FIFTY-FIVE

"I don't know how," she said with a shake of her head as she struggled to more clearly explain whatever new strange occurrence was taking place.

Somehow she was in Antonin's lap all over again with very little recollection of how she'd gotten there. Had she asked to sit down? Had he suggested it? Had he, as the other night, simply landed himself on the ground and pulled her into his embrace?

Not that it very much mattered, as being held so tenderly like this as she tried to sort her thoughts seemed exactly what she needed. Had he somehow sensed that, or had he simply needed to hold her just as much?

Perhaps it was just as well. She'd known her vision of finding the Book had been here in the necropolis somewhere, but as it happened, much of the cemetery looked the same if one didn't know what they were looking for exactly. And the place was so bloody big! A lot of area for a lot of spots similar in appearance. Infuriating.

She snuggled back against him, feeling secure in the way he propped his chin atop her head so they were looking out into the shadowy, masonry-strewn landscape of Lychakiv together while his arms tightened around her. "I just got this … this impression, I can't describe it. I knew it was you. You coming toward me. No, wait." Hermione rested her hands over his, the tips of her fingers stroking his knuckles idly as she thought. "It was earlier than that."

"How much earlier?" he asked, unable to help a hint of suspicion in his tone. Not suspicion of her, but of whatever this new facet of their dynamic was. He had no idea what it might signify, but he didn't imagine it was a good thing.

Closing her eyes, she concentrated. Thinking back, she recalled a bizarre snapping sensation rushing through her. Followed by a quick sense of ….

Turning just enough in his embrace that she could slip her head from beneath his chin to look up at him, capturing his ruby gaze in the moonlight-dappled darkness, she said, dumbstruck, "I did feel that. You crossing through the gates, you coming closer to me, but … I think I felt it the moment you woke up."