Memai: Hola, peoples! Yes…I re-loaded this chapter. Sorry for any confusion. The formatting was a bit off the first time I loaded it, and ff.net was crapping, so…yeah. Lol. ^.^ Anyway, this is a HP fic I'm writing to occupy myself while I plan, design, and rethink my novel. Just a few words before we begin…
Phoebe: Yeps!
Memai: Yes, first introductions. I'm Memai (no duh.), the author of this fic. Rock on.
Phoebe: And for those of you who don't know moi, I'm her muse. *cheesy grin* And I'm doin' the disclaimer! Wh00t! Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, not Memai! However, this story DOES belong to Memai, as does Kekka Hoshino, a character you will meet later. Basically, everything that Memai makes up (You know what it is.) is Memai's, so don't even THINK about stealin'.
Memai: Righto then, enjoy, and don't forget to review! ^.^
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Hermione weaved her way through the trees of the Forbidden Forest, eyes darting up and down to keep notice of her footwork and the woman ahead. Not that she could lose track of her—the silver light that wrapped around her body made sure of that. It stood out brilliantly in the darkness of the night forest; a candle to like Hermione's way.
The woman turned and beckoned Hermione with a soft motion of her hand. "Come." She turned again and began her slow walk; her long, white skirts rippling over the tree roots. Though Hermione was moving faster than the woman, for some reason she could not reach her.
Hermione sped up, trying to avoid the tree roots that threatened to trip her. Her breathing grew heavy from running, and when she tried to call out for the woman to stop not a single sound would allow itself to slip from her mouth. If she could only just talk, the woman would stop!
"Come," the woman said again, her voice echoing with slight urgency. "Please help," she pleaded. She gave another wave of her delicate hand and turned again. Each time she spoke to Hermione, she seemed to grow sadder and more desperate for whatever help she needed.
Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione spotted a movement. She turned her head to see a girl running along beside her a good many meters away, unaware of Hermione's presence. Hermione almost called out to her, but snapped her mouth shut when she remembered that she couldn't talk. Still making sure to follow the woman, she focused for a moment on the girl. She looked to be a fifth year…the same as Hermione. Hermione wasn't sure what house she was in, but if she wasn't mistaken it was Ravenclaw…or perhaps Slytherin.
"Please, please help!" The woman called again, her light fading and the desperateness in her voice making itself more apparent. Her pretty features were clouded over by concerned eyes. Soon the woman faded into darkness and all that was left of her were tiny, silver ribbons of light bouncing among the trees she disappeared near. Soon those faded into glitter and left entirely, leaving Hermione and the other girl alone in the forest. The moonlight began to fade, as did the stars. Hermione felt darkness swallow her, and she could no longer see the other girl. Her heart sped up in fear, and she hugged her arms to her chest. She was totally alone, and soon the last bit of light faded.
"Make a light, Hermione," the woman's voice whispered out of nowhere.
Hermione fell through the darkness that had captured her and screamed a soundless scream as the voice came again.
"Make a light."
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"Aah!" Hermione yelped slightly as she awoke. It only took a few seconds for her to register her surroundings…instead of being in her dormitory she was sprawled out across a cold, stone corridor.
"A bit clumsy tonight, aren't you, Granger?" a voice taunted from within the darkness. Hermione didn't need to search for the figure to find out who it was.
"Yes, hello, Malfoy." She stood shakily and shook her head free from her dream-like state. Her face turned into a scowl as Draco stepped into the light of a window. He leaned against the wall and smirked in an amused way that rather annoyed Hermione.
"I'm sure I'm equally glad to see you as you are me," she said sarcastically. "But I'm not in the mood to deal with morons like you, so just shove off!"
Draco simply stared at Hermione and tried to suppress a laugh. In the end he couldn't help himself.
"What? Why are you laughing?" Hermione demanded. Draco just pointed at her and continued to attempt suppressing his hysterical laughter; an attempt that wasn't going over too well. Hermione looked down at herself and gaped, her cheeks lighting up into a cherry red as she sized up her situation. She was standing in the middle of a random corridor…in front of Draco Malfoy…wearing cat-print pajama capris and a random white tee-shirt with a chubby little piglet on it (with angel wings and a halo, no less.), bearing the slogan "cutie". She also happened to be sporting a pair of rainbow, knee-length toe socks. To top it all off, her hair looked like it had been paralyzed while she slept, as it was sticking out in directions most would think impossible for hair. In short, she looked ridiculous. And here she was telling her enemy off.
"Okay, okay, just SHUT UP!" Hermione hissed, furiously attempting to smooth her hair.
Draco reduced his laughter to a few light chuckles and grinned menacingly. "You look ridiculous, Granger. This is just…too good!"
"Shut up, ferret," Hermione retorted slyly, matching his grin.
Draco scowled. "Ha. Ha," he said monotonously. Her looked Hermione over again and crossed his arms. "So, what are you doing in the corridors at such a late hour?"
Hermione blinked. In truth, she herself did not know, and the confusion of the situation struck her. "I-I don't know, I guess I slept walked or something…" Yeah, that's got to be it, she thought. She quickly reverted back to her snappy mood. "Who are you to ask? And what are you doing out so late, eh?"
"None of your business, Mudblood," Draco spat, walking briskly past Hermione and shoving her in the process. Hermione turned to rebuke him, but decided not to and simply shook her head angrily, clenching and unclenching her fists. How she hated that filthy wretch.
Hermione quickly identified her position and started back for the dormitories with heavy, tired steps. Her thoughts turned to the dream, which she had had for the umpteenth time that year. Did it really affect her so much as to make her sleep walk? As Hermione pondered, she realized that the woman in the dream seemed very real…almost tangible. Almost so tangible as to be able to influence her…and ultimately make her do things like sleep walk. This was getting to be a definite problem.
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Morning came fast, and Hermione was rudely awakened by Crookshanks jumping on to her feet instead of the end of the bed. Sunlight glowed through the curtains covering Hermione's window, pleading to be let in. Hermione sleepily obeyed the request and drew the curtains back, letting the sun brighten the room and fall onto the bed in thick ribbons.
Just like the woman's light…Hermione thought. Her eyes widened and she shook her head. Why was she still thinking of the dream? She had to stop this! Rolling out of bed, she went to go tackle the bird's nest she called "hair" with an army of styling products.
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"Good morning, 'Mione," Ron greeted as Hermione entered the Great Hall for breakfast.
Hermione ruffled her boyfriend's fiery hair and took a seat across from him and Harry. "Mornin'," she said blandly, absent-mindedly filling her plate up with food. Her two friends simply stared at her in amazement as the food piled higher and higher.
"Erm…Hermione…are you sure your that hungry?" Harry inquired, exchanging glances with Ron. Hermione, however, had pulled herself from the chatty breakfast scene and immersed herself in thought.
"Hermione?" Harry repeated.
No answer.
"HERMIONE?" Finally the boy pried the fork from Hermione's fingers, and she blinked in surprise. Muttering an apology, she stared down at the food on her plate.
"Um…did I do that?"
Ron eyed her suspiciously and poked at his French toast. "Yes, as a matter of fact you did…is anything wrong, 'Mione?"
Hermione dismissed the idea with a wave of her hand. "No, no…" she trailed off into thought again, nibbling here and there at the mountain of food before her. "Just lost a bit of sleep over an odd recurring dream…" She neglected to tell them about her interesting encounter with Draco.
Ron nodded and continued inhaling food. "Right, then."
A silence followed between the three, as the two boys were pretty satisfied with Hermione's explanation. Hermione, however, couldn't seem to get her mind off of the dream. After about the seventh and most vivid recurrence it was definitely thought-provoking. Why was she having this dream so much? Hermione pondered the question as she flipped through the scenes in the dream. The fact that it took place in the Forbidden Forest stood out in her mind. But what could that mean? The more she mused, the more interest she found in the situation.
"Let's get a detention," Hermione found herself saying subconsciously.
"What?" Harry asked, dropping his fork. Ron stared at her like she had just announced she was going to live the rest of her life as a spider.
"Um, nothing, never mind," Hermione stuttered. Why the heck did I say that? "I just want to check out the Forbidden Forest."
"Hermione, you're not going to classes today. You're staying in bed until you get better," Ron said.
"Ron, I'm fine!" Hermione insisted. "Is it so odd that I just want to take a peek at the forest?"
"Yes!" both the boys nodded.
It was then that Draco decided to pay a little visit to their table. He sauntered up beside Hermione, smirking broadly. Hermione's face fell…she knew what was coming. She threw her enemy a look that said "please go away" and "shut up or I'll snap your limbs" at the same time. Draco, needless to say, simply ignored her.
"So, Granger, did you manage to get any sleep after that interesting night we had?"
Ron's fork fell. "WHAT?"
"Ew! For heaven's sake, Ron, it was nothing like that!" Hermione yelled, glaring at Draco. "I bumped into Ferret Boy here while sleep-walking in the corridors."
"Or so she says."
"Shut up, Malfoy."
"Right, but first I must comment on your lovely attire—" Draco started.
"Malfoy—"
"She happened to be wearing rather amusing rainbow toe socks and—"
"That's ENOUGH, Malfoy!" Hermione screeched, pushing him from the table. "Now goodbye!"
"And good riddance," Draco finished.
"Yes, I believe your late for your morning snog with Pansy," Hermione spat, shoving in another piece of French toast.
"Ah! You're right!" Draco said in mock surprise. "And I'm sure you'll have just as much fun kissing that lanky peasant of yours." He grinned wickedly and strode off. Hermione just sat and glared, leaving only Harry to restrain Ron.
"Lemme go, Harry!"
"Ack, no!"
"Let…me…go!"
"Sit down, Ron!" Harry pushed Ron back into his seat and shoved his fork into his hands. "Eat."
Ron obeyed.
"I'm leaving," Hermione announced, getting up from the table and walking briskly out of the room. The dream had returned to her mind, and once again she couldn't get it out. Perhaps if she just outside near the forest? Yes, that was it. All she needed to do was go check out the forest…just to look at it. That would stop the dreams. Or maybe Hagrid needed to tell her something…after all, he lived near the forest.
Yeah, that's it! Then this'll finally be over.
"Oomph!"
Hermione jumped a bit as she bumped shoulders with a passer-by. She turned to apologize, and was met by the all-too familiar face from her dream.
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Like it? Hate it? Tell me in a lovely little review! Please tell me the good AND the bad, so I can improve. Thanks so much! ^.^
Also, do you spell 'snog' with one G or two? (Lol.)
- Memai -