A Tale of Dancing Flames



Chapter #1 Close Call

{August 10th, 4:00 a.m.}

Hermione Granger jolted awake, sweating. Yet again, she had dreamed of Lily Potter, silently pleading her to go do something, but Hermione wasn't sure what Lily Potter wanted. Again James Potter's face flew into her mind. She couldn't figure out why lately, as she looked at the copy picture of the Potters wedding she had wanted from Harry, she was always thinking of him. He was handsome, sure. No one could possibly be in better shape. He had smooth, hairless skin, and dark eyes. Hermiones' mom said he was the kind of person who talked more with the fiery glow in his eyes, and that he was a serious thinker. James' body was finely chiseled, with a straight back and a small head. He had slender, powerful- looking arms and long muscular legs. He was just the right shape for a seeker in quidditch. Long legs to grip the broomstick, slender, long arms to catch the snitch, and a very keen- looking eye. Yet he carried the same trait his son did, his hair seemed to defy the rules of gravity and stuck up all over the place. She sighed. He's dead so quit fancying him! A voice yelled in her head. Honestly, thinking your best friends' dead father is hot, God alone knows what Harry would say. Hermione could hear the soft hum of a helicopter. Brushing sweat from her sleep-weary eyes, she stared out the window and gasped in surprise. It looked like the town was under attack. The Grangers lived on the outskirts of town and the mayhem had not yet reached their house. The helicopter swooped down, picking people up and setting them to safety. But the men, obviously Death Eaters, were all ready at her house, and soon the house was devoured in flames. Hermione screamed and battled the smoke fighting fire and Death Eaters alike. They were laughing and torturing her parents.







{August 10th, 4:30 a.m.}

"God damn shitting muggles! Can't you let me sink into black oblivion, or do you have to wake me up, ya lousy bums!" James Potter woke up from the cave he had been sleeping in for only one week, and already he was sick of the place. He had been reborn on the 3rd of August and it was one week later. He had blasted the hell out of his coffin, and it was a good thing it was the middle of the night or people would be pretty shocked. James scrambled up and peered out of the cave, ready to yell, but he was silenced by horror. Death Eaters swarming the town. Then he heard, from a little white house set against the forest, s girl scream. He jumped up and raced forward, transforming into a stag along the way. He charged in and scared the death eaters away by bellowing at them, and he stood protectively over the girl they were planning to rape. Two muggles, presumably her parents, were lying there as dead as doorknobs. He bent down on his knees and hocks, offering her a ride. She looked up at him before racing into a bedroom. She skidded back out holding a wand. He bent down again, allowing her to climb awkwardly on. She barely had time to grip anything, so she grabbed on to his muscular neck, and she held fast like a burr. He galloped off and leapt clearly into the forest, his back hooves flying up into the air in a single, energetic crow- hop. She clung on to his broad back as they galloped into the forest.







Hermione opened her eyes to a bright glare of sunlight. Her stomach rumbled painfully and she looked around for something to eat. She blinked in surprise and decided to find the stag that had saved her life. He was there, laying in a patch of shade and munching thoughtfully on a pile of leaves that he had knocked off the tree. His head shot up and he stared at Hermione for a whole silent minute before returning to his leaf pile. Hermione smiled, satisfied. He looked at her for a second before sighing and getting up onto his feet. Then he looked at her strangely and she stroked him, letting him sniff her. She touched is shoulder gently and smiled as he accepted her affection. He looked at her again before shuddering and, with a faint pop, turned into a human. Hermione froze in shock.

"Whe, huh? But, but, tha, that's impossible!" she whispered in surprise.

"Naw. Do it all the time. Course, you muggle folk sure are strange." The man had his back to her, but she judged him to be six feet at least. His hair was messy and jet-black, with not one single gray hair poking out on his head. He was muscular and compact, yet lithe. It didn't matter that she hadn't seen his face because she knew who it was.

"No, Mr. Potter! I mean, you died the night You-Know-Who tried to kill Harry!" The man spun around in shock.

"Oh. My. God. You're a witch?"

"Yeah, I'm a muggle-born!" Hermione said quickly. "And I'm also your sons' best friend!"

"Wait a sec, back up! Voldemort tried to kill Harry? I thought. You're Harrys' friend? He's alive?" The man seemed to be panicking slightly.

"Of course he's alive!" Hermione said, not sure where the conversation was heading.

"What about.?"

"Moony, and Padfoot and Snape, and Dumbledore! They're alive too!"

"Basically saying that I have reason to live?"

Of course!" Hermione said, laughing.

"Oh, thank you so much! I was sinking into oblivion! You saved my life, kiddo!" James rushed forward and enveloped her in a hug, sweeping her up in his muscular arms and pressing her passionately against his chest. Remembering her former thoughts of James Potter, she blushed deeply and squirmed in delight while in his embrace. Finally he set her down and grinned. A loud bang startled them out of their thoughts. He swiveled his head and gasped at the sight. Death Eaters. And lots of them.

"Get up! Let's get out of here!" He said nervously.

"But where do we go?" Hermione whispered, frightened by the Death Eaters.

"Hold on!" James said firmly, He hoisted her up and set her on his shoulders. Then he transformed and cantered away from the campsite. Voldemort himself came running eagerly after them. But James was too swift. He darted into a cove and waited until, finally, all the dark wizards were gone. Then he glanced down at Hermione. She had fallen off of his back.

"Close call." END OF CHAPTER