Hey! A big thank you to everyone who reviewed, you guys are really great! I can't believe how many people have yelled at me to update now LOL! Here is the long-awaited chapter, sorry about the delay!

CitizenNancy: Thanks, I wasn't too sure. Though it IS a bit of an emergency (you'll find out why, of course) I suppose he doesn't want her to know that. Thanks for that! Cheers, (..:::Fiery Aries:::..)

ScarletBlackWitch, aniamifan1988, BiF NAKED: Thank you!

Warning: From here onwards this story is AU (Alternate Universe). Don't like it, don't read it. Veeery simple. There's another evil cliffy here though, lol.

Enjoy!

Chapter Three: The Awakening

Hermione spent the rest of the day with her friends, at first just enjoying her new presents and sitting around in the Common Room telling awful jokes and sharing stories. Then Harry and Ron disappeared, returning later with a feast, and they ate in the Common Room.

Feeling too full to do anything, they talked about what they might like to do after they graduated. Hermione wasn't really sure; unlike her friends, who had their hearts set on being Aurors, she had felt more compelled to become a Mediwitch. But she also wanted to work for the Ministry, or teach.

After feeling a little less full, they headed out to Hogsmeade and attended the disco at the Three Broomsticks that was held every Saturday. She felt completely carefree, dancing to the latest music and sitting back every once in a while to sip at her bottle of Firewhisky, which they'd all decided to have, although there would be plenty left over. The bar was completely different Saturdays; The tables had changed to tall circular tables with high stools, and there were magic lights that changed colour often, lighting up the otherwise dark room. It was a nice time for her to just be a completely different person, the woman behind the bookworm.

When she was feeling somewhat drowsy, they decided to call it a day, and she headed to her room, almost falling into her bathtub. Thankfully, she had her own tub, which was, if possible, even more luxurious that the Prefect's Bath. It had more bubble mixtures, and it was hers, so she wouldn't have anyone walking in on her. The bathtub itself was enormous, almost the size of an Olympic swimming pool. She finally settled on a mixture of honey, vanilla and cinnamon. She must have soaked in there for hours, just lost in thought, because she realised it was nearly nine thirty. Hurriedly, she dried herself off and donned a short black skirt and green halter top. Slytherin colours, she thought dryly. Throwing on a set of plain black robes, she borrowed Harry's Invisibility Cloak and set off.

Hermione crept through the halls, under the Invisibility Cloak. She didn't want to get caught by Professor Snape; she had to be on time. The night had already fallen and the halls were pitch- black, save for the torches lined along the walls, and a ghost floating by once in a while. The halls were eerily quiet, and she felt as though she was the only living being in the entire castle. The echoes of her shoes seemed ten times louder. She felt odd, and strangely detached from the world. Her body was tingling, and she was starting to phase out a little. I'm probably just coming down with a fever, she thought. She shivered, and pulled the thin material of the cloak closer to her.

Before long, Hermione found herself knocking on the door to the Room of Requirement. She checked her watch; three minutes early. She heard footsteps, then Dumbledore poked his head around the door.

"Miss Granger! Come in, come in," he said, moving aside so she could step in. "I'm so glad you're on time."

Hermione surveyed the room. It was large and spacious, shaped like a dome. It was completely bare, save for a small table, which had a small box wrapped in blue, and cushions in one corner.

"Good evening, Miss Granger," drawled a voice from behind her, and she whirled around to see Professor Snape towering over her. What is HE doing here?!? Hermione thought. He wasn't sneering or scowling, though; he just looked... calm. And as though he was expecting something...

"Oh, hello Professor, I didn't expect to see you here..." she trailed off, wondering why she was even here. Why was it so important for Dumbledore –and Snape?- to see her tonight? She became lost in all her questions, but then Dumbledore spoke up, and she focused on him again.

"Thank you, Miss Granger, for being here tonight. Soon enough you will know why exactly you are here. As you can see, Professor Snape has kindly agreed to attend. He will be crucial in this. Now Miss Granger, I would like to wish you a very happy eighteenth birthday. Please open the box on that table," he said, gesturing towards the centre of the room, where the table had been placed. She walked over to it and stood next to it.

Shakily, she put her hands just above the box. Her hands trembled, and she wasn't even sure why. It's just a box, she said to herself, repeating it like a mantra in her head. Placing her hands on the side, she felt a sharp jolt pass through her chest. Jerking her hands away, she glanced back towards the two professors, who were standing at one end of the room, both watching her intently.

Looking back to the box, she placed her hands on it once more. The jolt didn't come again, but she could feel herself trembling. Slowly she opened the box. She peered into it, confused. Inside there was a small stone, square shaped and thick. It looked heavy. What's so special about a stone? she wondered.

Picking it up, she found it to be feather- light and smooth. Her fingers grazed the side facing down, and she felt a pattern, set into the stone. Once again, she felt another jolt pass through her chest, sharper than before. Shaking, she slowly turned the stone over. At first it was blank, then suddenly, it began glowing. A flash of blue appeared. Then, as it faded, she saw a sign engraved into the stone.

The blue crest.

From her dream.

She collapsed, still clutching the stone, shaking and trembling violently. Then she felt pain searing through her chest, as though someone was stabbing her. She cried out, feeling like someone had cast Crucio on her. Flashes of blue light shot out of her quivering body.

Then, as suddenly as it came, the pain stopped. She became encased in a blue bubble- like shield which formed around her. Slowly standing, her arms lifted above her head, as though holding a large, invisible orb. She couldn't see, her eyes were glowing blue. Then she was levitating, and the ground beneath her began to crumble, breaking away. Her hair fanned out behind her, and her body glowed blue. Her robes billowed around her in an imaginary breeze. Then everything came to a standstill. Time stopped completely for a moment, then her shield disappeared, and she felt to the floor.

The last thing she could remember was distant voice, deep and silky, saying "She has awoken".

Then she faded to black.