First Meetings
Chains.
Those were the first things Hermione noticed as she regained consciousness. She didn't open her eyes but took inventory of her body.
Chains around my wrists, a couple of bruises feel like they're beginning to form. Ah, a couple of cracked ribs. All and all I seem to be alive.
Opening her eyes she took in her surroundings, one word described them: gloomy. There was very little light coming from the lantern in the corner. The stone walls seemed to be coated with a dark slimy substance and there was water dripping somewhere with an echo that reverberated off the entire room.
Closing her eyes again she groaned. Why did I volunteer for this mission? She began to remember the events that had happen just a few days ago.
After being healed by Madame Pomfrey she began to exercise her sore muscles with learning a new weapon. She had seen some small dagger fights before the siege but never actually engaged in one. Lately she had been learning not only the proper way to hold a dagger but to disarm an opponent without killing them, a skill she held high in value. The exercise sped up her recovery until she was almost good as new. Her regained strength brought her to Queen's Lily room where Ron, Ginny, and a few wizards were already present.
"We need to know what their next move is. We are stable for the moment but that does not mean they couldn't overtake us. We must try and find a way to find out what they are planning." Ron said to the assembly. Naturally, everyone was in agreement to this but the question was, how?
It was Ginny that came up with the answer. "A spy. Send someone in to infiltrate their castle and listen." The wizards present exchanged a few looks but it was Snape who said what they were all thinking.
"But Your Highness, who would be brave enough to take on such a mission, the chances of survival if they were caught are not very high."
Arguments began to rise as some agreed with Snape while others shouted the names of those who could undertake such a fool hardy mission.
Ron turned to Her Majesty and his voice carried over the others, silencing them. "Your Majesty, I volunteer for this mission. I would be able to make it out alive and I'd rather not put any of my men in danger."
"That is very noble of you Ron but I simply can't let you go." Lily replied. Ron looked as though he was about to protest but Hermione cut him off.
"Ron, stop and think about this for a moment. If you go and don't come back who will lead us, certainly not me I don't have the experience. If anything were to happen to you we would be more vulnerable than we are now." This seemed to get through to Ron; his face fell slightly but smiled at Hermione.
She smiled in return. "That is why I am going." If it the room was quiet before it was dead silent now. All eyes were on her; Ginny stood up and advanced on her.
"Are you mad? You just suffered a mortal wound, not even a month ago. Hermione, despite what you might think you are still injured. To go on such a mission would be suicidal, we can't lose you either." Ron nodded in agreement but Lily looked thoughtful.
"Actually, Hermione might be the perfect candidate for such a mission." Now all eyes turned to the queen. "I'm sure it has reached the ears of Voldemort that she was injured, surely he won't think she will be up for a while. So not only does she have the element of surprise but she is also a resourceful girl." As the queen spoke she walked over to Hermione to lay a hand upon her shoulder.
Hermione could only smile at such a compliment that had come from a woman that she considered a mother to her, and the concern she felt from her friends only added to her courage. "I'll be fine, really."
She groaned again, "Yeah, perfectly fine" she said to no one in particular. If only that scout had not come up from behind and knocked her out, she would have been back that day after the next. Now she was stuck in some dungeon and had no idea how long she had been held there!
Ok let's think, I've been fed, I can see that old food tray in the corner, so someone must come in to force feed me to keep me alive. If I wait until they return perhaps I can figure out a way to…
She stopped mid- thought as the door creaked open. Pretending to be still unconscious she listened as visitor's feet shuffled over to her. She opened her eye a crack to see that it was a death eater, a mask seem to be covering his face and he was reaching for the food on the tray.
"Can't believe I have to feed this little wench, she isn't worth the time. I hope when my master decides to rid himself of you I will get the pleas….ahh!!"
He began to scream as Hermione caught him between her legs and slammed him to the ground. He fell silent immediately
and his eyes fluttered closed.
"I don't envy you when you wake up." Hermione said to the unconscious man. She quickly began to search him for keys and found them. Tossing them up to one hand she quickly freed herself and took the man's sword. Closing the door behind her she picked a direction and began running down the hallway. Her first priority at the moment was to get herself out of there but that quickly changed as she stopped at a doorway that was slightly ajar.
"….Gryffindors will never know until it is too late." She heard a voice say and quickly peered in. Two men were speaking to someone sitting in a high backed chair. The two men did not seem to want to be there, an air or evil filled the room.
"One drop of this potion on every man will make them invisible, making our enemy's archers useless and the swordsmen for our picking."
The man, she believed him to be a man, sitting in the chair laughed a laugh that sent a chill down her spine. She motioned to move but her hand hit the door and it creaked slightly.
"Whose there", said one of the men standing, a little more strength in his voice now. Hermione didn't stick around to answer and ran, but she wasn't far enough away to miss the call for guards being shouted. Through the hallways she ran, each appeared the same as the one she had come through. She met some of the guards on her way and slew them quickly, from one of them she picked up a quiver of arrows and a bow. After what seemed like the millionth door she passed she chose one and it led her to the one of the castles many turrets. As soon as she reached the edge the guards poured through the door, cornering her. A tall man that seemed to be made of pure evil approached her.
"Well if it isn't the Gryffindor's Champion." He laughed, from the way he spoke Hermione held no doubts that she was now face to face with Lord Voldemort. "Surrender now and I promise a quick death, quick but not painless" He laughed again, "seize her!"
They began to slowly approach her but she turned her back to them. A forest lay just over the moat and she knew her odds at escaping were better than fighting and surviving. Tying some rope she found during her run to one of the arrows she took aim at one of the trees. Though she was by no means the best shot in the kingdom it seems that luck smiled upon her now for though it did no hit her mark it did his a tree. Tying the rope quickly around one of the stone blocks she turned for one last look at pure evil. He smiled as the soldiers nearly reached, but she smiled back. Looping the bow over the rope she launched herself off the turret and began her descent to tree. Above the ground now she let go of the bow and rolled a few feet to land near a tree.
There was no time to be awed by her brief flight because arrows began to rain down upon her. She quickly took shelter under another tree and looked around for a way out. "Over here!" shouted someone.
Hermione looked around and found a rider some feet away waving her over. Where did he come from? Was the only thought she had time to think, for another shower of arrows fell, one almost hitting her leg. Taking a chance to ran to the mysterious rider and jumped on the back of his white horse with the rider's help. The rider kicked his horse into a gallop and as they fled they heard a scream that sent shiver down their spine and settled into their bones.
The two rode for quite a while until they were many miles away from Voldemort's castle and at a lake. "Are you all right?" the rider asked. She nodded as he helped her down from the horse. She looked around at her surroundings first, noticing the lake. It seems so familiar. Turning to thank the man who had saved her she stopped and gasped. A pair of emerald eyes met hers. Though these eyes were amazing they were only and attribute to such a handsome face. With black messy hair that dipped into their vision, she noticed that he must have been no older than twenty three. Plenty of laugh lines framed his eyes and the hint of a beard surrounded his gorgeous lips.
Hermione was in shock. That lake, this man, it can't be. Realization of her setting and the weariness she felt overloaded her and caused a reaction that she did not usually have; she fainted.
The smell of food brought her to her senses.
Opening her eyes she found some meat cooking over a fire but its chef no where to in sight. She was leaning up against a tree with a cloak over her, probably belonging to that rider.
That rider!
Everything started to come back to Hermione; the lake seeming so familiar, that man, and why she fainted. Oh, I can't believe I fainted; I could have been attacked or even worse recaptured! Voldemort and his plan! I have to warn the queen and Ginny!
"Good morning, I'm glad you're awake," stirring her from her thoughts Hermione looked over to the young man who had helped her escape. He walked over to her with a line of fish in tow. "You had me a little worried; you've been out for a couple hours now."
Hours!
Staring into his eyes Hermione cleared her throat, finding her voice she replied a little weakly, "I'm fine, really, thank you for all your help." He smiled at her and she felt warmth fill her heart, what is going on? She smiled in return and that seem to make him smile even more.
Nervously he coughed and he asked, "So what were you doing there by Voldemort's castle, it's not the best hunting spot. He doesn't take well to visitors either."
"I was….." she began to tell him about her mission but then stopped. What if he is a spy of some sort, despite how he looks I don't know anything about him. I think I'll wait a while before I given away any full truths. "I was lost. I don't know these grounds very well I just kind of lost my way."
He looked as though he didn't quite believe her but didn't press her about it. Nodding he asked offered, "Would you like some food? I know I'm starved but help yourself. By the way my name is Harry."
She stared at him a moment, Harry, was does that name seem so familiar; "Mine's Hermione and thank you." She dug into the meat; it seemed like ages since she had tasted anything so good. They didn't speak as they ate but they did sneak glances at each other when the other wasn't looking.
After finishing their meals and washing their plates Hermione stared out at the lake, slightly entranced by its beauty.
Turning to Harry she said, "I think I'll head in for a swim……..would you…like to join me" Where did that come from?
Harry, at first, seemed intrigued but quickly covered it with a mask of thoughtfulness. He wouldn't have minded swimming with such a beautiful woman but someone had to keep watch. "Perhaps later, I think for now I'll just rest. Saving damsels in distress is quite tiring." He chuckled and went to lie back against a tree.
She glared at him for a few moments. Damsel in distress! What does he know! Turning her back to him she walked toward the lake and began to remove her tunic and pants. Giving one last look at Harry she dived into the water.
Cold, was her first thought but after submerging herself a few times she quickly began to feel warmer. She did a few water stunts, washing the dirt and grime that had coated her in those dirty dungeons. Floating along she let the sun warm her skin and Hermione felt a kind of peace she hadn't known since she first came to this land.
A splash echoed a little to her left breaking her out of her reverie. Opening her eyes she lifted her head lightly and sank up to her nose. She was thinking of a few combinations to disarm when a voice spoke from behind.
"I figured a swim wouldn't hurt now that I'm refreshed."
She spun around to throw a punch but stopped at the sight of Harry…..and his bare chest.
"Sorry, I thought I'd go for a swim, but if you'd rather I didn't……" He said with a smile and started to leave but was stopped by Hermione's hand. A sudden spark followed by an immense amount of warmth filled him where she touched his arm. He looked at her, did she feel that too?
"Don't go, the offer still stands." Hermione told him her hand still placed on his arm. She didn't want to let go, didn't want the feeling of electricity running through her being to leave. He turned to her and smiled even wider.
Hermione noticed and questioned, "What are you smiling about?"
"Oh nothing" he said suspiciously. She raised an eyebrow but before she could say another word he picked her up and threw her back into the water.
She popped back up sputtering slightly, turning to him she glared, "Oh you've asked for it now." And so began their little water war. Hours passed and in the end there was no real winner or loser determined, just Harry holding Hermione's arms to her side to keep her from splashing him still.
He laughed as she still struggled, "Just say that I am the victor and you can move your arms again."
She smiled and continued to struggle, "Never! I'll never give in!" He laughed again and held her tighter. This made her stop. They were very close now, too close her rational side told her. She look up into his green eyes and found him completely serious and looking right back into hers.
He pulled her closer still, seemingly in a trance, and wrapped his arms around her gently. She began to shiver a little and was rather sure it wasn't the water that was doing this to her. He lifted a hand to softly caress her cheek, wanting to touch every inch of her. Hermione leaned into his touch and sighed softly. Her heart quickened and her pulse raced. A thought ran through her mind.
Something about all this seemed very familiar.
Taking a hand away from his chest she reached up and cupped his cheek, the other hand following only to wrap around his neck. Harry bowed his head while she titled hers but he stopped her for a moment.
"Hermione…I-" he started to tell her what he was feeling, who he was but she brought a finger to his lips.
"Shhh" she whispered and brought his face closer to hers. Their lips almost touched when one final thought ran through her mind, just two words long.
The dream.
His lips met hers and her heart exploded with the feeling of warmth that he brought. They both felt the shocks where their skin touched, and the awareness at how sweet the other tasted. Harry's hand began to roam while pulling her toward him even closer, touching everything that he could. Hermione's skin was on fire where ever her skin met his fingertips. His gentle touch caused a moan to be released from the back of her throat. Soon the need for air outweighed the need for each other's lips and they slowly broke apart.
Not leaving each other's embrace, their leaned against each other's foreheads slightly panting.
"That was amazing" Harry said bringing a hand back up to her cheek.
Hermione smiled, "Yes it was. I…." But at that moment horns sounded all through the forest. She identified them immediately. "Voldemort" she whispered. Suddenly she remembered what she had heard. The attack! They must be marching toward the castle.
She turned to him and with a hint of sadness in her eyes and worry in her voice said, "I'm sorry I have to go." With that she swam for the shore as fast as she could and began putting on her clothes.
Harry was right behind her. "Wait, what's wrong? What's Voldemort-"
"I'm sorry I can't explain it right now, but I have to get back to Gryffindor Castle. It's very important." She gathered her things into a pack and added some food.
"Gryffindor Castle? Why-" Harry tried again sounding confused but not a little worried as well.
"I'm sorry but I have to go." Hermione turned to him and gave him one last kiss. A quick one to be sure but just as wonderful as their first. "Goodbye and thank you." With that she ran off into the forest as fast as she could. She soon found her way to woods that she had been in before and ran faster to reach the castle in time. For the first time her heart was torn into, she didn't want to leave Harry but she couldn't stand by and let her friend lose their lives. Especially when it was one of the reasons she was brought to this wonderful place.
With the thought of her friends' lives in danger she pushed herself the rest of way hopping against hope that there would be enough time to prepare and live another day.
********Author's Note*********
The chapter you've all been waiting for, I'll try and get inspired to write another one. Fair warning as I'm sure you've already noticed I haven't reread it through that thoroughly so if any mistakes are found please let me know, hope you enjoyed anyway.
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