Nothing Left To Fear

Hermione stormed out of the dungeons, her irritation seething and threatening to spill over her carefully constructed persona of calmness. She was willing to give almost anything, for the chance to punch Draco Malfoy, just once, in the face with total impunity.

He had attempted to degrade her, as usual. Maybe it was the weather, maybe it was the lack of sleep, but Malfoy was getting under her skin more than normal, as of late. When she had ignored him, as usual, he began to insult Ron. And of course, Snape had simply let it go by. Hermione would have paid dearly to slap him about the face, as well. Cruelty for cruelty's sake was inexcusable, in Hermione's book. And she was working on changing that.

What gives him the right? she thought, her hands fisting and her eyes wild. What gives him, and so many other people, the right to treat us this way? We're here for our blasted education, not to be abused in this way. Everything was eating at her, and sometimes, she just wanted to throw her hands up in defeat, grab Ron and Harry, and leave for a month. Anywhere but Hogwarts sounded nice, at this point.

To this world I'm unimportant

She wanted to find the nearest Death Eater and beat him bodily. She refused to be beaten down in this manner; she refused to go down without at least having the chance to prove herself. That's all she asked for, a chance. Was that so much? But someone had to be cranky, and try to deprive her of even that small thing.

Just because I have nothing to give

She had heard all the arguments before. Muggleborns couldn't possibly adapt to the rigors of the Wizarding World. They couldn't possibly understand the complexities of their antiquated culture. Hermione let out a snort that sounded like a tablecloth ripping; when she was through the Wizarding World, it wouldn't know top from bottom.

Harry and Ron jogged to catch up with her. They knew better than to bother her when she had the look on her face, but they took their usual places on either side of her. She felt slightly better at the reminder that she had at least two allies in her personal war.

So you call this your free country;
Tell me why it costs so much to live?
Tell me why...

The world would never be free, not so long as people like Voldemort, and Lucius Malfoy, and his ferret of a son, Draco, were allowed to continue in their way of thinking with immunity. Her anger continued to boil. At of the corner of her eye, she could see Ron, looking slightly morose, and her fury only grew. Malfoy had been ripping Ron's family apart. And since Draco had a repartee the size of her little finger, he had started in on Ron's family, deriding their size and the fact that no one seemed to be able to hold on to a Galleon.

The trio silently charged up the grand staircase. Hermione could hear, as usual, the half-concealed whispers from a lot of the Slytherins, and some of the Ravenclaws, and even Hufflepuffs, commenting on her. Her hair, her heavy bookbag, her blood status - everything was fair game. And as far as they were concerned, she wasn't good enough for them. And she never would be. Nevermind her top marks and hard work; oh no, it all came down to such trivialities. Hermione was fit to set the sun on fire as she reached the second floor.

But I won't turn away. Oh no.

Well, they could all kiss her bottom, as far as she was concerned. She knew that they were angry, angry that a small, plain Muggleborn had acquired as much as she had in her six years here. They never stopped to think of her hard work, the hours spent studying, the days totally focused on practising her spells. But that was their problem, as far as she was concerned. Hermione buried the small voice of doubt in her head.

I won't turn around.

And there wasn't a damned thing anyone could do about it. The trio continued on their silent passage to their tower. One Ravenclaw began to make a disparaging comment on one of the teens, but Hermione's stare shut him up quickly. Ron's glower and Harry's flat-out glare probably helped a great deal, as well.

All my work and endless measures
Never seem to get me very far.

Hermione stepped into the Gryffindor Common Room. Her boys nodded to her, she at them, and the boys went to their dorm. Hermione set her bookbag down for a moment, stretching her sore limbs. She was tired, very tired, and it never seemed to let up. She had spent hours drafting and writing letters to the Ministry, pleading for help and sanctions to aid Hogwarts as the war began to creep closer and closer to her. And what had she gotten?

Walk a mile just to move an inch,

One God Forsaken letter. A letter patting her on the head, telling her that they were thankful for her concern. Hermione scooped up her bookbag again and headed into the girl's dorm, kicking the door so hard that it splintered against her small foot. Parvati and Lavender yelped, then glared at her for daring to interrupt their little beauty session.

"What're you so riled about?" snapped Parvati as Hermione threw her bookbag onto her bed and shed her robe. Hermione sat down on her bed, taking off her shoes and massaging her ankles.

"Snape," shot back Hermione. "Amoung other things."

"Your fault for taking the class," said Lavender breezily, examining her nails.

"Potions is an important class," spat out Hermione. "I might be an Auror, and I need Potions."

Parvati opened her mouth to say something, but then she and Lavender rolled their eyes and they flounced out. Hermione kicked her bedpost this time, not feeling the jolts of pain shooting up her foot.

Now even though I’m trying so
Damn hard.

Tears gathered in her eyes. She felt like her hands were tied, and that there was nothing that she could do. All she wanted to do is make sure that things went okay, that this hate and bigotry ended, and no one took her seriously. Years of hard work, all for nothing. Wiping her tears away, Hermione slipped her shoes back on and started down the stairs. She wasn't sure where she was going, but she had to get out of the Gryffindor Tower. The ignorance, the flippancy of others, was suffocating her. She needed to breathe.

I'm trying so hard

Ron and Harry met her at the foot of the stairs leading to the Girl's dorms. Hermione headed out the door, waiting for the next person to make a comment. Her wand stowed away in the waistband of her skirt, she'd gladly just smash their head into the nearest available object. Most people would have never thought Hermione Granger capable of such an act, but when she was angry, rationality went out the window.

This world can turn me down but I
Won't turn away

As they swept down the first flight of stairs, Hermione's mind raced. Ever since she had stepped foot in Hogwarts, she reveled in the fact that she finally had a place where she belonged. Yet she had been stunned when she came to learn that some magical folk shunned her for her heritage. It hurt her, beyond all words, to be shunted aside in such a manner. It was if she was nothing more than a mongrel dog, suited only to be the kick-toy of some impudent child before being put down. But this was her world, her home, and anyone who dared to tell her differently had another thing coming.

And I won’t duck and run, 'cause
I'm not built that way

She'd tear down anything in her way, because anything stupid enough to get into her path probably had it coming in the first place. She was a Gryffindor, and Merlin's Beard, it wasn't an accident that she had gotten there. She was most certainly not going to back down just because something decided that they thought she wasn't good enough to breathe in their presence. And bullocks to blood; it was nothing more than genetic material. And besides, she thought, I'm starting to think that Malfoy's a few strands short of a complete DNA code, anyway. Stupid inbreeding fool.

When everything has gone there is
Nothing left to fear

They had tried to take her pride, her dignity, and her life. What else was there? There was nothing she couldn't face; she had graced Death's door, flown the sapphire skies on the back of a slightly wrathful "horse-bird-thing" as her mother put it, and spent months frozen in time. Quite frankly, Malfoy's repeated threats about bringing down hellfire and brimstone on her head were not only old, but rather boring. A small smile quirked on her lips as she began to descend the third story corridor.

This world cannot bring me down
No because I’m already here. Oh no!

She had fought bravely, lived well, and Voldemort and his cronies could very well shove it if that didn't suit their plan for World Domination, or whatever they were planning this week. She had staked her claim, carved out her place in his world, and it would be a cold day in hell before some self-obsessed, severely constipated snake-man took that away from her. She belonged here. Her smile grew.

I am already here, down
On my knees

She had bleed, wept, and lost many nights of sleep defending this world. There was no one in their right mind that could claim that she wasn't meant for this world. Magic was in her blood, her soul, entrenched in her bones and flesh. She lived every day in awe of the things that magic could produce, the beauty and exhilaration of a new spell making its way from her fingertips to the end of her wand.

I am already here, oh no, I am
Already here
I must have told you a thousand
Times I am not running away

As she and her boys clambered down the steps of the third floor, she sniffled a little, angry tears pushed back where they belonged. She wasn't going to cry, even in anger. She had done nothing wrong to deserve tears. Hermione lifted her chin slightly as pounded down the stairs.

Malfoy was standing at the foot of the stairs. He looked up, sneered at her, and marched out the Great Doors of Hogwarts, bidding his little minions to shut the door in her face. Hermione's lips compressed into a thin line. She could feel Ron and Harry's hackles rise. That was a challenge for a fight, in her eyes. Malfoy would try to dismiss her, would he? She wasn't going to back down, not from such an insult.

I won't duck and run

Now she was on the second floor. She squared her shoulders.

I won't duck and run

She was on the last flight of stairs. She rotated her joints; the small smile on her lips erupted into a full blown grin, one that was graceful and feral at the same time. Hermione Jane Granger was on a mission.

I won't duck and run
No I pass away

As her feet hit the last step, she threw her head up. Picking up speed, she headed for the Great Doors, Harry and Ron hot on her heels.

This world can turn me down but I
Won't turn away

With Ron and Harry at her side, she pushed against the closed doors of the Hogwarts. They flew open, and the muffled "oomph" told Hermione that at least one of Malfoy’s cronies had been smacked by the doors suddenly swinging open. As if Malfoy could ever actually keep her from opening the door if she wanted to.

And I won't duck and run, cause
I'm not built that way

It was not pride, or embarrassment, or anger that kept Hermione going whenever someone tried to bring her down. It was principle. She smiled even more widely as the warm sunlight washed over her fair face, the beams dancing on her face and flowing through her hair. Magic flowed through her, seeping in and out of her bones. She would not let anyone take her for a fool, nor would they take her right to prove herself.

When everything has gone there is
Nothing left to fear

Malfoy leered over her, silently smirking at her. She looked up at him, pulled one arm to her shoulder, and shoved him as hard she could. She watched with some satisfaction as he stumbled, hitting his back against the inner wall. Hermione gazed at him levelly, then turned her face back towards the grounds of Hogwarts and the bright, warm afternoon sun.

This world cannot
Bring me down

As she made her way down the stairs, Ron and Harry next to her, a lone figure in the castle watched as she marched. Head held high, shoulders thrown back, she was strength and dignity incarnate. She would take her chances, she would win and lose, but she was not going to be leaving anytime soon. She was here, like it or not, and Hermione Jane Granger was going to change the world, one misconception at a time.

No, because I’m already here.