Read, review, enjoy.
Once again thanks to liidg, who is a genius by the way.
Happy V-day!
(That's right double update)
The rest of the trip was far less eventful. Harry Ron and Hermione left Ginny with her year mates to make the trip up to the castle while they did the same. Hermione was in a bit of a daze after the episode she had experienced earlier on the train. Harry kept sending her reassuring glances and subtle pats on the back as a sign of support. Ron sent her a nod every now and then but kept a bit of a distance. Both Harry and Hermione were too caught up in their own thoughts to notice the small gap. A sigh of relief only escaped them when they passed between the winged boars that greeted the returning students. Inside the walls of the castle they would be safe, Hogwarts and Dumbledore would see to that.
Once they exited their carriage they were greeted by their fellow class mates. Hermione put of a smile and waved and greeted whoever approached them. The boys could see this was an act, but they said nothing and the trio got into the great hall and took their seats as fast as they could.
Looking up at the teachers table sitting on a dais they saw the heads of house, save for McGonagall who was helping the students filter in as quickly as possible. Snape sat in his usual seat but Harry noticed something odd at the Slytherin table. The students appeared to be taking about and pointing at the greasy haired git with looks of disgust. In fact the odd behavior was getting the attention of the other students as well, and the Slytherin's didn't seem to care. Nor did Snape. He watched as one cold look from the man shut up the table at once. Even with his 'dishonor' they still feared him. Harry may never like the man, but he did respect him a more than he did before.
'This year's gonna be interesting.' He thought to himself as a few Slytherins began to speak in whispers again.
The large wood doors opened and in marched the first years, looking scared as ever. The sorting went by fast, or at least it seemed to since Hermione wasn't paying much attention. Harry had nudged her when a Gryffindor was announced and she clapped with the rest of the house but went back to her thoughts as soon as the next student was called up to the stool.
"Welcome!" Dumbledore's voice boomed over the students. He gave his usual welcome back speech and warnings to the first years. He ended this year's speech with a quote by a muggle author. 'Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced'.
Food appeared on the plates and the students dug in. The merry voices echoed through the hall as housemates regaled each other with summer stories. Dean was trying to tell everyone about his trip to America, but was still explaining how airplanes work to his fellow wizards. Colin had of course shown up and spoken to Harry, asking about his summer and for another picture. Harry politely told him to buzz off. Most of the table hadn't noticed the four acting odd. Ron was usually stuffing half the table down his throat and the four were usually chatting happily away. Ron had barely touched his food and the four looked lost in thought, almost like they weren't even in the hall with hundreds of loud rambunctious wizards and witches. Most didn't notice, but a few eyes were on them. Damon could feel every one and he didn't like it.
'Calm yourself.' The familiar grated voice echoed through her mind. So lost was she that her occlumancy walls had fallen without her notice.
'I am trying, but it is hard with you and Dumbledore boring into me like that!' Tilting her head towards the teaching staff she met the eyes Severus and Dumbledore, both men gave a small nod of apology and went back to their food and conversations with the rest of the teaching staff. The last thing they wanted to do was annoy an already pissed off and unstable werewolf in the middle of a packed great hall.
Hermione turned her attention back to her plate, but the feeling of being watched didn't go away. Looking across the hall she met the cold stare of Draco Malfoy. She could see his arm flex even under his robes as he stared back at her and she knew he had his wand in hand. For a second she wanted the flash her new golden stare, but thought better of it. If one other person saw she would be exposed. Instead she sent him a pearly white smile and cut into her lamb chop. He quickly averted her eyes at the sight of her teeth and kept his head down for the rest of the meal. 'This could be fun' she thought to herself as hunger finally made it to the forefront of her mind and she enjoyed the rest of the feast.
Before long the last crumbs faded away and the stuffed student body slowly, happily stood and began walking to their houses.
'Miss Granger if you wouldn't mind I'd like a word with you in my office.' Dumbledore's voice rang though her head. She turned and gave him a nod and held back as the rest of her class moved ahead. Even with all the training she had been through the man still broke through her barriers like they were air.
"You coming 'Mione?" Ginny asked when she noticed Hermione had stopped walking towards the tower, Harry and Ron stopped as well.
"I'll be along in a minute, but I've got to speak with the Headmaster first." The three nodded and walked with the rest of Gryffindor to the tower.
Hermione turned towards the gargoyle that leads to the Headmaster's office.
"Lemon drops."
The statue moved and she walked up the winding stairs to the familiar room. It was funny; she had always been a good student and had never seen the inside of the headmaster's offices at her muggle schools. That didn't happen until Hogwarts and Harry and Ron.
"Come in Miss Granger." Dumbledore called just as she raised her hand to knock. Pulling the door open she saw Dumbledore and Severus sitting near the fireplace.
"You wanted to speak to me Headmaster?"
"Yes, please have a seat." He said sending her a warm smile. "How are feeling?"
"Irritable. Depressed. Desperate." Hermione said. "I want to go back to her so badly."
"I know it is hard." Dumbledore said in a sympathetic voice.
"You don't know how hard it truly is." She snapped at the man.
"While I do not have firsthand experience with mates I do know what it is like to be forced apart from the one you love." Hermione looked up into his sad eyes and felt guilty for snapping at him. For everything Dumbledore was, a mystery was the first. No one knew much about him and his past, and those that did would rather forget everything. Perhaps he could sympathize with her current state.
"I'm sorry. It's just… I didn't expect it to be as bad as it is."
"Did you drink the potion?" Snape asked.
"Yes, on the train. I had a bit of an attack and I nearly lost control. I took it before things got worse, but I'm sure I scared Harry, Ron and Ginny."
"You four did seem a little far off during the feast."
"Yes, that was my fault."
"You cannot blame yourself."
"I don't want to blame the wolf. I have to learn to control it." She had promised herself she would.
"Yes, Severus and Remus told me of your strange ability to change at will. Tell me do you think you can truly learn to master the beast within?"
"I don't know. Right now I'm barely holding on with the potion and my will power."
"Do you think this ability is linked to your mate's presence?"
"Yes. She is so far away and it is hard to concentrate on anything but the distance."
"Well do not worry. Remus and Miss Delacour will be joining us in a week."
Hermione looked up in shock.
"A week? With all do respect Headmaster I don't think I can hold on that long."
Severus reached in his robes and pulled out seven vials.
"One every morning. Do NOT miss a day."
Hermione nodded and accepted the potions. She trusted Severus to keep her and the other students safe. The three spoke for a few more minutes and then Dumbledore let Hermione leave.
She began a slow walk back to the tower, the clinking of vials in her pocket the only noise she heard. As the neared one of the halls that lead to the dungeons she stopped. Her hair began to stand on end and there was a vaguely familiar sent in the air.
"Come out whoever you are." She said. A few seconds went by before a shacking wand rounded the corner, clutched in the pale hand of Draco Malfoy.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Hermione asked. She made no attempt to move for her wand. Even without the added senses she could tell he was too afraid to do anything.
"I-I know what you are." He said, mentally cursing himself for the stutter.
"And what is that Malfoy?" Hermione asked, taking on a predatory stance and slowly moving towards the young wizard.
"He told us he killed you."
"He was wrong."
"You're as good as dead anyway. Stay back!" Draco shrieked realizing how close Hermione now was to him.
"What's wrong Draco? Scared?" She asked in a taunting tone. She couldn't help it, Damon needed a release and the fear rolling off Draco gave him some slight satisfaction. Locking eyes with Malfoy she let herself shift from amber to gold.
Malfoy gasped in fear and dropped his wand. Hermione was close enough to gracefully snatch it out of the air before it hit the ground.
Holding the piece of wood up in her hand she examined it closely. Rolling and twirling it in her hand.
"It's funny." She began, "Wands I mean. All this power you have inside you but it's no use without a piece of wood with a special core." Idly twirling the wand in her hand she turned her attention to Draco. "I don't need a wand to be powerful; all I need is the moon." She flicked her gaze out to the clear sky with the proud white moon shone half its face. Looking back the Slytherin looked ready to piss himself. Smirking Hermione tossed the wand down the hall leading to the dungeons. "Fetch."