Breaking Hermione

When Darkness Wins

Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.

Mary Oliver

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Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.

William Shakespeare

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Hermione

We entered the Common Room, Tom leading the way through the door followed closely by me. There was a gathering waiting for us. The atmosphere was intense. Whatever was going to happen next would've scared me before. Now, I didn't feel anything.

All the Slytherins were in the Common Room. Jade, Shalini, some girls who I didn't recognise. There was movement from the couches near the back. I looked closer and saw that throng or boys who assaulted me last night snickering amongst themselves. I must've looked terrible, but I found I didn't care as I looked on emotionlessly. As we walked in it was to me that all eyes were drawn to. I stared back at everyone, equally as intrigued by them as they were about me.

Tom must have arranged it. The meeting.

"Hermione!" Shalini squealed.

"Shalini." Tom said dangerously. "Quiet."

I saw a girl beside her gasp. Jade. I caught her eye for a moment, her familiar face was meaningless to me. Hurt flickered in her eyes for a mere moment before I looked away. I didn't care about any of them anymore. I didn't care about anything.

"I've gathered you all here tonight for one reason." Tom moved to stand in front of one of the fires. I moved to stand beside him, a show of solidarity.

"I have been getting increasingly concerned by a few people in this House who shamelessly have dared to oppose me. But thanks to a few people amongst us this.... problem has been dealt to effectively."

Me. I was the problem, I could tell by the way he said the word. I looked up at him as he spoke. His dark eyes found mine for a brief moment, he looked amused. I was a joke to him, and the knowledge didn't bother me. If anything I was happy that he had found humour in the situation. I didn't feel anything.

"I respect loyalty." He continued, looking back to the students without emotion. His voice was barely louder than the crackling of the fire in the grate behind him. "As good as it is to show that we are loyal to our friends, there is also a time where we must deny them. And you all know what the fuck I am talking about."

The silence in the room was thick. Tom was furious, and it was a fearsome sight.

"I bet you're all wondering what I have called you all here tonight for. Well, let me indulge you. We have had people in this House daring to side with each other against me." His low voice was ice. "This sort of traitorous behaviour will end tonight. Anyone here in this school foolish enough to oppose me from now will learn in due time that behaviour like that is not something we endorse in Slytherin House. Hermione here, who has in the past dared to oppose me, has learnt this lesson the hard way. Haven't you?"

I looked up to see him staring down at me.

"Yes, Tom is correct." I told everyone emotionlessly. "I was a fool, and now that I have been corrected I will not be as I once was before."

"Good girl." Tom said just loud enough for me to hear.

I could see Shalini crying silently, her twin sister Jade put an arm around her. Tom didn't show he saw them, and if he did he didn't bother saying anything.