Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

82

Hermione was still confused by what Dumbledore had told Snape in the Great Hall, but that was the least of her worries. The fact that the only portrait who was willing to volunteer as replacement for the Fat Lady was Sir Cadogan, the knight they ran into on their way to the North Tower. He kept making the passwords ridiculously complicated but worst, he kept changing them at least twice a day. On top of which, Hermione noticed her stack of homework was getting higher and she was thankful to have gotten rid of at least two of her classes but it didn't seem enough for her. 

But regardless of her troubles, that very afternoon, she had finally discovered the Crimson Queen after finding her husband, Ekrizdis. 

"He's the Dark Wizard, who made and lived in Azkaban long before it was made a wizarding prison. He had married the Crimson Queen, Iracebeth, when she had found her way on Azkaban and revealed they had the same devilish interests," Hermione read out of the book to Harry and Ron while they were trying to avoid either Percy or the teachers, who have been determined to stay near Harry at all times, "rumor is she helped him in creating the Azkaban Guards known as Dementors.  Upon Ekrizdis's deathbed, Iracebeth was said to have vanished from Azkaban with their supposed child before any Ministry Aurors could arrest them. She was never seen again, yet there are many stories stating she had found safe haven in the countryside and raised her child." 

"Wow... she has to be a complete nutter to fall madly in love with this bloke. He sounds horrible," Ron mumbled darting over his shoulder to ensure that no one was listening in on them. Harry peered over Hermione's shoulder to glance down at the book. 

"Hermione! It says here, Iracebeth had the ability to talk and control the dementors better than Ekrizdis could. What if she's one of your ancestors? Just like the Heir of White that gives you the power to talk to snakes and control... well once control the basilisk... you being the heir of Iracebeth gives you the power to talk to dementors," Harry suggested, "Think about it Hermione. Hogwarts is surrounded by dementors, you keep hearing voices that can't be from snakes because then I would hear them... it all fits." 

"Me? The Heir of Iracebeth? It can't be," Hermione asked, slamming the book down, "Harry, you didn't read some of the horrible things she has been thought to have done in that place. Or her diary entries stating her hatred for muggle-borns and how wizards have every right to detest them and murder them. She even had journals going into great details of all the torturous ways of destroying muggles' spirits in the most cruelest ways..." 

"I hate to say it, 'Mione, but Harry's got a point." Ron stated. 

"I know it's hard to admit there's a chance you may be the Heir of Iracebeth, but you heard what Dumbledore said in the Great Hall. 'They know her... and they are very keen to... family'! He wouldn't have said that lightly if he didn't know what he was talking about," Harry stated to her. 

Hermione attempted to forget what she had learned but it kept racing in her head. The thought of her being the great-great-great grandchild of a crazy woman, who was extremely vicious towards Muggles, was killing her. On top of the fact Professor Snape was filling in for Lupin that day and he was being his usual judgmental, jerky self. 

"Turn to page 394," Snape spoke as he proceed to turn on the projector in the room. 

"But, Sir," Hermione spoke up, "we're not supposed to do werewolves yet, we're due to start hinky-punks---" 

"Miss Granger, I was under the impression that I am teaching this lesson, not you. And I am telling you all to turn to page 394." Snape said in a deadly calm voice as he paced around the room, his eyes scanning over each and everyone's heads, "which of you can tell me how we distinguish between the werewolf and the true wolf?" 

Hermione shot her hand up, ready to answer, except like usual Snape ignored her. 

"Nobody knows?" Snape said. 

"Please sir," Hermione spoke again, "the werewolf differs from the true wolf in several small ways. The snout of the werewolf--" 

That is the second time you have spoke out of turn, Miss Granger," Snape said coldly, "Five points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all." 

Hermione suddenly felt a wave of rage flowing through her being as she jumped out of her seat, shoving her books inside her bag. 

"Where do you think you're going?" Snape asked her. 

"Why should I be here? You clearly don't care of actually making sure people know the answers. You just want us to stay quiet and just listen to you, which is very rich since you don't stop and listen to people to figure out why the bloody hell you are and always will be a loner and completely hated by everyone in this castle for the rest of your miserable life!" Hermione shot at him before turning on her heel and storming out of the room. She didn't pay any attention to where she was going, only that she needed to get far away from him. There was no point in staying and listening to him another minute longer. 

It was about an hour or so when Hermione felt she better slow down and figure out where she was. She was somewhere on the pathway that she usually took to head to Hagrid's hut. There was a light chill in the air, causing her to pull the hood of her robe up and over her head to try and block the chilly air... which was causing her breath to form into silver mist. It wasn't until a sudden dreadful feeling rushed through her that made her know it wasn't just the cold making her shiver. Her head shot upwards towards the sky, which was filled with dozens, maybe hundreds, of dementors flying overhead of her. 

Hermione gulped, trying to clear her head to find a way out of there. She tried to slowly make her way back to the castle but found the dementors were lowering themselves so they were blocking her from even going towards Hagrid's or the castle. She waited till they could do their worse... to kill her or something. But it never came. They just stared at her with hooded faces while floating around her like soldiers waiting for the commander's orders. 

"Say it... Hermione... tell us what you want..." one finally spoke up. 

"P--pardon?" Hermione whispered as they began circling. 

"You know what to do... Hermione... all you have to do is say it..." 

"Say your command... and your troubles will be gone..." 

"No Professor Snape... No Malfoy... No troubles...." 

"W--what are y--you suggesting?" Hermione asked, though part of her knew exactly what they were saying. 

"Say it... Hermione... say it! And they will cease to disturb you..." 

"NO! No, I couldn't..." 

"Yes! Yes, you could... say the words! Say them and be free... from your torments... say it..." 

"Say it... Say It... SAY IT...." they repeated and repeated. Hermione clung her hands to her head as she felt to the ground, whimpering and crying, pleading for them to hush. Suddenly from the coldness from the dementors came a heating warmth and a pair of arms wrapping around her form. Hermione couldn't see who it was with how well they wrapped her body with their own, but from the gaps he peered from, she could see another man holding out his wand as a bright radiant light flooded from it. One by one the dementors flew away shrieking and hissing out as they. Just as she watched the silvery-blue light faded she felt slumber strangely take over herself.