DISCLAIMER: No more please

Surprise! I was able to finish this chapter after I got some of your encouraging reviews!

HIDDEN CHANGES

Chapter 15

Xavier had been sitting in the same chair for five hours now. Hermione was so happy at the moment and he didn't want to mess that up. She had a table full of books at the public library. Every now and then she would mumble something along the lines of, "I never realized how accustom I have gotten with magic."

Xavier had to stop her from accidentally using magic to carry a load of books at least six times. Hermione may be smart but when she was focusing on something intensely she didn't give much thought to anything else. Xavier had dozed off a couple time and watched her as she read and mumbled. It was a sick cycle, she would read something, then mumble under her breath. It was very irritating. Especially when she kept waking him up to read him something that was utterly brilliant. Xavier tuned her out around the third hour and just laid his head on the table. They had been there since eight in the morning. When it finally hit one thirty Xavier got up and stretched.

"Hermione we should get going Alex will be at the house at two thirty."

Hermione looked up and saw the clock. "Well time flies when you are having fun I guess."

Xavier gave her a blank stare, "Yes Hermione, that was tons of fun. I cannot wait until I can sit in a library for five hours listening to you mumble under your breath every thirty seconds. I just love sitting in the same spot all day long."

Hermione huffed as she began to put away books saying, "You didn't have to come."

Xavier grumbled and helped her put away some of the books looking at the names. "What the hell is Tai Chi?"

Hermione looked over, "Tai Chi is a type of martial arts using slow, rhythmic, and meditative body movements designed to enhance relaxation, inner calm, and peace. It seems very relaxing."

Xavier looked at her, "Doesn't sound like martial arts to me."

Hermione shot him a glare, "It isn't always about fighting. It is about calming yourself."

Xavier said, "You think it is going to work?"

Hermione glanced over her shoulder as she put books away, "I found more than one way to calm myself down. I just hope I don't have to use them permanently."

Xavier growled at the thought of his 'brother,' "He better fix you."

Hermione chuckled, "I am not broken. I am just unstable."

"What would you call an unstable chair?"

Hermione looked at him curiously, "What?"

Xavier repeated, "What would you call an unstable chair?"

Hermione looked at him, "I don't know… most likely broken."

Xavier pointed, "See broken!"

Hermione rolled her eyes as she put the last book away and grabbed the notes she took placing them under her arm as she walked with Xavier out of the library.

The walk home was calm and relaxing with a little small talk about Hogwarts and how she was coping with not being there.

"I find I am much more relaxed without worrying about being discovered. So does the whole school know?"

Xavier shook his head, "I got an owl while I was in the bathroom at the library. Very awkward… I mean how did it even get in the bathroom? Anyways, Dumbledore obliviated the students who figured out you were the classmate with the affliction."

Hermione smiled, "Well that was nice of him."

Xavier mumbled, "He is sucking up to me, trying to get me on their side."

Hermione looked over, "Why don't you just work with the light side."

Xavier looked at her, "I don't want to get involved at all."

"Come on Xavier, Death Eaters are bad guys. The choice isn't that hard."

"I will think about it. Just not now."

Hermione nodded and they continued to walk home in silence.

Xavier and Hermione arrived at the house around two o'clock and Xavier walk straight into the kitchen. "I am hungry, Hermione."

Hermione arched an eyebrow at Xavier, "And?"

"Well make me something. I am used to House Elves."

Hermione heard a tapping on the door. She walked over to find an owl holding a large bag. She opened it to find a note from Harry and Ron with a few set of clothes lying in the bag.

Dear Hermione,

Hope you are feeling better. Dumbledore erased the people who figured it out memory. Your secret is safe. Be careful. Ginny helped us pick out your clothes and she says that she hopes you feel better too. Don't worry, she won't tell anyone. We have to go because we are writing this during potions. Don't touch that stain in the corner. Ron spilled something there.

Only because Harry bumped into me.

See you soon,

Harry and Ron

Ron and Harry

p.s. Nice Knickers

Hermione gasped and stared in shock at that actually had packed her lacey panties, meaning they went through her underwear drawer. She also saw that Ginny had packed only skirts, dresses, and shorts. Obviously Ginny had inherited her mother's way of trying to say something without saying anything at all and that was irritating. She could wear whatever she wanted; Ginny didn't have to pick stuff out for her. She felt her ears tingling and she realized her ears shift around when she felt a strong emotion. She thought a moment before sighing, "Might as well try it." She looked at her notes and the photocopies she made and stood up trying to do the Tai Chi she read about. She smiled as she felt herself calming down and her ears shifting back to where they were supposed to be. She was very proud of herself until she heard laughing.

Xavier peeked in and just started laughing, "What the hell was that?"

Hermione felt herself getting extremely angry and she threw a shoe at him. "Shut up! I am trying!" She felt her nails growing and hissed in pain feeling tears prick her eyes.

Xavier saw her hands and ran over trying to tell her to calm down.

Hermione snapped at him breathlessly due to the fact her lungs felt like they were collapsing, "You caused this don't act like you care now!"

Xavier cursed himself for being so insensitive, "Hermione, breathe!"

Hermione felt her chest constrict and tried to breathe, she was hyperventilating. She felt Xavier pull her back towards his chest placing his hands on her waist. "Breathe with me Hermione. Just calm down. Focus on how I am breathing."

Hermione closed her eyes as she felt the rise and fall of his chest against her back. She tried to pace her breathing so they were breathing at the same time. She found her breathing was easier when she had Xavier as a human metronome standing behind her.

Xavier whispered words of encouragement in her ear as she felt herself calm down. She watched as her nails slowly shrank back to their usual size. She stood still as she calmed down.

Xavier spun her around and looked at her with eyes full of concern, "Are you alright?"

Hermione nodded mutely and pointed to the clothes and letter.

Xavier looked over and saw them and released a soft chuckle, "Someone trying to say something?"

Hermione sat down on the bed clearly not amused.

Xavier sat next to her, "Sorry for laughing. If it helps, it helps I guess."

"You are apologizing?"

"Don't tell anyone or I will deny it."

Hermione nodded and smiled. "Get out I have to change, these pants Tanya let me borrow don't fit very well in the rear and the shirt is too baggy in certain areas."

Xavier laughed, "She can't help it is she is well endowed in those areas. She does attract a lot of attention when she goes out though."

"They look fine on her. I just look tiny in them. Now shoo!"

"I am off to talk to some of the leaders in Asia. I will be back later. Don't you worry just enjoy yourself while you are here. Alex will be here soon so hurry up and get dressed." Xavier smiled and hugged her before he left and shut the door.

Hermione looked at the clothes and settled on the red plaid skirt and the white polo top. She looked in the full length mirror and frowned at the length of the skirt. She spotted some leggings in a pile of Tanya's clothes and hoped that she wouldn't mind that Hermione borrowed them. Hermione put them on and was satisfied with her appearance. She put on some black flats and walked into the bathroom. Contrary to popular belief, she did wear makeup. She just didn't wear massive amounts like Lavender and Parvati making her look plain when beside them. She heard Alex calling her name as she was applying eyeliner.

"I am in the master bathroom!" She called. She could hear Alex trying to maneuver into the room covered in dirty and clean clothes mumbling things such as, "pig" and "disgusting" while cursing Tanya. He walked in to the bathroom to find a great view of Hermione's rear. Hermione was leaned over the sink to look in the mirror while she applied her mascara. He coughed and was extremely surprised at the sight that was in front of him.

Hermione turned around when she was done. "Are we ready to go?"

Alex nodded, "Yes we just have to get in the truck. I cleaned out the bed today at work if you want to ride there."

Hermione's stared at him astonished, "Excuse me!?"

Alex arched an eyebrow, "The bed of the truck. You know there are two parts of a truck, the cab and the bed."

Hermione blushed and laughed at herself saying, "Oh I see, I thought you meant… nevermind," as she walked quickly out of the messy room.

Alex shook his head laughing quietly as he followed her out. She stood by the front door with her hand clasped in front of her. He smiled to himself thinking was quiet amusing and attractive girl. "We should leave now. The traffic gets sort of bad." He opened the front door and let her walk out ahead of him as he pulled the door closed and locked the door.

"So do they get out at the same time?" Hermione asked.

Alex led her to the car and opened her door for her saying, "They let each division of the school out in half-hours to try and cut down on the traffic, it doesn't help much though. She gets out of school at three and he gets out at four." He shut the door and ran to his side of the car getting in.

Hermione looked at the car murmuring, "Weird, the car is all switched around."

Alex smiled, "No all of the cars here are like this. They also drive on the wrong side of the road."

Hermione shook her head at the thought of trying to drive here. "Strange." She looked over and saw a wand on the floor under the driver's seat. "Why do you have a wand?"

Alex looked down, "Oh that? Well I do have some magic, just not enough to qualify as an actually wizard. I can do basic things a first year can but beyond that I am helpless."

Hermione nodded her head in understanding, "So you can do magic?"

Alex looked at her before continuing to drive, "Well yes, it is very weak though. Draco could beat me at dueling when I was seven and he was five. That is when they suspected something was wrong. They had me formally tested. If I worked extremely hard I could barely be considered a wizard. Mommy dearest, decided that was a disgrace and told my father to get rid of me or she would kill me herself for being such a disgrace to the purebloods."

Hermione stared at him sadly and felt her ears tingling, "I am sorry Alex."

Alex glanced over with a comforting smile, "Your ears."

Hermione blushed and touched them, "Damn."

"Just relax and they should go away."

Hermione took deep breaths feeling her ears going back to their original position saying, "I think I found a good way to control my anger. I almost hyperventilated earlier but Xavier helped me calm down. I think breathing is the key though."

Alex pulled up in front of the elementary school and parked the car. "Here we are come on. I used to be able just to wait outside for her to come out, but ever since one kid moronically ran in front of a car and got their leg broken we have to go inside and sign Cassandra out."

Hermione stepped out of the car and looked at the school before following Alex. Alex held the door open as she entered. As they walked through the halls she decided he trained very well as a child to be polite to women.

"Miss Mione!" Cassandra squealed as they approached the classroom.

"You guys wait here while I sign you out Cassie," said Alex as he walked into the room.

"Guess what! I made a drawing today! Do you want to see it?" Cassie bounced on her toes.

Hermione smiled, "Sure thing let me see."

Cassie handed her a picture of two large stick cats proudly and smiled whispering, "It is you and me! I remember at the meeting when Xavier had you transform."

Hermione smiled and nodded touched that Cassie had remembered her so well.

"Hermione! Quick put me on your shoulders." Cassie exclaimed

"What is it?" Hermione asked.

"Ears!" Cassie whispered looking around quickly as she began to pull Hermione down so she could climb on.

Hermione obliged and let Cassie sit on her shoulders. She felt Cassandra's small hands cover her ears.

Alex walked out surprised seeing Hermione with Cassie on her shoulders. "What are you two doing?"

Cassie picked up her hands for a second before quickly covering the ears again. Alex snickered nodded as Hermione showed him the picture with watery eyes. "You have a long way to go Hermione."

"I can't help it!"

Alex led the way down the hall to the park where after Hermione's ears were gone they let Cassie play until it was time to pick up Bobby. Alex watched from the bench as Hermione and Cassandra played on the swings.

Alex stood up when it was about three forty-five and called to them, "Come on guys let's go!"

Hermione jumped off the swing and landed gracefully. Cassandra did the same. As they were walking Hermione noticed that Cassandra was adjusting her walk so she could be walking just like herself. Hermione slowed her walk to make it easier for the young girl smiling.

"Can we ride in the bed Alex?" Cassandra begged.

"Is that safe?" Hermione asked doubtfully.

Alex looked over, "Not really. She can only ride back there for short distances and with another person so she doesn't stand up while the car is moving. I guess you can ride just to the high school like that if Hermione stays with you."

Hermione looked at Cassandra's pleading eyes and reluctantly climbed into the bed of the truck. Cassie squealed happily as Alex picked her up and put her in the bed. "No standing."

Alex got into the car and drove the short distance to the high school. Hermione watched as they drove past the middle school. Younger students milled about talking to each other. It reminded her of the days when she went to a muggle school. They approached the high school and saw that there was a crowd forming around two male students. One was wearing a school jacket and yelling at the other who just stood there quietly with his hands in his pockets. Hermione squinted to get a better look.

Cassandra muttered, "Not again!"

Hermione then realized that it was Bobby just standing there while the bigger guy yelled at him. Alex stopped the car and Hermione climbed out watching in trepidation. Alex got out, "Cassie get in the car." Cassandra nodded as Alex helped her out of the bed and into the car. Once Cassie was in the car Alex turned to Hermione, "He will get pissed if I go over there. He is very proud, but I am sure you can sway attention if you go over there."

"Excuse me?" Hermione asked as she watched the large boy step closer to Bobby who held his ground. The boy started to poke Bobby hard on the shoulder. Hermione looked at Bobby's beanie and saw two lumps forming. His ears were coming out.

Alex clicked his tongue, "Too late." Hermione turned to see Bobby shoving the boy out of his personal 'bubble.'

Uh oh… Bobby is getting into trouble. What will happen!?! Please review! I need them for motivation! Working on Chapter 16 now but it is coming out slower than I expected. Who knows if you review I might be inspired!