The Crystal Council
Chapter 3
A New World
Hermione awoke slowly, wherever she was it was dark and the last thing she could recall was falling. An instant later her body went into high alert mode and she quickly jumped out of the bed. Her eyes adjusted quickly to the dark and she looked around the room. It was sparse containing two bed and side tables there was also a dresser under the single window. The only door was opposite the window. She could see the body of another human and by the size it was a child. Coming to the realization that she was in no immediate danger she began to relax and fell quietly back onto the bed. Hermione let lose a quiet sigh, she was in a world she knew nothing about. Where was she? What had happened? Who was she? Suddenly Hermione heard a voice in her head.
"Hello, can you hear me Hermione?" projected the voice
"Viskara is that you? How can I hear you? Where are you? Whispered Hermione
"Think don't speak. I'm communicating with you via a shard of my body I implanted before you left. However, none of that is important because you are about to undergo dimension transfer sickness and you need to be ready. Are you laying down of sitting?" Viskara asked
"Yes, I'm in bed what's going to happen?" asked Hermione.
" Right now, you have two minds in one body and that can't happen. Each mind has its own memories and ideas and they conflict with each other." Replied Viskara
"Wait I'm going to kill the other me or is she going to kill me?" demanded Hermione
"Neither since your mind is older and stronger it is considered the dominate mind and will assimilate the younger Hermione's mind and from that you will attain all her memories and knowledge and make it easier for you to exist in this world. The process of assimilation is rather painful and will last roughly a day and for the rest of the week it'll feel as if you have a bad cold." Warned Viskara
"How bad will this be?" asked Hermione
"Ever had a migraine?" asked Viskara
"Once a long time ago." Answered Hermione
"Well then I would suggest you prepare for the worst twenty-four hours of your life." Replied Viskara
Hermione was about to respond when a sudden unbearable pain tore through her brain and ripped a scream from her throat. She felt as if her whole body was on fire while being electrocuted and frozen as the same time. Her soul was just as tormented and felt as if was being shredded by a massive number of blades. Her brain was getting the worst of the pain as if billions of poisoned needles were being pushed slowly through her skull and into her brain. Hermione had tear running down her face as her body convulsed in the bed as her screams tore through the building awaking every occupant. The first person at Hermione's side was her unknown roommate who was terrified and feared for Hermione's life. The door burst open and a young woman around twenty-two and rushed to Hermione's side.
"What happened Amelia? What is wrong with Hermione?" asked the older woman
"I don't know Ms. Leighton. I was sleeping when Hermione just started screaming and I found her like this." Replied Amelia
"Go inform the Matron of what's happening and tell her to call St. Mungo. After that get me the pain potions from the medical cupboard, Now Go!" yelled Ms. Leighton
Amelia quickly ran from the room as Hermione continued to scream and convulse. The pain was becoming too much, and Hermione could feel herself slipping into unconsciousness as tears continued to fall unabated down her face.
Hermione woke slowly. Her entire body was sore and any time she tried to move it felt as if her muscles would cramp. Hermione let out a soft groan as she lay in what she now realized was a medical bed and that she was in St. Mungo's. Before long a nurse showed up to check on her vitals.
"What happened to me?" rasped out Hermione
"Oh! You're awake. I can't say much apart from it's a miracle you're alive. The doctor can tell you more. Do you need anything before you meet him?" rattled off the nurse
"Maybe a little water, but I'd really like to know what happened." Said Hermione
"I'll be right back then." Replied the nurse
Hermione was left alone with her thoughts once more and the more she thought about it the more she realized that she could recall more about this new world she was in than she should be able too. Hermione now recalled that she was an orphan who lives at St. Charles Magical Orphanage. She recalled meeting the Madam of the orphanage and Ms. Leighton and getting her room and roommate. Amelia or as she preferred it Amy was Hermione's best and only friend. It was at that precise moment the nurse and doctor walked in.
"Ah you're awake miss Granger. I'm Dr. Wilson, how are you feeling?" asked Dr. Wilson as the nurse set the water on her bed stand.
"Like I was hit by a train. What happened to me?" asked Hermione
"That a really good question and to be honest I'm not sure what happened to you. The scans we did shoed that your body and magical ore were being torn apart and replaced in rapid succession, you remained in that state for a full day and you've been out for a week." Replied Dr. Wilson
"A WEEK! I've been out for a week!" exclaimed Hermione "Wait. What's the date, what is today's date?!" cried Hermione attempting to get out of bed.
"Calm down Miss Granger. It's the twenty-fifth of July nineteen-ninety-one." Replied Dr. Wilson
Hermione collapsed back onto the bed at the news. She had barely a month before she went to Hogwarts for the first time and to top it all off, she was an orphan with no way to support herself. She was in deep shit and she knew it.
"Are you okay Ms. Granger?" asked Dr. Wilson worriedly
"I'm… not sure." Replied Hermione
"I see… well regardless you'll be remaining here for another week or so until we're sure there are no side effects of your episode. Would you be able to accommodate visitors right now or would you prefer to wait?" asked Dr. Wilson
"Who is here to see me?" asked Hermione
"One of your guardians a Sarah Leighton and your friend Amelia Benoit." Replied Dr. Wilson
"Yes, please let them in, I would like to see my best friend and let her know I'm okay." Said Hermione
Dr. Wilson looked her in the eye before nodding. "Alright but, they can only stay till the end of visiting hours."
The doctor and nurse left the room and less than a minute later and with a loud bang the door and a blonde streak raced into the room before crashing into the rolling chair the doctor had left behind resulting in a scream and moan of pain. Hermione was stunned for a moment before breaking out in laughter. Though it still disturbed her slightly, Hermione could remember the numerous times Amy had fallen prey to this curse of running into objects.
"Amelia! What are you doing young lady? This is a hospital not a playground!" scolded Mr. Leighton who had just arrived and was standing in the doorway.
"Sorry Ms. Leighton, I just really wanted to see Hermione and make sure she is okay." Replied Amy. As Amy got up from her crash Hermione got a better look at her. Amy was roughly the same size and age as Hermione with golden blond hair falling to her mid back with beautiful sliver eyes. Amy was wearing a light grey t-shirt with light blue jeans a surprisingly muggle clothing set from the wizarding community. Ms. Leighton was older around twenty-three or twenty-four. She had light brown hair that would fall to her shoulders and was held back with a hair clip. She was wearing a grey blouse with black jeans and once again Hermione was surprised by the muggleness of her wardrobe. The two had fallen into argument completely forgetting the reason both were there and caused Hermione to break out in giggles she loved these two with all her heart even if she didn't know why.
"Hermione!" Amy and Ms. Leighton said at the same time as both quickly forgot their argument and turned to their friend in the hospital bed.
"Its good to see you both. What happened while I was out?" asked Hermione
"Well after you passed out the Matron brought you here and no one was allowed see you until now." Replied Amy
"That's not all, the day after everyone received their Hogwarts letter." Continued Ms. Leighton "This is your letter I thought you would like to see it yourself." She finished handing the letter to Hermione
"Thanks." Replied Hermione before reading the letter quickly "How am I going to pay for all of this?" asked Hermione
"Don't worry the Ministry pays for most of it, though you do have to take an ancestry test at Gringotts. That way if there was money set aside for you, they can find it." Replied Ms. Leighton
Hermione was digesting this new information when Amy suddenly spoke up.
"That's right I wanted to show you my wand it absolutely amazing! Here take a look." Amy said as she pulled her wand from her back pocket. Hermione looked closely at wand. It was beautiful made from apple wood with light and dark lines intermixed perfectly.
"What kind of core does it have?" asked Hermione
"Unicorn tail hair" replied Amy excitedly
"It's a perfect wand for you." Noted Hermione suddenly feeling the loss of her own wand
"Yup I can't wait to see what kind of wand you'll get." Said Amy
"Don't look so glum Hermione I'll take you to Diagon alley as soon as they release you and you can get your own wand." Reassured Ms. Leighton
Hermione nodded and the conversation turned to other topics which lasted the rest of the time the three had together. When Ms. Leighton and Amy left the nurse returned with food and potions to assist her recovery and soon, she fell into a quiet sleep. It would be in the early hours of the morning that she would wake from her slumber to a voice calling to her.
"Hermione, Hermione, hello Hermione can you hear me?" asked Viskara
"Viskara? Why are you contacting me now I'm trying to sleep." Replied Hermione
"Sorry about that just wanted to make sure you survived the merging and that your doing okay" said Viskara
"I'm alive at the very least though I would like to know more about what happened and more about these powers you gave me." Inquired Hermione
"Well to put it simply you are now a hybrid Hermione one part the old you and one part the new you. Every part of you mental, physical, and magical has fused with the Hermione from this timeline. Unfortunately, this is a very painful process as you have experienced. The powers I have bestowed upon you will manifest over time in fact the first ability already has although its rather shoddy in terms of power at the moment. Telepathic communication at first it will be only with me when you randomly connect with my mind. After a time, you'll be able to do it at will not only with me but others as well." Informed Viskara
"Wow that's a lot to take in…so, what will happen now? Asked Hermione
"That depends on you now. This is your chance at redeeming your past failure in your own timeline. Change the everything and be prepared for any circumstance. This world is very different from your own but similar in many ways too." Replied Viskara
"That all fine but, where do I start? What is the first step I should take to change the outcome of the war?" asked Hermione
"Trust those whom were closest to this universes Hermione. They will guide you in the right direction and they will always love you regardless what may happen. Ah it seems our time is up. Rest well Hermione you will need your strength in the days to come." Warned Viskara
"Wait don't go I still have questions! What about the other powers can you tell me more about them? What about my friends in this time are they all alive? Viskara! Answer me! Viskara!"
Hermione waited for a response but received none. She swore loudly "Fuck!" Hermione was rather annoyed at this turn of events but there was nothing she could do about it now. It seems that she would have to wait until she reached Hogwarts before she could put any plan into action. Hermione sighed it was going to be a long week and even longer month but, she knew it was worth the wait if she could save the lives of her friends. Hermione turned over in her bed and falling back into the world of sweet unconsciousness.
I did not expect to finish this chapter so soon. However, it is done, and I am tired. I had an essay and test this last week and have another test in the upcoming week. Anyway, the story continues and so does my life, onward and upward. I also want to thank everyone who reads this story and even more so to those who favorite and/or review. You are all awesome!
Sarronoxo: Good to know I'm infringing on anybody's intellectual content I'm also glad you're enjoying the story. I'll keep up the good work.
raingirl71: Good to know you're enjoying the story, I've always felt that Dumbledore was blinded by his desire to stop the darkness that he stole three childhoods. Bellatrix on the other hand… well let's just say I have plans for her.
MidnightWriterPhilosopher: It has been delivered.
Pam C: I glad you like the story and the idea behind it. To be honest I was a little nervous about posting it but with all the positive reviews I don't intend to stop anytime soon. I noticed the change too if it gets worse, I expect my readers to let me know don't worry about insulting me. If it gets better than upward, we shall go.
Willow Rosemberg: I'm happy you love my story!
despitethedesperation: Expect lots of twists, turns, and magic!