Title: An Inevitable Fate
Chapter Ten: Inside the Hospital Wing
Author: KissThis
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Rating: R - if not now, then later. Just shut up and read it.
Pairing: Know the pair yet? You should...
Setting: 6th year in Hogwarts.
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Disclaimer:
Roses are red
Violets are blue
I have no money
So please don't sue!
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A/N: Double digits, baby!
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"I honestly don't remember anything, Professor."
Hermione had been brought to the Infirmary and was being examined by Madame Pomfrey as she answered Dumbledore's questions. She was sitting comfortably on one of the hospital beds with her legs curled around her and her hands resting in her lap. They looked oddly pale against the black silk of the gown that had magically appeared on her. She shifted slightly and her wings banged against the tables on either side of her. It was annoyingly obvious that the Hospital Wing hadn't been built with winged people in mind.
"What was the last thing you remember, Hermione?" Dumbledore asked quietly. She knew he was taking this interrogation slowly and with ease so that her mind would be more open and ready. But it still made her feel like she was three years old. The sound of her teeth grinding against each other was the only sound in the silent Infirmary. Hermione took a moment and swallowed very slowly in hopes that the simple action would calm her.
"The last thing I remember...was this great flash of light," She gestured with her hands. "And then I was bent over kneeling and I saw Professor Snape beside me. I don't remember seeing him come into the Dueling Room.
"Can you tell us what you were doing up until the point with Professor Snape?" Dumbledore asked.
"Sure. Let's see...I was in the library. With Draco. We were researching for anything that might've helped explain what happened between Seamus and I in History of Magic."
Dumbledore now turned to Draco, much to Hermione's annoyance, who was standing beside her bed. The old man raised an eyebrow conveying a silent inquiry.
"Is this true, Mister Malfoy?"
Draco, after glancing at Hermione's absolutely livid expression, only nodded.
"Of course it's true!" Hermione snapped, "I may have lost my memory for the span of ten minutes, but I can assure you I've most certainly not gone retarded!"
McGonagall looked ill. Never had anyone in the room seen someone speak to Dumbledore in this manner, much less Hermione -- the model student. She crossed her arms over her chest and exhaled a huffy sigh. Sure she didn't mean to snap at the elderly man, but ever since the train-ride things had been stressed. Only Dumbledore seemed unfazed by the sudden outburst. In fact, judging by the bright twinkle in his eye, he seemed rather amused.
"I apologize," He told her sincerely. "Please continue..."
Hermione glanced over at Draco who was relieved that she was not mad at him for Dumbledore's well-intentioned action.
"It was late...midnight I think, so Draco and I left to go back to our dorms. We were talking as we went so I guess we'd been walking slower than normal. We reached the common room and I..."
Her brow furrowed as something she hadn't thought of at the time surfaced.
"I heard..."
Dumbledore was silent.
"What? What did you hear, Miss Granger?" McGonagall probed.
Footsteps...I heard footsteps...
She looked around at the curious faces of her friends and Professors. Harry, Ron, and Draco were there, predictably, but so were Ginny, Hannah, Padme, Meghan and Adam. McGonagall and Snape were returning her looks with curious stares, but Dumbledore was withdrawn and wouldn't meet her gaze.
"Nothing..." She whispered, slowly pulling her amber eyes from the Headmaster. "I heard nothing." She said -- stronger this time. She went on.
"After I'd retired I only managed a few hours sleep before something woke me," She paused. "A dream, I think." She shrugged. "At any rate I couldn't fall asleep again so I got up and came down to the dueling room to practice."
She shifted slightly and Harry shivered as a feather tickled the back of his neck.
"I was trying to, well...I thought that maybe, er,"
Harry watched her face tinge pink, but had no idea as to what was so difficult for her to say. Even so, he pretended to understand and taking a step closer to her bed laid a hand of support on her shoulder. She turned her flushed face upwards and her eyes instantly softened at the sight of him.
Of course, Hermione knew Harry didn't have an inkling about her discomfort, but the fact that he was there for her anyway -- and showed it -- made her feel pleasantly warm inside. He gave her shoulder a squeeze and it gave her the encouragement to go on.
"I was practicing changing the magic."
McGonagall and Dumbledore shared an inhalation of breath so sharp; Hermione shrunk back in fear of being cut. Snape, however, who had already known this showed no reaction.
Ron didn't know exactly what Hermione had said but judging by the way that his professors were reacting it was as if she had broken some kind of rule.
"Severus?" McGonagall said slowly and in a low voice.
Snape seemed completely unfazed. His expression was one of mild boredom and his black eyes, which had been gliding absently about the room, now rested lazily on McGonagall.
"I'd only taught her to reflect as per your instructions, Minerva. Don't get it into your head that it was my doing -- she was already attempting it before I arrived."
Now that Hermione's memory had been wiped he was the only one who remembered his taunting words to her which, regrettably, to a series of negative events. Keeping up his cold demeanor he smirked at Minerva and turned his head slightly to address Hermione.
"Is that all you remember?" His inquiry was answered by a quick nod.
"I was just running the simulation trying to change the magic and the next thing I know, I'm on the floor, dressed in a strange manner, and looking like a bloody pigeon!"
"But your wings are so pretty!" Ginny exclaimed, horrified at the negative tone Hermione used in describing her new...assets.
"Absolutely gorgeous!" Padme echoed. She tossed her long black hair over her shoulder so she could have an uninhibited view of Hermione's wings as she leaned over them.
Hannah was in complete awe and was unable to speak. Beside the entranced Hufflepuff was Meghan. She was running her fingers over and through the feathers with delighted glee.
"They make you look like an angel." She said.
Hermione snorted, obviously not in agreement with the Head Girl.
Dumbledore finally stepped in, "Before we hear Professor Snape's story I must impose upon you the severity of what you have done."
Hermione chewed on her bottom lip, but did not look away.
"Changing magic is a dangerous theory and even more-so in reality because no one has ever done it before. You are the first person to have enough power to attempt it, but it is still a risky maneuver. I understand that since no one else has done it, present company included, we cannot advise you on how to do such a thing, but attempting to change magic without proper training or supervision is very poor judgement on your part."
"I expected better of you Miss Granger," McGonagall tutted quietly.
Hermione remained silent. Glancing over, Draco saw the muscles in her face tense and her jaws clench together in anger. But Hermione was smart enough to know this was not the time to argue with her professors so she bit her tongue.
"Severus..." Dumbledore motioned to him and took a small step back.
Everyone was anxious to hear what went on in the dueling room -- Hermione especially. There was a gapping hole in her memory and she was desperate to find information that would help her connect the dots.
"Well, I was on my way to breakfast,"
At this Hermione's stomach rumbled pointedly reminding her that she hadn't had anything to eat since dinner the night before.
"When I heard noises coming from the reserved Dueling Room. It must've only been 7:30. I entered to find Miss Granger working through a training simulation. The first time she tried to change the magic, though I didn't know it at the time, she was flung against the wall. Pausing the simulation to question her I found out her intentions and how long she had been there. I, of course, suggested that we go and talk to you, Dumbledore, but she wanted to try again. I'm not sure what happened, but the second time I saw her try...something happened." Snape swallowed slowly.
"What happened, Severus?" Dumbledore asked after allowing the man a moment of silence.
"Something was pushing her back -- pushing her until she hit the wall. It was when she screamed that I knew something was terribly wrong. I went to assist her and I heard her say Voldemort's name." He locked his eyes with Hermione's as she listened with rapt attention. As he had talked his voice had gone from cold and snide to a seriously soft tone that made Hermione's eyes widen.
He's so...alone...
"I think his spell was attacking her pure heart. I can only imagine what that must have been like; not to mention combined with the energy she was trying to change." He stopped talking as the picture of pain entered his mind. The rest of the room was silent and no doubt the same image of a Hermione laced with unbelievable pain was being passed around.
Hermione's laughter broke the silence, "Glad I don't remember that."
Her attempt at lightening the conversation resulted in a few weak chuckles.
"So, none of this is stirring up your memories?" Adam asked hopefully. Hermione regretfully shook her head.
Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully, "Naturally, the best viewpoint would be Hermione's, but unfortunately that option is not open to us. Go on."
Snape nodded, "Her eyes started to glow -- then they burst out with these huge beams of light. It was so bright I was forced to look away and when it died down--"
"Archangel Barbie appeared," Hermione sarcastically finished as he trailed off. He gestured at her, signifying the end of his recount.
Harry's brow was furrowed and his emerald eyes seemed to darken, as he thought hard. Something clicked in his mind and he snapped his fingers so suddenly that Hermione jumped. Rubbing her ear that had been snapped in ruefully she gave Harry's back a mock glare.
"Professor," He said; referring to Professor Snape. "Did you say her eyes glowed?"
Snape's eyes narrowed with a scowl. Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione saw Professor Dumbledore stand a little straighter.
"Yes, I did, Potter. Do you ever pay attention?" He sneered icily.
Harry ignored him. He was nodding his head slowly and Hermione could picture the puzzle pieces coming together in his head. He seemed to be constructing the jigsaw rather fast, though, what lay on these pieces completely eluded her.
"I remember. Her eyes glowed in History of Magic," He said finally.
"That's right!" Ron exclaimed, "Though they didn't turn into floodlights, or anything..."
Hermione found it hard not to gape at the redhead in shock. He'd actually paid attention. He looked over at her sheepishly and she realized that he'd done so because he cared for her. Hermione's heart swelled.
Dumbledore's fingers were steepled in front of him and he flexed them thoughtfully. "Interesting observation, harry. I myself hadn't thought of such a connection until you spoke up." He tapped his tented fingers upon his chin. "This will require extensive research."
Hermione and Draco groaned simultaneously. Dumbledore smiled good-naturedly and went on.
"Your eyes, Hermione, seem to be the focal point of your power. I wonder...do they react to your feelings?"
Hermione cleared her throat; "I wouldn't really be able to tell, sir."
"Oh," He said. "Quite right, quite right."
Something clicked in Draco's brain. Her eyes had sparked that night she had come into his room. He opened his mouth to tell them this but he abruptly closed it again. He couldn't tell them she'd been in his room...in the middle of the night. Yeah, that wouldn't be frowned upon. He glanced at Hermione and found her to be staring at Harry. Staring hard. His stomach dropped.
Besides, he scowled, what would she say she'd been feeling? Annoyance at being woken? Contempt? Sympathy?
He snorted. Yeah, he really wanted to bring that up in front of a dozen people. Crossing his arms over his chest he leaned back against the wall and scowled moodily at the room.
As if sensing his unease, Hermione turned her gaze on him -- he could feel it. Hermione looked him over; from the taut muscles in his chest to the dark expression on his face. Something Dumbledore had said must've been the cause of his sudden change in mood. While the professors were conversing adamantly about the new revelation, Hermione climbed off the bed and move to stand beside him. She didn't bother to fold in her wings and as a result they practically wrapped themselves around the two. Thankfully, no one was in the way to be batted around by her wings.
When Draco's vision was filled so suddenly with white his head snapped quickly around to meet with Hermione's soulful eyes.
"Draco?" Her voice was quiet.
While Draco struggled to find his voice, Hermione went on.
"Don't be mad. I mean, if you don't want to research this new thing with me...that's ok. It's no big deal really. I'm sure Harry or Ron will...help...me..."
Hermione had slowly trailed off her words at the end because Draco had started laughing. The shocked expression on her face only seemed to make Draco laugh harder. It quickly turned to a scowl. Here she was, trying to be considerate of other people's feelings, and he was laughing at her.
"You totally have the wrong idea..." He chuckled.
"Well, then enlighten me as to what's got your knickers in a twist?"
His mind flitted back to his previous train of thought. It seemed so silly and insignificant now. "Nothing."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Besides, with Harry and Ron you wouldn't find anything."
At this hypocritical comment Hermione laughed and her eyes shimmered, "Compared to the amazing nothing you've found."
"Your eyes...?"
"Hmm?" Hermione's brow furrowed at the odd change in conversation. A hand flew to her temple, "What about them?"
"Your eyes...they shimmered just now."
She was startled. "Really? When?"
"Right after I insulted Harry's and Weasley's researching skills."
"You were being hypocritical and you made me laugh," She grinned. "Well, looks like you've solved the mystery -- congratulations."
Her wings flexed and Draco took a step forward so he wasn't pressing against them. Hermione ran her hands down the front of her gown, and when she looked up again she noticed how close they had become. She hid her discomfort and chuckled weakly.
"I think I deserve a reward."
"As if! Wipe that cheeky smirk off your face," She snorted.
Draco gave her his most innocent look; "I don't know what you're talking about. Me? Smirk? Never!"
Hermione giggled and stepped closer to him so he could hear her whispered voice, "They're probably wondering what we we're doing..."
He smirked back, "They're probably staring."
"Ron and Harry are probably about to explode."
He stepped closer and Hermione's eyes widened involuntarily. Reaching up he slowly pulled straight one of her chestnut curls and then watched it spring back into a corkscrew.
"And why would that be?" He drawled.
"Because they don't trust you -- well Ron doesn't. Neither trust you with me." She swatted away another hand reaching for her hair and the owner raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so? Interesting."
It was all Hermione could do not to melt into a puddle of goo right there. Was he flirting with her?! She swallowed slowly. She didn't have much experience in this area. Much to her first annoyance there was no owner's guide to flirting -- she couldn't learn the details from a book. So she was pretty much adrift. Damn the human hormones...she cursed.
Woah! Back-up the thought train! If he was flirting with her, which she was unsure of in the first place, why would Draco be flirting?! Was he just trying to be funny? Make her flush and then have a laugh at his good joke. The muscles in her back tensed. Had he really changed as much as she thought he had? She knew she was exceedingly trusting and compassionate and in most cases that had been to her disadvantage. But she'd never given up on the belief that she could bring out the good in others.
That sounds SO egotistical when I think about it...
"Now about my reward..."
She blinked slowly, "You're still going on about that?"
"I can be very single-minded when I want to be."
"Don't forget stubborn, as well." Hermione laughed.
With his hands shoved in the back pockets of his trousers he rocked back and forth on his heels, "Another thing we've got in common."
"Yeah, we're real birds of a bloody feather," She snorted and brushed her wings across his back. "No pun intended."
"I will claim my reward, though. I deserve something for my amazing intellectual skills, but as for what I want -- I am undecided. But when I do decide, I'll get back to you."
Hermione rolled her eyes and started to turn, "I'll try not to lose sleep over it..."
"Hermione..."
Her head spun back around and almost collided with his. She hadn't realized he'd gotten so close. She blinked quickly. For a moment there she'd thought it had been coming closer, but that would have been absurd. Faces didn't need to be this close to have a conversation.
"Draco?" She said nervously but it came out no louder than a faint moving of her lips, and she doubted he had heard it. Then again he might have. It'd been so long since someone had been this "close" to her that she'd forgotten how well that could hear at such a distance.
When she finally realized that he was going to kiss her, she panicked, and had only enough time to turn her head to the side so that his lips only met the soft skin of her cheek. The instant his lips touched her she felt a tugging behind her navel, and though she knew not what it meant she braced herself for the worst. As if enough hadn't happened to her already.
Startled at Hermione's sudden rebuke, Draco pulled away with an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. What had he done?
The second their physical connection ended the tug became a yank and, like a portkey, Hermione felt her world turn upside down. As if the yank was a physical entity Hermione was flung backwards into the bed. Something was happening to her gown, but she couldn't even figure out which way was up, much less look down at her apparel. Her waist hit the side and she wasn't even allowed to register the pain before the pull had flipped her over the bed. She quickly folded her wings around her body to protect herself from any further pain only to have her bare back go crashing into one of the changing screens Madame Pomfrey had set up. The screen collapsed from the impact and both Hermione and it finally stopped their trajectory against the wall.
Shifting the rubble, Hermione managed to sit up against the wall. Touching her hand tenderly to her forehead, nevertheless, she winced. She drew her hand back down to find her fingers tipped with blood. "Shit..." She hissed. The only sound throughout the whole room was the sound of the boards, once part of a changing screen, shifting as Hermione did.
With a scowl at the blood on her fingers she said, "What? Not even a 'Are you ok, Hermione?' " Her scowl deepened and she looked up.
Nobody moved.
"What is it?"
She glanced down. She was sitting sprawled out on the Hospital Wing floor completely naked.
Hermione let out an ear-piercing scream.
Sorry if it's bad 'cause I didn't read over the last couple of pages -- I just typed. My contacts keep getting fuzzy, so I'm gonna take that as my cue that it's time for bed. Enjoy!
KissThis