Chasing a Dream

Chapter 22

The Supreme Chancellor

It was Monday morning. Seamus was looking over his copy of The Daily Prophet. Owls swished and swooped overhead as Harry took another bite out of his plate of eggs. Ron had piled his plate high with bacon, eggs, biscuits, and all sorts of jellies and such. Ron wasn't worried at all.

"You should chill, Harry."

Ron said, spraying Dean with bits of toast as he did so.

"What if something's wrong? How are we supposed to know?"

Harry said, unable to keep the tone of worry out of his voice. Ron looked at his friend and swallowed all the food in his mouth.

"Harry, Hermione is a smart witch, right?"

Harry nodded.

"Then she'd get herself to the hospital wing before it got serious. She has good judgment. Besides-"

Ron took a swig of orange juice.

"-Smart people never get seriously sick."

Harry shook his head in disbelief at his friend.

"She's smart, Ron, not immune."

Ron shrugged and stuffed another bite of eggs in his mouth.

"Morning everyone."

Harry looked up. Hermione was standing over Seamus' shoulder, smiling weakly. She looked better, but not quite her usual self. Harry was very relieved to see her out of bed. Ron nudged him in the shoulder.

"See! I told you!"

Hermione slid into the seat next to Seamus. Seamus threw his copy of The Daily Prophet down on the table.

"My horoscope says I'm going to have a bad week!"

He said grumpily. Hermione looked did a quick double take of the front page. Her eyes were wide as she snatched up the newspaper. Harry watched her face grow paler and paler as her eyes scanned the page. She jumped up from her chair and took off, calling over her shoulder,

"I need to go! See you in class!"

The boys looked curiously at the newspaper. Seamus picked up the paper and read the headline.

"Peridot of Galena Stolen Out From Under Goblins' Noses!"

They looked at each other curiously.

"What's the Peridot of Galena?"

Ron asked. Seamus scanned the article.

"It doesn't say. It only says that it was stolen from Gringotts yesterday at nine in the morning."

Harry looked across the hall at Malfoy who was also reading his copy of the Daily Prophet. Harry watched as Malfoy spit out his orange juice and ran from the Great Hall much like Hermione did.

Something was up. Harry resolved to find out what, right after Care for Magical Creatures.

_-_-_

"Line up single file!"

Hagrid grunted to everyone. The Gryffindors and Slytherins stood in single file, anxious to peer into the cage on Hagrid's desk. Harry didn't want to see what most likely dangerous and hideous beast Hagrid had brought this time. Harry looked at the door. Hermione and Malfoy were just slipping in, unnoticed by the others and Hagrid.

Hermione was looking grim as she stepped into line next to Harry. Before Harry even opened his mouth, Hermione anticipated what he'd say.

"Later, Harry."

Harry nodded at Hermione and kept his mouth shut. It was finally their turn to see exactly what terror Hagrid had brought this time.

"Wow!"

They were anything but hideous or terrifying! They were little fairies. They had long blonde hair and huge, bright blue eyes. They had long white robes with silver wings that protruded from their backs. They stood only about eleven centimeters high. One of them sat on the ground, playing what looked like a tiny wooden flute.

"Beautiful, aren't they?"

Hagrid beamed at them. They were beautiful and amazingly calm!

"Everyone take yer seats!"

Harry retook his seat next to Ron. Hermione and Malfoy were forced to sit together at the back of the classroom since they arrived so late.

"These little beauts are Cassiterite Fairies! They can only be found in forests and only Vesuvians can tame 'em!"

The class echoed a 'huh?' at the name Vesuvian. It sounded vaguely familiar to Harry yet he couldn't place where.

"Don' tell me yeh never heard of Vesuvians before!"

The entire class shook their head no. Well, almost the entire class.

"Vesuvians are kinda like veela, only not radiant beauties. They charm things with songs and can alter a person's emotions with a single verse! They have other power's o' course, but I don't know what they are."

The entire class sat in quiet thought as Hagrid continued.

"Yep. One's here at this school. It's them we gotta thank to be able to see these little creatures yer lookin' at."

The class got ready to go, each of the students talking about whom this Vesuvian could possibly be. Harry was curious, too. Ron grinned at Harry.

"A whole class period free, just because somebody swiped all of Professor Binns' desks!" Ron winked and laughed as he shoved another book in his bag.

"What are you going to do with all that time?"

Harry asked. Ron grinned evilly.

"See you later!"

He said and sped out the door before he was forced to answer. Harry, Hermione, and Hagrid were all alone. Hermione walked up to Harry, scowling.

"What's wrong?"

Hermione ignored him and walked up to Hagrid's desk.

"What's up, Hermione?"

"How could you do that, Hagrid?"

She said in her best lecturing voice.

"What?"

"What if the Vesuvian didn't want everyone to know what it was? Don't you remember what happened to Harry when everyone found out he was a parselmouth?"

Hagrid was speechless. Harry was surprised that Hermione was so angry.

"You shouldn't have done that!"

Hagrid looked very ashamed and looked down at his hands.

"You're right, Hermione. I shouldn't have told them, especially without asking if I could first. I just didn't realize you didn't want anyone to know what yeh are."

You could have heard a pin drop in that room. Hermione was frozen, her eyes and mouth open in shock. Harry was looking at Hagrid in great disbelief. Hagrid was looking from Hermione to Harry in confusion.

"I have to go!"

Hermione's voice was squeaky. She turned and ran out of the room. Harry was still numb with shock.

"What!?!"

Harry yelled. Hagrid, finally realizing what he'd done, buried his face in his hands. Harry ran up to Hagrid's desk.

"What did you mean by that Hagrid?!"

Hagrid looked up from his hands.

"I could have sworn she'd have told yeh by now, honest!"

"What did you mean by that Hagrid?!?"

"Hermione is the Vesuvian, Harry!"

Harry turned and ran from the room, leaving poor Hagrid all alone.

_-_-_

Hermione was not very fast, which made it very easy for Harry to catch up to her. Harry saw her only a few yards up ahead, her hair flying in the wind. Finally, he got close enough to her to catch her hand.

Hermione tried to pull away and keep on running, but it was useless. Harry was not going to let go, not this time. There were too many questions to be answered.

Harry tugged on her hand until they were in a secluded grove of trees. Hermione stared at her feet as Harry pulled her to a stop. For a moment they just stood there until:

"I've really messed up this time, haven't I?"

Hermione's voice was as squeaky as it had been in Hagrid's new shed.

"Sit down, Hermione."

Harry nodded to a stump behind her. Hermione sat down, still looking at the ground. She took a deep breath but then spoke.

"I suppose you know by now."

Harry nodded.

"Do you want to tell me about it, 'Mione?"

Hermione took another deep breath as Harry asked,

"What are Vesuvians, Hermione?"

"Prepare yourself, Harry. This explanation will not be short."

Harry sat down on the ground in front of her.

"Vesuvians are like Hagrid said. We're cousins of Veela, only not as common. We look just like everybody else except one feature I'll get into later. Vesuvians can charm things with song, Harry. As Hagrid said, we do have other powers, but you've already witnessed those."

Hermione paused to look at Harry as realization dawned on him.

"Moving those thing with my mind was some of my powers, Harry. That brings me to something I said earlier. What color were my eyes when I preformed these...feats?"

"Blue."

"That is the Vesuvian trait. All Vesuvians are born with blue eyes that glow when we use our powers."

"But you have brown eyes."

"I'm getting to that. There is this sort of monarchy government for the Vesuvians that was ruled by Supreme Chancellor Chrysoberyl Regnarg up until our third year here."

Hermione paused as Harry thought for a moment.

"Chrysoberyl Regnarg was my grandmother. Let's start at the beginning."

"Vesuvian blood runs very thin now, Harry. Not everyone gets to be one. Hardly any have enough power to do anything with. When the Supreme Chancellor would die, the next Vesuvian in the same bloodline had to replace them.

There are methods to turn someone of a Vesuvian bloodline into a full-powered Vesuvian, but it can't be done with someone over the age of six-teen. My mother was born in the Vesuvian bloodline, but was without enough power to become a witch. My brother had enough power to become a wizard, and eventually be transformed into a Vesuvian Supreme Chancellor once he had enough training. I didn't even know what a Vesuvian was when I was little, let alone that my brother was learning the Vesuvian language to prepare to become one! All did not end well as you have already seen my brother was killed. It was up to my mother or I to produce another heir or see the Vesuvian government go to ruin. My mother would not allow me to produce an heir. All her attempts failed. Then, in third year, my grandmother died, and it was up to me to replace her."

Harry had his mouth open in shock.

"How is it possible that I didn't know this."

"I was contacted by Dumbledore and told of what I had to do, all while you and Ron weren't speaking to me because of the Firebolt. I was made to go to Vesuvian lessons that drained me terribly. Did you not notice how pale and on the verge of break-down I was?"

"I thought that was because of your work!"

"When has schoolwork ever tired me? No, it was the 'lessons' and transformation sessions."

"How did you find the time?"

"I had all the time in the world. I had a Time Turner! I wanted so much to tell you and Ron but you weren't speaking to me! So, I went to Hagrid, all the staff knew already anyway. By the end of third year, my transformation was complete and over the summer, my eyes turned blue. But I couldn't go back to school with blue eyes when everyone knew I had brown ones! The Council, which kind of like a Senate, allowed me to keep my brown eyes, though they change when I use my powers. Once you and Ron began speaking to me again, I was afraid to tell you. I was afraid you'd think I was a freak or something. And then, as time progressed, I didn't want to tell you because you might have gotten mad at me for keeping it from you. After what happened to Cedric, I was forbidden to tell anyone who didn't know already! That's why I went to Viktor's in the first place! I knew you'd be torn apart after what happened to Cedric. I knew I wouldn't be able to control myself if I saw you in so much pain! I'd try to use my powers to make you feel better and I couldn't let that happen! I couldn't give myself away!"

Harry, numb with shock, managed a question.

"You mean that only the teachers here and I know?"

Hermione looked at the ground again.

"No, two other people know."

Harry finally got something.

"Malfoy!"

Hermione looked up at Harry in shock.

"How did you know?"

"I heard you two talking in the library."

"One of the members of the Vesuvian Council, Septarian, is Draco's cousin. After the Triwizard tragedy last year, Draco was appointed my 'bodyguard'. His mother is in the Vesuvian bloodline, but she and Draco are not Vesuvians. I've become two people. The Vesuvians use a backward language, so to them I am Enoimreh Regnarg."

"Who else knows?"

"Ginny Weasley. She heard me singing in her room over the summer and I had to tell her. You have no idea what a relief it is that you know now."

Harry rubbed his head. It was all so confusing even though it did explain allot.

They sat in silence for a while and then;

"I don't know what to say, Hermione, except there was a time when I thought I knew you. You're not even Hermione anymore, now you're this Enoimreh person. I don't know who you are."

Hermione got on her knees in front of Harry and took his hands. Harry looked up into her eyes. She was crying.

"No, Harry. You are the only one who knows me. And if you don't know me by now, you will never, ever know me."

Hermione placed her forehead on his knees, getting his jeans wet with her tears. Her shoulders quivered.

"Please, please don't be mad at me! I need you!"

"Wait a minute, does that mean that... You're the Supreme Chancellor!?!"

Hermione began sobbing now, loud and audible.

"Please don't hate me, Harry! Please, please don't hate me!"

Harry had always thought that Hermione would have probably been better off if she had never become his friend and been roped into all his adventures. Sure, he needed her, but he'd always thought that she could get along fine without him. But at that moment, for the first time ever, Harry felt that maybe Hermione did need him as much as he needed her.

Harry lifted her face up to his and gave her a small, tiny, itsy bitsy kiss on the lips. Hermione's eyes were wide with shock, but she wasn't crying anymore.

"See, I don't hate you. I could never hate you, Hermione. You're my 'Mione, and being a princess or whatever isn't going to change that."

Hermione hugged him tightly and Harry was acutely aware of the tingling in his lips and, even though he was still a little confused, he was beginning to understand it all. Hermione may be a... whatever it is that she is, but she is still Hermione. His Hermione. And as he said before, nothing would ever change that.

Little did the two hugging figures know, was that a pair of eyes were watching their every move and listening to every word that Hermione had just said.