Well… I just wanted to say thanks for the reviews. I just need 8-10 more, then I have 100. Woo hoo. So anyway, enjoy! It's taken a while cause I had to re-write the next three chapters over again, cause I didn't like them.

Explanations

Hermione lay in bed, dreaming. Her face was covered in cold sweat. She kept tossing and turning.

" Sir…she killed the Brugens, on the train. Well…….she killed one, the other 5 survived. Shall I send them for her now?"

" No", the voice originated from the familiar figure of a man sat in front of a fire, his face out of view, " Give her a break - she'll need it".

Hermione woke up with a start. "God….don't these things ever stop?" She looked over to her clock. "SHIT!" The time was 10:50. She was late. She had already missed potions.

Showering quickly, she got dressed. She looked in the mirror at her school uniform. After leaving her hair down, and putting in her big silver hoops, she made a few adjustments to her uniform. She pulled out her shirt, un-did the top button, and loosened her tie. Then she 'conveniently' forgot her jumper, and rolled up her skirt a bit. She liked the school pleated skirt. She began to think whether or not she should leave her robes.

"What the hell... they'll only make me come back for them." Running quickly to the common room, she abandoned her robes. As she left the common room, the Fat Lady looked appalled at her appearance.

Hermione realised then that she had forgotten her bag. Quickly before the portrait closed she dived back in, then ran up to her dorm. On her bed was a black shoulder bag, with Gucci written on the front flap. Grabbing it she left for counselling.

It was now 11:05. She was already 5 minutes late. Hermione broke into a steady run up to the fifth floor. Suddenly she stopped.

'Dumbledore introduced Sirius at the opening feast, as himself…so why does he need to become a dog?' Hermione pondered this for a bit.

Her thoughts were soon interrupted - the sound of scraping coming towards her brought her back to reality. She looked around to find where the strange noise was coming from. Coming up the stairs was a very pissed off Peeves dragging something with him. He noticed Hermione, but surprisingly ignored her, and continued mumbling to himself.

He didn't look too happy; in fact, he looked upset. "What's up with you?" Hermione asked, bothered by the poltergeist's uncharacteristic behaviour. Peeves looked shocked that she had spoken to him. His usual mischievous grin and smirk had both been replaced by a frown.

"That Bloody Baron……He's made me carry this all the way up to the Divination tower, just cause I annoyed a Slytherin. He didn't really seem to mind when it was a Hufflepuff." Peeves began to look sulky. Hermione looked to the thing he had been dragging. It was a huge wooden box.

"What's in it?" Hermione asked, trying not to sound too interested.

"Dunno….he wouldn't say. Just said it was 'official school business'."

Hermione grinned. "If I carry it up to the tower for you, will you do me a favour?" Peeves looked up from the box.

"Sure….I don't usually help people....but considering you are willing to carry this up, I'll help. You do realise you can't use magic, right?" Hermione nodded.

" Well….. I don't want anything now. But I might do in the future. So whenever I need your help, just once, could ya help me?"

Peeves thought on this for a moment. "It will of course probably involve pulling off some majorly big prank on someone," Hermione added helpfully, while brushing hair of her face.

He seemed convinced and nodded his head. " Well...OK then. The box goes to the attics. Just go past the counselling classroom, turn right at the end of the corridor and it's up some small steps." With that, he vanished.

Hermione sighed as she picked up the box. She walked slightly slower to her next class, carrying the box effortlessly.

Eventually she reached the counselling corridor. Smiling, she walked to the end, then turned right. She couldn't believe she'd never noticed the stairs before. Silently and stealthily she crept up. The stairs were made of old, rotten wood. They looked slightly charred, and had huge gashes cut in them. As she climbed they creaked. Cautiously she ascended, and was eventually engulfed by the darkness.

Nothing up there was visible. Hermione's eyes rapidly adjusted to the dark. She could see just fine.

'Well, well… being a slayer has its advantages.'

The attic to anyone else would look like pitch black. To Hermione it looked magnificent. It was huge. Wooden beams supported the roof which was flat except for the edges where it slanted.

( e.g. )

Huge dusty boxes on top of each other, containing anything she could think of. Gold-rimmed mirrors, golden ornaments all scattered around the room. Hermione smiled. From one corner a small ray of light was visible. She approached it carefully.

In one corner was a small window, covered with dust. Hermione wiped away some of the dust. Only then did she notice, from the silver watch on her wrist that she was 20 minutes late for counselling. Quickly she ran to the ladders then down.

Luckily the classroom was only a few seconds away. Grabbing her bag that she had left at the bottom of the stairs, she ran the distance to her classroom, and peered through the glass window in the door. Giles was talking to a group of people, the rest were chatting normally, except Malfoy, who was sat alone.

Hermione opened the door as quietly as possible, hoping that Giles wouldn't notice. He didn't. She slipped in, closed the door and, using the students on the back row as a shield, ran to her seat.

Malfoy smirked as he saw Hermione crawling along the floor, looking to the front, a piece of hair dangling in her face.

Hermione reached her seat. "Where have you been? Surely Little Miss Perfect didn't sleep in?" Hermione, now sat in her seat, looked at Malfoy smiling.

"Miss me?" She didn't wait for an answer. "What are we doing? And has he taken the register? I hope he didn't notice I wasn't here."

Malfoy watched as Hermione pulled her books out of her bag. "Everybody noticed. You didn't turn up for Potions either. Snape blew his lid. Where have you been?"

"Oh God….Snape's gonna kill me! I was….. I slept in. Then I helped someone out with something. Anyway... I'll tell the Prof I was….erm…." Hermione bit her lip, and frowned.

"Say that you were…… in the infirmary." Hermione looked confused at him.

"Why would you help me? You hate me. Aren't I the stupid, filthy little mudblood?" Draco looked at her, exasperated.

"I like the new Hermione….well…..not really, but it's an improvement on the old one. Anyway…..you're not that bad. Just Potter and Weasley." Hermione blushed and looked away. Unfortunately Ron and Harry, who had been some of the people talking to Giles, saw her. Both waved indicating for her to come over. Hermione shook her head.

Hermione ducked under Draco's desk, as Giles turned to see what they were doing. Although she was fast enough, she came up too early. Giles saw the top of her head emerge from in between Draco's legs. Then two eyes. Draco pushed his seat back and watched as Hermione slowly rose up from under his desk.

Giles walked over to them briskly.

"Well… Hermione… nice of you to show up." By this time Harry and Ron were by his side, looking at Hermione, who was basically sat on Malfoy's knee. " Would you please explain where you were?" Hermione shot a worried look in Draco's direction – he replied in kind with one of encouragement.

"I was…..in…the-" Hermione was cut off by Draco.

"Hospital wing." Draco finished quickly. Again Hermione gave him a grateful look, to which he only just noticeably smiled back at. Hermione then shifted on to her own chair.

Giles immediately expressed worry lines on his forehead, and leant in closer to her. "What happened…..are you ok?" Hermione looked again to Draco, both looked slightly worried.

"Yeah…I fell down some…stairs and banged my head. Over it already though." Giles just nodded hesitantly, before heading to the front.

"So…anyone know what we're doing?" Harry frowned at Hermione's question.

"Are you sure you're ok? I mean…..you fell…."

"Harry… I'm fine. Now what are we doing?" Ron was still watching her anxiously, but replied anyway.

" We are actually having fun….in a learning way. We have to socialise with anyone you want. Wanna come over here and hang with the rest of Gryffindor?" Hermione looked guiltily at Malfoy. He looked at the Slytherins, hurt, then back to Hermione.

" I think I want to talk to Malfoy. I'm gonna blast him!" Both her friends looked confused but shrugged it off, then walked back to the group.

" You shouldn't have blown them off, you know." Draco was staring at her, puzzled.

" I know…but it's boring over there. The boys just talk about Quidditch, and the girls about their latest crush. Anyway I can have fun talking to you. It's a change." Hermione smiled at him, and began to feel more at ease.

End of class

Hermione and Malfoy had been 'discussing' house Quidditch. Which, of course, meant that they were fighting over who was the best player etc.

" Well... some change" Hermione said as she left Malfoy, after class. Harry and Ron were waiting outside for her.

" Hey guys." The trio headed for the great hall.

DADA

Hermione sat in her seat next to Neville. She wasn't going to bother with the usual dead conversation. Behind them sat Dean and Seamus. Hermione turned to face them.

"Dean…..how was your 'date' with Ginny?" Dean's reddened. Seamus held back laughter.

"It was ok. She said she'd go out with me. Me 'n' Gin… it's kinda unexpected. Don't tell Ron. He'd freak." Hermione nodded her head. She completely understood. Ron would probably try to stab him with some sharp implement, before realising that it wasn't too bad….but by then it would be too late.

Hermione stifled a laugh. "So…..anyone know where the teachers are?" Seamus asked although he didn't really want them to show up.

Hermione could hear them actually in Lupin's office, talking about Harry. Hermione couldn't make the rest out as the conversation in the room grew. She let out a groan just as the professors walked in.

"Something wrong Hermione?" Sirius asked in his human form. Hermione startled looked up, showing a look of confusion.

" Err….just great." She lied. She actually had a really bad headache, and for some reason was hearing echoing voices. It seemed familiar. Hermione could not put a face to the voice…but she had heard it before.

She sighed, closing her eyes. Lupin noticed this. He felt sorry for Hermione. She had to spend the rest of her life fighting, and been in pain. It wasn't nice to think about. To stimulate her, he asked her to hand out the books. Hermione looked at him as though he had just asked her to jump off a cliff.

Dramatically putting her hands on the table, she pushed her seat back and got up. Grabbing the books slowly, then pulling them into her chest, she began to walk around the classroom handing out thick volumes of 'Defence against Vampires'. Once she'd finished, Hermione placed a book on her own desk… and immediately collected all the books back in again. She walked back to where Lupin and Sirius were sat.

The class were too busy in their own conversation, to notice the scene that was about to occur. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Hermione sat on the corner of desk, whispering, fiercely at the two professors. They both looked up in shock.

"What do you mean?" Sirius asked calmly, putting on an innocent act. Hermione, who still had the books in her hand, slammed them significantly on the desk in front of them. Still no-one noticed.

They both glanced at the books in front of them. " Hermione….there is nothing in that book that even mentions about…Slayers….Nothing in history has been recorded in any book that anybody except the Watchers' Council know about. It's OK!" Lupin exclaimed, looking determined. " Besides, it was in the timetable for us to study vampires in the next few weeks, anyway." Hermione just glared at them with a defeated look in her eye. She picked up the books then handed them out.

After handing them out she went to her desk. Just as she did Snape came in. Hermione immediately flew behind Sirius cloak. Sirius knew she was hiding from him, as Snape scanned the room, looking for someone.

" Can we help you?" Sirius asked, sneering. Snape gazed coldly at him. Sirius did the same back.

" I am…..looking to see if Miss Granger showed up to your lesson, as she seemed to miss mine." Snape's lips pursed. Sirius and Lupin looked to the class. Most of the class were watching with interest, but of course didn't want to get Hermione in trouble.

" No…she has not. I believe that she is unwell. Fell down some stairs…." Hermione, still hiding, had quickly filled them in on her cover story.

" She went to the hospital wing, but she was released earlier, to have the day off." Lupin finished, coolly. Snape did not seem satisfied with the answer, but left anyway, his cloak billowing out behind him.

As soon as the door closed, Hermione came out. She looked slightly worried, but thanked the professors, then sat down. 'Well…he is definitely on to me!' Hermione concluded as she opened her book at the given page.

The lesson seemed to last for ever. Hermione contented herself, after finishing her notes early, by sleeping. Although she had had plenty of sleep earlier, she wanted – needed, even - more. Hermione hoped her sleep would be peaceful, and light. It was completely the opposite.

'Hermione…wake up. You can't die. Not now. You've only just begun. There's so much to see and do. You're needed, you're wanted. You must live. With out you…..we will fall and become a memory.' A child's voice rung softly in Hermione's ear.

Hermione opened her eyes. She rose out of her body, to see herself laying on the floor. She was in lying in the middle of the road, as if she had just been run over. She recognised the scene. It had been the time she was running away from the man. She had been knocked down. Hermione had failed to remember that.

The man was coming towards her. He was not rambling as he was before. His old, wrinkled face was pale, and showed more signs of concern than humanly possible. His baggy clothes hung off his skinny body. In his hand was a snake.

Hermione tightly shut her eye's again. When she opened them she was surrounded by blackness. She was still laying on her back. leaning on her elbows, Hermione pushed herself up. Coming towards her, was a pale, little girl, of about 7. She was carrying a small wooden box and wearing an old-fashioned dress. It looked Georgian. Her hair was a very pale, wispy brown. Flowing as if there was a draft in the room, coming from behind Hermione.

Hermione looked at the box closer. There was a fine detailed pattern that was mostly carved on to the sides of the box. On top was fairly plain. Engraved onto it was a pentagram, with a cross in the middle.

'Hermione…don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you or anything. I'm too weak to hurt a Slayer.'

'How do you know?' Hermione asked perplexed. She glowered.

' I know quite a lot. I was, after all, born long before you. I wanted to give you something.' The girl held out the box. Hermione looked at it, unsure, before sitting up, and clasping her hands around it, touching the girl's. Her fingers were icy cold. Her hands glowed due to their impossible whiteness. The whole of the girl was glowing with it. It was as though it represented her innocence.

Hermione pulled the box closer to her. The girl only smiled and nodded.

'Do you have a name?' Hermione asked curiously as the box rested in her lap.

'My name is Charlene. I am from Lanhydrock. It's a 17th century house in the south of England. It has a church and a huge park, gardens everything. I enjoyed my time there.' The enthusiastic smile on Charlene's face disappeared, to be replaced by a look of pure dread and fear.

'Are you ok?' Hermione studied the girl's face carefully. A silent tear fell down her face. Hermione's heart immediately went out to the girl.

'I am fine. Things happen that you cannot change. Things that you could have changed, but can't. I do not like to think about it. It is too painful for me even now. But…' she looked at Hermione, wiping away the tear, 'you may feel the need to keep the contents of the box safe. You will always need them with you.'

Hermione's fingers moved delicately along the lid. Slowly, she opened it. A bright white light was emitted from it. Hermione's hands instinctively moved to cover her eyes.

'What is it?' the light was so small, but its concentration was powerful. The little girl smiled.

'It's special.' Suddenly Hermione felt dizzy. The girl looked stunned at her.

'Don't leave me! I don't like being alone. It follows me. I'm scared.' The girl began to look around her, truly showing fright.

'I can't help it. Listen…..I'll come back for you. I promise.' The girl stood, clutching the box, that she had stolen from Hermione's hands.

'I'll keep it for you'. With that the girl began to fade away into the darkness. Hermione looked on in shock. Only then did she realise that her own skin was pale. She felt her hand. It was just as icy cold as Charlene's had been.

Her whole body froze. She was shaking - her whole body was shaking.

Hermione woke up. The first thing she saw was the wooden desk. Her head lifted up from the desk. Everything was silent. She could only just move her hands. They were still cold, and pale.

She rubbed her temples, and as she did so, the room became clearer. An alarmed looking Ron was knelt in front of her, with Harry behind.

"Erm….hi. I was listening, just….not much." Hermione looked around at the confused faces of her fellow classmates.

"What….I was, honestly." She looked behind her to Neville. He moved forward and whispered in her ear.

"Ermm, Hermione, you were asleep. Rambling random things!" Hermione groaned.

"Ok…what exactly did I say? Anything suspiciously revealing?" Neville looked baffled at the question.

"Well….there was a 'Don't leave me... I'm scared' But it was… it was like it wasn't you saying it. Don't worry, though – you'd only have heard it if you were sitting as close as me." Hermione sighed with relief.

"Hermione… are you ok?" Sirius was approaching Hermione.

"Yeah… I'm totally fine. Just need to go to the…the place where you get books from."

"The library?" Lupin asked.

"Is it? Well, I'll go there then." She got her bag then left. Just before she exited the classroom, leaving her bewildered class behind, she turned. "I'm liking the decoration by the way. It's not just a dark black place." She then turned and walked out.

Lupin looked to Harry and Ron for answers, as did everyone in the class.

"We don't know anything."

Giles office

Giles walked into his office after another successful lesson. As he opened the door, he saw his whole office in a mess, the kind that would take at least two days to clean up. Sitting in his chair, with her legs crossed on his desk, was Hermione. She was surrounded by books that were thick and musty.

"Hermione! WHAT ARE YOU BLOODY WELL DOING TO MY OFFICE?"

Hermione just held up one finger to shut him up.

"Do you have any information about a house…its... Lanhydrock. 17th century, South England?"

"What? Yes...but it'll take a while to find it. Why?"

"Ok….basically I heard the name and wanted to check it out. Help me or beat it." Giles looked distraught at the state of his office.

"BEAT IT?! It's my office!"

"Your point?" Giles looked at the unconcerned Hermione. Putting some papers down, he began to look through some books.

Well……I hope you like it. Please review. I want to get 100. tThanks for all the reviews I got. I wanted to ask you all something. Have I made Hermione a crappy fighter? I was just wondering if I should make her stronger. It's just I wanted her to build her skills….but she has been training for a long time. In most other FF's she's usually really really good.

Well……..if you could answer that one for me, I would be very grateful.

Cyas Sassy.

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