Chapter 10: An Unexpected Connection

This can't be happening, not again, Rachel thought trying not to hyperventilate, this isn't happening; this isn't my life right now! Spinning in circles she continued to scream her girlfriend's name. The wind howled in a mocking manor as it wrapped its icy fingers around her making her feel more alone than ever before.

"BETH!" Rachel's final scream was blood curdling as she accepted that this was all real. She was gone, sadly their reunion was not meant to last. Lord Voldemort made sure she knew that he was in control of her, and he could destroy everything in her life.

With a sob she collapsed to the ground as she let her grief finally took a hold of her. "You bastard!" she bawled as began to pound on the rocks with her unbroken hand. "You couldn't just kill her; you had to rip her soul away from me, too?"

Blood oozed from the cuts that opened from her self-inflicted abuse as her anger rose. "If it's the last thing I do I will get you, you son of a bitch!"

Crumpling into the fetal position in the middle of the rocks Rachel cried hysterically. "I promise, baby, I promise!" she whispered over and over again hoping her vow would some how bring her back. Tears continued to flow as she lay there, lost in her own sadness. Part of her was certain she was not going to be able to survive the pain. How could she when the one person in her life that was always there was now gone?

Rachel was wishing for her own demise, when she felt a comforting warm hand on her back. For a split second she thought the impossible had happened that Beth had somehow escaped. "Beth?" she asked as she lifted heavy spinning head.

The voice that answered was distorted, almost like a whisper on the wind. At first she couldn't make out what it was saying or who it even was. Pushing herself up to her knees, Rachel peered around her into the empty forest.

"Hello?" she called, her voice echoing off of the hills. That's when the omniscient voice sounded again, this time more clearly.

"It's okay…wake up, Rachel," Hermione soothed, gently shaking the sleeping girl, who had been muttering frantically and thrashing about the bed for the past few moments.

Finally, Rachel's eyes fluttered open as her dream melted away. Instead of the hard rocky ground, she found herself lying in the middle of her double bed sweat rolling down her face, her eyes wet with tears. With a groan she rolled over to face Hermione who looked back at her with tired worried eyes. It was apparent she had still been studying by candlelight. Raising her throbbing hand to wipe off her eyes, Rachel let her head find the pillows. Holy shit, she thought as the haunting images she just experience continued to plague her.

"Are you okay?"

Biting her bottom lip so hard it caused her healing cut to begin to bleed again, Rachel frantically shook her head. "No… no I really don't think so," she said as she looked at her friend. "I honestly think I might be losing my mind."

"Come on it can't be that bad, talk to me about it," Hermione suggested handing her a handkerchief to mop up the blood that dribbled down Rachel's chin.

Sitting up Rachel began to retell what she remembered about her dream; even though it had only just occurred it was fading from her memory quickly. Only one detail was purposefully left out: Beth's blessing with something developing between the pair. Rachel figured that would be a surefire way to scare away any new friend, even if it was just in a dream. Once she was finished Hermione sat down beside her on the edge of the bed and silently nodded her head.

"Well," she started looking up Rachel with serious eyes then let a sly smile spread across her face, "if I would have known that I would have to be protecting you, I might have thought twice about agreeing to help you. I didn't realize I signed up to be your guardian."

With a laugh Rachel playfully pushed her shoulder, as the seriousness was temporarily broken. "Well, hey just let Voldemort have his way with me and you will be sailing smoothly through school the rest for the year," she said and let her feet dangle off the edge of the bed. "You're the one that would have to live with the guilt of my demise."

Hermione shook her head as she stood with a groan and a stretch. "No, I like you, I think I will keep you around a bit longer," she laughed, gathering her books.

"I appreciate that, ya know the whole letting me live thing?" Rachel smiled pulling her foot up to take off her shoes.

With a chuckle Hermione turned to smile at her. Even in the soft glow of the candles Rachel couldn't help but notice how tired her eyes looked, dark circles were beginning to form underneath. "You look beat; maybe you should call it quits for the night? Go get some sleep or something?"

With a sigh Hermione flung her books and other school supplies back into her bag. "I think you might be right, I can't seem to focus anymore," she said, hoisting the bag on her shoulder. "I just don't want to walk all the way to the tower… it's on the other side of the school."

Looking up from her shoe, Rachel grinned. "Can't you just go 'bed' and POOF you're there?" she asked fighting a losing battle with her shoelaces. "Cause I would be taking full advantage of that if I was you right now."

"Unfortunately no, they haven't taught us apparition, yet," she replied not catching that Rachel was being sarcastic.

Turning to bid her goodnight Hermione saw that Rachel, in her attempt to take her shoes off, had created a giant knot in the laces. Suppressing a giggle she shook her head as she watched her. "You are truly are hopeless when it comes to anything with that hand. Just slip them off before you hurt yourself."

"I can't," Rachel let out a defeated sigh, "I made them too tight."

Dropping her school bag again Hermione crossed back over to the bed. Sitting down on the mattress she took Rachel's foot in her hand and to try to undo the mess she had created. Smiling to herself Rachel watched her as she began her own war with the laces. Before she could even stop herself, she opened her mouth and uttered her private thought.

"You know you could just stay with me tonight," she suggested nonchalantly. The words were barely over her lips when she snapped her head up away from her gaze on the shoe.

Hermione's fingers stopped mid untangle and slowly looked up at Rachel, who sat there with a dumbfounded look on her face. Why the hell did I just say that, she thought not believing she just said that out loud, I swear that blow to the head must have broken my ability to censor myself.

Rachel's cheeks instantly turned bright red causing her freckles to become more visible, as she began to try to talk her way out of the awkward moment. "I mean it is late… and your bed I mean dorm is such a long way to go. If you wanted to… it's cool with me, I mean of course it's cool with me since I suggested you sleep with me…ya know not sleep with me, sleep with me. We can share the bed and it's such a big bed we'd both have plenty of room, so I wouldn't accidentally touch you . . . I mean not touch you, touch you… more like you could sleep in peace over here and I would be waaaaaay over there," she stumbled over her words as she tried to dig herself out of the hole; unfortunately the more she talked the deeper she got. "Annnnnd I'm just gonna shut up now."

Placing a hand over her eyes Rachel shook her head, knowing she had just made a complete ass out of herself. Fuck my life, she thought glumly wishing the ground would open at any moment and swallow her whole. The last time she remembered tripping over her words so badly like that was when she was telling Beth how she really felt about her. Hermione tried her best to conceal her smile as she watched her become flustered over her choice of words.

After another moment of embarrassed silence and to Rachel's relief Hermione finally spoke. "It is a long way," she said as she nonchalantly turned her attention back to Rachel's shoe. "And it is pretty late." For some reason Hermione felt herself begin to blush as she looked back up at Rachel. It apparent she was relieved by her answer as well, she was not even trying to hide the grin that was developing as she pretended to be more interested in a thread on the blanket then looking at her.

"I wouldn't mind sleeping here tonight," Hermione added with a smile. "But wouldn't you feel more comfortable if I slept in the chair or on the floor? After all I might get you in your sleep, remember?"

Rachel shook her head in disagreement that was the last thing in the world right now that she wanted to happen. "No way are you not sleeping on the floor, Hermione! I offered you half of this bed, besides I think I could take you . . ." she added with a laugh and finally got the courage to look back up at her.

Her heart skipped a beat as the girls made eye contact. No way, she thought completely taken off guard by just now realizing Hermione's eyes were the same shade of brown as Beth's had been.

How did I not notice that before, she thought, as an invisible connection seemed to take a hold of the teens as they sat there, the candlelight reflecting in both of their eyes.

Hermione felt herself begin to fall in to the blue pools that were Rachel's eyes, and then the butterflies in her stomach took to flight. Even after studying for hours all the facts and figures she had just memorized seem to disappear in an instant, and for the first time she didn't seem to care. All she wanted to do was memorize every inch of Rachel's facial features, and the sparkle that never seemed to leave her eyes. Hermione had, had a boyfriend before but she never felt an instant almost intense connection with him. There was something different when she truly looked into this girl's eyes that made her heart race.

Smiling Rachel secretly wished that she could stare into her eyes forever. Her palms began to sweat, and her mouth went dry, something that had only happened with one other person.

Okay Beth I get the hint, she thought as she felt her heart flutter, but I didn't realize you meant it would happen this fast. Unfortunately the numbness in her foot finally caused her to prematurely break eye contact with Hermione, who was still holding her foot aloft.

"Umm I hate to ask but can I have my foot back?" she asked as she leaned back on her elbows.

Hermione blushed and with a little bit more effort managed to untie the Converse. Gently she slipped the shoes off Rachel's tired feet, and then tossed them by the foot of the bed. The pair stood and Rachel removed her sweatshirt, while Hermione took off her tie, sweater, and robe. Folding the covers down, Rachel climbed into the bed in her tee shirt and jeans. "Note to self, ask for some pajamas tomorrow," she said as she slid as far against the wall as she could.

Crawling into the bed next to her, Hermione pulled the covers over both of them, and then rolling over blew out the candle. The darkness descended so quickly Rachel cursed herself for not facing Hermione before the light had went out, to see her smile one more time before sleep. A silence filled the room as she lay there with Hermione lying just a few inches away from her. Rachel felt her mind begin to race. How was it even possible for to be feeling anything but grief at the moment? Her girlfriend had been murdered, right before her eyes, not even twenty four hours before. Now here she was in bed with another girl, feeling an unexpected happiness.

Rachel felt like crying with the jumbled mess that had become her thoughts. Suddenly, calmness seemed to settle over her easing her mind. "It's okay, baby," a whispered filled her ears, "Just take care of each other…"

"I promise," she responded which caused Hermione to lift her head.

"You say something?" Hermione asked sleepily.

"Sorry, go back to sleep." Rolling on her side Rachel tucked her arm under her pillow and sighed, wishing that she had the ability to see in the dark.

"Good night, Hermione," she whispered as she heard her breathing begin to slow. "Thanks for everything; you've done for me today, and what you will do for me."

Starting to drift off again Rachel suddenly, felt a finger brush against her own, as Hermione shifted into a more comfortable position. Smiling in her mind Rachel opened her hand and let Hermione's fingers slip in between her own.