The Loss of Powers

Hermione shot up out of bed, her eyes ablaze with fear, and stared around at her surroundings briefly unaware of where she was.After realizing she was still at Hogwarts, she rubber her temples from the dream she had.As her still fearful eyes wandered around the room she wondered what the dream might have meant.She felt she needed to talk to her mother about the dream, she didn't know what told her this, but she was sure that is what she should do.After lying back down and trying to fall asleep, she finally succumbed to her weariness and slept a very unrelaxing sleep.


After waking up in the morning, she quickly went over to her desk.They weren't having class that day because it was a Saturday, but that didn't stop her from working.She quickly wrote her mother a note, got changed into a T-shirt and jeans, and ran out of her room and down the hall to the common room.There she saw Harry and Ron sitting playing chess, both of their eyes concentrating on the game, and Ginny hovering close to Harry, who neither seemed to notice.She admired Harry for how he handled Ginny's affection for him.'Though that's not the only reason why you admire him.' she thought to herself and fought a blush.
She walked over to where the guys were playing, eyes dancing, and sat down to the side of the board between the two guys."Hi, who's winning?" she asked even though she already knew the answer.
"Who else would be winning?" Harry told her and looked at her with a smirk on his face.
She laughed at the comment and unconsciously played with her hair while Harry looked at her.She then turned to Ginny and asked her, "Hey, Ginny, do you want to come to send a letter to my mum?"
"Sure" replied Ginny excitedly and went over to where she was standing said bye to Harry and Ron who both replied with a "see you later" and went back to their game.After leaving the guys to their game, and half way up the tower to the owlery, "So..."
"So what?" asked Hermione worried.
"So, what's the letter about?Is it something about Harry? You're not asking how you should go about flirting with him and trying to get his attention, are you?" Ginny's eyes shone with curiosity.
"What? No, what gives you that idea?" Hermione asked her through a blush.
"I can tell you like him, it would take a complete idiot to not realize that."
"Now don't go calling Harry an idiot like that!" she tried to act mad but then started laughing with Ginny after a while."Actually, it sounds like something Harry would do, but, I had a dream and I felt I should talk to my mum about it."
"Really?You don't think it's something serious, do you?" Ginny replied, becoming serious again.
"I won't know till I get a message."Hermione replied as she pulled the door open to the owlery.
As they walked into the building looking for an owl to get a message to Hermione's mother, Hedgwig flew over to a small peg sticking out of the wall and stood ready to take the message for her.
"Looks like you have a volunteer." Ginny joked with Hermione.
"That's weird, most of the time owls only fly over to their owner if they see them enter.Think Hedgwig thinks of me as one of her owners?" she thought out loud as she placed the note on Hedwig's leg."Now go give this to my mum and bring back her response as soon as possible."Hedgwig gave her a small loving nip on the cheek as a reply and flew out through the nearby window.
"Hmm, well, maybe she considers you close enough to Harry to be one as well?" Ginny said, not too glad about that prospect.
"I.... I don't know what you're talking about" replied Hermione unsteadily, "but, in any case, I say we get back too the common room."
"Yeah, I'm not sure if I can stand the smell of owl droppings and half eaten mice anymore." replied Ginny as they hurried out of the tower.


Back in the common room, they went over to where Ron and Harry were sitting, both of them still looking at the board, Harry more intently than Ron, who was telling Harry something when they entered.
"Wow, still at it?" Hermione asked in awe."You must be getting good Harry, either that or Ron is slipping." she said jokingly.
"Nah, it's not that, He just doesn't believe he's in check mate." Ron replied.
"I'm sure there is something I can do to get out of this." muttered Harry as his eyes scanned the chessboard.
"Just admit defeat and come on down to breakfast with me" said Hermione after hearing Harry's stomach growl it's protest at how long the game had been.
Harry sighed."Ok, ok, I give, you win Ron.Good luck finding someone else to play against, I'm done for now."Harry started to stand up, looking to Hermione and asked her if she was ready.
"I think I'm going to not play for awhile and go get some food.You're not the only one that's hungry." Ron replied also standing ready to go get something to eat.
After leaving the common room, they headed down to the Great Hall and sat down at the Gryffindor table, got some food and started to eat.Hermione was too nervous about the letter she had sent out, and that was obvious to both Harry and Ron, who were sitting on either side of her, Harry to her right with Ron to her left.
"Are you ok, Hermione?" Harry asked out of concern.
"Oh, it's nothing, just a little spooked by a dream last night." she replied unsteadily.
"Is that all huh? What, did you dream you got a B in a class or something?" Ron asked sarcastically.
At this, she said, "Oh, very funny. 'Look at me, I'm so perfect I can't get a B on a stinking class'." she raged as she left the Great Hall.
"What's up with her?" Ron asked Harry.At this, Harry could only shrug, but finished what was left and pardoned himself from the table to go look for her.He left the main room, and went back up to the Gryffindor's common room, wanting to find her there.After saying the password and entering, he looked around the common room, and saw a figure lying on the couch shuddering slightly.
"Hermione, is that you?" he asked cautiously.
"What do you want?" she replied venomously.
"I.... I was wanting to make sure you were ok, you did storm out of there rather quickly."
"I'm fine, it's just that...He shouldn't have tried to make fun of the dream that's all." she said reluctantly as she tried to stop crying.
"What was the dream about?Maybe I can help."Harry suggested.
"It isn't so much the dream, but what happened because of the dream." After a pause filled the conversation, "Harry, I.... I can't use magic anymore."
"Wha...What do you mean? You mean you don't want to, or you...you can't use it," Harry replied in shock.
"I can't use it... Even the simple spells, I can't use one of them." she whimpered.She looked at him trying to read his expression, "I guess you guys won't want me around anymore." she said pathetically, nearly on the brink of tears again.
"Now, wait just a second, why do you think we wouldn't want you around?" Harry said in shock.
"Well, I'm the brainy one, I'm the one that can do anything and everything.You're the brave and cute one, and Ron is the comedian.What use would I have if I can't do my job?" Hermione said this like it was the only way things could ever be.
"We have never had roles, and you know it." Harry said furious that she would think such a thing at such a time."We are friends, we don't play roles.Heck, I'll let you or Ron be the brave one for awhile if you really want to."
"Maybe, but I will still have to leave Hogwarts." Hermione said starting to cry again at the thought.
"We won't let that happen, we will find a way to work around this.I won't let you just give up and leave without a fight.We can and will win this, I promise you."
"Harry?"
"Yes?
"Thank you" she said as she sat down next to him.He then pulled her into a hug and let her cry all she needed to in his arms.


After a bit of crying, she finally pulled away and mumbled her thanks to Harry.Soon after, Ron came in the room, and looking at Hermione started to apologize, but she stopped him."I'm okay, I'll get through this, though how, I'm not sure.It wasn't your fault at all, so don't think it was." She told him firmly.
Ron just looked at her in shock then nodded his head and went over to where Harry was still sitting on the couch, and noticing the wet spot on his shoulder, knew what had happened."She gonna be ok?" he whispered to Harry.
"I hope so, for all of our sakes, I hope so." Harry muttered.
"What's going on with her?" Ron asked.
"It's.... She can't...." Harry sighed, "She can't use magic anymore."
"You're, joking, aren't you?" Ron glared at Harry almost threateningly.
"No, he's not." Hermione replied.
Ron looked dumbstruck.
"I'm going to go to the library and search for something, anything on regaining lost powers, do you want to join me Hermione? Ron?" Harry said.
"No, I'm going to stay here for awhile." Hermione said sadly.
"While I'm not sure if I can be much help here or there, I'll go with you.This is going to take awhile, I'm sure."
"Thanks guys." Hermione replied weakly.


That night, Harry laid awake in his bed wondering what would happen if Hermione couldn't regain her powers.Sure he had influences in the wizarding world, but would that be enough for them to allow a once witch, now Muggle to stay at Hogwarts?Also, how would Hermione take it?
Would she stay even if she could? Could she stand such a reminder?"These questions will keep you up all night," Harry told himself.Still, he couldn't help but think about it.She had been such a big part of his life.He decided right then and there that he would do anything to keep Hermione by him."Is this love? Could I be in love with Hermione?" he wondered to himself."Does she even love me?" he asked himself."Well, of course she does, I have noticed just how much she messes with her hair around me, trying to look her best.Yes, that must be it.Wait, isn't Ron also around a lot?What if that's it, what if she likes Ron and not me?" Harry sighed.All through the night he kept waiting for sleep, but then right when he was about to sleep, he would think back on Hermione.
"That does it, tomorrow, I will find out, for better or worse, just where I stand.Even if she doesn't return my love, I will do anything for her to stay by me.That's all there is to it." Harry said aloud to no one in particular; though he wasn't the only one who, unknown to him, was still not asleep.
Ron shifted in his bed as he thought this over.