Alrighty! Progress! Now, please enjoy another chapter of one of my prouder crossovers. My favorite being "The Gift of Silence." ahhhh, anywho, ENJOY!
Chapter 4
Next morning, Sam told Dean that he had went to talk to Ted, only to find him hanging from the ceiling. They guessed that their next move was to check out dead Ted in the morgue. Dean told Sam of his encounter with Hermione. First, Sam was confused. Dean would have kept asking her questions and demand her answer because of what she could do was considered unnatural and she had clearly told him she was a witch.
Sam asked, "Why did you leave?"
Dean sighed and told him, "The way she spoke was just plain painful. When I stabbed her and she didn't even fall, she told me she had already tried. I just figured that if she was already trying to off herself, then what's the point in trying to find a way to kill her?" Sam nodded. He saw the perfect logic in that. When did Dean ever use logic?
Hermione watched the boys whisper from her table. For once, she wasn't reading her bible or thinking about Castiel. She was wondering why the boys were there. She was told their names were Alex and Eddie, but she heard them calling each other Sam and Dean on more than one occasion. She was guessing they were there about the murders. Why would they do that though?
The group sessions were cancelled for the day. So, she decided it was time to get some fresh air. Barely any of the patients used the gardens so it would be quiet enough. She decided to leave her bible on the table. She knew Dean would look through it again. Hermione didn't care, though. If it would satisfy his curiosity, then so be it. She caught Dean's eye and purposefully left the bible on the table and walked away.
She went to the garden where there was no fountain or anything fancy. Just a bunch of bright flowers and benches. She sat on the bench by the patch of marigolds. The air was fresh and the sun shown bright. The day was warm and since there was no one around, she pulled up her sleeves. It felt good to feel the sun.
Hermione heard a flutter beside her and a slight shift in weight on the bench. She didn't need to look to know it was Castiel. They sat next to each other silently. After a while, Hermione broke the calm silence and asked, "Who are they?"
Castiel sighed and answered, "Sam and Dean Winchester. They're hunters."
"Hunters?"
"They hunt the supernatural. Like ghosts, demons, vampires-"
"Witches."
"Yes. Witches as well."
"That's why he tried to stab me." Castiel nodded and the two settled back into their silence. This time, Castiel broke the silence by saying, "You're ready."
Hermione looked at him confused and asked, "Ready?"
"You are ready for the task I asked you to be apart of."
"How am I ready?"
"You have meet your task." Hermione mulled it over and the lightbulb went on. "My tasks have something to do with the Winchesters'?"
Castiel nodded and said to her, "What you agreed to was helping with was keeping the Winchesters' safe. I can't watch them all the time and things in heaven can get disorderly. We need someone powerful to help them at all costs." Hermione settled in her seat, feeling like the world's weight rested upon her shoulders once again. She would do the task, she already promised. It wasn't like she had anything better to do anyways. Staying in a mental hospital her whole life sounded awfully dull. What if she got out? There would be nothing for her. This place wasn't home. Her home was destroyed.
Hermione looked at Castiel again and asked, "How will I perform these tasks? They want to kill me not work with me." Castiel looked to be thinking about it as well. Looks like the angels didn't think everything through.
He finally said, "Help them hunt down the monster here. If they still don't trust you, follow them secretly. Protect them without them knowing. You have the power to." Hermione nodded slowly and thought about it. She could do it. A lonely life she would live, but it was possible. Some glamors, some expert magic. Also, some animagus wouldn't hurt.
While she was still in school, Hermione became extremely interested in Animagus. As soon as McGonagall showed the class her cat form, Hermione wanted to accomplish it. She did accomplish it in her fourth year. between the studying and helping Harry with the tournament, she had a lot of time on her hands to complete her transformation. When she did complete it, she was a bit stunned at what she transformed into. She was a large, black, wild cat. A panther she believed. It was a smart animal with good instincts. Protective and strong. She thought it fit.
Yes, a panther would be hard to hide in the daylight, but during the night, she could follow them with no problem. That is, only if they tried to kill her when she helped them take down this insane monster. Hermione sighed loudly and said to Castiel, "I will do it. Only because you asked nicely." He looked at her confused and she just patted his shoulder.
They sat out in the garden for a long while. Until lunch when he insisted that she go eat. She did as he said and Castiel left her. As soon as he left she remembered that she didn't ask him about how the angel knew the winchesters'. Oh well. She would find out some time.
Hermione went back inside to eat lunch and had a pretty enjoyable day. Closer to the evening, Hermione spotted the Winchesters heading off to the morgue. Her curiosity was piqued. What were they wanting with dead bodies?
So, Hermione followed them. Once they were in the morgue, she disillusioned herself and made sure that they couldn't see her. She snuck into the room and was fascinated to see them taking out the body of Ted. Ted looked, well….dead. Ha, Dead Ted. It rymed!
Hermione nearly smacked herself for thinking that. She focused on what the boys were doing and was a bit confused when they stuck a q-tip into the side of his head. It looked like it could touch the brain! She leaned forward and listened as Dean said he would stay and watch while Sam would crack open the skull.
After three minutes of watching Sam saw open a head in morbid fascination, Dean came back in warning him that someone was coming. Sam held up Ted's brain. It was shriveled like a raison! What on earth could have done that? Ted's brain was placed back inside of his head and the body was rolled away right when Nurse Kayla walked in. She looked surprised to see them.
She asked in a tone that one would use with a child, "What're you boys doing in here?" The two looked at each other, scrambling for a reason when Dean suddenly dropped his pants and said in the most ridiculous voice, "Pudding!" Hermione shielded her eyes from that sight and only felt it safe to look when the three had gone.
Hermione ended up back in her room, extremely curious as to what they were hunting. Something that could suck brains dry? That was a mystery to her. She went to sleep that night and had a normal amount of nightmares. All the same. The horrible torture or the war. All her dreams would be warped and darker than reality. She would actually feel the pain of the blades slicing her skin. The one dream she could never decipher clearly was her escape. She saw herself glow a bright white light from the carved symbols in her skin and disappear from sight. It wasn't just poofing out of existence though. Her skin was literally torn from her and disappeared piece by piece. She didn't remember that though. Something just wasn't right.
The next morning, Hermione didn't see the brothers. She followed her regular morning routine and sat in the day room with her bible. She felt something off. The air felt….different. Like something was changing. Hermione went on with her day, though.
Everything began to get interesting when 'Eddie' stood in the corner of the day room and watched everyone pass through the mirror. What was he up to? Hermione watched him as he stood. Dr. Cartwright walked up to him and they began to chat. Now, Hermione could hear well, but man did people mumble. What she did catch was wraith, hunting, carrying the weight of the world and blah blah blah angst. She paused at the wraith part. Wraiths? Wow. Those were in her old textbooks that she no longer had. They were nasty things with a sizzling reaction to silver. They learned it all in defense. Nasty faces they had. Well, only when revealed by a mirror. Oh! A wraith? A wraith was killing the patients! Well, it made sense. Who the hell would believe a mental patient when they said they were seeing a monster.
Hermione walked passed him to pass his mirror test and heard him pause. Dr. Fuller walked passed and gave her a quick smile. All she did was keep a straight face. She really hated that doctor.
At night, she decided that it was time for her to sneak out and see what was up with the Winchesters. She heard them. After hours without protection. Bad news too. Orderlies were heading straight their way.
Hermione sighed and whispered, "Let the protection tasks begin." She walked up behind the orderlies and touched the back of their heads. She influenced ter simple minds and told them to walk the other way and tell the other people in the West and East wing to go to an emergency in 407. They quickly ran to do her bidding and she smirked. It felt good. Yes, a bit evil, but she needed to let off this steam.
Hermione watched as one of the patients named Wendy walked up to Sam and kissed him. Pretty little whore. Hermione hated Wendy. Especially because she tried to make-out with Hermione as well. It was a very unpleasant experience. She watched as the group of three became two. Sam and Dean split up while it looked like Martin made up his mind and followed Dean. Hermione then decided to follow Sam. She really couldn't let the oaf murder someone who didn't need to be murdered. Wraiths messed with your head. They could influence you to see things. They enhanced your mental problems. If you were afraid of spiders, they would make you see spiders everywhere. Spiders…..Ron….Ugh! No time for sad memories.
Hermione walked around the corner to see Sam charging at Dr. Fuller. Hermione instantly went into action. She knew Fuller wasn't a wraith. She had seen him in the mirror that used to be on his wall. She broke it out of frustration two weeks ago.
Hermione pounced on Sam and the giant lost his balance, falling to the ground. Hermione yelled to Dr. Fuller as Sam was getting up, "Go!" The Doctor didn't need anymore convincing. The man ran like hell to get Orderlies.
Sam went to run back to get Fuller, but Hermione just made an invisible rope to trip him up. Sam growled and accused, "You're helping the wraith! What you told Dean is a bunch of crap! You're just a witch. A monster. Monsters don't deserve to live!" Hermione could see what was going on. His rage was off the charts! The wraith must be screwing with him. She definitely couldn't calm him down. He most likely wouldn't listen to reason either. Too much anger. So, she chose a different approach.
She ducked as Sam swung his silver weapon at her. Hermione used her next best weapon. Hitting people where it hurt most. Verbally. Hermione said with a sickly smile, "I don't deserve to live because I'm a witch, Sammy? Well, I should murder you and Dean right now than shouldn't I?" She threw a strong punch to his jaw and he stumbled, looking at her confused.
Hermione walked up to him and kicked him down. "You and Dean murder. I bet you've killed many people that were good and wanting to be saved because of what they were!" She kicked his side again and he began to crumple. The weight of her words were becoming too much.
"How many lives have you taken, Sammy? Unintentional or intentional. All the same! Murderers are monsters!"
She snatched the envelope opener and held it at his neck while it transformed into a real blade. "Monsters don't deserve to live, Sammy! Why do you think I tried to kill myself!"
Things started to slow down and Sam looked at her wide eyed as she did the same back to him. She…...she finally said it. She admitted the reason she wanted herself dead. She felt herself a monster. No better than a wraith. She killed for a good side, but that side lost. How many were in the ministry when they paraded through it to grab the horcrux? How many innocent lives did they take in the battle? How many fell in the battle of magic that caused the muggle world to experience earthquakes and tidal waves? So. Many. Lives.
Hermione looked to Sammy and saw the same look. He had killed in the name of light, but what did it matter? They still murdered. Monsters. Hermione dropped the knife that shifted back to a letter opener and helped Sammy up. His rage was calm and that was exactly what she needed to let off steam. Hermione looked to Sam as the orderlies came to take him away. Before he left though, he asked her, "Fuller wasn't a wraith was he?" Hermione shook her head and Sam went with the orderlies willingly.
Hermione went to her room and didn't bother with anything else. She just needed to be alone while they drugged up Sam. Dr. Fuller would probably be in to thank her, but she just needed some time. Maybe not alone. What she really wanted was good hug and for someone to tell her she wasn't a monster. She needed it.
Hermione walked in her room and was surprised to see Castiel.
He slowly walked up to her and said softly, "I saw what happened." She felt tears slip down her cheeks. She felt so helpless. So lost. She hadn't even started her tasks fully and she was already failing.
Hermione told Castiel brokenly, "I don't think I'm ready, Cas."
He shook his head and put his hands on her shoulders. "You can do it Hermione. I've heard many stories of your brave deeds and how you stayed strong. You'll get through this." She broke down and hugged Castiel tightly. He didn't turn her away. He just hugged her back.
Hermione was a mess. She didn't know what to think. One moment she strong and sarcastic. The next she's an angry mess. Then, she's crying all over the trench coated angel. Everything about her was just scrambled. Castiel lead her to the bed when her crying ceased and sat her down. He knelt in front of her and wiped her tears away.
He told her what she really wanted to hear. "Hermione, you're not a monster." She sucked in a breath and forced herself not to cry. Enough crying. Castiel was probably so confused on what was happening. Angels didn't deal with crying girls.
She nodded to the angel and told him, "I'll try and believe it for myself."
He smiled a small smile at her and told her, "Try is all I ask of you." Castiel then softly told her to go to bed. She laid down and he covered her up. Hermione closed her eyes and no dreams came her way. Just a peaceful slumber.
It seemed like the next morning, she was allowed to sleep in. She woke up sometime around afternoon to find that all patients were required to stay in their rooms for the time being. Due to the fact that a patient went awol and began attacking other patients. Befor Dr. Fuller could come to her room and chat with her about saving his life, she snuck out.
As soon as she awoke, Hermione had a bad feeling. Hermione listened to her gut feeling. The way Sam was acting yesterday due to the wraith was just a warm up. The crazy would progress until the brain was ripe for the drinking. It looked like the monster was targeting Sam and Dean. Hermione walked to Sam's room and found him not there. That must mean he was in those damned padded cells.
Hermione didn't bother to go there. She went to Dean's room instead. There, she found nothing, but a ripped picture of a wraith. Oh, wraith. Protection. Good. Hermione grabbed the paper and transfigured it into a silver blade.
Next, Martin's room. How she remembered all of this, she would never know. Well, Hermione came up to that room, only to find it empty too. Where the hell could they be? That's when she heard a scream. Hermione sprinted towards the scream and kept going. It was on the other side of the facility! She wouldn't have heard if she didn't have her freaking panther hearing. Man, could those wild cats hear! Hermione was shaken out of her thoughts by a haggard looking Dean stumbling into her. He looked at her and instantly got off. It looked like he was having trouble, so she helped him up. First, she placed her magic made blade in his hand. Then, Hermione helped Dean to wherever the hell he was going.'
He looked to her and asked, "What are you doing?"
She huffed and said, "Helping you hunt a wraith genius! Now, shut up and put your marbles back in their bag." He just looked forward and they reached their destination. Hermione threw open the door with her magic and pushed Dean in. Kayla. Nurse Kayla was the wraith? Hermione knew someone couldn't be that happy!
Kayla stood up and smiled mockingly. "Do you really think you're going to win this?"
Dean took out the silver blade and said in a distracted yet focused voice, "I'm already crazy. So, what the hell?" Hermione smiled at his words. That was one tough cookie.
Hermione jumped into the fight as Dean was thrown to the ground. He needed time to get back up. So, Hermione jumped the wraith and held her to the ground as she squirmed. Wraith strength was no match for Animagus.
Hermione smiled ferally and said in a frightening tone, "Wraith against two hunters and a witch. Who will win?"
The wraith screamed and threw Hermione off, pinning her to the ground. "Oh, sugar, you're just a bag of crazy. Perfectly delectable." A long bone spike came out of the wraiths wrist and Hermione panicked. Flashes of torture and the present moment in time blurred. Kayla became Bellatrix and Hermione screamed in absolute rage. She blasted the hallucination/wraith off with magic and she hit the padded wall. Hermione summoned the blade that Dean was holding and held it to Bellatrix.
"Wrong hallucination. You don't know how long I've been waiting to kill this bitch." Hermione impaled he wraith and felt the blade pierce it's heart.
Hermione took out the blade and stabbed her one last time before the wraith fell. Bellatrix went away and Kayla was bloody on the ground. Hermione looked to the two staring brothers and rolled her eyes. She snapped her fingers and Sam's restraints were gone. The man got up and they all rushed to an exit. Hermione blasted them out with extra force because hell, she was never going back. She followed them to their car and both turned to her.
She held up her hands and said, "I don't plan on hitching a ride. Just, get out of here."
Sam got in the car, but Dean stayed for a second and asked, "If we see you again, will I have to bring out my witch killing kit?"
Hermione didn't hesitate when smirking and saying, "Depends on what your hunting that day."
Hermione ran off into the trees that surrounded the place. She was free! It felt good. So extremely good! One thing she had to do was go for the best run of her life. The only way to do that was in her panther form. So, she transformed. Her body painlessly shifting into her animal. She roared her wild cat sound and ran through the dark trees. Hell, she already placed a tracer on the brothers. No need to rush her mission.
Two things Hermione didn't notice while she was reveling in her freedom. The trench coated angel holding her bible, watching her with a smile and the difference in the magic that was in the air. Both, were important things to miss.