redemption - SOULBOUND I̲̅I̲̅ || SS/HG

12. Magical seven

She was exhausted, her eyes swollen by the lack of sleep. For a week now, Hermione couldn't rest; her mind was swirling with thoughts she couldn't shut down. At first, she would stay laying in bed, her low groans of annoyance vibrating under her plush pillow. She tried so hard to sleep, even used one of the sleeping potions that she had found inside the many piles of book nestled in her transfigure bag, but in vain. Nothing worked.

Quickly she decided to go to the library, hoping there at least she could be productive and do some advanced research for her upcoming OWLs. However, her mind didn't seem to cooperate at all. Unable to concentrate, as if there was an invisible force keeping her from accomplishing the tasks that she desired. It wasn't long before she started to walk around the library at night, her head throbbing as if it was infested with bees, making her grimace.

Her eyes would fall upon the ocean of books in the library, slowly adapting to the darkness. A strange feeling of relief and familiarity would submerge her when she would extend her hands inside the burning chimney, her fingers caressing the fire while her eyes sparkled with contentment. As if it was dancing with her moving hand, the fire swirled around her hand, burning her delicate skin to perfection. Hermione could help but escape every time a moan she didn't know she was holding. 

Absolute bliss.

As the week went by, her under eyes darkened, yet she felt relaxed; finally, she had found a way to scratch the itch nestled deep inside her skin.

Fire.

If she had known that conjuring fire would ease her pain and discomfort, she would have lit herself on fire the day she had woken up from the library. However, something was still bothering her.

The unknown force lurking in the shadows.

Hermione could feel the presence of something unknown following her yet no matter how hard she tried to ignore it, convince herself that nothing was there, the cold rush of shivers down her spine was telling her otherwise. She could hear steps, especially at night while she would head down to the library. Small, discrete steps, yet Hermione knew they were there, following her every move, mirroring her. Low voices would soon come from behind her whenever she would be sitting by the fire in the chimney at the far right corner of the library. She tried to listen, decipher what was being said, yet she couldn't. The sound was muffled, yet no matter how frightening the situation was, she strangely felt secure. 

"Watch were you're going Granger!" Spat Malfoy, his eyes squinting at her with pretend menace as they bumped into each other, "you blind bat!"

"Shove it Malfoy," she snapped, blind to the shocked expression drawn on the Slytherin's face, continuing her walk down to Hagrid's hut, "bloody ferret".

To say she was irritated would be an understatement. She was beyond furious. Her walking was replaced by stomping as she walked down the hill, her eyes transfixed on the smoke leaving the small yet welcoming home of the half-giant. Since this morning Harry had kept asking her to come down to Hagrid's after breakfast, inquiring he needed to have an important talk about You-Know-Who in secret. She hadn't gone to breakfast, her mind fixed on the long and steaming shower awaiting her while all the students were eagerly eating in the great hall. It had already been a little over an hour since she should have met her friend, yet again, she was lost in the bliss procured by the burning sensation on her skin. 

"Hermione!" She heard Ron's voice scream from inside the hut, "hurry up!"

She rolled her eyes and hurried down, her hand about to grasp the door handle before it was burst open and two big arms lifted her up in the air. 

"Look at you," Hagrid spoke, holding her tight in his arms, "I'm glad you are doing better Hermione! Harry told me what happened, that old tree should be cut down I'm telling you!"