Hermione woke to the sounds of distance muffled voices. Her head ached with intensity akin to an earthquake in her frontal lobe. Although her eyes remained unopened, she could sense another presence in the room and although she had not flinched, she knew the presence could sense she was awake.
Hermione, the voice broke the pain as it invaded her mind, you must not try to move, nor try to speak. Your body is under a healing spell which must not be perturbed until it is cast away.
The voice, although in her mind, took on a male persona, wise and cracked with age.
Dumbledore, Hermione thought as the pain slammed into her once again. She heard fast footsteps echo as they approached, the familiar clonking of Madam Pomfrey's old fashioned heels. In an instant, the pain had gone and Hermione felt unbound, able to move freely.
She opened her eyes to find Madam Pomfrey standing over her, a concerned grimace lining her face. She saw Dumbledores hand reach up to Madam Pomfreys shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze as she turned and left the room. Hermione tilted her head towards Dumbledores face, which seemed forlorn yet determined.
"Hello" she said in her haze, clearly absent of any recollection as to how or why she was suddenly in an unfamiliar bed, in an unfamiliar room and in the presence of her Headmaster.
Dumbledore gave a glimmer of a smile. "Why hello to you too Miss Granger. I trust you are out of any pain?"
"Yes" Hermione coughed through a dry throat, sitting upright and feeling quite comfortable, at least physically. "What happened?"
His smile faded, "You're memories have escaped you I see, ah yes, they would, they would. You'll be put right soon. You see, you've had a most traumatic experience; it's your body's way of forcing relaxation. Think of it as a short holiday."
"A holiday!?" Hermione was horrified, "what traumatic event? What happened?" Her eyes grew wide, "are Harry and Ron…?"
"They are fine, they are fine. Forgive my poor choice of words, old age you know. No, Professor Snape will be in shortly with a potion to help you remember. In the mean time" Dumbledore grunted as he stood up and headed toward the door, "I need a spot of Molly's tea." The door shut softly behind him as he made a swift exit.
Hermione sat gob smacked. "What the hell?" she said aloud as she stared wide eyed at the door. Snape, Molly, what are they doing here? What am I doing here? Where am I?
She looked around the room in a frantic panic, jumping out of her bed heading steadfast towards the large, black door. Attempting to turn the knob, she found it was locked. As she reached for her wand she noticed it missing from her night-gown. She turned on her heel and directed herself towards her small, non-descript bed where she found a mess of white sheets and nothing else. The walls were blank, the room small and noticeably emptied of furniture. Even the chair Dumbledore had apparently sat was missing. The corners had few candles that sat high near the ceiling and the floors were polished wood and nothing more.
Suddenly Hermione felt caged, yet as soon as her body felt rage a soft calm hit her link a tonne of bricks and she plonked to the floor. She stood back up, reasonably disorientated and confused as she examined her problem again. As she stomped towards the door this time, however, she crashed directly into an emerging Professor Snape.
"Get up you silly girl!" Snape looked down upon her with a snarl, his eyes were dark and mean and his arms were folded.
Hermione bounced to her feet and stared forcibly into his eyes. "What am I doing here!?" Her rage boiled again and was just as swiftly countered with a calm that dizzied her, but didn't make her fall.
"There is no point in getting angry," Snape noted precisely, "You have been given a potion that counteracts anger at the moment it is felt."
In and out of dizziness Hermione realised what her Professor was saying was true. She took a large breath and closed her eyes, focussing on soothing thoughts like the smell of old books and freshly mowed lawn in the summer. Opening her eyes again she felt focussed and determined to find out what was happening.
"Now you are clear of mind, I would like you to sit down and drink this." Snape handed Hermione a vial of pink coloured liquid, she stared at it for a moment as she remembered what Dumbledore had said. Hermione had two feet planted firmly on the floor as she gulped the potion greedily, but as the potion took effect, she found herself scrambling on the floor gasping for air.
"I told you to sit down," Snape said, seemingly bored of her situation. "It will only feel shocking for a moment, and then it will be like you had never forgotten."
Hermione crawled on the floor and clutched at his robes as the painful memories flooded her brain. Gripes, Snape, everything came back to her at once. Suddenly, just as Snape had said, she felt fine, as if she had never forgotten. She stood up and dusted her gown off. She looked up at Snape tentatively with her wide brown eyes. "I remember coming to you, and you putting me out, but I don't remember how I ended up here."
"Come with me." Snape pulled the door open with a sigh and directed her into the dark hallway. "There are many here who would like to see you."
Hermione stood frozen in front of a group of highly renowned wizards, most of whom were in The Order, all of whom were staring at her in her night gown. This has got to be a nightmare, she thought as she looked to her feet, twiddling her thumbs in front of her. She felt like a freak on show and looked sadly towards the kindest face in the crowd to save her.
Tonks moved swiftly towards her, "Oh, would you all quit gawking at the poor girl. Sorry dear, I didn't realise." She gave a swift flick of her wand and Hermione was suddenly clothed in what seemed to be an old band shirt and patched jeans from Tonks' wardrobe. Tonks seemed pleased with herself as she merged back into the crowd who were gathered in the dimly lit kitchen of no. 12 Grimmauld pl, The Order Headquarters.
"I fear," Dumbledore entered the room somewhat carefully, head tilted down, eyes peering over his half moon glasses, "that staring at young Miss Granger here will not help our case, nor will it help her self esteem."
Hermione felt a sudden surge of gratefulness as the crowd coughed and murmured looking away from her to other objects in the room.
"Molly dear, please make this young lady a spot of tea and some toast, we have much to talk about and she needs her strength." Dumbledore conjured a chair for both himself and Hermione as Molly and the rest busied themselves with breakfast. Snape paced towards them and conjured a chair for himself, seating himself next to Dumbledore.
"Allow me get to the point." Dumbledore leaned toward Hermione, the familiar twinkle still in his eyes. "You had an episode last night, one which seems almost unexplainable. You hurt yourself quite badly, seemingly with a fit of sorts, culminating with your passing out. You've had similar episodes I am to understand."
"Yes," Hermione looked down, almost embarrassed, as if it was something she could prevent.
"No need to feel embarrassed Miss Granger, your situation is undoubtedly unique and with that comes some surprises." Dumbledore glanced towards Snape for a moment with a small frown and then turned back towards Hermione. "You understand that you've quickly become a danger to yourself, and a danger to others?"
"I…I didn't mean to…" Hermione stole a glance towards Snape and quickly snapped her eyes back to the floor.
"No, you certainly didn't. It wasn't you Hermione, I'm afraid Gripes is becoming a stronger force in you."
Hermione gulped. She knew he was strong, somehow she could almost feel him stirring inside her, every time she felt angry, every time she felt lost or helpless. Hermione shrunk back in her chair and Dumbledore stared at her intently.
"I feel that it would be careless of me to allow you to go on without proper protection and guidance. Therefore I feel it is a must to remove you from Hogwarts for the time being."
"No!" Hermione gasped. He couldn't take her away from her school, her friends, her home. "You can't!" Hermiones eyes began to well.
"I am sorry, but you shall continue your studies you need not worry, and after time your friends may visit. I am afraid I have to put my foot down on this."
"So I'm to be imprisoned? I'm to be quarantined!? Trapped, caged like a rat scratching at doors!?" Hermiones rage swept at her again and like a rush of blood to the head it was gone.
"I'm afraid it is for your own good." Dumbledore sat back, his eyes losing their glint for a mere moment. "You will be staying here, different Order members will be with you at all times. Severus will be training you. You will not leave this house without him by your side."
Hermiones dizziness subsided into hopelessness. She called upon herself to be bigger then this sudden hatred for Dumbledore she felt, and her stubbournness came through for her. "I'm sorry Professor, I just…I'm just so tired of it all."
"I'm sorry too dear girl. This is a lot to ask of someone, to be strong against all odds."
Hermione sighed. "At least now I know some extent of what Harry feels."
Dumbledore leaned back towards Hermione with a small smile. "Both yourself and Harry are more alike then either of you may ever imagine."