A Week's Worth of Life.
Disclaimer: I plea the 5th.
Author's Note: I'm traveling a different path this time. Normally I surround my self with stupid, senseless, humor----but its time for something dark; Surprisingly about Hermione. Flames and Reviews are both welcome because both serve equal amounts of inspiration----though different kinds.
Talk-back: Love the sinners, hate the sins man.
Hermione witnesses the third true prediction of Professor Trelawny------One that predicts the end of her life in a week. With only a week to fulfil a lifetime, Hermione discovers more about herself and people around her she took for granted. Including the fact that she is in love with the wrong best friend.
*************************************************************************
I think perhaps though that fate, both subject to natural laws and spiritual laws, is rather an agent used in the fulfillment of our destiny
*
*
Hermione sighed and stretched her hands high above her head; covering the noise of popping joints with a large yawn.
This was the third day in the row that she had risen before the sun.
It was the strangest thing. She couldn't eat; she couldn't sleep; she was edgy all the time. It was just something she couldn't explain.
Hermione sighed and stopped by a small window at the base of the North Tower. She had been wondering again; coming across this lovely window. Sure, it was small, but the proud sunbeams reflected wonderfully over the lake where the giant squid bathed. It was a peaceful place to clear one's mind in the morning.
The sixteen-year-old breathed contently; drinking in the sight of the golden ball of energy rising over the land she could rightfully call home. The castle, the magic, the whole world; would she just wake up some day to discover it a dream?
Then it was a wonderful dream.
She was pulled roughly out of her mesmerized state by an annoyingly familiar voice. That misty voice that she had forgotten carelessly about until now.
Professor Trelawny batted her magnified eyes at the surprise teen.
"Good morning dear. Meditating now, are we? I predicted your going long ago; but your return? " The overrated women drawled out in her foggy tone. It seemed after her near departure last year in the trio's fifth year the women had surely got back on her feet. That is, if she was ever on the ground.
Hermione repressed an uncharacteristic scowl.
Things sure are different now.
It was true. Everything had changed; and Hermione couldn't decide if it was for the better or for the worse.
Ron, her secret (or not so secret) crush still hadn't matured emotionally; so that hadn't changed. He had stopped growing at his tall six three even, tanning away his freckles over the summer. He had starting working out, taking his Keeper duties far too seriously in Hermione's opinion. She rarely saw him, since he hadn't done so well on the owls and had no classes with her. It was only at meals and in the Common Room where they could be together.
Then there was Harry, her other best friend. He had reached his long awaited growth spurt and now stood at a shocking six foot. He was back on the Quidditch team, the captain and seeker. He aced all his owls; putting him in all of Hermione's classes.
Somehow, Tonks had managed to convince him to buy some wizard contacts, making his green eyes stand out even more. But there was something different about Harry's eyes this year; they had lost their mischievous twinkle and he had become more reserved to everyone since his godfather's death.
Then there were the changes in herself. Hermione had grown taller, to five six, still thin as always, but taller. She had straightened her hair, making it coming down in soft ringlets. Her blue eyes still had a love for reading and studying, but she had never lost her light heart.
She would have forgot the woman besides her to her own wonder world if she hadn't lain a hand on her shoulder.
"Dear, let's let bygones be bygones. We've both matured over the summer obviously," her eyes looked sad as she scanned them over Hermione, " Come have a cup of tea with me in the tower. " Her misty voice was a soothing as the Chamomile tea she was offering.
Hermione didn't say yes, but she didn't say no. She just followed the bat-like Ex-Professor up the winding tower steps. It would be at least three hours until her first lesson, Charms, started. An hour until breakfast.
*
Hermione's steady gaze took in the sights of the Professor's room with a quirked eyebrow. Everything was the same; even after three years.
It was still dark and with small tables crowded with chairs. Yet still, when you walked into it you got the feeling that you were being suffocated by the intoxicating perfumes. She also noted bemusedly, that crystal balls were set up at every table.
Why would she need them if she's out of a job? You would think with no work all summer these things would be cleaned up.
Professor Trelawny noticed her ex student looking at the crystal balls with a mix of baffle and amusement.
"I'm keeping them up so I'm ready when Professor Dumbledore hires me back. Yes, any day now. I see it in my visions. " The seer shrugged nonchalantly; setting down a tea tray with two cups with a pretty Indian design and a couple pumpkin pastries at a table already occupied with one of crystal balls.
Oh Merlin. She's gone loony.
Hermione wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. It was now obvious to her that Professor Trelawny wasn't as sane as she had previously perceived. The poor woman was still at loss over her job and had convinced herself that she was getting it back.
'No matter, ' Hermione sighed. She would just have to tell this fragile soul as it is and break her again before she rebuilt herself completely the wrong way.
Her mind laughed bitterly, 'No wonder Trelawny wanted to have tea with you---YOU----SHE'S OFF HER ROCKER!!!!'
*
The two women had been sitting and sipping their tea in a somewhat awkward silence that Hermione realized almost belatedly, as she watched in slow motion as Professor Trelawny began to open her small mouth; she should break.
"Professor Trelawny?" Hermione rushed. The woman snapped her mouth shut like a mousetrap. It probably had been a while since she had been called 'Professor'.
"Yes?" Her eyelashes fluttered expectantly behind thick lenses; as if she wasn't even there. As if Hermione had interrupted something. It was strange because seconds earlier she looked as if she was going to say something.
Much to Hermione's bewilderment, she found herself blabbering; a habbit she tried to rid of since her first day ever when she met Harry and Ron. " You don't really think Professor Dumbledore will give you your position back, DO YOU? "
Though at first taken aback, her ex-professor smiled. A very smug and to Hermione's displeasure, not a very sane smile. She was taking this quite well…too well.
"Give me your teacup, Hermione." She said calmly, her hand outstretched as if awaiting a handshake. Hermione pulled her empty teacup back.
Yet another easy smile…"Don't be bashful child. Give me the cup!" Hermione sighed and handed it over.
What harm can it do? I can just pretend (or even not pretend) to be offended; storm out, and prove to her that's she's a phony, so she can move on and be some muggle phoneline psychic far away from here. Like America.
Professor Trelawny 'hmmmm'ed and 'mmmm…'ed nonstop for five minutes as she prodded with her long fingers and made mental notes about the positions and possible meanings of Hermione's tea leaves.
With a blood curdling scream, (and in Hermione's opinion a very fake, very well rehearsed scream) the Professor hurled the cup into the wall where it shattered into a thousand pieces of a once expensive, gorgeous, cup.
Hermione stared, startled at the area of impact and slowly turned her head and faced Trelawny.
I change my mind. She's a bonkers, Azkaban worthy, nutcase! And here I am, enjoying, or let me rephrase that, not enjoying, tea with this fraud!
"The grim…I saw the grim…but not the grim…but…" She was very white; her eyes wide beyond belief, and her hand shaking so violently that the table she clamped them to, shook as well.
That does it.
Hermione silently pushed her chair back and started for the ladder. Hand on the trap door; an eerily quiet voice called her back.
"Please child…don't go…if not for my sake; but for yours. I don't know if I could live with myself if I let you walk away this very instant without heeding my warning…the future's warning... Just stay…for once not for me, not for me…sit. It won't be long…"
Never in her short lifetime had Hermione seen anyone look so utterly pathetic. Grudgingly and mildly reluctant, the infuriated girl took her seat across from the loon once again. She waited, tapping her toe in annoyance as if she had a place to be.
The ex-Professor had calmed herself somewhat; though she was unusually pallid still, taking a standard position in front of the crystal ball.
If Hermione had been in a joking mood at the moment, she would have commented on how the woman seemed to be having an introspective argument with herself; or, laughed about an assumedly heated mental battle with the ridiculous object she so perfectly loomed over professionally and dramatically.
Then some odd and life changing event happened; turning the brunettes life upside down and sideways; while scrambling it like eggs and buttering it out for her like a paved path of toast.
Professor Trelawny fainted; or so it seemed at the moment.
Then, seconds later, her head snapped up and her eyes were rolling about her head like white, large, marbles. Her voice changed too; from misty and smug to harsh and distant.
It was one of those moments when you are truly frightened; and if you had time, your life would flash before your eyes, and all you can think about is your wrongs, your rights…
Hermione was frightened. She catapulted herself backwards; tipping over her chair and ending up defenselessly sprawled upon the ground; groping for her wand with a hand that refused to move. She desperately wanted to scold herself for taking this stupid branch of magic seriously; but something told her this was nothing to scoff at. She also wanted to blush at her overreaction; but instead of reddening, she blanched.
She just wanted out of the room now.
Is she having a seizure, or even worse, is she going to attack me? Does she work for Voldemort!? Is this a trap!? WHAT'S GOING ON?!
She didn't have to wait long; her spine tingled as she watched Trelawny from the ground; swaying her head as her eyes rolled madly; as if she were on drugs or enjoying a particular song.
Then the rough savage voice broke through the air; taking Hermione's breath with it.
" The day that the sun rises as blood is the day of your fall. Discover everything about yourself, or discover nothing at all.
In a week as of tomorrow your life will slip out your hands. You will no longer be among the living. You won't live to see the full red sun. The first day will be a warning of what is to come. It is your fate, it is your destiny, and it is final. "
The whole chilling experience rose to a crescendo.
I don't believe it! I don't believe it! I don't believe it!
Hermione covered her mouth with her hands; open in a silent scream. She did believe it.
She was just in denial.
Die? Is she crazy. Yes, she's crazy. It's a stroke. Her mental state isn't normal, hell, she wasn't normal to begin with. I don't believe it. I won't believe it. She's a fraud, she's always has been always will be. But it felt so real…
Professor Trelawny blinked and analyzed everything; Hermione, the tea cup remains, the over turned chair, Hermione's horrified expression; glassy eyes filling with unshed tears.
"What's going on? Why are you in my classroom?" The angry Professor who didn't remember a thing of the past hour, more less her prediction, demanded.
When the girl said nothing, she went into a somewhat controlled rage.
"Did you do this?!" she gestured towards the shards of glass and chairs, "Is this some sort of JOKE? Because I find it very vulgar indeed." She tsked, not expecting the outcome of her words upon the poor girl.
Hermione somehow managed to find her voice as well as her feet.
"HORROR SHIT!!! THIS IS VULGAR!! YOU AND THIS…" she waved her arms wildly as she kicked open the trap door, "ALL OF THIS!!! THIS IS A VERY SICK JOKE INDEED; NOT ONE WOULD EXPECT FROM AN EX-PROFESSOR!!!" then she was gone; racing down the halls with adrenaline as the motivation as well as fear and shame. She ran all the way to Gryffindor Tower; nearly killing Snape around a corner.
*
"How childish!" The 'ex-professor' had to admit that the last remark rather stung. Even if it was from a snobby ex-student.
She knelt down near the ruined remnants of her favorite china. She preferred not to use magic early in the morning.
What had been going on?
She stopped her hand before picking up the three large pieces that were left of her cup and surveyed the room:
The corner crystal ball had been put to recent use; unusual. A platter of cakes and two tea cups (one now,) had been set up; unlikely but still…and on the floor near the cup…were tea leaves…well tea had been served to…Granger and herself? Preposterous.
Wait.
She peered closer at the now dry tea leaves that had survived the crash on the floor.
She offered them a sardonic smile.
How ironic, even after the cup shattered that they fall perfectly into the shape of a Grim?
*
A/N: I know Hermione was a little OCC with the swearing, but it was called for. I hope you enjoy the future chapters. This is like a prologue. Hopefully it's not too lame for you? Don't kill me…yet.
*Ja and Java Love
~~Murr