Chapter Two

Hermione walks slowly through the town, listening to Rose's stories. How she'd freed a Dalek, how they'd fought against the Slitheen family from a planet that Hermione can't even pronounce. She'd be trying later, until she got it right.

She listened to the story of Cassandra, a sheet of skin with a mouth and eyes. Hermione couldn't help but think she'd be the perfect partner for Vold- Him.

She smiles as Rose finishes her stories, leaving out the part about The Doctor changing his face.

Rose turns to Hermione, a large smile on her face,

"Oh, it's amazing, 'Mione, I wish you could come with us."

Hermione just shakes her head,

"I've got to look after George. Besides, you and The Doctor seem to have a thing going on here."

Rose just shakes her head,

"This isn't My Doctor, He left me. This is someone else."

Hermione sighs before digging into her handbag and retrieving her purse,

"Here, let's go shopping."

She hands Rose £110 and she watches her friends eyes widen in surprise,

"Where did you get that sort of money?!"

Hermione shakes her head,

"I went through some stuff and got a lot of compensation. Now, what would The Doctor like for Christmas?"

Rose looks baffled,

"You're going to get him a present?"

Hermione smiles,

"No one should be left out at Christmas."

Rose smiles before hugging her,

"he'll appreciate that, thank you."

Hermione leans into the hug,

"It's nothing, really."

Rose shakes her head,

"Too nice for your own good."

Hermione leads Rose into several shops as they pick out presents. Rose smiles appreciatively when Hermione makes up the change as Rose over spends,

"I'm sorry, 'Mione, I'll pay you back."

Hermione waves her off,

"Don't worry about it."

They're walking past a book shop when something catches Hermione's eye. She drags Rose in and leads her over to a dusty section, a bright blue book poking out. Its dusty, which makes it easier for Hermione to know that someone had recently looked at it due to finger prints.

It's a photo album, old and antique looking. Hermione picks it up, instantly enthralled with it. Rose laughs,

"Only you would get excited over a book!"

They pay for it and Hermione tucks it into her handbag. When they leave the shop, the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and a familiar feeling courses through her. They're being targeted. Rose can feel it too as they both spot the mechanical Santa's at the same time. They glance at eachother and both mouth one word,

Run.

Rose takes off without a thought, heading straight back to the apartment. Hermione's frozen in place, familiar horrors racing through her mind.

No. Watched. Run. Move. Help. Bang. Colours. Bright light. Not coming back. Mudblood.

Her eyes only snap away from the pavement when one of the robots aims towards her, she barely has time to think before it shoots. Her hands fly up and a magic shield covers her. It's not strong enough, and she knows that. When the shot reaches the shield, it explodes. The force sends her through the air and into the wall. She groans before scrambling to her feet and ducking behind a car.

She knows that the apartment is close, but she doesn't want to lead them to it.

Her phone starts vibrating in her pocket and she whips it out, George.

"George?"

"Hermione? Where are you? Whats going on? Rose is here-"

"Shut up! I'm trying-Trying-"

Then her mind fazes out

Horcruxes. Running. Forest. Deserted. Snatcher. Run. No time.

"HERMIONE!?"

She scrambles to her feet and runs, but her mind isn't in London. To her, she's back in the forest, running for her life.

She jumps over imaginary branches, barely avoiding the shots that the robots fire at her. There's a crack that fills the air and in her confused state, Hermione collapses, believing that she's been caught.

When she comes to, she's back in the apartment. In Jackie's guest bed. And she knows George is in the room. She always knows. She groans as she sits up, her head is pounding.

"What happened?"

George rushes to her side, sweeping her into a hug,

"How could you be so stupid? What were you thinking, you silly girl!"

She clutches to him, her memories returning with full force.

"What happened?"

George lets her go before sitting next to her,

"Rose came into the apartment like a bat out of hell, yelling about getting The Doctor out of here. Then she looked behind her, then back at us and just whispered your name. She said you were right behind her. We thought you'd been captured. I phoned you up and I Knew I just knew that you were having an episode. I left the apartment and apparated to you. I didn't even think, then you passed out in my arms so I brought us back here. They think you were outside."

She nods, feeling stupid for letting something so small get the better of her.

Then something clicks,

"They were after Him, weren't they?"

George nods,

"But they can't get us here, Doll. Don't worry."

She nods before standing up, a wave of dizziness hits her and she sways on the spot. George rushes to her side and holds her, stopping her from falling. He doesn't let go of her as they walk.

His eyes remain locked on her, he's stiff as a board. He'd almost lost her. That's all that he could think. His friend, his Hermione, his sister in all but blood. He was almost worried she would just disappear.

She stops when they get to the other room, a frown on her face,

"Where'd the tree come from? That's a new tree."

Rose's eyes snap up, looking where Hermione was pointing. She backed away from it quickly, calling for her mum. Jackie walks in from the kitchen,

"What's wrong, Rose?"

Rose looks at her mum,

"Where'd you get that tree?"

Jackie frowns,

"I thought one you two sent it down."

Rose looks to Hermione. Both girls shake their head.

Mickey, who was sitting closest to it, jumps back in fright as the decorations lifted themselves from the branches. And the branches were spinning.

George grabs Hermione, throwing them both through the hallway and into The Doctors room. Jackie, Rose and Mickey follow,

"What're we going to do? We're going to die! Because of a Christmas tree!"

Hermione looks at Jackie, her innocence is admirable.

George grabs Hermione's hand, asking her with his eyes, wands?

Hermione jumps to her feet,

"I'll be right back!"

George tries to stop her as she runs, but he's not quick enough. She pushes through the door and into the other room, to her handbag. Inside, is her beaded bag. She'd put their wands in there.

She turns to go back to the others, to find a Christmas tree in her way. Coming towards her. Wrong guest.

She fumbles with the bag, digging for her wand, she knows she won't get to it in time. The tree is cutting through the wall.

Its getting closer.

She's going to die.

Her finger brush on her wand and she closes her hand around it.

The tree is a meter away.

She points her wand at it.

It blows up, the shockwave sends her back into the wall. She gasps as her already-sore back is hurt again.

George jumps over the remains of the tree, mickey following behind him. Both the guys help Hermione up as Jackie and Rose rush towards her,

"Are you alright?"

"Where does it hurt?"

"You stupid girl!"

"You could've been killed!"

Hermione limps forward. The Doctor is stood there, looking decidedly ridiculous in George's PJs.

He glances around the room and at the tree.

"It's a pilot fish. And when there's a pilot fish-"

He darts out onto the balcony, Hermione goes to follow him with the others, but George pulls her back. She frowns at him, confused,

"Whats up?"

A tear falls down his cheek,

"Please don't leave me."

His voice cracks and Hermione holds him, feeling incredibly stupid. Of course she needs to be more careful. George needs her. Even if no one else does, George needs her.