Magical Overload

"Reducto!"

The column above Hermione's head exploded in a shower of dust and debris. She quickly knelt down and looked for a way out. Spotting a large piece of flooring that had been blown loose and decided she needed to take the offensive. Her brain was working through all the possibilities for her offensive.

A little over a month after her first training session with Aberforth, she had gotten increasingly better. Between studying spells, dueling, and her physical training, she had discovered her reflexes were getting quicker and her magic was returning to Voldemort Era levels. Although, Aberforth was still routinely handing her arse to her every session without fail. It was starting to get very annoying to Hermione that she still wasn't able to get even a stalemate against him.

A flash of bright purple light flashed in front of her and left a char mark in the floor two feet from her right foot. Her eyes narrowed and she abandoned her plan. She needed to think faster.

"Almost had you, Miss. Granger!"

She growled softly under breath. He wasn't wrong. She shot out from her hiding spot, firing spells to her left as cover fire while she dropped and slid behind another column. She snuck a quick look out with one eye and saw a billowing cloud of dust and debris from where her myriad of spells had destroyed several columns. She smiled to herself as she had given herself a moment's breathing room. But her face fell as she saw a quick blur of red on her right.

"Damn him!" she breathed angrily. She quickly raced farther left to the cover of a nearby stone altar, which had been upended by their duel. She peeked over the top, and nearly paid for her it, as a spell took a chunk from the edge where her head had been.

She quickly flattened herself to the floor and angled herself around the stone footings to get a better sense of where he was. She pulled back quickly as the footing was nearly blasted away by a succession of three spells. She leaned against the altar and breathed hard. She was not doing well again. She sensed she had only a few moments before he stunned her. Time for something bold and unexpected.

She gave a quick count of three and she dived out rolled to a crouch. She pointed her wand at him.

"Expelliarmus!"

Her wand suddenly flew from her grasp and her eyes went wide in surprise. Then just as quickly she realized she had been set-up. He had known she was going to do this. He had played her again. She let out a roar of rage and frustration as he fired the follow-up spell.

"Stupify!"

As if by instinct she raised both hands in front of her and yelled, "Praeseum!"

She watched in amazement as a bluish colored energy shield sprang up in front of her and his spell deflected harmlessly into the ceiling. Then just as quickly as it had formed, it fell and she collapsed to her hands and knees, suddenly feeling drained of energy.

She waited, but no spell came to follow-up the deflected one. She looked up, sweat pouring from her forehead from her exertion and saw him standing there as still as a statue, face as white as a ghost's.

"Oh my," he breathed in shock looking at her. He lowered his wand and slowly approached.

She sat back on the floor and felt seriously nauseous from the expenditure of energy. She watched as Aberforth approached her warily and came to stop in front of her.

"That, Miss. Granger, was impressive," he said quietly, "I have never seen that kind of magic before."

She wiped the sweat from her face with the back of her sleeve and waited until the world stopped spinning before saying, "I didn't even know I could do that."

"I dare say not," he replied. He conjured a chair and sat down in front of her, "Where… where did you learn that spell?"

"I read about it…," she stopped as her face went white and then green, "I feel sick."

She rolled over quickly and retched from the exertion and the sudden wave of nausea. After she was finished, she spat out the last of the taste and coughed, trying to draw in air. She felt a comforting hand on her back as she gasped for breath. After a few more moments, she slowly sat back on her feet with her eyes closed, trying to regain her senses. She felt beyond sick. She was trying to regain her senses and quell the nausea, but was failing. It was almost as if she lost all her ability to control herself.

A slow caring rub on her back was all she felt while she tried to center herself and control her body. Aberforth calmly sat in his chair, and waited as the woman in front of him fought to get her now quaking body under control. He was getting more worried by the minute when she let out a loud moan and fell forward. He quickly rushed and caught her before she fell hard to the floor. He quickly conjured a bed and carefully placed her limp form on it. Calling for Dobby and scourgified the area.

The little elf appeared with a crack and looked at Aberforth, and then his mistress.

"Dobby," Aberforth said quickly, "I need you to get Madam Pomphrey please and hurry!"

Dobby's only reply was a soft whimper of concern for Hermione before he apparated away with a crack. Aberforth looked at the unconscious woman and placed his hand on her still sweaty forehead. He closed his eyes, concentrating on her magical force, trying to help. Unlike Albus, he had very little training in magical energy sensing, but that still didn't stop him from trying.

With another loud crack, Dobby returned with a confused Madam Pomphrey. However, her confusion lasted only a moment until she saw the still form of Hermione in the bed.

She gently, but firmly, pushed Aberforth aside while pulling out her wand, "What happened Aberforth?!"

He stepped back and watched as she scanned Hermione with her wand, "I'm not sure, Poppy," he replied, "We were dueling and she had just lost her wand to me and before my next spell hit her, she generated a magical shield."

He pointed to where Hermione had collapsed, "Then she collapsed as if drained of energy. We spoke for a few moments before she became sick and then slumped unconscious."

Madam Pomphrey shook her head, "No broken bones, but her vitals are weak. It's almost like…," she quickly put her wand away and looked at him with her eyes wide with panic, "I need to get her to the infirmary, now!"

Dobby stepped forward, "Dobby can help get his mistress to the infirmary."

She looked down and nodded once, "Straight to a bed."

"I'm coming too," Aberforth said, touching Dobby on the shoulder.

Before she could object, they were apparated to the infirmary. Madam Pomphrey immediately dashed away towards her apothecary. Aberforth sat down on the edge of an adjoining bed and waited, with Dobby standing a little off to the side wringing his hands nervously on his sweater. Within minutes Madam Pomphrey came rushing out with two bottles. She put the purple colored bottle down, opening the blue bottle and poured out a smoking clear liquid.

"Help me with her," she said and Aberforth lifted Hermione's head. He watched as Poppy poured the liquid in Hermione's mouth, forcing her to swallow it. She then quickly opened and poured a measure of red liquid from the second bottle, also forcing that down Hermione's throat.

After a few moments the effect was immediate. The color in Hermione's face returned, she gasped for breath and she started coughing. Poppy sat next to the woman and rubbed her back vigorously. Hermione slowly opened her eyes and groaned.

"I feel horrible," she groaned and flopped her head onto the healer's shoulder.

"And no small wonder!" Poppy said exasperated, "Idiotic stunt, practicing magic that you were not familiar with. I informed the Headmistress and she'll be along shortly."

Then clarity and understanding hit Aberforth, "Poppy, are you saying the magic she used is not your typical magic?"

Still holding Hermione in her arms she gave him an annoyed look, "Yes. I've seen it before when young Mr. Potter was practicing with Albus years ago," she looked and Hermione and muttered angrily, "Damn near killed the boy."

Aberforth looked at Hermione with a look of alarm and confusion. This was not what he had expected. He knew of other forms of magic from Albus, and Voldemort of course, but never had he actually seen someone use it. Now Hermione sat in front of him having just used not only a form of magic he had never seen, but without the need for her wand.

The infirmary door quietly opened and revealed a very concerned Minerva McGonagall. The headmistress looked at the small group as she quickly approached with a mixture of concern and anger.

"Aberforth," she said tersely to the man.

"Minerva," came the reply in like tone.

McGonagall looked at Hermione then Madam Pomphrey, "Poppy?"

The healer, still rubbing Hermione's back, looked at the headmistress, "I think she'll be okay.

A worried sound came from next to Aberforth and McGonagall saw that Dobby was watching Hermione.

The elf took a tentative step forward and in a quavering voice asked, "Is Dobby and Winky's Miss. Hermione going to be okay?"

Poppy smiled at the elf who looked like he might burst into tears any second, "She'll be okay, but she'll have to stay here overnight for observation."

McGonagall gave the worried elf a reassuring smile, "Dobby, your concern for your mistress is admirable. Perhaps Madam Pomphrey will allow you and Winky to visit and help make Miss. Hermione comfortable tonight?"

At the nod from Madam Pomphrey, Dobby gave a worried whine, "Miss Poppy will please call Dobby or Winky any time to help their Miss Hermione."

"Of course Dobby," the healer assured him, "Now why don't you go tell Winky what happened and tell her not to worry."

With a nod, Dobby apparated from the infirmary, leaving the three older humans in silence.

McGonagall then turned on the man sitting in the bed, "Well Aberforth? I'm waiting for an explanation."

Aberforth, knowing McGonagall would not settle for anything short of the whole story, did precisely that. He told her everything, from their initial conversation at the Hog's Head to just now. McGonagall's face remained stoic and impassive throughout the story. Once he was finished, he looked at the headmistress and waited for her response.

McGonagall's mind was turning quickly after hearing his story. She remained silent as Poppy lowered Hermione back into bed and with a wave of her wand, transfigured the woman's robes into a set of pajamas and got her under the covers. After this was done, she gave a slight huff and spoke.

"I am very surprised and disappointed."

Aberforth remained silent.

She looked at him, "And you never thought to let me know this was happening under my roof?"

He looked at her in surprise, "I thought you knew! She said she asked you."

"Of course I knew you blithering idiot!" she told him, exasperated, "I had hoped to hear it from you when you started, not when something like this happened!"

His anger rose from her treating him like a fool with her comments, "I never figured you for fighting dirty Minerva."

"And I figured you for having more sense than your brother," she retorted.

"How was I supposed to know she would use another form of magic?" he asked as calmly as he could.

"Another form of magic?" McGonagall asked and looked at Poppy.

Madam Pomphrey nodded her head in confirmation, "Just like Mr. Potter when Albus was teaching him here years ago," she laid Hermione back on the bed and covered her with bedsheets and a blanket.

"How dare you," McGonagall turned on Aberforth, face red with anger, "Learned your teaching style from your brother have you?"

He shot to his feet, "No, not like Albus!" came his furious reply, which echoed in the great room. His face was crimson with anger and his voiced matching, "Unlike Albus, I don't offer up young boys and girls to a wizard whose sole purpose was to commit genocide and bring the world into chaos in hopes they'll defeat him!"

McGonagall inhaled a breath, but Aberforth plowed on, "So do not ever compare me to my brother and how he did things, Minerva. I would not have done this without your knowledge and consent. Ever! I disagreed with Albus and his actions with Harry. That differing point of view damaged our relationship even more. That boy was used by my brother and he suffered for it."

McGonagall opened her mouth again to give him her retort, but Aberforth wasn't finished, "And before you start, I am well aware of what she's gone through and what's happening, which is the only reason I offered. I only offered to help train her up in case she ran into trouble. I'm sorry if you consider me a poor substitute to my brother, Minerva, but that's your problem."

He sat back down heavily, and looked at Hermione now sleeping in her bed. The room was silent except for the ticking of a grandfather clock in the background. McGonagall looked at Madam Pomphrey and the healer gave her friend a meaningful look, forcing McGonagall to nod.

"Aberforth," she began trying to temper the tone of her voice, "I agree that the way Harry was used by your brother was questionable in many ways, and I regret not being more of a part of that situation," she paused, "I certainly do not want to cause anymore grief over that and there already been more than its fair share of it."

She shifted, "I, for one, do not consider you in any way a poor substitute to your brother. Quite on the contrary. I was delighted to hear from Miss. Granger that she had asked you for help and you accepted. It's been years since she has gotten much drive or energy to do anything magical again. However, I'm concerned that the trainings have delved into dangerous realms, which I thought a responsible wizard like yourself would have avoided," she looked at Poppy before looking back at the prone body lying on the bed, "And now I can see now that you were not the responsible party."

"Don't blame her either, Minerva," he said in a calm voice, still looking at Hermione, "She didn't and couldn't have known the repercussions of her use of that magic. She was desperate to do anything but lose."

McGonagall fell silent at his comment for a moment, "Well, we'll see about that after she's better," she turned to Madam Pomphrey, "Poppy, expect Professor Lovegood up here the moment after I've told her what happened."

The healer nodded and indicated her head towards Aberforth. McGonagall looked at the man who sat watching over Hermione. At this moment, he reminded her of Albus when Harry would be lying in that bed. Her facade softened as did her attitude, "Aberforth, you're welcome to stay as long as you'd like."

He smiled slightly at her and nodded his thanks, "I'll stay for a little bit if that's alright. But I should get back to the tavern before the dinner rush."

With that, McGonagall left the infirmary to find Luna and tell her what happened.

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Hermione woke the next morning feeling much better and almost back to normal. The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes made her smile brightly. Luna was sitting in the chair, head slumped forward, softly sleeping. Hermione rolled on her back and sat up slowly. She stretched and felt the soreness from her exertion yesterday. Looking to her right, smiled again. Valdore was laying on his back in the next bed asleep.

She felt a rush of gratitude that her two friends had stayed with her. It reminded her of when she, Ron, and Harry would all sit with each other when any of them had to stay in the infirmary. Of course, she didn't remember being petrified, but she had been told that Harry and Ron had both stayed with her as much as they could during her ordeal.

She quietly pulled the bedclothes back and swung her legs around. The moment her feet hit the cold wood floor a voice came from behind her.

"And where are you headed?"

She turned and saw Valdore with his eyes still closed.

"Are you telepathic now?" she asked him.

He opened them and looked over at her, "No, but I'm pretty certain Madam Pomphrey would hunt you down if you left before she saw you."

She smiled, "I wasn't leaving. Just headed for the loo."

"Uh huh," he said, groaning as he sat up, "Luna, wake up!"

A soft snort and gasp signaled Luna's awakening, "What?" she said sleepily, rubbing her eyes before she saw her friend sitting on the edge of her bed, "It's about time you're awake."

"Good morning to you to," Hermione said through her smile.

"It's almost past morning actually," Valdore said as he stretched, "I'll get Madam Pomphrey while you do your thing."

He got up and walked towards the healer's office while Hermione got up. By the time she had comeback, Madam Pomphrey was waiting beside her bed to examine her.

"And how are you feeling Professor?"

Hermione sat down and submitted to the exam, "Almost normal. I feel great."

"Hmmmmm," came the healer's reply. She finished her examination and looked at Hermione with a stern expression, "We nearly lost you yesterday. If I had not treated you when I did, you would not be sitting here listening to my lecture."

Valdore went to stand by Luna, who immediately put her arm around his waist, "Was it really that bad?" he asked.

The healer harrumphed, "Yes, Professor Valdore, it was that bad," she turned her attention back to Hermione, "With that one spell you nearly drained your entire magical core and with it, your life."

Hermione paled, "But…."

"But nothing, Professor," Poppy interrupted, "Whatever magic you used was beyond your ability to control and as such it nearly killed you."

Hermione put her head in her hands. That was not mentioned in the journal, nor the book from the Black Family Library. Whatever that spell or that magic was, it was far more powerful than she had thought.

Madam Pomphrey looked at Hermione with a softer expression, "If it weren't for your Mr. Potter having that same reaction years ago, I would not have known how to treat you as quickly as I did."

Hermione's head shot up at the mention of Harry's name, "Harry went through this?"

Madam Pomphrey was a little taken aback by her reaction, "Well… yes," she replied, "When he was training with Professor Dumbledore."

"Of course," Hermione whispered to herself as she looked out the windows. She was not really seeing what was there, but just a memory that was recalled, "How could I have been so stupid!"

"How indeed," came the healer's reply with a terse expression.

Hermione looked up, "Am I okay to go?"

With a look of doubt Madam Pomphrey relented, "I would ordinarily say no, but you seem to be almost normal… so yes, you may go," she held up her hand and stopped Hermione from getting up, "But be warned about using that magic again. It could kill you next time."

Hermione stood and smiled at the healer, "I'll be better prepared."

The healer watched the three adults walkout of her infirmary and she shook her head, "Oh I have no doubt there will be a next time," she muttered to herself, "With a stubborn girl as yourself."

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