(Disclaimer: see beginning)

Soooo this chapter took an extremely long to write. I don't know why I was having such a block, but at least I finally got it done. I'm still a little unsure with it, but I hope the way I wrote the time lapse works and flows right. Let me know, I could use the feedback

By the way, giant thank yous to everyone who reviewed and alerted this story. All feedback is welcome and appreciated. Its great motivation :) and thanks to my two betas, Gyffindork11 and McGonagall's Bola

Last Time:

The room was silent as the two witches observed each other, until, finally, Fera nodded. "Very well. You will assist me in escaping this prison, and in return you may use my research."

Hermione sagged in relief. "Thank you."

Fera studied her, tilting her head to the side. "What is your name, girl?"

Surprised, Hermione stuck out her hand, answering immediately. "Hermione Jean Granger."

Fera shook her hand, giving her a wicked smirk. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Hermione Jean Granger. You may call me, Fera."

Chapter 10

(January 1?)

So I've decided to start a diary. Even though I've always seen them as slightly juvenile (and of course the diary debacle with Ginny in my second year did nothing to endear them to me, either), it's necessary. Fera confirmed my suspicions: time here is an entirely different matter from time back home, but I guess that's what I should expect from living in another dimension.

I should have known something was up. My watch stopped working hours ago and the Grandfather clock that's usually in the Great Hall was suspiciously quiet. I also have yet to see the sun anywhere in the sky, and last night (if you could really call it a night) there were no moon or stars in sight. It was all just pitch black...it was very creepy. Thank God there are so many sconces and candelabras in the castle. Also, I'm not sure, but I could've sworn that the day seemed to be dragging on longer than it normally would.

I'm hoping that keeping a diary should at least help me stay a little organized and not lose my days so easily. We'll see...

(January 2)

So I haven't seen Fera yet today. I think she's still locked up in one of the rooms in the dungeons. Without a word, she left the minute we got back from the Mirror Room. I'm a little confused by this; she seemed to be opening up to me yesterday, so I don't know why she's ignoring me now. It's a little rude, actually.

I wonder if it has something to do with being trapped in this place all by herself. I once read that extended periods of isolation are unhealthy for a human's mental stability, which makes sense since it's been nearly 200 years (at least in the outside world. I have no idea how time translates in here) since Fera disappeared. Going that long without any human contact can't be good for her health…and now I'm rambling. I really have to teach myself to stop that.

In any case, with Fera locked up in the dungeons, I'm not certain how I should proceed with this research thing. I was going to wait until Fera got back before I started going through her work, but I have no idea when she'll decide to resurface, so I'll probably just start on my own tomorrow. It's starting to get dark now and this castle still seriously creeps me out at night. The last thing I want is to be wandering around in these empty halls in such eerie darkness. I'm still not convinced that Fera managed to lock away all those Soul creatures. I mean, what if one managed to get out? Luckily I found an empty bedroom on this same floor. It's only a couple of doors down. I think it's supposed to be the librarian's room. Either way, it's lovely, a decent size and very convenient. It's also fairly close to the kitchens, which is great. Though I haven't really figured out the food situation here. So far I've only come across the fruits and vegetables that are in the kitchen gardens. I've also seen some herbs, but I have no idea where the meats or breads are kept. I'll have to ask Fera about it later.

Well, I should go now; it's officially getting too dark out here for my tastes, and I do have a big day tomorrow. I finally start cracking open Fera's notes! I'm so excited!

(January 10)

Hello again. It's been a while, I know, but…I just couldn't find the energy to write a new entry. It's not like I've had anything to share with you since then anyways. I'm just─just…so disappointed! When I went to look over Fera's notes the other day, I realized that I couldn't understand a thing. ME! Hermione Granger, supposedly, the cleverest witch of my age, couldn't understand one word in those notebooks. I've never felt so inept before! I mean, the arithmancy equations she used in just the first level of her research were so complicated, it took me nearly four hours just to work my way through the first strand. Four hours!

After I decided to take a break from that, and read ahead a bit, I was running across so many references to unknown experiments, projects and people, that I couldn't follow any of her annotations! I have no idea who some of these people are! And of course she also has a tendency of writing in different languages, switching between them sometimes in the middle of the sentence. It's all just─UGH! The only thing I could get a grasp on really was some of the spell work included in making the potion to see energy signatures, but that's as far as it goes. The potion itself is ridiculously complicated. Seriously, Fera's work is so beyond even the Advanced NEWT level projects I've been doing for Professor Flitwick. I thought Fera was just being arrogant and mean when she told me a girl who hasn't even graduated from Hogwarts yet wouldn't understand, but she was just speaking the truth...How am I going to do this? Fera's not even around to help me. I haven't seen her in days, heck I don't even know if she's alive. It's all just so frustrating. I mean, it's not just my grades or me on the line, is it? If I can't fix the Reservoir Stone, then what will Harry do? How will he beat Voldemort? I can't let him or Ron down…Okay, deep breaths, Hermione…Sorry, about that. I told myself that I wouldn't let this get to me again, that I would try to be more positive.

The truth of the matter is, I should have known better. Professor Dumbledore tried to warn me that Fera's work was beyond brilliant, that SHE was beyond brilliant. Not to mention, that all of her work was an accumulation of years of research. I mean, geesh, I guess it was a little arrogant of me to assume that I could just dive straight into her work, head first, and pick up right where she left off. I can see now, that this is going to take much longer, and if I have even a hope of bringing SOMETHING back to Professor Dumbledore, then I am going to have to rework my entire plan of attack. I'll start from the very bottom, if I have to! Hopefully Fera will come out of hiding soon to help me.

(January 22)

So, I was able to reign in my mini breakdown and re-orient myself. I've decided to work from the ground up, following the direction and process Fera first took. It hasn't been easy. Especially since her notes are a jumbled mess, but I'm working on it. I've decided to start by studying the Energy Signature Potion. It's slow-going, and I've practically lived in the library for the past few days, but I'm determined. I know that I won't be able to make the potion just yet, I simply don't have the skill, so I'm currently trying to break it down into simpler steps that I hope I'll be able to tackle. From reading Fera's journal, I know that Occlumency is a large part of the potion as well, so I'm hoping I can find a book in one of these rooms that will help me learn it. Perhaps I'll teach myself Legilimancy as well, just in case I need that too.

A part of me wishes Professor Snape were here. He was able to teach Harry Occlumency (or at least he tried to, in any case), so he would probably be able to help me with it now. Although, Harry says it hurt, I think it would still be worth it. I bet if Professor Snape were here, I'd learn it in half the time. He'd be able to help me with the potion too! Actually, he'd probably be able to help me with all of this. Snide and rude he might be, but the man is brilliant. Professor Dumbledore would be extremely helpful right about now too. I wish there were a way that I could contact him.

Well, in any case, for now it's just me (and Fera whenever she manages to come up for air). At least she finally came out of hiding. I'll have to corner her soon to ask for her help.Though, I'm not sure if she's up to helping me. Right now, she looks…well, she looks like she hasn't eaten or slept since she last saw me, if the bags under her eyes are anything to go by. She's barely even talking or acknowledging my presence right now. She is mumbling and grunting a lot, though. Is this is how am I with Harry and Ron during finals week? I don't think I'm quite as bad…am I?

(February 3)

Fera is finally talking to me again, and I've managed to wrangle up her help. She was at first reluctant, since she had her own project to deal with (of finding a way to get out of here), which I'll admit is just as imperative, but then I promised to cook her meals for her, and she gave in. If I knew that acquiring her compliance was this easy, I would've offered to cook for her weeks ago. Apparently there are some Pureblood stereotypes that are always true: they have two left thumbs in the kitchen. Then again, with House Elves willing and ready to wait on you hand and foot, how would they ever learn?

It's kind of funny, she's been stuck in this prison for at least 200 years. You would think that in that time, she would learn how to make more than just burnt vegetables. Though she has occasionally hunted down a dead rabbit or two, which was really creepy the first time I saw it. I nearly puked when I watched her skin it. I'll have to find some alternatives, and probably skim the library for cooking spells and recipes. I don't think I could survive off of just charred veggies and rabbit chunks. Blech! So, to avoid that, I've promised to cook all our meals, and in exchange Fera will help me navigate my way through her research, by showing me where to begin and answering any questions I have.

(February 6)

I can barely keep my eyes open, I'm so exhausted. I've been literally working with Fera for three days straight now, and I'm about to pass out! I don't know how she does it. She is still running around in the castle somewhere even as I write this. At this point, everything she's trying to tell me is going in one ear and out the other. I never thought I'd say this, but I can't study anymore! I need a break, or better yet, I need a daily planner. Trying to match Fera's pace is obviously not working for me, so I'm just going to have to create a better schedule to organize my days…

(February 11)

I've officially finished creating my schedules! Luckily I had a new daily planner with me in my bag. I was going to use it for finals week back home, but I'll just have to get another one when I get back…that is, if I get back in time for finals. I hope I do, I would hate to get subpar grades because of my absence. Back to the point though, I've managed to give myself ample time for Fera's research each morning, since that seems to be the time of day when Fera is the most approachable anyway. I don't know what it is about the afternoons and night times, but she becomes such a crabby hermit after lunch! It's like pulling teeth, trying to talk to her.

It all works out for me anyway, since that means I won't overwork myself again and burn out. I've already seen a couple of books in the library that I wanted to read in any case, and of course there's the Prefect's olympic pool size tub (that I found the other day-YES!), that should help me relax. My new schedule also gives me time to take care of the plants in the kitchen gardens and the greenhouses. It's really relaxing working with them. I can almost pretend that I'm back home when I'm digging around in the dirt. Plus, I get to keep my Herbology skills sharp.

(February 26)

I was right about the Energy Signature Potion. I do need to learn occlumency before I can even think about tackling anything else. Fera said that it would also help later on, when I delve deeper into her notes. So, for now she is showing me meditation techniques. The key, she told me, is to find and keep an even breath. The actual meditation is not bad either. It's admittedly, a little boring and it can be extremely difficult to clear my mind and still my thoughts, but I think I'm getting better at it. At least, I hope I am. So far I've been able to keep a clear mind for five minutes. That's good, right?

(March 13)

Meditation is HARD! You would think that simply sitting in one spot and clearing your thoughts would be one of the simplest tasks, but it's not. There's a war going on back in my world! I have friends that could be in danger, and extremely elaborate research to figure out. How can I just clear all that away?

No wonder Harry had such a hard time with this...

(March 29)

I feel like I've made progress with my meditation. Every day, I've been waking up with the "sun" (or should I just say the teal sky) and meditating for at least a half hour to an hour. That's impressive!─Even if Fera doesn't want to acknowledge it. Either way, I feel like I'm ready for the next step. I'm ready to begin constructing my mental defenses. I know I am. I even have an idea of what kind of layout I'm going to use: my old primary school. It's just big enough to hide my thoughts and small enough that I won't get lost in it. I hope Fera approves of it. I think it'll be brilliant! Now I just have to get her to agree to teach me how to make it. I think I'll bring it up with her tomorrow.

(April 3)

I'm trying to convince Fera to celebrate Easter with me, but it's not going so well. I was a little surprised that she even knew about the Holiday, since it's a Muggle tradition, but then again, she was involved with a Muggle for a while. Still, she's not enthusiastic about it and was even less so when I told her about the new traditions for the holiday like the Easter bunny and coloring eggs. She thought the eggs specifically were absolutely ridiculous. Oh well, maybe I can get her to celebrate something else…

(April 17)

I'm starting to get a little annoyed with Fera. I know that she is just trying to help me, but her methods are really testing my nerves. After I created my mental layout (which took me nearly a week to get just right), she showed me how to create shields to protect my mind. At the moment, my shields are, of course, pitiful, but Fera insists that she needs to test them constantly. I honestly thought she would only try to sneak her way into my mind every now and then. Make her presence in my mind known, you know? Instead, every time I turn around, she's smashing her way through my mental walls like they were tissue paper! And it bloody hurts! I've managed to convince her to give me a break for the next few days, but I'm not sure how long she'll hold out. She's been giving me shifty glances all morning. Maybe I should hide in the kitchens. She never goes there anymore. I know it's not very Gryffindor of me, but I need time to recoup.

I know I said it before, but I'll say it again, I really do sympathize with Harry now.

(April 31)

So, I've finally managed to wheedle my way into Fera's Potion's lab so I could watch her while she works, and impressed doesn't even begin to describe me right now. She's so graceful and precise in all her movements. I spent hours watching her fly around her lab, and she didn't hesitate, not even once. It really is amazing watching a master at work. I wonder if Professor Snape is as impressive while he's brewing. He doesn't really do much brewing during his lessons, so I can't really tell…From watching Fera, I know I won't be able to brew the Energy Signature potion unaided. There's no way I can replicate the kind of skill that she has, at least I don't have it now. Luckily enough, Fera offered me access to her lab earlier today, so I can practice on other potions.

She mentioned that she wouldn't be able to 'play tutor', but I'm pretty sure I'll eventually get her to change her mind. For now though, I'm allowed to watch her while she works and try out a few potions that I've seen in some of the text books I've run across in the library. I can't touch any of the rarer ingredients since they can't be replaced but that's okay. I'd prefer Fera use them for more productive purposes, like finding a way out of here for us.

(May 15)

The mental assaults haven't ceased, and Fera hasn't toned down her intensity (not that I really thought she would), but it is getting easier to handle. Just the other day I was actually able to keep her out for nearly three minutes, which, now that I'm writing it down, sounds pitiful, but it IS an improvement. A part of me still wants to stomp my feet because this whole process isn't moving as fast as I want it to, but I know that it just doesn't work like that. It would be nice if it did, but it doesn't. Besides, if I complain to Fera one more time that it's taking too slow, I'm pretty sure she'll hex me. I'm not kidding either, she really would. The last time I brought it up, she threw a book at me and told me to 'stop behaving in such an infantile manner!' It was a little uncalled for. I mean, yes, I was complaining a lot that day (I can even be mature enough to admit that I was probably being annoying as well), but the book she threw at me was nearly half my weight! I barely had time to throw a Protego spell up! Seriously, how rude!

You know, if Ron were here right now, he'd probably try to sneak one of Fred and George's Puking Pastilles into her food as retribution. Or he would try to, at least. He'd probably get caught in the act, then Harry and I would have to help him escape…God, I miss those two…

(May 16)

My mental shields were a wreck all day, and I couldn't even concentrate on my meditation this morning. I've been hiding out under my covers for hours now. I just can't deal with Fera or her tests, or this stupid research right now. I just...I really miss everyone back home right now. I miss Harry. I miss Ron. I miss Ginny, Neville, and Luna. I miss going down to breakfast in the morning and being surrounded by my friends. I miss bickering with Ron and helping Harry with his Charms essays, and sitting by the fire in the common room with Neville as we talk about our upcoming seventh year projects. Hell, I even miss falling asleep while hearing Lavender's and Parvati's incessant giggling in the background.

It's lonely here…Yeah, at least there's Fera, but most of the time she's not even mentally present anyway. I know that what I'm doing here is important, but I sometimes wish that I could go to sleep and just wake up back in my dorm room.

(May 27)

I had the weirdest dream the other night. I was running around in my old neighborhood at night, when I felt something following me. In front of me, Harry and Ron were yelling at me to run faster. I was completely panicked and I kept stumbling, until finally Fera came out of nowhere, rolled her eyes at me and told me to jump on her back. Though it wasn't her voice I was hearing, it was Professor Snape's. So I hopped onto her back and then she jumped into the air and flew away. When Dream Me looked back down, there were dozens of pale ghost-like things reaching out, wailing and hissing at us.

I have no idea what to make of it, or what meaning it could possibly have. Harry and Ron being in my dreams, I can understand. They're my best friends and I've been missing them a lot lately. I can also understand why Fera was in the dream, since my means for escape rest solely on her shoulders. I can even understand what those ghost things were doing in my dreams (I'm guessing they represented the Soul creatures that I'm still really worried about), but why was Fera talking with Professor Snape's voice? Could it be, because he was the last person I saw and talked to before I came here? That has to be it….Nothing else makes any sense…

(June 13)

Fera has officially declared me competent enough with Occlumency to handle the Energy Signature potion. We'll be starting it tomorrow morning, bright and early. I won't actually be brewing it myself for a number of reasons. The first, being that it's simply out of my league. I still hate admitting that, but it's the truth. It's a master level potion for a reason and Fera was very adamant that it was too dangerous to deal with unless I had the proper experience. I also think part of the reason is because she can be extremely territorial over her lab and her potion ingredients, but that's okay. I, at least, get to watch.

(July 13)

The potion has finally finished brewing this afternoon! It's been a long month and even though I didn't get to help a lot (except for preparing a few ingredients) I was still able to take a lot of notes and if that's not enough, I'll be able to share what I've seen with Professor Dumbledore through a Pensieve. So, all and all, it was a very successful day. I've already taken some of the potion. Fera told me it should start to work in about an hour, so we'll see…

(July 22)

So it's been a little over a week and the potion has yet to wear off. Everywhere I look, I can see a physical manifestation of magic. It's so amazing. There are so many colors! Mind you, it was a little disorienting when the effects first showed up, but I've gotten used to it.

The magical signatures don't just show up whenever I do a spell either. When I said it's everywhere, I meant exactly that. I don't know if it's just because we're trapped in a Soul Book, an enchanted item that is made up of magic, or if magic is just intrinsically a part of every little thing in the world, but it's amazing to see even small dust motes sparkling with magic. It's all so beautiful.

(August 8)

Now that I'm using Fera's Energy potion, the next part of her research is fairly easy, or well, it's easier. I've been replicating the part of her experiment with various magical plants and animals, where I measure their daily magical output. Some, of course, expend more magic than others. For instance, more active plants like Devil Snare and Bouncing Bulbs store and use more magic than more sedentary plants like Puffapods. I can't wait until I move onto the Mandrakes. They were always so humanoid to me. It will be interesting to see how their human characteristics affect their magical output.

(September 19)

Since today was my pseudo-birthday I decided to take the day off and just explore, which, as it turns out, was a great plan, since I came across the portrait of Queen Anne today. I nearly fainted, I was so excited. I've read in "Hogwarts: A History", that her portrait was somewhere in the castle, but it never specified where. I've always been hopeful that I would run across her before I officially graduated from Hogwarts. Out of all the portraits I've read about, Queen Anne was definitely the one I was most excited about.

Listening to her stories about King Henry and being a Squib in 16th century England was fascinating, and we had a good debate about Muggle and Magical relations in the modern world. I spent nearly the whole day talking to her. I'll definitely have to track down her counterpart back in the real Hogwarts. I'm sure the real portrait will be even more interesting.

(October 18)

I've recently come across a section of Fera's notes that she wrote completely in Gaelic Runes. Yes, that's right, Gaelic Runes. Who does that? By now, I'm used to dealing with her abrupt changes in languages. I've nearly perfected several language charms in my quest to decode Fera's notes (Professor Flitwick would be so proud), and what a language charm won't fix, several references I've found in the library, and help from Fera, have sufficed. However, runes are an entirely different matter. Language charms won't work in this case, and since Fera has decided to disappear (YET AGAIN) I'll have to translate this the old-fashion way…This is going to take a while.

(October 24)

Well, the Runes have finally been translated, but as with most of Fera's work, most of it is still difficult to understand. Even in English. The only thing I can get from this portion of her notes is that after measuring the visual magical output of magical plants and creatures, Fera measured the magical outputs by 'feeling' the objects' magical use, which makes sense. I can understand why she would want to both physically see and feel the differences in magical energy. The only problem is, I have no idea how she managed that. There is no reference in her notes to a charm or potion she created (like her Energy Signature potion), and Fera is still missing in action, so I can't ask her. In short, I have no idea where to go from here. I guess I'll just have to go back to my experiments with Flobberworms and wait until she gets back.

(October 31)

Fera is still missing in action. I've decorated parts of the castle (namely, my room, the library and the kitchens) in Halloween décor, but it kind of loses its appeal when there's no one here to share in the excitement. It's just as well anyways since there is no candy or chocolate to indulge in here. All I was able to make to satisfy my sweet tooth were fruit smoothies, a little disappointing but I know my parents would be in Dentist-Halloween Heaven right now. At least I got to hang out with a few portraits I haven't spoken to yet, so I didn't spend Halloween completely alone.

(November 4)

I've spent nearly all day working through an advanced text on Transfiguration and practicing spells in an attempt to distract myself. I've even tried to use Occlumency to calm my mind, but none of it is working. I'm getting increasingly more worried the longer Fera is away. This would certainly not be the first time that she has disappeared. When I asked her where she goes, she always tells me, 'someplace to think'. She claims the solitude helps her thought process, but she's never been gone this long before.

I have no idea where she is, but if she doesn't come back in three days, I'll be going out to search for her, whether she wants me to or not.

(November 6)

Fera finally came back, and she looks as if she was dragged through the mud by her ankles. Her robes are torn, she's covered in scratches and bruises, her hair is a mess of matted knots and forgotten twigs and she won't stop shivering. I was absolutely horrified when she limped her way into the library tonight. I'm surprised she didn't collapse where she stood. She won't tell me where she was, but there's really only one place I can think of that would leave her in such a state, but why would she go to the Forbidden Forest in the first place? That's where those Soul creatures are. What did she want from the forest that could possibly be worth dealing with those things?

(November 14)

Fera seems to be back on her feet again. She's still keeping a closed mouth on what happened in the Forbidden Forest, and she doesn't look like she'll budge any time soon, so I've decided to let it drop…for now. She has shed some light on the whole 'feeling' magic thing, though. Apparently, she didn't create a potion or spell to help aid her in feeling the magic in the atmosphere because she already could. It's a side effect of becoming more familiar with your magic over a long period of time…which doesn't really help me at all. It's not like I can just wait around for an extra decade. I definitely don't have the time for that.

Luckily, Fera seemed to be thinking along the same lines as me and suggested that I teach myself how to do a little bit of wandless magic. Even if it's just small everyday spells. She told me that by not relying on my wand, I'd be forcing my body to become more aware of the magic I use. I do know how to do a couple of spells wandlessly already, but I can't say I've ever felt anything out of the ordinary when I cast them. Maybe it was because I never actually paid it any mind. It's also possible the wandless spells I've done are too simplistic to get a clear read on. Well, either way, Fera wants me to start small, so she's making me learn how to cast the Hover Charm wandlessly. She wants me to do it every morning while I meditate, so I can use Occlumency (and the potion) to see and feel it more easily. Thank God, I've been keeping up with my Occlumency practice.

(December 19)

It's becoming a little easier to cast the Hover Charm without my wand. The meditation helps. I'm SO glad that I learned Occlumency before I tried to tackle this, aspect of the research. Fera was right. Having mental discipline makes it loads easier to be more aware of my magic. It felt so weird the first time I was able to physically recognize my magic. It was one thing to see its purple aura vibrating around me, but to feel the crackle of energy as I cast a spell, is completely different. It was so invigorating that the initial shock caused me to lose my focus. Fera still wants me to do a couple other spells as well, just so I become aware of how different spells feel when I cast them, so I think I'm going to work on my Bluebell Flame next. It was always an easy spell for me to cast, so it should translate easily into a wandless spell.

Meanwhile the 'holidays' are coming up, and I think I want to do something special. I know that technically it's not the real holidays, but I think both Fera and I can use a little holiday cheer. Fera seems to be getting more and more frustrated with her work, so maybe this will be just the thing to help her get back on track, or at least it'll provide a good distraction. I just have to get her to agree with me.

(December 23)

Six years of Charms class and hours of extra studying have certainly paid off. The castle looks amazing, if I do say so myself. I've managed to charm all of the windows on the 1st and 2nd floors with an illusion, so it looks like it's snowing outside. There's mistletoe everywhere, and I've even managed to make crackers for the big day. They're a little crude, but they work just fine, so that's all that matters.

It nearly feels just like Christmas at Hogwarts back home. I might have gone a little overboard with the Christmas tree I transfigured and its decorations, and there might be a little too much tinsel everywhere, but who cares! It's the holidays. It's the time of year when you're supposed to go overboard. Even Fera seems to be getting in the spirit. She's been much more relaxed lately. She even agreed to swap presents with me on our sort-of-Christmas!

(December 25)

This has been one of the happiest days I've had here so far. It felt just like Christmas back home. Fera was smiling the whole day, and even consented to wear one of the tissue paper crowns I transfigured for the crackers. She didn't complain even once. She even teared up a little when we lit the Christmas tree. I left for a minute to let her have a cry. This has to be her first Christmas in a very long time. I can't imagine what it was like for her being stuck in this place all by herself with no friends or family, for years on end…and all because of her father's greed and selfishness. I'm glad I was able to give her back Christmas at least.

As for the presents, we did end up exchanging some. Since I couldn't just hop down to Hogsmeade to buy her a gift, I ended up rifling through my book bag instead. I had a few leisure books in there (contrary to what Harry and Ron say, I don't ALWAYS read academic books), and had a choice between a very worn copy of "Alice in Wonderland" (a book I've had since I was 8 and must have read at least 30 times), "The Canterbury Tales", and the first volume in "The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes", which was a bundle of the detective's more famous stories. For sentimental reasons (and because I'm not sure what Fera would be like after becoming acquainted with characters like, the Mad Hatter and the Red Queen) I decided to keep "Alice in Wonderland" for myself. I figured Fera must have also already read "The Canterbury Tales", so I decided to give her my "Sherlock Holmes" book as her present. I think she liked it too. She's been reading it non-stop today and insists on calling me Watson, which is a little annoying, but I'm determined not to ruin her Christmas.

For her gift, Fera gave me access to THREE rare potion ingredients and offered to teach me how to brew the Sanabis Draught, a powerful healing potion. It's not quite a master level potion, but it's beyond a NEWT level potion, and extremely complex, so I'm happy. I really am glad that we did this. This was just what we needed.

(January 12, year 2)

Now that we're back on our regular schedules, Fera has gone back to testing my shields and my progress with wandless magic. I've become much more aware of the magic that surrounds me now, even outside of meditation. It's so weird constantly feeling that familiar zinging energy against my skin. I feel connected to my magic and my wand too, now that I think about it. It's like I understand my wand better, if that makes any sense.

I've never felt so…in tune with myself before.

(February 5, year 2)

I've finally returned to my experiments, and Fera was right. Being more in tune with my own magic has made a world of difference when looking over her notes. The charms she mentions in her notes are coming to me more naturally now. I'm still having some trouble with the arithmancy equations, but I found a book on ancient arithmancy in Fera's study that is helping me break them down. I'll have to remember this book for when I get back to the real world. I want to show Professor Vector, when I get back. I'm sure she'll love reading it.

(March 8, year 2)

Fera has been acting very strange lately. She keeps staring at me intensely, but every time I try to ask if she's okay, she just gets up and leaves. I'm not sure what's bothering her...

(March 14, year 2)

Fera is still not talking to me. Though she has been taking a lot of my blood these last couple of days. I convinced her to let me recoup for a week. Blood Replenisher or no, I'm starting to feel woozy from it all.

(April 17, year 2)

Fera has officially disappeared again, and I'm really worried. The last time she disappeared for this long, she came back injured and disoriented. Could she be back in the forest again? If she is, then, why would she go back there? What could she possibly get from putting herself in so much danger? I don't think I can just stand by and wait for her to crawl back here this time. What if she gets injured again? Or worse, what if she gets killed out there?

I can't let her die. Not after all she's done for me. As much as those Soul creatures worry me, if she doesn't come back tomorrow, I'm just going to have to─

A thunderous boom suddenly cracked through the sky, causing the castle to violently rock, which shocked Hermione into dropping her quill.

"What on Earth is going on?" she said, grabbing onto her table for support as the castle settled back into place. Jumping to her feet, she abandoned her journal and her latest entry, to run to a window. Wandlessly unlatching the lock, she pushed it opened and stuck her head outside to find the source of the ominous noise.

There, just over the tops of the spiraling trees, she could make out a plume of smoke steadily rising in the air, right in the center of the Forbidden Forest. She instantly knew that Fera was the cause, but was she okay? Was she injured?

Hermione glanced nervously at the sky. It was already getting darker by the minute. Soon enough, it would be completely pitch black...Fera would be a sitting duck out there.

"Shit!" Hermione cursed, summoning her wand to her, as she ran out of the castle, without a second thought, towards the Forbidden Forest. A tingle of magic tickled her spine as she stepped over the wards that guarded Hogwarts. This was it. There was no going back now.

"Hold on, Fera. I'm coming," the Gryffindor muttered as she ran deeper into the dark woods, with nothing more than her wand and a lot of determination.

A/N: ok and there it is, Hermione's work with Fera's research and the majority of her time spent in the Soul Book. I know it took a while for Hermione to grasp some of the things like Occlumency and wantless magic, but I thought it would be unrealistic if she learned how to do all that, and solved the issue with the Reservoir Stone in the span of a week. Research takes time! Besides, brilliant though she is, Hermione is still only a 6th year student and Fera's work is DEFINITELY passed your average NEWT level project.

Up Next: Hermione runs into the forest to rescue Fera as night takes over, and Fera might just have figured out how to break the curse on the Soul Book that's trapping them in there.

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