Chapter Two: You've Changed

Time may change me

But I can't trace time…

-David Bowie "Changes"

It took those two years to fix the damage done to the castle and practically the entire world, muggle and wizarding alike. And for those two years I've paced the corridors of Hogwarts… yes ghosts pace as well. Well I do anyways. Another thing would be that I age even though I shouldn't; I haven't got a proper theory for that one unfortunately. But my guess is that it has something to do with why I'm here.

It's almost as if I wasn't really a ghost, but a forgotten memory. People don't see me like they do with normal ghosts, unless I come in physical contact with them, the only ones who see me are the ghosts of the school. And sometimes it pains me to say I have become quite….acquaintedwith Peeves.

Yes, I said it, Peeves. Why Peeves? Why not The Grey Lady or Nearly Headless Nick or even Moaning Myrtle for the love of Merlin! Is probably what you're thinking. It's simple really. It gets quite boring after awhile having to be a goody two shoes while alive let alone when being dead. The chaos bringer offered me a change and I took it.

"What do you want Peeves?" frowning at the poltergeist

"Well if it isn't little miss goody two shoes, too bad her brains couldn't stop her from being killed" the annoying wretch giggled as he floated above me.

"Sod off" I grunted in reply but he still kept talking. "Tut tut, such language and behavior in Hogwarts is not acceptable Ms Granger"

I snorted in reply, "I'm dead Peeves, and I'm not a student here anymore"

"But you're still tied to this school even in death; it's why you're here and not anywhere else, is it not?"

"No, it's not" I answered vaguely.

"I see, here then" he held out an object which looked like one of the products sold by Fred and George. My scowl deepened, is Peeves and idiot or is he trying to insult me?

"I thought I told you I'm DEAD"

"Yes, but you're not like the rest now are you? I'm sure if you concentrate hard enough you'd be able to hold it"

"Even if I could what do you want me to do with it?" confusion couldn't even describe what I was feeling. A wide grin grew on his face then and pointed off in a certain direction. "You see those people there?" I turned to look and saw the people who came in to do the school repairs, even more confused I turned back and nodded.

"I want you to throw this at them" he said.

"Now why would I do that?" I asked in disbelief, I mean just cause I died didn't mean I lost all sense of self. "You're bored, I'm bored, and they don't know you're here, why not?" he said as if he'd forgotten who I am, what I'm known for (apart from the brains I mean) "And I'm sure learning control now will come in handy sometime in the near future"

"What? Is the little legendry Granger afraid of ruining her reputation?" he mocked.

"Excuse me?! Of course not!" Dammit, Gryffindor pride. He grinned once more and threw the object towards me as I attempted poorly to catch it, instead it passed right through me. "Concentrate Granger" he said, sounded oddly much like Mad-eye.

"I'm trying" I tried again, this time I was able to almost feel it.

After many minutes I succeeded, no surprise. "Good" again with the Cheshire cat grin. "Now throw it" he demanded.

I did, the object exploded like small fireworks causing the workers to become startled and angry as they looked for the perpetrator, they looked in our direction but all they saw was Peeves laughing hysterically.

It felt good, and for the first time since I've died, I laughed.

Since then the little bastard had been my company, my partner in crime. The other ghosts didn't approve of our antics but said nothing of it and I'm grateful for that.

But here I am now pacing yet again in an empty classroom with Peeves who just floated there above me.

"Is Hermioninny troubled?" he teased. I took no notice of it but instead went into a fit of panic.

"She's here Peeves! Fuck! They're ALL here!" I hissed urgently.

"I know"

"You know?! Fuck, have you got any idea how much trouble this will cause me?"

"You've changed Granger" he said, changing the subject.

"Excuse me?" I questioned, baffled at his statement, but never in my years have I seen Peeves look so...serious.

"You're not yourself" he said as if that made it any clearer to me. But before I could question him more, he was gone. What did he mean? Have I changed? Apart from my recent desire to cause mischief and being a ghost I didn't think I had forgotten that I was Hermione Granger. I couldn't think, so for the first time in years, I went to the library.