Chapter 6

When Hermione turned round; she saw the lady and Merick staring at her. Hermione noticed the dark bags under the eyes of Merick and the stressed look on his face. Realising that she was staring straight at him, she withdrew her gaze and focused it on the woman. She too looked tired and worn out. Her hair was still in the same plaits, by now they had become considerably scruffy.

" Well, you would of course have to train to fight," Said the woman. " I am Magnolia"

Hermione was grateful that she could put a name to a face. The woman began to undo her plaits. The man now drew Hermiones attention to him by walking towards her.

" You are a very brave young girl. You are also extraordinary. You not only possess slayer power, but magick to aid you."

" I thought that you could not kill a magical creature, such as a vampire using magick"

" You are right you cannot. I will teach you how to fight not only vampires, but also other things such as demons. Your magick can help you to find information, or help you summon weapons near you. The list goes on."

Hermione was in shock. There was too much for her to take in. Her heart had not bet this fast since Harry disappeared at the Tri Wizard Tournament. Although she believed the people for some strange reason. It explained the dreams.

" What exactly is Slayer power?"

" Well the chosen one gains special powers allowing her to heal a lot faster and super strength. She can run faster, fight, it covers a large area. You will learn about it with your watcher."

" My watcher?" Hermione quizzed.

" Yes, the person who will be training you. In your case it will be me." The Merick said triumphantly.

" Ok two things. Do the Ministry of Magick council know? and how will you train me. I'm going to my friends house soon, and I live at Hogwarts."

Merick looked very anxious and at the same time excited. " Well the Ministry of Magick know nothing of the Watchers council, though we know all about the wizarding world. They do know of the existence of Vampires, and they send out those people who fight the dark side. Don't get me wrong they are good, but their power will be nothing to yours. Also the ministry do not know of how much the creatures you will be fighting, have spread. And as for Hogwarts, the demons etc will be naturally attracted too you, to try and kill you. Your friend Harry Potter, isn't it?" Hermione nodded. " Well he will be your cover up." Hermione did not like the sound of this. Merick noticing the look on Herrmiones face quickly interrupted her thoughts.

" What I mean is that well he seems to also attract unwanted attention, so people will believe that anything strange that happens is related to him, and with him being the saviour of the wizard world they will not blame him. Think about it. And as for your travelling to your friends- I will have to wait until you get back. When you are at Hogwarts I will meet you at a certain time, every day. You will of course have to sneak out, as I cannot see the school, and obviously you will need to sneak out at night to train and slay."

Hermione was thinking, too much. It did seem a good idea. Suddenly it hit her.

" So all I would have to do is explain it to my teachers and friends? And how do you know about Harry?" Merick quickly looked up.

Magnolia seeing the look on Merick's face new what he was thinking. " Hermione, you are not allowed to tell anyone, not even your closet friends. Not only would it endanger them but you. If anyone finds out who you are, any one who shouldn't, then you're in trouble."

" The reason we know so much about your friends is that we always do research on the girls background. And even though Harry and Ron are both reliable, you cannot risk it."

Hermione understood. She was still in shock yet excited. " So when do I begin?" Magnolia and Merick both looked at her in surprise. " You mean you are ok with everything, you don't want time to think and then end up eventually saying yes?" Merick rushed.

" No. I'm good."

" Well then now, if you want." Hermione nodded " Ok I will first of all require you to come here everyday, prompt at 10:30- what ever time. And I know" Merick said as he say Hermione about to interrupt " that you do have a social life, but for the first few days I need you to concentrate."

" Ok. So what do I need to know?"

Hermione had wished she had never asked. Merick had gone through all the theory of everything. Although she loved to learn, she had never had to learn so much in 3 hours, without a break. Walking back she just realised- Lupin was going to baby sit her. If she did anything suspicious he would consult Dumbledoor or Harry. She would have too be careful. After 30 minutes of walking home and getting lost, Hermione was so tired, as soon as she reached her bed she collapsed.

A woman, with night black hair, and a pale complexion wearing modern clothes, sat in a cell. Something seemed to be happening. People were running around shouting. That's when she saw it. A dark cloaked figure walked right through the rows of cells undetected, heading for the cell the lady was in. Withdrawing a knife, the figure easily opened the cell. The girl Hermione was guessing, a slayer, just stared at the figure as if waiting for it too stab her. She certainly put up no resistance. " Hello Faith." The figure said as it stabbed the girl. It turned to face Hermione. "NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!" Hermione screamed as the figure drew nearer.

Hermione woke up from another nightmare. The girl she had seen she imagined was the girl who she had taken over from. Hermione looked over at her clock, 7 am. Getting up Hermione showered then got dressed. Remembering that she had to train, she wore something comfortable and something that she could move in. The doorbell rang. Knowing that it was Lupin, she began to think of excuses of her to be absence.

Opening the door she saw Lupin standing there looking quite happy. " Hello Hermione." Hermione was slightly edgy so invited him in and they both sat in silence. " I was wondering Hermione. Could you show me around this delightful town?" Hermione now began to panic. " Sure, I'll just, just go...and get my" Hermione thought quickly " coat."

Running through into the Hallway she picked up the phone and pressed redial. " Hi, it's me Hermione. I can't come today. I have to show one of my ex-professors slash baby sitter round town." There was silence on the other end. " Hello?" The phone went dead.

Hermione slowly put down the phone, grabbed her coat then walked into the kitchen. " You ready?"

Hermione, after showing Lupin round the nice side of town, decided that she could not help but worry about her Watcher and his sister. After thinking for a while she decided to take Lupin on a tour of the slums, then ' loose' him and find the Magick Box. ' Yes that's what I'll do' Hermione thought too herself.

Walking through the same litter crowded streets Hermione tried to explain to Lupin, that to get a feel of Oxford, you have to see all of it. Lupin seemed to buy this. When nearing the magick box Hermione put her plan into action.

" Oh no" as on queue Lupin spun to look at Hermione. "I lost my purse, I must have dropped it a while ago. Could you find it for me please?" Hermione asked.

Lupin could not refuse, but was slightly relucatant. " Ok I'll be right back."

Smiling too herself, Hermione ran off to the Magick Box. Pushing at the door, her foot slipped and she fell right into the shop. What she saw took her by surprise.

Slowly getting up Hermione could not take her eyes off what she saw. Merick, talking to Magnolia via what looked liketwo cups and some stringThis made her laugh. Her laughter alerted the two, and they quickly turned too stare at her.

" Thought you'd come" Said Merick. " Too much curiosity. But it is a good thing, and a bad thing." Hermione could only smile.

" You really had me worried". In the short time Hermione had come to know the two, she had really found them friendly and loveable. " So that's why you slammed the receiver on me. Very clever"

Lupin who had been looking for the purse, had given up, and had trailed back to the spot where Hermione had been. Looking around he found her nowhere to see. He began to worry.

" Hermione." No reply. " HERMIONE?" A sense of panic rose inside Lupin. He began to run around in search of his missing student. While looking round he began to think of being back at Hogwarts with his best friend Sirius. Suddenly he spotted a bit of red, which looked a lot like Hermiones top. Slowly he approached the shop. He stood in front of it, and looked up at the name. ' Magick Box'. Laughing too himself he thought ' exactly the place Hermione would be'.

The doorbell above the door rang. Magnolia looked up.

" Looks like we have a customer" she said happily.

" Oh sorry madam I'm just here for Hermione." Magnolia and Merick looked at Hermione.

" OhHello Lupin. I'm sorry I got cold standing outside. These kind people here invited me in." Hermione lied, looking expressively at the two sat near her.

Hermione got her coat, and then walked to stand by Lupin. Thank you for your kindness", winking at them, she left.

Lupin's Pov

Hermione looks more than comfortable with these people, as if she had seen them before.

" Did you find my purse?" Hermione questioned me.

" No", I answered reserved. As soon as we left this creepy shop I was going to give the whole ' With Lord Voldemort returned, you can only trust certain people' lecture.

Lupin not only felt slightly angry, but still worried. If anything had happened too Hermione, he could not live with himself. He had not told her the entire truth as to why he was here. He had been assigned, by Dumbledoor to protect her, then to bring her back to school safely, but also to build up a sense of responsibility, as she was needed to help Harry to defeat Voldemort. She needed to be ready for what ever Voldemort threw at her; today she had shown that she had a certain lack of responsibility. Sirius had been told to do the same with Harry, Ron and the rest of the Weasleys. Lupin laughed to himself to think of Sirius running around after the Weasleys.

" Well are you coming?" He turned to Hermione, then forcefully pushed her out of the door.

Sighing, Lupin began his big lecture.

Hermiones Pov

How can he lecture me on responsibilities? Ok he doesn't know, but he should know that I'm a very respons- ok well maybe there were the one or two times when Harry, Ron and I had broken a couple of rules, but that was totally irrelevant- wasn't it?

On the way back all Hermione could do was think about the lecture.

Hmm, I have a big responsibility, probably even bigger than Harry's, yet although I am going to be a powerful fighter, Harry will always be the better wizard.

They walked the rest of the way home in silence.