Chapter 8
The Voice
Hermione was on her bed, she was hugging a soft pillow to her chest. She couldn't cry anymore. She took out a book from a nearby bookcase, and began to read. After ten minutes, she got tired of reading. She lied on her bed, and then fell asleep. This routine went on for a week. She never left her room except to use the restroom and to get food. Other than that, she was curled up in a ball in fetal position on her bed. She wanted to die. But she didn't have the strength within her to do it. She felt like she had a hole in her chest. It got bigger and deeper each day. She was losing grip of herself.
Finally, one day there came a knock on her door.
"May I come in?" It was Neji. Hermione was sitting on her bed. She was staring at the door.
"Sure, come on in," Hermione said weakly. Neji turned the handle and walked inside. He was carrying two piping hot mugs of hot chocolate. He held out one of the mugs to her. Hermione had her arms wrapped across her chest to keep from coming apart at the seams. She kindly took the mug and relaxed her arms.
"Thanks," Hermione smiled weakly. Neji then sat on the bed next to her. She could tell that he had something on his mind. Neji then got a good look at Hermione.
She was a disaster. Her long curly hair was frizzed and all over the place. She had dark purple sores under her eyelids from the many sleepless nights she has had. She was paler and a bit thinner than before. She must have lost about ten pounds. Neji then spoke.
"You know that you have to come out sometime." Neji said to Hermione. Hermione did not answer nor look at him. She sipped her coca.
"I mean it, you really have been scaring everyone with this behavior of yours, especially me," Neji blurted. Hermione froze. She now looked at him warily. Neji continued.
"You haven't been eating, you barely speak anymore, and you never leave your room. MY GOD! Hermione, I'm begging you, just stop it!!" Neji looked very concerned. Hermione had never seen him this distraught. He usually keeps his cool. But this was different. Neji was struggling to keep it together.
"I. . . . . .I'm saying this because I care about you Hermione, just don't kill yourself!" Hermione gasped at this. She then realized what she had been putting her friends through this past week. They thought the worst for her. Hermione felt like a basket case.
"Thank you for actually caring about my feelings Neji. That makes me feel a bit better." Hermione gave Neji a shy smile.
"It's a start," Neji thought. "I'm glad about that Hermione." Neji smiled back. They then just stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. They were very close to each other. Before Hermione had time to react, Neji was up against her lips, his arms around her.
"MMPH!!" Muffled Hermione under her lips. She threw Neji off of her. Neji hit the end of the wall with a loud bang. Hermione ran at Neji and slapped him across the face. She then punched him with every word.
"YOU ARSE!! WHAT. . . . . . .THE. . . . . . .HELL. . . . . . .IS WRONG. . . . . . . .WITH YOU?!" She growled with rage.
"GET OUT!!" She yelled. Neji than ran out of the room. He spilt his hot chocolate, the cup shattered on the carpet. Hermione sighed and began to pick up the broken pieces of plastered clay. She then noticed that she was blushing.
"Stop it!" she said to herself. Hermione then continued to pick up the mess.
"Hermione Granger?"
Hermione jumped
"Who's there? What is that noise?" Hermione then saw something on her pillow that she didn't see before. There as a black computer chip on her pillow.
"Hello?" The voice asked. The sound was coming from the black chip. It sounded metallic, robotic, inhuman.
"Are you a robot?" Hermione asked the chip.
"NO YOU IDIOT, it's a voice transmitter!!" The voice shouted, "Er hem, sorry about that." if the voice sounded robotic, then apparently this person did not want to be found or heard. He must be undercover.
"Who are you?" Hermione asked the person through the chip.
"For confidential purposes, I'm afraid I cannot tell you that. . . . . . . . But I guess you could refer to me as Metal." The voice garbled out of the chip.
"Ok Metal," Hermione started, "why is this chip in my bedroom?"
"I have been watching you Miss Granger," Metal said, "I know that you have suffered a very heavy loss recently. Unfortunately, so have I. My- Er hem, partner has been kidnapped by Organization lllX. They are a nasty cult whom are dressed in black and hunt down a specific thing. I do not know what they are after, but I do know that they are willing to kill to get their way. I have been trying to figure out their plans but so far, their cryptic location is an unfathomable task as it is fighting them."
"Wait, Organization lllX? I know them! They just terrorized our house about a week ago!"
"Yes, I can see that now." Metal said to Hermione through the transmitter, "I know that you are a member of the prestigious Knight's Title, is that correct?" Metal asked. Hermione nodded, "Yes." Metal's voice then sounded pleased.
"Well that is a very helpful ally in my part then." Said Metal joyously.
"What do you mean?" Asked Hermione, puzzled.
"I am going to need your cooperation in this. I need you to help me save my partner. If you can do this, we might be able to then overthrow Organization lllX and end their rein of terror. Also, I can. . . . . . . . . Save your boyfriend."
"YOU CAN WHAT?!" Hermione shook the chip. "You can save Kellach?!"
"It's difficult, but yes. I believe I can. So, do we have a deal?"
Hermione thought it over. She wanted nothing more than to be with her beloved again. She knew it would be tough, but she knew she would pull through. She was a witch after all.
"Yes, I accept Metal."
"Good, good." Said Metal, "but we need to meet each other privately, face to face. Bring your pals with you."
"Where can I find you?"
Shadow was sitting on the couch. Aang was watching, "America's next top model." The theme song could be heard playing through the stereo speakers on the TV. Amy and Arya were watching the show with him. Sasuke and Knuckles were munching on fresh baked muffins, ignoring the TV.
"I want to be on top." Said Aang. Amy then laughed loudly,
"Aang, only girls can be in that contest."
"Oh yeah what makes you so special?" asked Sasuke with a smirk.
"Well for starters, I am a beautiful pink hedgehog!" scoffed Amy.
"Yeah Amy. But first maybe it is best that you suck in that flabby stomach of yours." Laughed Arya.
"Oh yeah Arya?"
"Yeah but unlike you, I'm drop dead gorgeous," said Arya as she flipped her long, elegant purple hair, "AND I'm sweet to others, right Knuckles?" cooed Arya. She slinked right beside him. Knuckles' cheeks turned bright pink.
"Uh, of course sweetheart." Smiled Knuckles.
"But Arya, you'd have to comb that ratty ass hair of yours at least once in a while," said Sasuke smugly.
"Why you little. . . . ." growled Arya. The whole group began arguing. Amy was holding back Arya from clawing Sasuke's eyes out with her fingernails. Aang kept yelling for people to be quiet. Knuckles and Sasuke were yelling just for the hell of it. It was utter chaos until Hermione burst into the room. Everyone froze. They looked at her with concerned eyes as if she were about to explode.
"Everyone!" Hermione yelled, "We're going to Hogwarts!"