The crow winged its way along the edge of the cliffs. Below, the waves crashed and foamed against the rocks, each one rising higher and higher, reaching almost angrily toward the black bird. The bird changed course, circling inland across the fields of flowers, above the bare slopes, flying higher and higher until it reached the timberline. It appeared to be meandering, slowly gliding across the sky, the waning rays of sunlight glistening off of its back. Patches of clouds began to drift across the horizon, almost in its wake, as if the bird was drawing a gray shadow across the land far below it.
Once in the thick stands of trees, the bird changed speed, swooped quickly, maneuvering through leafy branches, and around thick tree trunks, as if racing the setting sun. It flew as straight as possible, up the side of the hills into the grove of trees on the far slope of the mountain. It made its way unerringly to a thick, twisted branch. Settling there, it folded its wings rather majestically, round shiny eyes fixed intently on the brown-haired girl woman below.
Hermione carefully packed the rich soil around the small fern she had recently moved. The earth was more fertile and would enable her much needed and rarer shrubs to grow here. She used the extracts from the plants as medicine for the people in the surrounding village and farms. What had started as a small garden had grown into an enormous undertaking, transplanting all of the herbs and plants that could be used for various medicines and experiments. Her bare hands were buried deep within the soil, the rich fragrances of the plants enveloping her. A riot of color from the vegetation and flowers she had sown into the earth were scattered all around her.
She shivered suddenly as the gray shadows caught up with her, obscuring the last warming rays of the sun and leaving an ominous portent of disaster firmly entrenched in her mind. Very slowly Hermione stood up, dusting the damp soil from her hands before she tilted her head to look up at the bird sitting so still above her in the tree.
"It's going to rain isn't it?" A long sigh escaped her rosy lips.
It had been two long months since the two men had found her. She still had no memory of who she was but was slowly trying to overcome that fact. She felt somewhat like a stranger, like an absolutely new person, like a new being was living inside her body.
"You got no choice but to move on."
Lucinda's words kept playing over and over in her head. They were wise, Hermione knew that. She wanted to move on, wanted to face it like a new life, a new start. However, whenever she decided to go ahead with Lucinda's advice, something pulled her back. She kept having these feelings that there were people out there who needed her, who were missing her dearly. And then, there were those blurs where she could vaguely see this boy with a lightning scar on his forehead.
Despite of her condition she was glad that Lucinda had asked her to stay in her humble house as long as she wanted. Hermione couldn't help the guilty feeling of being accepted, the guilty feeling of thinking of these kind people as her own family.
"DINNER!"
Hermione sighed as she bent down to pick up the small hamper. She eyed the house in front of her. It looked worn out, there were plants crawling over the stoned walls and the roof tiles looked like they needed to be fixed. She often felt useless when she thought about the Winchesters. They weren't exactly wealthy and she often thought that by staying, she was only making things harder.
"How is the girl, Lucinda?" A soft voice asked.
"She's absolutely fine. Leeann is the daughter I always wanted." Lucinda answered; her voice was a bit shaky. The bushy haired girl abruptly came to a stop at the sound of their voices. "I'm glad to hear it." The soft voice spoke. "I would like to meet her."
"Certainly, you are not thinking to-"
"Lucinda…"
"She is still adjusting to a new life, Godric! Certainly, you are not going to take her away!" Lucinda cried indignantly.
"She's a witch." The voice said and that seemed to have settled the argument.
Hermione remained still with her back leaned against the cold wall. She was breathing slowly, her mind processed the conversation as she tightened her grip on the hamper filled with herbs.
"She's a witch."
That was not a very nice thing to say. She snorted, how dare he call her a witch.
"ANN ANN!" Egbert, the youngest child yelled excitedly as he entered running through the corridor. Hermione eyes widened as she saw the child run with his arms open ready to involve her into a hug.
"Leeann, dear." Lucinda said as she stepped outside the dining room door. "Ebbie, go wash your hands, please." Egbert, the youngest child nodded and let go of Hermione as he ran again in the direction he came from.
Lucinda smiled and avoided Hermione wondering chocolate eyes. Hermione sighed silently and followed the elder woman. When she entered, her eyes immediately met the owner of the voice she had been listening to previously. The man stood up from his comfortable chair in an almost clumsy way and stared at her as if he was analyzing her.
It had been some long weeks since the last time he saw the strange girl. He remembered it perfectly as though it had been just yesterday, when he stepped inside Lucinda's house without any sort of invitations, a complaining Salazar walking closely behind refusing to let go of the bushy-haired girl broken wand. The man gave Hermione a reassuring smile.
Hermione forced a smile of her own as she stared directly at the strange man. He was tall, much taller than her. He was not wearing what could be called normal clothes. He was wearing some sort of dark blue robes, with a long cape attached. His hair was dark and short, his face showed no expression, though Hermione could see curiosity brightening his hazel eyes.
"Leeann, this is Godric Gryffindor." Lucinda said politely, pushing her toward Godric.
Hermione looked at him with a curious expression as his name was not strange to her ears. He smiled politely and bowed slightly.
"I'm delighted to meet you milady." He said grinning. Hermione forced another smile.
"Godric, came all the way from Scotland to see you." Lucinda started as she guided Hermione to the dinner table. She then took the hamper from Hermione's hands and placed it down. "He… thinks that it would be for your best interest to spend some time with him…"
Hermione opened her mouth to protest but Godric beat her to it.
"We would love to have you with us at Hogwarts." He said quickly, eyeing her carefully.
"Hogwarts?"
Hogwarts…
"It's a school." He told her smiling. "A school of magic."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. This man was mad! Magic… There was no such thing as magic. However, before any of them could say anything else, the children finally arrived accompanied by their father.
A few minutes later, dinner was finally ready and they all sat on the dining table. They all held hands, Hermione left hand held Eric's hand, the oldest Lucinda's son while her right hand held Godric's. His grip was firm, yet gentle. As Lucinda's husband said his prayer, Hermione thoughts drifted away to Godric's words.
Hogwarts.
She was so sure she had heard that before. Unconsciously her grip on Godric's hand tightened. The bushy haired girl opened her eyes and leaned towards him.
"Were you serious about magic, sir?" She whispered. The man opened his eyes and stared at her before nodding. Hermione eyes beamed; maybe this was the answer she had been trying so desperately to find. "I would like to go then."
The next days, Hermione had been packing the little she possessed. Lucinda insisted to buy some new clothes for her, but she kindly refused for she knew Lucinda's family awful situation about money. The little that she already had would do.
The children were still angry at her, they had already accepted the idea of having an older sister and all of a sudden their new sister was going to leave them. Lucinda's husband supported Hermione's decision fully.
"A witch needs to be away and safe inside the Hogwarts castle, there's dark times lying ahead of us."
Though, Hermione did not completely understand the true meaning behind his words, she was glad that he understood her choice.
She could never thank the Winchester family for taking her in and treating her as if she was one of them. Whenever she looked at them these last days she tried to imagine her own family. Did they miss her? Were they looking for her?
The day finally arrived, the day Godric was coming to take her with him.
Hermione was walking along the hallway when she suddenly stopped, her brown orbs focused on him.
The tall man with big green eyes looked at her. A disgusted look crossed his features as he stared at her up and down. Hermione felt herself blush under his stare. The dress she was wearing was not the best dress, it was somewhat worn out and lost its blue color long ago.
He stared at her intently. She no longer had the frightened look upon her pale face.
"Leeann?" He questioned her. Hermione nodded, her chocolate eyes looked behind him, wondering where he was. "Godric is not coming; he had some matters he needed to attend to." The man said guessing who she was looking for.
"Oh." Hermione whispered. She looked over the man, the same man that had scared her weeks ago.
"I assume you're ready." He said.
Hermione could tell that he was in a hurry. He looked quite uncomfortable to be inside the house, he seemed to be avoiding touching everything like it was contaminated with a deadly illness.
"Yes, I am." Hermione answered. "I will just warn the family you're here."
"There's no need." He added quickly. "I'll be waiting outside."
The goodbyes were harder than she thought it would be. She had a sad small feeling that this was her last goodbye, the last time she was looking at them, but she didn't let on.
"Now remember, if you ever need anything do not hesitate to send us a letter!" Lucinda said as she smiled at the brown-haired girl. "And don't let him get to you," she said smiling kindly.
Hermione nodded and smiled back, "I will write a much as I can." She said as Lucinda pulled her to a tight hug. Once they parted, Hermione walked out of the door and stared at the tall man who was outside; his back was turned on her.
He looked lost in thoughts and for the first time he didn't look scary at all. Hermione stopped behind him and opened her mouth to speak but he cut her in.
"Shall we go then?" He turned around and gave her a curious smirk. A smirk, that would make her wonder what was behind it for the rest of her life.
They had been travelling now for what seemed like forever, yet none of them had said a word since their departure from Lucinda's house. The silence was slowly killing her. At first she thought he would say something in order to start a polite conversation but instead he elegantly mounted on his horse and always looked straight ahead, his emerald eyes set on the unknown horizon with his lips tightly shut.
Although, Hermione refused to let him know, she was beyond irritated. The awkward silence was frustrating her. The bushy-haired witch had millions of questions forming in her mind; however, she was somewhat reluctantly to interrupt him from his own world.
Salazar suddenly pulled his horse to a stop and slowly turned around. Hermione lifted up her head curiously and expectantly.
"We're stopping to eat," he informed and turned around again. She stared forward and couldn't really see how they were going to stop to eat since there was nothing there for the exception of some tall trees and a vast green landscape.
The tall man seemed to know exactly what she was thinking. A knowing smirk adorned his lips as he heard a small 'Ohh' from the young witch. Right in front of them, a mysterious fog had appeared out of nowhere and covered the whole area. Her horse kept following behind as if it could see clearly through the thick fog. After a few minutes the fog dissipated away and there she saw the most beautiful thing.
There were small houses everywhere, close to each others. Three teenagers were playing around, laughing as if nothing in the whole world could make them stop. Hermione wondered for a second if she had been like that, if she had been once a happy child. As they advanced through the streets, Hermione could see that some of those houses were actually sort of shops. There were people standing in front of the glass, pointing cheerfully to all kind of things.
Salazar stopped unexpectedly and jumped of his horse. Two ladies that were passing by gave him a small bow and continued to walk, giggling. However, he didn't even notice them or if he did, he simply ignored them. Salazar walked confidently toward Hermione and helped her to get to the floor. After he put her down, he took his wand out and pointed it at the horses making them freezing on the spot. Without saying a word he turned around and entered inside the two floor house. Hermione's eyes stared intently at Salazar's wand as she followed him inside.
As soon as she found herself inside she wished that she hadn't stepped in. The place was awful and it had a weird smell. It was packed of people that stared at her with a suspicious look on their faces. She noticed Salazar speak to the bartender who looked back at her as he listened carefully to what Salazar was saying; the bartender kept nodding occasionally without removing his eyes from her. She decided to walk toward them since she was starting to feel stupid by standing there with everyone giving her odd glares.
"Ah, hello there," the bartender said politely as Hermione approached them. "You must be Leeann!" Hermione nodded and smiled nervously.
Salazar raised an eyebrow at her. "You are to stay here and order what you want to eat. I have some matters that need to be taken care of," he told her and turned around. "I'll be right back." he added before he walked away.
The bartender smiled at the bushy haired girl. "We have this amazing and delicious ..." But Hermione wasn't listening. She started to walk away and left the bartender speaking to himself.
The bushy haired witch left the Hog's Head, her chocolate eyes followed intently the three teenagers that walked by. They seemed happy and talked blissfully with each others, pointing occasionally at the stores windows. Who was watching her from a certain distance would probably think that she was merely observing them, but who was more perceptive would tell that her eye look was far beyond that.
"Thank God," shivered the red haired boy. "Let's stay here all afternoon." He pleaded.
"Harry, m'boy!" said a booming voice from behind them.
The bushy-haired witch looked behind; her soft eyes stared at a chubby man who was wearing an enormous furry hat. "Harry, that's three of my little suppers you've missed now!" said the chubby man, poking the dark haired boy in the chest. "It won't do, m'boy, I'm determined to have you! Miss Granger loves them, don't you?"
"Yes," said the girl helpless, "they're really-"
"You!"
Hermione jumped startled. She looked behind to see Salazar eying her with a mist of an angry and confused expression. "I- I..."
"What are you doing?" He asked with a frightening tone of voice. Hermione looked embarrassed and confused. "It's dangerous to stay outside all by yourself," He told her fiercely. Grabbing her by the arm, he dragged her inside. "Sit here and do not move."
Hermione watched as he walked away and she felt like crying. She thought how foolish it would be to cry just because she felt alone and misunderstood. She was stronger than that. She would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry. Her chocolate eyes fixed themselves on a chair as her thoughts drifted away. What had happened outside was it like some sort of a vision? A cold feeling ran through her spine, her eyes widened and her mouth opened slightly as she realized what it was. It was a memory.
After a while, Salazar finally appeared and Hermione didn't need him to tell her they were departing. She just followed behind like a small lost puppy. She preferred this way; the less they communicated with each other the better. Hermione couldn't wait until she arrived to Hogwarts. Every fiber of her being was telling her that it was there, inside the castle walls, where all the answers waited her.
Though, Hermione promised herself that she would not initiate a conversation with him she couldn't help it.
"Sir? May I ask you something?" She asked shyly.
He didn't look at her nor answered her. Hermione sighed angrily, "I..." She started thinking of a better way to form her question. "You said something before; about the magical world being dangerous... what did you mean?"
He snorted; Hermione could tell that he had found her question somewhat entertaining. "Which part did you not understand? When something it's dangerous it means that may cause-"
"I know what danger means!" Hermione said angrily "That's not what I asked."
Salazar turned around and eyed her with a disdain expression. "There are questions that aren't meant to be asked by people like yourself. Once inside the castle you will understand why, and for your sake, I do hope you learn your place."
Hermione raised an eyebrow in a challenging way. "Excuse me? Learn my place? And what exactly is my place?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Salazar said nothing and watched as the angry bushy haired girl and her horse ran past him in the direction of the castle.
Hermione groaned loudly, he didn't even dignified himself to answer her! "The nerve! Proud snob! That's what he is!" She said to herself. She felt her horse slow down. Hermione eyes stared straight forward and saw two beautiful women smiling at her behind an enormous gate.
"Hello, there! You must be Leeann." One of the ladies said approaching her, petting the friendly brown horse. Hermione nodded and felt herself relax as she looked into the blonde woman blue eyes. "I'm Helga, Godric spoke wonderful things about you."
Hermione blushed and couldn't help but to smile back. "It's a pleasure to have you with us, Leeann!" The other woman spoke politely and helped Hermione out of the horse. "I hope that your journey was not ruined by our dear Salazar good manners."
"It wasn't that bad, I had the horse with me to keep me some company," Hermione chuckled and the two ladies grinned.
Salazar passed by them still on his horse. He nodded at the two ladies and carried on, towards the castle entrance.
"Shall we get going then?" Helga asked.
The few minutes that Hermione spent with the two ladies were enough to create a brief profile about them. She could tell that Helga was more talkative than Rowena, the beautiful blonde woman had a contagious smile, it was impossible for someone not to smile back.
Well not so impossible, Hermione thought as a small picture of Salazar Slytherin serious face crossed her mind.
Rowena Ravenclaw was a very educated and charming woman. Though her smile wasn't as contagious, she possessed something that Helga didn't. Rowena's amazing eyes sparkled with love, love for life. Rowena walked with grace as they moved through the wide corridors.
At every step she made, she could feel her heart beat strong against her chest. The essence of the air was not strange to her, for the contraire... it was like she was reliving a past life. She stared with interest at every moving painting on the castle walls which returned the same interest toward her.
"Say Leeann, have you eaten yet?" asked Rowena, staring at her.
"No," Hermione answered. "We were supposed-"
"Oh goodness! You travelled the entire day and you haven't eaten anything, I don't know what Salazar is trying to do but honestly-"
"Never do mind, Rowena," Helga interrupted smiling softly. "Lately he's been like this and there is nothing that we can do." Rowena shook her head in denial.
"Ladies," A familiar voice spoke from behind them. Hermione turned around and found herself smiling at Godric Gryffindor with a grumpy Salazar by his side.
"Godric," Rowena said smiling.
"Miss Leeann, it is a pleasure to see you again!" Godric said smiling back at her. Hermione noticed how his teeth were so perfect.
"Salazar, Leann here was just informing us that she hasn't eaten the whole day," Helga spoke with an amusing voice.
Salazar didn't look at Helga; instead he looked towards the bushy haired girl that blushed furiously under his stare. "Her own fault if she didn't eat." He answered.
"I'll escort, Miss Leeann to the kitchen." Godric said walking to Hermione, smiling at his three friends he offered her his arm which she accepted quickly, glad that she was getting away from Salazar.
The rain beat steadily upon the crimson-stained ground, washing the red liquid of life away from the earth. Lightning lit up the sky as the thunder roared up above, a prowler rolling along. The corpses stretched on for miles, a sea of lifeless eyes. The once green grass that was now covered in blood danced slightly as if the cold wind was caressing it, whispering to it that everything would be alright.
The dark clouds above were covering the dark sky that had witnessed the numerous jets of lights that had been thrown at every direction. It had been a battle between evil and good; the dark side against the light side; Death Eaters versus Order of the Phoenix.
Five people stood closely to each other staring; their eyes could hardly believe that they had won the battle. Each one of them knew; Ginny knew, Ron knew, Neville knew, Luna knew and Harry knew too that they had only won because of sheer luck. They also knew something that scared them immensely. They had won one battle more, but the war was not over yet.
The five of them stood with their heads low, paying their respect to the brave warriors that had lost their lives that night. They grieved for them; friends who lied on the floor lifeless. The war was getting out of hand. There was people dying and missing every day.
She was missing.
Hermione Granger was missing.
"We didn't find her," said a cloaked figure which had apparated silently behind them.
Neville Longbottom jumped unexpectedly as he heard his old potions professor voice.
"She was nowhere to be seen and nothing indicates that she was ever there," said Snape emotionless.
Though Ron tried to conceal and control his feelings a single tear fell down his face. Harry just stood there staring at Professor Snape and noticed how tired the older man looked. The messy dark haired boy nodded and thanked Snape.
First Cedric, then Sirius now Hermione.
He felt his throat tightening as the cold cruelty hit him. It was his fault, his fault that people he loved kept dying. Ginny offered him a weak smile that Harry did not red haired girl then held his hand.
"If you want my opinion Potter and even if you don't … I'm still giving it to you," Snape said with his usual arrogant tone, "I do not think Miss Granger is dead,"
The small group faces lightened up with hope.
"The Dark Lord followers would not bother to hide her body and since her body is nowhere to be found, I still think she is somewhere alive," Snape finished and turned around mumbling a sort of farewell and apparated away.
"Wherever you are Hermione, we're coming to get you … we're coming …" Harry whispered to the starless sky.
"Professor Snape?" Hermione questioned nervously.
"Miss Granger…" Snape replied shortly, "They are here."
"What-"
"Miss Granger, Run!" Snape hissed.
"But sir-" Hermione interjected with a panicky voice.
"Do it! Are you stupid?" Snape pointed his wand at her, "Now!"
