a dance with destiny

viii

Disclaimer: I am not transphobic, so therefore I own nothing except the order these words are in, as everything else belongs to JKR

September 21, 1977

Later That Night, The Hospital Wing

3rd Person POV:

*Use of Profanity*

Hermione awoke with a start. Another nightmare. Thank goodness I put those silencing charms up, she thought to herself as she stood up, maybe if I walk around for a few minutes, it'll help clear my head. She stood, making her way over to a rack on one side of the Hospital Wing, where her beaded bag was, when she suddenly heard some scuffling. She froze, softly calling out, "Who's there?" When she got no response, she hurried to grab her bag, and went back to her bed.

The same noise came again, closer this time, and Hermione looked around warily, eyes narrowing when she caught sight of the shadow of a boy in the corner that suddenly disappeared and the pink tail that, a few moments later, vanished under a hospital bed. Peter.

I ought to try and coax him out. thought Hermione, Well. This confrontation is going to happen a lot earlier than I thought it would.

"Hello?" She called again, "I know you're there; I just saw you; I think you might as well come out from under the bed." One, Hermione counted, Two...Three. She pulled out her wand and in one swift motion, flicked it at the rat hiding under the bed, which turned into a scrawny teenager. A very angry, scrawny teenager.

"What the fuck?! How the Hell did you know I'm an animagus!

Hermione froze, desperately trying to think of a way to get Peter to admit he was a Death Eater, "Uh, well, I d-don't know, I guess I just-"

She was immediately cut off by Peter, "Never mind! I don't want your stupid excuses! You will not tell anyone what you saw today!" At Hermione's raised eyebrow, he yelled, "I do. Not. Care. What you told Black. Or what she told you. If you tell anyone. And I mean anyone. About what happened, I can guarantee you'll regret it."

"And what exactly did I see? Just some students walking around the grounds, near curfew? Is that what you're mad about? You don't want to get in trouble for being out past curfew?"

"What?! Are you stupid?!"

"Maybe. Enlighten me." Hermione sneered, struggling to keep her voice quiet.

"Listen. I don't care about whatever stupid game you think you're playing. Just do what I said-" the color returned to his cheeks when he saw Hermione roll her eyes, and he roared, "IF YOU TELL A. SINGLE. PERSON. ABOUT THE MEETING WITH THE DARK LORD YOU. WILL. PAY!"

It was then that Hermione realized how Peter came to be a Gryffindor. It wasn't because he was particularly brave, or chivalrous, no, it was because he was good at masquerading as a Gryffindor. Pretending to be brave. And, pretending to not be brave. Quite like Scar, from the Lion King, she mused to herself. A lion, yes, but brave? Really, truly brave? At heart? No. Never.

After all, yes, every lion had its moments of bravery. Short bursts of power they had the mediocre confidence to exhibit. Before returning back to the shadows. Returning to scavenge for scraps left by the truly brave of heart.

She took a deep breath, trying to control the pure rage she felt towards the rat. For betraying his best friends. Betraying the Order. Betraying everything that the Light stood for. Everything good, and all that the good symbolized. For betraying Harry. "The Dark Lord, you say?" Hermione managed to bite out.