This chapter is one of three that I will be posting over a very short period of time. I wrote a LOT and as much as I want to just shove it all at you at once, she's a work in progress, and my story responds well to cliff hangers. So here! If you're reading this in the future. Go away, this doesn't concern you.

CORRECTION: It only ended up being two. It was technically like two and a half, and I wasn't about to post two and a half chapters. So there.

Hermione woke up the next morning and sighed.

It's going to be a long couple months.

She vowed to try and stay as socially subdued as possible for the next little while before she had to make her disappearance so people wouldn't become too attached to her and ask many questions about her whereabouts. She knew that she had become part of history now, but she couldn't help but feel intrusive whenever she helped someone make a decision that they probably would have done differently without her input. And by someone she usually meant Merlin or Gaius. The only ones she felt like she could talk to about anything. They'd become like family and friends. Sometimes they drank and shares stories, they cooked and gathered herbs together, and like family, they picked on each other profusely.

Weeks, and months rolled by, and time slipped out of their grasp faster than they cared to have it. Merlin grew progressively more somber and forlorn over the last month of Hermione's visit, and acted like she wouldn't ever be coming back. Initially Hermione had said;

"Hey, you know it's only a couple years, I'll be coming back. Plus, you've got your part to play in my time as well." She winked at him but he didn't look convinced. "Oh c'mon Merlin, we've got loads of time together after, we're still young." He smiled at that, and pushed his worries back into the darker parts of his heart where he'd been bottling them for a while.

Merlin had been getting better at his future magick, despite all the odds being against him. It was extremely hard to cast magick from a time period that you hadn't been or lived in, nature didn't allow it, mostly because the magick hadn't technically been created or harnessed yet. But Merlin was a remarkable sorcerer and succeed in casting many basic spells like 'Expelliarmus', 'Stupify', 'Agaumenti', 'Confundus' and 'Alohomora', right up to 'Aparecium', 'Aresto Momentum', 'Aqua Eructo', 'Finite Incantartem' and everything in between. Hermione told him about the curses, but refrained from giving him the wordings and movements until they were in her world, in case something went wrong or it proved too much for Merlin, and he agreed. In return though he taught Hermione the laws of Icelandic speak, druid and ritual magick, which Hermione loved and worked on mastering in her free time. She automatically had a knack for it and had a relatively easy time channeling the different type of magick through her wand. The environmental magick all around her was very strong, which resulted in very potent and concentrated spell casting for her. Her wand hummed and vibrated at her touch, and itched to be used. The result was that when they were alone, Merlin and Hermione challenged themselves to use magick for absolutely everything. They honed their skills by using different wordings to try and get the same results. They provided each other with extra obstacles from time to time, and immersed themselves completely in the rich art of witchcraft. They worked on invisible and wordless magick especially, so that when Merlin was summoned on missions with Arthur, he could protect him better when he needed it. Gaius didn't appreciate the multitudes of sporadic floating household items buzzing around him at all times, but he was thoroughly pleased that Merlin had taken an interest in broadening his understanding of the magicks, and Gaius agreed to pass on as much of his knowledge of creatures, potions, and spells as he could.

The months were rich with exploration and friendship. They had become far better and stronger sorcerers than they were previously and for the first time in her life Hermione really felt like her brain was going to explode with all of its knowledge. It alarmed her at first when she started forgetting little things, and realized it was because she was struggling to remember everything she was learning. But she wouldn't trade it for the world.

One afternoon, Arthur had found her wandering a wide corridor in the castle, one lined with arched windows, just admiring the mid-day summer sun and he had relayed the long-anticipated, life-changing message she had been expecting any day now:

"My father, King Uther that is, wishes to tell you that you have as of now, fully repaid your debt to Camelot. Now you are officially Camelot's guest!" He smiled brightly at her. Hermione smiled back, but without reflecting Arthur's obvious zeal. "That's good, you know. You don't look near excited enough." He smiled a crooked, joking smile. Hermione and Arthur had come to be good friends over the past few months, and Hermione hated leaving her friends once, she didn't want to do it again. At that moment though, something possessed Hermione to echo two lines from her favourite Shakespearean play;

"It is, however.." She paused momentarily to match his playful smirk, "I have a journey, sir, shortly to go; My master calls me, and I must not say no." He looked quizzically at her, but with an air of sadness. "Alas, I shall return, without doubt." Hermione thought she sounded like Dumbledore there. "But there is a quest of which I must embark." She began to, as of recent, speak in rhyme occasionally, and thoroughly enjoyed the confused looks she got from others. His sadness increased, but she thought she sensed a bit of relief within him. "The weight of this sad time we must obey, speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.." He was never going to know she was taking that out of context. She felt like laughing at her own antics, but refrained from it.

"Well, I'll miss you. WE'll miss you. How long do you plan to travel?"

"A few years at best."

"And you will indeed return to us?"

"Most certainly."

"Then I shall have you acquitted with the finest gear and horse. I know you fair the duties of a man better that any woman, and even some men that I've met." He smiled at her. She met his eyes.

"Thank you, Arthur.. Sir. I shall make sure they are well tended to. Thank you also for not prying into my intentions." She bowed deeply.

"No." He grabbed her shoulders gently, and forced her to lift herself from the submissive position. "We are friends and equals, I will not see you bow to me." She was too honored for words, and just smiled stupidly. Her teenaged emotions caught back up with her and she laughed, dropping the formalities dead in their tracks.

"It is good to know you as a friend Arthur." She clapped him on the shoulder. He looked as if he wanted to say something more, but merely went to find a servant to gather the things she would need for her journey. She knew it was an odd gesture for a woman, but she also dressed and did other odd things that most women did not do, so it was entirely expected from her.

She knew that as of this moment she only had two things left to do. Speak to Merlin and Gaius, and reaffirm her plans with Kilgharrah before she violated the fabrics of time once again. She humbly turned to the stone window-archway in the corridor she was in, and let the sunshine warm her face and neck. She absorbed it and all of its energy. The sun seemed more radiant than usual, as if it too was giving her the parting gift of love and hope. Her thoughts flickered to Morgana, and then to Voldemort, and for the first time since Dumbledore's death, she was not afraid. She knew the road would be rocky, but she felt she could handle it, so long as she had the faith and support of Arthur, Merlin, Harry, Ron and all her other friends back home.

Home.. Where was her home exactly? Was it with Hogwarts and Harry and Ron? Or was it here in Camelot with Arthur and Merlin?

She pushed those thoughts away for the time. There were more important things to tend to.

She sighed and pulled herself from the warm, golden sunlit window sill and made her way down to Merlin's room to find both him and Gaius before she went to see the great Dragon. When she arrived, finding them was too easy and the universe offered no resistance to her plans. She knew it was a good thing, and that she should not wish otherwise, but she couldn't help but long for a few more moments in Merlin's presence. They had grown so close..

She relayed her message to the pair of them and they both grew very quiet and somber. Gaius was more accepting than Merlin, and gave her a hug goodbye, as he would not be the one seeing her off, but Merlin would. None of them could keep a dry eye, and silent tears dripped from their faces, which betrayed the reminiscent smiles upon their lips. They knew it had to be. Merlin and Hermione took the long route to the caverns under Camelot. He took her hand, and there was not a word nor motion of displeasure or discomfort. They walked in silence and found Kilgharrah waiting on his perch, where he had been obviously anticipating the arrival.

"The emotions in your residual magick drip from these castle walls, and bring word of your intentions." He replied almost sickly to the look of surprise on the companions' faces. Hermione and Merlin smiled at each other.

"So where should I be when I make the jump?" She asked.

"I would have originally suggested in here, where the environment is unchanging, as to prevent you from reappearing inside a newly grown tree or the likes of, but alas, you have told Arthur of your intended departure.." He looked at her as if she had made some crucially illogical decision. She reaffirmed her belief in dragons being practical almost to a fault. "So there is only one other place I could imagine such a jump being possible without disruption.." He paused and his eyes drifted off to a land only he could see.

"And that is?" Merlin said hastily after a long pause.

"It is called the Crystal Cave, and it resides within the Valley of the Fallen Kings."

Hermione jabbed her foot in the metal stirrup of her stallion and hoisted herself upon its back. She had gotten much better at horseback riding since her stay in Camelot. She often took to horse with Arthur and his knights when they raced in the woods, and she pleaded him to death to teach her how to joust, to which he succumbed after much effort on Hermione's part. But that was a rare occurrence. Especially after Uther found out. When he had learned of what Arthur was doing with the young woman, he blanched to an unhealthy shade of paper, and the reaction could have been compared to one of him finding out about an infidelity. Hermione didn't really care, she knew Arthur was letting her win all the time anyways.

She looked up at Merlin who was settling in on his horse, and smiled. He had begged Arthur to see her to the end of the Darkling woods, but Hermione knew he would go with her all the way to the Crystal Cave. It was the birthplace of magick after all, Merlin wasn't going to pass up that opportunity for all the gold or hours of stock-bound torment in the world. Merlin knew Arthur wasn't going to complain much if Merlin's return was a day or two late anyways, he knew all too well that Merlin cared deeply for Hermione, and would extend their visit any way possible if he could. All the knights, including Arthur stood in a wide semi-circle around the parting companions. Naturally, Uther was not present, but nobody really thought much of it. Guinevere was standing with Arthur, a bold move, considering Uther could look out at them at any moment. Hermione was acquainted with Gwen, and they were friends, but they weren't close like her and Arthur, or her and Merlin. They were sort of friends of circumstance. Hermione wished to know her better, but there would be time for that later. Arthur walked up beside her horse and kissed the knuckles on her left hand in a formal goodbye and nodded to Merlin in a silent "keep her safe". Merlin nodded back and the pair set off at a brisk speed.

The traveling was smooth and the world seemed calm and time seemed slow. It still offered absolutely no resistance to Hermione's departure, which surprised her. She was used to expecting setbacks at every turn. At least that's how it was with the horcruxes. They soon reached the Valley of the Fallen Kings, and the pillar-like statues stood tall and domineering before them. It made them both a little nervous, being novices with the location. They slowed to a walk, partly in apprehension and partly in curiosity of their surroundings. Everything was layered with ages of untouched moss and lichen. It was a beautiful sight, and the air was thick with moisture. The forest was comforting, as it reminded her of Hogwarts, but also eerie, because it was so quiet. But they made it to the cave in no time, because the air got thicker with magick the closer they got. It was a game of hot-and-cold for a while before their found their way into the natural ditch-like groove in the ground, which bore an old round, dark entrance, almost fully concealed by the drooping moss. They pushed their way in, and the magick that radiated from the millions of crystal pillars made Hermione's head spin. Merlin embraced it immediately and began to wander throughout the cave, letting his hands brush over all of the crystals he could reach. Hermione caught a glimpse of fragments of images passing over their surfaces every time Merlin clutched one with both hands.

"Hermione.. This cave.. It's like it's telling me its story.. of how magick came to be, and what is to become of it.. You are even in some of these prophecies.." It was like the Department of Mysteries all over again, but less corrupted by mankind. Hermione reveled in it raw beauty, and longed to experience what Merlin was experiencing, but the crystals refused to reveal such things to her. She guessed it was because of Merlin's destiny as the greatest warlock in history. For the first time she began to envy him and his yet-to-be-discovered magickal prowess. But it was short lived, she wasn't much of a selfish person.

"Well.. I don't think it would be prudent to delay much longer.." She said, trying to block the feelings of her heart from her logical mind. Like lightening he tore his gaze from the depths of the glowing stones and over to her, despair written unhidden upon his face. He trotted down the earthen steps of the cave to hug her but before he could pull her into his arms, the sound of many branches snapping rang out in the distance. Not small, dead branches on the ground, but ones breaking off of trees and falling to the forest floor with dull 'thud's. Some hooves hit the ground and frantically got louder and closer to the cave. They stood inside, befuddled and surprised. There really was nowhere to go or hide, so they just stood there looking out of the entrance. A loud bird call sounded in the distance, and Merlin grew stiff beside Hermione.

She recognized that sound anywhere. She ran out of the cave, and just as she suspected, there stood a familiar hippogryph, impatiently pawing at the ground. When it saw her it trotted over like a happy pony and butted its head into her shoulder. Hermione let out an "Oof." and Buckbeak began to circle her and snort, bobbing his head up and down in excitement. Merlin slowly made his way out of the cave, and nervously half smiled at her.

"How-?" She began, but Buckbeak had knocked his head into her shoulder again and she turned to face him. He tucked his head under his wing for a second, and came out with a feather in his beak. He dropped it in her now open hands. "He must know I'm planning to leave.." She said, and Buckbeak snorted. "But how, Merlin?.. I thought you..?"

"I lied, of course. I couldn't tell Arthur that I used magick to heal him." Buckbeak made his way over to Merlin and plucked another loose feather from his other wing, and jabbed it into Merlin's clutches. He took it with a smile, not daring to refuse such a reputable gift, and certainly not wanting to.

"I should have known." Hermione was smiling widely. She ran over and jumped into Merlin's arms, and Buckbeak let out a little squawk of surprise and backed up a few steps, puffing his downy chest feathers. Hermione turned to him;

"And thank you too, Buckbeak." They both laughed. She hugged Buckbeak around his thick neck. "I'll be back soon, and we'll catch up." Buckbeak backed up slowly and faced both of them before bowing, with no loss of integrity on his part. It was something hippogryphs did more gracefully than any other. They returned the gesture, and he turned and flew off without hesitation.

"It's like he's your familiar or something." Merlin offered jokingly. Hermione laughed.

"Who ever heard of that? A hippogryph familiar." She said with memories of Crookshanks suddenly filling her mind.

They enjoyed the setting sun a while longer before going back to the cave.

"Are you sure you don't want to wait until morning?" Merlin said desperately.

"I'd like to say it would make a difference, but time is of no consequence to me currently." She frowned.

"Right." He said in agreeance. "Well, goodbye for now, I guess." His voice choked up a bit, but he remained composed. Hermione thought he looked like he was about to jump back into her arms but he didn't. He looked like a man lost hopelessly in love, and she smiled. She couldn't help but feel the same way. She pulled out her time turner from her bag and double coiled it around her neck so it fit like a regular pendant. It was built to accommodate up to three people, or one and a hippogryph apparently. She meticulously gave the dial thirty-two forward turns, as dictated previously by Kilgharrah, and at the last second before she spun it into action, she contemplated jumping over and kissing Merlin. But it was too late now, she had to press forward. She closed her eyes and flicked the center, while holding on to the outer ring. It spun inconceivably fast, and Merlin disappeared in a flash. Days, weeks, and months were passing by at the flick of her fingertips. She felt like crying or screaming out for him, as part of her heart tore away. All the things he would do without her. All the new adventures, the new spells, new friends.. even new love? She hated the thought of it. For the first time ever she realized just how much she cared about him, and her heart ached like never before. She waited, suspended in the same position, unwilling to move. For half a second, she thought she saw Merlin reappear and leave. It had happened so fast she couldn't see what he did, but she was almost certain he had been there. Was he looking for her? Her heart jumped a bit.

What a selfish thought. Surely he had some other purpose. She tried to tell her self but it only made her wonder more.

A few more minutes passed by. Months for Camelot, before it all stopped. She felt like her soul had been splinched at the jolting stop. But otherwise she was unscathed. She was wondering so many things, so many answers she had to have.. She was standing in the Crystal Cave, swaying side to side, like a tree in the wind, not sure how to proceed, when a wisp of blue light began to pool on the cave floor.. She looked up and noticed that it was the crystals producing the concoction. It was as if they were sweating, but the kind of liquid one conjured when taking a copy of a memory. The mist swirled over her boots, and began to take shape. It was definitely human, and after a few more moments of speculation, she began to see familiarity in the figure. Suddenly she recognized the young man who stood before her, as the mist continued to collect and build around him. As the living memory finally took shape and colour she couldn't help but let out a shrill shriek of happiness.

"Harry!"

Spells: N/A

Review Q/A:

icarusLSU: Thank you, and I believe this chapter answers your question about the Crystal Cave. Remember though, Merlin is a dragonlord, he supports his own magick. Merlin just doesn't know it yet ;) Have you ever read Inheritance Cycle? When the Elves made truce with the Dragons, part of the agreement was that the dragon riders were born, and they became the peacekeepers between the two races, but another result of it was that the Elves acquired some of the long life and magick that the dragons have, and even after the fall of the riders the Elves retained their magick and vitality throughout hundreds of years. It's built-in now, and I sort of based it off of that. But in my story the concept of "Sorcerer" is just someone who can channel dragon magick, which is what make's dragonlords so special. It's just a new way of looking at it, it doesn't really affect the way the story runs (: Lol