Disclaimer: Is this really necessary?
Summary: Hermione reflects on her actions following the bird incident. Drabble.
Author's Notes: The bird scene in HBP always touches me, just because it finally shows the "teenage" side of Hermione. This is my attempt to delve into her thoughts. And thanks to Norma for her help with this ficlet.
She walked very slowly and erectly toward the door. Harry glanced at Ron, who was looking relieved that nothing worse had happened.
"Oppugno!" came a shriek from the doorway.
…With one last look of vindictive fury, Hermione wrenched open the door and disappeared through it. Harry thought he heard a sob before it slammed.
-Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Chapter 14
She had always told herself she would never cry over a boy. She never wanted to give a boy that much control over her feelings and actions. Girls who did that were gullible and susceptible to getting their hearts broken. They let lust and what was most likely infatuation cloud their judgment until they did something foolish.
Hermione Jane Granger was not a foolish girl.
She may not have been considered one of the most beautiful girls at Hogwarts. That would be impossible in a school full of Parvatis, Lavenders, and Chos. However, she'd always been left with the comforting thought of her most important attribute: her ability to remain calm and logical in all types of situations. Not to mention the way she could remember almost everything she ever read.
The one thing she hadn't learned from books, however, was the way love overpowered logic and common sense. The way it made you do things you never thought you'd do in a million years.
The moment she saw him walk into that classroom with Lavender, she could feel herself shattering. Now she knew what the true definition of pain was. It wasn't being accidentally transformed into half a cat or being Petrified or having to take ten different potions a day to combat a Death Eater's spell. Pain was seeing the person you love with someone else. It was seeing Ron pulling Lavender into the room without considering what this could do to her.
She had intended to sail past Ron and Lavender without giving a hint of her true feelings. She still had her dignity, after all. She'd been almost at the door before she snapped. All she wanted was for Ron to feel one thousandth of what she felt.
She'd been immature. And rash. And vindictive.
She should be remorseful.
The next morning when Ron entered the Great Hall with Lavender, she was quick the notice the large bandage on his hand. She couldn't help but grin a little as she spread butter on her toast.
She didn't feel the least bit sorry.