No . . . answered Isabelle. We are going to come face to face with the strakhi. They are terrible, like dementors, only instead of hopelessness, they induce fear. They too belong to an earlier age, but their opportunity to return has come and they walk the earth again. They too await the first circle time. It is their best chance to regain what was lost to them. They seek us, all of us. In the past they wrested control of, not the runes themselves, but their owners, the the runes were made wretched slaves. Their history is tinged in blood.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione's head poked around the kitchen door. Come for a walk?

It's freezing out there.

Come anyway. He looked at her carefully.



They walked to a small park consisting of a bench and some defeated looking trees. The wind was harsh, somehow the bleak setting made it easier to talk. Remus. We cannot act like we have been around each other, never discussing the things that need to be discussed. We've both enough to worry about. Hermione paused and made herself look him in the face. I like you but I don't know you. I've seen the full prophecies. and it's just that. . . . a deep breath. It's just that I think they're true, and I wish you would say something.

Hermione. . .



This is difficult for me. His eyes closed for a moment, remembering something. My past has made me, . . careful.

No, it's made you hopeless. Not of everything perhaps, but for yourself. I've been thinking about that particular bit of the prophecy you know.

Don't presume things about me.

I'm not. It's written down as clear as anything, well, almost anything. She had said this with her eyes firmly on the ground. She snatched his shoulders when he didn't answer, ready to give him a shake. She lifted her head. But he did not look mad or even annoyed, just pained. I didn't
mean. . . Hermione stammered.

Shh. I know you didn't, Remus whispered. You just had to have the nerve to be right.

Which of them first had the idea that a proper kiss was the way to end the conversation one couldn't say for certain.