Survival of the Fittest by Twitch E. Littleferret

Rating: R
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 5
Published: 13/04/2005
Last Updated: 24/06/2005
Status: Completed

A terrible accident leaves a handful of students stranded. House alliances, old rivalries,
friendships and love are all tested as they figure out a way to survive with each other. LAST
CHAPTER RELOADED!!




1. Bon Voyage
-------------



Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter belongs to the wonderfully talented JK Rowling.

*Each wolf pack has a social order called dominance hierarchy. Every member of the pack has a
certain rank in the hierarchy. The high-ranking members, called dominant wolves, dominate the
low-ranking members of the pack, known as subordinate wolves*.

Chapter One: Bon Voyage

“Aw, man, Harry, this is going to be great!” Ron said enthusiastically when they reached the
port. “This is just what we need to get our summer started.”

“What? More school?” Harry answered wryly, shrugging his pack over his shoulder.

“A little bit of sun, some sand,” Ron continued, dismissing his friend's comments. “Girls in
bikinis, girls in bikinis, girls in bikinis.”

The two of them stood on the boardwalk, trucks packed up, packs overstuffed with items that
represented the comforts of home, in front of a private ocean liner, The Darwin. The floating
summer school for the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the chance for fifth
years and above to get extra schooling over the summer. They would cross the Atlantic to
Massachusetts where they would visit an American colony of wizards and witches in Salem; they would
follow the coastline after that, sailing to the Caribbean to study magic there; next to New Orleans
and compare the rituals to what they had learned previously; through the Gulf of Mexico to the
Yucatan, where they would learn about the ancient magic and rituals of the pre-Hispanic
civilizations of central America; down through the Panama Canal and to Japan, where they would
arrive in Tokyo, the end of their voyage. Just in time to start a new term on September the
1st.

Harry was admiring the ship when Ron nudged him in the side. Looking over at his friend, Ron
motioned to his left. Harry scanned the crowd, his jaw clenching when they landed on a familiar
head of brown bushy hair.

“Figures they'd show up together,” Ron said bitterly. “Probably haven't left each
other's sides since school got out.”

Hermione and Terry Boot, newly named Head Boy and Girl and currently dating, arrived at the port
with their parents. Dressed casually in jeans and a pale blue t-shirt, she glanced over in Ron and
Harry's direction. Her gaze fell on Harry and he returned her look with an icy glare before
returning his attention to the ship. Hermione looked away and began to fuss with her bags.

Her newfound relationship with Terry was a breaking point with the trio. Ron, who had been
harboring feeling for his friend and still did, lashed out at Hermione. Filled with spite and petty
jealousy that she had chosen another for her affections. Harry was caught in the middle but he had
troubles of his own, for he too, had more than friendly feelings toward Hermione but kept his
distance out of respect for the trio's friendship. He and Ron found common territory in that
they absolutely did not like Terry, and Terry, well it was clear that he did not like Harry. Harry
redirected his feelings for Hermione toward a blossoming relationship with Parvati Patil.

Unfortunately, one time he was caught past curfew with Parvati in a very compromising situation
by Hermione Granger. The stunned and bewildered Hermione had no idea what to do, she had been
blindsided so she did the first thing that came to her mind and took fifty points away from
Gryffindor. The extremely heated argument that ensued between Hermione and Harry put all the ones
she had with Ron to shame. Accusations and insults were flung at each other, voices rose and
tempers reared their ugly heads, ending with an extremely pissed off Harry and a sobbing Hermione
that Terry had to comfort. It was stupid, it was petty, but both of them were too stubborn and
proud to admit they were wrong. Not a word had been spoken between the two since.

“Whew! I made it,” a winded Ginny Weasley joined the boys.

“Bloody hell, Gin! Did you leave anything behind?” Ron joked.

Ginny tried unsuccessfully to pile her bags and luggage in an orderly fashion. “Very funny Ron,”
she grunted as she picked up a large and heavy bag.

“How much crap can one person need?” Harry jokingly teased.

Ginny gave up on the bag and rested her hands on it. “Cute, Harry. Now will you give me a hand?
Not everyone can do magic outside of school, yet.”

Harry grinned and drew out his wand. With a flick of his wrist, Ginny's luggage was shrunk
to a reasonable size.

“Are you sure you packed everything you need?” Molly Weasley said as she joined the group with
her husband.

“Yes, mum.”

“Yes, Mrs. Weasley.”

“I'm not just talking about chocolate frogs, CD players, broomsticks or video games,” Molly
said, listing off the “necessities” that her children and Harry bought in London. “You have actual
books, parchments and quills?”

“Yes, mum.”

“Yes, Mrs. Weasley.”

“You had best get a move on,” Arthur said to the teens who began to gather their things. “Have
fun you three.”

“Be careful!” Molly called out to them. “And don't forget to write!”

“We'll try to, if Ginny's luggage doesn't sink the ship!” Ron called back.

“Or drown us as we try to board,” Harry added.

“Oh shut up you two,” Ginny frowned.

As they boarded the ship, they walked into a large parlor. To their left was a large room filled
with tables that the three of them decided must be similar to the Great Hall. On their right was a
large staircase. Going up would lead you to the deck of the ship, down would lead you to the
dormitories and classrooms below. An officer stood to guide the students to their respective
dwellings.

“Girls to the bow, boys to the stern,” he directed the crowd.

“Huh?” Ron asked looking over his shoulder at Harry.

“I don't know,” Harry shrugged, “just go to your right.”

Down the stairs they went, separating from Ginny to follow the other guys down a long corridor.
It was a sort of mad dash to get the best rooms.

“Hey guys! Down here!” Dean Thomas waved to Harry and Ron. “We saved you a room,” he told them
when they reached him. “Each room has a couple of bunks in it.”

Harry and Ron walked into the room. It was a decent size, two bunks stood on opposite sides of
the room, two nightstands, two desks and a large closet filled the space. The pillows and blankets
on the beds looked soft and inviting. A clatter from behind them drew Harry and Ron's attention
to the door.

“Hey guys,” Neville said slightly winded. He looked a little run over, frantic to not miss the
boat, his bags swung haphazardly around him, a small aquarium tucked under his arm. “Mind if I bunk
with you.”

“Not a prob, Nev,” Ron said cheerfully. “But I'm calling top bunk.”

“Ooh, can I have the other, Harry?” he asked.

“Knock yourself out,” Harry smiled as he dumped his pack on the bed underneath Ron's.

“This is going to be great, guys! All the places we're going to see! The new things
we'll learn!” Neville's enthusiasm was contagious and his two roommates couldn't help
but smile as they began to unpack their things.

“Have a little bit of coffee before you got here?” Seamus said aloud as he walked through the
door. “Sorry mate,” he said to Ron as he tossed him the sports page of the Daily Prophet.

“Is that the new Gameboy Advance?” Dean edged his way into the room.

“Yeah,” Harry said, taking it out of the packaging.

“Fuck,” Ron cursed to the side as he read about the outcome of the latest Cannons game.

“I brought mine, too. Maybe we'll link up,” Dean said.

“Hey, we should get going guys,” Neville chirped. “We've got to be on deck to wave goodbye.”
Neville led the way out of the room.

The four of them smiled and filed out, Dean tackling Neville in the corridor. After much rough
housing the five of them eventually made it to the stairwell. Harry, who was leading the group, was
blocked at the top of the stairs.

Terry Boot straightened himself up, his chest puffing out as he sized himself up to Harry,
meeting his eyes. “I would appreciate it, if you would all set an example to the underclassmen on
proper behavior during this trip.”

“Did you hear something?” Harry said coldly as he moved past Terry, knocking him roughly on the
shoulder.

“Nothing,” answered Ron. “What about you, Nev?”

“Must've been the wind,” Neville replied as they filed past.

They all laughed as they continued up the stairs to the warm air and sunshine of the
outdoors.

“Talk about uptight,” Seamus said of the Head Boy.

“The guy's gotta seriously think about switching from those tighty whiteys,” Dean added.

“Hey! I wear tighty whiteys!” Neville protested.

“Jesus, Neville,” Dean swore. “I don't need to know that shit about you.”

Harry and the others laughed as they approached the rail.

**A/N:** No this isn't the Titanic. No they won't hit an iceberg.

-->



2. The Good Life
----------------



*The pride structure of a group of females living in close proximity to a small group of
dominant males leads to aggression within the group and competition for male dominance. The reign
of these males can often be as short lived as a few years—and it ends when they lose to the
challenge of a younger stronger male.*

Chapter Two: The Good Life

“I could get used to this,” Ginny sighed as she relaxed in the sun.

“Mmm,” Luna murmured in consent.

“Flip,” Hermione said and all three girls turned from their backs to their stomachs.

They were sunning themselves on the deck of the ship on lounge chairs by the pool. Luna's
long blond hair was knotted in a bun and she wore a royal blue two piece. Ginny rested next to her,
same style bikini but in red. A row had ensued between herself and her brother Ron when she first
wore it. She won out of course but it didn't stop her brother from giving the Evil Eye to any
fellow who so much as looked in his sister's general direction. Hermione lay next to Ginny,
wearing a black two piece, her hair in a lazy ponytail. Fellow students were taking advantage of
the warm weather and decided to venture on deck, busying themselves with the various outdoor
activities.

“Ron would kill me if he heard this,” Ginny began. “But that is one damn fine piece of male
specimen.”

The girls watched as Draco Malfoy lifted himself out of the pool, brushing his blond hair out of
his face, droplets of water glistened of his toned chest and abs, catching the light.

“Probably,” Hermione sighed. “Even though we hate him, we have to agree with your
statement.”

“Good girls love the bad guys,” Luna chirped in.

“Amen,” Ginny and Hermione agreed.

“Still it's a shame to waste that on Pansy Parkinson,” Ginny said.

Harry, Ron and Dean came up on deck, catching Hermione's attention. Her eyes couldn't
help but fall on Harry. His black swim trunks matched his unruly hair, her eyes wandered over his
maturing face to the toned torso from years of playing Quidditch. Her eyes continued down his abs
and she unconsciously bit her lower lip. Harry's head turned in her direction and she quickly
busied herself by grabbing a book and feigning interest in it. A shadow loomed over her and she
looked up.

“Hey sweetie!” Terry plopped on the lounge chair next to her. “I was wondering what time
you'll be done with your rounds tonight?”

“Uh…about nine. Why?”

“Great! I was hoping we could catch some alone time together.”

“Really?” Hermione perked up.

“We really need to get cracking on those books. We'll be in Jamaica soon.”

“Oh, of course,” Hermione tried her best to hide the disappointment in her voice.

“Okay, meet up in my room?” he asked.

“Sure,” Hermione smiled. She leaned in to give him a kiss but he quickly backed away.

“We have to set a good example,” he wagged a finger in his face, gave her a warm smile then got
up and walked away.

“Please tell me you do more than study in your alone time,” Ginny pleaded.

Hermione looked scandalized. “Of course!” she said. “We've kissed,” she defended. Ginny
pursed her lips together as if she was holding back from saying something more.

“Oh, leave Hermione alone,” Luna rescued her. “She's our pillar of propriety. A rock of
dignity against the raging waters of hormones and impure thoughts.”

Hermione went back to the book but not before catching another glimpse of Harry, who was playing
a pickup game of water polo.

Yeah, she was a rock alright.

~*~

Thump, thump, thump.

“Oh for crying out loud! I can't hear myself think!” Ron sighed, running a frustrated hand
through his hair. “TONE IT DOWN A BIT!” he bellowed as he banged the wall. “Fucking animals,” he
muttered.

Dean, Harry and Neville all laughed to themselves. Dean was temporarily homeless for the night,
staying with Harry and company while Seamus and Lavender studied human sexuality in the room next
door. He was currently playing against Harry's Gameboy and doing a fine job of kicking some
ass. Ron increased the volume in his headphones from the borrowed CD player of Harry's, as he
thumbed through a Quidditch magazine. Neville sat at a desk, carefully sketching out a plant he had
picked up in Salem.

“There are so many exotic plants in Jamaica,” Neville was saying. “I just don't know which
one I'll bring on board with me.”

“I have an idea of a plant you can bring,” Dean said cryptically sharing a look with Harry who
grinned.

“Ah, damn it,” Harry said as Dean raised a hand in triumph. “I'm out,” he announced.

“I've got next!” Neville jumped from his seat and taking the Gameboy from Harry.

“I'm going to the kitchens,” Harry said getting up from the floor. “Anybody want
anything?”

“Bring us back a few butterbeers,” Ron said.

Hermione sat next to Terry, quill feather in her mouth silently watching him write an essay
away. She leaned toward him and blew softly in his ear. He turned to face her, questioningly when
she leaned in, kissing him.

“Whoa,” he said when she broke the kiss. “What was that for?”

“I think,” Hermione said as she pushed the books and parchments away, “that we have earned a
study break.” She climbed onto his lab straddling him.

“S-study break?” he stammered. She nodded and began to kiss him some more. Her hand bravely
reached down to the hem of his shirt, her fingers grazing his skin. Terry immediately broke the
kiss off.

“Hermione what are you doing? You know we're not ready for that,” he said.

“Well, maybe I am ready,” Hermione cooed.

He gave her a patronizing look “Hermione,” he said, “let's just finish this up. We have
plenty of time for that some other time.”

He maneuvered Hermione off his lap and continued to scribble away on his parchment. Hermione
just sat there, stunned.

“You know what,” she said, gathering her things. “I think I'm done for tonight.”

“Are you sure?” Terry asked, concerned.

“Yes,” she said as she lifted her book bag.

“Well do you want me to walk you to your room?”

“No, don't bother,” she said in a huff and left the room.

She stormed down the hallway, angrily muttering to herself. Humiliated, angry, rejected, she
couldn't decide what she was feeling the most. She stormed into the room she shared with Ginny
and Luna.

“Study time go okay?” Luna asked bravely.

“Sodding git!” Hermione mumbled angrily as she tossed her book bag on a desk. Ginny and Luna
shared a look, Ginny mouthing a silent “Okaay”.

“Alright,” Ginny said authoritatively standing on her bed. “Conference time.”

~*~

Arms full of butterbeer bottles, Harry approached the door to the kitchen when he heard voices
on the other side. He paused a moment then as the door knob began to turn he quickly hid himself
behind an island. Someone stepped into the room.

“Okay, all clear,” the familiar voice of Ginny Weasley whispered and two more people entered the
room.

“Okay, Hermione, tell us what happened,” he heard Luna say.

“All I wanted the git to do was just cop a feel, react or do something…”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Ginny interrupted her. “Start at the beginning.”

“Okay,” Hermione took a deep breath. “So we're studying, right? And I say we deserve a
little study break, so I climb onto his lap and we start to kiss.” The sound of opening the
butterbeer bottles interrupts her. She doesn't speak for a moment and Harry assumes she's
taking a drink.

“So I decide to take it a bit further,” she continues, “and I put my hands under his shirt
and…he stops me.”

“He what?” Ginny and Luna both say.

“He stops the whole thing, saying we need to continue studying,” she pauses for another drink.
“I mean what kind of teenaged guy would not seize that opportunity?”

Harry had to agree with Hermione's logic. If he had Hermione in his lap, no studying would
get done. He grins with the thought that maybe Terry's gay.

“Maybe he's gay,” Ginny voices his thoughts.

“No,” Hermione sighs, “he's just so…so…proper.” Harry raised his eyebrows.

“I'd never thought I'd hear that from you in a million years,” Luna says reverently.

Hermione took another drink. “I mean at the rate we're going, I'll be lucky to lose my
virginity on our wedding night, let alone have an orgasm.”

Harry nearly dropped the bottles he was carrying and Ginny spits out her drink.

“You've never had an orgasm?” she asks, wiping her mouth.

“Not even a…self induced one?” Luna asks timidly.

“No…of course not,” Hermione sulks, “But it's not like I haven't thought about it.”

For a moment, Harry doesn't know what to do, he's like a rabbit frozen in the presence
of a nearby predator. He can't leave, they would catch him and he wouldn't make it out of
the kitchen alive after being witness to this conversation.

“Tell her about the tub,” Ginny says.

“You know your tub that you have in your lovely prefect's bath on this ship?” Luna begins.
“Take a bath there, one of these days. Turn the water on, get in while it's running, scoot
towards where the water is falling, straddle it, relax and enjoy the ride.”

Blood rushes south as Harry closes his eyes at the mental image of Hermione doing this.

“As for your little problem with Mr. Manners,” Ginny says, “it can be solved. Every guy has his
breaking point. You just have to get him to his. So…here's what you do.”

“It's about time you got back,” Ron says as Harry walks into the room a considerable amount
of time later.

“Couldn't help it,” Harry answered as he tossed the butterbeers to his friends. “Got delayed
by a few girls.”

The guys sit upright at this bit of information asking for details.

“Sorry guys,” Harry says as he plops onto his bed. “A gentleman never tells.”

“Well, I hope it was worth it,” Ron sulked.

“Trust me, it was,” Harry answered.

~*~

Every man knew his breaking point and Harry knew he was nearing his. Hermione knew it too but
couldn't embrace it. For two years, the two of them knew they had feelings for each other that
were deeper than friendship but it wasn't love. It was attraction. It was the moment you
realized that the blood rushing south was due to the curve of your best friends breasts beneath her
shirt. The heat that would go blazing through you when your best friend only had to look at you
with his penetrating emerald gaze. It was the crazy addiction to the adrenaline rush and the fear
that one wrong move and your world will come crashing down.

So, you played it safe. You stayed loyal friends. Hid your feelings. Channeled them through a
relationship with the Head Boy, channeled it through the attractive housemate. Then one night, you
can't take it anymore and you yell at your best friend. You scream and say horrible things to
the object of your intense desire. You toe the line. But suddenly you both stop and realize that
this is passion. This raging argument is just the surface of the intense feelings that you hold for
each other.

So you push each other away, build a dam between you two. Anything to hold back the flood of
desire and passion that threatens to overwhelm the two of you. But the dam is weak and day by day
it's cracking. You have opened a Pandora's Box.

You buy the bathing suit with him in mind. You go up to the deck to watch her lie in the sun.
You instigate actions with your boyfriend the things you wish he would do with you. You can close
your eyes and imagine her instead of your hand. The tiny jewel pierced through your navel is an
emerald, the exact shade of his eyes. Those CD's you bought? Every one of those damned songs
reminds you in some way of her.

You hate each other for being each other's weakness, each other's Achilles heel. And yet
you wish for that one moment, the one moment when you can give in to the madness. Just let the dam
break and be lost in its strong current.

~*~

Everyone crowded on the deck as they sailed into Negril, Jamaica. The clear blue sky mirrored
the ocean below. The white sand beaches were dotted with tourists and travelers enjoying their
vacations. Couples cooed and sighed at the dramatic cliffs filled with palms and lush forests.
Harry, Ron and Neville combed the beaches, checking out the scantily cad beauties. Dean and Seamus
immediately spotted the guy selling ganja. The group buzzed with excitement waiting for the plank
to lower and they could be free to ravage the island.

Ron swatted at his neck in annoyance hoping to chase away anything that might dine on him. The
group was hot, sweaty and tired.

“And so you see, many of de ingreedients we use for de potions are heer,” their guest professor
told them. “Heer are de lists of de plants and feesh you are to find. Tonight at midnight, we will
perform de ritual.”

“You will split up into groups of two. Take plenty of notes on the ritual tonight, I want a roll
of parchment on it,” the chaperone professor instructed.

“Have you seen this list?” Ron whispered to Harry. “I wasn't paying attention to when he
pointed this stuff out.”

Harry's attention was yanked away from a hot and sweaty Hermione standing in the crowd
wearing shorts and her bikini top. “I hope I pair up with Neville,” he said.

“Ron Weasley you're with Granger,” the professor said, calling down the list. “Malfoy
you're with Potter…”

Harry's jaw clenched and he looked over at Malfoy who looked equally thrilled to have him as
a partner.

Hermione didn't say anything for the first half hour that they were in the jungle.
Conversation between her and Ron stuck mainly to business until she finally worked up the nerve to
say something.

“So…did you do anything interesting during our two weeks off?” she asked bravely.

Ron looked up from the list. “It was fine,” he said curtly.

Hermione sighed. “Ron, this is stupid. We used to be best friends, we should at least be capable
of a conversation.”

“I think we've said all we've needed to say,” he answered.

“Well I don't. I miss us, I miss our friendship, I miss you both so much. I can't stand
that you won't talk to me.”

“It really hurt Hermione,” Ron rounded on her. “It really hurt that you chose him.”

“I didn't choose him over you! No one can replace you guys!” she cried.

“That's not what I meant, Hermione.”

“You don't feel for me the way you think you do,” she said quietly. “But believe me, for
awhile I thought you did.”

“Don't tell me how I feel about someone,” Ron said angrily.

“Maybe you did feel something at one point too but somewhere along the way it changed,” she
argued. “You treat me exactly the way you treat your sister.”

“I do not!”

“Yes you do. And…I can prove it,” she lifted her head in defiance.

“Oh yeah?” Ron challenged, “Prove it.”

Hermione hesitated a moment then stomped over to Ron. Wrapping her arms around him she planted
her lips firmly on his. Ron was so stunned that he dropped the bag that held all the plants they
were collecting. She finally broke away from him, smiled triumphantly then picked up the bag and
headed toward the beach. Ron just stood there, stunned. She just kissed him. He kept replaying it
over and over in his head. She just kissed him. And she was right. It wasn't quite as
disgusting as kissing his sister but it felt like…like…kissing a friend. It was platonic.

“Damn it,” he swore and trotted after Hermione. “Fucking Know-It-All.”

After more than a few cheap shots at each other and a couple of fights, Draco and Harry managed
to make it out of the jungle and to the sea. Harry stared out the ocean and its clear water. The
sound of the larger waves breaking in the distance was rhythmic and soothing. He wanted nothing
more than to relax on the beach. But first things first, gathering the ingredients quickly yielded
two big benefits. Having the rest of the afternoon off and quickly leaving the presence of Draco
Malfoy.

“Do you think you can manage this or should I ask the professor for some floaties for you?”
Harry quipped as he put on his mask and snorkel.

“Fuck off, Potter,” Draco shot back as he got ready.

Picking up their spears they dived into the ocean seriously entertaining the thought of drowning
one another. Swimming and searching for the fish that would put an end to this miserable task began
to wear on them both.

“You know where we need to go,” Draco said as they both treaded water. He nodded over to the
breaking waves.

“Are you fucking nuts?” Harry scolded. “Let's just go further down the shore.”

“Why do we need to go searching meters and meters of reefs when there's a big one just a few
meters that way?”

“The Professor said that we are to stick to these reefs!” Harry said, sounding a bit like
Hermione.

“The Professor said that we are to stick to these reefs!” mimicked Draco. “You sound pathetic,
Scarhead.” He put on his mask. “Where's that fucking Gryffindor bravery?” he called over his
shoulder as he swam toward the larger reefs.

“Fucking asshole,” Harry muttered and put his snorkel back on as he continued to search the
smaller reefs.

Draco could see the colorful coral ahead of him, the reef teeming with sea life. He chuckled to
himself at Potter's cowardice and stopped to tread water as he readied his bag and spear.

Immediately he sensed something was wrong. Although he stopped to tread water, he was being
pulled forward to the large waves. He swore silently to himself and began to swim back away from
them. But for some reason it wasn't working, he still felt like he was being pulled. It was no
big deal he told himself, he was a strong swimmer and could swim his way out of this. Potter's
snorkel was getting smaller and smaller, the waves were getting larger and more choppy. Panic began
to set in as his arms and legs began to burn with exhaustion. He suddenly couldn't get enough
air. As soon as he would raise his head above water to gasp for breath, a large wave would put him
back under.

Harry speared the bright blue fish then held it above his head as he broke to the surface ready
to yell at Draco. His triumph was cut short though when he saw Draco way too far out to sea,
floundering amongst the larger waves and getting closer to the big ones that were breaking.

He swore and dropped his spear and bag and swam after him. The tide and the current swiftly
brought him to him and he grabbed on to his arm just as he went under. Harry heaved him back to the
surface and Draco gasped for air.

“Hold on!” Harry yelled. “We've got to swim!”

The waves were powerful and wouldn't let them go easily. Harry shouted encouragement as they
kicked and swam to break free. Harry looked up as a large wave crested. Draco looked at him and
they shared a wide eyed look of panic before taking a deep breath and going under.

The wave broke violently above them, the force of it pushing them down and dragging them. The
wave dragged Harry over the reef, scraping his left side. Draco was thrown mercilessly against the
reefs and a blinding pain shot through his right arm. The wave released them and Harry grabbed
Draco and swam to the surface.

“My arm!” Draco gasped and painfully lifted it out of the water. It was bent at an awkward
angle. He had broken it.

“Just kick then,” Harry gasped then wrapped an arm around Draco and swam for the shore.

“Harry! Harry!” Dean and Seamus were on the shore. They dropped their spears and jumped in the
water.

Hermione and Ron stopped in their tracks when they heard the yells. Giving each other a look of
concern they took off at a run for the beach. What she saw when she came to the clearing made her
inside turn to ice with fear.

“Oh my God!” Ron yelled as they ran. “What happened?”

The clear water was tainted with a faint red line that she could trace to the shore. Dean and
Seamus dragged the limp bodies of Harry and Draco to the beach. Their blood staining the white
sands. Ron, who had a weak stomach at the sight of blood, stopped and collapsed a few feet away
from Harry. He was white with shock and he sat there staring at his friend. Terry and Ginny ran out
onto the beach, also attracted by the boys' yells.

“Was it a shark?” Hermione asked, thinking the worst.

“No, they're just scraped up quite a bit,” Dean said.

Hermione knelt next to Harry and reached out to examine the cuts on his side. There was a bad
one on his shoulder. She was about to touch it when Harry flinched and moved away from her. She
immediately brought her hand back, pursing her lips in anger, her eyes shining with reproach.
Harry's gaze gave nothing away.

“Draco's arm is broken,” Ginny said aloud. She was kneeling next to Draco. Draco opened his
eyes.

“That's a brilliant observation, weaslette,” he spat.

“Just shut up and lie down, ferret,” she shot back.

“Somebody explain to me what the hell happened!” Terry shouted.

“Terry, I think we need to get a mediwitch first,” Hermione said.

“No one goes anywhere until I get some answers!” he boomed.

Hermione stood up angrily. “Well, I'm not going to stand here and watch them bleed to
death!”

Terry shut his eyes, controlling his temper. “Hermione,” he said calmly, “I'm Head Boy here,
and—“

“Oh sod off!” Hermione shouted and headed off in search of the Professor. Seamus followed her
but not before knocking Terry out of his way.

“Now, like I said before,” Terry said defiantly, “explain to me what happened.”

Harry and Draco didn't say a word. They were not about to get themselves into a much
deserved detention.

“Were you guys fighting again?” Terry circled them. “Can't even do one assignment together
without resulting in someone going to the hospital bay?” He kneeled next to Draco. “Tell me, Draco.
Did Harry break your arm?” Draco only smirked at him. Terry stood up. “Since I can't take any
house points away, your land privileges are revoked. You are to stay on the boat until we leave
Jamaica. I will talk to the professor about giving you both a zero for this assignment.” He turned
to walk away and Harry lifted his arm and flipped him the bird.

“What's the matter, Boot?” Draco called out to him. “Knickers in a twist because your
girlfriend would rather be fucking someone else?”

Terry ignored him and kept walking.

-->



3. Break Ups & Bargains
-----------------------



**A/N:** Borrowed a bit from Anne Rice. How can you not mention her characters when talking
about New Orleans?

Chapter Three: Break Ups & Bargains

“Hermione! Hermione, would you please stop?” Terry pleaded.

Hermione stopped her brisk pace just outside her cabin door. “I have nothing to say to you,” she
said. “We are through!”

“Hermione, I'm sorry!”

“I'm not the one you should be apologizing to. You acted like a complete ass! You didn't
even ask them what had happened before you jumped to silly conclusions!”

“You know them! You know how they are!” Terry objected. “Pandering to them will not make them
respect me. I'm Head Boy!”

“Just listen to yourself!” Hermione threw her hands up in frustration. “Yes, you're Head
Boy, I'm Head Girl, but respect doesn't come with the title, Terry. You have to earn it.
One of our responsibilities is to be fair and just, of which you were neither today.”

“I'll apologize to them, if that's what you want.”

“I don't care what you do.”

“We're not really through, are we? I mean, we're great together, Hermione,” Terry's
tone was softer now.

“Terry,” Hermione sighed. “You're just not the same anymore. I don't know, maybe
I've changed.”

“Hermione,” Terry said softly.

“I'm sorry,” she answered, then walked into her cabin, closing the door behind her.

~*~

Draco Malfoy slowly opened his eyes and saw Ginny Weasley fussing with his blankets.

“What time is it?” he asked, groggily.

“It's about nine in the morning,” she answered. “The mediwitch says you can be released
today. Your arm good as new.” Draco looked down at his arm still wrapped in a sling. “She wants you
to still wear it, she doesn't want you using that arm for a couple of days.” Ginny said as she
sat on the bed.

Draco winced a little as he attempted to sit up. His body felt like it had been trampled over by
a herd of hippogriffs. He reached for the glass of water on the table next to him. A small vase of
hideous looking flowers was placed there along with some goodies left by Crabbe and Goyle. He could
tell because they were half eaten.

“Pansy stopped by earlier. She gave you those flowers,” Ginny said. Draco didn't reply. “It
was really nice of your girlfriend--.”

“Why are you here, Weaselette?” Draco cut her off.

“Harry was released earlier today. A bunch of us came by to see how he was doing. I stayed
behind because I wanted to see how you were doing. You were pretty messed up yesterday.”

Draco scoffed. “Didn't Potter tell everyone the story of how he saved the day? How he swam
out to the breakers just in time to keep me from drowning? He just loves being the hero,
doesn't he?” he said bitterly.

“Actually, he didn't say a thing. This is the first I've heard of it. Is it true?” she
asked.

Draco clenched his jaw and looked away. News of his rescue by Potter of all people would spread
like wildfire.

“I'm not going to say a thing,” Ginny said as if reading his thoughts. “If Harry didn't
tell anyone about it, he has his reasons.”

Draco still didn't say anything. Ginny got up from the bed.

“I'm glad you're okay, Draco” she said sincerely. “Every school needs an asshole.” She
placed a chocolate frog on his bedside then left the room.

~*~

News of Hermione and Terry's breakup traveled quickly on the ship. Harry met it with
indifference. He could see it coming a mile away. He had just finished taking a shower and walked
into his room when a knock came at the door.

“Oh!” Hermione exclaimed, turning red at the state of Harry's undress; a white towel wrapped
around his waist, another resting around his neck. Droplets of water still clung to his body and he
smelled of fresh soap.

Harry, very well aware of the effect he was having on her, opened the door a little wider and
invited her in.

“No…no thank you,” she said, taking a deep breath. “I just came by to see how you were doing. I
heard you were released this morning.”

“A little stiff but alright,” Harry said, subtly dropping the innuendo. Hermione caught it and
shifted uncomfortably.

“Alright, then. I'll just…go…and make my rounds,” she said, backing away. “Oh, yes, I almost
forgot,” she said excitedly. “Your land privileges for Jamaica are reinstated.”

“Are they?” Harry raised an eyebrow.

“I am *Head* Girl after all,” Hermione said, grinning, dropping her own innuendo. “He had
no right to do that without asking what had happened.” It was an opening she was hoping Harry would
take to explain what did happen on the beach yesterday. Harry knew it but he didn't follow
through. “Well, then. That's all,” Hermione smiled and turned to walk away.

“Hey Hermione!” Harry called out to her and left his room to trot after her. “I heard about you
and Terry.”

“Oh…that,” Hermione looked down and examined the back of her hands.

“You alright?” he asked.

“I will be,” she said.

“Did you want to come in and talk about it?” Harry motioned back to the room.

Hermione paused. “I don't think that would be a good idea, Harry. Not now but thank you,
anyway.”

She turned and walked back down the hall, looking over her shoulder at him before she climbed up
the stairs.

~*~

Red.

He hated that damned color.

Red: a shade of a Gryffindor house color, his most hated house. Red: the color of the
Weasley's hair, the people he most despised. Red: the color of Weaselette's damned
bikini.

Red.

He hated that damned color.

He tore his eyes from watching the youngest Weasley sunbathe to his approaching girlfriend. She
plopped down next to him and began to rummage through her bag. Draco's eyes returned to Ginny,
who had the faintest grin on her face as if she knew he was watching her.

“This place is crawling with fucking muggles,” Pansy grumbled as she found the cigs she was
looking for.

“Hmpf,” was Draco's reply. Ginny pulled the bikini away from her skin as if to check her tan
line, revealing a bit of her pelvis to Draco. He swallowed audibly.

“Look at those Gryffindor's,” Pansy sneered. “Blending in with those damned muggles.”

Potter, Ron Weasley, and Longbottom were playing volleyball with some muggles they had
befriended on the beach. Ginny and Luna cheered when they had scored a point and Draco rolled his
eyes.

“Can't believe they let Potter off,” Pansy said as she handed a cig to Draco. “Especially
since he broke your arm.”

Draco didn't bother to correct her. It ate at him that Potter came to his rescue. It really
hurt his pride and ego. His gaze went back to Ginny. She was on her stomach now, handing a bottle
of lotion to that whacked out witch Loony Lovegood, who proceeded to massage some onto Ginny's
back. Draco took a long drag from his cigarette.

“Here comes Goody-Goody-Granger,” Pansy nodded in her direction. “Did you hear that she dumped
Terry?”

“Really?” Draco was genuinely surprised at this news. “For Potter?”

“No…I don't think so. I think they still hate each other. See how he ignores her?”

Draco rolled his eyes at his girlfriend's naivety. Potter probably fooled the rest of the
student body but he wasn't fooling him. He wasn't ignoring Granger, he was desperately
trying not to gawk at her. Draco suddenly sat up a little straighter, an idea popping into his
head.

“I heard she was responsible for lifting your punishment,” Pansy sighed. “Yours and
Potter's. Though for him, who knows why, he was the one who attacked you.” She took a drag of
her cigarette. “Probably to get back at Terry. Speaking of which, you're not going to let
Potter get away with what he did, are you?”

“No…of course not,” he said slowly as Granger joined Loony and Weaselette.

“Have you got something in mind then?” Pansy asked, curious.

Draco watched as Potter snuck in a look at Granger. “Yeah,” he said softly, “Yeah I think I
might.”

~*~

Hermione sighed tiredly as she wrapped her bathrobe around her snugly. She didn't have to do
rounds tonight and she was looking forward to a hot shower and lying down to read a book. She
rinsed away the soap, letting the spray of the shower lightly massage her head. She sighed
contentedly and closed her eyes, relaxing.

An image popped into her mind. The image of Harry the other day, opening his door clad only in a
towel. She sighed as she imagined her hands running lightly over his chest, coming to rest down at
the knot of the towel as she tilted her head up to his lips and…

No!

She opened her eyes. She was not going to go there. She quickly rinsed off then shut off the
water. She quickly wrapped her hair in a towel then reached for her bathrobe when her gaze rested
on the lone tub in the bathroom.

*The* tub.

She bit her lower lip. *Well, no one is here,* she rationalized to herself. She shook her
head, shaking the thoughts out of her head. She tied her bathrobe around her and gathered her
things. Passing the tub to leave the bathroom she paused again.

“Oh, sod it!” she whispered to herself and dropped her things onto a bench and quickly undid her
robe.

Harry knocked on the cabin door and Ginny answered.

“Hey, Harry what's up?” she asked.

“Just came by to drop this off,” he said, handing Luna a CD.

“Thanks Harry!” she chirped from her top bunk.

“So, you guys ready for the Big Easy?” Harry asked.

“The city is full of witches and vampires,” Luna cooed.

“A few of us are sneaking away after lessons. Luna is determined to find a haunted house
or…something,” Ginny said.

“It's true! It's in the Garden District or something. First Street, I think,” Luna said
dreamily. “A family of witches used to live there.”

“A little too much fiction if you ask me,” Ginny sighed. “So…are you in?”

“Definitely,” Harry grinned. “Catch you guys later,” he said, taking their leave.

“Night, Harry.”

“Bye!”

He closed the door behind him and walked down the corridor. A door opened ahead and Hermione
stepped out of the Prefect's Bath.

“Hello, Hermione,” he said.

Hermione let out and exclamation of surprise and dropped her bath items.

“Harry!” she was flushed and a bit giggly. “Hi!”

Harry picked up her bath items from the floor and handed them back to her.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“Hmm? Oh, yeah. Yes! Yes, I'm fine,” she smiled sweetly at him, a rosy glow about her.

A wry smile grew on Harry's face as he put two and two together.

“Have a nice bath?” he asked casually.

“Mm-hmm, very nice,” Hermione smiled then walked away to her cabin.

~*~

Draco Malfoy knocked softly on Terry's door. Unlike Hermione, Terry opted to have the room
to himself. He was Head Boy after all.

“Come in,” a voice called out and Draco opened the door.

“Oh, good God,” he said aloud.

The room had that stale smell as if he hadn't opened a window in quite some time. You
couldn't see the floor because of all the clothes that were piled there. Butterbeer bottles
littered the floor as well. The only neat and organized thing in the room was his desk with all the
school books and that was only because they hadn't been touched in awhile.

Terry lay face down on his bed, clothes wrinkled, hair that hadn't been combed or washed in
days, a shadow on his face from not shaving.

“What the hell happened in here?” Draco asked, wrinkling his nose in disgust.

“What do you want, Draco?” Terry asked, his voice muffled by the pillows on his bed.

“I take it you're taking the break up a bit badly?” Draco teased.

“Go away,” Terry said, not lifting his head.

“For crying out loud it's only Granger, of all people!” Draco cleared off the chair so he
could sit down.

“She was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Terry said solemnly.

“That truly is the most pathetic thing I've ever heard,” Draco said sincerely.

“Why are you here, Draco? Do you truly enjoy kicking people while they're down?”

“Yes, now that you mention it, I truly enjoy doing that. But that's not why I'm here,”
Draco said dismissively. “I'm here to help you get Granger back.”

Terry turned over in his bed to look at him. “You…are going to help me?” Draco nodded.
“Why?”

“I have my reasons.”

“Why should I trust you?”

“Truly, you shouldn't. But your method so far,” Draco gestured around the room, “clearly
isn't working.”

Terry looked appraisingly at him. “What's in it for you?”

“I'll let you know when I need the favor returned.”

Terry turned back to his pillows. “No deal,” he said.

“Fine,” Draco sighed as he got to his feet. “But when you catch Potter groping your ex all over
this ship, don't say I didn't try and help you.”

“Wait!” Terry called out as Draco opened the door.

~*~

The first thing the students learned about New Orleans, was just how damn hot and muggy it was.
It was the kind of heat where you would take a shower, step outside and feel so hot and sticky that
you wondered why you even bothered in the first place.

But the city itself was nothing like they had seen anywhere. Ruelle Rivière, New Orleans'
answer to Diagon Alley, had their jaws dropped. And its history was enough to keep Hermione
salivating for months. Witches and wizards of all types resided here; Upper class, refined ladies
who could pass for muggles dined at a small café, eccentric elderly witches with odd hats and robes
bustled about, dark skinned exotic Creoles perused the shop windows. And the stores! Odd little
bookstores stood next to quaint cafes, their aromas filling the street with the exotic smells
synonymous with Cajun cooking. Poor Ron couldn't decide where to dine first. Voodoo was very
prominent here, vendors sold live chickens and roosters, snakes hissed in cages, powders and
potions of all colors and creatures that would make Hagrid envious.

Separating themselves from their classmates at the end of the lesson, Harry, Ron, Neville,
Hermione and Ginny all followed Luna out onto Canal St.

“Come on, there's the streetcar,” Luna pointed out and the group boarded the olive green
trolley.

The group oohed and ahhed, pointing in various directions to landmarks and statues. Getting off
at their stop, their jaws dropped at the magnificent homes that were trademark of the Garden
District.

“Do you know which house it is?” Hermione asked.

“No, let's just walk to First Street then keep on walking until we find it,” Luna
answered.

“How will we know?” Ginny asked.

“Just look for the ghost,” Ron said chidingly.

“Betcha it's broken down and boarded up,” Neville said.

“The sound of wailing filling the air,” Harry added.

“Don't forget the graveyard,” Ron chimed in, “it has to have a graveyard in the front.”

Hermione rolled her eyes and tutted impatiently at them. The lively spirit followed the group as
they walked. Passing Prytania, Harry suddenly slowed his pace.

“Hey guys…do you smell something?” he asked.

The group paused, sniffing the air.

“This is the `Garden' District,” Hermione said. “It's probably some exotic plant or
something.”

The group continued walking and the smell got distinctly stronger. Muggle tourists passed by not
noticing the smell.

“I think I smell it too, Harry,” Neville said.

“Me too,” Ginny agreed. Nearing Magazine street the group stopped and a hush fell over them.

The house was a beautiful well kept one pale lavender with green shutters. The smell seemed to
be coming from the house. The air was quiet and still.

“This is it,” Luna whispered reverently.

“Do you guys hear that?” Ginny whispered.

The tinny music from a Victrola could be heard from inside the house.

“Does someone live here?” Harry asked.

“No, nobody lives here,” Luna answered. “The family that lived here was supposedly haunted by a
ghost. I guess they still own the home but no one lives here.”

Just as she said that, the front door opened and the translucent figure of a man stepped out. He
was an older gentleman, tanned with white hair and piercing blue eyes. The group heard a giggling
sound above them. High in the oak tree a young woman smiled and waved at them. A rocking chair
appeared on the front porch with an older woman rocking silently in it, watching them. The sound of
shattering glass made them all jump as they heard a scream as someone fell to their death. Another
group of muggles passed by, laughing amongst themselves.

“Can they not see this? Or hear it?” Ginny said quietly in a shaking voice.

A shot rang out from somewhere in the house followed by more screams. Hermione jumped back into
Harry.

“I want to leave,” she whispered, frightened.

“Come on in, Chéries,” the man gestured with open arms toward the house. “You may leave your
escorts. I have some lemonade in the back.”

Harry moved Hermione protectively behind him. Looking up he saw a man in the window looking down
at them. He had brown hair, pale skin and dark eyes.

“Come on guys,” Harry said to the group. “Let's get going.”

The journey back to Ruelle Rivière was a quiet and somber one.

-->



4. The Ferret Strikes Back
--------------------------



**A/N:** Kudos to those who got the `Witching Hour' reference in the last chapter. Thanks
for all the great reviews!

Chapter Four: The Ferret Strikes Back

*Revenge is always the weak pleasure of a little and narrow mind—Anonymous*

The music pulsated through their bodies, its drum beat coursing through them. The alcohol warmed
them, burning their throats as it went down. If they got caught, they would surely be sent home for
the rest of the summer. Poor muggles, fooled by the fake ID's that they conjured up. But it was
their last day in New Orleans and they were going to take full advantage of it.

Dean, Harry and Ginny all tested each others alcohol tolerance, while Luna teased Ron, gyrating
her hips to the music. Neville charmed a group of muggle college girls who inundated him with
drinks, harpies that wrapped beads around his neck.

They were being watched. Draco Malfoy stood hidden in the shadows. His grey eyes watched them
before nodding to others to set into motion the events of tonight. He left the club unseen.

~*~

A ray of sunlight fell across Ron Weasley face stirring him from his sleep. He groaned. His head
hurt and his tongue felt as dry as sandpaper. He opened his eyes and glanced around the room. It
wasn't his. He wouldn't dare put a West Ham poster on his wall. This was Dean and
Seamus' room. Loud snoring brought his attention to the other side of the room. Neville was
snoring loudly, beads wrapped around his neck. Ron moved off the bed and over to Neville to unwrap
the beads from his neck so he wouldn't strangle himself in his sleep.

He placed the beads on the desk nearby then stretched his arms over his head, yawning. Seamus
and Dean slept soundly on the top bunks. Wondering where Harry was he headed to their room.

Beads hung from the doorknob, the guys' universal signal that anything hanging on the door
meant the room was “occupied”. Ron knocked softly on the door.

“Harry?” he said quietly. He couldn't hear any movement in the room so he quietly turned the
knob and opened the door. “Harry? Are you alright mate?”

“WHAT THE FUCK?!!”

Ron's exclamation woke Neville, Dean and Seamus. Harry was yanked from his slumber and
bolted upright. He quickly figured out he wasn't alone when his bedmate screamed.

“Oh my God!” Harry and Ginny said in unison.

Ginny scrambled to cover herself with the quilt, Harry took the bed sheet.

“This isn't what it looks like,” Harry explained lamely. Now that he thought about it, he
couldn't really explain it at all. He remembered the club and drinking but everything was fuzzy
after that.

“Ron calm down!” Ginny said calmly.

“I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!” Ron lunged for Harry but was held back by Neville and Dean who had
come to see what the commotion was about.

“Would you quiet down? The whole floor can hear you!” Harry said sharply as he fumbled under the
sheets to get dressed.

“SHE'S MY SISTER!!”

“Ron! Be quiet!” Ginny hissed. She was panicking inside. She couldn't remember a thing about
last night. She didn't dare meet Harry's eyes and Harry wasn't in any hurry to meet
hers.

“What's going on here?”

Harry's stomach dropped at the sound of Terry's voice.

“Get him out of here,” Terry ordered and Neville and Dean dragged Ron to the other room.

Harry quickly put up a sheet to cover Ginny as she quickly dressed.

“This isn't what it looks like,” Harry said. “This is a private matter, we don't need
you butting in.”

Terry remained calm, his face giving away nothing. “Ginny are you okay?” he asked in a soft
voice. Ginny nodded. “Why don't you go ahead to the girl's floor? You were never here.”

Ginny gave a worried look to Harry, who nodded, before she left the room. Terry looked back at
Harry.

“Is there anything else?” Harry asked, irritated.

“And I thought today was going to be bad day,” Terry said smiling before he turned and left the
room.

He went next door and knocked on the door. Seamus let him in and Terry saw that Ron was still
furious.

“Can you give us a moment?” Terry asked the others. The guys took their leave. Ron stood by the
window, his jaw clenched tightly.

“I'm not taking any house points away, that would attract too much attention to
this…situation. I'm assuming you don't want anyone finding out about this. I'll do it
to protect your sister,” Terry began. Ron said nothing.

“Normally, you would have to fill out paperwork if you requested to switch cabins but in lieu of
these events I'll overlook it. You can move out today and move in here if you would like.”
Terry turned and left the room.

~*~

Ginny sat on the bathroom floor, crying. She couldn't figure out what had happened. She
couldn't get the mental image of her brother's face out of her mind. The rage, the anger,
the disappointment. She felt sick about it. Harry was like a brother to her. But at the same time,
she was confused. She was a virgin and if she did anything like…that…with Harry, she would know
about it. Right?

She didn't want to go back to her room. She couldn't. Hermione would hear about this and
even though Hermione wasn't with Harry, it was clear that there were some lingering feelings
there. She'd be just as angry as Ron. Their friendship ruined.

Back in his room, Harry was thinking the same thing. Did he do something with Ginny? He
couldn't remember for the life of him. Was he that drunk? His friendship with Ron was damaged
beyond repair and Hermione? Harry groaned. Hermione would murder him, he would lose her
forever.

~*~

Hermione was already up but she was still surprised by the knock at the door. Curious to see who
their visitor was so early in the morning she tiptoed to the door so as not to wake Luna.

“Terry, what are you doing here?” she whispered.

“Sorry to bother you but can I talk to you for a moment?” he asked, then seeing her hesitant
look he quickly added, “Its school business.”

She quietly closed the door behind her and followed Terry to a quiet corner in the hall.

“What it is?” she asked quietly.

“I wanted you to know that Ron is switching rooms,” he began.

“What? Why?” Hermione asked.

“That's his business to tell you but I just wanted to let you know that I let him do it
without any paperwork. Given the situation, it was the least I could do,” Terry explained.

“Well…what…,” Hermione was so confused.

Terry held up his hand to stop her flow of questions. “It's not my place to say anything. I
just wanted to let you know so that you're…aware of what was going on.”

“Okay,” she sighed. “Thank you, I appreciate it.”

“Sorry to wake you up so early,” Terry said.

“No, it's fine. I was already up,” she said.

“Slavery and Witchcraft report?” Terry asked.

Hermione let out a small laugh. “Yeah,” she smiled.

There was an awkward silence between them before Terry spoke up again, wishing her a good day
before leaving her. Hermione sighed then walked back to her room. It was only when she got there
and took a good look around she realized that Ginny wasn't there.

Draco Malfoy was waiting for Terry in his room when he got back.

“So?” he asked calmly.

“You were right,” Terry said. “Weasley had a fit.”

“Told you he would,” Draco shrugged.

“So, how do you know this is going to work? If they just got together and talked about this,
this whole thing could fall to pieces.”

“Trust me. I know them better than you do,” Draco smirked. “This will work.”

~*~

“Wanna talk?” Hermione asked Ron.

He had gone up on deck to be alone with his thoughts. He would rather spend time looking out at
the ocean ahead than in the room next to…next to…him. Hermione had been looking for him all
afternoon.

Ron looked at her. “Didn't Ginny tell you?” he asked before turning back and leaning against
the railing.

Hermione stood next to him gazing out to sea.

“I haven't seen her all day,” Hermione said softly. “Did you have a fight with Harry?”

“I found them in bed together this morning,” his voice was surprisingly calm.

“Who?” she asked.

Ron paused a moment. “Harry and Ginny.”

Hermione's world went into a tailspin. *Harry and Ginny*. She leaned against the
railing for support.

“Are you sure it was—“

“Yes,” Ron answered cutting her off.

Hermione's knuckles were turning white from the grip she had.

“I can't believe he'd take advantage of her like that,” Ron muttered.

“You know Harry wouldn't do that. Ginny's her own person, she knew what she was doing,”
Hermione's voice wavered slightly.

Ron peered closely at her. “Hey, are you alright?”

“No Ron, I'm not,” Hermione said distantly as she left him on deck.

Images passed through her mind as she walked back to her room. She saw an image of Harry, fresh
from the shower, naked only with a towel wrapped around his waist. She saw Ginny running her hands
over him and his hands running over her. Jealousy bubbled within her. Hermione only had an image in
her mind, and idea of what it would be like to have Harry touch her intimately, what he would look
like as he moved above her when they made love, how he would be when they climaxed together. All of
that was ruined. She would never know what it would be like but Ginny would. And even if the stars
were aligned just so Hermione would know what it would be like. She wouldn't want it. He was
tainted. By sleeping with one of her good friends he was tainted. She hated Harry. She hated Ginny.
She hated them both! They deserved to be together.

Hermione flung open the door to find Ginny and Luna talking to each other. They both rose from
their seats when Hermione entered the room.

“Hermione, let me explain,” Ginny said hastily. But Hermione didn't want to hear it.

“Shut up, Ginny. Just SHUT UP!!” Hermione screamed.

Ginny was too shocked to speak.

“Hermione what are you doing?” Luna asked as Hermione drew out her wand and began packing her
belongings with a flick of her wrist.

“If you think I'm going to spend a MINUTE in the presence of that…PERSON, you have another
thing coming!” Hermione said breathlessly as she gathered her belongings. Ginny began to cry.

“Hermione…I'm sorry. I don't—“

“SHUT UP!! I said I didn't want to hear it!” Hermione collapsed against the doorway, her
arms full of her things. “You knew,” Hermione said hoarsely, tears streaming down her cheeks. “You
knew I loved him…and you…” She couldn't finish, she just shook her head and left the room.

Since she had opted to room with Ginny and Luna, the Head Girl cabin was empty, until now.
Plopping her things on the floor, Hermione collapsed onto the bed in a heap of exhaustion and
tears. A knock came at her door and she groaned.

“Go away,” she mumbled.

The door opened and Terry walked in holding butterbeer and a pint of ice cream. Hermione sat up
and looked at him.

“I got a couple of prefects to do our rounds tonight,” he said softly as he closed the door
behind him. “I thought you might need this,” he placed the bottles and the carton on her desk.
Hermione wiped her eyes with her hands. “Oh and this!” he said, bringing out a box of tissue from
his cloak.

“Why are you here?” she asked. It wasn't mean, it was a simple question.

Terry pulled a chair up to face her. “We're still friends aren't we?” he smiled
kindly.

Hermione gave a small smile and took a tissue from him.

“Terry?” she asked. “Am I pretty? Aren't I the type of person that guys want to be
with?”

“Oh, Hermione. You are pretty. You are a force to reckon with. Beauty and brains?” Terry smiled.
“That doesn't come by very often and I was a git to lose you in the first place.”

Hermione gave a weak smile. “I meant aren't I attractive enough to make guys…you know…want
to do…stuff with me?”

Terry licked his lips in apprehension before leaning forward and capturing Hermione's lips
in a kiss. Hermione accepted it, opening her mouth to let him deepen it. Soon, Terry broke the kiss
and looked at her.

“Hermione, you make me want to do lots of stuff with you,” he whispered before pressing his lips
to hers. Slowly he lowered her back onto the bed.

Harry was in a panic. He couldn't find anyone on this damn ship that he needed to speak to.
Over half the day had gone by and he had yet to find Ron, Ginny or Hermione. How big couldn't
this stupid ship be? He was sure by now that word had spread to Hermione about what happened this
morning and he wanted his chance to explain things to her. Hell, he needed to talk to Ginny to
figure out what in the hell did happen. He knocked on the door to the girls' cabin and Luna
answered.

“Ginny! Ginny are you alright?” Harry looked over Luna's shoulder at Ginny who was sobbing
on her bed.

“Oh, Harry!” Ginny wrapped her arms around him. “What happened to us?”

“I don't know but I'm going to find out. But first, where is Hermione?” he asked and
Ginny broke out into more sobs.

“She hates me! She absolutely hates me!”

“Shh, no she doesn't hate you,” Harry tried to soothe looking at Luna for help.

“She moved out today,” Luna said sadly, “she wouldn't listen to her. She moved into the Head
Girl cabin.”

Harry extricated himself from Ginny. “Ginny I'll be right back. But I need to try and talk
to Hermione, okay?”

Hermione and Terry lay on her bed, their shoes and sandals off as they relaxed together.
Hermione couldn't go further than kissing him and he was happy just to be holding her in his
arms again.

“We really should try and finish the ice cream,” Hermione muttered.

“I'm sure it's all melted by now,” Terry mumbled in her hair.

Hermione sat up and reached for the ice cream. Terry reluctantly sat up as well.

“We'll just cast a freezing charm on it, I'm sure it'll be fine,” Hermione said as
she pried the lid off.

But the container was slippery with condensation and melted chocolate ice cream splashed onto
their shirts. They both laughed.

“I'll take care of this,” Terry said, taking the container from Hermione and getting off the
bed.

“We are a mess,” Hermione said, looking at her ruined shirt.

“It's a good color on you,” Terry smiled as he cast a freezing charm on the ice cream. “I
have a t-shirt on underneath,” he said and began to unbutton his shirt.

Hermione looked down at her t-shirt then back at Terry.

“I'll turn around,” he said.

When he did Hermione took off her shirt and found a clean one in a suitcase. A knock came at the
door just then.

“Hermione,” Harry spoke through the door. “I need to speak with you.”

“I don't want to talk to him right now,” Hermione whispered to Terry as she began to button
her shirt.

“I'll get rid of him,” Terry offered.

“Hermione,” Harry called out. “Please open the door.”

She did but Harry was shocked to see who was behind it.

“Now's not a good time Harry,” Terry said politely.

Harry looked at Terry, clad in jeans and an undershirt, his bare feet. He looked over his
shoulder and saw Hermione sitting on a bed buttoning up her shirt. His eyes narrowed at Terry.

“I see,” Harry said curtly and Terry closed the door in his face.

He stood there outside her door, breathing deeply in and out of his nostrils. Anger, hurt and
jealousy coursed through him. He had half a mind to kick down the door, toss Terry out and show
Hermione what he'd been wanting to do with her for a very long time.

But it wouldn't do any good.

He went back to Ginny and Luna's room. He needed to sort things out with Ginny and find out
what in the hell happened.

~*~

Draco had to only sit back and watch the scene before him to revel in his glory. They were a day
out of the coast of Costa Rica and nothing surrounded them but the blue ocean. They were on the
last leg of the trip, summer almost over and September loomed ahead. But for now, they were taking
advantage of the beautiful weather by sitting up on deck.

He watched the trio of friends laughing. No not Hermione, Ron and Harry. Draco's handiwork
had demolished that to Hermione, Ron and Terry. Luna didn't completely abandon Ginny but she
started dating Ron and therefore spent more time with him. Seamus, Dean and Neville did not want to
get involved in the situation so they separated themselves from Ron and Harry, albeit they had to
share a room with Ron. Harry had to listen every night to the laughter coming from the next room.
Ginny got scathing looks from Ron and Hermione so she chose to stay away from Harry. Draco had made
him a pariah.

It was great.

It filled Draco with such delight that he was making Potter's life a living hell. He basked
in the glory he got for getting Hermione and Terry together. Reveled in the envious looks that
Potter threw at the couple. Draco weaved his fingers together and cradled them behind his head.
Yup, life couldn't get any better than this.

He failed to see the storm clouds up ahead that the ship seemed to be sailing directly into.

-->



5. The Storm
------------



**A/N:** WARNING!! I'm going to have to rate this chapter NC-17 so I don't say I
didn't warn you.

*“No mercy, no power but its own controls it. Panting and snorting like a mad battle steed
that has lost its rider, the masterless ocean overruns the globe.”—Herman Melville, Moby
Dick*

Chapter Five: The Storm

Ron was surprise when his cabin door flung open and Ginny burst in.

“Ginny, what are you doing?” he asked when she locked the door behind her.

“You are going to listen to every word I have to say,” she said threateningly.

“If you're going to try and defend him for what he did to you,” Ron growled.

“Shut up Ron and listen!” Ginny said exasperatedly. “Look, Harry and I have been trying to
figure out what happened to us.”

“Oh, I can tell you exactly what happened,” Ron said sarcastically.

“Ron! Please listen!” Ginny pleaded.

“I went to the mediwitch to have myself checked out.”

“I don't want to hear this,” Ron put his hands over his ears.

Ginny stomped over and removed his hands. “I'm still a virgin.”

“La, la, la, la. I'm not listening!” Ron sing songed.

“Ron! I said I'm still a virgin!” she said more forcefully.

Ron just stared at her. “They can check for that?”

Ginny rolled her eyes and shook her head. “This is very important, Ron. What can you remember
from that night?”

“Gin, we were all pretty drunk that night,” Ron said lightly.

“Were we?” Ginny asked, “Isn't it funny that every one of us can't remember how we got
back to the ship? If we were so pissed, how did we do it?” Ron had a blank look on his face.
“Furthermore,” she continued, “Luna didn't drink as much as we did and she can't remember
what happened that night either.”

Ron opened his mouth to say something but something clicked in his head. Ginny was right, Luna
didn't have as much to drink as everyone else.

“Well…how do you explain you and Harry?” he asked.

“I don't know,” she sighed. “But Harry wouldn't do that. You have to believe that.”

“I want to believe it Ginny, I do. But the cold hard facts are that you and he were in bed
together…naked!” Ron sighed and got off the bed. “He's my best friend Ginny, nearly a brother.”
He sighed and rested his head against the cool wall, staring out of the small circular window.

“You have to believe us, Ron,” Ginny said quietly. Ron didn't say anything back. Ginny
sighed and left the room.

~*~

Herbie sat back in a chair, feet propped on the desk. He had gotten this job through a friend
and he desperately needed it. He had a shitload of back rent due as well as a car that was a
breadth away from being repossessed. Just a few more weeks and he would be off this stinking boat
loaded with rich kids from some private school he'd never heard of. He took the late shift
because of the shift differential but he had been drinking earlier with the cooks in the staff
poker tourney. The alcohol was beginning to get to him, making his thoughts muddled and his eyelids
like cement. He began to slowly nod off only to be jerked awake when his head drooped to low. He
shook his head and put on some headphones hoping that the music would keep him awake. He cranked
the volume and sat back. Slowly, his eyelids began to close. The loud volume drowns out the beeping
alarm on the control board telling whoever is in charge that the pressure is too high. Herbie
slowly nodded off asleep.

~*~

Ron sat across from Terry, staring off into space, the parchment in front of him long forgotten.
His inkwell slid across the table as the ship listed slightly starboard.

“This storm is unbelievable isn't it?” Terry said looking up at Ron. “Ron? You alright?”

Ron, jerked out of this thoughts, looked back at Terry.

“I asked if you were alright,” Terry repeated.

Ron rolled his quill between his thumb and index finger. “How are things going with you and
Hermione?” he asked suddenly.

Terry looked a little puzzled. “They're fine. Why?”

Ron leaned forward in his seat. “I mean, she was pretty ticked off at you when you first broke
up. Now that you're suddenly back together, I just wondered if you worked everything out.”

Terry went back to his report. “Like you said, we're back together.”

“Well…how'd you do it?” Ron persisted.

Terry stopped his writing and looked up at Ron. “What's with all the questions?”

Harry quietly snuck down the corridor, listening closely for anyone who would show up. With a
simple unlocking charm he unlocked the cabin door and snuck in the room.

“Figures,” Harry said, looking at the messy room. Draco Malfoy's stuff was everywhere. They
had no house elves on the ship so each student was responsible for their own messes. Apparently,
Draco had never had to clean in his entire life. Harry threw out an arm to steady himself as the
ship listed. Thunder rumbled overhead. He tucked his wand in his back pocket and began to dig
through the desk looking for something…anything. Not in any hurry to check Draco's bed, Harry
used his wand to lift the sheets and pillow. The only thing he found there was his wand. Feeling a
bit vengeful, Harry took the wand and stuffed it into his back pocket with his own. Next, Harry
checked under the bed, pulling out a small wooden box. Opening it, Harry found it stuff with all
sorts of smoking paraphernalia. Sorting through the various pipes, papers and cartons of
cigarettes, he found matchbooks at the bottom. One of them immediately caught his eye.

“Son of a bitch,” Harry muttered as he lifted it out of the box. He ran his thumb over the
design on the front. It had the name of the club in New Orleans stamped on it. Shoving the box
under the bed, Harry quietly left the room.

“Dare I ask why you were in Malfoy's room?” a familiar voice asked.

Ron's expression gave nothing away. “I'm just curious, that's all. I mean, Hermione
is like a sister to me. I just want to make sure she's not making the same mistake again or
that she could get hurt.”

“I would never hurt, Hermione,” Terry said, sounding a bit hurt. “I love her! I'm crazy
about her.”

Ron shrugged and looked around the library. Thunder rumbled overhead. “I'm just watching out
for her.”

Terry went back to his report. “I understand. I mean…look how you were when you found out that
Harry took advantage of your little sister's drunkenness.”

Ron's head snapped back to Terry, his eyes narrowed.

“Answer me, Harry,” Hermione demanded.

Harry slipped the matchbook in his pocket. “None of your business, so why don't you run
along and rat on me to your little *boyfriend*.”

Hermione narrowed her eyes. “You are so pathetic.”

“Not as pathetic as someone who would take that poor excuse of a Head Boy back.”

Hermione pointed a finger in Harry's face. “Don't go there with me, Harry.” She turned
on her heel and stomped away. Harry stomped after her.

“I will go there with you, Hermione. Getting back together with him just because he gave you
what you wanted, he must really be outstanding in bed for you to still be sticking around.” Harry
turned and walked up the stairs to his floor.

Hermione's jaw dropped. “How *dare* you say such things! You of all people have no
right to judge me!” She ran after him.

“Just like you judged Ginny and me?” he asked angrily.

“If the shoe fits,” Hermione held her head high. “This isn't the first time you've
indulged yourself and woken up next to a girl.”

Harry couldn't say anything back to that. She was right. “And Ginny?” he asked.

“I can't explain that but all I can say is that she knew that I…” Hermione stopped before
she could say more.

Harry stopped walking down the corridor and turned to Hermione. “Knew what?” he asked.

“Harry, how would you feel if you found Ron and me together like that?” she asked.

“It wouldn't happen,” Harry said angrily, turning around again.

“Why not?” she asked.

“For one thing he wouldn't betray Luna like that.” Harry turned around and pointed a finger
in Hermione's face.

“And what about me?” she asked.

“Well, after what you said in the kitchens last month, I knew you were desperate to be rid of
your virginity,” he said nastily. “Hey, I mean you're already banging Head Boy Dickless!”

Hermione slapped him across the cheek then stormed down the corridor. Harry swore and kicked the
wall before storming into his cabin.

“How did you know?” Ron asked quietly.

Terry looked up at him. “How did I know what?”

“That Ginny was drunk. Nobody told you,” Ron said suspiciously.

Terry who had been scribbling on his parchment paused slightly then continued writing. Ron
picked up on that immediately. Thunder boomed overhead.

“I just assumed. I mean how else could Harry get her into bed?” he looked up at him jokingly.
Ron gave a mocking laugh.

“It was pretty early in the morning when all that happened, wasn't it?” Ron asked.

“Yeah, I know. What a way to wake up, huh?”

“And yet, there you were, seconds after I yelled, already dressed.”

Terry put down his quill and looked at Ron. “What exactly are you getting at Ron?”

“I just find it convenient that you were there at the right time, all dressed up.” Terry
didn't reply so Ron continued. “Luna also told me that you that you went to see Hermione. Now
if anyone gets up early around here, it's her, but she was still in her pajamas.”

“I'm an early riser,” Terry said coldly.

“Now that I think about it, you were pretty calm about the situation, almost as if you were
expecting it.” Ron sat back in his chair thoughtfully.

“It's Harry. I would expect something like that from him,” Terry replied.

“Yes, well. You also expected Harry and Malfoy to fight and look how you flew off the handle
when you found them on the beach. But that morning, you walked in cool and collected,” Ron stared
at Terry.

“I really hope you aren't accusing me of anything,” Terry said coolly.

“Hang on a minute. Let me put this all together. Nobody said a word about Ginny being drunk but
you knew about that. You walked into that room not at all surprised about what you saw. You *so
graciously* let me switch rooms and Neville too so Harry is left all alone. You prance on down
to tell Hermione how good of a Head Boy you were, play honorable by not revealing what happened.
You let someone else to the dirty work so that you can swoop in and comfort her. Did I get
everything?”

Terry shook his head in disgust. “That is not true.”

“Isn't it though? Let me throw another one at you. You don't like, Harry. Really, really
don't like him. And now I know why,” Ron said.

“Oh, pray tell,” Terry said mockingly.

“Because *you* want to *be* him,” Ron pointed a finger accusingly at Terry.

“What?” Terry scoffed.

“You keep trying to make me your friend, you're dating his other best friend.”

“This is ridiculous,” Terry laughed.

“Oh yeah? Well I've got bad news for you…*pal*,” Ron rose from his chair and leaned
forward placing his knuckles on the table. “I might have been pissed at Harry but he's still my
best friend. And no one…fucks with my best friends.” Ron lunged across the table, tackling Terry to
the ground.

Harry was sitting on the bed, sulking, when the door swung open and Hermione stormed
through.

“Why, Harry?” she cried, hitting him on the shoulder. “Why her? Why her and not me?” Her fists
hit him on his shoulders and his chest. Harry got off the bed and grasped her shoulders, holding
her at arms length. The ship listed sharply and Harry and Hermione collided into the wall behind
her.

“I didn't sleep with her!” he hissed in her ear. Being this close to her began to stir
arousal within him.

Hermione knocked his hands away and shoved him away from her. “Why should I believe you? Huh?
Why should I believe you when you've indulged yourself with other girls? Everyone but me!”

“You're exaggerating Hermione!”

“Am I? Look at me, Harry! Look at me and tell me you're attracted to me. Look at me and tell
me you'd do things to me that you've done with other girls.” Tears were streaming down her
face, her nose was a bit runny and her hair was a little wild. Yes, he wanted her but he was
fighting it. He turned away from her.

“Hermione, stop it,” he said angrily.

“Why? Why don't you think of me that way?” she shouted.

“You're my friend!” he shouted back.

Hermione sobbed out a laugh. “You're friend?! That's all you see me as?” She hastily
began to unbutton her top and Harry quickly looked away. “Do you know your friend has these?” she
said, opening the top to reveal the simple pink bra she wore. “Am I so repulsive that you can't
even look at me?”

Reluctantly Harry let his gaze wander over her creamy skin, her flat belly and the soft curves
of her breasts. He tore his eyes from her, gripping the back of a chair as desire and lust clouded
his mind.

“Hermione,” he said warningly.

“Guess what else your friend has,” Hermione snarled, kicking off the sandals she wore. Harry
heard her unzip her zipper.

“Hermione, cut it out!” he snapped at her.

“Why, Harry?” she said, her voice was falsely cheery. “I can strut around in my knickers because
you won't do a thing.” She pulled off her jeans, letting them pool around her ankles then
taking them off. “I'm safe. I know you won't try to touch me or do anything. Why? Because
you're my friend and that's all you'll ever think of me.” She tossed her jeans at
Harry, hitting him. Harry turned and glared at her. She was pushing the boundary. He took in her
shapely legs, following them up to the small triangle patch of pink fabric that was her
underwear.

“Hermione, stop it,” he growled at her. His hardness began to strain against his jeans.

“Why should I Harry?” her voice was sultry and teasing. Harry gripped the back of the chair
harder as if he were clinging to the last of his resolve.

“Don't push me, Hermione,” Harry warned his eyes flashing dangerously at her with
desire.

Hermione licked her lips and began to walk slowly toward him, bringing her hands to the clasp on
the front of her bra. With a soft click, she drew her hands apart taking the bra and her shirt with
her, shrugging them over her shoulders. Her breasts were exposed to him, small mounds of flesh with
rose colored centers, nipples erect. With a soft groan, Harry's resolve broke.

He wrapped his arms around her, his lips claiming hers in a feverish kiss. He lifted her and she
wrapped his legs around his waist as he propped her against the wall. He pressed himself against
her as she shrugged off her shirt and bra, bringing her hands back to run through his hair. One of
Harry's hands held firmly to her thigh while the other sought out her breast, cupping and
kneading it. Hermione let out a soft whimper that sent more blood to his loins. His hand returned
to her thigh as he laid kisses on her neck, prying more pleasant sounds from Hermione.

She brought her hands to his shirt, yanking it up and over his head, taking his glasses with it.
He groaned when her fingers lightly brushed over his nipples, down his abs and falling to the
button on his jeans. Her mouth was hot and wet, Harry couldn't get enough. She unzipped his
jeans, her hands seeking out his hardness and rubbing against it then working his jeans over his
hips. Harry moaned into her mouth, helping her with his jeans, taking his boxers with them as they
pooled to the floor. Stepping out of them, he pressed his body against hers, reveling in the
feeling of her breasts pressed against his chest. Driving himself mad with desire as his hardness
pressed against her underwear already wet. Hermione moaned as he did this and he sought out her
neck again.

Harry slowly sank them down to the floor, Hermione straddling him when the reached it. One of
his hands wrapped around her waist, holding her, while the other sought out her breasts. Hermione
raised herself slightly and Harry lavished attention on her breasts with his mouth, moaning
together as he sought out her nipples. Both his arms wrapped around her waist, pushing on her back
slightly, pressing her breasts against him. He brought his right hand forward again to caress her
breast then slowly fall down her torso. Slipping his hand past the elastic of her panties, he
groaned when he found her wetness. Hermione gasped with delight as he slipped a finger inside, his
palm rubbing gently against her. Her breathing became erratic and she writhed in his lap, kissing
him and holding him. She became hotter and wetter as she suddenly gasped out in pleasure, his name
on her lips put him over the edge.

He flipped her so she was under him, practically ripping her knickers off her as he settled
himself between her waiting thighs. His breath hitched as he entered her hotness. She was so tight
and he pressed further in, his mind muddled with lust. With a cry from her lips she suddenly gave
way and he was fully sheathed within her. She clung to him as he moved within her going slow at
first but his primal urges made him move faster. Soon he felt himself tighten before he exploded
into her, reaching nirvana gasping her name.

He rested on her, spent and breathing heavy, her arms still around him. The fog of lust that
clouded his mind began to lift and the repercussions of what they had just done began to settle
in.

*Oh my God, you just s**lept with your best friend.*

*She's a virgin. She's a virgin…was…was a virgin. Thanks to you.*

Slowly Harry lifted himself off Hermione. The look in her eyes mirrored his own feelings of fear
and confusion. Gently he moved out of her and she winced a little. A small gush of his pleasure and
her maidenhood went with him. He grabbed a towel and wiped it up so she wouldn't see the blood.
They scrambled away from each other and dressed in silence.

Hermione trembled slightly as she dressed, taking a deep breath to calm herself. She
couldn't look at him, she was too ashamed of herself. Silently she left his room. She leaned
against the door behind her, hand covering her mouth. Small, deep breaths filled her lungs and she
started forward. She just wanted to go to her room so she could think clearly. She ran up the
stairs into the main lobby when she heard shouting and scuffling from the library. She ran into the
room to see Terry and Ron beating the crap out of each other.

“What is going on?” she shouted.

BOOM!!

A loud explosion sent her flying in the air.

Harry threw on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. He sat there a moment trying to process the
events that had just happened. Finally he threw on a pair of shoes and left his room to find
Hermione. He had reached his door when he heard a loud BOOM! He went sprawling to the ground. He
popped back up and ran into the hall. Other students popped their heads out to see what the
commotion was. The corridor was filled with smoke to his left, the loud beeping of the smoke alarm
sounded and the sprinklers overhead went off.

“Everyone up on deck!” Harry shouted to his schoolmates. *Hermione*, he thought. He had to
find Hermione. He ducked back into his room and snatched up his wand, tossing Draco's aside
then ran into the hallway.

The students scrambled down the hall, slipping on the wet and slippery floor. Harry watched the
water as he flowed down the hall to the left. Vaguely he registered that they were listing a
bit.

“Are we leaning?” Neville ran up to him, voicing his thought.

“Come on, let's get out of here!” he said and the two fought their way up the stairs.

The main lobby was in chaos, students, teachers and crewmen ran everywhere. Screams could be
heard. A few of the students were lying on the ground, crying, blood on their faces and hands.

“What the hell happened here?” Dean ran up to them.

“Hermione,” Harry demanded. “Have you seen Hermione?”

The ship listed even more and everyone lost their balance and began sliding to the other side of
the room. Smoke and small fires were everywhere.

“…explosion! Just tore the ship in half!!” he heard a crewman shout as a group of them scrambled
away.

“Come on, Harry!” Dean yelled. “We've got to get on deck!”

“What about Hermione?” Harry yelled back.

“Maybe she's already there!” Neville said.

There was a loud groaning sound and a loud crack that filled the air. Suddenly water began to
spill into the room. The students screamed and scrambled up the stairs, trampling each other. The
scene wasn't much better up top. The storm still raged tossing the ship in its large waves,
drenching everyone in rain. Harry stared in horror when he saw the damage to the ship. Whatever
that loud explosion was split the ship in half, Harry saw the other half of the ship meters away
and slowing sinking like this one. People scrambled to get the lifeboats ready, some were already
in the water, freed by the explosion.

Harry clung to a post trying to get his balance as the ship tilted into the ocean. Some of the
panic was because he couldn't see much, the moon was covered by storm clouds and the only light
came from the large fires within the ship.

“Harry!! Harry! This way!” he saw Neville waving him over to a lifeboat but as he let go another
explosion rocked the boat sending Harry flying in the air.

He couldn't see a thing, couldn't tell if he was swimming up, down or sideways. His head
finally broke the surface and he gasped for air, treading water. He must have hit something because
his head hurt. The pain on the side of his head was unbearable. Nothing but darkness surrounded
him. The water churned violently and sent him under again. Harry resurfaced. His fellow
classmates' screams filled the air and he could see faint outlines of people from the debris
that floated in the water aflame.

“I can't see anyone!” he heard them shout.

“I can't swim!”

“Somebody help me!”

Another wave pushed him under and Harry fought his way up to the top. A hand came out of nowhere
and he grabbed it. He was being hauled onto a life boat. Harry coughed and spluttered, his
breathing heavy. He turned over and darkness overcame him.

-->



6. The Lifeboat
---------------



Chapter Six: The Lifeboat

*I awoke to the reality of Richard Parker. There was a tiger in the lifeboat. I could hardly
believe it, yet I knew I had to. And I had to safe myself.—The Life of Pi, Yann Martel*

The soft yet steady sound of waves lapping woke Harry from his slumber. The pain in his head was
now a dull ache. For a moment, Harry thought the events that occurred was a bad dream. The ship was
fine, everyone was okay. He would walk up on the deck and see Hermione's smiling face.

But when he opened his eyes all he saw was blue. Blue of the sky with wisps of puffy clouds left
over from the storm. He was cramped and his whole body ached. He had passed out in such cramped
quarters. The blaring whiteness of the boat around him hurt his eyes a little so he sat up.

For the first time in his life, even after living with the Dursley's, even after the morning
he lost his Godfather, Harry wished he had never woken up. Reality hit him like a sledgehammer.
There was nothing around him. Nothing but blue ocean reaching as far to the horizons all around
him. The ocean seemed infinitesimal and he just a small speck in it. Where were all the other
lifeboats? Someone had to survive.

“Hello?” Harry shouted to the nothingness.

“There's no one out there,” came a small voice from the other side of the boat.

Harry was shocked. He had registered that he was on a lifeboat but his mind had somehow
forgotten the possibility that he was not alone on it. A sort of calm came over him. The panic
going away slightly with the thought that he wasn't alone out here.

Harry walked to the other side of the lifeboat, stepping over another sleeping survivor. He
peered under the tarp that covered the bow and saw a figure on the floor, huddled in a fetal
position. The sharp smell of vomit hit him. His eyes adjusted to the dark contrast of the white
boat.

“Malfoy?” he called out, recognizing the blond head of hair. Of all his rotten luck.

“Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me,” Draco said, thinking the same thought.

“Were you the one who pulled me out of the water?” he asked.

“No…I think it was him,” Draco motioned to their sleeping occupant. “He's been asleep as
long as you have.”

Harry walked over to the man. He recognized him as one of the professors. Harry nudged him to
awaken but the man did not stir. Looking closely Harry now saw that the man's neck was twisted
at a weird angle.

He walked back to the covered tarp and sat down under it's shade, still a ways away from
Draco.

“He's not sleeping. He's dead,” he said plainly.

Draco sat up and stared in the direction where the man lay. A blank look on his face.

“No matter,” he said. “We'll be rescued soon.”

Harry hoped that he was right.

The day passed in silence. As the sun set Harry moved back to the stern of the boat, laying down
on a bench, he gazed out at the golden waters ahead of him, the water glittering under the broken
sunlight. Thoughts of rescue filled Harry's head. A boat would come. Hermione and Ron would be
on it, waving and cheering as they were brought on board. He missed his friends terribly. The fight
they had was stupid and childish. When they were all rescued they would make amends and they would
be the trio again. Laughing, having adventures and making their last year at Hogwarts memorable. He
thought of Hermione's smile as he looked up at the stars. He hoped she was okay. His mind
refused the thought that she might not have made it off the ship.

~*~

“Wait until my mother hears about this,” Draco mumbled.

This was the chatter that filled the next morning. Draco muttered to himself and Harry listened
as they tried to unlock the silver boxes that they found on the ship.

“Are you sure you don't have your wand?” Draco asked again.

Harry sighed. “For the millionth time, no…I don't.”

“I couldn't find mine,” Draco sulked and Harry averted his eyes.

Frustrated, Harry dropped the box and reached for an oar. Yanking it free of its binds, he hit
the blunt edge on the lock hard. It easily gave way, giving access to its goodies inside. Draco
took another oar and together they managed to open all six of the boxes.

Laying its contents out, they took inventory. Water, food rations, rope, blankets, matches,
flares, buckets, fishing kits, first aid kits and other little odds and ends. Harry and Draco
greedily drank some of the water, the horrible thirst they had was quenched. Draco hungrily dove
into the food rations while Harry quietly ate only a few bites.

“We should ration these,” he said thoughtfully.

“Why?” Draco asked.

“We don't know how long we're going to be out here,” Harry replied.

Draco looked at him as if he'd grown two heads. “We're going to be rescued soon,” he
said.

“We don't know that for sure,” Harry said impatiently.

Draco narrowed his eyes at him. “Fine!” he shouted. He divided the food rations in half. “You do
what you want with yours, I'll do what I want with mine. You can go ahead and starve yourself
until someone comes along.”

The afternoon sun beat relentlessly down on them. Harry sought the shade under the tarp with
Draco again, trying to block out his incessant whining.

“Figures that this was made for muggles,” Draco muttered angrily. “No emergency wands or potions
or portkeys. I mean who did they think would be on this ship?”

Harry did have to admit that he had a point. An emergency portkey would do wonders right
now.

“Do they really expect us to survive like muggles until we're rescued?” Draco continued.

“It's not as bad as you think,” Harry said.

“Oh forgive me. I forgot I was talking to a muggle lover,” Draco sneered.

“Things could be a lot worse, Draco. A lot worse.”

At sunset, Harry moved to the stern again, resting on the bench. The sun set on the horizon
along with his hopes of other survivors.

~*~

“We have to get rid of him,” Harry said plainly as he ate a bit of his food rations.

“I agree,” Draco said. Draco's thoughts of immediate rescue had been lost overnight. He was
eating his left over rations carefully.

The boat's third occupant was still on the ship. He was beginning to smell. Harry and Draco
both got up, Harry taking his legs, Draco his arms.

“God, he's heavy,” Draco complained as they lifted him.

Together they managed to dump him in the ocean with a large splash. Harry watched as the body
floated for a minute then slowly began to sink. Harry wanted to trade places with him. The ocean
had taken his best friends, his Hermione was somewhere in there and he wanted to be with her.

“I know you had something to do with it,” Harry said suddenly.

“Huh?” Draco asked.

“The morning after we left New Orleans,” Harry turned and faced him. “I know you had something
to do with it.”

Draco let out a short breath of laughter. “Fuck off, Potter,” he said and turned away.

Harry growled and tackled him to the ground.

“You set us up!” he shouted as he punched him. “I know you did!”

“Don't blame me because you ruined things with the mudblood!” Draco shouted, punching Harry
back.

“Hermione!” Harry shouted out. “Her name is Hermione.” Tears clouded his eyes and he chocked
back a sob as he rolled away from Draco. “Her name was Hermione,” Harry whispered, letting the
tears come, not caring if Draco saw them.

Draco sat up and wiped some blood off his lip with the back of his hand. “We're never going
to see them again, are we?” he said softly.

Harry wiped away his tears and sat up. Draco reached over the side of the boat and began to wash
the blood away. Harry did the same. A short while later, there was a sharp thump on the side of the
boat. Sharks had come to see where the blood had come from, hoping for the possibility of a
meal.

Lying under the stars that night Harry heard the soft sniffles of his shipmate. Thoughts of
suicide and throwing himself to the sharks filled his mind. But the sun rose the next morning, and
the thought went away. Little by little each day Harry slowly let go of the thoughts of ending his
life and accepting the new twist that fate had thrown him.

~*~

“I'd give my left nut for a chocolate frog,” Draco said aloud as he chewed on a piece of
dried fish. Harry laughed and checked on the other fish. They couldn't cook the fish they had
caught so they had to settle on drying them in the hot sun.

“Rain's coming,” Harry said as he looked off into the horizon.

“I'll set out the bottles again,” Draco sighed.

They used the empty water bottles to catch the water from the rainfalls.

“Shouldn't be here until nightfall,” Harry sighed.

Small squalls weren't pleasant on such a small boat. The choppy waves rocked the boat and
Draco gave way to his seasickness, muttering and cursing the entire time. Harry could only threaten
Draco to hold his stomach. They had to share the shelter and as soon as the smell of vomit hit his
nostrils along with the rocking motion, Harry had a hard time himself not heaving anything up.

“You said her name again in your sleep,” Draco said.

Harry sighed. “I don't want to talk about her.”

“Well, I'd just like to voice that I don't appreciate my shipmate's wet dreams,”
Draco teased.

“Knock it off, Draco,” Harry scowled.

“Oh, come on, you have to admit that right now, you're regretting that you never got to hit
that.”

“I am not talking about this with you,” Harry moved away from him.

“Hell, I'm regretting it,” Draco muttered and Harry gave him a dirty look. “Just put a
silencing charm on her so you can't hear her spouting out the technicalities of what you are
doing and she'd be great!”

Harry let out a little laugh.

“I'm serious,” Draco said.

“What about you and Pansy, huh?” Harry asked.

“What about us?” Draco asked.

“Aren't you regretting you didn't have one last shag with her?”

“Who says I didn't? She's not that great to be honest with you,” Draco sighed. “But
pussy is pussy so…” he shrugged.

The storm wasn't bad at all that night. It was only rain. The air was chilly so Harry
wrapped the blanket around himself. Thoughts of his last night with Hermione filled his mind as he
drifted off to sleep.

~*~

Draco woke up early the next morning. The bottom of the boat was wet with water from the
rainfall. He would have to bail some of the water out. The water bottles were mostly filled and
Draco topped them off with the water that had pooled on top of the tarp that shaded them. He was
capping the last one when something on the horizon caught his eyes.

“Harry! Harry wake up!” Draco shook him.

“What? What is it?” Harry scrambled to his feet.

“Look! Look at this!” Draco dragged him from the shelter.

Harry looked in the direction Draco was pointing. For days on end, the horizon had been an
endless flat line of ocean. Today, however, that line was broken.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I don't know. It's small though,” Harry said.

They opened up one of the boxes and searched for a flare.

“Hurry, we don't want to lose it,” Draco said.

Harry brought out a flare gun, scrambled out of the shelter and aimed for the sky. But before he
could pull the trigger, Draco yanked his arm down.

“What if it isn't what we think it is?” he asked.

“What if it's a ship?” Harry countered.

“What if the people on that ship aren't friendly?” Draco said. “Don't you think a rescue
ship would be bigger?”

Harry licked his lips in anticipation. Maybe Draco was right.

“Alright,” Harry brought the flare down. “But we keep it in sight, whatever it is.”

They both turned to look at the horizon again. The object seemed a bit closer.

“Doesn't it look a little closer?” Draco asked.

Suddenly there was a bright flash as something soared into the sky then exploded in fireworks.
Harry immediately shot his flare in the sky.

It did the exact same thing.

“It's another lifeboat!” Draco screamed.

-->



7. Sea of Red
-------------



Chapter Seven: The Sea of Red

*You're gonna need a bigger boat—Chief Brody, Jaws (1975)*

Harry and Draco grabbed the oars off the side and began to row. But the boat was large and they
moved at a snail's pace. The other boat moved faster. As they neared, Harry could see that the
other boat was actually two boats that were tied together.

Closer and closer they rowed until they could hear the excited chatter and shouts from the two
boats. Draco and Harry stopped rowing and jumped to their feet, waving their arms above their
heads.

“It's Harry! It's Harry! He's alive!!” A familiar red head shouted. “Give me the
rope! Give me the rope.”

Ron grabbed the rope from another student and dove into the water. Harry and Draco lifted him
out.

“You're alive!” Ron hugged his friend.

“The rope Ron!! The rope!” Neville appeared out of the crowd.

“Oh yeah,” Ron said, unwrapping the rope from his hand. “Help me with this.”

They tied the rope to a hook on the bow as the occupants of the other two boats pulled the boats
together, tying them. Harry and Draco were ambushed, reunited with their surviving classmates.
Neville was alive, so were Ginny, Luna, Seamus and Dean. Pansy hugged Draco, so did Crabbe and
Goyle.

“Is there no one else?” Parvati asked Harry timidly. Harry scanned the other boats, Padma was
nowhere to be seen.

“I'm sorry,” Harry said and Parvati burst into tears.

“Come on, sweetie,” Lavender led her away.

Draco nudged him in the side and nodded to the boat on the far side. She was standing there,
staring at him, not really believing he was there. A lump formed in his throat when he saw
Hermione.

She was alive!

She walked toward him on shaky legs, getting only to the second boat before she turned around
and crawled back into the shelter of the first boat.

“I'll go talk to her,” Ginny sighed.

Harry watched as Ginny reached the first boat the same time Terry (great…he's alive) did. He
watched as the two of them exchange heated words before they both went under the tarp.

“She's really had it rough, Harry,” Ron sighed. “She blamed herself for your death. She
keeps saying that she never should have left you. She used to have dreams every night that you were
alive somewhere but she said the past few days she hadn't had them. I think she was giving up
hope and now here you are. Give her some time. She's just had a bit of a shock.”

“It's really good to see you, Ron,” Harry said earnestly.

“You too, mate,” Ron smiled and scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “Listen, about you and
Ginny,” Harry opened his mouth to protest but Ron held a hand up. “I'm sorry I was such a git.
Ginny talked to me that morning of the accident and…well, I believe you, Harry.”

“Thank you, Ron,” Harry said quietly, happy to have his friend back alive and well.

“Now,” Ron said cheerfully, lightening up the mood. “Is that fish I see?”

“Yeah, didn't you guys open the survival kits?” Harry asked.

“Our boats were a little beaten up. One didn't have any kits on it, the other, well…we only
had two,” Ron shrugged.

Harry was surprised at how long they had survived with only two kits. But then again, they had
Hermione on board.

“Did you guys use your wands?” he asked.

Ron shifted uncomfortably. “Well, you see…none of us exactly…have our wands.”

“What?!” Draco exclaimed after hearing this bit of the conversation. “Are you telling me that no
one here has any of their bleeding wands?”

“You don't have yours, either?” Ron asked. Harry shook his head.

“Un-fucking-believable!” Draco shouted then stomped back under the tarp followed by the other
Slytherins.

Harry waved him off. “He'll be fine.”

~*~

Harry and Ron sat down with Neville, Seamus and Dean, sharing the dried fish and showing them
how to cast the fishing lines. Chit chat mostly consisted on stories about how they got on the
lifeboat.

“So when I woke up, Draco and I found that he had broken his neck. He probably did it during the
night, pulling one of us into the boats. The bottom was slippery and he probably lost his balance,”
Harry trailed off. “Anyway, we had to dump him in the ocean.”

“I can't believe you can't remember much,” Dean said to Ron.

“Yeah, it's weird. I remember I was in the library, the next thing I knew I woke up in the
lifeboat. Hermione said that she found me in the library fighting with Terry just before the
explosion happened. The two of them managed to get me on a lifeboat, along with some other
students.” Ron let out a heavy sigh. “I wish I knew what we were fighting about.”

“Probably about what a git he is,” Seamus muttered and they all laughed. It was good to be with
his friends again.

That night, Harry rested underneath the stars, thanking them for his friends' lives. He
heard the sound of others stirring in the other boats. The moon was out, shining light down on
them. He could hear the snores of Crabbe and Goyle under the tarp, and the familiar snores of Ron
and Neville who slept on the benches next to him.

A familiar silhouette made its way to his boat and Harry sat up, making room on his bench for
her. Hermione sat down next to him, not saying anything for a moment before lunging at him and
embracing him.

“You're alive,” she whispered hoarsely. “You really are alive! This isn't a dream is
it?” she asked.

Harry shook his head. “If it is, than we're sharing the same dream. I'm so happy
you're okay, Hermione.” He hugged her close to him, burying his face in her hair. She was
alive! He silently thanked whatever great being of fate that enabled this reunion.

She eventually left his side and made her way back to the boat on the far side, looking back at
him one more time before she ducked under the tarp to sleep with the other girls. Harry settled
himself back on his bench.

“Psst!” he heard Draco whisper at him.

“What?” he asked. Draco made the motion of putting tape over his mouth. “Sod off, Draco,” Harry
muttered turning his back on him.

~*~

They had been at sea for nearly forty days. Neville had been keeping track. Thoughts of rescue
had left everyone's mind by now. Thoughts of survival and somehow making it to land now filled
their minds.

Harry and Ron sat on the tarp, inspecting the nets to check for any damage or weak lines. Ron
looked up at Harry as he carefully reknotted one of the strings.

“Where are your glasses?” he asked.

“Lost them,” Harry muttered. He had been wondering about that. Ever since the accident, he
hadn't needed them. His vision was perfect. Ron could tell by his body language that he
didn't want to talk about it, so he dropped it. But he was still curious as to how he could tie
such precise little knots.

Draco was teaching Pansy, Crabbe, Goyle, Ginny and Terry how to fish. He grudgingly volunteered
to do this task but everyone had to eat. There were suddenly a lot more mouths to feed. Terry was
only partly paying attention, he kept glancing up at Hermione on the far boat.

“So you carefully take this morsel and you put it on the hook. Be careful not to damage them, we
only have so many,” Draco said roughly. “No, Crabbe, take that out of your mouth. That's the
bait, it goes on the hook. Put it on the hook, yes…just like that.”

Ginny carefully lowered her line into the water and sat back patiently. They would check the
lines when the sun was halfway in the sky.

“This is so gross,” Pansy muttered as she picked up a piece of fish morsel to put on the hook.
“I don't see why we have to do this.”

“You want to eat, don't you?” he snapped.

“We're rich, Draco,” Pansy balked. “This is house elf work.”

“Well, precious,” Draco sneered. “We seem to be fresh out of elves.”

“Look at you!” Pansy said accusingly. “Fishing around for meals, spending your days mulling over
dried fish. If everyone could see what you've become.”

Ginny spoke up. “He's doing what he can to survive. Not everyone can send their two goons
out to steal all the food bars.” Pansy's mouth dropped in shock. “Yes, we all know what
you've been doing.”

“Stay out of this, Weaselette!” Draco snapped at her.

“Don't talk that way to her!” Ron made his way over to her.

“Now, now. Let's all settle down,” Terry said.

“Ron stay out of this,” Ginny pleaded.

“You've been stealing the food bars?” Draco asked Pansy.

“Why are you defending him, Gin?” Ron shouted.

“Yes, mind your own business, Weaselette!” Pansy shouted to Ginny.

“Hey, don't talk that way to her! At least she's trying to earn her keep!” Draco shouted
back.

“Earn her keep?” Pansy looked at him as if he'd slapped her.

“Don't defend my sister!” Ron shouted. “I don't know how you survived or why but nobody
likes you or want you on their boat.”

“HEY!” Harry had been checking on their nets and couldn't concentrate with the all the
ruckus. “CUT IT OUT!! ALL OF YOU!” The group fell silent. “For one thing, all this noise is going
to scare the fish away. Every single person on these boats is going to learn to fish. You earn your
keep for your right to eat. If you don't want to put in the work for it then the rest of us
would be happy to toss you overboard. And don't think we won't do it, that'll be one
less mouth to feed.” He went back to checking the nets.

Pansy dropped back down on the bench, tears fell down her face.

“Yes… I think that we should set up a schedule. Days when everyone should fish and…” Terry
stopped his speech. No one was listening, they were going back to what they had been doing
before.

~*~

Hermione woke up at dawn. She carefully stepped around Ginny, Lavender, Luna and Parvati to make
her way out of the tarp. She stretched and watched the sun rise slowly in the East. She climbed on
top of the tarp and sat cross legged ready to lose herself in thought.

She felt his eyes on her but she didn't dare turn around to look at Harry. She was so happy
when he was found alive on another lifeboat. For days, guilt ate at her. She had left him on the
boat, if only she had stayed with him in the room they could've gotten on a lifeboat together.
She died when the sun rose to reveal that Harry was not in her lifeboat, nor in the other one that
they found the day after.

She felt so hollow inside. She would get up every morning just like this to be alone and stare
out at the ocean cursing it for taking the boy she loved. She did love him. And she was tortured
every night by dreams that Harry was somewhere out there alive and lost just like she was. And
every morning she would wake up to the reality that he wasn't there.

This had been the cause of many an argument with Terry. Something was up with him. The night of
the explosion she had walked in on him and Ron fighting with each other. Ron had no recollection of
what the fight was about and Terry brushed it off as guys being guys. Terry had tried to reach out
to Hermione intimately but she shied away from him. Harry was gone and a part of her went with
him.

“He's dead, Hermione! Just face it!” He would yell at her. She would scream back denials
until she was nearly hysterical with grief and Ron and Ginny had to comfort her. She made amends
with Ginny. Apologize profusely for being an idiot for believing that the two of them had slept
together.

She had never spoken of that night with Harry. Not even to Ron. It was a secret she would take
to the grave. Part of it was because every time she thought about it, she would put mental blocks
on it. She was ashamed of how she behaved, throwing herself at her best friend, pushing him past
his boundaries because she seduced him. That's what she did. She seduced and tempted her best
friend into sleeping with her. Played on his teenage hormones and uncontrolled lust. She felt
mortified and ashamed.

Harry approached Hermione early one morning as she sat by herself on the tarp.

*“You know…we never talked about…it,” he whispered to her.*

*Hermione's face had flushed with embarrassment. “I feel so ashamed of myself. I never
should have done that.” Harry was surprised and hurt. She was ashamed for sleeping with
him?*

*“Yeah well we all make mistakes,” he tried to sound casual and light. Hurt flashed through
Hermione. Harry thought it was a mistake to sleep with her? She felt a little awkward about it but
never thought it was a mistake.*

*“Are we still friends?” she asked, controlling the shake in her voice. Harry turned and
smiled at her. She died a little inside.*

*“The best of,” he replied. He didn't want to go back to square one with her but if being
her friend was what it took to be by her side….*

The accident brought the trio back together, moving past their petty fights to remember what was
important that brought them together in the first place. They fell easily into their routines with
regards to Ron, but the relationship between Harry and Hermione was altered.

They could both feel it. There was a void between them, a sort of space. Ron hadn't picked
up on it yet but he could tell that there was a shift between the two of them. The comfortable
silences between the two of them were now strained. Some days they were a bit snippy with each
other. He would catch Harry staring at Hermione when she wasn't looking and vice versa.
Something had happened between the two of them and both of them were tight lipped about it.

By mid-morning everyone was up. Hermione and Ginny sat by a group of sixth years who were
checking the lines for the morning catch. Harry, Ron and Neville were casting their lines out from
Harry and Draco's boat.

“I can't believe he can stand her,” Ginny tutted, glaring at Pansy.

“I should tell Ron that his baby sister is crushing on the Ferret,” Hermione teased.

“I'm not crushing on him!” Ginny protested.

There was a loud thump and the boat jerked. Hermione steadied herself.

“What was that?” she asked.

Luna came out from under the tarp. “Did you guys feel--?”

“YOU IDIOTS!!” Draco bellowed.

Harry looked up at Draco to see what he was on about. Draco made his way over to Hermione's
boat. Slowly, he stood up.

“YOU FUCKING MORONS!!” Draco shouted at the group of sixth years.

“What did we do?” one of them asked.

“You don't gut the fish and toss it overboard!! You dump it in the bucket….”

Draco continued to rant and rave but Harry tuned him out. When something horrible is about to
happen, you see it unfold in front of your eyes in slow motion. His mouth went dry and he found
himself unable to shout or move. He was paralyzed with fear. Even if he did give warning, it
would've made no difference. He didn't see the giant dorsal fin until it was nearly on the
boat.

Screams of terror filled the air as the shark's head lifted out of the water, jaws wide open
displaying its deadly bite and rammed into the side of the boat. Nearly everyone that was on that
boat spilled into the water. The ruined lifeboat rammed into the one next to it when the shark
rammed it then it rammed into Harry and Draco's boat with a sickening Crack! Terrified screams
and shouts filled the air as everyone that was in the water scrambled into the other lifeboats.

“Cut the rope!” Harry shouted, snapping into action. “Cut the rope!”

The shark attacked again this time getting its head stuck in the boat. It thrashed violently,
ramming the lifeboats into each other. Harry and Ron pulled Draco onto the boat, he was holding
Ginny in his arms.

“Is she hurt?” Ron shouted above the panic.

Ginny was white as a ghost. “No she's in shock, I think,” Harry said.

*Hermione.*

Hermione was on that boat. “Hermione!” he shouted but it was too confusing. People were
splashing in the water trying to get into the other lifeboats.

Hermione saw the dorsal fin at the last second, enough time to let out a terrifying scream
before the impact. It knocked her to the floor of the boat and she could hear the splashes of those
that fell in the water. She scrambled to stand but found that her foot was caught in some netting.
The shark struck again and she was knocked into the water.

“AAAHHH!!” A bloodcurdling scream filled the air. Almost everyone saw it coming, its mouth wide
open as it approached a swimming sixth year. The boy let out a scream and the sea turned red.
“SOMEBODY HELP ME!!” He was yanked under. The students on the boat wailed in terror.

“Hermione!!” Harry shouted.

“She's still in the water, Harry!” Luna screamed, tears running down her face.

“HARRY!” Hermione screamed. She was clinging to the side of the demolished lifeboat next to some
netting. The boat was slowly sinking and taking Hermione down with it. “I'm stuck!”

Harry didn't even think twice, he grabbed a knife from a survival kit and just jumped into
the water.

“Harry! Harry, what are you doing?”

“Get out of the water!”

Hermione was treading water, her head going under once in awhile. “Harry…I'm stuck…”

“It's okay, Hermione,” he said. “I've got you.” He dove under the water, following
Hermione's leg to the netting. It was a tangled mess. He cut through some of the netting,
careful not to nick Hermione. His lungs screamed for air and he came back up.

“Oh God…” Hermione breathed, fighting to stay above the surface of the water. Tears fell down
her face. “I don't want to die…I don't want to die.”

“Hermione,” Harry gasped for breath. “You are not going to die.” He took another big lungful and
went under cutting some more netting away. Hermione tapped him violently on the shoulder and he
looked up. Her head was under, she could no longer reach the surface. Together they scrambled to
free her, Harry swearing violently to himself. *She will not drown. She will not drown.* He
came back up for air then went back down. He had to free her. He had to.

Hermione grabbed Harry's hands and pulled them away from the netting. Harry looked at her.
She pointed for him to go to the surface. Harry shook his head and went back to work on the
netting. Again Hermione grabbed his hands and pushed him away from her. Harry shrugged her off and
continued to cut away. He felt Hermione's hands slacken on his shoulders and he looked up.

Her eyes were closed. A trail of tiny bubbles floated between her lips. *NO!!* Harry
dropped the knife and shook Hermione but her eyes did not open. He burst to the surface and
screamed.

“NO!!! GIVE ME A FUCKING CHANCE!!”

“HARRY!” he heard his classmates scream but he wanted to ignore them.

“Shark! Harry! It's back! It's back!”

Harry turned and saw the dorsal fin approaching. Anger and rage filled him. He went under again.
He reached for Hermione, cradling her in his arms. He could see the shark approaching. It had taken
Hermione's life but he'd be damned if that shark was going to lay one single tooth on her
body.

The shark approached, his jaws opening for the kill. Harry put all his anger and hate for the
shark inside him and closed his eyes.

There was a loud boom.

“Did you hear that?”

“What was that?”

The students on the lifeboats heard a muffled sonic boom then the boats rocked as if hit by a
large wave.

Underwater Harry slowly opened his eyes. The shark floated in a spiral down, down, down. Not
dead, only stunned. He couldn't believe it. What in the hell just happened? Did he do that?

He didn't want to think anymore. Whatever happened bought him some time and he used it to
free Hermione. He swam to the surface, one arm around Hermione's lifeless body.

“Hermione,” Ron moaned as he and Draco pulled her out of the water.

Dean and Neville pulled Harry out. Terry immediately began to do mouth to mouth.

“What are you doing?” Draco asked.

“CPR,” Terry said between breaths. “It's a technique muggles use to resuscitate
someone.”

“Resusi-what?” Draco asked.

Terry didn't answer. He placed his palms over her chest and began to press down quick and
hard. “One, two, three, four…” He bent down to breathe into her mouth. “One, two, three, four…” He
repeated this several times.

It was so quiet. Students huddled together in fear. Some covered their ears not wanting to
listen to another classmate's life being taken away.

“Breathe, Hermione, breathe,” Ron whispered. Ginny buried her face in Draco's chest, not
wanting to watch.

*Please, Hermione. Please breathe.* Harry whispered this over and over. Dark thoughts began
to fill his head. He pictured himself having to release Hermione's body back into the ocean,
watching her slip under the waves.

Suddenly her eyes flew open and she began to gag.

“Hermione!” Harry shouted.

“Roll her over! Roll her over!” Terry ordered and they rolled her onto her side.

She gagged and vomited water. Coughing and sputtering she gasped for breath. It was the sweetest
sound Harry had ever heard. Hermione was dazed, trying to get her bearings.

“Thank you! Oh, thank you,” Terry whispered, gathering Hermione in his arms.

~*~

That night, Hermione carefully got up so she wouldn't wake Terry who slept by her side. She
was told that he had saved her life by performing CPR on her after Harry had taken her out of the
water. He had stayed by her side the rest of the day and slept by her, terrified that in the middle
of the night she would stop breathing.

She wrapped herself around a blanket and climbed atop the tarp. Harry was there looking up at
the stars. His gaze fell on her. She sat next to him and he wrapped his arms around her. Hermione
breathed him in deeply, resting her head against his chest. Tears began to fall from her eyes.
Harry cradled her head and looked down at her as she gazed back up at him. He so desperately wanted
to kiss her lips, to let her know how much he loved her. But instead he brought her closer to him,
kissing her on the top of her head.

They stayed there the rest of the night under the stars, not speaking. Thinking about how
precarious their situation was, how fragile life is, how to close the void that developed between
them and when this whole nightmare was going to end.

-->



8. Land
-------



Chapter Eight: Land!!

*When you develop an infatuation for someone, you always find a reason to believe that this is
exactly the person for you**. It doesn't have to be a good reason**—The
Beach.*

Harry woke up early with the grey light of dawn. Hermione slept soundly by his side. He slipped
quietly away from her out from under the blanket they shared. He sat up and drew his knees to his
chest.

He was scared.

He didn't know what was happening to him. It was strange, since the accident he hadn't
needed his glasses. His vision was perfect. And then yesterday, the incident with the shark… He
remembered closing his eyes and the feeling of energy surge through him. Yes, he did that. He knew
he did. But he was frightened by it. And he didn't want to tell anyone about it.

“How is she feeling?” a quiet voice asked.

Harry looked over at Terry. He climbed atop the tarp, careful not to wake Hermione.

“She's alright I guess. Still a bit frightened and I doubt she'll never go into the
water again,” Harry sighed.

“I doubt anyone wants to,” Terry replied as he sat next to Harry.

They sat there not speaking for awhile until Terry spoke up.

“Do you love her?” he asked Harry. Harry closed his eyes and sighed. “I love her, too,” Terry
sighed. “I would do anything for her. Does that sound crazy?”

“No…no, it doesn't,” Harry answered.

“I never thanked you for saving her life,” Terry said.

“You're the one who brought her back,” Harry said.

“Yes…but you're the one who went in after her,” Terry shifted his weight and leaned back.
“It hurt you know. She called out for you to save her.”

“Old habits die hard.”

“Is that what it was?” Terry asked softly then he gave a quiet laugh. “You know, I have to
wonder if it's always going to be like that. Is she always going to call out for you? I'm
waiting for the day she'll call for me.”

“I don't ever want her in a position where she'll have to call either one of us.”

“But it's more than that. You didn't even hesitate jumping in the water for her. It
should've been me to do that. But I froze.”

“We were all scared, Terry.”

“But you're always the brave one. Always the hero.”

Harry angrily turned to him. “I never asked for it,” he hissed sharply. “I never asked for any
of it.”

“Oh my God, you guys! Wake up! Wake up!” Ginny's shouts from the other boat woke everyone
up.

“What's going on?” Ron asked.

“What happened?”

“Where's it coming from?”

Draco made his way over to the other boat. The bottom of it was covered in water.

“Shit,” he muttered. “Somebody hand me a bucket!”

Ron made his way over with two of them. Immediately they began to bail the water out.

“The boat is leaking,” Ginny groaned.

“We are, too,” Neville muttered.

Hermione, Harry and Terry scrambled off the tarp. The bottom of the boat also was wet. Their
situation was dangerous. Stranded in the middle of the ocean in two leaky lifeboats. Terror and
panic hit the castaways.

“What are we going to do?”

“We're going to die!”

“No one is going to die.”

“I don't want to go in the water.”

“Would everyone just be quiet and let me think?” Terry shouted.

Squak!!

Everyone immediately became silent. It was a familiar sound but they hadn't heard it in so
long that it was hard to place where it came from. Terry slowly turned around.

There resting on top of the tarp at the bow of the ship was a bird!!

“LAND!!” Hermione screamed out, pointing in the distance.

There they were, ahead of them, peaks of some small mountains. They were so far away but it was
the most beautiful sight they had ever seen.

“Undo the ropes that are tying the boats together!” Harry said and some of the students
scrambled to the task. “Everyone grab an oar.”

“We'll never make it!” a sixth year, Andrea cried out.

“We've got to try,” Draco said determinedly. He split everyone into two groups so that each
boat would have strong rowers. They took turns amongst each other, when one group tired out they
would rotate while the other rested.

The sun had fully risen over the horizon, nearly halfway and they were still a ways away from
the island.

Draco turned to look at Harry on the other boat. “This one's going to go down before we
reach the island. We're leaking pretty bad here.”

Harry turned to look at the island, gauging the distance. “Right,” he sighed.

“Harry, this boat won't be able to hold everyone,” Hermione said in a low voice.

“We've got to try, Hermione. With more people rowing, maybe we'll be able to get closer
faster before this boat goes under due to the weight.”

Draco and Ron tossed the silver survival kits into the boat Harry was on.

“Neville, Seamus, Dean, Ron, Luna and Hannah,” Harry called out. “I want you guys to tie these
kits to yourselves. I have a feeling we're going to have to swim to the island and I want these
kits with us.” Groans and moans came from some of the students.

“I don't want to go back in the water, Harry,” Ginny trembled. “Please don't make me.”
Draco frowned at her, a little worried.

“It'll be alright, Gin,” Ron soothed.

“I'll swim with you,” Harry volunteered. “Now, who can't swim or isn't that strong
of a swimmer?” Several hands went up in the air. “I want the strongest swimmers to pair up with one
of them. Everyone will make it onto the island.” Harry sat back down on the bench. “Hermione,
you're going with Terry,” he said quietly next to her.

“Harry, I can swim just fine,” Hermione protested.

“You're going with Terry and that's final,” he said a bit harsher than he intended.
“I'm sorry,” he said softly and sighed. “I'm not taking any chances, Hermione. Especially
not with you.”

The lifeboat lowered considerable more in the water as the others piled onboard. The other
lifeboat sank. The students rowed, the boat was heavier but it was moving faster. You could now
hear the breakers off the island. The water began to get choppier as waves rolled beneath them.

“We're not going to make it past the breakers,” Terry said.

It was true. The waves would crush the lifeboat.

“Alright everyone!” Draco called out. “This is going to be rough. We're going to ride the
next wave. When it breaks, everyone bails and swims for the shore. It's going to be a tough
swim…about thirty meters. Try not to break anything.”

Pansy trembled next to him, her eyes wide with fear. Draco looked back at Harry and nodded,
Harry nodded back. He flickered his gaze to Ginny then back straight ahead. She would be fine, she
was swimming with Potter.

Harry's heart beat loudly in his chest. This was it. A final run to land. He put an
encouraging arm around Ginny. Ron looked back at him then at Hermione. Harry and Hermione looked at
each other. It will be okay. She gave him a small smile but Harry could see she was terrified of
being in the water again. He glanced at Terry. *She had better make it to the beach.* Terry
nodded as if reading his thoughts.

They caught a wave and they were carried away. Ginny gripped the side of the boat as the wave
crested. The boat rose in the air then slowly began to tip down like the beginning of a roller
coaster ride. Then down the wave it went.

“JUMP!!” Harry called out as the wave broke above them.

The wave crashed onto the lifeboat, crushing it. You could hear the sound of breaking wood.
Harry and Ginny surfaced along with their fellow students and began to swim with everything they
had for the shore.

“Harry…I'm too tired…,” Ginny gasped when they were halfway there. “I'm not going to
make it.”

“Hold on to me,” Harry breathed. “And don't let go.”

His arms burned with fatigue and he was sooo tired. He could hear the sounds of the waves
breaking behind him and the splashes of his fellow students as they swam for shore.

Finally, he felt the wonderful feel of sand beneath his feet. Staggering on the beach, the
students gasped for breath holding the stitches in their sides. Harry dropped to the sand and lay
there limp, too tired to move.

“We made it,” Ginny whispered next to him. “We made it.”

~*~

“HELLO! IS ANYONE OUT THERE?” Draco called out.

They all gathered together on the beach looking out at the lush jungle in front of them.

“Where are we?” Neville said.

“I don't know,” Hermione answered. “There are hundreds of uncharted islands in the Pacific.
We could be on one of them for all we know.”

“Well, there's only one way to find out,” Harry said. He pointed to the small mountain in
the distance. “Tomorrow, I'm going to hike that.”

“I'm going with you,” Ron, Neville and Draco said aloud. Ron looked sharply at Draco.

“We should be able to tell what this place looks like from up there,” Harry said.

“In the meantime, we should make camp,” Draco suggested.

The tents were rudimentary. They had managed to take both the tarps from the boats and stuff
them in a survival kit. They used those and some of the blankets to make their shelters.

Dean worked furiously on trying to make a fire, rubbing two sticks together with some dry grass.
He showed Harry, Draco and Neville how to do it.

“Ah dammit!” Draco cursed and threw his sticks down. His hands were beginning to cramp and he
was losing his grip. “I would give anything for my wand.”

“We all would,” Dean muttered.

Harry sighed and put down his sticks. He looked off into the horizon. The sun would be setting
soon. Harry picked up his sticks and turned his back to the others. A crazy idea came into his
head.

He rubbed the two sticks together lazily just to go through the motions. *Fire. I want a fire.
Just a small flame.* He closed his eyes and concentrated picture a flame in his mind. The whiff
of smoke came to nostrils and he opened his eyes. The grass was a little charred. Harry closed his
eyes and really concentrated.

*FIRE!*

“Aaah!!” Harry sprang away from the two sticks that burst into flame.

“Quick! Put on some more wood!” Dean, Neville and Draco tossed their sticks into the fire. They
sprinted to the edge of the jungle and grabbed anything they could set aflame. The fire roared
heartily into a mini bonfire.

“Alright, way to go, Harry!” Dean clapped him on the back.

Harry didn't say anything, he just stared at the fire.

That night Draco lay awake. He rested on his stomach as Pansy slept next to him. They had a tent
to themselves while the other Slytherins slept in a tent next to them. They were furthest from the
group, separating themselves from the others. The Ravenclaws had their own tents as did the other
houses. The exception was Luna who stayed with Hermione and Ginny in their tent. Draco's eyes
were watching Ginny's tent.

He didn't know why he was worrying about the youngest Weasley or why he was even staring at
her in the first place.

Pansy lay next to him awake, he only thought she was asleep. She followed his line of sight to
the tent where Granger, Weaselette and Looney were. Why was he watching them? A wave of jealousy
came over her and she began to caress Draco.

Draco looked down at her. “I thought you were sleeping,” he whispered.

“No, I'm awake,” she whispered back.

He saw the familiar look of want in her eyes. He wasn't going to deny her, it had been
awhile. She sighed softly as he entered her, reveling in his familiarity, smiling smugly at the
fact he was making love to her. They were quiet and she only let out a small gasp when their
reached their climax. Draco rolled off her and she snuggled next to him. An unfamiliar feeling of
guilt washed over him. As he climaxed he imagined that he was fucking another person, imagined
himself tangling his hands in her red hair, imagined that it was her that sighed. He was in
despair.

Oh God…what was she doing to him?

-->



9. The Island
-------------



Chapter Nine: The Island

A mind not to be chang'd by place or time.
The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.

*--Paradise Lost, John Milton*

The morning was cool and Hermione rubbed her arms to get the chill out. It would be sweltering
by noon. She walked over to Harry who was readying a small pack for the hike today.

“Please be careful,” she said to him. Harry stood up slowly.

“I will,” he replied.

“I mean it Harry. There are no mediwitches or hospitals to help you if you really hurt
yourself.”

Harry put a hand on her shoulder and looked at her directly. “I promise that I will be
careful.”

He left a short while later along with Ron, Neville and Draco. Pansy scowled as the group left,
the other Slytherins muttered amongst themselves. Hermione, Ginny and Luna readied packs for
themselves. While the guys were going to hike the small mountain on the island, they were going to
explore the jungles that surrounded them.

Harry paused at the edge of the jungle. A large grassy plain stood before him followed by more
jungle at the foot of the mountain. The jungle they had passed through was dense with foliage. So
far the only other signs of life were the birds that they heard chirping in the canopies above.
That was good news. Anything large and furry with sharp teeth was very unwelcome and when you were
alone with your thoughts, your mind can come up with frightening possibilities on what could be on
this island.

“Well,” Draco paused as the others joined Harry, “the grass seems to be flat enough. We could
easily see if anything large is approaching us.”

“We could also be easily seen by anything large,” Ron said. “I say we stick to the edge of the
jungle.”

Harry stared out. If they crossed the plains it would be a lot faster. The edge of the jungle
however, would be safer.

“Knives out everyone,” Harry said, “we'll cross the plains.” Ron scowled at him and
Draco.

Hermione and the girls paused before a beautiful sight. A waterfall, only ten meters high,
poured into a large lake like pool that had a small creek flow away from it to the right.

“Do you think there's anything in it?” Ginny asked.

“I don't know,” Hermione said quietly. The water was nearly clear, they could've
probably seen straight to the bottom if the surface hadn't been so choppy from the falls.

Hermione approached the edge of it and bravely took a handful of water to her lips.

“It's freshwater!” she exclaimed. “We can fill up on water here!”

“And bathe in it,” Luna said dreamily. “I would give anything for a nice bath.”

Ginny dropped to the ground and began to take off her shoes to undress. The other two followed
suit.

“Ah!!”

“Oh my God!”

“Oh that's cold!”

The three of them had jumped in, the cool water making contact with their hot and sweaty skin
was a shock, but it was a welcome relief.

“This is great!” Ginny said as she treaded water with the other three. “We can bathe here, wash
our clothes…”

“Does anyone know how to make soap?” Luna asked.

“I don't care,” Hermione smiled. “This is better than what we've had.”

“Let's go behind the waterfall,” Ginny said.

They swam toward the waterfall, diving under and coming up on the other side of it. It was a big
letdown. There was only a smooth outcrop of the cliff, wet and slippery with the spray of the
water. The girls hoisted themselves out of the water and sat on it.

“Well, I guess I can cross off skinny dipping on some exotic island off my
Things-To-Do-Before-I-Die list,” Ginny said wryly and the other two laughed.

The mountain was a lot tougher to climb than Harry thought it would be. The four of them rested
on some smooth rocks to catch their breaths. The sun was past halfway in the sky and they would
probably have to sleep overnight on the mountain. Ron was starving and the dried fish was wearing
thin on him. He looked over and saw a shrub that had ripe red berries growing on it. His mouth
watered and he reached out and picked a few.

“No!” Neville shouted and knocked the berries out of Ron's hand.

“What did you do that for?” Ron shouted.

“There are plenty of those plants around here with these berries still on them,” Neville
explained. “We've passed them several times since this morning.”

“So?” Ron said angrily.

“So, the birds around here aren't eating them and for good reason. They're probably
poisonous,” Neville said warningly.

“It's a good guideline,” Draco spoke up. “We only eat what the animals eat.”

“Oh who asked you, Ferret?” Ron said nastily, taking his frustration out on him.

“Shut up, Weasel. You're probably so used to eating anything you could find because
you're so poor,” Draco sneered.

“Cut it out, you two,” Harry said sharply. “Draco that was uncalled for,” he scolded and Draco
glared at him while Ron smiled smugly. “And Ron, he was only trying to help. It's a good
guideline and we should stick to it.” The smug smile was wiped off his face and replaced with a
frown.

After filling the water bottles in the waterfall, the three of them headed back to the beach to
tell the others. It was only a ten minute walk through the jungle to get to the pool and Luna and
Ginny led the way while Hermione stayed behind to watch the beach. She was sitting alone by the
fire when she heard someone approach her.

“Hey there,” Terry said softly as he plopped down next to her.

“Hi,” she replied. “Why didn't you go with the others?”

“I didn't think it was safe to leave you alone.”

“I can take care of myself,” she said defiantly.

“Alright, then I did it for my own piece of mind,” Terry said and Hermione sighed. It was a
fight she wasn't going to win. “How *are* you doing?” he asked.

“Well…our ship sank, we were crowded on a lifeboat for days on end until a shark attacked us,
nearly ate me but I drowned instead. I was resuscitated in time for both lifeboats to sink leaving
us stranded on this island. I'm doing just peachy,” she said sarcastically.

Terry reached out and wrapped an arm around her, hugging her close to him. “We'll be okay,
Hermione,” he said gently. “At least we're out of the water.” Hermione looked at the jungle
spread out in front of them. She couldn't help the ominous feeling that surrounded her.

~*~

The island was larger than they thought it would be. Dense jungle covered it with patches here
and there of grassy plain. There was a small waterfall near the beach where they were staying at
and a small tidal lagoon to the west where the sun was setting. Unfortunately there were no other
signs of inhabitants on this island and their hopes sunk with the setting sun.

“Well, we have no choice but to set up camp here for the night. We'll head back in the
morning,” Harry sighed.

They began to collect some logs to burn with some dry grass. Harry said he would work on the
fire while the others readied their beds using palm fronds as mats and their packs as pillows.

Ron didn't join the others as they prepared camp. He wanted to talk to Harry and ask why his
best friend was suddenly Draco Malfoy of all people. It had hurt Ron when he took Draco's side
over his. He had been doing that on the boats as well.

He silently approached Harry who was hunched over the logs. Harry had his eyes closed and
holding two twigs in front of him. Ron opened his mouth to say something when the most amazing
thing happened. The twigs were set aflame. Harry didn't rub them together or anything that Dean
had showed him. Ron stepped away silently and hastily prepared a bed.

He didn't say a word that night. Didn't even participate in the mindless chatter that
was usually associated around a campfire. He was deep in thought over what he had just seen. He
stayed up most of the night as well when the others had drifted off to sleep. Harry stirred
restlessly on his mat. Ron sighed, he would talk to Hermione the first chance he got.

~*~

“I'm telling you, it's the truth!” he whispered to her. “I saw it with my own eyes.”

Hermione and Ron sat by themselves away from the group. Hermione got the idea to strip the palm
fronds and weave them together to make a sturdier more comfortable mat. She had been working on one
when Ron approached her shortly after the group returned.

“Are you sure?” Hermione whispered back. “I mean…are you sure you didn't just get there as
the flame started?”

“I'm telling you. He wasn't rubbing the sticks together. He had his eyes closed like he
was concentrating and then poof! Up in flames they went.”

Hermione chewed on her lower lip. “I don't know, Ron,” she said slowly. “Harry would tell us
if he could do something like that. We're his best friends.”

“Are we?” Ron asked, looking at her. “I'm not even sure about that, anymore.”

Hermione looked sadly at Ron. She knew he was talking about Harry's amicableness with Draco
Malfoy. “Ron…” she began but he stood up hastily.

“I've gotta go,” he said and walked away.

Hermione sighed and watched him go. Her gaze drifted over to Harry who was sitting with Neville
as Ginny tried to show them how to weave. It's not that she didn't believe Ron, it was just
that Harry would tell them if anything strange was happening to him.

Wouldn't he?

Thunder rumbled in the distance.

The storm didn't reach them until that afternoon, drenching the island in warm heavy rain
that sent everyone scurrying under the tarps.

“We're going to need better shelter,” Harry muttered as they huddled together.

“There were some rocky outcrops near the lagoon,” Neville said.

“Maybe there are caves there,” Dean piped up.

“Maybe…we'll head out there tomorrow,” Harry said.

“Hey!” Ron whispered fiercely. “What is that? Do you guys hear that?”

At first, all you could hear was the constant tapping of the rain falling. But suddenly, there
was a rustling coming from the jungle. The students fell silent, scared to breathe. The rustling
increased followed by a sound of grunting. Hermione's heart beat loudly in her chest. She cast
a terrified glance over at Harry who was intently watching for whatever would come out of the
forest. More rustling and grunting then suddenly dark figures ran out from the jungle onto the
beach grunting and snorting. Lavender screamed and ran out of the tent, Seamus went after her but
the other students darted out of the tent and scattered. Some went into the jungle, some ran down
the beach.

Wild pigs invaded the camp, curious to their new inhabitants. There tusks were sharp and
dangerous and they reacted to the panic that they had caused. They charged some students trampling
the tents and the supplies as they did so.

Ron pushed Luna up a tree, safe out of reach from the crazy pigs.

“Go! Go! Go!” he screamed to her as they made their ascent.

Luna climbed the best she could, frightened out of her wits, arms and legs trembling and
slipping on the already wet wood.

Harry ran down the beach chasing Hermione, his vision impaired by the hard falling rain. Other
students ran with him.

“Stop!” he shouted out at Hermione. “Hermione stop!”

The girl ahead of him stopped and turned around and Harry stopped dead. The girl wasn't
Hermione, it was some sixth year. He had lost Hermione.

Draco had followed Pansy and the other Slytherins down the opposite side of the beach only to
come to a dead end at some rocky cliffs that loomed above them.

“What do we do, Draco?” Pansy cried. “Oh, what do we do?”

Draco looked up at the cliffs. “We climb,” he said and the others obeyed.

A scream pierced the air, high and terrifying. Draco recognized it at Ginny's.

“Where are you going?” Pansy yelled at Draco as he began to climb back down. He jumped to the
ground and began to run in her direction.

“Draco!” Pansy screamed behind him.

Draco followed her screams back to camp where he saw Ginny hanging desperately from a tree. She
must have climbed it but slipped on a slippery branch, her hands clinging to the branch above her
while a pig snapped and snarled below her. Draco picked up a knife from a destroyed survival kit
and threw it at the pig. It made its mark and the pig dropped to the ground. Draco stood below
Ginny.

“It's okay!” he yelled to her. “I've got you!”

Ginny let go of the branch and she fell easily into Draco's arms. Draco put her down gently
then reached down to yank the knife from the pig.

“Come on,” he said, grabbing her hand and running into the jungle with her.

Hermione sprinted through the forest not caring if twigs scraped at her skin. She could hear the
grunts behind her. The two pigs chased her through the jungle. A stitch formed in her side and she
didn't know how much longer she could run. There was a large tree ahead of her and she sprinted
for it, trying to put some distance between herself and the animals behind her.

She reached the large trunk and tried to find some footing to boost herself up to the closest
branch. But it was too wet and her foot kept slipping. The pigs crashed through the jungle coming
closer.

“Please, oh please,” she whispered desperately as she reached and reached.

Hermione turned as the pigs crashed through the foliage and were nearly upon her when suddenly
something large came at them from the side. The pigs screamed in terror Hermione's eyes grew
large, she was too terrified to even scream. Her fight or flight response kicked in and she ran
blind with panic further into the forest. The pigs' wails of fright were silenced followed by
wet ripping sounds.

She ran and ran until the ground suddenly gave way beneath her and she slid down a muddy slope.
She landed with a thud at the bottom. She scurried under some large bushes, screening herself and
listened. There was nothing, no sound but the rain. She dared to breathe again and closed her eyes
in exhaustion.

-->



10. Dissention
--------------



Chapter Ten: Dissention

*The two boys faced each other. There was the brilliant world of hunting, tactics, fierce
exhilaration, skill; and there was the world of longing and baffled common-sense.—Lord of the
Flies, William Golding*

Deep in the jungle, Draco and Ginny climbed up a tree, its plentiful branches made the climb
easy and they settled into the canopy. The rain still fell heavily but the leafy branches above
provided enough shelter for them.

“Are you alright?” Draco asked her.

Ginny nodded. “Yes, I…I'm fine,” she shivered. “Thank you,” she said and Draco nodded.

Draco settled back into the branches and rested. He didn't know if running into the jungle
was a stupid move or not. He lost direction quickly, everything looked the same. The sky was
overcast and he couldn't see the sun to at least give a general direction. He looked back at
Ginny, her white blouse plastered to her with the pink undershirt underneath. Her nipples stood out
from the cold.

Draco quickly looked away. It was hardly time for him to be thinking such thoughts. Besides,
when they reunited with everyone, he was going to have to explain things to Pansy.

When the pigs invaded the camp, he left Pansy's side to help Ginny out. He didn't really
think about what he was doing, he only acted. He was going to have to pay for his actions soon.

“Well, it's not the most comfortable place to stay,” Draco said, gesturing to the trees,
“but at least we're out of the rain.”

“That's okay, I don't feel like being on the ground right now anyway,” Ginny said
quietly.

She began to sniffle. Draco didn't know what to do. Normally, whenever Pansy cried he just
sent her away. He couldn't do that with Ginny. He reached out and patted her awkwardly.

“Uh…it's okay…everything will be fine,” he said.

Ginny threw her arms around him. “Will it? We never seem to get a break. Ships sinking, sharks,
wild pigs and oh…who knows what is on this stupid island!”

“Hey…at least we have each other,” it was so incredibly cheesy that he couldn't believe that
it actually came out of his mouth.

Ginny looked up at him thinking the same thing.

“Well…what I meant was…uh…at least we aren't alone. There are other students here,
too…yeah.” He had to shut his mouth before he started spouting poetry or some other mindless
dribble.

Ginny moved away from him but settled in a little closer. “I hope they're okay,” she
sighed.

“Who?”

“Ron, Harry and Hermione.”

“I'm sure your brother's fine. And wherever Granger is, Potter is there with her,” Draco
rolled his eyes.

“Yes, I suppose,” Ginny said sadly thinking of their situation again.

Draco misinterpreted it. “I'm sorry. I forgot I was talking to the President of the Potter
Fan Club,” he said bitterly, jealousy bubbling within him. Scarhead was an ass.

Ginny looked at him. “Are you jealous?” she gave a hint of amusement.

“Of Scarhead?” Draco scoffed and rolled his eyes. “I don't think so. Although, you are
wasting your time. He has eyes only for Granger. Who knows why?”

“I thought you and Harry were getting along,” Ginny said.

Draco looked at her as if she had grown two heads. “I'm no fool, Ginny. There's a
difference between working together to put the odds of survival in our favor and trading chocolate
frog cards with each other. If anyone is going to keep us alive around here, it's Potter. But
we're not mates. I don't trust him as far as I can throw him and I'm sure he feels the
same way. I can put aside what he did to my father but I won't forget it.”

“And what about what your father did to him? He's a Death Eater! He had a hand in killing
the only caring family Harry had,” Ginny said fiercely.

“Oh, I'm sure Potter played the martyr to the fullest. He loves the attention,” Draco
sneered.

“You just don't get it do you?” Ginny said pityingly. “He never asked for any of this, he
never wanted any of this!”

“I wouldn't be so sure about that,” Draco said haughtily.

“His parents were murdered, his entire magical family hunted down and killed by Voldemort,”
Ginny said slowly for emphasis. “He was left at his aunt's doorstep only to be abused while
growing up. He had no idea who or what he was and when he did, Voldemort has made numerous attempts
on his life. Can't you understand what that is like?”

“I don't understand how all of you can be so freakin' blind! War is coming and many of
you side with Dumbledore who is pinning all his hopes on some bloody teenager! Do you really think
Potter can do that?” Draco said. “Are you all stupid?”

“Goodness and kindness and…love are NOT stupid,” Ginny said firmly.

“And *that* is what makes mudbloods and mudblood lovers weak,” Draco retorted.

“Weakness has nothing to do with bloodlines, Draco. Look at us now! Muggleborns and pure bloods
stranded together for days on end. Our fates have been the same. You and I weren't spared any
tragedy just because of our blood. Strip away the money and labels and you'll see we are all
the same,” Ginny said defiantly.

Her eyes were fierce with passion, her face flushed. She looked so desirable that Draco
couldn't help what he did next. His lips crashed down on hers catching her off guard and with
her defenses down. She quickly gave in to its heat and passion. Draco was instantly addicted to her
and he needed more. Begging entrance with his tongue she complied and he was rewarded with the
sweet taste of her mouth. Ginny was drowning, the passion a drug that muddled her thoughts as he
gently cradled her head. But a sliver of reality broke through and she opened her eyes.

She shoved Draco away from her and slapped him across the face.

“Asshole!” she said harshly then moved to sit farther away from him. Her cheeks were red and
flushed, her lips plump and wet from their kiss.

Draco sat back and settled into the branches a smirk on his face. His cheek stung where her hand
had made contact. Her taste was still in his mouth.

~*~

“Hermione!” Harry shouted out.

He had back tracked to the beach camp but no one was left save a few pigs who feasted on the
dried fish. He stayed well away from them. He trekked into the jungle, the only place left that she
could've gone. He was hoping that she was with someone and not by herself.

“Hermione!”

The sound of rain splattering against plant leaves was his only reply. He couldn't see very
far in front of him, the rain blurred the distance in front of him. Maybe he had gone too deep in
the jungle, the canopies blocked most of the dwindling light. He had passed fellow students who
stayed up in trees but Hermione wasn't with any of them.

The sun was beginning to set and soon he would be plunged into total darkness. Was Hermione out
there all alone? He looked around him. No one was near. Harry brought his right hand in front of
him and closed his eyes to concentrate.

A bright ball of light appeared, its beam mimicking the light of a flashlight or the Lumos
spell.

“Hermione!” he called out as he plunged into the darkness of the jungle.

~*~

The morning sun cast warmth on the few of the students who returned to the camp. They muttered
amongst themselves at the damage done by the wild pigs. The tents were all destroyed, one of the
tarps was ripped to shreds by a pig who was tangled in it, one of the blankets had the foul stench
of animal urine on it. The dried fish were all gone and one of the fishing lines was stomped into
the sand, some of the hooks were bent or broken.

Dean picked up one of the hooks that was damaged. “Nice,” he muttered sarcastically. “Bloody
fantastic.” He threw the hook back down on the sand.

Draco and Ginny emerged from the jungle, following the voices back to camp.

“Ginny!” Ron said aloud.

“Ron!” Ginny shouted and ran to her brother. He met her halfway and he hugged her hard swinging
her around. Her ex boyfriend Dean came over and said a few words and gave her a hug. A brief pang
of jealousy flashed over Draco's face.

It was a look that Pansy did not miss.

“Draco!” Pansy called out and ran to him throwing her arms around him.

He returned it half-heartedly. “Is everyone alright?” he asked as the other Slytherins joined
them.

Students trickled into the camp as the day went on. Draco was sitting with his fellow
Slytherins, checking their things, when Harry walked onto the beach. Terry jogged up to him.

“Is she with you?” he asked Harry.

“No, I was hoping she was with you,” Harry replied.

“You mean to tell me you left her alone somewhere on this island?” Terry yelled.

Harry's jaw clenched. “I didn't leave her. I've been searching for her all night.
What have you been doing?” Harry stood in front of him.

“I've been doing the same,” Terry shot back, anger in his eyes.

“Look, we all got scattered across this forsaken island,” Dean said, trying to keep the
peace.

“You're her boyfriend, Terry,” Harry snarled. “What did you do? Run like a coward when the
pigs showed up, leaving her behind to fend for herself?”

“Oh, so you can admit that we're dating when it conveniences you? Well, where were you? You
normally follow her like a lost puppy begging for attention,” Terry shot back.

The two of them made a move for each other but Ron and Draco intervened. Ron holding Harry back
while Draco took care of Terry.

“Hey, hey guys. Cool it,” Ron said.

“You're not going to find Granger by standing there fighting with each other,” Draco said.
“Our situation is bad enough as it is.”

Harry and Terry both relented. Neville angrily tossed aside a blanket.

“Look at this,” he muttered angrily gesturing around their ruined camp. “Now what are we going
to do?”

“We move to the outcrops,” Harry stated.

“In there?” Terry asked, gesturing to the jungle.

“There have got to be caves there. We need to find better shelter,” Harry persisted.

“Those outcrops are surrounded by the jungle, who knows what is in there? Besides, we don't
know if something already has made its home there, like the pigs.”

“Or worse,” Pansy piped up.

“Do you want to spend your days in the rain when we could have a stronger shelter to keep us
dry? Storms a lot worse than the one last night are going to land on this island,” Draco said.

“The camp stays on the beach,” Terry said firmly. “Better to see any rescue ships.”

“Those pigs will be back. Are we going to have to rebuild camp every single time?” Ron
asked.

Terry sighed impatiently. “Fine,” he said angrily. He stormed over to the edge of the jungle and
retrieved a small branch. He walked back to the beach and drew a line between himself and
Harry.

“Don't do this Terry,” Harry warned.

Terry ignored him and tossed the branch aside. “Those who want to go to the rocks go with Harry.
Those who want to stay on the beach stay with me.”

The students looked at each other uncertainly. No one dared speak, the only sound was the
distant roar of the waves breaking offshore and the lapping waves as they reached the beach. Harry
and Terry stared angrily at each other across the line.

Ron walked over and stood next to Harry. He was followed by Luna, Ginny, Neville, Dean, Seamus,
Lavender and Parvati. Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle stood next to Terry followed by the other Slytherins.
Most of Hufflepuff and the rest of Ravenclaw also stood next to Terry looking back pityingly at
their housemates who stood with Harry. Draco was the only one left. Pansy looked at him and
gestured for him to join her. Draco looked between her and Harry. He sighed and picked up the
branch that Terry discarded.

“If I'm going back in that jungle, I'm taking something pointy and sharp with me,” he
said and joined Harry's group.

“So,” Terry said coldly. “That's how it's going to be.”

“You divided the group. Not me,” Harry replied.

~*~

They split whatever equipment that was salvageable between the two groups including blankets.
Harry's patience was dwindling slowly. The more time it took to get everyone packed and ready
was time took away from going into the jungle to find Hermione. If they didn't find her on the
way to the rocks he was going to venture out again by himself.

Pansy approached Ginny and Luna who were at the waterfall filling the water bottles. Ginny
looked up but said nothing to acknowledge her presence and Luna only looked up in time to see Pansy
shove Ginny in the water.

“What do you think you are doing?” Luna asked angrily.

The cold water stung Ginny as she fell in it. She swam to the surface and treaded water looking
up at Luna and Pansy arguing angrily with each other.

“What did you do that for?” Ginny shouted up at her.

Pansy reached out and grabbed Ginny by her hair. “Don't you even think about taking him away
from me, you little slut,” she hissed at her.

Ginny had been reaching up to free herself from her grasp but instead she reached further and
grabbed Pansy's upper arm and pulled her into the water with her. Pansy tried to catch her
breath but it felt like the cold water was squeezing her lungs.

“You bitch!” Ginny snarled and shoved Pansy back under the water.

“No! Ginny! Pansy! Stop it!” Luna shouted.

Back on the beach, Harry, Ron and Draco heard her shouts and dropped what they were doing to run
after her. They arrived at the waterfall to see Luna wading into the water as Ginny and Pansy were
splashing around. At first, Harry thought they were just goofing off but at a closer look, Harry
could see scratches on Ginny and a bloody lip on Pansy. Ron and Draco walked into the water.

“Hey! Hey cut it out you two!” Draco shouted.

Ron pulled Ginny off of Pansy and Draco dragged Pansy to the shore. Pansy threw Draco a dirty
look and stormed back to the beach, he followed.

“What the hell is going on here?” Ron asked his sister when they reached the shore.

“Nothing, Ron,” Ginny said angrily and headed toward the camp.

Harry helped Luna out of the water as Ron went after his sister.

“Don't tell me it's nothing! You were fighting about *him* weren't you?” Ron
persisted.

“It was nothing, Ron. Just drop it,” Ginny said angrily.

“Are you forgetting what he did to your father?” Pansy said to Draco.

“This has nothing to do with that,” Draco shot back to her.

“This has everything to do with it! You sided with him!” She shrieked.

“You like him, don't you?” Ron asked his sister.

Ginny stopped and turned to look at him. “I do not!”

“Ginny,” Ron looked pleadingly at her, “he's in Slytherin!”

“Have you forgotten your loyalties?” Pansy said quietly.

“My loyalty right now is to myself. I would like to live long enough for the possibility of
getting of this blasted piece of rock!” Draco responded.

“And what about your loyalty to me?” she asked.

“What about it? You chose to stay on the beach,” he replied.

“Does it really matter right now who belongs to what house? You didn't talk to Dean the
entire time we dated and he was your roommate!” Ginny accused.

“So you *do* like him!” Ron pointed at her. Ginny sighed and rolled her eyes.

“I never said that!”

“His father nearly killed us in the Department of Mysteries, have you forgotten that?” Ron said
quietly and walked away from her. Ginny plopped down on the ground and began to cry.

“Stay with me on the beach,” Pansy pleaded, pulling him toward her and running a hand through
his hair.

“Come with me to the rocks,” Draco countered.

“And side with Potter?” Pansy laughed.

Draco stepped away from her. “This isn't about sides.”

“It's always about sides,” Pansy said. “And what would our Master say if he knew what side
you chose?”

Draco's jaw clenched. “Shut up,” he said softly.

Pansy shook her head at him in disgust. “You would've been better than your father. The
Master said so himself.” She grabbed his arm turning the underside of his forearm up. “The Mark may
not show but you know with whom your true loyalties lie. Don't forget what you pledged yourself
to be.”

Draco yanked his arm out of her grasp and walked away from her.

~*~

The sun was high in the sky when Harry's group left the beach. He led the way while the
others listened intently for any sounds that would indicate the pigs were nearby. Harry had a knife
but Ron, Draco and Neville had spears. The rain had stopped sometime last night but the afternoon
sun made the jungle hot and sweltering. The dried fish was eaten by the pigs so they had not eaten
since yesterday afternoon. Their stomachs growled with hunger.

Harry recalled the last thing Terry said to him before he left.

*“When you find Hermione, bring her back to the beach,” Terry said.*

*“I'll leave that decision for her to make,” he replied.*

Harry heard the grunt and stopped suddenly. They guys had their spears up. The pig stood alone
staring at the group, surprised that they were there. Harry and the others stepped forward, they
had caught the pig off guard and it was alone. It wasn't one of the big ones, this one was a
bit smaller and it's tusks not as long.

The pig grunted and took off for the grassy clearing. Ron and Neville looked at Harry.

“I guess we scared it off,” Harry said.

Draco threw down his pack. “He's not getting away. Boys, our meal is running away.” He
leveled his spear and took off after the pig. Neville and Ron looked at Harry who looked equally
bewildered. Delirious with the possibility of a meal with actual meat instead of fish, Ron took off
after him. Harry and Neville followed as the group stayed behind and cheered.

The mood of the group lifted considerably when the guys returned with the pig. Carrying it on a
pole, they all daydreamed about what the meal would be like.

“We've got to roast it on a fire. Turning it over and over so the juices coat it,” Dean said
dreamily. Ron stared longingly at the dead pig.

“We found some fruit we can put with it,” Parvati chimed in.

Harry slowed down and a hush fell over the group when they arrived to the rocks. It was a rocky
cliff that towered above them with boulders at the bottom. Vines covered the face and just above
the boulders the gaping mouth of a cave stood.

“This is it,” Ginny said reverently as she stood next to Harry.

“Yeah,” Harry said quietly. “This is it.”

They heard the sound of heavy breathing to the left of them. They turned to face whatever it
was, knives out and spears poised. The sound of rustling leaves and the snapping of twigs filled
the air. Suddenly, something muddy flew out at them from the jungle, knocking Harry to the
ground.

“Hermione!” he said when she lifted herself off him.

-->



11. The Island's Secrets
------------------------



Chapter Eleven: The Island's Secrets

*Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forest of the night
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?*

*In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?*

*And What shoulder, and what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? and what dread feet?*

*The Tiger—William Blake*

“A tiger?” Harry asked disbelieving.

“I think so…but it was larger than a normal tiger,” Hermione said. She had her clothes lying on
a flat rock to dry after she cleaned them the best she could. Harry had lent her his shirt to use
in the meantime. They sat together with Neville as Hermione told her story.

“It is possible Harry. I mean, we really don't know what's on this island,” Neville
said.

Harry shook his head. “I'm not doubting Hermione, it's just that…”

“I know,” Hermione finished his thought. “What else do we need right now. It makes sense. This
island is large enough for its own ecosystem and laws of the land, why should it not have a top
predator? The pigs would've overrun the island if the population wasn't controlled
somehow.”

“How did it get here?” Harry asked.

Hermione shrugged. “How did we get here?” She tested her clothes and found that they were dry.
“Time to turn around again guys,” she said and the boys complied.

“Do you think the smell of the pig roasting would attract it?” Neville asked worriedly.

“We're well protected on the rocks. We'd at least see it coming,” Harry said
confidently, inside however, he wasn't so sure. A dark look crossed his face. “We've got to
warn the others.”

“The others?” Hermione asked.

“Some of the students stayed on the beach with Terry,” Neville explained.

Hermione bit her lip and frowned. The camp was now divided.

“Everyone was given a chance to decide. It's only fair that you get that choice too,” Harry
said to Hermione.

She wrinkled her brow in thought. Both camps had their pros and cons but she already knew where
she was going to stay.

“I'll take some meat over to them tonight and warn them. No offense Harry but Terry will
most likely listen to me.” Harry's heart sank at her words, she was going back to the beach.
“I'll take Ron and Neville with me, and a spear. If we go now, we can make it back before
nightfall.”

Harry grew a smile at her words. She was staying with him after all. He turned around to say
something to her but a sharp word from her snapped his head facing forward again. Neville looked at
Harry and saw a boyish grin on his face.

~*~

Hermione emerged from the jungle with Neville and Ron at her side. She surveyed the camp before
her. It was the same but larger and a sadness filled her at that thought. The Slytherins stayed to
one side of the camp, the Hufflepuffs crowded together and the Ravenclaws flocked with Terry. He
was sitting on the beach, trying to mend a few of the fishhooks when he looked up and saw her.

“Hermione!” he said aloud, jumping to his feet and running toward her.

“We caught a pig,” she said, smiling timidly up at him. “We wanted to share with you, so…”

Terry looked at the meat as if it was poisoned.

“No…we don't need Harry's sympathy,” he said coldly and Hermione looked at him
disbelievingly.

“Terry, this is for everyone,” she said firmly.

“Is that meat?” a Hufflepuff asked and the camp gathered around her. She passed the meat to
Neville and Ron for disbursement amongst the students leaving her and Terry alone.

“Why did you divide the camp?” she asked.

“Harry wanted to move everyone to the rocks,” Terry explained.

Hermione shrugged. “So?”

“I thought the beach was best. We can see a boat from here and it's out of that blasted
jungle. Who knows what else is in there,” he shuddered.

“A tiger,” Hermione answered. “An overlarge tiger.”

“Are you serious?” Terry asked, eyes wide.

“Yes…which should give you more reason to think about moving,” Hermione said.

“No, it gives me more reason to stay on the beach and not the jungle. Cats don't like
water.”

“You need to start thinking about others,” she said firmly. “You need to find better shelter.
You shouldn't have divided us, we need to work together.”

“Then you tell Harry and the others to come back here,” Terry said stubbornly.

Hermione shook her head at him. “This isn't school, Terry. You can't just take house
points away. This group is now looking up to you to make decisions that will affect their survival.
You need to put away petty jealousy before someone else gets hurt.”

“You're right. I need to be a leader and stand firm in my decisions. I can't second
guess myself. I said to stay on the beach so we'll stay on the beach. The question now is are
you going to join me?”

“No,” Hermione shook her head.

Terry's jaw clenched. “You're going to choose *him*?”

“I'm not choosing anyone, Terry. I want to survive to get off this island and I think living
in a better shelter is the best choice. If he happens to be there too, so be it. But it's not
about taking sides.”

“It's *always* about taking sides,” Terry hissed angrily and walked away.

Hermione glared at him. “Come on guys. Let's go!” she called out to Ron and Neville.
“We're marking a trail to our camp,” Hermione said aloud to the group. “You're welcome to
join us at any time.”

Pansy stood up. “We don't need your charity and we don't care that you're marking a
trail. No one will follow it into the death trap you all are choosing to live in. Terry's the
leader, he's Head Boy and you're disgracing your title by not choosing to back him up!”

Hermione bit back a response and just shook her head as she turned to walk back to camp.

~*~

Harry woke up in the middle of the night. A light sheen of sweat covering his body and he
shivered, touching the scar on his forehead. *He* was in the dream this time. This was the
first time it had happened since the ship had sunk.

It was strange. It was like looking through a fish bowl. He was walking into a room and as soon
as he recognized the people in the room as Death Eaters, he forced himself to wake up, realizing
inside whose head he was.

It unnerved him. And he glanced warily around him. His classmates were all asleep in the cave.
His eyes fell on Draco, who was asleep by himself. The only Slytherin who sided with him. In his
dream he saw his father and Harry wondered briefly if he should tell him that his father was out of
Azkaban now.

No, he shouldn't. It would raise too many questions.

He glanced over his housemates and saw Ron asleep next to Luna, one arm draped lazily over her.
Ginny slept nearby and Hermione…

Hermione wasn't there.

A quick glance over the other students told him she wasn't in the cave. Before panic could
take a hold of him, he thought he should check outside the cave by the fire.

Stepping carefully over his classmates, he ventured outside. There she was, sitting by the fire
staring into it. She looked up at him when she heard the soft shuffle of his feet.

“Couldn't sleep?” he asked her, sitting next to her.

She sighed heavily and drew her knees to her chest.

“I don't like this, Harry,” she said quietly. “I don't like that we're divided
now.”

“Yeah, I know,” he sighed heavily. He looked at her as she looked off in the direction of the
beach. Was she regretting her decision to stay here? Did she want to go back to Terry? She looked
so beautiful by the fire that it pained him to think that way. He wanted to hold her, to comfort
and kiss her and tell her everything was going to be okay.

“I have a bad feeling about his,” she said softly.

Harry reached out to wrap an arm around her when a noise came from the jungle. The hairs on the
back of Harry's neck stood on end and he had the distinct feeling he was being watched.

Hermione nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the soft sound. She peered into the
jungle. Its darkness hiding whatever secrets lay within it. A chill went over her and she rubbed
her arms briskly.

“We should go back in,” Hermione whispered. She was afraid that the tiger was out there watching
them. She turned and walked back into the cave.

Terry watched the two of them, hidden in the leaves of the jungle. He had been watching his
Hermione by the fire. So beautiful. He wanted to step out and talk to her but then that idiot
*friend* of hers joined her. He wasn't sure that she even wanted Harry's company.
Terry boiled with anger when he saw Potter try and make a move on his girlfriend and he quickly put
a stop to it by making a small sound. It had done the trick.

“Harry,” Hermione called out to him.

Harry stood and looked out into the jungle. The feeling still there but what was he going to do.
Go in there and see what was watching him? He thought of Hermione's tiger and stepped
backward.

“Yeah, alright,” he said and followed Hermione into the cave.

Terry narrowed his eyes. Hermione had two suitors and even though Potter somehow falsely lured
her to his camp, he would find a way to bring Hermione back. He would find some way to turn her
against Potter.

~*~

Hermione held out the dried fruit to Harry. She shook them and the seeds inside made the sound
of a rattle.

“So you see,” she was saying to him, “an alarm.”

Harry smiled. “Brilliant.”

“There are loads of them out here in the jungle. Enough to make a decent fence,” Hermione
continued.

“We can cut down some of the thinner stalks and make some fence posts out of them,” Ron added.
“Maybe we can use the vines, too?”

“Good idea,” Harry nodded. “Hermione, take Luna and Parvati and gather more of these rattle
things. I'll get who I can and start working on this fence.”

Ginny stood on the shore of a beautiful small lagoon. Tall cliffs surrounded this little piece
of paradise. She heard someone come out of the jungle behind her.

“Wow,” Draco said quietly as he stepped forward. He looked around him, the lush cliffs, the
crystal blue water, the song of birds in the air. It was truly breathtaking.

“Following me, Draco?” Ginny asked with a hint of amusement in her voice. She wasn't at all
annoyed. In fact, she was a bit pleased that he had joined her. He was wearing his shorts, torn and
a bit dirty. His hands on his hips and the shirt he wore was unbuttoned, his toned chest exposed.
She bit her lower lip slightly when her eyes traveled down his chest to the slight trail of hair
just below his navel that led to below his waistline. She turned away.

“You should know better than to go wandering off by yourself,” he said still taking in the
scenery unaware that Ginny was checking him out.

“I knew you would follow,” she shrugged and Draco raised an eyebrow.

Feeling bold she began to unbutton her shirt. Draco watched as she stripped down to a bikini
that she had been wearing underneath. The red bikini. That damned red bikini that he now knew would
be his undoing.

“Coming?” she asked as she waded into the pool.

He stood on the shore, unmoving. What was he doing here? He was a Malfoy, she was a Weasley. He
was raised to look down upon them, to not think anything of them, to look upon them with disdain.
They were poor excuses for pure bloods, they were mudblood lovers and she was President of the
Scarhead Fanclub.

He looked at her in the water, red hair floating around her, creamy skin and the blurry red
image of her body in the water.

“Damn it,” he muttered to himself as he took off his shirt and shorts. Stepping into that water
with her would condemn him. And yet, he felt himself unable to stop what he was doing.

Ginny smiled triumphantly as she watched him dive into the water. “That wasn't so bad, was
it?” she asked him when he surfaced next to her.

*You have no idea,* Draco thought as he watched her go under again.

Together they explored the lagoon, its white sand and clear water. Colorful fish, some strange
looking swam with them. It was calm and peaceful and for a moment the two of them seemed to forget
about their dire situation. It felt like they were still on a vacation. They would surface and talk
about what they had seen then go under again to explore. Draco watched Ginny as she swam, her moves
graceful, her hair flowing behind her mimicking her every move. Ginny watched Draco move
effortlessly in the water, not at all being the jerk he usually was and even laughing and smiling
once in awhile. They grew bolder each moment they spent in the water, acknowledging the attraction
between them. Starting out with gentle pats on the arm to get one another's attention to an
interesting fish and moving on to “accidental” brushes against one another.

Ginny and Draco swam toward the interesting light coming from the base of one of the cliffs.
They realized as they reached it that it was a tunnel, peering into it they shared an uneasy
glance. Draco followed Ginny to the surface.

“I think we could make it to the end and back in one breath,” he said.

“We'll count thirty seconds in and if there is no air pocket we turn back,” Ginny
agreed.

Her eyes lit up with fierce boldness that sent Draco's already hot blood south. She was
unafraid and mischievous. He wanted to kiss her so badly but she had already taken her breath and
went back under, giving him a reassuring smile before she did.

As she swam into the narrow undersea tunnel, she fought the panic that began to seep in. She
wasn't claustrophobic but the tunnel felt like it was collapsing around her and the water
threatened to drown her. She kicked harder and swam faster to the royal blue light at the end of
the tunnel that came closer and closer.

Draco watched Ginny with worry as she swam ahead of him. The tunnel seemed longer than they had
thought. He hadn't been counting the seconds but he was going to grab Ginny and yank her back
if they didn't reach the end any time soon. But they did and Draco watched Ginny disappear in
front of him as she swam out of the mouth of the tunnel. He had barely come out of it himself when
he heard Ginny scream.

Ginny heard Draco burst from the water next to her and felt him put an arm around her, pulling
her behind him. She stared straight ahead and Draco swore when he saw the human skeleton in front
of him. They looked around the open cavern that was lit by a small opening above them. They stared
wide eyed and jaws dropped.

“Oh my God,” Ginny whispered.

~*~

Hermione watched from the corner of her eye as Harry worked diligently beside her on the fence.
They were sharing a knife to cut small ropes of vine to tie the seed rattles on the larger vines of
the fence. She picked up the knife and made a cut and set it back down between them then Harry
would pick it up. She had waited until he was comfortable in that routine.

She picked up the knife and cut a piece of vine then set the knife a little closer to her.
Harry, not watching reached down for the knife, stretching a bit and taking it. Hermione pursed her
lips together. She reached for the knife after Harry and set it down even more closer to her.
Again, Harry reached down not looking and searched for the knife with his hands and blindly finding
it. She picked up the knife after Harry and this time set it back down well out of his reach. She
watched as Harry reached down for it not looking and moved his hands searching for it. She bit her
lower lip in anticipation not daring to breathe, her eyes staring at the knife. *Come on. Come
on.* The knife shuddered slightly then slid across to Harry's waiting hands. He was unaware
of what he had done and kept on working as if nothing had happened.

Hermione's heart beat in her chest. Ron was right! Harry could do wandless magic! Though why
he wouldn't say anything to her or Ron about it was a bit odd. But then again, when she really
thought about it, it was pretty typical of Harry.

Harry hated to stick out from the crowd. He shunned the attention that was dumped on him. He
hadn't told them about the lessons he had been taking with Professor Lupin with the Patronus
charm. And he never really told them about what went on with the Occlumency lessons. Harry was a
powerful wizard, there was no doubt about that but Harry couldn't embrace that. He only wanted
to be like everyone else. To belong, that was all that he wanted. So it only made sense that he
would keep something like this a secret.

But for how long?

Hermione bit her lip in worry. How long would it be until everyone else on this island figured
it out? And what would happen when it did?

“Ouch!” she hissed.

She had been so absorbed in her thoughts that she wasn't paying attention to what she was
doing and caught her hand in one of the sharp thorns of the vines on the fence. Harry was at her
side in an instant.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

The wound was so small yet it bled worse than it felt.

“I-I'm fine. I just…wasn't careful,” she managed to stammer out.

Harry took her hand gently in his. “There's a creek not too far from here. You can wash up
there,” he said softly.

Hermione's breath hitched slightly. He was standing so close to her and she wasn't
moving away from him. She looked up at him, wanting desperately to lose herself in those lovely
green eyes of his. Wanting desperately to kiss those lips again and feel his arms around her. She
wanted to feel all of him around her, to breathe him in, to take him inside her again.

But she wouldn't.

She wouldn't ruin their now precarious friendship that was a result of her behavior last
time. No, she wouldn't do that to him.

Harry looked into her eyes and saw the familiar darkening that signaled the more than friends
feeling they held. Harry was sure his own eyes mirrored those thoughts. He was silently urging the
fire that burned behind them, wanting Hermione to give in. Pleading for her to drop her defenses
and let him consume her. He had seen her look at him like that on the night she had given herself
to him. The night he had foolishly let her walk out the door. The night that felt had dealt them
this awful hand.

He saw the fire behind her eyes begin to recede as she blinked and looked at him. Gazing on him
again as a friend. She extricated her hand from his and looked at it, examining the minor
injury.

“Yeah, I probably should. I can't believe it's bleeding so much!” she said
impassively.

The moment was gone and Harry had to reluctantly return to reality.

“It doesn't hurt, does it?” he asked.

Hermione shook her head. “No, it--.” She stopped suddenly and looked up at Harry. He stood still
as a statue. He heard it too.

It was only a slight sound, a small exhaled breath. The two of them looked at each other wide
eyed and hearts pounding as they slowly turned to face the fence.

It was watching them with amber colored eyes, looking from him to Hermione and back. Its massive
head reached the height of Hermione's shoulder. She was wrong. This wasn't the overlarge
tiger that Hermione had described to him. It was a fucking horse-sized one. It was so close to them
that Harry could have reached out and easily touched it. Not that he was going to test that theory
out.

The tiger looked at the two of them with what Harry could swear was an amused look on its face.
It bent its head down and sniffed the fence then looked up at Hermione quizzically. It sat down and
cocked its head to the side then it reached out with one of its massive paws touching the fence.
Its ears twitched when it heard the rattles but it didn't run away or hiss, it just sat there.
Its paw pressed down on one of the posts of the fence and Harry and Hermione jumped back as the
fence was easily knocked down. The tiger still sat there unflinching, looking pityingly at the
ruined fence. Finally, it sighed and lazily got back on all fours and calmly walked away.

Hermione let out the breath she had been holding. Harry turned to look at her, bewilderment all
over his face.

“An overlarge tiger?” he said lightly accusing to her.

“Well, it is bigger than normal,” Hermione defended.

Harry shook his head and walked over to the ruined fence.

~*~

Draco hoisted himself onto a rocky ledge then reached down to help Ginny out of the water. He
had never seen this much gold and jewels in his life. Even his parents' vault at Gringott's
looked skimpy compared to this.

“I don't believe it,” Ginny whispered.

Gold coins were heaped in small mounds in front of them, jewels and other precious metals mixed
in. Wooden chests floated among them and the lone skeleton sat there in front of it all. A ghostly
guard. Or maybe not, Draco could see the sword that pierced its chest. He fingered the hilt
delicately. Ginny bent down and picked up some of the gold and letting it fall back to the ground
through her fingers. Draco stepped forward and opened up a chest. It was filled with gold and
silver goblets encrusted with jewels. Ginny opened another and found it filled with what once must
have been fine clothing. The white lace material of a dress had now turned yellow. She brushed it
aside then gasped with delight when she saw the robe underneath. She pulled it out and carefully
unfurled it. It was wrinkled badly but the color still held. A red robe made of silk and with funny
little symbols on it that she recognized from somewhere in the orient. Draco scrambled up a mound
and retrieved a small gold dagger, diamonds in its hilt. He opened up a smaller wooden box and
found it full of women's jewelry.

“Hey Ginny, check this out,” he called out and looked over his shoulder.

His breath caught in his throat and his blood rushed to his loins. She stood there wearing a red
silk robe. It was untied and revealed the red bikini she was wearing underneath it. She walked over
to him and knelt next to him.

“What is it?” she asked then gasped when she saw the jewelry. She reached out and picked up a
pearl necklace that had a large sapphire gem dangling from it. She moved to put it on her but Draco
stopped her.

“This one's better,” he said quietly holding another necklace.

Ginny stared at it. A fine silver chain suspended a jeweled flower. Its petals were diamonds and
the center was an emerald. She looked up at Draco, her breath hitching at the intense look in his
eyes.

“Put it on me,” she whispered.

Draco swallowed as Ginny swiveled on her knees, her back to him and her hands gathering her hair
out of his way. He clasped the necklace on her, the flower coming to rest between her breasts.
Ginny picked it up and examined it. She closed her eyes and let out a sigh when she felt his lips
on her neck. She leaned back against him and bit her lip as she felt him slowly undo the knot at
the back of her neck that held up her top. She turned to boldly face him, reaching behind to undo
the rest of the top. He reached forward and she could see his hand trembling as he took of the top
exposing her breasts to him.

He was afraid. He had long since abandoned the part of him that screamed that she was worthless.
She was beautiful and he was terrified that she would put an end to this with one word…Stop.
Because he would stop, for her, he would stop. He had been holding back for so long, denying his
blossoming feelings for her. But now, he wanted to give in, to be at her mercy and lose himself in
her.

Her mouth was hot and ready and he was delirious with pleasure when she kissed him fiercely. He
matched her passion and knew that her lips would be bruised but he was crazy with desire and it
only heightened when she pulled him down on her. She felt wonderful underneath him as they
feverishly explored one anothers bodies. She gasped sharply as he took her maidenhood and for the
first time he was truly sorry that he had hurt her in any way.

Ginny wasn't ready for the pain when he broke through her but he stilled himself and
whispered apologies in her ear as he kissed her softly. He was gentle with her and she lost herself
in the feeling of his arms around her, the smell of their passion and the intense grey of his eyes.
The burning sensation of her stretching to his every thrust began to be coupled with a pleasurable
tension that continually coiled until she gripped his shoulders and gasped out his name.

Satiated they lay in each others arms until the light began to dim overhead. It was time for
them to go back. A sadness filled Ginny as she made her way back through the tunnel. They had taken
nothing back with them. Draco had silently thought to himself that he already found the treasure
that he wanted. They swam to the shores of the lagoon and stepped out of the waves. The jungle
loomed before them. Draco felt as if he were waking from a dream, the water dripped from his body
as if he had been cleansed of it. He looked at Ginny.

“We tell no one about the place?” he asked.

Ginny shook her head in agreement. It was sacred to them now. “No one.”

She made her way back to camp first, Draco would follow shortly. He could no longer deny his
attraction to Ginny. But he was well aware of what Ron would think of it and possibly Harry. He
watched her disappear into the jungle and wondered if he was, in fact, damning himself.

-->



12. Adversary
-------------



Chapter Twelve: Adversary

*“It's Lord of the Flies time.”—Sawyer, Lost*

Hermione walked toward the beach camp when the sun was high in the afternoon sky.

“Halt! Who goes there?” she recognized the rough voice of Crabbe, a spear pointed into her
face.

“Would you be careful!” she scolded. “It's me, Hermione.”

Crabbe narrowed his eyes and lifted his spear, motioning for her to continue on. She rolled her
eyes and continued on to the beach. She began to hear the sounds of her classmates chattering away
and Hermione could see that they were constructing their own fence.

“Terry,” she called out in greeting as she approached him.

He was talking to a couple of Ravenclaw boys, giving them last minute instructions before taking
their leave.

“Hello, Hermione,” he said cheerfully.

“What is all this?” Hermione laughed, holding a hand to her forehead to shield her eyes from the
sun.

“Isn't it great?” he asked, placing a hand on the small of her back and leading her forward.
“We've been at it for a couple of weeks now.”

Using the trees at the edge of the beach, Terry and the others had constructed what could best
be described as tree houses.

“We're going to build bridges next, to connect them,” Terry explained.

“Wow!” Hermione said, impressed.

“Come on. I'll give you a tour.”

Terry went on to explain the rough details. They had found a way to keep themselves safe from
the pigs that raided nearly every night by moving their campsites in the trees. Narrow, well placed
trunks could be lashed together to make a decent but uncomfortable floor. They were also building a
fence around the place, similar to the one they had by the rocks.

“You know, Crabbe nearly stabbed me as I walked in,” she said dryly.

“He gets over-zealous about his guarding post. Always forgetting who's okay to let in,”
Terry explained.

Hermione looked at him. “What do you mean, who to let in? Everyone can come and go as they
please, right?”

Terry frowned slightly and shifted uncomfortably. “Oh, of course. I just meant that he has to
remember to watch out for pigs and tigers and who else knows what's out there.”

Hermione gave him a scrutinizing look. “I just want to make sure that that fence is there for
purposes of protection. NOT to keep people away.”

“Of course, Hermione,” Terry said soothingly. He put his arm around her. “I'm glad you
came,” he said quietly.

Hermione sighed and stepped away from him. “Terry…there's something…I need to be honest
here…,” she shook her head in frustration. “We need to talk.”

Terry froze. That phrase coming from Hermione was usually followed by unpleasant news.

“Okay,” he said. “But first we eat. Dinner will be coming up soon. We can talk after that.”

Hermione chewed her lip in thought and looked back at the path to the camp by the rocks. She had
told Ginny where she was going and that she might be awhile. There was a possibility that she would
not return to the camp until the next morning. But she had to talk to Terry. It was important.

~*~

Draco sat by the fire watching Ginny across the way. Once in awhile they would look up and catch
each others eyes. They hadn't gone back to the lagoon since the first time but the days had
gone by with stolen kiss and hidden touches. She smiled slightly at him but it was quickly hidden
as Harry approached her.

“Hey, have you seen Hermione?” he asked her and Draco looked up in interest.

Ginny shared a look with Luna who was next to her. “She's at the beach,” Ginny said
passively.

Draco watched Harry's expression darken and rolled his eyes. Potter could sometimes be too
predictable.

“At the beach?” he asked. “This late? Did she take someone with her?”

“No…she went by herself. She said she needed to talk to Terry,” Ginny said.

“Damn it. She knows better than to go walking through the jungle at night,” Harry grumbled.

Ginny chose her words very carefully. “She wasn't planning on returning…tonight.”

Harry tilted his head to the side, taking in her meaning. Draco smirked.

“I see,” Harry said curtly and walked away.

Ginny sighed heavily and much to Draco's dismay, followed Harry.

“Harry, stop,” she called after him. Harry reluctantly stopped and turned around.

“Yes?” he asked.

“It's not like that, Harry. She only went over to talk with him,” Ginny explained.

“Talk?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered.

“This late in the day? And planning to stay the night with him?”

Ginny shrugged. “Maybe it was a last minute thing? She told me just before she left.”

Harry shook his head. “I'm not naïve, Ginny. He is her boyfriend.” Harry turned and walked
away and Ginny sighed heavily.

That night, Draco didn't sleep well. He stared up at the ceiling of the cave and listened to
the soft snores of his fellow campers. A familiar feeling began seeping into him again. Jealousy of
the Boy Who Lived. Why? He rolled on his stomach and looked over at Ginny who was sleeping soundly.
He wondered if she still harbored some feelings for Potter. And with Granger seeming to take
herself out of the picture, would Potter act on Ginny's feelings? He didn't like this
thought. He never before had to compete for a girl's attention, it was always just so easy for
him. But once again, he found himself a rival in Potter. He laughed to himself, some things really
do never change no matter where you are.

A small commotion on the other side of the room caught his attention. Harry was moving
restlessly in his sleep and muttering.

Ron was sleeping comfortably until Harry's stirrings and mutterings woke him.

“He's here…..He's alive,” Harry was muttering in his sleep.

“Harry?” he asked but Harry still was asleep.

“No…no,” he murmured. “Where are you? He's alive! He's alive!!!”

Harry sat up and screamed, clutching his forehead. Everyone shot up from their sleep, confused
and scared at the commotion Harry was making. Ron pinned a wrestling Harry to the ground.

“Help me!” he shouted.

Neville, Dean and Seamus assisted Ron in controlling Harry. Ginny sat up, hands covering her
mouth in horror.

“It can't be happening!” she said. “Not here!”

“Where's Hermione?” Ron shouted out. “Sorry, mate,” he said to Harry then slapped him hard
on the face to wake him up.

It had done the trick and Harry opened his eyes, his breathing was hard and fast. Sweat covered
his forehead and his scar ached dully. One look at Ron and he knew what happened.

Ginny scooted forward and laid a gentle hand on his forehead. “It's okay now, Harry.
You're okay.”

Harry lay there at the brink of hyperventilation. No, everything was NOT okay. He struggled to
get up and Ron helped him. With his help, Harry made his way past his classmates to sit outside by
the fire. Ron stayed with him.

“Everything's okay, everyone,” Neville said aloud. “Harry's just had a nightmare. We all
have them, but he's fine. Everything's okay.”

His classmates murmured and settled back down. Draco's heart was pounding in his chest. He
heard Harry before they woke him up and that wasn't Harry's voice that was coming out of
his mouth. He'd recognize that voice anywhere. The voice of Lord Voldemort.

Outside of the cave, Harry shivered despite the warmth of the fire. Ron looked at his friend
worriedly.

“You alright, mate?” he asked, knowing it was dumb question.

“No,” Harry muttered softly.

“Haven't had one of those in awhile, have you?” he asked and Harry looked up at him darkly.
A moment of silence came over them until Harry decided to break it.

“I think I know what may have started them,” he said quietly.

“You've had more than one?” Ron asked, raising his eyebrows.

Harry nodded and continued on. “I think it started when the shark…went after Hermione and…”

“I know,” Ron cut him off. “I saw you when we hiked the mountain. You didn't even have to
use a wand.”

Harry looked at Ron surprised and a bit apologetic. “You knew?” Ron nodded. “Does anyone else
know?”

“Hermione,” he said softly. He heard Harry softly sigh. “We haven't told anyone. You're
still our best mate.”

Harry looked off into the jungle toward the beach. “Yeah, I know,” he said softly.

Ron looked at his friend. “Since we're being so honest with each other…are you going to tell
me what's going on between you and Hermione?”

Harry picked up a random pebble and began to play with it. “Nothing's going on between us,”
he said plainly. It was the truth. Nothing was going on between the two of them.

Ron scrutinized his friend. “I guess that's the problem?” he asked. Harry didn't answer.
Ron sighed and leaned back on his elbows. “For being so brilliant in school, she isn't so smart
when it comes to life sometimes. But she'll come to her senses, don't worry mate.”

Harry didn't bother telling him that he had blown it big time when he let her walk out of
his room. Ron was still talking and he forced himself to listen.

“I mean, I really don't see what she sees in him,” he was saying. “There's just
something about him…I can't quite put my finger on it.”

“Can't remember still?” Harry asked. Ron had no memory of the blast that sunk their boat.
But he had said that just before the explosion, Hermione had found him and Terry in the library
beating the crap out of each other.

“It's so frustrating! It's out there, just beyond my reach but it's there,” Ron
said.

They stayed up and talked some more until Ron fell asleep outside with him. Harry had no
intention of going back to sleep and he wasn't tired. He kept watch over the cave all
night.

~*~

Hermione and Terry sat on the beach next to a fire. The conversation was difficult.

“Terry…I don't think we should see each other anymore. I mean, yes, we will see each other
but…I don't think we should be…dating each other.” It came out lame and pathetic but it was the
best she could do right now.

Terry took in a deep breath. “Why?” he asked.

“Well for one thing, this really isn't the ideal setting to harbor any sort of those
feelings,” she said. It was a blatant lie. She was very capable of harboring lustful feelings, just
not for her boyfriend. “But most important…I don't feel that way for you, anymore.” That was
hard to get out. It was difficult hurting someone you cared about.

Terry let out a small laugh. “You'd think a tropical island would be perfect for romance.
But I guess if the feelings aren't there…”

“I'm sorry, Terry,” she said softly. They sat in silence.

“I want you to tell me the truth, Hermione. No lies!” he said fiercely. “You can at least give
me that.”

“Of course,” Hermione said.

“Is it because of him?” he asked.

“Who?” she asked, knowing full well who he was talking about.

Terry scoffed. “Don't mock me, Hermione.”

“No,” she answered. It was the truth. This had nothing to do with Harry, this was between her
and Terry. But she doubted he would believe her anyway.

Terry looked out at the sea thinking back on a conversation he had with Harry.

*“Do you love her?” he asked Harry. Harry closed his eyes and sighed. “I love her, too,” Terry
sighed. “I would do anything for her. Does that sound crazy?”*

*“No…no, it doesn't,” Harry answered.*

“Did…did you ever fool around with him while we were dating?” he asked and Hermione looked at
him. “Be honest.”

Hermione looked back at the sea, it seemed like it happened so long ago.

“Yes,” she answered quietly and she heard Terry exhale sharply. “But he made it very clear
afterward that he wanted only to be friends.”

Terry wondered how clear he had made that to Hermione considering he told him that he loved her.
Terry was afraid to ask the next question but he did it anyway.

“Did you sleep with him?” he asked softly.

Hermione closed her eyes. “Yes,” she whispered.

It was more than he could bear and he stood up. “Damn you, Hermione,” he said then marched back
to his tree.

Hermione stayed behind, covering her mouth with her hands and letting the tears fall. It had
hurt her more than Terry could possibly know to admit to what she and Harry had done. Kept between
the two of them, she could almost pretend it didn't happen. That it had been a weird dream that
she and Harry had shared. But now admitting it to someone on the outside made it a reality.

She didn't want to stay on the beach anymore but it was dark and the path back to the rocks
was obscured. But she headed that way anyway, tears blurring her vision, sadness muddling her
thoughts. What if she ran into the pigs on the way back? She didn't care. And the tiger? Maybe
his killing would be swift. She doubted she would feel a thing she was so numb with pain.

She could hear the distant sounds of the waterfall and headed in that direction. She came upon
its mouth and looking down she could see the moon sparkling off the top of the choppy waters. She
slumped down on one of the rocks and sobbed. What she really needed was a good cry.

She cried for her and Harry and what they had lost. She didn't have time to cry for it
before with all that had happened but maybe after this she would be able to move on. A sound behind
her caught her attention and she turned.

It stared at her, its eyes glowing. She stood and faced it.

“If you're going to kill me,” she said. “Do it now.”

The tiger bared its teeth and let out a low growl. Hermione met its eyes. “Do it!” she demanded,
crazy with adrenaline.

The tiger lunged forward and Hermione realized at the last second that maybe this was a horrible
idea after all. He swatted at her carelessly and she was thrown to the ground, surprised at the
sheer power of it. He was playing with her like a cat with a mouse. She scrambled to her feet and
grabbed the nearest thing to her, a long branch. She held it out in front of her. The tiger hissed
and growled at her and swatted. Its paw tearing the branch from her hands. Hermione swallowed and
looked at the dangerous cat. She felt a warm wetness on her head, she must have hit it and cut it.
It paced in front of her and she walked calmly in front of it. The cat stared at her then ran at a
full sprint at her. She was going to die, she knew it. But at the last second and idea came to her
and she ran into the river. The tiger leapt at her, claws out and jaws wide and Hermione ducked.
The tiger realized his mistake and snarled in disapproval. She had stood at the head of the
waterfall and it tumbled over the edge. But it barely missed her, its hind paws hit her shoulder,
its claw scratching and the force of it knocked Hermione over the edge with him.

Down, down they went until they splashed into the cool pool below. Her lungs compacted and she
scrambled to the surface for air. The water was cold and choppy and her shoulder ached but she
managed to swim to the slippery rocks on the side. She hauled her body out of the water, grateful
to be alive. She lay on her back exhausted but fear gripped her and she turned to see the fate of
the tiger.

It had surfaced and was splashing in the middle of the pool. Hermione realized that the tiger
had no idea where to get out. It swam to a side and tried its grip on the rocks but its claws
scraped helplessly on their stony surfaces and it slid back into the water. Hermione met its eyes
and recognized the look in its eyes. The panic of death. The same look she had when the shark had
come at her. She could watch it die. She could. It would be one less predator on this island.

But she couldn't.

She looked around her and luckily found a dead tree trunk lying nearby. She ran to it but it was
too heavy to lift. But she could roll it. She got down on the ground and pushed on it, ignoring the
pain in her shoulder, ignoring the splinters she would have in her hands. But the trunk
miraculously gave and slowly she rolled it to the edge of the pool.

The tiger was still alive and swam to Hermione.

“You've got to be quick,” she called out to it, breathless.

She could roll the log to the edge of the pool, teetering it like a see saw. She could give the
tiger a chance. She wasn't sure how deep the pool was, but the trunk had to be long enough to
give the tiger something to grip on, if only for a split second, to jump out of the water.

With a grunt of exhaustion, she gave one final push on the log. It began to tilt and with one
final shove it slid into the water. It was all the tiger needed. Hermione stumbled and tripped on
the stone landing on her stomach but not before she saw the massive shape spring out of the water
and over her.

She rolled onto her back. Her stomach sick with excitement but she was too tired to move. If the
tiger came after her, she had no energy to run. But she heard it, it was nearby and she could hear
its panting. The soft pads were nearly silent as he made his way to her. Hermione braced herself
for the bite but instead she felt him nuzzle her hand. Tears sprang to her eyes when she heard a
loud rumble and realized that it was him, purring. He lay his massive body down next to hers and
Hermione buried her hands in his thick fur. She closed her eyes in exhaustion.

~*~

The sky was purple with dawn when she made her way back to the rocks.

“Hermione!” Ron called out when she emerged from the jungle.

Harry stood up as well. His expression had been blank and detached. She looked terrible, her
eyes were puffy, her hair looked a mess and was that blood on her? Ron jumped down to greet her and
Harry followed.

“What happened to you?” he asked, looking at her head where dried blood had matted some of her
hair and was crusted to her face.

“Oh Ron!” Hermione sobbed, wrapping her arms around him.

Bewildered, he looked back at Harry. Normally, this was his job. Hermione hissed when Ron's
arms went around her and he quickly stepped away from her, holding her at arms length. He turned
Hermione around and saw her shirt ripped and stained dark with blood. Harry's face etched with
concern when he met Ron's gaze.

“Hermione?” Ron asked, hastily unbuttoning her shirt. He turned her around and pulled the shirt
down her shoulder revealing the tiger's shallow claw marks. Harry's eyes widened.

Harry briskly walked up to her. “Hermione,” he whispered softly. He held a hand up to trace the
cut but his fingers stopped a breadth away from her skin. He slowly drew his hand back. He
didn't dare touch her bare skin again.

By this time, Ginny and Luna had awoken and had made their way out of the cave.

“Hermione!” they shouted.

At seeing her friends, Hermione burst out into tears.

“Oh, Hermione! What happened?” Ginny asked fretfully. Hermione collapsed in their arms, sobbing
as they took her away.

“We'll take care of her,” Luna said to the two young men.

Harry sat silently with Ron and Dean, chewing slowly on a piece of fruit, deep in thought.
Hermione was damn lucky to get out of whatever scrape she had gotten into with the tiger. That
tiger was dangerous and something needed to be done before it started to pick them off one by one.
He wondered if he could pull something similar to the Avada Kedavra out of his sleeve. But, no, he
was afraid to do magic right now. Every time he did it, he felt as if he was strengthening the
channel between him and Voldemort and he didn't want it to get any stronger than it was.

The arrival of Ginny and Luna yanked him out of his thoughts.

“How is she?” he asked. Ginny and Luna shared a brief glance at each other.

“She's fine. She's asleep right now,” Ginny answered.

Harry's jaw tightened. He recognized the way Ginny and Luna had looked at each other. It was
the way people had looked at him at Hogwarts whenever a news article was printed out about him.
They way people would look at him when they knew something about him that he didn't know
himself yet. Dumbledore looked at him like that a lot.

A sharp nudge from Ron ripped Harry's attention away from the secretive girls and to the
jungle. Terry was storming toward their camp, anger flashing in his eyes. Harry's gaze
flickered over to Ginny and Luna who were deliberately not looking at him as if they had already
seen this coming. Harry rose to his feet.

“Terry,” Harry said politely, “is everything—“

CRACK!!

Harry had not been expecting him to storm over and punch him in the face. It was a hard punch to
his jaw that sent him sprawling to the ground. Harry immediately knew what happened. Terry loomed
over him, his face red and he could see just a hint of tears in his eyes. Ron and Dean made a move
for Terry but Harry held up a hand, motioning for them to stay back.

“She told me!” Terry's voice was hoarse with anger and anguish. “She told me everything!”
Harry slowly got to his feet. “Do you deny it?”

Harry rubbed his jaw that would surely bruise. “If you're looking for an apology, you're
not going to get it.”

Terry moved in close to Harry, his eyes glaring with hate. “She was mine,” he said so quietly
that no one else heard.

Harry's eyes blazed with anger and he matched his hateful gaze. “Was she?” he hissed
back.

Terry's jaw clenched in anger and he turned wordlessly and stormed back to the beach. Harry
felt everyone's eyes on him, wondering what in the hell that was about. Harry didn't feel
like explaining anything so he left without saying anything into the jungle.

-->



13. Predator and Prey
---------------------



Chapter Thirteen: Predator and Prey

*The female lion is at risk when a new male takes over and establishes dominance in the pride.
He will try to kill her cubs while the female will do what she can to keep them alive. This often
pits the female against the male during this change.*

Terry and Pansy sat hidden in the jungle by the lagoon watching Draco and Ginny disappear
underneath the water. Terry felt bad for Pansy, he didn't like Draco and he didn't condone
his behavior. Pansy watched them, her lips pressed tightly together, restraining from the tirade of
obscenities that she wanted to scream at her boyfriend…no ex-boyfriend.

“Come on,” Terry whispered. “I think it's safe to follow.”

He led Pansy and another Slytherin into the water, swimming out to where Ginny and Draco had
disappeared. Ducking underwater, they found the mouth of the cave and swam through following
Terry's lead.

Silently he made his way to the surface, barely making a noise as he lifted his head out of the
water. He saw piles of gold and jewels in front of him, a literal treasure trove. He also spied the
youngest Weasley and Draco in a very compromising position, lucky for him they were too busy with
each other to notice him.

Pansy surfaced next to him and he covered her mouth with his hand, a finger to his lips in a
gesture of silence before she could shriek out their presence. The other Slytherin stared wide-eyed
at the treasure. Silently, they ducked back under water and swam out of the cave.

“That no good dirty little…” Pansy ranted and raved when they surfaced in the lagoon. “I will
KILL him. I swear I will make him pay. Wait until I get a hold of him…”

“No,” Terry said quietly. “No, we don't say a thing about what we saw here.”

Pansy stared at him indignantly. “You expect me to just…keep my mouth shut?!”

“Yes, I do,” he said harshly, rounding on her. She stared back at him open mouthed. “We have a
nice piece of information on our hands here. Those two would love to keep what they are doing a
secret from certain parties. And Draco has secrets of his own to keep,” he finished softly.

Pansy looked away guiltily. Only a select few knew about Draco's pledge to become a Death
Eater. It certainly would be nice to hold that over his head, threaten to tell Potter of his little
secret. Terry had a far off look on his face. Draco had masterminded the plot to break up Hermione
and Harry by planting a naked Ginny in Harry's bed. What lengths would he go to keep that
little piece of information from Miss Weasley's ears? Yes, Terry and Pansy definitely had
Malfoy by the balls.

~*~

The afternoon sun pounded down mercilessly on the island and they were now beginning to feel the
muggy heat. The distant rumble of storm clouds threatened to approach the island from offshore.
Hermione made her way through the jungle following the racket that was being made. She found Harry,
sweaty and shirtless, hacking away at some of the trees. She bit her lower lip as she watched his
lithe muscles move underneath his tanned skin.

“Yes?” he asked, breaking through her lustful thoughts.

Hermione shook herself and gained her composure quickly. “Are you alright? Ron told me what
happened this morning.”

“He punches like a girl,” he answered nonchalantly. He was lying, the punch had hurt.

Hermione let out a little laugh. “He piqued everyone's curiosity.”

Harry threw down a palm frond. “Did you tell everyone, too?” he said bitterly.

Hermione was taken aback and her guard was put up. “No,” she answered coolly, “I didn't.”
Harry seemed to ignore her and continued hacking away. “You know, I don't understand why you
are so mad. He had a right to know.”

“Did he?” Harry asked shortly.

“Harry…we slept together,” she said patronizingly.

Harry threw down another frond. “Yeah? Well, if I can recall, I gave you ample time to change
your mind.” He was sorry he had said this the minute the words left his lips. Hermione looked at
him as if she had been slapped.

“I'm sorry,” Hermione said bitingly. “I forgot that it was such a painful memory for you.”
Harry didn't say anything to this, he was too angry at her and at himself. She shook her head
in disgust. “You are such a jerk.”

“Why are you acting like a victim of circumstance in all of this? *You* were the one who
came to *me*,” Harry said quietly.

“I'm *very* well aware of that fact, Harry,” Hermione replied as she turned to head
back to the rocks.

Harry shook his head angrily when she left him. He was washing his hands of her. He was tired of
being on the receiving end of any fallout between her and Terry. Harry knew that Hermione's
true feelings for him had manifested themselves that night and now she was blatantly denying them.
He was sick of her hiding behind Terry and he was tired of watching her battle with those demons
unyielding. She was acting like a silly little child who couldn't make up her mind whether she
wanted a pony or a puppy for her birthday. He was through with her. This morning had been the last
straw.

~*~

Harry held the bloody piece of raw meat up as Dean tied a string around it. Draco, Seamus, Ron
and Neville all stood around him.

“So I'll set this out tonight. If we're lucky, the tiger will fall for it and we'll
be rid of it as soon as possible,” Harry announced.

“What are you doing?” Hermione asked, storming over to the group of boys.

“We're setting our trap,” Harry answered defiantly. Hermione met his leveled gaze.

“I forbid it,” she said quietly.

Harry narrowed his eyes at her. “The tiger is dangerous, Hermione. It attacked you, it could
attack any one of us.”

“Leave it alone, Harry,” she demanded.

“No,” he retorted and walked away from her. She followed him.

“You are just going to provoke it and make it angry,” she said.

He rounded on her. “I don't know how much clearer I can make it to you, Hermione. There. Is.
A. Tiger out there. A very big one that can reduce all of us to a pile of blood and guts and I for
one, do not intend to be on the menu.”

“He won't bother us if we don't bother him,” Hermione replied.

“And how do you know this?” he asked.

“I…I just know, okay?” she said abashedly.

“I'm not ready to put lives at stake because of your gut feeling,” he said.

“Just like fifth year?” she called after him. It was a low blow and she knew it but all she
could think of doing right now was hurt him in some way for insulting her.

Harry looked back and her, eyes narrowed then he shook his head and made his way into the
jungle. Ron approached Hermione.

“That was a real bitchy thing to do, Hermione,” he said to her then made his way after
Harry.

Hermione hung her head and sighed. She hadn't meant to lash out at him like that but ever
since the morning after she broke up with Terry, she and Harry had been sniping at each other and
it was beginning to wear on her.

Frustrated, Harry set to work on setting the trap. He knew Hermione hadn't meant that
comment but the fighting between the two of them over the past few days was beginning to try his
temperament with her. But he guiltily admitted that he purposely started some fights just to get
her riled up. Then he would see the anger flash behind her eyes, a dangerous glint that glossed
over the underlying sexual tension that fueled that animosity. They would glare at each other
mentally undressing one another; make snide remarks that had the undertones of whispered lust;
sometimes he didn't know whether he wanted to throttle her or kiss her senseless or perhaps
both.

That night, Hermione snuck out of the cave and into the jungle, the moonlight illuminating her
way. She approached the trap and sprung it, jumping out of the way of the sudden action.

“What do you think you're doing?” a voice whispered in the dark.

Hermione spun around and was face to face with Draco. “What does it look like I'm
doing?”

“Tsk, tsk. Potter's going to be very angry when I tell him what you've done,” he said,
smirking.

Hermione met his challenge. “Go ahead,” she said plainly as she unhooked the meat and tossed it
aside.

“No, I won't. Well, the verbal lashing would be fun to witness but it's really growing
tiresome. Do the rest of us a favor and just shag the poor guy?”

“Like you're shagging Ginny?” she asked. Draco's face stilled the smirk wiped off his
face.

“Hold your tongue, mudblood,” he whispered fiercely.

Hermione smiled indulgently. “Relax, Malfoy, I'm not stupid enough to tell Ron or Harry,
although I do hate keeping things from them. You're lucky that my loyalties lie with Ginny in
these matters.”

“Why are you protecting the tiger?” he asked.

“Why do you sleep outside the cave?” she countered.

“Quid pro quo?” he asked. She eyed him cautiously.

“I saved the tiger's life. Since then, he hasn't tried to attack.”

“The scratches on your back are from its claws.”

“Battle wounds,” she answered. “Now, why are you not sleeping with the rest of us?”

“The other night, Potter had a nightmare and he…Well, let's just say he wasn't himself,”
he answered grimly.

“How so?” she asked.

“You can probably figure it out,” he said dryly. “That's all I've got to say on that
subject.” He turned and headed back to camp but stopped and turned back to her. “Coming?” he
asked.

She followed him. “That necklace that Ginny has,” she said and Draco stopped walking. “Where did
she get it?”

“I gave it to her,” he answered.

“And where did you get it?” He shrugged and continued on his way.

They made their way back to the camp but Draco stopped her just at the fence. “I'm surprised
you haven't asked me,” he said.

“Asked you what?” she asked.

“Why I'm not telling Potter?”

“I assume it's because you want to be a jerk about it and taunt me with this for as long as
you can,” she sighed.

Draco smiled. “Well yeah there's that. But, I'm doing myself a favor by getting Potter
of out my hair.”

Hermione crossed her arms. “Ginny doesn't like him in that way.”

“All the same, it buys me insurance. I know for a fact that Potter is full awake in that cave
and is watching this little interaction with much interest.”

Hermione fought the urge to look in that direction. She shrugged.

“So, what does this have to do with me?”

He smiled coyly at her and took her hand in his. “Don't play dumb, Granger. Don't you
know the way to a man's heart is through his ego?” He kissed the back of her hand then walked
away from her.

Hermione rolled her eyes and made her way into the cave. She could feel Harry's penetrating
gaze burn through her. She settled into her sleeping mat and caught Ginny's eye. She had a
playful, knowing look on her face. Hermione frowned at her and turned on her side to face away from
her.

~*~

Harry was in a pissy mood the next day. He stormed over to Hermione who was gathering some
fruits. They were alone.

“You did it, didn't you?” he snarled.

Hermione sighed lazily. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

“The trap,” he said briskly. “You sprung the trap. Do you know how long it takes to set it
up?”

“Maybe your trap sucks,” she said calmly.

“Whatever,” Harry muttered angrily and walked away. Hermione smiled smugly to herself.

That night, Harry watched as she made her way out of the cave again. He waited a few moments
then followed her back to the trap.

But she wasn't there and the trap was still set. Deciding it wouldn't be a good idea to
hang around, he made his way back to the camp. Hermione was still not there, and much to
Harry's chagrin, neither was Draco. Hmm, nor Ginny. Horrid thoughts of a possible three-way
popped into his mind.

“Lucky bastard,” he muttered then brushed the unlikely thought aside.

She was on her way to spring the trap again but Draco caught up with her. Taking her arm, he
gestured silence with his fingers to his lips and led her into the jungle. The moon was full and
provided good light as they made their way to a beautiful lagoon. Hermione stopped and gasped at
the wonderful sight.

“It's beautiful isn't it?” a voice whispered behind her.

Hermione turned to find Ginny standing behind her. Draco stood next to her with an arm wrapped
around her middle. Ginny stepped forward and took her hand, leading her into the lagoon.

“Come on, we trust you,” she smiled.

They swam into the lagoon, then through a tunnel that half-frightened Hermione out of her wits,
but when she surfaced it was well worth it. The moonlight glinted off the gold through a narrow
light from above. There were piles of it and dotted amongst it were jewels and wooden trunks.
Hermione ran her fingers over a beautiful gold crucifix embedded with emeralds. She thought of
Harry's eyes.

They made their way back in silence, Hermione agreeing to keep their secret. She made a detour
for the trap and sprung it, tossing the meat aside. She smiled inwardly at Harry's persistence,
if only he were so passionate about catching other things. Like her willing heart.

Harry feigned sleep as he watched Ginny and Hermione enter the cave. They looked wet and their
faces held the looks that Lavender and Parvati frequently wore after coming back from a session
with Professor Trelawny. A sort of smug, self satisfied look.

Harry didn't say anything to Hermione when he came back from the jungle. The trap had once
again been sprung. He glared at Hermione who looked back at him, her eyes dancing with merriment
that sent his stomach in pleasing knots. If it weren't for such a dangerous predator, he
would've gladly set and reset the traps just so he and Hermione could play this game. But it
was a very dangerous predator and this time he would be ready.

~*~

Hermione parted ways with Ginny and Draco in the jungle. They were now using her as a cover for
their clandestine meetings at night. As planned, Hermione would spring the trap, then head out to
the waterfall until they met her again and they would all walk back together.

Hermione lazily reached for the meat but the most unexpected thing happened. She heard the twang
of a trap being sprung then she was hoisted up in the air in a net.

“Harry!” she shouted out angrily.

From the jungle he emerged, laughing at her as she dangled in the net above.

“Harry put me down! This isn't funny!” she said.

“Actually, it is kind of funny,” he replied. “You see, you gave me the idea, really. Each time
you sprung the trap, you tossed the meat aside but it was still untouched by the morning. The tiger
wasn't falling for it so I decided to use a better bait.”

Hermione was furious with him. “Harry this is ridiculous! It isn't going to work.”

Harry lifted the spear he was holding toward Hermione. “I'm betting that it does.”

Hermione opened her mouth to say something when a sound came from the jungle that made her heart
stop. A low growl. Harry heard it too and had his spear poised, ready to strike.

“Harry, no! Put that away!” she cried out.

Harry tuned her out, his thoughts concentrated on the jungle ahead of him. Silently from the
shadows it stepped out, its eyes glowed fiercely. Harry looked at it and swallowed nervously. Maybe
this wasn't such a good idea after all.

“Blake! No, don't hurt him!” Hermione called out to the tiger. The tiger didn't move, he
only looked up at Hermione in the net then back down at Harry, a soft growl escaped its throat.

Harry slowly brought the spear up. “Stay away from us,” he said.

The tiger looked at the spear with narrowed eyes. His ears flattened against its head and it let
out a snarl. Harry jumped back.

“Stop it! Stop it both of you! Harry drop the spear!” Hermione called down.

“Are you crazy? I'm not going to drop the spear!” Harry shouted back. It was the only thing
between him and the Almighty. He raised the spear higher.

The tiger snarled and lashed out with a massive paw. He heard Hermione scream and felt the spear
ripped from his hands. The sheer power of it was like swiping a twig from his hands. The tiger
roared and Harry nearly crapped his pants. He was way in over his head. He didn't want to do it
but he had to do something to protect himself and Hermione. He closed his eyes and sent a stinging
hex to the tiger. The tiger leaped away from him and snarled.

Draco and Ginny were at the lagoon when they heard the commotion. They looked at each other then
ran into the jungle toward Hermione's screams. Ron sat bolt upright in the cave along with his
fellow cavemates. Hermione's scream pierced the night and they could hear the roar of the
tiger. Thinking the worst, Ron ran out of the cave with Neville, Dean and Seamus, all of them
taking spears.

“Let me down, Harry! He won't hurt you if I tell him so, just stop hurting him!” Hermione
screamed down.

But Harry wouldn't listen, he and the tiger circled around one another. The tiger wary of
getting another hex. Draco and Ginny got there the same time that Ron and the other's did.

“Ron!” Harry called out. “Throw the spear!”

“No, Ron!” Hermione shouted out from a net dangling from a tree. “Don't do it! Let me down,
Harry!”

“Harry! Let her down!” Ginny called out.

“Throw it Ron!” Draco yelled.

Ron threw the spear but his aim was poor and it missed the tiger. The tiger whirled angrily on
the boys. Neville, Seamus and Dean threw theirs but their nerves at being face to face with the
tiger made their aim just as good as Ron's.

“Ginny! No!” Draco called out as Ginny darted forward past the tiger and climbed the tree. She
had taken the knife that Draco always carried on him.

“Hold on, Hermione!” she said to her.

“Ginny, don't free Hermione!” Harry warned.

The tiger hissed and snarled at the boys that were trying to surround him. Ginny reached the
netting and began to cut away.

Draco saw Harry look up at Ginny and raise his hand but Draco tackled him to the ground before
he could stop Ginny. The tiger used this distraction to come at the two of them but before he could
swipe at Harry, he sent a force toward the tiger, knocking him backward.

“Hurry Ginny!” Hermione called out.

Ginny worked furiously to set Hermione free. With an audible snap, the net gave and Hermione
dropped to the ground. The tiger ran forward, toward her to see if she was okay. Harry,
misinterpreting this, sent a powerful force toward the tiger. It was sent sprawling to the ground,
knocked unconscious.

Hermione scrambled to her feet. “Harry no!”

Harry moved forward and sent another hex but Hermione jumped in front of the tiger.

“Hermione!” Harry yelled in dismay as the hex hit her instead.

“Hermione, what are you doing?” Ron called out. “Get out of the way!”

Hermione grabbed her midsection and hissed at Harry. “Stop it. I won't let you do this!”

“Get out of the way, Hermione!” Harry ordered.

“No!” she said defiantly.

“Hermione…MOVE!” Harry shouted.

“NO! If you're going to hurt him, you'll have to get past me,” she challenged. The
others watched with baited breath as Hermione and Harry faced off. Harry, breathing hard, stared at
Hermione while she matched his gaze.

Harry reached out with his hand and Hermione felt something grip her inside before she was
lightly tossed to the side by Harry's wandless magic. Hermione stumbled on her landing but
picked up a rock and threw it at Harry who raised his hands toward the tiger. The rock landed in
Harry's side.

“Ow!” he shouted in pain and turned to face Hermione.

“Hermione!” Ron called out in protest.

“Hermione no!” Hermione really didn't know what she was doing. She just ran at Harry and
tackled him to the ground.

Harry was so shocked at her actions he didn't know what to do at first. They hit the ground
hard and Hermione was momentarily stunned. Harry took that opportunity to flip Hermione under him.
She struggled against him, trying to hit him or punch him she was in such a fury but Harry easily
dodged her. He grabbed her wrists and pinned her to the ground.

“Hermione stop it!” he growled.

“Don't hurt him!” she spat back.

She moved to swipe at him but he still held her wrists and slammed her back to the ground as she
tried to get up. Breathing hard, she looked into his eyes and her heart nearly burst out of her
chest with fear. He was looking at her so…predatorily. His eyes were dark and intense. It was so
primal and it caused a flare of desire that flooded through her and pooled between her legs. Harry
was no longer staring at her eyes but now at her lips that she licked leaving behind a faintest
trace of moisture that he so desperately wanted to claim.

“Ginny!”

It was Draco's whisper that broke the spell and Harry moved off of Hermione. She scrambled
away from him and to the tiger. Ginny was already there, kneeling down and cradling its head in her
lap. The tiger had come to and was purring contentedly. Hermione knelt next to it and the tiger
raised its head to lick her. Harry stood there dumbfounded along with the other guys. They
couldn't believe it, the tiger purred like a housecat while Ginny and Hermione pet it. Draco,
Harry, Ron and the others stepped forward but the tiger let out a growl of warning.

“I think it would be best if you guys stayed away for now,” Hermione said. “You know, first
impressions and all.”

The guys gladly stayed their distance.

“What is it with Hermione and overlarge cats?” Ron said aloud and Harry let out a small
laugh.

He shared a small look with Hermione, who quickly looked away. He was grinning inside. He had
won this battle and it was an important one. He saw how Hermione reacted to his lust. She would be
helpless in his hands and she knew it. That's what had frightened her. He could've had her
right then and there on the ground if they were alone. She wouldn't fight him, she wouldn't
fight what was between them. She couldn't, she reacted so strongly to him.

“Come on, guys, let's get going,” Ginny said wearily as she got to her feet. Hermione
followed and so did the tiger.

“Hey, what were you two doing out here?” Ron asked Draco and Ginny as they walked back to camp
with the tiger.

“They were with me,” Hermione said and Harry looked at her. She was lying and he knew it but
didn't say anything.

She felt his gaze burning into her but she didn't trust herself to look at Harry. She
wouldn't dare provoke him like that again. Her cheeks flushed with the thought and Harry smiled
triumphantly.

~*~

-->



14. Temptation
--------------



**A/N:** Thanks for all the great reviews. I know many of you have asked about the Lost King.
I will be working on that sequel as soon as I finish this story. I'm too lazy to work on two
stories at once. Hope you guys like this chapter, especially those waiting for an H/Hr scene.
*wink, wink*

Chapter Fourteen: Temptation

*Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man's soul and faith
And I was 'round when* *Jesus C**hrist
Had his moment of doubt and pain
Made damn sure that* *P**ilate
Washed his hands and sealed his fate
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name*

*(Sympathy for the Devil—Rolling Stones)*

Professor Severus Snape burst through the door of Dumbledore's office. The Headmaster had
been sitting behind his desk, his sad eyes pouring over the parchments in front of him. The morale
of the wizarding world was at its lowest. With their hero dead, what could they do against Lord
Voldemort? The Order was still strong but it was getting harder and harder to recruit to their
cause. It seemed as if people were ready and willing to roll over like dogs when Voldemort came
calling.

“He's alive,” Snape announced.

Dumbledore peered at him curiously. “What are you talking about?”

“The boy,” Snape said plainly. “He's alive.”

“Are you sure? How can you tell?” he asked. He didn't want to get his hopes up.

“For weeks the Dark Lord has been complaining about his head, his sleep troubled. Then suddenly,
in the middle of a meeting, he exclaims `He's Alive!' It's his new obsession. “He sits
for long periods of time in deep concentration, hoping for something to come to him. He has
surrounded himself with maps and has asked me to find the route the ship was taking this
summer.”

When Severus Snape finished, Dumbledore rested his elbows on his desk, his chin rested on his
fingers. He said nothing for a while.

“Give him what he wants, Severus,” Dumbledore spoke. “Give him what he needs. I, myself, have
some maps I can use. You will report to me his progress and notify me immediately if he leaves. I
want to know where he will be going. With any luck, we can find Harry first.”

“As you wish, Headmaster,” Snape said as gave a small bow and left the Headmaster's
office.

When he was alone, Dumbledore let the news Severus had brought him sink in. Small tears of joy
leaked from the corners of his eyes. He wiped them and immediately got up to gather all the maps he
could find.

~*~

Harry sat up gasping for air and clutching at his scar. It was throbbing nastily now. Voldemort
was in his dream, probing his mind for any clue as to where he might be. Harry didn't think he
gave anything away but he couldn't be sure, who knew what lay in the recesses of his mind. It
was too close a call, he had to stop doing magic or else Voldemort would be free to trounce around
his head. This thought gave him a shudder and Harry quietly left the cave.

Blake, Hermione's tiger, blinked at him, looking bothered that Harry had disturbed him from
his slumber. Seeing that Harry wasn't doing anything interesting he went back to sleep. The
tiger still made Harry nervous. It had been a few days since they had brought the tiger to the camp
and it seemed like it had no intention of leaving. Harry had been afraid to approach Hermione for
fear that the tiger might take his head off. He could swear the tiger glared at him whenever he
came near her.

He walked through the jungle until he came to the waterfall. He knelt on the sandy beach of the
pool and splashed some water on his face. It was cool and soothing.

“I think it happens when you use magic,” came a soft voice from behind him.

Harry turned to see Hermione come out of the jungle. She smiled kindly and sat down next to
him.

“I figured that one out,” Harry grumbled. Hermione smiled sympathetically.

“You are going to stop, aren't you?” she asked. It was so typical of her.

“I have no choice,” Harry sighed.

They fell into a comfortable silence. Hermione dipped a cautious toe into the pool.

“So…Draco and Ginny?” Harry asked.

“What do you mean?” Hermione asked, not looking at him.

“Don't play dumb,” Harry replied.

“I'm not. I don't know what you're talking about,” she shrugged. Harry gave her a
wry smile.

“I'm going to tell Ron,” he said.

“You'll do no such thing,” she said defiantly.

“I'm not going to hide from him something like this.”

“Something like what? I have neither confirmed nor denied anything you have said.”

They fell silent again. Something had been bothering Harry for awhile and he needed to get it
off his chest.

“Hermione…The other night, I saw you and Draco…I wasn't spying or anything,” he
blundered.

Hermione smiled and laughed. “It wasn't what you thought, Harry. He knew you were watching
and was trying to rile you up. Draco knew I was setting off the trap and he caught me.”

“Oh,” Harry said quietly. “You two didn't…”

“No Harry.”

“And you don't…like him…or whatever.”

“No Harry.”

She was amused at him for this, he could be so transparent sometimes. As the leader of the camp,
he had a right to know. She stood up and dusted off her jeans.

“Follow me,” she said and walked into the jungle.

Harry was mesmerized as he followed her. It felt like he was walking in slow motion. Hermione
walked ahead of him, the starlight above glowing down upon them, highlighting her curls. She would
glance back from time to time, making sure he was still behind her and giving him a smile. At one
point, she reached for his hand and didn't let go. Harry would always remember how she looked
just then.

“And here we are,” she said reverently and stepped to the side as they emerged from the jungle,
letting Harry take a full view.

“Wow,” he whispered when he saw the lagoon.

“I know,” Hermione breathed. It was a beautiful night.

Hermione undid her shirt and pants, stripping down to her tank and panties. Harry couldn't
breathe.

“Follow me,” she said and waded into the lagoon.

Harry stripped and followed suit. The water was warm and welcoming as they dove underwater. He
followed her as she led him to the cliffs on the far side. She surfaced and took a deep breath then
went back under. Harry did the same and followed her into a dark tunnel. She seemed unafraid so
Harry bit back his own fear. After awhile he saw Hermione disappear for the surface on the other
side of the tunnel.

Gold. Piles of gold is what greeted him when he surfaced.

“Hermione, what is this place?” he asked in awe.

“We don't know. We think it used to be a dumping point for pirates long ago,” Hermione
explained as Harry helped her out of the water.

“We?” he asked.

“Draco and Ginny,” she answered honestly.

Harry took in all the treasure. It was unbelievable. He grinned and smiled at Hermione but she
had a frown on her face.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Something's wrong here,” she shook her head. She stumbled over the gold, carelessly digging
through it.

“What are you looking for?” he asked.

“Weapons,” she answered. “There used to be a bunch of daggers and swords here.”

Harry helped Hermione by rummaging through it. He had a hard time concentrating, he was
distracted by a jewel here, a crown there. He still couldn't believe all this.

“Maybe Draco and Ginny did something with them?” he asked.

Hermione fingered her lip in thought. “Maybe. It has to be. Nobody else knows about this
place.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

Hermione nodded. “Pretty sure.”

“We'll ask them when we head back. We should get going anyway.”

They dressed in silence, Hermione's thoughts were still worried. As they began to walk away,
Harry stopped her.

“Thank you for trusting me with this,” he said sincerely.

Hermione smiled up at him. “You had to know.”

They stood facing each other, sharing the moment.

“I broke up with Terry,” she said quietly. “For sure, this time.” She felt it important for
Harry to know this. He didn't say anything. Hermione summoned up the courage to lay it all on
the line.

“I had the biggest crush on you, you know. But you only looked at me as a friend. It hurt. It
hurt that you could look at other girls the way I wished you could look at me. It hurt that you
would do things with other girls that I wished you would do with me.” Harry looked sadly at
Hermione but didn't interrupt her.

“Terry looked at me different, he saw me the way I wanted you to see me. I used him to try and
forget about you Harry but it didn't work. Then, that night when I caught you with Parvati…”
Her voice broke and tears of shame filled her eyes and she looked up tearfully at him. His heart
knew the sorrow she knew. “I wanted to be her. I wanted to be the one you…you made love to.” Harry
closed his eyes and exhaled. “I'm so sorry about what I did to you on the ship. I wanted you so
badly in that way that I didn't think—“

“I was jealous,” Harry cut her off.

Hermione looked up at him, startled. “What?” she asked.

Harry looked down at her. “Crazy jealous of Terry. He was the one who got to hold you and kiss
you. Oh, we were so stupid. We shouldn't have fought it, Hermione.”

He reached for her and gathered her in his arms, holding her close to him. Hermione breathed him
in, clinging to him as if he were life itself.

“I never should've left the room,” she whispered.

“I never should've let you leave.” He broke away from her but still held her in his arms. “I
went after you.”

The faintest trace of a smile showed on her face. “You did?” Her hand reached up to caress his
cheek.

“Yeah…but then the ship exploded,” Harry let out a small laugh. Hermione joined him. It
couldn't be helped it was such a folly of fate.

Her fingers lightly traced his jaw, trembling slightly. Harry's eyes darkened as he bent his
head towards hers.

“I'm not going to fight it anymore, Hermione,” he whispered. His lips were a breadth away
from hers and as she spoke her lips raked lightly over his.

“It's always been you, Harry. Always,” she whispered back.

Her hand left Harry's jaw to bury itself in his unruly raven hair as his lips pressed
lightly against hers. Her lips parted granting Harry access to the place he'd wanted to be for
so long. He crushed her to him, afraid that she would break away and change her mind but her arms
wrapped around him, her mouth taking him in.

Desire coursed through her with his kiss. His hands left behind a trail of fire as they slid up
her sides, his thumbs brushing the outline of her breasts before coming to rest between her
shoulder blades. She breathed him in, welcoming his taste as his mouth explored hers. She fiercely
explored his, putting as much passion and want as she could into it.

The need for oxygen broke them apart long enough for Harry to move his hands to either side of
her neck, cradling her head before kissing her sweet lips again. Hermione ran her hands up his
arms, clinging to his shoulders for dear life as his kisses robbed her of coherent thought.

Well kissed with bruised lips, Hermione took Harry's hand as he led her back to camp. Blake
was gone to find an early morning meal and no one else was up. Harry sat in front of the fire and
leaned back against a flat rock. Hermione settled herself between his legs, her back against his
front as he gathered her in his arms. Together they watched the stars slowly fade as the sky turned
purple with the coming dawn.

~*~

“They're gone.”

“What?” Draco and Ginny said in unison as they took in Harry's words.

“The swords, the daggers. All the weapons…gone,” Hermione reiterated.

The four of them swam back to the treasure cave later that day. Draco tore open the trunks and
rummaged through them violently.

“They can't all be gone,” Ginny said anxiously.

“Fuck!” Draco angrily tossed the lid of a trunk into the water. Hermione watched it slowly
sink.

“Look, we know they didn't just get up and leave by themselves,” Harry said calmly. “We
aren't the only people on this island. They've got to have them. That's the only
explanation.”

“But they had no idea this was here,” Ginny protested.

“We aren't one hundred percent sure, are we?” Hermione replied. Harry put a supportive hand
on her shoulder and squeezed it gently.

“Look, we'll just go over there and ask them,” Harry said.

It was a task easier said than done.

“Who goes there?” Crabbe leaped out at them, spear shoved in their faces. Neville let out an
exclamation of surprise and jumped back.

“Are you kidding me?” Harry said impatiently as he brushed the spear aside. Draco eyed the fence
surrounding the beach camp with caution.

Harry and the others stepped forward but three others joined Crabbe.

“You're not allowed in,” one of the Ravenclaws said snottily.

“What do you mean we're not allowed in?” Ron protested. “Anyone can come and go about this
island as we please.”

“Longbottom and Finnegan are allowed,” Crabbe sneered, “but not you three.” He gestured at
Harry, Ron and Draco.

“Fine,” Harry said, “we'll send Neville in.” Neville looked sharply at Harry as he said
this. He didn't want to go in there alone.

“Come on in, Longbottom,” Crabbe said icily.

Neville swallowed audibly and stepped forward with Seamus.

“It's okay Neville,” Harry reassured. “We'll wait right here.”

“Just to let you know, whoever goes in can never come back out,” the Ravenclaw called after
him.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Ron whispered to Harry. Harry eyed the fence with suspicion.
Hermione was right, something was not right about this.

Hermione paced anxiously, something was wrong. They were taking too long. She fought the urge to
follow the guys to the camp and take Blake with her. Sensing her worry, Blake nudged her with his
head. She obliged him with a scratch behind his ears. He suddenly jerked his head to the side, his
tail flicking with annoyance.

“Oh my God!” Luna cried out.

“What happened?” Ginny cried out as she and Hermione ran toward the guys as they returned.

Harry and Ron had Neville between them and Seamus was leaning on Draco for support. Both boys
looked as if they had been beaten.

“Did they do this?” Hermione demanded.

Blood ran down Seamus' leg from a deep gash. Neville looked like he got the brunt of it. His
face was bloodied and bruised. Ron and Harry set him down gently. Blake sniffed the air and licked
his lips.

“No Blake,” Hermione said firmly and the tiger sulked.

“Well…they've got them,” Harry sighed angrily. “And they're using them,” he nodded over
to Seamus. Lavender was wrapping a cloth tightly around the wound.

Hermione looked to the direction of the beach camp. “What is going on here?” she whispered
softly. Harry stood up and walked over to her.

“I don't want you going over there,” he said quietly. “Promise me you won't.”

“Someone has got to talk to him, Harry,” she replied.

“It's not going to be you,” he said.

Hermione nodded. “I promise.”

“Thank you,” Harry said, relieved.

Hermione didn't sleep well that night. She tossed and turned restlessly before giving up and
getting up. She walked carefully over to Harry. He slept apart from the others, or maybe they kept
their distance from Harry. His nightmares had been a little too intense for some. He, too, was
awake. He made room for her and she settled down next to him. Harry spooned her, wrapping an arm
around her and burying his face in her hair.

“Couldn't sleep?” he whispered.

“We're trapped on this island with a madman,” she whispered back.

“I'll take our chances back out at sea.” His voice was tired and weary.

Hermione was soothed by the circling motion his hand was making on her stomach. It felt so good
to be in his arms at last. His back was to the others so Hermione was hidden from view. This
emboldened Harry to make his next move. Hermione heard the change in his breathing before she felt
his hand slowly snake its way up her shirt to lightly caress her breasts. Harry heard her gasp
softly as his fingers brushed over her budding nipples. He cupped one breast in his hand, gently
kneading it while he kissed her ear, her cheek and her shoulder. Hermione pressed herself against
him, feeling the evidence of his want for her against her back. He needed her desperately, he
wanted to ravage her right then and there. But, unfortunately, they were not alone in the cave. He
wanted to suggest that they leave it and head out in the jungle but he would seriously embarrass
himself and anyone else who happened to be awake. Hermione was melting under his touch. She
wouldn't be able to deny Harry the time he decided to claim her again. She was his already and
very willing.

~*~

Hermione watched as Harry left with Dean to go and get food. The sun was well above the horizon.
Ginny and Luna were tending to the wounded Neville and Seamus. Anger boiled through Hermione when
she looked at him and it took every fiber in her being to keep her promise to Harry and not go over
to the beach.

She caught Ron's eye and he nodded toward the jungle. Hermione nodded and took one last look
around and saw that everyone's attentions were elsewhere. She followed Ron as they headed
in.

“Alright, what is it that you wanted to talk to us about?” Ron asked Draco when they caught up
with him.

“Staying on this island is getting more dangerous day by day and I may have found our way off of
it to get home,” he said as he looked between the two of them.

Home.

It was such a foreign place now. The place that they remembered in dreams. Did the place still
exist? Hermione and Ron looked wistful.

“And how do you plan on doing that?” Ron asked.

Draco licked his lips. “I need you guys to be honest and up front with me.” He paused a moment
before continuing. “Potter is a two-way radio to the Dark Lord, isn't he?”

Ron stepped forward menacingly but Hermione held him back. “That's none of your business he
snarled.”

“I'll take that as a yes,” Draco nodded.

“It happens when he uses wandless magic,” Hermione said. There was no need to hide it now. Draco
saw what happened when he tried to catch the tiger.

It was a bitter pill for Draco to swallow to admit that Potter was a more powerful wizard than
everyone else on this island. But he was his ticket home so he would do it.

“What does this have to do with getting us home?” Ron asked.

“I say we encourage him to do it. He would be like a homing beacon to attract the Dark Lord. And
if I'm correct, wherever the Dark Lord goes Dumbledore will follow,” Draco explained.

“And that will lead us home,” Ron said wistfully. He was silent deep in thought for awhile.
“Right, so what do we need to do?”

“Hold on a minute here,” Hermione interjected. “No, this is a bad idea.”

“But Hermione,” Ron protested. “It makes sense.”

“Harry is NOT a homing beacon, he is a human being. When Voldemort is in his head, it isn't
a harmless dream. It hurts Harry, Voldemort practically mind rapes him. How would you like that?”
Hermione said angrily.

“Granger, there's no other way to do this,” Draco persisted.

“You of all people Ron are forgetting one major thing. Harry's mind is like a door for
Voldemort. When he's in there, Harry has to fight for control of his own mind,” Hermione
explained. Draco fell silent and thought back to when he heard Lord Voldemort's voice come from
Harry's mouth. “If we encourage Harry to do this, he might not be able to fight him off. Then
we'll be trapped on this island with two madmen, one of them being a powerful wizard. And we
all know we would stand no chance against Harry with Voldemort behind the wheel.”

Draco cursed under his breath and Ron sighed dejectedly. They both knew she was right, it was
just too big a risk to take.

Hermione stepped toward Draco. “It was a good idea in theory,” she said quietly, soothing his
bruised ego. “We'll come up with something else. We'll find a way home.”

They took their leave of Draco and he continued on his way with his chores. When they were well
out of sight, he heard a rustling behind him.

“Well, well,” Terry said with a smile on his face.

Draco spun around to face him. “How long have you been standing there?” he demanded.

“Long enough,” Terry answered.

Draco picked up his knife and held it up threateningly. “Give me one good reason why I
shouldn't slice this across your throat.”

“What do you think I am? There's nothing I can do with that information,” Terry sighed
lazily.

“Why did you beat up Longbottom and Finnegan?” Draco asked angrily.

Terry shrugged. “Rules of the camp. A little sympathetic to your Gryffindors, I guess fucking a
Weasley would do that to you.”

Draco tackled him to the ground in a heartbeat but Terry fended him off nicely, shoving him off
of himself.

“Don't take your aggression out on me,” Terry snarled. “Pansy saw you.”

Draco hung his head and sighed. He honestly didn't want Pansy getting hurt, he wasn't
really thinking about what he was doing but he couldn't help it. Every fiber in his being told
him he wanted to be with Ginny.

“What do you want?” Draco asked.

“You're going to help me win Hermione back,” Terry replied.

Draco scoffed. “Is that what all this is about? Merlin, Terry, you have got to let her go.”

“Just like you let Pansy go so easily? Sorry Draco, I can't just toss aside a girl I care
about. Not like you.”

“I didn't toss Pansy aside!” Draco defended himself.

“Sure you didn't,” Terry smirked.

“I'm not going to help you do this. There are bigger issues on this island. For example, the
psychopath you've become.”

“I'm not a psychopath. As with every civilization there must be rules or else there would be
chaos. We are all trying to survive here. And you are going to help me.”

Draco laughed and turned away. “I don't think so.”

Terry stopped him and stood in front of him. “Oh, I think you will. You will cooperate nicely.”
Draco shook his head at him and glared as he brushed past him. “How do you think Ginny would feel
if word got out about New Orleans?” Draco stopped in his tracks and whirled around.

“You asshole,” Draco muttered.

“I'm not the asshole. I'm not the one who masterminded the whole thing,” Terry replied.
“Remember Draco, Pansy is also under my thumb right now, I can send her to the rocks. I'm sure
she'd love to get her hands around your neck. Or, an accident can happen and she could slip
underwater in the ocean. People drown all the time.”

“You're insane,” Draco snarled.

“Most genius' are,” Terry sighed. “But I'm not insane. You made your little bed Draco.
Your comeuppance is a long time coming.”

An insane thought passed through Draco's mind. He could kill him. There was no one around,
no one to witness this. As if reading his thoughts, Terry spoke up again.

“I told Pansy everything. If anything were to happen to me, you'd have to take care of her
too.”

“She won't turn against Potter,” Draco said of Hermione.

“Then turn Potter against her,” Terry said impatiently. “However it turns out, I want Hermione
back in my camp. Then your little secret is safe, Ginny would never know and Pansy would be safe.
Everyone wins. The only one who would be miserable would be Potter and you don't really care
for his happiness anyway.”

With that, Terry left Draco to his thoughts.

-->



15. The Fall of Draco
---------------------



Chapter Fifteen: The Fall of Draco

*The road to hel**l is paved with good intentions--Proverb*

Terry made his way back to the beach deep in thought. The students were busy either fishing or
finishing work on the bridges. Their little tree village was coming along nicely, the weapons he
and Pansy brought back had made things much easier.

“Well…did you talk to him?” Pansy asked as she approached him.

He nodded. “He'll do it. I'm sure.”

“Good,” Pansy said nastily. “I want to hurt him as much as he hurt me.”

“Hell hath no fury,” Terry muttered. “Listen, there's something else. I overheard a
conversation between Hermione, Ron and him. It turns out that Potter can do wandless magic.” Pansy
said nothing as she let this information sink in.

“We can use him,” she said.

“No, we can't,” Terry sighed. “Because every time he does, he summons…You-Know-Who.”

Pansy gaped at him. “What?!”

“Shh!” Terry whispered harshly. He took Pansy aside where they couldn't be overheard.
“There's more. Draco, Hermione and Ron are planning to use Harry to try and summon You-Know-Who
here with the hopes that Dumbledore might make it in time.”

“And if he doesn't?” Pansy asked. Terry shrugged.

Pansy gazed out at the ocean. She was afraid of You-Know-Who. Never summoned herself to be a
Death Eater, she went along with her fellow Slytherins in worshipping him. If he came to this
island would he spare them? He would spare Draco, one of his own Death Eaters but she was no longer
under his protection.

“We have to stop them,” she said determinedly.

“I agree,” Terry said.

“Well what should we do?” she asked.

“I have no idea.”

~*~

Draco and Ginny lay together, satiated from their love making only moments ago. Ginny could tell
there was something distracting him, something bothering him. He snuggled her to him and breathed
her in.

“You know that I love you?” he whispered.

Ginny was speechless. This was the first time he had said that he loved her. She turned to her
back to look up at him, brushing a strand of blond hair that fell forward and tucking it behind his
ear.

“Draco…what's the matter?” she asked.

He looked into her eyes. “Just promise me that you know that I love you, no matter what
happens.”

Ginny began to be frightened. She could see it in his face. It was pale and tired, dark circles
of worry lined his eyes. She caressed his cheek.

“Draco, what's going to happen?” she asked.

“Just promise me!” he said harshly.

She jumped a little at his words then nodded. “Yes, okay. I promise.” She brought him to her and
kissed his lips some more.

Since Hermione was now sleeping with Harry, Ginny didn't get a chance to talk to her until
the next morning as they gathered fruit.

“Something is wrong with Draco,” she said.

Hermione looked up at her. “What do you mean?”

“I don't know. He's not sleeping well and he's not looking that great either.”

Hermione paused a moment to think. Ginny was right. Lately Draco was looking a bit peaked.

“He isn't getting sick is he?” she asked.

“No…it's more than that,” Ginny sighed.

“Well, did you talk to him?”

“He wouldn't tell me,” Ginny said as she placed a fruit in Hermione's basket. “But he
did make me promise that I would know that he loved me no matter what happens.”

Hermione looked at Ginny. “He said he loves you?”

Ginny blushed and grinned. “Yeah, he does.”

The two girls giggled then went back to their task. After a while, Hermione turned to Ginny.

“You have to tell Ron,” she said.

Ginny sighed. “I know.”

“No, I mean you have to tell him soon. Harry's picking up on it and has said that he would
tell Ron as soon as he confirmed it.”

“Who is he? The Virginity Police?” Ginny sulked.

“He just cares about you. He thinks of you as his honorary sister and is only looking out for
you,” Hermione shrugged.

“Whatever,” Ginny rolled her eyes then grinned slyly at Hermione. “Bet he doesn't treat you
as an honorary sister.”

*No, he certainly does not.* Hermione only grinned wryly.

“So…tell me,” Ginny persisted. “Has he relieved our dear Hermione of her virginal burden?”

Hermione threw a fruit into the basket and tutted sharply. Ginny laughed.

“I swear Hermione, you have a will of iron. Any other girl would've caved by now. Whew! You
go girl.”

Hermione just turned away and blushed.

Luna and Blake joined the girls and together they meandered through the forests. The sky
darkened above them with dark rain clouds and they could smell it in the air. Thunder rolling in
the distance made Blake growl nervously. The girls laughter and chatter stopped when the came to a
tall fence.

Green with tree stalks and pointed at the top it was twice as tall as them.

“What? Who?” Luna was speechless.

Hermione grimaced. “I guess we've reached the perimeter of the beach camp.”

Blake sniffed the fence and put out a tentative paw to touch it. A feeling of unease washed over
Hermione. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled with the distinct feeling that they were being
watched. And they probably were.

A loud crack of thunder made them all jump and Blake roared again. The smell of rain was heavier
and heavier.

“Come on guys,” Hermione said. “Let's get going.”

They made their way towards the camp, hoping to beat the rainfall. As they passed the grassy
plain, Hermione saw a lone figure standing in the middle.

“Hey guys,” she said to the others. “Go on. I'll catch up.” Blake escorted the two ladies
back to camp.

The rain was lightly falling, warm moisture on her skin as she approached him.

“Don't you know it's unwise to stand out in the open during a thunderstorm?” she
asked.

A broad smile grew on Harry's face when he saw her. He reached out for her and put an arm
around her shoulder.

“I'm headed back soon. I was just watching the pigs,” he pointed in front of him. “See?
They're headed off for shelter, too. I guess they don't like the lightning either.”

A group of pigs ran on stubby little legs towards the jungle and wherever they called home.

“Come on,” Hermione nudged him. “Let's get going.”

Harry stepped behind and brought an arm around her, brushing blatantly across her breasts to
rest on her stomach.

“I have a better idea,” he whispered into her ear as he kissed her neck.

Hermione's cheeks flushed and she turned to face him only to be rewarded with a deep kiss.
Harry's hands wandered down her sides to her round and firm bottom, pressing her hips into his.
Hermione broke the kiss.

“Not here,” she whispered.

“Yes…here,” he replied, ravishing her neck. He was hungry for her.

They both jumped when a loud peal of thunder rang through the sky and the rain began to fall
harder. Harry groaned at the timing. Hermione laughed and took off at a run for the jungle with
Harry following shortly behind.

He caught up with her under the canopy of a large tree, sweeping her up and swinging her
around.

“Harry!” Hermione squealed. “Put me down!”

“Alright,” Harry sighed and released Hermione.

She slowly slid down his front until her feet touched the ground. She looked into his dark green
eyes.

“No,” she breathed, “pick me back up.”

He lifted her in his arms and she wrapped her legs around him as she rewarded him with a
passionate kiss. Her tongue exploring his mouth as she clung to her. She felt him sink to the
ground to rest on his knees, his hardness pressed against the apex of her jeans.

“Now, Hermione,” Harry breathed.

Hermione nodded. “Yes.” It was said so quiet for only him to hear.

Harry tugged at her shirt, sliding it off her shoulders with her help. Next came her tank then
bra which revealed her pert breasts. Harry's lips captured one of her nipples eliciting a moan
from Hermione. His hand caressed the other. Hermione clawed at his shirt, bringing it up and over
his head so she could run her fingers lightly over his chest. Boldly, Hermione went for the button
of his shorts, unzipping him and plunged a hand past his waistband to wrap around his hardness. A
sharp breath passed through Harry's lips.

“Oh, God, Hermione,” he said with shaky breath.

His hands fumbled on her jeans, it was difficult to tug them off since they were wet and he was
so eager. But off they came and his shortly followed. He lay her down on the soft ground, the only
sound was their ragged breathing and the soft patter as the rain hit the leaves around them.

“Hermione,” he gasped. “I have to…”

She reached up and placed a hand on the back of his neck, the other on a shoulder. “Yes, Harry.
Please…”

He had waited so long for this and tried his best to savor the wet warmth that slowly surrounded
him as he entered her. She sighed contentedly as he filled her, completing her. Thunder rumbled
above. Hermione arched her back, meeting his thrusts that sent waves of warmth through her. Harry
sought her mouth, plundering and exploring its warmth. He hooked one of her thighs over his hip as
he thrust deeper into her, he couldn't be close enough to her. He lost himself within her, her
smell, her sighs and the small moans that escaped her lips.

“Harry,” Hermione whispered. “Harry…please.”

She writhed under him, her hands tightening on his arm and shoulder. She felt as if she were
cresting on a giant wave, waiting for its pleasurable release. And it did. It crashed over her and
she cried out in pleasure. Harry silenced her with a kiss as he felt her tighten around him. He
tore his mouth away from her as he groaned and squeezed his eyes shut, meeting his own release.

The rain was still falling heavy but they were both warm and comfortable. Hermione let out a
contended sigh, Harry still lay within her sex that pleasurably ached. He was whispering words of
love in her ear that she reciprocated. He smiled and grinned contentedly as she ran her hands over
his back lazily. He mimicked the motions himself, his hands wandering up her thigh, to her hip and
up her side. They were happy and content under the tree that sheltered them somewhat from the storm
above.

Terry's heart was breaking. He had seen Harry and Hermione, had seen Harry take what was
rightfully his, what he had waited so long to have. Draco had failed him. Now it was time to put
into action plans of his own and he disappeared back into the jungle, away from them as three
others stepped forward.

Harry and Hermione were dressed and ready to head back to the rocks when a voice came out of the
jungle.

“Well, well. I guess I was too late to see the show,” a seventh year Ravenclaw sneered. He was
holding a dagger in one hand.

Harry protectively put Hermione behind him. “What do you want?” he asked.

“You're coming with me,” the Ravenclaw said.

“I don't think so,” Harry replied.

The Ravenclaw smiled and raised his dagger and two more students stepped from the jungle behind
Hermione, grabbed her as one held a dagger to her throat the other the sword in front of him.

“Harry, NO!” Hermione yelled as Harry made a move for her.

The Ravenclaw laughed. “We aren't going to hurt her Harry, we just need you under control.
And don't even think about using magic. Oh yes, we know all about that. We don't want you
sending You-Know-Who directly to this island now do we?”

“What do you want?” Harry asked, seething with anger.

“You are both coming with us. Play nice and there won't even be a scratch on the Head Girls
neck,” the Ravenclaw replied.

Draco's slumber was interrupted by a slight sound. He had been sleeping in the cave because
of the rain. He opened his eyes and saw feet in front of him but before he could raise his head, he
felt a weight press down on his back and his hands were tied behind him. He struggled and was
rewarded with a sharp punch to his kidneys. He let out a groan and looked around him. The story was
the same with his cavemates. He heard a few screams and his head snapped around when he heard Ginny
struggling.

“What the fuck do you want?” Draco asked angrily.

He was yanked to his feet and came face to face with Terry.

“Payback's a bitch, isn't it?” he sneered.

They were led out into the jungle towards the beach held captive by their fellow schoolmates.
The rain had stopped and the moon peeked out from behind the clouds. The fence of the beach camp
loomed before them and as they walked through they saw two of their fellow cavemates.

“Harry! Hermione!” Ron called out.

They were tied to a post, their hands bound behind them as they sat on the sand. There were
several more posts and the prisoners were tied together in small groups. Draco was tied with Ginny,
Ron with Harry and Hermione.

“Are you guys alright?” he asked the two of them.

“We're just peachy,” Harry grumbled.

“I can't believe this is happening,” Hermione cried.

Harry felt with his hands and held hers, trying to comfort her.

“Harry, use your magic and set us free,” Ron whispered.

“No!” Hermione whispered harshly.

“I can't Ron,” Harry explained. “I won't do it. I don't know if I'd be able to
fight him off this time.”

“It's too risky,” Hermione added.

“And this isn't?” Ron asked angrily.

“We're all alive, Ron,” Harry said patiently. “If he comes through, we're all dead and
you know it.”

“But…” Ron protested.

“No, Ron,” Hermione whispered harshly.

“Harry…” he tried to appeal to his friend.

“No, Ron,” he answered and Ron muttered obscenities under his breath.

There was a commotion in the jungle then the roar of a tiger. Terry and a few others ran out of
the camp.

“Blake!” Hermione groaned.

Terry came back in, smiling triumphantly. “I believe we now have everyone present.”

A few of their captors dragged in a large net filled with orange fur and angry growls. A large
spear stuck out of it.

“What did you do?” Hermione yelled along with Ginny and Luna and several other cavemates.

“You can thank Potter,” Terry shrugged. “I got the idea from him.”

Blake lay on his side, caught in the netting, a spear stuck out from his side. He roared in pain
and anger and their captors jumped back.

“Why are you doing this?” Hermione said to Terry as he walked over to them.

“For the safety of the camp,” Terry replied. “You are all help captive for conspiring to bring
You-Know-Who to the island,” he spoke aloud.

Several of their classmates gasped. Harry guessed that even some people in Terry's camp had
no idea why they were bringing them here captive.

“Harry can do wandless magic,” Terry explained, pausing to let this sink in. Harry glowered at
him, feeling the eyes of his fellow students fall on him. “But he doesn't like to do it because
when he does, You-Know-Who takes over his mind.” A horrified cry came from his classmates. Neville
looked at him, startled, Crabbe and Goyle looked at each other nervously.

“And these three,” Terry said as he pointed to Ron, Hermione and Draco, “are guilty of
conspiring to use Harry to bring You-Know-Who to the island!” Protests rose from the crowd and
Hermione could feel Harry tense.

“We thought maybe it would bring Dumbledore!” Ron tried to explain.

“Shut up, Ron!” Hermione hissed. “We didn't do it, Harry. We all agreed that it wasn't a
good idea.”

“You guys have been plotting behind my back?” Harry was seething with anger.

“We decided it wasn't worth the risk,” Draco said calmly.

Harry was furious. His friends, going behind his back, plotting to use him as a way to possibly
bring Dumbledore here. Did they not know what Voldemort did to his mind? Couldn't have been
polite to at least bring him into the planning? It was his mind after all.

“Listen to you,” Pansy sneered at Draco. “I bet you were the one who thought of the plan, am I
right?” Draco didn't answer her. “Well, did he?” she asked Hermione and Ron. Their silence said
yes. “It figures, he would be the only one who would benefit from that plan.”

“Shut up, Pansy!” Draco shouted angrily.

“Lord Voldemort would come to this island and the only one who would be leaving it alive would
be you, Draco,” she ranted.

“Pansy, I'm warning you…SHUT UP!!” he roared. “Don't listen to her!”

“He's a Death Eater!!”

A hush fell over everyone as they looked at Draco. The accusation sinking in. One of
Voldemort's cronies right here on the island with him.

“But…he doesn't have the mark,” Ginny said weakly.

“Yes,” Terry swallowed. “How can we trust you?”

“Let Harry touch him,” Pansy answered.

Terry gave a nod and Harry and Draco were separated from the others and brought forward. They
both struggled, Harry tried his best not to touch Draco but he was outnumbered.

“Nothing's happening,” Crabbe said.

“He has to use magic,” Pansy explained.

“NO!” Ron and Hermione cried out.

Terry looked down at Harry. “I've been wanting to do this for a long time.” He knelt down
and wrapped his hands around Harry's throat.

“Terry! Stop it!” Hermione cried out. Her cavemates joined in.

Terry squeezed his throat and bent down to whisper in his ear. “After you're dead, I'm
going to have Hermione, and I don't care if I have to force her.”

Anger surged through Harry and a jolt of electricity went through him. Terry cried out in pain
and backed away from Harry. Draco let out a painful shout as the Dark Mark glowed painfully on his
arm. Everyone backed away from him. Harry writhed on the ground. *Where are you? I am so
close!* Harry fought him off, retching the pain in his head was so great. He could hear Hermione
screaming. He couldn't black out, he wouldn't pass out. He felt himself being lifted and he
was retied to the post with Hermione and Ron.

“Harry!” Hermione moaned. “Terry, you idiot! Do you see why he can't do magic?”

Everyone was looking at Harry. Voldemort's voice had come from his mouth. Harry felt
embarrassed and ashamed.

Draco was on the ground and looked up at Ginny, dying at the expression on her face. She was
horrified.

“Ginny,” he called out to her.

“Stay away from my sister!” Ron roared.

“Tie him up,” Terry said softly.

Ginny tensed up, straining against her binds. “No,” she said, “keep him away from me.”

Pansy smiled down at Draco. “Hey, Ron, did you know that a Death Eater was fucking your baby
sister?” she said softly.

“WHAT?!” Ron shouted.

“Pansy,” Harry breathed, “Pansy, shut up.”

“I wouldn't be so quick to defend Malfoy,” Terry said to Harry. “He's got lots of little
secrets.”

Draco groaned, wishing he could bury himself in the sand. He was laying face down in it, his
hands bound. Maybe he could smother himself.

“Draco came to me one night on the ship,” Terry explained. “He said he had a way for me to win
Hermione back. I listened and followed along. He, Crabbe and Goyle followed Harry and his friends
to the club in New Orleans. They drugged your drinks and took you back to the ship. Draco was the
one who stripped Ginny down and put her in bed with Potter.”

Ron shouted obscenities at Draco as tears fell down Ginny's face.

“I'm sorry, Ginny,” Draco said, his voice breaking. Tears stung his eyes. “I'm so
sorry.” She wouldn't even look at him.

Harry hung his head, it was as he had suspected. Terry continued on. “But I didn't think it
would work. I figured you guys were so close that you'd never believe this but Draco said that
it only would take suspicion to tear you guys apart. And it did. I only had to be there for the
fall out.”

Hermione was disgusted. “You vile…wretched…”

“Don't cast judgment on me, you were the one railed against Harry and Ginny,” Terry
shrugged.

“I knew,” Ron whispered, staring off into nothing. “I remember…I found out what you were up
to!”

“That's right, Ron,” Terry answered. “That's what we were fighting about when Hermione
walked in, right before the explosion.”

“You bastard,” Hermione whispered, hate in her eyes.

“Hey, I honestly didn't think it would work.”

Harry began to chuckle. “Yeah, well I have news for you. It didn't work.”

“What are you talking about? You and Hermione were through,” Terry said angrily.

“While you were fighting with my best friend in the library,” Harry explained, “I was in my room
having sex with Hermione.”

“You slept with Hermione?” Ron asked, bewildered.

Terry's jaw clenched in anger. He looked over at Hermione who had a wry smile on her
face.

“I told you we fooled around, Terry,” she said.

“Do you remember that conversation we had on the lifeboat, Terry?” Harry asked. “We both love
her but she only loves one of us.”

“I love him, Terry,” she said to her ex-boyfriend. “I always have.”

“And if you think you're stupid little plan to air everyone's dirty laundry is going to
make me hate her, you are sorely mistaken. Nothing you can do will make me stop loving her.”
Hermione felt a swell of pride for Harry. “This has gone on long enough, Terry. Look at us! We used
to go to school together! Do you remember that?” Harry spoke to everyone. “We were going to have
our N.E.W.T.S. this year and Quidditch games!” The students looked at one another, shifting
uncomfortably. “The beginning of term feast, the trips to Hogsmeade, the…you guys, look at us! We
used to go to school together and now we're tied up like prisoners. Why? What happened to us?
We were supposed to stick together. We've survived this long against all odds, we can survive
longer if we just work together. I mean, what were you going to do with us? Kill us off?”

They looked at each other. What were they going to do? It all seemed so surreal, they got caught
up in some kind of game. One of the Ravenclaws stepped forward and cut the binds on Neville and
Dean, others stepped forward to release the others. Pansy knelt down and cut Draco's binds. One
by one the binds were cut and the beach camp helped the rocks camp to their feet.

Then it happened.

It was like in slow motion. Draco saw Terry approach Harry, a dagger behind his back. Draco
called out Harry's name but he was kneeling down with Hermione in front of Blake. Draco ran
towards Harry, pushing others out of his way. Terry was behind Harry and raised the dagger above
his head.

“NO!”

Harry turned when he heard Draco shout and saw him tackle Terry to the ground. Terry struggled
against Draco who was trying to pry his fingers away from the dagger. They rolled in the wet sand,
a wave rolled up and washed over them. Terry pinned Draco under him.

“Somebody help him!” he heard Ginny yell.

Harry, Ron, Crabbe and Goyle ran toward them but stopped when Terry jumped up and staggered
back.

Silence fell over the group as Terry turned to face them. Hermione gasped and put a hand to her
mouth. Terry's hands were covered in blood. Harry looked up and saw Draco's body in the
moonlight. A dagger stuck out of his chest.

“Somebody help me!!” Harry screamed as he ran towards Draco.

Draco's hands shook as he reached out to Harry, a trickle of blood ran from the corner of
his mouth. Harry looked back at everyone who stood frozen in terror on the beach.

“Help me!!” Harry pleaded. “Please!”

Ginny slowly stepped forward, followed by Hermione then Ron. They ran and knelt next to Draco.
Ginny held his hand which was cold and shaky.

“It's okay,” she whispered to him.

“Don't pull it out, Harry,” Hermione said, stopping Harry from removing the dagger.
“He'll bleed to death.”

Harry looked at Hermione and Ron. The wound was fatal, it was inevitable that he was going to
die. The dagger in his chest just prolonged it.

“No,” Hermione said firmly.

Harry looked down at Draco who looked back at him and nodded. Harry pulled the dagger out of him
and Draco screamed.

~*~

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16. Found
---------



**A/N:** Okay, okay!! Put down the spears and daggers and whatever weapons you had. I had
originally written two endings to this story. One of them was a dream sequence and the other is
this one. I knew that this one was better but I like to mess around with my readers once in awhile.
But I apologize profusely to anyone that I may have offended.

Okay, here's the real ending. I personally think it was really predictable and most of you
guys guessed it, that's kind of why I was hesitant to post this version. But I hope you like it
and I'm replacing the dream ending with this one. I apologize again.

Chapter Sixteen: Found

With your feet in the air and your head on the ground
Try this trick and spin it, yeah
Your head will collapse
But there's nothing in it
And you'll ask yourself
Where is my mind

*Where is My Mind—The Pixies*

Blood poured out of the wound and Hermione clamped her hands down on it. Draco bit back a
moan.

“I can save him,” Harry said quietly.

Hermione and Ron looked up at him.

“No,” Draco gasped out.

“Do it, Harry,” Ginny demanded.

“Harry, he's a Death Eater,” Ron reminded him.

“Harry, it's too risky. What about Voldemort?” Hermione's eyes were wide.

“I don't care,” Harry said. He didn't like Draco but he didn't deserve to die like
this.

“Granger's…right,” Draco gasped.

“No, Draco,” Ginny sobbed. “Please…Harry, please?”

Harry knocked Hermione out of the way and put his hands on the wound.

“No don't do it!” Hermione yelled at him.

Ron tried to push Harry away but Ginny blocked him. Pansy stepped forward and held Hermione back
as Harry closed his eyes in concentration. He blocked out the protests from Ron and Hermione,
blocked out Ginny's crying, blocked out Draco's moans.

His scar tingled and his hands felt warm. *Heal him, heal him. Stop the blood. Stop the
blood.* He concentrated harder and his scar let out a painful throb. He cried out but didn't
take his hands off of Draco. *I see you in my mind. Where are you? No, no…I have to heal him.
WHERE ARE YOU? You are so close to me!* Harry squeezed his eyes shut, the pain was so intense.
But he had to fight to concentrate, he had to try and save Draco. The heat in his hands were even
hotter, he could feel Draco's heartbeats. *So close, so close. Open your mind to me.*
Harry's concentration began to waver, he was losing this battle, he had to wrench his mind free
but he found that he couldn't close it. Draco's heart beat stronger beneath his hands.
*Stop it! Stop it! Let me go! No, I'm so close to you! Hermione! Ron! Help me! Hermione!!!
HERMIONE!!*

Harry flung himself away from Draco, his body drenched with sweat. Hermione broke free from
Pansy and ran to Harry. Ron joined her. He was pale and shaking.

“Harry!” Hermione called out to him.

“Run! RUN!!” Harry gasped.

“What?” Hermione asked.

Draco still lay on the ground, the bleeding not completely stopped but the wound no longer
fatal. Ginny cradled his head in her lap, he was so weak.

“He knows where we are!” Harry shouted but it was too late.

CRACK!! CRACK!! CRACK!!

The castaways screamed as cloaked figures apparated into the darkness. Blake hissed and his hair
stood on end, the spear preventing any movement.

Lord Voldemort surveyed the scene in front of him. The tree huts, the bonfire, the tiger and the
vagabond teens. He looked down at Harry, weak in the mudblood's arms and said nothing for the
longest time. He looked down at Draco and the wound in his chest. A Death Eater stepped forward and
knelt down. Harry guessed it was Lucius Malfoy.

“And so here we are,” Voldemort spoke quietly. “You don't even have a wand, it doesn't
seem fair.”

Hermione shielded Harry with her body. Harry was too weak to try and push her away though he
desperately wanted to.

“And once again, I have to go through a mudblood to get to you,” Voldemort said softly.

Ron bravely stepped in front of Hermione and Harry. Voldemort frowned and lifted his wand.

“I wouldn't do that, Tom, if I were you,” came a familiar voice.

Relief filled Harry's insides. He could almost cry. Dumbledore stepped from the shadows
followed by Lupin, Tonks and other members of the Order. The students let out a cry and gasped
disbelievingly. Darkness so desperately wanted to claim him and Harry felt himself giving in.

He heard the screams and felt Hermione grip him tight to her. He saw the flashes of spells being
cast. He heard Ginny scream as Draco was ripped from her arms then disappeared into thin air.

Then all was black.

********************************

Home.

The word was just as foreign as the place. Walking through the doors of the Great Hall felt
surreal. The flashes of the camera, the applause, the people, it was all too much to take in. But
most of the group finished up the year, took their N.E.W.T.S. and graduated. But Hogwarts was never
the same.

Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Neville all stayed at Grimmauld Place on graduation day. It was
too much for them to handle. They had been there nearly two weeks.

Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle reigned supreme in Slytherin as expected. Crabbe and Goyle were to join
the Last Battle but as Death Eaters. Pansy didn't become a Death Eater but she would become a
spy in the Ministry.

Parvati grieved for her twin. There were no other survivors save them. She and Lavender were
going to open a Divination Supply shop this summer. Seamus received a job offer from Gringott's
and would begin training in a month. Dean was headed off to a muggle university. Harry guessed that
he had had enough of the wizarding world for awhile.

Blake survived and with much pleading from Hermione, Dumbledore agreed to take him home to
Hogwarts. Hagrid's eyes lit up with delight at the cat and he treated him as a regular house
cat. One that could tear your head off but Harry thought the pet suited him perfectly.

Luna would begin to work at the Quibbler this summer along with Ginny. Ron was planning on
proposing to her sometime soon. He had bought her a beautiful ring since the Weasley family had
fallen mysteriously into fortune. He only needed to work up the nerve. Harry had to constantly pat
Ron on the back as he dry heaved into a paper bag.

Harry snapped out of his thoughts as the meeting of the Order came to an end. Members began to
file themselves out of the kitchen. Snape lingered behind, pretending to busy himself with some
papers as everyone left, including Dumbledore.

“Anything?” Harry asked quietly. Snape frowned and handed Harry a piece of paper. Harry took it
and read it. He sighed wearily and set the paper aflame with the tip of his wand. Fawkes had
graciously donated another feather to have his wand remade.

Harry couldn't sleep that night. Hermione's warm and naked body slept soundly next to
his. Their lovemaking was great that night but it still didn't ease his mind. Careful not to
disturb her, Harry slipped out of bed and threw on a t-shirt and pajama bottoms. Hermione was going
to start her studies in magical law enforcement around the same time he and Neville were going to
start their auror training. He kissed her softly on her shoulder and slipped out of the room.

The drawing room was empty and dark. Harry lit the room in soft lighting and stood at the desk.
A globe rested on the desk and Harry touched it, turning it so that North America was looking up at
him. His thumb brushed over a name of a city. Dark wizarding activities had been reported there. A
small uprising of supporters for Voldemort…led by a young Death Eater.

“Any word?” a small voice spoke up.

Harry looked up at Ginny as she walked into the room. Harry gave the globe a light spin.

“No,” he said quietly, “no sign of him.”

It hurt him to see Ginny's face fall every time he said this. There had been no hide nor
hair of Draco since Voldemort had taken him off the island. But Snape knew where he was and so did
Harry. For some reason, Harry thought that Draco would not want him to tell her what had happened
to him. He probably wanted her to remember him the way he was on the island and not the
full-fledged Death Eater he was now.

Ginny sighed and sat down on a chair. “She went to see him today,” she said.

“Yeah, I know,” Harry answered.

Terry had been sent to Azkaban for the attempt on Harry's life and on Draco's. He
couldn't be kissed because he didn't kill him but he would get out in twenty-five years.
Not that it mattered. According to Hermione, Azkaban and its Dementors had already taken his mind.
She said he just sat there staring out at nothing as she sat across from him, drool once in awhile
dribbled down his chin. She was fighting to get him out of Azkaban and into St. Mungo's.

“Do you…do you think it'll get any better?” Ginny asked Harry.

Harry sighed. “I honestly don't know.” It was an honest answer. Their future was in the
hands of fate. The island had changed most people, some for the good some for the worse. This war
would probably do the same but Harry had one constant.

Hermione.

Their love would weather this storm and whatever else their future brought them.

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