Where Two Paths Meet

A/N: I’m going try update at least once a week, but you’ll have to understand I’m coming up to my exams for university, so please don’t be angry if I don’t.

Chapter 12: Confrontation

Hermione opened her eyes slowly to hearing dead silence. Not even the leaves were rustling, it was just silent. Her body felt stiff from lying in an awkward position and she realised that she too must have fell asleep from the strange bells. She sat up and looked around the dark forest, at the tall trees and twisting paths. The eerie silence was making her feel uncomfortable and she knew in her heart that something was terribly wrong.

“Hermione.” Ron croaked.

Hermione looked around to see Ron lying a few feet away staring at her wide-eyed. He looked fine, thankfully, but she still felt uneasy.

“Ron. What happened?” Hermione asked, hoping that maybe he knew something.

Ron stood up and brushed the dirt off his pants. He gazed at Hermione through his blue eyes and shrugged. “I’m not sure. All I remember is hearing someone calling me and then I must have fell asleep.”

Hermione nodded, for she remembered Ron saying the bells were calling him. “Those were the bells. But…where’s Harry?” Hermione said anxiously as she looked around the clearing.

Ron walked around the clearing, stopping suddenly as he knelt down to peer at something on the mossy ground. He quickly stood up and gave Hermione a scared expression.

“Look.” He said pointing to the ground.

Hermione stood up off the ground and walked over to where Ron was pointing. She gasped as she saw what were unmistakeably the marks of someone being dragged away into the trees. The feeling of unease intensified as Hermione realised these tracks could only belong to one person.

“Ron, you don’t think they took Harry?” Hermione asked fearfully.
Ron looked at Hermione but didn’t say anything. Hermione sighed sadly, his silence was enough to confirm her fears. Now she didn’t know what to do. Though Harry and Ron often relied on her to come up with the bright ideas, it was always Harry who got them through it. Having him not there by her side made her feel somehow empty.

“Come on.” Ron said snapping Hermione from her thoughts. “At least we have this track to follow.”

Hermione nodded, knowing that they had to do something to help Harry. Together they followed the tracks through the twisting forest and into the darkness that lay beyond.

Several hours later…

“The track just stops.” Ron sighed, running his hands through his hair in frustration.

“Ron, do you hear that?” Hermione shakily whispered as she gripped his arm. She thought she heard a voice but she couldn’t be too sure. She hoped it was just her imagination; she had had enough of the strange things in this forest.

Ron looked at her, his eyes going wide. “Shh.” He whispered, as he put a finger to his lips.

They both listened intently as an eerie but beautiful voice drifted towards their ears. A sudden rush of wind blew through the trees, making the leaves rustle. The enchanting voice grew clearer, allowing Hermione to make out the words.

Hermione frowned as she listened to the woman’s voice repeating the strange poem. Was it a riddle? If it was, Hermione had no idea how to decipher it. It sounded like she wanted to help them but there seemed to be an underlying meaning behind the words.

“Seems like we should follow this voice.” Ron said with some relief. Hermione realised he was just happy that they wouldn’t have to try make their own way through the forest but she wasn’t sure if she could trust this voice. Even still, it was the only thing that could give them a lead.

Hermione nodded. “Maybe she can help us find Harry.” She didn’t tell Ron that she thought the voice was probably just a trap, all she cared about was finding Harry.

“C’mon let’s get going.”

They began to walk when Ron threw out his arm. Hermione looked at him in surprise.

“What’s wrong?” She asked.

“Someone’s coming.” Ron said grimly.

Hermione looked at him fearfully and shifted her gaze to where Ron was looking. “Oh no.” She gasped as the figure came into sight.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

Draco struggled onward, clutching the limp form of Ginny in his arms. She hadn’t spoken or done anything since she had collapsed. He felt so helpless and also exhausted. He had been carrying her for what seemed like hours and with the physical and mental drain, he was beginning to feel like he too would collapse. Draco realised that if he didn’t have a rest soon he would no use to Ginny and so when he came to a clearing, he gently placed Ginny on the mossy ground and sat down opposite her on the forest floor.

Draco gazed at Ginny, at her drained cheeks and lifeless face. The long crimson hair that so reminded him of blood, framed her body like the red velvet that lines a coffin. Death hung about her body like a disease but he could take comfort in the gentle rise and fall of her chest that showed she was still breathing. A single tear trailed down his pale cheek and Draco wiped it away in irritation.

“I’m so helpless.” Draco whispered. “I can’t even save you Ginny.”

Ginny said nothing. She just lay there as still as death, her breathing quickening slightly from the loss of blood. Draco leant forward and touched her pale cheek. Her skin was like ice and he quickly pulled away his hand in surprise.

He gazed at her lifeless face and sighed. “I’m so sorry Ginny.“ he whispered, placing his hands over his eyes. “I’m a failure at everything I do. I could never please anyone. I let everyone down.” He pulled his hands away and gently stroked her crimson hair, a few tears gathering at his grey eyes. “You believed in me so much…but I’ve let you down too.”

Draco looked at the stab wound that he had clumsily bandaged; the dark crimson stains of blood could be seen staining the cloth that he had ripped off his robe. Memories flooded back to him…

“Someday Father. I will make you proud… I will prove my worth to you.” Draco whispered.

Draco opened his eyes and glared up at the sky. He never did make his father proud. He failed in his mission to Voldemort and he had failed in getting his revenge for his father. Now he was about to fail the girl he could more about than any other.

His eyes flicked to Ginny, to the blood still oozing from her stomach. Determination burned in his eyes as he stood up.

“I’m not going to fail you this time. Ginny.” Draco said firmly. “Even if I don’t have a wand, we’re going to get through this. Don’t you dare die on me! I’m going to find help, just hold on.”

Draco scooped Ginny up into his arms and walked forward, each step only causing more fire to burn in his resolution to keep fighting for their survival. Suddenly and eerie voice drifted through the forest. Draco stopped and listened intently.

Follow my voice to find your way,
Through the forest that leads a-stray.
If you desire to learn your fate,
Come quickly to my golden gate.
Where all paths will be revealed,
And your destined fortune’s sealed.
So do not tarry, and be swift
If you wish to receive my gift.

Draco was a little reluctant to follow this voice but he knew that Ginny would not survive unless she got help. He could take comfort in the fact that if this woman did help them, then Ginny would be safe…if not, well they were going to die anyway, so he’d might as well try before they did.

He began to follow the mystical voice but stopped suddenly when he heard a twig snap from somewhere in the trees. Spinning around he saw two figures moving through the shadowy trees. Draco narrowed his eyes and saw familiar red hair behind what was distinctly a wand light. He moved forward and saw Ron and Hermione peering at him with wary expressions.

“Oh no!” Hermione gasped as she saw Ginny in Draco’s arms.

“Ginny!” Ron yelled as he ran forward. “What have you done to her?”

Draco looked into Ron’s furious expression and suddenly felt deflated. He knew how Ron felt but there was nothing he could have done. At least that was what he had been telling himself since Ginny had been stabbed.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect her.” Draco said quietly, turning his face away so they would not see his shame and regret.

Hermione looked at him oddly but said nothing. Ron pulled Ginny out of Draco’s arms and placed her on the ground. He knelt down beside her and started examining her face, his eyes narrowing when they saw the bloodstained bandage.

“What happened to her?” Hermione asked Draco quietly as they both watched Ron talking to Ginny.

“She was stabbed with this blade.” Draco said pulling out the sinister looking blade. The blade had already been stained with red but now it was even darker from Ginny’s blood. Hermione took the blade, which was really more of a small dagger and examined it closely.

“This has been coated with a very deadly poison.” Hermione gasped. She shifted her gaze to Ginny with a worried expression. “How long ago did she get stabbed with this?”

Draco frowned as he tried to remember. “About two hours.”

Hermione’s eyes widened as she looked at him fearfully. “She could die any minute now.”

Draco felt his head spin. He knew that Ginny was very ill but he hadn’t known she was this close to dying. He suddenly felt like the whole world had collapsed around him as he stared at her pale face, he could almost see her desperately clinging to the life she had left.

“What do we do?” Ron said standing up. Draco could tell Ron was not about to give up so easily and felt a sudden admiration for him. He had never liked Ron but he could not dislike him for wanting to help Ginny. He knew that he was losing faith and realised that if Ron could still have hope than so could he. hadn’t he promised he would save Ginny? Was he going to just give up now because she was dying?

“Maybe that woman can help us?” Draco said looking at them as he remembered the voice.

Hermione shook her head. “She hasn’t got enough time. We need to find the antidote fast.”

Draco looked at Hermione, a frown growing. “But we don’t even know what it is.”

Hermione made a silencing gesture to Draco and started pacing, muttering under her breath, while examining the blade. Draco could only stare at her, a little surprised. Ron looked at Draco and shrugged, clearly showing he had no idea what Hermione was doing.

“I’ve got it!” Hermione cried. “She’s been poisoned with the Black Fate.”

“Sounds bad. What is it?” Ron said fearfully.

“It’s a poison that saps the life force of the person, eventually killing them.”

“And the antidote?” Draco asked with sudden hope.

Hermione looked at him, her brown eyes alight with excitement in figuring out the poison. “Only one antidote is known to cure this particular poison. It can be found in the juices of the White Hope.”

“What’s a white hope?” Ron asked confused.

“It’s a small white flower that is very rare and believed to only be legend,” Draco responded looking at Hermione crestfallen. They were never going to be able to help Ginny now if the White Hope was the only cure.

Hermione nodded to show that Draco was right but to his surprise she did not appear to be dismayed by the fact. “People believed the Black Fate to only be legend too. Perhaps the antidote can be found in this Forest?”

“It’s worth a try.” Draco agreed, with another look at Ginny‘s limp form.

“Alright, Malfoy and I will look for the plant since you won’t recognise it Ron.”

Draco and Ron nodded to show their agreement. Ron knelt back down by Ginny, while Hermione and Draco ran off into the forest, their eyes keenly searching for the small flower.

Draco suddenly stopped and looked at Hermione sharply. “Where’s Potter?” He had noticed that Harry was not with them but with everything else he had forgotten to ask.

Hermione looked at the ground and sighed, her brown eyes filling with worry. “He was taken.” Hermione said quietly, refusing to look at him.

“What do you mean, taken?” Draco said looking at her. If Harry was killed all of this would be for nothing. Draco knew that his life and even Ginny’s was nothing if Harry was killed, as much as he hated to admit it.

“We were cast under some sleep spell. When we awoke he was gone. We found marks that looked like someone being dragged and followed them. Then we heard that voice.” Hermione replied, still not looking into his face.

Draco nodded. “I heard it too.”

“What do you think it means?” Hermione asked, finally meeting his eyes.

“It seems like she is going to reveal to us our futures. A gift she called it.” Draco said shrugging. He wasn’t really too fond of seeing his future and he still wasn’t sure if he could trust this woman.

“We hoped she would be able to help us find Harry.” Hermione said.

Draco nodded absently, his mind still lost in his own thoughts. Now they would have to try and get Harry back as well as save Ginny. He frowned and looked towards the trees only to stop. He could see a glint of white and smiled slightly.

“Look.” He said pointing to a small white flower.

Hermione smiled and wiped a tear of relief from her face. “Now we can save her.”

Draco smiled back, too relieved to put his thoughts into words. “Come on. We have to get back quickly.”

Ron stood up as he saw Draco and Hermione running towards him.
“We got it!” Hermione cried happily.

“That’s great!” Ron exclaimed in relief.

“So Granger, how do we do this?” Draco asked looking back at Hermione. He found it slightly funny that he was relying on her. A couple of months ago he wouldn’t believe that he would be behaving civil to Hermione Granger but it seemed things had changed. Ginny…she had changed him.

Hermione knelt down by Ginny and turned her face back to the two boys. “Do you mind?” Hermione said narrowing her eyes at the boys. “I have to make the wound clear for me to work on you know. Turn around.”

Draco and Ron obliged and heard the sound of Ginny’s robes being ripped open by Hermione. Hermione looked at the bloodstained bandage and pulled it off. Pulling out the dagger she cleaned the poison off with a simple spell, returning the dagger to its original silver colour. She pulled out the flower and crushed it with the side of the dagger until a clear juice could be seen on the silver blade. Tipping the blade she watched carefully as the juice dripped into the gaping wound. Hermione smiled, as Ginny’s breathing got less ragged, showing the antidote had worked. She quickly healed the wound and then turned around.

“Malfoy I need your cloak.” Hermione demanded.

“What for?” Draco asked still facing the other way.

“Well, unless you want Ginny to be wandering around in her underwear I need your cloak to wrap around her.”

Hermione saw the black cloak fall by her and smiled. “Thank you.”

She took the cloak and wrapped it around Ginny’s small frame tenderly.

“Can we turn around now?” Ron muttered annoyed.

“Yes.” Hermione responded standing up.

Ron and Draco turned around and looked at Ginny who was lying peacefully on the ground wrapped in Draco’s large cloak. Draco felt a wave of relief sweep over him as he saw that her breathing had slowed.

“Well Malfoy, since you don’t have a wand, you can carry her.” Hermione said briskly. Draco nodded and picked up Ginny, holding her protectively in his arms so she would not be hurt.

“Wait a minute.” Ron said bristling.

“Look Ron, he’s looked after her this long, I’m sure he isn’t going to hurt her. So unless you want to give him your wand just shutup and get moving.”

Draco laughed at Ron’s open-mouthed expression. He had to admit that Hermione Granger was certainly no push over.

“Well that’s just..” Ron began but Draco interrupted.

“Look Weasley, I’m not going to do anything. Now can we get moving so we can save Potter from whatever stupid scrap he has gotten himself into.”

Hermione nodded, looking relieved that Draco had stopped the argument. “Come on Ron.” She said angrily and pulled him forward. “We have to keep following the voice.”

The three of them started walking through the forest as they followed the mystical voice, Draco carrying Ginny, and Ron and Hermione leading the way with their wands.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

“Look.” Hermione exclaimed, pointing to a tower like building that looked like it was made of gold. “It’s a temple.”

“If you desire to learn your fate, come quickly to my golden gate.” Draco recited. “This must be the place.”

Hermione nodded. “Come on.”

Ron pushed open the large golden gates and walked through. Draco could only stare in wonder at the building in front of him. The temple was truly amazing. It stretched high into the sky like a golden beacon. The large doors were covered in jewels and next to the doors were two pillars adorned with statues of golden angels that watched over the tranquil landscape. Great fountains with elaborate designs and statues surrounded the temple and a sweet scent filled the air. Draco didn’t know why but he felt uneasy. It was like they were being led into a false sense of security.

“What’s a place like this doing in such an evil forest?” Hermione mused.

Draco shrugged “I don’t know. But I don’t like it. Something isn’t right.”

Ron touched a statue and peered at it closely. “Wow this is real gold.”

Draco rolled his eyes, in annoyance. “Honestly. Your friend might be in danger and all you can think about it whether something is real gold.”

“Why you-”

“Shutup!” Hermione hissed.

All three of them turned around as the doors of the temple were opened. A woman walked out through the doors and paused as she looked down at them. The sun was glaring in his eyes so he couldn’t see what she looked like.

Ron gasped, his eyes widening slightly. “Wow, who is that?”

Draco gave him a hard look and turned his attention back to the woman descending the stairs. She had very long light brown hair. Her eyes were heavily lidded and of a striking blue that were veiled with lustrous long black lashes. She had flawless pale skin and very full red lips that curved in an enticing smile. Draco allowed his gaze to wander down her face to see the rest of the alluring woman. She was wearing a flowing white material that barely covered her body. A heavy gold pendant was clasped around her pale neck and she was wearing gold bracelets and anklets.

“So you have finally come.” The woman said in a deep mystical voice they all recognised as the voice in the forest.

“You’re the one who said you can help us?” Ron asked, his eyes practically popping out of his head.

The woman smiled, showing very white even teeth. “I said I would reveal your future. It is my gift to you.”

Hermione and Draco exchanged glances, both agreeing that this woman was not to be trusted. Draco looked at the woman who was staring straight at him.

“What have you done with Potter?” He said angrily.

The woman ignored Draco and looked at Ginny briefly. Draco saw her eyes widen as they saw the blood stone pendant around her neck, slowly she turned her mesmerising blue eyes back to Draco.

“Please come inside, we can talk there.” She said slowly.

Draco stayed standing where he was but Hermione leant over and whispered in his ear, “We should follow. If she has Harry she isn’t going to give him to us easily.”

Draco nodded and walked forward. “Fine.”

Ron watched the interchange with narrowed eyes. Hermione walked forward with Draco. while Ron trailed behind, an angry expression on his face. The woman gave a sly look as she watched them walk through the doors.

“Hmm so it’s like that is it? This is going to be easier then I thought.”