MAJOR CHARACTER DEATHS IN THIS CHAPTER (And this story as a whole)
VIOLENCE
BLOOD & GORE
Her heart was pounding in her chest, as she propelled herself through the woods at breakneck speed.
She'd sent her patronus off to Hagrid in warning, but knew the half giant would not be able to respond to her.
It had returned to her, chattering nervously and she didn't know what that meant, or if it had even reached Hagrid in time.
She pushed harder, increasing her speed and following the unfamiliar smell.
As she ran, she bellowed, deep low sounds of warning to the herd.
To all that heard her, the message was clear.
Danger.
Danger in the forest.
Protect your young.
Protect your elders.
There is danger in the forest.
The message was received.
She heard the commotion from the tree tops as Hippogriffs and Thestrals broke through the canopy as they took wing, calling their grateful responses to her warning.
The centaurs blew hunting horns, their answer We will come
She heard them in the distance but their land was a long way from her and even at a gallop it would take time to traverse that much forest.
Time she may not have.
oOo
She knew the second she was within range.
The roaring.
The screaming.
The worrying smell of blood.
She broke through the treeline, transforming quickly back to her human self as she saw the terrified group of children.
One of them had managed to cast a weak protego around them and they were huddled in a group of 13 of them, some had blood on their robes.
The protego would do nothing but they obviously didn't know that.
And the scared bunch of pure-blooded children in front of her, had no clue how to protect themselves without magic.
"It's alright it's me, where-"
"Hermione!" One of the young girls shouted pointing behind her.
A low snarl came from behind her and her stomach dropped at the sight that met her eyes.
The Chimaera.
It was huge.
And it's face was bloody when it lifted it's head from it's victim.
Hagrid.
She was too late.
Seconds too late.
It was obvious he'd put himself between the chimaera and the children but it looks like the beast had sank it's teeth into his throat.
A sob caught in her mouth but as another terrible snarl rent the air, she knew she had no time to mourn her friend right now.
I must protect the little ones
Mind rushing she contemplated her next actions.
There was no way the children could outrun the Chimaera if it gave chase. Even if by some miracle they did manage to outrun it, it was doubtful they'd be able to find their way back to the castle... and a group of scared 10 and 11 year olds getting lost in the forest would be certain death, especially when it came to nightfall.
There was only one thing for it.
"CLIMB THE TREES, HELP EACH OTHER GET OFF THE GROUND!" She shouted to the frightened children and then leapt into action, shifting once more into her form as the Chimaera lunged toward her.
oOo
She managed to dodge it's first attack.
Even in her Lioness form it was larger than her, heavier and stronger.
But that meant she at least had the advantage of speed and manoeuvrability.
Though she knew if it pinned her, as it had Hagrid, she'd be dead.
She'd hoped to lead it away from the clearing, make it give chase and draw it away from the children.
Though when it decided the young slytherins would be easier prey than the evasive lioness she had no choice but to press an attack.
As the Chimaera lunged for the children, she lunged for it. Sinking her teeth into it's serpentine tail.
The beast bellowed out a pained roar and then it's angry attentions were once more on her.
She was not however, prepared for how flexible its tail was.
Adorned with spikes as it was, she was expecting the tail to be no more controllable than her own, or that of other mammals.
Instead, the reptilian tail slashed back at her with all the prehensile abilities of a large snake and she felt the dull thud of the jarring impact with her shoulder.
Her adrenaline was pumping, masking most of the pain though she knew the wound was bad when she felt the heat of her blood as it spilled down her arm and smelled the coppery scent permeating the air as it decorated the leaves beneath her in a deep crimson gryffindor red.
The pained yowl that escaped her could not be held back, but this was no time to lick her wounds.
Fight or flight.
Her body screamed at her
Fight or flight.
There was no question. She would not leave the children to this beast.
Fight it is
She swiped back quickly, using it's tail as a club had left its flank exposed and she felt her claws rend the flesh on goatlike back end.
It kicked out in responce, the cloven hooves making a powerful enough impact on her rib for her to hear it crack.
The pain and the strength of the kick knocked her back a few paces, and the Chimaera pressed the advantage, once more lunging at her.
She used her strong calf muscles to propel her into a leap out of the way, and the Chimaera ended up with a face full of dirt as it face-planted into the ground where she'd been not a fraction of a second before.
Whipping around she pounced onto it's back , attempting to sink her teeth into its neck.
But it was no good, it's mane was too dense and she could't get a hold of it's neck.
The spiked club tail, wielded like a mace smacked into her side and sent her sprawling onto the ground.
Her forceful impact with the ground knocked the wind out of her, but she'd had the frame of mind to sink all of her claws into the beasts hide when she saw the dragon like tail coming, so when she was propelled off it's back the forceful movement of her body dragged her claws through it's hide, shredding it like so much paper.
It Howled in anger , and turned to asses the damage as blood flowed freely from it's back, that second of hesitation was all it took for Hermione to be on her feet once more.
They circled each other , snarls and growls rending the air.
It held its tail in the air threateningly, slashing it through the air.
That tail needs to go. She thought.
When suddenly it lunged at her.
She feinted to the side, but it still managed to get in a good swipe with it's claws, dragging shallowly but painfully down her rib cage, tearing the skin.
However she managed to get a good bite to it's shoulder, sinking her teeth in roughly leaving a deep puncture wound that bled profusely.
The sound of thundering hooves suddenly penetrated the clearing.
The centaurs were here.
The three centaur stallions burst into the clearing, then reared back in shock at the sight of the Chimaera.
Roaring threateningly the Chimaera turned it's attentions to them, but Hermione quickly swiped at it's side.
NO! She roared to the centaurs.
Strong though the centaurs may be, their hide was not as strong as hers but delicate like a horses.
Their legs fast, but fragile.
A good lunge from this beast would cripple them.
And a crippled centaur was a dead centaur.
Save the young!
Margorian & Bane immediately followed her command and went for the students that were in the trees.
Each dragging down and taking 2 upon their back, with promises to return for the others.
But Ronan.
Young, Impulsive Ronan.
He raised his spear with a war cry and lunged for the Chimaera
RONAN DON'T!
But it was too late.
As the colt galloped towards it, the Chimaera's tail with bone-breaking force, swept his legs out from under him, bringing him violently down to the ground where he lay unmoving.
She tried to get to him, he was family but in her distraction she'd dropped her guard and gotten too close.
She caught movement at the corner of her eye and then sharp blinding pain as the claws rent down the side of her face.
An anguished howl tore from her as she felt rivulets of hot blood running down her face.
The Chimaera turned and pounced on the felled centaur who was unsuccessfully trying to get up , legs quite obviously broken.
He met her eyes, and she saw the resignation there, the apology.
Her stomach lurched as she watch the chimaera sink it's teeth into the stallions throat and his body go lax in responce, but not before he wrapped his arms around it's neck pulling it closer into his embrace.
A part of her screamed inside as she felt his life leave him.
Herd. Pride. Family. Brother.
It had it's head down jaws clamped around the centaurs throat, as it tried to pull its way out of his arms, now so much dead weight.
It's back legs and tail raised in the air.
With a snarl she launched herself at it's rear and clamped her jaw fully around the base of its tail.
It roared in anger and she felt the cloven hooves kicking at her once more as it struggled to break out of the dead centaurs arms.
Face, legs, ribs.
Each impact bringing the dull and aching pressure of broken bones, along with the burning heat of sliced skin.
But she held fast , until panicking it lifted both back legs and kicked her full force in the side.
She skidded to a stop a good 6 feet away from the beast but it was screaming and yowling as it turned to inspect its flank.
Look all you want you fucker, it's not going to change anything. Ran through her head as she spat the severed tail on the ground.
She heard the centaurs returning, as she circled the Chimaera, she felt through the bond she shared with them that they'd traded the children with the younger colts halfway through the forest.
They were taking them to Hogwarts , so the stronger and faster stallions could return for the rest.
2 more students pulled down by each stallion , another 4 on their way to safety , that was 8 so far with 5 still huddling frightened in the trees.
She just had to keep going.
Just a bit more
She was willing to let it kill her, as long as the children were out of harms way.
Just a bit more.
Just a bit longer.
oOo
Without it's tail the Chimaera grew more angry and restless
It pressed the attack more, giving her little time to recover.
The lack of tail helped, but it by no way gave her an advantage.
He was still bigger, stronger and heavier
All things that would not diminish as they fought on.
Even dead he would be bigger and heavier than her.
But her speed was waning, along with her strength.
She didn't know how long she'd been fighting though it felt like days.
They each swiped at , clawed and bit each other.
She had numerous broken bones she knew, and it was only adrenaline that was keeping her on her feet.
oOo
He was circling her, wounded, bleeding, angry.
Lowing at her.
Angry little bellows.
She snarled back.
This was the most damage he'd probably ever taken she thought to herself.
It made him reckless, made him angry.
He lunged at her, and she dropped into a crouch causing him to overshoot... effectively leaping over her.
She swiped her claws at his underbelly as he passed over her, at a very sensitive part of him.
No more baby Chimaeras
But she wasn't prepared for the kick that got her.
A sharp snap had his cloven hoof planted right under her chin, right into her throat.
She shook with pain, her breath came with mouthful's of bloody foam.
The Chimaera turned from her when the centaurs returned, Margorian grabbed 2 more students but try as she might she could not get any sound to escape her mouth to warn them , and before Bane could grab 2 of the remaining 3 the Chimaera pounced on his flank bringing him to the ground as his mouth latched around the centaurs neck with a sickening crack.
Hermione felt the bile in her stomach rise as she heaved bloody breaths and watched the centaurs body continue to twitch, legs jerking as though trying to run from his side, though she knew he was dead, neck broken.
The Chimaera turned to her once more, where she stood on shaking legs.
There was blood and gore around its face, how much belonging to the others and how much to her she did not know.
But the tufts of mane were definitely not hers, and her heart hurt remembering how vain Bane had been about his palomino locks.
She was passed tired.
Passed weary.
But the sobs of the children in the trees kept her going.
3 more.
Just 3 more then she can rest.
Margorian returned, grabbed two leaving just one in the tree.
Her moment of distraction cost her.
It lunged and she fought.
They tangled, bit and clawed but she was beyond exhausted.
Suddenly a kick landed, hard yet glancing on her side and she fell.
The kick sliced deep into her flank and she turned with a groan, from her position on the floor.
There was blood and gore leaking from the wound, and she could clearly see some organ or other on the verge of escaping it too.
She fought to stand , but could not.
Her legs gave way and she laid on her side.
The chimaera turned to her fallen body scenting the gore in the air.
Tongue running over its front teeth.
She listened hard and could hear staff in the distance.
Good.
They would be here soon, The last student would be rescued, and the Chimaera would be distracted enough with eating her corpse for them to get away safely.
It approached her , drooling and teeth flashing impossibly white.
Finally.
Finally I can rest.
It was a hairsbreadth from her throat when instead of its teeth sinking into her neck and giving her the sweet release of oblivion, there was a dull thunk and a muffled yowl from the beast.
What?
"Over Here!"
Thunk
"Leave her alone!"
Thunk
With a snarl the beast began to turn away from her.
No that's not right
She managed to raise her head enough to see the beast turning from her towards the last child in the tree.
No come back
Thunk
She was throwing acorns, or pine-cones.
Something that was growing in the tree.
Throwing them at the Chimaera, trying to stop it from making the killing blow.
And it turn making it turn towards the girl.
The girl had managed to get high into the tree
High enough to be safe? Maybe
Though as a lion she could climb fairly well, the Chimaera's back end had cloven hooves and it would struggle.
It lunged up at the tree as she forced herself into an upright position, even as the motion caused the organs to pulse and press against the wound in her side.
Sure enough it fell pretty quickly.
But it had realised something.
The tree shook and tilted when he'd lunged at it.
With a growl it threw itself heavily at the trunk and the girl screamed as she nearly fell from the branches.
No no no
She was forcing herself to her feet, forcing herself to push through the pain that rocked her body
She managed to drag herself, practically crawling on her belly towards the beast.
it was so distracted it didn't see her coming.
Her eyes scanned the beast planning her attack.
Closer she got , leaving a trail of blood behind her.
She waited, it reared upwards exposing it's underbelly and knowing it was the last thing she might do she lunged.
Reaching from underneath it, her fangs sank into the underside of its throat.
It groaned and pushed at her with its claws, but she would not release despite the pain.
She could hear the staff clearly now, mere minutes away.
Minerva and Albus in the distance, but Snape was closer and remembering the man throwing himself between her and a werewolf, she knew he would protect the last girl with his life.
Her jaws locked tighter and she shook her head side to side agitating the wound.
With a final pained bellow the chimaera did just as she'd hoped, though her stomach sank, literally , as it further opened the wound on her side as frantic to escape it pulled backwards, away from her grasp , planting its feet in its chest to push her away.
In doing so, she did just what she had done before when she rent its side with her claws.
She used it's own force against it, and as she fell backwards with the force of the kick, she made sure she took the chunk of its throat with her.
It gave a few twitches as blood sprayed out of the neck wound , then it fell upon her like so much dead weight and she closed her eyes and embraced her own darkness.
