AN: So the dreamscape continues, sorry this one is a little shorter than the others this felt like the best place to end it without it becoming an overgrown behemoth.
Disclaimer: I own my car, my plot and my crazy other than that I'm dead broke
Warning: I proofreaded bad
Chapter 9: Depression Part 5: Bon Jovi on a Thestral
Their trudge across the sylvan ground was silent, save for the occasional rustling of leaves or snap of a fallen twig being trampled. Hermione could feel the malevolent glare of the toad professor boring into the back of her curly head as she prayed to see that familiar clearing that played home to Grawp soon. She would be the first to admit that her plan wasn't calculated to a tee, she still didn't have her wand and she couldn't very well allow Grawp to kill Umbridge, no matter how beneficial that may be at the moment it wasn't right and she planned to keep her record free of murder as long as possible. She would kill to protect her friends, but feared the second that she did would mean the death of her as well; murder simply wasn't a part of her gentle makeup.
The extent of her plan had simply been, 'Get Umbridge away from Harry," and now that this was achieved she was at a loss for what her next step should entail. Should she even bring Umbridge to Gwap? They had grown into quite a close relationship, could she trust Grawp not to seriously harm the professor when his 'Hermy' was so clearly in danger?
Thankfully fate, if one did believe in that, personally her faith in it went about as far as it did in the children's fables known as divination, intervened as she didn't find Grawp alone in the forest. Umbridge was speechless, quite a surprise from the ever croaking toad professor. Whether the speechlessness was from fear or disgust Hermione couldn't say, she could only take a peculiar and perverse joy at seeing the women who so hated half breads surrounded by a heard of centaur. What are all your bigoted laws and decrees doing for you now Umbitch, Hermione couldn't help a triumphant smirk even as she balked at the foul language of her internal monologue; though if anyone had earned the title of bitch it was surely Delores Umbridge.
"Hermy," Grawp exclaimed happily upon seeing the young Gryffindor witch walk into the clearing.
Hermione smiled happily up at her innocent, child-like giant friend, "Hello Grawp."
"Hermy," He repeated in ecstasy, prepared to jump for joy despite warnings of his size and the danger of falling trees he always received at her cheerful greeting… But his blue eyes darkened as he saw something, a wand poking into his Hermy's Back. "Hermy hurt," he fretted as he bent down his enormous form to her.
"No, no Grawp I'm fine," She promised sincerely as she smiled at him.
But the giant would here none of it, a large frown marred his gruff face as he reached for the pink clad demon. Umbridge was positively shaking and speechless with fright as Grawp gripped her, lifting her up to his eye level to bellow, "Why you hurt Hermy?"
"Grawp you must put her down," Hermione said in her most demanding, parental voice, one reserved almost specifically for her giant friend.
Grawp responded in a petulant frown, glaring down at the ministry magnate as he simply stated, "Hurt Hermy."
"Yes Grawp, but look, you saved me, I'm alright now. Revenge is wrong Grawp and you mustn't hurt her, please put her down," Hermione instructed with a fond maternal smile but a strict, instructive set to her eyes.
The giant frowned in thought before nodding his understanding, though he seemed to have second thoughts as he shook his head furiously and gripped the toad woman tighter. "Hurt Hermy. Hermy say hurt is wrong. Hermy say, 'say sorry when you is wrong'. Must say sorry," he argued.
Hermione smiled at Grawp as the women he held hostage continued her horrified shaking, she was undeniably proud of his logical argument and the obvious retention it shown of what she sought to teach him. "You're right Grawp, Professor Umbridge should say sorry, but you see Professor Umbridge is a bad women, she does not understand or show remorse like we do; though this does not mean that we can keep her prisoner, that is wrong too. Now please, put her down."
Grawp lowered the gaping and tearful headmistress to the forest floor, she looked as though she had soiled her bubblegum-pink maxi skirt in fearful incontinence but was quick to attempt to retain her dignity through arrogant rebuke, "How dare you allow that, that thing, touch your headmistress I'll have you for this dearie. You'll never…" Umbridge cut herself off with an earsplitting, bloodcurdling scream as an arrow from the bow of a skilled centaur marksmen whistled past her ear.
A palomino centaur whom seemed to be the leader of the tribe of half men, half horses stepped forward. "We require words with you, undersecretary Umbridge, on laws you saw fit to pass on behalf of the Centaur Nation, you'll be coming with us."
"I refused to be ordered around by a load of half-breeds, I…" Umbridge's rebuttal was left unheard as the palomino leader once again spoke his commands.
"How unfortunate then, mam, that you have no choice. You will be answering our questions, and you will be coming with us." With that the centaur signaled two of his men forward to bare her weight between them and they carried her deeper into the forest, a choir of whooping centaurs on their tails.
Hermione had stood in silent shock during the whole exchange, surprised by the violent display of the usually docile, fortunetelling centaurs. She stared with glazed eyes into the forest, at the backs of the retreating centaurs. Her head swiveled with a snap in the direction of a foot stomping for attention, it was the palomino centaur that stared back at her as she turned to face him. "I hope you understand Miss Granger, we do not wish to cause you any trouble but that women has been interfering with the centaurs' livelihood for entirely too long."
A quiet Hermione managed a slight nod and a small, accepting smile through her persisting astonishment.
The centaur leader nodded at her before he departed from her presence, "The stars speak highly of you Miss Granger; you're on a destined path, arduous, though filled with love. Believe in your fated one Miss Granger. May we meet again someday, I wish you a safe today, bright tomorrow and an abundance of happy yesterdays."
With those words of departure he left behind a Hermione stricken by confusion as she stared aimlessly into the distance. What did he mean by an abundance of happy yesterdays? Yesterday already happened, what did the past have to do with her supposed destiny? And what on earth was a 'fated one?' Hermione shook her muddled head clear, she was never one to believe in divination, even from the respected mouths of the centaur astrologists, especially when she had friends to get to and a very important man to save; though her face still maintained a befuddled sheen as she wondered her way back to the forest's start.
Immense relief, that's all Hermione could communicate in the long suffering sigh that she loosened upon seeing Harry, Ron and her D.A. friends waiting for her at the forests edge. This taking it as she went plan wasn't really Hermione's cup of tea -though you'd think she'd be used to it with the boy- who-lived-to-be-disorganized as her best friend, Harry Potter was the king of going in halfcocked- so seeing that the freeing of the group from the inquisitorial squads reptilian clutches wasn't something else she'd have to configure on this escapade was a bittersweet respite.
"You guys are alright," She exclaimed as she threw herself at her messy haired best friend, "I was so worried."
"You were worried? We're not the ones who wondered off alone into the forest with the she-beast, Malfoy and his snakes have nothing on the toad wonder," Ron joked.
"Yeah, well unsurprisingly we aren't the only ones who have a problem with Umbridge," Hermione stated ominously.
"Gwap? I reckon he was livid after seeing his Hermy being threatened," Harry wagered.
"Oh yes, certainly, but it was the centaurs that really took issue," Hermione confirmed.
"The centaurs," Ginny voiced in askance.
Hermione turned to address the whole of the group, "Yes, they took offence to some of her policies on 'the half-breed lifestyle," Hermione explained, though not without much cheeky, discordant eye rolling at her prejudice.
"Centaurs give me the heebie-jeebies," Neville supplied.
"Yeah they're always telling me about my, 'destiny' and how mars shines bright on me or something," Harry agreed.
"Mmm, Centaurs are great seers guided by the stars. I wonder if they ever have problems with nargles trying to mislead them," Luna explained in her dreamy voice.
Hermione was quick to change the topic, Luna's reveries were hitting to close to home as she unnervingly remembered the Centaurs prophetic musings to her. "Yeah okay, any plans on how to get into the ministry unwelcomed to rescue a wanted fugitive that sports a kiss on sight order without getting caught and arrested by the delusional ministerial populace?"
"I have one, but you're not going to like it 'Mione," Harry supplied.
Hermione sighed in weary anticipation, "What is it Harry?"
"Thestrals," was his simple, one word response.
"Harry, I'm terrified of heights, I won't even ride a broom, and you expect me to fly all the way to the ministry on a winged horse I won't even be able to see," Hermione demanded with a terrified glint in her eyes.
Harry only shrugged, sending her a sheepish grin in response.
"Any better ideas," Hermione begged of her friends. When all she received in reply were a few head shakes and sympathetic smiles Hermione raised her eyes to the heavens in resigned acceptance, "I guess trespass by death Pegasus' it is then."
"You really can't see them," Neville gulped, remembering his far from stellar first flying lesson
"Only if you've seen someone die," Harry answered.
"Um, I don't want to sound rude, I know it's a sensitive subject, but uh, who here has seen someone die," Neville whispered, closing his eyes as if expecting to be slapped.
Luna was the one to answer in her normal, if not sorrowful, wistful voice, "When I was seven, the stars called Mother home, I held her hand as she closed her eyes the final time and the wackspurts wept for her demise."
Neville hugged her tight, "I'm so sorry Luna."
"Whatever for? Mom is free amongst the crumpled horn snorkacks now, I miss her but we'll be together again," Luna smiled languorously at him.
"Luna?" Neville called to her with a questioning intonation.
"Yes, Neville," Luna asked vaguely.
"I'm riding with you," the affirmation was made a plea by the desperate look in his eye.
"That would be agreeable Neville," Luna smiled.
Ronald spoke up in his typical abrupt manner at this point, "Excellent, well let's move along then. It's time to get going, we have flying death ponies to catch and fugitive dogfathers to save."
"Dogfathers?" Neville questioned confusedly.
"I'll explain later, but Ron's right it's time to get going before it's too late," Harry responded.
"Alright, lead the way Bon Jovi," Hermione sighed in enduring acquiescence.
"Bon Jovi," Harry asked.
"Steal horse riding cowboy?" Hermione questioned.
Harry just shook his head with a bewildered look.
"Wanted dead or alive," She tried again.
"Nuh uh," Harry replied.
"You've just made me seriously question our friendship Harry, have you no musical taste?" Hermione said as she pantomimed her horror with a shocked hand over her heart. "I never thought I'd be desperate to go flying but I can't even look at you right now Harry James Potter, let's go." Hermione gave a mockery of a haughty huff as she turned on the heel of her foot to walk away, nose lofted snootily skyward.
Harry rolled his eyes but jogged to catch up with her, leading the way to the thestral encampment by Hagrid's pumpkin patch. "Here's your wand by the way," he said as he slipped the nine and three quarter's inch stick of Vinewood into her palm.
Hermione beamed as she felt the familiar tingle of the unicorn's hair core mingle with the power of her own. She threw herself into Harry's arms for a second time in almost as many minutes, "Thank you so much, I feel so vulnerable and useless without it!"
Harry smiled as he held her fast, "So I take it all is forgiven for the whole Bon Jovi thing?"
"Oh no, you're still skating on very thin ice mister," Hermione affirmed.
Harry huffed in false petulance at her playful banter, "Whatever."
"Now let's get on with it, we have a marauder to maraud," Hermione stated with much exaggerated bravado.
"You've been waiting forever to say that haven't you," Harry asked her.
"Oh you have no idea, since we first met Sirius," she confirmed before amending, "Well maybe not in the first hour with the whole mass murdering rat and time travel dementor rescue, but you know after that definitely."
"You're a mess," Harry smirked.
"Yeah and you, love me for it honorary brother dear," Hermione acknowledged. "Now mount up your steal pony Bon Jovi, we have a fugitive to save and while some may prefer he be dead we are undoubtedly aiming for alive so you best be getting along cowboy. And oh yeah, I'm riding with you, if you thought I was going off alone on an invisible horse you were operating under illusions of grandeur."
"Shut up and get on the thestral 'Mione," Harry grinned as he reached down to help her on to his winged horse.
"You got it cowboy," she curtsied.
Harry rolled his eyes as he cast a point me spell to lead them to the ministry, "alright guys follow me," he called back to the group, and, though Hermione had been joking around with her best friend moments prior, anxiety filled her as they took to the skies. It wasn't the thought of flying that worried her so, not a single thought was spared for her most hated method of travel as all she saw in her mind's eye was a beaten down battered Sirius black whose grey eyes bored into hers as he told her she was too late.
Thanks for reading my words, no matter how crazy, I love you so much for that. I'll try to have update up for y'all again soon, I promise. Please review, they are the air I breathe and I need to breathe to write so no pressure, Jk lol, only review if you want to; though I do really appreciate them.
All my love,
~3lw