Hermione was trying very hard. She had taken her shirt and wrapped her leg tightly in it weeks ago because she couldn't heal the broken bone in it. She was quite positive she had some sort of infection because the skin around it felt warm, but she kept trying to mend around it with wandless magic when she would settle in for the night.

Her shoulder was banged up. Her throat was damaged, she couldn't handle speaking but at least she could eat the fish she caught with a makeshift fishing pole. Most of the damage came from the fall and she was able to repair it with wandless magic, with few exceptions. Doing broken bones was going to be a negative if she couldn't focus her magic properly. Same with her throat. Hermione knew her limitations and would work with them.

Thank Merlin she knew magic. It has saved her out in the wilderness. Especially when the wolves grew curious of her and thought she would make a great snack. They had been following her since, but she would scare them off with a bit of flame. She managed to transfigure herself a small knife; it wasn't perfect and the handle was janky, but it was sharp enough to gut fish.

Following the river had been a hard task, especially when there was no way to walk along the shore. She had to climb back up to the ridge and lost it twice because of it. She figured she had been traveling slowly, maybe a mile or so with her walking stick she manipulated into a crutch.

She was not happy that she was not found yet. Her fever had gotten worse and she did not have any more pain draughts she had in her pack. How long has it been? Weeks. She was sure of it. Hermione would have stayed where she landed if she didn't get chased by that bear. Nothing was worse than trying to hobble away from that bear and chance jumping into the river and not hit rocks when she got to it. It would have caught her if she didn't distract him with the only spell she could think of; a half decent rope binding spell, Incarcerous.

The woman grew bold tonight, she would keep her fire lit. She needed to stay warm, her chills were horrible. She wasn't sure she was going to make it through the next few days. She made a good effort. That's all that counted in the end. Hermione was quite sure as she took inventory of herself and her belongings that she was at the end of such. She would hold no regrets about that; just Charlie.

The thoughts of him plagued her and made her push harder. Stroking his necklace and ring she sighed heavily through shivers. She tried. She really did. Her best effort in surviving this horrible situation was put forth because he would have done the same. Hermione tried flares, but they just did not work. Sparks would flood her hands and not go anywhere. At least she was able to a simple fire charm. It wouldn't go far, but it was a good ward against the wildlife.

She gazed up at the sky and spotted the constellation Draco. She inwardly laughed and sighed, she would miss stories about each star from Charlie. She knew he had them, he told her a handful of years ago that he decided to name each star after different dragons in his life. How long did she really have a fondness for the man, now that she had time to reflect? Longer than she should have. Too timid to ever speak to him more than about dragons. Feelings of him being completely out of her league. She loved Ron, she knew that, but Charlie was like an exotic wild man... he had animal magnetism.

It was a shame. She wasn't going to make it back alive. Hermione knew that but it wasn't going to prevent her from trying at least. The witch had to admit she was disappointed that her life was ended with a stupid mistake. At least she hoped it was a mistake. She felt sorry for him once Charlie found out; that Aussie was going to suffer she was sure of it.

Hermione shook the bad thoughts away and closed her eyes as she clutched her pack. Christmas. The snow, the moon light. Charlie. The smell of the gingerbread, the taste of the eggnog. Charlie. Yes, he was what she thought of, he was her happy place. His smile, his beautiful indigo orbs, his laugh. Charlie. She fell into an uneasy sleep by the fire and shivered through her building fever.

0o0o

"Charlie! Stop! You are going to kill him!" Hedrick shouted as Charlie just kept slamming his fist into the man.

Noah's face was bloodied and his eyes were swollen, "Charles..." The man murmured and Charlie punched him again before letting the man drop to the floor. "I am sorry..."

"I don't fucking care about your apology. You lit her broom on fire out of a loss of nerves! You don't deserve to be a Dragon Keeper, you pissant." Charlie growled and threw the mug on the table at the wall.

"Charlie, we need to go now, we are losing time," Harry told him and the redhead heaved a breath.

"If she is dead, I am going to return the favor, Noah." Charlie spat and Hilda waved a finger at him.

"You will do no such thing, Charles. Azkaban is not where Hermione would want you to be. Now, I packed you both with some essentials. You might need them." Hilda declared and Charlie nodded running a hand through his hair.

"Thank you, Hilda. We will be back before sun up," The Weasley sounded and took the bag from her.

Harry took the pack from her and nodded, "thank you. Charlie is sure she went to the river. I have to agree with him so we are going to scout there. It is a far drop for someone to make, but we have been through worse. I am sure she is out there. With him as a guide we will find her." Harry announced and the female Dragon Keepers nodded.

"We are sorry we didn't keep her safe," Tatiana murmured and Charlie waved her off.

"Don't start, we can do apologies later when she is home," he grumbled and left the mess hall.

Harry sighed and nodded, "we will send word if we get held up." He declared and followed Charlie out.

They walked to the broom shed and Charlie sighed heavily before handing Harry a broom. "I never thought we would ever fly together. It is funny almost. We both played seekers and now we are on a search for my own golden snitch." He finished and Harry smiled softly.

"We can do this, Charlie. Blind faith. I know it is a horrible thing to go off of but I just have a feeling. She wouldn't go down without a fight." Harry responded and the Dracologist nodded.

Both former seekers got in the air and Charlie waved at Harry, "this way, we will trail the river all the way up." With that, Charlie took off in that direction and Harry followed. Durstia appeared twenty feet out to Charlie's right and roared. "I know, I am going to go find her." He flew next to the two wizards and Zeta soon appeared on their left.

"You have two now?" Harry asked loudly and the other dragon grumbled as they flew.

"Yes, and it looks like they are getting along well," Charlie shouted back to him. "Durstia, it isn't even mating season, you couldn't wait to have a few?" He snapped at the dragon who blew fire toward the ground and Charlie laughed, "she is pretty, isn't she?"

Harry observed the smaller dragon and she had a large stomach. He wasn't sure how it worked, but he chuckled and shook his head. "Sounds like he was impatient."

The Opaleyes flew with them over the river and grumbled at Charlie who was focusing. "Good boy, Durstia. We have to leave you behind after we hit the end of the territory. I would take you if I could." Charlie told the larger male dragon who snorted and whipped his tail. "I know, we are going to find her. She has to be out here."

Harry zipped closer to Charlie so he didn't have to shout, "Charlie, there is something I need to ask you."

Charlie cleared his throat as he scanned below them, "yes, Harry?"

"If we find her, are you prepared to find her in a bad condition?" He asked gently and the Dragon Keeper nodded slowly.

"The likelihood of her being in a bad condition is high. If she is alive she might be missing a limb or eye. I would be surprised if she wasn't at least injured greatly." Charlie declared and Harry frowned.

"Just, don't be upset until we get her home, alright? I really cannot bring you both back on my broom." He told Charlie who exhaled heavily.

They were reaching the end of the territory. "Alright, we are going to start shouting her name now. Chances are we won't see her before she sees or hears us." Charlie declared and nodded to Durstia. "Thank you, my friend, I will see you when I return."

The dragon snorted and flew a circle around them before turning around and Zeta following sweetly. Charlie turned and watched them fly off together and he smiled. It took him long enough but the dragon was satisfied. "That is a pretty happy beginning for him, hm?" Harry asked and Charlie nodded.

"It is about time, Harry. He was alone a long time," the Dragon Keeper voiced and took a deep breath.

Harry smiled and voiced, "he isn't the only one, Charlie. Sounds like you felt the same way..."

Charlie gave him an agreeing gesture and chewed his lip before speaking, "Let's go, we need to find her."

0o0o

Hermione woke with a start and was shaking from head to toe. Her fever had gotten worse and she was sure she was hallucinating. She thought she heard her name. The witch glanced around in the dark, the fire she had were embers now. There was nothing different around her; the river was still rushing by; the sky was dark from it being a new moon... she was having a fever dream she was sure of it.

"Hermione!" Was that Harry?

The witch tried to shake the feelings of fuzziness away enough to try to tell if she was imagining it. "Bok jente!" Charlie?

The witch moved and felt her body was rigid from loss of energy. She was fighting this fever harder than anything. Shaking it off she tried to use her voice but the sound came out low and hoarse. That wasn't going to work. Poking the embers with her stick, she tried to stoke light into her area. It glowed very little and she was growing frustrated.

"Bok Jente, are you here?" Charlie's voice was closer.

He knew where to find her. She could almost cry. Hermione struggled to her feet and slammed the walking stick on the rocks to make a loud sound. It was barely heard over the water and she inwardly groaned. How would they find her in the dark? She took the shirt off around her leg and cried, it hurt so much. Wrapping the fabric over the stick, she held it away from her and lit it with what little energy she had.

"Hermione Granger! Where are you!" Harry shouted and his voice was so close.

The witch walked out from her hidden spot on the beach toward the water. I am right here! She kept saying in her mind as she limped to a large boulder and stuck the walking stick in the dirt near it. It was flaming and she hoped they would see it. "Bok Jente, please let us know where you are!" she heard Charlie holler into the air nearby and Hermione collapsed to the wet dirt below her.

It was in their hands now. She couldn't stay awake.