Hermione of Hogwarts

Prologue

Harry Potter was walking out onto the Quidditch pitch. There was no match and his hand was devoid of a broomstick. It was dark and the goal hoops seemed to glimmer with a spectral glow. There were no stars and no moon. Harry had only seen the sky so dark whenever Dementors were around. He looked around quickly, but there weren't any. He could feel the cold fingers gripping his heart that he associated with the monsters. The grounds of Hogwarts were lit only by the green glitter of Harry's own eyes. Harry had only seen the sky so dark whenever Dementors were around. He looked around quickly, but there weren't any. He could feel the cold fingers gripping his heart that he associated with the monsters.

He was alone.

Actually, that wasn't strictly true. A figure with a black cloak billowing around him was emerging out of the mist. Harry gripped the wand in his robes. He didn't know who this man was but he knew he didn't trust him.

The figure stopped in front of Harry.

"It has been predicted..."

The voice was harsh and seemed far away yet Harry knew it came from the man in front of him.

"She is important..."

Harry was surprised that he wasn't surprised. There was no reason for him to be where he was and he couldn't remember walking out of the castle yet everything was understandable.

"You must look after her. There are those that want her dead and there is another, seduced by her intelligence, who will kill her if not obeyed..."

The man stopped and Harry didn't move, knowing that it wasn't over. He couldn't tell how he knew. It was as though he'd heard this before, as though this was a story he'd read a long time ago, the ending long forgotten.

"Do not obey him but do not let her be consumed by those that eat death. This is your mission. Protect her if you want him to fall..."

The figure span, whipping up clouds of dust. Harry turned away, shielding his eyes and when he looked back, he was alone.

~*~

Not very far away, Snape bent over a cauldron. Pink and gold lights danced on the walls and the ceilings. Hovering over the cauldron, drowning in pink, was a single piece of iron. It hovered there, not moving even slightly. Professor Snape's wand had it exactly balanced.

Gently Snape lifted his wand, transferring the source of magic to his eyes. Still the iron did not move. He continued to stare and waved the wand over his head, muttering an incantation.

On the last syllable, he blinked. Just for a split second he lost eye contact. He managed to still charm the iron with his eyes, but the damage had been done. The iron quivered and the pink light stilled. The gold turned to grey. Sighing, Snape allowed the iron to fall. Alchemy was proving to be impossible.

How was it that Flamel could do it, but he couldn't?