Hermione Granger, Super Hero

Chapter 2

Hermione sat fidgeting in front of Professor Dumbledore's desk. Her insides were still singing from the adrenaline rush. She wanted to run out and tackle the Whomping Willow.

As she was just about to take it into her head to try, Dumbledore walked in and sat down across the desk from her.

"I could start, Miss Granger, by pointing out that it was very foolish to go on with your day without consulting Madam Pomfrey. But, I imagine you have realized that." He paused to take in Hermione's expression. "Or perhaps not. I see you flush from your adventure, Miss Granger. I do not, however, see any concern. You could have ended up a great deal worse for wear in all this."

Hermione's face quickly changed from that of quiet triumph to earnest worry.

"I am wondering why Severus let you leave his classroom without insisting you see Madam Pomfrey."

"I might have strongly objected, Professor." She blushed a light red.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.

"Very strongly, sir."

"I'll not reproach you further. I will, however, notify your parents of your condition and our search for a cure."

Hermione wanted to object. What if her parents wanted her to come home?

"Sir..."

"You need not worry Miss Granger, I will impress upon them that you are unhurt and able to go on with your studies," Dumbledore said, noticing the panic in Hermione's eyes. "We can't let you go on like this. Right now, this may seem like a blessing. But the long term ramifications of this mishap could be disastrous."

" Professor, Neville didn't mean to... He's just accident prone when..."

"You don't have to protect Mister Longbottom, I am aware of his foibles."

Hermione lowered her eyes. Of course he knows, we've only been here almost seven years. He knows all of us.

When she looked back up into Dumbledore's eyes she felt slightly smaller. "I took a big chance running out of Potion's class. I might have died in that toilet. What if I'd hurt Neville trying to save him, or got myself killed fighting that plant? I'm going to be more responsible, sir, this isn't going to go to my head."

"I wish you luck, Miss Granger. We don't even know if this is the end of your new abilities."

She hadn't thought about that.

"You mean... You think it could get worse?"

"I do not know. That is why I remain concerned."

"Of course, Professor." She paused a moment, considering. "What do I do now?"

"I have already spoken to Professor Snape."

Hermione groaned inwardly. He's going to be unbearable, she thought. I ran out of class, I yelled at him... If I only end up in detention, I'll be lucky.

Again, Dumbledore seemed as if he were reading her mind.

"Do not worry about the consequences of the accident. You can hardly be held accountable for your actions under the influence of a potion's accident." He winked at her and reached into the candy dish. "Gummy bear?"

"What? Oh, no, Professor, no thank you." She chewed her lower lip. "How will we fix me?"

"I've set Professor Snape and Mister Longbottom to that task, worry not."

.

Snape will ruin Neville entirely. He'll browbeat him until not an ounce of self-respect remains.

"Sir, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to participate in my cure. I think I can do some good."

"Of course, Miss Granger. By all means. I'll let Severus know you will be assisting."

Hermione squirmed in her seat for a moment before Dumbledore spoke again.

"I think that's enough. You may go. Be sure to visit Madam Pomfrey before the end of the day."

She got up to leave and turned to the door. Dumbledore stopped her.

"Miss Granger."

"Yes, sir?"

"Do try to keep your... abilities... under control. While I'm sure the entire school knows what happened in Herbology, I would appreciate it if we kept any more displays from disrupting class again."

"Of course, Professor."

Hermione waited to blush until she was facing the exit and once outside, bolted to her next class.

"Take your seats, please," Professor McGonagall's voice rose over the din of whispering and half-whispering students.

Some pointed and gawked openly while others averted their gaze as Hermione moved through the room to take her seat. Her eyes moved to Harry and Ron who were already seated. Ron shot her a huge grin with thumbs up. Harry sat back in his chair and smiled. When she sat down, several of her classmates leaned in to ask her questions.

McGonagall cleared her throat. All heads turned.

"I realise it has been a rather exciting morning, but I will appreciate it if you keep all comments and questions to... your... selves!" Her voice rose at the end of the sentence to display her irritation. "If you will direct your attention to the board and take the proper measures class will begin."

Hermione set herself to the task. The eyes of her fellow students were still quite clearly focused on her.

This is going to be a very long day, she thought and pulled her wand from her robes.

Harry and Ron were waiting in the hall after class.

"You know that was brilliant, right?" Ron piped up.

Harry took the bag off of her shoulder and situated Hermione between Ron and himself. He glared irritably at two passersby and the three began walking.

"Well?" Hermione questioned. "Aren't you going to tell me how brilliant it was?"

Harry thought for a moment and said, "No. It was amazing, but..."

"Wait," Hermione paused in the hall, "Is the great, adventuring Harry Potter going to tell me I was reckless?"

"Not avoidably."

Hermione glared for a second and then her expression softened.

"Do you think Madam Pomfrey could have done anything for me if I hadn't been such a prat?"

"Not really," Harry replied. "Which is why I don't think you were a complete prat."

"Hey! You weren't a prat, Hermione. You told off that great git Snape, battled a HUGE magical plant and managed to not get yourself killed. I'd say on a scale of our previous adventures, you're doing fairly well," Ron interjected before Hermione could speak again.

"Not a complete prat..." she sighed and smiled. "I have no idea what came over me. I was angry with Snape, and instead of pushing it away and dealing with it later, I just snapped. I was... I don't know. I lost control... Of me."

"Don't know what that's like," Harry grinned.

Ron spoke up again, "So, what's to be done?"

Hermione surveyed the empty hall and picked up her pace.

"I'll tell you at dinner. Hurry up. We're late!"

The day passed slowly. Hermione closed the book on her last class and headed toward the Great Hall. She fought the dual urges to either yell at the groups of curious students following her or hide under her cloak.

She sat heavily beside Harry and looked at Ron across the table.

"I don't feel too brilliant just now."

Ron looked sympathetically at his friend but his response was stifled by a mouthful of roast chicken.

Harry passed her a goblet of pumpkin juice and put a bowl of sticky toffee pudding in front of her.

"You have definitely earned dessert before dinner."

Hermione looked down at the gooey treat, which normally she would slowly devour, with a mild grimace of distaste.

"I don't think I can eat. I feel a little sick."

"Are you going to visit Madam Pomfrey now?"

She pulled herself up from the table saying, "I suppose I should." When she reached down for her bag, Harry put his hand on her wrist.

"I'll drop it off myself."

"We'll drop it off. Good thing they made her Head Girl, huh, mate?" He said around a mouthful of mashed potatoes.

"No, it's a good thing that those halls aren't charmed against the opposite sex." Hermione grinned for the first time since her conversation with Dumbledore.

Poppy Pomfrey clucked over Hermione disapprovingly.

"You should have waited... Heaven knows what irreversible damage has been done."

Again, Hermione found herself fighting down her temper. When she felt comfortable enough to speak, she said, "I couldn't control myself, Madam Pomfrey. I..." The urge to yell was now replaced with the sudden need to cry.

"Oh, dear. Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Granger. You've been through a terrible ordeal today. The mix of ingredients... Severus gave me the potion's lesson for today. It's no wonder..." Pomfrey reached for a vial, but put it back. "Dear, I'd like to give you something to calm you, but I can't be sure how it will react with the..."

Hermione calmed herself a bit. "It's alright. I don't really want anything. I feel full to overflowing with potion ingredients."

"It's no wonder," she clucked, motherly this time. "You head on up to your room. I've run all the tests I can. I'll deliver the results to Severus as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey." Hermione wiped her eyes on a corner of her robe.

Hermione Granger picked herself up with as much dignity as she had left and made the long trek to her room.