Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

62

Hermione woke up gasping for air and jumping up into a sitting position. She soon felt a pair of arms grabbing her shoulders as she shot her head up to find Madam Pomfrey and McGonagall wrapping their arms around her. 

"Hermione, calm down! You're alright! You're safe." McGonagall told her, gently brushing Hermione's hair from her cold sweat covered face. She felt herself start to calm down as her breathing was getting back to a steady beat. However, her body stiffened when her eyes landed on the Ravenclaw girl that Hermione had ran into in the hallway. The girl was laid across the bed, a look of panic across her face. 

"Miss Granger, we need to ask you a few questions?" McGonagall suddenly said as she sat down on a chair right beside Hermione's bed, "Did you notice anything odd while you were in the hallway?" 

Hermione shook her head in a 'no' manner. She was still processing what exactly did she see. The basilisk hadn't try to attack her, nor did she get Petrified by the basilisk's gaze and when she looked it straight in its eyes, she didn't die. It was hard to believe what had happened even though she was right there and witness it. 

"Then do you mind telling me what you are doing with this in hand?" McGonagall asked, holding up the mirror Hermione used to peer around corners to avoid eye contact with the creature, which appears there's no use for it for her at least. She stared at it as she again shook her head 'no'. McGonagall lightly patted Hermione's knee. 

"There's nothing to be ashamed about. You did hit your head, chances are you might have forgotten a little. But the moment you find yourself remembering anything at all even if you feel it may be of little importance, please come and inform me or Professor Dumbledore about it." McGonagall told her. Before Hermione could say another word, Madam Pomfrey came scurrying over, groaning. 

"Oh for Merlin's sake! Go on! You can go visit her!" Madam Pomfrey growled while Harry and Ron came jogging near where Hermione was. 

"Hermione! You're okay! We were worried sick!" Harry and Ron told her in union. McGonagall rose from her chair as she gave a slight glance over to Hermione. 

"I'll let the three of you talk with each other. But don't forget what I told you Miss Granger." McGonagall told her. They waited till both McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey (who kept mumbling five minutes at them) had left the room. Once they were gone, Hermione began spilling information to Harry and Ron about what she had seen and what had happened to her. 

"So that's why we can hear it!" Harry grumbled, "It's a snake! And of course it's using the pipes, it's easier for snakes to move around in." 

"But how come Hermione wasn't Petrified or killed when she made direct eye contact with it? Surely she should be... not that I'm saying I'm not glad that you're not. Because I am..." Ron blurted out. 

"I'm not sure myself. But I didn't want to tell McGonagall at the moment. I don't want to say anything till we have more information." Hermione explained to them, "Which is why we need to go down to Hagrid's. We need to settle this right away and figure out the truth of the matter. I need to know... if I might be the Heir of either Slytherin or White." 

The journey to Hagrid's wasn't much fun and nearly caused them panic attacks. They nearly always ran into teachers, prefects and ghosts who roamed the corridor in hopes of catching the beast that lurked around the corridor. But Hermione had a thought that the basilisk wasn't entirely a monster. Didn't Rose had mention how she was able to convince it to not listen to Riddle anymore and did it not obey her? But then why attack know if it stayed silently all these years. 

Her thoughts quickly came to an end when she found they were standing right outside Hagrid's hut and Harry had pulled the invisible cloak from them before he knocked on the door. Seconds after they had knocked, the door flung opened to show Hagrid with a crossbow aim straight at them.