Anyone But Me

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Her day had gotten remarkably better. She had aced a pop quiz in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Snape had been looking much too smug the past couple of days so she knew it had to be coming. And she had done much better than she thought on her Ancient Runes essay from over the Holidays...

So she had a happy smile on her face when she turned to go into the library, intent on using the time of her break before Arithmancy wisely... She needed to double check an equation that she was pretty sure she had transcribed incorrectly. Trying not to waste time, she had already started to study the parchment in front of her to find the probable blunder, so she was not paying attention when she walked straight into the back of a student who was blocking the entrance.

She dropped the parchment in her hands and mumbled a curse under her breath as she bent down to grab it. When she stood up she gave a quick apology as she tried to step around the body and surrounding group. Hermione's eyes flicked up to find the face of Draco staring down at her over his shoulder and her lame excuse got stuck on her tongue.

She had to fight off the instant desire to smile up at him and wrap her arms around his waist. The faces of his companions were a reminder of where they were... And that such acts were not permitted around any sets of eyes. Her gaze broke away from his and landed on Nott and Parkinson. Nott looked bored with the turn of events but as usual the witch's eyes brightened at the chance to torment her favorite toy.

"Nevermind..." She sneered, stepping back from the group. Responding in the way she would have if she wasn't sneaking around with the self appointed head of their little group. She tried to go around them again but Pansy stepped in front of her, stopping her from entering.

"You should show your betters more respect." The girl's jet black eyes narrowed at her.

"When I find some, I will. Now if you would please excuse me..." She had to fight herself back from rolling her eyes at the tired routine. Once again she moved to try and go around.

Pansy grabbed her at the elbow and pulled her back in front of her, before leaning down to hiss in her face. "One day you will be where you belong... At the bottom of a grave. Just you wait and see Mudblood."

The anger that the girl's words flamed inside of her was dangerous. She knew she was about to lose control and she had heard worse but her patience was still thin from her hectic morning. Her hand twitched towards her wand, itching to use it against her. She stopped herself and yanked her arm from the witch's tight grip. "For being such a smart girl, you really are quite unintelligent. It truly is sad... Such potential to only end up as another witless bigot. You should work on your threats, Parkinson. They are getting old real fast."

She turned to leave, no longer worried about the potential mistake. She would take the docked point over this ridiculousness. She heard the girl shriek and then something hard hit the back of her head, making her vision tunnel for a second. She blinked a couple of times before it returned to normal and then whipped back around. Her gaze found the offending object and her glare centered on the witch, who looked just as shocked at her outburst as her two companions. "Did you just throw a book at me?"

A snarl crossed Hermione's face as she closed the short distance between them. She put her face right up into Pansy's so there was only a short distance keeping them apart. "Why are you so afraid of me?"

The girl's eyes widened at her challenge, but she didn't step down. Instead she moved like she was going to physically attack Hermione, on instinct she pulled out her wand and placed it under the taller girl's chin, causing her to instantly still. Pansy hadn't been expecting her to retaliate. Usually she just ran away, too afraid of her losing control over her emotions to be willing to verbally spar.