A/n: So all this chapter almost never made it today I am pushing it with last minute upload if there are any errors more so than usual I apologise I will come back round and edit when I have time. I also haven't replied to reviews I've been far too busy. So fanfiction went of line early which put me back annoyingly. Seems to be working now. Thank you all again for your support do enjoy this chapter a lot of things coming to light. And no minors quite gruesome! I will get back to you all shortly till next time hopefully won't be a delay.
Warnings: Story contains scenes of violence throughout, swearing and scenes of sexual nature. Rated M for a reason. Story also deals with child and drug abuse. Deals with death and blood in this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own any recognisable characters and no money has been made from this.
Enjoy...
Chapter Ten
The crowd roars once more as the level begins, volunteers rushing overhead. Hermione tightens her grip on her wand, who could she trust. A screeching roar echoes in the arena the crowd falling silent, the only noise is their breathing. The sun chooses that moment to disappear behind a cloud, bathing them in darkness. Scurrying of feet a slither in the bushes, the chattering of teeth and haunting cooing of a creature long since lost. The cannibals are here.
Taking a deep breathe she steps forward, her feet squelching in the drying mud. Strange, she scruffs the ground with the tip of her foot, very odd. Why is the ground soft? What does it matter, there's Wendigo's lose and someone is not who they seem. All the boys are acting normal, except a Mirror Man is perfect the only way to catch them out is with memories.
Ron claps his hands together and Hermione knows he is going to take the lead. Except she is too buys thinking who had who? Neville went with McGonagall, Harry with Hagrid she cannot imagine Hagrid tricking Harry. This left Ron who went with a volunteer. Could be a trick, split them up any one of the Professors could be responsible. Maybe I am a mirror man. Would she know if she was? Maybe not, maybe they play with her memories, but the dream is still fresh from last night. Her cheeks still burn with embarrassment.
Wendigo. A though occurs to her, she studied Wendigo's in her fourth year as extra work for Black, she goes through all the information she knows. They are super-fast, strong and tall. The perfect hunter. Only susceptible to fire, she learnt Fiendfye not from Black but from a book. She can cast the spell; she only hopes she does not have to use it. A habit of casting the spell far too well if her history was anything to go by.
Licking her lips, she glances to the orb hovering over her shoulder, its beady little eye recording her. She hears a whoop from the crowd for the action and she smirks. The crowd goes wild above them as she turns back to the boys.
"I think we should head to the check point." Ron says mustering his pride.
The checkpoint sits in the middle of the map, the flag waving to them over the tops of the hedges, a flapping beacon in the distance. They cannot leave with the Mirror Man or they will lose, it's a bad plan. Wherever they are keeping, the hostage it would be away from the flag.
"I suggest we figure out who isn't the real person." Hermione suggests, looking to Harry. "There's no point in heading to head the flag, we'll be sitting ducks. At least here we have our backs covered we don't need to worry about attack."
"So we sit here and hope we get it right?" Ron snaps at her, a slight scar under his eye from one of her birds. "That's a load of bull. I'm not waiting for one of those things to come eat me."
"Trust me Ron, they'll probably spit you back out." Is Hermione's snarky reply. "We need to figure out who isn't the real person it's the point of the level."
"No the point is not to be eaten."
"Two minutes ago you didn't even know what a Wendigo is, forgive me if I'm not so eager to follow your lead."
"What so we have to follow yours? Who the hell put you in charge?"
"You did when you signed my name for the championships."
"Guys this isn't getting us anywhere." Harry interrupts becoming a physical barrier.
"I agree with Ron, we should head to the flag." Neville says.
Say what? Hermione turns bewildered eyes to her friend, Neville currently rocking on the balls of his feet. A habit his developed when anxious, he returns her accusing look with a blank stare. He went with McGonagall; she would not have done it – would she? Ron is nodding eagerly, puffing out his chest.
"Right on mate, you're welcome to stay here 'Mione."
"And let you guys be eaten no chance. Lavender would be lost without her Won Won."
A roar of laughter erupts from the stands as Hermione walks past the blushing Ron. Harry jogging to keep up, she feels bad for Harry. Caught between two arguing friends, except the pity falls short when she remembers she had to do the same thing back in their fourth year.
They continue cautiously through the hedges, fear itching at the souls of their feet's, pulling at the base of their necks. Anything could be in the bushes; it could jump out at them at any moment. Harry marches next to her despite Ron's brave words he is quite happy to hang back behind her, ready for her to lead the way. The arena is suspiciously quiet, there is meant to be four teams in the arena, why is it so quiet?
She takes a deep breath glancing to the dark sky, the volunteers rushing above them on brooms. A strange thought occurs to her, she could steal a broom find where they are keeping the hostage and head to the flag. It's a backup plan.
Slowing her pace, she allows Ron to stalk past her barely sparing her a second glance. She feels no remorse for her actions despite their tense relationship he made his point clear she made hers impossibly clearer. There is a rumour of a lover's rift going on, how Ron is cheating on Lavender with Hermione. The thought nearly made her sick; she will not give the rumour any credit.
Falling into step with Neville, she matches his pace, eyeing the growing closer flag with trepidation. This is a big mistake; the closer to the flag they get the closer the Mirror Man is to ruining them. However, who could it be? Could be anyone.
"Was thinking after this I need to Hogsmead?" Hermione says.
"Yeah could do, I need to go to Honey Dukes." Neville replies.
Well that was far from revealing, Neville would live in Honey Dukes if he could she will have to try another tactic. She notices Ron throw a look over his shoulder towards them; she ignores it. Choosing to change tactic. If the boys will not listen to reason then she will have to dig through each one pulling out memories in hopes of finding the fake. Harry though for some reason she does not suspect Harry, there is no vibe from him. Harry is intent on keeping the peace James's will probably be watching, she wonders if he is proud. Proud of the young man is becoming or disappointed, she wonders what it is like to have proud parents. It's a sad thought, she chooses not to dwell on it not right here at least.
Shouting in the distance makes her pause, raised voices. Another group fighting, it is a clever level really what better way to destroy a team than to divide and conquer one. Hermione wonders just who else is in with them, which team have they got? Perhaps the Russians, she doubts it though, they are a big team they will go out later when there are more people in the crowd. The more popular team always drawing the bigger crowd and Russians have dominated for a long time.
"What we going to do when we get to the flag?" Harry asks, breaking their tense silence.
"Figure out who's the imposter." Ron answers as though this is going to be easy.
"How?"
Ron pauses, it is obvious that he was not paying attention to Black's instructions on Mirror Men. Hermione sighs looking towards the silent Neville for a show of support. Any support. Neville remains steadfast quiet. It is him. She ignores the warning. It cannot be he went with McGonagall. There is only one way to test it.
"What you doing for Christmas?" Hermione asks.
"Going with Nan to Italy for a week, and then spending time with the family." Neville answers. "What about you?"
Hermione shrugs, earning another look from Ron, who leans in to whisper to Harry.
"Something's off their mate, they're acting weird." Ron whispers to Harry.
"They're friends nothing weird at all." Harry answers.
"Nah mate they're planning something."
Sighing Hermione sends the orb watching her a withering glance, she really hates the orbs she might just bash it over Ron's head. It's greedy eye recording everything all their conversations.
"Family stuff," Hermione says vaguely earning a nod from Neville. "Thought we could do something, new film coming out looks good."
"Yea sounds good."
"Mums going to do her Mexican night, you know what she's like loves her Mexican food." Hermione probes. "Want to come?"
A flicker passes across Neville's face a distorted look crossing his features as though truly considering the offer. It does not matter she already knows who the Mirror Man is Neville knows her history. Knows of her mother's condition Hermione's mum has not cooked anything in years.
"Sure I like burritos."
She whips around a Ridikkulus smacking Neville straight in the face he flops backwards on the ground kicking mud up into the air. Harry is the first to react turning around wand-raised confusion evident on his face.
"Why the hell you do that for!" Ron shouts.
"Because he's the fake." Hermione argues.
"You don't know that."
"Yeah Ron, yeah I do." Hermione shoots back voice like steel.
A squeal escapes the lips of Neville, the creature morphing on the ground, legs kicking out and before their eyes Neville disappears into the bushes vanishing from view. They have found the mirror man; now all they had to do is find the real Neville.
"That's that then." Ron says as though he just figured it out. "We can go."
"Not without Neville." Hermione interrupts.
"'Mione's right, we're not leaving without Neville." Harry agrees. "How do we find him?"
"We follow the fake."
Hermione answers pointing to the tracks on the ground heading off into the unknown. Harry leads the way carefully heading through the bushes; branches slap them on the journey. She swallows harshly it feels too easy. Maybe there is something she is missing it cannot be this easy surely? None the less if it were Harry or Ron who were the Mirror Man then she may would have took longer to figure it out.
"How did you know it was Neville?" Harry asks.
"Neville's allergic to nuts to make authentic Mexican the sauces often contain nuts." It is a white lie.
Harry accepts it though with a little murmur "I didn't know that."
She smiles weakly, the truth is Neville knows everything about her; she cannot invite him to her house because there is not one. They made oaths and they made false memories to protect her history from any would be professors prowling through his mind.
Spells erupt in the distance a team not far from them; they creep closer to a hedge using it as cover. In front of them sits makeshift cells, covered by hedges unpotable from the distance. Neville will be in there. Gripping her wand she glances to Harry who nods, slowly she takes one foot out.
A spell narrowly misses her face she dives back in for cover Harry casting a Stupefy back in the direction of the attackers. Another spell hits the hedge Harry is holding his own, firing spells left right and centre.
"Hermione," Harry says narrowly dodging a spell. "We've got this, you get Neville."
She nods even as Ron steps forwards joining Harry in casting spells. She waits, waits for the spells to slow before running full pelt through the dazzling array of spells, a quick look to her right shows one of the Dumstrang group leading the attack. She dives for cover on the other side. The sound of Harry and Ron firing spells back and forth.
"Stupefy!" Harry shouts.
Breathing deeply, Hermione stares at the three cells looking in each one. One gate already open key sitting in the lock, she pokes her head into another. A figure sits towards the back, staring glumly at his feet she smiles.
"Neville." Hermione calls, the head shoots up.
"'Mione!" Neville shouts jumping to his feet, he rushes to the bars.
"You're a sight for sore eyes."
"Cheers, the Beauxbatons already got one of theirs out; don't know about the other team."
Hermione points behind her to the sky alight, Neville grins. "You gonna let me out?"
"Where's the key?"
"You didn't get it?" Neville asks. "It's on the Mirror Man."
Ah, that would cause a problem; she hit the Mirror Man she doubts she will be finding him any time soon. That would also mean Neville is wandless she swallows. So much for easy, glancing around, she grabs the key from the already open door it's a long shot but it might work.
"We lost the Mirror Man." Hermione says trying the key in the lock.
"You hit it with the spell and scared it didn't you?"
"Gratitude." Hermione murmurs.
She slides the key in it remains locked. Throwing the key aside a nearby hedge catches fire, the duelling getting out offhand, she needs to hurry this up. The lock does not look magical and there is no way she is going looking for the Mirror Man with Wendigo's hovering around.
"Get away from the gate." Hermione advises pointing her wand at the lock.
"What you doing?" Neville asks hiding towards the back of the room.
"Breaking you out, I'll be damned if I'm going to hunt a boggart through the hedges for this sodding championships. Cover your eyes." She orders. "Bombarda!"
The lock explodes debris flying everywhere, a rush of wind slapping her in the face. Neville emerges from the cells blinking in the light, he smiles before frowning at her.
"You didn't get my wand either did you?"
"I'll get you a new one – a better one." Hermione reassures.
"Before or after Harry and Ron get taken out in a duel?"
Turning Hermione sighs at finding Harry and Ron falling back she needs to help. Looking around she picks up a branch handing it to the visibly annoyed Neville. He accepts it with a loud sigh weighing it heavily in his hands.
"If anyone comes, whack 'em."
She darts away leaving Neville stand caveman style waiting for war; she needs to play this smart. There is three Dumstrang cornering Harry and Ron. She has to time it right they cannot see her leaving they will be waiting though. Waiting for her to step out with Neville. The taller broader wizard steps forward attacking Ron. It is the perfect opportunity.
She moves like lightening darting out towards the opening, two wands turn to her, to hex. She dodges one spell, sliding to her knees as another spell flies overhead, successfully avoiding both attacks.
"Reducto."
The spell strikes the taller wizard he flies backwards hitting his smaller teammate they both go crashing into the distance. A groan escaping both men as they lay sprawled in the distance. The last man standing turns to her, as both Harry and Ron cast a spell. The man has no chance, an expalliamus and stupefy striking him in the gut. Sending him hurtling into the distance his wand landing in Harry has outstretched hand.
Rising to her feet, she gives the boys a triumph look, Harry grins, holding the spare wand in his hand. Hermione plucks it from his fingers handing it to the approaching Neville who manages a small smile.
"So to the flag?" Hermione asks.
Sharing a small laugh with Harry, they dust themselves down heading towards the flag. They do not lower their guard, Ron leading the way Harry following close behind. Hermione treks after them, Neville bringing up the rear.
Something catches her eye, she looks up the sun peeking out from the clouds, something does not sit right though. The sky unusually empty towards the south there are two volunteers on brooms but there is no one nearby. It makes her pause with the flag within touching distance a noise in the distance catching her attention.
~~~~~Fractures~~~~~
Wiping sweat from her forehead, Andy paces through the internal arena, the battle raging just below. She promised herself she would not hover, promised she would not mother Hermione too much. Damn it though, she wants to know what's going on. There were murmurs that a Wendigo had broken free of its tracker no one else knew anything. Therefore, she finds herself heading towards the main hub. She can gain access head of healing volunteers has its benefits.
She catches sight of video footage Hermione's group heading to the flag with the real Neville she breathes a sigh of relief. None the less she has a job to do she carries the folder to the main hub passing the Aurors outside Stepping into the main room she finds it alive with activity they have bird eye view of the arena and the crowds. Minister Riddle flicking through some files to the right next to a wizard watching the Championships unfold.
A figure moves in front of Andy and she does not need to look to know who it is, she holds out the file in a peace offering. Her sister staring at her with a mixture of annoyance and something else. Despite herself, she smiles looking towards the big screen happy with Hermione's progress.
"How's it going Bella?" Andy asks watching the volunteer mull in and out.
"You can see how on the screen." Bella answers roughly.
"I heard a Wendigo broke free."
"It's under control there's an Auror down there."
It is surprising how embracing of muggle technology Lord Riddle is, his volunteers handling what she would guess to be a muggle computer. Riddle has brought Wizarding world out of the dark ages and pushed them towards muggle creations. Slowly it takes time to change culture but testament of his success is the championships themselves.
"That's odd." A volunteer murmurs, earning Bella's attention.
There is a murmuring from the crowd, not the usual roar a whispering amongst onlookers. Something is happening in the arena. Swallowing, Andy glances around at the volunteers no one seems disturbed no reason to be alarmed.
"What's wrong?" Bella asks the volunteer.
"Volunteer six isn't moving in the arena."
"The one with the Beauxbaton girl?"
"Might be a glitch."
"Bella?" Andy whispers.
"One of the Beauxbatons girls was separated on the way to the flag, volunteer six intervened was escorting her back out. I'm sure their tracker just slipped off." Bella says with a sharp nod. "All Wendigo's are accounted for?"
"I have eyes on all of them; they're too busy following the other volunteers." The volunteer answers.
"Sending them in with Wendigo's is a bit risky isn't it?" Andy questions Bella who steps away from the monitor.
"There's only three hardly dramatic."
"Two Hogwarts students are out." Another volunteer calls. "Potter and Weasley are clear, Longbottom and Granger nearly out."
"Nothing to worry about," Bella continues with a short smile.
Andy knows she has a long way to go until Bella will consider her sister again; the shame to the family may be too great for Bella truly to accept her again. Still though Andy will try to rebuild the bridge that closed a long time ago. Time heals all wounds.
"The Dumstrang were knocked out though."
"I saw." Andy says she caught that moment from Hermione.
"Wait," A voice says behind Bella. "Why she going back in?"
Turning around, Bella stares at the big screen. Hermione talking with Neville then the unimaginable happens she turns around and heads back into the arena. Choking on her breath, Andy glances to the frantic tapping of fingers.
"What the hell's going on?" Bella demands.
"We've lost a Wendigo, Volunteer five reported wrong said he had two Wendigo's but only has one." A volunteer replies.
"Where' the other one?"
"We have a volunteer down, the one escorting Beauxbaton witch out."
"Where is she?"
"I think I know." Andy whispers staring at the screen following Hermione back into the arena. "She's going back for someone."
~~~~~Fractures~~~~~
A noise catches her attention, even when they are a few feet from grabbing the flag a few feet from ending it all. Hermione hears it a faint murmur in the distance like a sirens call, she thinks she is imagining it until she hears it again. She stops dead as Harry and Ron vanish through from the arena, Neville stops when he realises she is not following.
"Hermione?" Neville calls.
"Can you hear that?"
They both pause listening, that is when she hears it again another faint shouting in the distance. Help. It is so faint, so weak she thinks it's the wind. Except the air is missing one of its volunteers she counted them as she entered. There was seven, now there is only six. Help! More desperate now, except none of the volunteers are reacting to the noise.
"Hermione please we can leave."
"Someone needs help Neville."
"It could be a trap."
"There's only six volunteers in the air where's the seventh one?"
"Maybe they've already left."
"Or maybe they're the ones who need help."
"HELP!" A scream echoes in the arena it makes her skin crawl in fear.
She steps forward, "Hermione don't. That's not our team!"
"And they are?" Hermione shouts back, pointing to where her teammates had vanished. "I didn't chose them, I wouldn't have chosen them."
"Don't do this."
"If we leave – if I leave here knowing that I could have prevented a death. Knowing someone died when we could have done something about it," She shakes her head in disgust. "I would never be able to live with myself."
Another scream for help, she backs away turning towards the sound. "Go on without me Neville I'll see you on the other side."
She runs back into the arena to the sound of the crowd and to words of Neville chasing after her. "You best do."
It could be a trap she knows this; Wendigo's can mimic human sounds she could be heading to a trap set by a Wendigo. The volunteer could have left the arena but her gut tells her this is the real thing. Even as her feet pound the muddy, ground heading to the source of the sound the hedges growing thicker. She has to dart around them a couple of times taking her out the way of the shouting voice. This is taking too long as she slides to a halt in front of another hedge the shouting much closer.
"Hello!" Hermione shouts her voice absurdly loud. "Can you hear me?"
"HELP me please, it has him!"
A girl calls from the other side of the hedge, glancing around Hermione sees no way through. She is going to have to make a hole, to break through to the other side. This could work in her favour, if it is a Wendigo then at least the spell will startle it if it's a human then she hopes they aren't burnt.
"Get away and down from the hedge!" Hermione shouts stepping back.
Lifting her wand, she points it the hedge mustering all her courage. "Fiendfye!"
A roaring flame erupts her wand burning the hedge. Flames lap at the mud scorching the air around them, a living breathing spell absorbing all the oxygen around her. It takes less than a minute to burn the hedges around her smoke billowing into the sky burning her way through to the person on the other side.
Slowly the fire evaporates into the sky, scorching the top of the arena much to the cheering of the crowd, around her lays debris of her actions. Swallowing Hermione steps through the destroyed remains of the burning hedge. Spotting the young blonde witch huddled in the corner hands protecting her face. Rushing forward Hermione slides to one knee offering her hand to the cowering witch.
"Its fine you're safe." Hermione promises tugging on the elbow they need to leave.
"Wendigo!" She screams pointing over Hermione's shoulder.
A coldness washes over her, lifting her head she turns to where the pointing figure points. Clattering of teeth makes her blood turn to ice; her heart hammers to a grinding stop. She swallows harshly; her breathing ragged a cold pale hand clutching her arm shaking in fear.
Blood drips, sliding along ash grey skin pulled taunt over bone, flesh hanging so limply in some places as though half way from shedding its skin. Bones push against skin, eyes so deep in their sockets as though a raised skeleton from the grave. Lips smeared with blood yellow teeth entrap flesh. Long claw like hands, so long they drag across the ground, the creature so tall it towers blocking the sun from view. She thinks it must be eight feet tall, its teeth chattering as it crouches low, smelling the air.
A gurgling sounds in its throat, Hermione almost retches she can see the throat the pulsing muscle throb against bone. A black tongue darts out licking at the air, the head turning ever so slowly accessing its new prey. Its large hind legs coiling ready to spring at her. A body lays at its feet, a neck pierced blood squirted along the hedges decorating the creature in an ungodly tinge of dark red. She can taste the metallic in the air, the volunteers stomach ripped open his intestines sprawled everywhere.
A horrified gasp echoes around them, the Wendigo rears back sniffing the air, the possible victims. Before the blinking abyss eyes finds hers, soulless sockets staring at her in hunger, a creature never satisfied. A clicking noise escapes its mouth ready to attack, merely analysing her waiting for her to react.
"When I say," Hermione whispers tugging the girl to her feet. "When I say run – run."
"It will catches us." The girl gasps with a French accent.
"Then run faster."
Rolling the wand in her hand, Hermione prepares herself; she will only have one shot at slowing the creature down, if she gets it wrong. Well the thought is not worth considering. Transfixed, she watches a fat droplet of blood glimmer its way down from smiling lips. Incarcerous the spell sizzles from her wand striking the creature smack in the chest. A keeling roar erupts blooded lips it does not faze her even as the creature tries to break free. Fiendfye! A fire emerges as she drags the girl with her the fire surrounding the creature, preventing it from chasing her.
Pushing the young witch in front of her, "Go for the flag!" Hermione orders.
A horrible thought occurs what happens if she has just saved a Mirror man. If she leaves with one then she will lose, but she could not allow even that creature to come to harm. Her feet hit mud, forcing her forward propelling at high speed towards the exit. She dares not look behind dares not to even think what would happen if the creature were chasing after them.
How many Wendigo's are there?" She dares not think, she hopes it is at least one, she dare not consider the thought of more. The girl stumbles in front of her; Hermione grabs an arm pulling her back to her feet. There's shouting from the crowd, she cannot make out the words. The flag seems to be farther than she remembered, sweat growing at the base of her neck.
"Run, run –run." There is a chanting from the crowd, a horrible repetition echoing around her. "Run!"
She hears it, the chattering of teeth, even the camera recording her is shooting over her shoulder. The slapping of heavy feet on the ground the thumping closer of feet. Hermione risks it she looks. The Wendigo is loose. Bounding straight for her, a terrifying grin laughing at her, long claws destroying the ground in its wake. A scream erupts from the girl she has dared to look behind Hermione pushes urging her to move faster.
"Run, run – run."
There is shouting from the crowd almost screaming, and then a cold sweat breaks out. A strange wind against her neck – almost like breathing against her neck. The screaming grows louder from the crowd, the camera zooming moving from her shoulder. There is a wendigo behind her. An odour of decay and decomposition invades her sense making her gag.
Something cold wraps around her throat, wrenching her backwards, pulling her off her feet stealing the breath from her lungs. A gasp leaving her if she could she would scream for help, beg for assistance, she would but the creatures grip is too strong. Stars erupt in her eyes, the world is tilting, she is aware of the creature sniffing at her neck.
I am going to die. The thought is terrifying; it makes her so very cold and numb. Her wand lies forgotten on the floor the girl is pointing a shaking wand at the creature. Except the creature is smart using Hermione as a shield. Teeth graze her skin she meets the black pits that represent its eyes there is no soul left in this creature. Just insatiable lust of hunger a creature never satisfied. A glint to her right another greedy little creature feeding at her weakness. The camera. Her hand snatches the glowing orb, as sharp teeth jolt backwards death within reach. She wheels the orb like a weapon swinging it around. It smashes against the creatures head with a roar of pain the creature realises her. She collapses to her knees, snatching her wand from the mud she turns.
"Confringo!"
It catches mid launch, claws outstretched the spell hits the creature face. The blast blistering across its face a shriek of agony ringing in her ears as the creature topples backwards. Hitting the mud with a soft groan. A soft sigh escapes her mouth; still though the creature is breathing, she cannot risk it getting back up.
"Petrificus Totalus," She casts hoping the body bind will hold the creature in place.
"Are you okay?" The girls asks stepping forward.
"I'm fine." Hermione promises.
Running a hand along her neck, Hermione swallows deeply the flag is not too far they should be able to make it and escape. She goes to move to tell the witch to keep going when another sound grabs her attention. There's shouting a smoke in the distance a figure running towards them she squints.
"Granger!" Someone shouts running towards her. "For the love of merlin help!"
Its Blaise running towards them, fear evident on his face, Hermione points her wand. This could all be a trap, which is when she sees it. Another Wendigo heading in their direction chasing Blaise bearing down on him. Swallowing Hermione steadies her aim, as Blaise runs towards them wide eyed and panicking.
"Down!" Hermione cries.
With two more steps, he throws himself to his feet, hitting the ground with a thud the Wendigo in plain sight.
"Levicorpus!"
It takes the Wendigo by surprised, wiping its feet from underneath it and pulling far into the air. Hanging it suspended upside down. She thanks Merlin Professor Snape taught her the spell, she borrowed his Potions book all sorts of spells to learn. Shakily Blaise gets to his feet, staggering over to her wand in his limp hand.
She has never seen the boy so dishevelled, sweat dripping from his face, a gash to the back of his robe. He looks at her, the wand pointed at him; he raises his hand in peace.
"Owe you Granger," he murmurs before looking past her to the other Wendigo. "Shit you knocked out two?"
Hermione shrugs not taking her eyes of the Slytherin, the girl shuffles closer to her earning Blaise's attention. He rises and eyebrow looking around for the rest of Hermione's team.
"Who's this?" Blaise asks.
Hermione goes to answer before pausing she does not actually know. She has a sneaking suspicion though, if the pure silvery blonde hair is anything to go by. Surprised, she thought the witch would be too young to enter the Championship then again Hermione did never ask how old she was.
"Gabrielle Delacour," the girl introduces. "I was separated from my group."
"You swapped teams Granger?"
"Not quite," Hermione answers sharing a small smile with the girl next to her. "You're Fleur's sister?"
"Oui."
"Where's your team Blaise?"
"No idea we got separated, had a bloody Mirror Man attack me ran straight into this," He points to the struggling creature in the sky. "Volunteers tried to restrain it with ropes but it broke free dragged three of their bloody blooms."
Before Hermione can reply movement behind Blaise makes her point her wand out the smoke emerges Draco with Goyle, staggering towards them with their wands raised. Standing tall Hermione prepares for attack but Blaise steps in between them.
"Lower your weapon Malfoy," Blaise orders. "Granger's fine."
"She's on the other team." Draco points out.
"True but she also knocked out two Wendigo's no offence but I'm sticking with her."
Hermione smirks at that, she glances at the Wendigo behind, it seems to be stirring coming out of its injury. She is unsure if her body bind will hold it and she has no intention of finding out.
"Can we discuss this after we get to the flag?" Hermione asks. "Before these two break free and eats us?"
The boys stare at her, before nodding between themselves, she points for them to go first, not foolish enough to have a Slytherin behind her. Begrudgingly they lead the way, curious Hermione looks around for Crab wondering where the other boy was. Perhaps they did not manage to rescue him.
"If you're looking for Crab he broke his ankle had to be escorted out." Blaise informs her.
"How's he do that?"
"Spell from one of those." Draco accuses pointing to Gabrielle.
Gabrielle shrugs at the accusing finger, feeling little remorse for her teammate's actions. They reach the flag just as the Dumstrang team reach it. She thought she knocked them out except there is two-left standing. Another standoff, except Hermione is not in the mood for a fight.
A flash of orange makes them all jump a spell colliding with both boys knocking them away; out of nowhere, Neville emerges with a grin.
"What took you so long?" He asks Hermione smiles before frowning pointing her wand at Neville.
"Granger?" Draco asks following her actions.
"Neville was a Mirror man," Hermione informs. "When's my birthday?"
Neville blinks at her. "How the hell would I know?"
She nods happy with that reply. "Fourth year, forbidden forest remember what happened?"
A scarlet blush breaks out, his cheeks flaming bright red and he looks away sharply. She laughs lowering her wand satisfied, Neville is who says he is.
"Grab ze flag." Gabrielle orders.
Four hands shoot out grabbing the flag, Gabrielle, Draco, Blaise and Goyle disappearing. She glances to Neville who's staring over her shoulder. Turning she finds the last remaining Wendigo staring after them. Ropes dangling from its arms and feet from where it broke free. This Wendigo is different to the others slightly taller broader. Hermione glances to the fallen Dumstrang if she leaves them here there is a chance they could die. Neville reads her mind.
Between them, they drag the two Dumstrang students to the flag, the Wendigo shifting forward stalking them. Heaving a heavy arm over her shoulder Hermione spares the Wendigo one last look before grabbing the flag. The black soulless eyes staring after her, flesh slipping from lips. Two horns dripping with blood she has never seen anything so grotesque.
The trip is no less dizzying than the first; they land on heavy feet the sun beating down on her back. She releases the arm lowering the student to the ground. Two volunteers rushing forward to inspect them. She steps away towards where Draco and Blaise are standing soaking in the atmosphere. Waving at the crowds, she shakes her head smiling at Gabrielle before her heart lurches at the figure standing next to her. Fleur.
Dark blue eyes capture Hermione's; she swallows harshly the wind knocked out of her. She has not seen the witch in a long time. Gabrielle is leading Fleur towards her, taking Hermione's hand and dragging her close.
"She saved me." Gabrielle says.
Fleur seems just as lost as Hermione, none the less she seems over joyed at having her sister safe. Most caring person I know. It happens in a flash two arms wrap around her shoulders tugging her into a hug, into warmth she knew so well. The curves she spent a year getting to know. The heart she broke beating wildly against her own.
"Thank you 'ermione! Thank you. You 'aved my sister."
Two soft lips press against hers, the roaring crowd becoming a distant memory. She cannot hear anything over her beating heart, the thundering in her chest. Lost to the kiss, the smell of raspberry soap it is intoxicating. Her hands grasp the firm waist pressing into her, before the kiss breaks apart.
"Thank you!" She says again.
Fleur buries her head in her shoulder, can feel the witch press a secret kiss to her neck. "Thank you mon seul vrai amour."
Hermione returns the hug in bewilderment aware of the hooting from Draco and Blaise, the thunderous noise of the audience. The camera zoomed in on her, her ex hugging her and Gabrielle watching with suspicion. It is all a bit too much as Fleur pulls away slight annoyance crawling at her skin. Why didn't Fleur tell her she was here? They did not end on awful terms she deserved to know.
Neville steps forward patting her on her back. "They're cheering for you."
Hermione rolls her eyes; she really could not care less, more intrigued by Fleur's appearance than anything. Neville nudges tearing her gaze from Fleur, nodding to the screen in the air. Her last actions in the arena when she took out both Wendigo's. She shrugs at Neville what did he want her to do – cheer with the crowd. Gabrielle steps forward seizing her hand with Fleur watching from the sidelines.
Gabrielle raises her hand into the air; the crowd goes wild the press snapping her picture with manic urge. A smile graces Gabrielle's face the crowd swooning she waves to the crowd and Hermione manages a smile. Her arm still raised in triumph she catches sight of Ron and Harry sulking in the distance. With things as crazy as they are, Draco and Blaise step forward joining in with the cheering her hand released she goes to sneak away. Pulled back by Neville who places her arm on her shoulder chatting happily with Draco.
You sly bastard. Hermione thinks watching Neville interact so carefree with Draco; she accepts a fist punch from Blaise. Gabrielle leaning on her arm. A muggleborn accepted. The crowd is wild, jumping like banshees waving manically from the stands.
A/n: Fluer's and Hermione's relationship will be explained shortly. Again apologises for errors really am rushing this chapter out such a busy few weeks.