A/N: I don't own Harry Potter
Chapter Twenty-Nine: What a Glorious Feeling…
Gran was confused as to why I was knocking on her door but she welcomed me in anyways. Her hair was down and she was in her green dressing robe. She could see that I was spooked and out of breath having ran from the DADA classroom to her office. So she ushered me into her quarters. There, she left me on the couch while she called a house elf to bring snack and drinks.
"I will always fear her," I admitted out loud, as much to myself as I was admitting it to Gran. Sitting on the edge of the couch with my elbows resting on my knees, my enhanced vision taking in the sight of the burning logs in the fire place "that…that bitch will always be my boogeyman. That's what the cursed verison of her told me and it was right," I gasped against the tightness in my chest, stealing away my breath. Hot tears streaking down the side of my nose "it won't matter the mind healers poking round because the fear of her is in my soul."
Gran frowned as she sliding her arm across my shoulders "perhaps ye'd better tell me what happened, lass," she said softly, pulling me into her side and kissed at my temple "what's happened? Why is that thing being brought back up?"
With a haggard and sharp intake of air, I told Gran about the dementor lesson. Of the fear that I couldn't overcome. Then I rambled on to why I believed I would always fear that voodoo priestess. It was like the ingrained fear of spiders and snakes or when a person realizes, out in the middle of the woods, that they are no longer at the top of the food chain.
The fear came from somewhere deep and I think it was more than my mind that was scared by the events of Haiti. Just watching that creature butcher the deskman was enough to permanently scar me for life, but I now fully remembered the pain and sensation of her ripping my soul away; the out of body vertigo that came from floating around her soul cage. My magic remembered too, the way it wrapped itself around the intangible thing of my soul.
My mind had, thanks to the incentive of Fraser's curse, had learned to stay away from that bit of memory. It wasn't forgotten just stayed away from. Thus, when facing the dementors, it was like a frigid bitch slap with traces of that damned accent following. I couldn't face her so in following, I could not face the dementors.
Gran listened to my theories and rambles. She let me talk myself into a near-exhausted state where there were no more words to be had. I felt sick to my stomach and I turned my face to push it into Gran's shoulder. That familiar smell of lingering heather and ginger newts was present and overpowering enough to cut through my nausea because it was comforting.
"Well, lass," Gran heaved out a sigh as she leaned back on the couch, taking me with her "normally I would encourage you never to back down from a…a fight like this but this time, I think I'm going to have to agree with your retreat," she laid her cheek on top of my head "there are some battles that we cannot win. Are you going to go back to these lessons?"
"No!" I sputtered into her shoulder "I may be dumb but I'm not stupid! I will live a much happier life if I never come in contact with dementors, fake or not, ever freaking, frackity again."
Gran chuckled, rubbing my shoulder vigorously "aye, that's true of most everyone."
***A***
My return to Gryffindor tower found me curling into Hermione's side where she sat on the couch talking softly to the boys and Angie. It's also where I fell promptly asleep surrounded by the scent that was Hermione. Books, ink and vanilla shampoo. Thankfully, she and the others let me sleep for the rest of their conversation before ushering me to bed.
It was strange the next morning. Hermione obviously wanted to talk about what had happened the night before but she was quiet. She let it go as we headed for class that Monday. For once her busy times-table worked to my advantage. I did want to talk to her about it, I just wasn't sure how. I'd have to think on this one.
My answer came to me that night when we were sitting at one of the study table in the common room. They were bigger than the ones in the dorm rooms and Hermione's homework load takes up a lot of room. Hermione and I had just finished our Ancient Runes translation and she'd moved onto Muggle Studies.
Her head was down and her eyes were flicking side to side as she skimmed over the text looked for something specific. Hermione's whole focus was on the book in front of her as her lips moved along with what she was reading. She was captivating, really, as she was unguarded and real as a fourteen year old could be.
There was this warm, fuzzy feeling amongst the flutters that stirred in my chest. I wondered where Hermione and I would be in ten years. That'd make us…twenty four. There was a small smile on my lips as I could see Hermione in her pencil power suit, conquering her bushy hair with almost a militaristic attitude. Maybe one lank escaping to her great annoyance.
I spaced out then, picturing Hermione working her way up through the ministry. She could be minister one day if she got through Hogwarts with her drive, work ethic and her incredible spirit. Then I had to wonder what I'd be doing. I chuckled to myself when I thought about Madam Rosie and investing in her to bring her brews to a boarder market. Or something like that.
My daze was ended when Hermione poked my shoulder and gave me a questioning look. I just grinned at her which just deepened the questioning look. It was then and there I made my decision.
"Are we doing anything this Friday?" I asked leaning forward across my homework "secret meetings, extra lessons that weren't on the docket at the start of the school year or planned happenstance?"
Now Hermione looked a little confused as she shook her head "no, not that I know of, why?"
I grinned "because that's our date night. You should probably write that down."
"Ah…" Hermione's look of complete and utter surprise was phenomenal "wha'…huh?"
Reaching out, I caressed her check "you and me, Friday night, on a date," I spoke slowly and made it simple "you in?"
"Yes," Hermione nodded quickly "I am very in."
Grinning, I leaned back into my chair "good," I had time to plan "now, finish your homework, Myne."
***A***
Hermione can be very pestering and aggravating when she wants to know something. She keep asking what our date was going to consist of and I kept telling her that it was a surprise. The girl didn't even take time to appreciate the small stone pigs that had followed Ron and Percy all about the castle Tuesday and Wednesday signing annoying folk songs and reciting bad poetry.
Nor did she seem to notice when the two Weasley boys' clothes turned clashing neon colors and stayed that way all of Thursday. It hadn't mattered that they had run back to the tower after breakfast. They were neon throughout the day, losing points from different professors for not being in school approved uniforms.
Hermione even questioned me all through our classes that Friday and refused her customary wrist drawing until I spilled on our date activities. I stayed strong and wasn't going to be pushed around by the girl, there was more than one way to keep track of a time-jumping red fox. I just had to think of them.
The girl had been so focused on me that she never seen Neville and Harry doing me favors in the background. In fact, the bushy haired bookworm of my heart's affection was so blinded by tunnel vision that she didn't realize that I had steered her to the seventh floor corridor instead to the Great Hall for dinner.
"Athena, what are we doing here?" she demanded suddenly, cutting off a very long winded rant about divulging critical information to one's girlfriend in times of duress (imagined duress more like).
"Miss Granger, we are here at the Come and Go Room for our first of many romantic evenings. I have, while you were preoccupied, arranged a very traditional evening for us," I was trying hard to pull off a posh accent "first we shall preview a film with snacks and refreshments in accompaniment. Then we'll shall partake in a delightful Italian dish that Jubilee learned from one of the other house elves, she wouldn't take no for an answer," Hermione was giggling at my antics "then after dinner, before dessert, we shall dance to a playlist that I'm assured is quite romantic and age appropriate…"
Hermione folded her arms across her chest, stifling more giggles "and just who decided on this playlist?"
I bowed my head to her "that would be my uncle. Don't worry, Miss, the man is obsessed with music so he would know," I winked at the very amused Hermione "then after a lite dessert I thought we could just talk and see what all the room was capable of."
Hermione nodded twice before asking "can I have my girlfriend back now?" she smiled coyly "I'd much rather have her company than this waiter she's sounding like."
"Oh, thank the divines," I let out the large lung full of air I was holding in and relaxed my posture visible "I was really worried I was going to get stuck in that, Myne and it would have ruined the whole night," Hermione just smiled as she wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed my chin "so, you want to go on this very traditional date with me?"
Hermione's lips caught mine for a slow moment before she whispered "only if you walk me to my door afterwards and kiss me on the front porch."
She sounded serious and I was a dork "how very rom-com of you, little dove."
Hermione rolled her eyes before slapping me upside the back of my head and let herself into the Come and Go Room. She left me rubbing at my head and pouting. I was going to hold the door for her.
***H***
It wasn't perfect but it was one of the best nights that Hermione had experienced. She should have figured that Athena's mouth was going to get the girl in trouble at some point during the night. Never figured it'd be before the date actually began. Now that was a record, Hermione thought.
The room had been set up with two parts. One was darkened and in the light of the other, Hermione could a very old projector with a sunken couch area underneath where Jubilee was waiting in a tuxedo style pillow case, a loose bowtie hung haphazardly around her very thin neck. Beside the well-dressed elf on a coffee table was an assortment of snakes and drinks.
Hermione forgot Athena's little jab and squealed happily. She caught Athena off guard by capturing the girl's hand and dragging her over to the couch. The moment they were seated the light dimmed and the projector came to life with the opening credits to Singin' in the Rain. Jubilee gave them the fizzy drinks in the correct paper wax cups and buttered popcorn in paper bags.
The movie was one of Hermione's favorites but it had been ages since she seen it. When she was little and she'd been off school sick, it was one of the movies her mum would put on to watch with soup and soothing tea. She wondered how Athena had got her hands on it…and the projector for that matter. Glancing over, Hermione noticed that Athena was very much into the movie and the bookworm had to wonder if she'd mentioned the movie to Athena once upon a time.
Hermione had more fun and spent more time watching the expressions dancing across her girl's features then she did watching the movie itself. The best had been when Kathy had been revealed as the true talent behind the curtain and Athena lit up excitedly. Hermione kept watching her girl until the projector had died and the lights had come up.
"You're staring," Athena frowned when she looked over and found Hermione watching her. The taller girl frowned "did you not like the movie?"
Hermione reached out to brush popcorn off of Athena's robes "I loved it," she promised pulling Athena to her by the front her now clean robes "I swear," she added before locking lips with Athena.
Athena tasted of salty, buttery popcorn and Pepsi and Hermione wanted more of it. Hermione practically pulled Athena on top her as she lay back on to couch in a more comfortable position. For Hermione's budding likes, she knew having Athena's fame over hers was a turn on and then she was cursing her need to research and read. Looking up everything on sexuality and sex because the subjects were closely shelved together at the bookshop. Mrs. Granger had helped her shop because it sort of saved the dentist from having to have that initial and rather awkward conversation.
Hermione felt Athena gasp a little when Hermione's hand had seemingly found its way up the taller girl's shirt and was covering something soft and warm. Something hard rubbed against the center of Hermione's hand as she pawed that the bit of flesh that she'd found. The girls were starting to feel…excited. Their hearts raced and their blood pounded, it was new and felt amazing. Hermione very much wanted to continue with her groping but without Athena's sports bra in the way.
That line of inquiry on Hermione's part ended when a very loud 'hem-hem' came from the stylish elf standing directly next to the couch. The girls squealed and in the rush to put distance between themselves, Athena went off the end of the couch and landed on her backside.
"Ouch," the red faced girl hissed as Hermione quickly followed to see if she'd broken her girlfriend "so not cool Jubilee, we were just getting to the good part!"
The elf smirked cheekily "Jubilee knows," she raised an eyebrow at her human "that's why Jubilee is here so you two don't do what Gran said you weren't supposed too."
"Dinner?" Hermione asked with a cheeky grin and kiss swollen lips, draped over the end of the couch watching Athena glare at the elf.
***H***
Dinner was fabulously tasting and fancy, Hermione didn't want it to end. It was a roasted chicken and veggie pasta with a homemade sauce that was to die for. Hermione had to giggle at Athena when the girl admitted she'd wanted to try a glass of wine with dinner and that Jubilee had gone mad elf on her, smacking her with a book that had been nearby. Then again there at the dinner table when it was mention; Hermione giggled as Athena had a glaring contest with the cheeky elf who'd been playing waiter.
"You lucky you get sweet tea, Miss Whiskers," Jubilee groused playfully "thinking you be old enough for spirits, too big for your britches that's what you are!"
After the giggling had subsided Hermione wished that she could have dressed up for the occasion instead of being stuck in her school robes. She was sure that she had a sundress somewhere in her wardrobe or that she could have had her parents send it to her if she'd been thinking. Next time she'd have to ask Athena for a dress code. Though, knowing Athena like she did, Hermione was sure that Athena would have just said causal. Jeans and t-shirt causal.
Then there was the dancing. Hermione's sides hurt from laughing so much at her girlfriend because Athena could not dance except to sway side to side. Uncle Ted had given them a 'mixed' record that he'd pressed and Jubilee was playing DJ watching them for any 'not allowed touching'. Hermione wished she could have somehow recorded Athena trying disco moves they'd seen in movies. It was like watching a fish flopping on the floor after being taken from the water, expect this fish was standing.
"You know, I will only willing humiliate myself for you," Athena told Hermione after they'd collapsed onto the floor, their heads close together "so I'd very much like it if you…could like…never ever….tell anyone ever, what you've seen here. Like…ever."
Hermione smirked as she wiped at the tears at the corners of her eyes "I promise, Hammy."
Athena nodded before looking back at the shifting ceiling that was unsure of what it was supposed to look like "I…I want to tell you about the creature," Hermione was shocked at the pure venom in Athena's voice "the one whom I hear when the dementors get too close."
"Miss Abby?" Hermione asked and Athena hissed unhappily "sorry."
Athena relaxed and waved her off, gently moving closer to Hermione so their shoulders were touching "yea, that creature. I know I've told you some about her but what was it?"
The happy feelings were gone now as Hermione said cautiously "you mentioned something about a 'Scottish cursed Haitian voodoo memory' and that the creature had ripped your soul out?"
Athena stared at the ceiling and nodded "yea, that's the basics," and slowly she started her tale.
Hermione was horrified by the time that Athena had finished telling her about the creature. The taller girl's voice had been even and steady. It was clinical and emotionless. Each detail was like Athena was reading it off a report. A report that Hermione wished had never happened. She sat up and looked over to Athena, tears welling in her eyes as she grasped Athena's hand.
"Please tell me that bitch is dead," Hermione growled wanting every much to get her hands on the woman who'd hurt Athena.
Athena blinked several times, stunned that Hermione would use that word. She sat up "ugh, I actually don't know. I mean, it's possible that something could have ended the woman in the…six years," Athena sounded uncertain of that time frame, looking down to the floor "since then. It's also possible that Fraser's spell killed her," she shrugged and sighed "I can't do the dementor lessons, Hermione. I hear her, I feel her touching me and I…I can't deal with it," Hermione held Athena's watery green eyes when the girl looked up at her "it makes me feel like a helpless child again, weak and scared. I-I don't know, maybe if I cast from a distance the patronus will work or I get the jump on them, if that's possible but being up close like in the classroom is too much."
"Someday," Hermione said suddenly causing Athena to look at her with a funny expression "someday you'll be able to face her. If I can kill a spider than someday, I know that you can defeat dementors. Until then," Hermione promised leaning forward to catch Athena's lips in tender kiss "I'll keep you safe from them."
***A***
I was still feeling that happy buzz that my date with Hermione had left me with. It was strange that she was promising to protect me from the dementors. I was too used to be then one who took that protector role and not being sure how I got it in the first place. However, I really liked that Hermione would promise such a thing. It made me feel safe and protected, two things that I secretly craved just like any other human being.
Another thing I was really happy about was that there was little to no awkwardness that next morning. To be honest I had expected it just because our date solidified Hermione and I's new dynamic; plus Hermione put her hand up my shirt which caught me totally by surprise. Sort of wanted the brazen bookworm to do it again but I digress.
Morning came, no awkwardness. Hermione had grinned at me before capturing my wrist and dragging my arm across her shoulders before happily wrapping her arm around my middle as we headed down to breakfast. Where we caught up with the rest of our group, all looking very much awake.
"So you two have a good time last night?" Neville asked first thing as he was pulling food onto his plate, I grinned stupidly thinking of Hermione's hand placement (ugh, bad hormones there was more the date than that) "sorry if you didn't like the movie thing."
Harry added "yea, it was the only one the room would conjure up," he paused and scratched at the back of his head and shrugged "might have been the only one it knew or something. I don't know how the room works."
Hermione raised an eyebrow at me "you had helpers?"
"Huh, I thought I'd mentioned that…or was that just Uncle Ted?" I frowned and then shrugged "well, because you were so fixated on me, I couldn't exactly sneak off and get things ready could I?" Hermione blushed at that and mumbled an apology "no worries, little dove, only thing I accomplished was getting hit with a book after asking Jubilee to cook for us."
"Why'd she hit you with a book?" Angie asked, very much amused
Hermione smirked, her eyes teasing "which time? My girlfriend got herself smacked several times."
Angie slapped my shoulder making me jump "ATHENA!" she chided "you were supposed to be a perfect gentlewoman last night!" Angie looked horrified while I just sputtered indignantly "Hermione, I am so very sorry that you caught feelings for this brutish cavewoman! If you want, I'll be happy to toss her in the lake."
Hermione was laughing when I found my voice "HEY!" I protested "I'll have you know that Iwas on my best behavior last night, you Judas. I was smacked because Jubilee is feisty and trigger happy. All I did was mention the fact that I wondered what the meal would have tasted like with wine. That was it!"
Everyone one looked to Hermione for confirmation. I groaned and let my head thump on the empty table where I'd pushed my plate from. Hermione was being devious and playful and looked to be enjoying the sight of me squirming under scrutiny for her virtue. It was my virtue that was in question here.
Hermione laughed, the force of it vibrated through her as she ran her fingers through my hair, finally coming to my rescue "Athena was brilliant last night and I had the time of my life. Jubilee did in fact chide Athena because of her query about wine, twice and I witnessed one."
I rolled my head so I could look at Hermione "this is why you are my favorite human being in existence, plus the kissing and handholding. Marry me?"
Hermione snorted and gently slapped my head "if you ever except someone to accept a marriage proposal then it should be romantic, planned out and there should be a ring involved," she leaned close and whispered this "ask me again someday."
Then Hermione gently kissed me and went back to her breakfast. The others had moved onto the game that was happening later today, Slytherin vs. Ravenclaw. Angie, Harry and the Weasley twins were excited for the game and were chattering away with newly arrived Ginny and her boys across the table from them.
Getting back into Quidditch had been peculiar. Flying on a broom again was weird, even if the Atmos was a twenty times better than the Nimbus was. The broom was just something that would have come off of the shelf and I liked, it was just a little strange not to be metallic in color.
Another down side to returning was Oliver's constant moaning about Gran and Flitwick confiscating Harry's Firebolt. That's something that Harry found very…trying and finally had enough after our last practice. I was so proud of Harry when he kicked Oliver in the shins and told the hopping boy he had a perfectly good broom and that the Firebolt wasn't up for discussion.
We stayed in the Great Hall until just before it was time to head down to the stadium for the game. Hermione made me put on an extra layer of lotion before making sure that I had my scarf and enchanted gloves. My hand only bothered me in the mornings or late at night when there wasn't much heat in the room or because it'd gotten stiff. The rest of the time I had it protected with a wrap or a fingerless glove that Madam Bones had sent my way.
At the stadium we were all gathered together, almost everyone who was in the Bad Company War Council. Daphne wasn't there because of appearances (not supposed to be friends outside of Potions mainly) and Draco was playing. Ravenclaw didn't stand a chance against the Slytherins. As it was, the Claws had been dealing with injuries all year and kept swapping players about. What they really needed was to get healthy and get back to practicing.
Anyone who'd put gold on Slytherin to win would have made out pretty good after the hour long game had ended. The Snakes slaughtered the Claws but the one thing our group chose to focus on was Luna kissing Harry. She'd literally jumped on the boy when Draco had stopped playing with the Ravenclaw seeker and caught the snitch, winning the game. Poor Harry hadn't seen the move coming nor Luna's happy and hungry kiss that quickly lost them to a world of their own. Hermione was smirking as she and Susan ushered the rest us away from the pairing for privacy's sake.
"Called it," Hermione smirked smugly as she tugged me towards the stairs by my hand.
