Chapter Three: The Chosen Pessimist
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.
oOoOo
Hermione was still staring at the place Squall had been standing when he looked back at her as she struggled to work out why it even bothered her what he thought about her. She sighed, shaking her head as footsteps alerted her to someone approaching her.
Cid smiled at her, looking down the hall as well. 'Don't worry about them. This is what they've all been training for throughout the years. They're no strangers to dangerous situations,' he reassured her, thinking this was what was worrying her.
Hermione nodded, but her frown was still firmly in place. 'It's just so different to what I'm used to. We're usually forbidden from going anywhere classified as dangerous so it was a surprise to find that's not the case here,' she answered, crossing her arms as the thought of what she should do now flitted to her mind.
Cid nodded. 'I can imagine things here are vastly different, but I do hope you will enjoy your stay,' he said, taking out a key from his pocket and offering it to her. She took it in confusion, before looking back up at him sceptically. 'It's a key to one of the empty rooms reserved for SeeD's in the Dormitory Wing. We don't get many each year as only a select few become SeeD's so there's plenty of rooms which sit empty,' he explained, smiling at her dumbfounded expression.
Hermione smiled, completely taken aback by this unexpectedly kind gesture. 'Thank you, Cid. I don't know how to repay you,' she said sheepishly, peering back down at the key glinting in her hand.
Cid chuckled. 'There's no need. I want to help, and this is as good as any place to begin,' he advised, placing a hand on her shoulder. 'It will be beneficial for you to have a place to stay while you work out how to get home,' he explained and she nodded, unable to dispute his reasoning. 'Feel free to come and go as you please,' he added with a smile, before pointing to the north. 'The Dormitory Wing is along the corridor on the north branch. The room is amongst the student's rooms, but I hope you will try to make some friends while you are here. It will help make your stay easier and more comfortable,' he rationalised, squeezing her shoulder.
Hermione nodded in agreement. Originally, she had no intention of building up friendships with anyone as she had hoped she wouldn't be here long enough for that. That had changed with Griever's admission that everything that transpired from here on out was circumstantial and depended on her own choices. She appreciated now that making friends would make things a lot simpler. She did want to get to know Quistis and Zell better, and hoped the exam went well for them. Hermione was cheering for Zell to become a SeeD and thought it would be amusing for Seifer to fail again.
Cid let go of Hermione's shoulder. 'I hope the room is to your liking. If you need anything you can visit me in my office if I'm available. There's a buzzer on the lift and my secretary will let you know if you can come up. If not, leave a message with her, and I'll come see you when I can,' Cid advised her, and Hermione felt relieved at this. She couldn't believe how wonderful this man was.
'This means a lot to me, thank you,' Hermione whispered, giving Cid a hug, which stunned the older man, but he smiled and patted her back gently.
Hermione pulled away from him, smiling before turning towards the Dormitory Wing. Cid's voice stopped her after she took a few steps. 'I hope you will join us to celebrate the new SeeD's entering the elite ranks,' he said, and she looked back at him. 'There will be an inauguration ball held in their honour once they are appointed,' he explained, clasping his hands behind his back.
Hermione hesitated, gripping the strap of her beaded bag. 'Is it a formal event?' she asked nervously, comprehending that the only clothes she had on her were for practical purposes rather than a formal event like a ball.
Cid looked back at her in amusement. 'Ah indeed, so you will need to dress appropriately,' he replied, taking in her attire.
Hermione laughed nervously, running a hand through her hair. She grimaced at the feel of her hair, and realised she was in desperate need of a shower. 'I don't have any formal clothing,' she replied sheepishly, averting her eyes to the floor in mortification.
Cid chuckled, making Hermione look up at him in uncertainty. 'Don't you worry about that,' he told her cryptically before walking away to the central lift. Hermione stood in the corridor for a moment, wondering why she shouldn't be worrying about it. After a moment she shook her head and continued on her way down the corridor.
Hermione took her time walking down the corridor so she could take in the signs on the wall at each branch. She reached the branch leading to the Infirmary, seeing there were medics on standby. She guessed they were waiting for the students on their SeeD exam to return so they could take any injured in straight away to be treated. The thought of those students being hurt or even killed made Hermione shudder. She could understand what Cid said, they had trained their whole lives for this. Some of them from a very young age and they knew what they were doing, but even still… to let people so young go on dangerous excursions like that was beyond her.
She put the Infirmary to the back of her mind, hoping those medics wouldn't be necessary for anything serious, and continued down the corridor. The next branch went to an area called the "Quad" and Hermione wondered what could be down there. From the name she assumed it was some form of courtyard or leisure area for the students. She decided she would check it out later.
Hermione walked to the next branch which was the "Cafeteria". Her stomach rumbled as she stared down the corridor, realising she hadn't eaten since Mrs Dincht gave her soup that morning. It felt like days ago rather than earlier the same day. She remembered that Mrs Dincht had given her some food to take with her, and decided she would have it when she got to her room and then shower before exploring the Garden further. She yawned as she walked towards the next branch and wondered if a nap wouldn't go amiss as well.
The next branch led to the Dormitory, so she turned down it and made her way through the corridor. There were hundreds of rooms on either side of the corridor, and she looked down at the number on the key Cid gave her: "96". She continued until she saw the room and opened the door. A warm breeze washed over her, and she closed her eyes at the feeling. She relaxed, already feeling her worries and stress of everything disappearing.
The room was small, but it would suit her needs perfectly. There was a double bed in the corner next to the window, an oak armoire with a desk chair, and a wardrobe. A door off to the left of the main door led to a spacious bathroom with a wet room type shower. Hermione was glad this school didn't have communal amenities.
Hermione decided that a shower would be the first thing she needed to do. She stripped off, leaving her clothes in a pile on the floor and turned the shower on. She went back out to her beaded bag, collecting her toiletry bag and went back into the bathroom, shutting the door. She took out her shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel before stepping under the hot flow of water.
The water plastered her hair to her head, and she instantly felt better. She washed her hair and cleaned herself, feeling her muscles relax. She dreaded to think what she looked like beforehand and had refused to look in a mirror. At that thought she realised if she had looked like a train wreck then everyone who saw her today would have seen that. She lay her head against the cold tiles with a groan. What an introduction from the mysterious girl who appeared out of nowhere. Hermione turned the shower off and wrapped the large fluffy towel around her. She went back into her room, moving to her beaded bag to grab some clothes from there.
They were travelling clothes which she had always kept on her on the off-chance things with Voldemort escalated and they needed to run. However, Harry had managed to kill him at the beginning of their sixth year after tracking him from a nightmare he had. The elite Order members had helped by protecting him, while the rest had gone off to locations provided by Dumbledore to destroy the remaining Horcruxes. She smiled fondly as she remembered the festivities after he was gone. They went on for longer than the ones that happened the first time he perished. On that day Harry's name was whispered around the Wizarding World much as it was when he was a baby. He was still one of the most famous wizards to ever walk the planet, but after a year everything had subsided, and he was mostly left alone to live his life finally as any other ordinary teen.
She sat down on the bed with a sigh, jumping back up when she realised she had sat on something. She looked down to see three neatly wrapped packages there. She frowned, biting her lip as she glanced at her door. She didn't recall seeing them when she was examining her room earlier. They were pretty conspicuous, wrapped in green plastic against the white of her bedsheets. Did someone come in while I was in the shower? she wondered, the thought making a chill creep up her spine. Hermione shook her head, deciding she probably just didn't notice them in favour of needing to shower.
Cautiously, Hermione picked up her wand and walked over to the packages. She tapped each one, finding nothing in them that could be a trap. She pulled the first one towards her, unwrapping it to find clothes inside. Cid's words about not worrying about clothing came back to her and she smiled when she realised he must have sorted these out for her. She could have transfigured her travelling clothes into what she needed after a moment of thought, but having an assortment of clothes ready to hand was nice. She frowned again as she wondered if they would fit her as no one had asked for her size. She shrugged, knowing she could just adjust them to fit with magic if needed. She moved the packages onto the chair and armoire, opting to have a nap before she looked at them properly.
Hermione lay down on the bed, still wrapped in the fluffy towel. She knew her hair would be a riot when she woke up, but she would think about that later. For the moment, in the silence of the room, she finally let the tears which had been threatening her all day to fall. She had been fighting them off since Griever told her he would try to take her home, but the way he said it made her doubt if it was even likely. What choices would she had to make to allow her to leave? She wished Harry and Ron were with her more than anything in that moment. At least then she wouldn't feel so alone here…
oOoOo
Torch lights flickered, casting eerie shadows across the stone walls in the third-floor corridor where Hermione's plight had begun. Harry and Ron had attempted every spell conceivable to make the archway to the chamber they found appear again, but so far nothing had worked. Harry tried the Revealing Charm like Hermione had that night, but the wall had shown nothing there. They came back at certain times, but it was like it never even existed.
Draco Malfoy was leaning against a wall, twirling his wand in frustration as he eyed the wall angrily. He had been helping them, but neither of them knew why. They hadn't stopped him, instead establishing an uneasy truce as they tried to discover what happened to Hermione. They guessed he was just as baffled about the entire ordeal as they were.
Draco growled, pushing off the wall. 'There must be a way to get back in there!' he snapped, aiming his wand at the wall. 'Reducto!' They raised their arms against the dust and debris which blew in before surveying the subsequent damage. The wall had collapsed, leaving a gaping hole to the outside of the castle. Owls flew past, and Draco inched towards the hole, gazing out in horror and confusion. 'What the fuck?' he whispered, shaking his head. He pointed his wand at the hole. 'Reparo,' he muttered, and the bricks leapt back into place as if he hadn't just blasted a hole in it. He would get into serious trouble if he'd left it like it was.
Draco walked over to them, his shoulders slumping. 'I tried,' he muttered, receiving nods from the two Gryffindors.
Ron scanned the restored wall with a frown. 'Do you think it might be time for us to speak to Dumbledore? He might be able to shed some light on the chamber or something?' he suggested, crossing his arms. He was astounded that nothing had been said already as it had been almost a week since Hermione disappeared and they had thought her absence from classes would have given away that something was amiss. Then again, they had kept this from everyone as well, telling Luna, Ginny, and Neville she wasn't well. Of course, Draco's part in this had also been kept a secret. They didn't know how they could explain that away easily. Their truce existed during the night when no one else was about.
Harry sighed, nodding absently. 'At this point I think that's for the best. If Hermione is trapped inside that chamber, we're just wasting time trying to get to her,' he answered, pulling the Marauder's Map out again. 'Dumbledore must know every secret in this castle,' he added, searching the map for Hermione's name but it wasn't there. No matter how many times he analysed it, her name was absent. It was like she wasn't even in Hogwarts anymore.
Harry folded the map back up, stuffing it into his pocket. He regarded the wall again with a frown, fearing for his best friend.
oOoOo
Hermione awoke from her nap feeling more refreshed than she had earlier, but her mood was still low. She yawned, wiping the sleep from her eyes as she glanced around the room. Part of her had hoped she would wake up in her bed in Hogwarts and that this had all been a bizarre dream, but that optimism was dashed. She sighed, getting out of the bed, and hanging her towel up in the bathroom.
She came back into her room, grabbing underwear and a matching bra from her beaded bag. She put them on before moving over to the packages to have a better look at the clothes. She chose a pretty white summer dress and slipped it on, noticing it fit almost perfectly but was a little tight around the bust. She aimed her wand at it, adjusting it a little to fit her better. She peered in the mirror, eyeing her wild hair disapprovingly. One thing she was glad she picked up from the gossip girls at Hogwarts was their extensive expertise on beauty spells. She aimed her wand at her hair, and it became neat curls, half pulled up at the back of her head with a white ribbon.
Nodding at her reflection, she looked down at the floor, spotting a few pairs of shoes that had been left next to the wardrobe and she slipped into a pair of white flat shoes which matched the dress. As she took one more glance at herself in the mirror, she realised that there was no way Cid would have had a choice in these clothes. They were definitely picked out by someone with incredible fashion sense and no slight to Cid, but he was older and seemed far more old fashioned. If she ever found out who picked them out for her, she would need to thank them. It wasn't the style of clothes she would have worn in Hogwarts, but she wasn't in her world anymore and decided to let herself out of her comfort zone a bit.
A small smile flitted onto her face as she picked up her beaded bag, wand, and the key to her room and left, locking it behind her. She put them in her bag before walking down the corridor towards the main hall. She didn't know what time it was, but she wondered if the students had returned from their exam yet.
As Hermione got to the central ring, she decided to walk down the opposite side so she could check out the sections there on the way back to the large computer. She came to the branch leading to the Parking Lot first, recalling that this was where the students took the Garden vehicles for essential missions. She couldn't imagine there being much down there that would interest her except for some cars in the car park, so she moved onto the next branch.
"The Training Centre" the sign said in large green writing, and she peered down the hallway which seemed less looked after than the rest of the Garden. The walls were fractured, the paintwork faded and patchy as if it hadn't been touched up in years. The door further in was swathed in moss with vines growing along the outside of it. She frowned, wondering if the reason they didn't do anything with it was because it was constantly getting messed up by the students during training. She shook her head, deciding to check out that area later as she was curious as to how the students trained in the Garden.
Hermione continued, pausing when she came to the branch leading to the Library. A rush of excitement flowed through her as she realised she could learn so much about this world from reading about it. She made to beeline for the double doors, but shouts and movement from the entrance made her pause. She walked towards the giant computer as medics hurried past her, and her heart fell when they returned carrying several students into the Garden on stretchers.
She looked around, trying to see where Quistis and Zell were. She finally saw Quistis kneeling over a girl with short, bobbed hair. She was lying on a stretcher awaiting medical attention. Quistis was talking to her soothingly while holding the girl's bloody hand.
Hermione made her way over to them, passing by several stretchers holding students being tended to by medical staff. 'What happened, Quistis?' she asked as she reached them, taking in the girl who was pretty beaten up and Quistis who was favouring her left arm.
Quistis looked at her as she kneeled on the other side of the girl on the stretcher. 'We were attacked by a robot. It destroyed Dollet,' she answered, shaking her head, and wincing at the pain in her arm.
Hermione frowned, looking back at the young girl on the stretcher who was unconscious. She wished she could do something to help ease her pain at least or close her smaller wounds, but if she used magic now, she wasn't sure how everyone would respond. As Cid told her, their reactions may not be of acceptance and gratitude, but she could possibly be forced to defend herself. Though she didn't think Cid would let it come to that, she didn't want to put him in a difficult position. She wanted to help though, so she picked up a clean rag, dipping it into some water and gently started to clean the girl's wounds.
Quistis watched her in amazement that she would be willing to assist complete strangers like this without any prompting and she felt renewed appreciation for the girl she had met earlier that day. She had liked Hermione immediately, sensing a kindred spirit in the girl and had hoped to get to know her better while she was staying in Balamb Garden.
Hermione glanced up as Zell appeared, holding onto Squall who was limping pretty badly. He helped him sit on the bench closest to Hermione before looking down at them. 'Well, that was a riot,' he muttered, shaking his head. He looked like he'd come out pretty much unscathed. He knelt next to the stretcher as Hermione resumed cleaning the girl's wounds. 'How's Selphie holding up? She was hit hard,' he asked, looking at Quistis.
Hermione glanced up to answer, but noticed Squall was observing her with a frown. She gathered it must look strange for her to be helping students she didn't know after only arriving here that day. To them she must seem like a VIP visiting the Garden, yet here she was cleaning a student's wounds. She shook her head, not caring what they thought. She wanted to help and wasn't going to stand around if there was something she could do.
Quistis shook her head, peering down at Selphie and placing a hand on her forehead gently. 'She was lucky,' she whispered, recalling the hit the girl had taken from the robot. It had thrown her clean into the wall of a nearby building, knocking her unconscious instantly. Squall had attempted to get to her, but he was knocked off the harbour wall onto the sand, landing awkwardly on his leg. Nida had run back to help Selphie, while Zell had run to support Squall. It could have been a massacre.
Hermione looked up then. 'None of her wounds are very deep, but she has lost a lot of blood. I think with some time to rest and recover she'll be fine,' she said, placing the bloodied rag into a pile and cleaning her hands in the water.
Quistis nodded, smiling at Hermione as she moved over to her. Receiving a nod from the Instructor, Hermione pulled Quistis's hand away and examined the wound on her arm. She cringed, it looked painful. She grabbed a clean rag, wetting it and began cleaning around it as gently as she could. Quistis winced but glanced at Hermione appreciatively.
Cid arrived at the large computer then, taking in the carnage before him anxiously. There was an oddly clad individual in tow wearing an oval, yellow hat covering their face. Their long, burgundy cloak fell to the floor, and the high collar stopped just below their dark eyes. Cid ran a hand through his hair. 'So many casualties,' he said, glancing over at Hermione with a frown as he noticed she was cleaning Quistis's wound. Not commenting, he turned to the cloaked figure. 'Do we know what happened?' he asked, crossing his arms.
'A report has been requested from the Dollet Dukedom, but it could be a few days before we have any clarity on how this happened,' the cloaked figure answered, ticking something off on a clipboard before shuffling away to the central lift.
Two women came to stand by Cid, glancing at the students. One of them was dressed like Quistis which Hermione assumed was the official SeeD uniform, while the other looked like a doctor. 'What happened, Xu?' Cid asked, looking at the woman in the SeeD uniform.
Xu sighed, placing a hand on her hip. 'It started out well enough, and we managed to eliminate the Galbadian Army in the main town,' she explained, shaking her head. 'Then some of the students went to the Communication Tower, and they retaliated with a robot,' she revealed, crossing her arms. 'It attacked them and destroyed the town,' she finished, glancing over at Quistis who was talking to Zell and another girl she didn't recognise.
Cid frowned. 'Which students?' he asked, turning to look at her.
Xu shook her head. 'Squad B, sir,' she answered, scowling at Seifer who was lounging against a rail with a thoughtful expression on his face. 'I believe they were just following the Squad Leader's orders though,' she added, knowing it wasn't Squall or Zell's fault that this happened.
Cid turned back to the students. 'Well, at least there were no fatalities,' he replied, moving over to Quistis. He turned towards the assembled students, some of whom had been treated and were standing waiting for instructions on what to do. 'The final results of the exam will be postponed until we have more information about what occurred in Dollet, and due to the circumstances,' he announced, receiving a chorus of groans from some of the students. He held up a hand to silence them. 'Once we have clarification, you will be asked to attend the conference. Until then, I want you all to rest. Classes will be dismissed for those affected by this,' he told them, turning to walk away with Xu in tow.
Hermione peered around at the students, some of them looked relieved at having a break after their ordeal, but there were others who seemed more than a little disappointed at the news. She shook her head, able to relate to that. She recalled how she felt when Dumbledore had declared to the student body at Hogwarts that exams were cancelled. She had been devastated because of all the work she put in, while around her everyone had been cheering. A small smile flitted onto her face at the memory.
Hermione felt eyes on her, and she looked up to find Squall gazing at her. His left foot and leg up to his knee was bandaged, and she wondered what happened to him. He seemed like he could handle himself easily and didn't expect him to get hurt. Squall got up and limped past her, his eyes never leaving hers until he disappeared down the corridor. Hermione sighed, shaking her head irritably. She had let him get to her again without even realising until his eyes were no longer on her.
The doctor who had been with Cid earlier came over to them, kneeling next to Selphie. 'Oh dear,' she said, examining her. After a moment she got the attention of some medics. 'Take her to the Infirmary,' she ordered them, and they nodded, carrying Selphie away. The doctor sighed, looking around at the other students before she caught sight of the wound on Quistis's arm. 'Quistis, are you alright?' she asked, taking hold of the girls arm to examine it closer.
Quistis nodded, wincing at the pain. 'Yes, Dr Kadowaki, I'm more concerned about the other students,' she answered, tears welling in her eyes. She received a mock disapproving look from the Doctor. 'Sorry Karen,' she corrected with a weak chuckle as Dr Kadowaki cleaned her wound with some ointment before bandaging it.
Dr Kadowaki shook her head. 'Don't you worry about them. They'll be fine in a few days. In time for the results of the exam, no doubt,' she answered, placing a reassuring hand on the Instructor's shoulder. 'There we go, you'll be fine,' she added, receiving a watery smile from the girl.
oOoOo
It had been a few days since the students had returned from their exam. Hermione had spent most of her time reading in the Library, trying to absorb as much information as she could about this world. That was where she was currently, scanning through a book about the history of Gaia in the reading room. She was fascinated by the information she had read already. The diversity of this world compared to her own was quite remarkable.
Under normal circumstances, Hermione would be able drown anything out around her when she was reading so she was mildly stunned when Squall's voice snapped her focus away from the book. She glanced up, noticing him standing with a couple of other students. They were talking quietly, but Hermione made out a few words such as Dollet and her curiosity got the better of her. She stood up, moving to the bookshelf in-between them and her so she could listen while she feigned looking for another book. The bookshelves had no middle division so she could peer right through to see them. Squall was facing in her direction, so she moved slightly so he wouldn't catch sight of her.
'Did you guys hear?' one of the students asked, lowering his voice as if he was telling a huge secret. 'Galbadia's target was the Communication Tower,' he told them, crossing his arms.
His friend shook his head. 'But radio signals are useless, even if they get the tower to work,' he answered in confusion.
Squall frowned. 'Yeah, the worldwide signal interference would stop any form of radio signals,' Squall added, crossing his arms. 'So, their reason for being there doesn't make any sense,' he said with a shrug.
Just then the comms unit let out a jingle, and a voice was heard throughout the Garden. 'The students who took part in the SeeD exam, please report to the main hall,' she said, and Hermione watched the two students and Squall leave the Library.
Curious, Hermione followed even though she knew it technically had nothing to do with her, but she wanted to find out more about what happened. She made her way to the main hall, walking over to stand with Cid and Xu who were talking.
Cid turned to her. 'Ah, Hermione, how are you settling in?' he asked, smiling at her.
Hermione smiled. 'Fine, thank you,' she answered, bowing her head to him.
'This is Xu,' Cid introduced, gesturing to his companion.
Xu smiled at her. 'Welcome to Balamb Garden. The Headmaster mentioned you would be staying with us for a while,' she greeted, shaking her head.
Hermione smiled at her, before peering up at Cid. 'I don't mean to pry, but what happened with the exam?' she asked them curiously, looking at the students beginning to gather. Most of them looked no worse for their ordeal and she was grateful that none of them seemed to suffer any major injuries. She was worried about Selphie though; the girl's wounds had been extensive, and she hadn't seen her arrive yet.
Cid chuckled. 'You're not prying. I'm sure you are quite curious as to how things work here,' he answered, his eyes twinkling, and Hermione was reminded of Dumbledore for a moment.
She forced a smile onto her face, trying not to let thoughts of home get her down when she was around other people. It was difficult though and her throat tightened, and she blinked back tears. She took a deep breath to calm herself, tuning back into Cid and Xu.
Xu sighed. 'We had no idea the Galbadian Army was after the abandoned Communication Tower,' she said, frowning as she crossed her arms. 'They didn't even try to make any deals with the Dollet Dukedom, and just attacked them instead,' she said, shaking her head at their audacity.
Cid nodded absently. 'We have received the report back from the Dollet Dukedom regarding the situation now. Things have calmed down, and the Galbadian Army has agreed to withdraw providing the Communication Tower is repaired, and the uplink remains operational,' he clarified, looking down at a clipboard in his hand which Hermione assumed had the report clamped to it.
Hermione frowned. 'What is this Communication Tower exactly? Why do they want it to remain working?' she asked, thinking back to what the two students and Squall said in the Library.
Cid sighed, pushing his glasses up on his nose. 'It was used for transmitting radio signals, but it hasn't been operational in years. We can only speculate on what they want it for,' he answered, shaking his head. 'In any case, Galbadia has left the town, and won't return as long as it's in working order,' he added, scratching the back of his head.
Xu scoffed. 'Shame really, we could have made more money if they refused to leave,' she said with a chuckle, earning a glare from Cid. She ignored him, her attention diverted to someone behind Hermione. Hermione turned to find Quistis and Squall who were talking quietly. 'Hey, you did well!' Xu called to Squall, beaming at him.
The two walked over to join them as Quistis chuckled. 'Of course, he did! He's my best student! He's just not very social,' she replied, shrugging as she looked at Squall. Hermione thought Squall barely heard anything Quistis said as he absently stared at the floor. Quistis sighed, grasping this as well. 'The results of the exam will be getting announced shortly. Feel free to stick with us,' she told him.
Squall nodded, but he wandered off to stand by the railing and crossed his arms, looking down the corridor towards the Dormitory Wing and Hermione thought he looked as though he just wanted to escape this entire situation.
Quistis shook her head, looking at Hermione with a smile. 'Told you, he's not social at all,' she whispered, crossing her arms. 'It's a shame really, because he's a great student and a nice guy as well,' she added, frowning over at the quiet Squall. 'Well, sometimes anyway,' she said thoughtfully with a shrug.
Cid nodded in agreement. 'You should speak to him, Hermione. He is a bit of a lone wolf and while he doesn't consider anyone to be his friends, he is very well liked by the students,' he told her, and this information surprised her greatly. 'You might find a kindred spirit in him, if you can get him to open up,' he told her, giving her a meaningful smile which Hermione couldn't figure out.
Hermione frowned, turning slowly to look at Squall with renewed interest. She wasn't shocked in the least to find that he had precious few friends, if any at all, through choice. That much was obvious given his disposition, but she had already seen people willingly talking to him. What she was interested in was why everyone liked him because he didn't exactly give off any winning personality or approachable vibes at all. She had been put off by his detached, cold personality, but others were not at all. Perhaps she misjudged him. She sighed, thinking it wouldn't harm her to try talking to him. It wouldn't be the end of the world if he were an asshole to her. She just wouldn't talk to him again, simple.
oOoOo
Squall was stunned when he realised the visitor girl was walking towards him. His eyebrows creased into a frown. Why is she coming over here? he wondered, straightening up and tensing, not knowing what to make of this. He had approached her, but he had regretted it immediately after that and had tried avoiding her, but his curiosity had been getting the better of him.
Now she was standing in front of him... how had this happened? And why?
'I'm Hermione,' she said softly, smiling up at him. 'I never had the chance to tell you my name,' she added, her smile faltering.
Squall snapped out of his thoughts. 'Squall,' he greeted, but he didn't smile back at her. Now she was standing right in front of him he was amazed at how petite she was. He was a head taller than her, with her head only coming up to his shoulder. Her eyes were a honey-brown, drawing his own to them which irked him. They were beautiful which he couldn't deny. They seemed all the brighter in contrast to her dark, curly brown hair which was so long it almost reached her waist.
Squall shook his thoughts away, unsure why he was even thinking about what she looked like. It wasn't like he cared or if it was significant in any way. The real question he wanted to know was why she had approached him unexpectedly.
Hermione glanced away from him for a moment, before peering back up at him. 'So, how was the exam?' she asked, crossing her arms. 'You looked like you were hurt,' she added, glancing down at his leg which was now free of bandages. He had gone to see Dr Kadowaki that morning and she removed them.
'I enjoyed it. It was a good feeling,' Squall answered honestly, and Hermione was astonished she got that much out of him. 'As for my leg…' he trailed off, looking down at it with a frown. 'I was thrown off the harbour wall while withdrawing. There was a robot chasing us,' he explained with a shrug as if this was a common occurrence.
Hermione gaped at him for a moment, before realising she was staring. She was just astounded that he had spoken more than a few words to her. 'Well, I'm glad you feel better, Squall,' she whispered, suddenly feeling shy and she looked away.
Squall's breath caught in his throat, and he swallowed harshly. The way she said his name… he had no idea why it made him feel… what exactly? He couldn't identify it, but what he did know was that it unsettled him. He looked away from her, trying to force himself to ignore it.
Hermione, on the other hand, hadn't taken the time to really look at Squall. She glanced up at him, watching the way his dark hair fell into his face, stopping just under his ears. A fresh scar ran from his forehead down the left side of his nose, and Hermione wondered how he got it. She fought the urge to reach out and trace it with her finger. Instead, she traced it with her eyes, before gazing back into his bright, blue ones. He was gorgeous, and she found her mouth becoming dry. She blinked and, for a moment, Hermione saw a flash of Griever's eyes…
The moment gone; Hermione felt a hand take her arm. 'Are you alright?' Squall asked her, looking at her with a frown.
Hermione grasped she had blacked out for a second and looked from Squall to his hand on her arm. He immediately let her go. 'Yes, I'm fine, thank you,' she whispered, backing away from him with a frown. She turned and made her way back over to where Cid, Quistis, and Xu were standing, keeping her back to Squall.
Squall watched Hermione, frowning at her hasty departure. He shook it off as best he could, but the expression on her face had startled him. It was like she was afraid of him…
Cid looked at Hermione when she came back over to them, taking in her pale face. He saw the exchange and wondered if Squall had said something to offend her. 'Hermione?' he called to her with a frown.
Hermione, still reeling from what she saw, looked up at him. 'Huh?' she asked, shaking her head.
Cid glanced over at Squall who was still watching Hermione in bewilderment. 'Did Squall say something to upset you? He can be blunt and direct at times, which has been known to offend others. It's just the way he is,' Cid explained, but Hermione shook her head.
'Oh, no he did nothing wrong,' Hermione said quickly, not wanting Cid to think it was Squall's fault. 'I was just reminded of something, and it threw me a bit,' she explained, and Cid nodded, but she could tell he wasn't entirely convinced.
'I see,' Cid said, shaking his head. 'Well, the students who passed the exam will be getting called up to my office shortly,' he told her, receiving a nod. 'Would you like to join us?' he asked, glancing at the central lift before looking back at her.
Hermione was startled by the invitation. Being of an official nature she wasn't sure she would be permitted to attend. 'Yes, thank you,' she answered, following Cid towards the lift with Xu and Quistis in tow.
Squall, Zell, and the other students followed at a more leisurely pace. They were to wait on the second floor by the classrooms to be summoned to Cid's office if they passed the exam. As they approached the lift, Hermione noticed Seifer leaning against the wall next to it. She was curious when he stopped Squall. 'Did you hear about the Communication Tower in Dollet?' he asked him, and Squall nodded. 'We would've been heroes if it wasn't for that withdraw order,' he added with a shrug, but Hermione could tell he was annoyed at how things played out.
On the outside, Hermione thought he seemed somewhat confident and wondered if he was going to pass the exam. She hoped he wouldn't, primarily because he seemed too arrogant, and she didn't think he was one to be able to follow orders from his superiors.
Quistis frowned at Seifer, shaking her head. 'You were only looking for a fight,' she said, glaring at him.
Seifer sneered at her. 'My dear, Instructor, I'm hurt,' he said, placing a hand on his chest. 'Those are rather cruel words for an aspiring student,' he said, crossing his arms. 'A mediocre Instructor like you will never understand,' he added with a shrug.
Hermione scowled at him; he was so like Malfoy they could be related. It made her deliberate if this were a parallel world to her own, where there were people with striking similarities to what she knew. She shook the thought away, knowing it was stupid. Unfortunately, there were just people out there who were like Malfoy.
Xu stomped her foot indignantly. 'Seifer, don't be so stuck up yourself! You'll take all responsibility for leaving the designated area!' she snapped, placing a comforting hand on Quistis's arm.
Quistis was glaring at the ground and Hermione thought she could see tears welling in her eyes. The insult to her abilities as an Instructor had affected her more than Hermione thought it would. She seemed so sure of herself, and her confidence was admirable, but Hermione had to wonder how strong she was when challenged with opposition.
Seifer shrugged, Xu's comment not seeming to impact him at all. 'Wasn't it my duty, as Squad Leader, to take the best possible action?' he asked, examining his nails as if they were merely commenting on the weather. 'We saw the enemy, so we followed and discovered what they wanted,' he said, glaring at Xu with cold, blue eyes.
Xu laughed bitterly. 'You're never going to be a SeeD with that attitude. Calling yourself a "Leader" is a joke,' she snapped, raising her hand to get Cid's attention. The Headmaster walked away from the lift and over to them to see what the commotion was about. 'You wanted to talk to Seifer, sir?' she asked, and Cid nodded. Seifer was shaking with rage as Xu gestured to him.
Cid stopped next to Quistis first, placing a hand on her shoulder. 'Come to my office later, Quistis,' he ordered her, and she nodded. She turned on her heel and walked away, her head down and Hermione could see her shoulders were trembling. She hoped Cid wouldn't be too tough on her. What happened in the exam wasn't her fault.
Seifer looked up as Cid approached him. 'Sir?' he said through gritted teeth but saluted him.
Cid eyed Seifer pensively for a moment before sighing. 'Seifer, you will be disciplined for your irresponsible behaviour. You must follow orders exactly during combat,' he instructed and Seifer glowered at the ground, clenching his fists tightly. 'I'm not without sympathy for you. You're not a machine. I want you to be able to think and act for yourselves, but your actions were reckless and caused casualties, which cannot be tolerated,' he explained and Seifer nodded, crossing his arms. 'Now, please go to the second floor and await the results with everyone else,' he ordered, pointing at the lift.
Seifer stalked into the lift angrily, followed closely by his two constant companions. Hermione watched them go, before glancing at Squall and Zell who were waiting for the lift to come back down. 'Well, at least we know Seifer won't be a SeeD,' Zell muttered, but Squall didn't reply. Hermione wondered if he even heard what he said. Squall looked like he was lost in his own thoughts.
One of the cloaked Garden Faculty appeared then. 'Headmaster, we are ready,' he said, bowing his head.
Cid nodded. 'Right, let's go to my office,' he said, leading Hermione, Xu, and the faculty onto the lift.
oOoOo
Hermione found herself back in Cid's office waiting for the new SeeD's to make their entrance. She was sat on a chair off to the side, her legs crossed, and she leaned her elbow on the table next to her, supporting her head in her hand. She sighed, frustration building in her as she wondered what she was doing exactly. So far none of this seemed significant to whatever mission Griever had set for her. Then again, the creature hadn't given her any indication as to what he needed her to do, and she was getting irritated.
Patience, Hermione, Griever said, having heard the direction her thoughts were going in.
Hermione growled internally. What am I doing here, Griever? You said you needed help. This doesn't feel like I'm helping you with whatever it is you need help with, she reasoned, her exasperation mounting.
She sat up properly when two Garden Faculty members, both dressed the same, entered the office. Trailing behind them slowly were four students. Hermione smiled when she saw Zell was one of them, pleased he had passed the exam. Accompanying him was a student she didn't recognise and the girl, Selphie, who she had aided on the stretcher. Behind them was Squall, and she raised her eyebrows as his eyes found her.
You will embark on your journey soon, I promise, Griever told her, receiving a sigh in response. For the moment, I ask that you heed Cid and do as he suggests. Accept any invitations he gives you, he said, sending out his magic to her and she sensed it on her shoulders. There are certain… people you will want to get to know, he counselled her.
Hermione didn't like the way he said "people". It made her think someone was going to appear who she needed to watch out for. Should I be concerned? she asked, waving at Zell who returned it nervously. He was bouncing from one foot to the other, and she could tell he could barely contain his excitement. Hermione was genuinely happy for him.
Of course, you should be, Griever answered as if this was obvious, and Hermione could almost see him shaking his head. Keep your eyes open, and be cautious of who you trust, he warned her, and Hermione felt his magic withdraw from her shoulders. Now pay attention to the ceremony, he added, and she nodded internally.
Hermione tuned back into her surroundings, watching as Cid approached the four students. 'Congratulations on passing your SeeD exam!' he exclaimed, eyeing them with pride akin to a father looking at his children.
Cid paced in front of them, his hands clasped behind his back. 'However, from now on, as a member of SeeD, you will be dispatched all over the world. We are proud to introduce SeeD, Balamb Garden's mercenary soldiers. SeeD soldiers are combat specialists, bit that is only one aspect of it,' he said, stopping and looking at them. 'When the time comes—' he was cut off by a member of the Garden Faculty clearing his throat loudly.
Cid turned to him slowly, looking annoyed at the interruption. 'Yes?' he asked, crossing his arms.
The cloaked figure bowed his head. 'Headmaster, it's almost time for the meeting. Please, make this short,' he advised, and Cid took a deep breath, indicating for him to continue. The Garden Faculty turned to the new SeeD recruits. 'SeeD is a valuable asset to Garden. Its reputation is solely dependent on each one of you. Handle any missions assigned to you with the utmost care,' he instructed them, turning back to Cid who was silently fuming.
Hermione would have laughed, but the look on Cid's face killed it in her throat before it could even form. He wasn't just enraged, he looked like he wanted to murder the cloaked man. Cid schooled his features expertly as the Faculty looked at him, and Hermione had the feeling this wasn't the first time he'd almost lost it with them. 'Is that what you wanted to say, sir?' he asked, and Cid gave him a curt nod.
The faculty turned back to the new SeeD's. 'Here is your report!' he announced, handing Cid their certificates.
Cid started moving towards the new SeeD's but paused and looked over at Hermione. He walked over to her, holding them out to her, much to her confusion. 'Would you mind handing these out for me, Hermione?' he asked her with a smile, and she nodded, taking the reports.
Hermione skimmed the report on the top of the pile: "Selphie Tilmitt". She glanced at the four assembled, standing to attention, and recognised the girl from the stretcher. She still had some bandages in various places, but Hermione was relieved to see she was back on her feet.
She moved over to her, giving Selphie her report. 'Thanks!' she said chirpily, and Hermione was taken aback that she was so bubbly and energetic after what happened to her.
Hermione smiled at her before inspecting the next report: "Nida Gilmore". It was the guy she had never seen before. She glanced at him as she offered him his report. He was a handsome dark-haired guy with green eyes and Hermione thought he looked a little like Harry just without the glasses and she frowned faintly. He thanked her, flashing her a grin before peering down at his report. She forced a smile at him before moving on.
She paused in front of Zell. 'Well done, Zell. I kept my fingers crossed for you,' she told him with a smile as she gave him his report.
Zell grinned at her. 'Thanks! It paid off, at least,' he answered, saluting her good-humouredly. He looked down at his report, his face paling and he laughed nervously. 'Whoa, I could have done better,' he muttered, eyeing the scores he received.
Hermione smiled. 'The main thing is you passed,' she told him reassuringly, patting him on the shoulder.
Zell nodded. 'Yeah, yeah, you're right!' he replied, his enthusiasm returning.
Hermione chuckled before moving on to the last student who was Squall. She squinted down as his report, seeing he scored everything one hundred percent and she raised her eyebrows in surprise before looking up at him. 'Are you done reading my report?' he asked impatiently, taking it from her.
Hermione flushed in embarrassment. 'Sorry, I was just shocked to see your score,' she said timidly, looking away from him to the floor.
'Yeah,' Squall muttered, crossing his arms as he gazed down at her.
Hermione thought he seemed rather intimidating in that stance for a moment, before shaking it off. She took a deep breath, smiling up at him. 'Well done,' she whispered, and he nodded absently. She sighed inwardly, guessing he was just a difficult person to get along with.
Hermione shook her head, turning to walk away as the students were dismissed. 'Are you going to the ball?' Squall abruptly asked, and she turned back to him in astonishment.
Hermione nodded. 'I am,' she answered in uncertainty, wondering why he was asking her.
'Huh…' Squall mumbled, before glancing down at his report. 'See you there, then,' he added before following the others out.
Hermione watched him go, frowning as he closed the door behind him. Cid came to stand next to her, a knowing smile on his lips. 'He'll come around,' he said to her, making her look up at him in confusion. 'You should go and get ready for the ball,' he advised her, gesturing to the door.
Hermione nodded distractedly, walking towards the door. So many things about Squall were plaguing her mind, but one particular thing she couldn't shake was the way he made her feel. She couldn't place it; couldn't understand why he had any effect on her at all. She was puzzled and annoyed by it.
'Oh, Hermione?' Cid called to her as she opened the door. She turned back to him curiously. 'Do me a favour and make sure Squall attends the ball,' he requested, crossing his arms. 'He may have mentioned going, but he has undoubtedly already changed his mind by now. He is not one for social gatherings, even if they are in his honour. All the more reason he will try and hide away in his room,' Cid clarified, shaking his head.
Hermione frowned. 'Why do you want me to get him? Wouldn't someone who he knows be a better choice to persuade him?' she asked, not fond of the idea of having to speak to him at all if she was honest. She was aiming to avoid him, not voluntarily go to him. Then she recalled Griever's words about her doing what Cid asked and she groaned inwardly.
Cid smiled. 'As you may have noticed, Squall doesn't talk much, except to very few select people,' he said meaningfully, peering at her over his glasses. 'He doesn't speak to anyone willingly unless he has no other choice,' he revealed, and Hermione's eyes widened in understanding. There were times where he had spoken to her voluntarily without her ever encouraging him and she wondered why that was.
Hermione pushed her speculations to the back of her mind. 'What room is he in?' she asked resignedly, needing to know where she could find him later when she went to get him.
Cid's smile widened. 'Room 10 for now, but he'll be moving to Room 98 later tonight,' he divulged, and Hermione comprehended that his new room was going to be the one directly opposite hers. Without another word, Hermione nodded and left the office.
Cid watched her go in amusement, clasping his hands behind his back. 'You are a cruel man, Cid,' came a voice from the corner of the room. 'You are throwing her into the deep end,' he added, shaking his head.
Cid turned to the creature the voice belonged to. 'Best to keep her in the loop is it not?' he asked, crossing his arms. 'It will be easier for them both if they become friends. And what better way to help that happen if they are thrown into situations together,' he reasoned, scratching the back of his head.
Griever frowned. 'You know how that will go, Cid. They need to build it up themselves willingly,' he answered, crossing his arms, and tapping a clawed finger on one of them. 'It needs to be natural, and we cannot interfere or influence that,' he added decisively.
Cid sighed. 'I appreciate that, but I'm just giving them a push in the right direction. Ultimately, whatever the outcome will be down to them,' he said seriously, looking at the door where Hermione disappeared.
Griever nodded. 'For now, it will be fine,' he whispered, gazing towards the door with longing eyes.
'One day at a time,' Cid told him with a reassuring smile, and Griever nodded.
Griever pushed away from the wall, snapping his fingers, and opening a portal into another dimension. 'I must return. She does not know I am here,' he explained, and Cid nodded at the creature, watching the great lion disappear sorrowfully.
Cid clasped his hands behind his back. 'Yes, things are about to become very interesting,' he whispered, peering back at the door to his office.