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Settings, stories, characters are all cannon, set in an AU, from a different POV!
Disclaimer: It all belongs to J K Rowling, apart from the obvious changes
Chapter Sixteen: The King
"Did you find her then?" Ron was lying upon his bed, facing up towards the canopy above him, staring at it intently, glaring, fiery eyed.
"Sir?" Hermione looked up at him confusedly from the floor where she was busily collecting his shoes and robes together, of which he had tossed lazily upon the floor as he had entered the room, leaving a crumpled mess for her to clear.
"Carla. You know the one you went looking for?" He sat up suddenly and swung his legs around the side of the bed, pulling his shirt rather acrimoniously out of his trousers and loosening his tie a little.
"Oh...Er no. Couldn't find her anywhere." Hermione shifted herself a little, placing her back towards him, pretending to busy herself with relacing his shoes, even though they did not need doing.
"You checked thoroughly did you?" He asked her, his voice sounding dangerous as he glared at her.
"Um...yes?" Her insides were beginning to shake violently, her stomach threatening to reject its contents as she tried to speak in her normal, confident tone, hoping that her Master would drop the conversation. A sudden whipping sound caught her attention as he dragged his tie from around his neck and held it taught in his hands, staring over at her threateningly.
"Where?" Almost frozen in her place, she managed to strain out,
"The usual places." She hoped to avoid his questions further, wondering how his attitude had changed so vastly since that morning in the Library.
"I said...where?" He repeated himself, almost as a deadly whisper.
"Um, the kitchens," She blurted out, panic having set in fully, "The bathroom. Here of course-" Counting places off on her fingers, trying to make herself seem convincing.
"Then how is it that you did not find her?" He stuck across her, cutting her speech in two, leaving her mouth gaping wide. He stood up, his tie still taught in his hands, and walked over to her, kneeling by her side, obviously aware of her suddenly flushed face.
"S-sir?" She mumbled as he put his arms over her head, his tie looping the back of her neck tightly as he dragged her ever closer towards his face.
"She was here when I returned, had been for hours. I even sent her to find you herself. So how is it that you missed her?" He asked, almost flippantly, watching her head shift downwards her eyes glued to her hands. She was struggling desperately now, her chest tight and heaving, knowing that the game was up for her,
"I...I...Master, I-"
"I can tell you exactly why." He gave his tie a yank and her face crashed into his shoulder, yet he ignored this, instead taking her chin in one hand and dragging her so that her eyes faced his directly, "You went to see him again didn't you? Tell me the truth, NOW!"
"What?" Her head exploded in pain as her earrings practically shot her, sending shock waves coursing through her entire body, towards her fingertips and toes. Unable to control herself, she shoved him as hard as she could, falling backwards in a crumpled heap," NO!"
"Oh but you did. I saw everything. Think you can get away from me that easily do you?" He made a grab for her wrist and dragged her back into him, squeezing her as hard as he could, seeing her squirm.
"It's not even like that!" She was sobbing slightly, not wanting him at all to misunderstand her intentions. She did not and had never wanted to leave him, yet she knew he would not believe her. Not know that she had betrayed him.
"Then what is it like Hermione? Tell me now, I'm dying to know." Another blast of pain and she was full on crying in front of him, something she had never wanted to do again, knowing he was seeing her weak and fragile. Taking large dragging breaths, she managed to squeeze out,
"I was saying we can't meet any more!" Yet even her tears and her pleading could not quash his anger. He faltered only temporarily, seeming to argue with himself as to whether he was in his right to treat her in such a way, or whether he had some redemption at reducing her to tears for her betrayal.
"Oh, but it's perfectly alright for him to buy you from me is it?" Trying desperately to drag her upwards, supporting her entire body weight as she was collapsing under herself, unaware of the internal pain she was feeling, considering her a ridiculously overactive hypochondriac.
"I said it to him, and I'll say it to you. I'm yours! I'm not going to be bought by anyone! I WANT to stay with you!" He flinched suddenly, backing away from her and letting her fall away from him. His face was pale and gaunt, drenched in shock, disgust or regret, perhaps all of them as she stared up at him, watery eyed and sniffling slightly. No longer able to look at her, his eyes shifted from side to side, his mouth opening and closing slightly, clearly trying to ignore her now silent piercing gaze, her cheeks still shining with her tears. Dragging a hand through his ruffled hair he exhaled deeply and made a sudden rush for the door. Dragging it open, he was surprised to see a shocked Harry in front of him, having just been about to open the door himself.
"Alright mate? Where did you rush off to?" He asked innocently as Ron pushed his way past, only pausing slightly as Harry pushed passed him simultaneously.
"Nowhere. Just needed to sort some stuff." Looking to the floor, he seemed to make a sudden decision, turning back to face the room, looking past Harry who was looking at him bemusedly, and to Hermione, whose eyes were still burning into him. Speaking darkly, he coarsely croaked, "You are forbidden from speaking to him ever again. You dare to disobey me, and you will wish you had never learnt of the qualities of magic. I am not losing anyone else." With that he slammed the door behind him, leaving both of them confused. Wiping her eyes a little, she turned to Harry as he crossed the room to his bed, throwing his bundle of books onto his duvet,
"Anyone else? I don't understand." Looking around at her, seemingly unsure if she was speaking aloud or addressing him directly. Deciding upon the latter, he chose not to look at her, instead speaking into his bed.
"Fred and George. They've left. Blew up the Great Hall earlier today after the Charms exam." Silence enveloped them as she crawled over to her Master's bed and scuttled up onto it, gathering the sheets around her a little as she tucked her knees under her chin.
"He's not lost them though, not really." She whispered, barely audible to Harry, who strained to catch her words fully. Straightening himself up, he turned around to face her, a slight exasperated look upon his face.
"He's in a very dark place right now. Best not to aggravate him." He turned away from her again, before jolting suddenly and whipping back around to face her. "Er, Hermione? Could you do me a favour? On Friday?" She looked at him questioningly, not really knowing whether she should agree to anything she was clueless about. Yet she had always felt an element of trust towards the dark haired, bespectacled boy, feeling a warmth from within him that she could almost touch.
"Master Harry?" She asked, her head lifting to look at him properly, despite how uncomfortable he looked.
"Look, I know Ron will probably want you to come and watch him, but I need you to come with me. I'd take Carla...but you know what she's like. Not that reliable." Looking very guilty, he searched her face for some kind of retribution for insulting Carla in such a way. Yet she smiled, knowing exactly what he meant, nodding in approval. His face filled with relief and he began nodding himself, "Thanks Hermione."
~x~x~x~
Hermione giggled a little as Ginny finished retelling her latest attempt upon Lavender's life by trying to shove her off of the top of the astronomy tower the previous night. To her great disapproval she had been unsuccessful after being cornered by Professor Sinistra and given a detention later that week, despite Lavender's demands of expulsion. "Personally, I think she wants rid of her too, or I would have got something much worse." Hermione smiled widely, almost wanting the Professor to have snuck back and shoved Lavender herself.
"Why would that be?" She asked genuinely, not able to think of a plausible reason as to why a teacher should despise their student so.
"Well, Brown's a total Trelawney arse kisser, thinks divination is better and more accurate than Astrology." They both recoiled in disgust, positively outraged at the ridiculous notion of divination being a reliable source of magical knowledge. Hermione gave a huge sigh,
"She's so retarded. She'll be slagging off Arithmancy next." Laughing slightly at her own joke, she barely noticed Ginny's face of disbelief as she flopped back onto the small patch of grass they were sat upon. The two of them had been sat upon a hill by the Quidditch Pitch, overlooking the two stone entrance towers for barely an hour when the young ginger haired girl had crumpled up the parchment she had been feverishly scribbling upon, screaming at it, blaming the inanimate object for her own failings. They had easily fallen into conversation, seemingly forgetting their positions, appearing more as friends to an unwitting outsider. Hermione almost felt as though she was able to tell her companion what had happened to her recently, express all that had happened with Ron, her worries over Viktor. Turning towards Ginny, she raised an inquisitive eyebrow,
"You think she isn't? She believes in all that prophecy crap completely." Both smiling widely, they barely noticed Harry had walked over to them until he was stood next to them, waving manically.
"Hermione!" He said with a wide smile, and Ginny suddenly shot up into a seated position, looking flustered and red.
"Master Harry?" Hermione gave him a wide smile, standing up to greet him.
"The match is in an hour and a half, I want you to meet me then by Hagrid's hut. Got it?" He said hurriedly, looking directly at her, almost ignoring Ginny completely,
"Yes Sir, of course Sir." He placed a hand upon her shoulder flippantly, not thinking how he must look, only suddenly noticing Ginny glaring at the two of them. He patted her shoulder a little, to which she looked at him awkwardly.
"Good girl. I appreciate this. I really do." Shuffling on his feet a little, not sure whether he should stay and create an even further awkward situation or leave to save face. Seemingly deciding the latter, he turned, taking a few steps before turning back around to face them, "Oh, and good luck Ginny, I know you'll do great." She burned red, an awkward smile crossing her face as he turned his back on them. As soon as he was out of earshot, she rounded viciously on Hermione,
"Where are you going with him?" She demanded, her fists clenched tightly in her direction. Shock spread over Hermione's face, noting how she was just as temperamental as her brother.
"I don't know." She said honestly, trying to convey this in her face as much as she could do, yet it seemed as though it did not persuade her.
"Yes you do. You tell me now!" Ginny demanded of her, inching closer and closer to Hermione, regardless of her obvious recoil.
"I don't! He asked me to go somewhere with him!" She persisted, seeing her Mistress's face twist further, anger rising within her, jealously clearly evident in her venomous tone. Drawing herself back, she folded her arms securely, her lips pursed tightly as she muttered,
"Why would he ask someone like you anywhere?" Clearly wanting Hermione to hear her, they then fell into silence as she sat deep in thought, her eyes flicking from her to the spot Master Harry had recently exited. No longer confused about what was happening, she bit her lip hard, daring to take a chance in order to make a friendship with the young girl, risking severe punishment, breaking their silence,
"When will you tell him?" She asked lightly, seeing Mistress Ginny's head shoot upwards.
"What?" She asked spitefully, glaring over at her once more.
"Master Harry...you should tell him how you feel." Ginny's face drained of colour, stumbling over her own words a little before going on the defensive,
"He wouldn't...I don't feel anything for him! How dare you suggest such a thing!" She half screamed, shocking Hermione, who recoiled slightly, fearful of an oncoming slap,
"I'm sorry Mistress! I just, well it seems as though...never mind." Suddenly abandoning her previously brave attempts at stimulation a response in the young girl. Squirming a little under her gaze, she did not notice as Ginny leant backwards, her eyes glued to the floor, her eyes looking a little wet.
"Is...is it really that obvious?" She whispered, Hermione looking over to her suspiciously, and then sympathetically as her face had fallen desperately.
"A little..." She said, shuffling forwards, unsure of whether to place a hand upon her shoulder, to hug her, or to simply stay sat close by. Without warning Ginny threw herself at Hermione, almost sobbing into her,
"Oh Hermione! What do I do? He thinks I'm his sister!" Even more unsure of what to do now, instead patting her on the head and pushing her away lightly,
"You'd be surprised." Her Mistress seemed to cheer up instantly, her tears fade and a smile start to appear. "He really likes you, if that's not too bold to say." She looked appreciatively towards Hermione, who smiled back, seemingly about to continue when a loud shout interrupted them,
"Oi, 'Mione!" Bellowed Ron, who was making his way up the hill towards them, already dressed in his Quidditch kit, minus his broom and hat. Springing to her feet she spun around quickly and ran towards him a little.
"Master!" Flinging herself to the floor in panic, she knelt swiftly and bowed widely to him, her face mashed into the grass sloppily.
"Get up!" Blushing scarlet he bent down towards her, dragging her up by the crook of her elbow, muttering, "So embarrassing." Taking her back up towards a now standing Ginny, who casually punched him in the stomach, laughing as she went.
"We ready to go?" She asked casually collection her remaining scraps of parchment and quill.
"Yeah, we need to get warmed up as soon as really," Looking from his sister, over to an obviously still awkward feeling Hermione, he seemed to have an internal battle, wandering whether he had any right to demand anything of her after the way he had last spoken to her, not knowing whether she would even want to speak to him again. "Er, look, um, come and see me today won't you? I know...I know I'm no good, but it'd be nice to see you there." He said hurriedly, his face not lifting from its downward direction as he began to busily push Ginny down the hill before him,
"Sir?" She asked after him, though he did not respond, nor even look back at her, giving her no chance to explain she would not be able to attend. Yet Ginny did turn her head backwards in warning, though she did not stop walking,
"Oh and Hermione! Your own feelings, they would be too bold to say!"
~x~x~x~
"Sir? If I could ask, where are we going?" Hermione looked up to Harry, who was walking swiftly beside her in the direction of a small wooden cabin on the edge of the grounds after having bumped into one another exiting the castle.
"Not a clue." Came his bewildered reply, confusing Hermione further.
"But...Hagrid!" She cried suddenly, running towards a giant of a man, twice as tall and three times as wide, who had come striding out of the door of the hut, slamming it behind him. Turning to face the facem, a smile broke through from beneath his mangled long mane of shaggy black hair and beard that had often threatened to take over his light skinned face, leaving space only for his nose and dark eyes that glinted like small black beetles.
"Alrigh' there 'ermione?" Hagrid asked cheerfully, pulling on an exceptionally large moleskin overcoat that pertained several pockets, no doubt full of strange and curious artefacts, and then picking up a loaded crossbow. From behind the house trudged a largely oversized boarhound who was slobbering slightly, panting heavily, and giving a sudden greeting with a loud, booming bark. Fang the dog had not been the only pet Hagrid had been known to have, and was normal by anyone's standards in comparison to his previous animals, which had included Norbert the dragon and Aragog the Acromantula. She shivered at the thought of these dangerous creatures and of those that lived within the forest, no doubt the reason for Hagrid's use of protection. She knelt down and began busily stroking the huge dog, who wagged his tail happily, dribbling over her.
"Fang! Hey there boy, it's been far too long!" She said cheerfully, though busily and nervously eyeing the weapon her was no wielding, clearly having reservations about what she had agreed to.
"'arry? Yer ready ter go then?" Both males giving a nod in agreeance, they turned towards the forest, Harry dragging Hermione alongside him, pushing her forwards a little. Opening her mouth a little, ready to question their situation, she closed it quickly, seeing Master Harry's blank and staring face.
"Yeah, just, let's just go Hermione. No questions." She nodded a little, her fear evident upon her face as she trembled a little, despite Hagrid's attempt at his cheery nature.
"Alrigh' then. Better be off in then!" Pushing his way into the forest, the two youngsters quickly followed, not wanting to be left behind in such a frightening place where danger could be watching them from around any corner. Walking for what seemed like an eternity, she was becoming more and more nervous, jumping at every turn, every noise. A loud snapping sounded through their silence and she shot into Harry, her head whipping from side to side manically.
"What's that? I can hear something!" She panicked, Harry trying to shove her forwards whilst trying to calm her at the same time, patting her back gently.
"Calm down. Hold my hand. You'll be okay." Squeezing his digits as tightly as she could Hermione clung to him, internally scolding herself for being so afraid over what appeared to be nothing at all.
"Not much further now. Jus' a bit further." Hagrid grunted from in from of them as they pushed on, the trees growing taller, thicker and denser around them, the darkness creeping over them. As silence followed, Hermione drew her mind from their situation, instead focusing upon who she was with.
"Sir." She asked Harry tentatively, as he looked down at her, clearly expecting another hysterical outbreak. "I need to say Sir."
"What?" He sighed heavily, almost making her regret her decision to play matchmaker.
"I...I think Mistress Ginevra likes you." He stopped abruptly, almost swallowing himself, looking as though she had attempted to shove an entire aubergine into his nostril.
"Don't be mad Hermione. Why would you pos-..." He flustered over his words, shaking his head violently, focusing of what was before him, suddenly cutting himself off s his mouth fell open. She whipped her head in the direction he was looking and gave a loud, shocking, piercing shriek that echoed throughout the forest as she was suddenly swept off of her feet, high into the air, just catching Harry whipping out his wand as she ascended.
"Shhh! Nar don't be frightening 'im!" Came a booming cry from beneath her as Hagrid waved his dustbin lid sized hands up at her. She froze in fear, staring at the creature that now held her suspended high in the trees. A giant, with light skin and green-brown eyes was staring back at her, his large hands holding onto Hermione's lower body tightly as he inspected her carefully. Squirming slightly, she managed to breathe out,
"Hagrid...what is it?" Her voice was high pitched and wailing, almost pleading with Master Harry to save her from such a creature.
"Look, Yeh know Umbridge's bin lookin' fer a chance ter get rid of me ever since I got back. I don' wan' ter go, o' course, but if it wasn' fer ... well ... See - he's my brother! I brought 'im back after goin' ter see the giants an' all, an' - an' taught him a few manners - I'd be able ter take him outside an' show ev'ryone he's harmless!" He rambled off flippantly, as though it were a perfectly normal and simply thing to do, acceptable in modern society. Hermione simply stared down at him, her mouth wide open, unable to speak.
"Hagrid, when you say 'brother'," said Harry slowly, not lowering his wand, but eyeing Hagrid accusingly, "Do you mean-...?"
"Well, half brother," amended Hagrid, "Turns out me mother took up with another giant when she left me dad, an' she went an' had Grawp here..."
"Grawp?" Hermione asked, almost hysterically, trying to keep herself as calm as she possibly could.
"Yeah...well, tha's what it sounds like when he says his name," Hagrid replied anxiously, though still trying to remain cheerful. "He don' speak a lot o' English...I've bin tryin' ter teach him...he's a bit on the runty side fer a giant...on'y sixteen foot..."
"Oh, yes, tiny!" Her panic-stricken sarcasm screeching through, "Absolutely minuscule!" Flinging his arms out, Hagrid tried justifying himself, calling up to her,
"He was bein' kicked aroun' by all o' them, I jus' couldn' leave him, I need someone ter look after 'im when I'm gone. Jus' fer visitin' purposes like." Looking towards Harry, who was slowly lowering his wand as Hermione was suddenly rushed towards the floor and then released a few feet from the ground. With a small shriek she flopped onto some soft moss and then shot towards Harry, hiding behind him.
"That'll be all? No feeding of any weird stuff?" Harry said slowly, not replacing his wand fully, eyes flicking between half-giant and giant alike.
"No!" Hagrid almost pleaded, what could be seen of his face crushed with desperation. Harry battled with himself silently, yet is was Hermione who spoke,
"We...we could help out. I suppose." She said shakily, trying to drag herself from behind Master Harry and look at Hagrid fully, and then towards Grawp, feeling slightly sorry for the young giant, an outcast from his own society, just as she was from her own.
"Yeah...Though we should be getting back." Harry agreed slowly, dragging Hermione back into him. Hagrid broke out into a large smile, almost wishing them away as quickly as possible so that they could not withdraw their offer of help.
"Yeah...yer can find yer way back now can't yer?" He asked rapidly, turning back to Grawp and giving a large thumbs up, which he thought he had disguised perfectly but was clearly seen by both teenagers.
"Yes..." Harry said clearly, beginning to drag her away from the two of them, still slightly in shock. "Come on Hermione." She nodded a little, following him in silence as they trudged back in the direction that they had come, as quickly as they possibly could.
"Hagrid..." She whispered, still reeling, not really understanding fully what she had just done, "What the hell have we agreed to Master Harry?" She looked up at him fearfully, yet calmed as his face lightened a little as they reached the edge of the forest.
"Hopefully something we won't regret." He said, rather optimistically, attempting to smile at her. As they reached the clearing of the Thestrals, a barely audible chant reached them, floating over the trees and towards them,
"What is that?" Hermione asked, though already knowing exactly where it was coming from.
"Weasley is our king!" The words echoed over both of them, sadness enveloping them. She could feel her heart break as she recognised the words. Clasping a hand to her mouth she gave a sob of sadness,
"No...Ron..." Rushing forwards she headed for the edge of the forest, followed closely by Master Harry. Breaking through the forest and out into the grounds, they both headed towards the pitch, which was now swarming with people who were busily exiting the ground, the chanting reverberating towards them. Stopping short, Harry pulled her back sharply and confusedly,
"Hermione..." He said slowly, listening carefully. The song was growing louder by the second, issuing from a large group of people that were not clad in silver and green, but rather a mass of red and gold who were moving slowly towards the castle, bearing a solitary figure upon their many shoulders.
"Weasley can save anything,
He never leaves a single ring,
That's why Gryffindors all sing:
Weasley is our King!"
"Wait..." Said Hermione in a hushed voice, the pieces slowly slotting into place as her eyes fixed onto the boy held high in the crowd.
"YES!" Cried Master Harry loudly from beside her, pulling her towards the crowd. Her Master yelled down at them,
"HARRY! 'MIONE!" Waving the silver Quidditch cup in the air, looking quite beside himself and overly pleased with their appearance. "WE DID IT! WE WON!" They beamed up at him as he passed, Hermione feeling as though her heart would explode with pride for him. Heading back up towards the castle, there was a scrum at the great door and her Master's head got rather badly bumped on the lintel causing him to cry out in pain, but nobody in the crowd seemed to want to put their victor down. Still singing, the crowd squeezed itself into the Entrance Hall and then out of sight, no doubt heading for their Common Room. Harry and Hermione watched them go, beaming, until the last echoing strains of 'Weasley is our King' died away. Then they turned to each other, their smiles fading, just as the sun on the horizon, both not wanting to ruin his glorious moment with Grawp's existence.
"Tomorrow, I'll tell him. Best to keep this from Carla though. It may kill her." He looked to Hermione who gave him a weary nod, beginning to climb the stairs after him. At the front doors both instinctively looked back at the Forbidden Forest, perhaps with fear or anticipation. Hermione was not sure whether or not it was her imagination, but she rather thought she saw a small cloud of birds erupting into the air over the tree tops in the distance, almost as though the tree in which they had been nesting had just been pulled up by the roots.
Reaching the Portrait hole, they gave the password and then stepped inside, side by side, greeted by a roar from all of Gryffindor that had packed themselves into the Common Room. Ron was collapsed in an armchair, busy being congratulated by various students, who were also bringing him drinks, or offering him their slaves for a week in return for his help in winning them the cup. Looking towards Harry her gave her a little shove in his direction, giving him a petite smile.
"Sir?" She said, looking over her shoulder and towards a corner where Mistress Ginny was stood, busily retelling her feelings during the match to a group of thoroughly excited first years. "Perhaps Mistress Ginevra needs a little more praise than she's getting credit for?" He gave her a slight nod and then looked over her head, turning slightly red, and then walking in that general direction, trying to act normal as he did so, though failing miserably. She chuckled a little as she made her way over to her Master, laying her eyes upon his grinning face with a soft smile upon hers. He didn't realise she was coming towards him until she knelt right before him and placed her head lightly upon one of his knees. Opening his eyes lazily, he looked down at her as she stared up at him, her eyes large and staring. Smiling a bit, he lent his head backwards once more and towards the high ceiling, closing his eyes.
"Too bad you didn't see me today eh, 'Mione?" She lifted her head a little as he spoke softly to her, barely audible over the roar of the rest of Gryffindor. About to argue her case, to try and defend herself against any impending punishment. Yet he spoke before she could, surprising her a little as she lowered her head back onto his knee. Feeling his hand upon her head,
"Never mind, next time." She did not know whether to be pleased or not with his response, despite feeling very awkward in his presence, having not discussed any of their last argument with anyone, she felt a certain resolution as she lay there, not caring if anyone stared at their strange behaviour, feeling suddenly lifted. "'Mione?" He suddenly asked, not moving as she lifted herself upwards.
"Sir?" She inquired, looking suddenly complacent, not minding anything that he would ask of her.
"Go fetch me some food will you?" He breathed, causing a small smile to fall over her face,
'Typical...' She thought happily, rising to her feet, "Yes Sir." Beginning to walk past him, intent upon making her way to his room and taking the heater down to the kitchens. Yet he took hold of her wrist, suddenly but gently, and she looked back to him, still sat in the same position, but with eyes wide open and staring up at her.
"And 'Mione." He almost mouthed, his voice soft and quiet,
"Sir?" She asked kindly, seeing his face a mix of obvious euphoria and of pain.
"I'm sorry."
Japan's Arc Angel x
