Disclaimer: Alas and Alack! Would that it were not so, but sadly, I do not own anything connected with dear Harry Potter. That, my friends, is all from the genius, JK Rowling.

A/N: I've gotten right to work on this fifth chappie. It's strange how fast this story is coming along, it seems just like yesterday I was working on the first chapter. Oh Gods, how am I supposed to make the transition from summer to Hogwarts. As of right now, I'm only in the evening of the second day. Ack! Ah well, things will progress better with my new characters, whom I like. Don't know where the idea for Elementals came from, a dream of mine I think, but I'm not sure. It seemed genius at the time, but in retrospect, I do believe I might've waited a bit before revealing their identity. But what's done is done. No turning back now. Thankies to my reviewers, I will be putting up names in the next chapter, so I can thank everyone individually. So, on with the show.

Double Trouble

Chapter Five

"Fred!" Hermione admonished, flushing hotly. "George, you weren't interrupting anything, we were just.erm.sealing a deal. That's ALL!" She glared at the back of Fred's head.

George looked back and forth between the two, taking a deep breath. "What sort of deal?" * Stop acting like a jealous prat, you prat! She'll find out if you don't! * George sighed deeply, focusing his attention on his twin, not allowing himself to even sneak a glance at Hermione.

"Well, Hermione here has agreed to be my date for Angelina's party." Fred noticed the muscle working furiously in George's jaw. * Now what is this all about? *

"You, Mione, AGREED?" George looked aghast, his face ashen.

"So? Look, I'm doing Fred a favor, that's all. And I don't have to explain myself to you, nor to anyone else. What I do is my business, and not that of anyone else, do you understand me George Orion Weasley?!" Hermione growled angrily at the twin that refused to meet her eye.

"No, I don't understand. Why are you going with Fred?" George sounded hurt, but the only to notice was Fred, who stood quietly to the side, watching the exchange with a look of confusion on his face. "Why are you going to Angelina's with her ex-boyfriend, are you two trying to make her jealous? That's what you're doing isn't it? Going over there to make it seem as if dear ickle Freddie here is over her. Hermione?! What's gotten into you? You're a prefect for Gods Sake! You follow the rules, you're a regular little McGonnagal, you even hand your papers in early! What are you doing? You have no right."

"I have EVERY right. I have given my all to this, to all of this! All I ever do is study, all I ever think about is my grades, my OWLs and NEWTs! I have no life! Do you realize that's the FIRST time I've ever been KISSED?! I'm frigging sixteen years old, and I just now get my first KISS! What sort of life is that? Huh? You, of all people, should know that in order to survive you have to learn to relax and have fun. Now that I am, YOU tell me that I'm doing something horrid. Angelina broke your brother's heart! I'm just trying to help him get her back by showing her what she's missing." Hermione wiped furiously at her cheeks and eyes, not even realizing that she was crying, or that her cousins and her friends were now in the hall, listening. "Do you know what happened in the Department of Ministries? Do you want to know? I'll tell you!"

Harry and Ron looked at each other, shocked. She was going to talk about it? They had never seen her this angry or upset before.

"No, Mione, I'm-" George started.

"Don't back out on me now, George. I was helping Harry, thought I had stopped that Deatheater. But I didn't, I felt that curse burn through me, and I fell. Do you want to know what I was thinking about? Not my family, not Ron or Harry, no! I was thinking that my life was a waste. I was going to die without ever knowing love, without ever breaking rules, without ever making a bad grade. I realized that there was more to life than school, more to life than the scores I made! I thought I was going to die, at the hand of Voldemort, all because my Friend had the misfortune of being the Chosen One!" She took a steadying breath, closing her eyes. "I didn't die, no, I lived, but I could have, and I made a vow that day to never let anything, not even my studies come between me and my friends. I have been the confidant of Ron, Ginny, and Harry since my second year at least. I know more of their secrets than I have my own. Who do I have to confide in?" Her voice grew soft. "No one. But they didn't even tell me when Harry and Ginny started dating. No one thought to tell me anything. I found out from Lavender that Ron and her started dating. Not from my best friend, but from a girl I didn't really like until that moment. So, if you don't mind, I'm going to do what I want, because I have to live with me, with being who I am. Not you, but me." She fled past them both, running down the stairs, past the landing where her cousins and friends were standing.

"Mione, wait!" Ron called, but she ran past him, kept running until she was out the front door. Her heart pounded and her head was throbbing painfully. She slowed to a walk about five minutes later, when she realized that she had left the Burrow far behind. To think she had actually been happy to come here the day before.

She sat down on a rock on the side of the lane, exhausted, both emotionally and physically. A cool breeze whipped about her, cooling off her heated skin. She shouldn't have allowed herself to do that, to reveal all her pain and frustration to anyone.

*But it felt good, huh? * the voice in her head startled her. It had felt good to vent her ire, to give into the anger that had slowly boiled within her without her knowledge, in truth, she felt freer now than she had in the past five years.

"Maybe I should just go home." She wondered aloud. If she did, that would mean all her cousins would have to come with her. She needed a little time to herself, to escape, to just be numb.

She got up and began walking, not quite sure where she was going, just allowing the serenity of the dusk to seep into her, guide her to wherever it wanted. She didn't notice her surroundings, just kept walking, knowing that if she stopped, she may never want to get up again.

***

"What are all of you doing, standing out here in the hall?" Molly looked at the group, "Oh, and where's Hermione, Dumbledore needs to talk to her before he leaves."

George looked at the floor guiltily, "She's gone."

"What do you mean gone?" Molly looked at her children, "What happened?"

"We were sort of arguing, and she ran off, outside I think." George scuffed at the floor with his foot.

Molly looked faintly worried. "Well, I'll tell Dumbledore, I just hope she comes back before it gets too dark."

***

"Molly, did you get Hermione?" Dumbledore looked at her curiously.

"No, she's gone for a walk, er, she and George had a little misunderstanding."

***

Hermione glanced around her; she had no idea where she was. She had been walking for about an hour, and it was now completely dark.

"Gods! Why me?!" She felt the pockets of her jeans for her wand. No luck. She sighed, she'd just have to turn around and head back in the opposite direction until she stumbled on the Burrow.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" The emotionless voice stopped Hermione dead, freezing her insides. "Looks like a lost little Mudblood."

***

"It's been a few hours, and she hasn't come back!" George's voice was slightly on the hysterical side. * It's all my fault! I should've never just jumped to conclusions! *

"Calm down, she's fine, she's was just a little miffed at you is all." Fred patted his brother's arm in what he supposed was a comforting manner.

***

"Where is she?"

"Here M'Lord."

"Bring her forward then."

Hermione shivered in spite of the warmth of the forest. She jerked her arm out of the man's grip, glaring.

"Look, we're not going to hurt you! If I have to tell you that again, I do believe I'm going to scream." The woman on her other side declared.

"Why did you take me then?" Hermione's voice trembled slightly, the only thing that betrayed her fear.

"You are needed. If we were going to hurt you, we would've done so when we rescued you from that vile man." The man that was being referred to was none other than Lucius Malfoy. He had grabbed a hold of her, when out of nowhere this man and woman swooped in, knocked Malfoy out, and took her away.

"What am I needed for?" She studied the hooded figure before her, wondering if this was the mighty Voldemort.

"You are the one with Elemental relations, are you not?" When Hermione nodded he continued, "Then you are the one we need. I need to know, have you been a little more aggressive lately? Lashing out at your friends?"

"Not until this evening." Hermione wondered how this man knew that. She stepped forward, almost eagerly. She didn't think this man would've gone through the trouble of retrieving her if he was just going to kill her. For some reason, the Hooded Figure didn't terrify her, not now anyway. She didn't sense the pure evil that would almost certainly surround Voldemort.

"Good, then we aren't too late." He rose, tall and proud, though how she knew that, she didn't know, because she couldn't really see his face. "Prepare a room for our.Guest."

"A room? But I am staying with friends, they are probably worried sick about me." Hermione followed the Hooded Figure, not realizing that the other two hung back, exchanging a significant glance, nodding.

"You will be staying here for the night, I will have word sent to these friends of yours. They will not have to worry longer."

"Why won't you let me see your face?" She was curious now. This enigma had certainly caught her attention. He seemed so proud, so sure, yet he hid behind a cowl.

"Do you wish to see, little one?" The mystery man's voice was rich with barely suppressed laughter. "I believe the need for secrecy is no longer as astute. All right then." The man pulled back his hood, and Hermione gasped with awe.

"You.you're." She stared long at the man, "But how? And Why?"

"Yes, I am. That's why I had you brought here. Welcome to my home, little Hermione Granger, friend of Harry Potter and resident genius of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It isn't much, I assure you, but at the moment, it is all I possess."

"But why am I here?" She couldn't take her eyes off the man before her, his dark hair lying in luxuriant waves about the lean angular plane of his face. His eyes were a rich dark hue that bordered on violet and his facial features was strongly aristocratic.

"You come from good Irish stock, eh Ms. Granger? You're bloodline is directly descended from the fae, as is mine. That's where your magic comes from, child. That's why you're cousins are the strongest known Elementals of this age, and why you survived that curse. You are about to come fully into your power, and when you do, I must be there, to induct you. You are the next generation of Storm Magi. Do you know what that is?" Hermione shook her head, shocked. "Ah, well, you are, or rather, will be one of the most powerful Witches of your time. This particular talent lives only within our veins. It is a rare and particularly powerful innate magic, one that if not controlled properly, could bring the downfall of the Wizarding Society. Which brings me into the picture. I am also Storm Magi, and I am a cousin of yours, though distantly related." The man smiled. "I am also a Halfling, as you recognized. My name is Rohan."

"It is a pleasure making your acquaintance, Rohan."

"I am sure the pleasure is all mine."

"I must ask a question though. Why take me now? Why not earlier or later."

"Tonight is the night of the full moon, the first week of August, which is the last full moon of Summer. Your powers will bloom this very night, so I had to get you. Hurting that Malfoy scum was added pleasure. Stupid git."

Hermione smiled. "I can see now that we'll be very good friends."

***

"I'm going to go look for her!" George was halfway to the door when an owl swooped in from the open window, nearly hitting him. It alighted on Dumbledore's shoulder, waited for him to untie the note, and then was gone.

Dumbledore read it through, then smiled one of the hugest smiles in the history of man. "So, at last she's going to reach her potential."

"What does it say Dumbledore?" Molly was nearly frantic with worry.

"Dumbledore,

I hope this letter finds you well, old friend. I have
written concerning a Ms. Hermione Granger. She will be in
my custody this evening, but I promise to have her returned
by the morn. It is the night of the full moon, which I know
you realize. She will be coming into herself tonight, and I
must preside over the induction. It is hoped that her power
will rival that of Mr. Potter's for this would be a great
blow against our Enemy. She seems so young to have this
thrust upon her, but I know she will be capable, she is to
be a Storm Magi after all.
Regards,
Rohan."

Harry and Ron looked at each other. "Storm Magi?" They asked in unison.

Dumbledore nodded, "It is a form of Elemental magic, much like you girls possess." He gestured to the three girls, "But is much more powerful than anything known. It comes from Fae blood, Irish to be exact. It is a rare gift, one that takes a lot of training to conquer. But if anyone could control it, it would be Ms. Granger. Now, I must take my leave of you, Arthur, Molly." And with that, Dumbledore disapperated.

George looked at the floor, his heart leaping for joy, he had thought she was hurt, or worse, dead. He resolved to tell her of his feelings as soon as she returned in the morning.

*_____________________________________________________________________ *

A/N: I hope you like it, it just jumped at me, attacked me when I wasn't looking. Not much in here about George and Hermione, but it will be, and it will get longer. Next chapter promises to be a doozy. George and Hermione are going to confess their feelings, Fred and Hermione are going to go to the party, Harry and Ron area going to apologize, Bill and Danielle are going to get a little closer. Charlie and Elizabeth are going to snog. Raya's going to console Percy after a bad break up with Penelope. Skylar is going to meet Remus.(sorry but I am in love with Remus Lupin!).and the list goes on and on. Plus, Hermione is going to come into her own, and how will her friends react when she must spend more time on her training, and less time listening to them? Don't forget to read and review.

Love,

~Me~