On a Hot Summer Night

[AN] I'm on a roll today. Review *puppy dog eyes* maybe, please. With cherries on top. [/AN]


In her panic, she failed to mention which part of Hogwarts she was going to. She honestly wanted to got to McGonagall's office. As Headmistress, she would be able to counsel in what every way Hermione needed. She didn't want to face anyone she knew personally. They would all tell her to speak with 'Snape'. At least McGonagall would be able to give her advice on vampires. Now she was traveling through the floo system without a destination. At least she would land at the school. Probably.

It hurt her ass as she tumbled out of the fireplace, unsure of her position. As she looked around she realized that the colors were blues and bronzes. Ravenclaw. It was their common room fireplace she had landed in, of all places. It could have been worse. A lot worse. At least school was out, and there was no one around. She exited the common room to find herself at school. Where she was just now she was unfamiliar with, and it brought back no memories. But the halls did. Just the feel of them. She had never come back since 7th year, and that was hectic enough. It was lucky she graduated.

She would have regardless if she had been in school or not. Hermione was not one to let education boundaries get in her way. It made her think, and she turned her back to see the entrance to the Ravenclaw, and wondered if she should have been there instead. She had the intelligence to get in. In fact, the hat wanted her there. At the time, she wanted to be in Gryffindor. Mostly because of Harry and Ron. But look at the mess it got her in now. She would look 19 forever. No one would take her seriously.

Walking at a slow pace through the familiar halls, she made her way to the Headmistress' office. Somehow McGonagall knew she was there, and the statue in front was already turned open. She began to descend down the stairs, and the statue closed back up. Once at the door, she knocked quietly, and waited for the Headmistress to answer the door.

Minerva was attending some end of the year business. Mostly getting the next year ready and making sure that the previous year's paperwork was all complete. For reasons of her own, she liked to keep the statue at the top of the office open. It allowed her to hear anyone wanting to come in at the door instead. And any student could enter just to talk. Since the revelation of magic to the world, more and more muggle-born students were found and more and more they wanted to talk about the adjustment. The knock at the door could have been anyone, so she politely put forth her reply to the knock.

"Yes, who is it?"

"It's Hermione Granger. I just want to have a talk."

Minerva sighed. She knew that Granger just wanted someone to talk to about her predicament. If Albus was still here she would no doubtingly be looking to him for guidance as well. To this day she still cursed Snape for what he did. He had no right. But, it happened nonetheless.

"Come in, my dear."

The door to the office swung open, most likely by McGonagall's words. Hermione entered the room quietly, and sat in the chair across from the Headmistress' desk. Almost immediately she began to spout words out with no filter.

"I'm sorry to have to come to you. I just don't want anyone with a personal connection to myself to influence my decision. Not that I have a choice of a decision. Just I'm not sure of my actions. Not my actions. My purpose. My life. I feel like I am going to be here forever. It happens when I wake up and just look at myself. I should look much older. Mature. But instead I find myself looking at a hormonal teenager. Albeit a flawless one. But I will never grow old. I will never have that experience of dying. And living. I'm dead already. Time is no matter to me. It shouldn't be. Yet I feel trapped by it. With the brand of Cain I walk this fucking earth! Sorry...Professor."

The Headmistress sat there, staring at Hermione in pity. She shouldn't have. Hermione may have needed the pity, but most of the time people didn't like to receive it. When her former student was finished, Minerva looked at Hermione solemnly. She had known very few vampires in her life, besides Severus, and knew little of how they worked. Or how their suffering affected the young so. At least Severus was older when he was turned. Hermione had not even been a woman yet. But what she knew about vampires, she knew less about Severus. He was such a man that kept to himself, showing few facets of his diamond to the world. Albus was the one man that knew him more than just a brooding soul. Slowly, she calculated the exact words she was going to say to poor Hermione.

"Now, you look here Ms. Granger. You are the brightest witch of your generation. You are an Albus Dumbledore. Or a Voldemort if you chose to be. You wield power with that mind of yours that no one can compare to. And I will not have you sitting there without feeling you have purpose. Either realize that you have that power and go and use to do more research and write more papers and create new spells to help the world, or just talk to Severus. He may, honestly, be the only person to help you. Everyone else, including myself, can try to help. We can all talk your ear off. But it won't help in the long run. You know that Severus uses glamouring charms to make him look as though he were aging. Perhaps you should look into those. But again, looking older won't solve your problem either. Just talk to him. He's still in the castle. Go to him."

She spoke like a caring mother. It was how she felt to most of her students. Even the troublemakers. She was strict and tough in the classroom, and in her reprimands. But if anyone came to her for help, she would do all she could. It was just in this case, she couldn't do much.

Hermione sat and swallowed the bitter pill McGonagall was forcing her to take. She knew it all along. This would have to end this way. She would need to swallow her Gryffindor pride and speak with Severus. Inwardly she smirked, realizing that arguing with that sorting hat 1st year may have been right all along. Standing and looking at Minerva with a smile, she walked towards the door. When she reached it, she turned around and spoke before leaving to find Severus.

"Thank you. I needed a kick in my ass."