Disclaimer: Haven't you figured it out by now?
A/N: Sorry it took so long to update. I got sick and didn't feel up to writing. Well, here it is. Oh and by the way, if you get the chance, go see Van Helsing! It's the best movie ever besides Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter! What are you waiting, read, review, and go see the movie!
Hermione, Ron, Liz, Jeremy and Mika were all sitting in the cargo cart conversing in low tones. Ron held Hermione tight to him and pointed to the map that Mika, being the only one who could still use magic, had drawn so it mimicked the train and its location.
"So," he began, "were are we now?"
"Witches pass, known to muggles as the Himalayans." Mika said.
"You know quite a lot for a six year old!" Jeremy said in awe.
"Well," Mika said with a slight smile tugging at her lips, "I'm only six in faerie years. In human years, I'm fifty six."
"Everyone except Hermione gaped at Mika. Hermione tutted in her bossy way. "Didn't any of you read, "Flying with Faeries? It clearly states in chapter 6 that faeries live for over 800 years! Ron, you should have since it's required for our sixth year reading."
"Hermione, do you really think that I would have read a book during the summer?" he asked sleepily. "I mean to say, you've known me for what, six years now. Do you really think that I'm a bookworm?"
"OFF TOPIC!" Liz yelled over the playful bickering. She turned back to Mika. "So where do you suppose their taking us?"
Mika shrugged. "I don't know. I'm guessing that their taking us to some sort of Death eater camp. At least, that's what I heard them say."
"That sounds reasonable." Jeremy said wisely. "I've heard of places like that. Sound's like torture!"
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"Well," he said softly, "word has it that they take you to a camp where they first brand you like the ministry would a wild hippogriff. Then, they would make you work for them, as muggles. If you disagree with them or do something they don't like, you're a goner!"
All the faces in the room went pale. Mika broke the feared silence by yawning and rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"Lets call it a night." Ron said, looking at Mika.
The others nodded and soon, Liz, Hermione and Mika were gone into the other cart and Ron and Jeremy were alone in the cart. Ron sat down on one side of the haystack, Jeremy on the other.
"Well," Ron said breaking the awkward silence.
"Well." Jeremy said back.
Ron turned to face Jeremy, eagerness written all over his freckled face. "Do you like Liz?"
"Yeah," Jeremy said. "She's my best friend."
"No, no, no, not like that." Ron shook his head. "I mean," he lowered his voice. "do you like her as more than a friend?"
Jeremy blushed almost as bad as Ron. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes you do!" Ron grinned. "And you do like her!"
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
"Alright! So what if I do?" Jeremy spat. "So what if she's the only one I've ever truly loved?" he bowed his head. "She'll never know anyway."
Ron put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. Something tells me that she knows already."
"What?" Jeremy said quickly.
Ron pointed over Jeremy's shoulder. He wheeled around to face a teary eyed Liz and a grinning Hermione who was holding Mika's small hand. Jeremy went pale and began babbling incoherently. Before he could say anything else, however, Liz ran over to him and threw her arms around his neck. Words were not needed. Jeremy hugged her back and they walked out of the room and into the next cart.
Ron sighed and sat down on the hay. Hermione walked over to him and sat next to him. Hermione lay her head on his shoulder and said softly, "Aren't they so cute together!"
Ron smiled and kissed her forehead. "Goodnight you evil little witch!"
She grinned back and went over to the opposite haystack where Mika had run to seconds before. Ron grinned and fell back on the hay, desperate for sleep, but then he heard a voice soar throughout the room. He looked around in the dim light from the moon and saw Hermione, singing to Mika. He listened to her magical voice fly through his ears.
Sound the Bugle now play it just for me
As the seasons change remember how I used to be
Now I can't go on I can't even start
I've got nothing left just an empty heart
The more Ron listened, he realized that she was singing a story to Mika. He guessed it was the story of getting captured and taken to the place they were now.
I'm a soldier wounded so I must give up the fight
There's nothing more for me lead me away...
Or leave me lying here
Ron could feel the misery in Hermione's voice and his heart flew out to her, trying to heal her pain.
Sound the bugle now tell them I don't care
There's not a rode I know that leads to anywhere
Without a light I fear that I will stumble in the dark
Lay right down decide not to go on
She was singing of the train ride: the constant darkness, the unknown path she's taking, the fact that she believes that she must die to escape the pain and sorrow of the train. Ron stood up and walked over to her. She sang more but this time, with Ron's hand on her shoulder, it was a new tone. More optimistic.
Then from on high somewhere in the distance
There's a voice that calls remember who you are
If you loose yourself your courage soon will follow
So be strong tonight remember who you are
By then, Mika was fast asleep, her small hand curled under her wavy hair. Ron and Hermione walked back to the haystack and lay down as Hermione sang the last verse of the tale.
Ya you're a soldier now fighting in a battle
To be free once more...
Ya that's worth fighting for
I felt that i needed to inlclude a small songfic in their so here it is. It's from Spirit, Stallion of the Cimmaron and its called Sound the Bugle. R/R!