– CHAPTER TWO –
The Forest of Dean
When Hermione was ten her parents decided to take her on a camping trip.
"All packed yet, darling" Mr. Granger called as he started packing the car.
"Just about. Have you seen my French History textbook?"
"You don't need to take your textbooks just hurry up or we will be late"
"Late – we're going camping. Nature can wait a few extra minutes" called Mrs. Granger from somewhere in the depths of their London house.
"I guess that's true" chuckled Mr. Granger. With that Hermione accompanying a large suitcase came bounding down the stairs.
"All packed then?"
"Yes, Dad"
"Don't have those textbooks crammed in there do you?"
"Well" she sighed looking slightly embarrassed. He knew her far too well for her liking.
"Hermione Jean Granger I told you no studying. We are going on holiday. You can just leave them on the kitchen bench."
"It's not strictly studying – I'm just interested that's all"
"You can pick one but put the rest back dear" called Mrs. Granger.
"Okay" replied a rather frustrated Hermione. She put the books in front of her and selected a rather thick brown book titled E. H's Guide to Ancient History in France and the Surrounding Areas. She then placed the rest on the kitchen bench with a loud thud. She placed the book she close and then zipped up her bag again. Mrs. Granger emerged at the top of the stairs and then started to walk to the car. Mr. Granger and Hermione followed.
"Where are we going anyway?" Hermione questioned as Mr. Granger loaded her bag into the car.
"You'll see" he replied with a cheeky smile on his face knowing how much she likes to know everything. When all the gear was loaded into the car the family got in and they began driving off to their destination. Several hours later they pulled up at a grassy area surrounded by trees. A river ran past the grassy area before vanishing into the masses of trees in the distance.
"Welcome to the Forest of Dean" Mr. Granger said as he got out of the car and started to unload the gear. The sun shone down upon the vibrant green grass dotted occasionally by small white flowers.
"It's beautiful" sighed Hermione rather taken back by her surroundings.
"We're glad you like it" said Mrs. Granger with a massive smile on her face.
"Enough with the sightseeing we have a tent to put up" said Mr. Granger sarcastically as he dumped a large canvas bag on the ground. Hermione started walking around the grassy area trying to find the perfect place to pitch the tent. "Here" she said after a few minutes "This is the perfect place". The place she had chosen had amazing views of the river, constant sunlight yet a shady tree and most importantly a comfortable looking log on which to read her book.
After helping her father set up the tent she sat down and began to read. It was a wonderful book. Hermione loved French History. She pondered what it would be like to go and visit France and to see the Eiffel Tower.
"Dad" she said emerging from her daydream. "Can we go to France sometime?"
"Sure, but we will wait till you are a little older so you can fully appreciate it for the first time"
"But Dad, I'm old enough" she complained although excitedly smiling on the inside.
"We'll see" he chuckled at the beaming at her. Hermione returned to her book glowing with joy.
By the end of the week she had learn the book backwards and forwards even to the point that she could quote almost all of it. She was walking along the river thinking about what it would have been like living in Ancient France when she heard a loud scream coming from the forest. She rushed forward to try and find the source of the noise. She stumbled over logs and eventually reached the edge of the forest. She paused. Her father told her not to go into the forest, but she just had to – someone is in trouble. The scream filled the air again. She ran towards the source of the sound. She came to the edge of the river again and found a boy who looked a few years older than her struggling in the water. Waves crashed over his head as the river hit various rocks along it's journey. He was struggling to move and was constantly being swept down the river. Hermione ignored all the warning signs going off in her head. After all her parents had made her join a swimming group in the hopes that she would make some friends. She threw off her jumper and dived in. The waves grabbed her and knocked her around. She made her way over to where the boy was. She grabbed hold of him and fought against the waves to get him over to the bank safely. Suddenly the river stopped moving, it became still. She stood up and dragged the boy over to the bank and helped him up.
"Thanks" he muttered.
"You really shouldn't have gone swimming you know"
"I didn't go swimming. I fell in"
"Oh. I'm Hermione Granger by the way"
"Regan Lovell"
"Nice to meet you" Hermione was about to ask him why the water stopped but was interrupted by her mother shouting her name.
"I better go. Nice meeting you"
"Yeah, nice meeting you too. Thanks for saving me"
"Oh that's okay" She picked up her jacket and ran off to meet her mother, who was frantically looking for her.
"Hermione Jean Granger, where have you been? Why are you so wet? Don't tell me you fell into the river. I warned you not to get too close. You didn't go into the forest did you?" came the frantic words of Mrs. Granger. Hermione blushed.
"I didn't fall in. I was saving a boy's life. He fell into the river and couldn't get out. I'm sorry. He was drowning. I couldn't just stand there."
"Where is this boy? Is he alright?"
"Yes he's just right in here" she led her mother to where she and the boy had been sitting but he had gone. Her mother glared at her.
"Next time just stay away from the river"
"I'm not lying. He really was here" but it was too late. Her mother was already marching back to the tent. Hermione sat back down under a shady tree for a couple of hours until it was time to pack up the tent and go home.