Hermione waited outside the Transfiguration classroom as she knew Harry and Ron were bugging Minerva about the broom again. They'd been asking every chance they'd gotten for the last three weeks. With the big match coming up she knew Harry must be getting desperate.
She finally saw them exit ten minutes later and went back inside to talk with Minerva.
As soon as she opened the door, Minerva said irritably, without looking up from the papers on her desk, "I said, no, Potter. Now leave me alone before I kick you off the team myself!"
Hermione started to laugh causing Minerva to look up and join in her laughter.
"That boy... I swear," Minerva said as she tried to catch her breath.
"Tell me about it," Hermione gasped causing them both to start laughing again.
Hermione went to sit on the edge of desk near the front of the class and wiped a tear from her eye.
Once Minerva had finally caught her breath she admitted; "I don't remember the last time I laughed like that..."
"Um... the morning after Halloween?" Hermione asked, trying to not laugh.
"I was too shocked to laugh frankly...I've never seen Professor Snape so uncomfortable."
"I know... funny I didn't notice you..." Hermione said thoughtfully.
"With the guffaws coming out of Professors Dumbledore and Hagrid, I'm not surprised..." Minerva replied wryly.
"True... the Slytherins were pretty funny too..."
"So, Hermione, you didn't come here to reminisce," Minerva said kindly, "How can I help you?"
Hermione smiled, even she and Minerva could almost talk in shorthand now. For example, Hermione knew she was, at the moment, speaking with her friend and mentor, not her teacher. And Minerva knew, whatever Hermione wanted to talk about, was not school related.
"Minerva," she paused, "Ginny, Luna and I would be honoured if you would join us for dinner this Saturday evening." She could tell Minerva was about to say no, so she continued, with all sincerity, "We have something we'd like to share with you and it is the most fitting place," she paused a moment searching Minerva's face for a clue as to what she may be thinking. "Please? You can even choose what the Room looks like if it would make you more comfortable."
Minerva looked across her desk at Hermione. She could see how important this was to her and to all of them. The only thing keeping her away, the only thing that had kept her away all these years was the memory of Radha. Minerva looked down to her hands. "These three girls have already faced so much," she thought, "How is it I don't even have the courage to face a room I was once happy in?"
Minerva slowly stood up and came to stand in front of Hermione. Leaning on her own desk so that they were at eye level. "Hermione, it is I, who would be honoured to join you, but..."
Hermione stepped forward and reached for Minerva's hand, "We understand your reluctance, we …"
But Minerva cut her off, lowering her eyes as she said, "I suspect you do..."
She felt Hermione move closer and then her hand under her chin as Hermione raised her face, "We would understand... if you're not ready," she paused, not believing what she was about to say. She let Minerva's face go as she now held her gaze and reached for her other hand, "You need to face you fear, Minerva. What happened was not your fault," she paused and smiled, "Ginny keeps telling me and Luna, 'You can't live in a land of what ifs.' We can't change the past, we can only learn from it, so we can make now better, in hopes of a better future," She said softly.
Minerva felt the tears on her cheeks before she realised she was crying. She thought: how could this, albeit remarkably gifted, fourteen year old girl and her twelve year old friends be so perceptive and wise?
Hermione reached up to wipe Minerva's face as she reached for her wand. She sent a silent spell at the door and heard it lock, "It's one thing to be seen crying in front of student but," as she went to hug Hermione, "Hugging?" They both laughed a little as they hugged.
Placing a kiss on top of her head, she let her young friend go.
"You three are remarkably perceptive, you know that?" Minerva said, surprised to find her own voice was even, "And so incredibly wise beyond your years."
Hermione replied as she went to lean on a desk, "Thank you, Minerva." she smiled, "You have no idea how many times I've thought the same thing around Ginny and Luna."
Minerva laughed, "I'm not surprised… tell me, can they be talking right in front of you and you have no clue what they're talking about?"
Hermione laughed, "You have no idea! Well maybe you do, but now Luna and I are doing it too... it's really funny sometimes..."
Minerva decided, right then and there, she wanted to spend time with the girls, even if she wasn't sure she was ready to face the memories. "That is something I would like to see... what time shall I meet you?" She asked with a smile.
"Really?" Hermione asked in disbelief.
"It is long overdue... thank you for making me see that," Minerva replied with all sincerity.
"We usually eat around five so we have a few hours before curfew. We can meet you outside if you'd like to..."
"No Hermione, I would like to see the place where my three newest friends have been spending their time," Minerva interrupted. "When I am ready, I'll show you the place I shared with Radha," she finished softly.
"I understand...well then, it's simple really, the Room will be expecting you and you won't have to ask it to open."
"Really?" Minerva asked in disbelief.
Hermione smiled, "You probably did it too, you just never noticed."
"You're probably right..." Minerva said thoughtfully.
"We usually just ask your little friend to bring us whatever the Great Hall is having... we appreciate your generosity but..."
Minerva shook her head, "You three are incredibly kind, thank you for treating Cara with respect." She smiled at Hermione's bemused expression, "You can say her name without actually calling her, you have to intend to."
"Well that makes things simpler, thanks for letting me know," Hermione answered smiling and then added softly; "You'll really come to dinner?"
Minerva stood and reached out for Hermione's hand, "Yes, really."
…
Saturday morning arrived and the three friends sat together in Rowena's Room, quietly getting their homework done, when Hermione closed her textbook with a snap and a sigh.
Ginny reached across the table and held Hermione's hand, "Something wrong?"
"Not wrong..." she answered thoughtfully.
"Well that clears up, well nothing really..." Luna said as she walked over to join them.
Hermione looked at the two girls, "I'm up to date with all my homework and I just finished reading my last textbook."
"How is that possible? You're taking, how many classes again?" Ginny asked.
Before Hermione could answer however Luna said; "Which you still haven't explained how you're attending, by the way."
Hermione sighed again. She had meant to ask Minerva if she could tell the girls about the Time-turner and had forgotten to ask when she had asked Minerva to join them for dinner. The girls had been bugging Hermione to tell them since they had realised that many of her classes took place at the same time.
Hermione shook her head, "I'm sorry Luna... I made a promise to someone to not tell anyone how I was doing it," she smiled, "I expect I will be able to tell you soon, once I've asked that person if it is okay..."
"Fair enough I suppose, but something else is bugging you... what's up?" Luna asked curious.
"Well, do you two find, when we're together here, that your homework is going a lot easier?"
"I suppose... I hadn't thought to read the rest of my textbooks though..." Ginny said thoughtfully.
"What if... like us," she said pointing to herself and Ginny, "being able to share your gift Luna, when we're together... what if my gift is helping you guys study?"
"You mean your big beautiful brain is making us smarter, too?"
They heard a light laugh that didn't come from the three of them and then, looking shocked, the watched Rowena's Chalkboard materialize in front of them. It was the first they'd spoken directly to Rowena since the ancient witch had explained what she knew of the room:
"All three of you have each your own gift. One of you knows. One of you thinks you know and the last hasn't revealed itself yet."
The three girls stared at the words in shock.
"You must be feeling better if you're talking in riddles, Rowena... care to enlighten us a bit further, please?" Hermione said softly.
"Hermione... I believe you have more than just a big brain... I believe you may be a Telepath..."
They sat back quietly in their chairs and looked at each other stunned.
"Telepath?" Hermione said stunned, "But I can't hear people's thoughts..."
Luna sat pensive, studying Hermione, "I think maybe you have, you just didn't realize you were doing it, so you never tried."
Hermione was still confused, seeing this Ginny tried to explain what she thought Luna meant. "Before Luna realized she was an Empath she didn't realize that what she was feeling was other's emotions. But now, she can tell different people apart and communicate those feelings to us through just a touch."
"Exactly," Luna said, "What if, Hermione, your incredible smarts is more than just your, what did you call it?"
"Eidetic memory and stupidly high I.Q.?" Hermione supplied.
"Yes, I have no doubt those things are a part of it, but what if the reason Ginny and I are getting so much smarter when we're around you is you've been sharing the gifts you knew about with the gift you didn't?" Luna theorized.
Hermione was pondering this when Luna spoke again, "Maybe, like me, you've been picking up people's random thoughts and thinking they were your own? And, like me, now that you know, you'll be able to focus it better?"
They heard another light laugh and looked over at the chalkboard:
"You are all correct... Hermione, as intelligent as you are, you have difficulty seeing certain truths about yourself."
Ginny and Luna exchanged amused smirks and wondered if maybe Rowena had picked up on Hermione's feelings for Ginny as well.
"Rowena? Are we actually hearing you laugh?" Ginny asked with wonder.
"You can hear that?"
"I think," Hermione started thoughtfully, "That the different ways Rowena communicates with us, uses different amounts of energy to perform. The fire takes the least and the chalkboard the most... we must be able to hear her laughing because she's been fairly quiet since the first time we spoke and now she has enough stored up that we can hear her... maybe, in time, we'll be able to speak without the chalkboard."
The three girls laughed when the fire roared merrily.
"And that's why she could only communicate to others in the room by the gifts she would send because that takes the least amount of energy..." Ginny added.
They all sat quietly for a while, lost in wonder at their new information. Suddenly Luna could feel overwhelming fear coming from Hermione and rushed to hug her.
"Hermione?" She said quietly, "You're going to be okay... remember Rowena's Diadem?" She felt Hermione nod her head as she was still hugging her, "Well... I think we should tell Minerva, I'm sure there must be some sort of charmed necklace that will help..."
Hermione gently pulled herself from Luna's arms and motioned for Luna to sit before she spoke, "I think maybe this is why you were able to contact Ginny on Halloween. When we held hands on the staircase... Ginny must have shared my gift and that's why she knew you were in trouble, even before she noticed the bracelet."
"You know, Hermione, I think you're right... when I was on the verge of a meltdown in the Great Hall... the only thing I could think was Ginny's name... over and over again," Luna said thoughtfully.
"And that's why I knew exactly what to say to Minerva to get her to accept our dinner invitation," Hermione added.
It was all starting to make sense to Hermione. It all fit. Why hadn't she seen it before? And then she had another, wonderful thought and decided to share it with her friends.
"How amazing it would be if we could take classes together next year?" She asked them and was pleased when they looked shocked, "Think about it... you guys are understanding your work so easily because I've already done it... what if I can get you guys caught up to where I am and you could skip a year?"
They all sat pondering Hermione's suggestion but Ginny was first to speak, "What if it only works when we're in here though?"
"Well," Hermione started thoughtfully, "how have your classes been going when I'm not around?"
"Really easy... we're almost always the first to master every charm in Charms," replied Ginny.
"I think what may be happening is... you already know all this stuff because I know it... you just don't know you know it and whatever you learn while we're together you still know."
"I've never heard of someone skipping a grade though, Hermione," Luna said sceptically.
"Well... there's never been three witches like us, have there?" Hermione replied.
They both nodded slowly.
"We'll talk to Minerva about it tonight... if you guys can ace all your second year exams, I can get you ready for your third year exams over the summer and by September, you can ace those too..."
"Yes... but I thought we'd agree to not tell anyone how we can amplify each other's gifts?" Luna pointed out.
"We don't have to," at their puzzled expressions she explained. "We already have to tell Minerva about my Telepathy so she can find a way that I can leave this room again... we can say I've been doing it without knowing it, which is true, but not the reason we think its working."
"So some of the truth, but not all of it?" Ginny surmised.
"Exactly... do you think you guys are up for a little extra work?" Hermione asked.
Ginny and Luna laughed, "With you helping us? Should be easy," Luna managed to say.
They sat quietly, pondering their new plan until Ginny spoke up quietly, "So I wonder what and when my gift will reveal itself..."
"I don't know, Gin... done anything to help someone without understanding how?" Luna asked.
"Not that I can think of..."
"Don't worry, Gin," Luna replied as she reached for Ginny's hand, "Some gifts take longer to reveal themselves than others... now that three of us are together, I'm sure it's only a matter of time."
Hermione smiled and went to hug Ginny, "Maybe your gift was bringing the three of us together Gin...if you hadn't, none of this would be possible."
Ginny hugged her back, "Sorry... just feeling left out," she said meekly.
The three girls cleared their homework from the table and went to sit around the fire. They started going over again what they were going to say to Minerva. Luna wanted to explain that what she'd been able to do when Minerva had told them her story was because of Ginny and Hermione and they'd figured out a way to explain without revealing what they thought they knew about their power sharing ability. They also wanted to explain something of how and why the Room worked the way that it did. Lastly they needed to reveal Hermione's new found ability and propose that Ginny and Luna skip a grade.
Just before five o'clock, Hermione asked Rowena, "You're sure nothing here will remind Minerva of Radha, Rowena?" The fire roared in response. "Thank you, Rowena."
…
Minerva stared in wonder as the door formed in front of her just like Hermione said it would. She took a deep breath and entered to find the three girls waiting for her. They walked over to her quickly and enveloped her in a hug. They all knew the courage it must have taken Minerva to walk through the door and wanted to let her know how much they appreciated it.
After she had let them go she looked around appreciatively. It was different then when she had visited with Radha, but somehow it still felt familiar.
Hermione took her hand and led her to take a seat by the fire.
"Minerva... we have something we'd like to give you something before we eat," Hermione said as a decorative box appeared in Minerva's lap. "Thanks, Rowena. We were talking about giving you something to let you know how much you mean to all of us when this appeared."
Minerva slowly ran her hands over the box in wonder at how it had just appeared.
Hermione smiled, "Open it..." she encouraged.
When Minerva opened it she found many pieces of parchment and a small box. She carefully picked up one of the parchments, and as she began to read, tears began to fall.
"How… how is this possible?" Minerva said in wonder as she opened the small box and new tears began to fall.
Ginny started to explain softly, "Minerva? We didn't read the letters... well a little bit of one until we realised what we had found... we think maybe Radha hid the box when you two used the Room. They've been here all this time."
"The Room remembered you Minerva..." Hermione explained. "It wanted you to have this."
"But how? How is this possible?" Minerva asked through her tears.
"Close your eyes a moment, there's something else we need to show you," once she had Hermione asked, "Rowena? Can you please show Minerva the room you showed us?"
Around them the great storage hall formed, "Open your eyes, Minerva," instructed Ginny.
"But…" Minerva said in awe; "what is this place?"
"Thank you, Rowena..." Hermione said and the room resumed its normal form.
"And why do you keep saying, thanks to Rowena?"
Hermione sat down and began the explanation she and the girls had come up with.
"Because we believe that Rowena Ravenclaw built this room as a refuge for herself when she was here. We had thought it blocked out other's emotions because that is what we had asked for, without knowing it, when we first formed the room. But what if Rowena Ravenclaw was more than just highly intelligent? What if she was also an Empath and a Telepath and she created this room as a way to escape?"
Minerva pondered Hermione's explanation, "We always wondered if the Room was sentient..." she said thoughtfully.
"And the storage room we showed you?" Minerva nodded, "It contains all the things that have been left here over the centuries... that's how she's able to provide what we need because it's already here," Ginny finished.
"And that's why she can't provide us with food," Luna added.
Minerva's tears had finally stopped and she showed the girls the smaller box she was still holding and explained; "These are magical engagement rings... when they are exchanged between two people who are meant to be together, they glow at first." She shook her head sadly, "They are very rare. Radha must have found them and was waiting for the right time..."
All three girls stood and went to hug their friend where she still sat. When Luna felt she had calmed she nodded to the other two and they went to resume their seats.
Minerva returned the small box to the larger decorative one and as she closed it she smiled and said, "Thank you, Rowena... for this and for you all you did when we used the Room."
The girls laughed when the fire roared in response and Minerva was startled.
Hermione explained, "I think she says, "You're most welcome."
They all laughed when the fire roared again.
"We realised she was trying to communicate by what she would send us... now, when we have a question, she answers with the fire. We think she can sense others who share the same abilities she had and tries to draw them here, so they can have a refuge too... that's how you and Radha found the room. It's always here, and we're pretty sure many people have found it over the years, but because they don't realise they asked for it in the first place, they never find it again. Except for Empaths and Telepaths... she seeks to help them most of all and will reveal herself without being asked."
Minerva sat in wonder, yet again. She and Radha had sensed intelligence within these walls and always thanked it for its gifts. How had the girls figured out so much more?
"Minerva... will you join us at the table for dinner? We have a few other things we'd like to discuss..." Luna asked.
"Cara?" The little elf appeared with a crack.
"How can I help today?" the elf asked when she appeared.
"It's good to see you as well, little one..." Minerva greeted warmly. "We should spend some time together soon."
"I would like that...dinner from the Great Hall?" Cara asked.
"Yes, please, and if you don't mind fetching a bottle of mead from my study and bring the girls some Butterbeer?"
"Of course, Minerva," the little elf snapped her fingers and soon the table was laden with food with the addition of a dusty bottle of mead.
"Thank you, Cara," she smiled at the little elf, "Perhaps, when I have time, you'd like to visit the cottage with me?"
"I would like that very much, Minerva, thank you," Cara said with tears in her eyes and went to hug Minerva around the knees.
Minerva pulled the little elf away from her knees and then knelt down so she was at eye level with Cara. "You've always been a special friend to me Cara, it's time we spent more time together."
Cara nodded her head so her ears flapped and then with a smile and a snap of her fingers, she was gone.
Minerva rose slowly. She might feel younger when she was around the girls, but her body still knew its age. She looked to see the bemused expressions on the girls' faces.
She motioned to the table, "Shall we eat?" They all nodded and went to sit at the table before she explained her exchange with Cara. "I brought Cara with me to Hogwarts, but because she reminds me of Radha, I haven't spent much time with her." She smiled at the three girls, "Thanks to you three, and Rowena, I'm starting to think being reminded of the woman I loved isn't such a bad thing."
The three girls smiled broadly. Once they all had full glasses, Hermione raised hers, "To Radha!"
Minerva smiled and brought her glass to meet the three girls, "To Radha... and to you three, thank you."
They ate quietly for a bit when Minerva turned to Hermione, "So how is all your work and classes going Hermione?"
"Very well… I just finished reading my last text book and all my homework is up to date," she replied proudly.
"You haven't been using the Time-turner for anything other than your classes have you?" Minerva asked seriously, but then softened when she saw the shocked looks on all three girls' faces. "So you haven't told them… thank you, Hermione."
"Um? Time-turner?" Ginny asked.
"Yes... I lent my Time-turner to Hermione so she would be able to attend multiple classes at the same time. I asked her not to tell anyone and I'm very pleased to see she kept her word." She turned back to Hermione, "You look very well for someone who is living so many extra hours each day, how are you doing it?"
Hermione took a deep breath. She was about to tell Minerva about her newfound ability and just how and why she was able to do all her homework so easily… well sort of.
"I look rested because Luna is a brilliant potion maker. She's brewed this potion that lets you get a really restful sleep. As for my homework, it's the Room."
"I don't understand... how is the room helping you study?" Minerva asked.
"Remember how I said we think Rowena had been an Empath and a Telepath?" Minerva nodded, "I think, well we all do, that I might be a Telepath. When I study in the room I'm able to concentrate better because I don't have everyone else's thoughts messing me up because Rowena designed the room to block both feelings and thoughts from the outside world. When I'm here, my other gifts, the ones you know about already, are able to work better."
"We were wondering, Minerva, is there another type of charmed jewelry that can help Hermione?" Luna asked.
Minerva studied Hermione again, "When do you figure this out?" She asked her quietly.
"Just today..."
Minerva nodded and, with a wave her wand, several bright cats appeared. "You know what to do," She instructed them and then turned back to the girls to explain as they watched the glowing white cats disappear. "Hermione, now that you know, I take it you're afraid to leave the safety of this room?" Hermione nodded. "There are several pieces of jewelry that do block other's thoughts and I have just sent word to those who may be able to send us one... you can stay here it until it arrives... it shouldn't take long."
"Thank you, Minerva," Hermione said.
"You're most welcome, my dear, how did you figure it out?"
"Well... the three of us have been doing our homework here every night... I've been helping the girls with their homework, and when I finished my last text book today, we realised they're doing better in their classes too... I think they already know all this stuff because I do... I've been sharing it with them, without even knowing. They still need to learn it but they can already do it because they already know how, without knowing they know how."
Minerva pondered this a moment, "That is a very interesting hypothesis."
"Minerva?" Hermione asked tentatively, "If the girls can ace their second year exams and I help them through the summer so can ace their third year exams in September... do you think maybe they could skip a grade?"
"It has never been done to my knowledge...but then, I don't think Hogwarts has ever seen three witches such as yourselves," Minerva said thoughtfully. "Do you really think you'd be able to learn a year's worth of information over the summer?" She said as she looked from Ginny to Luna as they nodded.
"Well it wouldn't just be the summer," Ginny explained, "Luna and I have just about finished all our textbooks for this year as well... we were thinking we could start learning whenever Hermione has the time."
"I will discuss it with Dumbledore... if you already know what Hermione knows, I see no good reason why you shouldn't be able to skip a year..." Minerva said and saw all three girls smile broadly, "Are you sure that you're not just giving them the answers?" She asked Hermione.
"Only when they ask for them... and they don't seem to have to do that very often because they already understand it. If I were just telling them how to do things they wouldn't be doing as good in their classes when I'm not with them," Hermione reasoned.
"You have a point, Hermione... I have heard from Professor Flitwick how well you two have been doing in his classes lately," Minerva said as she looked at Ginny and Luna again. "How is it that I'm the Professor but you three keep teaching me so much?" She asked, the wonder obvious in her voice.
"I think we only figured out about how the Room works because we've spent so much time here that we were able to figure out that she was trying to communicate with us," Luna offered.
"Radha and I spent a lot of time here as well..."
Hermione blushed, "Perhaps you were, um, too distracted, to notice?" She teased.
Minerva blushed, "You may be right about that, Hermione..."
"I think part of the reason we're able to figure things out is, because when we're together, we think together, because of my ability. Three brains have to be better than one, right?"
"So what you're saying..."
"When I'm with these two I think of things I wouldn't normally because they think differently than I do, yes," Hermione finished for her.
"Hermione?" Minerva asked as she studied Hermione, "How clearly can you hear people's thoughts?"
"To be honest I haven't really tried, why?"
"Well I'm just wondering how Luna and Ginny are coping with the knowledge that you may soon be able to hear what they're thinking..."
Ginny looked to Luna in shock, they hadn't thought of that… keeping Ginny's feelings a secret just became a whole lot harder.
Minerva looked at the shock on the two youngest girls' faces, "If she hasn't yet... she will soon. I can teach you how to close your thoughts before that happens, if you like... I understand, that even between friends such as ourselves, some things should be kept hidden. Eventually you'll be able to share only what you wish to share. Until you're able to master that ability however, I have asked my friends to send something that will help you two as well..."
"Thank you, Minerva..." Ginny said in relief.
"No need to thank me... I am happy to be able to help... I know, first hand, how scary these abilities can be when you don't understand how they work," Minerva replied warmly.
Hermione smiled, stood, and then went to hug Minerva, "It was a very lucky day for us when you extended your friendship, Minerva, thank you..."
Luna had been sitting quietly for most of the meal but realized that Hermione had given her the opportunity to relieve her guilt.
"Minerva?" She said quietly as Hermione resumed her seat, "There's something I need to tell you... about what I was able to do when you told me your story." She said as she looked down at the table in front of her, "That wasn't all me..." her voice failed her as the guilt took over.
Ginny looked over at her best friend and decided to help her finish her confession; "Luna thinks that it was a combination of the ward you placed around your office and having us there."
Luna looked up and smiled gratefully to Ginny before she continued; "I think... everyone has some level of natural Empathic abilities within them... that night I was able to tap into whatever they have which made me appear stronger than I am."
"You may well be right, Luna, and it may be Hermione's ability that allowed you to do it, however, I still believe you are a very powerful Empath, Luna... you would not be capable of these feats unless you did not already possess the natural ability to do so."
Ginny smiled smugly at Luna, "Told you!"
At Minerva's bemused expression she explained; "Luna has been feeling guilty that you think she is so gifted because of what she was able to do that night. That you were thinking she had done it all on her own... I told her the same thing... that she wouldn't have been able to do it if she wasn't going to be able to do it by herself one day."
"You should listen to your friends, Luna, they may have helped you, but your ability is all your own." Minerva paused, "If you still don't believe that I'd like to point something out."
Luna finally looked up from the table to look at her, "You've had your necklace off the whole time I've been here and you were able to able to block my grief on your own, without even thinking about it... that's impressive."
Luna blushed and smiled, "I've been practising on these two when they weren't noticing," she admitted, looking apologetically to her friends, "Sorry..."
"No need to apologize Luna, but can you explain what you've been doing?" Hermione asked, curious as this was the first she and Ginny had heard about it.
"Well, when you two are studying I've been learning how to focus on just feeling one of yours," she said pointing at Ginny and Hermione, "emotions at a time, and how to block you both out completely."
"And are able to, Luna?" Minerva asked interested.
"I am but I don't think I'm ready yet to test it with more people around."
"Understandable, nor should you try, until you are ready," Minerva answered then looked at Hermione, "It looks like Luna has something to teach you too, Hermione."
"I don't understand," Hermione said.
"You'll find the focus that Luna has been learning is much the same kind of focus you will need as your abilities grow stronger," advised Minerva.
"Oh," Hermione paused, "If that's true Minerva... I think I already know how... or at least I know as much as Luna does."
Minerva laughed, "Yes, Hermione, if your theories are correct, as Luna learns how to better focus her ability you'll learn the same thing as well..."
"Excellent!" Hermione said enthusiastically, "Thanks Luna!"
Their laughter was only interrupted when one of Minerva's cats returned and she asked it; "Is it at the cottage?" The cat actually nodded, "Thank you, Cara!"
With a crack Cara appeared, "Can you go to the cottage? There should be a package waiting on the table, can you bring it here, please?"
Cara nodded, left and then returned almost immediately with a small box in her hands. "Thank you Cara." Minerva said kindly, taking the box from the elf, "You have a good night."
"And you and your friends," The elf smiled and with another crack she was gone.
"Okay, that you need to explain," Hermione said and then at Minerva's bemused expression she clarified, "How is she able to go Ireland and back so quickly? And why wouldn't you just have the package sent here?"
"Due to the many wards around Hogwarts my friends were not able to send this to me directly but my cottage holds no such wards... Cara, for example, can apparate and disapparate in and out of the castle at will. She actually did the same thing when I asked for the mead from my office... it was just a lot quicker because it was a lot closer," she confided. "Shall we sit by the fire while I open this?" Minerva asked. The girls nodded and went over to fire. Once they were settled Minerva opened the box and showed the girls the contents. Inside were three, almost identical, rings.
"You are very lucky girls, these are very special rings," she said as she showed them to the girls. "Most rings of this nature will simply block all thoughts from everyone around you. Hermione's ring would block her from everyone, including you two. The two rings Ginny and Luna would be wearing would simply ward Hermione from your thoughts when Hermione is without hers.
"These, however, work differently. Legend has it there was a trio of very powerful witches in the Middle Ages and they created these rings..." she handed Hermione the ring with the largest stone and the two others, which had smaller gems inset, to Luna and Ginny.
She turned to Hermione, "This ring will ward all thoughts, at all times, from everyone but these two, if that is what you choose. In time you will learn to focus in on one person at a time. However," she said looking at Ginny and Luna in turn, "Hermione will only be able to hear those thoughts you choose to send, as well as, block any thoughts from Hermione that you don't want to hear."
Hermione looked up to Minerva in shock, "So what you're saying is... these are going to let us communicate without words?"
"Yes, even better than you already do," Minerva smiled.
"So," Luna started slowly, carefully choosing her words, "what you're saying is... these rings will amplify Hermione's ability? Give her more control? And they're linked somehow?"
She felt the understanding in her two friends. What were they going to do if the rings, somehow, reflected the connection the three girls had? Hermione looked down at their bracelets and raised an eyebrow.
Luna shrugged. Ginny thought really hard; "I guess we'll see?" and looked at Hermione who smiled and nodded.
Minerva watched the exchange in amusement, "I see they're already working."
The three girls looked up at her in shock.
"That entire exchange was nonverbal and I have no clue what any of you said," she explained simply, "Put them on, left hand index finger, and I think you'll see what I mean."
The three girls looked and each other and slowly put the rings on. "Oh thank, God," Hermione thought when nothing happened and Luna and Ginny giggled.
"We can hear you!" Hermione heard Luna and Ginny say inside her head making them laugh even harder.
"Oh crap..." Ginny thought as the gemstones started to glow. They looked up at Minerva to find her smiling.
"They're supposed to do that... they're just recognizing a strong Telepath and making a link to her two best friends."
"Don't try to read my mind Hermione... I can feel you trying," Minerva said as she held up her left hand and showed them a similar ring. "I have spent too much time with Empaths and Telepaths both to not have found an easier way to ward myself. This ring allows me to keep my thoughts and emotions my own. Luna you could feel my emotions earlier because I wanted you to... I'm afraid I was testing you again to see how far you've come."
Hermione looked at Minerva in astonishment, "Does it work the same way these do? I mean if you wanted me to hear something, could I hear it?"
"Yes," Minerva's voice sounded softly inside her head.
"But only a Telepath would hear it... Ginny and Luna did not hear my first reply," Minerva said aloud to benefit the two girls who sported bemused smiles.
"And if you allowed me, could I project a thought to you?" Hermione asked Minerva.
"Yes, I have learned over the years how to control it," Minerva replied.
"You weren't wearing it the night we spoke," Hermione said as she pictured Minerva's hands from that night. "Why? You knew what Luna is..."
"I did, and for that reason, I choose to remove it... she deserved to hear the whole truth and how I felt, how I feel, about Radha and everything that happened, is a part of that truth."
Hermione leaned back to rest on the back of the couch. "So," She thought to the two girls, "who are these three witches, hmm?"
They both shook their heads.
"I trust, if I do manage to get the three of you into the same year, you will not use it to..." Minerva started.
"Cheat?" Hermione provided.
Minerva smiled and nodded; "I doubt that you would but..."
"You're still a Professor and you had to mention it?" Luna finished for her.
"But Minerva, won't other people recognize these rings and what we can do?" Hermione asked.
"I highly doubt it… they are one of kind and there are few that even know of their existence," Minerva replied simply.
A/N: Just a quick note about the formatting… you'll notice whenever they're talking telepathically the conversation is in italics… I did this to make it easier to distinguish what is going on without resorting to spelling it out every time…