Chapter 21
"Unlocking the Memories"
Dumbledore took Hermione back to office at Hogwarts. It had been a long time since Hermione had been there. Fawkes slept on his perch, looking quite lovely with his red and golden feathers. The same portraits hung on the walls and several new items, along with old ones, cluttered the shelves. Dumbledore had hurried out of his office to find Professor Snape and Professor McGonnagal. Hermione walked around, looking at all the things.
"Miss Granger is here?" Hermione heard a voice say.
Dumbledore, Professor McGonnagal, and Professor Snape stepped into the office. All three stopped talking and starred at Hermione. Hermione shuffled uneasily to a chair nearby and sat down.
"Hello Professor Snape and Professor McGonnagal." said Hermione.
"It is good to see you, Miss Granger." replied McGonnagal.
"Miss Granger." said Snape.
Dumbledore sat behind his desk and motioned for the other professors to sit as well.
"Now, you know why we are here." he said in a calm voice. "We have discussed this with the Order, and they all have agreed that it is best that we do what me must do."
McGonnagal's mouth twitched at the corners. Snape's eyes darted back and forth, not really focusing on anything. Hermione starred at all three of them. What was this all about?
"Um, Professor Dumbledore, what are you talking about?" she asked.
Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"Miss Granger, you are now highly aware of who you really are. It is very clear that your past involved the very person we all seek to defeat, Voldemort."
McGonnagal flinched; Snape shook his head.
"You see, many people believe that pure evil cannot be penetrated. That evil is untouchable, but you, my dear, are the truth that we all cannot understand, that many refuse to believe. How many people will believe that Voldemort was once in love, that he too had feelings of sympathy and love. Not many. You, Miss Granger, are the one to change this. You are the one to change this, change him, and help us."
Hermione starred at him.
"What?" she asked.
"Your destiny was to die in the body of Katrina Anne Smith and be reborn in the body of Hermione Suzzette Kasandria Granger. Your soul may be old, but you have the knowledge that can help us bring the Dark Lord down. You are the only on he will really trust, the only one he'll listen to. You were his only love and still are." said Dumbledore.
Silence filled the air. Hermione looked at him, feeling a bit confused, but somehow, she felt what he was saying was true. She felt a bit of pain grip her heart when she thought of Voldemort.
"No. That is not who he really is." she thought.
"What do you want me to do?" she asked, breaking the silence.
"Ah, well, I have asked Professor Snape to prepare a potion to help unlock your memories you had as Katrina right before I left here to see you. Memories can play a very vital role in what you will be asked to do, but first, Severus, the potion." said Dumbledore.
Snape reached into his robe pockets and took out a small glass vile with a cork. The potion was deep, dark purple color. He handed it to Dumbledore.
"Now, Miss Granger, I must warn you that the memories you are about to unlock can be both wonderful, and terrifying. I will also tell you that these memories will be quite overwhelming, knowing what you know now and what you did then. There will be a mental struggle for you to bear with, but you must listen to me. You are the wizarding world's only hope of setting things straight, balancing the odds for us. Your knowledge of then as Katrina and now as Hermione will be needed greatly. I am simply asking you to help us fight against Voldemort, bring him down, so that our world and the muggle world will rest in peace at last. You are the only one who can change him. Please, think over what I have just said. Now, drink this entire potion and lay down on that couch by the window. Don't worry, I have contacted the Ministry to inform them of your absence at work. They said that it will be alright." said Dumbledore as he handed the vile to Hermione.
Hermione took it and walked over to the couch. Professor McGonnagal handed her a blanket. Hermione laid down on the couch, and took out the cork. The potion smelled highly of cooked cabbage. Hermione held her nose and drank the potion that tasted strongly of cabbage. She wiped of mouth and set the vile down. Suddenly, she began to feel sleepy. She rested her head on her hands and fell asleep.
Images flashed before her very eyes. Hermione saw her childhood, and then everything slowed down as it turned to other images of another childhood. She saw a girl with bushy hair in a frilly pink dress run around in a large backyard of a lovely home. A man with cinnamon colored eyes and dark hair chased after, eventually catching the girl and laughing hysterically. Hermione then saw the same girl, a bit older, working with her mother, a woman with lovely dark hair and misty blue eyes, in the kitchen baking cookies. She saw her father give her mother a lovely pearl necklace. Hermione then saw her father, the man who chased her around the yard, using charms on the Christmas tree to make it change colors. Hermione then saw herself sitting under a peach tree, wearing a long, silk blue dress laughed as her father struggled to take a picture of her. She then was at a school full of girls, all dressed in outfits like that of Catholic school girls, and practicing spells. She was popular and smart and had many friends. Hermione then saw herself moving away from her childhood home to London. She felt sad and lonely for she knew no one in London or the new school she would b attending for her last year of magical education, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She heard the voice of the Sorting Hat yell "Slytherin" in the Head Master's office during the summer holidays. She was thrilled when she received a letter saying she would be Head Girl. She saw herself asking a handsome boy if she could sit in the train compartment with him, seeing that he was alone. She saw herself become infatuated over the months with boy. She heard his voice. She fell in love with him. She saw herself kiss him; saw the love in his eyes. She saw her parents in coffins. Her and Tom Riddle, the handsome young man, say their vows. Hermione saw herself grow old over the years. The last thing Hermione saw was herself fall over a castle balcony and fall into a river below.
Hermione woke with a jolt just as she hit the water. Sunlight poured in through the windows. She could hear students chatter outside the castle and in the halls. She got up and stretched, realizing she was very hungry as her stomach gave a small grumble. She took her wand out of her robes that she still had on. She muttered a quick spell and her work clothes changed into a comfortable pair of snug jeans and a pink sweater with a hoodie and pouch. Her robes she kept and placed them on the couch. Hermione stuffed her wand in her front jean pocket and left Dumbledore's office.
The walk to the Great Hall made Hermione feel like she was back in school. She passed a few sixth year male students her whistled at her. Hermione walked into the Great Hall and felt like herself again. The smell of wonderful food and the chatter of students made her miss school so much. As she walked up to the Staff Table to see if she could sit with the professors, Hermione's eyes wandered over to the Slytherin table. A quick memory of her sitting there and talking to a very handsome man floated into her mind.
"Tom, I must disagree with you. Kinkle Brown's "1,000,000 Potions and Growing" is much better than Melinda Roop's "The Complete Potions Guide." she said in a sweet voice.
The boy name Tom chuckled softly. His eyes, emerald green, were full of happiness. He placed his hand on the table, giving the table a small, light slap. He shook his head and starred into her eyes.
"Katrina, Katrina, will we ever agree on anything?" Tom asked in a cool, sweet voice.
"Well, maybe we will someday." Katrina said as she smiled at Tom and he smiled back, patting his hand softly.
"Ah, Miss Granger, nice to see that you have joined us for breakfast." said Dumbledore as Hermione descended up the stairs to the Staff Table.
Hermione took a seat next to Dumbledore and reached for a piece of toast. As she was smothering strawberry jam on it, another memory floated through her mind. She was sitting at the Slytherin table, next to a girl with a lovely face and dark hair. Hermione knew her as Bellatrix, her best friend. Hermione was sitting next to Tom also, talking to some guys beside him. She was busy talking to Bellatrix, buttering her toast, when she accidentally cit her hand with the sharp teeth of the butter knife.
"Ow!" she screamed as she dropped the piece of toast and the knife.
Blood began to pour from the gash in her palm as a sharp pain sped through her arm and hand. She was about to reach for her wand when she felt someone hold her wrist of the hurt hand. She looked up to see Tom holding her wrist and holding his wand over the hurt palm with his other hand.
"Healario." he said, the bleeding gash healing instantly.
Hermione could no longer feel any sharp pain. She looked at Tom and smiled. He smiled back, kisser her hand. Hermione blushed, noticing several girls looking daggers at her, others looking at her it the most longing expression.
"Thank you." said Hermione.
"Your welcome." said Tom.
He smirked at the starring girls and turned back to talk to the guys beside him. Hermione, feeling her face warming up, turned back to Bellatrix and continued talking.
"Miss Granger, if you star at that piece of toast for a bit longer, I'm afraid you'll stare it to death." came the clear voice of Dumbledore.
Hermione realized she was holding the knife in midair, blushed, and placed it down. She bit into the toast, thinking of that memory.
Dumbledore starred at her, knowing that she was now remembering things, little and big, and knew that there was much more to be done, much more to prepare her for the rough road ahead.
"Unlocking the Memories"
Dumbledore took Hermione back to office at Hogwarts. It had been a long time since Hermione had been there. Fawkes slept on his perch, looking quite lovely with his red and golden feathers. The same portraits hung on the walls and several new items, along with old ones, cluttered the shelves. Dumbledore had hurried out of his office to find Professor Snape and Professor McGonnagal. Hermione walked around, looking at all the things.
"Miss Granger is here?" Hermione heard a voice say.
Dumbledore, Professor McGonnagal, and Professor Snape stepped into the office. All three stopped talking and starred at Hermione. Hermione shuffled uneasily to a chair nearby and sat down.
"Hello Professor Snape and Professor McGonnagal." said Hermione.
"It is good to see you, Miss Granger." replied McGonnagal.
"Miss Granger." said Snape.
Dumbledore sat behind his desk and motioned for the other professors to sit as well.
"Now, you know why we are here." he said in a calm voice. "We have discussed this with the Order, and they all have agreed that it is best that we do what me must do."
McGonnagal's mouth twitched at the corners. Snape's eyes darted back and forth, not really focusing on anything. Hermione starred at all three of them. What was this all about?
"Um, Professor Dumbledore, what are you talking about?" she asked.
Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"Miss Granger, you are now highly aware of who you really are. It is very clear that your past involved the very person we all seek to defeat, Voldemort."
McGonnagal flinched; Snape shook his head.
"You see, many people believe that pure evil cannot be penetrated. That evil is untouchable, but you, my dear, are the truth that we all cannot understand, that many refuse to believe. How many people will believe that Voldemort was once in love, that he too had feelings of sympathy and love. Not many. You, Miss Granger, are the one to change this. You are the one to change this, change him, and help us."
Hermione starred at him.
"What?" she asked.
"Your destiny was to die in the body of Katrina Anne Smith and be reborn in the body of Hermione Suzzette Kasandria Granger. Your soul may be old, but you have the knowledge that can help us bring the Dark Lord down. You are the only on he will really trust, the only one he'll listen to. You were his only love and still are." said Dumbledore.
Silence filled the air. Hermione looked at him, feeling a bit confused, but somehow, she felt what he was saying was true. She felt a bit of pain grip her heart when she thought of Voldemort.
"No. That is not who he really is." she thought.
"What do you want me to do?" she asked, breaking the silence.
"Ah, well, I have asked Professor Snape to prepare a potion to help unlock your memories you had as Katrina right before I left here to see you. Memories can play a very vital role in what you will be asked to do, but first, Severus, the potion." said Dumbledore.
Snape reached into his robe pockets and took out a small glass vile with a cork. The potion was deep, dark purple color. He handed it to Dumbledore.
"Now, Miss Granger, I must warn you that the memories you are about to unlock can be both wonderful, and terrifying. I will also tell you that these memories will be quite overwhelming, knowing what you know now and what you did then. There will be a mental struggle for you to bear with, but you must listen to me. You are the wizarding world's only hope of setting things straight, balancing the odds for us. Your knowledge of then as Katrina and now as Hermione will be needed greatly. I am simply asking you to help us fight against Voldemort, bring him down, so that our world and the muggle world will rest in peace at last. You are the only one who can change him. Please, think over what I have just said. Now, drink this entire potion and lay down on that couch by the window. Don't worry, I have contacted the Ministry to inform them of your absence at work. They said that it will be alright." said Dumbledore as he handed the vile to Hermione.
Hermione took it and walked over to the couch. Professor McGonnagal handed her a blanket. Hermione laid down on the couch, and took out the cork. The potion smelled highly of cooked cabbage. Hermione held her nose and drank the potion that tasted strongly of cabbage. She wiped of mouth and set the vile down. Suddenly, she began to feel sleepy. She rested her head on her hands and fell asleep.
Images flashed before her very eyes. Hermione saw her childhood, and then everything slowed down as it turned to other images of another childhood. She saw a girl with bushy hair in a frilly pink dress run around in a large backyard of a lovely home. A man with cinnamon colored eyes and dark hair chased after, eventually catching the girl and laughing hysterically. Hermione then saw the same girl, a bit older, working with her mother, a woman with lovely dark hair and misty blue eyes, in the kitchen baking cookies. She saw her father give her mother a lovely pearl necklace. Hermione then saw her father, the man who chased her around the yard, using charms on the Christmas tree to make it change colors. Hermione then saw herself sitting under a peach tree, wearing a long, silk blue dress laughed as her father struggled to take a picture of her. She then was at a school full of girls, all dressed in outfits like that of Catholic school girls, and practicing spells. She was popular and smart and had many friends. Hermione then saw herself moving away from her childhood home to London. She felt sad and lonely for she knew no one in London or the new school she would b attending for her last year of magical education, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She heard the voice of the Sorting Hat yell "Slytherin" in the Head Master's office during the summer holidays. She was thrilled when she received a letter saying she would be Head Girl. She saw herself asking a handsome boy if she could sit in the train compartment with him, seeing that he was alone. She saw herself become infatuated over the months with boy. She heard his voice. She fell in love with him. She saw herself kiss him; saw the love in his eyes. She saw her parents in coffins. Her and Tom Riddle, the handsome young man, say their vows. Hermione saw herself grow old over the years. The last thing Hermione saw was herself fall over a castle balcony and fall into a river below.
Hermione woke with a jolt just as she hit the water. Sunlight poured in through the windows. She could hear students chatter outside the castle and in the halls. She got up and stretched, realizing she was very hungry as her stomach gave a small grumble. She took her wand out of her robes that she still had on. She muttered a quick spell and her work clothes changed into a comfortable pair of snug jeans and a pink sweater with a hoodie and pouch. Her robes she kept and placed them on the couch. Hermione stuffed her wand in her front jean pocket and left Dumbledore's office.
The walk to the Great Hall made Hermione feel like she was back in school. She passed a few sixth year male students her whistled at her. Hermione walked into the Great Hall and felt like herself again. The smell of wonderful food and the chatter of students made her miss school so much. As she walked up to the Staff Table to see if she could sit with the professors, Hermione's eyes wandered over to the Slytherin table. A quick memory of her sitting there and talking to a very handsome man floated into her mind.
"Tom, I must disagree with you. Kinkle Brown's "1,000,000 Potions and Growing" is much better than Melinda Roop's "The Complete Potions Guide." she said in a sweet voice.
The boy name Tom chuckled softly. His eyes, emerald green, were full of happiness. He placed his hand on the table, giving the table a small, light slap. He shook his head and starred into her eyes.
"Katrina, Katrina, will we ever agree on anything?" Tom asked in a cool, sweet voice.
"Well, maybe we will someday." Katrina said as she smiled at Tom and he smiled back, patting his hand softly.
"Ah, Miss Granger, nice to see that you have joined us for breakfast." said Dumbledore as Hermione descended up the stairs to the Staff Table.
Hermione took a seat next to Dumbledore and reached for a piece of toast. As she was smothering strawberry jam on it, another memory floated through her mind. She was sitting at the Slytherin table, next to a girl with a lovely face and dark hair. Hermione knew her as Bellatrix, her best friend. Hermione was sitting next to Tom also, talking to some guys beside him. She was busy talking to Bellatrix, buttering her toast, when she accidentally cit her hand with the sharp teeth of the butter knife.
"Ow!" she screamed as she dropped the piece of toast and the knife.
Blood began to pour from the gash in her palm as a sharp pain sped through her arm and hand. She was about to reach for her wand when she felt someone hold her wrist of the hurt hand. She looked up to see Tom holding her wrist and holding his wand over the hurt palm with his other hand.
"Healario." he said, the bleeding gash healing instantly.
Hermione could no longer feel any sharp pain. She looked at Tom and smiled. He smiled back, kisser her hand. Hermione blushed, noticing several girls looking daggers at her, others looking at her it the most longing expression.
"Thank you." said Hermione.
"Your welcome." said Tom.
He smirked at the starring girls and turned back to talk to the guys beside him. Hermione, feeling her face warming up, turned back to Bellatrix and continued talking.
"Miss Granger, if you star at that piece of toast for a bit longer, I'm afraid you'll stare it to death." came the clear voice of Dumbledore.
Hermione realized she was holding the knife in midair, blushed, and placed it down. She bit into the toast, thinking of that memory.
Dumbledore starred at her, knowing that she was now remembering things, little and big, and knew that there was much more to be done, much more to prepare her for the rough road ahead.