Disclaimer: Only in my wildest dreams, and darkest nightmares for that matter, do I own Harry Potter.
Crappery: So sorry about the long wait, but this week has so busy and stressing that I almost started crying when I got home today. Although that crying would have been totally related to something else...-winces- though only my school friends and a couple of you readers actually would know why...But, please expect about one or two updates per week, I have too much work –coughs- social events –coughs- to do and attend to. DoSLIT (hehe) will be updated eventually, please don't think I'm abandoning it!! Oh yeah! MAJOR slip up in the last chapter! I made it sound like the boys were still living in the Hall of Women. That was just me forgetting and was a major mistake...Ignore it...If I have time I'll go back and change that later. Ehehehahhee...This is over 2000 words!
Queen of the Insects: Happy belated Birthday darling! Oh those mental pictures are fun, aren't they? –snorts-
YamiClara: Yeah, Ron's just a jealous bastard.
valentines-hater: I know, isn't it cute? It probably does...
Monikka DaLuver: But isn't OOC fun?
Thena: Yep, Mia is just one of the many nicknames I give Hermione. I mean, I absolutely love the name Hermione, but it's a wee bit of a mouthful to speak and type all the time.
No one remembered: Wandering hands are scary, trust me...I've been attacked with wandering hands.
Mojo the Rock Chick Munchkin: But I still love Ron, he's just so cute!
Angryclouds: He's just a jealous little poo. I dunno, it could be...But I don't want to claim it for fear of my future (unconceived) children...
foxer: Thank you! I'm thinking around twenty five chapters or so.
silly bandit: Sokay, even choppy reviews are welcome!
Jakalaki: -laughs- You're so silly...Um, the references are mostly really hidden and not usually very blatant, that's not my style...-grins- I can't tell you that...
fourthiv: I'm glad! I was hoping people would...
The Punk Rock Goddess: Sorry about the wait pet...
FunnyCatGirl: I'm sorry about that! It was a mistake!!
Charmedone2k5: Oh I wonder why...-snorts- HEY! That's kinda embarrassing, although he is hot.
Tigoamy: -giggles madly- How do ya know they aren't doing all that stuff yet?? They aren't and I won't be elaborating on that stuff, but yeah...
SuperHiperChit: They are, just an error of mine...
Kelei: I can't help it! The next one should be longer...I hope...
LosOjosDeLaVida: Yes, bad girlie!
Hippie1212: Wait, what's hard to tell from the beginnings?
Alianora56: I'm glad you do! I'd be seriously afraid if you didn't!
evilfairyfdoom: Haha...You really are the evil fairy of doom my dear Bradders...I KNOW! I haven't seen you since...Er...The football game on Friday! I MISS YOU KITTY PUPPY! (ignore that...I'm just a wee bit too happy at the moment about something...) You recognize part of the title of this chapter?
Thanks for all the reviews, they make me happy!! Blessed be my darklings!
Down to the Deepest Dungeons, Chapter Ten
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A stream of bright sunlight streamed into the room and across her face, beating her eyelids with the vividness of it. She let out a very quiet
groan and rolled over, trying to bury her face in her pillow. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she felt the warm glow of the sun gently stroke her face
and she fervently wished that it was the moon doing the shining. She slowly lifted her head, her hair standing like a bushy halo around her, and
slithered out of the bed. Her bum hit the stone floor hard and she groaned as she hit the back of her head against the side the mattress.
"Buggery sun!" She cried, her hoarse voice louder than she expected.
Silence took reign of the room and she pushed herself. She slowly tottered over to her armoire, pulling out a single cream coloured dress the same
style and cut as the one she wore the day before. Moments later she had donned it and was staring at her still half asleep expression. When she
felt herself slowly drifting off and poked herself hard in the eye, eliciting a startled cry from herself. She knew the means she was taking to keep
herself awake were stupid and juvenile, but she felt like a small child at that moment in time. A jaw cracking yawn ran through her and when it
passed, she felt surprisingly more conscious than she had moments before. A very slight smile crossed her face as she went over to her mussed
bed and collected the money pouch, tying it onto the almost invisible belt of her dress. She left her room soon after tidying her hair a little bit. Not
moments after she had left her private, however bright, sanctuary, a young girl ran up to her. The little girl's intensely purple eyes looked up at
her, the joy only a child could possess shining up at her.
"Lady Camille," she chirped, "High Priestess Kirra asked me to give this to you." She offered up a small, redwood box up to her.
"Thank you?" She said a little uncertainly, taking it from the child. "Do you know what it is?"
"Course not! It's not for me!" The girl grinned up to her before cantering off, her shoulder length black hair streaming behind her.
Mia shook herself a little, her head spinning slightly from the sheer bubblyness that the little child had exuded. She slowly opened the lid and lifted
her brows at the peculiar necklace within. The chain was relatively slim silver and was long enough so it the locket would rest right atop the mole
she had in the middle of her chest. The pendant was a slender, indigo crescent moon with several peculiar squiggly symbols engraved upon it. From
tip to tip it was perhaps two inches long and was only half and inch wide at its thickest point. She touched it gingerly, running her fingers along its
edges and was surprised to find a small groove that two tiny hinges. Her brow furrowed slightly and then she noticed the neatly folded note lodged
between the dark velvet the necklace had lain upon and the wood of the box. She quickly fastened it around her neck in and took the note into
her hand, tucking the box under her arm. She opened up the thin wad and absently leaned against a wall as she began to skim the truly black
letters.
Lady Camille;
I do hope you enjoyed looking about Atlantis last morrow, and I trust you have begun to settle in with life here. You remember our conversation
about the state of this island, I expect and it is time for you to start inspecting the faulty foundations before we disappear into the ocean. I
understand that having the Great Mother lying within you is a heavy burden, but I plead that you take time out of your schedule to go to the Tor
that resides upon the hill that over looks the city. Show those who guard the doors the necklace that is within the box given to you and you will
immediately be given access to the bowels of the isle.
High Priestess Kirra
She stood there for a moment, blinking slowly as she processed this information. She still did not believe that she had the power of this Great
Mother within her, but that display of powerful wandless magic the day before had surprised her greatly. She had always thought that only well
bred, actually inbred, pureblood were able to do wandless magic of that capacity. But then again, that was just the brainwashing that was a
constant feature of the Wizarding World getting the better of her. It was then she realized she was still standing the hallway and quickly slipped
the piece of paper into the well hidden pocket of her off white dress that intensified the hue of her eyes so well.
After Mia had dropped the box off in her room, she set out across the large town to Druid Hall to collect her friends. As she was fighting her
way through crowds, trying her hardest not to use her elbows in her pathetic attempt to cross a street. A groan erupted from her as someone
bumped her hard and she instantly lost her balance, getting swept away. Faint cry of protest came from her as her slender body was jostled
roughly by countless people, she attempting to cease the wild movement around her. Just when she thought she was never going to be free of the
massive cacophony of human noises and the mirage of colours, somebody grabbed her firmly by the waist and dragged her away from the masses,
into some shop. She took in a great gasping breath of relatively clean air and turned a grateful face up to her rescuer.
"Draco?" She squeaked disbelief painted on her face; she definitely did not expect him to come to her aid.
"You okay Hermione?" He asked concernedly, one of his hands resting on her shoulder in an almost protective manner.
"Y-Yeah...Just a little bruised. I'll be okay...Why are you out here? I was coming to get you and the other two boys. I thought I told you to never
leave there without me!"
He suddenly realized that he was still touching her and drew away, crossing his arms a little uncomfortably over his chest. "Potter and Weasley
were still asleep when I woke up. They were up soon after me and decided to explore more. I came to find you so you weren't totally lost when
you arrived at Druid Hall."
She leaned forward and gave him a rather awkward hug. "Thank you. Did you have anything else planned for the day?"
"No, I was thinking about spending it with you."
"Do you mind going and inspecting the base of this island with me?"
He shook his head and suddenly the uneasiness of the situation disappeared when he slid his arm around her waist, his palm resting on the flesh
above her hip. She smiled up to him, her warm hues sparkling with surprising tenderness.
"It's kind of far away, you sure you don't mind walking?"
Once again he gave his head a little shake. "I don't mind at all."
He gave her a little squeeze and they set off, this time walking with the crowd, which was far easier.
Mia remained in Draco's hold for the entirety of the long walk over, her head spinning at their close proximity. Several times he had looked
down at her, his silver hues dancing with mirth or joy. It was in those moments when her world drowned everything else out except him, her vision
narrowing down so he was all she could see. It scared her that she could have such intense feelings about someone she had hated with a passion
not a week before. But then again, those feelings of deep loathing could have only been a mask for the fuzzy warm butterflies that swamped her
stomach when ever he gave her his full attention and flashed that gorgeous smile at her. Just as they were reaching the doors she pulled out of
his embrace, a feeling of loss struck her. She swallowed quickly and tried to ignore those damn butterflies that were coming back to life again. As
they were walking up some relatively steep stairs, which seemed to grow in abundance in Atlantis and the tip of her elegant deep coffee coloured
slipper caught the lip of a step. She would have gone flying forward if he had not grabbed her waist. It struck her then that she seemed abnormally
clumsy around him and her cheeks rapidly coloured.
"Sorry." She stuttered, trying to fight her blushing.
"No problem." He whispered his lips extremely close to hers.
Her breathing caught in her throat as her legs turned to jelly and her brain to mush. She blinked several times and she could have sworn he was
about to kiss her when he pulled away, simply brushing some of her hair away from her face. She gulped and shook her head quickly, trying to clear
the heavy mental fog that made her want to throw herself at him. She forced a smile and pulled herself out of his grasp, marching up the remaining
stairs to the heavily armoured guards who watched her with distrusting eyes. She took a deep breath and pulled the deep purple crescent moon
from beneath her clothing, holding it up for them to see.
"I was told this would grant me passage to the farthest reaches of this island." She said, her voice commanding respect.
Draco got the feeling that this was not the Hermione he was starting to seriously like's true voice. He gave a little shudder and took a few steps
towards her, standing protectively behind her shoulder. She turned her head slightly, the corners of her lips turning upwards slightly.
"This man is also to accompany me. He is very powerful and is my personal body guard." The men watching the entrance, who had become
extremely respectful since seeing the necklace, nodded furiously and moved out of the way. "Thank you." She chirped brightly.
The doors were thrown open and the two walked in. Mia was instantly surprised at how gloomy the inside of the large building was. She expected
it to be light and airy like many of the places she had been so far, but that place was cold, dark, and quite musty. A shiver ran through her and
she unconsciously moved closer to Draco, her body seeking the comforting warmth his bulk gave off. He slipped his arm tightly around her waist,
hugging her against him, as they trudged along. After a few minutes a young woman wearing a simply gray dress appeared at their side, seemingly
out of breath as if she had just had a long run.
"Lady, please follow me." The woman gasped.
She nodded and rested her head against Draco's shoulder, taking strength from his presence. The followed the woman for several moments until
they reached another massive set of doors. Mia let out a very quiet sigh as they swung on their hinges, revealing a long, narrow stairway.
"Bugger, not more stairs." She grumbled softly.
He laughed quietly and hugged her, momentarily burying his nose in her hair, marveling in the faint fragrance that permeated the soft locks.
"I'll carry you down if you want."
She contemplated his offer for a moment as they began to descend into the bowels of the isle. "Considering the fact that we're already going
down these disgustingly steep stairs and that I don't think you'll actually be able to keep your balance, I'm going to stay on my own two feet. But
thank you for the offer..."
He smiled to her and the topic of him having that much physical contact with her dropped as the slowly began to go farther and farther into the
dark, slightly dank depths of Atlantis.
WOW! Actually a chapter that's over 1200 words! Be proud of me!
Your Lord and Master
Foamy the Squirrel