Chapter 7

That night Hermione could not sleep. She kept thinking of how what she had to do, would affect her friendships, her schoolwork, and her life. Getting up and getting dressed, she began the long trek once again to the magick box. She needed some more answers. Answers about how every thing would affect her future life.

On the way she thought about her excuse to get away from Lupin. After racking her brains for ages, she got it. She would simply say that she was sleeping at her friend's house for 3 days, giving her chance to get into the swing of things. She could then sneak out at night and during the day say she's going to a summer muggle school, all without Lupin noticing. Having been lost in her thoughts she had not noticed that she had reached the shop. Entering the shop, she immediately rang the bell on the front desk.

The front desk bell rudely interrupted Merick who had been asleep. It appeared to him that Magnolia had already woken up and attended to the front desk. Merick recognised the voice of his slayer downstairs.

Hermione was talking to Magnolia downstairs when Merick came down. After a few minutes of talking Hermione stood up.

" So your telling me that slayers only live to be around 20. And that would on average give me 5 years. Great." It was all becoming a little too much. " When do we start the physical training?"

Merick was so pleased that the slayer was so eager to start training, but he was too old to physically train her. " Hermione I was called by the watchers council. They have assigned me to another job. You will be having a different watcher, I'm afraid. He will be arriving tomorrow, I was going to call you earlier but that professor seemed suspicious." Hermiones heart began to break, she really liked Merick. However she could see the point about Merick being too old. He would get hurt.

" What is his name?" Hermione was curious too know.

" It's, let me see...hmm...oh yes, a young man in his 30's called William"

Hermione liked that name, it was a very nice name... Snapping out of her thoughts about the name, she asked," Well could I still do some training with you tonight?"

" Yes we can." Said Merick chuckling.

That remainder of the night was spent training. Hermione was doing well, for a newbie. Not all of the training was fighting training; Merick had given her the slayers handbook. For the last hour, she sat and read her new book. Realising the time, which was now 8:30am, she rang up her home, hoping that Lupin would be there. He was.

" Hi Lupin, it's Hermione. I am phoning to tell you that I am staying at my friend's house. I haven't seen her for ages so I really couldn't wait. Sorry"

"It's ok, you should have called me though, I've been worrying like hell. You can't just keep wandering off like this! I mean it Hermione! It's dangerous..."

" I know, I'm sorry.... I won't do it again..."

Sighing, Lupin muttered, " Fine...Be careful!"

" I will, bye!" The phone was dead.

" Well I got that sorted out." Said Hermione with a smile on her face. Just as she said this, a man came through the door and walked up to Hermione. " HI, can I help you?"

" No" Replied the man chuckling " I am here to train a girl called Hermione Granger" Hermiones heart raced. So this was her new watcher.

" Well that would be me." Said Hermione confidently. The man just looked at her. Hermione looked at him. " Is there a problem?" Hermione asked.

" Well, actually there is" Hermione looked shocked at his remark. " You look too young. How old are you?"

Hermione thinking for a while replied " I am just gone fifteen". The man looked shocked now.

" You will be the youngest slayer ever. The others have always been late fifteen to seventeen. Like the current slayer, in Sunnydale"

Hermione was now too confused " I thought I was the current slayer" the man, who looked younger than he was, began to show deep worry lines in his head.

" Well you are. There are two slayers now. The other slayer is the most powerful we have ever seen. She has died twice, when she died the first time, even though it was for a few seconds, a new slayer was born. Kendra, when she died the line continued through her. Faith, killed herself in jail, so you are one of the two slayers." Hermione liked the sound of the other slayer. She seemed powerful and very determined, which is what she wanted to be.

Interrupting Hermiones thoughts the man spoke. " So my name is William, I am here to take over from Merick" His eyes looked to Merick, who was sat by the table. Merick did not look happy. He seemed jealous. " So I think that me and Merick need to talk" the man said. Merick led him to a room in the back of the shop. Hermione sat with Magnolia at the table.

Half an hour later the two men appeared. " Hermione you will train here, with Will. The room in the back has all the equipment that you will need. I am going to go back to the council in London. I'm needed immediately. Goodbye Hermione, and good luck." He then whispered in her ear. " You'll be a great slayer".

After Merick had gone, Will had comforted Hermione. " I am honestly not that bad. Well, actually I take that back, I've never taught a slayer before. So you see we are both new to this whole thing, so we can learn together." This made Hermione feel better. It even made her laugh.

" So, where are you staying.and, we have to sort out the arrangements again." Hermione added. The man quickly interrupted.

" Well I'm staying here, and we can follow the arrangements that you and Merick had made. Is that ok?" Hermione nodded. She really liked this guy.

The next few weeks Hermione spent training, dodging Lupin, and sleeping. It was harder than she thought it would be. She was constantly training, all day. But she was glad that she had Will as a watcher. He was very, nice and kind, but also very stubborn, which at times meant that him and Hermione would occasionally have moments where they were both disagreeing and nothing would be done. In the end they would both end up laughing. Hermione really enjoyed his company. They got along great when they weren't arguing over who was right.

It was 6 days before the holiday would end. Hermione had not actually staked a real vampire and she was supposed to be meeting up with her friends in Diagon Alley, and then staying at Ron's. After explaining the situation to Will, he decided to take on her first hunt, yet had to postpone it when Hermione had to go a day early. Hermione and Lupin travelled together on the same bus as Will, though Will was sat further back. The idea was that he would travel to London, and then Hermione would sneak him into Diagon Alley for the day, where he could, with the help of the invisibility potion Hermione had made outside of school, look around.

Lupin noted the fact that Hermione kept turning round. When Will hinted that Lupin was suspicious she stopped. When they all got off the bus, Hermione ran straight into the nearest shelter with Will, gave him the potion, then left to find Lupin. After drinking the potion Will followed Hermione closely.

Hermione was very worried, first of all, this was breaking the magical law, and second, it might not even work. She was now running with Lupin to get to the Leaky Cauldron, which was the gateway to one of the magical spots, where witches and wizards, from all over Britain can meet. After Lupin and Hermione had entered the pub, Lupin went straight through to the back, Hermione waited to be tapped by Will. She waited. Suddenly she felt something touch her arm. Then she walked through to the back and waited for Lupin to open the gateway. After he did that the bustling streets of Diagon alley cam alive to them. Shops sprawling with witches, and wizards, of all different shapes and sizes. Grabbing what she hoped was Will's hands she led him through Diagon Alley.

Then after walking through the over crowded streets, they entered Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. There sitting at a table Hermione saw her two best friends. As she ran up to them she gave them both a big hug. Hermione and Lupin sat down in the spare seats, next to Harry and Sirius. Hermione then grabbed another seat and put it next to the table. Everyone looked at her. " It's for my bag" replied Hermione. After she was sure Will had sat down, she dumped her bag on the floor next too the chair.