Human and Not-So-Human Troubles

Gohan stabbed his eggs absently as he stole glances at Harry and Ron. They looked at him warily. Gohan screwed his face up and looked away. He felt guilty for yelling at his friends, but it seemed the only way to get them to listen to him. Hermione had her nose in a book, but it was obvious from her non-moving eyes that she really wasn't reading.

Harry and Ron disappeared around six to go to Hagrid's. Hermione poured frantically through her school work. She had gotten behind because she had been helping Hagrid with his case for Buckbeak. Gohan watched her.

After a considerable amount of time had passed, Hermione rolled her eyes. "Don't you ever get tired of staring?"

"Not when it's you I'm looking at."

Hermione blushed. "You're making me feel uncomfortable, Gohan."

"Oh, sorry. You can stare back if you want."

Hermione laughed. "Thanks. Maybe I'll take you up on that sometime." Her smiling mouth twitched.

Gohan spent his time trying to cheer up Hermione. She had decided to remain at Hogwarts during the latest trip to Hogsmeade. She told Gohan about Harry's plan to sneak out.

"-and I even told him that it was incredibly foolhardy to go out, especially 'with Sirius Black after him.'"

"But Sirius Black isn't after Harry, Hermione."

She scoffed impatiently. "I know that! But Sirius has been in Azkaban for twelve years. I donno know how he was before this mess, but he's completely irrational now! He's desperate, and desperate humans or creatures are dangerous!"

Don't I know it!

Tap. Tap. Tap. Hermione looked up. An owl was perched outside the window. Hermione let it in, took the scrap of parchment from its foot, and gave it an owl treat. It flew away as she read the parchment. She gasped.

Gohan tugged the letter from her grasp and read. His eyes filled with horror.

"No! They can't! They can't kill him! We…we have to stop this!"

Hermione bit her lip. "You can't interfere, Gohan. This is wizarding law. You could get expelled if-"

"I don't care! This is wrong!" Gohan stalked from the table and raced upstairs.

Hagrid's problems seemed to bring Gohan, Harry, Ron, and Hermione back together. They all spent time in the library in a fevered pitch, pulling up resource after resource. They returned to Hagrid with their arms full.

"It's no use," Hagrid sobbed. "The Committee's are in Lucius's back pocket. Might as well make the best of the time Beaky has left." He trudged away pathetically.

Someone nearby cackled. "Listen to him blubber! He's supposed to be our teacher. Pathetic-"

Harry and Ron both whirled to face Draco Malfoy, but-

Pop. Malfoy slammed violently into the castle wall, staring bewilderingly at Hermione, who was glaring in cold fury. Her eyes suddenly flared an ocean blue and her ears began to form into points. "HOW DARE YOU! DON'T YOU EVER CALL HAGRID PATHETIC, YOU FOUL, LOATHSOME, EVIL, LITTLE-"

"((Hermione, you're transforming!))" Gohan shouted desperately in Namekian.

Hermione gasped and quickly turned away from Malfoy. Catching a full view of her face, Harry and Ron looked at her in shock. The markings that had just started to appear slowly melted away as her anger gave away to fear. Not only had Harry and Ron seen, but Malfoy had, as well.

Malfoy stared, wide eyed as Hermione backed away from him fearfully. Malfoy rose and raced down the stairs toward the dungeons, his two lackeys thundering after. Hermione paled, clamped her hand over her mouth, and sank to her knees.

Harry approached. "Erm, Hermione? What just happened?"

She rose quickly and backed away from him, like Malfoy had done with her. "I'm…sorry. I can't!" She sped away.

Harry stared absently. "We better hurry up. We've got Charms."

But Hermione didn't show up for Charms…or lunch. The three soon found her asleep at a work table in Gryffindor Tower. After Harry nudged her awake and told her Divination was next, she frantically rushed to apologize to Professor Flitwick for missing his class.

...

Twenty minutes later, the four were climbing through the trap door into the Divination class. Professor Trelawney informed the class that they would be studying ball-gazing.

"….Broaden your minds."

Hermione rolled her eyes as she looked into the ball. Maybe she could master the technique of sleeping with her eyes open.

"…clear your thoughts. Broaden…"

Hermione felt herself slipping away softly, floating away, as if a feather being lifted away on a gentle breeze.

"!" a familiar screech filled the air.

"…oh no, not you….not now…" she moaned softly as a flash of gold entered her peripheral vision.

Gohan looked over at her in concern. Her ki began sparking. Hermione's body leaned toward the ball, her eyes staring intently, distantly. "…oh no, not you…not now…" her lips murmured quietly.

The box wailed metallically as a silver thread shifted through the crack. Breaking free, it shot toward Hermione. Hermione tensed. Knowing what was coming didn't make it any more pleasant. It slammed painfully into her consciousness…

Hermione's body lurched suddenly. Gohan tapped the table lightly with his wand and applied light pressure…to keep it from reacting violently with her increasing ki…

Hermione watched as Selena Subaru sat in the rocking chair in the nursery. A female toddler with wisps of mousy hair sat in the corner of the room, playing with a color-changing sphere as her mother rocked absently. Lily Potter appeared in the doorway, carrying another toddler who looked old enough to walk. She gently laid the playful child in the crib in the hopes of sending him to dream land…

Gohan watched anxiously as Hermione's eyes narrowed. She leaned further toward the crystal ball…

Hermione heard a door slam downstairs. Loud, fast footsteps sounded beneath them.

"Lily, take Harry and go!" A man's voice shouted fearfully. "It's him! I'll hold him off—" The man's voice was cut off by a cold, crisp, mocking laugh that made the hairs on Hermione's head stand on end. She heard another man say something, and a flash of green light showed beneath the door…

"Hermione?" Gohan whispered as he sensed Hermione's heartbeat accelerate…

A thud from below seemed to signal several different events: Lily shrieked a sobbing cry as she began piling things in front of the door, Selena shot up from the chair wild-eyed and approached the door, and footsteps could be heard on the stairs. Suddenly, the door blasted open, the force of the explosion knocked away the boxes and furniture Lily had managed to place. Selena grabbed Lily from behind and yanked her around, so that Selena stood between Lily and the figure in the doorway…

Hermione's teeth were clenched, and she panted fearfully, expectantly.

"Hermione," Gohan said quietly…

The figure's face came into view. It was pale, snakelike, with slits for nostrils and bright red eyes. Its eyes snapped as it registered her. Then, it smirked.

"Selena Subaru. This was the last place I expected to see you. I see you are no longer pregnant. In that case, you are no further use to me. Avada Kedavra!"

Selena raised a feeble shield of some sort. It managed to block some of the spell, but most of it sailed through and struck her chest. She bared her teeth as she fell at its feet, gasped two more times, and stared at Hermione's shoes…

"Hermione," Gohan said, a little louder than earlier, touching her shoulder. Harry and Ron noticed her behavior and were exchanging worried glances.

"No," Lily wailed, choking a sob as her mind fought to process her friend's sudden demise. She suddenly looked into the merciless face. "Not Harry! Not Harry! Please, I'll do anything-"

It smirked, raising its wand. "Stand aside, silly girl. Stand aside!"

"Not Harry! Please, kill me! Spare Harry, please!

"Stand aside—"

"No, not Harry—"

It sighed. "Avada Kedavra!"

"Hermione." Gohan said firmly, softly shaking her. Hermione's gaze never faltered as she leaned in closer, her nose now inches from the glass. Harry and Ron had moved closer and were whispering her name, attracting looks from neighboring tables…

It approached the crib that Hermione knew contained Harry. Someone, not Harry, was wailing. Hermione looked over in the corner. The toddler stood clumsily, sobbing, glaring angrily at the murderous intruder. Her face contorted with rage. Her visible left ear formed into a squared point. Her eyes flashed a bright blue. She bared her teeth in her rage, and tiny reddish-brown marks encircled her eyes like a half mask…

"Lianna," Gohan whispered desperately. "Hermione!" He cried, taking both of her shoulders and shook them in earnest. Hermione's head flopped as she stared vacantly. All eyes were on them as the half Saiyan cried out, shaking the girl in fear...

Hermione whipped her head back toward the evil wizard, who was seemingly oblivious to the danger of the enraged baby in the corner. Baby Harry stared at Voldemort with a fading smile and began to cry. Voldemort pointed his wand into the boy's face.

"Avada Kedavra!"

The spell struck something solid. Voldemort's eyes widened as he concentrated his beam, trying to break through whatever was shielding the child. He increased the power of the beam; the smoke, the unpleasant smell of burning flesh, and the agonized shriekings of a child in pain filled the room.

Suddenly, an explosion jarred the room. Distracted, Voldemort's eyes snapped toward the direction of the brilliant shimmery light that was coming from the corner. A small figure was barely distinguishable within the light.

"Hermione, no! Snap out of it! Please!" Gohan begged frantically. He placed his hands on each side of her head and drew her forehead onto his own and closed his eyes…

Voldemort's grip on his wand faltered. The green stream of light ricocheted off the baby and struck Voldemort in the face. Its hands lurched in shock. Then its body shriveled into a dark vapor. The vapor shot through the hole the explosion had made, leaving two sobbing children alone, together.

Hermione gasped sharply, like she had been underwater for her limit. She panted heavily, grasping two muscular arms. She looked up. Gohan's forehead was pressed firmly against hers, and he was staring intensely into her eyes. His face was wet with tears and sweat; his eyes shiny and filled.

"Hermione? Are you okay?" He leaned back, assessing her.

"Mr. Son," a misty voice said reproachfully. "I will not tolerate such familiarity in my class. Kissing-"

"They weren't kissing!" Harry said hotly. "Hermione saw something-" but he fell silent as Hermione shot him a warning look.

But Trelawney laughed derisively. "My dear, the idea that Miss Granger Saw anything, other than Mr. Son's lips, is completely ludicrous. I've never met a student more hopelessly confined to the mundane than she."

Hermione stared at Trelawney in shock. A complete silence filled the room as everyone was staring at either Trelawney or Hermione. Hermione stood angrily.

"Fine!" she spat. "I suppose there is little point of me staying, then!" She stalked out of the class, slamming the trapdoor behind her. Gohan stood.

"Mr. Son, please sit down."

"I don't think so," he said calmly. "This subject has become unnecessary for me, as well."

The Easter holidays were emotionally taxing, especially for Hermione and Gohan. Hermione had the most classes of any third year, even after dropping Divination. She had stopped her training, having so much homework to do that she was only sleeping four hours a night. Harry and Ron were unusually quiet around her, and Draco Malfoy was glancing thoughtfully in her direction.

An increasing sense of helplessness stole over Gohan as he watched Hermione struggle with her past, with her fears. He knew she would have to tell Harry about her past soon; she would never forgive herself if Harry found out from someone else. Gohan knew Hermione was thinking along the same lines, which was why she was so torn up. Hermione's body was so wreaked with exhaustion that Gohan felt compelled to offer her a sensu.

Impressively, Ron had taken full responsibility for Buckbeak's appeal. He came to the Tower with a remarkable load of books from the library, remarkable for Ron, anyways. Harry, however, became completely focused on the upcoming Quidditch game with Slytherin. Apparently, the last game of the season had become the most serious business…so serious, in fact, that fights between the two houses broke out daily within the corridors.

Strangely enough, it was during this intense season in her life that Hermione received a new stressor. Snape had offered her 'special insufferable know-it-all skills' to none other than Millicent Bulstrode. He 'requested' that she tutor Millicent in potions. Hermione was exhausted, and the two glared at each other throughout the entire sessions, but Hermione was fair and polite during the sessions. Gohan, who decided Hermione needed moral support, stayed with Hermione and assisted her.

The next morning Harry told them about Crookshanks and the Grim being friends.

"Well, that makes sense," Gohan said thoughtfully. "It would explain why the cat's so interested in Pettigrew."

Harry blinked stupidly. "Huh?"

Gohan sighed. "The rat, Harry." He said impatiently. "Ow!"

Hermione had kicked him beneath the table and shot him a warning look. Harry and Ron exchanged curious glances.

"Way to go, Harry!" Hermione shrieked happily as Harry was carried to the tower by a pack of cheering Gryffindors. They had won the Quidditch cup. Grinning from ear to ear, Harry and the entire team was thrown the biggest Quidditch party in the history of Quidditch parties. As they partied late into the night, Gohan watched as Hermione's moment of happiness quickly turned into a brooding sullenness. She left the festivities for the upstairs study, not wanting to damper anyone else's excitement.

Apparently, her absence didn't go unnoticed. Ron and Harry cast worried glances at her retreating form.

Finally, the exams were upon them. Hermione was an emotional wreck, but still managed to keep her faculties, well, mostly. During Lupin's obstacle course, she had successfully passed everything but the last, a boggart. She approached the tent warily. It's only a boggart, she mused reasonably. It's only a boggart. She stepped inside. She gasped, trembling.

Boggart-Harry's face was contorted with disgusted rage. "I can't believe I was ever friends with Voldemort's daughter!" He spat.

"R-riddikulus," she stuttered, tears splashing down her face. She reasoned, It's only a boggart—

The boggart changed its shape, forming into Professor Dumbledore. "I was wrong about you, Miss Granger," he said sternly. "You're considerably more like your father than I ever imagined-"

"R-riddikulus." It's only—

It changed again. It was overly tall, had slits for nostrils, and bloodred eyes. It reached for her, beckoning with an unpleasant simper.

"Lianna, dear. I've been waiting for you."

Screw reason. "!" she screamed loudly and shot from the tent. She collapsed in front of Lupin, panting heavily, hysterically.

"What happened, Hermione?"

She shot Gohan a meaningful look. "Oh, erm, P-Professor McGonagall…she said…she said I failed everything!" Hermione stammered. Lupin stared thoughtfully at her as she rose and approached Gohan.

Gohan leveled his eyes at her. "((It was him, wasn't it?))"

"((The last one was,))" She whispered, glaring at her feet.

As Gohan led a light-headed Hermione toward the castle with Harry and Ron, they spotted the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge.

"Bad business, very bad," Fudge said absently after he greeted them. Gohan saw the executioner, who ran his finger across the blade of his axe, grinning evilly at him. Ron opened his mouth, but Hermione stopped him.

...

Hermione and Gohan sat their Arithmancy exams while Ron and Harry did their Divinations.

Ron came back first. "Loony old fraud," he mumbled, but was interrupted by a pecking at the window.

Hermione opened the window, took the parchment from the owl, and gave it an owl treat. She unrolled the small parchment and gasped. Ron snatched it from her and read, his eyes widening in disgusted shock. Wordlessly, he passed it to Gohan.

"NOOOOO!" Gohan shouted, collapsing to his knees in anguish. Harry hurried into the common room. "Hey you guys, you'll never guess what Professor Trelawney just did. She went all funny and said—what's wrong with you all?" Harry broke off in the middle of his story and looked around quizzically.

"Hagrid lost," Hermione choked. "Buckbeak is going to be executed at sunset." She handed him the parchment.

"'Don't come down?'" Harry read incredulously from the poorly written note. "Of course, we're coming! We can't just leave Hagrid to face the executioner alone-"

"But Harry," Ron said as he stared absently out the window. "It takes place at sunset. You're not allowed out after-"

"If I only had my Invisibility cloak," Harry mused.

Hermione stood. "Where is it?"

Harry told her where it was and how to open the passage. She bolted from the room.

Ron stared after her. "You don't suppose she's going-"

Gohan gasped as he felt her ki transmit to the area. "She's there," he said.

Harry and Ron stared. "Already? How did she get there so fast?"

Hermione shot into the room with a shimmery silver cloth in her hands.

"That was fast, Hermione," Harry commented.

Ron shook his head in awe. "What's gotten into you? First Malfoy, then Trelawney—"

Hermione smiled as though she had just been completely flattered.

They went to dinner. They wanted to go to Hagrid's first, but felt the best cover would be to be seen with everyone else. But they were attracting stares at the table. Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Gohan merely picked absently at their plates. Gohan, normally being the ravenous Saiyan, was surprising everyone in the area by simply not eating. Hermione shot nervous glances over at the Slytherin table, where Malfoy was continuing to stare at her back thoughtfully. Even Ron had abandoned his appetite.

Finally, they decided they'd waited long enough. They skulked into the empty hall. Making sure no one was around, the three slipped beneath the cloak. Gohan found an abandoned classroom and waited until he sensed they were outside and teleported himself to them. Harry and Ron stumbled at Gohan's sudden appearance, but Gohan heard Hermione scoff impatiently.

"Come on." Gohan flash-sped behind Hagrid's house and hid there until the three came around. They knocked. A minute later, Hagrid answered the door.

"It's us. Let us in so we can get out of the cloak," Gohan heard Harry say. As soon as he heard the door close, Gohan entered through the back, causing Hagrid to jump.

"I didn't see anyone else," Gohan said truthfully.

Hagrid staggered toward his cauldron. "Want some tea?" He muttered absently. Everyone exchanged glances. Hagrid's feelings of helplessness hit them and began sinking in.

"Where's Buckbeak, Hagrid?" Hermione asked.

"He's tied in the pumpkin patch," Gohan said. "I saw him."

Hagrid nodded miserably. "Thought he'd like ter smell the trees and see the fresh air before—" The milk he had been pouring spilt onto the table and floor, and the jug slipped from his hands. Gohan caught it with his speed.

Hermione muttered softly and rose to clean up the spilt milk.

Gohan slammed his fist onto the table, causing the table and everything on it to collapse and everyone to jump. "I hate not being able to do anything!" He said angrily.

Hermione took out her wand and repaired everything. Hagrid nodded feebly. "Yeah. Dumbledore tried even, but the Committee didn't listen…Malfoy's got them wrapped around his finger."

Finished cleaning, Hermione stifled a sob. She turned to Hagrid. "We'll stay—" she began.

Hagrid shook his head violently. "Nothin' doing. Yeh're be going back up to ter castle. I don' wan' yeh watchin'. Besides, yeh will all be in trouble if Fudge and Dumbledore catches you out here without permission."

Hermione turned away and began fixing the tea. Gohan knew she was crying. But suddenly, she shrieked.

She rounded on Ron, holding something furry by the scruff of its neck. "I think someone owes me an apology, Ron!" She said as she tossed Scabbers at him. Scabbers looked terrible. He was thinner than ever and had more bald patches.

Gohan stared at the rat. "((Hermione, why don't we take Pettigrew to Dumbledore?))"

Hagrid blinked stupidly. "What're yeh sayin'?"

Hermione turned toward Gohan, nodding. "((Perhaps we should. Then Sirius can be free. We'll go up as soon as we're done here.))""

He and Hermione stared at the rat, who started squirming as soon as it heard the name Pettigrew. It began fighting in earnest once it heard the name Sirius. Its odd behavior even attracted Harry's attention.

Hagrid gasped. "Out the back…under the cloak. Quickly. They're comin'."