The Hidden Powers
Disclaimer – Yes I own it all!! I'm so delusional!! Sadly the characters don't belong to me but the story does.
Rating – Hmmm PG-13 for now but later chapters... who can say!!
Pairings – HG/SS eventually, with hints of HP/GW
Chapter 1 – The Return
Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were standing on platform 9¾ waiting for the 'Hogwarts Express'. They were both about to start their seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Beside Ron was his younger sister Ginny who also happened to be Harry's girlfriend, Ron had finally given in and decided that he would rather have someone he liked and trusted with Ginny than someone he didn't. He also knew just how much Harry loved Ginny and would do anything for her.
Harry slipped an arm around Ginny and she snuggled close to him. "I wonder where Hermione is she's not usually late" said Harry quietly.
Ginny smiled "You'll see."
Both Harry and Ron looked at Ginny curiously "See what?" they replied together.
"Hermione has... made a few changes"
Ron was about to ask exactly what Ginny meant when a girl caught his eye, she was around 5f 6, her hair was brown with blonde highlights and trailed in soft curls down her back to her waist. She was wearing a pair of faded hipster jeans with a snug blue shirt that accentuated her bust and waist. Her eyes were hidden by a pair of dark sunglasses.
Both Harry and Ron had matured into tall, handsome young men, since both played Quidditch they both had strong muscular shoulders but where Ron hair was short Harry's was a little longer and still uncontrollable. Ron was also becoming known as a bit of a heart breaker.
"Check her out"
"Wow, who's she?"
Ginny slipped out of Harry's grasp and walked over to the girl "Herm, how you doing?"
Hermione hugged Ginny "I'm great Gin, you?"
"Hermione?" spluttered Ron.
Hermione looked up at Harry and Ron "Hi, so how were your summer's?"
Ron was still gaping like a fish so Harry intervened "Good, I spent most of my time at the burrow, thankfully only spending two weeks with the Dursley's."
Hermione smiled at him before turning back to Ron "Do close your mouth Ron"
Ron snapped his jaw shut "Mione you didn't look like that when we left last term"
Hermione smiled again "Well, things change Ron people grow up, we should get our seats"
Ginny and Hermione stored their suitcases and went to find somewhere to sit. Harry and Ron followed behind.
"I knew people could change but..." Ron muttered before he was interrupted by Harry.
"Ron... don't start you and Hermione aren't meant to be, you said it yourself."
Ron and Hermione had spent some of their sixth year dating, but both had firmed agreed that they were better as friends. Though both Ginny and Harry were slightly saddened everybody was happier.
The four friends made their way to the Great Hall they sat at the Gryffindor table and waited while other students arrived.
"I can't believe this is our last year," said Hermione.
"Yeah, next year I'll be here alone" said Ginny sadly.
"I'll come and visit Gin, nothing could keep me away from you, not even Voldemort himself" Harry whispered.
Ginny shuddered "Don't say the name" both Harry and Hermione rolled their eyes.
All four turned as they heard the doors open and they saw the new first years.
"We weren't ever that small" said Ron quietly.
After the sorting was other Dumbledore stood. "Welcome to students old and new, there are a few things I need to remind you of the Forbidden Forest is... forbidden and curfew is 9.00pm for students. Now let's eat"
Hermione and Ginny began chatting about their summer's while Ron and Harry turned to the rest of the table. Seamus and Dean were there, arguing over the latest Quidditch match, Neville was seated on the other side of Hermione listening to her and Ginny.
"Harry were going to win this year"
"Yes Ron the Quidditch cup is ours"
Both being co- captains this year they began discussing strategy.
Hermione looked up at the teachers table she saw all the usual faces as well as Remus Lupin, he had come back in their sixth year to teach DADA. Hermione's eyes drifted over to Severus Snape the dreaded Potions Master, she looked at him closely, he seemed even more sour faced than usual, as if sensing her stare he look directly at her, and glared. Hermione narrowed her eyes before looking away he was still a bastard she thought.
Wormtail kneeled at his master's feet whining, "But Master..."
"Silence Wormtail I've had enough of you" Lord Voldemort stood and towered over his servant "You are ignorant as you are cowardly" He hissed.
Wormtail said nothing, he merely stayed low to the floor waiting. He did however peer around behind when he heard the 'pop' sound of someone apparating.
"Lucius, my loyal servant"
Lucius kneeled and kissed the hem on Lord Voldemort's robe, "My Lord I have news, the item which you seek is located inside a cave in the Forbidden Forest," he said still kneeling.
Lord Voldemort smiled (not a pretty sight lets face it) "Well done Lucius, we must prepare I want to retrieve it soon"
Lucius nodded, stood and dispparated.
He arrived back at Malfoy Manor, and found Crabbe and Goyle waiting for him "Our Lord wishes to retrieve the scroll himself" said Lucius.
Crabbe and Goyle nodded while Lucius began to wonder about their combined I.Q Narcissa entered the room.
"Darling I trust all is well?" she said walking into Lucius' arms.
"Yes the Dark Lord is going to the forest himself."
Narcissa leaned closer and whispered "I trust you aren't"
Lucius smiled in agreement he wasn't about to get caught that close to Hogwarts, he hadn't spent this long carefully staying out of Azkaban however he would made sure that the Dark Lord felt he had back up.
Several hours later Crabbe and Goyle apparated into the forbidden forest a few moments later Avery and Lord Voldemort followed. They walked for nearly an hour until they reached the spot.
The cave appeared to be a giant rock but after muttering several incantations the 'rock' opened. Lord Voldemort entered and there at the back seated carefully on the back ledge was a scroll.
"At last" Lord Voldemort smiled again.
An hour later the party had disapparated and it was as if they had never been there. But none of them had seen the pair of eyes that had observed everything. The owner of those eyes had run towards Hogwarts as soon as Lord Voldemort had left.
Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny were all sat in the common room, it was rather late and they had the common room to themselves. Harry and Ginny were curled up on the sofa while Hermione and Ron were each in a chair by the fire.
"So what's going to happen this year?" said Harry quietly.
Hermione answered "Voldemort will try to kill you and we'll stop him and if we're really lucky you'll stop him for good."
Harry looked sadly at Hermione "how can you be so calm?"
"Harry Voldemort's tried to get to you for the last six years and failed, that's not going to change." Said Ginny snuggling closer "I can't marry you if you're dead." She whispered but Harry heard her.
"You want to?" he asked surprised "Even with everything that tends to happen around me?"
Ginny looked up lovingly, while Hermione and Ron looked on confused having not heard Ginny. "Yes, I do"
Harry kissed Ginny pulling her closer to him, while Hermione smiled and Ron winced "Please that's my little sister Harry."
Elsewhere in the castle Firenze came to a halt outside the Headmaster's office, a few moments later Albus Dumbledore appeared having been infirmed by on of the paintings that Firenze was outside.
"Firenze, what can I do for you?"
"Albus do you know what has hidden within the Forbidden Forest?"
Albus looked confused he knew of many things that were in the Forest, "What exactly?"
"A great secret was kept and has been for generations, safe until tonight."
Albus was worried now, "Firenze what has been taken."
"A scroll placed there by Salazar Slytherin himself."
"What scroll?" asked Albus intrigued.
"That I do not know but it has a dark auror, and was not meant to be taken"
Albus rubbed his forehead centaurs never changed they were always cryptic. "I see, who took this scroll"
"The Dark Lord himself"
Now that had caught Albus' attention if the Dark Lord wanted it then it had to be dangerous but what could the scroll be for?
Harry suddenly felt his scar burn, he fell forwards off the sofa clutching his forehead, "Oh Gods"
Ginny and Hermione were at his side in an instant "Harry?" they both asked worriedly.
Harry saw Lord Voldemort holding a scroll and standing over Wormtail, he was smiling. "The time has come"
When the pain stopped Harry looked up and saw Ginny and Hermione hovering over him.
"I saw him, he's happy and I saw a... piece of parchment. He said 'the time has come'."
"Harry you should tell Dumbledore"
Harry looked at Hermione and agreed "Yeah, in the morning."
The following morning as Harry came down to the Great Hall for breakfast he saw Professor Dumbledore waiting for him. "Something to tell me Harry?"
"Yes Sir"
Hermione watched as Harry and Dumbledore walked away, she was worried Harry would always argue with her when she suggested they tell Dumbledore something but last might Harry had agreed at once.
Hermione sat down at the table next to Ginny, "Harry's talking to Dumbledore."
Ginny nodded.
Harry still hadn't come back when they had finished so they headed off to their lessons.
Hermione wasn't looking forward to explaining to Snape that Harry was going to be late. Ron caught up with her as she reached the Dungeons.
"Where's Harry?"
"Not back yet"
"Ahh, well, you'll tell Snape right?" said Ron before walking into the classroom.
Hermione sighed thanks Ron she thought before she too walked in. She walked straight up to Professor Snape's desk. "Sir Harry is talking with Professor Dumbledore..."
Snape interrupted her "Yes, Miss Granger I'm aware of that now sit down" he snapped at her.
Hermione bit back the retort that was forming on her tongue, and just nodded before taking her place. I was just trying to help she thought I won't do that again in a hurry.
Snape glared at the class, since this was the NEWT class it was smaller than last year and for that he was pleased. "This is your NEWT year and I will only accept the best from each of you, and anyone who can not keep up in this class will be removed from it. Do I make myself clear, you won't be coddled any more."
When did he ever coddle us thought Ron to himself, while thanking the gods that Hermione was also taking Potions. As long as he asked her the right way she would help him through.
The class was still Gryffindor and Slytherin, but it was only Harry, Ron, Hermione and Seamus from Gryffindor. Of course Draco Malfoy and his goons were there as well as Pansy Parkinson.
Hermione had been hoping that she would be free of Slytherin this year, as DADA was with Hufflepuff and Transfiguration was with Ravenclaw. Both Harry and Ron were doing the same subjects they wanted to be aurors while Hermione still hadn't decided yet. Yet somehow Gryffindor had ended with the Slytherins for Potions, sometimes life really wasn't fair she thought.
Harry and Professor Dumbledore had spent the first period talking about the 'vision' he had had.
He had sent Harry back to class while thinking over what the scroll might say. Suddenly it was as if a light had been turned on in his head. "Where's that book?" muttered Albus to himself before rummaging in his desk draw.
He pulled out an old book that looked as if it might fall apart at any moment he carefully began flipping through the pages. He came to a stop and began to read. "Salazar Slytherin never discovered the secret to immortality however he believe that his descendants would so before he died he scattered his magick to the winds, but he left a sacred scroll that told of how to bring his magick back that only his heir could find. The magick would then settle into his heir giving him all the powers of Salazar Slytherin."
Dumbledore sat back in his chair, and sighed. Tom was indeed Salazar's heir so how could he be stopped. Tom was already a powerful sorcerer, but with the powers of Salazar he would be almost unstoppable. The Order would be in even bigger trouble than they were now.
Dumbledore began to think about the students, he knew that Harry was the one who would eventually defeat Tom or die trying, but he also knew that Neville was the heir of Gryffindor. Would that be enough, he didn't think so Neville didn't have the magick that Tom did. But if he were help by Harry what then?
Dumbledore began thinking over everything carefully in his head. No, even Harry and Neville together couldn't beat Tom with Salazar's power but with Hermione...
Dumbledore frowned he had promised Rocha that he would never let the truth about Hermione come to light but... maybe with her help...
Dumbledore walked over to a bare wall and reached through, and brought back a small stoppered bottle. The wall was in fact a complex spell to hide a row of shelves.
Dumbledore unstoppered the bottle and watched as a faint blue mist escaped and disappeared. "I'm so sorry Miss Granger."
He returned the bottle to the hidden shelf and then reached over the desk and put the old book on the shelf as well.
Hermione was still in Potions she was about to add the final ingredient to her Potions when she sneezed. No one could see the blue vapour enter her mouth and skin.
"Miss Granger, for goodness sake be careful this is a delicate Potion" Professor Snape yelled out.
Hermione stared at Snape for a moment before she began to feel strange, she felt weak and strong, and tired and wide awake all at the same time. She then felt like she was going to be sick, she took a step towards the door stumbling slightly.
Severus noticed her behaviour and walked towards her. "Professor?" she asked weakly before she collapsed, despite being several feet away Severus saw her start to fall and caught her before she hit the ground.
Severus frowned nothing in the Potion should have affected her this way, carefully he flicked his wand at her potion and a bottled sample appeared on his desk and her cauldron was empty.
Fortunately everyone had just about finished, and bottled their potion. Severus flicked his wand and all the cauldrons were empty. "Class dismissed" he snapped. However the effect was ruined by the ailing Hermione in his arms. He stalked out and went to the infirmary.
"What have you done this time, Miss Granger?" he muttered.
TBC...
A/N:
Well, worth going on? Or should I through my parchment and quill out the window? Reviews welcome, howlers will be disposed of by Severus.
Oh and I don't have a Beta so if anyone's willing.