Chapter One: A Trip to Balamb Garden

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Final Fantasy VIII no matter how much I wish they were my works. Any additional characters added are mine.

A/N: Quick note, the world in FFVIII was never given an official name so for simplicity's sake I will be referring to it as "Gaia" in this story.

oOoOo

Hermione groaned, frowning as a streak of sunlight fell across her face. Who the heck opened my curtains, she thought in irritation as she turned away from it, noting through her closed eyelids that whatever room she was in was equally as bright no matter what way she turned. Muttering under breath about her stupid dormmates, she opened her eyes and blinked as she took in the blue wall in front of her. This isn't the Gryffindor Dorm… she trailed off in her thoughts as she sat up, looking around the small room she was in.

The room was simple, small but cosy with a single bed against the wall, a vanity, a round table with two chairs, and a wardrobe. The rest of the walls were white with some pictures hanging showing an older man in army garb, another of a landscape, and a third showing a portly woman and a young man with blonde hair around her age.

Where am I? she wondered, pulling the duvet off her and sitting on the edge of the bed. Suddenly, memories of what happened flooded back into her mind like a harsh slap, and she backed up onto the bed against the wall in alarm. Griever… where did he take me? she thought, panic settling in her stomach. Her heart was racing, and she quickly reached under the pillow out of habit, but her wand wasn't there. Freaking out for a moment, she stood and searched around the room, finally spying it lying on the floor by the table. She moved over to it and picked it up, almost hugging it in relief.

Hermione glanced over at the vanity, seeing her clothes neatly folded and realised someone had dressed her in a night dress. Slightly uneasy at the thought that a stranger had stripped her and redressed her without her knowledge, she walked over to her clothes and got dressed. She felt more comfortable in them, also noting that they had been cleaned. She looked at her outer robe, the Gryffindor symbol and Head Girl badge staring back at her. She wondered if wearing them would be a good idea. She didn't know where she was, and she didn't want to frighten any Muggles.

She caught sight of something sitting on the floor next to the vanity, and she was astonished to find it was her beaded bag. 'How…?' she trailed off, shaking her head as she picked it up, tapping her wand against it. The contents were still intact, everything she stored in there from books to clothes, and even some snacks… but she knew she didn't have it with her the night they went to the third-floor corridor. So, how did it get here? She was glad to have it though as it would make things easier. She folded up her robes and placed them into her bag, forever thankful she had enchanted it to have infinite space with no weight to it.

Hermione's mind wandered back to what happened and how she got to… wherever she currently was. She recalled everything that happened, every aspect of the murals and the tragic story depicted in the stained-glass windows. The emblem on the door and the great red lion, Griever. His piercing blue eyes, full of sorrow and torment, came to the forefront of her mind. Griever said he "banished" Harry, Ron, and Malfoy from the chamber because they were not worthy? What did he mean by that? Did he…? she trailed off in her thoughts, not wanting to think along those lines. Griever didn't seem to have any malicious intent, so she just prayed they were safe.

Her thoughts turned to the rest of their conversation and what seemed like a mission he had given her. 'Key? Curse?' Hermione muttered to herself with a frown. How can I do anything if I don't know what I'm meant to be doing? she asked herself, shaking her head. Would Griever come back and tell her what she needed to do? How and when? The creature seemed ancient, like he had seen a thousand lifetimes… what if time didn't work the same way for him? Would it be days, weeks, even years before she found out?

Hermione shook her head, deciding that determining where she was would probably be a good place to start and resigned herself to whatever lay beyond the threshold of this room. Okay, one step at a time, she thought, hoping she would find a way back to Hogwarts as soon as possible. Unless this room was just a guest room within the castle, but from the pictures on the wall and the fact they were captured as frozen images instead of moving she went on the assumption that she was in a Muggle's house somewhere. She placed her wand up the sleeve of her jumper, placing a sticking charm on it before moving to the door.

Hermione took a deep breath, wishing she could speak to Griever again, even if it was just to make sure Harry and Ron were okay. She knew she would feel anxious and worried for their safety until she knew for sure they were still alive and not hurt. She sighed, leaning her head against the door. She missed them already and wished they were here with her. She already felt so alone and the door she was leaning against gave her a tight knot of dread in her stomach at the thought of what was beyond it.

Shaking off her thoughts, Hermione reached for the door handle and pulled it open. She listened for a moment, hearing voices from downstairs. She paused, wondering if now was a good time to make her presence known or if she should wait. She was curious about where she was and wondered if they would talk about it. She felt awful eavesdropping, but any information she could glean before meeting these people might help even though she knew she could just ask. Resolving to listen, she opened the door a bit more.

'So, I heard you have a mysterious guest?' came a woman's voice. Hermione perked up somewhat, they were talking about her.

The sound of a tap running and the clinking of dishes in a sink reached her ears. The other person was washing the dishes. So far this just seemed like a typical Muggle house, and this was a positive in Hermione's mind. 'Yes, well news certainly travels fast in a small village,' the person washing the dishes answered. Another woman, sounding older than the other.

She could hear a foot tapping. 'Well?' the younger woman asked eagerly after a short pause.

The tap started running again and then it stopped. Hermione heard footsteps on a wooden floor. 'I'm not sure what to tell you, Gina,' the older woman said, her voice sounding closer now and Hermione assumed they were no longer in the kitchen.

'What happened to her?' Gina asked and Hermione got the impression that this woman was exceptionally intrusive. Why was it any of hers or anyone else's business what happened to her?

The older woman sighed. 'Zell found her by the docks unconscious and brought her back here,' she finally answered. 'She is about the same age as him, but he said he didn't recognise her from school. She's very pretty,' she told Gina, her tone thoughtful.

Hermione blushed at the compliment but shook it off. So, a guy called Zell found me at the docks? she thought, piecing together some of what happened. The docks where though?

'How long has she been unconscious?' Gina asked, and Hermione pulled herself from her thoughts, focusing on the conversation.

'Three days, poor thing,' the older woman answered. 'Something serious must have happened to her, but there wasn't a scratch on her except for scraped knees. I've tried everything to wake her up, but not a peep,' she said with a sigh and Hermione could almost visualise a middle-aged woman shaking her head.

At this Hermione frowned, I've been out for three days! How? she thought in disbelief. Reaching down, she tugged her trouser legs up. There on her knees were grazes, scabbed over now. She realised that must have been from when that energy forced them onto their knees on the stone floor in the chamber. She shuddered as she remembered the feeling of a heavy weight on her, as if gravity in the room had suddenly doubled.

'Hmm… I wonder where she came from. At least she's alive,' Gina said in a thoughtful tone.

'Yes, she is, lucky girl,' the older woman responded, and Hermione had to wonder how fortunate she really was. She still didn't know where she was or how far she would need to travel to get back to Hogwarts. She could be on the other side of the planet for all she knew.

She tuned back into the conversation. 'Zell said she might be a transfer student from one of the other Gardens. It's a miracle she wound up here though. Usually transfer students travel in groups so I can't imagine what happened to the rest of them if that is what happened,' the older woman trailed off, her voice uneasy. 'In any case, once she's awake and strong enough to travel, I'll direct her to the Garden. With any luck, someone there will know who she is and can help her,' she added.

Transfer student? Garden? Hermione questioned, raking through her mind for any information she may have read about "students from Garden", but nothing came to the forefront of her mind to answer these questions. Hermione didn't think she had ever heard of anything like that before. Maybe she misheard what was said.

'For now, I need to try and give her some more soup. It's the only thing I've been able to get in her while she's unconscious,' the older woman said after a few moments of silence. Hermione heard a cupboard door opening and the sound of a plate being put on a counter.

'Of course, Mrs Dincht. I didn't mean to keep you so long,' Gina said, sounding slightly flustered. 'I actually popped by to see if you would be able to watch Liam for me while I go shopping,' she asked, and Hermione thought it sounded almost like a desperate plea.

Mrs Dincht chuckled. 'Still as rowdy as ever, I take it?' she asked in amusement.

'You have no idea,' Gina answered exasperatedly. 'I swear he gets worse every day,' she added.

'I don't mind at all, Gina,' Mrs Dincht replied.

'Thank you so much! I really appreciate it,' Gina answered, her tone relieved. Hermione heard a door open. 'Do you need anything from the shop at all?' Gina called back to Mrs Dincht.

'No, dear, I'm fine. Thank you,' Mrs Dincht called back, and Hermione heard the door shut.

Hermione moved back into the room, closing the door as softly as she could. Her eyes moved back to the picture of the woman and man she looked at earlier. The young man had spiky blonde hair, blue eyes, and a black tribal tattoo on the left side of his face. The woman next to him was portly, but she had a kind face and was wearing a dark blue apron over her brown and white dress. She reminded Hermione of Mrs Weasley and a smile tugged at her lips. Then her mind turned to Ron and her smile faded. Are they searching for me? Do they even know what happened? she speculated, and this thought disturbed her. For all they knew she could be dead…

She was pulled from her morbid thoughts as the door opened. 'Oh! You're finally awake, at last!' Mrs Dincht said cheerfully, placing a tray down on the table. 'You can call me Mrs Dincht, everyone else does!' she said, moving over to Hermione and sitting her down in a chair at the table where she placed the tray. She checked her temperature, her pulse, and examined her for any wounds she may have missed. Finding nothing, she smiled in relief. 'Well, you seem to be fine,' she told Hermione, taking a seat on the other chair across from her.

Hermione couldn't help smiling back at her. Mrs Dincht seemed like a wonderful lady, and she appreciated that she had taken her in and nursed her back to health without question. 'I'm Hermione. Thank you for everything you've done for me,' she said, inclining her head at Mrs Dincht. A frown flitted onto her brow. 'But I must ask where I am and how I got here,' she asked, looking at the older woman, almost fearing the answer.

Mrs Dincht sighed, reaching for a pot of hot water which she poured into a tea pot. 'I can't say how you got here. I was hoping you would know the answer to that,' she said, popping a teabag into the hot water and putting the lid on it to let it stew. 'My son, Zell, found you on the docks. We considered you might be a transfer student from one of the other Gardens and had wondered if something happened to your vessel on the way here,' she divulged, shaking her head.

Hermione sat thoughtfully for a moment, deliberating on what to say to that. What Mrs Dincht told her had produced more questions than answers and she was getting a little frustrated. She watched as Mrs Dincht steeped the teabag with a spoon before placing the lid back on the teapot. She poured Hermione a cup, placing it next to her with some milk and sugar.

'Thank you,' Hermione whispered, pouring milk in, and adding a spoon of sugar. She took a sip before looking back at Mrs Dincht. 'I ran into…' she paused, comprehending it was probably best to omit Griever from anything she said, '…some trouble, but I don't know how it led to me being here,' she said, looking down at her hands. She wasn't lying; she didn't know how she ended up here. And when she came face to face with Griever, she genuinely believed she was in danger and didn't think she would survive the encounter. She shivered at the memory, those piercing blue eyes coming to the forefront of her mind.

After a few moments, Hermione looked back up at Mrs Dincht. 'I don't know what Garden is if I'm honest. I can't recall ever hearing about it,' she said, envisioning students learning to become gardeners in a vast greenhouse with tons of flowers. This thought was somewhat amusing, but at the same time she questioned if it was some kind of botanical garden. 'What is Garden exactly?' Hermione asked, pulling the soup towards her; it smelled divine. She sipped it and was overcome with an array of flavours she couldn't place.

Mrs Dincht stared at Hermione in bewilderment. 'You've never heard of Garden? I didn't think there were people in the world who didn't know about them,' she answered, tapping a finger on her chin. 'They are a huge part of the world and also major tourist attractions,' she said, and Hermione frowned at this.

Hermione swallowed thickly as she glanced down at her soup, her appetite vanishing. She had a feeling that whatever information Mrs Dincht was about to give her was going to complicate matters for her considerably. She braced herself, looking back at Mrs Dincht who was observing her thoughtfully.

After a moment, Mrs Dincht leaned forward, clasping her hands together in front of her. 'There are three Gardens in the world, all unique in their own way in how they educate their students, but the premise is the same. It's a school for mercenaries. Balamb Garden, our local one, is about 10 miles up the road in the countryside,' she told her, taking a sip of her own tea.

Hermione froze, gaping at Mrs Dincht as if she'd grown another head. 'A mercenary school?' she asked, her voice shaking as the images of a vast botanical garden and greenhouses faded from her mind.

Mrs Dincht nodded. 'Yes, they accept students aged five to fifteen and they graduate when they turn eighteen,' she answered with a smile at the astonished Hermione. 'Zell attends school there, and he is doing his final exam today,' she added proudly, turning in her chair, and pointing to the picture Hermione was looking at earlier. 'That's Zell. Takes after his grandfather,' she told her, looking at his picture with a fond smile.

Hermione nodded slowly. 'He's handsome,' she said, looking at the picture of the grinning Zell.

Mrs Dincht smiled at her. 'Yes, he is,' she replied, turning back to her, and gesturing to the soup Hermione had been neglecting. 'Eat up before it goes cold,' she added.

Hermione relaxed a bit, feeling comfortable around this woman, and managed to finish her soup. 'That was lovely soup,' she said, placing the bowl back on the tray.

Mrs Dincht chuckled. 'I try,' she said, standing and picking up the tray. Hermione stood up, moving to the door to open it for her. Mrs Dincht smiled appreciatively, turning back to her before heading downstairs. 'Make yourself comfortable, and feel free to come and go as you please,' she told her before making her way downstairs.

'Thank you,' Hermione called after her. She stood in the doorway for a moment, debating on following her down the stairs to check out the rest of the house and try to glean more information on where she was. Turning back into the room, she picked up her beaded bag which was on the vanity and headed out of the room, closing the door behind her.

To Hermione's right was another set of stairs leading up, and across from her was another door. Curious, she took a step towards it, causing a creak in the floorboards. 'That's Zell's room. He gets angry if anyone goes in, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't,' Mrs Dincht called up to her, making her flush in embarrassment. She didn't know it was Zell's room to be fair… the door was closed. It could have been the bathroom, so she appreciated Mrs Dincht setting her right.

Hermione made her way downstairs, noting that the bathroom was at the bottom next to the kitchen. She went in there first, freshening up and sorting herself out before making her way back out. She peered into the kitchen, seeing Mrs Dincht washing the dishes she had used upstairs.

The whole downstairs was open plan, except for the bathroom. The kitchen was small and opened out into the dining room. The living room was then joined onto that. The house was immaculate, not a speck of dust anywhere and everything had its own place. In the living room, there was a young boy – Liam, Hermione guessed – playing a fighting computer game on a strange looking TV. At least nothing seemed alien to her, although some of the things she looked at were outlandish in comparison to what she was used to.

'Ergh, I'm so bored…' Liam said, putting the controller down with an exaggerated sigh. 'I wish Zell would come over,' he added, crossing his arms.

Mrs Dincht chuckled at the boy's antics. 'He'll be home later for a visit,' she told him, placing a glass of juice down on the table for him.

Liam stood up. 'Oh, yeah! I hope he does! I need to show him my new moves!' he said excitedly, getting into a fighting stance.

Mrs Dincht raised her eyebrows at him. 'Yes, well that will be taken outside. I would rather my house stay intact,' she answered, placing her hands on her hips, and winking at Hermione who was watching in amusement.

'Yes, ma'am,' Liam sulked, his shoulders slumping. He sat back down on the floor in front of the TV, resuming his game.

Hermione smiled, shaking her head. She had a feeling that many things in the house had been broken because of Zell and Liam practicing their fighting indoors. She moved over to a bookcase where there were some magazines in a neat pile on one side. She read the title and frowned. '"Timber Maniacs"?' she muttered, picking it up and scanning the back of it. She quickly realised the magazine was dedicated to places in the world. She looked at the first page, scanning the titles of the articles in the contents. Her pulse quickened upon realising that none of the places listed were familiar to her. Feeling panic set in again, she closed the magazine quickly and placed it back on top of the pile.

Mrs Dincht came back out of the kitchen, drying her hands on her apron. She frowned when she took in Hermione's pale face and went over to her. 'Are you all right, Hermione?' she asked, leading the girl to a chair so she could sit. She went into the kitchen and poured a glass of water, returning and setting it down in front of Hermione who took a drink of it gratefully.

Hermione tried to still her rapidly beating heart, her eyes moving back to the pile of magazines. 'I have to know…' she trailed off, looking at Mrs Dincht who was observing her with concerned eyes. 'Where am I, Mrs Dincht?' she asked, rubbing her sweaty palms on her jeans nervously.

Mrs Dincht frowned. 'You're in Balamb,' she answered softly, reaching up to press a hand against Hermione's clammy forehead.

Hermione took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down but it was futile. She was terrified and anxious. Where the hell am I, Griever? she seethed, not expecting an answer from the elusive creature who had abandoned her here. 'It's just…' she paused, shaking her head. 'I don't recognise the name,' she told Mrs Dincht who frowned at her. 'Do you have a map of the world?' she asked, needing to know if Scotland was on it so she could figure out how to get back to Hogwarts.

Mrs Dincht shook her head. 'I don't, I'm afraid. Never needed one,' she explained, tapping her chin thoughtfully. 'There is a shop next to the train station. With Balamb being a tourist attraction, they may have maps of the area and the world,' she told her, before looking at the front door. 'There is also Jim who is a collector of objects from around the world. It's possible he will also have one. He's our next-door neighbour,' she explained with a frown, and Hermione nodded.

Hermione tried to smile, but it came out more like a grimace. 'Thank you,' she said softly, standing up and shouldering her beaded bag. She intended to leave immediately and find a map, although she felt that might be a touch rude after everything Mrs Dincht had done for her. 'Is there a way for me to get to the Garden?' she asked curiously, looking at Mrs Dincht.

Mrs Dincht nodded, smiling at her. 'Yes, I'm sure someone will be happy to take you. Down the road at town's exit is a car rental shop. Someone there will be able to get you a taxi,' she answered, her smile fading slightly as her frown reappeared.

Hermione shook her head. 'It's okay, I can walk…' she said, watching Mrs Dincht's eyebrows shoot up at this.

'It's ten miles from here, Hermione,' Mrs Dincht said, standing up and coming to her side.

Hermione sighed. 'I don't have any money for a taxi,' she told her sheepishly, lowering her head. 'I'm sorry, I must seem so abrupt. I just want to find my bearings so I can get home,' she explained, receiving an understanding nod from the older woman. 'I really do appreciate everything you've done for me, and I'll never forget your kindness,' she said softly, unable to stop herself from hugging Mrs Dincht.

Mrs Dincht smiled, pulling back, and holding her at arm's length. 'Well, you're always welcome here,' she replied, taking Hermione's hands. 'If you get stuck, you come on back here, okay?' she added sternly and Hermione nodded, giving her a smile as her eyes welled with tears at this woman's kind words.

'I promise, I will,' she answered, feeling relieved to have somewhere to stay if she needed it. She was in debt to Mrs Dincht and didn't know how she could ever repay her for helping her.

Mrs Dincht smiled, letting go of her hands. 'Before you go…' she said, shuffling over to the kitchen. Hermione watched in amazement as she pulled food and juice out of the cupboard, making some sandwiches, and handed them to her. She then grabbed her purse and pulled out some coins, handing them to Hermione. 'Take that with you. Should be enough for a taxi,' she said, smiling at the stunned girl.

'I can't accept this,' Hermione said quickly, hoping she hadn't made Mrs Dincht feel compelled to go out of her way like this for her.

'Nonsense!' Mrs Dincht answered, waving away her comment. 'You take care of yourself, Hermione,' she said with a smile as Hermione packed away the sandwiches, juice, and money into her beaded bag.

She walked to the door and Mrs Dincht opened it for her. 'Thank you, for everything,' Hermione said, giving the woman another hug.

Hermione waited until Mrs Dincht waved to her and closed the door, before turning to take in her surroundings. Mrs Dincht's house was the last one at the end of a long street. She could see the entrance to the little town at the end, and the sign for the car rental shop Mrs Dincht told her about. In front of her was a weapons shop with a bench outside and frowned at the store. Is that legal? she wondered, moving closer to it, and peering in the window at the array of weapons on display. A sword, a whip, some gloves, and a nunchaku. Maybe a shop for collectors of these types of weapons, Hermione thought, hoping that was the case though something told her it wasn't and that this shop was openly selling weapons.

Shaking her head, Hermione turned to walk down the road past Mrs Dincht's house to explore the little town before she left. She spotted a man sitting on the bench outside the weapons shop and started towards him. She hoped to ask him for some information about the town and surrounding area.

Hermione was about to reach him when a young woman turned the corner carrying heavy-looking shopping bags. The man got up to help her. 'Here, Gina, let me carry those for you,' he offered, taking the bags from her. Gina smiled at him gratefully and Hermione realised this was the woman who had been speaking to Mrs Dincht earlier. She looked away as they passed her, not wanting to seem like she was staring or eavesdropping. 'Heading to collect the rascal, huh?' he asked cheerfully, and she nodded.

'Thanks, Nathan. Yeah, I left him there so I could get shopping without him destroying the place. I can't take him anywhere anymore,' Gina answered, shaking her head.

'Sound like someone you know?' Nathan asked with a chuckle, receiving a half-hearted glare from Gina.

Gina sighed. 'Zell has always been a bad influence on Liam,' she stated, shifting the heavy bag in her hand to her other one. 'But Mrs Dincht is so good to us that I don't want to say anything,' she added, placing her free hand on her hip.

Nathan nodded, smiling at her. 'You know Zell doesn't mean any harm,' he told her, placing the bags on the ground next to Mrs Dincht's front door.

'Yes, I know,' Gina replied, opening the door, and letting herself in. 'Thanks for your help, Nathan!' she called back to him, closing the door.

Hermione watched Nathan sigh as he moved back towards the bench. He took a seat, leaning back before looking at her curiously upon realising she was watching him. Hermione walked over to him. 'Excuse me, sorry to bother you. I'm a bit lost and don't know my way around,' she said politely, wringing her hands. 'I woke up here this morning, and I don't know anything about this place. Can you help? I just want some information,' she asked, hoping she wasn't bombarding him too much already.

Nathan frowned for a moment, before snapping his fingers. 'Ah the girl who appeared on the docks three days ago!' he exclaimed excitedly, looking at her with renewed interest.

Hermione sighed inwardly, is there anyone who doesn't know about it? she wondered, pushing those thoughts to the back of her head as she suddenly felt like some sort of exhibit on display. 'Yes, that's me,' she answered softly.

Nathan nodded. 'Ah, well I imagine everything is confusing for you. I'll tell you all I know and point you to some landmarks to help you get your bearings,' he promised with a smile.

Reassured, Hermione smiled at him. 'Thank you, I appreciate it,' she answered, grateful that everyone in this town seemed to be so friendly and approachable.

Nathan waved off her thanks and smiled. 'So, you've arrived in a little town called Balamb. It's a fishing village, very close-knit community, but we do get a lot of tourists because of the Garden further up the road. It's the only real attraction we have on this island,' he told her with a shrug, pointing towards the exit she saw earlier when she left Mrs Dincht's house.

Island? Wait… this is just an island? What on earth? she thought to herself, fighting to keep the interested smile from her face while on the inside she was in turmoil.

Nathan, unaware of her internal monologue and rising despair, continued, 'In town, we have a hotel, a train station, the docks, and a couple of shops. There's a car rental shop down the road near the entrance. They also run a regular taxi gig for people wanting to visit the Garden,' he explained, pointing in several directions, and indicating at the buildings he was referring to.

'Thank you,' Hermione answered, her voice trembling a little as she looked around. 'It's a beautiful village,' she added with a smile. 'I'll explore a little and then head up to see the Garden,' she told him, and he nodded, waving at her as she walked in the direction of the hotel.

Hermione stopped next to the hotel, looking up at the tall building in awe. It was circular in shape, and made up of blue and grey stones, making it look almost like a tower. It was the largest building in the town, except maybe the train station. She made a mental reminder that it was here in case she got stuck and couldn't go to Mrs Dincht.

Hermione continued down the path behind the hotel, taking the stairs to the docks. She took a seat on a bench and looked out at the vast ocean, letting her mind drift back to the questions plaguing her mind. She desperately wanted to find a map of the world so she could see where she was. She needed to see the world and what was on it. A horrible suspicion that she was no longer in her world caused a shiver to creep down her spine. The thought terrified her. Although the people living their lives here seemed similar to what she was used to, she had never heard of Balamb, and Hermione always thought her geography of the world wasn't too bad. She imagined if the Garden was such a huge part of the world and a tourist attraction, she would have come across it at some point in her thirst for knowledge.

She shook her head, tuning into the sounds of birds flying above her. One of them flew down, landing close to the bench she was on, and she realised it was a seagull. This reassured her a bit more that wherever she was still had similar things to what she knew. At that moment, a girl walked past her, struggling to hold the lead of her dog which dragged her towards the edge of the dock. A smile found its way onto her lips; it was just like any other little town in the middle of nowhere at least.

Hermione sighed, relaxing into the bench a bit more, and she looked around the dock. Not many people were around, but she did notice a couple of women sitting on the bench to the left of her. She was getting too used to eavesdropping on conversations and she felt awful, but she heard Zell's name, and she was curious about the man who found her.

'Hey, have you heard? Mrs Dincht's son is going to take the SeeD exam,' the woman standing next to the bench stated.

'Really…?' the other asked in disbelief as she sat down on the bench. 'I wonder if that rowdy boy can handle it. Does Mrs Dincht know about this?' she asked her friend.

The other woman nodded. 'The chances Zell will pass the exam is probably around fifty percent. At least that's what my son said,' she answered smugly, crossing her arms. Hermione frowned, not liking this woman's attitude at all.

The sitting woman nodded thoughtfully. 'The exam doesn't just test physical abilities, right?' she asked, looking up at her friend who was still opting to stand rather than sit.

'Right. It also emphasises teamwork. On top of that, composure, focus, proper decision making and much more.'

'Oh, my... I doubt he can handle it.'

'I don't think Mrs Dincht will say anything to him, even if she knew. I guess all we can do is wish him luck,' she said, finally taking a seat next to her friend on the bench.

Hermione listened for a moment longer, shaking her head and tuning out when their topic of gossip changed to the other townsfolk. She was curious about Zell and the Garden. If nothing else, she wanted to thank him for taking her to his mother. She also couldn't deny she wanted to see this Garden. The women's voices drifted to her again as they laughed, and Hermione was reminded of Parvati, Padma, and Lavender who were always gossiping about something or another going on in Hogwarts. As much as she wasn't keen on the three girls, the reminder of them was painful and her desperation to get home rekindled.

She stood from the bench, heading back towards Mrs Dincht's house. A senior man stepped out of the house next door, and she recalled that this must be Jim, the man who possibly had a map of the world. Hermione made her way over to him. 'Excuse me, I'm sorry to bother you. Mrs Dincht said you might be able to help me,' she said, smiling at the elderly man.

The old man chuckled. 'Did she now? Well, what can I help you with, young lady?' he asked curiously, pushing his glasses back up from where they had slipped down his nose a bit.

'She said you might have a world map I could look at,' Hermione said, wringing her hands. 'This is my first time in Balamb, and I'm a little lost,' she explained, hoping he could help her. 'I'm visiting, but I want to see if there are any other notable places I'd like to go to,' she added, making herself sound like a tourist.

The old man smiled. 'Ah, of course, please come in!' he said enthusiastically, ushering her into his house. It was much the same as Mrs Dincht's house, small but quaint. 'Please call me Jim. Would you like a cup of tea?' he asked her, and Hermione was struck again by how friendly and helpful everyone in this town was.

Hermione shook her head. 'No, thank you,' she answered, smiling at him. 'I was on the way to get a taxi to visit the Garden. I've never seen it before,' she told him, and he nodded.

'Ah, yes, you can't come to Balamb and not visit the Garden,' Jim said, moving further into the living room. 'Its doors are open to everyone, and it's a big tourist attraction. Of course, the main building is off limits to non-faculty and students, but the grounds and surrounding areas are beautiful,' he explained, gesturing to a map on his wall. 'Here is the map of Gaia,' he said before pointing to an island on the map. 'This is where we are: Balamb Island. Take as long as you need,' he said with a smile, leaving her to look over the map.

Hermione's stomach dropped, her heart lodging in her throat as she struggled to comprehend what she was seeing. She had been right, though she had hoped with every fibre of her being that she wasn't for once in her life. She was no longer in her world and even though it had been a possibility she had wondered about, it still terrified her more than she thought was conceivable. She took a step back from the map, sitting on the couch as she tried to stop the nausea threatening to escape.

Tears welled in her eyes, and she couldn't stop them from falling. She swallowed a lump in her throat as she rested her head in her crossed arms. She wished Harry and Ron were there with her so she wouldn't be going through this alone. Would she ever get home? Or was she stuck here in a world she knew nothing about? She raised her head, wiping the remnants of her tears away. Hermione looked back at the map, resignation settling in her as she processed this information. Jim had called this world "Gaia", but with all the magic available in her world, she had never heard of it or any other worlds for that matter.

I am sorry, a voice whispered in her head, making Hermione jump in alarm. After a moment she recognised it as Griever. Looking around, she realised he wasn't physically in the room with her. You are in this world… my world… because I took you here while you slept, he clarified, confirming Hermione's hypothesis that he was the reason she was here. I need your help, Hermione… he added, and she could almost see those blue eyes looking at her pleadingly.

Hermione took a deep breath, unable to keep the anger rising in her. The creature had taken her against her will without so much as a snippet of information for her to follow. How? What can I do? I am alone here in a world I know nothing about! she shouted in her mind, hoping he would hear her.

There was silence and Hermione wondered if the communication only allowed him to talk to her. You are not alone. I am here with you, Griever replied, dispelling her thoughts about this being a one-sided way of communicating with him. However, this didn't make her feel any better about her predicament. You will soon become very familiar with my world, Hermione, he promised, and she nodded slowly.

Hermione sighed, crossing her arms, what do you need me to do? she asked, her internal voice shaking. A wave of calm washed over her; the feeling was the same as the magic traces which she experienced when this all began. So, it was your magic… she whispered, closing her eyes.

Yes, Griever answered, and Hermione felt it tighten around her slightly, almost like a hug. Make your way to Balamb Garden and request to speak to the Headmaster. He will help you, he told her softly, the magic he sent to her eased its hold and Hermione felt the loss of its comfort immediately.

After a moment she nodded subconsciously; she had been planning to go there anyway. I'll head there then, she answered calmly, but inside she was screaming. She steeled her nerves, looking down at her shaking hands before gazing back at the map on the wall. She had no other choice, but to do as Griever asked.

oOoOo

Hermione spent the taxi journey to Balamb Garden staring at the money Mrs Dincht gave her in fascination and confusion. When they pulled up to a path near the gates leading into the Garden, she handed him the money and he gave her some of it back advising it wasn't that much. Slightly embarrassed she thanked him and got out of the car. She watched the taxi turn, waving at him as he passed on his way back to Balamb Town.

From her vantage point, she couldn't see the main building properly, so she walked towards the gate, noticing two people standing at the steps leading up to it talking. One of them was a blonde-haired woman and she seemed to be lecturing the young man with her, but he had his arms crossed and a bored expression on his face. Hermione made her way over to them, stopping a few metres away and they both turned to look at her which her made her feel a little self-conscious.

After a moment, the young man turned away. 'I'm out of here,' he muttered, taking the steps, and pushing the gate open.

The blonde woman spun towards him. 'Don't forget to change into your uniform!' she called after him, and he waved half-heartedly to acknowledge he'd heard her. The woman huffed, shaking her head, before turning towards Hermione. 'Hi there,' she greeted, moving to stand next to her. 'Can I help you at all? You look a little lost,' she asked with a smile.

Hermione smiled back. 'I'm just visiting, but I need to speak to the Headmaster,' she answered, hoping this woman would be able to help with that even though she looked like she was the same age as Hermione.

She nodded. 'I can certainly check if he's available to see you,' she answered, and Hermione was relieved that this woman seemed to be someone with the authority to help her. The woman turned towards the gate. 'Please, follow me, um…?' she trailed off, blinking at Hermione.

'Oh, I'm Hermione Granger,' she greeted, inclining her head.

The woman smiled. 'Quistis Trepe. I'm an Instructor here in Balamb Garden,' she answered, shaking Hermione's hand.

Hermione followed her to the majestic gates leading into the grounds of the Garden, gargoyles guarding either side of it, and her breath caught in her throat. There on the gate was the same emblem that was on the wall leading to the chamber where Griever resided. Taking a deep breath and schooling her features she smiled as Quistis held the gate open for her.

They turned the corner and there ahead of them was the main building making up Balamb Garden. Hermione stared at it in awe. It was an immense, futuristic-looking cone-shaped building, with a chrome and blue finish. A large glowing halo hovered stationary above it in a series of stacked rings. Ahead of her was a landscaped area leading to a security checkpoint at the inner gate. Hermione guessed that tourists were not allowed past that point unless they had business inside the Garden.

'Wow,' Hermione whispered, taking in the building and her surroundings.

Quistis waited patiently just ahead of her, smiling at her reaction. 'Beautiful, right?' she asked, and Hermione nodded absently, her focus still on taking everything in. 'I came to Garden when I was ten, and this sight never gets old,' she told her, turning to look up at the building she had called home for several years now.

This caught Hermione's attention and she looked at Quistis. 'How long have you been an Instructor here?' she asked, thinking it was safer to ask that instead of her age.

Quistis smiled as they continued walking towards the main building. 'Only a year. I passed my SeeD exam when I was fifteen and got my Instructor licence after I turned seventeen,' she said reflectively, her eyes glazing over as she remembered it fondly.

Hermione nodded, stunned to find that she was the same age as Quistis, and the girl was an Instructor. 'Wow, that's amazing. Is it easy to become an Instructor at such a young age?' she asked, following her towards the reception. On the wall, Hermione noticed a sign which said, "Please make sure to have your ID ready for inspection" and her eyes widened. She pulled out her Muggle ID from her beaded bag, wondering if it would be looked at closely enough to be suspicious. The places and information on it might make them think it's a fake.

She tuned back into Quistis who was walking just ahead of her. 'It took a lot of hard work and studying to get to where I am,' she explained with a smile, while Hermione unstuck her wand from her sleeve. She quickly hid it as Quistis glanced back at her. She wasn't entirely sure how people would react to magic in this world so for the moment she didn't want to risk an incident before she'd even stepped foot in the Garden. 'Few people put in the amount of work I did. I'm the youngest student to ever become an Instructor,' she explained, smiling at her. 'But it paid off, and here I am!' she added with a chuckle, making Hermione smile.

Quistis turned away from her, heading over to the Reception desk and Hermione took that opportunity to cast a glamour on her ID making it look like the one in the picture on the wall and giving it random information on a place called Winhill which she saw in the magazine "Timber Maniacs" she had looked at. All she had managed to glean from it was that it was a small village in the middle of nowhere but from what she could tell about the picture on the wall it only actually said the name of the place they are from, their name, their date of birth, and their picture. She hoped it would pass for an ID card from here and that calendar dates were the same as they were in her world.

Quistis grabbed a book from the Reception. 'You'll need to sign in because you're a visitor and I'll need to see your ID,' she said, handing Hermione a pen. 'Just write your name there…' she pointed to a space on the page, '…and your reason for visiting here…' she said, pointing to another pace next to the previous one.

Hermione took a deep breath, handing Quistis her ID before doing as she was asked. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Quistis scanning her ID card interestedly, but she didn't seem suspicious at least. She finished signing the book and handed the pen back to Quistis who returned her ID card.

'You're from Winhill?' Quistis asked, handing the book back to the stern-looking Receptionist.

Hermione froze for a moment, oh no… I hope she doesn't ask me too much about it, she thought to herself, trying to hide her momentary alarm. 'Yes, but I haven't been back there in years,' she answered, wringing her hands.

Quistis, sensing Hermione didn't want to talk about it, smiled. 'I see. I've heard of it, but never been there myself,' was all she said as she led Hermione through the barriers. Hermione relaxed, glad Quistis wasn't about to bombard her with questions.

As they walked, Hermione looked around the main hall in amazement. It was huge and shaped like a ring around a central lift which led to other floors. Other sections branched off the main ring like the spokes on a wheel.

Hermione followed Quistis over towards a large computer near some benches. She watched Quistis input some information into the computer before turning to her. 'Take a seat here,' she said, indicating to some benches to the side of the computer. 'I'll fetch the Headmaster for you,' she added, and Hermione nodded, taking a seat.

She watched Quistis walk up the steps towards the lift quickly before disappearing inside it and taking it up to the top floor. Hermione took this time to look around the main hall some more, seeing students of all ages wandering about leisurely or standing about in groups chatting. It seemed like such a comfortable place, and everyone gave off the vibe that they were happy to be here. It made her wonder about the rules and regulations of this school. Was it a strict school due to their mercenary background? Or were they more laid back depending on the age of the students?

As Hermione pondered on this, she caught sight of the young man she saw with Quistis at the front gates earlier. He was entering through the barriers, his head down and his hands stuffed in his pockets. He seemed like a complete contrast to the rest of the students hanging around and laughing with their friends.

Suddenly, he looked up, his eyes locking with hers, and Hermione realised she had been downright staring at him. She looked away in embarrassment, feeling her cheeks flush, and clasped her hands together in her lap, staring at the floor. Footsteps stopped beside her, and Hermione glanced at them, before moving her eyes up his frame, finally reaching his eyes. He was eyeing her with a frown, but she could tell he was curious.

Hermione frowned, have I met him before I saw him today? I could swear I've seen him before… she trailed off in her thoughts, thinking this was highly unlikely, but she couldn't shake the feeling.

'You're a transfer student?' he asked quietly, tilting his head.

Hermione shook her head. 'Oh um… no, I'm just visiting,' she stammered, feeling her face redden further. What the heck is wrong with me? she wondered, not knowing why she suddenly felt flustered under this stranger's gaze.

He frowned at her for a moment as he gazed at her, almost like he was searching for something in her eyes. She blinked; the moment gone. 'Huh…' he muttered, backing away from her and walking down the hall, disappearing around the corner.

Hermione frowned, watching him go in confusion as she wondered why he even came to talk to her in the first place. He didn't strike her as the friendliest of people, and he seemed very aloof. He gave off an air of someone who preferred their own company to being around people in general. Everyone else she had met so far had been so welcoming and warm, whereas he was cold and distant. Hermione shook her head, putting him to the back of her mind. She would probably never have to speak to him again anyway and he didn't seem like he was the type to try and befriend her. She hoped she wouldn't be here long enough to make any lasting friendships anyway. People being helpful and pleasant just made things a lot easier for her.

Hermione snapped out of her thoughts as more footsteps approached her, and she looked up to see Quistis had returned with an older man in tow. 'Miss Granger?' the older man asked, holding out his hand to her.

Hermione stood, shaking his hand. 'Yes,' she answered with a small smile, uneasy now she was finally meeting the Headmaster and comprehending she wasn't entirely sure how this discussion was going to go.

The Headmaster smiled amiably. 'My name is Cid Kramer. Welcome to Balamb Garden,' he greeted, bowing his head to her. 'Shall we take this to my office?' he asked, and Hermione nodded. She thanked Quistis as she passed her, following Cid towards the lift.

From the corridor, the young man appeared again, leaning on the computer as he scrutinised them with narrowed eyes. Who is that girl? Why is she here to see the Headmaster? Is she a client? he wondered, crossing his arms.

'Squall!' Quistis scolded, shaking her head when she noticed him. 'You need to change into your uniform! We'll be meeting for the exam soon!' she instructed, pointing to the North of the main hall.

Squall rolled his eyes, pushing off the computer. 'I'm going,' he countered, reaching up to brush his hair away from his face, before stuffing his hands in his pockets. He took one more glance at the lift, the frown returning to his brow before walking towards his dorm room to get changed.