A/N: Sorry about the long awaited update, it has been awhile since I've been able to write at all. My father has been in the hospital, so I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Hopefully, I'll be able to update sooner.
DISCLAIMER: See other chapters. . .I don't own them, and I know it. . .all belongs to JKR.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
CHAPTER FORTY ONE
Hermione stared out her window, sighing gently. Figures. Her expression turned one of mutinous wrath as she watched her boyfriend, love of her life, and all round git extraordinaire as he sauntered down to the Quidditch Pitch, a slight breeze ruffling his hair. She crushed a piece of parchment between her hands, ignoring the ink that now stained them.
"Mione, doll, do you mind if I take Cho to the Yule ball?" She intoned, her lip curled in a sneer. No matter how she tried to see it from his point of view, she still came around to the fact he had asked another girl to the ball, instead of her. ANOTHER GIRL! As if she didn't matter!
"It's only a dance, doll." Hermione abused the parchment, her mind successfully diverted from her Potions essay. "We have every day together. . . she's Head Girl." She just didn't understand! She had spent a good while picking out the perfect set of dress robes, even taking Lavender and Parvati, listening to their drabble while she shopped! And he was taking another bloody girl!
Without thinking, a white aura, quite natural by this time, sprang about her body. "Why I oughta. . ." Storm clouds budded in the distance, a warning rumble of thunder. Like an idiot, George had walked off without sensing the dangerous situation he had left his beloved in. "I'll rip her limb from limb!" The more Hermione thought about it, the more life wasn't fair.
Hermione stood with a motive in mind. She was going to march right up to Cho Chang and rip her face off, just like that.
*
Cho Chang smiled as she exited the Charms room, her test, A++, clutched in her hand. Talking to one of her multitude of friends, she didn't see the flurry of dark hair and murderous rage that was about to descend upon her.
"Cho?" Hermione's high falsetto cut through the conversation like the proverbial knife, a very nasty smirk twisting the features of her face into something not quite pleasant to look at.
Cho turned, eyeing Hermione for a confused moment, then shrugged. "Whatcha want, Hermione?"
"Just a minute of your time, that is, if you're not too busy?"
Cho gestured for her friend to continue without her. "I'll be along in a minute."
Hermione grinned as the girl's only way of escape sauntered off down the hall with a haughty expression.
"What is it?" Cho looked worried. "Has something happened to Harry?"
"No, no, walk with me." Hermione grabbed the taller girl forcefully by the arm. "I've heard recently that you're attending the Yule Ball with one George Weasley."
Cho's smile became dreamy. "Yeah, he asked me this morning."
Hermione bristled. "Did you realize he already had a girlfriend?"
"Yeah. Some bushy-headed Gryff-OH!" Cho stopped, jerking her arm roughly out of Hermione's grasp. "Herms." Hermione winced at the name. "I'm so sorry! I didn't realize!"
"Of course you didn't. . .I don't blame you for wanting to go out with the cad." Hermione felt distanced from herself. She drew her wand, to Cho's obvious distress. "I'm sorry Cho, but I have to do this. Avada Kadavra!" Hermione felt a gleeful rush as the green light enveloped the poor girl, and she crumpled to the ground.
Then a wash of horror dropped like ice over Hermione. "OH GODS!" She had just killed a girl.
*~*~*~*
Hermione woke from the dream soaked in icy sweat, her breathing coming in ragged gasps. Crookshanks jumped from her chest with a little glare.
Hermione stumbled from her bed, rushing to the window, pulling it open and devouring breaths of the icy air, trying to calm her body.
For the past week, all her dreams had been about killing some poor Hogwarts student for some inane reason or another. The night before, she had dream-killed Ron because he hadn't done his homework for Transfiguration. At this rate, she wasn't going to get much sleep, and she HAD to, she had end of the semester exams coming up, and she couldn't fail. . .not now.
She closed the window with a snap, falling dejectedly into a small armchair, pulling her nightgown closer about her body to help keep her meager body heat right where it should be.
"Why?" Her plaintive question rent the silence. "Why me? Why do I have to be the one to carry the burden? Why not Harry? Or Ron? Why me? Why must I be the Incarnate, the Magi? I'm just Hermione. . .I'm no one special."
"Yes you are." The voice near her ear caused her to jump. "You are special because I decreed it so." A woman strode from the darkness, her brown hair hanging about her in gentle waves, the robe she wore glowed pristinely in the halflight. "Self-pity." The woman's lip curled.
Hermione glared at the woman. "I'm guessing your the great and almighty Athena, who keeps ruining my life!" She had never seen the Goddess in her adult form.
"Yes." Athena answered resolutely. "I am the great and mighty Athena." The woman sneered at the girl. "Now, my daughter, it is time you did some good with the gift I have given you."
Hermione jumped to her feet. "Good?! You cursed me with this so-called Gift! Now Voldemort is after me, and my cousins! And I have you to thank for this! So forgive me if I don't jump for joy!"
Athena smiled indulgently. "Fiery little lass, aren't you?"
Hermione picked up a pillow, hurling it at the derelict Goddess. "LEAVE ME ALONE! I want nothing to do with you any longer! I'm a child! I want to be a child! I don't want this Gift anymore!" Her knees gave out, causing her to sink to the floor, sobbing. The dreams had become to much, the stress of trying to control her power, of trying to keep from going off every moment.
Athena nodded. "I see. Well then, only one thing to do." The Goddess lifted her hand, placing it on the girl's head. "You are not a child, Hermione Leigh Granger. You are a Storm Magi, the One who bears my Mark." Athena's voice softened, "And you are the only one who understands what it means to live vicariously."
"Acting in your stead." Hermione laughed mirthlessly. "I'm not the only one who knows that. Ask Harry. He acts in the stead of Dumbledore all the time. Or ask Ron. He live vicariously through Harry." Her tears stopped, but a bitter smile replaced them. "What is it with you being so gentle? Aren't Gods supposed to be all fire and brimstone?"
Athena sighed, "If you want the truth. . .are you sure you can handle it?"
"Try me." Hermione's voice was flat.
"Gods, as you think of us, are no more than the meager representation of all that you hold dear. We are faces you put to attributes, you give us petty natures and jealousies that humanize us but also set us apart. I am a mere entity for you to project your feelings on, nothing more. I am but a blank canvas."
"That doesn't make sense." Hermione objected. "You are here, I can hear you, see you."
"That matters not. I am just a physical representation of the strength pent up inside you. If you honestly expected me to be 'All fire and brimstone' as you put it, then I would. I am what you will me to be. To Ronald Weasley, I would appear as a sex kitten."
Hermione made a face. "But then, that would mean that I have created this whole scenario and am in no way any more your mark Bearer than I am, say, an Elf."
"No, that's not entirely true, just because I appear to you one way and to someone else another doesn't mean I don't exist. I just don't exist on quite as physical a level as you mortals do. To me, this conversation is but a mere second in the life I call my own. To you, this conversation could last all night. Think of me as a Soul."
"But. . .many things don't make sense. If you were a Soul, then how could you be corporeal, and then we get into the aged debate about is there really life after death, and does the Soul honestly exist. And if we did that, then what makes your Soul so much better than mine that you are able to take the form of a human, play with our lives, and then go about your merry way?!"
Athena dropped into the chair vacated earlier. "Have you ever heard of a New Ager?"
Hermione furrowed her brow. "I think. . ."
"Okay, most New Agers believe in reincarnation, but they also believe that a person's soul, sent to earth to learn, has a higher energy that most humans cannot possess, that is called their higher conscious. Now, they also believe in many dimensions and many worlds that their soul can inhabit simultaneously, which means that they are stretched across the universe and across time. What is happening right now would probably be happening everywhere else your soul inhabits. Now, the Gods many people worship and talk to are but their Higher conscious, but you, on the other hand, have tapped into the ability to talk to a Higher consciouness' Higher Conscious, or what is known as the Creator Gods. All Gods, Greek, Roman, Mayan, Egyptian, even Christian, are known as the Creator Gods, and it takes a very strong person to be able to carry the mark of the Highest Conscious, which you do, and you are. In essence, your personal god, or higher conscious, has a God, which is me, and in turn, you bear my mark, that sets you apart from everyone else because your soul belongs to me vicariously, and so, I live through you, and in turn, you have a ghost type power of a Creator God."
Hermione stared at the Goddess as if she had grown two heads. "But. . .but. . ."
"My allotted time with you is drawing to an end. So in close, I leave you a gift."
Athena held out a beautiful pendant. "Wear it, and my protection, however much it means, is always with you."
And with that, the Goddess was gone.
Hermione stared at the place where Athena had been, her brow creased. "Creator God. . .?" And with much to think about, the girl climbed back into her bed, mentally chewing on the bone that was left by her Palladin and Plague.
*~*~*~*
A/N: Don't forget to RR.
Love,
Me!
DISCLAIMER: See other chapters. . .I don't own them, and I know it. . .all belongs to JKR.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
CHAPTER FORTY ONE
Hermione stared out her window, sighing gently. Figures. Her expression turned one of mutinous wrath as she watched her boyfriend, love of her life, and all round git extraordinaire as he sauntered down to the Quidditch Pitch, a slight breeze ruffling his hair. She crushed a piece of parchment between her hands, ignoring the ink that now stained them.
"Mione, doll, do you mind if I take Cho to the Yule ball?" She intoned, her lip curled in a sneer. No matter how she tried to see it from his point of view, she still came around to the fact he had asked another girl to the ball, instead of her. ANOTHER GIRL! As if she didn't matter!
"It's only a dance, doll." Hermione abused the parchment, her mind successfully diverted from her Potions essay. "We have every day together. . . she's Head Girl." She just didn't understand! She had spent a good while picking out the perfect set of dress robes, even taking Lavender and Parvati, listening to their drabble while she shopped! And he was taking another bloody girl!
Without thinking, a white aura, quite natural by this time, sprang about her body. "Why I oughta. . ." Storm clouds budded in the distance, a warning rumble of thunder. Like an idiot, George had walked off without sensing the dangerous situation he had left his beloved in. "I'll rip her limb from limb!" The more Hermione thought about it, the more life wasn't fair.
Hermione stood with a motive in mind. She was going to march right up to Cho Chang and rip her face off, just like that.
*
Cho Chang smiled as she exited the Charms room, her test, A++, clutched in her hand. Talking to one of her multitude of friends, she didn't see the flurry of dark hair and murderous rage that was about to descend upon her.
"Cho?" Hermione's high falsetto cut through the conversation like the proverbial knife, a very nasty smirk twisting the features of her face into something not quite pleasant to look at.
Cho turned, eyeing Hermione for a confused moment, then shrugged. "Whatcha want, Hermione?"
"Just a minute of your time, that is, if you're not too busy?"
Cho gestured for her friend to continue without her. "I'll be along in a minute."
Hermione grinned as the girl's only way of escape sauntered off down the hall with a haughty expression.
"What is it?" Cho looked worried. "Has something happened to Harry?"
"No, no, walk with me." Hermione grabbed the taller girl forcefully by the arm. "I've heard recently that you're attending the Yule Ball with one George Weasley."
Cho's smile became dreamy. "Yeah, he asked me this morning."
Hermione bristled. "Did you realize he already had a girlfriend?"
"Yeah. Some bushy-headed Gryff-OH!" Cho stopped, jerking her arm roughly out of Hermione's grasp. "Herms." Hermione winced at the name. "I'm so sorry! I didn't realize!"
"Of course you didn't. . .I don't blame you for wanting to go out with the cad." Hermione felt distanced from herself. She drew her wand, to Cho's obvious distress. "I'm sorry Cho, but I have to do this. Avada Kadavra!" Hermione felt a gleeful rush as the green light enveloped the poor girl, and she crumpled to the ground.
Then a wash of horror dropped like ice over Hermione. "OH GODS!" She had just killed a girl.
*~*~*~*
Hermione woke from the dream soaked in icy sweat, her breathing coming in ragged gasps. Crookshanks jumped from her chest with a little glare.
Hermione stumbled from her bed, rushing to the window, pulling it open and devouring breaths of the icy air, trying to calm her body.
For the past week, all her dreams had been about killing some poor Hogwarts student for some inane reason or another. The night before, she had dream-killed Ron because he hadn't done his homework for Transfiguration. At this rate, she wasn't going to get much sleep, and she HAD to, she had end of the semester exams coming up, and she couldn't fail. . .not now.
She closed the window with a snap, falling dejectedly into a small armchair, pulling her nightgown closer about her body to help keep her meager body heat right where it should be.
"Why?" Her plaintive question rent the silence. "Why me? Why do I have to be the one to carry the burden? Why not Harry? Or Ron? Why me? Why must I be the Incarnate, the Magi? I'm just Hermione. . .I'm no one special."
"Yes you are." The voice near her ear caused her to jump. "You are special because I decreed it so." A woman strode from the darkness, her brown hair hanging about her in gentle waves, the robe she wore glowed pristinely in the halflight. "Self-pity." The woman's lip curled.
Hermione glared at the woman. "I'm guessing your the great and almighty Athena, who keeps ruining my life!" She had never seen the Goddess in her adult form.
"Yes." Athena answered resolutely. "I am the great and mighty Athena." The woman sneered at the girl. "Now, my daughter, it is time you did some good with the gift I have given you."
Hermione jumped to her feet. "Good?! You cursed me with this so-called Gift! Now Voldemort is after me, and my cousins! And I have you to thank for this! So forgive me if I don't jump for joy!"
Athena smiled indulgently. "Fiery little lass, aren't you?"
Hermione picked up a pillow, hurling it at the derelict Goddess. "LEAVE ME ALONE! I want nothing to do with you any longer! I'm a child! I want to be a child! I don't want this Gift anymore!" Her knees gave out, causing her to sink to the floor, sobbing. The dreams had become to much, the stress of trying to control her power, of trying to keep from going off every moment.
Athena nodded. "I see. Well then, only one thing to do." The Goddess lifted her hand, placing it on the girl's head. "You are not a child, Hermione Leigh Granger. You are a Storm Magi, the One who bears my Mark." Athena's voice softened, "And you are the only one who understands what it means to live vicariously."
"Acting in your stead." Hermione laughed mirthlessly. "I'm not the only one who knows that. Ask Harry. He acts in the stead of Dumbledore all the time. Or ask Ron. He live vicariously through Harry." Her tears stopped, but a bitter smile replaced them. "What is it with you being so gentle? Aren't Gods supposed to be all fire and brimstone?"
Athena sighed, "If you want the truth. . .are you sure you can handle it?"
"Try me." Hermione's voice was flat.
"Gods, as you think of us, are no more than the meager representation of all that you hold dear. We are faces you put to attributes, you give us petty natures and jealousies that humanize us but also set us apart. I am a mere entity for you to project your feelings on, nothing more. I am but a blank canvas."
"That doesn't make sense." Hermione objected. "You are here, I can hear you, see you."
"That matters not. I am just a physical representation of the strength pent up inside you. If you honestly expected me to be 'All fire and brimstone' as you put it, then I would. I am what you will me to be. To Ronald Weasley, I would appear as a sex kitten."
Hermione made a face. "But then, that would mean that I have created this whole scenario and am in no way any more your mark Bearer than I am, say, an Elf."
"No, that's not entirely true, just because I appear to you one way and to someone else another doesn't mean I don't exist. I just don't exist on quite as physical a level as you mortals do. To me, this conversation is but a mere second in the life I call my own. To you, this conversation could last all night. Think of me as a Soul."
"But. . .many things don't make sense. If you were a Soul, then how could you be corporeal, and then we get into the aged debate about is there really life after death, and does the Soul honestly exist. And if we did that, then what makes your Soul so much better than mine that you are able to take the form of a human, play with our lives, and then go about your merry way?!"
Athena dropped into the chair vacated earlier. "Have you ever heard of a New Ager?"
Hermione furrowed her brow. "I think. . ."
"Okay, most New Agers believe in reincarnation, but they also believe that a person's soul, sent to earth to learn, has a higher energy that most humans cannot possess, that is called their higher conscious. Now, they also believe in many dimensions and many worlds that their soul can inhabit simultaneously, which means that they are stretched across the universe and across time. What is happening right now would probably be happening everywhere else your soul inhabits. Now, the Gods many people worship and talk to are but their Higher conscious, but you, on the other hand, have tapped into the ability to talk to a Higher consciouness' Higher Conscious, or what is known as the Creator Gods. All Gods, Greek, Roman, Mayan, Egyptian, even Christian, are known as the Creator Gods, and it takes a very strong person to be able to carry the mark of the Highest Conscious, which you do, and you are. In essence, your personal god, or higher conscious, has a God, which is me, and in turn, you bear my mark, that sets you apart from everyone else because your soul belongs to me vicariously, and so, I live through you, and in turn, you have a ghost type power of a Creator God."
Hermione stared at the Goddess as if she had grown two heads. "But. . .but. . ."
"My allotted time with you is drawing to an end. So in close, I leave you a gift."
Athena held out a beautiful pendant. "Wear it, and my protection, however much it means, is always with you."
And with that, the Goddess was gone.
Hermione stared at the place where Athena had been, her brow creased. "Creator God. . .?" And with much to think about, the girl climbed back into her bed, mentally chewing on the bone that was left by her Palladin and Plague.
*~*~*~*
A/N: Don't forget to RR.
Love,
Me!
