Originally, I put off doing this chapter because I just didn't want to write this particular story (I have a thing for the number 22, so I wanted to make sure I had that many stories for them to go through, and I had to fill in a couple blanks with some less-than-necessary stories; what can you do?), and then life got in the way. I am very happy to have this one finished now. :)
Because I don't like this one as much, this chapter is rather short, but I'll have another to put up today, as well.
- o0O0o - Hermione's POV - o0O0o -
The world reformed into a vast sea with two islands in the distance. Great, another boat ride. Lovely.
Severus was standing near me, speaking to the man piloting the ship. When he saw me, he cocked his head, a quizzical look on his face. He walked up to me and asked, "Hermione?"
Confused, I said, "Of course."
Smirking slightly, he said, "It's just… your hair has been cut short and you're wearing men's clothes."
I looked down at myself and saw that Severus was correct. Reaching a hand up to my hair, I said, "Luckily those are the only things that changed."
"Yes," he said, laughing and blushing, "that certainly would be something to be grateful for."
I rolled my eyes good-naturedly as he continued to chuckle, but I couldn't keep the small smile off my face. "I'm pretty sure this is the story of Odysseus and the Cyclops."
He blinked at me. "Shit." After another moment, he said, "Doesn't Odysseus get lost at sea for ten years at the end of this story?"
I felt the blood rush from my face in panic.
- o0O0o - Ginny's POV - o0O0o -
When the page turned again, I looked at the title of the next story. "This is 'Odysseus and the Cyclops.' I've never heard this story."
Harry, who was sitting next to me on a workbench, took my hand as he explained. "It's a Greek myth. Odysseus and his men fought in the Trojan war, and when it was over, they sailed home. On their way, they found a beautiful island with a cave that was the home of a giant with one eye in the center of his forehead."
"Eugh," Ron complained. "That's revolting!"
Draco nodded fervently, a look of utter disgust on his face. "How horrid."
"Everyone, I think we may have a problem," Luna said softly, looking worried.
McGonagall looked sharply at Luna and asked, "What is it, Miss Lovegood?"
"Well," she said, uncharacteristically fidgeting, "in the version that I heard, Odysseus and his men are lost at sea for ten years at the end of the story. You don't think that…."
All at once, we all rushed over to the book to look at the wording. Unfortunately, the pages hadn't turned far enough for us to be able to read the end of this particular story, so we all watched and waited.
- o0O0o - Severus's POV - o0O0o -
"Well," I sighed, "as much as I hope this story ends differently, there's really nothing we can do about it. We'll have to wait and see, I suppose."
Hermione nodded, but she had a worried look on her face. I made sure that no one was looking (they all thought she was a young man, after all) before taking her face in my hands and saying softly, "Whatever happens, it's going to be alright. As much as the Weasley twins have always aggravated me, there is no denying that they are rather skilled. I'm certain we won't have to wait here that long."
Smiling, Hermione said, "I hope your faith in them is justified. But you're right—we won't know until we get there, so we'd better get on with the story. We're supposed to dock at the small island first, and then you'll take a small band of men with you to the other island where we meet the Cyclops."
And so I did as she instructed and had the men anchor the ship near the small island before taking Hermione and twenty others with me in smaller boats to the larger, more lush island beyond.
- o0O0o - - o0O0o -
Several hours later….
- o0O0o - Hermione's POV - o0O0o -
When we finally found the cave on the larger island, I explained to Severus that we were meant to wait for the Cyclops to return. Tentatively, he asked if this was the creature that so enjoyed eating humans, which I confirmed for him.
"You'll be staying at the back of our group whenever the monster is here, then."
He really cares about me, even though he knows I wouldn't actually die in this story. "Not that I can't take care of myself, but thank you for caring, Severus."
He blushed slightly and remained quiet.
- o0O0o - Severus's POV - o0O0o -
It was nearly dark when the Cyclops finally returned. As expected, he closed off the exit, ate two of our companions (Hermione and I both averted our gaze for that, but the sounds were still difficult to endure) and went to sleep.
I instructed the company of men to move to the back of the cave to settle in for our own rest, but Hermione and I didn't sleep. We sat together, watching the Cyclops and leaning on one another. After a time, Hermione laid her head on my shoulder and sighed sleepily. "Do you know how the rest of the story goes?"
Putting my arm around her back to support her and encouraging her silently to rest her weight on me fully, I said, "Somewhat. I know I'm supposed to blind the beast, and then later we ride out on the underside of the giant sheep."
She giggled a little. "That's pretty much it. Just remember to say that your friends and those who fear you call you 'Nobody' when the Cyclops asks your name."
That sounded vaguely familiar, so I knew it wasn't the exhaustion talking. "Go to sleep, Hermione."
"Wanna stay up and keep you company," she argued sleepily.
I pressed a cautious kiss to the top of her head. "I'll be fine. You go to sleep."
"M'kay, Severus. G'night."
I chuckled. She's adorable when she's tired. "Sweet dreams, Hermione."
She was already asleep on my shoulder.
- o0O0o - Hermione's POV - o0O0o -
When I woke, it was to the sound of Severus's voice calling my name. "Hermione, it's time to wake up. The Cyclops will wake and want his breakfast soon. We need to hide you in the back."
Finally I comprehended what he was trying to tell me, so I slowly stood and followed him to the very rear of the cave. The Cyclops was awake before long, and he grabbed two more men and ate them. It was awful, but I tried to imagine it like a movie with particularly good graphics, because that is basically what it was. No one was actually being eaten—it just looked and sounded like it.
As soon as the monster left the cave, Severus—or, rather, Odysseus—had the group make a fire and sharpen a long wooden pole. When the tip of the spear was as sharp as we could make it, we placed the tip into the fire to harden it. That night, when the Cyclops was asleep, 'Odysseus' had us prop up the giant spear on our shoulders and ram it into the Cyclops' eye.
"Who are you, that has done this to me?" the creature demanded.
Looking at me and smirking, Severus said, "My friends and those who fear me call me 'Nobody.'"
Not long after that, another group of Cyclops came to the entrance to the cave and asked what was going on.
"Nobody has blinded me with a spear," the Cyclops in the cave cried. I smirked, knowing that the stupid creatures on the other side would think that our captor was off his rocker. They soon left, and the angry and now-blind monster settled down to sleep again. "Tomorrow night," he threatened, "I will eat Nobody, and therefore have my revenge."
- o0O0o - Severus's POV - o0O0o -
The next morning, those of us that remained woke before the Cyclops and fashioned harnesses for escaping on the underbellies of the goats. Grateful that the giant seemed to not be hungry that morning, we quickly strapped ourselves in as he ranted about how delicious Nobody would taste when he returned for the evening.
As we rode out on the goats' bellies, the blind Cyclops ran his hands over the backs of the sheep, ensuring that we weren't riding them out of the cave. Once the goats were put to pasture, we quietly unstrapped ourselves and escaped to our boats. The others had hoisted anchor on the large ship that morning and came out to meet us, pulling us back onto the ship.
With a resigned look, Hermione came to me and said, "You have to taunt him. Odysseus was ridiculous enough to boast, so if you don't, we'll never get out of this story."
I sighed. "I just hope we get out of here after the taunting."
She nodded. "Me, too."
- o0O0o - Ron's POV - o0O0o -
"Look," I shouted, "the page is turning!"
Ginny quickly scanned the pages to see the particular wording of the story. When she got to the end, she sighed, but I couldn't tell if it was in relief or frustration.
"Well?" Malfoy asked her.
She looked up from the page.
- o0O0o - Hermione's POV - o0O0o -
The enormous boulder dropped into the sea not twenty feet from the edge of the ship, but Severus knew he wasn't finished. "You have been defeated, Cyclops! The great Odysseus, Hero of the Trojan War, has blinded you and escaped your clutches!"
The men on the ship cried out to their captain to make him stop taunting the Cyclops, but Severus didn't give up. Soon, the Cyclops dropped to his knees on the shore and bellowed, "Oh, great god Poseidon, Lord of the Seas and father of my flesh, hear my prayer! Cast the demon Odysseus, who has blinded me, into the sea! Send him to his death! Or, if you cannot end his life before his time, do not let him return home. Make him suffer as he has made me, your son, suffer!"
A voice seemed to rise from the sea itself. It bellowed, "Odysseus, scourge of my child, the sea is against you. For your misdeeds against the Cyclops, you and your men will not return home for a decade, and when you do again see your lands, they will be in ruin, unrecognizable to you. This is your punishment."
Severus grasped my hand. I knew both of our faces held worried looks, but at least I knew I would have him with me.
The next thing I knew was blackness.
- o0O0o - Ginny's POV - o0O0o -
Smirking, I said, "The book says, 'Because of Odysseus's unwise taunting of the Cyclops, he and his men would spend ten years lost at sea, returning to homes that were almost completely destroyed.' I don't think they'll have to be there all that time.
Hearing a soft rustling, I looked back at the book. The page was turning again. I smiled.
I hope this chapter was worth the wait. Like I said, I should have the next up fairly quickly. Reviews are always much appreciated—tell me what you think! :D