Hermione in Wonderland

Hermione in Wonderland

Hermione's head pound like a drum being beaten constantly. A slight movement set off a surge of pain that left her in agony. She felt waves of pain through her body and the movement made her want to throw up. She closed her eyes on the day and did her best to rest. Whole days went on with flashes of pain and sickness. When the illness visited her and did not leave she could not trust her senses to lead her right. She also heard voices of friends who were not there. She saw people before her who were not there but phantasms. The pain seemed to ferment inside of her. Neither she nor Ron knew the cause. She kept a rein on herself; however, there were moments when she wept because she fiercely hated being sick.

Nevertheless on this day Mrs. Weasley had brought her an herb-enriched broth. Hermione could just barely hear the plip, plop, and plip of the cooking broth. While attending it Mrs. Weasley produced a soft, simple rhythm that seemed to soothe Hermione. Her singing made Hermione feel better. Although she was still sick somehow she felt as buoyant as a cork. Mrs. Weasley came into the room Hermione was resting in and propped up her pillows. She went out and came back in with the broth she had made. She also brought in a small glass of water. She took a spoon and dipped into the broth and slowly fed Hermione. The broth was very warm but not hot. Hermione swallowed it and found it to be quite tasty. She ate some more and after a little bit found herself to be rather full. After a small sip of water she fell into a gentle sleep. When she awoke hours later Mrs. Weasley was there by her side with the broth and repeated the process. At one moment Hermione thought about not eating it but Mrs. Weasley gave her a look that would have frosted a small child in a midsummer night. She asked Mrs. Weasley if she would open the shades. Mrs. Weasley did her bidding and opened the shades and also the window to let some air into the room. The night outside was velvet black; the warm air filled the room with pleasant smells and reassuring sounds. The night was full of stars and her flawless features were carved in the starlight. Hermione took it all in and once more fell asleep.

She began to dream. Somehow the dream was frightening. Her fear was a black cloud that scudded about in the corners of her mind. She then understood why the dream was frightening; it was a journey within herself. It seemed to be like a dire and dreadful dance and as she danced she began to twitter and twirl and then she began to fall. Faster and farther she fell, crest and colors went past her. If she didn't stop falling soon she might bubble up her broth. Her desire was granted and her fall was ended in a thud. She fell like a stone dropped in a well. She didn't appear to be hurt. She slowly got up and looked about. Her mind appeared to be quick and keen. Her mind leapt light-footed and deer-like.

She saw colors of every kind. Flowers of yellow and green. The sky looked of marmalade and if she was tall enough she could scoop it with her hand and taste it sweetness. She noticed there was a trail, one trail only. So she decided she had better follow it wondering what else she might discover. She began walking and as time passed she came upon a field of daisies slightly swaying in a breeze. Her eyes searched and saw nothing but a yellow mustard field. Suddenly her eyes caught on to something or someone.

She was fearful to investigate but allowed her courage to command her caution and moved slowly ahead. She finally arrived at her goal and with great astonishment recognized the sight before her. It was Headmaster Dumbledore sitting on a large flower smoking a pipe. He looked deep in thought and didn't seem to notice her at all. She decided to clear her throat to get his attention. He removed his pipe and then said, "Miss Granger/Weasley, you are much too pretty to grunt that way." She turned pink and thanked him for the compliment.

Before she could say anything more he directed her over to a pool of water that she had not seen on her arrival. There were small stones by the pool. He told her to pick up a stone and cast it into the pool and then focus on the results. Hermione did so and noticed that when the stone hit the water it produced ripples in the calm water. He asked her what she had observed. She told him about the ripples. He told her that this was what was happening to her now. She did something in her past that was coming back to her. When she asked him what it was he told her to continue on the trail and another would give her the answer she sought. With that being said he put the pipe back into his mouth and resumed his deep thinking.

Hermione shrugged her shoulders and began her journey. Step by step she went looking about her surroundings. It was like being in a magical place. There were many "large rose trees" all round. She looked up and saw the clouds making daisy chains. It was enchanting. She decided to look down and noticed that the ground became white. She being slightly nervous slowed her pace. Moving on, she started seeing large, dark blots all over the white surface. She had no idea what they were. She scanned the white surface and saw that it reached out far and wide. She decided to kneel down and touch the surface to see if she could figure out what it was. It didn't look dangerous but in this place one could never tell. She felt the white substance with her fingers and instantly knew that she had encountered this material before. She tried to process the information but there were no answers. Over and over she thought about what it was, but still she drew a blank. She started to feel frustrated because although she knew what it was she couldn't put a title to it. Her frustration mounted on wings and then she yelled out her old reliable excuse, "Ron, it is all your fault!" After giving her anger release she felt better and then mumbled an apology to her Ron. She then resumed her focus on the problem at hand.

She decided to sit down on the strange surface and think the problem through. She called all her mental forces together. She remembered what Professor McGonagall had told her in one of her classes: that she needed to look at the situation from all perspectives. She allowed ideas to pass through her mind and if they looked good she would stop and mull them about. If she thought them non-workable she let them pass. Wham! It came like a lightening bolt. It was totally brilliant. She stood up and looked at the rose trees about and decided to climb one and get a bird's eye view. She searched about and found the one tree that would give her the best observation. She found the one and walked to it. When she stood next to it she saw that there were branches low enough for her to get a grip. She began her ascent. She climbed up and up until she was fairly high. She slowly turned and looked down. She had to her catch her breath. What she saw amazed her. It was a giant book. Then she realized the dark blots were words. It was hard for her to read what they were, so she decided to go a little higher. Although she was higher, the words were still hard to decipher. She tried to make them out, but they were just too big. She slowly scanned them hoping to discover some meaning to the print and then it she found one. "What on earth." The word was "Polyjuice."

Hermione climbed down the tree and decided to sit and try and think this through. She focused on the word "Polyjuice" and what it meant to her. The only memory of it came when she, Ron and Harry decided to change themselves to find out who the heir of Slytherin was. However, instead of a person she became a cat. Other than that she did not use Polyjuice again. She cast glances round the area and decided she should move on. She rose and started to walk. It felt so strange for her to be walking on a book. Usually she held a book, this time the book held her. After a bit she came to the edge of the book and took a small leap and was on the ground again.

As she progressed she noticed the landscape began to change into grassland. It looked like an ocean and the grass swayed back and forth in a breeze that became a strong wind. The air became cold and she began to shake. She wrapped her arms about her and kept on walking. Suddenly out of nowhere she saw something coming towards her. It looked like someone or something riding on a horse. She also noticed that the rider or whatever it was was carrying something. It was coming at her and she became afraid. It was bearing down on her at a great pace. She realized it was wielding a great scythe. She began to scream and when it got close it swiped at her with the scythe. She dived out of the way. As she rolled on the grown she turned to see what the rider was doing. To her horror it was turning round to come at her again. It drew close and the scythe swept down on her again. This time the scythe nicked her and the slight blow sent her sprawling.

She slowly stood up and watched the rider. However, this time it did not come charging at her. It slowly got of this awful looking animal which looked like a horse but wasn't. She didn't know what it was. The rider started to creep toward her. She started to scream at it asking why it was attacking her. It said nothing. She noticed it had a hood over its head so she could not see its face. She kept screaming at it to leave her alone. It still continued a slow march. Hermione began to feel as if the creature was enjoying her fear. It was almost on top of her when she saw a sign hanging from its neck. The sign read "Death."

Death was almost upon her. It drew the scythe and began to swing it. Hermione had sunk to the ground in fright and waited for the blow. All of a sudden she heard voice shouting, "Wingardium Leviosa!" To her surprise it was Ron's voice. She stood up and looked about and then she saw him running toward Death, wand in hand. As he passed her he gave her a quick snog and kept going. The spell made the scythe rise up in the air. Ron tackled Death and wrestled with him. He turned to Hermione and told her to run. She didn't want to leave Ron, but he kept yelling at her to go. He would keep Death at bay while Hermione got away. He told her that he would be okay. She yelled to him that she loved him and then took off at a sprint.

She ran and ran. She decided to look back and saw that Ron was holding his own. She kept on running. She turned again and saw that Ron and Death were out of sight. She still ran until she began to feel sick to her stomach. Finally she could run no more and stopped. She bent over and began to throw up a bit. She eventually caught her breath. She looked back from where she came and saw no sign of Ron and Death. She looked ahead and slowly continued her journey.

She noticed the landscape changing again. She came into a small glade. There was a stream flowing by and she decided to chance a drink. She kneeled down, cupped her hands and brought the cool water to her lips. She swallowed the sweet tasting liquid. It was wonderful. She took several more drinks. With her thirst satisfied she began to look about her. There was a carpet of wildflowers and green grasses. It was a very comforting scene and it calmed her stretched nerves. She tried to convince herself that Ron was okay but she had to admit she was very worried. She again scanned her surroundings. All of a sudden her eyes caught some movement. Although scarred she decided to investigate. She moved slowly toward her objective. As she moved closer she saw what it was. It was a fury animal. Upon closer inspection she realized it was a cat. What was a cat doing here? She thought. When she was very close she almost fainted. It wasn't just a cat; it was her cat Crookshanks.

He was lying on the lush grass licking his paws and giving himself a cleaning. He looked as if he hadn't a care in the world. When she was in front of him, he gave her a grin. He looked like a troublemaker more than her pet. She thought that he had better treat her with respect. If he didn't she could let her temper loose and become a somewhat mean owner. Maybe she would clip his claws too short and hit a tender spot.

She was still cautious. She then asked him what he was doing in this place. She did not expect an answer because cats cannot talk. He just grinned at her and continued to lick his paws. Finally out of frustration she let her temper got the best of her. She stomped her feet and went to grab him when he asked her what her intentions were. She almost swooned at the idea that her cat was conversing with her. After collecting herself she asked him how long he had been able to talk. Then she thought that maybe he was an Animagus. She asked him if he was and he replied no. He told her he was her loving cat. He then looked past her and asked her where her "Goofball" husband was. Hermione huffed and told him that although Ron had his moments, he was a very loving husband. He grinned at her and said to her that if she thought she might be going mad it was not his fault but the fault of that "Bungalow Boob" husband of hers. Trying to control her anger she told him to shut up and keep his remarks about Ron to himself.

Hermione began to cry and with that Crookshanks stopped the name-calling. She then started to mumble that perhaps she might be going mad. Crookshanks assured her that she was not going mad. She asked him where she was. He told her that the wiser question would be why was she here. She acknowledged the point and then asked that very question. He told her that she had come to this place to find and answer to something that was happening to her. He then told her that she was sick. She asked him what made her sick. Before answering her question he wanted to ask her some questions.

"Have you ever been bit by one of my kind?"

"No."

"Have you ever been one of my kind?"

To his surprise she said yes. She then told him about her adventure with Polyjuice and how she had turned into a cat. He didn't reply but instead kept licking his paws and giving himself a good and proper cleaning. He acted as if he hadn't a care in the world. The truth was he was thinking. He then told her that was the answer to her question. He went on to say that although she turned back to herself when turned into a cat she retained a disease from the cat. She asked him what the disease was. He told her he wasn't a doctor, but he thought she might have distemper. Hermione brought her hands to her mouth and gasped. Before she could say anything he told her that she needed to see a doctor or perhaps a veterinarian. She stared at him with disbelief. She couldn't imagine going to a veterinarian. He totally agreed with her because he didn't like going to them either. Nevertheless, sometimes it was necessary. She nodded her head in agreement. He told her that she should be on her way so she could receive the medical care she needed. She asked him how to get out of this place. He told her that she need not go any further but to just wake up. She nodded. However before she departed he told her that she was a wonderful owner. He thanked her for taking care of him and providing for his needs. He told her he loved her and then added a thank you for protecting him from "The Carrot Man." Hermione yelled, "Crookshanks! She woke up.

She opened her eyes and looked straight into her dear husband's face. It brought a smile to her lips. He smiled back. He was brushing her hair with his hand. He lowered himself and gave a light kiss on her nose. She said hi to him and he said hi back. He told her how worried he was because she was in a fit for quite awhile. He had placed her on the sofa so he could watch her more closely. His mother came over as often as she could to help, but she had her own family to tend and coming back and forth stretched her nerves taught. However, it was agreed that if Hermione did not get better they would pack up and move to the Burrow until her health improved.

Ron told her how happy he was to see that she was awake. He told her that they were not sure what was wrong with her but hoped that with rest, liquids, and Mrs. Weasley's homemade remedies she would be displaying that Granger temper before long. Hermione gave him a small look of displeasure but soon returned to her smile. She touched his mouth with her fingers to quiet him and then explained that she thought she knew what was wrong with her.

At that point she began to tell her tale. She told him about Dumbledore sitting on a flower smoking a pipe and about the book. She also told Ron how he had saved her from Death. She then gave him a small snog and called him her hero. Ron was beaming with pride. Then she came to the part about conversing with Crookshanks. She did not leave out any details. When Ron heard about all the names Crookshanks had called him he became upset. He stopped Hermione from talking and told her to hold her thoughts for one moment. He arose and walked over to Crookshanks lying on the floor and gave him a swift, hard kick telling him that was for all the name-calling. He returned to Hermione who told him that was very mean especially after the cat told her what was wrong with her. She went on to tell him that when they were at Hogwarts and she took the polyjuice and became a cat that after she was herself again, she had retained an illness called "Distemper." Apparently it had been inside her all these years but never bloomed until now.

As time moved on Hermione found herself at St. Mungo's Hospital getting treated for distemper. Moving on Ron did give Crookshanks a light pet and whispered to him that he did a ruddy good job. He whispered so that Hermione wouldn't hear him being nice to the cat. Nevertheless, Hermione did see Ron being nice to her cat and walked over to him and gave him a big hug. She then looked at Ron and thanked him for his kindness.

As always for Emma.