Author's Note- If this chapter seems a bit off to you, it's because I've been reading and watching a LOT of stuff lately that's not Harry Potter. I'm sorry if it's a bit weird... but, then again, you might not think that. ... ... Whatever!
I hope you like!
Chapter 12 – The Secret Girl
About two weeks after Hermione's first checkup with Lydia, she was beginning to get used to her new routine. Every morning, Harry loaded her plate with healthy breakfast foods (oh, Harry, I can very well feed myself thank you! You'll make me overweight! - Oh, well, I mean, even more overweight than normal, in my case...) and joined her in dispelling any questions Ron fired at them that could reveal their new way of life. She began to fancy that her and Harry's wit put together could very well convince Ron into thinking he was a chocolate frog.
Hermione learned that her stomach was getting to be finicky around Transfiguration and Arithmancy class, and a few times she was obliged to slip away from her seat, calmly leave the room, then dash frantically to the nearest restroom to puke up whatever Harry had made her eat earlier.
She found herself eating some strange combinations of things a couple of times, but one food stood out in her mind far beyond the rest: peaches. Every time she sat down at the great hall dining table, she scanned for the particular fruit with the concentration of an assassin focusing on locating the victim. When she found a peach, she would snatch it up and quickly gobble it away in huge bites. Harry was more than amused at this newfound 'obsession', but fortunately, the other students didn't seem to notice.
"At least it's not pickles and liver," Harry said under his breath to her one day at lunch as Hermione lapped peach juice from her wrist. She made a face at him.
It became known among the Gryffindors that Hermione and Professor Moody squared off almost daily. When she found his teaching methods just too inhumane or extreme, she would launch into argument against him. Professors were busy at work trying to figure out a way to resolve this issue. Most seemed to think that Hermione would eventually back down and stop challenging his teaching methods - but she gave no sign of it. In fact, one day, when Moody sent a glass jar flying at a student to test his reaction time, Hermione leapt forward and counter-acted the spell, causing it to spiral back towards him and knock him in the head. Gryffindor students were dumbfounded as to how she had not been issued a detention yet. With every DADA class, Hermione felt her hatred for Moody expand even further.
Another addition to her schedule was an almost-daily trip to a well-lit but scarcely populated hallway, between the Ravenclaw dorms and her and Harry's new room. As it turned out, Luna actually had planned to paint a mural in the castle - it wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment lie. They first spent a few days hand-making paints from ingredients they gathered – tidbits lying around the school, like butterfly oil from Potions and dye-producing flowers from Herbology. In the second week, they had begun to apply background colors to the walls by the waning light of sunset that came through the stained glass windows of the hallway. It was an immensely relaxing experience – the sort of thing Hermione supposed Luna occupied herself with all the time. As Hermione painted a swash of blue over the stone wall, she couldn't help feeling a glimmer of hope that - apart from the psychopathic Dark Arts teacher ...and her being pregnant - this year might not turn out so bad.
One mid-morning, as Hermione lifted her head from the edge of the toilet and wiped a bit of vomit from her lip, she heard a soft rap on the door of her cubicle. She swallowed and staggered to her feet, trying not to look like such a wreck.
"Yes?"
"Hermione? It's Luna." Her voice was misty as always, and it brought Hermione a slight smile.
"Hi, Luna. What is it?"
"I just wanted to make sure you're all right. This is the fourth time this week you've had to come here."
Hermione shook her head and balanced on one foot to flush the toilet. "I'm fine, Luna. Don't worry about me. I just hope I'm not missing anything important in class." She opened the door and found Luna standing there with her bookbag hanging off her shoulder, a finger twirling through her pale hair.
"I was just thinking… there must be some remedy for your morning sickness. I can't imagine that all witches let themselves go through this when they want to start a family. With all the spells people have invented…"
"Oh, trust me. If there was a way to avoid this, I'd have found it ages ago. I hate to admit it, but this is one of the scarce times studying has failed me." Hermione gave her bag stuffed with books a pat, before turning to wash her hands. She regarded her reflection in the bathroom mirror with a stone-cold look that could scare a giant spider into submission. "Ugh, look at my eyes…" She wet her fingers and rubbed at the grey circles beneath her eyes.
Luna swayed back and forth, swinging her arms. "How is Harry?"
"Oh, fine. You know how level-headed he is. And he won't stop doting on me like I'm a bloody queen. I can do things myself – it's not like I'm physically incapable of doing anything! I mean, look. I'm not even showing." She pulled her shirt up to show her midriff as she dried her hands on her skirt.
"Ha. Soon you will!" Luna playfully bent down to land a kiss beside Hermione's belly button with a giggle.
"I sure hope not! Knock it off, you goofball!" Hermione pushed her shirt back down. "You know..."
"What?" Luna was all ears. Hermione shrugged her shoulders and gave a girlish smile.
"Well... I just can't get Harry off my mind sometimes. Even though we've been through a lot, and even though we've treated each other like friends like such a long time... I can't get over this feeling like he's still just my crush or something. It's like the fact that I'm with him - like it's too good to be real!"
Luna grinned. "Tell me about it. You stare at him all the time. I think you're starting to like people more than reading. This is good."
Hermione was positively pink. "That might not be such a positive thing. I lost focus for five minutes in Potions because I was staring at his hair. I mean, his hair..." She gushed, tilting her head up and twirling around. "And..."
"Let me guess. His eyes?"
"-are so dreamy! I could just get lost in them. How have I kept my head around him all these years?" she sighed. "And his favorite pair of jeans? He's had them for six years and they're only now just starting to fit - he got them from Dudley - and let me just say, wow. I think I'm obsessed with his butt." She leaned back against a sink, hugging herself wistfully.
The blonde smirked, holding her forehead. "I wonder what Harry'd say if he could hear this."
Hermione froze. "Don't you dare tell him. Luna. Look at me!"
Luna dragged her indignant friend into the hallway, back towards Transfiguration.
As they walked side by side, Luna tilted her head. "I wonder what Dumbledore's going to tell us at dinner today."
"That's right… he doesn't usually notify the students about his speeches ahead of time. It must be something important."
Luna nodded. "I hope the rumors that there's to be a ball are true."
"A ball! You can't be serious?" Hermione exclaimed. "Now that would be interesting."
"I know! Exciting, isn't it?"
As Hermione pondered this, Luna tilted her head back the other way, and took on an even more distant look than usual.
"Hermione?"
"Yes?"
"You trust me, right?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Hermione looked puzzled. "Why do you ask that?"
"Well, I've been noticing something strange lately. I think I should tell you about it."
Hermione stared. Luna acts so weird sometimes, she thought.
"Someone's been watching you."
"Excuse me?" a wave of discomfort washed over her. Watching? As in, spying?
"I've just noticed someone hanging around every once in a while. I think they want to just take a look at you. I don't think it's bad, but… you know."
"Hanging around? What do you mean? When?" Hermione had the unpleasant thought of Ron listening in on her and Harry's private conversations. Oh Merlin, PLEASE no.
"Like, when we were talking just earlier, in the bathroom. Someone was right outside the window."
Hermione stopped walking. A chill ran down her spine. "You can't be serious."
"I don't think it's anything to worry about. I just thought you might like to know."
Hermione gulped. There couldn't be anything creepier than something watching her through a window. Now she couldn't shake the unsettling feeling. It didn't help tame her already-unbearable feelings of nausea.
The uneasy sensation was still there that afternoon as she walked back with Harry from Quidditch rehearsal. Or, rather, flew. Harry had taken to having Hermione sit behind him on the broom so they could cruise above the grass, to and from practice. Hermione especially liked watching the wind play through Harry's ruffled hair as they glided along. It was a nice distraction from her daily exhaustion.
As Hermione clutched her arms around Harry, feeling his warmth through the back of his Gryffindor sweater on this late-autumn day, the back of her neck suddenly prickled. A movement caught her eye, and she quickly glanced into the nearby trees.
A pair of red eyes peeking around a tree trunk. She was sure she had seen it.
"Harry… go faster."
"Are you cold?" He shifted his weight forward a little to increase their speed.
"Um, yeah." The eyes had vanished. Hermione squeezed him tighter.
As they passed more clusters of trees and the castle came into view, Hermione searched the grounds around them.
"You okay, Mione? If you feel sick I can stop." Harry asked, his voice affected with worry.
"I'm fine. Just… be careful. I feel like someone's following us."
He gave the slightest nod of his head, understanding. He leaned forward further still.
Then Hermione saw a sweep of dark hair blowing into sight. It was as black as ink, yet seemed slightly reddish. Her stalker was right there, she knew it!
"Harry! There!"
In an instant, Harry was off the broom with his wand out. Hermione skipped to a stop, dropping the Firebolt on the grounded leaves and whipping out her own wand.
The mane of dark hair had disappeared.
"Show yourself!" Harry shouted.
Hermione held her breath, then yelled, "I know you've been following me. It's no use hiding! Come out!"
All she and Harry could hear was rustling leaves. Every muscle in Hermione's body tensed. Harry looked at her, then back at the trees.
"Mew."
A black cat brushed up against Hermione's leg. It nearly scared the wits out of her, but she clapped her hand over her mouth to keep from yelping.
Harry lowered his wand and stood taller. "I don't think there's anyone there. It might have been that cat that you saw."
"Cats don't have two feet of hair." But she stuck her wand back into her robes and stroked the cat's head, tracing the line of its back. The feline purred smoothly.
"Let's get going," Harry urged. "We don't want Filch giving us detention for being out after hours. You know how he is about inappropriate behavior at Hogwarts."
Hermione smiled and mounted the broom behind Harry. "No kissing. No touching. No holding hands in public. 'You kids, over there! Stop looking at each other, you'll get an STD!'" She laughed. "I love how red his face gets when he sees students kissing. You know, I think he's just jealous. He can't take it that school age students can have pleasant love lives and not him."
"Meooooow."
The cat pawed at her leg persistently.
Hermione looked down at it. "What, you want up?" The cat launched into a series of enthusiastic mews. "Well. Someone wants attention." She grinned and picked up the cat, cradling it between her and Harry. He pushed the broom off the ground and they went sailing towards the castle.
Back in the private room, Hermione still couldn't shake the creeps that had her hair standing on end. As Harry changed out of his dirty uniform, she filled a dish with water and set it on the floor for the cat.
"There you go, little one," she said to the cat as she stood back up. As it crouched and sniffed the dish, Hermione began to walk to the wardrobe where Harry stood pulling his shirt over his head.
"Thank you."
Hermione stopped dead in her tracks and slowly turned around, her mouth hanging open. Harry peeked through the neck of his shirt to stare wide-eyed at the little black cat, lapping quietly from the dish.
After an electric moment of silence, the cat's head lifted and looked to where the two students stood watching.
"What?" the cat said. Its pupils flicked back and forth. A talking cat! both students screamed in their minds.
The cat then shut its eyes and dropped its head. "Aw, dammit. I blew my cover." It slowly took a last lap from the dish and then sauntered to the open center of the room. It sat neatly, its head high, then closed its eyes and exhaled. Hermione's and Harry's eyes were locked on the creature as it began to change.
The cat's shoulders hunched over, its fur bristled and spine arched as its bones grew bigger. It shot up from the ground, growing a foot per second. Knees reversed their direction. Fur grew thinner, then disappeared. Paws became hands. Breasts sprouted from its chest. In less than a moment, a naked young woman stood in front of the two bewildered teens. She shook her shower of raven-red hair back from her face, and clenched her jaw as feline fangs turned into human teeth – all but the canines, which remained sharply pointed.
With her hands on her slender hips, the girl sighed, then opened her eyes, realized she was completely nude, and said gruffly, "Sorry."
Hermione and Harry couldn't move as she paced to the bed, yanked off the quilted duvet, and wrapped it around herself like a winter shawl.
"I forgot you people usually wear clothes."
Harry, mortified beyond belief, hurriedly yanked his shirt back on. He whipped his wand out and held it pointed toward the mystery woman like a dagger.
Hermione finally regained her ability to speak.
"What the hell was that?!"
"I can morph into a cat. Sorry I didn't tell you before." The girl blinked her heavily-lidded, catlike eyes. The pupils were slits, surrounded by blood-red irises. She gave the air an feral sniff and glanced around.
"Wh- Just what do you think you're doing? Are you stalking me? I mean, what are you even doing in our room?!" Hermione found it difficult to put a handle on her disbelief.
The girl held up a finger as she finished smelling. "Do you have garlic in here?" She looked pointedly at the mini-fridge in the corner.
Harry stepped forward. "What's it to you?"
"Nothing. It's just… nothing." She lilted her head innocently, then sat quickly on a poofy footrest. "Again, I'm sorry for spooking you. I mean you no harm."
"You haven't answered my question," Hermione demanded.
"Well… let's put it this way." She crossed her legs delicately before continuing. "I find you guys interesting. I wanted to get a closer look at you. But, like I said, I've got nothing against you. In fact, I think you might need my help."
Hermione shook her head confusedly. "No. No, just get out. Now!"
The girl bared her teeth and rolled her eyes.
"Sheesh. Have it your way." Then she crumpled in on herself and disappeared into the blanket as it shrank into an empty pile on the footrest. A moment later, the black cat sprung out and landed on the floor. She leapt to the nearest windowsill, squeezed through the open window, and disappeared from sight.
Hermione turned and pushed her face into Harry's chest. "The nerve…" she grumbled furiously into his shirt.
They were both silent for a moment, as they let what had just happened sink in. Harry began to stroke Hermione's auburn hair.
"I'll never let anyone hurt you, I swear it on my life. That girl was crazy - I don't know what she wanted, but I've got my eye out more than ever now." Harry grasped her shoulder as she sighed. It seemed to be something more than that.
Harry tried again. "Now, I've been at Hogwarts more than three years, and have seen much more than my fair share of fucked-up shit. But that, right there, was some really fucked-up shit."
Hermione gave a short, stifled laugh. "I'm just…. You know. Outraged. At helplessly having you see a... gorgeous... naked woman. In our room."
The tall boy stiffened a little, then laughed comfortingly. "Don't worry, 'Mione. You're the only woman I'll ever, ever want to shag."
She looked up into his grin, then mirrored it, and reached her lips upward into a warm kiss.
Candles glowing bright reflected off the bare, not-yet-food-endowed tables at dinnertime. All the student body's eyes were trained on the Headmaster as he stood importantly behind his speaking pedestal.
Our couple sat across from each other at the Gryffindor table, waiting to hear the news.
Dumbledore cleared his throat, then said, "It is my pleasure to announce that this year, Hogwarts will be hosting the Triwizard tournament."
Loud chatter erupted immediately across the hall. Some students roared with anticipation, some gasped in shock. Hermione was one of the latter.
She grasped Harry's hand under the table. She waited until the speech was over, then said, "the Triwizard Tournament! Can you believe this? And students from other schools are coming here. Oh... goodness." This is too much excitement to handle, she thought as her stomach leaped and nausea resurfaced. Her excitement soon turned to unease. Why can't the year I get knocked up just be a normal year?!
Harry sent her a reassuring look. She tried weakly to smile through her pained grimace. She honestly felt like vomiting again – whether it was from the pressure of learning she would have to deal with three times the normal amount of students soon, or from something physical and completely unrelated, she couldn't tell.
"Blurgh… I mean… I need a moment."
The Gryffindors around her watched concernedly as she stumbled up and began to dash for the hall's exit.
Before she reached the door, Ginny and Luna caught up with her. "Are you all right?" Ginny asked as she and Luna took her arms.
"Ugh… yes. Just… urgh… period cramps, you know?" Hermione said through her teeth as Luna nodded along with Ginny, saying, "We're here for you. Let's get to the restroom."
The girls escorted Hermione carefully into a bathroom and waited as she puked up her guts in a stall. Ginny stepped forward and rubbed her back.
"There, there. I know it sucks."
Hermione drew her sleeve across her face. "Thanks." She stood and took Ginny's arm again. "Let's get back to dinner."
But something made her stop. Luna was staring up at the high ceiling of the bathroom. Hermione followed her gaze.
They were being watched.
The cat girl was clinging to the ceiling above her, her long hair curtained over her shoulders like an inky cape. She wore torn grey skinny jeans, a large hoodie and dirty purple lace-up boots. Ginny saw her and gave a loud scream. Hermione had her wand out in a flash – she immediately flung the most powerful stun spell she could think of toward the trespasser.
The girl hissed as she effortlessly dodged the spell. She dropped from the ceiling and landed lightly, catlike, on all fours, then stood and quickly covered Ginny's mouth with her hand.
"Shhhh! Do you want to get me killed?" Hermione rushed forward and kicked the girl's shin, then tried to pry her fingers from Ginny's mouth. "Let go, you brute!" The brunette pounded and pulled on the girl's arms with all she had, but soon had to give up due to a surge of weakness. She drew back, as Luna sidestepped across the room.
Hermione huffed. She was fuming, and also still quite confused, though she'd never admit it. "After what you pulled earlier, maybe we do want you killed!" This was the last thing she needed – a crazy cat-woman attacking her and her friends during dinner. While she was pregnant. What a world. Over the mystery girl's shoulder, Hermione watched Luna run to make sure the restroom door was shut.
"Look, about that…" The girl uncovered Ginny's mouth and stepped back sheepishly, scratching the base of her neck. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to scare you like that." Her eyes were filled with genuine regret.
"What were you doing on the ceiling?!" Ginny demanded. Her wand was out and pointed at her, and a spell was already glowing on the tip, ready to launch. Luna stepped forward too, solemnly readying her wand as well. The girl gave a nervous grin as she watched Hermione reach for her wand as well.
Hermione noticed her fangs and lost her angry train of thought.
"Wait. Are you a vampire?"
The girl's face lit up a little. The edge of her mouth twitched upwards. Hermione saw a glint of metal, and noticed she had her septum pierced with a small, silver ring. "Yeah."
"Are you… trying to get us? I mean, drink our…"
"Oh, no! No!" She waved her hands about like Hermione had thrown a bit of water at her. "No, why would I do that?"
"Hermione, what's going on?" Ginny spoke up, inching toward her friend.
"Nothing. Don't worry, I'll handle this." Hermione lifted her head. "So, what is it exactly that you want from us, then?" she addressed the vampire.
"Just to apologize. And… to maybe ask for a second chance."
Hermione was taken aback. "At what?"
The girl sighed. "At being your friend. I messed up. I guess I just want to hang out." She scuffed the stone floor with her toe. "I don't know. This is getting weird."
"I'd say." Hermione still had half a mind to hit her with a stun spell.
"Ah, well, here's all I want you to know." She looked Hermione right in the eye, and instantly the brunette felt vulnerable. "I know exactly what you're going through." Hermione felt a shudder run through her entire body. "I think I can help you. Vampires have a weird sense of intuition." The girl shook her head as though casting away a distracting thought. "Just… I'm here if you need me."
"If I need you?"
"You know that guy, Moody? Something's up with him. Something bad. You might wanna look into that."
"H- how do you know about him?"
The vampire was silent. She gave a slight smile, showing a glint of sharp fangs.
"The name's Jaime."
Then, she turned briskly, and wrenched open a window before stepping up to the ledge and leaping out into the night.
"What – NO!"
Hermione ran to see where she had gone – surely this girl hadn't spontaneously jumped to her death? But she saw nothing on the ground below. Everything was still. She strained her eyes. For a moment, she swore she could see wings flapping. But it was too dark to be sure.
She turned around to face Luna and Ginny. Then she sank down, her back against the wall. What a long night.
Ginny kneeled beside her. "Who was that girl? Do you know her?" Hermione shook her head. "Good God. What was all that then?"
Hermione was wordless.
"Looks like we've found our stalker then, eh, Hermione?" Luna's voice was quiet, and almost made her laugh.
"Huh. I guess."
What that girl... Jaime... had said about Moody made her worried. Hermione already considered that man a living gift from hell, but was there more to it than that?
Perfect. Just perfect. Hermione felt like vomiting again, but there wasn't even anything left in her to heave up.
"Let's go eat."
Whooo, I hope you liked that at least a little, because I stayed up all night writing it! [ehhhheh why do i do dis... (ノ´д`)]
Already working on Ch. 13! Thank you for reading, and please shoot me a review!
