Self motivation is the hardest thing to execute, I swear to you.
Chapter 7 | Haemorrhage
It was an incredibly tense walk down to the Archives.
The way this opportunity fell into her lap, she couldn't believe, yet she could feel the nerves coming through, egging her on to fumble it in her hands. They walked in initial silence, their steps falling in time as they rounded the last corner of the path to the Archives. Draco slowed as they approached the grand, golden doors, pushing one side open and beckoning her through. He gently closed the door behind her and signalled her to stay put. It hadn't been long since she was last in the Archives, walking through each aisle to find what new information she could take in next. And every time she was here, the deep crimson carpet and the chestnut walls impressed her like it was her first.
She watched as he took tentative steps further down the main walkway, peering around the dim surroundings before returning to her, "Follow my lead, no questions." Draco whispered as he turned away to walk along the wall to the right.
Confused, Hermione did as commanded and followed in his quiet steps along the walls of the Archives. Feeling as though she found herself in a less entertaining version of a Mission Impossible scene, she mimicked his slow breathing and alert state, coming to an understanding that they were clearly not meant to be seen. Suddenly, Draco froze as the lights surrounding them began to blaze in full. They both looked to each other, trying to figure out what was the best move as they heard the voices of Phoenix and Aquilina walking through the Archives with a purpose.
"The maps, find them and bring them to me…" Phoenix's voice carried through the halls and the myriad of aisles around them. Still as a night with no wind, the pair against the wall didn't dare to move a muscle as Phoenix neared them with Aquilina in tow. On the brink of being discovered, Draco reached over to Hermione, ever so carefully yet with enough grace and speed to not blow their cover, grabbing her arm and muttering something under his breath.
At his contact, Hermione held her breath, electricity shooting through her arm. Draco squeezed just enough to remind her not a muscle should dare twitch in this moment. As if she could sense a change in the atmosphere of the room, Phoenix held a hand up to Aquilina, cutting her off mid speech. She took two steps toward their direction, glaring at what was meant to be the both of them there against the wall before turning back to her company, "Take the maps back to my office, we go over everything there."
Still unmoving against the wall, neither Draco nor Hermione moved for a good few minutes after the door closed and the lights dimmed back down. Draco finally released her arm and took a moment to check on her, knowing full well the confusion was going to be met with every question under the sun. Raising a hand in her direction, he quietly breathed out, "Not just yet."
They resumed their skulk against the wall for just a moment further till they stopped seven aisles down from where they were initially caught. Hermione watched as Draco placed both hands on the wall, positioning them carefully then pressing softly at his fingertips. A portion of the wall fell away in the shape of a small archway, steps appearing and leading in a downward spiral.
"Where—?"
He cut her off with another raise of his hand as she followed close behind him. Bewitched candles lit as they followed the winding path down two flights of stairs. Once at the end, Draco pushed an old, creaking wooden door open to reveal an incredibly intimate room, its walls lined with shelves stacked with a myriad of gilded boxes. Hermione watched as Draco began to examine the boxes closely, looking for one in particular. As he did this, without turning to her he said, "You have one question to ask while we are here. This is in and out."
"Just one—"
"Careful now, don't waste it." She could hear the smugness in his tone, the smirk he wasn't trying at all to keep hidden.
Riding on the verge of livid, Hermione took a breath, not allowing herself to be reduced to the incessant teenager she used to be, the snarky back and forth they were both more than capable of. What the hell was this place, was one. Why did she have to follow him down here, was two. And three, how did he end up here? But she knew there was some answers she may or may not get, so she resorted to the one she had been sitting with ever since she came.
"Do you remember me?"
She watched as his body stilled mid movement. Hermione kept her eyes on the back of his head, urging him to continue his motion of turning around and facing her. Although from this very subtle reaction, it gave her the answer she wanted. It only managed to lead her to the avalanche of questions that would undoubtedly follow. Even still, to hear him truly say it was something she would appreciate.
Draco finally resumed his movements, turning to face her fully but not yet meeting her eyes. Instead he thumbed at the small wooden box with a small gold engraving, almost hesitating whether he should hand it over. "This is something that you cannot show to anyone else. It is meant to stay down here for much longer than you have become privy to this early into your stay here."
He offered her the small box without meeting her eyes. She wished she could reach out and grab his face, forcing him to look at her but she didn't dare move any further beyond accepting the gift.
"I mean it when I say, no one can know what it is or why you have it."
Hermione went ahead and unlatched the lid, opening it to reveal a beautiful silver chain, dainty and simple with one small link in the chain that was larger than the rest. 'So that you may make it great, make it your own.' Inhaling deep as tears began to well in her eyes, she looked back up at Draco, "Thank you, very much. I understand."
And with a nod of acknowledgement he moved forward to pass her, their shoulders brushing lightly as he lead the way back out of this hidden room. In the moment before she followed to leave with him, whispers of voices calling names vibrated through her. It all started to become too much, what felt like a chorus of ghosts trying to articulate thoughts and words through to her could have overwhelmed her if she were to stay any longer.
These strange occurrences of voices that she noticed were happening, in no particular pattern but a pattern nonetheless, was the next thing she would tend to. But for now, she would head back to her room, allow the emotions she was holding in check to run right through her and then be fully prepared and ready to join her first mission with the rest.
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As soon as they had parted ways, Hermione hurried back to her room to hold that silver chain close to her chest, letting the tears leave salty tracks down her cheeks. This was that reminder that she was longing for, a piece of who she was, who she still is. The memories were foggy at first but with tentative encouragement, she went on to spend a solid fifteen minutes writing down who shaped her past, her present and how she would move on from this, no longer questioning her identity while she was here.
Delphinus could clearly see the beginning of her internal struggle and allowed her to be privileged with an honour Draco made clear she wasn't entitled to, for what should have been a long while. In that little bubble of time, a couple of other things occurred to her, that being the wandless magic she had begun to master had fully come in to effect. As well as there was something else that they had done — or added — to her that had amplified her magic and encouraged these voices, it was just a matter of specifically figuring out what it was and mastering that too. Hermione hoped she would be granted another opportunity of counsel with Delphinus so that maybe he could help map it out for her.
Either way, she was now headed to be fitted and briefed again before they left for their recon missions. Bravely walking toward the meeting point in front of the Assembly, Lyra fell in step beside her. Hermione glanced over at her, taking in the gorgeous amber gown that had her deep brown skin glowing. "Lyra, you look sensational! Where could you possibly be heading in that dress when we're all about to be armoured up?"
Chuckling and beaming at Hermione, she responded, "While the majority of you assemble to get down and dirty, a handful of us keep our hands clean as possible before we join the fray."
They both laughed together as Hermione rolled her eyes, "But seriously?"
"I am off to visit a particularly quirky emissary who believes he is always above the fray and never in between it. He has eyes and ears everywhere. I'm hoping to entertain him and garner his favour so that we might be able to figure something out a whole lot sooner as to why we're suddenly undergoing these attacks."
"Well, you look phenomenal and I have no doubt you'll find the information you're after." They rolled to a stop together as Lynx was leaning against the stone wall waiting for Carina to show.
"All the best to the both of you, finally joining them in the real rough and tumble out there." Her lavender eyes glimmered as Lyra winked at the both of them, strutting off where she needed to be and waving her dress out behind her.
Lynx turned to Hermione, "So, Iris, have you heard anything else about where we're headed to tomorrow?"
Joining her against the wall, Hermione took a deep breath, nerves suddenly deciding to work their way into her chest. "Honestly, no. Haven't heard a thing since this morning but i'm hoping that there will be a new chunk of helpful information. What about you?"
"Basically the same. Even though I'm at Cassi's side learning the runnings of the Academy with her, I still feel like I'm out of the loop most of the time." Lynx fiddled with the end of her pony tail, braiding and unbraiding the end with nerves that seemed to match Hermione's. Carina rounded the corner before she could join Lynx in indulging herself in a nervous nail bite, hands on her hips as she came to a stop, Carina stared keenly at the two of them.
"Follow me, we meet with the others in the Armoury." Her blonde mane glowed in the setting sun as they passed through the halls of the Academy. Waiting outside the charcoal doors of the Armoury, the three of them met in time with Percy, Orion and Chamaeleon.
"We join Draco and and Caelum at the jet point once everyone is suited up." Chamaeleon stated to all of them, huddled in their small circle. "Ten minutes and we're out, Orion you're taking point."
With a curt nod, they all began to scramble to different points of the Armoury, Lynx and Hermione following Carina's lead over to their uniforms consisting of black combat trousers and thick navy shirts as well as a little, black radio earpiece. They were then handed steel plated vests bearing a discreet emblem of the Academy over the left breast, followed by silver bracers and then pointed toward a choice of a personal weapon.
A myriad of sharp, metallic edges glimmered before her, Hermione watched as it took the others less than two seconds to grab blindly at the item that fit them best, as though watching them move through their morning routines. To her right, the soft glow of an orange fire opal sitting in the hilt of a black, carbon steel dagger caught her attention. Without hesitation she reached out and held it, a thrum of energy radiating up her arms to sit in the centre of her chest.
"A very fitting choice, Iris." Chamaeleon stood beside her with a soft smile. "It was a favourite of mine that Gunnar, our late blacksmith, had fashioned when I first joined. It was the opal that drew me over, shining so bright that I was positive the others would see… but I was wrong, seems like it was meant just for me— at the time anyway. I'm glad it's found it's way to you, someone worthy to wield it."
"You're too kind." Hermione smiled at him as he handed her the belt made with a custom sheath for the dagger. Right as she fastened the belt around her waist, a distant horn resonated through the Armoury.
"Thats our cue everyone, to the runway!" Percy called out. Everyone fell in line as they marched out of the warehouse and forged forward toward their purpose. Resolute faces surrounded her as she glanced at them all, drawing from their energy to fuel her own motivation. It had been a while since she last saw herself in battle but it wasn't anything someone forgot so easily. At that thought, Hermione wondered what atrocities the others around her could have witnessed. Some bore visible scars that could give way to the stories behind them, yet she also knew that there were most definitely more of the invisible scars that they each had to carry, to end up here and indebted to a cause.
And then it happened, they all started running at the call of a second blow horn. The sound vibrating in her chest and charging her to run forward with such fervour she hadn't felt in a while. Glancing to her left was Lynx, looking set in her purpose, however Hermione could read people well and could see that she was doing an extraordinary job to keep her nerves at bay. To her right was Percy, glancing at her for a moment with cautious eyes, measuring her worthiness in some equation in his head. Ahead, the ramp was nearing its end, Orion at the head of the troupe signalled for everyone to activate their ear pieces moments before diving off the end, over the water below.
"Unit, copy?" Orions voice crackled into frequency in her earpiece.
"Chamaeleon, copy."
"Carina, copy"
The others followed through in responding to their roll call, Hermione last. "Iris, copy." She dove forward, launching herself off the end of the runway, waiting a quick moment to let the air whip at every end before unfurling her wings and soaring behind the rest. It was a true wonder that she used to have this distaste for flying in her youth, you wouldn't have caught her near a broom unless it was a complete necessity. Either way, here she was now, finding this comfort in the freedom that this new extension of her body has allowed her.
"There are three locations, we will be covering only two today. This recon is to be swift. We are in and out with no stone unturned." Orion's commands buzzed around her brain. "Caelum, Perri, Carina and Lynx, you are with me to Aheston Forest through the London portal. The rest of you with Draco to Teburn End through the Glasgow portal, I'll see you all back on the runway by midnight."
And with that, they split off into their respective groups, Perri and the rest banking right and away from those left over. At the head of their V formation, Draco looked back to check on them, lingering a little longer on Hermione before holding up three fingers and tapping on his earpiece. After they changed to the requested frequency, he addressed them all, "As per instruction, we are in and out. If there's any funny business, it will be dealt with quickly. We are to gather as much as we can. I want us all on the same page, to get this over with. Copy?"
Their chorus of confirmation rang out in her ear as they all charged to the speed that Draco began to lead them. For a while it felt like all that they flew over was deep blue ocean, then they really kicked it into gear as they sped toward oncoming shore, covering the city of Glasgow in minutes. There is always this element of surprise and an appreciation for what their bodies are now capable of. The speeds that they can reach, the pressures they can withstand, constant admiration for the space she has found herself in.
"Three minutes out from destination portal." Draco announced through the radio. The five of them tightened their formation as they found themselves soaring over the Trossachs National Park, sprawling greenery and glimmers of light reflecting off the lochs below. Draco signalled for the arrival of their destination, circling the highest point of of a mountain peak, gracefully landing before the rest and set to purpose for preparing their cross-over.
Once landed, beside her, Aquilina took in the deepest intake of air, eyes closed with her face inclined toward the sun, "Ah, Ben A'an, it's been a while."
Forgetting for a moment that there was a deeper purpose to them being here, Hermione moved over to the edge of the peak, stepping over stones to stand at the end, "Incredible."
"Loch Katrine, it most definitely is." Chamaeleon came up to stand beside her, admiring the view, "Feeling okay?"
"Yeah. It's definitely been a little while since I've found myself in this situation. Don't want to say I'm feeling a little rusty but I'm sure one way or another, muscle memory will be quick to remind."
"True, but know that we have your back — even Perseus — believe it or not. Ego's aside, we're all here for the same reason." With a pat on her shoulder, he turned away back toward the rest now surrounding Draco, who's ardent eyes were trained on her yet again. Completing the circle as she fell into place, Draco crouched down, pulling out two small items from beneath a large, flat stone.
In one hand was a wooden carving of an ouroboros, no bigger than the size of his hand, and in the other, a silver key with a green ribbon tied at the handle. The ouroboros was handed to Percy, "Cam and Aquilina will accompany you from the left flank of the village, Iris and I will take the right flank. Scour the surrounding forest on your way in to the centre as best you can, we will meet by the Blacksmith's forge."
Percy cast an apprehensive glance at Hermione, then back to Draco, seeming to keep any rebuttals at bay at the stern face that Draco held, probably slightly relieved he wasn't going to be left with the rookie. With a nod, Percy stepped aside and gripped the head of the snake and held it out to the other two. Joining him, Chamaeleon and Aquilina grabbed on and within a few beats, disappeared in a twist, the wooden carving falling to the ground. Draco was careful when handling it, gently levitating it back beneath the stone and placing it beside another silver key he pulled from his pocket.
It took Hermione a moment to realise what just occurred before her, "A portkey?"
"Indeed." Draco confirmed, rising and moving to stand two steps away from her. His silver hair glowed, porcelain skin nearly aflame with the intensity of the setting sun behind them. For a quick breath, Hermione found herself hypnotised as she watched him extend his hand out toward her, the second portkey floating above his palm. As his eyes held hers, without hesitation, she reached out to clasp her hand around his, the warmth of his palm enveloping hers, evaporating the coolness of the metal key now snug between their grip.
She was almost lost in the sudden comfort of this instance, yet the deep pull at her naval as the portkey activated yanked her focus right back to reality.
.
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They landed with grace in the middle of a beaten, dirt path that was on the verge of being engulfed by the surrounding forrest. The track looked to come to an end in what seemed like a few minutes walk, the beginnings of civilisation scattered past the valley between the thick greenery of the forest. Before Hermione moved off from their landing spot, she took in a deep intake of air, inhaling the dewy lushness of nature encompassing her. Blinking slowly as she opened her eyes again, feeling much more grounded than she ever had in the last few months, Hermione finally noticed that their hands were still entwined, neither of them moving to separate them all too quickly.
"Sorry I—" Hermione gingerly withdrew her hand, blushing furiously at the niggling feeling sitting in the pit of her stomach as the heat from his grip ebbed away.
"Welcome to Teburn End," Draco recovered effortlessly as he slipped his hands into his pockets, his face shifting from nonchalant to steely, calculating his surroundings as he looked ahead, "The report at the Academy said that a blacksmith saw the fire burning in the forge, and I quote, 'enchanted beyond comprehension, rage and aggression alive and set to purpose'. It apparently leaped then ran through the town, the ashen trail has no real end, it just up and vanishes."
The curiousness of the situation had cleared her foggy head of questioning the moment that just passed, "Enchanted fire? Rage and aggression? It couldn't be fiendfyre could it?"
"I thought as much," Draco replied as they kept the pace between them, "But the devastation would be to the entire village and not just in a way that was in the reports, which sounded… calculated, it'd be a devastation beyond repair."
"Calculated? Is there something here that someone would want? Something hidden away?"
"It never did take you too long to catch on—"
"Why else would someone cause a fuss to what looks like a persevering town. Whats the purpose of this town anyway?" She carried on past his reflection of her character, hoping to bring the attention back to the matter at hand.
"They actually supply the Academy with support in weaponry and building supplies, even sending through the occasional apprentice for anyone talented enough."
"Such a tie to the Academy…" Familiar frustration found its way to her finger tips, clenching and unclenching her hands as she tried to visualise the pieces of this puzzle, "What is hidden here Mal—Draco?"
He stilled as she kept charging forward, hoping to cover her blunder in the dust being kicked up by her now furious pace. She stopped, turning around to see him staring at her with what looked to be perplexed shock.
"Please— can we keep going, I didn't mean—"
"You—"
"I'm sorry— it won't happen again, can we just— focus—"
He walked over, coming to stop beside her, eyes closed, "You can't."
"Can't what?" Chin up she met his stare, unable to read the guarded emotion behind his eyes.
"Can't falter like that, no one can know our histories are tied."
She looked away, down at her feet, trying her best to quell the uneasiness rising in her chest. "I promise you, I won't again. Even though I don't understand."
They held each others eyes until he nodded, turning back to the path ahead. They remained silent together till they came to the end of the trail, where the trees gave way to the sky above. Hermione went to move off to begin their hunt across the valley, where before she could make any real progress, Draco grasped her forearm gently, his hard eyes giving way to what looked to be apprehension.
"I will fill you in on your last question about the town but before I do, there's something you need to know."
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Happy Holidays to you and all the best in the new year. Wishing you all the safest and healthiest passage through these troubling times ~ SLTS