Hermione shivered and shoved her bare hands into her coat pockets. She had forgotten her gloves at home, and she deeply regretted that. She snuggled deeper into her coat and looked out over the cliff edge. She suddenly realized what she had just thought. Since when had she started calling the tent home? Well, ever since Harry and she moved in she supposed.
She sighed and pulled out her journal from her coat pocket. It was not a big book. It was small enough to carry around. She opened it up carefully, turning to the correct page. She marked another line beside the 91 other ones. She sighed softly. Exactly three months ago they had escaped from the ministry and started living on the run. And exactly a week ago that Ron had left them. She flipped the book shut and ran her naked fingers across the freezing snow. They tingled and nearly straight away became numb.
"Ron, you big jerk." She muttered, feeling her eyes well with tears. They froze quickly to her lashes, and she furiously rubbed her eyes to get rid of the tiny crystals. "I miss you."
With a last look at the horizon, she turned around and stumbled back to the yellowed tent, completely oblivious to the figure moving in the shadows of the trees. She slipped through the flap and removed her snowy boots. She collapsed into an armchair.
"Mione." Harry Potter greeted, nodding his head.
"Harry." She said back.
"So, what where you up too? You really shouldn't wander outside the protection wards. What if somebody saw you?" The black haired boy looked at his best mate nervously, as if expecting an outburst. Hermione just shook her head slowly, ignoring Harry's tone completely.
"I know Harry. Its just…." She paused, searching for the right word, gesturing slightly with her hands. "Never mind. Its not like anyone would be out here anyways." Harry stared at her.
"But you were the one who was so clear about taking every single precaution possible." He said. Hermione nodded.
"Yes. I was." She looked out the tiny window. "I just… Don't really care anymore. That's all."
"What?" He spluttered. Hermione turned her head and met his forest green eyes.
"Harry. I'm tired. Every one, even you and… and… Ron." She struggled to say his name. "Are always expecting me to know the answers. And I know that every one expects even more from you…" She said quickly, seeing Harry's face. "But every one has their limits. Even me."
"So you're just going to walk too then?" There was no venom in his words. He sounded weak.
"Of course not Harry." Hermione said softly. She reached out a hand and grasped Harry's own. Harry held on tight.
"I know Hermione. Hey, your hands are freezing cold." He looked at Hermione questionably.
"I wasn't wearing gloves." She shrugged.
"Why didn't you cast a warming charm?"
"I'm not sure. I think I wanted to feel the snow." She looked up at Harry's snort. "What?"
"Only you." He teased. Hermione opened her mouth to retort, but instead a surprised yelp left her as Harry threw her over his shoulder. She hit his back with his fists, screaming to be released as Harry practically ran out the tent. He flipped Hermione over and she fell with a soft thud into the snow. She squeaked as the cold hit her, seeping through her shirt. She glared at the raven standing above her.
"I thought you wanted to feel the snow." Harry said innocently, barely able to control his laughter. Hermione stopped glaring and started laughing too. After about 30 seconds her backside was completely soaked, so she held up a hand to be helped up. Harry, momentarily distracted, took her hand and let out a surprised sound as he was pulled head first into the snow.
He looked up and spat out a mouth full of slush. Hermione was laughing her head off, rolling around on the frozen ground.
"You'll pay for that!" The boy-who-lived cried, forming a snowball between his freezing fingers and flinging it at the girl. She yelped as it hit her on the head, and she stumbled to her feet and took off running, sinking slightly in into the snow with each step she took. Harry stumbled after her.
They were so caught up in their game of chase that they didn't notice when they stepped straight out of the protective wards. The wards that kept them hidden. The wards that kept people out.
The figure in the shadows watched the two teenagers as the appeared, chasing each other through the snow. And there she was. Her milky face bright red from the cold and laughter. Her beautiful curls flying around her as she spun around and around. She was even more gorgeous then she had been in the memory. He wanted her in his arms now. He didn't even care that Potter was right there. Ill deal with him in the future, he decided. That's when he stepped out of the shadows.
Potter's gleeful face fell immediately as his eyes fell on him. He grabbed Hermione and pushed her behind him. Hermione had not yet noticed the stranger.
"Harry? What's the matter?" She asked, and her voice was like silk. That's when she noticed the boy and she gasped, taking a step back and grabbing hold of Harry's arm. The stranger's eyes narrowed, and he felt his jealousy levels rising.
"R-Riddle?" Potter said uncertainly. Tom Riddle smirked.
"Hello Potter. I believe you have something that belongs to me." Harry jumped, and used his free hand to clutch the horecrux locket beneath his shirt. Tom laughed. "No, no. Not the locket." He had not come for the locket. In his time the locket was perfectly safe. His grey eyes flickered to Hermione's.
"Then what?" When Potter spoke, his voice trembled. Tom's eyes shone as his lips twitched.
"Her."
A/N: So this chapter was very very short. I know I'm sorry! It will be longer next chapter I promise and it will explain why Tom Riddle has come for Hermione. Review? XOX