Hermione Granger and the Year Hidden from Hogwarts

Chapter Four

Hermione Granger and the Year Hidden from Hogwarts

Harry Potter Fanfiction

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 - October 30th, 1985

Dr. Hampton cleared his throat, his voice echoing vaguely in the rounded, cavernous walls of the room they'd entered. "Well, as I was saying, the test is quite simple. Charles will fit you with some wires and sensors while I explain the premise of the test."

"Okay." Hermione watched, round-eyed as Mr. Saxon pulled out a tangle of wiring.

Dr. Hampton gestured to three complicated, behemoth boxes in the middle of the space. "These are quite advanced technology—faraday cages, and not like those backwater fake ones that crop up from someone's basement as a homespun science project. We've had these cages vetted and confirmed in working order."

"What is it they're supposed to do, sir?"

He clapped the top of one, like it was a good old boy. "Why, house ghosts, of course!"

Hermione's jaw dropped, and without hesitation, she squeezed her eyes shut before opening them again. A faint, ethereal blue coated everything, apart from the faraday cage in the middle. It glowed with a blinding white light. It was so bright, in fact, that she almost missed the fact that the one beside it had its own glow, but it was a much duller, sickly grey color.

"Doctor, you have to see this." Mr. Saxon gasped.

"What is it, m'boy?"

"I've only got a third of the sensors on, but look at the data we're reading from this. It's off the charts."

Dr. Hampton gave a noncommittal hum, but his eyes had caught on her and remained there. "Charles, perhaps leave the computer analysis for a moment. In an experiment, it's always better to observe the fleeting things first."

Mr. Saxon frowned. "What? But the data helps guide—oh," he broke off as his eyes stopped on Hermione.

Hermione's concentration broke, and the ghostly plain dropped from existence. "What?"

Mr. Saxon cleared his throat, still staring. "Y—"

"Nothing," Dr. Hampton interrupted, giving his assistant a pointed look. "Don't mind us."

Hermione frowned. Mr. Saxon hadn't broken his gaze yet as if waiting for her to sprout wings or something.

Dr. Hampton cleared his throat loudly. "Charles? The wires?"

"Huh, oh!" Mr. Saxon finally broke his gaze. "Right. I'll continue connecting these, shall I?"

Hermione continued to study him, hoping for some clue in the direction of his gaze or mannerisms.

"Let's focus, please, Hermione. Now, the test is simple. We have the three faraday cages. When we've got you all wired up, you'll approach them and tell us which one is housing a ghost. Another psychic captured it when we investigated a haunting, so we already know which is occupied. If you can tell us the correct one, then we'll have proof to back up your claims."

"Understand?"

Hermoine relaxed significantly. "That's it?"

Dr. Hampton laughed. "Cheeky little thing. Yes, though you might not find it so easy. Part of the shielding that helps contain the spirit has been known to also interfere with psychic abilities—or so we've been told. That's why there are little port holes to peer inside in case that's how your powers work. If your power works through touch—"