WOOOOOOOT! longest update ever in the history of Hallifer777 !
I *tear tear* would like to thank my mom *cry* my dad *dramatic sob* and EmeraldOwl for reviewing :)
on wit the story!
Hermione's Pov
I was never one to be easily frightened by anything. Even being witness to a werewolf come after me and Harry and all the other bloody messes we've been in. But now staring into the cold eyes of the very one who has mercilessly murdered thousands, I can say I'm afraid.
To think the day started off so normal and utterly peaceful, more or less, I had in the fun of it all forgot the most important lesson the Granger's did teach me.
Always watch your back because there are things that lurk silently waiting in the dark.
~earlier~~~~~~~
"Harry Potter!" I hissed, chasing the boy around the tables. We must seem like quite the sight. A raven haired girl red faced and chasing after a lanky boy chuckling like an idiot.
"Give. It. Back." I had stopped my pursuit across the other side of Gryffindor table of him. I was huffing, unused to all the athletics and him being a seeker, he was fine and the smirk on his face showed that he realized his advantage. However, my voice was a deathly calm. This was his warning.
His shoulder's slumped in defeat and I could feel myself grow happier "Thank-"
I was cut short by his laugh of victory as he raced out of the Great Hall, whooping in triumph.
My face turned to that of a scowl "You're so mature!"
I was going to continue my rant but my rage was turned to my brother as his voice chimed out in his elegant Veela tongue. "What did Potter take? You're Diary? I remember when I got a peek at that old book…" Blaise droned off
The color disappeared from my face and I could feel my back tense up and all the eyes either on my twin or me. There was no doubt he would do the unthinkable.
"Ah, page ninety-six…you remember that page don't you?" He mused. A smirk was playing at the corners of his mouth.
My eyes narrowed instantly at him. "You wouldn't DARE."
"Dear Diary-"
In a flash I was on him and thanking my Veela genes silently in my head over and over. He struggled under my grasp on his arms. I straddled him but we both knew he was only humoring me by struggling and acting weaker.
With one swift movement he flipped me onto my back, earning a snarl of anger from Draco. I glanced to him quickly and let our eyes connect once before I returned to the fight.
I growled playfully and threw him to the wall but he was back before any of the students had time to blink. He smirked as he advanced.
"Dear Diary, I sat there in potions just staring at the ground-"he dodged a blow to the head from me and I fought feebly to get him to shut up. I snarled and looked to Draco to help but he seemed more interested in hearing what was in my diary- the little git!
"How did the rest go again…?" Blaise drawled seeming confused, I knew better. "Oh yeah!" He smirked, his eyes glinting in mischief.
"I couldn't bear to look at Snape after the dream I had…it was utterly horrid!" My brother voiced in his high pitched, what I believe to be, Hermione voice. My increasingly louder shouts were drowned out by his growing volume as well.
"In my dream- or rather nightmare, he approached me. He was wearing a women's nighty and kept complaining about how he needed to go get ice-cream but he couldn't find his mum!" By this time Blaise was chortling with laughter and could barely get the words out. My eyes glanced to Professor Snape at the table. His face was reddened more so than I had ever seen it before, whether it be from anger or embarrassment I couldn't tell.
My lips pulled back like a feral animal and another snarl came out. Something told me to get even and I gladly complied.
"Well at least I don't still sleep with my teddy! Or shall I call him by his real name…mister huggzipoo?" I smirked at him, thriving in his embarrassment and cowering form. That was there only a second and he came back strong and looked like he was going for the kill. Our increasing audience seemed to be enjoying our pain but what did I care right now, my focus was on my brother with extreme scrutiny and narrowed eyes. I raised a brow in challenge.
"Hermione failed three classes in muggle school!"
I gasped "How did you even?"
He smirked yet again and his deep blue eyes glinted at me "I have my sources, oh curious sister dear."
"Blaise wasn't potty trained until he was four!" I bellowed, growing more and more frustrated and scrambling to find more secrets to use to my advantages.
"SO!" He challenged "That's not so unusual! No wonder you failed 'Mione."
My laughter was very much clipped and a smile played on my mouth "The reason you didn't do it sooner was because you thought the lock ness monster would get you from the toilet." I scoffed, rolling my eyes
"Nuh uh!"
"Then why did on the video mum showed me you were screaming bloody murder because 'Nessie' was going to drown you?"
"Because-"
He was cut short by Dumbledore's announcement to get to class and I quote 'enough of the sharing today. I know sharing is caring and all but that phrase doesn't seem to fit to right today now does it.'
I followed Draco out of the Hall and shared one last humorous glance with Blaise who sent me a look that said I was forgiven back.
My hand seemed to automatically go to my mates as we walked the halls to our first class period of the day. We walked in silence but we didn't need to fill it like some trivial couple who can't bare the silence and feels the need to run on and on about nonsense just to fill the void and to stop the realization that in the end their relationship will crumble. It's a harsh and troublesome thing but it's an observation I've made none the less.
Other witches and wizards walked by with little interest in our entwined hands. True the subject that were Veelas and former enemies but that would be old news by now. Had this been a week ago there would be hushed whispers and glances that would try hard to be discreet but with the eyes of a Veela nothing really is.
The class went on as usual, despite it being potions and having to be under Professor Snape's heavy gaze.
I for once had a free period and thrived in it. My feet took me outside to the lake. I went alone, not that I was craving solitude but I was the only one out of my group of friends that had a free period right now…we'll despite Ronald that is.
The sky was clear and the lake was…well the same. I ran my hand over a patch of grass as I sat. My eyes closed and I finally relaxed and let out a long needed breath. I ran my hand through my hair but I still didn't open my eyes, purely in some random fear in the back of my mind that it will break me out of my calm state.
My mind wandered about randomly and I'm not sure what I was even thinking about anymore so I assumed that it was my queue to check the time. As soon as my eyes made contact with the diamond watch on my wrist, it was a gift from my dad for who knows what but I took it anyway seeing as I might upset him if I didn't. The time read far past what I thought it should and with a startling realization I discovered I was late to class.
I fumbled to get my legs to allow me to leave. I had sat so long they had started to go numb. My mouth let out a short growl of frustration I was twenty minutes late as it is so they better work!
My eyes narrowed as I turned on my heels back to the castle.
I tripped slightly in my hurry over my own feet and let out a laugh at my own stupidity.
The door creaked as I began to push it open. I hand froze and I couldn't move it. I tugged and tugged but my OWN arm wouldn't comply.
"What the?" I muttered. I shook my head and blew it off as a Hallucination. Maybe I should have eaten breakfast and now I was hallucinating. The possibility of it somehow I knew was unlikely but I refused to believe otherwise. My lips tilted down to a frown and my brow was furrowed in confusion.
As I stepped back from the door, that seemed to work. I sighed and knew then that just a minute ago I had been too panicked about being late that I must have misunderstood what happened. I laughed as if someone had made a joke and I continued back to the grand doors leading into the building.
I got as far as an inch from the door and yet still my arm would not make that final pull to go inside.
My eyes widened and I fell to the ground.
My mind was working at a fast pace trying to decide what was going on.
Pain
Intense and incredible pain
It felt as if my entire body was burning and aching and wouldn't move. I couldn't do anything. I tried calling out for help- I tried so hard it hurt! I let out continuous swears and curse words in my mind. It wouldn't stop-
Need a little help, child?
The voice sounded so calm and strong. How would he stop it?
Could he
My lip broke open from my gnawing on it to stop the pain. I tried to let out another scream as the next wave hit me. I lied crumpled on the ground still unable to move.
I can make it go away. If you agree to do something for me in return that is.
The pain only got worse. I would imagine this was worse than the cruciatus curse. My mind was working faster and faster to try to figure out ways to stop it when all it was screaming at me was to listen to the voice. The voice is nice…right….so soothing
Make the pain go away! I wailed inside my head, I couldn't bare another second. If I did I would die I know it! Something told me it would.
As you wissshh
My eyes flew open when I hadn't even known they had closed.
I surveyed my surroundings. I was in the forest and my watch blared alerting me I had just missed my class but when you're in the Forbidden Forest you tend to not care about that. My hand reached up to touch my lip but I felt no blood. I had been so sure! Had I really been hallucinating but the pain…?
"I believe we had made a deal Miss Zabini"
I could feel my eyes widening and I staggered back. My mouth barely uttered out the words I so hoped weren't true.
"V-voldemort."
"You are brave to say my name aloud. Unlike your boyfriend…. and the ones who raised you." He stepped towards me. His face was blank except for the malicious light that shone in his eyes. Power radiated off of him. I felt smaller just being in his presence.
"Fear of a name only increases the fear of the thing itself." I quoted coolly, hiding my fear with the mask I had learned to use from Draco.
He nodded thoughtfully, smirking slightly and still advancing slowly towards me like an animal stalking its prey and I knew I was his conquest. "So I've heard." He drawled slowly "Now about the deal we made."
I shook my head frantically "I didn't make a deal with you!"
He growled and grabbed my chin, tilting my head up to meet his eyes
Yesss you did. Don't be foolish child.
I stumbled backwards, my eyes never leaving his, until my back collided with a tree. I hissed out in pain and I felt my eyes darken.
"Veelas are amazing creatures. Wouldn't you agree?" He mused, stepping forward again.
A crow cawed loudly in distress above our heads. I silently wished I could become that crow and fly away as Voldemort grew closer. His eyes were narrowed on me in concentration. I cowered back as much as I could, being backed into a tree.
The forest was an eerie quiet except for the lone crows caws and my ragged breathing sounding ominously.
"They have such strength, stamina, drive….they would do anything with the proper motivation. This is why you're so perfect. Your mate is headstrong but he too was-convinced."
My eyes widened as he pulled out his wand. He stopped his advance a foot from me. I was face to face with the devil himself.
The dead leaves crunched beneath my feet as I tried to somehow escape his gaze. A sharp gasp escaped my lips as he reached out and snatched my arm. His claw like fingers dug into the flesh of my arm. I tried not to be weak but I was breaking and I couldn't handle him alone.
"Now, Now. I don't have to hurt you unless you become troublesome then I will simply return that pain to you again."
I cringed and shook my head vigorously and answered immediately against my will almost. "No!" The response came out too quickly. He knew I was desperate now.
He smiled- it wasn't one of joy but one of victory and of conquer. I-I was the sad defeated motionless girl who has no choice then to be a puppet for the very man she has fought against her whole life.
His wand moved down to tap my arm. I cringed back and fought with him to get rid of the burning in my arm but he wouldn't let me go. Even with my Veela strength he was stronger. In the end he's always stronger. Once the burning subsided I collapsed to the ground and he was gone.
I checked my surroundings again. I had been in this part of the woods before; I wasn't in too deep so I could manage. I could survive.
My fists clenched against the branch I had just pushed out of my way. The thorns dug into my skin but the pain seemed like nothing to me now. The blood began to drip down my palms and I let go. I shook my head and marched on, fighting the tears that were threatening to fall.
Just wait until I get back to my dorm to cry. I kept chanting that over and over in my head.
My arm was still raw with pain but it was subsiding and could be easily dealt with. My mind was blank as I walked the rested of the way and soon I was at the doors.
All the classes were over now, not that I cared. It made it easier to get to my dorm without the students shoving me in the hall way and all the questions being shouted annoyingly at me about where I've been. I would laugh at their curiosity. NO ONE needs to know because I don't want to know fully what happened either.
My shoes clicked against the stone flooring. My eyes closed in relief, it was quiet.
I entered the Slytherin common room, everyone in all of our year seemed to be clustered there. My eyes narrowed trying to analyze what was going on.
I made a short coughing noise to get their attention.
Their heads immediately snapped up to me. I used my best smile and asked calmly "What's with the party?"
I immediately spotted Draco as Blaise and him came running at me. I cocked my head to the side as if I was oblivious as to their worry.
Blaise seemed angered by this and I instantly cringed away expecting the storm "Where in Merlin's name have you been Hermione Zabini!" He bellowed, pulling me into a very contradicting hug.
I leaned into him and hugged him back tightly. I didn't want to let him go but when I saw Draco still looking upset I pulled back and grabbed my mate and stretched on my tiptoes and pecked him lightly on the lips.
He embraced me but pulled back with his brow still furrowed and his eyes lined in worry.
"Mia." He frowned "Please-"
He never got to finish because Snape burst through the doors to the commons with his robes blowing behind him. His expression was neutral but you could tell something was off.
"To the Great Hall, Everyone." His voice left no place for dispute
Being Veelas it was easy to catch up to him in a few strides, one of the better things.
"Sir." I began "Why do we have to go to the Great Hall?"
I stuck my tongue out at Blaise who rolled his eyes mouthing 'polite much' he only laughed me off and waited for Snape's response.
He stopped causing us all to stumble a bit at the abruptness.
Snape turned slightly to us before walking again but not before he spoke lowly
"The dark mark was sighted above Hogwarts"
Love it? Hate it?
Please review!
Hallifer777