☕ TEN. [broadcast mind]
[With everything that has been happening, is it any wonder that Hermione's mind would retreat to a simpler time? There are various instances that she is thinking about, but one of them sticks out more than the rest. Why wouldn't it? After all, that is when she became the best friend of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.
Yet, this memory is tinged with loneliness and regret. It doesn't seem to be coming from the much smaller version of Hermione, though. However, those feelings lessen as the memory replays itself...
You are in a high ceilinged bathroom, huddled in a corner. You have been crying - your eyes are raw and your cheeks are wet. Someone said something to hurt your feelings, but you don't want to think about what was said. Part of it was true and you know it. You have been putting on a show since you arrived at the castle. Acting like a pretentious know-it-all has been a defense. You didn't want anyone to see how scared and alone you really felt.
As you wipe off your face and decide that it might be time to leave - dinner is probably over - you hear something odd. Peeking out of the bathroom stall, you see, to your horror, an enormous troll. Panicking, you back yourself into a corner and try to think. If that thing swings his club at you, you're finished. Maybe the stall will protect you until...
Until what? Help arrives? No one knows you're here!
You slip out of the stall and try to reach the door. Only, he chooses that moment to swing. Yelping, you dive under the sinks and hold your hands over your head.
Help isn't going to come. You're alone. All of your smarts, all of your studying aren't going to get you out of this situation.
To make matters worse, you realize that you are only eleven. That isn't something you've really taken into consideration before now. But now it's all you can think about!
I don't want to die. Please... Your thoughts are focused on getting to that bathroom door - yet, you can't move. Just then, however, the door swings open and you look up to see none other than Harry Potter and Ron Weasley standing face to face - or, rather - face to foot with the troll.
They were making fun of me... Frankly, you're dumbfounded to see them in the girl's bathroom at all - much less in defense of you! But they don't even think about it. Before you know it, they have developed a plan to knock the troll out with his own club. As soon as you hear that sickening crack, you know it's safe to come out.
Unfortunately, that's the moment the Professors finally catch up to what's been going on. You start to rethink a few things. Before this incident, you would have told the Professors the truth no matter what. But now...
You find yourself saying that you did it; that you sought out the troll and that you got yourself cornered on purpose. Harry and Ron look amazed, but you hold your ground. You've found something more important than grades or the praise of your teachers and you're not about to let it go.
For the first time, you have true friends and, suddenly, you feel right at home in the sometimes daunting castle. You decide then and there that you will do whatever it takes to keep them - even if it means putting your own life in danger.]
Yet, this memory is tinged with loneliness and regret. It doesn't seem to be coming from the much smaller version of Hermione, though. However, those feelings lessen as the memory replays itself...
You are in a high ceilinged bathroom, huddled in a corner. You have been crying - your eyes are raw and your cheeks are wet. Someone said something to hurt your feelings, but you don't want to think about what was said. Part of it was true and you know it. You have been putting on a show since you arrived at the castle. Acting like a pretentious know-it-all has been a defense. You didn't want anyone to see how scared and alone you really felt.
As you wipe off your face and decide that it might be time to leave - dinner is probably over - you hear something odd. Peeking out of the bathroom stall, you see, to your horror, an enormous troll. Panicking, you back yourself into a corner and try to think. If that thing swings his club at you, you're finished. Maybe the stall will protect you until...
Until what? Help arrives? No one knows you're here!
You slip out of the stall and try to reach the door. Only, he chooses that moment to swing. Yelping, you dive under the sinks and hold your hands over your head.
Help isn't going to come. You're alone. All of your smarts, all of your studying aren't going to get you out of this situation.
To make matters worse, you realize that you are only eleven. That isn't something you've really taken into consideration before now. But now it's all you can think about!
I don't want to die. Please... Your thoughts are focused on getting to that bathroom door - yet, you can't move. Just then, however, the door swings open and you look up to see none other than Harry Potter and Ron Weasley standing face to face - or, rather - face to foot with the troll.
They were making fun of me... Frankly, you're dumbfounded to see them in the girl's bathroom at all - much less in defense of you! But they don't even think about it. Before you know it, they have developed a plan to knock the troll out with his own club. As soon as you hear that sickening crack, you know it's safe to come out.
Unfortunately, that's the moment the Professors finally catch up to what's been going on. You start to rethink a few things. Before this incident, you would have told the Professors the truth no matter what. But now...
You find yourself saying that you did it; that you sought out the troll and that you got yourself cornered on purpose. Harry and Ron look amazed, but you hold your ground. You've found something more important than grades or the praise of your teachers and you're not about to let it go.
For the first time, you have true friends and, suddenly, you feel right at home in the sometimes daunting castle. You decide then and there that you will do whatever it takes to keep them - even if it means putting your own life in danger.]