The Girl Who Lived (Draco Malfoy x OC)

The Oppressor

November 13th 1994

Hermione followed Ron and Harper through the castle, her extra textbooks in her arms. Lunch had been a stressful affair out in the courtyard. Ever since Harper's name flew out of the Goblet of Fire, she had been a massive target for everyone. Her poor best friend rubbed her scar, a headache from all the tension.

"I haven't felt like this since second year," Harper muttered as they passed another glaring Hufflepuff. Ron protectively put a hand on her shoulder, sending the look right back at them.

Hermione knew what Harper was thinking about. In second year a large part of the school started suspecting her of attacking fellow students with a monster. The poor girl was feeling cursed. At least Ginny had convinced Ron to come around. She knew that had been the worst part about becoming a Triwizard Champion - that her best friend didn't believe her.

"I mean, I guess I understand Hufflepuff's attitude," Harper reasoned, glimpsing back at who had eyed her. "They have their own champion to support. And I expect nothing less than vicious insults from the Slytherins, but I thought some Ravenclaws might have supported me."

"They think you're desperate for more fame," Ron said and Hermione tried not to notice his hand still on Harper's shoulder.

Harper sighed.

"Have you heard from Padfoot?" Hermione asked.

She shook her head. "No, and even if he's written, Hedwig still won't come near me."

They descended a set of stairs into the dungeons, squeezing past hordes of exiting Slytherin's. Hermione always despised this section of the castle. The dim lighting was unsettling and the windows to the lake made it constantly cold. She shivered, hugging her books closer to her as a group of older Slytherin girls sent her a snarky smile. That was the worst part about the dungeons, they were crawling with Slytherins and Hermione couldn't stand them!

"'Mione please sedate me," Ron mumbled as they approached the class for Double Potion's.

The fourth year Slytherin's were waiting outside, each and every one of them wearing a large badge on the front of his or her robes. For a fleeting second, Hermione thought they were S.P.E.W. badges and she nearly bounced, but as they came closer she noticed they were in fact badges for Cedric Diggory.

"Don't worry about it, Harp," she said quietly, glaring at Millicent Bulstrode who perked up at their arrival.

"I'm not worried about them in the slightest," Harper quipped.

"Like them, Potter?" Pansy Parkinson chimed as they stopped nearby.

She looked at the girl blankly, not offering her anything. Hermione hoped it would end there, she knew they didn't care that much for Cedric, they just wanted to do it in spite of Harper.

"And this isn't all they do — look!"

She pressed the badge into her chest and it swirled green, the words "Potter Stinks!" in big flashing letters. The other girls burst into laughter, sniggering behind their hands. Everywhere Hermione looked, she saw it.

By the look on Harper's face, she was struggling to ignore them. The girl sucked in her cheek and stayed defiantly quiet, looking away from them.

"Very funny," she sarcastically spat in her best friend's defence.

"Really? Is that the best you can do?" Ron rolled his eyes, pushing past Pansy to join Dean and Seamus by the door.

"Want one, Weasley?" Malfoy then said, appearing from the group, everyone parted to make way for him. "We had loads made."