"Dear Harry
It's that time again. Hogwarts is starting tomorrow, I'll be climbing onto a train to a place that I don't really want to be any more".
Pausing for a moment to gather her thoughts, Hermione Granger twirled the pen in her hand and stared down at the piece of paper in front of her.
She had so much to say, almost too much in fact. And this wasn't an essay, so she didn't know where to begin. There were no guidelines when it came to writing one's heart instead of their mind. She'd had no problems writing like this before, but before she'd never had the kind of problems she's currently going through.
"There's a boy in our house, in your old dorm to be exact. Seamus Finnigan." Hermione began, avoiding the main topic in favour for something that was less depressing. "I could have sworn I'd heard his voice the other day, walking through Muggle London. When I looked for him though, all I found was a twenty-something year old who looked nothing like Seamus. I think I might actually have a crush on him, it's really frustrating because it doesn't make sense. We barely talk to each other, and since he's part of His group of friends I don't spend any time with him. And yet I almost can't wait to get back to Hogwarts just so I can see him
I would say I hate being a girl, but according to my father going through puberty as a boy isn't any easier" she added as a smile tugged at her lips, remembering the haunted look on her father's face as he told her the stories of some of his worst puberty horror stories.
"I still don't want to go to Hogwarts though… Seamus Finnigan or not… It's Professor Dumbledore, Harry. He's claiming that Cedric Diggory, the boy who died in the Tournament last year? Dumbledore's claiming that You-Know-Who killed him, that You-Know-Who is back. The Ministry is denying it of course, they've got quite the smear campaign in the Daily Prophet against him. They've even mentioned you a couple of times, blaming Dumbledore for what happened to you
I don't know who to believe. On one hand, why would Professor Dumbledore lie about this, but on the other hand though he's got no proof. He's claiming You-Know-Who is back and expecting everyone to take his word for it. But then the Ministry isn't acting right either. The way they're reacting makes me wish I wasn't a witch. It should have been easy for them to perform an investigation and prove Dumbledore wrong. But all they're doing is sticking their heads in the sand, hoping that if they don't see it then it'll go away
I think this is it for me. After I get my OWLs I'm going to drop out of Hogwarts and do home-schooling instead. It'll mean I can catch up on my Muggle education while still learning magic. The Magical world isn't worth staying in, even without this whole You-Know-Who mess going on, I think I'd be leaving anyway"
Stopping again as a weight lifted from her shoulders, Hermione put her pen down so she could read over what she'd written. She hadn't even told her parents about her decision yet, she'd brought it up with her Dad who'd been home-schooled till he was fifteen, but she'd only made her mind up that day. Her parents would be happy at least, they hated having her all the way in Scotland instead of coming home after school each day.
"It's not worth it anymore. Oh Merlin I'm so pathetic. Writing to a boy that's been dead for years. You wouldn't want me to be like this, there are times where I swear I can hear your voice telling me to let you go, to move on"
Shivering as a cold breeze whispered through her window, Hermione pulled her dressing gown tighter around her body, raising her eyes to stare up at the full moon in the distance.
"I miss you
Love Hermione"
Biting back her tears, Hermione carefully put her pen down and gently picked up the letter, her eyes skimming over the words 'I miss you' as laughter echoed into her room from the street outside.
Turning around with the intent of placing the letter to Harry in a re-purposed photo album filled with hundreds like it, a startled yelp escaped her lips as a strong gust of wind tore it from her grasp, making her scramble to catch the piece of paper that was blown out the window as every other loose sheet was kicked up into the air. By the time she'd pinned down the other pieces of paper and gotten to the window, she couldn't tell her letter from the other runaway pages.
With a sigh, Hermione slipped into some slippers and hurried from the house, knowing that some of the missing pages (As well as the letter) openly mentioned magic. Gathering up all the loose papers, she looked around slowly as a white blur flashed past her vision, frowning slightly as she looked around the otherwise empty street. Shivering and wrapping her arms around herself, she held her fistful of papers to her chest and hurried back towards the front door, faltering in the doorway as she felt eyes on her.
Looking up and down the street nervously, Hermione scanned the shadows carefully for any sign of life, before heading back inside and locking the door behind her, never seeing the owl perched in the tree across the street, a letter scrunched up in its beak.
"Hey Hermione".
Jumping slightly, the bushy-haired girl in question looked up at Neville, her fellow Gryffindor standing there with his robe tucked up under his ear once again. "We're almost at Hogwarts now," he blurted, looking a little green, "And I uh- I uh wanted to let you know that yo- that you're welcome to join Luna, Ginny and I in our carriage".
Smiling gently at the boy who's stutter had only gotten worse over the years, Hermione nodded slowly as she closed her book and made her way to her feet. "I'd love to join you three, just let me get changed first?"
When Neville nodded jerkily and left her compartment, Hermione put her book away and quickly changed into her Hogwarts robes. As much as she hated to, she was going to have to start avoiding the other boy and their fourth year friends. It'd make cutting off all contact with the wizarding world easy if she didn't have anyone to hold her back, and she knew that they only had to ask for her to return, something she couldn't allow. Purposely slowing herself down as the train reached the station, Hermione hit the compartment door with a notice-me-not charm, hoping to wait long enough to 'accidentally' miss the other's carriage.
When she finally left the compartment, she found only a couple of carriages remaining, carefully peering into them until she found an empty one to claim. Burying her face in a book again, mentally begging the carriage to hurry up and leave before someone else got in, her hopes were dashed as she felt somebody else climbing into her carriage silently, seconds before it started to move.
"No," a voice said suddenly, making her flinch behind the cover of her book, "I don't know who".
Opening her mouth to snap at her unwelcome guest, only a squeak of fear escaped Hermione's lips as she met the glowing amber eyes of the armour-clad figure before her.
"Dumbledore's claiming that You-Know-Who is back," the armoured man said slowly, his voice metallic yet familiar, "But I don't know who".
"I- but- What? Who?" Hermione blurted, staring at the teenager – for it was either that or a very short adult – in confusion. "What?" she repeated.
"Three excellent questions," the teenager agreed, fiery eyes unblinking as they stared directly at her.
Hand sneaking into her pocket to curl around her wand, Hermione's eyes flicked to the carriage door, weighing up the idea of walking to Hogwarts compared to the idea of remaining in the carriage with what was clearly a lunatic. Before she could move however, a booted foot was slamming into the doorway, blocking off her escape before she could even make it.
"You didn't answer my question," the armoured figure snapped coldly, "You can't leave until you answer my question".
"Who are you?" Hermione asked instead, staring at the male opposite her in a mixture of fear, confusion, and disbelief.
Even though she couldn't see the other's face, Hermione could just tell that he'd started frowning, his head tilting slightly as he stiffened slightly. "You don't remember me?" he questioned slowly, what almost sounded like anger in his voice, "You wrote me a letter, but you don't remember me?"
Mouth opening to deny it, Hermione froze at the sight of the lined muggle paper the figure opposite her pulled from a pouch on his armoured hip. The words 'Dear Harry' visible even through the dirt and creases covering the letter's surface.
"Harry?"
"You don't remember me," 'Harry' repeated darkly.
"You're uh, you're wearing a helmet," Hermione countered quickly, something in Harry's voice telling her that he was close to losing his temper. "I couldn't see your face".
Instantly the anger tangible in the air vanished, leaving Hermione inhaling deeply as 'Harry' reached up to pull off his helmet to reveal the face of the boy who'd died to save her from a troll four years ago.
"Oh my god… Harry," Hermione blurted, throwing herself across the carriage at him, her mind shutting down beyond thinking 'It's Harry. It's Harry. It's Harry'. Pulling away slightly, she stared into Harry's no longer glowing but still golden-amber eyes, "You were dead," she whispered, "You died".
"So did you," Harry shot back, eyebrows furrowing, "I remember you. You were in that bathroom, the troll squished you".
Frowning back at Harry, Hermione's eyes drifted down to the letter still crumpled in his armoured hand. "How?" she questioned, ignoring the rational part of her mind that was chanting 'No magic can bring back the dead' in favour of the part that was singing at the idea that the boy she'd admittedly become a little dependant on over the years.
"Gnarl," came Harry's fond response, the boy smirking slightly to himself before his eyes refocused on Hermione's face. "How did you come back?"
"I- I didn't," Hermione blurted hesitantly, "I was never dead. My leg was broken but I never died. Only you… only you did".
Harry's head tilted to the side again, his face scrunching up in concentration. "I don't remember very well," he murmured, "Gnarl used the Tower Heart to bring me back, but it didn't work properly. The Heart was weak, it couldn't fix my body and my mind".
"You're suffering from memory loss?" Hermione realised, his behaviour up till now making sense suddenly. "You don't remember anything?" she questioned slowly, what little fear she had felt giving way into a sense of duty towards Harry.
He'd saved her from the troll when no-one else would. She could help him regain his memories, it was the least she could do for the man she owed her life.
Burnt golden-amber eyes locked onto her chocolate brown ones as Harry shook his head slowly, chin-length hair falling down over his face. "I remembered you," he whispered quietly, "I remembered your face. I remember some things," he added defensively, "Tiny minion-like creatures with large ears and sharp teeth. Gold… a lot of gold…" a frown crossed his face as he rubbed his forehead in pain, "A stick? It hurts to try remember," he confessed as if he suddenly remembered she was there.
Laughter made Hermione look out the carriage's windows to where the other carriages were pulling up in front of the castle. "We're almost there. At Hogwarts," she clarified to a confused Harry, "Where… where are you going to go?"
"I remember this place," Harry murmured as he peered out the window, "I lived here".
"We all did, it's a school. For magic," Hermione explained gently, making Harry nod firmly.
"I remember magic," the boy declared, a smirk crossing his face at the memory.
"Where are you going to go?" Hermione repeated. If Harry came into the castle with her, then he'd be dragged away by the Ministry, since there was no 'Light' magic that could raise the dead as had clearly been done to Harry.
"There," Harry decided simply, pointing up at the castle, "I used to go there".
"But you can't just walk in!" Hermione argued as she shied back from the window when the carriage pulled up in front of the giant doors.
"Of course I can," Harry said with a snort, lunging forward and vaulting out the carriage's window gracefully despite his armour.
"Harry!" Hermione hissed, "You can't!"
"Yes, I can," Harry repeated bluntly, his helmet reappearing on his face with a shimmer and making his eyes turn to fire again. "I can do what I want. I'm the Overlord".
OVERLORD
Inspired by DZ2's Death is only the Beginning challenge.
So I've been informed recently that I've been writing too many Percy Jackson and Charmed crossovers (11 and 9 respectively) and that I should try my hand at other crossovers. If you've hopefully noticed, recently I HAVE been trying this with stories ranging from Mortal Instruments, to Teen Wolf, to Skyrim.
And then there's this.
This was one of my original ideas for this particular challenge, the idea coming from DZ2 actually using Overlord as an example of a potential crossover, but I pushed it aside in favour of something a little more serious (Which we can see worked out so well when we look at 'Angel' (Chpt 39)).
Anyway, the Undercover Operative cannot claim to own either Harry Potter or Overlord.