Thank you once again to everyone who reviewed. This is the most reviews I've ever gotten on a story.

Hermy: thanks for the suggestion. I decided to do this more from Hermione's view. And I managed to do it without giving anything away.

Lady Paine: I hope this clears thing up a bit. But if you're still confused, then e-mail me and I'll try to clear things up as best I can. The e-mail is listed on the profile page, just make sure you address it to Naoku.

paprika90: well, here's the chapter you asked for. I'm may do that, but I want to try not to give too much away. It would ruin the surprise!

Kigomae: she didn't bitten or did she? You'll just have to see.

MissAurora14DP: Does she seem odder now?

Miranda-Ashley: I hope they will. I've only got a sketchy outline going so we'll just have to see where this story leads.

Liza: don't worry, I am.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 2

Hermione stepped away from the carriage into the mists that had given this forest its name: Aqumis. Here, the mist was always thick, bordering fog, and to get lost was ridiculously easy, even if you followed the path perfectly. Hermione walked firmly forward, carrying herself like she had been taught. The line of carriages was long and it took her several minutes to reach the front of the line, though she was extremely grateful for the light they gave off.

All along the way she heard frightened, whispered voices floating from behind the doors. Everyone was frightened, even the Gryffindors. Hermione could not understand their fear, but she also crossed through here every summer. When Hermione was only a few carriages from the front, she saw what the trouble was. The border had been closed, and she could tell the guards weren't about to let anyone short of the local reigning family through. Or maybe...

Hermione's mind began working as she thought about how she would do this, though she knew what she would need to do. Taking a deep breath, she walked calmly and purposefully towards the guard house, several dementors following her. They reached out to touch her, but she waved them away as if they were nothing. One managed to place its hand on her skin, but a burst of black light erupted from the point of contact and the dementor flew backwards into its companions.

The black light caught the attention of the guards, who watched with varying degrees of shock and fear as she approached. One she recognized immediately as Hiiro Yahamaro. Perhaps this would be easier then she thought.

"Yes?" asked Hiiro in the sorcerer language, Senscar. An appropriate name, considering the word sen meant sorcerer and scar meant language.

"Is there a reason we can not enter?" asked Hermione, also in Senscar.

"Yes, you do not have permission," said Hiiro firmly.

Hermione sighed. "Yes, we do. I personally asked for permission and received conformation."

"And I received no notification of this conformation."

Hermione glared at Hiiro. "Look, Hiiro, I know you're well aware I could order you to allow us through, and I will if it comes to that. But please, you are a friend and I don't want to order you to do anything. Listen, the students are scared. There are dementor's crawling around the carriages. Please, let us through."

Hiiro looked at her with apologetic eyes. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that."

Hermione sighed, she had no choice. Reaching into her robes, she pulled out a pendent with an intricate seal carved into the metal. A snake ran around the edge, a small glass orb set into its mouth. The center held a raven, wings spread, rubies in place of eyes. On the inside, under the raven's wings, was written: Serpens silcen, Corvus entizem.

"I command you to let us pass," said Hermione quietly, her face set in stone. Hiiro nodded and turned to Miss Griffinsin.

"You may pass," he said in English.

She nodded and gratefully climbed back into her carriage. Hermione looked sadly at Hiiro before turning to hurry back to her own carriage.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hermione climbed into the carriage just as it jolted forward. She nearly flew into Draco again and he shouted at her, but she didn't have the strength to shout back at him. She felt sick, and apparently looked as bad as she felt.

"Hermione, are you alright?" asked Ron, concern written in his eyes.

"Yes," she said with a weak smile, "just a small run in with a dementor, nothing to worry about."

Harry and Ron became deeply concerned immediately, knowing all too well what a confrontation with a dementor could do to a person. But Hermione assured them it was nothing, and they soon allowed the subject to drop, though they insisted Hermione eat some chocolate as soon as they reached Senscarica. Hermione leaned back in her seat, thinking the worst was over.

Then, she made her biggest mistake yet. She rolled up the sleeves of her robe.