Hero of the Story || James Potter x Hermione Granger Fanfiction

23 | surely someone will reach out a hand

xxiii.

surely someone will reach out a hand

(A Safe Place to Land by Sara Bareilles)

__________

October 5, 1977

Hermione swallowed down her nervousness as she entered the library. She immediately spied Regulus who was as usual, flanked by Barty Crouch Jr. and Evan Rosier. The Slytherins were busy doing their homework, and it made her disconcerted a bit at the sight. Here were a bunch of Death Eaters, still doing menial, student things like studying. Hermione almost laughed at the odd sight.

Purposefully walking towards Regulus, she ignored the other two, even though she saw that Crouch was the first one to notice her. He hit Regulus with the end of his elbow, prompting the Black heir to scowl. But then, Crouch tipped his chin in her direction and Regulus followed his line of vision.

Brief surprise flitted in his silver eyes but it was soon replaced by cold indifference. Hermione fought the urge to shiver at his steely gaze and instead concentrated on the shrinking distance between her and their table.

"Regulus," she stiffly greeted. "I'm here to return a book."

The other Slytherins glanced at Regulus uncertainly, who had now narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "You didn't borrow a book from me," he pointed out.

Hermione tightened her grip on her fifth year Transfiguration textbook. "Yes, I did," she ground out as she slammed the book in front of him.

Regulus knitted his eyebrows in suspicion and glanced at the book. Both Crouch and Rosier looked affronted at her actions and were blessedly distracted when Regulus opened the cover of the book. A small piece of parchment fluttered out. Hermione watched as his eyes scanned the words she had written on it – 'I know you are a Death Eater. I know you are working for Voldemort.' Her heart turned to lead and dropped to her stomach when he furiously snapped the book shut, effectively hiding the parchment from prying eyes.

"What do you want?" he growled ferociously, baring his teeth.

"You haven't returned my Potions textbook either," she hastily lied, surprised she had managed to utter such words when her tongue felt so thick and dry. "I wish to get it back."

Regulus' grip on the book tightened, his knuckles turning white.

"Get out of here, Blood-Traitor," Crouch taunted, his tongue flickering out menacingly. "If you know what's good for you."

"I'm not talking to you," she hotly said. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Regulus hastily scribble something on the parchment she'd given him. He then suddenly shot up from his seat and stomped towards Hermione.

He stood at his tallest height and towered over her. His grey eyes were tumultuous, like a raging storm over troubled seas, but Hermione met his gaze, unwilling to back down.

"Keep it," he hissed, slapping the Transfiguration book against her chest. "I don't need your grubby little germs contaminating my things."

Ire flared in her eyes when Regulus turned away and sat back down on his seat, now resolutely keeping his eyes glued on the parchment in front of him. Hermione darkly glared at his snickering friends, before turning on her heel and stiffly walking out of the library.

Once she had emerged out of the wooden doors, her anger and nervousness fizzled, replaced by exhaustion and anticipation. She immediately strode towards an alcove and eyed the book in her hand. She had an inkling that what Regulus had just done was all for show, to appease his Slytherin mates, and Hermione fervently prayed that she was right.