"That was seriously mad!" Lavender Brown chitters with her friends as Hermione steps into the Gryffindor common room. The place was abuzz after what'd befallen the Slytherin students, and most were thinking that the Weasley twins had something to do with it, which they vehemently denied due to personal prankster pride or some such.
Of course, denying it meant nothing since that was their usual routine to give themselves the chance to avoid culpability. Hermione just lets out a short sigh and finds a vacant seat nearby the fireplace, only then realising she'd not remembered to borrow the books she'd intended, the talk with Harry having upended any plans she might have made.
It felt like his scars had been permanently burned into her retinas... She'd never seen anything like it, except maybe brief depictions in horror books. She herself only had two small scars, one on her hand from getting pushed over by some bullies, and one on her foot for trodding on a particularly sharp lego.
To see such things on the Boy-Who-Lived, her friend, and for him to make such accusations against those who were supposed to protect them. It honestly made her sick, unsure of herself and her position in the world if the strange blood-based discrimination wasn't already enough.
"Hey, are you okay Hermione? You look pale..." Parvati questions as she walks by.
"I'm fine, just still thinking about earlier..."
Parvati grimaces, "Worms... I've heard enough of them from my parents when they were still living in India, let's hope they don't stick around, we don't need another thing to worry about..." she states, "I've got to finish up that assignment for Professor Flitwick, so unless you wanna help?"
Hermione shakes her head, "Sorry, I'm not feeling it today, maybe another time?"
Parvati shrugs, "Don't push yourself, you're starting to sound like my sister. We can always hang out as friends, not everything has to be academic." she says before walking to their shared dorm room.
"You are okay, Hermione?" Neville abruptly asks as he steps up, filling the void that Parvati had left, "I saw you leave with Harry, you didn't look at bad as now."
Hermione chews her lip, "Neville, what do you think about the Headmaster? Honestly?"
He quirks a brow at the question but lets a small smile show regardless, "The greatest wizard since Merlin. Trained under Nicholas Flamel, fought Grindelwald and Voldemort... I think it's a shame we'll never get the chance to see how he compared to Merlin or the founders of Hogwarts."
...
"But that's not what you asked, is it...?" he queries at her impassive expression, "My thoughts about him? He's kind but stern when he needs to be, always has a plan, and probably sees himself as a grandfather to the students of the school."
"That's... Detailed..." she trails slightly suspiciously. Neville had always been a fantastic student, even if his theoretical knowledge didn't quite match up to his practical abilities. Had he been personally taught by Dumbledore? Or some other preexisting relationship?
Harry hated him, Neville loved him. Why couldn't the man just be full-blown evil to make it easier for her!?
Neville chuckles and sheepishly rubs the side of his neck, "That's just me, I think most people would feel the same."
...
"W-what if he did something terrible...? Would you change your mind?"
He shrugs, "I think he would have a reason for it. The Death Eaters hate him for fighting V-... You-Know-Who, and the people who followed Grindelwald are probably the same."
"I see..." she quietly replies, deep in thought.
"H-Hermione, listen I'm struggling a bit to word my Potions assignment, could you maybe look over it? Please?" Neville broaches, sounding like he was physically in pain for even asking.
Sighing, she nods. It felt like everyone only wanted her to help them out with their academics, the only person who'd never asked her for anything was Harry... Indeed, it was her asking him for help. His wide knowledge base on even obscure magic not found in the library made any conversation with him incredibly elucidative and educational.
-----------------------------
"Aargh!" Nick yelps as Crabbe throws him against the floor under the orders of a furious-looking Malfoy.
It'd been two days since the 'Worm incident' and they'd barely been released by Madame Pomfrey who told them to rest for a few days longer to allow the nutrient and cleansing potions to set in. Malfoy couldn't abide by that however, what Potter had done breached any rules of etiquette and civility between nobles.
He'd not only harmed the heirs and children of the Most Ancient Noble Houses, but the reputation of the houses themselves. When his father learned of it he'd be spitting fire in anger, and Malfoy was determined to alleviate it by getting back at Potter somehow or another.
Which led to this pathetic Half-Blood boy. Potter's roommate.
"W-why are you doing this?" Nick yelps as another kick from Crabbe hits his side.
"Did you know what Potter was planning!?" Malfoy angrily asks, pointing his wand directly at the boy's face.
"N-no!? What!? I don't know anything!" he sputters, ignorant of anything Harry might have done.
"LIAR! YOU KNEW!" Malfoy shouts, "You failed to inform your betters of it! You will learn the hierarchy of things! Densaugeo!" he casts, hitting Nick with a hex that has his teeth growing hideously out of proportion.
He screams as they grow, large enough that his jaw was pinned open, and his wisdom teeth were cutting through his cheeks, letting blood spew from the wound.
"S-shit." Malfoy's eyes widen, he'd accidentally overpowered the hex, resulting in this potentially lethal situation. "Y-you won't say a thing about us! This is just a warning! You will tell us about Potter next time or I'll do much worse to you, do you understand!?"
Nick forces himself to nod as his lower teeth grow out like miniature tusks, the boy still sobbing.
"Let's go." Malfoy quickly says, ushering Crabbe and Goyle to follow.