I just wanted to say that I am sorry for not updating sooner but I was very busy during February and March as I was involved in the Adelaide Fringe.
I am also heading to the Edinburgh Fringe in late July.
First of all I do hope that you'll enjoy this chapter as it took me three months to write. I wanted to make sure that it wasn't a filler-chapter or boring and I spent a lot of the time pondering and thinking.
Big thanks to Katie for sticking with me! I can't thank you enough
Any spelling or grammatical mistakes are my fault from last minutes revisions
Merci beaucoup pour votre attention
Rachel
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Stop asking me. lol
Chapter Ten
Her mouth opened in disbelief, a string of incoherent words fluttered through Hermione's mind. She swallowed them all.
She mumbled. "Honestly…," biting her lower lip she narrowed her eyes at Sirius.
Please, she thought. You've got to be kidding. There is no way in hell…no wait….no way this is logical. Harry is not dangerous….is he?
"Get out." Fighting back tears she refused to look at him, crossing her arms; a wall of bushy hair fell flat against her clammy cheek. "Just leave,"
"Remember what I've told you…"
"Oh it's hard to forget," she snapped back, choosing this moment to glare at his rapidly retreating form.
A scruffy black dog wagged his tail on his way out, leaving her alone and lost in her thoughts.
Leaning back, she sighed and tried to close her eyes and not think.
_ _
Her hand felt like cold snake's skin against his and he liked it. Huddled together amongst the autumn leaves he gazed into her molten depths as she whispered.
"I promise,"
She was so close that he could breathe in the scent of her rose lips. They smelt of cinnamon and winter.
He found himself leaning closer until their foreheads touched, the bridge of his glasses dug into his skin, leaving a small red mark in its wake. He didn't care.
There was no need for words as a streak of fire flickered out from their drawn wands, curling around their clasped arms.
Harry knew that a few paces back Remus stood, his face disapproving but Harry knew that they both wanted to make this vow-----an unbreakable vow----together to defeat Voldemort.
"Harry," a voice whispered. He tried ignoring it. Instead, he tried to remember what he felt on that day as he and Mione made that unbreakable vow before heading to his house.
What were the words they confessed to one another? He tried to remember but it was hard to block out the seething hiss blowing in his right ear.
<Thwack>
Something hard hit him, twice.
His hand shot out just as a large brown book was about to make its third attack.
Cranking one eye open he found Hermione next to him, brown book clutched in her arms and glaring at him like some wild beast.
"Harry!" she hissed through clenched lips, looking around, frightful that others might see her in this state. "We're supposed to be studying for finals..."
He groaned as his head lowered and lay flat on the table---his glasses askew. Finals were the last thing on his mind.
Christmas had come and gone. He received the Map and ever since he had been searching the castle walls for one sneaky Peter Pettigrew. So far---no dice.
Hermione was being no help either. Every time he tried to ask her she would turn around and glare at him behind a pile of potion books.
Honestly it's not like finals are the end of the world. He could tell her that she would pass but then again, he smiled to himself, where would there be the fun in that?
Ronald Weasley came bursting into the library with Ginny tailing behind him.
Both were red in the face and barely made it over to the end of the library before collapsing in a heap next to Hermione's large pile of study books with a loud thud.
Hermione spared them a resigned glance before returning to her notes.
Harry eyed them over briefly before closing his eyes.
<Thwack>
Harry groaned, rubbing his face in pain as he opened his eyes to find Hermione clutched a different book this time; it was red and was twice as thick.
She eyed him. For some reason he found himself smiling and wondered what else he could do to annoy her.
"Harry!" Ginny's voice squealed---pushing a letter to him.
Sighing, he rubbed his eyes underneath his glasses---which were horribly bent on one side before glancing down at the sloppy ink splattered note.
"Fuck----"
"HARRY!" Hermione growled. Ignoring the curious looked they were attracting. "Language!"
"What's fuck?" Ginny asked.
Harry bit his lower lip to stop himself from laughing. Glancing over at Hermione he could tell she was trying to do the same thing, although she was still angry at him.
Harry sighed, dropping the letter and fixing his glasses. Hermione picked it up and after a few seconds he could see the colour drain from her face.
Buckbeak was going to be executed today.
Amongst other things he foolishly thought that by saving Draco's arse he wouldn't press any charges. Somehow Draco found a loophole or begged his father to do something.
An image of an older version of Draco with a black eye patch flashed in the back of his mind.
No, the Draco he'd know wouldn't do this but it was time he realised that the Draco Malfoy he knew was gone….for now.
Scratching his head he smiled when an idea popped into his head. Turning to Hermione he whispered,
"Go with Ron and Ginny to see Hagrid. I'll see you later tonight after the execution,"
"WHAT?" Ron cried.
The librarian, Madam Pince held her hand up as in warning.
"Keep it down Ron, Harry has a plan," Hermione whispered.
Ron seemed taken aback for a moment before whispering, "Oh".
Ginny scrunched up her face before hitting her brother on the shoulder. "You can be sooo daft some times".
* * * * * *
Piles of pumpkins littered Hagrid's small cottage. Cries of delight could be heard coming from Buckbeak as he guzzled down slices of pumpkins and slices of dead ferrets---his last meal.
She tried to concentrate. No really, she did. Hermione sat cooped between a mumbling Ginny and an equally rambling Ron as Hagrid continuously drank from his mug.
Hermione wondered what Harry was doing and why couldn't she help?
How was he going to save Buckbeak? Or is he planning not to? She cupped her hands tightly in her lap and tried to look resigned as Hagrid regaled another tale about his friendship with the hippogriff.
Looking outside Hagrid's cottage window she saw three figures ambling down in the distance. One had a very distinctive pointy black hood.
She gasped, she nudged Ginny. "They're coming! We've got to go".
Hagrid nodded, his face still swimming above the rim of his mug. "Aye".
"This is mental," Ron mumbled but Hermione was glad that he didn't have the energy to make any snide remark.
They both were thinking about the outcome of Buckbeak's grim fate.
For Hermione it was easier to focus on climbing up the hill than pondering over Buckbeak's execution.
However, knowing that in a few minutes someone you know was going to be killed was a bitter pill to swallow.
She felt violently ill thinking about it but as she stole a glance at Hagrid in the distance she thought of Harry. They both had the same glint in their eyes-----dead eyes----she thinks that's what Sirius called it. People who've seen death too many times to even feel sadness; Hermione led Ron and Ginny towards a large pumpkin patch and ducked behind a pile of large pumpkins just in time as Professor Dumbledore, the Minster of Magic----Cornelius fudge and the third man in black holding out a large metal scythe stood at Hagrid's doorstep.
Hermione watched as they went inside. She turned and whispered to Ron, "We've got to go," grabbing him by the collar she yanked him up the hill and forced herself to not look back. She wanted to keep the image of the silver-feathered hippogriff munching on pumpkins for a little longer -----he's not going to die, she told herself, repeating it over and over in her mind. If only she believed her own words.
Almost out of breath she made it to the top of the hill and sagged against Ron. She turned back to see the Sun was awash with streaks of pink and red. The sun was setting and she could feel the clock ticking away as Buckbeak's execution drew near.
She could feel Ron's hands clutch her close. Ginny was behind him, not wanting to look but Hermione willed herself to watch the sun set.
She saw in the distance, Hagrid's cottage at the bottom of the hill and saw the tall black hooded man wobbled out of the cottage, turn and raise his glistened metal claw. He charged into the pumpkin patch obscured by the surrounding trees and Hermione heard a loud nauseating thwack. She saw herds of black crows spiralling away in the distance.
Her body felt like lead as she realised that Buckbeak had died and Harry did nothing to stop it.
__
It was late in the evening and Hermione snuck outside her dormitories and into the courtyard. She found a large tree to sit beneath and sank her back against the thick trunk. Glancing up at the sky, her wand in her hand she felt numb. It shocked her. Buckbeak----someone was killed and she felt like a switch inside her shut off. She couldn't eat properly, she couldn't drink and people who spoke to her, she didn't listen.
Ginny was a faucet of grief, she wailed in the girl's bathroom and it took several hours to calm her before heading into the hall for supper.
She sat alongside Ron, his arms next to hers and she could feel his warmth. It felt nice but it wasn't Harry's and throughout the entire meal she kept glancing besides her, almost expecting him to walk through the doors with a large hippogriff in tow.
What scared her the most was that Professor Snape, Professor Lupin and Dumbledore were all absent from tonight's supper.
Somehow, she knew it had to do with Harry.
She had finals tomorrow but she couldn't sleep. The image of Harry's face always entered her mind when she closed her eyes. Hermione looked up at the black lit sky and tried blanking herself out. She picked up her locket and twirled it in one hand before placing it underneath her robes.
She knew that there was a way of finding out an answer besides waiting for Harry. The cold metal rubbing against her chest was a constant reminder. She could, if she figured a way of preventing her own death, take off the locket and allow the memories of her previous self--- (she had no idea of what to call it. Previous self? Alternate self?) -----wash over and face her elder self, her alternate self, Hermione corrected. She could also ask Mione what had happened to Buckbeak.
She clenched her fingers until they hurt. It wasn't right. She got up took one last look at the night school before complementing on headed back to the dormitories. She should be sleeping. There was no need to dwell on this. School was much more important right now. Yet she remained when she stood and listened to the wind as it moved through her curly locks.
"I never took you for a night person," a familiar voice joked, right behind her. She jumped and saw a flicker of black, green and a flash of silver.
How did he manage to sneak in on her without making any sound?
_______
Harry Potter slumped against the tree and there alongside him was none other than…
"Buckbeak…"she whispered….raising her hand she was about to touch his silvery mane when Harry grabbed hold of her wrist and gently pushed it down. Gently but firmly.
"He likes his personal space…" He said. In truth Buckbeak only trusted two people to touch him and it wasn't Hermione.
He stood near her in the middle of the grassy field.
"Thanks for what you did…" He gave her a tired smile. In truth it was a bit hard to stand. Battling a herd of dementors can do that to a person.
"What I did?" She arched her eyebrows and blushed. "All I did…"
"You went and saw Hagrid and gave me time to get Buckbeak…" Harry informed her.
She distracted everyone and that helped him lure Buckbeak and hide him in the forest before getting Peter.
"So," She drawled, biting her lower lip. "You mean…while I distracted… Hagrid, you got Buckbeak---" her eyes started to water and Harry was quick to explain.
He had no energy to deal with this yet…
"To put it mildly---- yes….then I went and got peter Pettigrew…that slimly git." He scoffed. "I showed the map to lupin after I placed Peter in a jar and------…."
"What map?" she interrupted.
What map? Harry inwardly sighed, his memories askew. Sometimes it was hard to remember whether or not Hermione was aware about the map.
He remembered Mione vividly telling him to hand it to the headmaster though…"The marauders map Hermione…..Fred and George…"
"Fred and George!" She piped, anxiety was clearly written on her face. "…oh Harry how c-could you…"
"It's originally my father's," he quickly filled her in on the history of the map and meaning, glossing over many details as fatigue was slowly catching up with him, "…anyway….look," touching the bridge of his glasses in thought, "….the main thing is I got'im and now Sirius is free…no Azkaban…"
Despite the fact that his said godfather never thanked him for it and was now off somewhere in London without even a pretend heartfelt goodbye.
Where was the heartfelt talk about loss?
"Really… so that's why Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape and lupin were absent…"
Harry smiled. Trust her to pay attention to detail, "Yes….and now that fifthly rat goes to Azkaban…" He could just picture it now.
He enjoyed it for a while until he realised that he knew, deep in his heart that peter would find a way to escape and the events will unfold and result in Cedric's death and Voldemort's return.
Not if I can help it, he said to himself….
"Let me guess…he didn't last time…"Hermione whispered, her voice brining him out of his reverie. Her eyes were flicking from him to the ground.
Clearly she was unsettled about something.
Sometimes her gift for detail can be a curse as well…
"No he didn't…..," raking his unruly looks, he gazed at her hopeful face "you helped save my godfather by using the time turner," he smiled in memory, "….long story…"
"Oh…"she whimpered and she gave him a look that reminded him so much of Mione when she was upset he felt the temperature around him drop. "So I guess I couldn't help…"
But you did Hermione….. He thought. You help me so much you never realise it.
"Oh Harry," She saw his face "…I didn't okay…..how could you do something like this.." making hand gestures in the air…
"What?" he asked, this time a little louder.
"Rushing into things without thinking first. Sometimes…" She pulled in a deep breath, "you're worse than Ron…"
An image of Ron holding a wand pointed at Mione. His eyes burned in fury as he whispered two words.
Avada Kedeva
He shook his head. She didn't know. No one did really. He never told anyone what happened the nigh when Mione died and this wasn't the time or place to be thinking about it.
If Hermione knew what Ron did…she wouldn't even speak of his name to his face.
If there was a word to describe her appearance right now it would be distraught. It was written all over her face.
Her eyes were bloodshot and brimming with tears. "…. I didn't mean…" she croaked.
"Look," holding his hands up in defeat, "….I'm sorry I didn't have time to involve you but I'm sure when danger strikes I'll be sure to call you…"
"I can help…" she protested, taking a step closer he could see the warmth in her eyes despite the tears. He could almost smell the soap she used. It was intoxicating.
"It's dangerous Hermione." He stated.
"That didn't stop her….or me…for that matter….she did it anyway so if you're supposed to be my friend you should've guessed by now that I won't take no for an answer…"
He wanted to hug her. He wanted to touch her right now that it burned his hands. Her words gutted him.
He knew that no matter what he couldn't keep Hermione in the dark. She helped him find his powers. If he wanted to succeed he needed Hermione.
But there was apart of him that wanted to protect her from the hell that was going to come sooner or later.
He didn't know what to say. So he whispered, "You're right…" and hoped that she could see in his expression that he would never keep her from helping him but… he wanted to.
"So tell me…" She leaned closer so that her face was inches from his. He could smell her warm breath and her skin seemed to glow in the moonlight.
"Tell you what…"he whispered, his eyes were too busy looking at her lips. He wondered if they tasted as red as they were right now.
"If you're going to save the world this is the point where you confide with your sidekick,"
He knew that she was joking but hearing her words…he didn't know how to explain it but something clicked with an awful clang inside him.
"You're not a sidekick," he whispered, attentively he brought up his right hand and touched her cheek.
"Then what am I to you…"
He sighed, his left arm reached out and snaked around her waist, pulling her close while his right hand hiked upwards and became lost in her thick mane. "Hermione," tiling her head upwards he gazed into her face, his glasses were pressed so firmly against his face that it almost drew blood.
You're everything
She bit her lower lip as one tear leaked out and trembled down her pale cheek, "Please tell me…"
After what seemed for a long time he let go and crossed his arms. He looked at anything, the shoots of green turf, the night sky…..anything but at her.
"….this isn't pretty," he said, he continued to look into the distance, "….once I stop you can never turn back," he turned and looked at her. Her sweet, angelic, innocent face, "…don't say I never warned you…" he turned his gaze back to the night sky, away from her.
He heard her inch closer and was unprepared for her arms, snaking through his waist, so supple and warm, forcibly pull his back against her front. He could feel her small breasts pressed against his shoulder blades. Her face rested against his back as she hugged him tightly around his waist.
He was at a loss. She felt so warm and the image of sidling his hands against her white arms and around her hips kept flashing in his mind.
Fuck, he cursed. Don't think about that right now. She's barely fourteen…
"Tell me," she muffled.
It's now or never…. He told himself. Even though he saved Sirius and Peter is now known for his treachery next year will be a challenge.
He just had no idea whether or not next year would be the same or different.
"Next year," he began as he unhooked her arms and stood away from her, "Hogwarts is going to hold the tri-wizard tournament….three champions are chosen to compete in a series of events…." Memories flashed before him. He pushed them away.
Hermione crossed her arms and nodded for him to continue but she seemed somewhat trouble about something…
I'll ask her later, he told himself.
"The Tri-wizard what…."she mouthed.
"Next year is when…." he could see the dead pearly whites of Cedric's eyes flash before him.
He could feel the echoes of the torture curse given by Voldemort. He had no idea what may or may not happen next year and that alone sacred him.
"is when……" he paused, "….Voldemort comes back…"he finished and watched as Hermione's eyes become wide as the moon.