As always, Harry Potter doesn't belong to me, this work is purely fictional. If you're a returning reader, welcome! This is going to be thoroughly edited and the plot will be changed drastically, so I definitely recommend reading from the beginning! I started this story when I was fourteen FOUR years ago, I've grown as a writer since then, and I hope you like it!
She was running for her life; her wand clutched tightly in her dominant hand while the screams of innocent witches and wizards filled the air. They were running in all directions; parents desperate to hold onto their children as the Death Eaters invaded camp, where most were still partying into the night after a rather satisfying Quidditch match at the World Cup. The hysteria is what caused Hermione Granger to be separated from her friends.
Hermione is only fourteen, though a bright student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, she has been in quite a few predicaments in the past years with her two best friends Ronald Weasley, and most famously, Harry Potter, who defeated the Dark Lord when he was just a baby. They have been friends since first year, and this is the first time Hermione has ever felt truly terrified. Perhaps it was because she was by herself while Voldemort's most loyal followers were more than likely searching for Harry, or hunting down the Muggle borns, like herself.
My parents are dentists, what would they say if they saw me now?
It's not like Hermione ever clued her parents in on the… extracurricular activities that go on outside of her classes, they'd never allow her to go back to Hogwarts again.
Hermione came to a stop, her hand coming to rest on the stitch in her side, propping herself up against a tree. The sounds around her began to die down as people managed to escape, and before she knew it, she could no longer hear anything other than the crickets chirping around her and the very distant sound of tents burning to the ground from the Death Eaters.
"Hermione?"
Hermione's breath caught in her throat, turning around to see a tall, handsome boy step out of the treeline, still dressed in his pajamas. His light brown hair was ruffled from sleep, but like her, he was wide awake and completely alert. It was Cedric Diggory!
"Cedric? Where's your father?" she asked him, thinking of the older man who she had just met hours ago at the portkey. Hermione really only knew Cedric by name, and the fact that he had beat Harry in a Quidditch match last year after being attacked by Dementors. It was odd seeing him.
"I could say the same about your friends," he frowned, stepping closer and she could see his wand clutched tightly in his hand. "My father and I got separated, he went with the other members of the Ministry, I'd suspect Mr. Weasley is with him as well,"
"It was chaotic! One moment I was with Harry and Ron then the next I was being pushed away from them, they may be all together by now, I just hope Harry is alright!" Hermione sighed. He was her greatest worry, always.
"Let's stick together, I wouldn't be able to rest if I leave you here alone," Cedric said, extending his hand out for her to take. Hermione stared at him, having very little contact with boys outside of Harry and Ron. Was he expecting her to take it?
Hermione stepped towards him, grabbing his wrist instead. Cedric didn't seem to notice, or mind, as they headed off towards the West, where most people had run off too, or so they thought.
"You're not hurt or anything, are you?" Cedric asked her, the idea suddenly dawning on him that the younger witch might be injured. She wasn't limping and he didn't see any blood, at least what he could make out in the dark.
"Not at all, I'm just in shock, is all," she responded, looking up at the older boy. "Do you think it's safe to use some light?"
"I don't see why not," Cedric replied, lifting his wand at the same time she did. "Lumos!"
Two bright lights simultaneously spurted out of the tip of their wands, illuminating the dark, misty woods ahead of them. There wasn't a single human nor animal in sight, which was good because they'd have a clear path ahead; it was safer, right?
They had been walking in silence for quite awhile now, only speaking an occasional word when one of them tripped over a tree branch, or when they froze in fear when they heard the rustling of leaves somewhere off in the distance. Hermione's feet began to hurt from the constant jumping over fallen trees and the hard rocks she could feel under her flimsy slippers. They were jostled out of bed so quickly that they couldn't even get dressed properly. Hermione was thankful that she didn't pack a nightgown for this trip!
"Do you see that?" Cedric asked out of nowhere, pointing ahead of them just a few feet away. It was a clearing!
"Cedric! We did it!" Hermione whispered excitedly, following after Cedric as he took off towards their way out of the woods. The smell of burning fabric and firework ash assaulted their senses when they broke through the trees, finally seeing the damaged remains of the camp. Hermione could vaguely make out the colors of the Ireland team flag that had been left untouched, and she wondered if they were strictly on the Irish side of camp, which would mean…
"I believe we're royally fucked," Cedric mumbled to her.
"Oh boy," Hermione moaned, rubbing her hands over her face. They were in even more trouble than they thought.