Storybook Crisis
by: Gemin16
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Chapter 3: A Newfound Destiny
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Hermione's eyes opened slowly as the sunlight hit her face. It felt warm and comforting as she slowly awoke and sat up in her bedroom. The thing was, it really wasn't her bedroom.
It had been about three months since Hermione fell into the book entitled the Enchanted World, and she was still settling into her new bedroom chamber on the northeastern tower of Hogwarts Castle. It became her permanent residence until she was to return to her world but no one knew when that would be. Dumbledore had told her that he didn't remember the ending of the story and that she would just have to be patient and wait. Of course this left Hermione slightly crossed with him but her anger had subsided when she truly discovered what kind of world she was transported to.
In her mind, the city of Hogsmeade almost functioned almost like London except, well, there was magic everywhere you stepped. There were stores and marketplaces to accommodate the needs of the people. Jobs were plentiful, schools existed for the children, and there was a higher authority of protection for them called Aurors. The one thing that amazed Hermione was that the wizards and witches weren't dependant upon electricity or gadgets to get on with everyday life. If they wished to light a room, all it took was a flick of their wand to light a candle or simply transform one. They also didn't depend on noisy and air polluting cars to get around. They either apparated or took a broomstick to wherever they wished to go.
Also present in the city was a massive hospital, bank, and a jail that was located in the mountains northward, plus the castle in the middle. The castle itself served as the main government building, or also known as the Ministry of Magic, with the Minister serving as the head offical. The department was divided into many sections and that had a head in charge. Albus Dumbldore and the many people around him at the table that night, simply served as the advisors to the Minister of Magic, who always had the final say in things.
Clothing was much different too. All though common clothes like pants, skirts, shirts and sweaters existed, all wizards and witches wore the common robes, which came in every possible fashion that was available. Materials were made from different substances too. Dragon hide was often used for boots and such and it turned out that they didn't use pens or paper. Instead they wrote with quills and parchments or scrolls. It fascinated her very much.
Of course the thing that had Hermione in questions was how do you become a witch? After Dumbledore had told her she was a witch, he invited her to live in the castle to teach her how to be one. She really had no choice but to accept because she had no other place to go. It turned out that there were many things involved in the education of sorcery besides saying a funny word and waving a stick, which she found out was a wand. There was history to be learned, Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Herbology, Astronomy, and Arithmancy. Hermione found all the subjects quite interesting and intrigued her more than the simple subjects back home.
She was taught under the eye of one of the advisory witches who was a retired professor. Professor McGonagall was a strict but crafty and clever witch that volunteered to teach Hermione everything that she would need to learn about magic. For about eight hours, five to six days a week, Hermione learned the different subjects of magic. The one problem was that she was exactly six years behind of every other wizard or witch of her age but Hermione was a quick learner and seemed to be catching up at an alarming rate. Professor McGonagall was extremely impressed with Hermione's improvement of each new lesson. With her own wand, made from ash containing a female unicorn hair, she was able to do all sorts of tricky charms and was doing a fine job at Transfiguration, McGonagall's specialty.
There was only one problem present, while Hermione was doing a fine job at learning how to become a witch, she was making the exact same mistake that she made in her home world. She simply failed to make an effort in making a friend. She was well aquatinted with some of the adults in the Hogwarts castle as to she lived with them and the only person she seemed to make friends with that was remotely around her age was a young Ministry apprentice named Penelope Clearwater, who was five years older than her. Penelope had been extremely nice to Hermione and had shown her around the castle and told her what was off limits and where she could go to. She also lived in the bedroom next to where Hermione's room was but they rarely took the time to speak to each other. For it was either Hermione was at a lesson or Penelope was dealing with the Ministry.
Of course there was another thing that Hermione was doing wrong. She seemed to spend most of her free time in the castle's vast library either learning more charms or looking up a subject that interested her. She spent her time in there until it was time for her to go to her room or she brought her things to her room for her to study there. She never took the time to do anything else, except maybe eat and sleep. She had only ventured out into Hogsmeade once to get the things that she needed for her life in this world. Every other single day she spent reading or learning. She yet again created her own little closed world of following rules and learning.
Every once and a while she would see the sign of a teenager around her age. Sometimes at dinner, the advisory wizards were joined by Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, and Harry Potter, who was also known as the boy who lived. Hermione had read all about the exploits of You-Know-Who (she feared saying his name like the others) and had learned about how Harry had survived his death curse. Of course she really ignored his presence and kept on reading. Ever once and a while he would appear with his archer friend, Ron Weasley, which Hermione was still a little cross with for being so rude to her when she first appeared. They ignored a crossing with each other and seemed not to care whether they met or not. Harry and Ron were trouble makers and seemed to enjoy doing the things that guys generally liked to do. Those type of people did not interfere with Hermione's functions.
Hermione rubbed her eyes and stretched as she climbed out of her four-poster bed. She looked out her bedroom window and watched as the whole city did it's normal thing. People would be traveling around the streets, either on foot or on broom and hundreds of owls stormed the sky. She watched as families waved each other goodbye as they went off to do their errands. Hermione sighed when she saw the families, she often found herself wondering if her own family missed her, she knew that she missed them terribly. She shook the thought off as she changed for her day.
As she put on her black robes she looked at the sleeping lump of orange fur that she called a cat. Crookshanks had seemed to be adjusting more to the land quickly than Hermione had expected. He was as lazy as ever but he seemed to know where he was going around the castle. He often followed Hermione wherever she went and rarely left her side and if he did it was for no more than an hour.
"Funny cat," she mumbled as she wiped the hair out of her eyes. She tapped his head as she grabbed her bag. "Come Crookshanks, we had better get going or we'll be late for breakfast." Crookshanks gave a loud yawn and followed his scholarly master out into the castle.
***
As usual Hermione spent her day in a lesson with Professor McGonagall, in which she learned about Animagi. Hermione sat there amazed as she watched the professor turn into a tabby cat then back again. They continued on with the lesson and Hermione departed at the end to head to the library where she settled herself at the usual table in the back and proceeded with her learning.
Later on that evening she was walking to her room and was looking at the halls as she walked. Since it was an enchanted castle she got used to the habit of talking pictures and moving staircases. Hermione was walking past the stairs from the second corridor when Crookshanks ran off into another direction following a small popping sound.
"Crookshanks, get over here!" Hermione said as she followed her cat. Crookshanks disappeared around a corner.
"Ouch, get off of me you stupid cat!" Hermione turned the corner to see Crookshanks on top of an extremely tall person. She recognized him to be Ron Weasley accompanied by his friend Harry Potter.
"Get off him, Crookshanks," she said as she walked up to the two, who were standing at the foot of another staircase. Crookshanks jumped down from Ron's shoulders and sat next to Hermione, giving a small purr. She turned to Ron and Harry. "Sorry about that, he probably thought you were a rat or something."
Ron frowned at the cat while Harry had a bemused smile on his face. "No problem at all," Harry said to Hermione. "How are things here at the castle?"
"Just fine, I was on my way to the library. Where are you two headed?"
Harry and Ron exchanged looks. "Um-nowhere," Ron tried to say casually. Unfortunately for them Hermione noticed exactly where they were standing.
"You're going to the third corridor aren't you?' she asked them. Harry shrugged.
"What if we are?"
"That's a forbidden area, you'd be breaking the rules if you go up there."
Ron just looked at her funny. "Yeah and it's none of your business if we are. Go on to the library and study."
Hermione scowled. "There's a reason why that area is forbidden, you shouldn't be going up there!"
Harry and Ron exchanged looks again and started heading up the stairs, leaving Hermione behind at the foot of the stairs. "I'll tell Professor McGonagall if you don't come back!" she called after them
"See if we care," Ron called back down.
Hermione gave a frustrated growl and watched as they traveled up. She was about to turn back around when she noticed Crookshanks was gone. She spun around only to see his long orange tail travel upwards. "Crookshanks, get down here now!" But he didn't listen to her. Hermione gave a hard sigh through her nose and chased after her pet.
As she ran up, the stairs suddenly shifted with her on. This isn't good! she thought. Apparently Crookshanks, Harry, and Ron were also on the staircase as it moved.
"Why did we have to be on the staircase that moves at six o clock?" Harry asked Ron as they held on to the railing.
"I don't know? You're the one who decided to go this way."
"Exactly where are we going?" Hermione asked them as she held on.
"Where ever the stairs decide," Harry said to her. After a few more seconds the stairs stopped and the three of them found themselves at the base of the third corridor. They walked up and stood at the top of the stairs. All of a sudden they began to move again and returned to its normal position.
"Damn stairs," Ron muttered to himself as he turned to the hallway.
"Looks like we'll have to take the long way back," Harry said. Hermione just stood there waiting for the stairs to get back on their own. The two boys started walking into the halls leaving behind Hermione and Crookshanks.
"Wait up," Hermione called after them as she ran to catch up. She walked behind them as they explored the halls. It was dark, damp, and an eerie feeling was creeping its way up Hermione's spine. "We shouldn't be here," she said as they continued walking.
"Then why did you follow us? We never asked you to come," Ron asked.
Hermione just looked at him, although it was more his back because he was so tall. "I had no choice. Crookshanks chased after you two."
Ron and Harry just rolled their eyes and continued walking. "How much do you want to bet Filch doesn't even travel up here?" Harry asked Ron.
"Twelve Sickles, although it's kinda obvious that he doesn't," Ron answered. "It's so dusty that not even the most advance cleaning spell could come close to getting rid of it." He sneezed to prove his point. "Mom would have a fit."
"It seems to me that this place is in this state for a reason," Hermione said as she spotted a slash picture, she rubbed her arms together. The coldness of it all was getting to her.
"If your so worried then go back," Harry said as he kicked around a piece of wood.
"I can't, I don't know the way back. Besides someone has to keep you out of trouble."
"Unfortunately for us."
As they continued walking, it got colder and colder. Hermione could see her breathe with each exhale. All of a sudden they heard a soft clanking sound that got louder as they walked closer.
Clank Clank Clank Clank
"Go away, go away!"
All three of them froze when they heard the voice. It was very hoarse and seemed to be coming in from the direction behind them. Harry and Ron drew out their wands and held them in their hands securely, Hermione had hers in her hand as she tried to remain calm.
"GO!" That voice got to their spines and drained any color that they had left in their faces. A white apparition fled towards them in some sort of odd shape. Ron looked at Harry. "Could it be a Boggart?" Hermione knew what a Boggart was but what did it take the shape of?
"Only one way to find out." Harry got in front of Hermione and Ron and pointed his wand. " Riddikulus!" The apparition didn't phase. It was speeding towards them and seemed to be opening its mouth.
Ron noticed that they were standing next to a door. He tried to open it but it was locked. "Damn, the doors locked tight!" It was getting even closer.
Hermione thought for a second and had an idea. "Move over!" She pushed Ron out of the way and tapped her wand on the doorknob. "Alohamora!"
The door swung open and all four of them ran inside and slammed the door shut. They leaned against the door to catch their breath. Giving a big yawn, Crookshanks seemed to be the only one calm.
"What was that thing?" Hermione panted out.
"No idea?" Ron said breathing in and out quickly. He and Harry looked at her.
"That was an interesting spell," Harry said.
"I found it in a beginner's book, looks like you two don't do too much extra reading."
Ron and Harry turned their heads and said nothing. That's when Harry noticed where they were. "I never knew this hall existed." They were in another hall with a dense fog in the air, it was colder than the last one.
"We shouldn't be here," Hermione said in a warning voice.
"Why? Are you scared?" Ron asked teasingly.
"We have to go back."
"Be my guest and go back, I'm sure that white thing would love to see you again!"
"Will both of you shut up!" Harry snapped at the two of them. He was up and a few feet into the hall with Crookshanks behind him. All of a sudden they heard the clanging sound again.
Clang Clang Clang Clang Clang Clang
"What is that noise?" Harry wondered out loud walking on. He turned to Hermione and Ron, who were still leaning against the door. "Come on you two." He walked off with Crookshanks following him.
"Could it be something metal?" Hermione asked.
Ron shook his head. "No, it's too hollow sounding. Something made from a less dense material."
As they walked down the hall the clanging noise got louder until they came to a spot where the noise was directly in front of them. "I guess it's coming from the inside," Harry said knocking on the wall. Just then a door appeared making them jump back in surprise.
"You open it," Ron said to Harry, who just shrugged and opened the door. A cloud of smoke came out to greet them as they walked in. Once the smoke cleared all they saw was a clay pot sitting on top of a column.
"All that's in here is a grubby pot," Ron said. "I don't see the reason for so much security."
"Will you use your eyes. It has a lid on it so it must be holding something," Hermione said.
"Wonder what it has inside?" Harry asked. His question was answered in a matter of seconds.
"LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT!" It started to jump up and down making the clanging sounds. The voice sounded very angry and very high pitched.
"Obviously something alive," Ron said stepping back. "And angry for that fact." The pot jumped even faster making a constant noise.
"WILL YOU STOP DAWDLING AND LET ME OUT!? AS MUCH AS I LOVE SMALL PLACES, I THINK I HAVE BEEN IN HERE WAY TOO LONG! I KNOW SOMEONE IS OUT THERE, SO LET ME OUT!"
"I think we better leave," Hermione said pushing the two of them out. She closed the door behind her, making her realize something. "Crookshanks!"
She quickly reopened the door to see her cat getting ready to jump onto the column. "Crookshanks. Don't!" But she was to late, Crookshanks leaped up and landed next to the pot, knocking it over. It fell with a loud hollow crash, breaking into a few dozen pieces. Hermione gasped as she saw a brown lump shake pieces off and stare at her with large black eyes. Then it just apparated.
They just stood there as Crookshanks walked back to where Hermione was standing. All of a sudden they heard two voices.
"Where did you say it came from?"
"I heard coming from over here, Professor McGonagall."
Harry and Ron looked at each other and gulped. "Filch!" they said together. Harry grabbed Hermione by the arm as she scooped up Crookshanks and they ran back to the other hall, forgetting about the brown lump and the white apparition. Once they reached the main hall, Harry and Ron took a rest and leaned against their legs. Hermione stood there holding Crookshanks and giving him a disapproving look.
"Now look what you did," she said to him. He just meowed.
"That cat of yours is nothing but trouble," Ron said to her. He was going to say more but he was cut off by a very strict voice.
"What are you three doing in this area?" It belonged to none other than Professor McGonagall accompanied by Filch. She had her hands on her hips and was giving them a very disapproving look. "Well?"
Ron and Harry stood their speechless but Hermione took quick action. "It was because of me, Professor. Crookshanks had ran up here chasing something and I went to follow him. Harry and Ron were just making sure that everything was okay. We finally found him and we were just on our way back," she said as honestly as she could. She had never lied to an adult before. Ron and Harry just nodded not wanting to ruin it incase the Professor bought it. Surprisingly, she did.
"I see. All of you head back downstairs and Ms. Granger, please keep control of your cat. There are things up here that are very dangerous."
"Yes, Professor," Hermione said as she watched Professor McGonagall and Filch walk away. They started to walk down the stairs.
"Thanks," Harry said. "We would have been in real big trouble if we were caught."
Hermione sighed. "Well it's my fault for letting Crookshanks break that pot. I hope that thing wasn't to dangerous, whatever it was."
"Uh-I guess we're about to find out," Ron said as he and the others stopped at the foot of the stairs. Standing almost five feet in front of them was a small brown fox with large black eyes, the exact same eyes that stared at Hermione. Crookshanks leaped from Hermione's arms and sniffed at it. The fox simply ignored it and gave a blow from its nose, it almost sounded like an impatient one. It sat down and looked at them curiously.
"What would a fox be doing in a clay pot in the middle of an old empty room?" Harry asked. The fox cocked its head, stood up, and started to trot off with Crookshanks following.
"You're going to have to put a leash on that orange lump," Ron said to Hermione. "Have you ever thought off a binding spell or something?"
"I can't just do that to my own cat! Come on, we better follow him and see if we can catch that fox. Maybe we can put it back into the pot." She started to run in the same direction as the two furballs. After what seemed to be five minutes off running in empty halls the three teenagers found themselves in an empty room in the observation tower, away from all the office areas of the castle. They looked at Crookshanks who sat on the windowsill, cleaning himself.
"Where's the fox?" Harry asked. A small yelp came from behind him and they spun around only to see the door close with the fox standing behind them. Harry and Ron had their wands ready when the fox gave a small yawn and stretched. Then it began to transform into a girl or a small woman. They really couldn't tell.
"Boy does it feel good to get out of that cramped place," she said as she stretched some more. It was a short girl looking about fifteen or fourteen, wearing apple green robes. She had dark tan skin with a long ponytail of curly hair falling down her back. Her black eyes gave off a warm feeling as she smiled at the three. "You don't realize how much you miss everything until you have been in there for almost fifty years. Thank you, Crookshanks." Crookshanks gave a meow in reply which seemed like a "your welcome".
"Excuse me for being rude," Hermione said in a low voice. "But who exactly are you? And how do you know my cat's name?"
The girl gave a small yawn as she took out a small wand from her robe sleeves and waved it in the air. "First lets have a seat. I'm tired of standing now and no one will find us here." Four seats appeared in the air directly behind them and they sat down. "Good. Now let's answer your second question first, Hermione.
"I know much about all three of you. You," she said pointing to Hermione," are Hermione Granger, friends to all books and an extremely clever and smart girl. A little on the unsociable side but we'll fix that. Now you, giving me the strange looks are Ronald, or just plan Ron, Weasley, youngest brother of a family of seven children and an extremely good archer and chess player. Rarely misses or looses a game if I'm correct. And the young man with the glasses is none other than Harry Potter, also known as the Boy-Who-Lived, but I also know that you have endless courage and bravery. Very troublesome but you'll turn out to be a great wizard. All of you will." She smiled cleverly at them.
"But how?" Hermione asked. She had gotten everything right about them.
"Good observation skills and I can see it in you. My spirit floats around these parts and watches and sees all. I got bored after waiting about five years in that vase."
"What are you?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, no witch or wizard can survive fifty years inside a vase," Ron said. "You certainly don't look fifty or however old you are."
The girl dusted something off her robes. "I'm flattered that you think so. Well I guess I'll start by introducing myself. Should have done that from the start really. My name is Kitrina Cleva Sly and I am not just a witch. In fact I'm not really human at all," she said with a laugh. Hermione, Harry, and Ron looked at her with confusion.
"The truth is, I'm a made up creature almost like a chimera. Part witch, part magical creature and part spirit really. More like a physical ghost, I'm neither alive but I'm not exactly made of mist."
"A made up creature though?" Hermione asked.
"A very long story that I don't want to explain but I'll make it short. Well I was created long time ago, by another wizard. The most famous in history."
"Merlin?"
"Preciously! My master was brilliant, he created me as an experiment but I turned out perfect according to him, but that's not the point. In his lifetime, my Master created powerful talismans that could grant immense power to the owner. Before his death, he gave the talismans to the different races of this world to watch and protect. One going to the giants, goblins, fairies, and many others. Six in all if I'm correct, it's been well over four hundred years. I didn't die along with him because of an enchantment he put on me. He knew that something would happen in the future and he wanted me here. Later it was revealed that it was my job to help those who are in pursuit of the items of Merlin."
Kitrina sighed and had a sad look on her face. "How I miss my master." But then she turned serious. "In dreams I would see him and he would tell me what my duty was. Unfortunately, about fifty or so years ago someone caught me and stuffed me in that enchanted vase and I would be locked in that room in the hidden hall until someone broke the vase. Only my spirit, which was invisible, could roam around the castle and I couldn't talk to anyone unless I'm physically here. So you could see that I had to wait very patiently. Until now I just watched as everything around me changed. I learned about people and who they were and watched children grow into adults. I also watched as Voldemort's terror spread. Awful, awful wizard that one is." She shook her head.
"Please don't say that name," Ron asked as he winced.
"Sorry," Kitrina said. "Apparently since you three are the ones who kinda let me free it's your job to make sure that Vol-oops, sorry Ron- You-Know-Who doesn't get them. He knows they exist and he's after them, it was one of his minions that put me in that vase!"
"Us?" Hermione asked. As interesting as the story may had seemed to her, she wasn't very sure how three teenagers could save a world from being reigned in terror.
"Why can't you do it?" Ron asked.
Kitrina frowned. "I would if I could but you see, only a wizard can save the wizarding world. I am not fully man therefore I can't. Fate won't let me. Please say that you'll do it. Adults wouldn't believe a thing I say. Besides, I can't just trust anyone and I feel that I can trust you."
Hermione thought for a minute and bit her lip. Could she help? She looked at Harry and Ron. They seemed to be thinking hard but it was Harry who stood up. He had an extremely serious look on his face.
"I'll help, I don't care what it takes but I'll help." Kitrina smiled and jumped up to hug him.
"Thank you so much! Master's items can't be used for evil, no matter what! I knew I could count on you, Harry. I knew it the very moment I saw you," she said enthusiastically. She looked at Ron and Hermione with hopeful eyes.
Ron nodded slowly after a second. "I'll help too." Kitrina went from Harry and hugged Ron.
"Thank you! Thank you! Ron, you will be an important asset to this team!" she said in a motivated voice. Then she looked at Hermione. "What about you? You are more important than you think, Hermione. You just have to help."
Important? Hermione thought. Since when was she ever needed in anything? Only in a school assignment was she ever needed for importance. Always last to be picked in sports or in a game. Never invited to a party or a dance, yet she was being asked to help save a world from a dangerous and powerful terror.
Hermione just looked down at her feet and noticed Crookshanks sitting in front of her. He purred against her leg and meowed. She smiled. Yes, she would help. The people had been so nice to her and she would do anything to protect the world that had should her a new life. "Of course." Kitrina jumped on to her with a big hug and held it the longest.
"You don't realize how grateful I am. If he were still alive, Master would give you even bigger hugs."
"Merlin, the mst famous wizard in history, give us hugs like that?" Ron asked. "That's something I would like to see."
Harry and Hermione gave a laugh while Kitrina looking slightly offensive. "Master may have been very powerful but he was as gentle as a newborn unicorn!"
Ron held his hands up in defense. "I believe you. No need to get angry."
Kitrina relaxed and went back to smiling. She looked out the window and smiled. "The night is coming and I'm glad to be free. I'm going to roam for a while, and I will catch up with you three later."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked her.
Kitrina giggled and stretched. "When a free happy spirit like mine has been confined for so long, you want to see everything. I will see you three when I find what I need to find. Good-bye for now and thank you." She began to turn into a brown fox again and trotted off to the door, which opened for her and she left.
Hermione stood there with Ron and Harry. "I hope we'll be able to do this," she said out loud.
Harry smiled. "We will."
Ron gave a yawn and looked at Harry. "I just realized that you owe me twelve Sickles for our bet. Filch was in the third corridor!"
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Hi peps,
Last time I checked I was up to thirty-three reviews. I never expected that I would receive so much. I'm so happy! This is like way cool!
This time I would like to thank these people for reviewing chapter two:
Gillian, Bluetreeleaves, Adnop Nottap, samantha, Haley J the Bat, shadowcat, zari, unpredictable, evyfleur, pokey, Mizzy-Izumi, Pansy Potter, Artemis-chan, and Red1. Thanks you soooooo much!
Lots more to come after this chapter and I'm thinking about writing a one chapter fic that has to do with my other fic: Triple the Trouble, Triple the Fun!
I have a lot on my mind and school is killing me and so is orchestra. Chapters will be spread probably one every two weeks but I'll seriously try to keep it at least one a week. Your reviews give me the inspiration to write!
Also, the one line that Kitrina says "only a wizard can save the wizarding world" well I kinda got that from the anime movie X, where Hinitoe says "Only a man can save man kind". For all you anime fans that movie totally rocks if you like blood, gore, and killing, but other than that the movie is pretty cool.
Okay now for my shameless promoting ^_^:
For some of you that haven't read it I definitely suggest you read Runaway Fox by Kirikarin. It's such a good story and its worth reading. It's finished so you won't be left in the dark and she also has another fic that's entitled the Angel of Apocalypse, which is turning out to be a real interesting story.
Another cute story is The Story of Lily by Bella. A little mix of princess stories like Cinderella and Ella Enchanted and it's so cute, especially if you like romance.
Let's see what else is there? Oh yeah Silver Phoenix's stories are really cool and I can't think of the names right now but it's a must read.
Also, I find Adnap Nottap's stories really, really cute. If you haven't read Truth or Dare you really should.
I guess that's all for the promoting. See ya!
Adios and Chow,
Gemin16