Disclaimer: I am not J. or Robert Jordan and their worlds of Harry Potter and the Wheel of Time. These two created the fun little worlds I have decided to play in with no thought of profit to myself. So I promise that if I did own these I wouldn't have had Hermione with Ron, though I would have been happy to see her be married to Rand al'Thor if ever the two worlds should meet.
Chapter Three: Beginning to See True
With Harry's dramatic leap to join them, the room sealed itself shut leaving them in impenetrable darkness. Carrying with this blackness came the first flutters of unreasonable panic settling into the heart of Hermione. Desperation to see and escape caused her to be a bit dramatic herself in her spell work. Though admittedly they were able to see again.
"Lumos Solem!" she cried out in a near shriek, and thus she successfully banished all shadows with in this odd funny feeling room they found themselves in.
Shielding and blinking their sorely put eyes, her awkward assortment of companions squawked in irritation. Well except Neville whom was cowering away from a statue of a bat winged man with an overly sensual face and outstretched clawed boney hands, and the seemingly still slumbering Luna.
"Bugger it all Granger, panic much?" growled the dark skinned Slytherin wizard.
"He's got a point Hermione. Can we tone it down a bit please." added a squinting Parvati with her arm up to help block a fraction of the intense light. "Its burning into the back of my skull."
Sheepishly, Hermione reduced the severity of her light spell. Now it just looked like a sunlight bathed room during mid-day rather than the surface of the sun itself. With this reprieve the group of inadvertent explorers rested against walls and the horrible statue. Many were breathing hard from their flight, especially the unwelcome Slytherin trio. Those three were looking a bit wild eyed at the stone wall that had reformed behind Harry. On this side it bore the carving of a snake eating its tail. In the center of this was an inscription once more in that language unknown to her.
"What were you lot up to?" Alicia accused their additional serpentine members.
Parvati snapped off, "It's obvious they were following us for Snape and Draco. Bet the lot are just itching to run off and turn us in for some reason or other."
"Would it make all that much difference if we said no?" the silky black tressed witch with the haughtily pretty face and build inquired in a voice much too old for her.
Fred and George made a pair of indelicate snorts. "Figures."
"What?" demanded Fred's date Angelina venomously. "Are we missing something?"
"Yes my luv." Fred chuckled in self derision.
"And no my dear brother's luv." George too chuckled in mirthful self reproach.
"Care to enlighten us or should I start hexing?" Ginny waspishly ordered waving her wand menacingly, "I won't keep it friendly like mum would wish either."
That earned the youngest Weasley a pair of matching Cheshire Smiles. Harry spoke up through, "Hush I hear people."
Silencing immediately they listened to the voices. The language was fluid and had a musical quality to it. If forced to call it something Hermione would remark it was similar to Latin and Gaelic with a touch of Asian accents. She thought it was rather beautiful. Only it clearly marked these speakers as not a group native to England, or anywhere she knew for that matter. Giving rise to her panicky fear once more.
Laughter could be heard, as if relieved about something. A general celebratory feel could be discerned, followed by a shocking cheer of, "To Hogwarts!" Then the door was heard to open and booted feet clumped away, with some stifled laughter and shushing noises. Needless to say Hermione was gobsmacked.
"We have to warn someone." the other Slytherin girl trembled out.
"Easier said than done." Padma countered, "The wall has reformed."
"Well unform it then!" the wizard commanded, "That lot looked scary. I've seen killers in my life and those blokes were nothing but."
Harry, whom had turned a cute shade of red and was still holding the nuzzling little witch they found, spoke up, "Everyone look for that wonky yin-yang. We might get lucky twice. And could someone help me warm our little friend here up?"
The far too pretty Slytherin and Ginny rushed to his aid. A small tug in Hermione's heart occurred again with thinking of him. Funny how a girl can miss how sweet a boy can be now and then. Ever since fighting to save Sirius last term, Hermione had began struggling with her bourgeoning attractions for both Harry and Ron. The latter had been her crush since second year when he stood up for her against Draco, however he never seemed to give a care for her outside of copying her class work. The former though acted oblivious to any girl at all till his sudden interest in Cho "The Flirty Seeker" Chang. Now Hermione's best friend looked to be very interested in girls, and she was having trouble adjusting to this new reality. She pondered her long dormant feelings for him while the two witches tried to free poor Harry.
"No!" Lovegood cried pitifully while clinging tighter to Harry, "I won't lose you now. They can't take me from you. Never! Not even if they drag me to Shayol Ghul itself!"
The girls harsh scream made everyone jump in shock. As for Lovegood she woke up to blearily look about. Yawning she smiled sweetly, "Oh my. Was I sleepwalking again? Did I wander far this time, I don't recognize this room."
"Uh... No you were still in Hogwarts this time." Padma spluttered out, 'Were you dreaming? You started yelling"
"I might have been. I remember a beautiful tower. Hello Ginny, was the Yule Ball fun? You do look so pretty in your robes. I wish someone would have asked me, I heard they had a band from the wireless." Lovegood rambled on staring around in a dreamy voiced fog. Then the tiny thing saw where she sat, "OH! Your Harry Potter. Did you know you have lovely eyes?"
That had Harry turn an even brighter shade of red. "Thanks I think. Care if we try to get you a bit more dressed? You're turning blue."
"Not at all. I feel rather warm here thank you." replied the girl. This caused many of the witches to make indelicate noises, including Hermione to her own astonishment.
Angelina and Alicia just laughed at that with the other Slytherin witch sniggered, "Can't fault a girl for hanging on to what she likes. Right Daphne?"
The pretty Slytherin gave her friend a death glare.
Fred and George changed the growing dangerous topic. "We found one Harry."
"But it's not on that wall." George continued to add.
"Could be getting bad this." Fred sighed mournfully.
"I think it already is brother mine." replied the first.
Harry, glowing like a large red Christmas light, squeaked out, "Where is it?"
"On the floor." George waved downwards.
"Under your feet." Fred added.
Looking down Hermione cursed herself for getting distracted. Below her best mate was a large yin-yang with an inscription encircling it. Looking closer Hermione saw the writing was replacing the scales of another snake devouring itself. Everyone stood and came over to look, though Neville kept a safe distance from the gruesome statue. It was in Latin.
Both Harry and Lovegood began trying to decipher it, with the girl doing the best job of it, "Stand and face the truth of our life my true heirs. Hand in hand march down the Serpent's Maw and be witnesses to the terrible truths we have denied."
"Harry put me down beside you. I think we're to see something together." Lovegood suggested, "Afterward I won't mind you carrying me again." Hope was a distinct ringing note in the last. "I am quite comfortable."
"Luna!" Ginny glared meaningfully.
Alicia barked over any further arguing. "Enough, lets just all back away from things in here. Just in case."
"I have an idea, why don't us girls stand on this side. It's white marble so its like that white side Ginny touched earlier." Angelina added logically. "I think it's big enough."
Neville hesitantly whispered, "We'll stand on th-thi-this bla-black side, right?"
"Sounds dodgy but I'm game if it gets us out. That statue is creeping me out." their male Slytherin guest shivered, "I'll have nightmares for weeks after being near that thing, any longer I'll be around the twist."
"Wait, just running headlong into things got us here in the first place." Padma reasoned before everyone went along with that plan.
Finding herself agreeing with that Hermione spoke up. "What if it only makes this worse? We simply can't keep dashing about with out a plan."
"Hermoine, we're stuck in a room none of us know, it's freezing, and we have to tell someone about those strangers. How much worse could it get? We don't have any other options from what I can see." her best friend pointed out. "And lets get Luna here a pair of socks at least so her feet don't freeze. We can use mine if someone'll help me."
Slightly disheartened, Luna softly sighed, "I really don't mind being carried for a change."
"Yep, she knows what she likes. Blaise my luv, will you carry me." the snarky Slytherin witch giggled with a saucy grin for the dark skinned wizard.
"Blast it all, I was going to ask you to carry me Tracey. Alas my poor back gets in the way." he overly dramatized his rubbing of his long slender back. The girl stuck out her tongue at him in response to his corny acting.
Hermione noted the other witch was mirroring the look Ginny had. Both bore unvarnished looks of longing for her dear best friend. A silly little voice in the back of her own head teased her with a cackled, "Only if you too were shoeless and in distress."
Squashing that she joined Parvati and Neville in retrieving Harry's socks. They were a rather garish mismatched pair, but would free up the boy's arms and allow Luna to stand for a change. If Hermione had not been in a pair of stylishly blue coloured pantyhose for the Yule Ball, she would have gladly volunteered her own socks to relieve him of his burden.
Once the little sleepwalker was proudly wearing Harry's warmer footwear, the group got into position. Careful to not stand anywhere but their chosen halves, Hermione and the other girls found it an uncomfortably tight fit. All nine wished for the wider inch or two of space the boys had by dent of fewer numbers.
A rumbling accompanied the far wall growing a huge snakes face that caused Ginny, Harry, and herself to shudder in its resemblance to another large serpent. A hissing voice boomed into their small stone enclosure, causing both Harry and the overly pretty Slytherin to gasp in alarm.
Together they hissed in reply. Everyone else except Luna goggled them in amazement.
Whatever was said the face opened its maw to reveal a deep, down sloping hallway with crystal arches that resembled ribs. Neville near screamed when the gruesome statue turned to them as if alive and real.
"Enter and witness truth, but beware that once seen life will never be the same hence forth. Fools, simpletons, and cretins take heed, once following this path there is nowhere to turn but ever onward. Learn not the lessons within and never be seen again." it rasped in a threatening cackle that sounded like nails on a chalkboard.
Swallowing a lump, Harry glanced at everyone, "Well are any of us those last three?"
"I hope not." the boy called Blaise trembled.
"What the bloody hell was that Daphne?" Tracey accused the other Slytherin witch. "You never told us you were a Parselmouth. We could have unseated Draco if you had."
Horrified Daphne blurted out, "My father was afraid I'd be taken as a wife by some inbred monkey of a Deathie is why. Please don't say anything, I didn't know I was speaking it."
"It happens. Join the club, I'm still waiting on enough of us to order tee shirts at a discount." Harry began cracking up, "Daphne your secrets safe. We'll just blame it all on me."
A warm glowing smile full of hope blossomed on the snake speaking witch, giving Hermione a twitch in her heart again. Harry was just a nice friend who had no interest in her. Ron was who she liked and liked her. She silently chided herself for being a silly goose, but could not think why that was what she thought. Ron was never pleasant to her, and as they got older it grew only worse.
Neville whimpered, "What did it say?"
"What?" Harry asked in confused reply, then chuckled loudly, "Do you wish to see the truth? Speak it and enter my true heirs and do not be overly critical of me in my chamber of most secret studies."
That rightfully drew gasps from most of them.
"Harry it simply can't be. You've already been to the Chamber of Secrets." Hermione blurted out with a hand over her mouth, "Ginny do you remember being here?"
Pale as a ghost, the red head witch whimpered, "I don't think so."
"You mean the Chamber of Secrets is real?" Daphne nearly stammered.
Harry stepped off his side and took Ginny into a hug, "It is real. I saved Ginny from Voldemort and a basalysk down there. Do you suppose this is another entrance?"
"Well if it is we could get out the other way if we're lucky. Like as not scare Myrtle though." Hermione decided. "That's what that last part most likely meant about fools and some such. A ruddy great snake could do that, but it's dead so we're in no danger I wager."
Besides Harry and Ginny, the rest of them were far from being in agreement. Not even Lovegood looked that thrilled at first. Quietly she asked, "What if this is the true Chamber and the other a trap. It would make sense why no one will tell us why no ones found or returned from it before. If it is, do you suppose this one will tell us why Slytherin vanished, and what truths has he held secreted away in here."
"She is a Ravenclaw." Padma chuckled nervously. "And as we've said before, we don't have many options. I just hope there isn't something worse than a basalysk down there."
Neville moaned in terror, as did Parvati. However Harry strode for the Maw, "In for a knut, in for a galleon. Listen, I'll go first. That way you all can see what happens to me and make up your minds, at least then you will know what to expect."
That had her hackles up to even contemplate.
"Nothing doing mate." George joined him.
A step behind, Fred laughed, "This is a place we've never been in Hogwarts."
"We take offense at..."
"... being left behind."
Blaise smirked, "I doubt any of you ever walked about in Slytherin."
The three of them laughed, with Harry grinning smugly, "I tricked Draco into letting me in. He was quite accommodating about it all."
Fred clapped Harry on the back, "Good one! We put ever itch powder in Flint's skivies."
"Don't forget when Alyssa Runcorn snuck us in too." George roared. "That was- Oh Bugger us!"
Their dates frostily stared at the pair of ne'er-do-wells.
"Do continue." Angelina icily suggested.
"We're dying to hear." Alicia's tone was just as cool.
The Slytherin boy turned to Tracey, "I told you they are good."
"Yes luv. I heard." she sniffed, "Alyssa is just a- a- a tart."
There had to be a story in there somewhere.
Ginny cut in, "We all go, or no one goes."
Hermione had to agree. "The opening is pretty wide. I think we should try it."
Ever the noble git, Harry's face clouded up, but Luna silently padded up and took his hand, "This will be great fun. Maybe Salazaar Slytherin has a Crumple Horned Snorcack down there. Daddy will be so pleased. By the way Harry, thank you for the socks I'll cherish them forever. Shall we?"
She pulled Harry along with her towards the entry. Everyone rushed to join either in fear of being left alone as Hermione felt sharply. She could not let go of Harry, even if she still wanted Ron on some levels. Bunched together they entered more or less at the same time.
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Work gangs fought with the massive loads of stones from the bygone ancient fortress that once stood in dominance over all the chilly mountain valley. Cliodhna had never liked the once mighty ghost. It carried a chill over the whole of this rich vale. Humans were meant to dominate the world, not the lost Ancients, who or whatever they had been.
Most agreed they had been utterly evil, and created the ruin of the modern world by use of twisted forms of magic. That sounded preposterous to the witch as she was more of a mind to lay the blame purely with men being men. Although she had to confess that the ruins they left here had an unholy chill to them.
Shivering she worked the stew pots for the wizards that strove to do as the mighty four lords and ladies had ordered. Supposedly they sought to build a place that all of wizardingkind could attend and learn from. A waste of time in her opinion as she knew a fairly large number of spells and helpful tonics, enough to make do with. She had learned as everyone had, from either a mentor or their parents. In her case her own mum, just as her two daughters had from herself. Women were just superior to men in magic by her estimation.
Men usually did well enough, but most of their works were for building or killing, and all learned best from another wizard. Fools mostly seeing how building was their lone worth while contribution to life. If one wanted to kill another, best to just stick a knife in him or whack the blighter up side the head with a heavy object. Dead's dead, why get fancy with it?
An excited murmur ran through the men, causing her to smirk. Men on the whole were a simple minded bunch so it took very little to make them excitable. Probably found a nice shiny batch of rocks or some such rot. Exactly like the time they found that circle of stones that the great Lady Rowena surmised was for rituals of some sort. If not for her and the Dame Helga no work would ever get done in this fools errand.
"Bloody rocks for brains is what men have I say, Logred." she commented to her friend who smirked in knowing agreement. Others nodded as well as they stoked the cook fires under the roasting goats and boiling pots.
Usually sturdy old Bevel ran past crying out, "Lord Godric! Archmagus Salazaar! We found one of them stones you tol' us ter watch fer. Merlin preserve us if demons don' be a guardin' it."
Cliodhna's heart froze in her chest. It was a known fact Ancients used demons for everything. "We're doomed! Heaven's preserve us!" She screamed and made to run for her life.
"Silence fool woman!" roared the warrior prince Godric as he drew out his famed sword Lion's Fang. "Goodman Bevel lead the way. Sal are you coming? This may prove fine sport."
A serpentine smile spread across the gaunt dark face of the Archmage that failed to warm those whom viewed it, "But of course Godric. I've been hoping for this."
"You would of course. I must admit I've itched to test my blade and power against one of these other worlders of the Ancient's." heartily laughed the massive lord. Her heart swooned for the great man's presence. If she were younger she'd have thought of letting him flip her skirts for some lively fun.
Men rushed past, all but the cold eyed Archmagus Slytherin who muttered excitedly, "Finally proof. Master Crassius I may well have found what you swore to have discovered. We will be proven correct at last."
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Hermione shivered from the chill creeping through her at witnessing the founding of Hogwarts. She had just seen more or less first hand the Four Founders and all the massive work put into the construction of her ancient school. But who were these demons and these Ancients? She simply had to know more.
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Marelake was sitting and weaving her marriage bed's mat like a good witch. First bloods held potent magics for a young woman, especially for a witch. She was nine, thus still a few years off from that time in her life. But a proper young witch was a prepared young witch. Off to the side of her was the wood her mother had prayed to the nearby bowtruckle clan for wands to be crafted from. Wands for Marelake and her older sister Rhilla, the latter of whom was having her hair braided as a witch of age.
"I wish I was eleven." Marelake let slip in a disconsolate sigh.
"It will happen cousin." Helga- Marelake's far traveling and adventurous older cousin- chided consolingly, "Don't steal this from Rhilla. You know she won't be staying in the village long. Her husband, Lord Crassius has paid a healthy bride price for her hand. Her binding will only be a fortnight from now."
Marelake felt compelled to ask, "But who will train her in magic? Mother has promised to teach me, but Rhilla has never held a wand yet. It's just not right."
"I will be teaching her dear one, but her not holding a wand before is one of the reasons Crassius has bought her. That and he fears leaving the Parson Line heirless. You'll likely be an aunt very soon. Would you like that my sweet Mare?" Helga informed with a touch of her hand.
Blushing and bobbing her head, she hugged Helga tight, "I'd like that very much."
The door swung open to reveal Helga's own lovely betrothed, Godric the Gryffen of Dore. His startling rugged handsomeness made Marelake sigh in longing, "Good tidings my love and all you fair ladies herein. I bring glad tidings to all, the war is over. Arthur's forces have victored over his son's. Goodman Weasley has called for our sleepy village to raise a toast to Avalon, and I whole heartedly agree."
Helga hopped up and rushed into the burly man's arms. Their kiss made Marelake's world glow in a brilliant golden light. She could almost feel the power of Helga's love for her lion maned man.
All was right in the world she felt till the voice of a man wailed from outside the door. His words put out the light and chilled the tiny witch's heart, "Arthur is dead! Dear heavens rain mercy on us, the High King is dead!"
An involuntary wail erupted from her and her mother. For a displaced Rus family in Britannia, this was grievous news. Godric though did not yield to despair as he growled powerfully, "Helga, run and get me Lion's Fang, I fear I have to begin the charm to bind this Hollow to me."
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Hermione could not understand what that was felt during that kiss, it was marvelous.
"Poor Marelake." she sighed, "Poor little Rhilla! What a cad to marry a girl so young."
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Cold winds howled as the Roman Legionnaires made ready to disembark. Rhoda secretly wished the whole lot of them would fall in the water and drown. As a slave witch she would not be allowed to ever let that happen considering how her bond maester had a tight, cruel hold on her. If there was a way to break his hold, she would gladly do it and burn every rotten Roman alive. They had enslaved her for near on forty years, though as her kind were not given to aging as the ungifted she still looked a maiden in her early bloom outside her graying hair.
At that moment a man and thirteen women rode out of the forested hills near this would be beach head. Bravely facing this expeditionary force to lay the ground work for the wicked scrawny little Julius Caesar, "Scourge of the Gauls". Rhoda would have pitied these foolish souls save she felt the women's power. Some in her people had that much power, but most were given over to the lesser arts of ritual and incantation.
"Mangy Greek witch do as you're trained! KILL!" spat her hated maester.
Raising her focus reluctantly she gathered her soul's will and let Gaea's power overflow in her. It wouldn't be enough with the sacred number facing her. Only a heathen pig like her maester would dream such a command possible.
Weaving the invisible strands of nature with her wooden focus enriched with a phoenix feather plume, Rhoda tried to cast. Naturally it wasn't enough. Her foes were as the Honoured Ancients. They were of the divine blood and all she could do was laugh hysterically while they cut her off from Gaea's blessings with ease. Her fat slovenly maester could not even hold enough of Apollo's Blood to stand long against an unbound Rhoda, so he was of no help here. Blessedly he died gruesomely beside his fellow Romans.
As for her, they left her on the beach cackling madly. She was a free witch! This was a land of abundant magic. This Britannia would be her home from now on. Maybe she would have a daughter and raise her right. Raise her to be a scourge of the Romans.
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Hermione's stomach was roiling in rebellion. Throwing up everything she had ate that day was all too possible she feared. Rhoda had a right to be happy. Her foul maester's presence was inside her skull. Buried deep in her mind like a malignant tumor.
But then there was the power.
She had truly felt the pulse of life. Hermione had never experienced the like before when casting a spell. Hers was skill and training, not an extension of the flow to the living world. It had left a hungry need in her to feel that again.
Between flashes of these snap shots of lives, she saw the others were growing alarmed, but also as hungry for more as she felt. To witness what that statue said, the Truth.
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Gazing down upon her self made and crafted wedding dress, Idesia inhaled the fragrance of her bouquet of lovely spring flowers. A wonder in the coldness of this particularly harsh winter, but she felt it worth it. Channeling into the bright flowers, she amplified their joyous scents for the nuptials. Chosen carefully, these specific blossoms would impart a general sense of peace and well-being. Things she needed for her coming bonding.
"Are you ready my darling child?" her ancient grandmother beamed down upon her. At nearly two hundred and more, the woman had raised many a girl like Idesia, but they shared a deeper relationship than the rest.
They were both as powerful as the Ancients, not many born these days were even able to work the Five-From-Two without extensive study and aid. Idesia was said to have enough to take her still youthful looking grand dames place as Weather Caller of their clan.
"I am. Bonding with Linley will be more than we could hope he's a true Battle Master and maybe our children will return our kind to this world." she smiled, "Besides that he's a girl's dream come true. I love him Grana."
"That is good. Love is a blessing in a true bonding. Remember to be open to his Circle. Maben is a good woman, as is little Tilda of the Eire. Gracious be, four full and true Servants in a family." the old woman wept proudly, "And my tiny Idesia as the jewel. Blessings of the Weaver dear child."
The door opened and in stepped Idesia's older cousin, Dore holding tight her newly carved focus stick. "I've come to bring you to him. Oh Idesia, he is so handsome. Will you allow me to summon the Wind to lift your veil?"
"Of course. Are you more comfortable with a wood focii then?" she inquired politely.
"It's better than incanting alone. Did you hear old Durward is attempting to teach his daughter instead of fostering her out." the girl gossiped, what she said was a scandal. Only women could bring out the Five-From-Two in a woman!
"Fool man has brains of an otter." spat her Grana. "Now girls we have a bonding to perform. Shall we?"
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That last left Hermione confused. They wanted a bonding? But then again it was supposedly one of love and meant more. But how? It sounded more like a harem than a loving marriage to her mind.
However she truly felt the power or Five-From-Two. It was sweet, gentle, and infused her with a deep longing. Plus the girl had cast a spell without aid of a wand unlike her poor lesser cousin. Could Hermione ever learn how, or was she a lesser too?