A week later
Hermione was sitting at a table as far away from the crowd as she could. Her arms were crossed over her chest. She shook her head in disbelief as she looked around the room. It looked like a muggle bar with a small stage and a video screen hanging above the stage so the person on the stage could view it.
"Karaoke." Hermione thought. "Why would Draco…no Malfoy, plan such an asinine muggle activity?"
"So he could watch the other houses humiliate themselves." A voice inside Hermione's head answered.
"Doesn't he know that there is a reason why it is called a Karaoke Bar?" Hermione thought. "It is only fun to sing Karaoke when you are pissed drunk."
Hermione did not want to participate in the Karaoke, but unfortunately everyone had to participate and the Heads had to lead off the activity. Luckily this activity was for 5 years and above. Otherwise they would be here all night. Hermione was to go first. At least after she was done, she could leave this travesty of an event.
"What should I sing?" Hermione wondered to herself. "I could shock everyone and do Madonna's "Like a Virgin" or something from Nine Inch Nails but as Head Girl I have an image to uphold. Sarah McLaughlin? No. Too many songs regarding unrequited love. Do not want to have anybody read anything into my choice of song. Tori Amos' "Silent all these years?" No, I do not have the voice for that song."
Hermione smirked. "Welcome to the Jungle by Guns and Roses would be fun but I do not know that song by heart. I would have to view the monitor for that one. I need to sing a song that I know all the words for."
Hermione blinked back tears that were forming behind her eyes. The one song that she could sing in her sleep was one of her Mom's favorite. She would sing it all the time. "I Will Survive." Hermione whispered.
"Survive what?" Hermione heard a voice to her left.
Hermione turned her head and saw Ginny standing next to her. She sighed. She did not want to deal with her right now.
"What do you want Ginny?" Hermione asked in an exacerbated voice.
"An explanation." Ginny responded. "Why did you leave us during Christmas Break?"
"Ask Harry." Hermione answered flatly.
"He will not discuss it with me." Ginny snapped. "He will not discuss it with anyone. So I am asking you."
"Then just leave it, Ginny." Hermione stated.
"No, Hermione." Ginny responded angrily. "I won't leave it. We were friends. We told each other everything."
Ginny sat down on a chair next to Hermione.
"What is wrong, Hermione?" Ginny continued. "You are never around. You have been very secretive. We hardly talk anymore. We were supposed to be best friends forever. We promised to tell each other everything."
"Things have changed, Ginny." Hermione whispered.
"What has changed?" Ginny responded. "Tell me. Let me help you."
"No." Hermione said. "You cannot help me."
"Because you won't let me." Ginny said gently. "It is me, Hermione. Your best friend. Your keeper of secrets. I will always be there for you."
"Remember last summer. How we spoke of what we would do after we graduate Hogwarts." Ginny continued as she took Hermione's hand. "I told you that you would either marry Harry or Ron and you said I would marry Dean or Neville. We would live right next door to each other so our kids would be able to play together."
Hermione turned abruptly away from Ginny, yanking her hand from her grasp. She did not want to hear about children that she could never have.
"Things change." Hermione repeated softly.
"Not in just a few months." Ginny cried. "Is this about Malfoy…?"
Hermione heard her name being called. She stood up and said. "I have to go." Hermione stated.
"We will talk about this later." Ginny said determinedly.
"There is nothing to say, Ginny." Hermione replied as she walked to the stage.
As Hermione grabbed the microphone she thought sadly, "Who wants to live forever."
"Song selected." Hermione heard a computer like voice say. She looked at Colin Creevey in shock.
"It has been modified." Colin explained. "All you need to visualize a song and it comes up."
"Who Wants To Live Forever by Queen." The computerized voice said. Music began to play.
Hermione cast a quick glance towards Methos who was sitting at the edge of the stage with the other professors. A frown was on his face.
Hermione lifted her chin, turned to face the crowd of students and the giant screen and began singing.
"There's no time for us. There's no place for us."
Hermione turned to look toward Ginny, who was standing next to Harry and Ron.
"What is this thing that builds our dreams yet slips away from us. Who wants to live forever? Who wants to live forever? OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO."
Dumbledore's shoulders dropped in sadness. "So it is confirmed." Professor Dumbledore thought. "Poor child. She is all alone in this. What is going to happen to her?"
Hermione moved her eyes from Ginny to Harry.
"There's no chance for us. It's all decided for us. This world has only one sweet moment set aside for us."
Harry removed his eyes from her gaze and looked to the floor.
"Who wants to live forever? Who wants to live forever? OOOOOOOOOOO" Hermione moved her eyes back to Methos. "Who dares to love forever? OOHH! OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH! When love must die."
She sank to her knees, hugging herself and crying. The students looked back and forth amongst one another, confused.
Draco looked at the stage and at Hermione. He wanted to go up to her and take away her sorrow, but instead he was stuck with Pansy hanging onto his arm.
Methos stood up and walked up the stairs to the stage. He reached down and picked up another microphone. He walked over and squatted beside Hermione.
"But I touch your tears with my lips." Methos sang as he brushed the tears from her cheeks. "Touch your world with my fingertips."
Methos helped Hermione to her feet, clutching her hand into his. "And we can have forever. And we can love forever. Forever is our today."
Hermione yanked her hand from Methos' and sang angrily to him. "Who wants to live forever? Who wants to live forever?"
Dumbledore stiffened next to Professor Snape. His face went unnaturally pale. "No." He mumbled soft enough so no one would hear. "Impossible. Him too?"
"Forever is our today." Methos sang with an apologetic expression on his face. He reached over and caressed Hermione's shoulder. "Who has forever anyway?"
As the music faded away, Methos leaned over and whispered in Hermione's ear. "I am sorry. Forgive me?"
Methos saw Hermione hesitate and then her head moved slightly up and down.
"I need to talk to you." Methos continued to whisper. "Can you come by my quarters tonight?"
Hermione nodded slightly again.
Before Methos could raise his head, Hermione whispered. "You sang the lyrics wrong."
"Improvisation." Methos stated as he smiled down at Hermione.
It was then that they realized that the room was silent. They looked at the crowd and noticed all of them staring at them. Methos noticed Draco was clenching his fists in anger. He smirked at him. "Your loss." Methos thought as he stared at Draco.
"Professor Slytherin." Professor McGonagall stated as she stood up from her chair. "What do you think you are doing?"
"Suspicious old bat." Methos thought. "Got to think of something."
"Ms. Granger accidentally picked a duet." Methos lied. "As I was familiar with the song, I took it upon myself to assist her."
"I see." Professor McGonagall stated as she sat down.
Methos assisted Hermione off the stage and they went their separate ways, not to raise any more suspicions. Hermione sat back down at the table in the back feeling better than she had in weeks.
Later
Methos was sitting on one of his couches when he felt Hermione approach.
"Sit down." Methos ordered.
Hermione took a seat across from Methos. She remained silent, waiting for Methos to speak.
"I know that I have said it before." Methos stated. "But I am sorry. I did not mean to hurt you. It's just that……"
Methos sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair.
"I told you before that I never was involved with another immortal." Methos continued. "Hell, I never wanted to be involved with another immortal. It wasn't in my nature."
Methos reached over and took Hermione's hand into his. "I have seen too many of my immortal friends killed." Methos stated. "I could not risk having it happen to a loved one. It has taken me a lot of years to master my darker side. I know such a loss would put me over the edge and he will once again emerge."
Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but Methos put up his hand to stop her.
"Let me continue, please." Methos asked. Hermione closed her mouth.
Methos got up and walked over to sit next to her. "What I am trying to say…" Methos continued. "…is that I am willing to try it with you." Hermione smiled.
"We moved too fast last time." Methos explained. "I would like us to go slower. Is that okay with you?"
"We can go as slow as you would like." Hermione stated as she gave him a hug. "We have all the time in the world."
"I missed you." Methos said as he squeezed her tighter.
"And I you." Hermione responded.
"What happens now?" Hermione asked as she removed herself from his arms.
"Training." Methos responded. Hermione groaned.
"You were lucky last time." Methos stated. "He never trained with a sword. He thought he could always win by cheating by shooting and killing other immortals first. Next time you may face someone who is like Duncan, an expert swordsman…"
"Fine." Hermione interrupted. "What time?"
"7:00 a.m." Methos responded. "We will train all morning until lunch and they you can study and do homework in the afternoon."
Next day
Harry was standing by a window near the Head quarters. He arrived after breakfast hoping to catch Hermione leaving and talk to her or catch Draco leaving so he could use her password to get into her quarters. Unfortunately, the door had not opened for hours and it was nearing lunchtime.
Harry sighed. He was about to turn and leave when he heard a voice.
"Mr. Potter." Professor McGonagall called.
"Yes, Professor." Harry responded as he turned to face her.
"There is a matter I must discuss with you." Professor McGonagall stated. "Though it is not really my business, I cannot help being concerned. It is about Ms. Granger."
Harry sighed. He did not want to talk to Professor McGonagall about Hermione.
"I know that this separation is hurting both of you." Professor McGonagall continued. "I can see it on both of your faces."
"Now if the knowledge of Ms. Granger being friends with Mr. Malfoy upsets you, remember it was her and Professor Slytherin's actions that made Mr. Malfoy pledge his allegiance to Professor Dumbledore." Professor McGonagall declared.
"It is more than that." Harry thought. "She killed someone in front of me."
"Now if you cannot overlook this friendship…" Professor McGonagall continued. "…you should look inside yourself and think of all the things that Ms. Granger has done for you and how she helped and supported you throughout your years here at Hogwarts, no questions asked."
"But…." Harry stuttered. His heart sank. Hermione was always at his side. She stood up for him during their 5th year. She did not believe the rumors of his instability. She even risked her life at the Ministry of Magic and the Forbidden Forest. She was there for him during the 4th year Tournament of Fire when even Ron abandoned him.
Harry closed his eyes. The man had a loaded gun pointed at her. He came out with accusations rather than asking her why that man tried to kill her.
Harry opened his eyes and found Professor McGonagall staring at him.
"Are you ready to talk to her?" Professor McGonagall asked gently.
"That is why I am here." Harry stated. "I was waiting for her to come out."
"Oh she is not in her room." Professor McGonagall said. "I saw her walking down the hall early this morning."
"I have already checked the Library and the usual classrooms that she studies in." Harry said with a frown.
"Why don't you use the map?" Professor McGonagall asked.
Harry's eyes widened.
Professor McGonagall laughed and said. "Who do you think took it away from you father?"
Harry grinned sheepishly. He took out the map and searched for Hermione. He looked all over the map and finally looked at the dungeons.
"She is in the dungeons." Harry stated. "With……" Harry's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Where is she?" Professor McGonagall demanded as she took the map away from Harry.
"She is with Professor Slytherin..." Professor McGonagall bellowed. "…IN HIS QUARTERS!"
She grabbed Harry by the arm and began storming towards the dungeons.
"Come with me." Professor McGonagall demanded. "We need to talk to someone regarding this."
Harry had no choice but to follow her.
They ran into Professor Snape on the stairs to the dungeons. She pulled him off to the side. As she explained the situation to Professor Snape, his face turned from white to red then back again.
"If what you say is true…" Professor Snape interrupted. "…Professor Slytherin will not be the only one punished. Ms. Granger will also have to suffer the consequences of her actions."
"She is an impressionable young woman." Professor McGonagall argued. "She lost her parents. Her friends abandoned her. He took advantage of her when she was weak. She should not have to be responsible for an older man's actions, who should know better."
Harry felt sick. He did not want to believe that by his actions, he caused her to be seduced by another man.
"We will have Professor Dumbledore decide the appropriate action." Professor Snape stated.
"Agreed." Professor McGonagall responded.
They found Professor Dumbledore just outside the Dining Hall. When Professor McGonagall whispered the situation to him, he looked more curious than angry.
"Well let's go talk to him." Professor Dumbledore stated.
They walked down to the dungeons to the front of Professor Slytherin's door. When there was no response to his knocks, Professor Dumbledore said the password which allowed him to open all the doors in Hogwarts.
Meanwhile
Hermione banged through the bathroom door. Methos, who was shaving, jumped and cut his chin.
"What are you doing?" Methos stated as he stemmed the flow with a washcloth.
Hermione looked at Methos and quickly turned her eyes away. He was only wearing a towel around his waist. His hair was still wet and his chest glistened with water droplets.
"Lunch starts in 10 minutes." Hermione responded. "You know how long it takes me to dry my hair, even with a drying spell."
Hermione dropped her school clothes on a shelf. She began removing her work out clothes. After she removed her top and moved her hands to the top of her gym shorts, she glanced over her shoulder. She saw Methos watching her appreciatively.
"Please look away." Hermione asked.
"It is not like I haven't seen it before." Methos responded gently.
"I know." Hermione said. "But I would feel better if you looked away. You wanted to go slow remember."
Methos walked to the opposite side of the room and transfigured a towel rack to a changing screen. He picked it up and moved it next to the shower.
"Better?" Methos called over the screen.
"Yes. Thank you." Hermione responded.
Methos heard the water being turned on.
"You better have left some hot water for me." Hermione yelled over the running water.
Methos laughed as he finished shaving and washed off the remainder of the shaving cream.
"Methos." Hermione shouted over the sound of streaming water.
"What?" Methos responded.
"I forgot my shampoo in my bag." Hermione stated. "Can you get it for me?"
"No problem." Methos responded as he walked to the door.
Methos opened the door and walked out to his quarters. Methos heard the door close behind him.
"Now where would she have put her bag?" Methos wondered as walked around his armoire, which blocked the view of the bathroom door.
He did not notice that he was not alone in the room until he heard a woman gasp.
Methos turned quickly and saw Professor Snape, Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Harry Potter standing in the middle of his quarters.
"Is there a reason for this invasion of my privacy?" Methos asked dryly.
Harry felt sick soon as he entered Professor Slytherin's quarters. He saw the unmade, tumbled bed and thrown clothes.
"Where is she?" Harry demanded.
"Damn, damn, damn." Methos thought. "How could he have known?"
"Where is whom?" Methos asked in a calm voice.
"Mr. Potter claims that Ms. Granger is in your quarters." Professor Snape answered.
"And how did Mr. Potter come to a conclusion that Ms. Granger is in my quarters?" Methos asked.
Harry opened his mouth to answer him, but he paused. Should he let Methos and Professor Snape know about the map?
"So you are denying it?" Professor Snape stated with a relieved voice.
"I am not denying or confirming anything." Methos answered. "I want Mr. Potter to answer my question."
"She was seen entering the door of your quarters this morning." Harry lied as he pointed to the front door.
Methos threw his head back and laughed. "That is a lie." Methos said. "No one has entered my quarters by that door other than you four."
Just then Hermione entered the room, her hair dripping wet and a wet towel was wrapped around her body. "Where is my shampoo?" Hermione demanded.
Seeing that they were not alone, Hermione screamed and hid herself behind Methos.
"She came through the back entrance through my classroom." Methos answered with a sigh.
The room was silent for a few seconds before pandemonium broke out. Professor McGonagall was yelling a Methos, threatening that his teaching term was over and that she will bring charges against him for corrupting a student. Professor Snape was yelling at Methos for being so stupid to become involved with a student. Harry was pleading with Hermione about how she could have gotten involved with a professor. The only one who was silent was Professor Dumbledore.
Methos listened to the shouting, impassively. He shrugged his shoulders and walked to the armoire. He took out a pair of jeans and put them on under his towel. When they were fastened he dropped his towel and grabbed a shirt and put it on.
"Come on." Methos stated as he threw a pair of sweats and t-shirt to Hermione. "We are leaving."
"I am not ready to leave." Hermione argued as she put the t-shirt on over her towel. "There must be some other way."
"You do not have to leave, Ms. Granger." Professor McGonagall stated. "Move away from him. We will have the Aurors deal with him."
"I am not staying here." Methos stated. "If you want to be with me, we are leaving right now."
Methos grabbed a travel bag and began to throw clothes into it.
Hermione bent down to put on sweat pants. As she pulled them up, she looked down at her shirt and a look of recognition came across her face.
"Oh Merlin." Hermione whispered.
"Freeze them." Hermione hissed as she turned around to face Methos.
Harry and Professor Snape gasped when they saw the t-shirt. It was a t-shirt that showed a yellow sponge with eyes, nose and buck teeth. The sponge also wore square pants. It was the shirt that she wore in the vision.
"Accio Wand." Professor Snape called. Methos' wand flew in the air to Professor Snape's hand.
Harry and Professor Snape smirked at them, but the smirk faded away when Methos with an annoyed look on his face raised his hand and said a word that sounded vaguely familiar, and they found themselves unable to move.
"I saw this." Hermione continued. "I know what we can do. We have to show them why you cannot leave. Why we cannot be separated."
"No." Methos argued. "Absolutely not. I have explained my reasoning before. There is no way."
"Ms. Granger, do not do this." Professor Snape shouted.
"Hermione, please." Harry begged.
"What is going on?" Professor McGonagall demanded.
Professor Snape quickly explained what happened at his potion class and the vision of Hermione's death. Professor McGonagall's face turned pale.
"It is the only way." Hermione cried. "Please do this for me. I cannot survive without you. You are the only one I can talk to. You are the only one who understands me. We have to show them. We have to show them why you cannot go. Why you cannot leave. Why they cannot separate us."
Harry could not believe what he was hearing. He heard it before but he thought it was just a bad dream. He should have been there for her instead he drove her to this man. He brainwashed her into thinking she cannot live without him and now they are going to kill themselves so they would not be apart.
"I do not know what he has told you, Ms. Granger." Ms. McGonagall stated in a panicked voice. "You can live without him. He is not worth dying for."
"Everything will be alright. I promise." Hermione stated, ignoring the others pleadings.
Methos looked at Hermione's face. Her eyes were pleading with him to trust them and allow them to know their secret.
"Alright." Methos whispered. "We will do this together but if they do not accept us, we leave. You will go first and I will go next."
A look of determination filled Hermione's face. "But if you leave, I will rise and hunt you down."
Methos smiled at her threat, knowing that she probably would. He lifted his hand and called for the dagger that was on one of his bookcases.
Hermione turned her face and stated. "Professor Snape. You owe me a passing grade."
Professor Snape could not believe that she would bring that up in a situation like this. Of course he was going to pass her. How could he not? She was outstanding in potions.
"Ms. Granger, please don't do this." Professor Snape begged. "You do not have to die to have me pass you."
Hermione turned back to Methos and ordered. "Do it."
"This is going to hurt." Methos stated as he plunged a dagger through her chest. Blood began running from her lips. He quickly removed the blade and she fell to the floor like a broken doll. Death was instantaneous, the way he wanted it. He did not want her to suffer more than she had too.
Methos watched the blood pool out around her. He noticed with regret that her blood was staining his favorite wool rug. He would never be able to get the blood out. He would have to throw it away.
Methos looked at his bag and the door with a longing glance. He shook his head and looked at his dagger. As much as he wanted to leave, he did not want to lose her. He turned his head towards them.
"Damn you." Methos snarled. "Damn you all for making her…us do this."
Methos took a deep breath and plunged the dagger into his chest. He fell on the ground next to her gasping. He took her hand into his and proceeded to die.
"NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Harry screamed.
When the freezing spell ended with Methos' death, Harry ran to Hermione, pushed Methos away and gathered her into his arms. Tears were running down his face.
He started rocking her in his arms, wailing.
"Please be quiet, Mr. Potter." Professor Snape snapped. "You are not helping the situation."
"DON'T TELL ME TO SHUT UP!" Harry screamed. "THIS IS ALLYOUR FAULT! YOU AND YOUR DEATHEATER FRIENDS! IF YOU HAD NOT BROUGHT HIM INTO POWER, THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED! IF YOU BELIEVED IN WHAT I SAID IN MY THIRD YEAR, PETER PETTIGREW WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AROUND TO BRING VOLDEMORT BACK TO FULL POWER! NOW MY REASON FOR LIVING IS GONE!"
"What are you talking about?" Professor Snape demanded. A pang of guilt filled his chest.
"I LOVED HER!" Harry bellowed. "SHE WAS ALL THAT I EVER WANTED! NOW SHE IS GONE!"
Professor Snape walked up and put a hand on Harry's shoulder, in sympathy.
"I could not let her know." Harry explained, tears running freely down his face. "I could not let anyone know or else Voldemort would have used my love for her against me. Now she has died without knowing that I loved her."
"What are we going to do, Professor Dumbledore?" Professor McGonagall asked.
Professor Dumbledore was glancing over Methos' bookshelves, occasionally removing a book to look at it more.
"Nothing." Professor Dumbledore responded.
"NOTHING!" Professor Snape shouted. "ARE YOU MAD? We should to get Madame Pomphrey to see if they can be saved."
"No. They are quite dead." Professor Dumbledore stated. "Just leave them there."
"How can you be so calm after what happened?" Professor McGonagall stated in disbelief.
"What should we tell them?" Professor Snape asked.
"Tell who what?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
Professor Snape's patience ended. "A STUDENT AND A PROFESSOR HAVE BEEN KILLED. WE NEED TO TELL THE STUDENTS AND FACILTY SOMETHING."
A loud gasp for air was heard. Harry looked down and saw Hermione open her eyes. He scrambled back in surprise and Hermione's head hit the rug with a thump.
"Ouch." Hermione said as she rubbed the back of her head.
Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall jumped in shock. Professor Dumbledore hid a smile.
"Hermione?" Harry whispered as he reached out and touched her arm, not believing that she was alive.
Hermione tried to sit up and fell back down. She groaned in pain. She moved her head and looked towards Methos. She saw that he still had the dagger in his chest. She pushed Harry's hand away, rolled over and crawled to Methos. She grabbed the dagger and pulled it out of his chest.
A few minutes later, a loud gasp for air was heard from Methos. He groaned and sat up.
"Why did you come around before me?" Methos asked as he rubbed his chest.
Hermione held out the dagger to him and said. "They did not pull it out of your chest."
"What are you?" Harry asked fearfully.
Hermione helped Methos to his feet. He put an arm around her shoulders and was about to answer, but another voice answered for him.
"They are immortals." Professor Dumbledore answered.
Later
After Hermione changed into her school uniform and Methos changed out of his bloody clothes, they were sitting on the couches. Methos and Hermione were on a couch facing the others.
"So what are immortals?" Harry asked. "And how do you become one?"
"There is a latent gene in some people." Methos explained. "When one of these individuals dies a violent death, this gene is activated. You come back to life and live forever, never aging."
"How did you know Hermione was an immortal?" Harry asked again.
"We feel each other." Methos explained as he took Hermione's hand into his. "When one approaches, we feel a buzzing sensation and sometimes a headache. It is like a warning system. I felt her the first time when she entered the Dining Hall, the first day Hogwarts opened. I did not know it was her until I had my first class with her. She did not believe me until some time later after she reviewed her medical records."
"How did you know about us?" Hermione asked Professor Dumbledore.
"You can credit your friend Steven Keane." Professor Dumbledore answered.
"Wanker." Methos mumbled under his breath. Hermione elbowed Methos in the ribs.
"His daughter went to Hogwarts." Professor Dumbledore continued. "You might know her, Ms. Granger. Her name was Myrtle."
"Moaning Myrtle?" Hermione whispered in disbelief.
"Yes." Professor Dumbledore. "She was most enlightening."
1st Floor Girls Bathroom- New Years Day
"What can you tell me about your father?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"My father is special." Myrtle responded.
"How is he special?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"He told me that God had granted him long life to watch out for our family." Myrtle responded. "He had watched out for our family for a long time. Now he is part of our family after he married mommy."
"What do you mean God granted him long life?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"My father cannot die. He is immortal." Myrtle responded. Seeing Professor Dumbledore's surprised face, she continued. "Well how is he going to protect our family if someone can kill him?"
"How do you know he cannot die?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"One day, my kitten, Missy, was stuck on our roof." Myrtle explained. "I begged Father to get him back for me. But when he put Missy back into the window he slipped and fell off the roof. When I ran to him, his head was shaped funny. But then this blue light surrounded him and God fixed him up good."
Myrtle frowned. "I am not supposed to be telling you this."
"Are there others like him?" Professor Dumbledore asked gently.
"Oh yes." Myrtle responded. "There is one bad man named Duncan. Father has been hunting him down for a long time."
Myrtle started to moan.
"What is wrong?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"Father said I was special." Myrtle moaned. "When I saw the light, I did not go towards it. He said I was special. But instead of being like him, I am a ghost and I am stuck in this the school. Why Professor Dumbledore? Why am I not like him?"
Present
"So Myrtle thought that she was going to be an immortal too." Hermione stated sadly.
"Why have I not heard of immortals before?" Professor Snape demanded.
"Purebloods cannot become immortal." Methos answered. "I was actually surprised when I met Hermione here in Hogwarts. That was until I learned that she was muggleborn."
"How many immortals are there?" Harry asked.
"Thousands." Methos responded. "Could be more, could be less."
"This is fine and dandy, but you have not explained why Ms. Granger was in your apartment wearing only a towel." Professor McGonagall demanded.
Methos' face darkened in anger. Hermione put a reassuring hand over his.
"Being an immortal is not all fun and games. There is a price." Hermione stated. "There is a Game, well not exactly a game…"
"We hunt each other." Methos interrupted. "Like in the magic world, there are good immortals and there are evil immortals. We fight each other to the death."
"I thought immortals cannot die." Harry stated.
"Only another immortal can kill an immortal." Methos lied. "We challenge each other and we fight each other with swords."
Harry's eyes widened. "That night in the cemetery…."
"Yes, Harry." Hermione said sadly. "I was challenged."
"What is this about?" Professor Dumbledore demanded.
"The reason why Harry and I got into a fight…" Hermione explained. "…was that he saw me fight and kill another immortal. He thought I was a danger to the Order and he erased the knowledge of the Order's location from my mind."
"You killed someone?" Professor McGonagall whispered in disbelief.
"She had to, Minerva." Professor Dumbledore stated in an irritated voice. "Have you not been listening?"
He turned to Hermione and demanded. "Why didn't you just explain what happened?"
"Because I would not let her." Methos answered. "There was a time that muggles almost found out about us. Imagine what a scientist would do with someone who could never die. There would also be widespread panic. That is why I did not want to tell you. I have trust issues."
"So what happens now?" Professor Snape asked. "Are you going to erase our memories?"
"Why would I do that?" Methos demanded. "The same thing would happen again when I try to train Ms. Granger and we will have to go through this all over again."
"Train?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Yes. Train her how to use a sword." Methos replied. "I am her teacher. I have to teach her to survive against other immortals."
"But you said there are no other immortals in the wizard world." Professor McGonagall stated.
"She is going to outlive all her friends." Methos responded impatiently. "She is going to have to leave the wizard world sometime or there will be too many questions as to why she is still alive and not aging."
Silence filled the room. Hermione and Methos looked nervously across to the other couch, wondering what they would do with the information they learned today.
"This is great." Harry burst out. He weight on his shoulders lifted. Hermione could not die. "We can use them for our advantage. Imagine Hermione Granger, the brightest witch of her generation, and Salazar Slytherin's heir fighting with us against Voldemort and they cannot die. It would be our greatest surprise."
"Oh he is not Salazar's heir." Hermione stated with a smirk on her face.
"Shut up." Methos hissed under his breath.
"What are you talking about?" Professor Snape demanded. "Of course he is Salazar's heir. He looks just like him."
"Nope." Hermione stated. "He is not Salazar's heir. He is Salazar himself."
Methos got up angrily from the couch, cursing Hermione silently. He did not want them to know that information.
Professor Snape's mouth was wide open. His eyes blinked in disbelief.
"Is Voldemort your heir?" Professor Dumbledore demanded.
"No." Methos snapped back.
"How do you know?" Professor Snape cried out as he rose to his feet.
"Because immortals cannot have children." Hermione answered sadly.
Professor Snape sat back down on the couch, shaking. Hermione could see the rage building up in him. Finally, he jumped up and began shouting.
"It was all lies." Professor Snape shouted. "Everything was a lie. All those terrible things I did for a lie."
Professor Snape turned to Methos. "You need to tell everyone." Professor Snape demanded. "You need to tell them that you are Salazar and that you have no heirs."
"Absolutely not." Methos stated.
"I could expose you…" Professor Snape threatened.
"If you do, you will see Death!" Methos growled at him.
"See Death. See Death." Harry whispered. Where had he heard that name before?
"Oh Merlin!" Harry shouted as he grabbed his wand. "You are the man in the mask!"
Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape pulled out their wand and pointed them towards Methos.
"Okay, I am out of here." Methos stated as he turned, picked up the bag and walked to the door. Hermione grabbed his arm.
"Stop." Hermione shouted. She turned to face her friends. "He is not like that anymore."
"You knew?" Harry stated in disbelief.
"You tried to wipe our race off the face of the earth." Professor Snape accused.
"Don't think so highly of your race." Methos sneered. "You were one of many."
"You are not helping." Hermione hissed at Methos.
"How old are you?" Professor Dumbledore demanded.
"I killed my first immortal over 5000 years ago." Methos responded with a sigh. "Before that is a little fuzzy."
Silence filled the room as they digested that information.
"You say that like it is no big deal." Harry finally said.
Methos shrugged and said. "I live with it every day, kid."
"You have age old wisdom for us." Harry asked.
"Nope." Methos smirked.
"So where do we go from here?" Hermione asked.
"You and Professor Slytherin will be allowed to continue to train in his quarters." Professor Dumbledore responded.
Professor McGonagall opened her mouth in protest.
"There are no other places that they can train privately, Minerva." Professor Dumbledore interrupted her.
"Now, Ms. Granger." Professor Dumbledore asked. "Where were you during Christmas?"
"She was with friends of mine." Methos answered for her.
"Why did you not come here after Harry erased your memory?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"She did." Methos responded. "But I got angry with her. I specifically ordered her not to go to the muggle world and she disobeyed me. We got in a fight and she left."
"How did she know about these friends of yours?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"We visited them." Methos replied.
"When and where." Professor Dumbledore demanded.
"First Hogsmead weekend. Paris." Methos spat out.
"How…." Professor Dumbledore asked in disbelief.
"I helped design this place." Methos smirked. "There are many things that you do not know about this school."
"I see." Professor Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye. "Maybe you can enlighten me one day."
"Maybe." Methos said.
Professor McGonagall looked at her pocket watch.
"Lunch is almost over." She stated. "We should be leaving soon if we want something to eat."
Harry took Hermione's hand. "Is there any chance for us?" Harry asked.
"I am sorry, Harry." Hermione responded gently. "I cannot give you what you need as a wife but I will always love you as a friend."
"I guess that is what I have to accept." Harry said in a disappointed voice.
"Come." Harry stated. "Let's show them that we are friends once again."
He led her out of the Methos' quarters towards the Dining Hall.
The Dining Hall
Draco was sitting next to Pansy and Crabbe, bored. He kept looking at the Gryffindor table and noticed that Potter was not at the table. He looked around and saw that Professor Slytherin, Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore were also not at their table.
Suddenly the Dining Hall went silent. Professor McGonagall and Professor Slytherin walked in together, followed by Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore. What caused the most reaction was the sight of Potter and Hermione stand by the door, holding hands.
Rage slowly built up in Draco as he watched Hermione and Potter walk to the Gryffindor table. He wanted to run over and rip her away from Potter. Damn the teachers' intervention.
As Draco watched Hermione hug all her friends, an empty feeling began to fill his chest. His eyes clenched in pain as he saw Harry kiss Hermione on the cheek.
"So is this where it begins?" Draco wondered to himself. "Is this the beginning of the end for me? Is this the start where I end up killing my only love?"
Unable to watch anymore, Draco stood up and stormed out of the Dining Hall. His eyes were blinking rapidly and focused solely on the door ahead of him that he missed the concerned eyes of two people, following him.
Disclaimer: Lyrics from Queen. They do not belong to me.
A/N: My beta will be leaving on vacation starting Saturday and will not return until 2/21/05. I will be writing but not posting until after it has been reviewed.
FYI- I put Spongebob as the character on the t-shirt because "Kurgan" the bad guy in the movie Highlander is the voice of Mr. Krabs.