Author's Note: Hey! Next chapter is up! Hope things are moving faster now.
I want to finish this part of my story soon so I can get to work on the
next part. I'm planning on a trilogy here people! Hope you have the
patience. Anyway, I made this one a cliffie in hopes to spur your
attention, things have dragged lately. And to get me to update a little
more often. I hope to get some Draco/Hermione action in here soon, but in
order to do that, I need to speed things up. Don't worry, I have a plan!
Enjoy!
Rating: Still PG-13!
* * *
Hermione sat at the waters edge for a long time, lost in her own thoughts. Occasionally rippling the water with her toe. She felt confused, she didn't know who she was anymore, buck-toothed bushy haired Hermione Granger, or supreme being incarnate, Aradia Magia? Granted she did change her appearance drastically, no longer awkward and unsure, she knew her body and how to use it. Yet despite her confidence she still felt little and unimportant, especially back at Hogwarts. She looked like Aradia, yet inside she felt like Hermione. So much had changed this past year. She didn't talk with Ron and Harry as much, but they hardly noticed anything other than each other. Ginny avoided her, probably because she now had competition at the most attractive girl at Hogwarts. Not that Hermione cared, Ginny never could keep a secret.
Then there was Draco Malfoy. Even he changed, dare she say they were friends? Out of all the shit thrown at her, Draco was the most intriguing. Did she like him? Sure, she slept with him, but he hurt her yet he seemed so sincerely sorry for it. Time, she needed more time to figure out everything. If only she could sit here by the lake, with the moon, forever. No one would hurt her. No one would expect her to be someone she's not. Nothing, just her, the moon and the water.
A weird sensation came over her, she wanted to be the water. That way no one would find her and she'd be able to be in peace. Moving very carefully, Hermione slid her foot into the water and focus her thoughts on the way the water felt. She submerged her leg in to her knee and nearly screamed. Her flesh was gone and in its place was a crystal blue liquid, matching the lake. Her leg was water, Shaking with anticipation, she slowly slid her other leg in and the same affect happened. She could hardly believe what was happening, she was become the water. Even though her legs were water, her body still felt like it was flesh. Concentrating on the rest of her body liquefying, she slid in to her waist, expecting a freezing rush, instead it was quite warm. She held her breath and submerged her head, eyes squeezed shut. Her entire body was water. No longer feeling the need to hold her breath, she exhaled and felt the air bubbles rise to the surface.
After a moment she opened her eyes and looked around. The water was incredibly clear, she could see the many colonies of merpeople way off in the middle of the lake. She drew a breath, only to find she didn't need it, water doesn't breathe. The rush was overwhelming on the freedom she had discovered, the knowledge she could gain, knowledge she would never find in all the books in the world.
She waited for a moment then dared to move, she could contort her body to any form she desired as water. She swam this way and that, a feeling of ultimate liberty enveloping her. Hermione explored the depths of the lake, finding some kappas, who were supposed to all have been removed from the lake after one attacked a student. The giant squid was resting in a cove on the far end of the lake, little air bubbles shooting from it's gills. Along with many other magical water beings, to which she never knew existed.
Hermione had lost all track of time under the water, but after awhile she decided she'd get back to the castle before morning. After one last race with a mermaid, she broke the surface of the lake, her head materialized in it's original form. She swam over to where she left her cloak, her mind piecing together what just happened. She had just fulfilled the next part of the myth, or at least made a start. It had said the one would be known by encountering the four elements, and if she didn't know better, she just encountered water. 'Two down, two to go.' She thought, smiling to herself.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Hermione froze. She had been so busy thinking about her escapade with water she didn't even notice the appearance of another. She looked up slowly to see Pansy Parkingson.
"You really should invest in an invisibility cloak if you're going to sneak out like this, Granger." Hermione tried to keep a calm and collected look on her face.
"What are you doing out of the castle this late, Parkingson"
"I should like to ask you the same thing."
"Ah, you forget, I'm the Head Girl. Therefore I suggest you keep your attitude in check and answer me." The two girls glared at each other for a moment before Pansy spoke,
"Don't think I don't know what you're doing. I've been following your little game since the beginning. I'm not stupid." Hermione panicked inside, yet kept her demeanor cool. No one was supposed to know, least of all a Slytherin slut who followed anything with a dick religiously, and with a tongue as loose as her tight clothes she donned. Once again Pansy broke the intense silence.
"I see you're plan. But let me tell you, you won't succeed. I will be dead before I let you hurt him."
"What 'plan'? I have no 'plan' to hurt anyone. Just what are you insinuating?" Hermione asked, perplexed at Pansy's sudden outburst.
"What plan? Don't play innocent with me, Granger! I see your mind. You want to steal Draco from me. That's why you're out here, bathing under a full moon. Don't think I don't know what it does. I happen to be quite an expert in love magic. I warning you. Draco's mine. You lay one filthy hand on him and you're dead, got it? Mudblood Slut?"
Hermione fumed, but remained aloof, something she learned from Draco. How dare she accuse her of casting a stupid love spell to steal Draco from her. It was outrageous, and mudblood slut! Who was she kidding? If anyone was a slut, Pansy was. Hermione stood, a menacing look flaming in her eyes.
"How dare you accuse me of bewitching Draco from you," Her voice was low and dripping with poison as she glowered over her, "I never have and never will sink so low that I have to cost a spell over some guy in order to catch his attention. Unlike you, I respect people's feelings and if want a guy, I will get him by my own means. Besides, you have no claim on Draco what so ever. And to be honest with you, he hates you with a passion, so it would very easy to steal him. You repulse him. So I'd stay away before he has to do something rash in order to get the point across to you. As for me, I would watch who you're calling a slut, honey. And who you threaten. I would be more than happy to kill you. So watch yourself, Parkingson and tread carefully in unknown waters. Your dealing in things you know nothing about. For your own good, I'd get out before you get hurt. 175 points from Slytherin, I'm sure they'll be thrilled to know you're the one who lost them the house cup, for accusing me of stealing Draco from you with Magic. I would rather use my body, than defile waste good magic. Plus a weeks worth of dentention with Filch for threatening me and calling me a slut. Now get out of here before I get angry."
Pansy scampered at Hermione's last words, not so much the fact that she was scared, but because of the power emanating from Her person. It was calm yet powerful and while she spoke, Pansy swore the air grew colder and the moon clouded over. Hermione watched Pansy leave, stumbling occasionally on her 4- inch heels. Her attention turned back to herself and noticed how weary she felt. Slipping on her shoes and cloak, she slowly worked her back to the castle.
Once in her room she crawled back into her bed, not even noticing the fact that she wasn't dripping wet. It didn't seem that important when she had to deal with Pansy's disruption. She was just about to fall asleep when she heard the distant howl of a wolf, werewolf probably, and the barking of a dog. After registering what it was exactly that she heard and the oddity of it, she jolted up. A werewolf and a dog, out on a full moon, together. Where did she know that from? A werewolf and a dog. Moony and Padfoot! Remus and Sirius! But, Sirius was dead, wasn't he? Hermione rushed over to her window and threw open her curtains, peering out into the darkness. Off in the distance, coming out of the Forbidden Forest were two four-legged animals. A werewolf and a dog. A distinctly familiar big, huge shaggy- haired dog. What the hell was going on?
* * *
Hermione sat at the waters edge for a long time, lost in her own thoughts. Occasionally rippling the water with her toe. She felt confused, she didn't know who she was anymore, buck-toothed bushy haired Hermione Granger, or supreme being incarnate, Aradia Magia? Granted she did change her appearance drastically, no longer awkward and unsure, she knew her body and how to use it. Yet despite her confidence she still felt little and unimportant, especially back at Hogwarts. She looked like Aradia, yet inside she felt like Hermione. So much had changed this past year. She didn't talk with Ron and Harry as much, but they hardly noticed anything other than each other. Ginny avoided her, probably because she now had competition at the most attractive girl at Hogwarts. Not that Hermione cared, Ginny never could keep a secret.
Then there was Draco Malfoy. Even he changed, dare she say they were friends? Out of all the shit thrown at her, Draco was the most intriguing. Did she like him? Sure, she slept with him, but he hurt her yet he seemed so sincerely sorry for it. Time, she needed more time to figure out everything. If only she could sit here by the lake, with the moon, forever. No one would hurt her. No one would expect her to be someone she's not. Nothing, just her, the moon and the water.
A weird sensation came over her, she wanted to be the water. That way no one would find her and she'd be able to be in peace. Moving very carefully, Hermione slid her foot into the water and focus her thoughts on the way the water felt. She submerged her leg in to her knee and nearly screamed. Her flesh was gone and in its place was a crystal blue liquid, matching the lake. Her leg was water, Shaking with anticipation, she slowly slid her other leg in and the same affect happened. She could hardly believe what was happening, she was become the water. Even though her legs were water, her body still felt like it was flesh. Concentrating on the rest of her body liquefying, she slid in to her waist, expecting a freezing rush, instead it was quite warm. She held her breath and submerged her head, eyes squeezed shut. Her entire body was water. No longer feeling the need to hold her breath, she exhaled and felt the air bubbles rise to the surface.
After a moment she opened her eyes and looked around. The water was incredibly clear, she could see the many colonies of merpeople way off in the middle of the lake. She drew a breath, only to find she didn't need it, water doesn't breathe. The rush was overwhelming on the freedom she had discovered, the knowledge she could gain, knowledge she would never find in all the books in the world.
She waited for a moment then dared to move, she could contort her body to any form she desired as water. She swam this way and that, a feeling of ultimate liberty enveloping her. Hermione explored the depths of the lake, finding some kappas, who were supposed to all have been removed from the lake after one attacked a student. The giant squid was resting in a cove on the far end of the lake, little air bubbles shooting from it's gills. Along with many other magical water beings, to which she never knew existed.
Hermione had lost all track of time under the water, but after awhile she decided she'd get back to the castle before morning. After one last race with a mermaid, she broke the surface of the lake, her head materialized in it's original form. She swam over to where she left her cloak, her mind piecing together what just happened. She had just fulfilled the next part of the myth, or at least made a start. It had said the one would be known by encountering the four elements, and if she didn't know better, she just encountered water. 'Two down, two to go.' She thought, smiling to herself.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Hermione froze. She had been so busy thinking about her escapade with water she didn't even notice the appearance of another. She looked up slowly to see Pansy Parkingson.
"You really should invest in an invisibility cloak if you're going to sneak out like this, Granger." Hermione tried to keep a calm and collected look on her face.
"What are you doing out of the castle this late, Parkingson"
"I should like to ask you the same thing."
"Ah, you forget, I'm the Head Girl. Therefore I suggest you keep your attitude in check and answer me." The two girls glared at each other for a moment before Pansy spoke,
"Don't think I don't know what you're doing. I've been following your little game since the beginning. I'm not stupid." Hermione panicked inside, yet kept her demeanor cool. No one was supposed to know, least of all a Slytherin slut who followed anything with a dick religiously, and with a tongue as loose as her tight clothes she donned. Once again Pansy broke the intense silence.
"I see you're plan. But let me tell you, you won't succeed. I will be dead before I let you hurt him."
"What 'plan'? I have no 'plan' to hurt anyone. Just what are you insinuating?" Hermione asked, perplexed at Pansy's sudden outburst.
"What plan? Don't play innocent with me, Granger! I see your mind. You want to steal Draco from me. That's why you're out here, bathing under a full moon. Don't think I don't know what it does. I happen to be quite an expert in love magic. I warning you. Draco's mine. You lay one filthy hand on him and you're dead, got it? Mudblood Slut?"
Hermione fumed, but remained aloof, something she learned from Draco. How dare she accuse her of casting a stupid love spell to steal Draco from her. It was outrageous, and mudblood slut! Who was she kidding? If anyone was a slut, Pansy was. Hermione stood, a menacing look flaming in her eyes.
"How dare you accuse me of bewitching Draco from you," Her voice was low and dripping with poison as she glowered over her, "I never have and never will sink so low that I have to cost a spell over some guy in order to catch his attention. Unlike you, I respect people's feelings and if want a guy, I will get him by my own means. Besides, you have no claim on Draco what so ever. And to be honest with you, he hates you with a passion, so it would very easy to steal him. You repulse him. So I'd stay away before he has to do something rash in order to get the point across to you. As for me, I would watch who you're calling a slut, honey. And who you threaten. I would be more than happy to kill you. So watch yourself, Parkingson and tread carefully in unknown waters. Your dealing in things you know nothing about. For your own good, I'd get out before you get hurt. 175 points from Slytherin, I'm sure they'll be thrilled to know you're the one who lost them the house cup, for accusing me of stealing Draco from you with Magic. I would rather use my body, than defile waste good magic. Plus a weeks worth of dentention with Filch for threatening me and calling me a slut. Now get out of here before I get angry."
Pansy scampered at Hermione's last words, not so much the fact that she was scared, but because of the power emanating from Her person. It was calm yet powerful and while she spoke, Pansy swore the air grew colder and the moon clouded over. Hermione watched Pansy leave, stumbling occasionally on her 4- inch heels. Her attention turned back to herself and noticed how weary she felt. Slipping on her shoes and cloak, she slowly worked her back to the castle.
Once in her room she crawled back into her bed, not even noticing the fact that she wasn't dripping wet. It didn't seem that important when she had to deal with Pansy's disruption. She was just about to fall asleep when she heard the distant howl of a wolf, werewolf probably, and the barking of a dog. After registering what it was exactly that she heard and the oddity of it, she jolted up. A werewolf and a dog, out on a full moon, together. Where did she know that from? A werewolf and a dog. Moony and Padfoot! Remus and Sirius! But, Sirius was dead, wasn't he? Hermione rushed over to her window and threw open her curtains, peering out into the darkness. Off in the distance, coming out of the Forbidden Forest were two four-legged animals. A werewolf and a dog. A distinctly familiar big, huge shaggy- haired dog. What the hell was going on?