Chapter 21
They were finally given the opportunity to go to Hogsmeade. There was less then two weeks left in the school year. Hermoine knew she should have been studying for the final exams, but she wasn't worried. She wanted to spend the time with Ron. She could always study, but she rarely had any alone time with him. Whenever she looked at him Ron would usually end up flushed. Harry had started to tease her, as had Patrice.
Ron bought their drinks. He wouldn't let Hermoine pay for her own. The two of them sat down at a table together near the back, where they could have some privacy.
"This is nice," Ron said, looking around. Hermoine smiled.
"I wish there were more opportunities to date," Hermoine sighed softly. Ron looked up at her, a small smile turning up the corners of his mouth. Hermoine blushed. She hadn't intended to say that out loud.
"Me too," he said, his eyes dancing. Hermoine looked away from his eyes. She rememded herself that there was a lot going on, a lot that could harm Ron. He and Harry had to keep safe.
Ron's hand reached across the table. He slipped his hand into hers. Hermoine blushed again, her heart trippling in speed. She looked up at him.
"I thought I had lost you when you and Patrice went missing," Ron whispered. "The last time I was that afraid you were petrified and Ginny was missing. . . I realized if I lost you, well, I couldn't take it."
"Ron," she whispered, unsure of what to say. He smiled again, not his usual, silly grin, but a more timid, shy, smile. "I'll always be here for you, Ron." She leaned over and kissed his cheek before she really knew what she was doing. He flushed brighter, and Hermoine looked suddenly away, aware she might have embaressed him.
Ron squeezed her hand, and she looked up again. By the look in his eyes she knew that she had not embaressed him, that he had no problem with her giving him a kiss. She hadn't felt like this when she had first gone out with Viktor, the trembling, the nervousness, the tingling where she had touched him. . .
There was a sudden crash outside. Hermoine jumped out of her seat. Darkness hung in the air outside.
"What's going on?" Ron cried. Hermoine had a sinking feeling in her stomach. Something was terribly wrong.
"I don't know. Where's Harry?"
"I don't know. I think he and Patrice where going somewhere, but I can't remember where."
"Ron we've got to find them. Something's up, I know it."
"Of course something's up!" Ron exclaimed. "It's black outside at noon!"
"Are you coming or not?"
"I'm coming."
The two of them raced outside. The air was thick, heavy. Hermoine pulled her shirt up, putting it over her mouth and nose. Ron did the same. There was a chance that there was something in the air, and Hermoine did not want to fall victim to it.
"Patrice, Harry! Where are you?"
A strange noise filled the air. It came closer, and Hermoine realized it was laughter, deep, frightening laughter.
"He is mine. Mudbloods beware." Hermoine knew without a doubt that the voice was not exactly human.
"Crockshanks," she called out.
"Yes, Hermoine?" came the silent reply.
"Talk to Athena. Find out if Patrice and Harry are all right. Hurry, please!" She waited a moment while searching the area for trouble. She could not see anything. No one was around, which frightened Hermoine to her very core.
"Athena says that her partener is not answering her calls. Is something wrong?"
"Something is very wrong. Go get Sirius. It is dark in Hogsmeade."
"Please, be care Hermoine!"
"I will be, Crockshanks," she silently assure the cat.
Ron had move closer to her. The darkness was all encompassing. Hermoine could not see more then a few meters away. The shops had all disappeared into the darkness.
"Patrice!" Hermoine tried again. "Harry! Harreeeeeee!" Her voice echoed back to her. Hermoine looked over at Ron. "We need to do something!"
"What?" There was panic in his eyes.
"A light spell, maybe?"
"Maybe?"
Before they could move a force pushed them closer together. Hermoine found she could not lift her hands. It was becoming hard to breathe.
"Hermoine RUN!" screamed a voice. It took her a moment to recognize the voice. It was Patrice. She came running at them from the darkness, her wand in her hand. Harry ran behind her.
"Harry, Ron, you two have got to get out of here," Patrice cried, panting. Hermoine struggled to agree, to nod, but she could not move.
"I'm not leaving her," Ron replied fiercely. Patrice shook her wand.
"Go now." She tapped Hermoine, and Hermoine came free. She drew a breath with a gasp.
"We're not leaving."
"Get out of here now!" Patrice raised her wand, spinning to face the darkness. "If you three stay here, Hermoine's going to die." Hermoine felt suddenly heavy, and she could not lift her legs. She heard Ron and Harry both cast a light spell, and the choking darkness receded slightly.
"We can help you," Harry said. "The combine spell effect that you taught us about, remember?"
"Fine. If you won't do as I ask. If you are willing to risk Hermoine's life." She paused, and looked at Hermoine. "It is too late anyway. She has been infected." Hermoine crocked her head to the side, not understanding. A pain shot up her spine.
Patrice held up her wand. "On my count, cast the light spell. We only have this one shot. If we fail. . . Well, we just can't. One. . . Two. . . . Three... NOW!" Patrice began to chant the combining spell as the three of them yelled together. The was a violent explosion of light, and the darkness cleared away, leaving nothing around them but a thick grey mist. Through the mist Hermoine could make out three forms: a dog, a man and a woman.
The man floated above the dog and the woman. His limbs hung limply, like a scarecrow, his head rolling back and forth. Hermoine felt her jaw drop. It was Snape! She saw the woman, her wand held ready to attack, her hair in disarray as she avoid thick strands of black lightning. It was Mrs Coeur. Hermoine knew without doubt that the dog was Sirius.
"Ha ha ha! Think you can stop me, Phoenix?" the inhuman voice asked, thundering from Snape's mouth.
"Harry, Ron, duck!" Hermoine cried as twin lightning bolts shot toward them. Patrice was faster. She waved her wand and the two boys disappeared.
"They'll be safe," she assure Hermoine softly. The world had started to spin. "Hold on, my friend. Just a little longer."
"I feel funny all over," Hermoine whispered, as she sank to the ground. Patrice raised her wand.
Hermoine grinned at the colours that swam in front of her eyes. They were so pretty. . . She had never seen so many pretty colours. Purples and pinks, reds, greens and yellows, all swirling and exploding like fireworks around her.
Something bit Hermoine. Hard. She grabbed her leg, and woke up. Sirius barked at her. She shook her head, feeling woozy still, but aware of her surroundings, of Patrice's frantic shouts. Hermoine pushed up her sleeves and readied her wand. She had no clue what she was going to do, but she was going something.
"Fight it!" Mrs Coeur screamed.
"I can't," came a faint voice on the wind, Snape's voice. "Leave me."
A huge black bubble appeared in the air, hovering over them. It bounced down, capturing Mrs Couer inside. She screamed. Her screams hurt Hermoine's head. She felt someone push her out of the way, then she heard a howl of pain. She looked up, ignoring the pounding in her head. Sirius, Patrice and Mrs Coeur were all captured in the black bubble.
"Let them go!" Hermoine cried. She raised her arm, pointing the wand up at Snape. The voice began to laugh, and Hermoine felt as if her insides were jelly. She held firm.
"Foolish Mudblood! Give in now and your death will be painless." Hermoine looked over at Patrice and Sirius. They were her friends. She could not let them die any more then she could let Harry or Ron die.
Hermoine shook her head. Snape's featuers began to twist. His skin began to wrinkle and sag. Two black horns poked from his hand. Claws extended from his hands and from his feet. The ugly face grinned at her. Hermoine tried not to tremble. She tried to think of a spell, any spell, that would stop the creature without hurting the professor. She could not.
The creature floated toward her, his claws extended. Hermoine tried to pull away, but she found she could not move. The clawed hand caressed her cheek, sending a wave of pain through her. Hermoine tried to keep form crying.
"You are mine, Mudblood. Surrender your body to me," the voice hissed.
"Please," she pleaded. The grip on her cheek tightened. She broke down into sobs. It hurt so much. . .
Suddenly the pain was gone. Hermoine opened her eyes. Snape was flailing around madly. Hermoine heard herself gasp. One of his hands had returned to normal. The tears! She wiped her eyes, holding her tears in her hands. She whispered a quick incantation, and she slowly rose into the air.
"Get away from me, Mudblood!" the voice screamed shrilly. Hermoine faught the dizziness that threatened to overcome her. She grabbed Snape. The creature within him screamed. Hermoine held on to him, though touching him was painful. She thought of Ron laying near death in her test. The memory brought tears to her eyes. She wiped her tears onto her hand, then touched his forehead. The voice screamed, and thrashed violently. Hermoine was thrown to the ground. She hit her head on the ground. Soon the world spun into darkness.
