Dumbledore didn't want to risk flying back to the castle or even aparating. Who knew how it would affect Hermione? Instead they took the train back to Hogwarts. It was a long ride for Hermione. She was utterly burned out, too tired to exist, to afraid of her nightmares to sleep. As the sun began to fall to the horizon the burn of hunger came once again, only an hour after eating. Very suddenly though, the burning sensation twisted into something frightening and unfamiliar. Hermione gasped in surprise and pain as the feeling of being stabbed with a hot poker bloomed in her ribs. Everything inside of her shifted and there was a distinct feeling of something rattling the cage of her.
"Hermione, dear are you alright?" McGonagall put a hand on Hermione's shoulder and she cried out in pain. "Head Master! Come quick!"
Hermione's joints began to pop out of place with sickening sounds mixed with her screaming. Her head burned and her vision went black as she fell to floor. Passing out should have been a huge relief for her. It should have provided a shelter from the storm that was devastating her body. It didn't. She felt everything, trapped in her own mind, unable to see, unable to scream, barely able to breathe.
Then it happened. With all the commotion around her, the professors fussing over her, trying to bring her 'round, and with all the pain and the burning and twisting and breaking she felt, something else broke through all of that. It was barely a whisper, but she heard it.
Hello? Is someone there?
Odd though, it was her own voice but she didn't recognize it at all. She thought she had finally snapped; driven mad from exhaustion. Then it happened again.
Hello? You can hear me can't you?! Finally you hear me!
No. No, no, no, no…Hermione thought. This isn't happening. It isn't real. Breathe, just breathe. Snap out of it.
No please, don't keep me locked away. Please, let me out! It's so dark in here. I'm all alone, please, let me out?
No, no, no…
Let me out, please!
No, not happening…
Don't do this to me! Let me out!
The voice rattled against Hermione's conscience.
Let me out!
Not real, not happening…
LET ME OUT!
"NOOO!" Hermione bolted upright so fast her head swam. Then… nothing. No voice and more relieving, no pain. Only exhaustion. Hermione took a deep and shaky breath as her professors stared at her.
"Ms. Granger, what's happened?" Dumbledore asked peering at her over the tops of his glasses.
"I heard a voice. It said let me out." The professors looked at each other. "I'm so tired."
"Sleep dear, if you can." McGonagall helped Hermione back into her seat and tried to make her comfortable before they all left her to sleep.
"What do you suppose she heard, Professor?" Dumbledore asked Snape.
"I can't say I'm sure, Head Master. But I mean look at the facts. She's changing into something we don't understand, and she's hearing a voice? Our options are either that she's going crazy from it all, or it's just like the other case we've handled. While different genes were used in each one, it's still a matter of not being completely human isn't it? There are bound to be some similarities aren't there?"
"Quite right you are, Professor. I wonder, if this is the birth of a new creature within Ms. Granger, if the two creatures would recognize each other?"
"Do you mean you want to put them together? Like an experiment?"
"You don't approve, Minerva?"
"Well it's a known fact they absolutely hate each other, and well, yes it does feel a bit wrong, doesn't it?"
"I understand your need to protect Ms. Granger, but the sad fact is, we need to learn everything we can and if this experiment, as you call it, can help us gain knowledge then I'm willing to put my personal feelings on the matter aside."
"I understand, Albus, of course you're right."
A/N: I know this was a short chapter but that's just how I wanted the story broken up. More within the next few days! PLEASE R&R BUT DON'T BE MEAN. IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE TO SAY AND CAN DO SO NICELY IT IS APPRECIATED BUT DON'T BE AN ASS. Also, obviously none of these characters or this world is mine. So very obviously…