Chapter 2 – Something New
Disclaimer – See chapter 1
Hermione awoke to the realisation that she was in the infirmary and she had a pounding headache. "I feel like I've been hit by a bus..." she muttered to herself.
"Miss Granger?" asked Severus.
Hermione sat up hurriedly and looked round, "Ahhh..." she said holding her head.
"Lie down Miss Granger," Severus said softly.
Hermione lay back down "Professor?" she asked.
"You're in the infirmary Miss Granger, you collapsed in my class."
"Hermione, thank the gods you're awake. How'd you feel?" Asked McGonagall
"Ermmm... I've felt better Professor,"
"Poppy says that you can come back to Gryffindor tower this evening but you must take it easy."
Hermione smiled "Thank you Professor." she knew that McGonagall had something to do with her being able to leave so soon. She had mentioned several times how she disliked being in the infirmary.
Severus held a small cup in front of Hermione face, which she took. She smelled it carefully "It's for your headache." he snapped.
"Thank you." she drank it. She had noticed that the earlier softness had vanished from his voice.
Almost immediately she began to feel better her head cleared and everything became less fuzzy. Both Snape and McGonagall left her to get dressed.
Hermione walked slowly towards the door before Poppy stopped her "Hermione, if you feel dizzy, sick, anything I want to know straight away is that clear?"
"Yes Madam Pomfrey,"
"Severus, Hermione can't go back to Gryffindor by herself, would you..." asked Minerva.
Severus sneered at her "very well, Miss Granger?" he added turning towards her.
Severus walked Hermione back to Gryffindor tower, while he walked beside her he kept a respectable distance. That was until they reached the top of the stairs, Hermione was exhausted and had to stop despite the fact she was so near Gryffindor's common room.
"Miss Granger?" Severus said, annoyed.
"I just need a minute,"
Instead of waiting he took her arm and placed it in his, he helped her into the common room and to one of the large chairs by the fire.
"I trust you'll be alright here?" he said with a slight sneer.
Hermione was too tired to rise to the bait "Yes thank you Professor."
Severus was just about to leave before he bellowed "Mr. Potter!" he waited until he could hear the sound of feet coming before leaving.
Harry had been sat upstairs in his dorm when he heard the unmistakable sound of Severus Snape. He rushed down the stairs and into the common room to find only Hermione.
"Mione?" he asked confused "I thought..."
"Professor Snape was here but then he left, I think he wanted you to know that I was back." Said Hermione tiredly.
Harry looked confused for another moment before asking "Are you alright now?"
"Yes thanks, I don't know what happened, I just want to sleep"
Harry noticed that she looked exhausted and more than a little pale "Wait here, I'll get Ginny."
Harry disappeared towards the girl's dorm before he called out to Ginny who came at a run.
"What's up Harry?"
"Hermione's back but she's..." he trailed off appearing to be lost in thought.
Ginny brushed past Harry to the common room and to where Hermione was sitting. She took one look at Hermione and knew that something was amiss.
"Hermione?"
Hermione had slumped even further into the chair, Ginny had to help her up and led her towards the girls dorm.
"How you feeling?"
"Tired, sleepy" answered Hermione half-heartedly. She felt as if all the energy was just draining away from her.
Ginny was worried but helped Hermione into bed, she was asleep in seconds.
When Hermione awoke in the morning she felt much better, and after looking at the clock was glad it was Saturday as it was now 11.30am and she'd missed breakfast.
She got up and showered, dressed and put her long hair into a braid. Before wondering into the common room the first thing that she noticed was that Ginny, Harry and Ron were all sat on the sofas. Harry and Ron were playing wizard chess (which Hermione still thought was barbaric) and Ginny was sat next to Harry trying to give him advice.
Hermione walked over and Ginny looked up first "Herm, how you doing?"
"Much better thanks Gin, sorry about yesterday I was totally out of it,"
Ginny smiled, glad to see that her friend was feeling and looking better "I could tell."
"I'm going to wander down to the kitchens, I'm really hungry." said Hermione.
"I'll come with you," said Ginny, "Just in case the house elves try to throw you out."
Ever since Hermione had advocated S.P.E.W the house elves were rather wary of letting her into the kitchen.
As Ginny and Hermione walked back from the kitchen with a small mountain of food between them Ginny noticed Hermione's eyes. "I like you 'glamour'."
"Huh? I've done a glamour?" said Hermione.
"Sure you have, on your eyes, they're violet." said Ginny calmly.
Hermione frowned "No, it must be the light."
When they both arrived back at the common room they both left the food with Harry and Ron before going to the bathroom.
"No, they are definitely violet." said Ginny looking closely.
Hermione pulled out her wand "Finite Incantum," nothing happened, her eyes were still violet.
Both Ginny and Hermione were confused, Hermione began to sniffle "I knew something wasn't right..." she mumbled.
Ginny hugged her friend "Let's go see McGonagall, it'll be alright Herm, really" Ginny was worried about Hermione - she wasn't someone who cried - ever.
As they came out of the bathroom both Hermione and Ginny noticed that the sun had been over shadowed, it fact it looked like it was going to rain.
Several hours later Hermione and Ginny were in the infirmary, having been sent by McGonagall (but not before Ginny had insisted Hermione eat something).
"Well I don't know Hermione, as far as I can tell this is your normal eye colour."
"But my eyes are... were brown," said Hermione.
"Apparently not any more dear, I don't know what to suggest, I can't find anything wrong."
Hermione nodded sadly and left with Ginny.
Hermione spent the weekend in Gryffindor tower with Ginny, Harry and Ron. She had caught up on Friday night's homework.
But on Sunday night see had felt like she needed to get outside so she gently stood from her chair in the common room. Ron was working on finishing his homework and Harry and Ginny were snuggling and whispering on the sofa. Hermione left so silently that no-one heard her.
She crept outside and went it sit by the lake, Hermione took a deep breath suddenly it felt as if nothing mattered. She felt completely calm and serene - nothing could faze her.
Hermione felt a happiness creep into her heart, and she began to smile, she looked towards the setting sun, it was cloudy and couldn't really be seen; but Hermione closed her eyes and imagined that the sun was on her, that the last of the suns rays were on the grounds.
She opened her eyes and saw the clouds had cleared, the sun was on her the last rays warming her. Her smile widened and the sun seemed to brighten the clouds around turned gold, orange, red and pink. It was glorious and Hermione loved it.
From a window of the castle a figure watched as Hermione stood in the sun light. Watched as the clouds had moved and the most perfect sunset had come about.
"It has begun." said Dumbledore softly.
Hermione was still outside after the sun had set she had sat by the lake, watching everything she had watched as the stars came out, as small night creatures began emerging from their hiding places.
In the darkness Hermione could see everything.
A cold breeze raised goose bumps on her skin and Hermione shivered, she looked at her watch - 9.00pm! "I had no idea that it was so late," she mumbled to herself.
Hermione turned, wondering why it wasn't dark yet, until she entered the castle and the lights blinded her for an instant. She closed her eyes and waited, a moment or two later she opened them again and could see clearly. She turned and glanced outside it was pitch dark. "But I could see..."
Hermione hurried back to Gryffindor tower.
It was Monday morning and Hermione and Ginny were sat in the Great Hall having breakfast. They watched as owls swooped in bringing post and parcels.
"Ginny if I tell you something, will you tell me if you think I'm losing it?" Ginny looked surprised but nodded anyway. "I think that... well... you see, last night I was sitting outside, and I could see... everything... in fact I didn't even notice that it was dark." Hermione had finished at a bare whisper.
Ginny looked at her, "Well, that's because it gets dark gradually if you were sat outside then your eyes adjusted."
"No, Gin I could see as clearly as if it was day!"
Ginny regarded her thoughtfully, "Ummm..."
"Hello ladies," said Harry arriving with Ron.
"Hermione, we've got transfiguration today, can you help me?" asked Ron hopefully.
"Sure Ron." said Hermione.
"And then DADA," said Ron happily "I can do that."
Hermione smiled, if Ron worked as hard on his Potions and Transfiguration as he did at his DADA then he would never have to ask for her help.
Hermione sat in Gryffindor common room, the day had just been one thing after another. Ron hadn't done anything to prepare for transfiguration so Hermione had to constantly help him, DADA was taken by Madam Hooch as Professor Lupin wasn't feeling well (the full moon was out that night).
Plus Hermione had run into Draco Malfoy three times in the corridor and had heard him being rude about her again.
Hermione just felt too tired to do anything, she hadn't even looked at her homework yet. Instead she was sitting by the fire in the large chair staring at the flames trying to summon the energy to move.
Ginny and Harry and gone off to the Quidditch pitch to do a little practice (probably more kissing than flying, Hermione thought).
Ron came barrelling in "Hermione! You've got to help me with this."
Typical, thought Hermione, not even a 'hi how are you', "No Ron." she just wasn't in the mood to be helpful right now. "Later," she added.
"Hermione!" Ron whined.
"No, Ron maybe later..." she said tiredly, but Ron didn't notice.
"Hermione, you've got to help me now" he whined again.
"NO, GO DO IT YOURSELF" Hermione shouted, she was angry he just wouldn't leave her alone. She suddenly felt very awake.
"FINE THEN DON'T HELP!" shouted Ron "WHAT'S WITH YOU?"
"ME, WHAT ABOUT YOU, YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING BY YOURSELF" shouted Hermione, even though deep down she knew this was unfair, she was just too angry.
"WHAT?! THIS COMING FROM A GIRL WHO CAN'T RIDE A BROOM" Ron couldn't believe that Hermione was yelling at him.
Hermione hadn't felt this angry for a long time, the white hot rage that was now consuming her. She threw up her hands towards the ceiling and screamed "LEAVE ME ALONE!!"
Suddenly there was a rumbling sound that grew louder and louder there was an almost audible pop before the ceiling ruptured and the common room was flooded with water.
Ron stared at Hermione shocked.
Hermione looked around at the room before running out.
Neville who had been tucked away in the corner of the room watched as Ron yelled out "FINE THEN." He quietly got to his feet and left following Hermione.
Minerva McGonagall had been in her office marking when she had heard the shouts coming from the common room. She had walked to the door when she saw Hermione come running out soaking wet and run downstairs. She also watched as Neville run after her.
She walked in the common room and found a huge mess, the whole room was flooded. Carefully flicking her wand around the room she surmised that the water pipes had burst. But what had caused them? Minerva knew she would need Albus' help to tidy this up.
She went to the fire place and flooed to Albus' office.
Neville chased after Hermione stopping only when he had lost sight of her. He passed a window and saw that it was raining - hadn't it been shinning earlier?
He looked out the window and saw a figure sat by the lake in the rain, Hermione.
He ran outside and towards her but slowed as he got closer he saw Hermione was sobbing but he also saw that the lake was becoming tidal. Was that even possible?
"Hermione?" he asked softly "Hermione it's Neville"
Hermione didn't move so Neville sat down beside her, "I think that you... made the... water pipes burst."
"Oh Neville. I don't know what happening to me," Hermione sobbed harder and it began to rain harder.
"Hermione look," said Neville somewhat it awe. Hermione looked up and saw the rain and the lake.
"I think you..." said Neville softly "How?"
Hermione stared at the water and breathed slowly trying to calm herself, the lake began to calm and the rain began to ease but didn't stop.
"Hermione..."
"Thank you Neville" she said gently. He put his hand on hers.
"Well you're a...a great friend to me Hermione"
Hermione smiled "Neville, I've been feeling different lately like... I'm changing."
Neville nodded calmly "Maybe you are."
"How can you be so calm?" she asked.
"Hermione I think you know that you've always been different from everyone else, now your just..." he trailed off.
Hermione stared at him Neville had changed, sure he was still nervous around Professor Snape but he had a quiet wisdom about him that no-one else had.
"Hermione you have to trust that you'll get through this, whatever this is."
Hermione smiled again, this time the rain stopped completely. "You're a great friend Neville"
In Dumbledore's office Minerva appeared and stepped out of the fire place "Albus, I need your help, the water pipes in Gryffindor tower have burst."
Albus didn't speak he simply accompanied Minerva back to Gryffindor and helped her return the tower to order.
"What happened before the pipes burst?" he asked
"I believe Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley had an argument" she said, confused.
"Oh dear..."
"Albus, what aren't you telling me?" asked Minerva
"Well... Why don't we meet back in my office" he said calmly. Albus had noticed that the rain had stopped and knew that Miss Granger was alright for the moment.
Minerva nodded.
Albus stopped by Severus' quarters "Severus would you meet me in my office in about 15 minutes"
Albus disappeared before Severus had he chance to reply. So he simply picked up his wand and flooed there.
Hermione had returned to Gryffindor tower with Neville, thanks to Hermione's drying spell neither were the worst for wear.
"Thank you Neville."
Neville nodded "Don't worry, get some rest. You look tired."
He was right of course, and Hermione decided to do just that, rather than face Ron.
In Dumbledore's office Minerva and Severus waited patiently for Albus to begin.
"Miss Granger is going through some changes right now and I believe that she will need both your help."
Severus sneered "What has she done now?"
"She burst the water pipes in Gryffindor, without the aid of her wand" said Albus mildly. "When she's upset... it rains."
Severus appeared surprised for a moment but then covered the emotion, "I see."
"But Albus, how? She can't..." Minerva trailed off.
"I can't explain everything but she will need your help to control the new abilities that are emerging."
Both Minerva and Severus nodded "If I must," added Severus.
By now it was really rather late and all of Gryffindor were in bed and most were asleep.
This sleep was disturbed when a scream split the air.
Ron leapt out of bed and saw Harry tossing and turning in his sleep. "Harry, mate wake up."
Harry sat up suddenly gasping for breath.
"What was it?" asked Ron, fearing he already knew the answer.
"I had another vision."
TBC
A/N: Thanks for the reviews everyone. What you'd think? Suggestions are welcome. Howlers will be disposed of by Severus.