~*Forgive
me, Hermione*~
By Alanna
the Lioness
To
all my flamers: I've got news for you. I'm an American too. *DUH!* And I don't
appreciate flames. So watch it.......I'm a lot meaner than I sound when people
like YOU think you know EVERYTHING.
~!*!~
DISCLAIMER:I
own no one but Alex. And I'm not bad-mouthing Americans. LAY OFF!
~!*!~
NOTE:
Where we last left off, Alex did something really odd.....so what happened to
Ron? Read on.......
~!*!~
Hermione
frowned in her sleep, lines of confusion forming on her forehead. This was
odd...
She
was standing before a towering, menacing black gateway to......something. There
was a kind of eerie gray mist gathering over the top of it, and she craned her
neck to see if there was any identification. As the fog cleared away, she
blinked, startled.
Cassius
Cemetery.
Cemetery?
She thought vaguely. What am I doing in a cemetery? The top of the
gate was decorated with a single, evil-looking skull. Its hollow, empty eye
sockets seemed to glow blood-red. Suppressing a shudder, Hermione backed away,
her arms hugging her torso. There was something very, very wrong about this
place.
Her
fingers brushed something slippery. Yelping, she brought them to her face and
spotted......blood.
Blood? She
looked down and gasped at the white, floaty dress she was wearing. It was
nearly strapless. Shooting a look at her forearm, she saw it. A skull and a cut
shaped like a bleeding rose......which really was bleeding.
This
was too much. Her wispy curls blew gently as she backed slowly away from the
gate. Am I dead? She
thought. Is that what this is?
Without
warning, everything went entirely black, all except for the skull's glowing eye
sockets and the white, rolling fog that covered most of the tombstones on the
ground. Soundlessly, the gate swung open, and Hermione stepped cautiously
inside. Cringing from the smell coming from the area, she clapped one hand to
her nose, trying not to inhale the dead, musty smell that hinted bones lay
there.
Her
feet began to move all by themselves. Gasping, she fought to gain control, and
failed.
What's
WRONG with me? She whispered as she backed-HARD-into a large black
headstone. Stooping to examine it, if Hermione didn't know any better, she
could've sworn it was made of Obsidian!
It
was very old, judging by the way the letters were faded. Reaching out with a
trembling finger, Hermione brushed aside age-old dust and could just make out a
mark identical to the one she had on her arm. Frowning, she peered at the
skull's evil-looking eye sockets, which glowed at her. Yelping in surprise, she
jumped back, just as a fine line of thin, emerald, luminescent dust seemed to
swirl around her, ruffling her breeze and strange white gown. Watching in awe,
Hermione stared as the sparkling dust seemed to carve into the stone, leaving
elegant gold letters.
Dairine
Alexandra Minciellan
"Here
lies
The
Daughter of Death
The
Keeper of Dark
And
the Speaker of Bones;
Here
lies
The
Eye of the Serpent
The
Fang of the Evil
The
Blood inside Stones;
That
she shall cometh
On
the 16th of the nine
The
Mouth of Black
And
the Hair of Shadow
That
she shall subtly rise again
Oh
sing, Dark Bleeding Rose."
As
Hermione stared intently at the hideous poem, pondering its meaning, a heavy
wind disturbed her thoughts. Staring at the shapes rising out of nowhere, she
braced herself, shivering. They were all skeletal, hideous, and transparent
ghostly figures.
But
that wasn't what made Hermione scream. What frightened Hermione was the fact
that they all were so....empty....their eye socket expressions, everything. They
were living skeletons in clothing. A strange, silvery wind stirred behind them,
causing Hermione to squint.
And
there, there was the most beautiful voice she'd ever heard. It was calling her
to it.....this was her home......
I'm
coming, she whispered, unable to stop herself. Be right there.
But
a second, stronger voice inside of her was forbidding her to.
Stay
back.
Why?
Stay
back.
I don't
want to.
You
must.
The
beckoning was sweeter and louder than ever. It wanted her to come; it beckoned
and coaxed.
Don't
leave. Stay back.
But WHY?
{{You
belong here. Come.}}
The song beckoned, seemingly more anxious.
Dammnit!
Don't do it! Listen to what's BEHIND the music. Hear what this song truly
is....
And
then, in her ears, Hermione heard the most eerie, chilling shriek. The calling.
And it wanted HER. She shivered and tried, in vain, to backstep. That's when the
calling revealed itself. She opened her mouth and screamed, but it was eerily
silent.
~!*!~
Ron 's
eyes snapped open. He'd been dosing off in a hospital wing chair. Had it all
been a dream? He'd been down in the school cellar, seeking out something......and
then......his eyes narrowed....he'd been attacked. Odd, even for a dream.
"I
must've dosed off..." he yawned, stretching. Then he looked curiously at
the door to Hermione's room. Carefully, glancing around to make sure no one was
around, he slid the door open and slipped inside. Startled, he saw Hermione was
awake, her eyes wide as she sat up in bed.
"Ron?"
she whispered. He was at her side in seconds, sitting on the edge of her bed
and holding her hand in both of his. "I......I have this really strange
feeling that.....that something bad will happen to us."
"Don't
think that." He touched her cheek gently. "Nothing will ever come
between us. Not ever. I love you, Hermione, and that's what matters." He
wiped the tears that were brimming in her eyes gently with his finger.
"And don't you EVER think otherwise," he added sternly, drawing a
little closer.
She
pulled away. "There's......there's something else, too," she added,
her eyes pleading. Nodding, he released her. "I......it's....it's this dream
I just had." She grinned slightly then. "I must sound really stupid,
talking to you about dreams."
"You
never sound stupid. You're Hermione Elizabeth Granger, daughter of Anne
Winstane and Thomas Granger. You may be unpredictable sometimes, and you even
surprise ME." He grinned. "But underneath that good, you're a hell of
a girl, and all the woman I could ever want." He slid his arms around her
once more, pulling her close so that he was looking into her cinnamon eyes.
"You're
so good to me," she whispered, tears filling those same eyes. "I
don't deserve you, and I never will. You don't know all of me, Ron." The
tears poured over. "I'm not as good a person as I seem."
He held
her close now, both hearts beating at an incredibly fast pace. "That
doesn't matter. *I* think you're a good person, and that's what counts. Listen
to me, Hermione," he pleaded as she shook her head, "Listen to me.
Stop crying, first of all. Second of all, you need to learn to see
reason."
"But
I DO know reason!" She protested.
"Not
the way everyone else knows it, obviously," he muttered dryly.
"Hermione....think about this. Think of US." His lips were nearly
upon hers now.
"Wha-?
What about us?" She murmured, dazed.
"Would
I have chosen you if I didn't think you were a good person?"
(A/N:
This is the final bit of R/H fluff until later chapters.)
Hermione
stared at him for a long time, then her eyes widened. Slowly, slowly, the usual
sparkle was restored as she smiled in realization. Ron pressed his lips gently upon
hers. Hermione relaxed in his arms, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of being
held protectively by someone who truly loved her. They broke apart, arms still
around each other. He raised his eyebrows at her, blue eyes twinkling.
"Not
enough?"
She looked
at him for a long time, then smiled mischievously. "It never has
been."
"Alright
then." He grinned. "Here it goes......." And he leaned her onto
the pillow, holding her, her arms around his neck as he kissed her fervently
and passionately. Hermione's heart was racing a mile a minute, and she felt
warm and comforted. They lay there for a long time, all talk about the dream
forgotten.
~!*!~
Alex
and Ginny
"I
have him now!" she laughed. "By nightfall, he should be mine! And
good thing, too...." She put her blond hair up into a quick ponytail.
"Time is running out." She glanced worriedly at the calendar on the
Gryffindor girls' right wall. "If I hadn't found him...." She shook
her head at the thought.
"Hey,
Alex," Ginny's voice floated sarcastically in from the doorway. Startled,
Alex spun to glare at the fifteen-year-old redhead who was leaning against the
doorframe, arms crossed. "Time is running out for WHAT? And WHO will be
yours?" She glared right back, brown eyes hard.
"None
of your business, Weasley!" Snapped Alex. "I haven't done
anything...." Yet, she added silently. "And I do believe that this is
the TEENAGE dorm, not the CHILD'S dorm."
Ginny
didn't look wounded in the slightest. "Really?" She replied airily.
"Fifteen-year-olds are to supposed be looked upon like first years?"
"In
America, they are."
"Liar."
Ginny's eyes narrowed to slits. "I know all about America. And luckily,
only about 10% of the population is crap like you!" She threw the words
with a vengeance.
THAT
got Alex's attention. She whirled around, eyes flashing. "You've never
lived there. And you don't know me. So I'd watch it if I were you."
"I'm
bloody glad I'm NOT you," snapped Ginny. "And what have you got
against Hermione? What did she ever do to you?"
"Get
out."
"Make
me." Ginny shrugged. "I've got all day, if you want, Miss America. I
sympathize will all those poor people from your country. You've really screwed
up their reputation, you know."
"Have
I? How do YOU know? YOU'RE just a little British girl who doesn't give a damn
about me anyway. So just shove off!" Alex was starting to feel angry now.
Who the hell did this girl think she was?
"No."
Ginny strode over to where Alex was, maintaining eye contact. Without Alex
wearing her platforms, Ginny was the same height she was. "I want to know
what you're doing to my brother."
"What
business of it is yours?"
"He's
my brother. And I mean to watch out for him, like he did for me when I was a
kid."
"Well,
isn't that touching," Alex sneered. "Because I have other plans. And
I'd like to see you and your boyfriend stop me." There, she thought with
satisfaction. That got her.
Ginny
was blushing scarlet. "I don't know what you're talking about, but your
insults are pathetic." She replied. "Any why'd you transfer here
anyway? What'd you do......try to seduce the headmaster?"
(A/N:
Ooooooooh!)
Alex's
mouth opened, then closed, then opened again, mouthing wordlessly like a fish
out of water. Her face was turning an interesting shade of purple.
"Get
the HELL out of my dormitory, Weasley!" She whispered hotly. "And
don't you DARE come back again!"
But
Ginny wasn't quite ready to leave. She leaned in closer, her eyes literally
flaming at the center. "Fine. But I swear, Alex McCarthy," she hissed
loudly and clearly, looking like a stormcloud. "I swear, if you try to
seduce my brother, I will KILL you. Is that clear?"
"Whatever."
Alex sneered, trying to sound unconcerned, but the fear in her eyes gave her
away. "Now get out. I have enough things to do without people like YOU
interfering."
Ginny
stood there for a moment, glaring at her. Then, she turned around and stormed
out, slamming the door in her wake. Alex turned back to her mirror, admiring
herself.
"Fine.
Try to kill me. But keep this in mind......By the time I'm done, no one will be
able to kill me for the next 200 years!" She laughed.
(A/N:
Uh-oh...is Alex more than she seems?)
~!*!~
Ron
trudged up the stairs to his dormitory, his hair looking slightly tousled as he
opened the door. Grinning, he saw it was empty, except for Harry, who had
fallen asleep over his Potions homework again. Looking around, he spotted a
bottle of butterbeer in the corner. Laughing to himself, he walked over to his
sleeping friend, uncorked the bottle, and-
"Put
that down!" Yelled Harry, sitting up with a start and turning to look at
Ron.
Ron
scowled and lowered the bottle. "Damn. That was going to be good."
"Nah."
Harry grinned. "You wouldn't stand a chance afterward, anyway."
"Yeah?"
Ron made a face at his best friend and seized a pillow, whapping him on the
head.
"Not
fair! Foul!" Harry howled, then grabbed a pillow himself, turning to face
Ron.
"You
suck!" Laughed Ron as he ducked just in time to avoid a hard collision.
"You can't even hit me!"
"Mmph!"
grunted Harry as he swung. "That's because I'm
not...TRYING.....OOMPH!" Ron got him in the stomach.
"Whatever,
Potter." He grinned. "I'll keep that in mind when-"
"Having
fun, boys?" They stopped abruptly, and Harry took the time to conk Ron on
the head. Alex was watching them from the doorway.
"We
WERE." Answered Harry. "And what do YOU want?"
Her
eyes slid over to Ron. "Oh, I was kind of wanting to ask Ron a question.
You know....about our Potions homework."
"I'll
bet," muttered Harry sarcastically. Alex didn't seem to hear.
"Alright,
I'll be there in a minute," Ron sighed. "Go on, catch you up
later." Alex nodded and disappeared, while Ron helped Harry to restore the
room to its original order. "Be right back."
"Right."
He
watched Ron disappear through the doorway, and fought the urge to run after him
and yank him back, chaining him to a pole, telling him what a prat he was.
Didn't he see Alex was a scandal? And a BAD one, at that?
~!*!~
Ron
followed Alex, frowning. He was positive she didn't want to talk about
Potions....so what DID she want? Was Ginny right? He stopped short when he saw
where Alex was headed.
"No."
He said flatly, crossing his arms. "I'm not going in there."
"Yes,
you are. You have to. Please? I REALLY need help with my Potions
homework." She looked at him, her eyes pleading. But Ron wasn't looking at
her eyes. He was looking at the door behind her.....the very door that he
dreamed of....or so he thought.
"Potions
homework, my ass," he replied, giving her a look. "What DO you want?
I've known all along it had nothing to do with homework. No one in their right
minds would come down here to do that."
"What
do I want?" She repeated. Her smile faltered. Ron was being difficult
now......"I want help with my Potions homework."
"That's
bull."
"Well,
good," she replied. This time, her voice was no longer friendly. It was
cold and hard. "You've figured it out."
"Figured
WHAT out? That you're trying to get me too fall in love with you?" He took
a wild shot, but he was sure it was true now.
"You're
already under my control, you know. That was the point of last night."
"What??
What the HELL- Oh....that WASN'T a dream. That was YOU!"
"Very
good." She moved closer, looking menacing. "Not all boys are stupid,
after all."
"Watch
it."
"No.
YOU watch it. From midnight on.....(it was 11:59)...you are completely under my
control. I can make you do anything I want. You're smart, but you weren't smart
enough to escape me."
"I
wouldn't count on that." He turned and was about to sprint full speed when
the chamber door suddenly bolted, all by itself. He turned to see Alex
smirking.
"Come
here, love," she cooed. "Let's get to know each other better."
He
seized a torch, but it blew out. "No." He pulled out his wand
menacingly, but a strange wind wrestled it from his grip.
She
took his wand. "Yes."
He
lashed out, teeth gritted. "No."
She
jumped on him, a dagger pressed to his throat. "Yes," she hissed.
Ten
seconds...
...nine...eight....seven...six...five...four...three...two...one....
....Silence.
A/N: I'm
TRYING to write! Hermione will be a bit tougher as the chapters go by…don't worry,
she won't be THAT hard………but she WILL be bitter and harder to cross.