The summer of 1992 had been a particularly busy-and productive!-one for both Harry and Hermione.
Harry had delegated the construction of the Hospital to Mad-Eye Moody (Harry had offered to restore Moody's eye and leg, but the grizzled old war veteran had declined), had used the Philosopher's Stone to cure Remus Lupin of his lycanthropy, had introduced some minor legislation to the Wizengamot through Amelia Bones-which would pave the way for future "legal optimization"-and had successfully pushed through some critical changes to the Hogwarts curriculum to the Hogwarts Board of Governors through Headmistress McGonagall.
Hermione had taken up residence in Harry's Tower, as it came to be called, seeing as her parents didn't yet know of her resurrection and she couldn't return to the Muggle world anyway as there was no way to explain away her reported death. After some preparation and training from Harry, she'd successfully undertaken and completed her first "quest"-notable as it resulted in the complete annihilation of all the dementors at Azkaban.
Hermione's act of selfless heroism had earned her the loyalty of a phoenix, which she named Pyro. Neither Harry nor McGonagall could have been prouder upon finding the bird on Hermione's shoulder when she'd returned. Somehow the girl seemed to stand taller than before. Harry chalked it up to a boost in self-confidence.
The quest had drained Hermione though, and she needed to rest. Even with her improved metabolism, the exposure to dementors had taken its toll. She spent a week in bed in the Hospital Wing (as the Philosopher's Stone would not be of any use to her mental recovery). Madam Pomfrey kept her supplied with chocolate, which Hermione was more than eager to accept.
When Hermione was released, however, she immediately noticed something...different...about herself. After speaking with Madam Pomfrey and having several diagnostic charms cast upon her, she sprinted up to Harry's Tower and knocked on his door.
Harry stood up from his desk-he'd been industriously filling a journal full of ideas he wanted to pursue, pending Hermione's approval. Stepping to the door, he opened it, only to find himself looking at Hermione for the first time in a week. Correction: looking *up* at Hermione.
Hermione had been about an inch taller than Harry ever since they first met the prior September, but now Hermione was closer to *six* inches taller.
"You've...grown," Harry said, taking a step back to allow Hermione to enter. He looked down, noticing that Hermione wasn't wearing shoes. Her old ones probably didn't fit anymore.
"I noticed," Hermione replied, stepping inside. "Madam Pomfrey is as baffled as I am. Can you explain this?"
It only took a moment for Harry to realize what was happening, and he paled at the thought. Troll somatotropin. Hermione's troll physiology was producing the peptide hormone tST. She'd probably end up twelve feet tall by the time she was fully grown. Somehow he doubted the Philosopher's Stone would offer a permanent solution to Hermione's predicament.
"Ummm," Harry intoned. He found himself intrigued, as well as a little intimidated. "I have a hunch, but you have to learn occlumency before I tell you," he said.
Hermione raised an eyebrow at this. "You definitely know something," she accused. "Can you at least tell me how much more I'm likely to grow?"
"Ummm. Remember how you wanted to be the big heroine?"
Hermione did not look amused by the pun.
"Er...Maybe you should sit down first," Harry offered.