The Lake is Always Deepest at its Center
Edited by:jaynedoe
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"You want us to what!"
Minerva sighed, "What I want Mr. Weasley is for you Ms. Granger, Ms. Chang, and Ms. Delacour to drink the potion provided to …"
He interrupted, "To throw us in a cold lake with flesh eating mers, carnivorous jellyfish, and Merlin knows else what for entertainment!"
Losing her temper, "It is a part of the Triwizard Tournament and if you think I approve of this you're sorely mistaken Ronald Weasley and I trust you remember that!"
Hermione eyed the chartreuse bottle on her Head of House' desk, "It is safe right?"
"Perfectly. It has been demonstrated one hundred times before … or at least that is what Albus has led me to believe."
"Yep we are all going to die." Ron slumped into his seat.
Sighing for the tenth time, "You all have little choice. Drink it. All will be fine by morning."
All the students looked at each other before Hermione reached to take the first sip.
…
"How dare you Albus!" Severus Snape hissed slamming the door behind him so hard that various paintings in the Headmaster's office crashed on to the ground.
Unfazed, "How dare I what?"
"You know what! Why is Hermione being tossed into the lake!"
"She isn't the only one."
"You could have chosen someone, anyone, besides her!"
"She is Mr. Krum's love interest."
"What about Potter? You did not give him a love interest!"
"Cho was already taken …"
"What of Ginerva Weasley? Or one of the Patils he took to the dance?"
"I …"
Cutting him off, "You did this Albus to assure me of your authority. I threatened to denounce my debt to you so as punishment you carted my Hermione off into the Black Lake!"
"That is not true."
"Oh it is Albus. I know you as you know me. Power has blinded you!"
"Do not take that tone with me Severus." He said calmly.
"You attacked first. This is only a verbal reprimand. Need I remind you that if you dealt with Tom when he was your student all those years ago none of this would be necessary! It is one thing to use me to fix your mistakes. It is another to use my Hermione."
Dumbledore's eyes hardened for only a moment before he spoke again, "Tom was out of my hands."
"You knew he was becoming evil Albus. You told me as such. You could have stopped him."
"No I couldn't."
"Oh really the Great Albus Dumbledore thwarted by a sixth year." He chuckled sarcastically.
"Attacking students is against the rules."
"Says the person willing to sacrifice Cedric Digory!"
"Says the Death Eater!" Dumbledore snapped back. His calm façade gone.
"Says the man who murdered his own sister!"
That did it, "See yourself out Severus before I will be forced to harm another I care for."
"As I recall Albus you would not leave me alone last night when I asked so you will listen to me old man. Why didn't you just obliviate Tom? Why didn't you just imperious his friends into obliviating him? Why not scare him a little? Why not do something? Oh that's right you were too busy trying to become Headmaster of Hogwarts to give a damn about everyone else!"
Without another word the Potions Master turned on his heel and left cursing the man to hell all the way to the dungeons. If Albus wouldn't play fair then he wouldn't either! He would take care of Hermione for where Severus Snape couldn't the Black Panther surely would.
…
Hermione awoke in the arms of Viktor Krum. She should have been glad after all it was the classic Brother Grimm scenario. The princess rescued by her knight in shining armor; if only she could be blinded by such a reflection into believing Krum to be Ron, alas, no such luck.
After congratulating Harry on a job well done she led Krum to the empty quidditch pitch. For a while they sat there in silence. He dreading what she would say and her relieved to finally get this off her chest.
"Viktor?"
"Da?"
"How do I put this in a way your incipient mind can comprehend," she turned to him, "What we had was nice, but I don't think this is going to work out. When I'm with you I feel an empty space separating us so far apart that I fear one of us will fall in and I do not know what lies in the bottom. Please don't blame yourself Viktor. You are a talented man. I am sure that you will find someone out there that is perfect for you."
"You are breaking up vith me?"
"Yes I am breaking up with you."
Hermione would have left then and there if Victor didn't turn her around forcefully. Her protest lost as he forced his tongue inside her mouth. Tears falling down her cheeks she fought to reach her wand when she remembered that it was safely tucked away in McGonagall's office.
Finally he let her go holding her jaw tightly, "I already know who is perfect for me and zhat is you. You vill be mein voman and eventually mein vife do you understand?"
"Let me go!"
He shook his head, "I am oaf and clumsy. You are delicate elf and smart. You have talents I do not. Vith you mein children vill have balance. Our children vill be perfect. Hermy-own-ninny Krum has nice ring to it."
"Let me go!"
[growling noise]
The sound instantly made Hermione pale, "It's coming for me. It's going to kill me!" she shrieked looking past Krum. Krum turned protectively in front of Hermione. He may be one to force a kiss, but no more than that.
"Back away cat." Krum threatened pulling out his wand with one hand while the other held Hermione's wrist which she was at present desperately trying to pull away.
As the Bulgarian attacked the panther dodged as if predicting his moves before biting deeply into his wrist. The pain instantly made him let go of Hermione.
Ready to flee she began to sprint away, but something, something, made her turn back. She watched as the panther used its tail to relieve the wizard of his wand then grab his robes to pull him all the way to the bridge at the back of the school then it disappeared.
Hermione didn't know what to do. Should she call for help? Or should she kick Krum now that he was on the ground balling like a baby? Leaning towards the second she saw Professor Snape make his way out. Her eyes bulged. The last thing she needed was to have that infernal man think that she did this.
"What are you doing outside by yourself on a beautiful day like this Ms. Granger?" He drawled.
"Well sir I …"
"And what's this," he tapped Viktor with his foot, "I don't recall Professor Dumbledore ordering a Bulgarian themed throw rug."
"That … that is Viktor Krum sir."
"Now Ms. Granger where would I be without your impeccable sight," he rolled his eyes, "And why would said Triwizard Champion be lying on the ground?"
"It's complicated."
"Then I hope three months of detentions will uncomplicate things."
"Sir," should she tell the truth? "The panther did it!"
"You're still on about that? Perhaps I can convince Minerva to send you to a mental institution preferably one without windows for the sake of all mankind."
"Very funny." She snapped.
"Thought so, but there still remains a problem. Namely that which rest at your feet."
"Viktor and I had a … a disagreement and then the panther shows up Calvary style and drags him here."
"He's the size of ten panthers. Your story is as believable as Trelawney's visions."
"But I AM telling the truth sir!"
"Then you will tell the 'truth' to Minerva this evening during detention. We will discuss you punishment in length tonight."
"But sir I didn't do anything!"
"She … Hermy … she did nozhing!" Viktor said.
Kicking him in the arm, "Quiet you. Kakarroff and I will have to have a talk as well. If what the Granger girl is saying is true, which I severely doubt, then you will be in trouble for harassing a fellow student."
"But I never said he harassed me."
….
"Bloody Hell Hermione we were beginning to fear the worst!"
She smiled at Ron's obvious concern, "I had a detention tonight."
"What for?" Her friends probed. Good thing she had scrubbed cauldrons long enough that evening too both glamour her bruises away as well as come up with a plan.
"Professor Snape …" She began. She knew those two words were all that they needed to hear especially Harry.
"Not Snape," Harry groaned, "What is it this time? Oh let me guess you stepped too loudly in the halls?"
"Close, I was tracking water through the corridors because McGonagall had my wand."
"He gave you a detention for that!" Ron hissed muttering swear words beneath his breath.
"Well look on the bright side. I dumped Viktor."
.
That night the panther did not attack her in her dreams.