Once again the disclaimer: I bow in awe of J.K. Rowling genius. All characters and things in the Harry Potter world are hers. Please do not sue me. I make no money and you would undoubted piss readers off if you delay in continuing the saga as we anxiously await your next book. I have cited other fan fiction articles which have inspired me to incorporate their ideas in this story as well. I encourage you to read them. Please read and review. Thanks~ Leyna
Chapter 2: Hermione's RequestIn a matter of a minute, Hermione quickly threw on her jeans and sweater. After splashing some water on her face, she ran a brush through her hair which was surprisingly still relaxed despite her two day stay in the infirmary. Her hair was in loose curls now, instead of the bushy, dry, kinky mane it used to be. She grabbed her hair clip and twisted in on the back of her head, feeling more studious and put together as she did so. No cloak in sight, she didn't waste time looking for it and with as 'humph' strode out of the infirmary into the hallway.
She always seemed to walk briskly and at a forty-five degree lean, always looked as if she was a woman with a mission. Or one who had a lot on her mind. She walked up toward the Headmaster's doorway which mostly was always sealed but left open for her, revealing the majestic stone steps that inevitably led up to the office of the great wizard, Albus Dumbledore. She was quiet, as she overheard the other Professors speculating about her predicament.
"It is totally unlike anything I have heard about Seeing gifts before, Albus," Minerva observed. "Premonitions are usually not daily, certainly not in dreams."
The Potions Master wore a look of grave concern on his face as well, and his lips pursed as he thought about the possibilities. Severus Snape was a man of restraint but seemed to radiate intensity with the subtlest of expressions. Reluctant to sit, he was prone to pacing when thinking, but generally could not do so in front of the Headmaster. "This seems entirely unlike Miss Granger, her strengths have always lied elsewhere. A witches' or wizards' abilities always somehow seem to fit with their psyche somehow. Hers is a too scientific mind for this…" he searched for the least insulting word "unsupported sub-magical field." His voice was silky, always emphasizing the 's' sounds. So Slytherin. His voice always captivated her. Hermione was surprise to hear the usually mean and venomous Professor almost compliment her intelligence when he always seemed to admonish her in front of her peers as an 'insufferable-know-it-all'. She smiled a bit at the irony of it.
"Regardless, perhaps there is more to Hermione we previously anticipated. She is a fine student, but if her abilities are true, which I suspect they quite are," Dumbledore added for the disbelieving audience, "this may present quite a challenge for her. But one I am confident she is up to. With the help of our staff of course." He stressed this indicating that the two Professors before him would have their parts. "Come in, Miss Granger," he said with a tone that hinted at his knowledge of her being there for several minutes already, looking at her through the doorway peering over the rims of his glasses and with a twinkle in his eye. Sometimes she felt he could read her mind. She sat in the only chair left between the two Professors and directly in front of the Headmaster.
All three stared at her intently awaiting her explanation. She began, "In June, after leaving Hogwarts for the summer I started feeling abit off. Electric, kind of… on edge." She stared off at a point on the wall as she recollected the events of the summer. "My mum thought I was having nightmares, because I kept waking up screaming. The next morning I got aletter from Harry telling me his scar hurt. I'm not usually the first person he tells about that sort of thing, and though we're friends I thought it alittle strange he'd write to me. A little too much of a coincidence."
And that was sleuthing nature of Hermione. Always suspicious, calculating, ever the detective.
"I knew the dream was about him in some way, but like many dreams it evaporates when I wake up. The harder I concentrate to retrieve the memory the more elusive it is. I went to the library and read up on Muggle dream interpretation where they had suggestions on how to go about remembering dreams and I tried some of the techniques listed. I carried a pen and paper wherever I went and left one at my bedside at night. Just the act of doing that alone helped my dreams to continue and become more vivid each night."
Snape's jaw was clenched to prevent a biting remark. Get on with it Granger.
"Can you tell us about your recurring dream?" Dumbledore quietly requested.
"Oh, Oh… y-yes, I'm sorry" she stammered as she apologized for her too detailed account. And she described the marshy forest the Death Eaters, Harry driving the dementors back and her being one the other side. She stopped the story short and omitted the part about her not having a wand. It seemed almost ordinary to discuss it now and she was bracing herself for Professor Snape's reaction to her account.
"Miss Granger this dream seems more apt to be one conjured by your mind to fulfill your Gryffindor need to play hero. Miss Granger saves the Boy Who Lived? Rich." Snape spat out. He made each phase sound contemptible.
Hermione let out an angry huff at that uncalled for comment.
"That's quite enough Severus, thank you." McGonagall cut him off. "I must say, Miss Granger, this seems like it could be ordinary, except for the thought that you seemed to share your vision with Mr. Potter in the hospital wing by merely touching him? Is that true?"
She nodded. "Yes, it is. I know is sounds ordinary but it doesn't feel ordinary. At first I wanted to have the dreams so that I could remember what was happening, in case something bad was going to happen to Harry. Then after I figured it out, I couldn't stop having them. I took sleeping pills but that didn't work. I really haven't had decent sleep in two months. Does that sound like wanting to be a hero?" She said with irritation and made an ugly look to Professor Snape. "You know me," she added defensively, forcing herself to address Snape. "I like proof, equations, solid explanations for what's happening to me but at the moment it's not there. To be honest, I'm actually pretty scared so instead of being chastised I'd really like some help."
Snape had his arms crossed and just looked at her. His expression was blank. It abruptly changed at the Headmaster's next statement.
"Excellent!" said the Headmaster with a grin. "Do you have something in mind?"
"Actually I do. Since I don't have good control of when my dreams come, and if they are really visions I'd like to develop more inner discipline. I was hoping to study meditation and…" she hesitated, "I think Occlumency would be quite useful." She tried not to wince as she waited for what she hoped would not be a negative response.
Snape was shocked. Oh no, he thought, not Granger, not one more student on the extra credit roll.
Before Snape good object, Dumbledore jumped to appoint him to the task. "Indeed. Severus, could you take on an additional student?" It was not a request, and he knew it.
"As you wish, Headmaster." Snape looked grim, dreadful— like he had just received detention for the summer. And he wrinkled his brow at Hermione Granger, studying her, as if to size her up.
"What about meditation, Professor Dumbledore? I heard there was an excellent school in a monastery near Beijing. Do you know anyone who might be able to teach me some of their methods? That school is far more disciplined than others."
Dumbledore smiled in admiration for the girl. "As always, you seem to have done a great deal of study on the matter Hermione." Gesturing to the Potions Master, "Unless I am mistaken, Professor Snape was a pupil there quite a few years ago. If he has no objection and no secret oaths to violate, the I think perhaps he can impart some of his knowledge there." Snape blanched a bit as his well-guarded secret was revealed without permission.
Minerva looked as shocked as Hermione. The transfiguration teacher worked at Hogwarts for 40 years and she never knew Severus had studied at that exclusive school of thought. Impressive.
He suppressed a look of smug satisfaction at their surprise. "Miss Granger, if you truly wish to apply yourself and commit your mind to the study of meditation… you will have to quiet it." Snape knew this was going to be difficult, Granger always seems in deep concentration and had a difficult time keeping any questions to herself. She always wanted to know more, and now. Damn she was impatient. He sighed, "Miss Granger, we will meet tomorrow morning at 10, and we will develop a schedule. We will use the Room of Requirement. I trust you know how to find it?"
She nodded, "Yes sir." He knew full well she did, as the DA meetings were held there last year.
Dumbledore closed. "Well then, now that we have that in order. Hermione I feel we still have a great deal more to talk about." He again regarded her over the brims of his glasses. "But it can wait, unless you have something else you wish to tell me."
Something else you wish to tell me was Dumbledore code for I know you haven't told me everything, and I'd prefer you tell me now. Ugh, she thought as the memory of the wandless magic came to mind. Too absurd. Not gonna mention it.
"No sir," she managed, not convincingly. Snape glared at her.
"Then I suggest you return to Madam Pomfrey's and take a sleeping potion so you can catch up on your rest." Sensing her next question as Hermione began to open her mouth, Dumbledore held up a hand and added "Harry is still here and you can have dinner together before he returns to the Weasley's. Thank you, Miss Granger. You know my door is always open."
She thanked Dumbledore and nodded to McGonagall and especially Professor Snape who was still glaring at her, but less so. And descended the stairs to the hallway. Harry was waiting for her and he escorted her back to the infirmary.
"Hermione, are you sure you're ok?" he asked with a hand on her back.
"Yeah, just exhausted." And with that she plopped on the bed and was out, sleeping in her clothes, legs hanging off the bed.
Harry pulled up her legs removed her shoes and pulled up the covers. She looked sweet sleeping there. She was like a sister to him, and he cared for her like family. She was getting older now, and had grown more beautiful and quite attractive. He admired her. She was so smart and clever, he wondered how he could have ever made it through five years of school with out her help.
*****
Minerva sighed, "I guess she'll have to stay until the school semester begins. I'll notify her parents."
"Hermione is correct, if too many people find out about this she could be in very grave danger. We must keep this between us." Dumbledore looked older. He was always weary for worrying about his students.
"Headmaster, are you certain we aren't making too much of this?" Snape asked with a voice of professional concern, but also hoping to be let off the hook. "She only had one dream in two months, surely…"
"It's not that serious?" Dumbledore supplied. "Severus, I do not believe for one moment that Miss Granger has only had one repetitious dream in two months. She may not even be fully aware of all that has occupied her young mind. Instinctively she has already been searching for clues to unravel this mystery. Once she has developed some of these new skills in meditation perhaps she will be willing to tell us more. But I will not pry it out of her against her will."
Snape felt the headmaster had seen right through him. The teacher had already been considering using Veritaserum on the girl in his sneaky Slytherin desire to know all, right now, instead of waiting. Great, now who's the impatient one, he lectured himself knowing full well he had just used the same adjective to describe Hermione.
McGonagall took a different approach. "Perhaps, we should ask for Potter's account on all of this."
"Let's meet with him before dinner." Snape left the Headmaster's office with a swish of his robes as he went in search of Harry Potter.