Fallen Angels

The day went strangely quietly for the castle. Once Hermione had gone back to her dorm everyone started to wake up. No one seemed to be any the wiser about her being Angelus. She went into her head girl’s room and changed into her school robes and out of the clothes that Madam Pomfrey had given her. She brushed her teeth and stared at herself in the mirror for the second time that morning.

When she went down to breakfast the first thing she noticed was that everyone was the same. It felt so odd to be different and have no one see you. Then it got quiet. People were staring at her and whispering. She could feel the strange looks at her back as she sat down at the end of the Gryffindor table. No one spoke to her and eventually the stares and the whispering died down. It seemed that the more she tried to make herself invisible the more they ignored her altogether. Little did she know that this was exactly what she was doing. She was so concentrated on tuning everyone out that she didn’t here Dumbledore at first when he started talking.

“Hello students and welcome back to another year at our wonderful school. Because of some incidences that occurred last night, we did not have a sorting. This will be rectified this morning, Minerva please bring the hat and stool.” The old codger beckoned Professor McGonagall forward with the chair and lopsided piece of leather. “There has been a new transfer student added to the roster and he will be sorted first. May I please ask you to welcome Sachin Anjeep, he is transferred to us from the Our Lady of Hope Magical School in Cochin, India. He is in the seventh year.”

All eyes were locked forward on the new student. He was not very tall, maybe 5’5” at most, but he had some muscle on him and his eyes were the most beautiful chocolate brown she had every seen. She could tell he was going to be a topic of much heart ache from the girls. He seemed to be searching the hall for somebody and then his eyes fell on Pavarti Patil. His smile grew very wide and his eyes danced. He waved at her and she waved enthusiastically back. Pavarti pointed to Padma at the Ravenclaw table and he waved there too. The twins became the centers of attention at their tables. Hermione listened in attentively. “Yes he is our cousin from India, one of our mother’s older brother’s sons. He wanted to come here on exchange after listening to us talk of it all summer.” Hermione tuned them out again.

She watched as he sat upon the chair and placed the well worn object upon his head. The hat took a little while to consider and then shouted out. “RAVENCLAW!” Sachin grinned and walked casually down the steps to join Padma at her table. As he sat down he looked straight up into Hermione’s eyes and she felt her heart stop. He didn’t break their connection. He seemed to be searching her soul for some relic of doubt or confusion and coming up short. He watched her with an all knowing gaze that told of millennia of experience. It took her breath away. She broke the gaze.

It stayed with her all day even unto the time that she strode into the headmasters office to speak to him before dinner. She spoke the password, “Tootie Fruity.” ‘Where he comes up with these absurd names is beyond me’ and knocked on his study door.

Dumbledore looked up from his text and watched her as she entered his office and sat across from him on the leather sofa a few feet from his desk. Dumbledore spoke first. “I received your owl this morning. You wish to resign your post as Head Girl?” Hermione nodded fervently. “May I inquire as to why?” Hermione took her time to form the right words. “Sir it is out of no disrespect to you or to the staff who have selected me for this position and I do realize that for years this is what I thought that I wanted, but given recent events and the way my life has changed so suddenly I just do not feel as though I could do an adequate job of it and keep my grades as high as I wish them to be. It is my request that you please give the title to someone who truly wants it and would be able to devote the necessary time and effort to the job to make it a success.”

Dumbledore watched her body language carefully during their interaction and came to the conclusion that she was indeed sincere in her wish to give up the post. “I have no wish to keep you in a position which will be detrimental to you or to your interests. Please give me a day to consider this fully and if I agree with your conclusions I will ask you for your input as to who you think should be your replacement.” Hermione nodded and looked up at him expectantly. “You are excused then, when you receive my owl please respond with you list of potential candidates.” She nodded again and proceeded to the door of his study. The old man cleared his throat. “Oh and Hermione,” she stilled “please try to be courteous to young Malfoy in the near future. He may try to pester you, as it were.” She left through the now open door and let it shut softly behind her.

SH

She ran through the halls tears flying down her face and blinding her. The memories wouldn’t stop pouring into her mind. Old memories which she had no control over.

Sachin held her a thousand years before, telling her that she would never have to be without him. That they were connected through time and that whenever she would have need of him to guide her he would come.

Sachin kissing her and telling her that they only had this one night to love. Only one night to forget the responsibilities placed on them by the cruel world. That she would forever be above him and he would never be her equal. That they had this one night to be on the same level. She wouldn’t let it end and placed a binding spell on him so that he could never love and only be loyal to her. She cried because she could feel his willingness to give up entirely of himself if only for her happiness and safety.

She cried because this was the end of it all. The time had come again and she intended this time to free him and to never let him look back.