Summary: AU Hermione had suppressed the memories of her other self for 9 years. But now, her memories are coming back with a vengeance and without her past, there will be no future. Maybe she'll also find out the identity of the mysterious boy that haunts her dreams…
Oopsies, I never put a disclaimer on my prologue, silly me. To compensate, I'll put two in this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter!
And again…
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter!
A/N Okay, I had some time issues. I wanted Hermione to turn 17, but then there was an extra year missing, so now I'm changing my summary, so that she's suppressed those memories for nine years, not eight. Oh yeah, and I changed her birth date to 29th of March, not May, because JKR said that it was before April!
Also, damn you JKR! You killed off a really important character! I have thought of a way around it though. This current chapter ties in with the last few chapters of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and sorry about the long delay, the chapter that I originally wrote in place of this one will become chapter two, so expect the next update to be quicker since I've already written most of it. I had to rewrite this whole chapter from scratch after HBP came out :(
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Chapter Two: Code name Demetrius
"I'll be fine, I'll be with Dumbledore," said Harry. "I want to know you lot are OK…don't look like that, Hermione, I'll see you later…"
Hermione watched his back, blurred by tears, as he walked out of the portrait hole and off on yet another dangerous mission.
"Righto…well I'll stay here and watch Malfoy," Ron said, gesturing at the Map. "You go and rustle up some DA members,"
She nodded mutely, then started her silent journey up the tower. As she passed the second corridor, the entrance into the Fourth Years dormitory, a person lunged out of the darkness behind her and clasped a hand over her mouth before apparating them. Hermione hadn't realised anything was wrong until they were apparating, which she didn't bother to struggle through, as it was down right risky.
To her surprise, he let go of her as soon as they reappeared with a pop in a conference like room. She stood at one end of the large rectangular table, facing a rather stern looking lady at the other end. A rather mismatched bunch of witches and wizards sat at the sides, staring at her unashamedly.
"Her?" A witch, with a rather shrieky voice, said with disdain.
"Oh shut up Chrys, you know that she's the only one that can help," her captor said wearily, before sitting down in an empty chair.
Both of these voices seemed quite familiar to Hermione, but she couldn't deal with these oddballs right now, she had to help Harry save the wizarding world.
"I'd love to stay and chat," she began, her voice rising hysterically with every word, "but-"
"You have to 'rustle up' some DA members to 'fight' Lord Voldemort," Chrys said mockingly, spitting out the word 'fight'.
Around the table, people laughed bitterly, presumably at some sort of inside joke that was unknown to her.
Hermione was now on the verge of tears, again. It was imperious that she got some backup, and now, instead of wasting her time listening to a bunch of people that were obviously in support of the Dark Lord. These people obviously didn't care about what could happen if she didn't, but she did. She turned around, turning the doorknob angrily. She pulled out her wand when it wouldn't open, and tried every unlocking charm known to her, frustration growing with every passing second. She was distinctly aware that everyone's eyes were on her, and wiped her eyes irritably.
There was a shuffling noise behind her, and the stern old lady at the head of the table appeared at her side. "Hermione," she said gently, "I know that you have no idea who we are, but you must trust us,"
"No!" she cried, "Harry-"
Chrys let out another bitter laugh.
"That's enough out of you!" the lady said, having the same ability as Dumbledore to effortlessly control even raging Hippogriffs.
Chrys slouched lower in her chair, glowering at Hermione.
"My name is Augusta," the lady said, introducing herself formally.
"Charmed," Hermione replied sarcastically.
"I know you're impatient to help…Harry…but there are more important things afoot," Augusta said placatingly.
"What, may I ask," Hermione said quietly, voice trembling slightly, "is more important than saving the world?"
"My dear, have you forgotten our cause entirely?" Augusta replied, startled. She raised Hermione's chin with her forefinger, and peered into her honey brown eyes. "My…Demetrius was not exaggerating when he said that she had sealed it completely…" she murmured, sharp eyes moving on to examine her every feature.
"We can't restore her memories…Demetrius is still in possession of the locket," her captor said flatly.
Chrys snorted loudly. "So we send this…" she paused, jerking her thumb at Hermione, "to rescue the only person that can restore her memories?"
Hermione stared at them blankly. What memories? She looked towards her captor, who seemed to be on her side. "You…Mr. Kidnapper…"
"Artemis," he provided, patiently awaiting her next inquiry.
"Yes…Artemis…what memories?" she asked.
"This is not the time or place to discuss this…hell, we couldn't restore them if we tried. Unless of course Demetrius was here…" he trailed off.
"You know what? We're just wasting our time, with this," Chrys jerked her thumb at Hermione again, "I mean she obviously doesn't understand anything…why can't I do it?"
"Patience is a virtue, Chrysanthemum…she is the only one who can carry this out, I have explained before," Augusta shushed a near frantic Chrys.
"Demetrius and I are twins! How can she be closer to him?" she shrieked, "And it's Chrys!" she added.
"Chrysanthemum, you of all people should know that worldly relations must bow to deeper connections!" Augusta reprimanded, still using her full name.
Chrys glared at Hermione, as if it was all her fault.
A blonde witch spoke. "This is all very confusing for her," she stated simply.
"Yes…why of course," Augusta steered Hermione into a chair. "It's best just to tell you what you have to do,"
"I'm not doing anything until someone explains what the hell is going on!" Hermione yelled, jumping up.
"Calm down…for all extents and purposes, lets just say that we are a club," Augusta said, pushing Hermione back into the chair.
Hermione opened her mouth to speak once more, but was cut off.
"And you were once a member of this club…but then you erased all your memories of the club, to protect yourself,"
"From what?" Hermione cut in.
Augusta made a hushing noise. "Now, one of the members of our club, Demetrius, has been…er…kidnapped by a member of a rival club, and you are the only one who can rescue him,"
"And why would I do that?" Hermione said crossly, thinking of the time she was wasting here.
"Because you care for him,"
"How can I care about this Demetrius person if I've never met him?"
"You have met him. You just can't remember,"
Talking to Augusta was like talking to a wall. She could see that she couldn't get out unless Augusta permitted it, and the only way that she could get her permission was to rescue this Demetrius person.
"Alright…" Hermione said grudgingly. "I'll go rescue Demetrius…even though I have no idea how to rescue him or even what he looks like,"
"That's the spirit!" Augusta cheered.
"What exactly am I rescuing him from?" she inquired, impatient to get the rescue over and done with.
"He's been confounded, by the other side. Unconfound him, is as easy is that," Augusta said with a smile, opening up the door.
"But-" Hermione started, before the slamming door cut off the rest of her words.
She had half a mind to completely ignore what had just happened. Neville ran up to her, standing in the astronomy tower corridor, huffing and wheezing. "I came as fast as I could!" he said, taking in big gulps of air.
Hermione was leaning against the wall, hands clasped behind her back. Something heavy fell into her palm as he spoke. Bringing her hands to her front, she saw that it was the Galleon that they had made last year for the DA. Where the serial number was, the words 'Astronomy Tower Corridor' had been etched.
Soon there were more footsteps, and Luna and Ginny arrived, both holding their coins. All three looked at Hermione expectantly. "Ah…Harry told me to contact the DA members, Malfoy might be doing something tonight. We're to divide the remaining Felix Felicis among us and take it if there's a battle," Hermione said calmly, taking the potion out of her pocket.
"Where's Ron?" she asked the group in general, as she conjured up four more stoppered vials.
"He's coming, went back to get something," Ginny said, watching Hermione's actions. Hermione was tapping each of the conjured vials in turn with her wand. After this she tapped the vial the held the elixir and muttered a few words, causing potion to be divided equally among the vials.
Ron came up the stairway and sprinted towards them. "Had…to…go…back…to…get…map," he said, between frantic breaths.
Hermione gave each person a vial, and watched as they sprinted off. Clearly Augusta had covered everything, and now all Hermione had to do was rescue this Demetrius character.
Feeling rather silly, she walked down the stairs, off to rescue someone.
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Demetrius held his wand hand up, and pointed it at the most vile person ever to have lived. His control on him had been waning for the past month, and he had finally been able to break free. Now the roles were reversed, and his captor was at his mercy. "Expelliarmus!" he cried, watching with satisfaction as his wand flew out of his hand.
There was a small popping sound, and a dark haired man appeared. Demetrius swore in his head. The protégé had arrived. "Old man, you've gone weak if you can't even control one insolent teen," the protégé sneered, making no move to help him.
"My weakness is only due to your constant usurping of my power," said the old man, gazing in the distance.
The protégé spat on the ground. "You should have known better than to teach me all that you knew,"
The old man chuckled. "I knew that would come back and bite me in the ass," he said conversationally, in a manner totally unsuited to a person being held captive by both enemy and friend.
Demetrius eyed them carefully, assessing the danger. The old man was certainly weakened, however he always seemed to have something up his sleeve. His current cheeriness was indicative of that. The protégé was younger, and was as strong as his master, stronger now that the master was weakened. But he was cocky, too sure of his imminent success.
Hopefully they would kill each other, thus his side winning the war.
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Hermione walked along the corridors, instinct and Felix Felicis guiding her. The Death Eaters had arrived, and she had already disarmed and tied up two in her quest to rescue Demetrius. There was a curious scene up ahead and she hid behind a suit of armour to watch.
A blond boy stood, wand pointed to the chest of…a weird sensation, not unpleasant, came over her, and the name of the old man suddenly eluded her. Another person, dark haired, stood next to the old man, and was currently locked in a fierce hissy fit with him.
She assumed the blond boy was Demetrius, the Felix Felicis hadn't been wrong yet. He seemed to be holding his ground so far.
Listening to their conversation, she deduced that Demetrius had been confounded by the old man, but had broken free. The black haired man was some sort of…lackey that was enjoying his momentary control over his leader.
The old man was staring straight at her, hidden behind the suit of armour. She told herself that he couldn't see her…she was concealed, but a sinking feeling in her stomach told her otherwise. His eyes imprisoned her within his gaze, and slowly she felt herself been drawn forwards from her navel.
Cords tied themselves around her, and he gripped her throat tightly.
Demetrius looked livid, and the old man smiled. "Found your weak spot, I have," he taunted.
"Let her go!" he yelled, wand hand shaking with anger.
Funny, Hermione though, how she was sent to rescue him, and now he needed to rescue her.
The dark haired man stood there silently, waiting for an opening. He did not want to kill the girl, she was strong and currently very vulnerable. A great asset to their side.
He was trembling now. "I'm warning you…I'll kill you if I have to…"
"You won't kill me," the old man said soothingly, tranquillity lacing his words.
"I…won't?" Demetrius replied uncertainly, lowering his wand slightly.
Hermione watched, alarmed, as Demetrius' eyes glazed over. He was being confounded again. Damn it, that would mean that she had to save him.
"No…you won't…I'm your friend…the black haired man is your enemy…"
Demetrius then pointed his at said man, who growled in anger. In one quick motion, the man stunned Demetrius, then accioed him to use as a human shield.
"You cannot kill me," the old man said calmly, appraising his disciple.
The younger shot a killing curse, only to have it rebound as the old man conjured up a wall of liquid black fire.
"I've never seen that before, master," he sneered, upping the bravado as he was momentarily shaken by the prompt reflection.
The old man threw Hermione to the side, the black haired man following suit. They circled each other, frenzied and ready to duel.
Hermione sawed off the bonds using the serrated edge on the suit of armour. She then massaged her neck, imprinted with fingers. Lastly she pulled out her wand, and enervated Demetrius.
"Hello," she said, looking into his grey eyes. They were still glazed over. She clicked her fingers in front of him impatiently, determined for him to focus on her at least.
"Hi," he groaned, trying to get the fuzziness out of his head.
"Are you okay…Demetrius?" she asked hesitantly.
He groaned again, thrashing and clawing at his head. Hermione had a very odd feeling that Demetrius was not his real name and that she used to know who he was.
"Do I know you?" she whispered, a feeling of nostalgia washing over her, threads of hidden memories slowly coming to light.
"Yes, you did,"
Her eyes widened, as an image started forming in her head. The edges were fuzzy, but clearing with every passing second.
Demetrius shook his head, clearing the last of the confoundtion out of his head. Hermione was staring down at him, wide eyed. He released with a snap that she was beginning to remember. It wasn't time.
She opened her mouth slightly, brows creasing with confusion. "Dr-"
I'm sorry, he apologised in his mind, before wiping her memories once more and pushing her away.
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A/N Yes, I know it didn't make sense! It's not supposed to. Okay, think of this chapter as being post Prologue but Pre-Main Story. All we be explained next chapter!