Hello again!
Ed, the Giant Racoon: I'm glad you like my stuff. I updated super-quickly for you J
And for Hippiechick7897—a more loyal reader I could not desire!
Callah's going to pop up here for the first time. Her character may seem more substantial in this story, mainly because I've borrowed more and more bits of her from the original fiction she appeared in once upon a when. Her main function is, however, as it always was: to interact with Hermione (since she happens to be the star of this particular show). I hope Callah didn't become too dominating of a presence. If she did, I apologize, but this wasn't meant to be a work of literary genius, so I don't particularly care. Sorry.
Enjoy…
--aimes
Hermione sat between Ginny and Millicent in the Gryffindor Common Room, wearing jeans and a comfortable sweatshirt over her tank top. She settled into the couch and let herself doze until McGonagall and Snape entered.
"Students! Your attention!" McGonagall barked. Yes ma'am, drill sergeant, ma'am. Snape began listing Slytherins and the rooms to which they were assigned, according to projected vocation. When he was finished, the Slytherins cleared out. Next to Hermione, Millicent grumbled about having to climb to the astronomy tower. Hermione patted her back sympathetically and Milli sent her a rueful grin. Ahh, more space for me! Hermione curled onto her side, putting her feet just off the couch so no one could yell and resting her head in Ginny's lap, who absently began to stroke her head. More like her mum every day.
McGonagall began rattling off Gryffindors and their assigned rooms and the lower year students began to trickle off to classes, until only Hermione was left. The Gryffindors and McGonagall left the room quickly as Hermione sat up and stretched.
"Miss Granger, you are to report to my office," Snape ordered.
"Yes sir. I do have a question."
"By all means, waste my time," he replied with a grimace.
"After…everything is over, what exactly will I do with my life?"
"And they told me you were smart…you, Miss Granger, will do whatever you wish when this war is over."
"Ah. Naturally," she said with a small smile. "Are you walking with me sir?"
"Most assuredly not. I'm fairly sure you can find your way to my office on your own. I have other business to attend to."
Hermione nodded and began the long walk down to the dungeons. When she arrived outside Snape's door, she knocked and entered without waiting for a response. Here goes, Mya. Make a good impression even though you have no idea why you should make a good impression. Do so anyways, you brainwashed good-girl you.
Her shoulders straight, head high, Hermione walked toward Snape's desk. Remus looked up from his conversation with a woman and smiled.
"Hello Hermione," he said warmly.
"Hi Remus. How have you been?"
"Doing well. It's good to see you again." They smiled at each other and there was a long pause, then the woman cleared her throat.
"Oh, Hermione, sorry, this is Callah Riese. Callah, this is Hermione Granger."
"Hello," Callah said mildly.
"Pleased to meet you," Hermione replied.
"Well I'll let you to ladies get to know each other…I've got to go speak to Severus." Remus excused himself and made for the door.
Hermione sat across from Callah and they scrutinized one another for a moment. Callah sat comfortably back in her chair but it was obvious that she was one of those annoying people who always kept her spine straight, probably even when she slept. She had long, pin straight, jet black hair and sparkly grey eyes that seemed perpetually amused. Her facial features were even and her mouth expressive. She's probably got a gorgeous smile, damn her. She's nice and curvy though…definitely has hips on her. Well, that makes two of us. God, she's going to be one of those sickeningly-perfect-in-every-way-yet-so-nice-you-can't-hate-her kind of people. Never trust that sort. Hmm…that was a lot of hyphens…
Hermione was average height, with the same riotous curly hair she'd always had, although it had subsided (marginally) from its bushier days. Her eyes were chocolate brown laced with honey, her features were delicate, and her body was nicely curvy. For a (very) few moments she'd envied the skinnier girls in her class, before realizing that men were far more attracted to her hips and breasts than their protruding ribs. And realizing a moment later that she didn't particularly care what men liked, so long as she didn't have to give up cheesecake.
They watched each other for several moments before Callah broke the silence.
"Chocolate or vanilla?"
"Chocolate. Red wine or white wine?" Hermione replied evenly.
"White. Fiction or nonfiction?"
"Fiction. Milan or Paris?"
"Milan…"
The back and forth continued and evolved, till they were responding to and laughing at each other's answers and jokes. Several hours later, there was a lull.
"So what do you do for a living, Callah?" Hermione asked curiously.
"I'm a spy," came the cheerful reply. "In the muggle world. Well, more like a paid problem solver. I contract out to governments to work with their secret services. It's a give and take, you know? I generally work for an international syndicate that's trying to right wrongs and that sort of thing, but I do my share of technology-stealing and whatnot. Keeps me busy. What do you want to do with your life?"
"Well, I'll be working with the Order for awhile, until this war is over."
"After that?" Callah pressed.
"I…don't know. I've always been interested in archaeology and history. We'll see, I suppose."
"Cool. Speaking of which, I think you and I are supposed to be working together this summer at the Order, or something like that. Albus just told me I would want to meet you, so I came. Then again, maybe he just thought we'd get along well. That's more of an Albus thing to do."
"Yeah, he is a bit…odd sometimes," Hermione agreed. "So how do you know everyone?"
"We have history," Callah replied with a mysterious smile. She opened her mouth to continue when the door opened and Snape swept in.
"Hello, sir," Hermione greeted. Callah stood as he swept to his desk without acknowledging them.
"Hello, Severus," Callah said mildly, a neutral expression on her face. He looked up at her, his face mirroring hers, and nodded.
"Miss Riese." He pulled out a parchment. "Continue." With that, he was gone. That was odd. What's eating him? And her…history…hmmmm…
Hermione tactfully chose not to pursue it.
"So, are you a witch?"
"Well, not exactly. I'm Other." Hermione could hear the capitalization of other and raised a curious eyebrow.
"I'm telekinetic and a bit telepathic. I've also got electrokinetic and pyrokinetic powers. And some other odds and ends. Teleportation, that sort of thing. I…move molecules, sort of. It's hard to explain. But I'm not a wand-waver or anything and I'm shit at potions. Does that make any sense?"
"Yes," Hermione said slowly. "Move molecules…interesting. You must be great at Transfigurations. But I can see how that doesn't really qualify you for the magical world…and overqualifies you for the muggle world…"
"Yeah. I pass freely through both, which is nice. It's a bit strange though, not belonging anywhere. Generally I stick to what I know, though, which is the normal world."
Normal world. Interesting how we all see it differently.
"Intriguing," Hermione commented.
"Yeah, I am that," Callah said with a smile.
"So will you be here long, then?"
"Yeah, I'm going back to the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix with you in two days. Remus is going back today, I think. I've got to discuss some things with Albus and Minerva. And you've got to say goodbye to your friends and pack and stuff, right?"
"Damn. Packing. I hate packing."
"Sucks, doesn't it? Never enough boxes…but I've got a meeting with Albus in twenty minutes. Let me walk you to your common room. Gryffindor, right? I can spot you a mile away. Severus always said I was very Gryffindor with just enough Slytherin to be fun." Callah stood as she spoke and picked up a black leather satchel bag, which she slung over one shoulder.
Severus always said? Really, now? I think this will be an interesting tale if I ever get to know it. Oops, answer Mya. She's staring at you like you've grown an extra head.
"Um, yes. Gryffindor. Let's go." Smooth like a porcupine, Mya. Lovely.
Callah did not comment on her obvious distraction, simply smiling and leading the way out of Snape's office. Before leaving she scribbled a quick note and placed it on top of his papers. What I wouldn't give to read that note… Hermione watched Callah and followed her out silently, casting a longing glance at the mysterious piece of paper atop the desk.
Callah saw her to the door of the common room and gave a quick wave before starting off down the hall.
Hermione watched her go for a moment then shook herself out of her reverie and entered the common room. Draco and Harry were talking excitedly as they held hands on the couch while Ron and Millie chatted more sedately in front of one of the windows. Ginny was grinning as she patted a stormy-looking Blaise on the back.
"How'd it go, everyone?"
They all paused to look at Hermione and began talking at once. She laughed and raised her hands for silence. "One at a time, guys. First, Blaise, why are you looking so…angry?"
Ginny laughed and replied for him. "His aptitude tests show that he's best suited for something involving plants…like a florist. Not exactly the most glamorous profession. He's a bit annoyed that he got stuck with something so…mundane." Blaise growled.
"What about you two?" Hermione tried to change the subject, turning to Draco and Harry.
"Well, Draco's likely to be picked up for professional Quidditch, but his aptitude shows mmfmff." Harry found himself silenced by a pillow at the hands of Draco.
"I'll tell you later, Bushy," Draco shouted as he suffocated Harry.
"Well let him up then so he can tell me what he got placed as," Hermione retorted.
"Auror, what else?" Ron supplied, as Draco released Harry and playfully ruffled Harry's hair when Harry punched him .
"And so did Ron," Milli said with a laugh. "Which he's been itching to tell you. I've gotten placed with St. Mungo's as a healing apprentice."
"Oh, that's great Milli! You'll make a lovely healer," Hermione said sincerely.
"Well, what about you then?" Blaise asked, rousing himself from his sullenness.
"I…haven't gotten placed yet."
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked suspiciously.
"I've been asked to do some work for Hogwarts…I missed the tests, remember? I wasn't here. So it's kind of up to me, I suppose." Brilliant, Mya. You couldn't lie your way out of a paper box.
"Oi, look at the time! We've got to get back to our common room before dinner to get our stuff. We'd better not be late again!" Ron exclaimed. Everyone grabbed their stuff and sprinted out of the room, leaving Hermione looking confused at their sudden departure. Well, he helped me I suppose…okay…get changed for dinner then.