Veelas and Syreni in Terra

Chapter 5- Not What You Expected

"Alright, Miss Granger.  The news I have to tell you is neither easy to tell nor hear, so please hear me out, alright?"

"Professor, is everyone OK?"

"Yes, Miss Granger, everyone is alright.  This just concerns you.  Now, I know you will have questions, and I will answer them to the best of my ability, but please let me finish before asking them, alright?"  McGonagall peered knowingly at Hermione over her glasses.  Hermione nodded, suddenly feeling very nervous.

"Alright, Hermione.  Have you noticed any changes in your body and the way people observe and act around you since turning of age?"

"Yes, ma'am, I have a bit."

"There is a reason for that.  Hermione, believe me when I tell you that we didn't realize this until very recently.  Your Great Great Great Grandmother was not muggle.  She was, in fact, not even human.  She was a very powerful witch, but she was also a mermaid.  A siren, if you will.  She fell in love with a human and channeled all her magical powers into becoming a human to be with this man, your Great Great Great Grandfather, Richard Granger.  In doing so, his wife, Melinda, lost her magical powers, but became a human.  It was thought that she had succeeded in becoming totally human, dooming her ancestors to a human, but non-magical, life.  This has been true until you were born, Hermione.  Since you were born with magical powers, you also inherited the non-human characteristics of Melinda's true herratige."  McGonagall paused, and Hermione had too many questions not to start asking them.

"Wait, Professor, but I'm not a mermaid!  I don't have fins, or gills, or a tail!"

"No, Hermione, I don't think you ever will, either.  You will, however, gain the ability to speak with fish and mermaids.  You will also gain the characteristics of a siren, namely the beautiful voice and body used to lure men to it.  You will also grow taller this year, and gain a certain... magnetism that will draw both men and women to you sexually.  This magnetism can be lessened with practice and time, but it is unlikely you will master it by the beginning of the school year.  There are, however, things that we can do to help this not become a problem this coming year."

"What do you mean, magnetism?"

"Well, it's not unlike a Vampire's thrall.  To be honest, there are not many sirens in existence anymore, and they do not want to be examined like most magical creatures are.  Therefore, we know very little about what will happen to you.  This uncertainty is heightened by the fact that you are not an actual mermaid, and that there has been no non-human blood in your family since Melanie turned herself human.  From what Professor Dumbledore and myself can find, this should not be happening, but all signs point to this non-human blood being awoken within you by the first occurrence of a magical core since Melinda."  Hermione's head was reeling.  She walked over to her bed on shaky legs and sat down hard.  She knew she had changed, but not that much!  What am I going to do now?  I can't go back to school and have people... falling all over me!

"Professor, what am I going to do?  I can't go back to school this year!  How am I going to handle Harry and Ron?  What if they are attracted to me now?  How am I-"

"Miss Granger, drink this.  I assumed that you would have this reaction.  This is a calming draught so we can have a rational conversation about this.  Professor Dumbledore and myself have come up with a way that you can learn to manage this enough to go back to school, and be fine.  There you go, drink up."  Hermione drained the potion, and immediately felt much more calm and rational.  

"I'm sorry, Professor.  But what am I going to do?"

"I would expect no less, Hermione.  With your permission, Professor Dumbledore and myself would like to send you to the Weasley's for the remainder of the summer.  I would accompany you today if you will agree to go.”

“But Professor, why would it help me to be shoved into a group of hormonal teenagers, mostly boys at that?”

“We would tell them what they need to know of the situation, namely that they need to watch out for your magnetism.  With their help, we believe that you could learn to keep it in check.  It wouldn’t totally go away, but it would be lessened enough that you wouldn’t necessarily have to hex people away.”

“Alright, Professor. When should we leave?”

“As soon as you can get your things ready.  I took the liberty of speaking with your parents and they have agreed to let you go, although they do not know the whole story.  They just believe you are going as you do every summer a few weeks early.”

As Hermione packed all her things away into her trunk, she felt ready to vomit.  In ten minutes, her life had changed.  This is going to be an interesting year, for sure.

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A/N: Alright all, chapter 5 as promised!  Let me know in the reviews if you need any clarification on exactly WHAT Hermione is: I know it may be confusing to some readers!  Next chapter is still Hermione’s POV: The Burrow!  Until then: I love you guys! :D