Shifting the Balance

Chapter 11


~ Unspeakable ~


Hermione left the common room early. She didn’t want to run into anyone this morning and walked to the Great Hall. Images of Malfoy were clouding her mind. How in Merlin’s name could she let this happen? How on earth could she let him touch her like that? Her cheeks flushed at the memory. Anger quickly backed the flush down. Stop acting like it meant something, she told herself.
On her way professor Dumbledore searched her out. Hermione only noticed him when he was in front of her.

“Miss Granger, can I please have a moment of you’re time? I need to speak with you.”

Together they walked to Dumbledore’s office. Standing in front of the gargoyle Dumbledore whispered ‘fizzing whizbee’ and the statue glided aside. The large spiral staircase was revealed and the Headmaster and Hermione stepped onto the stairs that moved up out of his own accord.
In the circular room Hermione took a seat opposite the Headmaster.

“You must be curious why I wanted to speak with you miss Granger. But I’ll cut to the chase and will not keep you any longer then necessary. “

Hermione looked at the Headmaster and wondered what this could be about. Something caught her eye and she looked at Fawkes as the bird stirred his red wings.
Hermione looked back up at the Headmaster.

“I have time Headmaster. It’s still early.”

The Headmaster beamed at her over his halve moon glasses and gave a small smile. “Yes of course.” The old wizard folded his hands together before he spoke.

“I believe you’ve heard that Lenn Feartrent, a fifth year Ravenclaw is hospitalized at St Mungo’s, miss Granger.” Hermione nodded.

“Well, the reason I wanted to speak to you is that you’ve worked with Lenn these last few weeks. You’ve been close to him, tutoring him. Maybe you can tell me if this boy did anything that would draw suspicion or acted strange in any way.”

Hermione’s stomach tightened. The image of Lenn hitting and bruising her body came back to her. Hermione willed the nerves that she felt to calm down and tried to look as normal as she could.

“Well, I’ve tutored Lenn only for two weeks. I didn’t know him that well. He wasn’t pleased to do the extra work, but things were coming along.”

“I like to share with you what we think happened to Lenn, miss Granger.” Hermione nodded again.

“We’ve discovered that Lenn was badly beaten. When he was brought to St Mungo’s his face was bruised and bloodied. The boy could barely breathe. You know his memory has been altered. But we suspect it is temporary. But the worst is that he can’t seem to talk. And we suspect that his ability to speak is taken from him by magic.”

Dumbledore looked at Hermione and she did her best to seem collected. Though she was a little shaken.

“You can imagine this will make it harder for the ministry and aurors to retrieve information. That is why I found it necessary to ask for your help. Miss Granger, you don’t remember anything of importance that could help us with the investigation? Maybe know who would wanted to hurt Lenn?”

Hermione felt sick. She knew who did this.
The image of Malfoy kicking Lenn in the stomach was plastered on her irises. He obliviated Lenn, she was sure. But to take away his ability to speak, Hermione couldn’t imagine anyone who could do that. And it was a sickening and cruel thing to do, taking away some ones ability to communicate.
Then the image changed. Malfoy was kissing her while he played with her lower part. His demanding eyes told her to look at him. To fully realise what he was doing to her. Hermione’s stomach tightened into a painful knot.

“It’s horrible Sir, but I’m sorry. I can’t help you. I don’t know Lenn very well, can’t imagine anyone who wanted to hurt him.” Hermione lied.

“Well then miss Granger. I won’t keep you any longer. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

Hermione stood and nodded towards Dumbledore before she stepped onto the spiral stairs again. She leapt off the stairs in a hurry to get out.


***


In front of the gargoyle Hermione took a deep breath. Her head had started spinning. Oh god, oh god, oh god, oh god….
Quickly she grabbed hold of the gargoyle to steady herself.
She knew she had to talk to Malfoy. But the very thought of doing just that caused another wave of nausea. She couldn’t face Malfoy. She wanted to find a cave and hibernate there, not facing anyone or anything. Finding the courage she pushed herself from the gargoyle. She sighed deeply.
Slowly Hermione walked towards the stairs that took her down to the great Hall. Her thoughts were in tumult. Why did she lied to Dumbledore. It just wasn’t right. But to just tell on Malfoy like that. It didn’t feel right as well. But she made up her mind. She would keep her mouth shut. She needed more answers herself. But in time, she wasn’t going to rush things.

When Hermione’s form vanished below the staircase Malfoy stepped from the shadows of the alcove directly opposite Dumbledore’s office. His eyes were narrowed to slits. His hands balled into fists. His body trembled in anger.

“If you told them anything Granger, it will cost you dearly!” He whispered in malice.

***


Hermione got to the Great Hall and a few students were already there. Hermione settled at the Gryffindor table. For the whole meal she didn’t look over at the Slytherin table. Later on Ginny joined her and soon the two left for their classes.

Hermione walked to potions when she saw Ron, flanked by Tamara. Harry followed behind.
At the entrance of the potions classroom they halted. Hermione smiled at Harry and Harry began to talk to her. Out of the corner of her eyes Hermione saw that Ron was snogging Tamara like crazy. Somehow it irritated her that they did it so openly. Tamara left.
Hermione caught herself sneering and quickly looked back at Harry. Harry smiled at her. Together they walked into the classroom.

The Slytherins were already seated. Hermione did her best not to look. Professor Snape came stomping into the classroom. His black eyes were regarding the class with contempt.
Snape turned his back on the class and began scribbling onto the blackboard.

Hermione took out her scrolls and began copying the text on the black board. She looked up when a piece of paper fell onto her desk. Looking around she saw everyone concentrating on the blackboard.
Slowly she opened it. One sentence in neat writing.

‘Meet me in the common room after class’

She looked over her shoulder to where Malfoy was sitting. He had his head bowed down over his textbook. Hermione looked at the parchment again.
She wasn’t going to meet him. No she wasn’t! She wanted to ignore him some more. Yes, avoiding and ignoring she was really comfortable with at the moment.

She scribbled something on the parchment below his handwriting.

‘I can’t meet you’

Hermione crushed the parchment in her hand and looked back over her shoulder. When she was certain no one was looking, she carefully threw the parchment back at Malfoy.
Unfortunately it bounced off his head onto his table. Hermione couldn’t help but smile at this.
When Malfoy angrily looked up she quickly turned.

In the back Malfoy opened the parchment. He narrowed his eyes at her sentence. Looking at the back of her head, he scowled. He was going to meet her. One way or another.

***