The Oracles of Prodigy

Chapter Three ~ Unrequited Love

"Hermione, I really don't need go to the hospital wing," Harry said, but this was a down right lie. His body was soar from the Cruciatus Curse, and he wasn't sure whether he had a fever or lack of body heat; but the one person he really wanted to see wasn't available: Dumbledore.

"Harry," Ron said, holding his arm and helping him up the stairs, "you're joking yourself. I know for a fact that you feel just as bad as I did when I got slashed...only about a million times worse. Just see Madam Pomfrey will you? It would make you feel a lot better and make us a lot happier knowing your treated."

"You're right, Ron." Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned the corner to the hospital wing. "But while she's helping me, would you two please go to McGonagall and ask her where Dumbledore is? I need to talk to him now!" They led him into the hospital wing and Hermione ran to get Madam Pomfrey from her office.

"Harry, do you want to tell us something?" Ron asked him, setting him down on a bed.

"Not yet," was all Harry could say back because Madam Pomfrey and Hermione had come back. Hermione had obviously told her whatever she knew, for the nurse set to work on Harry right away.

"Just go talk to McGonagall, please," Harry called to Ron and Hermione, right before the curtain to his bed was drawn close.

"Why does he want Professor McGonagall?" Hermione questioned Ron. Ron shook his head.

"He wants to know if Dumbledore was back yet, he wants to talk with him."

"Well then, let's go and see." Hermione tugged Ron's sleeve. Ron nodded and followed her out of the hospital wing.

"Do you think we should go and explain to Professor Binns why we all ran out on him?" Ron asked her.

"I don't think there's any need. Once we tell McGonagall and hopefully Dumbledore about Harry, I'm sure everything will get straightened out. Besides, were too late to catch him anymore." Hermione rounded the corner and started up the staircase.

"Why?" Ron continued, following her.

"Because of...that." Hermione looked up and the bell for the end of lessons sounded throughout the school.

"Everyone will be on their way to lunch and then their next class. We won't be able to find Professor Binns for awhile until lessons start. Come on, we have to catch Professor McGonagall before she goes anywhere as well."

The two friends hurried up and down staircases, through hallways and corridors, and into many, classrooms but McGonagall seemed to have disappeared like Dumbledore.

"We've been everywhere with no sign of her and lunch will be ending soon. We'll have to go to lessons as well, Hermione," Ron informed her. They walked for a while in silence down one staircase.

"Harry wasn't telling us something, was he Ron?" Hermione asked him. Ron nodded.

"I have a feeling, though, that it has to do with the girl we've been seeing. He was acting like I was when, you know..." he pointed to his side.

"Yeah," was all Hermione could say.

"It was like he couldn't tell us because it felt, I don't know, awkward and weird. Stupid even," Ron said. Silence once more.

They walked on, mercifully seeing no one in the hallways for awhile. But then the sound of footsteps echoed from the corridor ahead. Ron and Hermione looked at each other, both wondering who it was. Then voices accompanied the footsteps, and it was the last two voices either of them wanted to hear.

"Pansy, I really don't want to go the library with you right now. Just, go yourself," Draco insisted, obviously trying to shake her off.

"But Draco, I-"

"Pansy, I busy."

Hermione's eyes widened and she motioned to Ron to hide in the broom cupboard to their right. Ron, however, didn't catch on very fast, and Malfoy and Pansy were coming around fairly quickly. Hermione yanked the door open and shoved Ron inside. She herself rushed in and shut the door closed just as the other two came into the hallway.

"Hermione-"

"Be quiet, Ron!" Hermione opened the door just a crack and peered out of it. Malfoy was standing right outside of it, apparently annoyed with Pansy.

"Pansy, please just leave me alone!" Malfoy gently pushed her aside and tried to surpass her, but she clung onto his arm pathetically. Hermione felt someone come up from behind her. She looked up and saw Ron watching them too.

"Draco, you don't spend time with me anymore," Pansy whined.

"It may be because I just really don't want too. Now go away." He pulled free of her and turned to go, only to be bombarded by almost all the girls in fifth year.

"Draco, stay away from Pansy and come with me to the library!"

"No, don't go with her!"

"Yes, go with me instead!"

"Let's go to the common room Draco..."

"...and leave these girls behind and take a walk around..."

"...the lake with me, not them!"

"This is disgusting," Ron said above Hermione, and she nodded in agreement. Ron moved backward a little so Hermione could get away from the door and sit on the shelf in the back of the cupboard. Ron watched her, and then turned back to the commotion outside.

"All of you, please, just leave me alone! No, I don't want to hear anything any of you say! Just...just..." Malfoy was losing their attention, their hearing attention at least, as every girl there began flirting with him again.

"That's weird," Ron said over his shoulder to Hermione. Hermione looked up.

"What is?" she asked.

"Malfoy,"

"Well, that's no surprise."

"No," Ron said. "Come over here and look." He motioned for her to look out the door. Hermione got up and crawled under Ron, peeking a little out of the bottom of the tiny slit. Malfoy was searching for a way out, but he looked odd. He looked extremely nervous for one thing, and his right hand was wrapped tight around the middle of his left forearm. Hermione noticed that he flinched every time someone came close to touching it.

"Fine," Malfoy called over their voices. "Everyone...meet me in the library and I promise to meet you there for... whatever you had planned." An embarrassed look actually claimed his face as all the girls squealed and rushed down the corridor, fighting their way to the library.

"Wonder what's wrong with him," Hermione thought out loud. Draco watched them go, and then winced slightly. He clutched his arm tighter. Something about the way he was acting seemed familiar to her, but she'd never seen anyone act like that.

"Is it just me or is this one big deja vu?" Ron asked Hermione, speaking aloud her thoughts.

"It's not just you," she replied. Then she jumped a little as Malfoy's eyes briefly skimmed over the cupboard where they hid, and she got up quickly and rushed to the back of the room. Draco heard her, but granted the noise no more than a curious look before hurrying down the hall, opposite the way the girls went. He had no intention of meeting any of them and every intention to take a long, lonely walk around the lake. Ron made sure he was gone before opening the door.

"Hermione, he's gone now. Come on, we have to find McGonagall. Hermione?" Ron looked back and saw her pressed up against the back wall. "Hermione, you can come out now."

"Are you sure he's gone?" she asked nervously. Ron furrowed his brow in confusion.

"Yes, I watched him go myself."

"Positive?" she asked again. She took a small step towards the doorway.

"Hermione, Malfoy really scared you when he said he'd kill you, didn't he?" Ron asked. Hermione bore her eyes into the ground.

"Of course not. Why would I take him seriously? It's just Malfoy; he's nothing but talk." She whisked past Ron into the corridor. Ron closed the door and went to her side.

"Hermione, don't try to lie to me. It won't work," he told her. Hermione said nothing on the subject.

"Maybe she's in the faculty lounge," she said, and started to walk to her left. Ron caught her arm. "Ron, what is it?"

"Hermione, why did he scare you so much? And don't say he didn't because I know you and if Malfoy is dumb enough to cross you he'd get slammed across the face!" Hermione smiled. "Tell me the truth."

"I-" Hermione stopped. She stared blankly past Ron for a moment, thinking of the way Malfoy spoke to her.

"If you ever touch me again Granger, I will personally make sure that you are lying at my feet...dead."

Then she looked at Ron, at first too embarrassed to admit she was afraid, but should she be? This was one of her best friends, he would do nothing about it but either comfort her or punch Malfoy's lights out.

"Oh Ron, it was terrible," Hermione finally said. Her voice was cracking. "There was this look in his eyes, like he wanted to kill me right then and there. It was horrid." Tears began to fill her eyes. Ron simply stood there, not saying anything. Then he pulled her into a tight hug, holding her close.

"Hermione, if he ever comes near you, Harry and I will do everything to protect you. You're my best friend, and by the looks of it you're also Harry's. Just don't be afraid to ask for our help. Okay?"

"Okay," Hermione said, and hugged him back. They stayed that way for awhile, taking comfort in another friend's embrace. Then they broke apart and dove back into business mode.

"Now, let's see, you said McGonagall might be in the faculty lounge?" Ron questioned.

"Yes," Hermione answered. She began walking to the lounge, Ron following suite. "She should be there, or else I don't know where else."

The two whirled around the corner and up the staircase that was waiting for them there.

****

"There she is!" Hermione cried, pointing out the window and across the courtyard. Ron followed her finger and saw her too. Professor McGonagall was stepping out of the wall there. She looked around for awhile, and then turned her back to them and began to walk away.

"No, Professor! Professor McGonagall, we need to talk to you!" Hermione climbed out the window and landed on the grass outside. Ron laughed at this, but copied her lead. McGonagall was quite astonished.

"Miss Granger! Mr. Weasley! Oh my goodness, what is the matter with you?" she asked, as Hermione was helped over the opposite window by Ron and Ron climbed over into the hallway after her.

"Professor, we were wondering if Dumbledore was back yet from...well, actually we don't know if he really went anywhere. We were just wondering if he was available," Hermione questioned. McGonagall stared at her for a long time.

"Why must you talk to the Headmaster so suddenly, Miss Granger?" she interrogated. Ron answered for her.

"Because something happened to Harry, Professor; and he wanted to talk to Professor Dumbledore."

McGonagall waited for a moment, obviously thinking about it, and then she nodded to them and turned to the wall.

"Alright then Mr. Weasley. You and Miss Granger may go into the Headmaster's office and speak to him; but mind you he his very tired. He has traveled a long way and he may seem drained at the moment, but do not hesitate to ask him anything. Now, come on." And she led the two in front of the wall she just came out of. It had a stone gargoyle in front of it.

Ron suddenly realized that he had never been to Dumbledore's office; and by the look on Hermione's face, neither had she. They glanced at each other, and then back at the wall. Professor McGonagall watched the gargoyle.

"Cockroach cluster."

The gargoyle sprang to life and jumped aside. Ron and Hermione looked on wide-eyed as the wall receded in and a spiral staircase lay within.

"Well," Professor McGonagall said. "Step in, both of you."

Ron did so, but Hermione stayed out for awhile.

"Hermione, come on."

"Wait Ron," Hermione said, turning to McGonagall. "Professor, could you please check on Harry in the hospital wing for us? We just want to know if he's okay." She waited for her response. Professor McGonagall smiled slightly. A twinkle like Dumbledore's appeared in her eyes.

"Yes, Miss Granger. I will check on Mr. Potter for you two. It is very kind of both of you to think of him. Now go on, do not keep the Headmaster waiting." She gave them a small nod and walked toward the hospital wing.

"Come on Hermione, let's go to Dumbledore. Harry needs him." He watched her as she nodded and stepped on the staircase. It immediately began spiraling upward, bringing them right to Dumbledore's office door. Ron turned to Hermione. She looked at him, confused.

"Well," he started, waiting. She narrowed her eyes in puzzlement.

"What?"

"Well," he motioned to the door, "go ahead and knock."

"Why don't you knock?" Hermione asked him, annoyed yet amused.

"I don't know," Ron answered, averting his gaze. "I don't want to knock on his door if he's tired. Better you startle him than me. Your the top student, he won't get mad at you."

"Ron you're impossible!" Hermione shoved him and raised the giant brass knocker. She let it fall three times. The two waited a few moments before the door was opened. When it was a tall wizard with a long, white beard, half-moon glasses, and a long crooked noise stood before him. When he laid his eyes on the two friends, a smile crept its way onto his face. Ron and Hermione returned the smile.

"Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, I have been waiting for a visit from you two for quite some time. Please, step into my office and tell me everything I need to know about Mr. Potter and the girl."

Ron and Hermione followed him in, both of their faces cloaked with surprise.

****

Harry paced back and forth in the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey had insisted that he stay overnight, and she wouldn't allow him to leave the wing at all before tomorrow. This was a hassle for Harry. It had only been an hour or so, but Harry was already getting bored and anxious.

Trust me...

It was so hard for him to relieve his mind of that girl's voice. This wasn't good either, because Harry was all alone in the hospital wing and that voice was creepy. Utterly freaking himself out, Harry grabbed his wand off his bedside table and started twiddling it between his fingers.

Trust me...

Harry increased his pacing speed, moving his wand around faster as well. He glanced at the door. It was empty, lonely of any sign of Ron or Hermione. Harry wished they would hurry up and come back. He really didn't want to be alone right now.

Almost... hold on, it's almost here...

Harry wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. He could feel his scar under his fingers sizzle slightly. He tossed his wand up and down, watching the sparks it emitted, trying to distract himself.

NOW!

Harry slipped on the stone floor and his wand flew out of his hand. It hit the wall and set off a loud BANG! before releasing a gigantic cloud of smoke. The smoke brought with it a horrible smell.

"Mr. Potter, what is that wretched odor?" Professor McGonagall's voice called from the doorway.

"Professor!" Harry got up from the ground as McGonagall pulled out her own wand and waved it. The smoke cleared away immediately and the smell too, yet it left behind a faint tint of rotten cabbages and troll.

"Mr. Potter, are you alright?" the aged woman asked him. Harry nodded and sat down on his bed. "Very good, Potter. Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger just wanted to make sure you were."

"Ron and Hermione? Where are they? Did they find Professor Dumbledore?"

"Yes, Potter, they found him. They are speaking to him at this exact moment I believe. Now get some rest; I doubt you are in here just to wait for them." She smiled and left the room for her next class.

"Thanks, Professor," Harry called out to her. He fell onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. "Okay. They found Dumbledore. That's good news. He'll come here and I'll explain everything to him and maybe he'll tell all three of us who that girl is-"

Trust me...

"-and maybe that will get her voice out of my head!" Harry turned over and brought the pillow down over his ears, hoping to block out the voice; but all he succeeded in doing was trapping it within his mind.

****

Draco stood alone on the edge of the lake. He stared at the water, thinking hard. Automatically his hand moved over to his arm. He looked at it and then quickly brought it down to his side again. He sighed and then fell onto the grass. For awhile he continued his stare and said nothing; didn't move at all and tried to make his own breathing as soft as possible.

A soft wind curled its way through the trees and around him, casting a cool breeze across his face. For some reason it felt like the wind brought with it the presence of a person. He took advantage of this feeling and spoke into the silence.

"There's something wrong with me," Draco said. "I haven't myself lately. I can't even remember a time where I felt normal. The last time I ever did was when-"

He stopped. His own mind was reeling back to that night at his house. He had been sitting by the fireplace in their living room. He hadn't been much, just thinking about Harry Potter and his stupid friends and how much he hated them. He had been startled by his father walking into the room; swift and silent, like a serpent. Draco had looked up. Green light, a burning in his arm, the hard stone floor and screams. That was as much as he could recall.

"I don't know what happened that night, but I'm sure as everything that I hated it." He raised his left arm and pulled back the sleeve. Upon his pale skin, embedded into his flesh was a jet black skull with a snake protruding from its mouth: the Dark Mark. But what Draco failed to notice was that something was different about his, a tiny slash mark lay to one side of the skull's bony face.

Draco touched it gently with his fingers; it was cold to his touch. He closed his eyes to its wretched sight and covered it once more with his sleeve.

"A year ago I would have loved to have you be a part of me, connecting me to the Dark Lord," he whispered. "But now all you have brought me is pain and burden; and if I could I would rip you off me and blow you to oblivion."

Suddenly the Dark Mark flared with heat, torching Draco's skin. The burning went up his arm, past his shoulders, through his neck and into his eyes. Their original blue color was drained away, giving way to the dark grey that so many were used to. Draco himself fell away to Malfoy, and he stood up, dusting off his robes.

Making sure his wand was safely tucked away under his sleeve, Malfoy looked around him once and then trudged back towards the castle. Crystal stood where he had sat, invisible to his eyes and anyone else's. She scowled at him and shimmered away, back to her tower.

****

Hermione followed behind both Professor Dumbledore and Ron, all three on their way to the hospital wing. As they hurried down one hallway Hermione saw a Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff holding hands and flirting with each other. At this she failed to stifle a disgusted groan. Ron heard her.

"What's wrong?" he asked. Hermione just shook her head and walked on past Ron to stroll next to Dumbledore. The Headmaster looked at her and smiled.

"Yes Miss Granger? I have the odd feeling that a question is at hand?"

"Professor," Hermione began cautiously. "Will you tell us everything about...what's been going on in the past weeks?" She bit her lip, waiting. Dumbledore, however, saw no reason to rush the response, and they past quite a few corridors before he turned to answer her.

"Miss Granger, I assure you that I will tell you all that I possess knowledge of; but on the accounts on whether it is all of what has been going on, I cannot say. I, might I add, am not all-knowing, and that may come as a bit of a shock to you." He smiled and winked once at her. Hermione could not help but smile.

"Yes, Professor."

"But I strongly caution you that whatever information is revealed to all three of you, please do not take it lightly. It is valuable, what I will tell you; so I ask that none of you go passing it around to your fellow students. What an uproar that would be." He laughed to himself and faced forward once more.

Hermione turned to look at Ron who was trying to sort out what Dumbledore had said. He looked to her for clarity; but she shook her head, just as slightly puzzled as he.

"Ah, and here we are." Hermione looked forward. They were at the hospital wing entrance. The Headmaster stepped aside, leading Hermione and Ron in. They allowed him to do so. Hermione quickly found Harry at the end of the row of beds, (he was the only one there). He had his pillow over his head, and his muffled voice spoke non-stop under its fabric. The three walked over to him and Ron seized the pillow and yanked it off.

"What the-" Harry started. He blinked up at the light falling on his eyes; he couldn't see well yet.

"Hello!" Ron said, smiling jauntily down at him.

"AHH!" Harry screamed so loud and so suddenly that all four people in the room were affected. Ron jumped back, Hermione returned the scream, Harry fell out of bed and Dumbledore laughed. Ron backed into the curtains, Hermione slipped on the stone floor, Harry fell flat-face onto the floor and Dumbledore bowed his head and laughed. Ron fell to the ground in fabric, Hermione grabbed the edge of a bed and flipped it over, Harry's glasses broke and Dumbledore simply laughed.

"Ow, my head..." Hermione moaned from the floor.

"Myglasserbrokin," Harry mumbled, not moving from the ground.

"They're attacking me!" Ron yelled from the heap of curtains also on the floor. Dumbledore continued to laugh. They stayed that way for a while, none of them moving except for Ron flailing with the curtains. Then Dumbledore spoke.

"That was quite a performance," he chuckled. "But let us get down to business now."

He bent down to help Hermione up and waved his wand so the bed righted itself. He raised Harry off the floor and left it to Hermione to repair his glasses; then he walked to the other side of the bed to Ron. Ron, who was extremely occupied, did not notice the Headmaster come to him.

"Mr. Weasley, I think you've given those curtains a good beating," he said. Ron slowly stopped and gazed up at the wizard.

"What? Oh, sorry Professor." Ron took Dumbledore's outstretched hand and heaved himself onto his feet just as Hermione flicked her wand and fixed Harry's shattered glasses.

"Thanks for that one Ron," Harry said, climbing back into bed. "I really needed to crack my nose." He grinned at him. Ron gave him a 'shut up Harry' look.

"What were you doing suffocating yourself anyway?" he asked. "Just because you're sick, doesn't mean you have to kill yourself!" Ron ducked as Harry threw a pillow at him.

"Ron, be quiet," Hermione ordered, looking stern. Ron stopped abruptly.

"All right then, let us begin. Harry, please start by telling me what happened to you just a few hours ago. Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger informed me with what they know, but I am certain it is not all of it." The eyes behind his spectacles shone brightly in the slow setting sun. Harry held his gaze for just a moment.

"Yes sir, there is more to what happened." Harry waited for Dumbledore's motion to proceed. But first he conjured up a winged armchair and sat down in it.

"Please," he said, gesturing to Ron and Hermione, "rest your feet and take a seat. I imagine this will take sometime." He smiled at them and they beamed back. Hermione sat on the edge of Harry's bed and Ron pulled over a chair himself. "Now that we're all comfortable, Harry, you may begin." So, once again, for about the millionth time in all his four years of school, Harry was off, telling them all about his encounter.

Harry told of the voice, of the girl and how she looked, what she had warned him about and of her prediction of Hermione and Ron if they heard him. He spoke of the pain, of hearing his friends far away, of the girl's saddened face and of her ongoing voice that was trapped within his mind.

His story-telling was interesting enough, but it also took a lot of time as Harry wanted to go into every detail, knowing it would help Dumbledore and his explanation later. However, the length of the story was taking its toll on the listeners.

Dumbledore sat as erect as before, watching Harry from the foot of the bed; but Ron and Hermione were slumping over. Ron had sunk low in his chair, his feet up on Harry's bed, his arms crossed and his head slung over the back rest, staring at the ceiling. Hermione had brought her legs up under her, sitting crossed-legged on the edge of the bed. Her usual proud posture was gone and her shoulders sagged a bit. She stared at the far wall, yet hearing everything Harry said.

"So what I understand Harry," Dumbledore began when Harry finished, "is that this girl cast an Unforgivable Curse on you without emotion, yet she was incredibly remorseful afterwards?"

"Yes, Professor," Harry replied. Dumbledore leaned on one side of the chair. He raised his hand at the elbow and placed his chin on his fingers, thinking hard. His gaze was not focused on Harry, but on a point to the side of him. There was nothing there, of course, so Dumbledore was probably recalling something in his mind. Harry just stared on.

"How very strange," the aged wizard whispered. Harry, Ron and Hermione all looked at him in wonder. "Very, very strange for her..." the Headmaster repeated.

"Sorry sir," Harry inquired, "but what is strange?" Dumbledore averted his gaze to match his. It was another long pause before he said a word.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley, what I am about to tell you is a secret so concealed that only two people in the entire wizarding world know about it, soon to be five. The secret that I am talking about will have all the answer to all of your questions. It is the reason behind your visions and encounters, your pains and her interventions. It is a secret that could, in fact, destroy the entire world." He stopped here, watching them all. The trio exchanged glances and then returned their attention to Dumbledore.

"Sir, what do you mean when you said only two people know this secret, soon to be five?" Hermione interjected.

"That, Miss Granger, is a very good question which I am most happy to answer." The Headmaster sat back in the armchair, crossing his legs and grasping either side of the armrests. "You three," he pointed to each one of them, "are about to be let in on this secret. Now I warn you not to tell anyone else of it. If this kind of information were released, chaos and mayhem would break lose. And if the Dark Lord ever knew-" He closed his eyes in horror. "But let us get on with the answers." Dumbledore stood up and began a slow, steady pace.

"Professor, what's the big secret?" Ron asked bluntly. Dumbledore never stopped his pacing.

"The Oracles of Prodigy."

"Who?" all three asked at once. Dumbledore just nodded.

"You don't know who they are, and that is what's expected. That," he said, shaking a finger at them and sitting back down, "is the big secret. But now I will tell you what and who they are. Now hush and do not speak yet, this explanation is very long, and it will require all your attention...

"I suppose the story shall begin with who the Oracles of Prodigy are. Let me see, how to describe them-I guess the only way to really give you a picture of who they are is to say that they are the most powerful sorcerers to ever live. Now wait!" Dumbledore raised a hand to silence all three who were about to protest. "Let me speak, and then you may ask."

"The Oracles of Prodigy are two people, a brother and sister at that. They posses the greatest and strongest powers of all. So powerful, in fact, that they could defeat Voldemort himself if they pleased." He grinned at their astonished faces.

"But why don't they?" Ron burst out, forgetting about what Dumbledore said. Hermione had enough of him though; she climbed across the bed and walked around to Ron's chair. Raising an eyebrow at her, Ron asked what she was doing. Without saying a word Hermione pushed Ron's feet off the bed and unfolded his arms. She then sat on his lap and clasped a firm hand over his mouth, quieting him into surprised silence. Harry roared with laughter.

"Good move Miss Granger," Dumbledore praised. Hermione just nodded while Ron stared up at her in annoyance. She kicked his leg and he yelped; she smack his head and he tried to retort with words against her hand. Then she pulled out her wand with her free hand and he stopped everything and nodded to her, staring at the wand. Tears of mirth filled Harry's eyes.

"Please proceed Professor," Hermione told him. He nodded.

"Very well, Miss Granger. The reason the Oracles never did, or don't now, defeat Voldemort is because they are, as you could call, not in this universe. They were banished away to the barren world of Enol, to live forever in a secured tower. For this there was reason. Their powers are much too strong and too dangerous for mortals like us to handle. And that is where I introduce to you the girl you all have seen.

"Her name is Crystal Tiara, and she is one of the Oracles. The first born, actually. What she has done to all of you, show you visions of herself, scare you in the most potent matters and even inflict serious pain on all of you, is the horrid power she possesses. Her main one is the ability to see the future. Her formal name under her position is Wanderer; that is how you would greet her. Again, I know what your thinking: What's the big 'wow' about her ability to see the future? That's because so many can do it, right?

"Wrong. No, listen to me first Harry, when Professor Trelawney predicted Voldemort's return that was a rare moment indeed. Crystal's powers are much more advanced than that. Her ability is detailed in its art. She can see anything, absolutely anything in the future. It matters not what time, what place, whom, when , where or why, she could see it and tell. But seeing the future takes its toll on her. In return for the gift of foresight, Crystal takes the future emotions of every person alive into her own body and is forced to accept them; most of them are involved with pain, emotionally and physically. I've seen her at those moments myself. She screams in agony as they tear at her body."

There was a small disturbance as Hermione's hand slipped and let go of Ron's mouth. Ron immediately went for the interrogation of Dumbledore's story, but Hermione had realized her mistake quickly and fixed it. She clamped down his mouth abruptly. Again, Harry roared with laughter. Hermione and Ron both stared at him, dumbfounded. He returned their gaze.

"What?"

"Harry, it was funny the first time, I know that. But the second time, not so much as the first," Hermione informed him. Ron nodded behind Hermione's hand. He then moved his head to look up at her. He motioned something to her with his hands, but Hermione did not understand. "What do you want now?"

Ron motioned his hands again.

"Oh!" Hermione said, understanding. She shifted her weight so that she sat evenly balanced on both his knees. Ron nodded in appreciation,(his left leg had been going numb), and gestured to Dumbledore to continue.

"Yes, thank you, Mr. Weasley. Now, about the second Oracle; he is her brother. His name is Leo Tiara. His own major power source is the gift of past sight, recalling the past. Under meeting him, you greet him as the Dweller, he who dwells in the past. His ability is different as well, however. He cannot simply reach his body into what has already happened and tell of what he sees like Crystal can with the future. His past sight is a little less accurate; he can only remember what has happened when it happens. Sort of like a never-ending deja vu or an ongoing memory. He knows what will happen about one second before it does.

"But there is more to each Oracle that makes them greater than anyone on earth. Their life energy's are focused on only specific types of spells, making them able to magnify the spells about a hundred times, minus the use of a wand. Both the Wanderer and the Dweller have different spells they focus all their energy into. The Dweller, Leo, channels his life into the self-defense spells; spells used mostly in duels that do not kill. He is quite useful in a battle. But his sister holds a different story.

"Crystal's life channels into the Unforgivable Curses: Imperio, Crucio and Avada Kedavra. That was how she was able to cast one on you Harry. Her knowledge of the Unforgivable Curses is so profound that even the Dark Lord could learn a thing or two from her. In truth, really, she has magnified them to do even more than what their original state was. She need not even mutter the spell for her to cast them. She could simply flick her finger or use her gaze in order to direct her spells to her victim.

"The Oracles of Prodigy also have one more power, yet this one is shared between them. When united together, taking Wanderer and Dweller, bringing past to meet future, their powers combine. In union, they can reveal the Present. If anyone were able to connect them, and place their hands on the Present, they could alter the life of one person alive and one life only. They could change it to whichever path they wish it to take. A power that should never be witnessed."

A silence followed. Harry, Ron and Hermione all looked off into space, thinking hard about what Dumbledore had said. Two people, a brother and sister, cast away because they were so powerful? Burdened by magic too great for anyone to handle, but them? Harry shuddered at the thought of isolation.

"But Professor, why are they kept secret?" Harry asked. Dumbledore did not part his lips to speak, for he did not need too. Hermione answered for him.

"Harry, think! What would someone do if they knew about the Oracles of Prodigy? Someone like You-Know-Who? They could go and try to find them and then probably use their powers, especially the Wanderer's, for their own gain. Or worse! Linking them together to produce the Present? Making someone's life go just how they wanted? Harry, if it wasn't kept a secret, someone could kill them and everyone alive," Hermione announced. She stopped to take a breath.

"Hermione, take your hand away. It looks like Ron wants to say something."

"What?" She looked down at him. "Oh, right." She withdrew her hand. Ron moved his head around Hermione's torso so he could see Dumbledore clearly.

"So what about me? Why did she slash me? And Hermione, when she...what was it again? Oh yeah, stabbed her with that light and show herself dead? What's up with that?" he protested. Hermione waited for the Headmaster's answer, one that she, herself, anticipated greatly.

"That," he said, "is something I think you should ask her for yourself."

"What?! How?!"

"Yes. I have arranged a meeting with the Oracles to have them meet you three. It is a rare opportunity that I ask you to take."

"Why do you want us to go to them?" Harry inquired. "I thought they were banished to a different universe; to Enol or something."

"You are correct, Harry," Dumbledore confirmed. "But I need Crystal to take a long hard look on your future. The Dark Lord is on the move again, and I am taking no risks with your life in particular. I need to have some idea of what is in store for you."

"And we're the only one's who know about them?" Ron questioned. "But that only makes four. You, sir, Harry, Hermione, me and-"

"And someone else who I will not say. Now, let me tell you this last piece of information before I have to go; I have to have a talk with Professor McGonagall. We will not be able to see them until next year in January. That is a fair time from now. I must warn you that Crystal will not stop playing her games with you, doing things and casting spells.

"She might have felt sorry after what she did to Harry, but she won't stop. It's just her way of fun. If I could, I would stop her myself, but I can't. Just be sure that if anything odd happens, it most likely is her doing. Do not panic and just do everything she says, trust me." He got up and walked swiftly to the doorway. "I am sorry for leaving so soon, but I must now. If any of you have anymore questions about them, feel free to come and see me. And remember, do not breathe a word about this to anyone." And with that he left the room, leaving behind a bewildered pause.

"Okay, that was unexpected," Ron said. He looked up at Hermione. "Am I that comfortable as furniture or are you just sitting on me because you love me so much?!" he asked angrily.

"No," Hermione said, standing up. "You make better furniture; furniture doesn't talk!"

****

Two weeks, five days, four hours, three minutes and two seconds; that was how long it had been since Dumbledore had mentioned the Oracles of Prodigy. It had also been that same time length since Crystal, the Wanderer, cast the Cruciatus Curse on Harry. It seemed, for the moment, that she had temporarily lost interest in them. But Hermione wouldn't stop counting the days that went by.

All hours of each day her thoughts were occupied by them, wondering what they looked like, about their powers and how they handled them. She had even spent extra hours in the library reading about foresight and past sight. Hermione had never really believed in such things as seeing the future, why else would she have dropped Divination? But Crystal had sounded like the real thing, and Hermione did not want to meet her without some knowledge on the subject first.

Soon, however, the Oracles became something of an obsession with her. She wanted to know as much about them as she could. Of course, though, there were no books on them anywhere, due to their secrecy; but Hermione had still spent many a late night pouring over pages and pages about self-defense spells, the Unforgivable Curses and the like. Her schoolwork did not suffer in the slightest, yet her own physical condition did. She was lacking too many hours of sleep and the food she should have been consuming wouldn't even satisfy the smallest creature alive.

Harry and Ron tried not to notice Hermione's condition, she never did take well to anyone who told her to do anything against her will. But by the time the third week rolled by and the first Hogsmeade visit came, the two boys couldn't keep themselves from interfering with her.

"Hermione, you look awful," Ron said at breakfast on Saturday morning.

"What?"

"Hermione, he's right. You've got to stop staying up so late and you need to start eating more!" Harry gestured to her plate, which was completely empty and had no trace of any food ever being placed on it.

"I'm fine! Really, neither of you have to worry about me..." Hermione began to pull a book from her book bag.

"No!" Ron shouted, and reached over the table to knock the tome out of her hands.

"Ron!" Hermione shouted back, staring at him indignantly.

"Hermione, I'm serious when I say you have been reading too much. Look at you, your eyes are going to shrivel up any day now!"

"Ron, don't be stupid. There is nothing wrong with my eyesight. The books aren't hurting them a bit." But Hermione completely contradicted herself when she had to rub them viciously to get the two boys back into focus. "Okay, okay. I admit that I have been going a little overboard. I just hate the fact the-"

"That there's something so big about magic out there and you don't know everything about?" Harry finished for her. Hermione stared at her plate and nodded in scorn.

"You're right Harry. Both of you are right. I've been blowing this out of proportion; but after a nice relaxing day in Hogsmeade I'll be fine again."

"Oh no you won't," Ron said.

"Excuse me?"

"Listen," Ron started, glancing at Harry, "me and Potter over here have been talking and we think you need to spend this entire day in your dormitory sleeping and resting. You shouldn't tire yourself with walking around in a village. Hermione, for once listen to us. We want you to get better."

Harry nodded with Ron and looked to Hermione for her answer. She just sat there, to his eyes thinking hard; her eyes were closed and her head was bowed low. But after a good minute or two he wasn't so sure.

"I don't believe it," Ron moaned. "She's fallen asleep. Harry, grab her up, will you?"

Harry stood and heaved Hermione to her feet. She moved along with him, but her eyes stayed closed and she was fairly limp. Swinging her arm across his shoulders, Harry half dragged, half carried her out of the Great Hall, Ron following. Out in the Entrance Hall Hermione fluttered awake.

"Where am I? Oh, Ron. I'm sorry, what were you saying?" she asked, yawning broadly.

"Hermione, go to bed. Please, we beg of you. Harry and I will bring you back mounds of Honeydukes sweets and bottles of butterbeer if only you would please rest!"

Hermione thought mildly of just shutting him up and going into the village, but fatigue was suffocating her and her weariness wouldn't let her fight back.

"All right," she said, standing up herself and relieving Harry of her weight. "Fine. I'll stay behind and sleep."

"Good," Harry said. He steadied her wobble.

"It's okay Harry. I'll make it to Gryffindor on my own. You two go out and bring me back something to eat." She smiled weakly at them and started up the marble staircase.

"Hope you fell better," Harry called to her back.

"Yeah, and no reading!" Ron shouted. Hermione just waved a hand and walked on.

****

Hermione trudged wearily through the halls. It was taking her much longer than usual to get to the Gryffindor Tower and Hermione was certain it wasn't all due to her lack of sleep.

Quite a number of students had gone to Hogsmeade to get away from the castle, but there were still a fair number clogging the corridors, all couples. Hermione groaned as boys and girls of all years passed her, holding hands and giggling madly. She stared at one couple leaning against a statue, deep in conversation and enjoying one another's company.

Wish I had that, Hermione thought, letting it slip from it's encasement. Wait! No I don't!

Clutching her head, Hermione sped on past, retracing the route to Gryffindor. And though she tried to not to admit it, she wished Ron or Harry were there with her, just so that she wouldn't feel so alone in a castle full of people.

****

Crystal stood, once again, in her deserted dungeon. She had graciously agreed with Leo to never again return to her tattered rags, so she was careful to not let her glorious dress touch the damp floor. She was staring into space, watching something.

"I see you, dear friend," she said, her insane tone dripping from every word. "I'm watching you, but you seem...sad."

Crystal cocked her head to one side, almost mockingly. She smiled evilly, her eyes literally burning in delight.

"So, the Granger girl seems cheated out of love, does she? Wants someone special in her life, does she? Longs to be loved as well, does she? Well, as her new best friend, I have to do something about this. Let me see, let me see-" She spun around in a circle, chanting to herself like a little girl. "What to do...what to do..." She stopped.

"I know," she said, but her voice was much more different than before. It had transformed into almost a growl, full of fire and burning with darkness.

"Let us put my powers to the test, shall we? I'm not all about pain, you know. I can love too." She then raised her arms and wove them in front of herself. A sphere of light appeared then, revealing a certain Hermione Granger in its mist. Crystal laughed and jumped up and down, clapping at herself.

"Oh, let us try a Love Spell, shall we?" Her smile broadened, her eyes now glowing blood red. "But we'll be doing it differently. We'll do it my way..." And then Crystal narrowed her eyes down, concentrating hard on her magic; she would be throwing her power surge to another universe again, yet much more this time. She had to focus.

The Wanderer opened her mouth, and as Hermione Granger went on with her life, Crystal Tiara recited the incantation to her spell...

"Love comes with

Through open a heart.

Golden by glance,

And in Life claims its part..."

Hermione pushed the portrait open, hoping to escape the giggles and cuddling that was choking the outside hall, but when she entered the common room there was no relief. Every Gryffindor except Harry and Ron were crammed in; and everyone had someone else. It was sickening to Hermione, yet painfully appealing.

"This is stupid," she muttered. She strode across the room, past Seamus and Lavender, past Dean and Parvati, past Neville and his picture of a girl.

"Your love is golden," he cooed to his picture. Hermione rolled her eyes in disgust.

"Now how am I to sleep with that image plastered in my mind?" she mumbled to herself.

"Their young eyes now see

What their hearts desire,

And deep within them

Love strikes up its fire..."

Hermione trotted up the steps to her dorm, shaking her head all the way.

"They've all seemed to found someone," she murmured. She pursued that thought no longer and pushed back the oak door to her dorm room.

"Yet one stands alone,

Gone from grasp of the heart.

She sees not Love's play,

And refuses her part..."

"I don't want to 'be in love', not now at least," Hermione said to herself. She plopped onto her bed, staring at the floor. "I don't want it."

She turned to the mirror that stood across the room from her. It was gold around the edges, with a lion engraved at the top. Hermione gazed on at her reflection. So many had asked her if she was 'with' Ron or Harry, all sounding as if that were the logical answer; like that was her part in their life. And every time she had replied with a much annoyed 'no'.

"Because that's not the part I want to play in their life," she said angrily to her reflection. It returned her angry stare. "It looks like I stand alone on this." She pushed herself back over the covers so that she rested her back against her headboard.

"Now the soul cries out

For rejected desires,

Now cometh Love finds loneliness,

To kindle its fire,"

You want it though, something said deep inside of her. You want to be a part of it...

"Shut up!" Hermione yelled back. She pulled the pillow up from beside her and covered her face.

Don't you wish for something more? More than just friendship?

"No!"

But you do! Don't lie to me!

"I'm not!" Suddenly an image of Harry and Ron swam through her mind. Hermione dropped the pillow from her eyes so that the light from the window could wash them out. "That was so cruel," she said to her inner voice.

Don't blame me, you thought of them. You're the one who rejected your desires...

"I don't have any desires! Just shut up!"

"But flames grow great,

Though hidden from the heart.

And now the Lone One acquires

A larger part..."

Hermione suddenly clutched her chest right above her heart. The place beneath her hand was unnaturally warm. It had started from within and was so hot that it stretched out.

"Ah-" Hermione gasped, confusion creeping onto her face. "I-I think my heart is burning!" It sounded stupid even out loud.

Hermione touched her arm; it was warm, but not as much so as where her heart lay.

"Ow!" The heat increased with a blast. Hermione was thrown to her bed by the force of the heat, which never stopped growing.

"All eyes that meet hers

Create her their desire,

And clouded Love comes from within,

To feed Ecstasy's fire..."

Hermione fell out of the bed, the heat ever rising from her chest. So much for relaxing, her mind said. But Hermione was much to busy to listen to it. She dragged herself to the golden mirror and struggled to look at herself in it; the burning was painful now.

As Hermione looked into the eyes of her counterpart she saw something change about it, which was happening to her as well. Her eyes were changing. They were no longer simply brown anymore, but now had flecks of pure, glistening gold in them. This would have been cool if they didn't sear her face.

"What's happening?!" Hermione cried out. Then the gold in her eyes suddenly exploded with light, blinding her to near death. Scared beyond reason, Hermione backed away from her mirror image, grasping her chest where the heat was scorching-

-and then it wasn't. The heat instantly decreased and the blinding gold light vanished; but into thin air. It felt as though her whole body had sucked it in, and it was all lying deep within her. Hermione just sat there for a few minutes, breathing hard and gazing at her reflection...

****

"Crystal! What are you doing!" Leo's enraged cries echoed into her mind. Crystal broke out of her spell trance and looked down at him. He was standing right beside her, looking up at her in complete horror and anger.

"What are you talking about?" she asked innocently.

"Don't play your silly mind games with me! You're doing it again, aren't you? You're intervening, but this time it's that girl! Crystal, what were you thinking?! I'm calling this spell off right now!" Leo raised his hands at the sphere in the air. Nothing happened.

"I haven't done anything wrong," Crystal said, still trying to throw him off her scent.

"Stop lying to me! Lift the spell now or tell me how to do it so I can myself. I'm not full on trusting you right now," Leo spat. Crystal turned her nose up at him playfully.

"Have no idea what you're on about..."

"CRYSTAL! LIFT THE SPELL OR I"LL RESORT TO MY STRONGEST POWERS!" Leo bellowed at her. Crystal turned to her little brother, her ten year old little brother. He was no where near powerful enough to challenger her, his sister, his blood...the first born.

"You can't stop it," Crystal said, finally giving in to his accusation. "I've already completed the incantation. My Love Spell is in affect now."

"You used your Love Spell?" Leo asked, his eyes widening.

"Yes."

"But Crystal! How could you do that to her? I liked her, I liked all of them! They seemed like nice people and now you've condemned her to your stupid Love Spell?!"

""It's not stupid," Crystal replied, her voice not angry but extremely stern. "I like this Granger girl as well, and she wanted to be loved. So I helped her. How can that be wrong?!"

"Helped her?!" Leo repeated. Crystal simply nodded. "Crystal, you don't help people! You think you do, but you only bring them grief! Don't you realize what your spell does? Every time a boy will look into her eyes now they will fall in love with her: false love! I know to you it sounds like bliss, but not for her! Your powers are too strong. Her admirers could resort to harmful tactics to gain her, not caring if she wants to belong to them or not.

"Crystal, I've seen you do this horrible spell a thousand times, but you always seem not to notice that your victims suffer terrible consequences! They hide away in fear of those they have looked at, cowering from all people to save themselves from their savage and fake love! Plus, you make it so your spell will last forever; never to be broken by witchcraft or wizardry! She's doomed to an eternity of loneliness, not eternal love!"

Crystal said nothing for a while. She just stared at the sphere of light.

"I don't care," she muttered. Leo furrowed his brow in rage, his own eyes glowing sapphire blue with anger.

"FINE!" he cried, startling even her. He turned to the sphere that showed Hermione. She was sitting by her bed, breathing hard. "If I can't break your spell, I'll make it so it can be broken!" And then he recited his own incantation, interjecting it into the previous spell...

"Though cling to the truth

Comes a hitch in the mend,

For thus break the spell

And the Fire to end.

By True Love do come,

And make True Love there seen,

Release the girl from her cage,

And her life yet then redeem..."

"No, stop! What are you doing?!" Crystal cried, whipping her brother around so she could look at him. His eyes had returned to normal hazel, but the rage still remained.

"I did. I can't believe I was able to actually do it. I could have done it to the other victims as well but I was always too late..." he explained.

"Skip the introduction, Leo, and tell me what you've done!"

"I've created a loophole in the spell. When Hermione lays her eyes on her True Love they will not be affected. And the way the spell can be broken is if her True Love let's the world know that he loves her in turn."

"That's a silly solution. She doesn't have a True Love..." Crystal told him, though sounding unsure.

"Yes she does! Crystal, everyone has a True Love! I don't know how long it will take her to find him, but when she does he can lift your curse!"

Crystal stepped back like Leo had slapped her. He had just called her wondrous spell a curse!

"Leo, that was so cruel of you," she pouted, sounding nothing near being sorry. "Please say you're sorry..."

"No!" Leo answered, close to tears. This time the surprise on Crystal's face was genuine.

"What?"

"Crystal, I'm sick and tired of taking care of you! You're my older sister, I'm not your older brother! Do you know how many times I wish you would care for me once? Tell me you're sorry and hug me like a sister should? But no! I have to watch your every move, making sure you don't kill anyone. I have to arrange the meeting with Dumbledore because you can't handle it. I know the pain from seeing the future has messed up your mind and it's hard to stay alive most of the time, but you used to be able to fight it; you taught me how to fight mine!

"Crystal, for once I won't apologize to you and make you fell all better again. This time I'll wait in my room and wish with all my heart that my sister will come in and give me a hug and take care of me in this god forsaken place!"

With that said, Leo stomped from the dungeon and out the door; and fully, for the first time in her life, Crystal felt terrible about who she was.

****

Hermione sat for a long time, breathing hard and holding her chest. Her head was swimming with crazy thoughts and she was trying to sort out what had happened.

"Well, I'm not going to figure it out sitting here," she said to no one, gasping for more air. She stood up, rather wobbly, and went back to the mirror. She inspected her eyes, just to see what had happened to them when the gold flash came. They had changed. No longer were they their regular brown, but they had gotten a considerable amount lighter, almost gold.

Hermione then checked her whole body, searching for cuts or bruises, any signs of increasing heat, anything. She was perfectly fine; but she felt different. It was as though a giant weight had been heaved onto her shoulders, something like a terrible burden...like a spell.

A spell?

Hermione looked at her reflection again, wondering what had happened; the invisible weight growing. And then suddenly it lifted for just a fraction of a second. It felt as though someone had raised it off her back, giving her relief from it for just a second before it plopped back onto her. She staggered slightly due to the feeling, her face growing in puzzlement and sheer confusion.

"That's odd," she muttered. That one word alone brought back something Dumbledore had said before...'Just be sure that if anything odd happens, it most likely is her doing'.

"So it's the Oracles," Hermione said slowly, realizing the situation. She glanced up, as if expecting to see them hovering there. "What have you done to me now?" she shouted to the ceiling, though not anticipating an answer. She turned back to her reflection, scared.

If the Oracles had anything to do with whatever just occurred...especially the Wanderer...

"Oh no," Hermione whispered. If the Wanderer was involved in this, something horrid had just happened. "Okay, calm down Hermione; you're still in control of yourself. All you have to do is find Harry and Ron and talk to them. Or better yet, go to Dumbledore and tell him about what happened. Okay, that's the plan then."

She breathed in slowly, scared for some reason, and then walked to the oak door of her dorm and pushed it open. She hurried down the staircase, completely forgetting about her sleepiness. When she hit the landing she saw that almost everyone had emptied out of the common room. The only people left were Neville and some other Gryffindor boy who Hermione knew as a seventh year. She simply smiled, grateful for the lack of people and started on her way to the portrait; but there was a small hold up as Neville came to it at the same time.

"Oh, sorry Hermione. Go ahead, you go first," Neville offered, obviously in a good mood.

"Why thank you Neville," Hermione said, trying to sound grateful in spite of her mission. In her hurry to push open the portrait hole her wand fell out from it's place in her waistband.

"Hermione wait, you dropped this," Neville said, bending down to pick it up. Hermione turned around to grab it from him.

"Thanks again," she said, taking it from his hands. He looked up at her...directly into her eyes. Hermione gasped. Neville's eyes flashed a brief gold before returning to their normal color, but the expression on his face stayed altered. He was looking at her in a dreamy way, smiling stupidly and trembling all over.

"Y-you're welcome, Hermione." He said her name with a sigh and just gazed at her.

"Er-Neville, you can let go of my hand now."

"What?"

"Neville, let go," Hermione said gently, trying to tug out of his grasp.

"Oh Hermione!" he suddenly cried, flinging himself to her feet.

"What are you doing?" Hermione said, panicked. He looked up at her, still grinning like a dork.

"Hermione, you're my everything. I want to be with you always. You're like the sun shining in my room in the morning! You're like the moon gazing down upon me at night! You're like the stars winking at me when I'm sad! Hermione, I love you! Will you be mine?" he said, his eyes looking longingly at her. Hermione drew back in shock.

"What?" she asked, close to disgust. Neville scrambled to his feet and took her hands in his, looking almost hurt that she was drawing away.

"Please don't be frightened my dear! I know my sudden outburst of love for you is sudden, but if you think about it I'm much better for you than Ron or Harry!"

"What?!" Hermione repeated, lost for words. "'My dear'? Neville, what's wrong with you?"

"Love, my dearest Hermione. I've been consumed in your beauty and love!" He waved his arms about, looking like a crippled bird.

"Um, okay. Neville you're scaring me and I need to be somewhere right now, so I'm going to leave now," she said, watching him dance strangely about the room. Hermione left the common room quickly.

"Oh. My. Gosh. That was...I don't know what that was, but it's definitely something I can't deal with right now," Hermione said to herself, striding down the corridor. She hurried forward, trying hard to get to Dumbledore's office so she could figure everything out, but that event with Neville was still nagging her. Why had his eyes flashed like that?

Hermione turned the corner and groaned with growing annoyance. She had come out in the middle of a hallway which was packed to the rim with students, some just hanging out as friends and others more than friends. Hermione turned to her left and saw that the path she needed to take to Dumbledore's office consumed much more couples than friends, making her roll her eyes in anger.

"Okay, just walk on past with a smile in place and you'll be fine," she said to herself. Hermione tried to look regular, smiling just a tad and straightening up. She started off down the hall. She looked all around, nodding to girls she knew and smiling kindly at the boys; but the boys were doing more than just smiling back. As it had done with Neville, all their eyes flashed a faint gold and they stared on at her in wonder and awe. Trying not notice this Hermione walked on, but footsteps were following and matching hers. Confused, Hermione turned around to see who was following her, never stopping her walking. Her eyes widened once again in surprise.

Every single male student in the hallway that she had passed was tailing behind her. They gazed at her in the same way Neville did; goofy and dreamily. Hermione quickened her pace, trying not to look too scared.

"Umm-hi. What are you doing?" she said, taking a stab at conversation so as to get them away. All the boys just sighed in unison at the sound of her voice. Hermione flinched a little at this, it was a bit creepy. She walked faster, but they all matched her pace; actually, they did more than match it, they were soon crowding so close to her. Hermione could here the now lonely girls calling to the boys, but they were deaf to their calls. They were too immersed in...her!

"Okay, now you're all just scaring me. Please step back," she said, much more firmly. She pushed back a Ravenclaw boy with brown hair and blue eyes. When she touched him he yelped in excitement and melted to the ground.

"She touched me," he almost sang, his face on cloud nine. "She actually touched me! Wow..."

And then all the boys crowded in around her, trying to touch the hem of her robes or the tips of her hair. They cooed mushy, lovey-dovey remarks and started offering her their hearts in turn for her love.

"-I'll love you always Hermione!"

"-but I could offer you -"

"-I could offer you the world! The world plus-"

"Pick me!"

"Can I touch your shoes?"

"Can I brush your hair?"

"Could I do your homework?"

"Could you push me too?"

"I love you!"

That was when Hermione was fully scared stiff and she didn't care in the slightest whether or not she was polite to them. She broke out in a full on run, dashing down the hall and calling behind her back, "Go away!"

"But Hermione, we love you!!!"

She kept on running, hurrying around the corner and practically falling down the staircase. She darted around the corner, finally losing her mob of crazy admirers. But Hermione wouldn't stop running. Something wasn't right here.

Hermione stopped behind one shadowy corner and pressed herself behind it, taking in a long, deep breath. Why, suddenly, were all these boys falling in...'love' with her? She knew it had to do with what happened earlier; Hermione was the cleverest witch at Hogwarts.

"I need to have a serious talk with Dumbledore about this. I think that every time I look at a boy they," she gulped, embarrassed and freaked out, "they fall in love with me. Creepy love. I have to steer clear of any boy..." She shook her head.

Hermione listened closely for any footsteps down the hall; but to her ears she heard none. She couldn't hear the faint steps of a Slytherin coming her way.

"Okay. The hallway is clear. I'll just run all the way to the Headmaster's office and not look up at anyone." She took another calming breath, making ready to run like the wind. The Slytherin coming to her hideout increased speed down the hallway as well. Hermione checked to make sure her wand was secure; the tall, blonde Slytherin was just a few feet from her hidden corner, coming closer faster and faster. Hermione ran out from her hiding place and the Slytherin boy pulled into a run at the exact same time...

CRASH!

Hermione ran full on into a speeding Malfoy. The outcome was one that was much more painful. Hermione was lying flat on her back, not being the stronger of the two to knock the other down. Malfoy, completely not expecting what had happened, lay face down on the floor on top of Hermione. Both of their eyes were closed and they lay and groaned in pain for awhile, neither realizing the position they were in.

Soon, however, Draco placed his hands on the stone floor on either side of Hermione and pushed up his upper body to see who had banged into him. He gazed down upon a bedraggled Granger, her hair fanned out about her and her eyes closed, wincing in pain.

"Granger! What did you do?!" Draco cried, not getting up off her and by far not caring too until she answered him.

"Malfoy?" she muttered, not yet coming back to reality.

"Granger, you banged into me again you dirty Mudblood! What were you doing anyways? Look at me when I'm speaking to you!" he shouted, but he didn't touch her. The uncomfortably of his position was just dawning on him.

"I'm-I'm sorry. I was in a hurry and..." Hermione stopped and groaned. Slowly, ever so slowly, she opened her eyes; not remembering what would happen if Malfoy looked into them. But he wasn't looking in her face at that moment. Weakened by the collision, his arms weren't fit to support his weight and he fell upon Hermione again, knocking the wind out of her. She gasped rapidly.

"Malfoy-" she sputtered. "Malfoy, get off!" Draco mumbled against her neck and pushed himself up again.

"That was one hell of a crash," he half whispered, closing his eyes to fight the pain. Hermione looked up at him and waited until he was done moaning.

"Malfoy," she began.

"What do you want now Mudblood?!" he said through clenched teeth, still not opening his eyes.

"Get off me."

Draco lifted his eye lids...but didn't look her in the face. His eyes travel over his own body and who he was on top of and jumped up rather quickly.

"Uh...um.." he stuttered. Hermione had never heard Malfoy stutter before; then again, he had never been on top of her before either. She listened to him blubber on as she picked herself up off the ground.

"It's okay Malfoy," she told him, though wondering why. "Just don't apologize." She had straightened up now and looked him full on in the eyes. Right from when she saw the first glimmer of gold she regretted even getting up.

Draco had locked eyes with hers, staring at her in mixed confusion. His face was no longer angry and pained but furrowed and confused. This reaction bewildered Hermione as well. Why wasn't he going crazy and telling her he loved her like the rest?

Then Hermione understood the answer; his face showed it all. Being her mortal enemy the spell of her gaze was struggling madly with his hatred for her. Hermione knew that it would take at least a few minutes for the spell to kick in; but she didn't want to stick around and wait until it did.

Hermione tried to slip past his side like before, hoping that this time she could make it beyond him; but like before his arm shot out and he grabbed her, but gently. Hermione just stiffened as he pulled her towards him. He looked at her and Hermione turned away from the longing in his eyes; their faces were less than an inch from each other.

"Granger...Hermione..." he whispered softly. When he said her name, Hermione loosened a little. He said it so...nicely?

"No!" she shouted, pulling out of his grasp and backing away. What was she thinking? She had just made Malfoy fall in love with her! This was not good, not good at all. "Malfoy, no. Stay there..." she said. But this command was to no obedience.

Draco simply did the opposite of her request. He rushed towards her and pushed her up against the wall. Hermione was in shock.

"What are you doing?!" she demanded. Malfoy said nothing. He simply looked at her, his head tilted to one side. He had nothing of the goofy, dreamy look on his face like the other boys; Hermione guessed that even under a spell he wouldn't be caught so undignified. Instead, his features stayed set but his eyes looked at her with a passion of love, not hatred. He went on with his silence, but now he was stroking her hair with a gentle hand and breathing in her aroma.

"Oh my God!" Hermione cried angrily, losing all sense. With all the strength she could muster, Hermione pushed Draco back. He fumbled back and watched her in admiration with a sprinkle of sadness. Hermione only had time enough to cast him one disgusted and horrified glance before she ran away from him, fast.

No longer was she going to Dumbledore, oh no. Who knew what the spell could do to him? Hermione shuddered at the thought. Doors and windows whipped past her as she ran on. Now she knew for sure that Crystal was involved with the lovesick boys everywhere she went; only extremely powerful magic could Malfoy fall in love with her. So where could Hermione go that she knew no boy would follow or find her? Where was a place she was certain to be left alone to figure things out? And then the answer snapped into her, and Hermione changed her course for the library.

****

When her tiny figure stood from the ground and looked him in the eyes, Draco Malfoy felt something strange. First off a bright, golden light had sparked in front of him, but then as he gazed at her stare it was like he was being pulled into her. He had seen far more than he had ever seen in his life. Suddenly her hair began to glow and her skin radiated with light. He blessed her simple smile and her nimble hands. Draco was in full-fledged love! In love with Hermione Granger!

The feeling was wonderful, but yet had a tinge of unreality; but he didn't care. All he wanted was to hold her and have her hold him in return. As he gave over his mind to her gaze a searing and unimaginable pain shot up through his arm and penetrated his thoughts of love.

You hate this girl!, something said deep from within. You can't love her...she's a-

Love her.

No! You're rising her out of her lowered position! Kill her! You said you would the next time she touched you and I want you to kill her! To Draco that voiced sounded oddly like his father's.

Just love her. This voice was anonymous to Draco, but its tone was much more firm and clear than the other.

Kill her! Kill her-

Love her! This voice was almost playful.

Kill-Love-to kill-or to love...obey his father's voice or the other's...to love her or to kill her...

The struggle must have shone on his face because when he looked at Hermione she was both frightened and confused. He saw her as she tried to slip past him, trying to escape him...

Love her first...

The other voice took over and Draco shot out his hand to stop her. He brought her close, just enjoying that fact that he was here with her, and no one was around to take her away.

"Granger..." he had said. "Hermione..." Her name was like music to him.

"No!" was her reply. She had pushed him away, obviously scared; but of what? He only loved her.

He rushed to her, pinning on the wall so she wouldn't run away. Draco looked at her, stroking her silken hair and inhaling her pure scent. He wanted to stay like this forever...

"AHHH!!" Hermione had yelled, pushing him back. She shot him one horrified look and ran away, away from him. Draco didn't call to her and didn't chase her. He just watched as her black robes flew out behind her, watching her down the hall...

And when she had disappeared around a corner Draco did something he thought he would have ever done in his life

****

Hermione fell into a chair by a table in the library. She was well in the back of it, completely hidden from anyone in the Invisibility section. She took a while to slow her beating heart and sort out her confused thoughts.

"Now I'm certain that my stare makes boys go head over heels in love," she said. "I can't believe Malfoy actually....but he didn't know what he was doing. But still he-" She fidgeted a little. Malfoy stroking her hair? Smelling her? It was so gross and Hermione failed a disgusted shiver.

"When this is all over I need to take a shower," she promised herself. "Oh no," she started again, realizing something. "I can't exactly go and meet Harry and Ron when they come back from Hogsmeade! I can't have my two best friends going crazy over some spell." Then Hermione looked to the heavens again, as if staring accusingly at the Oracle who had cast the curse.

"Why are you doing this to me? What do you want of me? Why do you hate me so?!"

"I don't hate you," Crystal answered back. Hermione's jawed dropped as reaction to the reply.

****

Crystal watched sadly as Hermione broke from Malfoy's grip and to the library. She stared, transfixed, as she hid in the back of the room and collapsed in the Invisibility section. The words Leo had beat her with hung heavily in the air around Crystal. She scorned at her own carelessness.

Since Leo had left, Crystal's true mind, the one uncorrupted by her power, had returned in all its glory. For the first time since she had received her gift, Crystal took a long look at her victim; past the admirers and the shadow cast by the spell. When she did she saw the pained expression on Hermione's face. Saw the fear that everyone was inflicting on her. She had to save her from it.

But how? Like Leo had said, the spell was unbreakable, even for the maker of it. But Leo had put in his own magic so her True Love could come by, express his love for her and break it. But who in all of the wizarding world was her True Love? How was either of them going to find him?

"But I've got to try," Crystal said, looking at the accusing face Hermione was casting in the sphere of light. She really did like Hermione, and she was shamed for trying to interfere with her life.

"Why are you doing this to me? What do you want of me? Why do you hate me so?" Crystal heard her scream. Using all of her mental energy, Crystal sat down and projected her voice.

"I don't hate you," she answered. She watched as Hermione dropped her jaw in shock.

****

"Who...who said that?" Hermione asked tentatively, looking around herself.

"Me," came the voice echoing in her head, and it wasn't Hermione's inner voice.

"Who's me?" Hermione asked slowly, noticing that the speaker was female. There was a saddened sigh before the answer came.

"I am the Wanderer."

Silence. Hermione was first struck with the fact that this must be a joke. Then she understood that how could it be? Crystal the Wanderer was speaking to her. This was amazing! But then she remembered what she had done to her, casting her spell, and Hermione was mad. But she didn't want to accuse someone of such high importance in magic of something until she was certain it was her.

"It was me," Crystal answered back. "I was the one who cast the spell on you. I condemned every boy you look at to fall in love with you. You have every right to be angry at me." Hermione was surprised that she knew what she was thinking and that she actually sounded sorry for her.

"How did you-"

"I have many powers," was all Crystal said.

"I thank you for apologizing," Hermione said, forgetting her furious anger and aiming for a friendly accusation. "But why did you do the spell in the first place?"

"I was watching you and saw that you felt lonely. I was just trying to do you a favor." In her mind Hermione heard her laugh slightly at herself. "But that's not what I do, is it? I just hurt people....like Leo said..."

"But you don't have to!" Hermione cried, glad no one was in the library to hear her talk to herself. "If you lift the spell you'll be helping me! You can do it, you created it and you put it on me. Please! I can't go around either having every boy fall head over heels on me or never looking at anybody again." Hermione waited anxiously; but the pause that followed was much too long for her to keep her hopes up.

"I can't," Crystal finally said. Hermione banged her fist into the table in frustration.

"What?! Why not?!"

"The spell I cast is-no, was a permanent spell; never to be broken."

"Oh my god," Hermione said softly, placing her head in her hands. "Oh my god, oh my god..."

"But there is a way to lift it!" Crystal said hurriedly. Hermione snapped back up.

"How?"

"My brother, Leo, put in his own special magic when I cast the spell," Crystal explained. "He made it so that if your True Love comes to you and makes his love known, then the spell will rise and erase all the doings that it had caused."

"Wait, True Love? I have to find my True Love?! I don't have one! Now I'll be stuck like this forever," Hermione groaned. She only half listened as Crystal made a noise to talk but then she shut her mouth quickly.

"Hermione, get out of the library!" she said frantically. Scared, Hermione stood up fast and looked around.

"Why? What's happening?"

"Trust me, get out of there. Quick, he's coming closer!"

Hermione was too frightened to go anywhere. She moved up against the far wall.

"Who? Who?!"

"Hurry! Get out before he comes to you." Crystal stared at her sphere as it showed the boy coming stealthily towards Hermione. Crystal knew, as she always does, that their encounter was one they did not have time for.

"Who is it, who is it???" Hermione whined, close to tears. This wasn't funny and fear was growing rapidly in the pit of her stomach..

"He's coming. Get out before it's too late!"

"Oh my goodness!" Hermione panicked, pressing herself farther against the wall.

"Get out!

"I can't!"

"Now!"

"I'm scared!"

"Too late." And then Crystal watched as the boy came around the bookshelf to where Hermione stood. Hermione, herself, stifled a cry as he walked to her. It was...

****

"What are you doing here?" Hermione shot angrily. This was the last person she wanted to see right now, considering the state she had just put him in. Her mysterious admirer just stood between the two bookshelves, blocking her escape; he said nothing. His black school robes rippled slightly, either from an inexistent wind or a shiver from his body.

"What is he doing?" Crystal asked in Hermione's head.

"I don't know, he's just looking at me," she whispered back, barely moving her lips. Though her onlooker was under a spell, she didn't want him to think she was crazy by talking to herself.

"Try and get away," the Wanderer suggested. As Hermione considered a way of escape Crystal backed away a little from the her light sphere. This was so awkward, she was actually being nice and...thinking of the safety of someone other than herself.

"I'll ponder on about my actions later," Crystal said to herself, shaking her head. "First I have to make what is wrong right and help Hermione." She turned back to her ball of swirling light and air. Hermione was still backed against the wall, searching for a way past her blocker. Crystal's vision of the boy was obscured by the moving air in the sphere.

Hermione found a little opening to his right and chanced a step forward. This was the worst mistake to make at this moment. The boy took a strong step to her in turn and Hermione backed away quickly. After his sudden action he did not move; Draco Malfoy just stood there, staring. His grey eyes weren't completely blank, yet they did not contain the slight golden hue that all the other boys possessed. Instead, Hermione could have sworn she saw some blue in there.

"What do I do now?" she whispered to Crystal. Crystal had no idea.

"Just get out of there," she said. "We have to find a way to break the spe-I mean curse that I bestowed upon you." She waited with bated breath as Hermione took a deep breath and proceeded forward again. The moment after her first step went on for what seemed like hours.

Hermione locked eyes with Draco, trying to signify that she had no time to listen to his ramblings; yet she couldn't forget the death threat he had placed before. His eyes may have been close to blank, but his face was different.

The scowl he had permanently etched into his features lingered, but more to it now were three very different emotions: hatred, confusion and love. He was fighting against something inside of him again. He gazed down to her, watching her every move. His eyes were narrowed and Hermione felt a chill run up her spine. All this happened in just a second, yet to her it felt like days. Then time continued with its regular pace.

After she had placed one foot forward Draco rushed to her again! But this time was different. He jammed her up against the stone wall again and pinned her shoulders with both his hands. Hermione was frightened this time. The look he had now and the way he moved now was different; she wasn't sure if was going to act loving or try and fulfill his prophecy of her death.

"What are you doing now?" she whispered, staring him hard in the eyes. Of course, Malfoy didn't answer. He bore her with his stare, moving closer by the second. He was a few inches from her face, a few centimeters; then only wind was able to move between them.

Oh no, Hermione thought frantically. He's either close enough to kiss me or to kill me!

Silence as Draco stared hard. Hermione was still with fear. The seconds ticked by, and the remaining space shared between them grew smaller by the minute...

Then Draco grabbed the sleeve of his robe on his left arm and yanked them down, revealing to Hermione the jet-black symbol burned into his flesh. The hollow eyes of a skull with a snake protruding from its mouth glared at her as she looked on. Draco looked at it too, and then both returned their gaze to each other.

"Help me," he said, barely above a whisper.

Hermione didn't take the time to consider what he had meant, nor did she stay and find out. She wasn't sure what had happened and why he had come to her like that. All that she had racing through her mind was that she was alone with Draco Malfoy, archenemy to her and her friends, pinned against a lone wall by his body and him holding the Dark Mark to her face. She couldn't handle this...any of this.

"I can't," was all she had time for. Then Hermione ducked under his arm and ran again, but this time the fear was true, and she didn't even have time to cast Draco a final glance; not even the pained look of sympathy she held for him.

****

Sitting alone in the middle of the dungeon, the ball of swirling light hovering before her, Crystal sat very still, not even blinking. She had just witnessed the occurrence in the library between Hermione Granger and one Draco Malfoy. It was hard to tell how the meeting shared by them affected the Wanderer; but it couldn't have been good.

She did not move at all. She did not even seem to draw breath. She just sat completely still, staring hard at the sphere. Her brow was furrowed and her navy blue eyes shone with confusion so pure that she looked almost oblivious. Her mouth was slightly open and the sound of her still breath was rattled. Then, after many minutes of torturous silence she spoke.

"That wasn't supposed to happen."

****

"What was all that about?" Hermione asked herself as she jogged lightly down the halls. She shook her head, trying not to recall the incident in the library. "No, can't think about that yet. First off I have to figure out how to lift this spell. Then I'll have time to help Dra-" she trailed away, not wanting to give in to her pity for Malfoy.

Hermione slid around the end of the corridor and made sure the staircase on the other side was safe. To her

great relief it was deserted.

"Wanderer. Wanderer, where are you? Crystal, answer me! Where did you go?" Hermione prompted, wondering where she was. It took a few seconds for the Oracle on the other side to answer.

"I'm sorry, just fell out of it for a minute. Okay, what do we do first?"

"First we try and lift the spell," Hermione said, creeping silently down the stairs. "That way everything that has happened, everyone I've affected, will be erased, right?"

"Yes," Crystal answered. "When True Love is announced then every other false love towards you will be forgotten for an eternity; or so Leo has made it to be."

"Okay. Then after we've cleared all of this from everybody's mind I'll know if Malfoy was sincere about wanting help or if it was just the spell."

Crystal did not acknowledge this, she couldn't tell Hermione that he wasn't suppose to do that; it wasn't even supposed to be foreseen by her for him to do so...

"Wait," Hermione said, remembering something and leaning against the wall. She couldn't even help but suppress the laugh that escaped her lips. "We can't break the spell, I have forgotten." She slid to the floor in defeat. "I need to have my true Love come by, don't I?" She flung her arms out dramatically, mocking a princess in distress. "And then he has to announce his undying love for me and all evil that has been will be no more! It's like a fairy tale..."

"Hermione, wait..."

"But this isn't a fairy tale. I don't have a True Love; and even if I do I probably won't see him for a few years. But no worries! I'll just lock myself in my dorm forever and then chance to come out, hoping he'll be standing outside of my door!"

"Hermione!" Crystal exclaimed, trying to express her knowledge. "You have a True Love!"

"No I don't," she said back, not even pausing to really listen to her.

"Yes you do! Hermione, listen! You do. You have one and you're going to go to him right now."

Hermione leaned her throbbing head against the cold stone wall. She wasn't in the mood for jokes right now and she needed to find someone to break the spell.

"Who then? Who is my knight in shining armor?" she asked, humoring the Oracle's statement.

"Harry Potter or Ronald Weasley."

In light of the day she had just had Hermione burst into hysterics and fell flat on the floor laughing hard. Harry or Ron? One of them being her Love; True Love? It couldn't be, would never be! But there was still that feeling of hope and happiness that it could be.

"What? Harry and Ron? Crystal, I know you've been watching us, but we're not like that. None of us," Hermione said, sitting back up.

"Hermione, listen to me and just trust me on this. I've seen you, yes. But I'm thinking I see more than any of you do. You have known each other for years now, sharing experiences that no one will ever have; death, life and pure evil? You all have always been there to save each other, feelings growing at surprising rates. All three of you have tried to ignore the signs, but there is more than just a crush under all your guises'. One of them is your True Love; I know, I've seen."

Hermione actually took the time to think on this. Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, the one who was saving the world from You-Know-Who every year on a regular bases. Staying by her side and still being her friend when no else would believe her. Her True Love???

Ronald Weasley, the one who she always took joy in fighting with and then making up as friends once more; who was always at her side as well, defending her with his rage and always apologizing in the end for his actions. Her True Love???

Her best friends???

"Okay, let's just say that maybe one of them could be, what do we do then? Just go up to them and ask if they truly love me? I doubt they'll ever admit it even if they somehow do. So, how will we tell?"

"There is a catch, 'a hitch in the mend' as Leo put it. When your Love looks into your eyes he will not be affected in any way. His love will be much too pure and real to become altered by a mere spell."

"So nothing will happen basically?" Hermione sort of liked this idea. If one of them was her Love, then she wouldn't have to isolate herself from both. "Okay," she finally said, getting up off the floor and dusting her robes. "I'll do it. I'll look them both in the eye and see who it is, but what if it isn't either?"

Crystal didn't answer right away.

"Just keep hoping one of them is. Now, let me see where they are right now..." She waved her hands again so the sphere shimmered and then showed Harry and Ron.

"You're powers sound fascinating, just wanting something to happen and then doing it. I can't wait to learn more about you," Hermione said as she waited for Crystal's report. The Wanderer smiled a little for the flattery. Then her light revealed the location of the two boys.

"Oh good! Hermione, they're on their way back to the castle right now, just leaving Hogsmeade. Hurry and go try and meet them."

Nodding to absolutely no one, Hermione walked hurriedly down the corridor to the marble staircase leading to the Entrance Hall. And with all her might she hoped that at least one of them could be True to her. It wouldn't help her situation any more if they were both under her spell.

"Then I'd have to spend my time beating them away and no time figuring everything out."

****

There, in the doorway of the great oak doors. Ron's vivid Weasley hair shone brightly in the setting sun. His back was to the Entrance Hall and he was watching something outside. Hermione took a breath deep as she looked down upon him from the top of the stairs.

"Okay, if I look at him and nothing happens then he's my...True Love. Uhh...yeah. Then I just won't look at Harry. But if he becomes like the others than I'll turn tail and run to Harry. Oh goodness, this is pointless," she said, trying to calm her nerves. Though why she had any Hermione was clueless.

"Hurry up so we can find out which one loves you," Crystal prompted casually. Hermione adopted an annoyed look.

"Easy for you to say."

"Yes it is," Crystal said, smiling and making Hermione laugh.

"Both of them will because neither of them is my Love; so they'll be affected. This is useless, something will happen, not nothing." But Hermione trotted down the staircase nonetheless.

She had barely set one foot down when Ron turned around, laughing. He looked to the staircase and saw Hermione. Due to her extreme distance the spell wouldn't be able to take affect even if they did lock eyes. Ron looked up to her and waved joyously. Hermione managed a weak grin before returning his wave.

"Come on down here Hermione! Harry's trudging behind. Poor Potter, just can't keep up with me anymore," Ron told her. He turned back to the doorway, looking out to the front gates where Harry was running at top speed to the castle. "Ah, come on Harry! It's been ages!"

Harry scowled at him from far off and Ron laughed again. Hermione continued down the steps.

"Wait," the Wanderer said. "Don't look at him yet. Close your eyes or look down until you're right up close to him. Then wait until all his attention is on you before looking up. I want him to get the full blast of the spell if we are to be sure of anything."

Hermione nodded in agreement and bent her head low. She hurried onto the landing, wanting to get this over with as fast as she could. She walked all the way until she saw Ron's feet. She stopped beside him, not looking up.

Ron called to Harry one more time before turning around again. He was surprised to see Hermione beside him.

"Hey Hermione, did you get any rest and relaxation while we were gone?" Ron asked.

"Oh yeah, loads." Hermione tried to hide the sarcasm in her voice.

"You okay?" he questioned, bending down to try and see her face.

"Do it now," Crystal said to Hermione.

Hold on, Hermione answered with a thought, not wanting Ron to know she was talking to the Wanderer.

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure? Hermione, look at me; I can't tell if your paying attention or not." Ron poked her gently, which was always his way of making her listen. Not very loving in Hermione's opinion.

"Ow. Yeah, I am," she answered. "But are you paying attention to me?"

"Trying to, but it's hard when you won't look at me!"

"All your attention?" Hermione asked.

"Yes!"

"Hermione, do it now. This boy over here is looking directly at you! Come on!"

Fine.

Hermione clenched her fist and looked up, not looking at anything but the blue of Ron's eyes. She hoped that the sudden blast of the spell would hit him hard, letting her know the truth right away. She waited; even forcing the spell outward to him, if that was possible. But no change came over Ron's face. He just returned her gaze.

"Hermione?" Ron said, barely above a whisper, his eyes starting to look sort of misty.

There! Hermione thought with a bit of triumph. He's caught it! He's not my True Love!

"Yes Ron?" she asked politely, backing away before he pulled a Neville on her.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" He backed away himself, fairly scared by her cold stare.

Huh?

"What do you mean?" she asked, not quite sure of his reaction.

"You're looking murder at me! It's kinda spooky. Are you sure you're all right?"

"Ha! He's not affected! He's your True Love! I knew it! I'm never wrong but you wouldn't listen. Now all he has to do is announce his love and the spell is over! I knew it!" Crystal was practically yelling with the joy at being right. Hermione wasn't fully convinced though.

"Ron, are you feeling...funny?" she questioned, narrowing her eyes at him, yet not letting down her guard. Ron straightened up and lifted an eyebrow at her, puzzled.

"Uh...why?"

Hermione simply stared. She breathed deep, hoping her next question wouldn't seem too strange.

"Ron," she said gently. He smiled uneasily and waited. "Do you...do you love me?" She braced herself, afraid he was going to start singing and hopping around like the others; or else rush her like Malfoy. But Ron did nothing of the sort. Instead he threw his ginger head back and laughed heartily.

"Hermione," he managed, through fits of hysteria, "Hermione, I hate to disappoint you, but I don't-" Burst of laughter, though an uncertain kind. "-I don't love you. As a friend, yes. As something more..." he trailed off, covering up his unease with muffled giggles. And to his great astonishment Hermione stomped her foot on the floor and growled in rage.

"No! No, you have to fall in love with me! You should be dancing around with golden eyes of stupidity and asking me to marry you or something! No...Why did it have to be you?" She breathed deeply, glaring at him with narrowed eyes. Ron's jaw was hanging, clearly exposing his utter bewilderment.

"Don't lie, I can see inside that you're glad it's him," Crystal taunted. But she knew she was right, she just had to convince Hermione.

"Hello?" Ron said, knocking her back to reality. Hermione gave herself a small shake before answering him.

"Sorry Ron, I just lost my head there for a while."

"You're telling me! What was all that about?"

"Oh, that's a long story! But I have to tell you all of it and you have no idea how happy I am to see that you're not goofy and lovey right now. And Harry...well, I can't see him right now because-"

"Why can't you see me right now?" Harry asked, stepping up from behind Ron, grinning. Hermione's eyes widened as she realized that if he saw her he would be completely under her spell! But it was too late to close her eyes, for Harry and just seen her and was looking directly in them.

"Harry, no!" she tried to yell, but it was far too late. By now he was totally consumed in the cursed spell.

"Uh oh," Hermione heard Crystal say, but she didn't know why.

"What is it?" she asked, looking away from Harry.

"This is so bad. Stupid Potter! You had to come and ruin everything!" Crystal cried, scolding Harry from her dungeon. "And you Ron! Why did she have to see you first?! This is absurd, I need Leo. Hermione, your situation just got worse."

How?

"Hermione, what's the matter?" Harry's deep voice broke in. Still confused by Crystal's outraged yells, Hermione stepped back a little.

"What?" Then she noticed Harry walking towards her and half ran, half tripped, into the banister to try and get away from him. "No Harry, stay there!" She needed to talk to Ron right now and explain the whole Love spell and how to lift it.

"I'm no dog Hermione, I just want to know why you yelled at me," Harry told her, his emerald eyes very confused behind his glasses. "What is wrong with you?"

"No, the question is what is wrong with you! Stay back and don't try anything funny!"

"Hermione! Get a grip on yourself! What are you talking about?" Harry was furious for her lack of politeness and total abandon of the normal Hermione.

"What I'm talking about, Potter, is that I know you think you're in love with me but I can't deal with you right now!" Why did she have to explain this to him? The spell should have taken care of it. She had to speak with Ron.

"Okay, first of all you never call me Potter. Second, what? I'm not in love with you! What is she talking about Ron?" Harry turned to his best friend for an explanation. But of course this was useless, as Ron never really does know anything of importance.

Crystal, Hermione thought, calling for some consolation. Why isn't he acting funny?

"Because he's not affected," Crystal said angrily. She rolled her eyes in frustration.

What? Why not?!

"I told you," Crystal answered. "I said that you situation just got worse. Hermione, you are in this way too deep."

Just tell me what I need to know before Harry goes Broadway on me, Hermione shot back.

"He won't."

And why is that?

Crystal fell on her back, restless. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, obviously stalling a little before speaking. "You really want to know?"

Of course!

A pause. Crystal covered her face with her hands. "Because he's your True Love too."

That was when Hermione fell to the floor in a disgruntled heap, physically tired of all this confusion. This was going to be one heck of a long day.