Disclaimer: I don't own the puppets, just a few very colorful strings.
A/N: I had fun writing this one. I hope you guys enjoy it too. The snogging is only one more chapter away! *woohoo!!!*
*~* Tia *~*
Exhausted though he was from staying up so late, Ron had an incredibly difficult getting to sleep that morning. He was trying desperately to understand the sudden erratic shifts in Hermione's behavior, but he was trying equally hard to push the thought from his head. The result was neither effort being very successful and he was left wrestling with very vague and half-understood questions until it was light out. The last thought to be consciously entertained was the observation that Hermione looked rather nice all bushy-haired and baggy eyed. Usually a reprimand was quick to follow a thought like that, but for once Ron allowed himself to let the pleasantness of the thought consume him and send him off to a land where no consequences were rendered, and there was no such thing as "unrequited love."
**
Harry Potter stood staring out the window at the morning air. His plan had seemed so brilliant, so very noble in theory. He was sure he was so doing the right thing in executing it, but now…there were some things friends weren't meant to intrude upon. Sometimes, privacy was more important than a false sense of security. He could still execute his plan, but had to be altered. This was simply not right. With one last look at his friends, he spread his wings and flew out the window in search of a habitable nest in a foreign landscape.
**
Ron Weasley didn't awake until the wee hours of the afternoon. He had slept through the complimentary breakfast and was trying his best to sleep through lunch as well. When she could stand it no longer, Hermione finally decided that she had to wake him. She knelt down beside him and gently shook his shoulder with her hand.
"Ron? Ron, wake up." She heard him make a gruff noise that sounded suspiciously like an expletive and watched as he rolled over. He was now laying with his back to her in a semi fetal position. She decided to try again. "Ron, Ron get up! Get up Ron!"
He grabbed her wrist and she assumed it was an assent to rise. She began to stand when suddenly she felt a sharp tug on her arm. He pulled her down to the ground beside him catching her before she hit the floor. Wow, he's strong, she thought. Then he pulled her very close, with his arms wrapped around her waist. Oh boy. She saw a shadow of the mischievous grin she knew so well flicker across his lips. She was laying in a very awkward, though not completely unpleasant situation now. She was laying on her back and he was on his side holding onto her. He was almost above her. Her legs however were strewn onto of and across his hips. She pulled her legs down to the ground and prepared to attempt to stand get up again when suddenly he wrapped leg over hers pulling her ever closer to him. His head now nuzzled her neck and she could feel his light breath and the rise and fall of his chest against her shoulder. She was torn. His arms around her, like this just felt right, and yet she was afraid if she didn't move quickly he would awaken and think she had crawled in and snuggled up with him of her own accord, and would never believe that he had pulled her down against her will. Suddenly he moved. She froze. She thought he was going to wake up and start yelling—or worse, laughing—at her. After a moment and a bit of shifting though, he drifted back into his slumber and she was able to pry herself out of his grip and stand up. Frazzled, she decided the best thing to do would be to get some tea and let him wake up on his own.
**
A grin broke out on Ron Weasley's face when he heard the door to his hotel room close. Instantly he opened his eyes and gripped his pillow, holding it close remembering the feel of her body. With a sigh he sat up and stared down at the place where she had laid beside him.
"Do you think she'll ever let me do that when she thinks I'm awake," he asked looking up at the cage. It was empty. Odd, he thought. Harry did say that it liked its freedom. Ron shrugged and went got up from his bed.
Hermione was sitting at the very same table in the dinning room he had occupied the night before. In fact, she was sitting in his seat. Across from her, sitting where the hotel manager sat was a rather pleasant looking plump lady wearing the same white and green apron he had seen Velma wearing the day before. They seemed to be very deep in conversation and didn't take notice of him until he was just within earshot.
"Vell, you know how men are. Just give it time, my dear."
What is this? The Love Doctor Hotel?
Probably giving her advice on Krum, stupid git.
Probably. Stupid git.
Hey!
What?
We finally agreed on something!What? You want a cookie or something?
Cute.
He was too enveloped in his own thoughts to realize that the ladies had stopped talking and were both looking up at him expectantly. Finally, he came to and looked at them. He noticed that Hermione had enchanted her hair to turn blonde and sleek again. He smiled inwardly as he envisioned her with the wild and scraggly hair from last night. Or was it this morning? Whenever it was, it was etched in his memory for eternity. That and the feeling of her next to him—
"What!"
"What?" Ron snapped out of his reverie to find Hermione staring at him like he had a Bogart over his shoulder and the lady with the apron gone.
"You were staring at me like I was a ham-and-egg sandwich or something."
Oh God, is that how I look at food?
Rather frightening, isn't it?
Kind of pathetic actually.
Right. That too.
"Sorry," he said as he took the seat left vacant by the Bulgarian lady. "I was just trying to decide what to order for breakfast."
"Ron, it's half passed two."
"Wow, I haven't slept in that late since the summer!"
"Why am I not surprised?"
"Who was that lady anyways?"
"Oh, her name is Helga. I think her husband owns this place."
If he'd been eating when she said this he would have choked. "That was Helga?"
"You've heard of her?"
"I, well I kind of talked to her husband last night," he felt his cheeks blush a little and knew that his ears were definitely starting to heat up.
"You did," she asked eyes growing wide.
"Yeah."
"She said that he was incredibly handsome and charming," she said, leaning in slightly. "He must be nothing like the horrible night manager that stuck us with the room. Did you ask him about a double?"
"Yes."
"And he didn't give us one?"
"No," he said looking at her with an amused expression in his eyes. "He said that as he'd already told you, he had rented the last double earlier that day."
A look of utter distaste overcame her face as realization dawned on her. "That horrible man? 'Handsome and charming?' Eak! What was she thinking?"
"Hermione, as much as I'd love to sit here contemplating the horrible taste of a certain apron-wearing hotel-owner, I'm positively starving. I'm going to go order something. Do you want anything?"
"Ron, this is a sit down place. The waitress will come to us."
"I'm too hungry to wait for that," he said, rising. "You want anything or not?"
"I've already ordered, thanks."
He nodded and turned to the kitchen. When he had had his fill of ham-and-egg sandwiches (a suggestion he was sure to thank Hermione for) he turned to Hermione with eyes full of excitement. "So," he said, breaking the comfortable silence in which they had been eating. "Are we going to go in search of this Cave of Wonder now?"
"It's Cave of Virtue and no. Not today. It's too late and it's winter. We've only got two hours before sunset and that's hardly time enough to go traipsing about the countryside in search of hidden caves. No," she said turning her head and examining the guests and employees of the small Inn. "I was thinking maybe we'd talk to some people today. You know, get a little information. These people live practically on top of the Cave. There's got to be legends and folklores here that for some reason or another never made it into the books."
They decided to make use of what little daylight they had left and start with a walk around the village. The evening could be spent inside the Inn talking to whomever was willing to share by the firelight under the guise of two curious lovers who wanted to take in all they could of the "Bulgarian Culture and History." The Inn was on the outskirts of the rural town at base of the mountain. They headed towards the buildings and shops stopping people along the way to ask them about the history of the town and the magical folklore. The legend of the Simurgh was so spectacular that even many Wizards thought it was no more than a fairy tale Witches used to lull their imps to sleep with. Ron and Hermione were surprised to see how many of their Bulgarian counterparts laughed when asked about the legend. They were even more surprised to find how little anyone knew—or chose to share—about the Cave.
"You know," Ron said looking at Hermione as they made their way back to the Inn. "I don't think anyone knows anything about it."
"I don't think so. I mean it makes no sense. It's such a spectacular legend. You'd think that they'd be proud to have such an important folklore as a part of their culture. There's something more to this." She stopped when she saw a woman speaking to a Wizard shopkeeper with three small children playing what looked like a very violent game of fake duels around her skirts. "I'll be right back," she told Ron and crossed over to the lady.
"I'll have four toads legs," she said. "And if you have any," she leaned in closer and said in a quiet tone, "some aconite as vell please."
"Yes," Hermione said stepping up, "I'd like some wolfsbane as well, if you're going to get some out." (A/N: Hermione isn't being rude—wolfsbane and aconite are the same thing. She was just trying to find a way to enter their conversation. Also, ignore the fact that these people just *happen* to be speaking in English even though they're in their native land. I'm just too lazy to think up an elaborate and original explanation. Hey, it's late—what do you want from me? :)).
The woman looked at her, shocked by her boldness. "You're not from around here, are you," she asked, her eyes narrowing.
"Er, no, I'm not. Why?"
The woman looked at her suspiciously. "Vell, you should know that Volfsbane is illegal here."
"But you just ordered some."
"I most certainly did not," the woman said raising her voice so she could be heard denying the accusation clearly.
"Yes, you did," Hermione said, trying desperately to keep the conversation from barreling out of control. "You just asked for some aconite."
"No! I asked for adasonine!" When she was sure that everyone on the street had heard and understood her clearly, she turned to Hermione lowering her voice. "You vould do vell to be more careful in the future, my dear," her voice was much kinder than it had been a moment ago.
"Um, Miss?"
"Darvi," the woman said.
"Uh, right. Miss Darvi,"
"No, no miss. Just Darvi."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Darvi, why is—well you know—why is it illegal?"
"Because it
vas vonce used for a potion to conjure an evil so horrible that…" her voice
trailed off. She was staring at Ron who was watching the both of them
curiously. "Who is that?"
"That? Oh, that's my—er—Fiancé,
Ricky."
"Ah. Vell, aconite vas vonce used to awaken a sleeping monster in the mountains. The person vas trying to seek out its cave—"
"Cave? The Cave of Virtue?" Hermione was almost shouting she was so excited.
The woman paled and stared at her as though Hermione had just sworn her loyalty to the Dark Lord openly. Without another word she grabbed her children and walked away, leaving her herbs to be pick up on another day. Stunned, Hermione turned and went back to Ron.
"What happened," he asked.
"That was the strangest conversation I have ever experienced. Ron, the lady looked at me as though I were a Death Eater when I asked about the Cave of Virtue!"
"What? Why?
"I have no idea, but there is
definitely more to this than meets the eye." The sound of a shout from behind
them jolted them out of their discussion and Hermione realized that the
apothecary was waiting for her to collect her Wolfsbane. "Give me the pouch,"
she said to Ron suddenly.
"What? Why?"
"I asked for some Wolfsbane, you
know, so I looked like I had a reason to go over there. Anyway, he's waiting
for me to pay for it," she motioned back to the man standing behind the
counter.
Ron handed her the pouch and watched as she walked back to the shop keeper and began having a rather heated argument with him.
"Ron?" A small voice from behind him sent him flying several feet. He turned around to see a small girl with black pigtails and deep brown eyes looking up at him. It was one of the girls that was playing the dueling game around the lady's skirt.
"How—how did you know my name?"
"She told me," she said pointing at Hermione.
"She told you my name?"
The girl looked at the ground bashfully and kicked the dirt with her food. "Vell," she said. "She didn't really tell me. She said it to you."
"Oh," Ron said understanding. "So you found our little secret huh?"
The girl looked back up at him questioningly. "Listen," he said as he knelt down to her height. "My name is Ron, but we told everyone that it's Ricky. It's like a game, see?" The little girl's face lit up. "Would you like to play?" She nodded her head excitedly. "Ok, then. So whenever other people are around, you have to call me Ricky, ok? If anyone finds out my real game, we lose the game."
"Ok," she said. Then she did something that shocked Ron. She put her hands up to his face and began smushing his skin, trying to push his nose from side to side and pulling his head down so she could look deep into his eyes. "You don't look like a liar," she said suddenly.
Ron looked at her stunned. Then he did the only thing that made sense. He laughed, put his hands up to her face and repeated the process. Finally, looking quite satisfied he returned the favor. "Neither do you. So it must be a game."
This seemed to be all the bonding she needed because she began giggling and slipped her tiny hand in Ron's hand.
"Who's this," a female voice came from behind Ron. He stood, still holding the little girl's hand and looked at a very amused Hermione.
"Um, I'm not really sure." Ron turned to the girl, "What's your name?"
"Kristia. You can call me Tia."
"Well, it's nice to meet you Kristia," Hermione said.
"What's her name," Tia asked looking at Ron.
"Er," Ron threw a nervous glance at Hermione and then decided honesty was the best policy with this little one. "Hermione."
Ron heard Hermione take a sharp breath and looked over to find very confused look on her face.
"Is that your real name," Tia asked looking right at her. "Or, is it your game name?"
"My 'game' name?" Hermione was thoroughly confused.
"Er, you know, honey. Like my 'game' name Ricky. She wants to know what your game name is." He waited and watched Hermione, but when it became obvious she wasn't quite clear what he meant, he turned back to Tia and said "Heather. That's her 'game' name."
"Oh," the little girl said cheerfully. "Ok. Are ve going to eat now?"
"Um, dear," Hermione said kneeling down to Tia as Ron had done before her. "Did your mommy leave without you?"
"I don't have a mommy," she said matter of factly. "Are you at the hotel? Come on. I'm hungry." With a tug on Ron's hand she began to pull them towards the direction of the Inn. Dumbfounded, the two "adults" followed her.
Hermione and Tia sat themselves at a table in the far corner of the dinner while Ron went to go order some food and sweets for them.
"You're vondering about the Cave aren't you?" Tia asked dismissively as she played with the Gobstones Hermione had conjured up with her wand. They were little marbles very similar to the ones Hermione had used with her muggle friends when she was a child.
"What?" Hermione was dumbfounded. "How did you know that?"
"I heard you talking to Mrs. Brashna about it." She leaned in very close in a conspiratorial manner, "You know 'Darvi' isn't her real name either!" She squealed with laughter and hit another marble with her fingers.
"What do you know about the cave," Hermione asked.
"Oh, everyone says it's so nasty and stuffy there. They say there's a horrible monster vaiting to be let out. I don't know vhy everyone is so afraid of her."
"Her? Her who?"
"Parvaneh."
"Who's that?"
"The monster."
Hermione blinked. She blinked again. Had she just said what she though she just said? "You met her?"
"Vell," the girl blushed slightly. "No vone believes me. They all think I'm lying or somethink. But vhen my mommy died, Parvaneh took care of me. I grew up in the mountains you know. Vhen I vas old enough, she told me I should come down here. You know, to be vith my own kind and learn how the humans live. I didn't want to, but she said I had to. But she's not mean," Tia assured. "She's very nice. Like you."
Hermione was speechless. "Did you ever see her cave?"
Tia bit her lip. "No. I couldn't see it. She said my eyes vould never be able to find it."
"But you know where it is," Hermione prompted.
She looked hesitant. "Yes."
"Could you show me where it is?"
But Tia was unable to answer the question because Ron had picked that very moment to come back holding several bags of candy and a drink for Tia.
"There you are," he said as he set the drink down in front of her and handed her some of the candy. "Did you miss me?"
The little girl blushed and giggled. While she ate her candy and played with her marbles Hermione quietly filled him in on what she had learned. They finished just as the waitress arrived with their drinks and the food. Ron thanked her and ordered another drink for Tia, who had already finished hers.
"So," Tia said as she pushed all the green food to one corner of the plate. "Are you two in love?"
Ron nearly spat out his food and Hermione almost fell off of her chair.
"You are, aren't you!" The little girl gushed and giggled.
"Ehem," Ron said finding his voice. "Tia, do you think you could show us the cave tomorrow?"
Tia stopped laughing right away and looked back down at her food.
"Tia, what's wrong?" Ron said softly.
"You von't believe me."
"Of course we will," Hermione reassured her.
"No, you von't. No vone's ever seen it before. They all laughed at me."
"Tia, we won't laugh at you," Ron said. "We promise."
"Ok," Tia said, suddenly perky again.
"You will?"
"Mmhm," she said. "Can I have some more to drink?"
An hour, and lots of giggling later, Ron stood up from the table and motioned for Tia to take her hand.
"Well, little one—" he began.
"I'm not little!"
"Sorry." He cleared his throat and tried again. "Well, big girl, it's time we took you home. Er, were exactly is home?"
"I go back to Parvaneh now."
"You do?!?!?" Hermione had leapt from her chair.
"Yes," she said shyly. "But you can't come vith me. If you do, she'll leave and be very mad at me."
"But why?"
"Because I'm not allowed to take strangers back vith me. I can show you the cave, but you can't come vith me now. I'll be back tomorrow morning." She gave Ron a big hug. "Bye!"
With that she turned and ran out of the Hotel before either of them could protest.
"Are we really going to let her run off after dark like that," Ron said, his voice full of worry.
"I think she'll be safe, Ron."
"What makes you say that," he asked turning back to her.
"The Simurgh often adopts children, remember? Weren't you listening when I told you about it?"
"No," Ron said smirking.
"Honestly, Ron," she said walking passed him towards the staircase. "As I was saying, she likes to nurse and foster small children, especially orphans. If Tia is really under her care, well let's just say she's much safer than she every could be with the two of us."
"I vould vatch out who I talked to if I ver you," the manager's voice cut through her speech. "Some little girls have a lot of imagination, and very little discretion."
Hermione spun around and looked him in the eye. If she didn't like him before, the feelings were nothing compared to the contempt she now showed him. "And what's wrong with imagination," she demanded.
"It can be dangerous. Especially if it can vake the monster who sleeps in the mountain."
"It's not a monster," Hermione said. "It's a magical creature. Why are you all afraid of it?"
"It killed our Town Leader," he shouted. Everyone in the dinning room was now looking at them.
"Wh—what?"
"That is right. Fool that he vas, he tried to turn himself into an animal. He vanted to get to the horrible beast. One day he went up into the mountains and he never returned."
"Well, that explains the wolfsbane," Hermione said. "If you'll excuse us, we have some rest to get."
She turned on her heal and walked up the stairs. Ron, utterly lost, followed her.
