Storybook Crisis
By: Gemin16
Chapter 1: A Girl and Her Cat
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
A/N: I will state this because it's an important element! This is an AU and therefore things will be different so please don't flame me if your not happy. I warned you. Thanks and enjoy!
Chapter 1: A Girl and Her Cat
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Hermione Granger layed on her bed and stared into the ceiling. Anyone who looked at her thought she was a normal teenager but anyone who knew her well knew that she wasn't as normal as she should have been. She looked young for her age, a little underdeveloped and her hair was frizzy and often unkempt.
She was one of the top students in her class with top marks and a good conduct record. While most of her teachers praised her, most of the students loathed and often ignored her. She belonged in many academic clubs and kept her mind to her studies. She was friends with the faculty and didn't have much of a social life. She had very few friends unless you counted the ones in stories and books.
Sir Lancelot, Robin Hood, Nancy Drew, King Author, she had became friends with the fictional characters in the books. They were her only escape from the life of a nerd, since that was what most of the students called her. She knew them like the back of her hand but the only problem was that they didn't know her back. She was lonely but didn't bother addressing herself to them. The cheerleaders, the jocks, the preps and popular kids, even kids outside those groups avoided her. They harassed her but she ignored them.
Hermione sat up and looked at her room. A nice, well-kept desk stood in front of her. Her dresser was organized with her clothes and only had her textbooks on top of it. Her mirror was rarely used and was dusty, the only things that seemed to be in frequent use was her bookshelf and her desk. The only other thing in use was her cat, Crookshank's, basket. The ginger colored cat was the only other friend that Hermione had claimed to. He was the only one that she could confide her deepest secrets to and he wouldn't care. He would listen to her and answer with either a yawn or a meow.
This particular Saturday morning, Hermione found herself doing absolutely nothing. She had done all her weekend homework that night and had done a bit of studying. She looked at her clock, which read eight forty-five. Most kids would have been in bed still asleep or getting ready to go hang with their friends but Hermione was waiting patiently for the library to open in fifteen minutes. It was a bit pathetic but she didn't care. Her worst fear was probably making a low grade point average that would stop her from getting into the college of her choice.
Her clock arm went to eight forty-six, the library opened in fourteen minutes. It was only a ten-minute walk from her house. She decided that she would leave now so she could get an early look at the new selection of books that came in every week. She sat up and looked at the sleeping lump of ginger fur that lay next to her.
"I'll be back later, Crookshanks," she said to him as she grabbed her jacket. Crookshanks opened an eyelid and looked at his owner. He seemed to acknowledge what his owner had said and went back to sleep. She shook her head and went downstairs where her mother and father sat at the kitchen table reading the local newspaper. "I'm leaving," Hermione said to them as she headed out the door.
"Have a good time, dear," her mother said. Hermione stepped outside and was greeted by the cold stormy air of mid February. She ignored it and walked down the street in the direction that the library was in. She looked across the street and saw the For sale sign that belong to a small two story house. It used to belong to her best friend's family.
Amber Hathway had been Hermione's best friend since the sixth grade and since her dad was in the military, they had to move away. This time it was abroad, she moved all the way to America where Hermione heard little from her. She had missed Amber, she didn't care whether Hermione liked to study and read. Amber liked all that too. They planned their wedding together and stuff that two best friends would always do but ever since she moved, Hermione just went solo.
Another turn around a block and she reached the entrance to the old library. She looked at her watch and it read nine o' one. She looked inside and noticed the lights on, so she walked in without any hesitation. She walked inside and greeted the librarian with a smile.
"Hello, Mrs. Green," she said to the old lady.
"Hello, Hermione, your here for the usual I suppose?"
"Yes."
"There over by the historical display dear."
"Thank you, Mrs. Green." Hermione walked over to the historical display whitch had a bunch of statues and displays from the middle ages. Hermione stared at one of the knights on a horse. "I wonder what it was like back them?" she asked herself. She looked over to the self with the new books on it and went over the titles pulling out the ones that she liked.
"The Red Pony, Starry Night, Life Among the Forest," she said quietly to herself as she took out the books. After about an hour of sitting and reading she took out five small books, and then she reached one without a title on the spine and took it out of the shelf. It was an old book with a tattered cover. She opened it to revel the title page with a picture of an old man with crescent moon glasses at the tip of his long nose. His smile could be revealed even in the long beard he had falling down what seemed to be a black robe. Hermione looked oddly at the picture and looked below the picture.
" 'The Mystical World' by Albus T. Dumbledore," she read to herself. "What kind of name is that?"
All of a sudden she saw Mrs. Green standing next to her. "Hermione, your mother just called. She says she wants you home. A nasty storm is on the way and neither of them will be able to pick you up. If you hurry, I'll check out the books for you so you can be on your way."
Hermione nodded her agreement and handed the books she chose to Mrs. Green, who noticed the tattered book. "I don't know how this one ended up with these other ones but I'm glad that your taking it home. Most people ignore books in these poor conditions."
Hermione just smiled as Mrs. Green checked the books out. "The title sounds interesting so I wanted to read it," she told her.
"Well I hope you enjoy it." She handed Hermione the five small books and the large tattered one. "Better get home before that storm starts, it's supposed to be a nasty one."
Hermione gathered her books and put on her jacket. She walked outside where a gust of wind greeted her.
"Just lovely," she said to herself as she walked down the block. She looked at the stores on the block and saw the Valentine displays on the windows. It was mid February after all and Valentines Day would be in three days. Hermione wasn't expecting anything from anyone. She hadn't received a Valentine since elementary school, when the kids in the class was forced to give everyone a valentine whether they liked the person or not. Even then, Hermione never received more than a card with her name written messily on it. After grade school, she never received one again.
She finally reached her house and opened the front door. "I'm home," she said loudly.
Her mother stepped out of the kitchen and greeted Hermione. Hello, I'm glad your back safely. Did you find any good books?"
"Yes, I did. I'll be in my room if you need me for anything." Hermione ran upstairs and entered her room. She shook her head as she saw Crookshanks in the same spot where she had left him.
"Lazy cat," she said with a smile as she placed her jacket in her closet. She set down all her books neatly on her desk and reached into a box that contained nothing but bookmarks. It was Hermione's collection that she started ever since she was old enough to read. She sat at her desk and looked out the window. It was storming outside. The trees blew and leaves flew out into the yard. Rain pounded on the glass frame of her window, but Hermione liked the sound; it helped her concentrate.
She looked at the pile of books that rested on her desk. "Which one should I start first?" she wondered out loud. Crookshanks by that time had made his way from Hermione's bed to her lap and yawned lazily and stretched. She rubbed his ears playfully and decided on the old tattered book. She didn't know why she chose it but it seemed to draw her in a way that she couldn't explain. Opening the book slowly, she yet again came upon the picture of the author with the weird name.
"Albus Dumbledore," she said as she looked over the picture. Then the most peculiar thing happened.
Albus Dumbledore winked at her.
Hermione double blinked. "No way," she said to herself as she shook her head. She quickly turned the page and stumbled upon the introductory page. It had a strange picture of a young girl and a cat on the front. The girl seemed to be holding a stick in her hand and had on strange clothing.
Hermione turned the page and came upon a strange inscription. She looked at it strangely and began to read it out loud:
Who ever so can read this, beware-
for the one who can is the only one who will care.
With destiny's fate your must proceed-
to journey into this land and follow me.
With a flick and a flam
and a wave of a stick-
your life will change and it will be quick.
Emotions surged with hidden desire-
and courage found within burning fire.
Evil has come and made it's mark-
deadlier than poison and worse than a shark.
Only one has survived the words of death-
and his life holds secrets yet unkempt.
Another one, so loyal and true, hair made of fire and eyes of deep blue,
will guide thy journey and show you anew.
Come hither, yon reader and hear our cries-
brains can hide beauty for it's all inside.
Nonsense can become wisdom and wisdom becomes life-
for it takes talent to keep one alive who strives.
Hidden apast is the secret untold-
and speaks of two, none so bold.
Keeping distance far away -
I called upon this ballad to break threw a phase.
Magic-thought rare- can be found in anyone-
but it takes a particular type for the task that's to be done.
For I may repeat- dear reader- beware,
my warning, I spoke once and that's all that is fair.
For I see in your future more than you can-
all though you may think I'm a fair crazy man.
My words speak truth as you'll shall see-
you'll become much more than what you think you can be.
Light travels through darkness and darkness though light-
one is stronger- but who is to know unless one fights.
Look out your window once more-
whether you see forest, road, or shore.
Say farewell to your surroundings-
for your sure to see more!
You may be gone for some time- but time can fly quick,
and there's nothing that your going to miss.
Follow me and do as I say,
for my next task you need to perform. Okay?
Put your hands across your face and clap twice with a wink-
keep them together and make a wish.
Whether your wish can come true- I cannot guarantee,
just rest aside and put your faith in thee.
Look around once more and say your goodbyes-
laughter and tears, wails and cries.
Strange beings await you and much more galore-
clap twice more!
Now say Transporadore!
Hermione did as she was told and said Transporadore as a lightning bolt struck a few miles later. All of a sudden a feeling of ice came over her and lifted her and Crookshanks above her seat for a second and then Hermione's mind went blank.
***
A constant meowing was what woke Hermione up. She opened up her eyes and looked strait into the eyes of her cat, who was laying on top of her lying form.
"What just happened?" she asked to no one. She sat up letting Crookshanks fall to the ground. Her eyes opened wide as she saw the scenery around her. "Crookshanks, I don't think we're in London no more." (A/N: I couldn't help myself.) Crookshanks just meowed and sat next to her. They were both sitting in a dense wooded area with little patches of light falling through the trees. All sorts of shrubs and plants layed at the foot of the trees and there was no sign of a living soul anywhere.
"This is a dream, isn't it?" She tried to stand up right away but winced in pain as she noticed her cut leg. "Guess not." Hermione looked at Crookshanks, who just looked at her with his cat expression. "Where are we?"
Just then Crookshanks jumped to life and started to hiss as a rustle could be heard from behind Hermione. She heard more noises and then heard a faint grunt and felt something heavy land its foot on the ground. She turned around slowly and saw two big green things standing ten feet away from her. Hermione's eyes traveled farther up and looked at the ugly, disfigured form of an a troll. "Oh no."
She slowly turned back around and ran towards the base of an oak tree and pressed her body toward the trunk. Crookshanks hissed once more and ran in front of Hermione, claws and teethed bared. The troll snarled and made a step towards Hermione. Hermione was frozen with fear as she watched it come closer. Soon it was only five feet ahead of her and gaining range.
Then as if out of thin air an arrow came whizzing threw and landed itself in front of the troll. The troll looked at it, carelessly and was about to take another step when another arrow dug itself into his shoulder. It gave a grumble of pain as another one came and put it in the troll's other shoulder. It looked as if it tried to make up its mind and turned around and walked away with two arrows sticking out.
Hermione sat back along the tree with Crookshanks and breathed slowly for a second. Where did those arrows come from? Then she heard a noise come from above her, in the branches of the trees. "Who's there?" She yelled looking up.
"I am. Are you okay?"
Hermione found herself looking strait up twenty feet in the tree into a pair of deep blue eyes.
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Please read and review. It would really boost my spirit. Thank you!
Oh and if you have a better title for the story please let me know because I'm not really satisfied with it. Thanks again!
Adios,
Gemin16