Disclaimer: I own neither Merlin nor Harry Potter.

Snippet Three

Title: Of Betrayed Feelings and Misunderstandings

Now they've done it.

They've really angered the brightest witch of her age.

"Hermione!"

"Hermione stop, please!"

"Hermione!"

The warlock and his prince keep pleading for her to wait but she wouldn't listen, leaving them chasing after her in the woods on their way back to Camelot.

With her help, they were able to come to an agreement with Merienne and her family of sorcerers. The brunette even managed to exceed their expectations and made the sorceress see her reasoning for why it should be a crime to use magic to take control of someone's mind and actions.

But now that they have finished all diplomatic work, it was time to face the internal conflict that was obviously making a dent in their confidence to one another.

Merlin couldn't really blame their new found friend for being hurt that they've tried to exclude her on something she has proven herself very good at. In fact, if he can only get her to listen, he was just about willing to kneel to be forgiven.

"Hermione, please stop! We only want to talk!" Arthur has now resorted to begging, scowling when he almost tripped on a rock, much to Merlin's amusement.

"And I don't want to!" yelled the brunette without stopping, shuffling through trees and bushes, already twenty steps ahead but still determined to be even farther away from them. "So just leave me alone, will you?"

The warlock yelped when a branch scratched his cheek, and he glared as the blonde murmured his favorite nickname for him.

"Idiot."

Merlin growled. "Arthur, now is not the time-"

The prince raised his hands, secretly pleased for the chance to start a friendly banter if only to momentarily forget the obvious tension that was only growing with each passing second.

But the thought was quick to fade and they froze in track when she suddenly turned, eyes narrowed and cheeks flushed.

In quick angry strides, she had easily closed the distance between them.

Arthur would have sighed in relief if he didn't see the tears streaming down her face. Beside him, Merlin felt like he'd been hit by a ball of fire.

"Hermione-" they tried to console, stepping forward, only to have her stepping back.

The witch huffed when she was certain they wouldn't try again. "Look, I'm not delusional. I know we only just met," she admitted tiredly, before sighing as she raised a hand to tug at her massive curls that had only gotten even frizzier with the amount of time she'd been spending in the past. They both look ready to argue but she only raised a wide open palm to stop them and let her finish speaking.

"I just thought that in the short length of time I've stayed with you, I have proven myself enough to show that I'm on your side and would never try to harm you. I thought that I made it clear I would do everything in my knowledge and power to aid you and the future you are trying to build. But then, when I am not looking, you have the guts to hide my wand and face magical dangers without me…" she paused to let the words sink in, hating herself for having to say them in the first place. How she hated being vulnerable.

"So tell me, what is your problem with me? Do you not trust me? Is that it? Do you not-" she was struggling to phrase the words, they could tell.

Both tried to reach for her but Arthur pulled her first, and was quick to murmur comforting words while rubbing soothing circles on her back.

Hermione wanted to just allow herself to melt in his warmth, but knew that she couldn't, not when there were a lot of things to be said.

"Hermione, no. Nothing is wrong with you. We trust you. We didn't mean to hurt you. We just weren't thinking. It isn't your fault. "

"Arthur, please let me go," she said, pulling away from him.

Ever the gentleman, the prince did as she asks albeit not willingly.

"You have to know it isn't your fault," he insisted, determined to make her believe him, a bad move he would soon realize when she screamed, the force of her magic causing the air to shift before a huge circle of power blasted out of her and pushed everything and everyone that tries to approach her ten meters back.

"THEN WHY AM I NOT ENOUGH?"

Merlin was quick to react and conjure a barrier to shield himself and Arthur.

They watched as mortification dawn on her face for her accidental outburst. Merlin hated himself even more, knowing that she would only blame herself when it was obviously their fault.

"Hermione-" they tried again but it was like she couldn't hear them, so lost in her own pain and guilt.

It hurts, the witch thought. I really want to go back home, but I can't...and now my friends don't even trust me to fight on their side...

Tears of betrayal would not stop blurring her vision but she refuses to look at them any longer.

"You know if you don't really feel comfortable having me around, you could have just told me. I would never fault you for being honest. I just hate that I put you in the position where you had to lie to my face. I was wrong to think that I've finally been accepted as one of you guys," she forced on a smile that made them want to cringe. It looks so wrong on her pretty face that they had learned to associate with genuine beauty and charm.

Her eyes that were glued on the ground moved to meet Merlin's first.

Taking a deep breath, she said, "My offer still stands. If you need me, just send the word and I'll come. It truly is an honor and a pleasure to know you Merlin." Then turning to Arthur, she says, "And Arthur, thank you for everything. Please tell your father he's been a very good host, and I would do everything I can to repay him and Gaius. For now though, I think it's best if I leave. You've all made it perfectly clear that I'm not wanted here and there's really nothing else I could do about it, so I'm going to stop now. I truly am grateful for everything you have done for me and I would never forget your kindness. But I understand now...so I'm not going to try and convince you to feel something you obviously don't have for me."

Arthur paled. "What are you trying to say?"

Hermione released a shaky laugh. "I'm saying this is goodbye."

She smiled at them, one last sad smile, before she disappeared as quick just as she had come.

Arthur's knees buckled beneath him and he fell, the sheath of his sword making a clanging noise as it hits the ground. But this time, Merlin was lost in his own shock and remorse that he didn't even notice him.

"What just happened?"

A/N: Review if you love it :) I am not sure if I'm playing it right but I just want to play with the characters' emotions. I am still trying to understand them, you see. So, what do you think?