Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Pool Time
Even though she didn't have any appointments that day, Hermione was required to follow through the regular routine that had been set up for her, including gym and pool time.
Madam Hooch, a woman with silver hair and yellow eyes, had explained briefly to her the reason that Hermione needed to do follow the schedule.
"You must look your best and be comfortable on your own body. Most especially if you are chosen to be among those whom the FF Group planned to lock up in a castle; a mansion full of micro-cameras, monitoring and capturing every little thing you do 24/7. Hence, it is required that you need to look good or you will be lambasted by critics around the world."
It wasn't only that of course. Another reason was because the finalists were going to live amongst the people who were supposed to be considered as demigods by most.
Looking like a second-rate citizen from the gutters of the Nether Valley, would definitely put off some viewers. Thus, the scheduled Gym and pool time to make the potential finalists physically fit and for them to get use to showing off their bodies out in the open.
It still grated on Hermione's nerves that she had to look nearly perfect, or so-so to please people that she hardly knew. She wouldn't have done this at all. If not for the chance of being Locked Up, and finally get the opportunity to talk to someone from the Purebloods, or anyone from the Sacred Twenty-Eight.
She would have flat-out refuse the demand than to alter the perspective of herself just to suit other people's taste.
Now that she had gotten the time to mull things over, Hermione wanted to voice out her opinions on those high and mighty Purebloods regarding their outright refusal to let someone like her from climbing up.
However, normal people - or muggles, as what Purebloods were liken to call them - who showed signs to be more gifted; a prodigy like them, were considered as a threat to the order of things.
As a result of genetic inheritance, the Purebloods thought themselves as superior in terms of genetic make-up, with their Pureblood DNA encoded with the S human genome that made most of them a prodigy; people with sophisticated inherited capacity that allowed them to acquire an astonishing amount of skill-sets in their repertoire, which would normally take years of experience to master, wherein the purebloods could do in a short span of time.
Likewise, individuals belonging to the Sacred Twenty-Eight, or descended from the Old Blood line, had a vaster and ready-made mental hard drive if compared to individuals with diluted blood.
They were programmed for any areas of expertise that they set their minds to - whether it be music, art, mathematics or other fields that interest them - they could easily excel in all of them as manifested through prodigious skills.
This was the main reason most of Pureblood Families and their allies had further entrenched itself into the society, earning a higher place in the social spectrum while casting aside business competitions and possible intellectual threats that sometimes came up from normal people like Hermione.
There were hardly any products that weren't built or made from companies led by the Purebloods, or appointed ministry officials or highly talented people in the mainstream media that didn't come from the Pureblood line.
Hermione feared that it would continue to do so in the future. Hindering muggleborns, or normal people with an IQ that rivals that of the Pureblood, from stepping further up the ladder without fear of getting crushed by those already at the top.
It was akin to climbing Mount Olympus and with contemptuous Gods looking down on people whom they deemed as unworthy.
So the chance of Hermione talking to them, these men considered to be demigods without getting snubbed, was...poor.
Even though some of the members of the Marauders or the Death Eaters weren't Purebloods, but half-bloods, like Severus Snape, he was still regarded to be a part of the upper echelon.
Hermione recalled reading somewhere on the interholo that Severus Snape was the son of the Chairman of the National Security Council of the UEF while his mother had been a Pureblood, who had a small chain of Pharmabotanical stores.
Meanwhile, Hermione knew that Remus Lupin was the son and heir to the Bionex Corporation. However, he was more notable by the fact that he had been one of the children who had been abducted and experimented by the notorious Biorobotechonologist, Fenrir Greyback, right before the lunatic was sent to the Azkaban Prison.
It was said that Greyback had left a parting gift (more of a curse) to the children. It was a virus called the Lycanthropy virus, which would manifest in every full moon. Those who were infected was said to turn into mindless beasts with the strength of a hundred men and a killer instinct to match with their bestial side.
It was Remus Lupin's father who was responsible for improving the pill that would temporarily keep the symptoms at bay, as what most Doctors diagnose, during a Full Moon Crisis.
The name of the pill was called Wolfsbane, which was mostly produced and supplied by the Bionex Corporation.
Peter Pettigrew, on the other hand, was the son and heir to Hackuru Techonologies. Other than that, most information on him was hard to come by. Although Hermione heard rumors about him having a shady connection to the gutter rats in the Nether Valley.
His innocent, boyish looks was said to be a facade to hide his secret dealings with the Black Plague; a mysterious man notorious for bringing down an entire Holo Network in Godric's Hollow with a virus called Wormhole; a type of virus that crept sneakily past any Fiendfyre Wall and high-level HSI system, such as the D-Mentor.
Lastly, Hermione's thought drifted towards Tom Riddle Jr.
Despite his half-blood status, most of the Pureblood families had easily accepted Tom Riddle Jr. as one of them. Due to his Old Blood line, reaching far back to the Peverells and his Slytherin ancestor, Tom Riddle didn't have a hard time blending in well with the Pureblood Society.
Apparently, being best friend with James Potter had benefited Tom Riddle Jr. too.
Still, with diluted blood or not, Hermione knew that she would have a hard time trying to make any of them listen to her concern.
These men were called prodigies. One of the best produced from the Pureblood Society, who could perfect anything that they could perfect, even to the extent of cultivating their musical talent in just six months.
As disconcerting as it for Hermione to think, Purebloods could conquer anything, even the World of Music as proven by the formation of the instant global sensation, the All-Male Band; The Marauders and The Death Eaters.
It seemed Purebloods don't have boundaries when it came to showing off their inborn gifts, which annoyed Hermione to no end.
Suddenly, she recalled Mr. N, who had the habit of rubbing off his wealth and prestige just by buying and eating extravagant meals in front of Hermione, smilirking (she didn't know whether it was a smile or smirk, but it was a mixture of both.) at her when Hermione use her stipend money to buy food with a reasonable price, to make her money last for an entire week. (The FF Group didn't give her a huge amount for her stipend after all.)
It made Hermione wonder if she had been given less, compared to Mr. N, because she wasn't a pureblood.
With that thought in mind, Hermione swam towards the end of the pool, her lean arms working with each side stroke. In her weeks there, Hermione was under strict order to gain weight and build her muscles to reach an average Body Mass Index.
She hadn't even realized that she had been bordering on underweight until she had stepped onto the weighing scale and Madam Hooch had calculated her BMI.
Tomorrow for her medical exam, she was certain that the examiner had no complaints about her current weight. She made sure that she ate the right food to promote muscle-building in combination to her exercise regime.
Hermione reached the edge of the infinity pool. Using her legs to keep her afloat, she placed both her arms over the translucent basin, looking down at the death defying height that gave her a sense of vertigo.
The only thing that prevented people from jumping off the balcony or leap from the infinity pool and over the clouds, was the invisible barrier that surrounded each hotel room; albeit only hotel rooms with pools like hers.
On the outside, the six feet swimming pool on her balcony would have looked like it was held by a translucent glass basin, but in truth, there was a barrier that stopped it from completely flowing down the 2,500 feet height where it would have resembled a cascading waterfall.
The novelty of being able to stay in the L. Cauldron Hotel had ultimately faded. Despite the chance of gazing upon the spectacular view outside her hotel room, Hermione no longer feel slightly impressed by it, not while she knew that the cameras were still monitoring her move.
Even until now, she could feel its unseen lenses pressing on her back…
Gulping a lungful of air, Hermione dove under the water. She held her breath and sat at the bottom with her legs crossed. Staring outside the see-through barrier in front of her, she saw hovcars flying by and some artificial clouds drifting amongst the supermega-skyscrapers.
With the veil mode turned on, there won't be anyone to see her bathing in the pool while wearing her periwinkle blue two-piece swimsuit; a kind of swimwear that most would regard as something old-fashioned.
Hermione stayed under the water, holding her breath. She observed almost absent-mindedly while her hair rose and fluttered around her, she remembered the moment when she had told her parents about being invited to the L. Cauldron for the Locked Up casting process.
It was during dinner time.
"Someone called me today," Hermione began, piercing a berry grape fruit with her fork. She watched as light pink juices trickled down between the fork's tines as she brought the fruit to her mouth.
The flavour of both grape and strawberry flooded her taste buds. Hermione relished the taste, mildly odd though it was, and chewed.
The fruit was a byproduct from the Longbottom Plantation, renowned for producing hybrid fruits as a result from selective breeding, stone fruit breeding and botanical bioengineering.
The Father of Advanced Nectarine - Frank Longbottom - had 1,000 hybrid plant patents, most of them not even the result from cross-pollination of plants from the same genus or specie. His son and protégé, Neville Longbottom - Hermione read from somewhere - was said to have created new patents of his own even at the age of ten. A prodigy amongst the family of prodigies as expected of a Pureblood.
The berry grape was one of heir's creation.
Her parents paused, looked up and waited for her to continue. Hermione savoured the berry grape fruit for a while before swallowing it down.
Then, she told them, "A woman named Minerva McGonagall from the Four Founder's Group said to me that I've been invited to come to the L. Cauldron Hotel for something called, the final casting process."
"Final casting process? Is that some kind of job interview?" Joseph Granger, Hermione's father, asked.
Hermione shook her head.
"No, Dad. It's not really a job interview but I was told that there will be a series of interviews and exams that I was supposed to go through. It's an elimination process to choose the right people who will join in the social experiment called the Locked Up."
"I think we heard that on the news Joseph," Allison Granger said, turning to look at her husband. "Isn't that the one where you are supposed to stay inside the Castle for three months, together with those prodigies?"
"Yes, Mom. It's the same one, but there will be thirty candidates as well."
"What about your plans to study for the entrance exam this summer, Hermione?" Hermione's father reminded her.
"I still plan to do it, Dad." Hermione replied. "The woman gave me the time to think twice about the invitation. She told me that she'll call me again by tomorrow for my final answer... but I think I'll tell her that I won't be going to the L. Cauldron Hotel.."
"Did you verify the Caller ID, Hermione? Just to make sure that it's not one of those scams I've often heard the Black Plague has been leading on." Hermione's mother said, a hint of worry tinging her voice.
"Yes, Mom. My holophone had scanned and confirmed the rune code that had been transmitted. The woman was using a registered number with the certified company crest. She's not one of the Black Plague's rats."
There was a short pause as her parents regarded her.
"Are you sure you don't want to accept the invitation, Hermione?" Allison Granger asked. She had a contemplative gleam in her eyes when Hermione met her gaze.
"Yes..." Hermione answered, her brows furrowing, then she added in uncertainty.
"Should I?"
"Joining this social experiment and entering the Hogwart's Castle would, in someway, give you an opportunity to forge connection with someone from the Sacred Twenty Eight, or anyone descended from the Pureblood line." Allison Granger pointed out.
"It means.. that if you know someone from any of those highly-esteemed companies, such as the Riddle LabCorp, or Potter Electronic Industries, the Black Space Technologies, the multi-national company, Malfoy Financial Group Inc., or even some smaller companies like the Bionex Corporation - companies that might as well control most of the stock market in all UEF - it will be easier for you to find the type of work that you want once you graduate from Uni."
The frown on Hermione's brows deepened at what her mother was suggesting.
"I'm not a social climber Mom, nor am I going to grovel, or sleep my way to the top just to get a benefactor in one of those companies." She stated firmly.
"You know your mother didn't mean it like that Hermione." Joseph reprimanded while Allison Granger looked aghast at the thought of her own daughter doing just that.
"I'm not saying that you have to do it using your...feminine wiles, Hermione. I'm saying that you can make a lasting impression on them by...engaging them in some form of intellectual debate? Just think of it as a job interview when you meet these men. And aren't there cameras in the castle? I think there won't be any...sleeping around going on there, young lady…" Hermione's mother said tersely.
But Hermione's mother had been wrong.
Dr. Slughorn had informed Hermione that the Marauders and the Death Eaters were allowed to do some... things discretely when they had the need for it.
Finalists who were invited to...rendezvous with any of group members were allowed to enter secret chambers or required rooms to do the deed without someone seeing or hearing them on the act.
Beneath the crystal clear water, Hermione wrinkled her nose in disgust. If she ever received those kinds of proposition, she was going to punch them in the face.
She didn't care if the whole world sees her do it.
Unable to hold her breath any longer, Hermione shot back to the surface, instantly gulping a lungful of air.
Her time was up.
Pool time was over.
She swam back to the other end, the newly-formed muscles on her arms working.
A moment later, she stood over the silver rectangle area that hid the stairs of the pool. Faintly, she heard the muffled thumping sound beneath the water which told her that the stairs were about to rise up.
It took only a few seconds before the thin, panels with rubber pads - to prevent from slipping - came sliding upwards one by one for Hermione to thread on.
Without looking down, Hermione ascended up the rising stairs while stating out loud, "HCC System OFF," for the voice recognition to pick up her command.
Behind her, she instantly felt the drop of temperature into something more mildly warm. She didn't glance back to see that the tendril of steam that rose up from the pool, and the current of hot air that bellowed around the balcony during her swim, was gradually disappearing.
The frameless, sliding doors that led inside to her hotel room, opened as she neared it. The mist on its glass, that was caused by the steam of the pool, faded.
From the corner of her eyes, she saw a flicker in the air; just a brief flash of silver but it was enough to tell Hermione that the cameras were still rolling.
She made her way to the bathroom.
…...
Hours later…
Hermione was lying flat on her stomach, on her feather-floating bed with her head propped on top of her crossed arms.
She was ultimately growing bored with nothing else to do. Normally, she would have open her holobook and start studying, but that too, had failed to draw her interest.
It was only a few minutes later that Hermione decided to use the entertainment room.
…
She turned her attention to the small black box lying on the black geometrical table on the Entertainment room. The FF Group were allowing her unlimited access to the interholo and the AR Vision. Yet she hadn't tried to use the AR Vision that had come out of the market that year.
She was suddenly curious about the new AR that most of the denizens had been raving about. After recalling the code the she had seen swirling above the AR box, Hermione turned it on using voice activation.
"M.Y.R.T.L.E," She stated each letters out loud.
Immediately, the box began to unravel, collapsing unto itself. It emitted a pulsing blue light a few seconds before a translucent girl with glasses appeared in front of her.
"Good Afternoon," she greeted in a high-pitched voice. "My name is M. Myrtle and I will be your AR Assistance for today. How may I of help?"
"Good Afternoon, Myrtle." Hermione said in turn. "This is actually my first time using the AR Ultimate Experience so I'm not sure how to go on about this whole thing."
"I understand, Miss. No need to worry though. The process itself is simple. It's still similar to AR Vision 2.0. However, the only difference is that you will be able to access the special features called Live and Personal Touch."
Hermione had read about those features in the news blog and most of the reviews about the new AR were positive when the product came out.
The Live feature allowed the perceiver to appear that they were truly in a Live Concert while the Personal Touch, like the name entailed, allowed the perceiver to feel the recorded synthetic touches and scents, as well as see and hear.
Nonetheless, she heard that certain chemicals were used to enhance and trick the mind into believing that the perceiver share the same reality as the one they were currently viewing.
Hermione didn't completely understand the science behind it, but from what she had gathered. The Potter Electronic Industries alongside with the Riddle LabCorp had work hand in hand to develop a special kind of robot that was covered and powered by highly-sensitized and flexible sensor array made from transparent zinc-oxide thin film-transistors, and an activated carbon fabric that would both record pressure touch and capture scent, respectively.
Meanwhile, an analog haptic devices were used to carefully tabulate the data received from the sensors, while chemical analyzers would identify the trapped ambient scents, which the devices could synthetically reproduce or induced to provide the product consumer an Ultimate Experience of Augmented Reality.
Other than hearing and seeing the reality, those who are using the new AR Vision would be able to experience the recorded sense of touch and smell.
The only downside was that the Live and Personal features were from recorded moments of the Marauders and the Death Eaters. Exclusive to the heirs of the companies that had funded, developed and introduced the new AR Vision to the market; revolutionizing a new kind of AR.
The AR Project was funded by both the Malfoy Financial Group Inc. and the Black Space Technologies. However, after the rift between the heirs of the Riddle LabCorp and the Potter Electronic Industries, the two have gone their separate ways since then, forming equally beneficial partnerships with other prestigious companies (and powerful families).
Truly brilliant, really, to form an All-Male Band - composed of the wealthiest, attractive, Pureblood prodigies (and so irritatingly perfect) - just to promote a product that target most of the female audience (and some males) and spurring other big companies to surely want to use the new technology for their own applications.
The two bands had only started six months ago and yet they had already captured the hearts of many from all across the globe.
Their music was a constant hit once it came out, with both group competing for the Top One spot in the Music Charts.
Hermione's knowledge about them was rather limited, and most of it she had gathered from news outlet, from her best friend, Cho Chang and some unreliable sources.
Aside from knowing what companies they owned, and about some of the member's brief background history, Hermione knew nothing about them in general.
This would be something that she needed to rectify soon.
If she was going to be Locked Up with them, Hermione needed to study the members closely.
"If I want to access the band's profile, do I need to use the live or personal feature for that?" She asked the AR assistance.
"No, it is optional. You may use the old model, the AR 2.0, while accessing their Profile." Myrtle informed her.
"That's good then," Hermione sighed, and said "Can you please retrieve their Member's Data Sheet?"
Myrtle disappeared from sight. A second later, a giant holoscreen encompass the space in front of her.
Hermione could see Myrtle moving through the HSI, taking out files and moving them on the screen.
Hermione soon found herself looking at pictures of ten men – probably from their solo photoshoots – either wearing formal suits, semi-formal, casual, or simply posing as half-naked, and in a titillating way, and wearing something that resembled a tight-fitting boxer shorts (or are they swimming trunks?) that Hermione could practically see the shape of their crotches.
She flushed scarlet.
"This is Draco Malfoy's Data Sheet." Myrtle stated, and without warning, the AR assistance expanded the picture of him wearing those god-forbid swimming trunks and with his biodata beside his picture.
The AR Assistance was a complete perv.
Hermione wasn't sure, but she must have heard Myrtle emit a girlish giggle. She had a nagging feeling that Myrtle was a fan of Draco Malfoy.
Is it getting hot in here or is it just my face? Hermione thought, flushing scarlet and trying to stop the urge to fan her face, or leave the room.
Hermione heard a sound that came from the AR.
Yep, Myrtle was giggling alright. Hermione realized as she scrutinized the blonde male in front of her. Although she couldn't fault the AR Assistance for having an impeccable taste in men.
Like any Pureblood aristocrat – other than being a prodigy – Draco Malfoy was endowed with the looks and body that might one considered perfect.
In comparison to the holoshot that she had seen in Dr. Slughorn's office, this picture of the youngest Malfoy heir was taken recently. His hair was slightly longer, brushing past his ears. His silver eyes were hooded by his light-blonde, sooty lashes to create that typical bedroom-look, so powerfully seductive, and coupled with that infamous Malfoy smirk – his picture alone might have send women suffering with a sudden onset of heat stroke.
The Pureblood male had his thumbs hooked around the waistband of his trunks, perhaps to deliberately direct the viewer's eyes towards his drool-worthy abdominal muscles, (Hermione wanted to roll her eyes at the blatant display), or the Malfoy had done it to draw the viewer's gaze to the shallow grooves, or the 'V' line that ran down from his iliac crest and disappearing into his blue-black, skin-fit trunks.
Hermione forced herself not to stare at the outline of a ginormous package between his legs. With the light hitting his blonde hair just right, Draco Malfoy might have look like Apollo (and perhaps he had the right to that Apollo's belt on his hips after all). His hair looking more like a white-gold halo over his head, and Hermione was relieved that they hadn't added glitter over his skin to make him sparkle. (like that stupid vampire from that old movie almost more than a hundred years ago.)
He wasn't overly muscled that would definitely put Hermione off, but he had the perfect musculature for his height.
Suddenly realizing that she had been staring for too long. Hermione decided that it might be better to look at their data profile later.
She certainly felt like M.Y.R.T.L.E would gladly continue staring at half-naked men in the holoscreen, rather thoroughly, but not Hermione.
Hermione needed to understand these men that she might have to live in the next three months alongside thirty strangers.
Perhaps she could listen to one of the bands playing on the Live feature to understand how they interact with their fans. She had heard The Marauder's song, "The Marauder's Map' was at the Number One in the Music Hit Chart for the last two weeks, beating even Tom Riddle's single album the 'Dark Mark' and Draco's 'Mudblood' song.
However, she heard from Cho Chang that the Death Eaters had been releasing solo albums to increase their fanbase, with Draco Malfoy and Tom Riddle accumulating more and more fans, followed by Severus Snape, who sang a haunting song called, 'Doe me a favour', then Regulus Black's with his heart-rending, 'Alone and Drowning,'
Of course, the Marauders weren't going to let themselves get beaten and started releasing their own solo albums as well. Cho Chang had insisted that Hermione listened to their songs before. Hermione did, though she was only able to listen to Remus Lupin's song called, 'Cursed Moon' and Peter Pettigrew's, 'I smell a Rat,' which she found the latter utterly ridiculous.
But Hermione needed to see the band interacting together.
On her way to the L. Cauldron Hotel, she had heard the 'Marauder's Map' playing in the Knight's Hov. Maybe watching the Marauders Live Concert singing that particular song would give Hermione an idea about the entire group dynamic. Cho Chang, who had gone to their concerts before, had told Hermione that she had enjoyed the Concert so much that she had practically cried when it ended.
Cho's favorite song was the Marauder's Map, and Hermione wanted to see it in Live.
"I want to watch a concert of the Marauders. Is that possible?" Hermione said.
"With the Live Feature?" Myrtle asked.
"Yes,
"Of course," the AR Assistant, Myrtle said automatically, taking in a much serious tone. "What concert would you like to watch?"
Myrtle was moving through the HSI again and showing videos of the Marauders. From the most recent to the oldest, and with labels of the dates and the places that they had been during their Concert Tour.
Hermione scanned the videos.
Her eyes landed on a dark-haired man, Sirius Black playing his air guitar; its string glowing with a red colour as he plucked it, the form of the guitar illuminating like a pulsing beat in time to his musical chords that he's playing.
Likewise, Hermione saw a blue light, the size of a knut, flashing on the shell of the man's ear, that resembled a stud earing. It told Hermione that the man was using the earmic that would instantly pick up his voice frequency as he sang.
Although there was no sound from the holovid, Hermione knew that the man was singing his lines in the music, and he was smiling mischievously at the audience.
Cho was a big fan of the rebel Sirius Black.
Hermione chose that video, which she read was a concert held in Belgium just two weeks ago, and they were playing the, "Marauder's Map."
Already knowing how to use the old version of the AR vision, Hermione raced her fingers into the air and said, "Key Locked," where a red beam from the laser sensors attached itself on her fingerpads.
This allowed her to control the holographic screen in front of her.
Hermione tap the video of the one she had chosen and ordered Myrtle, "Play it in the Live Experience."
"Of course," came the disembodied voice of the girl which reverberated throughout Hermione's bedroom.
"Live Experience selected. Please step into the circle." Myrtle told her and Hermione looked down and saw a faint circle five paces away from her.
"Is this where you use the chemicals on me to enhance my AR experience?"
"Yes," came the AR assistant's reply.
Hermione contemplated this for a second before finally deciding.
"Ok. I hope I won't be experiencing any negative side effects from the chemical spray." Hermione said out loud as she stepped into the white glowing circle on the floor.
"The chemicals have been tested for safety with live humans during the product development. There haven't been any reported cases of side effects of the chemical fumes on the subjects, nor incident reports after the product has been released for consumer consumption."
Not yet. Hermione thought. The product has been out for about five months after all. That doesn't mean that there won't be a lasting effect.
"I see. That's good." Hermione commented even though she had her doubts.
"I will begin with the environmental scan." Myrtle informed her.
Hermione just nodded her head in silence.
A second later, the room was being scanned from top to bottom with a green laser light beam that spread throughout the expanse of the room.
"Scanning completed. Releasing Imperio."
Here it comes.
The chemicals - a small dose of scopolamine and a pint of salvia divinorum extract - in its mildest form, would make people open to suggestions, and in turn, trick the mind into believing something that weren't there were actually real.
Although both the companies had tinkered with chemicals to remove the adverse side effects but leaving most of its desired effects to be use. Salvia Divinorum was a dissociative type of hallucinogen, most often used for inducing visions in shamanic rituals. Furthermore, it made users experienced derealization and depersonalization.
Thus, creating an AR Ultimate Experience.
However, it could also be made into a weapon for mind control. One reason Hermione hadn't been too keen about using the new AR after she had found out about the chemicals.
The AR box shot something in the air, a tiny ball that instantly released white fumes as soon as it neared Hermione.
The fumes wrapped itself around her.
Hermione couldn't stop herself from inhaling the chemicals at once. She tried to fan some of it from her face but the chemicals had already seeped into her.
It took a hold of her mind instantaneously.
Myrtle suddenly told her, "Reality Alteration will be effective in 3, 2, 1…"
And just like that, Hermione felt the jolt.
She remembered reading from somewhere that this sensational transition is called apparition, transporting into an alter plain of existence.
Though Hermione knew that the chemicals that she had inhaled had simply tricked her mind into believing that she was at a different place, when truly she hadn't moved from her spot at all.
Hermione appeared, in what she supposed, was the Floating Quidditch Stadium in Belgium.
All around her, the people were chanting, "MARAUDERS! MARAUDERS! MARAUDERS!" while waving and jumping in their excitement. They appeared to be holding one of those glowing sticks that blink in different kinds of color.
"MARAUDERS! MARAUDERS! MARAUDERS!"
The combination of voices, of the chanting roar caused such a vibration that instantly set Hermione's heart to racing. Above her, flood lights were moving side to side to pierce the sky.
She was standing amongst the crowd close to the circular stage. The lighting was dimmed that she had a hard time seeing the floor in front of her.
"MARAUDERS! MARAUDERS! MARAUDERS!"
It felt real.
Hermione could practically feel the palpable and infectious excitement cloying in the air. She hadn't been in a concert before but this made Hermione nearly allowed herself to be swept by the crowd mentality, to jump and scream and stomp her feet in a rush of excited adrenaline.
Without warning, there was a burst of red and gold smoke and that's when she knew that the concert was starting.
Around her, the people's screams seemed to have increase ten notches and they were waving those lights rather wildly now, jumping in their frenzied excitement.
…
(Messrs Moony!)
Eh yo, eh yo..
{The screaming renewed with fervour, and louder than before.}
(Wormtail!)
Eh yo, eh yo..
{There was a slight dipped in the volume}
(Padfoot!)
Eh yo, eh yo..
{At the Sirius Black's voice, the noise increased once more}
(And Prongs!)
Eh yo, eh yo..
{The screaming didn't cease. In fact, it seemed to have even reach the skies as James Potter introduced himself. Hermione was certain that she would turn deaf after the concert.}
...
Are you ready?
Here comes the Marauders!
Time for mischief and disorder!
1, 2, 3, 4!
We solemnly swear that we're up to no good!
{Then there was an explosion of noise and sound as the people around her shriek and jumped while a complicated series of chords from the air guitars, the fast beat of a drum, and electrical piano being played by the silhouetted men she could see in the enormous holographic screen above her.
{There was spectacular show of dazzling luminaires, from coloured laser lights to flood beams that pierced towards the skies while fog machines were used to create more of dramatically entrance. Hermione could see the shadow of the four men descending into the stage using a circular flying boards while they played their instruments.}
{Then, one of them began to sing. As he did so, his face was revealed when a flood light was aimed at him. It was James Potter. He appeared in the holoscreen, focusing on his handsome features at once. That cocky grin, windswept jet black hair, and wearing his red and gold Gryffindor Quidditch gear. The audience went wild at the sight of him while Hermione listened to him sing the first line of the song.}
In an innocent, blank parchment.
Protected by charms of concealment.
{Another man appeared on the screen as his voice reverberated throughout the stadium. It was a man with a scar on his face; Remus Lupin. The lights focused on his rugged features. The entire holoscreen expanding to show the audience that he was wearing the same Quidditch gear as James Potter. Some of his fans started chanting, 'Moony! Moony! Moony!'}
Hides a map that shows the secret ways into her heart,
Of hidden passages and chambers that we chart.
{As soon as Sirius Black's face showed in the holoscreen, with his mischievous blue-grey eyes and his heart-melting grin. Most of the girls near her let out an ear-piercing shriek that Hermione had to cover her ears and winced. They sounded like a bunch of banshees when Sirius Black showed up in the holoscreen wearing the same Quidditch Gear but with his own personal touch}
(And passwords that we loathe to part)
{The last person to appear was Peter Pettigrew. He was wearing the same clothes as the others and Hermione had to admit that he looked different from the holopicture that she had seen in Dr. Slughorn's office. His hair was blonde and curly now and he was taller too. Another surgery perhaps?}
A map we created because we're smart.
(Also, we want some fun) (and love) (and farts) (Sirius!)
{The people were either laughing, screaming and some are even crying as they listened to the four joked. Even Hermione couldn't help but smile as she watched them. Cho was right, the group was entertaining. And there was something about these men that evoked a sense of familiarity in Hermione.}
{They had reached the circular stage in the middle where it began to revolve around clockwise. The bright lights allowed most of the people to see the four men standing there. Hermione continued to listen to them sing.}
We call it the Marauder's Map.
(And I call it a state of the art.)
It's a road map (the key) to (Walmart.)
(Be serious!)
(But I'm Sirius!)
Truly, it's a road map (the key) into her heart.
And it repels (spouts insults) those who dares take a peep.
(It's always Snivellus) (The creep!)
...
We, who desire a glimmer of moonlight.
(With her flushed and breathless from flight)
She often caught us sneaking out again
(She already knows where and when.)
Still she joins us to places she had never been.
(And try risque things that most are none too keen.)
{The four winked simultaneously that generated yet another round of screaming from their adoring fans. A bubble of laughter threatened to rise up from within Hermione but she bit her lip and hid her smile. The song was making her tingly all over while a warmth had settled on her chest.}
With a map, a cloak and covered in fur.
Beneath the full moon, we meet her.
Running and howling to our forbidden adventure.
Yet never receiving a protest or a lecture
Such beauty she is with a lioness' mane.
She's our Princess (our Queen) in her vast domain.
...
As the sun emerges behind red-purple skies.
We veiled shadows of regret with mischievous eyes.
'Till next time' we say to her in our true forms.
'Keep out of trouble' she quips and leaves like a storm.
The promise of another night has never been too far.
And we ache (and long) for our moon and star.
(Do you mean me?) (And me?)
(Not you Moony! Nor you, Sirius!)
(Who is it then?)
(Ugh, not again!)
{Raucous laughter had followed after the four bantered. Hermione was smiling wide now, her foot tapping to the beat. She didn't know these men personally, but some part of her was telling her that, 'Yes, they weren't bad...for a Pureblood.' They were clearly of a different variety. They were nothing like the others she had encountered before.}
{In Beauxbatons, most of the Pureblood girls looked down at her because she was scholar and a muggleborn to boot. These men appeared to be more… open-minded. Perhaps it would be easy for Hermione to talk to them, compared to the Death Eaters, if she's been approved for the final casting process.}
She's ours. (She's mine) (She's mine) the silent wish in our hearts.
So we played tricks and mischief, and do our parts.
Such childish antics they were, just to get her attention.
Because she's brilliant (the brightest) did we forget to mention?
Furtive glances and secret grins are not enough.
We are bewitched (mooning over her more like) and it's tough.
{She heard some girls beside Hermione sighing and commenting out loud, 'I wish this song was about me.'}
{For some reason, Hermione's heart was beating fast. She had trouble breathing. Was it always like this when you're in a concert? To feel… like your losing yourself, feeling a vague sense of disorientation, your vision tunneling into pinpoints that you forget where you are, the people around you, except for the lyrics of the song, the music, and the men who became the center of your world...}
But with the Marauder's Map, she becomes ours.
(Ours) (Ours) (Ours) (Ours)
It's not for the mischief, or frolicking in midnight hours.
It's for her, and the magic, and everything at our advantage.
However, things must end and we say, 'Mischief Managed'
{Then to everyone's delight and shock, the four men started dancing in an impressive and well-choreographed dance routine. With snappy moves, and with equal amounts of swag and mischief, they moved their arms and feet in sync. They did the typical 'Point and Pump', the 'Lasso Switch', 'the Robot Creep', then the 'Stomp and Thrust' before transitioning smoothly to something more fast and complicated without missing a beat. There was a bit of poppin' and lockin' before the four ended up doing some sexy body rolls that caused the crowd to explode into screams and howls once more.}
{The Marauders had playful grins plastered on their faces as they continued to move their bodies in a wavelike motion and focusing more on their hips that absolutely sent the sea of people in the stadium into a tizzy. The cameras zoomed in on their moving hips, moving and expanding their seductive moves in the holoscreen that many were practically howling in near insanity}
{Unable to resist anymore, Hermione laughed in abandon. There was a warmth spreading in her chest, her eyes dancing as she looked at the four men on the revolving stage. The Marauders seemed to derive some enjoyment for driving their audience wild with that one move. Most were either chanting, 'PRONGS! PRONGS!', 'PADFOOT! SIRIUS!', 'MOONY!', a bit of 'PETER!' and she could also hear some 'WOLFSTAR!' thrown in the mix.}
{Then, they resumed their singing}
We are the Purveyors of Aid.
(The Mischief-makers Brigade.)
But above all…(we don't get paid) (or often get laid.) (Peter?!)
We're renegades!
(Yeah, we're renegades!)
(Sometimes we serenade) (or Masquerade)
(And seek daring escapades) (and the chance to get laid!)
{That's when Peter Pittegrew ripped his shirt off and threw it to the crowd, revealing his six pack abs. Hermione nearly choked at the sight of his muscles, before laughing in unrestrained mirth while the crowd around her was torn between either gasping in horror/astonishment or squealing in glee.}
{Hermione had expected some of them to take off their shirt, but she had never imagined that it was going to be Peter Pettigrew who had the guts to do it.}
(Wormtail!)
{People guffawed when the other three Marauders scolded Peter Pettigrew for stealing the limelight. The shirtless man looked sheepish but still flexed his arms to show off some more of his lean physique. The rest of the Marauders laughed, which indicated to everyone that it was part of the show.}
...
And so ends the tale of the Marauder's Map.
Now, do you want more mischief or just take a nap?
{The Marauders' fans were screaming themselves hoarse when the song ended. Some were either laughing or crying hysterically. Hermione shook her head and grinned. She had to admit that these four men had a certain charm to them with their carefree and slightly juvenile attitude}
...
The lights dimmed once more and the throbbing music faded. And the crowd went back to chanting, 'MORE! MORE!', 'PRONGS!', 'JAMES!', 'PADFOOT!', 'REMUS!', WORMTAIL! and other things that she couldn't distinguish.
James Potter called out, "Are you ready to meet the new members of our band?"
The people around her let out another boisterous roar of: 'YES!', or 'BRING IN THE TWINS!', and 'DOUBLE UP THE TROUBLE!'
"Alright! And here they are!" Sirius shouted. 'Meet up the...!"
...
But before Hermione could see who they were going to introduce, she was jolted back in the entertainment room again. She felt dazed at the unexpected lurch that she swayed a bit.
"Did you enjoy the recorded live concert, Miss G?" She heard Myrtle asked, who let out a giggle afterwards.
Hermione wondered what she had been doing while she was using the AR Live.
"Yes," She said, steadying herself.
"What do you want to watch next?" Myrtle inquired.
Hermione paused and deduced that she might use the other AR Feature next to get a better feel about the Marauders.
She wondered what the group recorded in the AR to give a Personal Touch to the viewers…