Chapter four
Hermione gasped. After ten minutes worth of walking, huddled close to Harry with his original scent causing her body to turn into jelly was this place…
It was a small room with two sofas in the middle, bathed in soft light from the ceiling. A small coffee table with snacks lay in between.
"Welcome," Harry whispered, sliding off the cloak and closing the door behind them. "To the room of requirement,"
Hermione gasped in awe of its beauty and powerful magic that churned underneath. Turing to Harry as he ventured over to the sofa he explained further. Her face smiled in anticipation of new knowledge.
"Dobby told me of this place in 5th year."
"Dobby?" Hermione asked. That's an odd name for a student. Was he perchance a new student? Someone who…
Hermione saw him wince,
Was it something I said, she thought, watching him closely as he sat down; she took the sofa across from him and curled herself into a small ball, chin resting on her knees, she waited.
"Dobby is the house elf you met" Harry sighed. "…will meet in 4th year."
"There are house elves at Hogwarts…" An image of a withered, wax skinned doll like creature scurrying around filled her mind. How could Dumbledore….
"Now is not the time to be thinking about that Hermione…I wanted to..."
"Oh" She gasped. How did he no, wait, scratch that, he always knew when she was off in her rants…"…sorry Harry its just hard …I keep forgetting…." I keep forgetting that you're my friend and not some trapped time-traveller.
"Good…"he interrupted, a smile brewing on his face, "…it will help me…" his green eyes frazzled a bit and Hermione wondered what knowledge, what horrors did he see to force him to come back?
"So what happened?" Immediately kicking herself, get a grip Granger…that's a loaded question and we don't have all night.
"So much Hermione….so much…." He whispered, looking into her eyes she could see tears leak out in small crystal beads. She didn't mention it.
"Why did you come back?"
"There are a lot of reasons but first of all I was supposed to be going back to 6th year…" he blushed.
Hermione sighed.
Harry babbled and continued on in his usual Harry-like way.
He always babbled when he was stressed, she thought and interrupted him.
"6th year?? How old …."
"I was waiting for that one" Harry interrupted and she could feel her cheeks flush, "…I was nineteen ..."
"Nineteen?" He went back seven years….seven years. Her mind couldn't comprehend what it would mean if the situation was reversed. She needed more books….some exotic texts …She remembered Mrs Dorian, an ex charms professor mentioning some diverse book about coping with the future. However, she took no notice. After all, anything remotely to do with divination was completely and utterly rubbish…But still…she needed some information….
What wouldn't I give to have some text to help me help Harry….
A loud clunk jeered her from her thoughts and found a pile of books in front of her.
Harry took no notice of the pile of books that suddenly appeared. He must be used to it by now, she thought. She eyed the books and she gulped. Some texts she hadn't even heard of…her hands twitched by her sides but she resisted the urge to savagely snatch one of those books and devour them slowly soaking up every bit of information …
"I lost my ability to use magic when I turned seventeen…"
Another stab filled her. Doors slammed in her mind and she felt cold. Harry, she felt her heart clench….so much…..she felt her throat tighten "How can you lose?" She shook her head. How can you lose something so precious…so intimate and never get it back? Looking down her hands she could seem them shake. She hastily put them in her lap to keep Harry from knowing that she was shocked.
"I got Shah Hermione…."
Shah? Hermione raised an eyebrow. Shah's was an old-wives tale that mother's would tell their children. The story goes that when a loved one dies it is rumoured that if a witch of wizard allowed grief to take over they would lose their ability to use magic…
Totally preposterous, Hermione thought. Shah??? Even though it was mentioned on page 45 "Old wives tales: Myth or Fiction" in Hogwarts a History there was no way that Harry could lose his ability to perform magic.
I don't believe it, she thought.
"But according to Hogwarts a history Shah's is only temporary"
"Well…I don't have any magic..." He rebuked, crossing his arms he shook his head.
Hermione sighed. Thinking hard she waited until a small cauldron filled with white-soapsuds like viscous appeared, along with a test tube filled with yellow-wax liquid and a scalpel.
"Hold out your hand," she instructed, grasping the scalpel firmly in her right.
"Hermione-" she saw his hand jerk and she leapt, nearly knocking over the small cauldron she sliced open his right palm, ignoring his protest she awaited until three hearty drops landed with a plop in the bubbling liquid.
"What DID you do THAT for," he snarled, nostril flaring he cradled his injured hand close.
"Proving my point." She said, smiling, adding the wax-liquid and waited until purple vapour rose in steady puffs. "That," she pointed at the purple-smoking cauldron, "proves that you do have powers….a common theory among alchemists in the French Alps suggest that 95% percent of all shah's sufferers have mental symptoms….which means, "she stressed when she saw Harry open his mouth to protest. "… that you had your powers but were overrun with grief…" biting her lower lip, she added. "So…you have…you always had your powers Harry…you just believed that you didn't….self doubt is a very powerful thing Harry,"
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Looking at Hermione, her bushy hair and slightly large teeth Harry felt a sense of relief wash over him…he had powers…and yet….
Pulling out his wand from his pocket he flicked his wrist. "Lumos" staring at his wand he willed it to be engulfed in white.
Nothing happened….
A deathly silence filled the room and only the sounds of Hermione hitched breathing and his deep breaths could be heard.
"Great in theory Hermione," He rolled his eyes, placing his wand back inside. How can I be so stupid, he thought to himself.
"Try again," She prompted, her face was firm and her lips were in a straight line, the kind of expression she usually wore when faced with a challenge.
"No, Hermione." Harry shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest, "Remus said the same thing to me and still…after a years worth of testing…. nothing happened Hermione. My powers are blocked….or…."
"Blocked?" She asked, her face fell downward in thought"…well then we will have to un-block them Harry…there must be a way...." she muttered. Harry couldn't look at her; if he did he wouldn't be able to compose himself.
"Not everything comes out of some book Hermione." He stressed, he struck his hands in front of him, waving them around in a slow circle, "This is real life we are talking about" he looked up into her young and innocent face, there was no hint of dark purple rings or a haunted expression he was so used to be seeing on her. This Hermione had no idea….yet and he was unsure of whether or not he should be the one to bring her world upside down, "…something you'll never understand unless you stick your head out from a bloody book-"he pointed to the stack of books and allowed words to spun from his mouth, all his anger, frustration at himself and at her leapt from his mouth until his throat became too raw and coarse from speaking.
"Bloody book huh? Just some book Hermione," she parroted, tears streamed from her face, blotchy and flushed from anger and pain she didn't bother wiping them away with her hands, "…well excuse me Harry for caring about your well-being," She stopped, her breaths now high and scratchy , "….there is a way…Harry and we will find it…" She crossed her arms in defiance and stared at him, hoping that he would look away, like he always did.
Not this time, he thought to himself. I don't have time to waste looking in some ancient text when I already know the outcome.
"Well…happy hunting Hermione….let me know when some book tells you that my powers are a figment of my imagination." He wished he didn't say those words and cursed his inability to control his emotions, especially around her…
"… I will Harry," She laughed, a loud withes' cackle, the kind in movies before lightening struck, which scared him as Hermione never laughed when she was upset.
She would conjure flying birds like in 6th year or bite her lower lip before heading to the girls' bathroom.
Never, laugh, not like she was now… "…I'm going to find something…anything to help you Harry." her voice hitched again, he could almost hear her faint sob she was trying to keep concealed. "You have the power but you lack faith....determination and belief in yourself…."
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Author's note: Hey guys! I want to thank everyone who has replied to my story. It really means a lot to me. Although I do have a beater reader I can not get in touch with him (and it's been a week) So, I've posted this chapter and I do apologise for any mistakes made. ---also I have been trying to update for the past 48 hours…so I do apologise for those who were confused.-it would not format properly…argh
On an important note I am going on holiday to the U.S.A. for three weeks so there will be no updates until the 1st of August. For this, I do apologise
I do hope you enjoy this chapter….
Merci beaucoup tout le monde
Rachel