AN: Sorry for the long wait - had other projects going.

AN: Thanks to my reviewers. I'm using some of your ideas. Loved the idea of chatti Dragonsdaughter1!!

AN: Modified so everything happens in sixth year.

AN: Okay, what else is happening to our heroine?

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~*~ Ripple Effects ~*~

Of course, things did not go as smoothly as Hermione had expected. The effect of the charm on her was more subtle than merely modifying her nails and increasing her agility. She started developing more obviously … feline tendencies.

Slytherins who attempted to avenge Pansy learned that she was far more aggressive and impervious to threats than ever; and quick to strike back against perceived threats. There were several students using dictaquills for a few days after encounters with Hermione. The bones in the hands cracked easily when pressured.

Harry and Ron witnessed her forcing Mrs Norris to back away during one of their midnight strolls. A contest of stares, a battle of wills that Hermione won with aplomb. When they pointed it out she had been confused but not too worried.

"Maybe that is the trick to dealing with Mrs Norris - show no fear." She replied evenly. "Animals sense emotions, they can taste fear." Her face maintained its now usual mask-like composure.

At first they had crowed to everyone they met, as though they had been the one to cow the infallible Mrs Norris. That is until they found Hermione playing catch-the-charmed-mouse with Mrs Norris in a library study room. Mrs Norris and Hermione had settled their differences for a stalking partner interested in similar games.

"Hermione! What are you doing?!" Harry asked feeling slightly queasy.

His best friend had spent the last ten minutes stalking after a charmed mouse, herding it against the more obvious threat of Mrs Norris. Until she got tired of the game and pounced on the magicked toy.

Hermione merely stared up through cool, veiled eyes. "Testing my reflexes." She replied in patient, long suffering tones.

"But you enjoyed it." Harry was starting to feel sick at the memory. Voldemort was like that. He enjoyed using long forgotten dark magic to cause pain. But this was Hermione! She was his best friend.

"And why should that bother you?" Hermione responded evenly. "It is part of me. I like the game. Just like Mrs Norris."

"So does Voldemort!" Harry shouted. "He gets off on causing pain!"

The cool mask vanished as the catgirl hugged her worried friend.

"Don't worry Harry! It is like flying for you. You like playing seeker, don't you? The thrill of catching the snitch, the sense of victory?" Hermione spoke softly.

Harry nodded unsteadily.

"It is the same for me." The witch spoke with a faraway amber glow in her brown eyes. "A game of wits," She grinned. "Of cat and mouse."

Harry smiled, relieved at the explanation.

Unfortunately that wasn't the extent of changes Hermione Granger was undergoing.

Anyone with a Y-chromosome could not deny know-it-all bookworm was suddenly exuding sensuality and confidence. Being typical males several students made the mistake of hitting on the seventh year Gryffindor only to be shot down very publicly.

"You have got to be kidding! I am not interested in going out with a Quidditch-mad 'boy' with sweaty palms!" She told several male students who made the mistake of assuming she would be desperate for a boyfriend. "I want a man who actually thinks with what is between his ears!" Hermione added scornfully, pale brown eyes glowing almost amber.

Of course, being males many, including one Draco Malfoy, took it as a challenge.

He ended up spending Halloween in the Hospital Wing suffering from a bruised instep, a dislocated shoulder and a minor concussion when he tried to accost one Hermione Granger.

She used a judo over-the-shoulder throw on him. Her parents had insisted on her learning some Muggle means of self-defense, against "any nasty people who want to hurt you".

~*~*~*~*~*~

Severus Snape stared at the student sitting on the quarantine bed with her legs folded underneath her, stretching, arching, reaching for the ceiling her fingers laced together palms facing out. The thin cotton fabric of the hospital gown clung to the defined curves of her body. The Potion Master could see the hardened tips of her breasts. He fumed silently. She did not have the decency to use a robe or blanket to cover herself!

Hermione knew what he was thinking and she didn't care. She was utterly unselfconscious of her body. She had wanted his attention on her and now that she had it she was pleased. Old morals were ignored in the face of what she Was.

At first she had been confused by the conflicting messages and urges coursing through her body. It had taken one month of building sexual tension followed by confusion before the Gryffindor witch sought out information from several female staff and students. That and some midnight research in the Restricted Section helped Hermione comprehended what she was and the subconscious message she was putting out: I am queen. I am powerful, knowledgeable, and capable. Those who cannot defeat me are not worthy. Being inexperienced males her schoolmates had taken it as a challenge.

But Draco Malfoy was the last straw. Hermione was not going to roll over for any tom. Feline instincts shrieked at her to seduce the closest available male. Her intellectual side blended in human calculation to demand the most suitable male whose interests and abilities were on par with hers, a potential sire of her offspring with the best genes. Given the limited availability of suitable males her subconscious hit on what it perceived as the most suitable - Severus Snape.

Snape fumed at this display of feminine grace and spun on one leather-shod foot to leave the hospital ward.

His temper was near explosive point when he reached Poppy's office where the Mediwitch had called for an impromptu meeting.

"What is the meaning of … this?" The Slytherin wizard sneered with distaste. "I expect Miss Granger to be punished and here I find her in the Infirmary!"

Dumbledore's blue eyes were unexpected grave. That was enough to cut the ranting.

"What is it Albus?"

The Headmaster sighed and stroked his beard.

"I've come across some unexpected information that has grave implications on Miss Granger's current condition." He announced.

He paused expectantly as McGonogall wrung her hands torn between impatience and fear. But Snape refused to give in to the unspoken pressure to make inquiries. Finally the Headmaster sighed and began speaking.

"I have been observing Miss Granger for the past month. I'm afraid her body has changed in a more unexpected fashion."

"She's behaving like a cat in heat!" Snape sneered.

Blue eyes met black gravely. "Precisely."

"What?!" Both teachers screamed aghast and turned to the mediwitch.

"What is Albus talking about Poppy?" McGonogall demanded imperiously.

The mediwitch fussed tugging at her robes before she caved in.

"Miss Granger is literally experiencing periods of sexual ardor linked to her menstrual cycle." Poppy explained in a brisk fashion that did not alleviate her slight blush. "As Albus crudely put it she literally goes into heat. She said she did not notice anything drastically different during the summer, just a little more interest in boys but nothing that really caught her attention." She coughed discreetly. "That changed when she returned to Hogwarts."

"She spent an entire lunar cycle in a magical environment that activated with her coming-of-age." Albus explained bluntly.

"But Hermione just turned eighteen September 19. She's been moody since she arrived in September." McGonogall countered.

"You forget the timeturner." Dumbledore countered. "She added nearly four months to her age. And unlike most students when she started attending Hogwarts she was eleven, turning twelve; almost a year older than most of her year-mates. She's been eighteen since the start of her summer." Dumbledore sighed stroking his beard. "Ministry and Muggle laws consider eighteen as the age barrier. She is an adult by magical and Muggle custom. The magic that affected her must have recognized that and started the more dramatic changes once her sixth year ended."

Snape pursed thin lips frowning thoughtfully. "What does that mean? What is this magic that affects her?"

Dumbledore glanced at a mirror charmed to provide a view into the quarantine room. The other three followed his gaze to watch Hermione Granger prowl about the perimeter of the room flexing her hands against the lean muscles in her flanks.

"I observed Miss Granger's nocturnal walks. She spent a few nights in the Restricted Section alone. She managed to reach some sort of agreement with Mrs Norris. I'm afraid Mr Flitch's cat has a new friend." Blue eyes twinkled. "She easily heard and evaded you Severus. I am afraid you are losing your touch."

Snape hissed. "You let her enter the Restricted Section?!?"

Dumbledore spoke more solemnly. "We need to know what is happening. And Miss Granger is a very good researcher with a vested interest."

"And what did she find?" Poppy asked with interest.

"She found a minor mention of a group of Middle Eastern witches called chatti that acted like North American shamans practicing anthromorphism." Dumbledore answered. "It is generally a tradition of witches and passed down from mother to child."

"You aren't telling us everything Albus." Snape growled warningly.

The Headmaster sighed. "Chatti are werecats of Muggle Egyptian myth. In Old Wizarding Egypt they were priestess of a small select sub-sect of Bastet, the Egyptian patroness of women, cats, and children. It was an honor for a witch to be selected to serve Bastet, to be gifted with powerful wandless magic. Typically the tradition was passed down family lines. Chatti and their offspring tend to be extremely powerful with unusual talents.

"I talked to Bill Weasley. No one knows what happened to the Chatti; they were literally wiped out, every female and child, every root and clan. Most likely by some Dark Wizard who influenced the Pharaoh of the times. If there were any survivors they have been hiding for very good reason."

McGonogall frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Snape sighed with exasperation. "Weren't you listening to Albus? Chatti and their children have wandless magic. Surely you can think of several pureblood families including the Ministry who would love to control a child with such magic?"

"Oh. Ohh!" McGonogall blushed. She glanced at her colleagues. "So what do we do now?"

The Supreme Mugwump was stumped. "I don't know."

Poppy frowned. "I suppose we could ask Miss Granger."

"What do you mean?" McGonogall was confused. "What would she know?"

"It is her body undergoing the changes." Poppy pointed out practically. "She is the one experiencing the symptoms. I suggest we listen to a few to figure out what is happening and what to do about it."

~*~*~*~*~*~

TBC...

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AN: Okay, no smut. But I'm getting there!

Cheers!

Sarhea