Chapter 5:Destiny
A blinding white jolt surged through Hermione's body. It burnt across her sight and wrapped around her petrified body. Unable to move, the sheer energy was tearing through her very being, paralysing every muscle. Hermione knew that normal lightning strikes are seconds of pain and then the person would black out, but she was quite awake and aware of the continuing ache. Convinced this was no ordinary bolt of lighting, she began to feel a strange presence in the energy that had engulfed her. It was magical! Who would honestly want to inflict this excruciating torture on her, and why? Despite her numb body, Hermione concentrated and focused on the energy surrounding her, trying to block them. This was ultimate wand-less magic, if that was what she was using. Failing to shield herself, she knew that her body couldn't take the torture for much longer; this would be her last attempt before she had to stop resisting. She poured all her soul into the shielding spell, but soon found she had spent all of her energy on the first attempt.
Despairing, she searched the surrounding area for something to fuel her spell. As if everything had slowed down, Hermione stared to see shimmers in the air. At first, she thought her brain had shut down, but in her heart she knew these wisps were real. Gradually, her vision began to change. Colours became irrelevant, and yet intensified; new, powerful smells began to appear; and she started to hear the plants whispering to each other. A drop of blood seeped down to her mouth and an explosion of taste erupted. She could tell how old the blood was, whose it was, what that person had done, and where to find them. The pain intensified a thousand times, yet she now felt the strength to last a bit longer against its pull. Realising her senses had become sharper, she wondered how this could help her to escape. Now able to move, she looked up, and saw death's shadow fleeing .It was then she felt a sudden connection to everything and everyone throughout all time. With this new-found strength and knowledge, she saw there was only one way to leave the energy field alive – she would have to change.
Unsure of how to proceed, instincts she never knew she had started to take control. Clenching her fists, a new feeling surged through her battered body. It was hope, confidence, and a new kind of power. Her blood felt the call to arms and began to do something quite extraordinary. Slowly, it changed its crimson red to a dark purple that burnt the veins that now carried it. Bones melted into one another as two prongs appeared in her back. They grew until finally splitting the skin. The bitter sweet pain in her back was rewarded when, after a moment, huge, silvery-white wings exploded from her very depths. This would have surprised Hermione, but she was preoccupied. Slowly her nails were darkening and fingers elongating, so now they resembled claws more than hands. The changes had been happening all over her. Tiger-stripe markings had appeared on her appendages and along her spine. Her hair, before a bushy mess, was now almost back and practically straight, with only a few waves. Even more surprising was the silver metal rings woven into several braids that had now appeared. Adorned in small circlets of jewellery and a scanty deep marron outfit, Hermione was bathed in a silver glow. Finally unleashing generations' worth of power, Hermione raised a clawed finger and reached through the burning energy that had rendered her normal form helpless. Like the frailest glass, it shattered and flew into air like tiny silver droplets.
Relieved to be free of the torture, Hermione's gaze fell to a small puddle nearby. She felt different and, curious to see what her appearance now was, she walked over to the puddle. At least she thought she was walking. Looking down, she realised that she was effortlessly gliding to her mark. Slightly disturbed, she concentrated on descending, but she needn't have tried. When she saw her new form in the slightly murky puddle, she floated downwards in shock. Amazed at her transformation, she noticed tiny details, like the fact her muscles had become more toned and she could swear her teeth were longer…and sharper? And whose eyes were those? The wild, golden tiger-eyes, flecked with green and purple. The strange colour of her eyes didn't disturb her as much as the expression of those lipid pools of gold. The wild, bold look of a huntress met her gaze. That amazing discovery didn't last long, as she noticed that, attached to her back, were a pair of beautiful wings. Unsure how to move them, she focused on her back muscles and, lo and behold, the magnificent wings spread. Admiring her feathered feature by flapping a few times, it became clear these wings weren't for decoration. They were for soaring high above the clouds.
Looking up at the sky, imagining herself flying, she noticed that the dark storm clouds were directly above her, and were glowing what looked to be a radiant silver. From this silver glow, five orbs started to descend towards her. No longer afraid of what was to come, Hermione stood her ground, though her new incredible sight saw that what looked like glowing balls from a distance were really winged woman with tails, armed with glowing weapons. Glaring defiantly, Hermione resisted the urge to fly into battle with them, even though she was unarmed. As they came closer, Hermione could hear their slow heartbeats, and could smell their unique scents, distinguishing one from the other easily. Strangely, one scent was familiar. Even more strangely, when Hermione tried to gain the insight into that woman's life, she was greeted with images of a crying babe next to a blood-soaked sword with a glowing green gemstone on the hilt. On the child's forehead was a crescent moon, as crimson red as the blood on the sword.
"Greetings, sister," called the oldest warrior. As she touched down it appeared that her tail vanished, and she became a mirror image of the beast-like woman Hermione had become. As others touched down it, became clear they all had a favourite form. One kept her tail, but grew several horns and hooves to replace her feet. Another turned completely into a lion-like creature with shorter red wings and huge, night-black claws. The second-last to land changed from the torso down into a golden deer and grew small ears on her head. While the last, and obviously youngest lost her light purple wings and tail to become a normal looking girl, exempt for a glowing third eye on her forehead. Stunned, Hermione was lost for words.
"I take your silence as bewilderment, sister. That must be rectified. We are the Erinyes, or furies, if you must use the name in the vulgar tongue. Revenge and justice seekers, we create balance in the grand scale. Traitors, murderers, cheaters, and all evil will answer to us," said the oldest erinye.
"Normally always able to adapt, when our numbers fell in the last thousand years, we were forced to act only slightly and to retreat to the blessed grove to replenish our numbers. It has taken time, but soon we will be numerous enough to extract our revenge on the evil that the world has become," said the lion-like creature.
"You are the first semi-mortal to be descended from our clan in a century. This is why we have brought you here. Your destiny lies with us, and soon you will discover the powers that you cannot deny," remarked the half deer.
"Your transformation is almost complete, and soon you will become a mature erinye. Merely an infant now, your powers will grow as you age, and soon you will be ready to be taken into our clan. Once within its fold, you will need to mate and produce more blood sisters to fight for our cause. As you were a semi-mortal, you are still fertile and young. Most Erinyes die in child birth, but you may succeed in surviving at least four motherings," Said the hoofed erinye.
"All that remains is to bless thee as a blood sister and to allow you to fully develop," said the oldest erinye.
"Hey… wait a minute! I'm not going to go and turn into a…a…whatever the hell you are! I'm a witch. That's all. I don't know what the freakin' lighting bolt did to me, but now I look like you. Turn me back right now, and let me go home, or I'll curse your ass back to wherever the hell you came from!" yelled Hermione.
"The immortal blood surges through your veins. You cannot resist its power. That lightning was merely to force you to use your innate powers. To force them to surface. You cannot change who you are, Harmonia." stated the hoofed erinye.
'What did you call me?"
"Harmonia. That is the name your great grandmother gave you when you were born. That foolish warlock …Jonathon. He had no idea why he called you Hermione. I tried to tell him your perfect name, but as most humans, he could barley hear my voice. It is a miracle that what he called you is so close to your true name," said the older erinye.
"What did you call my dad? He can't be warlock. But that means you're my…my…I never had a great grandmother. Besides, for an immortal, aren't you a little too young to be my great grandmother? Oh, wait, don't tell me. Time runs differently in the blessed glade," mocked Hermione.
"There is truth in what you say. Time does run differently here; time was born here and thus comes and goes as it pleases. Your father is what I like to call a fallen one. Jonathon, in my time, was a great sage, but when he betrayed his true love and his country to the greatest enemy of the day, we were sent to stop him. Cursing him to live a half life…without his memories of being a warlock, and to betray his loved ones again and again. He has been wandering the earth for a age, marrying and slowly breaking more of his heart each time he loses those whom he as loved. A bitter curse, we had no idea that one of his wives would be a carrier of the ancient blood. You are the product of their union and for that we can be thankful. Perhaps we will release him of the curse for the favour to our people. Breeding a girl fit to be an erinye is a great service to us," commented the older erinye.
Though Hermione sensed it was time to stop asking questions, she longed to ask more.
"Hush, sister. It is time to confirm that your soul is pure and whole. Only those who can be totally consumed by the blood mark are worthy to become blood sisters. Let go of all thought and breathe in deeply. Feel the earth sigh with you and listen to the hum of the earth's heart. Now, look into the pool." When Hermione opened her eyes, she saw that a silver basin had appeared in the Erinyes hands.
"What do you see?" asked the youngest erinye with the third eye.
A blur of images raced across the pools clear water. Her parents, her first cat, Fluffy, the first boy she kissed, Hogwarts, Harry and Ron, "SPEW" badges. In a split second, her life had flashed before her eyes. The water now turned cloudy silver and a pair of deep blue eyes looked back at her. Then half of the water changed into a crimson red and weapons rained down upon the deep blue eyes. The eyes turned into a peacock's tail, and a scream echoed in her ears. The water began to swirl, creating a hypnotic silver and red liquid. From the centre of the swirl, a drop of the water formed a small, red, ruby-incrusted, silver dagger. Lifting the weapon out of the now-still water, she replied, "I see what was and what will be. The Erinyes are my path". Some invisible force raised the dagger and drew a crescent moon on her forehead with its sharp tip. Taking the dagger, Hermione stood there speechless. She had entered the sisterhood of the blood of her own free will, and had practically agreed to die for these creatures. Now she had a blood mark, and was going to turn into an erinye.
"Congratulations, sister. I know you have questions, but for now you must live in your own world until your powers grow enough for you to live here without dying. Those without immortal strength soon perish here, and I would not like you to be one of them. Guard your secret, for there are those who would take advantage of a young erinye's immense powers. As one of the first immortals to live on earth, you must protect yourself and others, while learning all you can about your powers. Now go. The trees yonder hold the key to returning to your world. Farewell, sister," said the youngest Erinye.
With that, all but the oldest erinye morphed to their winged state and took off towards the silvery cloud. Hermione's great grandmother smiled and embraced her. "My dear Harmonia, take care for now. My true name is Raidne and I will watch out for you while you are on earth". Reaching out with a claw, Raidne slashed Hermione across the chest. Muttering the words, "So you do not forget," the last of the furies left Hermione.
Still in her Erinye form, Hermione easily glided over to the trees and entered a familiar mist. When the mists began to swirl, Hermione felt as if someone was cutting at her with a knife. Her wings melted back into her back, and everything became dull as she morphed back to her human form. Collapsing with exhaustion, the world went black, and she fell into the darkness.
Well, I know that Draco was due for another chapter, but I though Hermione's story was more important. Please tell me what you think by reviewing. I jump up and down yelling at the top of my lungs "People like me! They really like me!" when I get a new review. So don't let down my friends at school who find that incredibly funny. Review!
I promise the next chapter will be a Draco one.
