When Hermione's alarm clock began ringing the next morning, she
instantly picked it up and hurled it across the room. Now, from
cartoons we all realize this doesn't work. It just makes the alarm
clock ring shriller and louder and louder and louder until Hermione
finally realized she must get up.
She groaned out loud, recalling her dream. Less of a dream and more of
a visitation, she corrected herself. Warnings from Diana that she had
better get her act together or the grouchy goddess would get it
together for her.
"Get up, Ginny," said Hermione, shaking the sleeping redhead. "The
train leaves in an hour."
"Mghwhgh," moaned Ginny. Hermione sighed.
"Oh well," she shrugged. "I tried." She took a cursory shower and dressed in her robes, proudly pinning her Prefect badge onto her robe.
Glancing at the mirror, she recognized that Virginia Weasley was still sleeping. Hopping up on the mattress, Hermione began bouncing up and down.
"AH!" screamed Ginny. "WHAT IN THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?"
"Getting you up," answered Hermione cheerfully, doing a bit of a flip.
"I'm up, I'm up." answered Ginny, rubbing her eyes. "Now go away."
Happy to oblige, Hermione hopped downstairs to the kitchen to find a
tired looking Harry and Ron sitting at the kitchen table, holding
steaming mugs of tea.
Harry wished her a half-hearted good morning while Ron gaped at
her like a fish. "For Merlin's sake, say something," snapped
Molly as she slammed a plate of eggs on the table. Clearly, she
was not a morning person either.
"Err.you look nice this morning."
Fred snorted.
"Why are you here?" asked Hermione. "You don't have to go to Hogwarts.
Remember the whole thing were you left school?"
George sent her a pitying look. "And we thought you knew so much," he said wistfully. "We're going to try to buy out Zonko's. And if that fails well."
"I don't want to know," Hermione covered her ears and took a piece of toast from Mrs. Weasley.
"Let's just say.if he doesn't comply.there's going to be a scandal."
Fred grinned at Harry.
"A scandal of a SEXUAL nature," persisted George.
"You're very proud of this, aren't you?" asked Hermione, losing interest.
"They're going to take a picture of him in bed with a prostitute," interjected Harry. "They told us last night."
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. He'd probably distribute the pictures as Christmas newsletters with a cigar." Hermione plopped down in a chair.
Ginny began walking feebly down the stairs. "Good morning, GINNY!"
exclaimed Hermione.
"Don't talk so loud," moaned Ginny. She squinted at the light. "This is too bright.its too early.vacation was too short."
"Just think," said Hermione dreamily. "This time tomorrow we'll be getting ready for our first class.tomorrow night we could be doing homework."
"You're sick Hermione, you really are." Harry gave her the once-over
and took a swing of his orange juice. "Excited about school.what's
wrong with you?"
Hermione opened her mouth, about to make a remark about selling her
soul when Ginny interrupted her. "Don't bother to ask. She'll just
make some twisted remark about selling her soul in exchange for
unlimited power."
Fred laughed. "A sense of humor.somewhat."
Opening her eyes a bit, Ginny turned to her brother. "Did you two do your Defense Against the Dark Arts homework yet?"
"Finished it last night," beamed Ron. "We were up so late.it took
forever."
Ginny wrinkled her nose. "You guys are disgusting. I hope I don't have that assignment next year."
Ron and Harry exchanged looks. It was only an essay.
"Hurry up!" hollered Mrs. Weasley. "We're leaving in fifteen minutes."
"I haven't even packed yet," whispered Harry to Ron. Ron nodded.
"Likewise." The two got up and tramped upstairs, leaving Hermione and
Ginny with the twins, as Mrs. Weasley went to go hunt her car keys
The time passed quickly as Hermione ate some waffles and sipped her
own tea. Fifteen minutes later, a somewhat disheveled Potter and Ron
descended the stairs.
"Ready to leave?" asked Mrs. Weasley as she found her keys. She
ushered her children and guests into the Ministry car and proceeded to
drive to the station.
The journey to platform 9 and three quarters was uneventful, except
for when the approached the barrier.
"Hello, mistress," proclaimed Dementia, leaning on the barrier. "I
have been waiting for you."
Mrs. Weasley shot Hermione a puzzled look. "Do I know you?" she
inquired.
Hermione gave a nervous laugh. "She means me. Dementia's foreign.she
often says thing she doesn't mean, right?" She patted her creature on
the shoulder.
"I'm terribly sorry," apologized Dementia. She turned to Hermione.
"Have I said something I oughtn't?" she whispered loudly.
"No, nothing," sighed Hermione, She glanced at the clock. "Why don't
you guys get a spot on the train and Dementia and I will join you in a
moment?"
"Sure," said Ron. He elbowed Harry, who was openly gaping at the
"Israeli" girl. Ron led him away. "Ginny? Coming?"
Ginny shot Dementia a last look of disgust as her brother led her
away.
Mrs. Weasley shrugged. "Well then, have a good year darlings. See you
at Christmas!" She turned and left without another word to Hermione
and her friend.
"I'm going to go through the barrier now." Hermione pointed to it. "I
don't think you can pass through without getting in trouble. There'
some magical protection charm on it to prevent outsiders from
entering.I'll summon you soon. Meet me in the compartment in fifteen
minutes?"
Dementia nodded. "I will be there." Hermione smiled and passed through
the barrier.
Lugging her trunk, she entered the train with her other classmates and
sought the two other members of her trio. Hermione sunk down in the
plush seats and reached for her book.
"Hermione, could you check this?" asked Ron suddenly, pulling a piece
of parchment out of his trunk.
"Yeah, mine too?" asked Harry, doing the same as he began to eye
Lavender Brown critically. She shot him a flirtatious smile and
beckoned to him.
"I'd better go with him," said Ron urgently. "You know.in case she
pressures him into engaging in risky behaviors.or something."
Left alone, Hermione shrugged. Left alone with the homework papers.
Alone in the corner while the Boy Who Lived flirted with the Slut That
Shouldn't. Hermione furrowed her brow furiously.
She began to realize it wasn't fair. Here she was, gifted with
ultimate power. The strongest witch in Britain, sitting alone in a
train compartment with nothing but grammatically incorrect
Transfiguration essays.
Hermione suddenly found herself in the same predicament as any mass
murderer has been in-yes, she had ultimate power. Yes, she could do
whatever she wanted. But no one liked her more for it. Power wasn't
helping her get her way.
"Or maybe it will," she thought mischievously. Closing her eyes
briefly, she imagined Dementia. Whispering a quiet Greek chant, she
opened her eyes and saw the door to her compartment swing open.
"Mistress!" cried Dementia, elated to see Hermione. Apparently, she did not recall that she had seen the girl only a few minutes ago.
It's wonderful to have something that lives just to please you, thought Hermione. "Dementia, you shouldn't call me that in public," she said kindly after a moment.
"What will Mistress have me call her?" asked Dementia.
"Whatever you want. But no titles-no Great Mistress.nothing like
that."
Dementia shook her head. "You are not Great Mistress. She would not
like that. You are a holy lady." She smiled adoringly. "You are the
saint of my kind."
"Lovely," said Hermione, imagining an army of Dementias worshiping a Hermione icon.
"I shall call you that," declared Dementia. She smiled. "If I am to be a Hebrew girl, I shall give you Hebrew name. Hedsa. It's meaning is Voice of God."
She gazed upon Hermione intently. "That is what you are to me. Hedsa.
Through you, I hear my Goddess speak."
"Then I want you to do something for me," whispered Hermione. She
pointed to Harry, who was shamelessly flirting with Lavender. "Ignore
him. Embarrass him in front of his friends. Make him feel inferior."
"I will," said Dementia. Getting up, she walked up towards Harry.
"Dementia?" he exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
Dementia appeared confused. "Do I know you?"
Lavender's mouth dropped open. Even Ron gaped at Dementia. Everyone
knew Harry Potter-and when they met him, they never forgot him.
Harry laughed nervously. This hadn't happened in many years. "Harry
Potter? Remember? We met when we were eating ice cream that time in
Diagon Alley? I complimented your name?" He got no reaction. "You ARE
Hermione's friend, correct?"
"Hedsa?" called Dementia. "Who is this boy?"
"Which one?" called back Hermione, giggling inside. Oh, this was fun.
"He has dark hair, glasses and some kind of scar."
"Oh, that's Harry," said Hermione, appearing next to Dementia. "Don't you remember him?"
"No, I'm afraid I do not."
You must go now, whispered Hermione to her. "I must go now," declared Dementia. She turned to Hermione and bowed her head. "Yours, Hedsa."
For the love of Diana, don't apparate out of here, begged Hermione
wordlessly. Dementia heeded this unspoken plea and walked out the
door.
"Interesting girl," commented Lavender. "Is she foreign?"
"Yes, she's from Israel."
"How could you not remind her of me?" said Harry, clearly distraught.
"Why didn't you mention me to her?"
Hermione looked from him to Ron, who was also staring at her angrily.
"Hermione, you knew he liked her," he declared. "How could you do
this?"
"How could I do this?" asked Hermione, her voice deathly low. "Do what, exactly?" she hissed. "I have better things to discuss than Harry Potter's infatuation with her. Despite what you think, I do have a life outside of school. And even if I had purposely not mentioned you, I have every reason to." Hermione's voice was rising and she fought to keep it from going shrill. "Look back to my chair, Ron. What do you see?"
"Our homework."
"Exactly. Do you see my advanced Arithmancy homework? Do you see my
Ancient Runes report? How about university Transfiguration? No! I gave
up my own time to help you. And I shouldn't. I shouldn't do these
things for you but I do!" Her voice began to shriek. I can't stop now,
she told herself.
"You guys treat me...like a bastard at a family reunion. Like a stray dog that you occasionally throw a bone to. And do I deserve this?" Hermione's eyes blazed as she once more saw the essays on her chair. "No. I do not."
She would have kept going except her chair suddenly caught fire. Shocked, she took a gasp. Her classmates gaped at her as she stared at the flaming chair. I just looked there, she protested to herself. I just destroyed it.without even meaning to. Shaking her head, she stormed out of the compartment.
She took care not to slam the door.
instantly picked it up and hurled it across the room. Now, from
cartoons we all realize this doesn't work. It just makes the alarm
clock ring shriller and louder and louder and louder until Hermione
finally realized she must get up.
She groaned out loud, recalling her dream. Less of a dream and more of
a visitation, she corrected herself. Warnings from Diana that she had
better get her act together or the grouchy goddess would get it
together for her.
"Get up, Ginny," said Hermione, shaking the sleeping redhead. "The
train leaves in an hour."
"Mghwhgh," moaned Ginny. Hermione sighed.
"Oh well," she shrugged. "I tried." She took a cursory shower and dressed in her robes, proudly pinning her Prefect badge onto her robe.
Glancing at the mirror, she recognized that Virginia Weasley was still sleeping. Hopping up on the mattress, Hermione began bouncing up and down.
"AH!" screamed Ginny. "WHAT IN THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?"
"Getting you up," answered Hermione cheerfully, doing a bit of a flip.
"I'm up, I'm up." answered Ginny, rubbing her eyes. "Now go away."
Happy to oblige, Hermione hopped downstairs to the kitchen to find a
tired looking Harry and Ron sitting at the kitchen table, holding
steaming mugs of tea.
Harry wished her a half-hearted good morning while Ron gaped at
her like a fish. "For Merlin's sake, say something," snapped
Molly as she slammed a plate of eggs on the table. Clearly, she
was not a morning person either.
"Err.you look nice this morning."
Fred snorted.
"Why are you here?" asked Hermione. "You don't have to go to Hogwarts.
Remember the whole thing were you left school?"
George sent her a pitying look. "And we thought you knew so much," he said wistfully. "We're going to try to buy out Zonko's. And if that fails well."
"I don't want to know," Hermione covered her ears and took a piece of toast from Mrs. Weasley.
"Let's just say.if he doesn't comply.there's going to be a scandal."
Fred grinned at Harry.
"A scandal of a SEXUAL nature," persisted George.
"You're very proud of this, aren't you?" asked Hermione, losing interest.
"They're going to take a picture of him in bed with a prostitute," interjected Harry. "They told us last night."
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. He'd probably distribute the pictures as Christmas newsletters with a cigar." Hermione plopped down in a chair.
Ginny began walking feebly down the stairs. "Good morning, GINNY!"
exclaimed Hermione.
"Don't talk so loud," moaned Ginny. She squinted at the light. "This is too bright.its too early.vacation was too short."
"Just think," said Hermione dreamily. "This time tomorrow we'll be getting ready for our first class.tomorrow night we could be doing homework."
"You're sick Hermione, you really are." Harry gave her the once-over
and took a swing of his orange juice. "Excited about school.what's
wrong with you?"
Hermione opened her mouth, about to make a remark about selling her
soul when Ginny interrupted her. "Don't bother to ask. She'll just
make some twisted remark about selling her soul in exchange for
unlimited power."
Fred laughed. "A sense of humor.somewhat."
Opening her eyes a bit, Ginny turned to her brother. "Did you two do your Defense Against the Dark Arts homework yet?"
"Finished it last night," beamed Ron. "We were up so late.it took
forever."
Ginny wrinkled her nose. "You guys are disgusting. I hope I don't have that assignment next year."
Ron and Harry exchanged looks. It was only an essay.
"Hurry up!" hollered Mrs. Weasley. "We're leaving in fifteen minutes."
"I haven't even packed yet," whispered Harry to Ron. Ron nodded.
"Likewise." The two got up and tramped upstairs, leaving Hermione and
Ginny with the twins, as Mrs. Weasley went to go hunt her car keys
The time passed quickly as Hermione ate some waffles and sipped her
own tea. Fifteen minutes later, a somewhat disheveled Potter and Ron
descended the stairs.
"Ready to leave?" asked Mrs. Weasley as she found her keys. She
ushered her children and guests into the Ministry car and proceeded to
drive to the station.
The journey to platform 9 and three quarters was uneventful, except
for when the approached the barrier.
"Hello, mistress," proclaimed Dementia, leaning on the barrier. "I
have been waiting for you."
Mrs. Weasley shot Hermione a puzzled look. "Do I know you?" she
inquired.
Hermione gave a nervous laugh. "She means me. Dementia's foreign.she
often says thing she doesn't mean, right?" She patted her creature on
the shoulder.
"I'm terribly sorry," apologized Dementia. She turned to Hermione.
"Have I said something I oughtn't?" she whispered loudly.
"No, nothing," sighed Hermione, She glanced at the clock. "Why don't
you guys get a spot on the train and Dementia and I will join you in a
moment?"
"Sure," said Ron. He elbowed Harry, who was openly gaping at the
"Israeli" girl. Ron led him away. "Ginny? Coming?"
Ginny shot Dementia a last look of disgust as her brother led her
away.
Mrs. Weasley shrugged. "Well then, have a good year darlings. See you
at Christmas!" She turned and left without another word to Hermione
and her friend.
"I'm going to go through the barrier now." Hermione pointed to it. "I
don't think you can pass through without getting in trouble. There'
some magical protection charm on it to prevent outsiders from
entering.I'll summon you soon. Meet me in the compartment in fifteen
minutes?"
Dementia nodded. "I will be there." Hermione smiled and passed through
the barrier.
Lugging her trunk, she entered the train with her other classmates and
sought the two other members of her trio. Hermione sunk down in the
plush seats and reached for her book.
"Hermione, could you check this?" asked Ron suddenly, pulling a piece
of parchment out of his trunk.
"Yeah, mine too?" asked Harry, doing the same as he began to eye
Lavender Brown critically. She shot him a flirtatious smile and
beckoned to him.
"I'd better go with him," said Ron urgently. "You know.in case she
pressures him into engaging in risky behaviors.or something."
Left alone, Hermione shrugged. Left alone with the homework papers.
Alone in the corner while the Boy Who Lived flirted with the Slut That
Shouldn't. Hermione furrowed her brow furiously.
She began to realize it wasn't fair. Here she was, gifted with
ultimate power. The strongest witch in Britain, sitting alone in a
train compartment with nothing but grammatically incorrect
Transfiguration essays.
Hermione suddenly found herself in the same predicament as any mass
murderer has been in-yes, she had ultimate power. Yes, she could do
whatever she wanted. But no one liked her more for it. Power wasn't
helping her get her way.
"Or maybe it will," she thought mischievously. Closing her eyes
briefly, she imagined Dementia. Whispering a quiet Greek chant, she
opened her eyes and saw the door to her compartment swing open.
"Mistress!" cried Dementia, elated to see Hermione. Apparently, she did not recall that she had seen the girl only a few minutes ago.
It's wonderful to have something that lives just to please you, thought Hermione. "Dementia, you shouldn't call me that in public," she said kindly after a moment.
"What will Mistress have me call her?" asked Dementia.
"Whatever you want. But no titles-no Great Mistress.nothing like
that."
Dementia shook her head. "You are not Great Mistress. She would not
like that. You are a holy lady." She smiled adoringly. "You are the
saint of my kind."
"Lovely," said Hermione, imagining an army of Dementias worshiping a Hermione icon.
"I shall call you that," declared Dementia. She smiled. "If I am to be a Hebrew girl, I shall give you Hebrew name. Hedsa. It's meaning is Voice of God."
She gazed upon Hermione intently. "That is what you are to me. Hedsa.
Through you, I hear my Goddess speak."
"Then I want you to do something for me," whispered Hermione. She
pointed to Harry, who was shamelessly flirting with Lavender. "Ignore
him. Embarrass him in front of his friends. Make him feel inferior."
"I will," said Dementia. Getting up, she walked up towards Harry.
"Dementia?" he exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
Dementia appeared confused. "Do I know you?"
Lavender's mouth dropped open. Even Ron gaped at Dementia. Everyone
knew Harry Potter-and when they met him, they never forgot him.
Harry laughed nervously. This hadn't happened in many years. "Harry
Potter? Remember? We met when we were eating ice cream that time in
Diagon Alley? I complimented your name?" He got no reaction. "You ARE
Hermione's friend, correct?"
"Hedsa?" called Dementia. "Who is this boy?"
"Which one?" called back Hermione, giggling inside. Oh, this was fun.
"He has dark hair, glasses and some kind of scar."
"Oh, that's Harry," said Hermione, appearing next to Dementia. "Don't you remember him?"
"No, I'm afraid I do not."
You must go now, whispered Hermione to her. "I must go now," declared Dementia. She turned to Hermione and bowed her head. "Yours, Hedsa."
For the love of Diana, don't apparate out of here, begged Hermione
wordlessly. Dementia heeded this unspoken plea and walked out the
door.
"Interesting girl," commented Lavender. "Is she foreign?"
"Yes, she's from Israel."
"How could you not remind her of me?" said Harry, clearly distraught.
"Why didn't you mention me to her?"
Hermione looked from him to Ron, who was also staring at her angrily.
"Hermione, you knew he liked her," he declared. "How could you do
this?"
"How could I do this?" asked Hermione, her voice deathly low. "Do what, exactly?" she hissed. "I have better things to discuss than Harry Potter's infatuation with her. Despite what you think, I do have a life outside of school. And even if I had purposely not mentioned you, I have every reason to." Hermione's voice was rising and she fought to keep it from going shrill. "Look back to my chair, Ron. What do you see?"
"Our homework."
"Exactly. Do you see my advanced Arithmancy homework? Do you see my
Ancient Runes report? How about university Transfiguration? No! I gave
up my own time to help you. And I shouldn't. I shouldn't do these
things for you but I do!" Her voice began to shriek. I can't stop now,
she told herself.
"You guys treat me...like a bastard at a family reunion. Like a stray dog that you occasionally throw a bone to. And do I deserve this?" Hermione's eyes blazed as she once more saw the essays on her chair. "No. I do not."
She would have kept going except her chair suddenly caught fire. Shocked, she took a gasp. Her classmates gaped at her as she stared at the flaming chair. I just looked there, she protested to herself. I just destroyed it.without even meaning to. Shaking her head, she stormed out of the compartment.
She took care not to slam the door.