Storybook Crisis
By: Gemin16
Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter or characters and themes. Everything else belongs to me. Thank you.
Chapter 7: A Journey for Hope
AN: I apologize for taking so long but I was moving and its hard to keep up with your computer and the first draft of this chapter some how got deleted so I apologize a million times and hopefully the next chapter will get out a lot quicker than this one.
A quick thanks to all who reviewed and for an answer to Pierrot's review, I didn't really realize it till I started writing and read your review. I got the idea cause Hermione's always sticking her head inside of books.
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"What's wrong with him?" Hermione asked as she stood next to Harry's bed. He was lying there unconscious, his was brow covered with sweat and his face expression painful. Hermione and the others were standing inside St. Mungo's with the head healer, Madam Pomfrey, looking over Harry.
"He's been infected by poison," Madam Pomfrey said checking up on him. "I found this in the examination." She held up a long thin black feather. "It's infecting his body and mind as we speak."
Ron, who was standing next to Hermione, cursed under his breath. "He was hit by a dart bird, should've shot them away." His fist started to ball up.
"It wasn't your fault, Ron," Remus said, who looked like a nervous wreck. "By your story, there were to many for you to handle with magic or your bow."
"What will happen to Harry?"
Sirius sat next to Harry's side and looked up at Hermione with a look of worry. "If we don't find the antidote, then he'll die within the week."
"What's the antidote?"
"It's found within the front wing feather of a dart bird," Madam Pomfrey told her.
Hermione looked at Lupin, Sirius, and then Ron, all carried a grim look at the mention of the antidote. "Isn't there any within this hospital?"
Ron shook his head, a dead serious look on his face. "It isn't as easy as it seems, Hermione. The antivenin can only be found within the same bird that shot its victim. Each venom is different for each bird, meaning each antidote is different." Hermione's heart sank. Only one bird out of all those that attacked them. Tears came to her eyes. Was she going to loose one of the only best friends that she had?
Ron saw the tears and turned away. Harry was his best friend too and there was no way in hell that he was going to loose him. "Let me see that feather, Madam Pomfrey." He took the feather from her and looked it over. It would be impossible for them to find it in time. There had to be a way to save him!
"I'll be right back," Madam Pomfrey said turning away and leaving the room. "Come and get me right away if his condition changes."
"Right," Sirius said as he bent his head down. "You can't die on us Harry, we need you."
The situation looked real bad for them. Everyone stood silent with Hermione's occasional sniffs filled up the room with sound.
A knock came at the door and a healer's head came through. "Madam Pomfrey wishes to speak with you both," she said gesturing to Remus and Sirius. They both stood up and left leaving Ron and Hermione alone.
"Ron is there any way we can find the bird?" Hermione asked him; an almost pleading sound came from her voice.
He shook his head biting his lip. "It's not possible to find it within the time limit we have. The Forbidden Forest is just too large for us to even stand a chance. Not even a magic spell could work because of the mist pockets." Ron sighed as he looked at Harry. It just wasn't fair, there had to be a way for them to save him. A knocking at the window disturbed Ron's line of concentration. It was Kitrina in her fox form. She gave Hermione and Ron a questioning look.
"The coast is clear so I'll let her in," Hermione said carefully sliding the window open and let the small animal jump in. Kitrina transformed herself into her human form and went to Harry's bed.
"How is he?" she asked with a concerned voice.
"Not very good," Hermione said. "The poison from the Dart Bird feather is infecting him."
Kitrina shook her head. "That's not good and the antidote is hard to find." She crossed her arms. "There has to be some way to help Harry!" she said loudly as her fox ears and tail stuck out again. After a second she sighed in frustration and slumped to the floor, her ears falling back and forth, eyes starting to water. A tear slid down her cheek and landed on her hand. After a few more fell, her eyes opened wide and she smiled.
"What are you smiling at?" Ron asked. How could she smile at a time like this?
Then she clapped her hands in excitement starling Ron and Hermione. "I bet my fur that-"
All of a sudden the door opened again, surprising all three of them. Ron went straight for Kitrina and shoved her behind him with Hermione standing right beside of him to cover her up. Sirius and Remus walked in and looked at the two. Ron could feel Kitrina changing to her fox form and dangling from his hands. He gave them a weak look.
"Is something wrong?" Remus asked.
"N-no," Hermione said. Ron nodded his head slowly. Remus and Sirius looked liked they bought it.
"You two should head on home," Sirius said. "It will be late soon."
Hermione nodded. "Ri-"
"OUCH!" Ron yelled as he swung his hands from behind his back and looked at his hand. Hermione looked behind her as Kitrina hit the floor and breathed heavily.
"What happened?" Sirius asked.
"That stupid little thing bit me!" Ron said angrily not realizing what he said. Hermione looked and saw bite marks on Ron's hand from Kitrina's sharp teeth.
"What thing?" Remus asked Ron, clearly confused.
"It's your fault, you know! You were suffocating me!" Kitrina poked her way through Ron and Hermione, after she changed forms, to get a good look at them.
"Yeah but you didn't have to bite me!"
"It's not like I had a choice. I can't talk while I'm in that state." Kitrina crossed her arms with a growl and looked forward only to see a very confused Sirius and Lupin. Once she realized what happened she gave a yelp and her fox ears and tail popped out.
"What is that thing?" Sirius asked. Kitrina just stood still with fright. Hermione didn't exactly know what to say either. The cat's out of the bag now, she thought to herself.
"She's just a friend of ours," Ron said.
"What kind of friend has ears and a tail?" Sirius questioned him. Ron pondered for a second.
"Umm a strange friend."
Kitrina shot him a dirty look. "Who are you calling strange, Arrow-boy?" Ron quickly shot her a "shut-up or we're in deep trouble" look. Unfortunately for the trio, Sirius and Remus didn't seem to buy it.
"Ron, Hermione, please explain," Remus asked them. Ron and Hermione looked at each other.
"I guess they deserve to know," Hermione said. "It'll at least explain why Harry's in his state." Ron nodded and looked at the two adults. He then looked at Kitrina, who nodded.
"What we're about to tell you, you have to promise to keep it between us."
"So you're telling me that this item was made by Merlin?" Remus said holding up Ron's pendant from earlier. It took a while but Ron and Hermione told the entire story to the both of them with Kitrina adding in a few details.
"You-Know-Who already has one of the items," Ron told him.
"And the others are out there somewhere," Sirius said. He looked at Harry and crossed his arms. "Then it was probably no accident that you were attacked by that flock. Someone must have disturbed them and made sure you were in the path during the attack. With Voldemort on you're tail, things are a lot more dangerous. I'm glad you told us."
Hermione smiled to herself. It felt better with an adult knowing about it. Sirius continued. "Now that we know this, we still have to find a way to save Harry."
"Actually," Kitrina said, "I think we have a way." All four of them looked at her. Hermione looked at Kitrina with her staring back.
"How?" Hermione asked.
Kitrina smiled as she held herself proudly. "Even though I haven't regained full memory of what Master did with the items, I do have a clue as to what they are. Each item has a special ability or power that makes it special."
"And what are you getting at?" Sirius questioned.
Kitrina beamed but looked at Ron. "There's a settlement full of fairies and pixies in the forest, right?"
Ron nodded. "Rumor has it that they live towards a grove of trees by the where the river runs east. Never traveled in that area before though so I can't guarantee anything."
"Kitrina, please tell us you have an idea?" Remus said.
She looked at Remus with a thoughtful expression. "Remember how I said the pixies have an item to guard along with the fairies? Well, I think that they just might have the item we need right now. What Ron said may only be a hunch but I think that I can find that settlement."
"And what item would that be?"
"It's a special gourd that when filed with water, will turn the liquid into an instant cure to all diseases, ailments, poisons, and can even retrieve those on the verge of death. I'm almost sure that the pixies and fairies are guarding it."
The overall feeling in the room changed suddenly, everyone gaining a new sense of hope, well except for Kitrina.. Hermione had tears poring from her face as she hugged Kitrina. "Kitrina that's wonderful. Then that means we can save Harry for sure!"
"I'll definitely leave tomorrow morning to go find it," Ron said smiling. "Kitrina you're going to come, right? You're the only one who can find it if I can't." Kitrina nodded through what little space Hermione's arms were giving her. She was being squeezed so hard she was finding it difficult to produce any words.
"I'm going too," Hermione said letting go of Kitrina, who slumped to the floor. Ron looked at her.
"It's better if I go alone with Kitrina."
Hermione shook her head. "I'm coming whether you like it or not. What happens if something happens to you out there? You'll be to absorbed in looking for that item to watch you're own back. Don't forget that I was also asked to help on this journey to gather them too."
"Hermione, I'm telling you, I can take care of myself. I'll be fine besides don't they just want one person to do the task?"
Hermione went up to him and poked him in his chest. "I'm coming whether you like it or not, so you don't really have a choice in it!" Ron looked at her with amazement. She had never been that pushy before.
Kitrina smiled to herself. I wonder... She held up her hands in defense. "Maybe it would be for the better if she did come, Ron." Hermione looked at Kitrina and smiled. Ron crossed his arms and looked the other way. Kitrina nodded. "Then it's settled, tomorrow we leave in the morning to find the item." She stretched her arms. "Master knows I need my sleep so I'll be leaving now." She changed into her fox form and trotted out through the door.
"She very lighthearted," Remus stated watching her.
"A weird one that thing is," Sirius said. "Are you sure you can trust her?"
"She's our one good hope," Hermione said. "She's trust worthy and just as determined to find those items and to save Harry as we are."
"She's right," Ron said. "Listen, we'll find that gourd and Harry's going to be all right."
***
It had been a while since Kalvin had heard anything from his employer, Nott. Not that it bothered him. When Nott needed him, he would contact him.
Sitting underneath an oak tree at the central part of the park, situated in the middle of Hogsmeade, Kalvin sighed as he watched people go by. Besides his duty as a mercenary, he really had no other job. His parents had left him a considerable inheritance after their passing and his earnings in his jobs help keep him and Lady content. On days like this where he had nothing, Kalvin enjoyed sitting around and reading, another passion of his. He would have never admitted it but he did enjoy reading about history and learning new things. Although he didn't think it was right to show it. He didn't feel the need to have friends nor wanted any. They would just get in his way. The only friends he had were those in the books that he read as a young boy and he was satisfied with just that. No one had ever really taken the time to get to know the Kalvin as a boy and he always felt the need to be withdrawn from society. Why should he bother? Mercenaries couldn't afford to have friends. Besides who would care about him?
It was at this very moment that Kitrina was trotting through the trees in the park. She liked taking walks in her fox form and did it whenever time granted her permission. She was bouncing along the side of the path when she noticed a lone figure sitting underneath a tree. Now being the bouncy, cheerful, little person she was inside, she let her curiosity get the best of her and decided to investigate. It was a beautiful evening for watching the sunset and maybe this person deserved someone to watch it with. Climbing up the nearest tree, she carefully hopped from branch to branch until she was directly over the young man.
He's kind of cute, Kitrina thought to herself with a smile. She jumped down from the top and landed with a soft thump on the ground. She slowly advanced toward the young man and wigged her ears forward, to get his attention. She noticed him glance toward her but he went back to his book after a second. Slightly annoyed at the fact that the guy wasn't looking at her, Kitrina advanced more and went to go sit herself right next to him.
Kalvin had to admit that he was surprised to see the brown fox show up next to him although he didn't show it. He figured that it was she and watched from the corner of his eye as the little vixen settled herself next to him. She had shiny brown fur that traveled smoothly down her back and to the tip of her tale and she was looking at Kalvin with the most warm black eyes that he'd had ever seen. Her ears wiggled back and forth as she looked from him to the book that he was reading and her eyes were following the lines as if she was actually reading them. Kalvin felt a smile tugging at his lips but he didn't let it pass as he went back to his reading.
The pair sat there reading until Kitrina finally got tired of leaning over and just decided to settle herself into Kalvin's lap. Seeing that he didn't seem to mind or care she leaned her head onto his arm and closed her eyes. A nice warm lap to sleep on was a nice idea; she would need all the rest she could get for her journey tomorrow. She thought the guy seemed nice enough and trusted him to be the perfect spot for a nap zone.
Kalvin watched as Kitrina fell asleep and wondered why she was there in his lap. He really didn't mind having her there, she was nice company and he'd never had any like that before. As he read, he gently rubbed one of Kitrina's ears enjoying every minute of her company.
It was almost daybreak when Kalvin decided it was time for him to head on home. He softly lifted Kitrina's body of his lap and settled her next to him. He smiled as she opened up her eyes lazily and yawned. "Thank you for your company," he said as he gave her an affectionate rub on her head. "It's almost dark so I suggest that you head on to where you belong. Any creature as docile as you even has a home and someone who obviously cares for you." At the mention of that, Kitrina noted that his eyes went cold. "I'll see you around little one." Kitrina watched as Kalvin walked away leaving her there.
He seems really lonely, she thought sadly. Then she thought at what he said about someone caring about her. Hermione, yes, Harry, yes, Ron….. Kitrina snorted as she climbed up the tree………we'll I'm sure if it wasn't for the fact that I know how to get the items, he'd use me for target practice.
***
"Do you have any idea where you're going, fox? I thought I was leading this mission?"
"Ron."
"I'm serious, Hermione.
"I thought you said that you've never traveled in this area?"
"Well neither has she!"
"But she can sense where the items are, just let her lead the way."
Ron growled inwardly as he heard a snickering sound from Kitrina, who was in her fox form. It was a cold morning as they walked through the forbidden forest, Hermione armed with her wand and whit, Ron with his bow and quiver (and his wand), and Kitrina with her teeth and wand (which was hidden somewhere) With the good lucks from Sirius and Remus and the fate of Harry resting on their shoulders, the trio had made their way through the forest mostly in silence, each thinking their own thoughts.
After traveling for almost two hours, Kitrina finally reached a tree that was bent so that the top hit the ground with all of its branches, making a half-circle with its trunk. She scratched and sniffed it, finally disappearing underneath the small space made by the tree's body.
"Kitrina?" Hermione said quietly, looking over at Ron, who just shrugged. A sudden yelp came from the tree causing both teenagers to jump in surprise. A second later they were at the entrance, which was no more than a foot high.
"Kitrina?" Ron said, worry etched on his face. "Think we should go in there?" he asked Hermione in a whisper.
She nodded, though hesitant. "She might be in trouble."
Ron bit his bottom lip. "Let me go first, just in case something did happen. If you hear me shout 'run' get your butt out of here. Okay?"
Hermione nodded, worried about what he was going to do. "Be careful," she said.
He winked at her. "I'll be fine." Taking his quiver off, Ron laid on the ground and slowly crawled inside putting his weapon in front of him A few seconds later, his whole body was gone inside the trunk. A few seconds later she heard a faint sound that sounded like a yell, but she couldn't make it out.
"Ron?" she said worriedly. "Ron?" She heard nothing else. Ignoring what Ron had told her, she crawled into the space and looked inside. It was so dark that she couldn't see her own hand in front of her face. After crawling in all the way she went further into the endless cave. Her heartbeat went faster as she continued wondering what happened until she felt a sudden crumble beneath her and then the front half of Hermione's body fell downwards with the rest of her following. Closing her eyes tight, Hermione screamed as she fell down into the abyss.
What was only a few seconds but felt like an eternity, Hermione landed on something hard but yet soft enough to break the impact of her fall. Feeling her hands grabbed at a soft fabric, Hermione opened her eyes slowly, realizing that she wasn't dead. She in fact realized that she was in a vague place full of soft giggling noises and that she had landed in a soft, thick bed of clover. But, she thought to herself, if she was in a clover patch, what was the hard thing she was laying on?
"Oi, Hermione, do you mind getting off?"
Hermione's eyes opened fully as she looked down to see Ron's face underneath hers. It only took her a second to grasp the fact hat she was lying on top of Ron's chest and that the distance between their faces was less than an inch apart. The giggling noise increased as Hermione, who was a deadly shade of red embarrassment, quickly got off of Ron and sat there in the clover patch. Ron slowly sat up, cracking his back and neck, and rubbing his head as he looked around. "Where are we anyways," he asked Hermione.
"I'm not sure."
All of a sudden the giggling increase rapidly. Pushing Hermione behind him, Ron quickly grabbed his wand from his quiver and pointed at the direction of the light. It was a dim, but they could tell they were in some sort of cave, the glowing reflecting off the walls. "Whose there?" he demanded. The giggling didn't stop.
Just then Kitrina's human head popped out from nowhere, nearly giving Ron a heart attack. "They can't speak human words, Ron," she said fixing her lopsided ponytail.
"Whose they?" Ron asked.
"The fairies and pixies," Hermione said, watching as one of them came fluttering down form the walls. It was four inches in height and had long blond hair let loose. It's wings sprouted in a magnificent green aurora as it crossed its arms. Hermione stared in awe as the fairy flew up and looked at her and Ron in the face. Another creature flew down and stood on Kitrina's head, it was a loud shade of blue and was squealing to Kitrina, who nodded her head.
The fairy (who looked like a female) spun around and talked to Kitrina in another set of high-pitched tones. After one extremely loud pitch, every other pixie and fairy began to giggle with delight (or what seemed like it). Kitrina had to bite her lip to stifle a giggle.
"What's so funny?" Ron asked.
"The leader of the fairies, Levira, says that the spot of dirt on your nose makes you look like a weasel." Hermione turned and saw the smudge of dirt and started to laugh, he did look funny. Wiping the dirt from his nose, Ron shot her and Kitrina a dirty look.
"Do they have the item? Yes or no?"" he demanded.
Kitrina smiled. "Oh they have it all right," she said. "It's beyond this cave and lying at the top of a tree. But it's a hard task."
"What's so hard about that?" Hermione asked. She heard the pixie on top of Kitrina say something in its high-pitched language. Kitrina nodded and looked at Hermione and Ron severely. The giggling had stopped all together.
"Pixies are tricksters and fairies are the guardians of these parts. The journey to that tree is dangerous and it'll the take the both of you get that guard. Levira and Anim tell me that you have their permission to leave the cave and pursue the item. They believe that the both of you can make it although your chances are rough. The way there is full of dangers. Who knows what's stopping you. They won't tell me."
Hermione gulped but tightened her grip on her wand. They had to do this to save Harry and to save this world from Voldemort. She looked at Ron, who looked serious. He nodded at her and then turned to Kitrina. "Show us the way out so we can get that gourd to Harry."
Kitrina smiled, but it was light. "Come this way." As they walked further into the cave, it became lighter with the illumination of the sun's rays and from the color of the fairies and pixies. Each one looked at the two humans. A few let a giggles, others shrieks and cries, and a few even flew around them making motions with their bodies. Hermione wondered what they were doing.
Kitrina noticed what Hermione was looking at. "They're wishing you luck," she said.
"Really?"
"Well actually a majority of them are. Some are saying it'll take just five minutes and you'll be dragon's bait. Don't worry. You two have good heads on your shoulders. You'll make it back." They reached the end of the cave, which revealed a beautiful forest of trees, with flowers all over the place. Kitrina nodded and looked at Ron and Hermione. "This is where we depart. I'll be waiting for you when you're done. Good luck."
Hermione and Ron stepped out into the forest and looked at each other. "Wed best get going if we want to make it back in time to save Harry," Ron said as he started walking. Hermione followed him, wondering what dangers could lie in a forest this beautiful.
She sighed to herself as they walked, deciding to take a look at Ron, who was slightly ahead of her with his bow held loosely in his hands. He was a good head taller than her and had a lean and well built body, which showed in his arms. His flaming hair brightened in the sunlight and his blue eyes looked focused as they walked. He looked remarkably dashing and handsome with his bow and arrows shouldered like he did. Hermione shook her head and turned a light pink color. Did she just say that Ron was handsome? She looked at him again and then quickly looked away. Yes, she did and he was.
She thought about all the times they spent together. He showed her a lot of things and had even protected her at times. Hermione turned redder when she thought about the time that Ron had shielded her from the smoke at Gringotts and-
"What's wrong with you?" Ron asked interrupting her thoughts. He had noticed her turning red all of a sudden.
"N-nothing," she said. She had never felt this feeling with the opposite sex before.
Ron shrugged, thinking that she was just hot from the sun's rays. He looked around noticing that the tree foliage was getting thicker. He popped his hand out in front of Hermione. "What is it?" she asked.
"Something doesn't feel right. Like that feeling you get when something's about to happen." He stepped out further underneath a dark shadow of a tree. He walked further out with Hermione following him. That's when she noticed that the tree's shadow was very different from the tree.
"Ron," she said suddenly.
"What?" He stepped out more into the shadows. "Is something the ma-" he never got to finish his sentence. Stepping on the edge of a crevice he slipped and fell into the abnormal shadow that Hermione had noticed.
"Ron!" Hermione ran over to it and looked down. It was very dark as to the tree's shadows hid the light of the sun. "Ron! Answer me!"
"I'm caught in some sort of jumble of vines! It's trying to strangle me!"
"What kind of plant is it?"
"I can't see! It's too damn dark!"
Hermione bit her lip and pulled out her wand. "Oh my, Lumos!" Her wand lit up to show Ron wrapped around in a thick plant made out of vines. Hermione recognized the plant. "Ron! Don't thrash so much, it's Devil's Snare."
"Well I'm finding it hard to when the things chocking me to death! Get me out of here!"
Hermione muttered to herself. "What was it that I heard form McGonagall? "Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare, bunches of fun, hides where-oooo what was it?!"
"Hermione!" Ron called the plant trying to ring his neck.
"There's no sun! I need fire, but I can't just burn down a tree that'll set the whole forest on fire."
"You're a witch!"
Hermione's blinked. "That's right," she told herself. She pointed her wand at the plant far away from where Ron was. "Pyrois." A blue flame came form her wand and hit the plant. Ron felt the vines fall from him and let him go down easily, along with his weapons. As the plant shriveled from the heart, Hermione found a vine and lowered it down using a spell to bring Ron back up. Once he was safely above ground he looked at Hermione.
"Aren't you glad that I've come know?" she asked with a smile.
Ron narrowed his eyes and mumbled something about taking to long. Hermione rolled her eyes, just glad that he was okay. He continued walking this time paying attention where he stepped. "Thanks."
"Your welcome." They continued watching as shadow thinned out revealing a trail running down a barricade of tall bushes blocking trees.
"Why does this look extremely suspicious?" Ron asked standing in front looking at the path.
"That's because we know what might happen to us," Hermione said. She watched as a sudden mist came about. "Oh no."
"Damn mist," Ron muttered as it grew thicker.
"Can we wait it out?" Hermione asked.
"No, a pocket can last for hours or even days. And time is not on our side." His grip tightened around his bow. "The sooner we head out the better." He stepped out slowly, looking for anything that might be hiding in the trees or the bushes. Nothing happened. "Stay close to me," Ron said quietly to Hermione, who nodded.
Quietly they strolled through the path, aware of all that happened. Besides their silent steps, nothing else stirred or moved. No wind was present to blow the trees or any birds to sing a song. It was like the mist brought about death, making everything silent and motionless. Hermione didn't like the feeling the mist gave off. It felt cold and empty as her and Ron traveled.
Suddenly a loud thump and a jangle came from out of nowhere. Ron quickly took an arrow from his quiver and his bow went up searching for movement. "What was that?" Hermione asked quietly.
"Don't know, sounded like an animal of some sort, the thump anyways. I have no clue what the jangle is."
A sudden rush came at them. A large bird, black in plumage came flying at them it's tail feathers pointed directly at them. Ron wasted no time and shot his arrow, striking it down. Looking at the ground, Ron saw it. "A dart bird," he mumbled angrily. Looking around he drew another arrow.
"If there were any more than they would have come out by now," Hermione said to herself. "Stupid mist. It's going to get us killed."
Ron looked around, using all the skills he was taught to listen for anything else. He heard nothing. "It must of been trapped here for a trap."
"Pixies and fairies don't contain strong magic," Hermione said out loud. "So from what I've seen, they use animals and plants for traps."
"So what will pop out next?" Ron asked as they continued their walk. A long branch layed out in the path, it was long and tick and belong to what looked like a willow tree. Ron kicked a rock towards it, sticking the branch. It moved and slithered away from the path. "A Whomping Willow, " he said, watching as the branch moved to another spot. "Be careful, Hermione, those things don't like being hit."
"Ron!" He spun around only to see the large branch come flying towards them. In an instant he grabbed Hermione and threw themselves on the ground missing the willow branch by only centimeters. He kept them low as the branch swung around. He looked at Hermione who was watching the branch swing around. The mist was still heavily set in. "Damn," he muttered.
"We have to distract it," Hermione said thinking of a plan. She looked at Ron. "We have to distract it somehow so we can get out of here. Can you shoot from this low of a level?"
Ron caught on to what she was saying. He winked at her. "Give me a bow and arrow and I can hit anything," he said taking hold of his bow. Picking up an arrow from the ground he slid it into place. "One distraction, coming up." He quickly kneeled to one knee and shot the arrow up into the air. He and Hermione watched as it went strait up and fell falling into the top of the Whomping Willow.
Quivering with rage form being hit again, the willow swung its branches even further up hoping to find whoever had hit it. Seeing their chance, Ron and Hermione dashed forward away from the tree. A branch swung towards them but Ron quickly shot an arrow at it making it go the other way. Not caring about anything else popping out at them, they ran straight across the path. Getting as far away as they could. Once they reached the end, they stopped catching their breath. Out on the middle of the path the Whomping Willow stood there thrashing about.
"Looks like we made it," Hermione said, smiling.
"Come on lets go, I don't want to stay here long if this forest is full of willows," Ron said as he and Hermione turned to go the rest of the way. Little did they realize that the Whomping Willow set off a chain reaction, causing more along the path to move about in anger of being hit by their brother. O.O
"I have the feeling that we're not home yet," Ron said. "The fox said that the gourd is in a tree right? Well what kind of tree would it be in? This whole forest is covered in trees! She couldn't she have been more specific?" He made a fist and grunted.
Hermione sighed as she dusted off her cloak. "Getting angry at Kitrina isn't going to get us there any faster. We're following a path right?" She asked Ron.
He nodded not seeing where she was going. "Yeah. So?"
"Then it's logical that it would lie at the end of the path."
Ron turned his head away in not wanting to admit that she was right. They continued walking paying attention to what they saw. The mist never gave up. It was after thirty minutes of walking down the same path that they came to a fork in the path. Ahead of them it was dense from the mist except for the forms of three large trees standing in the middle of a field, each on it's own little island in the middle of a lake.
"So far so good," Ron said scratching the back of his head.
"A phulk," Hermione said.
Ron looked at her. "A wha-?"
"It's a phulk that we made it this far," she said looking ahead.
"How?"
"Even though they contain weak magic, the fairies and pixies could of set traps everywhere using what magical strength they had. But when a mist pocket appears, all magical spells and incantations are cancelled out and therefore won't work. That's the only reason we've made it this far without that much trouble." She looked up at Ron. "I bet that one of those trees contains the gourd but which one?"
"I say we just go to each tree and check but something tells me I'd be wrong to do that. It would be way to easy."
Hermione nodded. "Right, the trees look exactly the same but I bet that two of them are something dangerous like that Whomping Willow back there. In fact I bet that two of them are Whomping Willows in disguise, but we wouldn't know unless we were to go directly to them and check but look." She pointed to the two ropes connected to a branch on each tree. "Those ropes hold the bridge together. So if we were to enter on the wrong one the ropes would be pulled breaking the bridge between here and the island, leaving us without the use of magic to the wrath of the willow. Unless- Ron throw a rock into the river."
Ron did as he was told and they watched as a large fin swim to the top and quickly disappeared. Hermione paled and looked at Ron, who tossed another in this time with a piece of bread from his pocket attached. Less than a second later, a swarm of large fishes came and attacked it making Hermione's face even paler.
"Pike," Ron said. "Yeesh, those creatures are smarter than I thought. Looks like we have to make our choice a good one and I think I know what we can do." He drew out his bow and arrow and moved to the edge of the riverbed.
Hermione watched. The trees were more than fare distance away from them. "Can you hit it from this distance?" she asked him.
Ron shrugged. "I haven't missed yet." He pulled his arrow back and shot at the tree farthest to the left. It hit the trunk straight on causing its branches to lash out in pain breaking the bond with the bridge and letting it fall the water. The pike began attacking it jumping in and out of the water.
"Well that leaves that one out." He took out another arrow and shot the middle tree. The exact same thing happened leaving the one farthest to the left untouched. Taking out another arrow Ron took aim.
"What are you doing?" Hermione asked.
"I'm not taking any chances," Ron said. "For all we know they could all be Whomping Willows." He let his shaft fly and it hit the tree dead center on the trunk. After a couple of second nothing happened and the two realized that the last tree was the right one. Ron sighed with a smile and looked at Hermione. "Well shall we?"
Hermione stepped on the wood bridge slowly praying that it was stable. It was. "Lets go, I don't want to stay here any longer than I have to." Together they walked across finally reaching the end of their challenge. Ron looked around. "Where is it?"
Hermione pointed up. "It must be there among the foliage. Give me a lift so I can look." Ron cupped his hands as Hermione placed a foot on top and was lifted to the top branch. Grabbing hold of the bottom branch she pulled herself up and climbed so that she was standing between the branches. Hermione looked around, searching for any sign of the precious gourd that contained the only chance of saving their friend.
After searching through leaves and branches Hermione finally saw what she was looking for. Among one of the top most branches, layed a peach colored gourd lying inside a nest. Hermione smiled with tears in her eyes. "Ron! I've found it!"
A triumphant cry came from the ground as Ron shouted back to her. "Hurry up and get it!"
Hermione nodded to herself and climbed slowly to the top finally reaching the nest where the item laid. She took hold of it, tears of joy pouring from her face. She was about to ascend down when a noise came from the nest. Hermione turned her head only to see a black bird head pop itself from the tree and snapped at her quickly. It was another Dark bird! Clutching the gourd close to her, Hermione let loose her grip trying to get away and felt herself falling. She let out a loud scream.
Ron saw and heard her. "Hermione!"
Hermione could feel the branches and leaves poke and hit her as she fell. She was waiting for the hard ground to meet her yet again when she felt two arms catch her from her fall. Hermione opened her eyes and looked up meeting Ron's two blue eyes in a deep stare.
Ron steadied himself as he adjusted the weight in his arms. He stared back at Hermione, who was looking up at him with a wide-eyed expression. "Are you okay?" he asked, concerned.
It took Hermione a second to answer. "I t-think so," she answered. She could feel the warmth of his clothes from him holding her so close and she also noticed that she wasn't that far away from his face either.
In another tree not so far away Kitrina sat in her minute human form so that she was the same size as the pixie and fairy leaders, Anim and Levira. She was rubbing her ankle from tripping over a rock on a different path as she watched the seen before them. Levira let out a small squeak. Kitrina nodded. "I agree, those two make quite the pair."
Anim made another pitch. Kitrina nodded again and cupped her hands together.
"COME ON AND A KISS ALREADY!"
Still under the tree, Ron and Hermione were to in dept with their thoughts to hear the small cry from the tree. Knowing that the situation wouldn't go any further, Kitrina jump down from the tree and grew larger. "I can't believe their wasting a perfect time like this," she said to herself. She walked away form the keepers of the forest and walked to the edge of the lake, still covered by the mist.
Hermione and Ron didn't know how long they stood in their position but it wasn't till they heard a cry of joy that they snapped out of their thoughts. Seeing that their bouncy companion was running towards them, a blushing Ron quickly put Hermione, who was in the same state, down not wanting to hear the small creature's comments.
"YOU DID IT!" Kitrina yelled as she jumped into Hermione's arms and gave her a hug. Hermione returned the embrace, showing the gourd afterwards. Kitrina examined it. " That's the gourd master created! Harry's gonna live to see the hookup of the century!"
Ron and Hermione looked at Kitrina. "The what?" Hermione asked.
Kitrina laughed sheepishly. "Oh nothing. Maybe we should get home now."