Courting Magic - Chapter 3

Update Addition. Brand new chapter! In the midst of the mist! That may not ryhme...

The wind tugged hard at her hat and Hermione's hand flew up to hold onto it so it wouldn't go flying away into the dark sky above her. Clouds covered the sky over the Quidditch pitch threatening to pour down rain over the players at any moment. It hadn't yet thankfully but she could see lightning flashing in the distance and inwardly cringed at the idea of being rained on, while standing. Especially since she kept shifting on her feet to keep them warm.

It was only September and yet today it felt like it was winter rather than fall. Another strong gust of wind ran through the crowd pracitcally throwing her off her feet to collapse. Hermione leaned back to stop such an occurence while tightning her grip on Ginny's arm who stood beside her. Both of their scarfs were flapping in the wind along with everyone else. Looking around the whole ring of the pitch it looked like a million flags were waving back at her.

Focusing her eyes back to the sky field as she called it she saw a quaffle flying through the air toward the Gryfindor side. Her free hand tightened as it got closer to the goal and then a broom was infront of it in the blink of an eye and spun to whack the bludger away.

"Yeah!"

"Go Gryfindor!"

The people cheered around her, for the most part anyways. She could hear "Boo!"s mixed in with the rest.

She gathered up some of her energy and shouted out, "Nice one Ron!" Ginny cheered next to hear, waving a little flag as the quaffle was caught by one of the chasers, who spun in the air for a moment to evade a bludger hit their way by the opposing team; Slytherin.

Who were being rather vocal for this game; insults being hurtled through the air that could surely hit as hard as any bludger, the calling of names, green sparks flying from the tips of wands when their team scored a goal.

Hermione had begun to roll her eyes at the new barrage of name calling among other things started again; "Cheat!"

"How could you miss that?"

"Pummel them!"

"Damn muggle-born!"

Ugh. Even the older students were participating. Actually, she was sure the seventh, sixth, and fifth years were the most vocal about their disapointment having been in Slytherin longer and there was still quite a grudge between the two Houses.

"Oh!" Ginny screamed beside her, hands flying up to cover her mouth as her eyes widened.

Hermione looked quickly over to the part of the field her friend was gazing at and saw a Gryfindor chaser falling through the air to hit the dark dirt below on the field. She winced even as cheers came from Slytherin while the Gryfindors around her yelled angrily back, "That was a cheap shot!"

"Sore loser!" A Slytherin called back.

"Stupid scale hides!"

"Lazy lions!"

"Go and hide in your dungeons where you belong!"

"Can't! We're still getting your filthy blood off our floor!"

Her eye brows shot up. Was it just her or were the insults becoming even more creative these days? Thunder roared overhead just before the rain began to fall. It barely took a second before Hermione felt thoroughly soaked. It was pounding right on her hat along with her fingers which very much felt frozen to the bone. The cold air flowing over didn't help, or the way it tugged at her coat.

There was an extra gust when a Gryfindor chaser came flying past with the quaffle in her arms a Slytherin chaser moving in close from behind. There were shouts from both teams, "Go faster!" The response was immediate from the Slytherin, who swung over to the right side of the Gryfindor so she was trapped between him and the perimeter wall.

The crowd around Hermione seemed to still for a moment then cheered when the chaser on their team threw the quaffle over the Slytherin to another teammate who caught it. This was quickly followed by boos and called of fouls from the Gryfindors when the chaser fell shortly after from their broom when the Slytherin hit her into the wall. Hermione let out a shout of her own that was swallowed by the others, she just didn't have enough energy to scream too loudly.

The rain blinded her for a moment, lightning crackling down from the sky to light up the field as Harry and the Slytherin seeker chased a flicker of gold around the field that she quickly lost sight of. She leaned over onto Ginny squinting out where the game was being played wondering if her vision had just blurred or not.

For a moment she had seen dark blotches across her vision but she wasn't sure if it was from the after effects of lightning fading away or if it was because she was tired. 'Cause she knew she was tired and cold. It made her want to curl up and go to sleep even soaked as she was. So tired she didn't care that she was wet. That couldn't be a good sign.

"Ginny," her voice came out in a sort of croak, "I'm going back to the castle."

"What? Why?" her friend asked turning to look at her only to have sympathy written across her face afterwards. Did she really look that bad? "I'll come with you, make sure you get to the Tower."

Hermione shook her head quickly causing her world to do a one-eighty flip and she stopped that action quickly with a groan. "No, no." she said instead. "Stay. I'll get there. You know me, I'm stubborn."

"But-"

"No. Stay and support Ron and Harry in my place. When you get back you can tell me all about it. I think I'll sleep for a bit then wake up and stuff my face with chocolates and caffeinated beverages. That should help, don't you think?"

Ginny laughed slightly at the food choice as they both knew it wasn't something Hermione would eat together under normal circumstances. "If you're completely positive. But," a hand reached out for her shoulder as Hermione started to turn away and she glanced back over at Ginny to hear her finish speaking, "don't push away any help if someone else offers. I don't care who it is. You take it okay?" Ginny gave a little smile. "You kinda look awful so hurry there and I'll check on you first thing."

"Deal." Hermione said to seal it before pushing through the crowd muttering an, "Excuse me." every other second. Slowly but surely she was making her way through and using any chance she could to 'accidentally' press her cold fingers against any exposed skin.

One person jumped when her skin met hers and she mumbled out a quick apology seeing the light of anger die in their eyes when they spotted her and then just look away. Hermione hunched her shoulders slightly feeling rather guilty for making the person feel guilty. She didn't mean to but she had to test anyone she could that was of the opposite gender. Any of them could be her mate. This was simply a too important oppurtunity to miss. It was the main reason that she hadn't brought gloves with her. Everyone came to Quidditch games, every single student. It was her chance to knock off as many people as she could and maybe even feel that rush of energy that would signify that she had met her mate. Which was something she rather wanted to happen as soon as possible.

Her feet slipped beneath her one the wet wood and she went crashing to the floor oddly not knocking anyone else over when she fell. Though that was probably for the best.

"Stupid Mudblood." she could hear the mutter clearly even with thunder roaring overhead and the wind whipping through the perimeter tower she was passing through currently. Turning she tried to spot who had spoken but no one was looking over at her. With a huff she got up slowly, leaning up against the wall as she did so to help herself.

Now back on her feet she started forward again when someone pushed against her shoulder sending her toppling back to the floor. Laughter burst around her and she scowled. Damn Slytherins.

"What's the matter Gryfindork?"

Gosh, she hadn't heard that paticular insult in forever it seemed. "How very mature of you." she retorted, her words losing the intended bite when they came out in a hollow hiss. There was just an increase in laughter and she pushed the sound from her mind. Just ignore it she told herself even though she felt anger rising through her. Normally such an emotion would make her feel more awake but right now it just felt draining. Pushing herself up again for the second time in less than a minute she cursed when she saw a shadow on the ground approach.

A hand gripped her shoulder and yanked her up so hard she would have cried out in pain if she could find the energy to waste on such a response. "Get up and get out of here." the persons voice snapped at her and she was surprised to recognize it as Malfoys. Looking up her gaze met his silver orbs. Normally she would snap back at him but right now wasn't the right time and she wasn't sure she could have gotten the words out anyways. So she just gave a small nod and brushed past him, leaning slightly when a person to her left shifted. There was a growl next to her ear, "Move it, Granger."

She scowled at the words, looking out across that last stretch in the open storm with a grimace. Why did it have to rain today? It made her want to stamp her feet like a little child. Even the Veela in her was growling inwardly at the storm as if frustrated at it. She wondered for a moment. Could she? It wasn't what the deal had been about but-

Hermione looked over at Malfoy to see he was still glaring at her. She was aware that it was probably because she was still leaning against him to keep herself up but outside it was even more windy than in here so... "Malfoy," she started seeing a flash of anger in his eyes at her using even his last name she quickly continued. "I just need to get to the other tower closer to the school and then I'll be out of your hair. Just help me get across... please." She blinked for a moment when dark spots crowded her vision again and leaned further onto him as she took in a gulp of cold air than burned its way down to settle in her lungs. The cold air was just so damn bitter.

"There's a Hufflepuff just out the door that would be too glad to hel-Hey!" The sudden shout echoed in her ears even as all other sounds drowned out and she could feel herself sinking into a sea of black. She was dimly aware of being engulfed in a pair of arms and the feel of her body swaying as a voice above her ordered people to move and get the bloody hell out of the way. If she was fully conscious she would have laughed at the word choice. As it was the somewhat rocking of her body just further lulled her into sleep.

There was noise above her. No, voices. Her eyelids flickered but she couldn't bring herself to open them yet and instead listened. She recognized McGonagall at once but it took her a moment to realize the other was Madam Pomfrey. So then... she was in the hospital wing.

"She doesn't appear to be sick. Just fell over from over-exhaustion." Ahh, that must be Pomfrey. "I've noticed her looking tired in the halls of late. That and being exposed to that kind of weather makes it easier for one to get sick. I would suggest that she take something to help prevent that from happening. I've already given her a dose when Draco brought her in and questioned him about her condition but he just said that she had suddenly collapsed while at the Quidditch game." There was a slight pause. "I wanted to ask you though Minerva, what the child was doing around all those Slytherins. And why does she look so tired?"

There was a moment of silence then she heard the sound of a curtain being drawn around her bed and the footsteps of the two getting closer before a spell was spoken to stop people from beyond the curtain to hear any noise. Hermione had to stop herself from crinkling her brow as a telling sign that she was awake not wanting to alert the two especially since she thought she knew what her Professor was about to tell Madam Pomfrey.

"I just got news a few days ago that Miss Granger's grandmother was a Veela. Making her a Quarter-Veela. I've told the Headmistress but otherwise didn't want to announce it. She's already been through enough with the war and it's not effecting anyone around her so after speaking with Kathlyn we agreed it was just on a need to know basis. I'm sure Granger has already told her friends as well, which is fine. But I don't really see a reason for the whole school to know."

The silence above her seemed to stretch for a moment. "Well that explains quite a lot. She looked pale as a ghost back on Thursday walking through the halls. I take it she hasn't found her mate yet?"

"No. Not yet. She hasn't told my anything about it anyways and I don't see why she wouldn't. When she does I'll have to my preporations of some kind no matter what house they're in. Though I would prefer her mate be my house just because it would be easier and less chance of any rumor spreading that she was a Veela." There was a sigh. "She has about seven months to find him. Whoever he is." A snort. "I wish this was easier on her just for her sake."

"That would be preferable in the case of any Veela. It's harder for the full and even some half ones since they attract the whole male populace. She's lucky she doesn't have that problem or you would have to announce it."

"I know. That's why I'm glad she's been given that small mercy."

Deciding she had heard enough of the paper doting over her and further explaining qualities of Veela that she had previously wondered why she didn't have she opened her eyes to see the two standing next to her bedside. "Professor," she muttered.

"Oh you're awake now dear." Pomfrey said being the first to see her 'awake'. "Let me go get you some potions for the day."

"Day?" Hermione mumbled forcing her voice to raise itself further. Still wasn't to her normal tone though.

"Yes, you slept here all night after that Quidditch match. Now I'll just be a moment." Pushing through the curtains Pomfrey left in a hurry.

She watched as McGonagall turned to face her and smiled. "Good to see you've recovered. I would suggest staying inside on cold days from now on until you've found your mate." Hermione panicked slightly inside when she mentioned her mate again just after the matron had left. "Don't worry, the spell is still in effect. Have you found anything?"

She relaxed back into the bed and had begun to shake her head but stopped, remembering what had happened all the other times she did that before since she knew what she was. "No. Not yet. I've been looking but so far nothing. I saw the game as an oppurtunity to look and I was able to strike a few more off for it but it wasn't all that beneficiary." Unfortunately. She had wished she knew more but she didn't.

"I was thinking maybe Malfoy was him when he carried you into here."

At the Professor's words her eyes went wide. "Oh, no! He's not. He isn't. None of them are." At McGonagall's quirked eyebrow she quickly went on to explain, "Not in the Slytherin House. I've checked. Multiple times. It's no one from there. I don't think it's a Hufflepuff either but I have some more to check and there's still some in Gryfindor and most of Ravenclaw." It was funny, even though she had classes with those last ones she had had trouble with accidentally touching any of them. She had to be careful to not make it seem like she was coming on to anyone afterall. Just looking for her mate. That was her priority right now. That and homework.

"Well, that's good to hear. That you're making progress that is. Make sure to come and tell me when you figure it out."

"I will." she said quickly just before Pomfrey came back and started making her drink some potions down.

"This should keep you from falling down for atleast a few days. If you ever feel like something like that is going to happen again and you're closer to here than your House commons I want you to come here."

"Okay." she managed to get out before having to start drinking down the potions.