I dream of rain
I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in pain
I dream of love as time runs through my hand
I dream of fire
-Desert Rose, Sting
--Hermione--
3:30 AM Monday
No... why can't I resist this... Maybe I'm bait for Harry... I hope he doesn't kill me anyway... I thought, and tried to break the curse with all my might, but to no avail. As if sensing my thoughts, Voldemort chuckled.
"No, Granger, I've made a special version of the Imperius Curse, much harder to break than the one Potter shook off." I cursed him silently and wished I could have my hands to myself. He had made me put them on his waist! I mean, gross! Thankfully, he said, "You may speak freely."
I squeaked out, "Am I bait for Harry?" I was trembling. Say no... don't kill me... I thought.
He chuckled again. A strange sound, coming from the darkest wizard of our times. "No, but you'll see your purpose when we get there. And no, I'm not going to torture or kill you, so stop being so terrified. It annoys me."
I shuddered in my mind. "Where's there?"
"It's going to be home for awhile."
"Why are we on a broom and why did you get me, not one of your goons?"
"They're not goons," Voldemort said patronizingly. "They are Death Eaters, and often not too competent, so I decided to do the job myself. I can fly well, and brooms are quite easy to handle."
"Can I please take my hands off you?"
"Not until I take off the Imperius," he hissed.
I would have gritted my teeth if I could have. Not only is he evil, he's avaggrating, too. "Are we there yet?" I whined, hoping to annoy him back. Maybe not such a good idea... oops...
"Actually, yes, so shut up." We dismounted - I hated having the feeling of someone else controlling me - and Voldemort turned around. He was hidden inside a long, hooded black cloak that seemed to blend with the night. His deep voice gave me a chill up my spine. "I'm going to take the Imperius off now. If you run, you will feel the Cruciatus Curse for a long, long, time. If you come quietly with me and don't try anything, you will be pleasantly surprised. Understood?"
I nodded meekly and thought, Alive is better than dead, so I'll behave... maybe find an escape... wonder what the "pleasant" surprise would be. I felt the curse taken off me, and I released a sigh and stretched, looking around. All I could see was trees. Well, I could barely see them. The only light at all was Voldemort's wand ("Lumos").
We set off. He seemed to know where he was going, so I followed him docily, shivering a bit from cold and fear. I was still in my nightgown, and having no shoes on, my feet were being cut from the stones and twigs.
Finally, we stopped at a tree. It was quite normal-looking, but the Dark Lord muttered a password that I couldn't hear, and half of the tree swung out, revealing marbley stairs lit by lanterns in wall sconces all the way down. He motioned me forward, so I walked down hesitantly, but the freezing cold of the steps was too much for my torn feet, and I collapsed.
Voldemort cursed and grabbed two pinecones from outside, closing the door then transfiguring the cones into slippers for me. I gratefully accepted them and got up, wincing. We proceeded down and down for what seemed like hours, then, when I felt about to collapse again, we came to a huge wooden double doors.
Voldemort banged on the door three times, and I caught a glimpse of bright robes pushing the doors open before getting my first glance at the new place.
I'm home. The thought came to my head immediately, and looking around, I knew I could navigate around here with my eyes closed. It was a magnificently large chamber, round like the Great Hall of Hogwarts, with many doors leading off to tunnels all around the walls. There were long tables, five of them, and people in every robe color available sitting, standing, or going someplace. It was well-decorated. At the end opposite from us, I saw a flash of red hair moving wildly. Ron? No, it couldn't be- but- oh, no, the Portkey-
As I looked around, everyone stood up and faced us quietly, most grinning and whispering to each other. I had most definitely been here before. It was very odd. I felt rather silly standing there in my nightgown and fuzzy pink slippers as they looked at me, but also felt warm and comftorable. I knew I was safe here, no questions asked. I couldn't get hurt here. There was a sense of peace that I felt here.
I caught a shout among the noise - "Hermione! Hermione!" I wanted to go to Ron, but was nervous that Voldemort would stop me. Before I knew it, though, my boyfriend was pounding across the floor and swept me up in a hug. I was so happy that he was here with me, I just grinned and grinned. He let me go, and I caught his hand.
A heavy, cold, hand fell onto my shoulder, and I jumped slightly and looked up at Voldemort. His voice boomed out. "Let us welcome our past, our present, and our future - Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley!" I didn't know what he meant, but I smiled and waved a bit. It was good to be in what I instinctively felt was home, the place I belonged. Ron looked a bit confused, so I nudged him and he put on a smile too.
The crowd was cheering for us, and Ron whispered to me, "Hermi, what's going on? What does he mean?"
I shushed him gently. "I'll explain everything in a minute."
People started to go through the doors when Voldemort shouted above the noise, "We will celebrate in the morning, now get to sleep! Move!" When the crowd was mostly dissipated, he strode over and said, "I will talk to you in the morning. Goodnight." And he went off with the rest of them.
I pulled Ron along to the room I knew was ours, explaining what I knew on the way. "When I woke up, I was under the Imperius and he made me write a note, then he turned it into a Portkey, and we left on a broom. Then he let me talk - says he's developed a new Imperius, it's very interesting - but anyway, we landed, and walked through the forest, and down a tree with steps in it, then got here." I paused for breath.
"And just why are you so happy now and how do you know your way around?" Ron demanded angrily.
I shrugged. "When I saw this place, I knew I had been here before and my way around. I could probably go blindfolded. I dunno how I know, but it's home, Ron - the place where we really do belong!" I said honestly, knowing it to be true. "Without a doubt, we're safe here." I opened the door and entered our room, suddenly exhausted. "That's all I know, though - I think it's a school. What happened to you?"
He snaked his arm around my waist and grinned slyly. "We only get one bed? Hmm..."
I laughed and whacked him. "You prat."
He smiled and pulled off his shoes and robes before answering, and we both flopped into the comfy bed, snuggling close for warmth.
"I woke up to Harry's scream. It looked like his scar was on fire, and he said something about him taking you, so we got dressed and ran up to your bed. I saw the note and grabbed it, then I was in that Hall. I tried to fight, but they took my wand and snapped it-" his eyes clouded over unhappily- "Then you came. You looked like a princess there." His expression softened, and he hugged me. I kissed the tip of his nose, giggling softly.
"Even in my jammies?"
"Yup." He kissed me back, then yawned. "This is bizzare. We should be terrified."
"He won't hurt us. I wonder why they snapped your wand, though..." And then I fell asleep to Ron's soft snoring.
A/N: Thanks so much to Lishel Fracrium, Gwyneth, *Jia*, and PigwideonChick! I love reviews! Any suggestions on what should happen next? *hinthint* I don't like the fact that only one chapter (apparently) can have html.... evil ffn. bleah. Lishel, that's one meaning of decurro .... not what I had in mind however... Gwyneth, you're right, evil is definitely at work here. Hehehe.
*grinning uncontrollably* I have reviews! Yippee!
I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in pain
I dream of love as time runs through my hand
I dream of fire
-Desert Rose, Sting
--Hermione--
3:30 AM Monday
No... why can't I resist this... Maybe I'm bait for Harry... I hope he doesn't kill me anyway... I thought, and tried to break the curse with all my might, but to no avail. As if sensing my thoughts, Voldemort chuckled.
"No, Granger, I've made a special version of the Imperius Curse, much harder to break than the one Potter shook off." I cursed him silently and wished I could have my hands to myself. He had made me put them on his waist! I mean, gross! Thankfully, he said, "You may speak freely."
I squeaked out, "Am I bait for Harry?" I was trembling. Say no... don't kill me... I thought.
He chuckled again. A strange sound, coming from the darkest wizard of our times. "No, but you'll see your purpose when we get there. And no, I'm not going to torture or kill you, so stop being so terrified. It annoys me."
I shuddered in my mind. "Where's there?"
"It's going to be home for awhile."
"Why are we on a broom and why did you get me, not one of your goons?"
"They're not goons," Voldemort said patronizingly. "They are Death Eaters, and often not too competent, so I decided to do the job myself. I can fly well, and brooms are quite easy to handle."
"Can I please take my hands off you?"
"Not until I take off the Imperius," he hissed.
I would have gritted my teeth if I could have. Not only is he evil, he's avaggrating, too. "Are we there yet?" I whined, hoping to annoy him back. Maybe not such a good idea... oops...
"Actually, yes, so shut up." We dismounted - I hated having the feeling of someone else controlling me - and Voldemort turned around. He was hidden inside a long, hooded black cloak that seemed to blend with the night. His deep voice gave me a chill up my spine. "I'm going to take the Imperius off now. If you run, you will feel the Cruciatus Curse for a long, long, time. If you come quietly with me and don't try anything, you will be pleasantly surprised. Understood?"
I nodded meekly and thought, Alive is better than dead, so I'll behave... maybe find an escape... wonder what the "pleasant" surprise would be. I felt the curse taken off me, and I released a sigh and stretched, looking around. All I could see was trees. Well, I could barely see them. The only light at all was Voldemort's wand ("Lumos").
We set off. He seemed to know where he was going, so I followed him docily, shivering a bit from cold and fear. I was still in my nightgown, and having no shoes on, my feet were being cut from the stones and twigs.
Finally, we stopped at a tree. It was quite normal-looking, but the Dark Lord muttered a password that I couldn't hear, and half of the tree swung out, revealing marbley stairs lit by lanterns in wall sconces all the way down. He motioned me forward, so I walked down hesitantly, but the freezing cold of the steps was too much for my torn feet, and I collapsed.
Voldemort cursed and grabbed two pinecones from outside, closing the door then transfiguring the cones into slippers for me. I gratefully accepted them and got up, wincing. We proceeded down and down for what seemed like hours, then, when I felt about to collapse again, we came to a huge wooden double doors.
Voldemort banged on the door three times, and I caught a glimpse of bright robes pushing the doors open before getting my first glance at the new place.
I'm home. The thought came to my head immediately, and looking around, I knew I could navigate around here with my eyes closed. It was a magnificently large chamber, round like the Great Hall of Hogwarts, with many doors leading off to tunnels all around the walls. There were long tables, five of them, and people in every robe color available sitting, standing, or going someplace. It was well-decorated. At the end opposite from us, I saw a flash of red hair moving wildly. Ron? No, it couldn't be- but- oh, no, the Portkey-
As I looked around, everyone stood up and faced us quietly, most grinning and whispering to each other. I had most definitely been here before. It was very odd. I felt rather silly standing there in my nightgown and fuzzy pink slippers as they looked at me, but also felt warm and comftorable. I knew I was safe here, no questions asked. I couldn't get hurt here. There was a sense of peace that I felt here.
I caught a shout among the noise - "Hermione! Hermione!" I wanted to go to Ron, but was nervous that Voldemort would stop me. Before I knew it, though, my boyfriend was pounding across the floor and swept me up in a hug. I was so happy that he was here with me, I just grinned and grinned. He let me go, and I caught his hand.
A heavy, cold, hand fell onto my shoulder, and I jumped slightly and looked up at Voldemort. His voice boomed out. "Let us welcome our past, our present, and our future - Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley!" I didn't know what he meant, but I smiled and waved a bit. It was good to be in what I instinctively felt was home, the place I belonged. Ron looked a bit confused, so I nudged him and he put on a smile too.
The crowd was cheering for us, and Ron whispered to me, "Hermi, what's going on? What does he mean?"
I shushed him gently. "I'll explain everything in a minute."
People started to go through the doors when Voldemort shouted above the noise, "We will celebrate in the morning, now get to sleep! Move!" When the crowd was mostly dissipated, he strode over and said, "I will talk to you in the morning. Goodnight." And he went off with the rest of them.
I pulled Ron along to the room I knew was ours, explaining what I knew on the way. "When I woke up, I was under the Imperius and he made me write a note, then he turned it into a Portkey, and we left on a broom. Then he let me talk - says he's developed a new Imperius, it's very interesting - but anyway, we landed, and walked through the forest, and down a tree with steps in it, then got here." I paused for breath.
"And just why are you so happy now and how do you know your way around?" Ron demanded angrily.
I shrugged. "When I saw this place, I knew I had been here before and my way around. I could probably go blindfolded. I dunno how I know, but it's home, Ron - the place where we really do belong!" I said honestly, knowing it to be true. "Without a doubt, we're safe here." I opened the door and entered our room, suddenly exhausted. "That's all I know, though - I think it's a school. What happened to you?"
He snaked his arm around my waist and grinned slyly. "We only get one bed? Hmm..."
I laughed and whacked him. "You prat."
He smiled and pulled off his shoes and robes before answering, and we both flopped into the comfy bed, snuggling close for warmth.
"I woke up to Harry's scream. It looked like his scar was on fire, and he said something about him taking you, so we got dressed and ran up to your bed. I saw the note and grabbed it, then I was in that Hall. I tried to fight, but they took my wand and snapped it-" his eyes clouded over unhappily- "Then you came. You looked like a princess there." His expression softened, and he hugged me. I kissed the tip of his nose, giggling softly.
"Even in my jammies?"
"Yup." He kissed me back, then yawned. "This is bizzare. We should be terrified."
"He won't hurt us. I wonder why they snapped your wand, though..." And then I fell asleep to Ron's soft snoring.
A/N: Thanks so much to Lishel Fracrium, Gwyneth, *Jia*, and PigwideonChick! I love reviews! Any suggestions on what should happen next? *hinthint* I don't like the fact that only one chapter (apparently) can have html.... evil ffn. bleah. Lishel, that's one meaning of decurro .... not what I had in mind however... Gwyneth, you're right, evil is definitely at work here. Hehehe.
*grinning uncontrollably* I have reviews! Yippee!