had rounded on her and hounded her long enough so she would help them with their homework. This wasn't the first time they had cornered her, and it probably wouldn't be the last.

"I asked you something, traitor!" The Weasley spat, making the girl flinch. She was doing everything she could to find a way out. Oh, how stupid she had been for leaving the library without her friends. Harry was off to Quidditch practice and Theo had offered to stay, not being needed as he wasn't on the team. Knowing that Theo did enjoy watching the practice and having planned to meet up with Daphne and the other later, she had let him go. She and Blaise still weren't talking either, so he probably was at the Quidditch pit as well. Not caring that she was cornered on the third floor, away from any help.

"You're a pathetic excuse of a human being, Ronald." She spat at the ginger. "Now let me go!"

"Wrong answer." Seamus sniggered. Pulling her forward so she was closer to Ronald. She took advantage of this and kneed the ginger where it hurts while making a run for the empty hall after elbowing Seamus, keeping her books close to her chest. She almost got there, taking Dean by surprise, but Seamus was tougher than he looked and pulled her back harshly.