Chapter Three:

Breakfast came early as Harry walked into the Great hall. Hermione was waiting for him at their usual seats, Ron talking quietly with her. She waved when he scanned the room, and he walked towards them. He noticed some stifled gasps and the talking increased as he walked past tables. It may have had something to do with Boots (Kalypso) as she sniffed tables and growled softly at the sight of the Slytherin table.

"Harry, when did you acquire the wolf?" Hermione asked politely, letting Boots have some of her bacon under the table. Ron just shuffled his feet closer under the bench and cast a fearsome look at the wolf's wagging tail.

"He followed me here." Harry said simply, watching Hermione analyze this new adjustment. He could just see her mind clicking away the possibilities.

"Maybe you shouldn't bring strays into the castle mate. Never know what they may have." Ron yelped as Boots snapped at his ankles.

"She's harmless." Harry yelped now as Boots nipped his leg.

"So Harry, what happened yesterday?" Hermione leaned forward, as all the Gryffindors did. Privacy was a dream at this table.

"We'll talk later, in class." Harry said, quickly eating his breakfast. Maybe he wouldn't have to answer any more questions with a full mouth. "Yes, we have lots to talk about, don't we? Like why you disappeared…why you were glowing silver…how you apparated back into Hogwarts when there anti-apparition wards everywhere!" Hermione's voice was growing louder. Ron started to look around as people stared at them.

"Keep it down Mione, no need for the dramatics. Harry will tell later, like he said." Ron muttered at her, and Hermione blushed slightly. They ate in silence, Harry feeling the glares off Hermione and the smugness of Boots. She was enjoying this excessively.

They walked down the dark halls together, Harry in the middle. Hermione spotted Draco leaning by the door of their shared classroom, Transfigurations, and groaned. Ron just shrugged and Harry smiled. Just let him say anything.

"Hey Scarface. Back so soon?" Draco laughed, as if he had said the funniest thing. Harry waved his hand and Draco's annoying laugh became a donkey's braying. The hall stopped for a minute as Draco brayed and brayed, the look on his face horrified. Harry waved his hand again, and Draco's voice was back.

"What the hell was that Potter?" He looked fearful and red in the face.

"Just a small taste of what you'll get by bothering my friends and me. Sod off Malfoy, and run back to Daddy, why don't you?" Harry opened the door for Hermione and Ron, and slammed it in Draco's face. Professor McGonnagal was standing at the end of the class, her lips twitching. "Something wrong Professor?" Harry asked politely. McGonnagal just shook her head, a small smile on her lips.

The Room of Requirement was full of plush pillows and full of fresh fruit. Harry was munching on grapes when Hermione and Ron walked in. Hermione's hair was super poofy now, a sure sign of irritation. Ron was making warning signs, gesturing towards Hermione. She was on the warpath.

"Let's hear it Harry. I just talked to Dobby and he told me that the magikal power at this school increased by two the moment you stepped back on premises. So I know something is up, something to do with your powers. I also know that you didn't want us to know, because Dumbledore has been avoiding us all day. He apparently thinks that you will tell us whatever happened to you." Hermione snorted. "So Harry, please tell us what happened. We have a right to know." She ended up with a concerned look on her face, sitting on a pillow beside him. Ron settled himself against another and stole the grapes from Harry.

"I'm the Boy that Lived, who has now come into his powers through an Awakening of some sort, and I have inherited elemental powers from my dear mummy and Mage like abilities from my dear pop." Harry rolled off lightly. Hermione's eyes widened. Ron dropped the grapes.

"An Awakening? I've read about those. However…only the most powerful wizards in the world go through those. Dumbledore, Grindewald, even Voldemort has gone through those. Are you saying that you are one of the world's most powerful wizards?" Hermione took hold of his hand.

"I am saying just that." Harry went through a detailed description of the one-day from their lives and the past months from his. Hermione's eyes were clicking away, at times getting glazed with information overload, while Ron was again munching and smiling sporadically.

"You met your mum and dad? Good for you mate. What was that like?" Ron questioned once Harry sopped talking.

"It was odd. I couldn't hug or touch them. They helped me a lot though. My dad was impressive. My mom was…all that I hoped she would be." Harry said simply, thinking of them again.

"Elemental magik? My god Harry, I…I don't know what to say…we have to go to the library…"Hermione stood up, and pulled them to their feet. "I don't know nearly enough about these kinds of magik, only vague references."

Harry resisted and pulled her back down. "What do you want to know?" he asked her. Her eyes widened.

"Do you need a wand now? Where does the elemental magik come from? What does it feel like to transform into other animals? Does your magik work when you are in animal states?" Hermione fired off rapid questions.

"Umm..don't be shy Hermione. Ask away." Harry laughed. "I actually don't need a wand, it's in me." Harry showed them his tattoo on his right hand. "Elemental magik comes from inside me, my blood, my pores, my soul. I feel it gather in my heart before it transfers out of my hands. I can use both hands for elemental magik. And becoming another animal is actually very relaxing. My body feels like it's falling asleep before it changes, so there is no pain. Being a unicorn is actually the most interesting. The colors and beauty of the world is amazing in that state, but the ugliness as also enhanced. Being a wolf and phoenix is more detached, more analytical." Harry paused and took a breath. "And my magik works in Unicorn and Phoenix states, but not as a wolf. As a wolf, I'm faster and smoother, but I can't protect myself against magik attacks, only physical."

"How powerful are you?" Ron asked.

"All of Hogwarts times two. As in all of Dumbledore, McGonnagal, all the students and every professor times two." Hermione said, sounding dazed. Harry just nodded. That sounded about right.

"So how powerful is Voldemort?" Ron asked quietly.

"Before, he was probably a bit more or less around Dumbledore's power. However, he must of known about Harry's awaking. Maybe he didn't come into full power during his awaking. Maybe something stalled him, or stole from him. I think we should research his awaking." Hermione said.

"He was warped, since his awakening was evil. Magik is neither good nor evil, but it does respond to a person's inner strength. Sirius said mine was very strong because I had no intent ever to use it for evil. I'm the good guy in all this. Voldemort's though, he was all evil, even at his awakening. Moreover, his warped ideas warped his magik. Does that explain it?" Harry asked dubiously. Hermione just nodded while Ron sighed.

"Right then, so will he ever get as powerful as you?" Ron asked.

"I think he might, unless I kill him first. I have a better chance now than I would if he gained his full powers. One way he's already trying to gain power is by stealing other people's. He tried with mine, and that spell was more powerful than anything I had ever encountered by him before." Harry rubbed his arms, goosebumps rising. "If I was a normal wizard, my powers would be gone by now."

"But who's magik is he getting? And what happens to those whose powers are stolen?" Hermione asked, her brow furrowed.

"I think he's getting the magik from his followers, Deatheaters. That burn on their arms must have received an upgrade. But he doesn't take enough to render them useless, and it must be on his least favorite ones, because I'm pretty sure that Malfoy hasn't been affected. I've seen Goyle and Crabb though, and they look weaker, drained somehow." Harry scratched his head. Hermione stared at him. "What?" He asked.

"How do you know this? You've been gone Harry." She accused.

"I snuck a look from time to time." Harry muttered.

"You snuck…a look…What did you sneak at Harry?" Hermione grilled him. Harry just laughed.

"I got the information we needed, and that's all I'm going to tell you. Besides, it was only one day." Harry ducked a pillow she threw at him.

"So are you going to show us some of your new magik tricks Harry?" Ron asked, lounging on the soft pillow lying on the floor.

"Maybe later. I just want to go to my own bed now." Harry yawned. It had been a long day. Classes were child's play now, and he had irritated more than one professor by doing his work and then messing around with other students.

The three of them walked down the halls towards their common room. Hermione was especially quiet and Harry could feel an ache on his heart. He doubted it came from Ron, who was hi-fiving all the knights in the hallway. Hermione was staring straight ahead, as if her life depended on getting her to the common room.

"What's wrong Hermione?" Harry asked softly, not to disturb Ron. Hermione just looked up at him, and Harry realized how much he had grown. Hermione was now tiny. As soon as her met Hermione's eyes, the ache on his heart worsened.

"Nothing" she said, looking down again. She bit her lip to keep from talking again, and Harry groaned. His heart hurt so bad.

"Hermione, as a side effect from my being a Unicorn, I can sense what others feel around me, especially people who are close to me. And trust me, I know you are feeling something because I can barely walk, my heart hurts so much." Harry sighed, leaning against the wall.

"Harry, it's nothing. Ignore it. Indigestion." Hermione kept walking, and Harry felt anger heaped upon his heart, with Hermione's heartache. He groaned yet again, and felt some of his own anger come through.

"This isn't fair Hermione. I know you are angry. And it's at me, or else I wouldn't feel it so much. Now talk to me." He said, catching up to her. Her anger grew, inside him, and his matched hers.

"Don't tell me what to do Harry." She warned him, shaking off his arm. Ron was beginning to look worried and grabbed Harry's arm.

"Leave her be mate. Women, you know. It's probably PMS or something." Ron ignored Hermione's glare. "Let's go down to the kitchens." He dragged Harry away by his arm, as Harry almost collapsed under Hermione's loneliness and sadness.

Harry and Ron walked down to the kitchens, the strain on his heart lessening the further away they got from Hermione. Harry breathed deeply. "What is the matter with her?" He asked. Ron just chuckled.

"The Great Harry Potter is clueless." Ron laughed again into his hands. "Mate, this is just great."