Chapter 9

I was walking through a meadow smiling up at the sun and running my hands though the tall grass and sighed. This was bliss. I closed my eyes and took it all in and then I opened them when I heard soft laughter coming from in front of me. My heart beat accelerated when I saw her, Hermione.

She was wearing a beautiful red flowery dress with a white laced and intricate pattern shirt below it. She had a brown belt around her midsection and she was smiling at me as the sun hit her golden hair. She gave me a knowing look and then she came closer.

I smiled more as I touched her arm and pulled her closer. She gave a quit giggle and then caressed my face as she leaned up and I slowly leaned down.

"Gaile…I love you…"

"I love you too Hermione…" She smiled up at me and closed her eyes.

I felt her breath on my cheek, I closed my eyes and then I felt her lips soft but firm touch mine and my heart sky rocketed. I felt her wrap her arms around my neck and her hands entangle into my hair and I let out a content sigh. I felt her touching my neck and caressing my cheek and it was the most soothing feeling I've ever felt. No one has ever been gentle when it came to touching me.

I looked at her as she leaned away from me. She touched her forehead with mine and held me so delicately.

"Will you always be here?"

"Yes of course…"

"You promise?"

I nodded and then she disappeared.

My eyes widened.

The dream shifted. Dark clouds rolled in and the setting changed. I stood in front of a mansion and heard screams. Horrible screams. My stomach hit rock bottom, I knew who it was right away.

"HERMIONE!"

I ran to the mansion and broke through the door ready to attack her tormentor and there I saw Hermione on the ground unconscious with her arm dripping blood. The word "Mudblood" engraved. Evil laughter surrounded me, infuriating me.

"WHO DID THIS! I WILL KILL YOU!"

"If only you could find me…mudy over there has become boring…why don't I play with you?"

I felt a cold knife touch the back of my shoulder and I whipped around, but no one was there.

"SHOW YOURSELF!" I roared. The whole building shook with the force of my shout.

"Not yet dear…in due time…I will have my fun with this girl and you…just you wait."

"Gaile…."

I looked over at Hermione and there right where her heart was…was the blade imbedded into her chest.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO." I Roared with all my might.

I was jolted awake by someone shaking me and I pushed them away.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" I felt my whole concentration crack and I was shaking with the effort of not changing. I held my head as the person that was touching me stopped and moved a little away.

"Gaile…it's me…I came to get you…the games starting…"

I felt the real Hermione touch me gently and I couldn't help but let out a sob. I looked at her with all the pain and she immediately pulled me into her and hugged me as I cried.

"Shhhh…it's okay…It was just a nightmare…"

"Hermione…" I sobbed harder and buried my face into her shoulder and I held onto her for dear life.

"I won't let anything hurt you okay…"

I nodded and hiccupped as I looked at her.

I felt my jaw set and my resolve take over.

"I won't let anything hurt you either…I promise with everything I am…Hermione."

Her eyes widened but then softened again.

"Do you want to talk about the dream?"

I thought back about it and then my face turned Crimson from the beginning.

"Um…no…not really…"

I saw her smile.

"Okay then I won't push it."

She caressed my face with her thumb and drew circles on my cheek until I stopped crying.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded and she helped me up from my bed.

"Good cause we need you to get ready. Everyone's waiting."

I blushed and looked down at my feet.

"Sorry…"

She pulled me close again and wiped the last of my tears from my red face.

"Don't be sorry for something that scared you Gaile…everyone has fears."

"You being one of them…"

Her brows furrowed.

"What do you mean?"

I held her hands and moved as close as possible to her.

"Half my dream was a nightmare where you were being…"

I couldn't say it. I bit my lip and felt more tears coming.

I felt her touch my cheek so I looked at her.

"It's okay Gaile…I think I understand."

We were really close and I felt my face flush remember the beginning of the dream but shook it away.

"Listen…nothing bad is going to happen to me so don't worry. We're surrounded by wizards from all around the world I think we'll be fine."

I blushed and smiled and then did something I myself was surprised about. I pulled her Hermione in the biggest hug and picked her up off the ground and held her close. The first contact I made with someone by myself. I think it surprised her too because when I set her down she was smiling at me with something I couldn't describe in her eyes. I went and got dressed which left her to her own devices and when I came back she was waiting for me.

"Are you ready?"

I smiled and entangled our hands.

"Yes I am."

Her eyes widened but then her smile got brighter.

"Good. Let's go watch the Bulgarians and the Irish then."

I nodded and we were on our way.

We ended up meeting everyone even the professor at the entrance to the stadium where we were ushered up flights and flights of stairs. It was getting crowded fast and everywhere I looked there were people among people. I felt Hermione's hand tighten her hold on me as we squeezed our way through the crowd. Fortunately for me I could see over everyone's heads along with the professor and the twins as well as Mr. Weasley. I wonder if I'll stop growing soon…I was only 14.

It was extremely loud with everyone's excited chatter I could barely hear Mr. Weasley telling us where our seats were but then everything got quiet and I looked around for the cause of it. It was like the red sea being completely split open as the crowd dispersed so that four beautiful women could walk through. They all had the air of complete distaste and snobbism. To be honest I felt an odd feeling deep in my stomach.

Like a familiarity to my soul. I watched as the crowd continued to move apart and then the 4 women were standing in front of me or more like I was the one in the way. I stood there staring at them and was about to step to the side like everyone else but then the one that I assumed was the leader of them found my eyes. I froze when I felt something wash over me. I sniffed the air and immediately felt warmth in my heart. I narrowed my eyes as we stood there staring at each other and then she smiled.

"I see you are not easily influenced."

I furrowed my eyes but then glanced at Hermione and everyone I was with. They were all in a trance of sorts. I set my jaw and looked back at her.

"What makes you think that?"

"You are the only one standing in my way, while everyone else has already moved away."

I moved to the side and waited for them to pass.

"Be on your way then, not one to stop a snobbish tart." I gave her an indifferent look and crossed my arms.

The other 3 women surrounded me faster than the raging sea. They all hissed and growled at me.

"How dare you talk to our leader like that!"

I felt them grab ahold of me with their growing claws as their eyes glowed golden. I watched as blood began to pool on my shoulder and arms and I stood there unfazed.

"You'll have to do better than that if you want to actually harm me. I've been through hell and back…so I suggest you back the fuck off." I growled through clenched teeth.

I was angry. Very much so that they thought they could make me summit to something and the fact they put Hermione under some kind of spell.

I felt my claws grow as my eyes began to focus in on the 3 that were holding me. I slashed one in the face which made her let go of my shoulder. I felt my skin rippling as my teeth elongated. My hair began to turn into feathers and they began to crawl down my arms.

"I suggest not pissing me off more…"

The leader was watching me closely and smiled a cruel smile.

"Girls. Let her go. We don't want to make her any more agitated. She's a dangerous one."

They began to back away as the one I scratched held her face until it was perfect again, some kind of charm to hide the mark.

"This isn't over Halfling….by far. You should know better than to mess with Veela. You owe us slash marks to your face." One of them spat at me.

I growled as they walked passed and as they did everything started to return to normal. I felt the feathers recede and my hands turn back to normal and I sighed. The excited chatter was back.

"She must have been powerful if she could influence everyone around her…I thought they couldn't influence women…how wrong I was…"

"What where you wrong about?"

I turned around and saw Hermione blinking back her confusion.

I shook my head and smiled.

"Oh nothing…."

She furrowed her eyebrows and then her eyes widened.

"Gaile! Is that blood on your sleeves and shoulder?!"

I winced and looked down at myself.

"um…"

I heard her groan and I laughed histerically.

"Oh my god….Gaillleeee I wasn't paying attention again and your already needing to go see a Med Witch…can I not take you anywhere?"

I shook my head and laughed again.

"No no…I'm sorry…this is nothing don't worry about it. Its paint, see no wounds. I showed her and indeed there were no wounds because they had already closed. Another good feature about morphing, faster regeneration apparently.

She rolled her eyes.

"So I'm guessing your all for the Bulgarians then?"

I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Excuse me?"

"You know…their colors. The Irish are Green and White while the Bulgarians are Red and Black remember?"

"Oh..right…"

"Don't you even know who's playing?"

I gave her a sheepish grin as we began to move up the stairs again.

"You want my honest reply?"

She gave me a dirty look and I laughed as I grabbed her hand.

"I was more into coming to see you then worrying about Quiddich."

Her face turned into a lovely shade of red as I continued to smile.

"You're an idiot you know that?"

I snorted.

"Yes of course."

"Good."

We both smiled as we got to where we'd be seated.

I heard everyone scream out their cheers. I grinned and watched as the whistle was blown.

"Let the games begin." I said under my breath as I watched the Veela from before giving me death glares from where they were, cheering on the Bulgarians. I flipped them the bird and I could just hear the hissing they were doing as they got so enraged they turned into their bird forms. I chuckled under my breath as the barrier they were in held them back from coming over here and stabbing my eyes out. I gave them a smug smile as the glowered. Their leader was watching my closely but I shook it off.

What a weird group of people.

Yeah well by then I had no idea what was going to happen come time to go back to Hogwarts.