Setting: Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom
Hermione was having a really bad day. And she'd actually thought yesterday had been the worst there could be. But
today surpassed it with no troubles. First there was the memory of waking up last night to find Malfoy leaning over her
bed trying to kiss her, Sleeping Beauty style, then there was the declaration made by Gryffindor's head girl Deanna
Mordean that Hermione would not be left alone until they figured out what Malfoy was up to, Hermione would never forget
the image of Dean rolling around on the floor peeking around corners to make sure there was no sign of Malfoy, and now
it seemed she wouldn't be able to get a moment to herself, what with Draco and the Mod Squad continually trailing
after her. So she'd ducked into the seldom-used bathroom for some much needed privacy in which to compose herself.
She was at the sink splashing her face when she heard a strange noise coming from one of the stalls behind her.
"Ok, so either someone's let in another troll or basilisk or Myrtle's playing a joke on me."
She turned back to the mirror and began trying to straighten her hair. What with the whole Malfoy mess she hadn't had any time at all to fix herself up this morning. Thankfully he was no where to be found today, though strangely enough, neither were Harry and Ron. She shrugged her shoulders and went back to the mirror when she heard the noise again.
"Alright Myrtle, enough is enough. Come out of there right now and stop playing jokes."
When Myrtle did not come out, Hermione marched over to the stall and flung the door open, barely biting back a scream when she saw Malfoy standing in front of her. She swung the door shut with all her might and was rewarded with a loud smack as it collided with his nose. He made a strangling sound and fell to the floor as Hermione raced out of the bathroom desperate to get away from him.
"What is going on here? Why won't Malfoy leave me alone and if he's so intent on keeping me in one place why doesn't he just use a spell?"
Then it dawned on her. In the last three days of class Draco had yet to try to show up the others with his magical ineptitude and knowing him as well as she did she knew he would use magic to get anything he wanted. But what if he couldn't use magic? She'd read of spells that could take away a wizard's powers and they could only be restored by kissing a…
"Muggleborn witch. Oh no, that's what he's been up to. That's why he's been acting so strangely, even for him. But how could this have hap." She trailed off as she realized the two people who would be daft enough to pull a stunt like this. Gritting her teeth she marched off to find her two village idiots and give them a piece of her mind.
"I will kill them. I will kill them and just to spite them I will bury them as far away from the Quidditch pitch as possible. How dare they pull a stunt like this? Oh, when I get my hands on them they are going to wish all I did was kill them."
Hermione flew down the hall almost without touching the floor bent on causing as much death and destruction for her best friends as she could without being sent to Alzkaban. As she ranted she didn't notice Professor McGonagall coming out of the room next to her.
"Then again I have learned a few things from Sirius. Killing your best friends isn't a happy thought; the Dementors couldn't touch me. When I find them I'm going to hurt them, and then when they have healed I'm going to kill them. After that I will raise them from the dead"
She raised her voice in greeting as she barely noticed McGonagall.
"Hello Professor."
She went back to her ramblings.
"I'll raise them from the dead and kill them again."
Hermione stopped at Professor McGonagall's voice.
"Ms. Granger, whom is it that you are going to hurt, kill, resurrect and then kill again? And why?"
Hermione jumped in surprise.
"Oh, Professor McGonagall, I was just. umm. well just."
McGonagall smirked.
"You were just plotting someone's death. Two someones if I heard correctly."
"Well what else am I supposed to do with two dunderheaded prats who cast spells on malicious, insipid scoundrels
like Malfoy?"
"You're upset with someone for casting a spell on Mr. Malfoy?"
At Hermione's nod McGonagall grew very confused.
"May I ask why this has you ready to commit homicide?"
"Because the only way for the spell to be broken is if Malfoy kisses me."
McGonagall thought a moment before asking,
"Is it safe to assume that the objects of your wrath are Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasly?"
"Yes. They took away Draco's magic and now he keeps following me around trying to kiss me so he can get it back."
McGonagall began chuckling.
"Perhaps you should go speak to Professor Snape about this problem."
Hermione was confused as she watched her professor continue to laugh.
"Why Professor Snape?"
"Because if I recall, James and Sirius cast a similar spell upon Serverus when they were in school."
Hermione scowled.
"Apparently casting stupid, childish spells that cause your friends a good deal of suffering is a genetic disorder."
"Well Ms. Granger, that has yet to be determined. However, I would not recommend you being the cause of death for your friends."
"What would you recommend then?"
"Well, you have three options: one, give Mr. Malfoy his kiss."
McGonagall couldn't help but snicker at the look of revulsion on Hermione's face
"Or two, find an alternate cure, although I highly doubt there is one, or three, learn to live with being chased about by someone you despise."
"This is something I'm going to have to think about."
With that Hermione began a slow walk down the hall, so lost in her thoughts she almost didn't see the group of Gryffindors or Malfoy walking her way. She caught sight of them at the last minute and dodged quickly behind a pillar.
Deanna Mordean was rallying the troops again.
"Alright everyone, there is Malfoy. Keep a close eye on him and make sure he doesn't get anywhere near Hermione. And if any of you happens to see Hermione, stick to her side and do not leave no matter what. In fact, Colin I want you to go search the library and see if you can find her."
Hermione waited until the group had gone past in pursuit of Malfoy and Colin left in search of her before coming out. With a groan of frustration she realized there was only one place that she might be allowed to think in peace. The Forbidden Forest.
Setting: Forbidden Forest
Hermione walked a good distance into the forest before sitting down on a log to think out this predicament. The whole
time she walked she looked around her and realized that even daylight did nothing to dispel the aura of evil emanating
through the forest. Shivering slightly, Hermione pulled her robes around her more tightly and began trying to sort
through her thoughts.
"What am I going to do about Malfoy? This is ridiculous; I can't spend the rest of my life running away from him. But to kiss him? Ahhhhhh. Blast Harry and Ron for this. How could they pull a stunt like this?"
Hermione sat down on a stump and tried to calm down. She sat for a long time and thought about her situation. Thought so hard her head began to ache and she needed to lie down. Spotting a clear area near the base of a tree she went over to it and pulling her cloak even tighter about her shoulders she laid down and closed her eyes intent on catching up on the sleep she had lost over the last few days. Soon her breathing had evened out and her mind had drifted to the land of dreams. She began to dream of the time last month when she, Harry and Ron had come into the forest in search of Crookshanks, her cat. They'd wandered as far as the nest of spiders, of course that's as far as Ron would go before his knees gave out from fright, when they spotted the big orange cat nestled against the side of a young unicorn. Its coat shone white in the misty evening and its horn was glowing slightly. Hermione grabbed onto Harry's arm and it was some time before she let out the breath she had been holding. Slowly she walked forward and reaching a hand out touched the unicorn's flank.
Ron was horrified at the action.
"Hermione! What are you doing? You know we're not supposed to touch a unicorn no matter what."
"But Ron. oh I don't know how to describe it, but it. it"
Harry, however, had understood.
"It called to her. I could feel it."
"Yes! Yes, that 's it. That's it exactly."
The unicorn was quite amenable to Hermione's attention and turned its head to nuzzle her hand affectionately. The moon was suddenly hidden behind a cloud, but the unicorn just whinnied softly and the three young mages were comforted by its presence. Hermione moved her hand from the unicorn's flank and reached up to stroke the horn. The horn glowed brighter in response. Touching it, Hermione's ears were suddenly filled with the most beautiful music and she heard a soft voice whisper to her.
"I am Anthera. You are my friend and I will protect you always."
Hermione jerked her hand back at the sound of the voice. This couldn't be. It just couldn't be. Those words had not been spoken; they had been placed inside her mind. She looked into the eyes of the unicorn and in that instant she knew it had been true and that it had been the voice of the unicorn that she had heard. Again her hand reached for the unicorn, for Anthera. Again her hand touched the horn and she was once more connected with the mind of the unicorn.
"Tell me, please, why did you call to me?"
Anthera answered softly
"I have something I must show you. You need to know."
And suddenly, Hermione's hand was engulfed in light, as Anthera's horn grew brighter and brighter. And then, Hermione found herself watching. watching herself. She was with two young children. Girls, both were about the age of nine. One had silver blond hair and Hermione could just make out the presence of brown eyes so much like her own it made her look twice. The girl also had the same haughty lift to her chin that Malfoy sometimes got when he was truly affronted by something. And as she thought of Malfoy, he came into view. He picked up the little girl and twirled her in his arms, his eyes bright and sparkling. Love was clearly written all over his face and it touched Hermione deeply. She then turned her attention to the other child. This little one had bushy brown hair and she looked up to where watching Hermione felt herself to be, almost as if she could see the witch standing there, and Hermione could clearly see bright green eyes and a crooked smile. Her own chin and nose were very evident in this child's features, but it was the eyes that held her transfixed. Suddenly, two arms wrapped around her other self and watching Hermione could feel the love emanating from the person that held her other self. She watched as she picked up the other little girl and held her close as the arms wrapped further around her to include the little girl. With a jerk Hermione was brought back to the forest and found herself looking into the concerned eyes of Harry.
Harry's face showed his concern.
"Hermione, are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm just fine. Why?"
Ron also looked worried as he answered her question.
"You had the strangest look on your face and you weren't moving at all."
"Well I'm fine as you can see. Now come on, let's get back to the castle before anyone notices we're gone."
With that she had picked up Crookshanks and stalked off towards the school leaving Ron and Harry very confused. She knew she was being very snappy, but she had so wanted to see if the man holding her had been whom she thought it was. But suddenly, the feeling of love she had felt for those children washed over her and she felt nothing but joy washing over her.
TBC…