Disclaimer: "Ladies and Gentlemen. Due to the nature of this fic, I must once again express that. . . Wait? Is that Draco?" The authoress swoons as the Malfoy Prince comes striding into view. Draco sneers at the authoress, "So, this is what you pathetic muggles do with your time. "Do not lie to these people, cretin!" The authoress swoons again. "You do not own the Harry Potter realm. Heh. As if. It belongs to JKR, as you well know." Draco glares around, then strides back out.

A/N: Heh, okay, sorry. I had to do something amusing with the disclaimer. I can't stand writing it. As if I would dare put myself in the shoes of JKR. * Glowers* Anyway. I couldn't wait to write this next chapter, which I am going to break my record and go for fourteen pages on word. I hope. Well, on with the show.

Double Trouble

Chapter Twelve

"Rohan?" Caralynn sighed, "It's Hermione isn't it?"

The halfling sighed heavily, rubbing his face with his hands. "She hasn't woken up for a week, Cara! She just lays there."

Caralynn smiled sadly. "She's a strong child, Rohan, she'll pull through."

Rohan glanced at his beloved, "I know. I just can't help but think it's my fault. If I hadn't pushed her. . ." He trailed off, leaving that thought open, his mental anguish a pale relief on his face.

"Look, she's been through a lot. She has to learn. You did nothing wrong." Caralynn placed a comforting arm about his shoulders. "She's fine."

"Fine?!" Rohan shook her off. "Look at her, she is comatose, because of me!"

***

Hermione groaned slightly, moving her head. A flash of pain jolted her fully awake. She allowed her eyes to flutter open, then winced. * Too much light!*

"Hermione?" She closed her eyes, scrunching up her face.

"Not so loud, please." She pleaded breathily. It hurt to even speak. "What happened?"

"Don't worry about that. Here, take a drink of this." She tried to reach for whatever it was, but her limbs felt leaden. "No, just drink." A container pressed against her mouth. She opened, a cool refreshing liquid pouring into her mouth. She gulped greedily, suddenly thirsty. "Whoa, now. Careful, you don't want to get choked."

When she had finished, she opened her eyes again. Everything was blurred, and her eyes watered. "Where am I?"

"Shhh.now, just lay back." A hand pushed her back against the pillows. She nodded wearily. Her last thought was that the drink was laced with a sleeping potion. For some reason, she was grateful. Then darkness engulfed her senses.

***

"She was awake?" Rohan's head jerked up, his violet eyes wild. "Why didn't you tell me?!" He snarled, clenching his hands. "You don't understand what she's been through, I could have helped her better!"

"Rohan!" Dumbledore admonished him, but not without the trademark twinkle. "Madame Pomfrey is quite the capable Witch. She knows what she's doing." He nodded to the affronted MediWitch. "Poppy, you can floo from here. Minerva, I dare say, is pacing. Maybe you had better go calm her."

Madame Pomfrey nodded, "Just make sure she gets plenty of rest. Here." She handed Rohan a vial of clear liquid. "The next few times she wakes, just give her water, with two, and I mean just two, drops of this liquid. Oh, and make sure the shades are drawn, her eyes are slightly weak."

***

Hermione woke suddenly, a scream dying on her lips. Her parents! She writhed within the sheets, getting the linen wound about her body, preventing her escape. She growled, tearing at the bindings, tears clouding her vision.

"Hermione!" Caralynn rushed to the bedside, a worried expression flitting across her face.

"He'll kill them!" She screamed, finally getting free of the sheets, "I have to go!" She tumbled from the bed, landing hard on the wooden floor.

"What? Hermione, it was only a dream!" Caralynn tried to restrain the distraught teen. Hermione flailed out with her hand, slicing open Caralynn's arm with her fingernails.

"NO!" Hermione cried, oblivious to everything but the vision dancing in her head. "Mum!" She scrambled across the floor blindly, searching for an exit. "Daddy!"

Caralynn cradled her injured arm, "Rohan!"

Hermione growled suddenly, a low animalistic sound that caused the hair on Caralynn's body to raise. Rohan stumbled into the room, his eyes widening suddenly. Hermione had regained her feet by this time.

"Hermione?" Rohan's voice was calm and soothing, but Hermione just snarled in response. "Hermione, listen to me, it was just a nightmare."

"No it wasn't." Hermione's voice was low, menacing. Her eyes were wild and held a manic glint. "I'm sorry, but I must go. Now." She threw back her head, a sudden aura of power surrounding her.

*When did she call upon her power? * Rohan wondered for a moment, not feeling the shift. A shiver ran through the house, the wood protesting for a moment. Rohan started suddenly. "Oh Gods! Cara!" He ran to Caralynn's side, grabbing her, then ushering her from the room as fast as he could flee. Another shiver shook the house. He pulled Caralynn behind him, out into the yard, and far from the house.

"Why did you do that, we've got to go get her!" Caralynn cried in dismay and worry.

"Cara, love, we had to get out of there." Rohan's voice was steely, his heart pounding wildly.

"Why-" At that moment, the earth beneath their feet bucked, knocking them to the ground. The house they had been standing in moments before collapsed, wood flying everywhere.

"Because. . . that wasn't Hermione. That was Athena."

***

Dumbledore apparated into the Burrow with a pop, his eyes grave. Harry and Sirius looked up from the game of Exploding Snap they'd been playing with the other Weasleys, staring.

"Dumbledore?" They had known about Hermione's condition, George had almost been frantic. They had found out that she had woken about two days ago.

"It's Hermione." George started, lifting his eyes to Dumbledore's.

Harry clapped a hand to his scar.

***

Hermione stared at the still house, a heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach. No light graced the dark, no one moved in the silence. * You must make a choice. You'll know it when it comes.*

She stood in the center of the street, white flames licking at her body. Raw power coursed through her body, but it did not have the same effect as before, it did not hurt. Righteous anger flooded her senses.

"Hermione!" A voice broke through her concentration. "Hermione, wait!"

She ignored the voice, walking forward. A flash distorted her vision for a moment, but she continued on, her thoughts focused on one thing.

"Mum?" Hermione entered the quiet house, her voice shattering the silence. "Dad?"

Someone was following her, but she didn't care, all she was thinking was of the dream, the choice.

"Ah, I see you've decided to show up. Good, now I don't have to come looking for you." A voice hissed from the dark corner of her family room. Hermione turned slowly, a smirk on her face.

"Yes, I've come, Thomas." The disembodied voice hissed loudly in response. "Let them go!"

Jessica Granger lay on the floor, near the feet of her attacker, her husband was lying a few feet away, unconscious. She couldn't move, but she could hear her daughter's voice, and gave an inarticulate scream of fear and anger at her helplessness.

"Did you have to bring backups too?" Voldemort sneered, stepping out of the darkness, toward the girl.

"Rohan, Caralynn. I would suggest you leave, this isn't going to be pretty." Hermione purred, walking toward Harry's archenemy.

"Oh, is the little Mudblood-" Voldemort stumbled back suddenly, as a violent tremor shook the house.

"You were saying, Riddle?" Voldemort flinched slightly at the use of his surname, then stalked forward.

"Stop playing games, girlie!" He pulled his wand out, pointing it at Jessica. "Do as I say!"

Hermione laughed. Voldemort looked momentarily perplexed. "Don't you realize that I'm threatening your dear old Mum?"

"Oh, of course I do, I'm just wondering if you're suffering from family issues here, Thomas. A Mummy complex maybe?" Hermione's voice was cruel, cutting, and calculated. The voice of someone who has control of the situation. "Why did you really come here, Thomas? Heh, I'm sure it wasn't to stand about threatening my Mum."

Voldemort did a double take. "Who are you?" He hissed suddenly, his red eyes widening in suspicion.

Hermione walked forward, almost nose to nose with Voldemort. "What's it to you, Thomas?" She purred silkily, her hair flaring backward. The white flames that had been licking about her body suddenly collapsed. Hermione reached a hand out, caressing Voldemort's face. "So much pain. . ." She whispered, her eyes narrowing. She whirled about suddenly.

"Dumbledore!" She bristled visibly. "This is MY fight."

Harry stood, staring in shock at the girl who was his best friend. She had never talked to the Headmaster, or any other teacher, in such a manner. He noticed a man and woman standing slightly to the side, a dazed expression on their faces.

"Hermione?" Harry walked forward slightly, "What are you doing?"

"Harry. . ." She had an almost pleading look in her eyes. "Stay out of this, this is none of your concern." Harry spotted Jessica and Clinton Granger on the floor, then he spotted Voldemort.

"What in the-"

"Harry? Hermione?" Ron stepped into the house, his eyes widening, and he paled.

Hermione turned from her friends, the anger in her boiling over. She felt the numbness return, and she grinned cockily. "Thomas."

Voldemort flinched again, then his eyes grew hungry. He could feel the power that seethed below the surface of the girl before him. He pointed his wand at her father, watching as her eyes widened imperceptibly.

Hermione felt herself stiffen, felt her nerves scream at her, and her anger rise. This made the second time he threatened her family. She screamed, the inarticulate sound that issued forth from her startled everyone in the house. She felt herself slipping, her awareness slipping.

***

"Hermione. . ." Hermione looked at the girl, her eyes filled with
tears.

"He's going to hurt them. He'll kill them, to get me." Hermione's
voice was filled with fear. "I can't let him do that."

The girl walked forward, touching Hermione's arm in comfort. "It's
okay." Her crimson eyes flared suddenly. She grinned slightly, her
grip tightening on Hermione. "It's time." She whispered.

Hermione gasped, a pain ripping through her, followed by a warmth. The
girl pressed herself closer and closer, until she was fully against
Hermione. Then there was a slight tingling sensation as the two became
one.

Hermione let out a slow breath, she felt invigorated, new, ready to do
some damage.

***

Voldemort stared at the girl standing before him, her scream dying into silence. She was kneeling on the floor, breathing harshly, her entire body shivering uncontrollably.

"Harry. . ." Voldemort jerked his head up, eyeing Dumbledore with a wary dislike, but he was too shocked to do much more than acknowledge his presence. "Harry, get Ron, and get out." His voice was low, and urgent. Something Harry had never heard before. "Now."

Harry looked at Hermione, "But-"

"Now, Harry!" Harry grabbed Ron's arm, dragging him back through the open door. Dumbledore waited an anguished moment, then followed the other two, herding Rohan and Caralynn out with him, and with a flick of his wand, the still forms of Jessica and Clinton Granger floated out with them.

It was just Hermione and Voldemort.

"Well, well, little Mudblood, looks like your friends and family abandoned you. All alone to face me." Voldemort regained his sense of self, sneering at the shivering girl.

"I'm all I need." She whispered, he had to strain his ears to catch her voice.

"Heh." Voldemort snorted.

Hermione lifted her head, a strange warmth spreading through her body. She could feel herself changing, could feel her body turning into that of another, two consciousnesses vied within her, but what was more prominent was the aura of palpable anger that surrounded her, engulfed her. Her body grew smaller, her hair grew longer, and her eyes grew larger.

Voldemort's eyes widened as he watched the girl in front of him morph into someone else completely. "What magic is this?" He demanded, realizing that she wasn't concentrating hard enough to be a Morphmagus.

"Scared, Thomas?" Her voice was rich with anger and hatred, laced with laughter, and edged with steel.

Voldemort glared at the girl. "You wish."

Hermione laughed, a low, ominous sound that filled the wizard in front of her with dread, though he sure as hell wasn't about to show it. "Sorry, those words were so familiar." She stood, her transformation complete.

Voldemort almost forgot to breathe. The girl before him had long silver hair, pale white skin, and large, blood colored eyes that currently held his. She walked over to him, caressing his cheek again. "So much pain. . . " She whispered again, then snaked her arms around his neck, forcibly pulling his head down to hers, forcing his lips to meet hers. All the anger seething below her surface burst forth, covering the two in a halo of white light.

Voldemort struggled, trying to get away from her. The pain was like nothing he had ever experienced. He was being slowly ripped from his body, his very essence was being torn from him. She held onto him, refusing to let go. All her pain ripped through him in tumultuous waves of fury. His vision began to go dark, forming a tunnel that focused on Hermione's blood colored eyes. Within their depths flickered a little flame of cinnamon, and that was the last thing he saw. He collapsed in her arms.

***

Hermione fell forward, hitting her knees, shivering. Wood collapsed about her, but she was oblivious. *You must make a choice. * Hermione let out a blood curdling scream.

***

Voldemort let out a yell, sitting straight up. "Wormtail!" He hissed harshly, waiting for the cowering fool to come to him.

"M-master?"

"It's the Granger chit." He tried to stop his pounding heart. He could still feel an echo of the pain.

"You've had a vision?" Wormtail asked silkily.

"Yes, get Lucius. I want to know more about this girl."

***

"Hermione!" Harry cried, sitting bolt upright. What had he seen? Dumbledore looked at him silently.

"How long have I been out?" He croaked slightly. He had passed out just after Dumbledore had apparated in.

"Approximately ten minutes." Lupin answered him, looking grave.

Harry shook violently, paling slightly. "Harry, mate, what's wrong?" Ron sat next to him, looking at his friend oddly. Harry took a deep breath, trying to get his hammering heart under control. He turned his brilliant emerald eyes to stare at Dumbledore.

"Get Hermione here now." He whispered, the dream filling him with a certain sense of dread.

Dumbledore nodded sagely. "I was just getting ready to owl Rohan and Caralynn, telling them to bring her."

Harry clasped a hand to his scar, which was throbbing painfully. Ginny looked at her boyfriend in terror. "Harry, what did you see?"

*______________________________________________________________*

A/N: Heh, I'm leaving it there, but not to worry, I'll get around to lucky chappie thirteen soon. Don't forget to RR.

Love

~Me~