Chapter Eight: Fear
Once they left the shop, Lavender and Pansy were carrying two bags each and Draco wearing his shirt, they saw the blacked out Snape waltz right up to them. "I suppose you've had your fun?" he drawled giving the two bag carrying girls glares.
They all nodded.
"Then follow me," and he turned while they followed.
"Sir," Hermione started but was stopped short by the glare she was receiving.
"Now, I have classes to teach," he notified them, "So I won't be there past the first pyramid, which was said to be the burial ground of Queen Nefertitii." He stopped at looked at each of the four of eight, "The others know, I had surprisingly less trouble finding them then you, so I expect to see you tomorrow, early, good day," and he left.
"Where are we sleeping?" Lavender asked to air, since the professor was gone.
"Here." Hermione answered and gestured to the small motel.
It was of adobe make, and Hermione heard the not so well hidden groans of displeasure from all of her company.
"We'll live." Hermione said defiantly.
They let out yet another groan as they walked into the building.
"Hay Granger." Draco started, "Can I get the rooms?"
"Remember how?" she questioned.
"Yeah, I think I do." He didn't look so sure, Hermione sighed.
"I'll take care of it, you three watch."
She walked up to the counter, "Excuse me?" she said loud to get the attendants attention. "Have four others under the name of Snape come yet?"
The attendant nodded. "They had two rooms." He responded, speaking English well.
"Might you give us the room numbers, we're the other four of the party." She gestured to the three behind her.
"Sure, they are in room 10 and 11." He read from the page, "Enjoy your stay."
Hermione nodded and walked off to the side hall.
Counting.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 and 11. "Here we are." She knocked on ten, "Hello? Gryffindors and Slytherins here." Using their code, the door opened to reveal one of the three other guys "Guys dorm." He answered, letting Draco in.
Hermione Lavender and Pansy went to room eleven and knocked, "Gryffindors and Slytherin here." Pansy announced. A passerby had walked by the, giving the girls weird looks.
The door opened to reveal the girl Hufflepuff they slept with, "Welcome back." She smiled and let them in.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The temple was rather boring since for one, the tour they went on was a muggle one with Snape whispering the occasional additional statement.
Once Snape was gone it was worse. They traveled on camel to multiple pyramids and structures, Hermione had brought her history of magic text book along, and when their guide left them, she went over the magical aspects of what they had just saw.
"Hermione!" A loud, near familiar voice shouted at her.
Everyone turning from their powwow around her book looked up and saw Ron's eldest brother Bill.
"You're the group I'm touring now eh?" He smirked and called them over to the temple. "I do double work for Gringotts and the tourist industry." He explained to the group.
"Now, This is for you young lady." He handed Hermione an envelope and he lead them into the nearest entrance.
While Bill was droning on and on with his usual tour adding magical aspects here and there.
Hermione opened her letter.
'Dear Mione,
Harry and me are having a blast, we are about to set out for Charlie's place, but since you have already been there, I left this with Bill, who told me he hadn't seen you yet. We were told no owls.
McGonagall also told us that for our last stop we would be joining your group at Stone Hedge since she believes that the church wont take that much time. So we can talk then, hope your having fun, me and Harry are.
If Malfoy has hurt you in any way, me and Harry will deal with it then.
Until the 30th!
Ron'
Hermione folded the paper and joined Draco, stepping close she put the note in his hand and immediately went to Bill side to hear him better.
Draco read the note quickly before using it as fuel for his torch.
Those two?
THERE? THEN?
He shook his head and thought 'why me?' as they went further into the tomb.
*~*~*~*~*~*
The last week of October came on really quick, Hermione had barely noticed it.
The Stone Hedge was really magnificent, however she couldn't help but note the changes it had taken upon itself since the times in her dreams.
She felt Draco knew similarly.
Under invisibility spells they were allowed to look at it closely without drawing attention to themselves. Hermione had found many markings that she could sometimes nearly understand. Scared she backed off and started making her sketch of the marvelous architecture.
According to Snape, this was to work with their history in Astronomy and mysteries, Proving that even wizards didn't know everything.
Hermione and Draco, it seemed, were the only ones who truly understood the structure.
Yes, it was used for keeping track of the time and constellations. But that was merely for Orion. The god made his followers understand the heavens in which he resided, so that they could evolve.
Their form of time structure was far more complicated then the ones used by witches wizards or muggles, and it was far more accurate too.
Man, had adapted to keeping time of time. But they still don't know exactly what they are timing.
This was what Hermione wanted to do her project on. This is what interested her. It had arithmacy, astrology and history, as well as runes, from the markings that muggles took as cracks in the stone. All her most valued and favorite classes.
She did a five view diagram, one from the top and on from each of the for main directions.
She then did a smaller focused picture on the center stone.
Once they were all done they went back to the hotel.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
On the 30th, Ron and Harry did indeed come. Hermione was bust reading in the lobby, a muggle magazine on the stones when they bombarded her from behind.
"RON!" she shouted. "Harry!" they started to tickle her.
"Stop reading and notice us!"
"You haven't seen us in a month and you were stuck with your group, look at us."
She laughed, not able to control her self as she removed their hands and hugged them both. "Yes," she breathed trying to control her air passage still smiling, "Yes I am glad to see you both as well."
"Well, isn't this sweet, The Dream team is reunited." Draco wiped a pretend tear from his eyes, "It's just a wonderful moment, I'm so glad I could witness it." He leaned against the wall, "Granger you know what Snape said, don't draw attention to yourself, go back to one of the rooms if you and your boys are going to be loud." He turned and went out.
"Wow, tell us he wasn't like that the entire time!" Ron growled grabbing Hermione's shoulders as if he was scared for her.
Hermione just laughed, "Yes, Ron, that is how Malfoy normally acts isn't it?" she stood grabbing her book and leading them to her dorm room, "I would honestly be sacred if he hadn't acted like that."
"Hermione, did Malfoy harm you while we were gone?" Harry asked seriously.
"No, we avoided each other well." She informed them, opening the door and going in.
Pansy and Lavender were playing cards when they saw her come in, Pansy smirked, "Hey Hermione."
"Hello Pansy, You two mind if Harry and Ron stay in here? Malfoy told us we were disturbing the peace in the lobby."
"Not at all, Hey Harry, Hey Ron." Lavender smiled from her place on the floor.
"Right," Ron gave Pansy an odd look. Hermione noticed.
"Pansy and the rest of us, have reached a truce." Hermione explained, "If we planed on living together this entire time, without dying, we had to."
Ron and Harry understood, as they sat on the floor.
"Old Maid anyone?" Pansy asked reshuffling the deck.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hermione enjoyed having Ron and Harry around, but she missed being able to talk to Draco, and with Samhain approaching she had noted how he had become darker.
He had told her that he couldn't become a death eater himself. But from how much he was worrying, she knew that they were going to at least try.
The next day, about noon, Hermione grabbed Pansy's hand and whispered to her in passing "We need to talk, meet in our room."
She hoped she would come.
After a few minutes, Pansy walked into the room a scowl on her face, "What is it?" she demanded.
"I want to go with you and Draco tonight." She explained.
Pansy sat down on the nearest bed, "Heavens what for?" she asked.
"I feel like I need to be there," she explained, "It's Samhain after all."
"Samhain?" Pansy asked confused.
"All hallows." Hermione simplified. "I feel I need to be with him tonight, like he needs me there and I need to be there." She shook her head and placed it in her hands, "I'm insane I know, I have no clue why I'm even asking for this."
"Because you are Morgan, a priestess under punishment from the gods." Pansy informed her.
Hermione looked up at her in shock.
"Draco told me, when he told me that he wanted you to come with us tonight." Pansy explained, she sighed, "You're coming. Something will happen tonight between you two and what ever has happened before." Pansy walked over to her trunk and pulled out a set of black robes, large and billowing. She tossed them at Hermione, "Wear these and meet me and Draco outside."
"Why?"
"You don't want to get caught do you?" Pansy said angrily, "I'll give you the mask when we meet, the hood should cover your well known hair so that you blend in well, I'll tell the dark lord you're my guest, he wont question it." She looked at Hermione directly in the eyes, "Are you sure of this?"
Hermione nodded, "I have never been more certain."
"11:30 then, tonight." She sighed and walked over and hugged Hermione, shocking the poor girl, "Good luck, keep your mind clear, and relax." She whispered, "Snape will be there and can help you if he needs to," she pulled back and looked at the girl again, "As a priestess, I can't see you taking part in what made your life cursed." She shook her head and went to the door.
"Pansy," Hermione looked up at the girl, and she smiled.
"No thanks needed, Just stop running in circles ok? You love him, don't deny yourself that much." And she left before Hermione could let out another word.
Hermione looked at her trunk, Fear overwhelming her. But pansy had a point. Hermione felt really close to Draco, and even if it wasn't a deep meaningful love, she still cared about him, even if it was for the mere fact that he was the only person who understood her situation.
She didn't want to see him die either. She opened up her trunk and looked at the moonstone, which had found it's way on top. She picked it up, and kissed it. "I accept, now give me strength for tonight," she whispered.
The stone felt warm, as if embracing her hand, once it had cooled she rapped the robes around it and placed them under her bed.
Tonight, she feared, was going to be important.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
AN:
It's getting closer!
You can almost feel it!
^_^ review!
RelenaS
Once they left the shop, Lavender and Pansy were carrying two bags each and Draco wearing his shirt, they saw the blacked out Snape waltz right up to them. "I suppose you've had your fun?" he drawled giving the two bag carrying girls glares.
They all nodded.
"Then follow me," and he turned while they followed.
"Sir," Hermione started but was stopped short by the glare she was receiving.
"Now, I have classes to teach," he notified them, "So I won't be there past the first pyramid, which was said to be the burial ground of Queen Nefertitii." He stopped at looked at each of the four of eight, "The others know, I had surprisingly less trouble finding them then you, so I expect to see you tomorrow, early, good day," and he left.
"Where are we sleeping?" Lavender asked to air, since the professor was gone.
"Here." Hermione answered and gestured to the small motel.
It was of adobe make, and Hermione heard the not so well hidden groans of displeasure from all of her company.
"We'll live." Hermione said defiantly.
They let out yet another groan as they walked into the building.
"Hay Granger." Draco started, "Can I get the rooms?"
"Remember how?" she questioned.
"Yeah, I think I do." He didn't look so sure, Hermione sighed.
"I'll take care of it, you three watch."
She walked up to the counter, "Excuse me?" she said loud to get the attendants attention. "Have four others under the name of Snape come yet?"
The attendant nodded. "They had two rooms." He responded, speaking English well.
"Might you give us the room numbers, we're the other four of the party." She gestured to the three behind her.
"Sure, they are in room 10 and 11." He read from the page, "Enjoy your stay."
Hermione nodded and walked off to the side hall.
Counting.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 and 11. "Here we are." She knocked on ten, "Hello? Gryffindors and Slytherins here." Using their code, the door opened to reveal one of the three other guys "Guys dorm." He answered, letting Draco in.
Hermione Lavender and Pansy went to room eleven and knocked, "Gryffindors and Slytherin here." Pansy announced. A passerby had walked by the, giving the girls weird looks.
The door opened to reveal the girl Hufflepuff they slept with, "Welcome back." She smiled and let them in.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The temple was rather boring since for one, the tour they went on was a muggle one with Snape whispering the occasional additional statement.
Once Snape was gone it was worse. They traveled on camel to multiple pyramids and structures, Hermione had brought her history of magic text book along, and when their guide left them, she went over the magical aspects of what they had just saw.
"Hermione!" A loud, near familiar voice shouted at her.
Everyone turning from their powwow around her book looked up and saw Ron's eldest brother Bill.
"You're the group I'm touring now eh?" He smirked and called them over to the temple. "I do double work for Gringotts and the tourist industry." He explained to the group.
"Now, This is for you young lady." He handed Hermione an envelope and he lead them into the nearest entrance.
While Bill was droning on and on with his usual tour adding magical aspects here and there.
Hermione opened her letter.
'Dear Mione,
Harry and me are having a blast, we are about to set out for Charlie's place, but since you have already been there, I left this with Bill, who told me he hadn't seen you yet. We were told no owls.
McGonagall also told us that for our last stop we would be joining your group at Stone Hedge since she believes that the church wont take that much time. So we can talk then, hope your having fun, me and Harry are.
If Malfoy has hurt you in any way, me and Harry will deal with it then.
Until the 30th!
Ron'
Hermione folded the paper and joined Draco, stepping close she put the note in his hand and immediately went to Bill side to hear him better.
Draco read the note quickly before using it as fuel for his torch.
Those two?
THERE? THEN?
He shook his head and thought 'why me?' as they went further into the tomb.
*~*~*~*~*~*
The last week of October came on really quick, Hermione had barely noticed it.
The Stone Hedge was really magnificent, however she couldn't help but note the changes it had taken upon itself since the times in her dreams.
She felt Draco knew similarly.
Under invisibility spells they were allowed to look at it closely without drawing attention to themselves. Hermione had found many markings that she could sometimes nearly understand. Scared she backed off and started making her sketch of the marvelous architecture.
According to Snape, this was to work with their history in Astronomy and mysteries, Proving that even wizards didn't know everything.
Hermione and Draco, it seemed, were the only ones who truly understood the structure.
Yes, it was used for keeping track of the time and constellations. But that was merely for Orion. The god made his followers understand the heavens in which he resided, so that they could evolve.
Their form of time structure was far more complicated then the ones used by witches wizards or muggles, and it was far more accurate too.
Man, had adapted to keeping time of time. But they still don't know exactly what they are timing.
This was what Hermione wanted to do her project on. This is what interested her. It had arithmacy, astrology and history, as well as runes, from the markings that muggles took as cracks in the stone. All her most valued and favorite classes.
She did a five view diagram, one from the top and on from each of the for main directions.
She then did a smaller focused picture on the center stone.
Once they were all done they went back to the hotel.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
On the 30th, Ron and Harry did indeed come. Hermione was bust reading in the lobby, a muggle magazine on the stones when they bombarded her from behind.
"RON!" she shouted. "Harry!" they started to tickle her.
"Stop reading and notice us!"
"You haven't seen us in a month and you were stuck with your group, look at us."
She laughed, not able to control her self as she removed their hands and hugged them both. "Yes," she breathed trying to control her air passage still smiling, "Yes I am glad to see you both as well."
"Well, isn't this sweet, The Dream team is reunited." Draco wiped a pretend tear from his eyes, "It's just a wonderful moment, I'm so glad I could witness it." He leaned against the wall, "Granger you know what Snape said, don't draw attention to yourself, go back to one of the rooms if you and your boys are going to be loud." He turned and went out.
"Wow, tell us he wasn't like that the entire time!" Ron growled grabbing Hermione's shoulders as if he was scared for her.
Hermione just laughed, "Yes, Ron, that is how Malfoy normally acts isn't it?" she stood grabbing her book and leading them to her dorm room, "I would honestly be sacred if he hadn't acted like that."
"Hermione, did Malfoy harm you while we were gone?" Harry asked seriously.
"No, we avoided each other well." She informed them, opening the door and going in.
Pansy and Lavender were playing cards when they saw her come in, Pansy smirked, "Hey Hermione."
"Hello Pansy, You two mind if Harry and Ron stay in here? Malfoy told us we were disturbing the peace in the lobby."
"Not at all, Hey Harry, Hey Ron." Lavender smiled from her place on the floor.
"Right," Ron gave Pansy an odd look. Hermione noticed.
"Pansy and the rest of us, have reached a truce." Hermione explained, "If we planed on living together this entire time, without dying, we had to."
Ron and Harry understood, as they sat on the floor.
"Old Maid anyone?" Pansy asked reshuffling the deck.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hermione enjoyed having Ron and Harry around, but she missed being able to talk to Draco, and with Samhain approaching she had noted how he had become darker.
He had told her that he couldn't become a death eater himself. But from how much he was worrying, she knew that they were going to at least try.
The next day, about noon, Hermione grabbed Pansy's hand and whispered to her in passing "We need to talk, meet in our room."
She hoped she would come.
After a few minutes, Pansy walked into the room a scowl on her face, "What is it?" she demanded.
"I want to go with you and Draco tonight." She explained.
Pansy sat down on the nearest bed, "Heavens what for?" she asked.
"I feel like I need to be there," she explained, "It's Samhain after all."
"Samhain?" Pansy asked confused.
"All hallows." Hermione simplified. "I feel I need to be with him tonight, like he needs me there and I need to be there." She shook her head and placed it in her hands, "I'm insane I know, I have no clue why I'm even asking for this."
"Because you are Morgan, a priestess under punishment from the gods." Pansy informed her.
Hermione looked up at her in shock.
"Draco told me, when he told me that he wanted you to come with us tonight." Pansy explained, she sighed, "You're coming. Something will happen tonight between you two and what ever has happened before." Pansy walked over to her trunk and pulled out a set of black robes, large and billowing. She tossed them at Hermione, "Wear these and meet me and Draco outside."
"Why?"
"You don't want to get caught do you?" Pansy said angrily, "I'll give you the mask when we meet, the hood should cover your well known hair so that you blend in well, I'll tell the dark lord you're my guest, he wont question it." She looked at Hermione directly in the eyes, "Are you sure of this?"
Hermione nodded, "I have never been more certain."
"11:30 then, tonight." She sighed and walked over and hugged Hermione, shocking the poor girl, "Good luck, keep your mind clear, and relax." She whispered, "Snape will be there and can help you if he needs to," she pulled back and looked at the girl again, "As a priestess, I can't see you taking part in what made your life cursed." She shook her head and went to the door.
"Pansy," Hermione looked up at the girl, and she smiled.
"No thanks needed, Just stop running in circles ok? You love him, don't deny yourself that much." And she left before Hermione could let out another word.
Hermione looked at her trunk, Fear overwhelming her. But pansy had a point. Hermione felt really close to Draco, and even if it wasn't a deep meaningful love, she still cared about him, even if it was for the mere fact that he was the only person who understood her situation.
She didn't want to see him die either. She opened up her trunk and looked at the moonstone, which had found it's way on top. She picked it up, and kissed it. "I accept, now give me strength for tonight," she whispered.
The stone felt warm, as if embracing her hand, once it had cooled she rapped the robes around it and placed them under her bed.
Tonight, she feared, was going to be important.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
AN:
It's getting closer!
You can almost feel it!
^_^ review!
RelenaS