Hermioen the Vampire Slayer

Chapter 4

Hermione walked down the litter-strewn streets. Empty MacDonald's wrappers and sweet packets swirling at her feet. However much Hermione tried to rationalise that she had been through worse things than this, she couldn't help but look over her shoulder constantly. Every sound, even the tiniest made her jump. Voldemort she could cope with, the urban decay surrounding her she could not. She saw an old homeless man sitting in an alleyway, the stench of vodka surrounding him. From that point, Hermione sped up, to the point of running.

A great relief washed over her as she stepped into the Magick box. The smell of burning incense overpowered her. Looking around, she saw a middle aged woman, maybe younger but her face seemed to look too old to belong to the rest of her. She had her hair in a bun, with two plaits down the side of her angst-ridden face. Bookcases creaking with the weight of the heavy volumes, which were stored upon them. Slowly she began to walk forward to where the woman sat at an old wooden desk.

" Hello" said Hermione shyly.

" Yes dear" replied the woman expressing the worry lines on her face.

" Well...I was wondering if you had any books on dreams. I am from Hogwarts. Hermione Granger..." She waited for a response, but the lady seemed totally confused.

" I beg your pardon. Hogwarts?"

" You don't know about Hogwarts?" Hermiones face faltered a little. " Hogwarts.... you know? The school?"

" No sorry dear... I know of no school called Hogwarts." Her perplexed face turned to another person in the store. Only then did Hermione realise the man. He had a small round face, with a stressed, wrinkled look.

" Well that's not important anyway. I was wondering if I could look at some books about dreams, or anything related." Hermione tried to act cool. How did these people, who owned a magick store, not know about Hogwarts?

" Yes we do, over there." After looking for a while and selecting two old rustic looking books, Hermione went back to the counter to where the woman and man sat. " Hi again. I want to buy these books" She pulled out 5 galleons, assuming they would want wizard money.

" That will be.... £6 please?"

" I beg your pardon? £6?" Hermione looked to her hands, where she had 7 galleons. Just then she realised...this was a muggle shop. She had heard of these. Luckily she had her holiday money from her grandparents. She was going to change it at Gringots when she visited Diagon Alley.

She handed over the £6, just as she pulled her hand away, the woman's hand grabbed hers.

" Your hands dear, they show great worry, you do not sleep well at night, you dream of great, many dangers, I believe."

Hermione surprised at the lady's remark said yes. " How do you know this? I know I've just bought a book on dreams but..." She wasn't one to believe in divination or anything of the likes.

" Hmm not only do you not sleep, you are in grave danger, or your friends are. You feel deeply about your friends and they return this love...yet.....I see that you will all go through a hard time...You will in the end pull through" Hermione looked from the woman to the man.

" O...k. You're not going to charge are you?" Hermione asked a little worried. The lady gave her a serious look, scoffing, Hermione said, " I have to go..." Pulling her hand away, she walked to the door and out.

Hermione ran out of the empty store. She kept running, back through the litter- strewn streets. The people, most dressed in baggy tatty clothes, looked at her as if she were a alien too them. She was. She was the innocent girl from the average, quiet family; they were the not so innocent people from the rough end of town. Just as she thought she was out, an old man, smelling strongly of whisky, came up to her, shouting and screaming.

" You are her, the chosen one, I've seen you in my dreams, you fight those people, then you kill them, it's a sign, IT'S A SIGN", he shouted, people began to stare. Maybe she wasn't the innocent girl but a killer. From what people could hear and see, Hermione wasn't surprised.

" I'm sorry I don't know what you're talking about? Now please leave me alone?" Hermione pleaded before turning into a run. Her feet could only carry her to the end of the street. It seemed that she was running forever, the man close behind her. Suddenly she saw the crossing where she had crossed the road on the way there. Without looking she sprinted across the road, this was a mistake.

A car hit into her side, with great impact. Hermione was immediately thrown over and further into the centre of the road. She banged her head against the hard, concrete floor. Cutting herself on some wire that was protruding from a nearby island post, she rolled along the road and onto the side of the path. The man when she managed to lift her head, had disappeared.

Suddenly she felt an urge of strength. She lifted herself to the ground. She only jus managed to walk. Every step filled her with more pain. She slowly managed to walk home. It had taken her 45 minutes.

When she reached her destination, she rushed into the kitchen, and then headed in the direction of the freezer. Pulling out some ice that was ready made she rapped it in a tea towel, and pressed it against her elbow where blood was dripping freely from her. At first it stung but the pain, engulfing her body slowly began to subside as she thought about the recent days events.

Was it all connected?

Cyas Sassy. xxxxxx