Disclaimer: HP or Descartes do not belong to me

A/N: As promised, here is the second chapter. Thank you all for the lovely reviews and following of the story. I hope you enjoy this bit.

Dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum.

Chapter 2

Seeking help

Le Petit Sorcier, Luxembourg City, 17 years ago

John knocked back the last of his firewhiskey and cast a quick tempus, frowning at the time showed at the tip of his wand.

"Et ass Zeit, Neckel. Annie waart doheem ob mech."(*1) He nodded at his old friend and said a quick goodbye to the bartender. The small pub at the old city center was mostly empty, even though it was only eight. Nestled between centuries old buildings near the grand-ducal palace it was an unsuspicious entry to the wizarding marketstreet of Luxembourg. One could cross, similar to Diagon Alley, by touching different stones at the backwall of the cellar. The wizarding community in the small country was leading a very covert life. Although it had a quite successfull Quidditch league (the only sport Luxembourg excelled at), a dense concentration of wizards or whole magical villages were non-existant. People led a simple life, mingling with Muggles. Most were foreigners, seeking refuge and peace that were offered to everyone willing to except. It was a welcome change from the wars and politics at home. Grindelwald followers still unstelling Germany, the corruption and Veela-problems in France, Death-eaters in the UK... It was a dark time in Europe. John sighed. His mind turned briefly to the family, friends and aquaintances he left behind at his own homeland. His wife and he fled during the first war against Voldemort, as they, both being muggleborn and famed researchers for the Ministry, would be surely targeted. He shuddered at the horrors happening. His brother had reported many deaths and disappearances and mentioned that the young witch they had met in France some years ago was on the most wanted list. John sincerely hoped that she was somewhere safe.

Stepping outside, he breathed in the cold evening air and turned towards his car, when a apparition crack sounded behind him. Immediately he turned, wand at attention and cried out when the young woman who had appeared, collapsed against the side of the building. "Hermione!"

He ran to her side and cradled the frightening thin frame into his arms. Dull, brown eyes, who had seen too much for her young age, locked onto his own grey ones. "John… Please… help…" Her voice was broken and fear raced through the old wizard. "You are safe now, Kätti. We will help." he tried to reassure her. Carefully he lifted her up and with a last look down the street disapparated into the night.

Hogwarts, Present time

Jeanie sat down on the seat opposite the impressive Headmistress and took a calming breath before beginning her tale.

"I… met… Hermione 7 years ago when she re-entered the wizarding world." Eyes flickering to questioning green eyes, she added. "I know only small bits of what she did before then. We met at the library." An amused smile flashed over Jeaine's face. "Quite literally ran into each other. We started talking and I invited her over for a beer at a local pub. After that first meeting, we became fast friends." Jealousy rose in Minerva, but she tried not to show it. It was only natural that Hermione made new friends.

"She told me she had taken her N.E.W.T.s at the Luxembourgish Lycée de sorcellerie and became a student at both the Luxembourgish University and the Belgian University of Magic. Alchemy and Transfiguration." At the smile which lit up Minerva's face, Jeaine could not help but be grateful of the happiness that information gave the older witch and admired her enhanced beauty.

"She really chose Transfiguration as a Master course?" The question was full of pride.

"She did." Jeaine nodded. "She was one of the best students too. Mastered 4 levels in both in as many years. An achievement not heard of before." Jeaine let out a small laugh. "I don't even want to count the all-nighters she pulled. Never really managed to make her relax as much as she should." She shook her head. "She made a few quite impressive discoveries during those studies. The Silver-Titanium holders for enhancing wands, the Eye-changing spell, the Double Animagi Transfiguration, all examples of her brilliance."

The green eyed witch was surpised."Double Animagi? How did she…?"

Jeaine shook her head. "I do not know exactly, as most of her discoveries were left behind when we had to flee. But it was along the lines of everyone having a non-magical and a magical animal inside of them. Both could be brought forward at will, when the magical core was sufficently powerful to embrace the nature of the magical animal."

"Do you know…?"

"Just that her non-magical form was a rather large feline."

"Lioness?" Minerva glowed with curiosity and socked up every tiny detail the witch in front of her offered about the life Hermione led when away.

"I can not reveal." It sounded like an almost lie and Minerva forced herself to not give in to the almost trust she had displayed in the moments before. Jeaine was an unknown. Even if she was a close friend of Hermione. "It isn't important either." The narrowing of the Headmistress eyes spoke volumes about how she felt about that statement.

"When Hermione entered her fifth year she decided to do one final project to obtain both fifth level Masteries at once. She came to me with a text she found at her old Masters private library and we started researching." Reaching with one hand into the side pocket of her bag at her feet, eerily similar to the one Hermione had when she and the boys where on the run, Jeaine withdrew two miniature objects. Enlarging them one revealed itself to be a thesis book, the other an old, yellowed manuscript in a foreign language. Sliding them both over to Minerva, the younger woman sat further back in the chair and let her study both. Minerva's intelligent eyes flew over the text in old French. She could not understand it, but deduced by the writing style that it dated back to the 18th century. Focusing on the thesis paper she scanned the title.

"Dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum. The Influence of Master Descartes theory of transfiguration on modern Transfiguration. Thesis by Hermione Granger, Mistress of Transfiguration, level 4, Mistress of Alchemy, level 4." Thin, elegant fingers danced over the name imprinted on the cover. Amazing… Her heart swelled with pride. You came so far, my love… A smile graced her lips and she remembered the eagerness of her former pupil when it came to studying and learning. This document she now held in her hands proved just how intelligent the muggel-born witch really was. Turning her thoughts slowly back to the situation at hand, her eyes turned again to the witch sitting calmly on the other sofa.

"How come your name is not beside hers, when you shared the study of this subject?" Minerva still sounded slightly suspicious. Jeaine sighed and her features saddened.

"I was conflicted about what discovery we were about to make. It would have been better had we never have stumbled over this text. Hermione and I were… close, that's why she came to me and why I… helped… with her final project. But I did not want to publish it under my name." The wording was careful and Minerva questioned just how close the two women did become. The way Jeaine made it sound was almost as if they were. Lovers?... No it cannot be… Remember, she ran when… Shaking her head, she tried to let go of those thoughts, they were neither welcomed nor relevant to the subject they were discussing. And, moreover, not you business… as much as I want it to be…

"We translated the original text into modern day English. Hermione was amazing with this." Jeaine explained when Minerva looked slightly confused: "She spoke many languages. Learned them quite fast too, I must say. It hads a certain charm to her personality." Violet eyes looked almost smug and the Headmistress forced herself not think about how exactly Jeaine knew this.

"We encountered a problem after a few weeks of intensive research. The words of Descartes transfiguration theory needed a base to hold them together. We had the observations without the general construct, so they did not quite make sense and could not be applicated. Hermione discovered the missing bits when she held a seminar at the Muggle University of Luxembourg. After that, we developed, tested and proved the theory. It was bound to change everything we ever knew about transfiguration. And it was the most dangerous thing I had ever seen." She pointed at the thesis in front of her. "This is the only copy, the only document left about our research. Everything else was destroyed by us, or hidden in the deepest and safest depths of unreachable places." Jeaine touched her hand briefly to her chest, as if needing proof that her heart was still beating. "I implore you to read it and help me find a way to remedy what we unveiled. We found knowledge too great and the price to pay will be too high, if all this lands in the hands of the wrong people. Please, Minerva. Hermione said you and Hogwarts were our last chance for help."

The plea touched something deep inside her and the Headmistress slowly nodded. Trepidation filled her when her gaze fixed on the pages of Hermione's search for knowledge. "I will read it tomorrow." Slowly she focused on Jeaine again, sitting with her hand on her chest, radiating fear of what would come to be.

"I will help. I promise…"

A/N:

*1: It is time, Nick. Annie is waiting up for me at home. (Luxemburgish)

Hope you enjoyed this. Next chapter will explain the thesis in more depth. Will post again as soon as third chapter is written.

Anyone up for guessing what Hermione's Double Animagi are?