Disclaimer: I do no own Harry Potter
A/N: hehe…forgot to write the disclaimer for the previous chapters…oh well…anyways, I would like to mention Michelle in this chapter, because she said she wanted to be famous. LOL…anyways…lets get on with the story!
Chapter Three
Hermione sat in silence as she watched the busy towns people pass by one after another. It was only an hour after dawn, but GriffinHill was already filled with noises and excitement. The sky was still a cloudy grey, with only the tip of the sun peaking out from behind the dark black mountains. She observed unblinkingly as the merchants set up their shops for the day. Some even arranged their goods in little carts on the sides of the road.
Hermione smiled when she noticed a mother scold her children while trying to protect them from the passing horses. Far away, she could hear the sound of a toddler crying for sweets. Men were getting ready for work and kissing their wife and kids goodbye. Hermione couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. She had never had a real family. Her parents both died of cancer when she was only one. Brought up by Remus, her uncle, she never felt the kind of love only a mother can give. Her brother Harry was always there for her, but it just wasn't the same.
She was extremely grateful to the countess who took her in and gave her shelter and food. She had helped her in her time of need and Hermione had been serving her ever since she was ten, and her mistress did to some extent seem like a mother to her. But no matter how close they were, she was still a servant and nothing more. The carriage wheel hit against a rock, shaking Hermione out of her reverie.
Gazing out the window once more, she noticed many people stopped to stare in wonder at the two official looking carriages. Hermione was not at all surprised at the immense attention. The countess had woken up this morning to find about a dozen royal guards waiting for her. They were escorts, sent by the king to ensure their safety to the palace. Thinking it was unnecessary, she ordered them to return, but they persisted and refused to leave.
Hermione wasn't sure she liked these hard-faced soldiers. They looked stiff and ill-humored. With all the safety rules they had insisted upon, even the normally energetic Hannah seemed to be depressed. The guards had insisted that they make no unnecessary stops along the way, and that the countess had to be seated in a separate carriage. Hermione frowned in confusion. Did they suspect that she or Hannah would try to assassinate their lady? Even more unbelievable, they had placed thick curtains, covering all the windows, and ordered them not to look out, incase someone was to recognize them. The two maids had rolled their eyes and continued to cautiously peek out from behind the curtain. Settling back down comfortably on her seat, Hermione glanced around absent-mindedly. Their carriage was a lot less fancy than the dark blue one their mistress was occupying. With slightly worn and dust covered red seats and dirty brown floors, it seemed as if the carriage hasn't been used for hundreds of years.
"Hermione! Look!" Hannah hissed, with urgency. With one finger pulling on the curtain to make a small gap, and the other pointing to something outside, she shifted herself slightly to make more room for Hermione. Leaning over, Hermione gazed out in confusion. There was a split road ahead, one going into a foreboding dense forest and the other was headed directly towards Mountain's Inn. They were almost there. Suddenly, she heard voices coming closer and closer. Pulling herself and Hannah away from the window, she strained her ears to hear what they were saying.
"– the spell?" said a smooth, deep baritone.
"Y-Yes, I-It worked –" replied a high panicky voice
"Good, let's go."
Completely bewildered, Hannah looked quizzically at Hermione who shrugged. Suddenly, the carriage lurched forward making them tumble from their seats and onto the floor. Hanging on to each other, they both made a frantic grab for something to hold on to. The carriage was rattling violently as the driver overhead cracked the whips and spurred the horses into a fast gallop on the rough road. Banging her head several times, Hermione tried to get back up to the seat. But with the extra weight of Hannah clinging onto her waist, she eventually gave up and closed her eyes, listening for any sounds coming from the carriage in front of them. Hearing nothing, she panicked.
"What's going on?" Hannah screamed. Shaking her head, Hermione closed her eyes and began to mumble prayers under her breath. As quickly as it came, they suddenly stopped. The force threw both girls to the other side of the compartment. Hitting her back on the edge of the seat, Hermione cried out in pain. She could feel Hannah shaking violently beside her. The carriage door was roughly jerked open and a hand grabbed her by the arm in an iron grip and yanked her out.
Hermione, completely dazed and confused, with both her back and head throbbing, looked blearily around. They were in the middle of a dense forest with trees surrounding them from all directions. It was quiet except for the occasional sound of the wind blowing through the leaves. There was only a little light that managed to seep through the crowded tree tops, making it just bright enough to see.
"What happened?" asked a slightly shaken Hannah, "were we under attack?"
Some of the guards snorted as others laughed out loud.
"Probably only Mudbloods like you could ask such a stupid question." Sneered an obnoxious looking a man with a brutal looking scar on the side of his face.
Hermione felt anger purse through her veins as she growled dangerously. Just as she was about to charge towards them, someone grab her arms and pulled her back. Catching a glimpse of a large royal blue carriage parked a few meters ahead, she suddenly remembered what had she overheard a moment ago. She watched in despair as two men opened the door and reached in.
"Leave her alone!" she proclaimed loudly. They simply ignored her and kept on. Hermione slackened in shock as she watched the limp body of the Countess being hauled out and unceremoniously thrown onto the grass. She was dead.
"Milady!" she screamed, trying to break free. But the guard kept his firm hold on her and refused to let go.
"What have you done to her!" Hermione demanded furiously.
The men laughed unpleasantly, "This is what happens to all those that oppose our Lord." replied the same man with the ugly scar.
Hermione eyes dawned with comprehension. It was a trap, the king did not send guards; it was all a lie.
"Do what ever it is you want with me, but let my lady go!" Hermione pushed forward again, to try and get closer to the countess, but still no luck. She heard whimpering from Hannah, who was standing off to the side. Turning to comfort the girl, her words stopped short as she heard a muffled sound coming from the woman lying on the ground. She watched in disbelief as her mistress got up slowly from the ground. The men gaped and shifted around in confusion, obviously, this was not part of their plan.
"Did you think that your weak spell would work on me?" the countess's voice was colder than even, making everyone present shudder. All whom have suffered her wrath knows never to do it again, but these men were smiling and looking expectantly to see what she would do. McGonagall reached inside her sleeves and felt her fingers clasped on nothing but air, her wand was gone. Trying to appear unaffected by this troubling news, she stood tall and held her head up. If she was going to die, then she would perish with honor.
"I should have known."
"Yes, you should have known, but it's too late now", replied Scar. He nodded to the others and pulled out his wand. The others followed and within seconds, the tips of a dozen wands were directed at the countess.
'No!' Hermione's mind screamed. The countess once saved her, and helped her in the time of need. She wasn't going to let harm come to her lady. Hermione raised her heel and stomped down as hard as she can on her captor's foot. Twisting around to face him, she brought up her knee to meet with his groin and was rewarded with a yelp of pain as he doubled over. Hermione managed to break free and tore across the grass. It was as if everything was in slow motion. She pushed the countess out of the way as fast as she can. But now, the numerous spells were heading towards her instead. As they hit her body, Hermione was overwhelmed with absolute pain and screamed out. Then everything went black.
Hermione moaned as she covered her head to try and stop the throbbing. Rubbing her temples, she grunted in frustration when the pain refused to depart. It felt as if someone was smacking her repeatedly with a brick. Her back, arms and legs were stiff and she found herself incapable of moving the lower part of her body. She wanted to shriek out or punch something to relieve her pent up frustration. Slowly opening one eye after another, she blinked a couple of times to try and clear the dark confusing blur in front of her. Her heart suddenly ceased beating as her vision cleared and she found herself staring into a pair of endless black eyes.
A/N: DUN DUN DUN DUUUNNNN!...HEY! THANKS FOR ALL YOUR LOVELY REVIEWS! Oh and my friend Nimalka has offered to be my editor, so special thanks to her. Oh and IF I GET MORE THAN 15 REVIEWS…I'LL POST UP THE NEXT CHAPTER AS FAST AS I CAN…BUT IF I DON'T…I MIGHT JUST TAKE MY SWEET TIME! Lol….black mail I know…lol