Ch. 7- Angelic Staff of the Unicorn

The next day, the Gryffindor common room picture door was opened suddenly during the mid morning hours. Albus Dumbledore stepped through, and looked at the faces that were reassured that it was not a Dark one, as it had been in the past. "Where is Ms. Granger?" his old voice asked the few students who were about, who began looking around the room. "I am here, Professor Dumbledore!" Hermione said sweetly descending the staircase and wearing her usual casual clothing.

"Come with me." He said, beginning to walk out of the door or the Fat Lady, followed closely by Hermione. She knew all too well what she was going to receive. "Are you – nervous at all, Ms. Granger?" Dumbledore asked, still keeping his eyes on the corridor before him to Iceus's classroom.

"Not at all professor, I don't think I should be." Hermione replied, a grin spreading upon her face. Dumbledore looked at her, as he opened the door to the room, "you've grown into a fine young lady, Mr. Weasly should be much more overjoyed." Dumbledore raised a hand, symbolizing that she go ahead of him. She entered, and saw that Iceus was standing in the middle of his class, with a table beside him with stacks of different colored staves, all different sizes too. She walked slowly, then stood before Iceus.

"Welcome, no doubt you know what is to happen?" Iceus asked. Hermione nodded innocently, she was so adorable. Iceus smirked, then grasped the first staff. "No much like Ollivanders you will decide which staff you will be accompanied with for the remainder of you life. It is a custom that a Ravenclaw teacher does this, rather than a normal wand seller. Are you ready?" Iceus asked, she nodded again.

Iceus picked up the first staff, it was surrounded by runes of Celtic cultures, and felt cold to the touch, much like Iceus's staff. She held it, and looked at a chair, and cleared her mind. It was a difficult thing to do, she had too many things on her mind at this point and time, with the year ending, her being a strategist, marriage to Ron. After ten minutes, her eyes closed, she reopened them and thrust the staff at a chair, it didn't so much as raddle, move or anything. A frown spread across her face where a glow of happiness once was. Disappointment was inevitable, yet, she placed the staff behind her, and looked at Iceus anxious for the next staff.

Iceus handed her the next one, "you'll know which one is yours before you even get to use it, so don't even worry about using it at all, just grasp it for a small amount of time, feel the power coursing through you, then decide."

This made a little more sense now, though she knew the last one wouldn't work for her anyway, never would it be in her style. She smiled at the joke she had made for herself, and grasped the staff that Iceus had handed her. It was as if someone had cut this one off of a branch, no real pattern at all.

She felt no power emitting from this one either, so she set it next to the one before. "How long does this usually take Professor?"

Iceus grasped the next staff, and handed it to her. "Mine took two days, yours should be within the hour I would expect."

"T-Two days?" She grasped the staff; a small amount of power flowed through her, yet it was an extreme small feeling within the pit of her soul. The staff itself was very light, as if made from bamboo. It had paint around it, as if a fire were attempting to engulf it. It was a beautiful formation she had to admit. She blinked, then stared at Iceus. "Professor? I feel a small power from this one, but, I'm not entirely sure this one is it."

"A small amount of power is good, now we know where to look. Let's see now. This one…appears to be made of a Very light wood," Iceus grasped it tightly, "and is very strong. Seems to me that this staff carries within it a few wisps of hair from a mare Unicorn. This is rare, Hermione, very rare…much like yourself."

"Um- thank you- professor." Hermione had stopped blushing when she was around Iceus, it was a habit that she had broken not too long ago.

Iceus took the staff, and searched through the staves, checking one or twice on the scroll that was hidden around the staves, seeming to be an inventory check.

He reached and moved a few away, and grasped another. "Ah, this one is also from a unicorn, let us try a male this time." As he handed it to Hermione she felt a strength arise within her. The staff was beautifully made, it seemed silver metal ran down it's sides, as if it were a fountain from the headpiece. It seemed to remind her of Unicorn blood from her first year, she remembered Harry telling her in secret that it was a very silvery texture. The headpiece set golden angel, lying down, so when pointed at an enemy it would seem the angel to be standing. It stood about six feet tall, the staff, and weighed nearly as much as the light one before. Hermione grasped it with both hands. A whirlwind swirled around her, it was a cooling sensation, nearly orgasmic. Her hair raised up and flew behind her, she felt all-powerful now.

"Well done Hermione, well done. You have found your staff for the remainder of your life, cherish it, like your true love. –Oh yes, and to get you along with your hard earned studies I'm giving you a time turner, I'm sure you know how to use it? This will come a great asset to you." Iceus handed Hermione the Time Turner.

Hermione looked up at Iceus, and grasped her staff harder, as if it were now a part of her. "Thank you, Iceus, for everything you have done for me."

"Aren't all your teachers like this?"

"No, sir. They are rather mean to me."

"I am sorry, Hermione. Here." Iceus slowly gave Hermione a light hug, she returned it, and rested her head on his chest. She heard his heart beating, him breathing; it felt good to feel this. She felt warmth that she had never felt before, she could not explain it. She began to cry, slowly, softly a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Hermione," Iceus broke the hug, she didn't want it to end, "what is wrong?" He stared into her eyes and she into his. She wanted him, she needed him. She quickly, rushed her lips onto his, and kissed him passionately. She closed her eyes, and poured her every emotion into this kiss, she felt pure, and complete.

Iceus broke the kiss as he did the hug. "You are a very good kisser, Ms. Granger." She stared into his eyes again, she felt an utmost desire for him, and only him. "However, Ms Granger. I cannot return this love of yours. I have another that I have not quite relieved myself with. Please understand I hold you in the highest esteem, you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen in this school for many, many years now." Iceus walked off, then spoke again. "With that staff, let no one tell you otherwise, or let them answer to me."

Hermione's eyes filled with tears, they fell streaming from her cheeks, and she looked imploringly into Iceus' eyes one last time. She turned, and slowly walked out of the door, as Dumbledore opened it for her. She left, crying he had hurt her like all the other teachers had, and she would not forgive him of that.

"Now, that wasn't all to nice, Iceus." Dumbledore said, as he closed the door behind her. Hermione stopped, and listened behind her.

"What would you have me do Albus?"

"I would expect you to get over Delka. She has been gone for many years now."

"You do not understand!"

"Do not question me to what I do not understand, young elf! I have seen more in this life than you will see in your immortal awareness will ever see."

Each of them raised their voices, Hermione listened intently. Delka? Oh yes, she remembered, the other elf that signed the treaty. But, why was Iceus- oh. She came to the realization that Delka was his love. But she was dead now.

"That I agree on, Headmaster. But you will not know about Elven love as I have! Had I known that Voldemort was the one who murdered her, I would have never joined him! You know that just as well as anyone here! Voldemort murdered her to get to me, after countless ages we had spent together, and after as many deaths I had committed to serve under the murderer of the one I love! As much as I would love to tear his heart out and hold it before him as he takes his last breath, I know that Potter will do it for me, make my victory even more spectacular. To have Voldemort beaten by a child and here he is all-powerful. Ah, the victory will be absolute!"

"And what of Hermione, will she be there to aid in your victory as well?"

"Of course."

"Good, good."

"She too will be feared by Voldemort too, much like yourself. You know this too?"

"Yes. Now I take my leave, Iceus, once this school year ends, make sure that those three become what you say they will, and then, and only then, will we wage our war. Good day, Iceus."

"Good day."

Hermione leapt up, and began running toward the array of staircases leading up to the Gryffindor common room. She sprinted, and nearly tripped on the first flight of stairs. She picked herself up and opened the picture door, and flung herself into the room. She gasped for breath, then gazed at the staff in her hand, it was remarkable. She took one last large breath and walked onward, into the populace of students to see her new weapon against the enemy.