The Phantom of Hogwarts
Back everyone! Wow, I finished HP six in fourteen hours! It was incredible! Just… the whole thing was absolutely fantastic. Obviously, this story doesn't go with the book, but us DM/HG fans can still dream can't we?
Disclaimer- Don't own a thing!
Chapter EightA warm breeze blew through Hermione's hair, waking her from her dreamless sleep. Inhaling deeply, she opened her eyes and took a look around. Warm wet grass beneath her tickled her bare skin as she sat up, letting the blanket that was covering her fall away. Still in her school uniform, though it was somewhat wet and disheveled, Hermione noticed that she had slept under a large oak tree on top of a hill.
Out on the horizon where the sun was just rising, Hogwarts Castle lay sleeping peacefully. The lake shimmered in the bright morning sun, and the trees of the Forbidden Forest swayed lightly in the breeze. Smoke was billowing out from the chimney of Hagrid's hut. It looked so picturesque that Hermione nearly forgot about the war and the events of the previous day.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
In all her excitement, Hermione had failed to notice that the Phantom, who was leaning behind her against the tree watching the sun come up.
"Yes…" she murmured, eyes fixed on Hogwarts. "Do you come here often?" she asked noticing a broomstick lying next to her.
"Whenever I cannot sleep." He said quietly. Hermione said no more, her mind was conscious of a million thoughts and memories long, long forgotten. Together they watched the sun rise in silence, both getting lost in their own memories.
The sun rose, and the Phantom stirred. "Come, we must return." He said summoning his broom. "Someone may see us." Hermione snapped out of her trance and came up behind the Phantom. Wrapping her arms around his waist, he kicked off from the ground and flew high into the rising sun. Hermione began to squint.
"I can't see… Sun… Eyes…" she tried to get out, but the sun was blinding her, and all she could concentrate on was the pain.
"They won't be able to see us either. Hang on, we're almost there." Hermione shut her eyes as tight as she could and buried her face in the Phantom's shoulder. Finally, a shadow came over them, and Hermione felt her feet touch ground. Opening her eyes, she saw that they were back in the room in which they had dinned together only a week ago. It was dark once more; the curtains had been drawn over the windows shrouding the room in darkness.
"Would it kill you to open the curtains once in a while?" Hermione asked looking at the dreary room with a bit of gloom.
"Yes it would." Answered the Phantom, not even taking a minute to think. He turned to look over at Hermione. To him she was as beautiful as ever, but he knew she must've been uncomfortable. Her uniform was damp with dew and a bit of mud. The tangled mess that was her hair was even more unruly than usual, and she was shivering slightly. "You must feel a bit awkward, but I cannot let you go now. Though, I can assure you, I'm not going to rape you or kill you."
The Phantom moved closer to Hermione, lifting her chin to him with his left index finger. "You'd come willing." Hermione was shocked and unable to speak. Her cheeks were burning as he added, "I can, however, make your stay in my humble abode more comfortable." Walking to the door, he pulled it open. "You'll find your room exactly how you left it, accept with some different clothes."
Hermione whispered her thanks and walked off to shower and clean herself. The path back to her room seemed strangely shorter than it had been that night. Was it nerves that had made it so long in her mind? Or had it all be an optical illusion? Whether it was or not, Hermione didn't care. The warm water caressing her flesh made her feel much better.
Waiting for her on her bed was a simple one-piece dress in opal. It was a skinny-strapped dress and came down to the floor, fanning out only a bit. Next to the beautiful dress was diamond-studded necklace. Hermione gasped and wondered where these gorgeous things had come from. Thinking it was probably better not to question, Hermione slipped on the dress and replaced the ruby rose necklace the Phantom had given her before with the new necklace. Silently, she made her way back to the Phantom, who was waiting in the other room at the table. A breakfast feast of French toast and Belgian waffles was spread out across the table, and the Phantom looked up at her, clearly pleased at her appearance.
Pulling out a blood red rose, the Phantom said, "A beautiful rose to enhance your beauty, madam." Hermione blushed and accepted the rose, placing it delicately behind her ear. The Phantom arose and pulled out her chair for her. She sat down, and the two began to eat their breakfast.
"How did you find out that information?" Hermione blurted out when she could take the silence no longer. The Phantom looked up from his plate.
"The walls do not keep secrets, my dear." He told her. Still, she did not let it die.
"Did someone tell you?"
"No."
"Please, tell me how you knew."
"If I told you that, I would have to tell you many other things which you are not ready to hear." He was silent for a moment. "Many things are not as they seem."
"Yes. I see you, but yet, I don't."
"And why is that?" he questioned.
"I see your figure silhouetted in the darkness, but not once have I ever had the chance to gaze upon your face. I don't even know your name…"
The Phantom thought for a moment, then answered quoting Shakespeare, "What's in a name? By which we call a rose would still smell as sweet?"
Finding no answer, Hermione simply replied, "Maybe." And went back to her breakfast. No other words were spoken until the two had eaten their last bite. The Phantom stood and faced Hermione.
"I'm afraid I have some business to attend to." He said. "It shall only take a fraction of the day, thankfully. By three, I shall return and come to fetch you." And without even a glance backward, the Phantom swept from the room and disappeared into a shadow. Hermione was left alone in the darkened room. Seeing no point in staying, she stood up and walked back to her room.
When she arrived, a book had been propped up against the pillows on her bed. It was Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Smiling, Hermione gracefully laid across the bed and immersed herself in one of her favorite books.
Meanwhile, the Phantom made his way across the castle draped in shadow. He had wondered it Harry Potter had actually taken the news seriously, even after Hermione had sent her letter. The quicker Voldermort was destroyed, the quicker he could leave this castle, which had become his prison.
The Phantom was just about to sneak into Professor Dumbledore's office when the sound of frantic footsteps could be heard behind him. Professor McGonagall was sprinting, as well as she could, up the corridor. Her face was flushed and looked very pale. Had Voldermort taken over the Ministry?
"Root beer popsicles! Root beer popsicles!" she shouted, and the stone gargoyle let her pass. The Phantom, unkown to her, snuck in right behind her, still cloaked in shadow.
Professor Dumbledore was sitting at his desk quietly, looking as though nothing life-threatening was happening at all and that this sort of thing happened everyday. Professor McGonagall was looking frantic as she ran up to his desk.
"Albus! They've arrived! The Death Eaters! They are the Ministry right now as we speak!" she said in an alarmed voice. "What are we going to do?"
"The Order, Minerva, is the only thing that can help us. They were dispatched there early this morning and have been waiting since." He explained. Professor McGonagall gasped.
"But… I don't… I mean I… how?"
"The Phantom of Hogwarts has been most helpful." At the mere mention of the name, Professor McGonagall paled once more.
"Surely you didn't sacrifice Hermione Granger to that monster?" Searching his face for an answer, she saw only a tired old man, trying to fight his way in this mixed-up world.
"We did not sacrifice her. She went on her own, before anyone could stop her." He added, "I think she has taken a liking to our phantom."
"The girl is anything but stupid. You know she has both Harry and Ron are protecting her like hawks. And don't think I haven't seen that Anthony Goldstein. Why just yesterday he couldn't keep his eyes off her. She would never fall for a man who kills, even if it was only a stupid cat. One day a cat, tomorrow a person!"
The Phantom slunk back deep into the shadows and left the office. A monster he had become, killing at will. Not only did he look like one, but he acted like one now too. How could Hermione ever love him like this anyway? She had Anthony. Feeling mad at himself and the world, the Phantom quietly summoned his broom, opened the nearest window, and flew out over the grounds and high into the mountains.
Unknown to the Phantom, someone had seen the Phantom. It was an accident that they had discovered him, and now they wished they hadn't. Seeing the deformed shape of the Phantom made his skin crawl. Scared and not sure of what to do, he sped off, telling everyone whom he met of the hideous creature he had seen, if only for a brief moment.
The clock next to Hermione's bed read five o' clock, but the Phantom had not returned. Hermione wondered what was taking so long for she longed to see her mysterious Phantom and under cover the truths. She didn't have time to dwell on the Phantom. Her favorite scene had come, and Hermione became fully engrossed in her reading.
"Oh Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love. And I'll no longer be a Capulet."
Suddenly, a deep voice was heard from the door, which had magically reappeared. "And shall I hear more, or shall I speak of this?"
"You're late." Hermione said looking up from her book. "But you have excellent taste in literature so you are forgiven." The Phantom smirked.
"I knew I would be." He replied arrogantly. "Come, we are going." Following like a faithful pet, Hermione climbed off the bed and followed the Phantom back to the tower room.
The sun was starting to set already, and a calm silence had fallen over Hogwarts Castle. Hermione believed that in everyone's anticipation, no one was doing much today. She could only hope for the best.
The Phantom opened the window to let the evening breeze in, but Hermione could see him reach for his broom. "You know I don't like flying." She said as he mounted and motioned for her to come forward.
"Yes, I know. This way I can scare you enough to stay on the broom and not leave my sight."
"You know I wouldn't leave you even if I could." She said walking closer and placing a hand on his shoulder. The contact sent electric shocks through his system, but the Phantom remained calm.
"We're leaving now." He whispered to her. Reluctantly, she wrapped her arms tightly around his torso, and he took off into the sky.
The sun had set, and the sky was filled with a beautiful display of color. Reds, oranges, yellows, and purples danced across the sky as the sun slow disappeared beyond the horizon. The Phantom flew straight into the sunset and landed in a small glade surrounded by towering trees, completely hidden from anyone's view of the castle. Across the soft grass was a checkered blanket with a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream on top of it.
"How did you know these were my favorite?" Hermione asked as they sat down on the blanket. The Phantom picked a strawberry, scooped some whipped cream onto it, and held it to her mouth. Carefully, Hermione took a bite and relished the sweet taste.
"I know many more things about you." Answered the Phantom. Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"What else do you know about me?" she asked playfully.
"I know that your favorite color is the glow of a simmering cauldron, whichever color it may be. Your favorite book is, of course, Romeo and Juliet. You love the smell of coffee, but could never drink it. And though you're Muggleborn, you're the smartest witch at Hogwarts, and have been for the past six years."
Hermione gazed at the Phantom in awe. "You know so much about me, but I know so little about you. Harry and Ron don't even knwo my favorite color."
"Some things are better left unsaid." Said the Phantom, feeding her another strawberry, which she accepted.
"But I want to know." She whispered when she had swallowed the strawberry. Crawling towards him, Hermione reached out and took is face in her palms. Her fingers traced his mask, and then leaned down, touching her lips to his. The Phantom immediately pulled her down on top of him and began to massage her shoulders. She opened her mouth to him, and his eager tongue slithered in like a serpant on the kill. Then without thinking, Hermione pulled away at the mask.
But the Phantom was too quick. He grabbed her wrist just as the mask slid off. "Damn you!" he shouted, getting up and hiding his face from her. "What do you think you're doing! What the hell did you think you were doing, you wench!" he bellowed. Hermione, however, showed no fear.
"I want to see you! Not the mask, what's behind the mask!"
"You cannot ever see what is behind this mask!" he shouted. "Never ever!" In his anger, the Phantom kicked over the bowl of strawberries and went off to stand at the edge of the glade. "I am a monster." He whispered.
Hermione took pity on the man. Standing up, she went and wrapped her arms around his torso. The Phantom, in his despair, did nothing, and let her hold him close. "Why can't you show me?" she whispered into his ear. "Please. I want to know you, to see you, touch you. But you keep shutting me out."
The Phantom sighed. "One day you will know. And on that day, I shall be gone. For now," The Phantom turned around and took Hermione in his arms. "Let's just enjoy what we have together." Rocking her back and forth, the Phantom began to sing into her ear, ever so softly.
Softly, deftlyMusic shall caress you
Hear it, feel it
Secretly posses you
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness that you know you cannot fight
The darkness of the music of the night
Hermione was bewitched by his beautiful voice. It soothed her soul and made her feel at peace. For these few precious moments, it was just her and her Phantom, alone in the world.
Let your mind starts a journey through a strange new world
Leave all thought of the life you knew before
Let your soul take you where you long to be
Only then can you belong to me
Floating, falling
Sweet intoxication
Touch me, trust me
Savor each sensation
Let the dream begin
Let your darker side give in
To the power of the music that I write
Together they sang the last line of the song.
The power of the music of the night
"It is late, my darling. We must get you back."
Hermione clung to his arm. "No, please. I want to stay with you." She whispered.
"You will be missed. Those idiots for whom you call friends will miss you." Hermione ignored his insult and allowed him to lead her back to where they had left the broom. They mounted once again and took off.
The Phantom flew to an open window right outside of Gryffindor Tower and let her down. Stealing on last passionate kiss, the Phantom flew off, leaving Hermione standing in the darkened corridor. She watched him until he was out of sight. Then with a heavey heart, Hermione trudged through the portrait hole and into Gryffindor Common Room.
It was not silent, as she had anticipated. On the contrary, the entire house was awake and having a blowout party. People were setting off fireworks, laughing, and singing. Hermione had never seen anything like it. Looking over the heads, she finally spotted Harry, Ron, Ginny, and the rest of the seventh year Gryffindors in a corner. Ginny saw her first and ran up to her and hugged her.
"Hermione, we did it! We stopped Voldermort form taking over the Ministry!" she shouted into Hermione's ear. Hermione's eyes lit up, and she happily joined her friends, who were too busy celebrating to ask her what had happened to the Phantom. By morning, they would be questioning her for hours. So Hermione flopped down on a couch and enjoyed her free moments, looking forward to that not so distant day when she wound finally see that man behind the mask.
Back in the glade, the Phantom sat quietly looking up at the stars. Shooting stars were flying across the sky. Voldermort hasn't gotten the Ministry, he thought to himself while smirking up at the heavens. Hermione was safe another day. That night, the Phantom made a vow to himself to protect her no matter what happened. After all, people always did crazy things when they were in love.
You alone can make my song take flightHelp me make the music of the night
A/N: Here it is at last! Thank you so much for reading and your kind, encouraging reviews. I do appreciate your constructive criticism too. I don't know what I'd do without it. Thanks again!
Running Amuck,
RonFan