When Hermione Fights

Common Room

Common Room

The forest was pitch-black. I had to utter a Lumos to find the stone, so I could get rid of it with a Dissendium and a Wingardium Leviosa. Standing in the tunnel, I put it back in it's place, moving as if I was under a trance. I still couldn't believe what had happened in the past few hours. I had wild, harsh sex with Professor Snape as his paid hooker and had been beaten by Sirius, my as of now ex-boyfriend! Well, if that wasn't an eventful night, I didn't know what was. There was also the matter of Rita, who I had once again scared to death after I had told her that what had happened to the Death Eaters was on my account.

I needed a strengthening potion. I was so fed up with the world! I never would've thought that a day would come where I would fight against my friends and not my enemies. But one never did stop learning...

Was that a comfort for me? Not likely! I pulled my cap further over my throbbing and swollen face. I didn't know what I was looking like, but I guessed I wasn't looking pretty, so I huddled myself deeper into my coat. It was twenty minutes to one o'clock and I felt absolutely exhausted. I ran along the secret passage until I reached the stone witch and went behind it. Once I made it into Hogwarts, I quickly scurried to the entrance of the Slytherin common room. I needed Draco, that was the only thing I could think of.

"Snake pit," I whispered breathlessly at the stone wall, and it gave me access. I confidently entered the room, and could see from under my hood that the room was occupied by the higher classes despite the late hour. All in all, nine to ten students were present! Was I mad to face all these snakes? Most likely, but I just didn't care at the moment and Draco had said I should come, though I'm sure he wouldn't have expected me to come so early. On the island by the fireplace Draco's classmates Nott, Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle were seated, and about five other students were standing around the rest of the room. I think it was three seventh-graders and two from the sixth. Only Draco wasn't there, to my chagrin. Had I ever mentioned how unreasonably lucky I always was? Unbearably so.

"Who are you?" came unfriendly voices from several corners.

"What are you doing here?" someone else said, particularly aggressive.

"Show your face! Strangers aren't allowed here!" another hissed suspiciously. The air had become tense. Some were nervous, some suspicious, others openly hostile. A few of the snakes were already pulling out their wands. I quickly used a nonverbal Protego Horribilis, a long-lasting protection spell that was also helpful against dark-magical attacks. One never knew when it would be required and I was in enemy land here.

I was a few seconds too slow, because I already felt a spell impact. I hadn't said a word so far, standing quietly in the middle of the common room, when I recognized a white-blond head from the corner of my eye. It was Draco, coming into the room with the dark-skinned Zabini in tow.

At that moment a painful stab made me turn around. A Diffindo had hit my thigh and not only cut through the fabric of my coat, but also my skin. This is what happens if one isn't always careful enough. Damn, wasn't my face enough already? The cut stung as it bled freely.

"Oww, Draco.." I exclaimed indignantly, reaching for my bleeding leg. Hadn't I bled enough already? Why always me? Oh yes, I had forgotten... I loved the danger!

"What is going on here?" Draco snapped, impressing with his aristocratic demeanour when he stepped confidently into the room, registering me surrounded by belligerent Slytherins.

"She doesn't want to show us her face!" said a stupid goose in a squeaky voice. I'll show you something else in a second. Goddess, I was in a bad temper! I bared my teeth, only no one saw it from under my hood. I held my thigh and pulled away my bleeding hand. Now I could see something very vicious reflected in the liquid silver the colour of his eyes transformed into when he noticed my injury.