Chapter fourteen
The hag
Hermione awoke to find her self being poked in the back, the world was no longer filled with glitter instead it was filled with dark and dingy objects that loomed over her.
For a moment Hermione thought of glitter and grey eyes but they faded from her memory as she pushed her self to look around the junk yard.
That was what it was a junk yard… broken and discarded objects laid around in large hills. She stumbled forward tripping and catching her feet against things that stuck upwards from the ground.
She should be somewhere else… she was looking for something… someone or maybe some place. Hermione shook her head trying to clear the fog but it hung heavy in her mind.
She came to a stop to catch her breath and her thoughts when a large mound before her spun round and two large eyes stared at her.
"Oh a girl" a shrill voice declared as Hermione winched back from the hag, her dark hair hanging in limp strands while the hulk of junk on her back bobbed as the hag moved forward.
"Hermione" Hermione croaked as the hag stopped for a moment before smiling largely showing her black and broken teeth.
"I'm Pomfrey" the hag declared as Hermione shuddered and held herself back from the grimy hands of Pomfrey.
"I was… I think I was meant to be looking for something" Hermione admitted as the fog swirled again claming hold of her mind. Pomfrey cackled before looking over the junkyard, then looking back at Hermione.
"Of course you were dear… everyone is looking for something in this place" Pomfrey stated as Hermione frowned but still nodded looking around hoping to find something that might push the fog away.
"Why I know what your looking for… right over here" Pomfrey ordered as she shuffled around and began to lurch forward while Hermione stared at her but followed none the less.
Hermione stumbled to a stop before an unhealthy looking door, Pomfrey grinned at Hermione who took a stuttering step forward before Pomfrey snatched at the door handle and twisted it open to reveal Hermione's bedroom. Shocked at seeing something so familiar Hermione walked hypnotised into the room, feeling her self smile as she saw her things.
She didn't even notice when the door closed behind her, instead she rushed forward when she saw Mr. Smokey laying on the floor. Snatching him up she held him tightly to her, her eyes scanning her room… her safe haven.
Sitting slowly on the bed she couldn't help but feel there was something more she was meant to be looking for. A crash from outside forced Hermione to jump then hurry over to the door a small smile lighting her face.
"Dad" Hermione breathed as she snatched the door open to find the junkyard once more filling her vision and Pomfrey lurching into the room.
"Have you found what your looking for… oh I see you found Mr. Smokey… your fond of him aren't you dear… he's your favourite isn't he" Pomfrey questioned as Hermione hugged Mr. Smokey tighter to her.
"Yes he is… thank you" Hermione said feeling like a child still clinging to her teddy bear, child… Hermione furrowed her brow while the hag moved around her room. Something about a child she was meant to remember that wasn't among these childish things.
"Oooh we have Pavitt twins… you were looking for them too wasn't you" Pomfrey declared as she shoved two dolls into Hermione's hands. The fog began to lift as Hermione chanted child over and over again in her mind.
"And Oliver wood the flying man… you can't be without him now can you dear" Pomfrey shoved another doll into her hands as Hermione shook her head.
Something wasn't right… she wasn't home she was some where else.
"The underground" Hermione murmured as the hag busied her self around the room, looking round Hermione saw her vanity and mirror crowed with pictures of her mother.
Her mother had left her… it wasn't fair that her mother left… it wasn't fair that her father could love again.
"Oh see now there's your mirror and jewels" the hag shrill voice broke through Hermione's thoughts pushing the girl over to the mirror and forced her to sit down.
"There's your lipstick… oh you love that don't you" the hag stated as Hermione worked her brow in time with her thoughts.
None of it was fair… wasn't that why she had called him… but who was 'him' Hermione couldn't remember.
"Oh your Griffin pencil case… can't do with out it, lots of pencils in there" The hag exclaimed shoving the pencil case behind Hermione in the chair.
"It's not fair" Hermione whispered as she studied the litter over her vanity surface… the whole was in fact littered with stuff.
"What was that dear" Pomfrey asked but Hermione ignored her taking in account of every object that laid sprawled across her room.
"Oh now you have your dragon slippers…keep your toes warm don't they" Pomfrey declared as she thrust them into Hermione's hands. More objects were placed around Hermione making her feel as though she was being bogged down… bogged… the bog.
There was no stench but everything was just as dark as the bog, Hermione suddenly saw a red book.
"through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered I have fought my way to the castle" Hermione whispered feeling her self being suffocated under the weight of objects surrounding her.
"beyond the Goblin city to take back the… CHILD… that you have stolen" Hermione declared before the fog was lifted completely from her mind and she saw her room for what it truly was.
Childish; a dreamers haven, this wasn't who she was anymore… she wasn't a child but Harry was and she had to save him.
"Can't have too much stuff can we dear… all such lovely stuff" Pomfrey declared as Hermione shook her head.
"Stuff… it's… It's all… just" "It's all yours dear" Pomfrey chirped before Hermione jumped up throwing the objects everywhere.
"It's junk… all of it, it's just junk" Hermione exclaimed as the walls shook with force causing this to fall and shatter. Pomfrey stared in shock at Hermione and backed away, while Hermione tore the pictures from the mirror and tossed more objects on to the floor.
"All of this is just junk" Hermione cried again as the walls began to splinter and tear apart.
"My lady" a voice called from above and Hermione sighed with relief when she saw Neville and Hagrid staring down her.
"Neville… Hagrid" Hermione cried out as the walls tilted and she scurried up one to reach out to her friends who grabbed at her hands and dragged her away from the crumbling room.
Once she was on her own two feet Hermione wrapped her arms around Hagrid then Neville thankful they had found her.
"Oh I'm so happy you found me" Hermione exclaimed as both creatures looked at her and smiled brightly.
"I fear we have lost Ron in our effects to find you my lady" Neville stated as Hermione frowned looking down as memories flooded back.
"he gave the peach… to make me forget… no to make me dream" Hermione declared as both creatures just stared at her.
"The coward" Neville exclaimed as Hermione felt her heart twist and the tears prickle at her eyes.
Yes Ron was a coward but Draco had made him give her that peach.
Another twist of her heart as Draco's image flashed across her mind, his lips against hers… the way he had made her feel so free and happy.
"We haven't got much time… we have to reach the castle" Hermione declared pushing any thoughts of Draco from her mind. All she had to think about was reaching Harry and bringing him home.
"Why my lady look… we are at the gates of the Goblin city itself" Neville stated as he pointed between two mounds of junk to where the sky lightened to show the castle and the Goblin city. She would make it and with a stiff jolt through out her Hermione knew she had to make it no matter what Draco might throw at her next.
"come on" Hermione ordered as the trio began to head towards the castle, Harry and Draco.
Draco rolled the three crystal balls his hand while staring out across the Goblin city, while he ran a gloved finger across his lips. The sweet taste of Hermione still lingering there, the pressure had not diminished since she had fled him from her dreams.
It had all been for nothing… she was still coming for the child and she was too close now. But Draco smirked as he licked his lips once more and tasted Hermione, perhaps it hadn't been for nothing.
When she came- no thought of if- Draco knew for sure he would offer her the world, his world… he would offer all of him to her.
What worried him was if she would have his world… or even him. He had seen lust in her eyes and fear but lust out weight fear and even without magic that lust had proven itself strong.
He would discover soon enough how strong that lust truly is.
I forgot to thank BroadwayNightOwl for your review... I'm glad you like it, even though the caps lock scares me... always have... hehe... and you will have to wait until later to find out if Draco and Hermione ever get together.