Lithium pt. 1

-LAST TIME-

Hermione chatted with Susan for a couple of hours about the type of career she was interested in and how she wanted very much to get a job within the ministry. After talking with Susan, she was introduced to other ministry officials who offered their advice as well telling her about what skills and talents would be required by her to make it in the ministry. It wasn't long before the party came to a sudden and unexpected crashing halt.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Somewhere in muggle London the madman known only as The Joker sat in an abandoned apartment building with several of his goons that were doing nothing but lazing about waiting for his orders.

Joker was currently thinking over some very important information he had come across. If this information was to be believed then a large group of witches and wizards would be gathering for a special party in some high class hotel.

Witches and wizards. People that could do magic. Magic was something that wasn't supposed to exist. Magic wasn't apart of the plan. If the existence of magic got out it would has a mass panic and chaos.

Joker smiled and laughed. Chaos was good. The joker liked chaos. "Pack it up boys. Where gonna crash a party."

-------------------

Everything was packed and everyone was ready to go. The Joker was practically bouncing in his seat with excitement. He could barely wait to crash this party and see just what these so called wizards were capable of. And even if the rumor turned out to be false he's still get his entertainment just from crashing the party.

Either way it was a win-win for him. No longer being able to contain it and not trying to anyhow laughter bubbled up inside of him. In just a few moments he would have his entertainment.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arriving at the front of the building Joker and his men quickly exited the van and headed for the door. The doorman made the fatal mistake of attempting to stop them and was quickly shot down by one of the goons. Laughing as the guy fell to the ground Joker and his men headed for the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor.

With a smile caused not only by his scars he said "Its party time boys." The elevator pinged and everyone stepped out.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Steve stepped up to the men immediately. "Im sorry but this party is by invite only." "Here's are invitation," Joker said as another one of the men shot Steve in the chest. Causing all the attention in the room to turn to them. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Don't mind me im here just to inquire about an interesting little rumor that I heard."

The goons spread out among the room guns locked and loaded each of them ready to kill at a seconds notice. Joker casually scanned the room as though he wasn't threatening anyone and as though he hadn't already killed two innocent people. Picking snacks and drinks off of tables as he walked around the room he said, "You see there's this funny little story going around that everybody in this room is a witch or wizard with the ability to do magic. Real magic. SO!" he turned to the guy closest to him and pulled out a knife. "Lets see some magic!"

He held the blade to the mans neck. "Don't think that anyone in this room is going to be intimidated by a pathetic muggle like you." "Pathetic muggle eh? Well let me just show you what this pathetic muggle can do."

Joker then slit his throat to fast for anyone to intervene. The man fell to the ground dead. "Anyone else want to question what im capable of?" He asked. Then he walked up to woman. "How about you? Ready to show me a magic trick?" Hermione stood in the background looking on in horror. She had to do something, anything. So in true Gryffindor fashion she acted without thinking.

"Stop it!" She cried out stepping forward and away from the crowd. Joker looked over at her. "Well hello beautiful." He said eyeing her up and down as he began to walk over to you. "And you are beautiful." He circled her like a shark circles its prey. "What's the matter?" He asked when Hermione looked away from him. "You look nervous." He leaned in closer toward her and she leaned away from him. "Is it the scars?" She looked back up at him. "Wanna know how I got them?"

"Its not the scars. it's the fact that you're a murder." She stared back at him refusing to look away this time. She wasn't a Gryffindor for nothing after all. "You gotta little fight in you. I like that." Unable to help it she smiled up at him. Joker smiled back and laughed. "Looks like ive managed to make you smile." She smiled again "looks like you have." Loud pops began to sound through the room as aurors apparated in.

Joker quickly backs off Hermione. "Looks like the games over boys." He said as aurours began to fire spells at them. The goons fired their guns in retaliation and hit both aurour and innocent alike as the made their getaway.

Before the elevator doors closed Joker gave Hermione one last farewell grin that she couldn't help but return.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After much coddling and concern from her parents Hermione wanted nothing more than to go to bed and sleep. So after taking a shower and getting cleaned up she collapsed into a heap on her bed. Thoroughly exhausted from fear, stress, excitement, and a number of other emotions she fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

Dreams of a man in makeup with a haunting laugh filled her dreams.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hermione slept in late that morning only to be rudely awoken by her mother. "Hurry up Hermione your going to be late!" She shot up in bed as though a bucket of ice water had been poured on her. She looked over at the clock that read 11:30 am. "Oh no!" she yelled as she thorough back the covers and jumped out of bed.

"I have to meet Harry and Ron in half an hour!" "Hun are you sure you don't want to stay home and reschedule your little get together?" Hermione rolled her eyes in frustration. "for the hundredth time mom im fine. I promise" her mother sighed. "Alright just let us know when you leave." "Yea mom sure." came the muffled reply from inside her closet.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hermione arrived at the leaky cauldron ten minutes late. "Oh, you guys im so sorry im late. I slept in." "We almost thought you wouldn't make it." Harry said. "Yea. We thought you might have run off with your new boyfriend." Ron said grouchily. "New boyfriend?" Hermione asked confusion written all over her face.

Harry handed her the newspaper. "Its been all over the daily prophet." And sure enough in big bold letters the headline read 'BEAUTY AND THE BEAST' and right beneath it in the shape of a heart was picture of her and the Joker from last night. The article went on to talk about how she and the joker flirted with one another and exchanged words of love even as he murdered multiple people right in front of her. "You cant be serious?! You two actually believe this?!" Hermione cried in outrage as she looked between the two in disbelief.

"Harry!" she yelled when neither spoke. "You know yourself how much the prophet lies! You've been the victim of their lies hundreds of times!!" "Hermione they have pictures of you two flirting!" Ron said angrily gesturing to the picture. "Honestly Ronald! There's nothing going on between me and that madman! And we certainly weren't flirting!!" She threw the paper down onto the table and stood up. "If you two would rather believe that sack of lies than me then were not as good friends as I thought we were." "Hermione wait!" Harry said as she stormed off.