All I can say is that I'm really excited about this story, but I make no promises that I'll update FREQUENTLY. I have a busy schedule (don't we all?), so I'll update whenever I can. This is a Post-DH story, so enjoy and please bear with me. ~sappheiros
I do not own the Harry Potter Series…If I did, Hermione would have ended up with someone else.
P.S. There will be some romance in here. ;)
"WHERE IS THE GIRL?" a middle aged man, cloaked in all black shouted. A table was turned over as the man made his way to a corner of the demolished household. Where there was once a warm and loving fireplace, now stood a pile of crushed bricks and ash. Tables and other furniture were either turned over or blasted into bits. A home that could have been the epitome of peace and order was now the very picture of a warzone. Crouched in the corner was a man, who was much older than the intruder.
"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear," the intruder pointed his wand directly at the older man. "Where is the girl?" He seethed out. The cloaked man was running out of patience, and he didn't have much of it to begin with.
The aged man in the corner was trembling. The intruder smirked in satisfaction; the old man was finally showing his fear. And why wouldn't he fear him? He was beaten, disarmed, and would likely die should he refuse to cooperate. However, the intruder's smirk disappeared as soon as it appeared. The man in the corner wasn't trembling out of fear. No, his eyes were too sharp, too determined to not let anything slip, too willful…and too confident. The old man was trembling either out of anger, anticipation, relief, or perhaps all three. The cloaked man had had enough and so he struck the other man across the face and brought him to his knees. Blood trickled down a bearded chin, but the old man's lips were upturned into a pained smile.
He spat the blood and wiped at his mouth. "You'll never find her."
"…Wrong answer."
A young girl of about ten or eleven was running through a forest. She didn't know where she was going, but she didn't care. All she knew was that she had to get away.
"Run! Run as far away from here as you can! If you see anyone with a snake and skull tattoo on their forearm, get away immediately! Do you understand?"
"B-but―"
"Go…" he kissed her soft, curly tresses and held her tightly, even if it was for a brief second. "I'll be fine. I'll find you again, as soon as I can. Just keep safe. That's all I ask of you." A lone tear fell from icy blue eyes and slid down a bearded chin.
A bang was heard from the front door and the man quickly pushed the girl out the back door. Almost immediately after she was out, the man conjured up a protective charm. The charm wasn't meant to protect the household, what was the use now? No, it was to keep her out. After the protective charm was made, a Disillusionment charm followed. The girl looked back, hopefully not for the last time, and sprinted into the forest.
She ran as fast as her little legs could carry her. Once or twice she fell among the thorn bushes and knotted roots, but she couldn't stop. Tears ran down her pale face, but she had no time to wipe them off. As she ran, her short mahogany hair caught several leaves and twigs. After several minutes of running, she somehow made it out of the forest and into a small wizarding town. She pushed her way through the many people and many vendors. Normally she'd stop and apologize, but it didn't matter anymore. "Run as far away from here as you can…" That was her order. Running desperately and blindly, she soon collided into someone and fell onto her back.
"Oh my goodness! Little girl, are you alright?"
"Nice going weasel."
"Sod off ferret! It's not like I actually pushed her down."
"Oy! Will you two knock it off?" A hand appeared in front of the little girl's face. "Here let me help you up."
The girl was about to take hold of the stranger's hand, but as she glanced around at the party she ran into, she saw a strange tattoo on a member's forearm. Forest green eyes immediately clashed with emerald green ones. One set held realization and fear while the other held calmness and reassurance. Despite the stranger's kind eyes, she smacked the hand away, got up, and ran away as quickly as she could.
"It was one of them! No, if there was one, they could have all been―!" She lost her footing and fell onto the brick road. She could hear footsteps coming up fast behind her. She was being followed by them! On her left was an alley. Seeing as she had no other choice, she got up and desperately ran towards it. She crouched in a fetal position between a few crates, frantically crying and praying that they wouldn't find her.
"…Papa," she sniffled. Four shadows loomed over her. That was it, she was trapped. She held herself tighter as the stranger's hand from before made its way to her head, and braced herself for the worst. She was caught by surprise as she realized that the top of her head was being caressed softly, much like how her papa used to do.
"There now, it's alright. We promise we won't hurt you. Now why don't you tell us your name?"
It's obvious who the four are, isn't it? Question is, what are they doing there? Well, that will be explained in the later chapters. Please leave a review!
