A Siren's Call

Chapter 5

As the summer holidays grew closer and closer to an end, Hermine found herself standing in front of the twin's room. She turned to walk away, but before she made it two steps in the opposite direction, the door opened, and she was pulled in. As she started to scream in protest, her mouth was covered by a warm hand. She could feel a warm chest at her back, she noted that it was hard and muscular. Her head fell back against his shoulder and she sighed as the hand uncovered her mouth. Promises of something more were whispered in her heart as she turned to see which of her boys was holding her so tightly.

Cedric smiled down at her, before reaching in front of her and closing the door slowly. As she went to speak, he put his finger to her lips in a plea for her to be quiet, and then he placed a silencing charm on the room.

"Were working on things that we didn't want Mrs. Weasley to find out about," Cedric said, motioning to the room behind him. The twins were both sitting at cauldrons, stirring, and adding ingredients. "Did you need something, love?"

"Well, not really," Hermione said blushing, "I just missed you, and I wanted to talk about these dreams I've been having about us."

"Don't worry love," Fred said, pulling her into a hug from behind. He had put a stasis charm on the potion he was working on to comfort her. "I have also been having very comforting dreams about our future, after the war is over. Personally," he said, that last bit in a low whisper that only she could hear, "I can't wait till we can touch you as much as I like." The last part he whispered in her ear, then nuzzled her neck.

She sighed in contentment, "Did you get the note I sent you?" she asked, turning her head slightly so she looked up at him.

"We're sorry we didn't look for you," George said sheepishly, "we got a little excited to try a new product for our joke shop that, we've been trying to perfect it for the last 2 days. We're sorry if you felt we've been avoiding you."

"I wasn't worried," she said, smiling as she greeted George over by where he was watching his potion simmer, "What are you making?"

"Were trying to devise a potion that copies the effects of love potions, but instead of falling in love with the first person you see it's the first thing you see," George explained.

"So, say we were to give this potion to say, I don't know, Ron he could fall in love with his books or say a fork?" She asked, suddenly she had an idea, the perfect prank, and she smiled evilly.

"What are you thinking?" Cedric asked, sliding his arm around her waist.

"Oh, just the perfect prank," she said excitedly, "maybe you can infuse a bit of truth serum, so the person effected declares love for the thing they love most. For Ron it would be food, for Malfoy it would be his hair, Professor Snape his Cauldron's."

"It's a brilliant idea," Fred and George say at the same time.

"Okay, here's what we need to do..." George said going into work mode.

Cedric hugged her, "You're more than welcome to stay," he whispers.

"No, I think I'd be more of a distraction than a help," Hermione said, smiling up at him, "but are you all having dreams?"

""Yes," he said, nuzzling her neck, "we all dream about a cottage after Hogwarts, just us. Sometimes we're working in the yard, sometimes we're on an outing together. But the important thing to remember is that we, the 5 of us, are together. I really look forward to that."

She smiled at him, "I was worried that maybe it was just me," she admitted, "I must admit that I very much wish for it. I love you, all of you really."

"I'm glad to hear it," Cedric said kissing her gently on the lips, "I love you as well."

She smiled brightly at him, before bringing his hand to her lips, giving it a kiss, "I'll leave you to your plans," she said turning to leave, "Try not to blow yourselves up."

"We won't," the twins said at the same time. Hermione just shook her head, smiled at them, exiting the room.

"Now, let's get busy," Fred said rubbing his hands together, before sitting back down in front of his cauldron.

Hermione decided to go to the library and finish cataloging the books in their proper order, then she had a brilliant idea, and went to find her father and her uncle so they could help her; seeing as she couldn't do magic herself.

"Dad," Hermione said while walking into the kitchen, however, all she found was Molly and Arthur stealing a bit of alone time, so Hermione backed out trying not to be seen so that she would not interrupt.

She searched every room in the house and there was still no sign of either her uncle of her father. And then it dawned on her, "Kreacher," she called from the settee in the sitting room.

"Yes, Missy, what can Kreacher do for you?" Kreacher asked after bowing.

"Do you know where my father and uncle are Kreacher?" Hermione asked, "I can't find them anywhere."

"Kreacher is not sure," Kreacher said, "but we will go and look for them. Please wait right here."

"Thank you," she said as he popped away.

Hermione sat there for what seemed like hours, getting up, she walked to the window. She sighed, looking out the window. The front sitting room, where she was waiting, had a decent view of the street. After what seemed like ages, she saw Severus Snape walking in through the gate. She moved away from the window and sat down and waited some more.

Kreacher opened the door to the sitting room, and she watched him enter behind Kreacher. "Missy," the elf started the formal introduction of Mr. Snape.

"Thank you Kreacher," she said with a smile before ordering some tea.

Kreacher returned in a matter of seconds with the tea and snacks.

"Professor, do you know where my father and Sirius are?"

"Everything is fine," Severus said smoothly, trying not to let anything show on his face, "what did you need them for, perhaps I can help."

"Oh well I guess you can," Hermione said, "If you don't mind that is."

"I guess that depends on what it is you need," Severus said curiously.

She held back a laugh, "I'm finished in the library, and I thought that instead of having to search all the books for the one you needed I could make a list of all the books and where they are sort of like in Muggle libraries."

"That's a good idea," Severus said, thinking, "How did you plan to do it?"

""Well, since I can't do it on my own and listing all the books by hand would take ages, I thought that with a bit of magic, we could just make a list of sorts," Hermione said excitedly, "however as I can't find dad or Sirius and Molly and Arthur are busy in the kitchen, the twins are working on their own thing."

"As I have nothing else to do, I suppose I could help you," Severus said in a bored tone.

"Thank you, professor," she said hugging him, "You can punish me once we're back in school if you like. I know you don't like people touching you."

""Well, since I see you as a daughter, I don't see the harm," Severus said, hugging her gently before pulling away, "let's get to the library before I change my mind."

"Okay," she said, leading the way.

Dinner time rolled around, by the time they were finished with the list in the library. She was happy to see Sirius and Remus sitting at the kitchen table. She sat down next to Harry, who was sitting across from Remus and Sirius.

"Where did you go today?" Hermione asked her father, "I needed help with a project in the library that required a magical touch."

"Something magical you say?" Sirius replied with a grin.

"Indeed," Snape said from down the table, everyone looked startled to see him there.

"Where did he come from?" Harry asked, surprised.

"To answer your question Hermione, we were with Harry today, going over things for his trial, and a few other things." Remus answered her with a small smile.

"I'm sure everything will be alright," Hermione said, glancing over at Harry.

After dinner they moved to the sitting room and sat around talking and playing games.

Dumbledore made a return appearance the very next day to issue Hogwarts letters. Though it seemed odd that the headmaster himself would deliver school letters, Mrs. Weasley saw it as an honor that could not be overlooked.

Hermione was saddened to see that she had not made prefect. Many of the occupants were outraged that Hermione hadn't been picked for the job.

"Miss Lupin," Dumbledore said, "might I have a word?"

"Of course, Sir," Hermione said, standing and exiting the room so they could talk in private. When they reached the comfort of the library, Hermione turned as Dumbledore shut the door, "you wanted to speak with me sir?"

"Yes," he said, "I imagine that you must be rather upset that you didn't make prefect. You are a studious young lady, however, the staff and I thought that you might find your duties as a prefect burden, instead of a gift. With your Birthright coming more and more into play we thought perhaps that you might prefer not to have to worry about the title of prefect."

After a few minutes, it sunk in, that she really didn't have the energy to deal with the post. She needed to concentrate on schoolwork and figuring out what else was going to happen with this siren thing. The less she needed to explain to others the better. Plus, she could dedicate her time to keeping the boys on task.

"I understand," she said, "I was upset at first, outraged really; but now that you remind me, I don't really have the energy to worry about the whole student body, keep track of Harry and Ron, and figure out what comes next with being a Siren. I'm sorry I was angry with you sir."

"It's quite alright Miss Lupin," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes, "Don't be too hard on yourself. Now what say you, shall we head back to the others, I dare say that Mrs. Weasley will want an explanation."

"Of course," Hermione said, leading the way back to the sitting room.

The last days of summer passed to quickly for Hermione's taste, and soon it was time for everyone to pack up and head off to Kings Cross to catch the Hogwarts Express.

Sirius, in his haste, decided that he wanted to tag along and went in his Animagus form, commonly known as snuffles. Several members thought it was a bad idea, but Sirius would not be told he could not do it. He wanted to send his godson and his favorite "cousin" off to school, and he could not do that from headquarters.

It was Hermione, however, that received the biggest shock of her life when they reached Kings Cross. For there standing in all his famous glory was Viktor Krum. Without thinking twice, she left her things with Ginny and Harry and ran to him. Her arms held him tight around the neck, as he picked her up and swung her around. "I've missed you," she whispered in his ear, before kissing him on the lips.

"Ah, young love," Arthur murmured to Molly. Molly giggled as she turned to look into his eyes, "Beautiful isn't it?"

"That's it," she answered, kissing him on the cheek, before turning back to look at Hermione and Viktor, who seemed to be leading her back over to them.

After a brief re-introduction, it was time to board the train. Viktor stayed with the Weasley's at the podium until the train was gone, and then he too left. He was meeting up with a few of the order members where he would be taken to headquarters. He would stay there for two days before being inducted into the order. His mission, well that was simple, was to keep them informed of anything going on in his hometown.

After the sorting and the opening feast, Hermione could not help but feel that something bad was going to happen this year. With the Ministry interfering at Hogwarts, she would need to prepare to learn on their won this year. Her fears were confirmed during their first DADA lesson. Hermione was hard pressed to think of something that could help them get through school and still do well on their OWL's.

With he twins in their 7th year, the were preparing to go out into the world and make something of themselves. Hermione could not be happier for them; they were going to make the world a better place with their pranks and unique magic. They were still trying to perfect their experiment, and Hermione found similar ideas and pranks interesting and started a list of ideas to pass on to them.

Harry had already gotten detention with Umbridge and he was acting weird since he started excelling at potions too. She let out a heavy sigh.

At three weeks in, she was still no closer to finding a solution, however she had a bigger problem to solve than figuring out how to pass DADA Owl's. Somehow, in all her worrying she had managed to change forms. No longer was she a girl, but some sort of black hoofed creature with what felt like wings. She was standing in the middle of the common room alone.

Then suddenly the door to the common room opened, and there before her stood, Neville Longbottom. "I must be seeing things," he said, rubbing his eyes, "nope still there." Unsure what to do, he walked slowly towards the horse like creature, his hand reached out. "What should I do?" Neville asked.

"Neville it's me," Hermione said, trying to speak to him; but Neville could only hear neighing and grunting.

"I'm sorry I don't understand you," Neville said, "should I get someone for you? Hagrid, perhaps?"

Hermione tried to shake her head no, but to Neville it just looked like she was shaking her head from side to side. "Ok," Neville said, "I'll get Hagrid."

"No," Hermione said, stomping her front foot in frustration, shaking her head no at the same time.

"Neville, what is going on?" Ginny asked, stepping into the Common room.

"I don't know Ginny," Neville said, "I was going to go and get Hagrid."

Once again Hermione shook her head no while stomping her front foot on the ground. ""You know, I don't think she want's you to get Hagrid at all," Ginny said, walking towards the Winged horse, "You know if I didn't know any better I would say that she's a black Pegasus. Hermione, is that you?"

Finally, Hermione thought as she nodded her head up and down in a yes motion. As the girl came closer and reached out to pet her, Hermione pushed her forehead into the girl's hand.

"Who do you want me to get for you?" Ginny asked, "Fred and George should be back any minute, I saw them on my way back, Do you want me to get them?"

Hermione nodded her head up and down, while neighing. "Neville, go and fetch Fred, George, and Harry too if you can find him."

"Yes ma'am," Neville said, with a solute.

"Cheeky," Ginny says with a laugh as he walks out the door.

"Alright there, Hermione?" Ginny asked. Hermione nodded her head up and down in agreement. "Well at least you weren't in class when you changed."

"Really funny Gin," Hermione said, though to Ginny it sounded more like a grunt coming from the horse.

""You know, I didn't expect it to be this type of creature," Ginny said, playing with Hermione's mane.

Ginny's comments went on like that for a few more minutes, and Hermione remained silent as Ginny braided Hermione's mane.

And then suddenly, Fred, George, Lee, Harry and Cedric burst through into the common room. Ginny stayed in the position she was in, though their bursting into the room caused her to jump a little.

"Wow," Lee said, "That's Hermione?"

Hermione shook her head up and down, in a yes motion. To say the boys were shocked was an understatement. As Fred and George approached her, Fred stood off to the side, examining her wings, while George patted her head. And then Fred said the stupidest thing he could, "Hermione, why the long face?"

While everyone burst into laughter, Hermione, was having none of it. Extending one of her wings she knocked Fred off of his feet and onto the floor. Hermione neighed, shaking her head from side to side and stomping her front foot.

"If I didn't know any better I would say that she did that on purpose," Cedric said.

Before Hermione could respond, Neville entered the common room with not one but three professors behind him.

Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape looked on dumbfounded. "This was most unexpected," McGonagall said, "when you said she would change into two different magical creatures I thought you meant one at a time."

"Black Pegasuses are rare and hard to find," Dumbledore said, "but they do exist. Extraordinary."

What happened next was as unexpected as the circumstances itself, Hermione bowed her head to the headmaster, and upon raising her head to look him in the eyes, she was suddenly standing in her original form. She was Hermione granger once more. "That's odd," Hermione said, looking at her arms and touching her face once again.

"What do you suppose triggered the change miss granger?" Snape asked.

"I can't be sure," Hermione said, "But once Dumbledore complemented me, I suddenly felt the urge to be in my human form again. I can't say what triggered the first change, I was thinking about how we weren't going to pass our owls when we weren't allowed to practice in class, and then suddenly I was a horse, well I didn't know I was a horse, all I could tell really was that I had hooves. It's an odd sensation really."

McGonagall smiles at the girl, Dumbledore just nodded thoughtfully. Snape, on the other hand, was vexed. What is he up to? Severus asked himself, grinning, eyes twinkling, he's got something up his sleeve; but what?

No one knew it; but everything was turning out like he hoped it would. Sure, it would take a bit of manipulation, and perhaps a bit of convincing; but he knew Miss Granger's ability to change into two different beings would be beneficial to the Order. Now all he had to do was get the girl to do what she needed to do. Her mates would be all but invincible once she finally decided she was ready. And he was sincerely hoping that she would decide to mate sooner rather than later. He wouldn't be able to keep this news from Tom Riddle forever. I'm afraid that the longer she refuses to mate, the more danger she's in. That was what Dumbledore had told her father and uncles, who were supposed to pass it on to her mates. Perhaps they could rush things along and persuade her a little.

Over the next few days, Hermione practiced turning into her first animal form at will. Fred, George, sometimes Ginny, Neville and Harry would stay up and watch her practice in the common room before heading to bed.

It was on the third night that the twins had a marvelous idea. They should learn how to become an Animagus as well. That way they can get away quickly if needed too. The only question was how to go about it.

Harry said they should owl Sirius about it, but then Cedric suggested that they talk to McGonagall about it. After all she too was an Animagus.

At the end of October Hermione expressed worry about getting any practical in DADA and said that she thought they should find someone to teach them. At first Harry said Cedric should do it; but then Cedric admitted that he hadn't been in any dangerous settings until last June and that other than a few disarming spells and shielding that he didn't know much more than Harry did.

All it took was a good argument on Hermione and Ron's side to get him to agree to it. So in the early days of November, they had a secret meeting at the Three Broomsticks.

After much convincing on Hermione and Ron's part, they were able to convince most students there that Harry wasn't lying about Voldemort being back, and that getting some help learning defense for DADA was the best way to go.

All they needed was some place secret to practice, and a way to let everyone know when the next meeting was. They also needed lesson plans, which Hermione was glad to help with.

It had been about a week since the DA had been thus planned. Cho, who wanted to name the organization Defense Association, was out voted by Ginny who thought it should be called Dumbledore's Army. It was Harry who agreed that it would be good to name it that, since the ministry was worried that Dumbledore was creating an army to over throw the Ministry.

Cho gave in reluctantly, as her wish to please him grew stronger. Harry and Cho were able to work on their relationship, and they officially became a couple during the first Hogsmeade weekend after the DA was formed. The two of them could be seen staring at one another during breakfast, lunch and dinner.

"Why don't you just go and sit with her?" Hermione asked.

"Is that allowed?" Harry asked.

""Well, Cedric sits with us every now and again, and he hasn't been told not to," Fred said.

"True he hasn't," George said.

"What are you waiting for?" Ginny said, "Just go over there and announce that you're sitting with them and then sit down. Or better yet, tell Cho to sit over here with us."

Harry suddenly looked scared, Hermione huffed standing from her seat, pulling Harry with her. She pulled him over to the Ravenclaw table.

"Hello Harry, Hermione," Cho said, blushing a little.

"Hi," Harry said, trying to contain himself.

"Oh, for goodness sake," Hermione said, pulling Harry towards where Cho was sitting. "A little room please, thank you. Now sit Harry."

"What's this?" one of the 5th year girls asked.

"Is it alright if I sit here with you?" Harry asked everyone at the table but looking at Cho.

The girls giggled a little, but Cho just smiled brightly, "Of course Harry," Cho said, "Any time."

"We extend the same invitation to you," Hermione said, looking at Cho," Hermione said, "your welcome at our table at any time."

"Thank you," Cho said with a smile.

Dumbledore and McGonagall were smiling at the efforts being made to make friends with people in other houses. Though it seemed the only ones not making an effort were the Slytherin's. McGonagall was secretly wishing that she could award points for such behavior but thought that perhaps it wasn't the best idea.

Things at the Slytherin table were much different. Draco kept thinking about the things his mother had told him before he escaped Snape's house for the summer. He was learning occulmency so that no one would be able to get into his head and get the information on his cousin. It was either learn to occlude or be obliviated, and he didn't want to forget.

How did things turn out this way? Draco asked in his mind, how did things become so screwed up?

Draco desperately wanted to tell her that he knew her secret, that he was going to protect her as best he could. He wanted to tell her that he was happy to know that they were cousins. He wanted to tell her so many things; however impossible it might be.

Blaise and Nott were worried about Malfoy; but neither tried to get him to talk about the matter. They knew it had something to do with Granger, could he possibly be in love with her?

Theo and Blaise looked at each other, before shaking their heads. No that was not it, perhaps he was just worried about his father. Yes, that had to be it.

1/26/2021 you may notice a few changes; I have taken out parts that don't go and have changed a few situations around.

P.S. I do not own Harry Potter.

*Is a direct quote from the book.