Trembles

There was a tremble that Hermione felt against her lips when time had stopped. Her breathing was halted as though it were a special effect in a movie. All that was moving were Hermione's thoughts. She knew that there was magic at work that was not of her doing, and that terrified her because it was hitting Hermione at the core – her emotions. She knew that everything was at a loss when she screamed "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

The vial trembled in Minerva's hands as she and Poppy collapsed to the floor, feeling in their gut what had just happened.

Before Minerva could even register what had happened, she saw Hermione – shaking. "CEDRIC!" she screamed.

Minerva and Poppy helped each other to their feet, and then helped each other to Hermione, who was clawing at Cedric. Everyone in the room knew what had happened in a moment's notice - as soon as they heard the blood-curdling scream…but the occupants in the room felt as though that if they physically reached Hermione, then all would be well.

It was too late when Minerva summoned the vial. The only trouble was…was it too late for Hermione to be willing to drink it?

Once Minerva reached her, Hermione began to beat upon her. "WHY?" she screamed. "WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS?"

Minerva allowed Hermione to express her sadness and her rage. There was no answer that she could give at this point which would offer solace. "I did it to save you!" screamed Minerva…her call falling upon deaf ears.

"No. No. No." Hermione said to herself, scrambling to her feet. "This will not do. This isn't real. Oh God, this isn't happening!" Hermione, on her knees – opened her arms out to the heavens and screamed as though life were being drawn from her in the most painful way possible. It was the shriek that rivaled Ginny's when she thought of losing her only sister. Minerva approached Hermione and softly put her hand upon her shoulder. At the very moment of her touch, Hermione swept it away – rage in her eyes as she yelled "NO! Do not touch me!" Hermione ran out of the room, leaving Poppy and Minerva to watch in sadness, unable to fully process what had just happened.

Hermione ran and ran for what seemed like miles, until she ran into the rail of a stone balcony. She looked out into the courtyard and sobbed. She knew that she had lost Cedric, the first love of her life – or how she always thought. She knew that it was all of her doing - that he would not have had to die, if it weren't for her. She vomited over the stone rail until exhaustion had got the better of her. She looked up into the sky and saw the stars. They were more brilliant than she had ever seen. For a moment, as she looked at the beauty that was streaming from above, she caught her breath. For a fleeting moment, she felt an incomprehensible peace that what had happened was supposed to – that it was the path that needed to be traveled. For one small moment, she felt Cedric's presence – as though it was telling her that everything that had happened was the "Grand Design", that he was now able to help her in ways that no man or woman can. She felt a moment of peace, before the feeling of hatred returned for the woman who was supposed to be her one and only true soul mate…the one who was supposed to look out for her – through thick and thin…who was supposed to love her as no other. Once again she screamed her anger and her sadness into the skies. The stars did not falter. Instead, they burned brighter than before – even through the blur of Hermione's tears. Hermione knew that she needed answers, and the only place that she would achieve that was through the Centaurs.

Hermione was shaking from head to toe – overwhelmed by emotion, she walked towards the entrance to Hogwarts. Her emotions and nothing else were leading her to the Dark Forest. She needed answers as to what has happened, what did happen, and what was still yet to come – and she knew that she would only find that through those who read the skies.

Hermione stumbled, trembling – into the dark. She had no conscious idea as to where she was going, but somehow – she was led into the depths of the Dark Forest. It felt as though she were traveling not only for miles – but for days. By the time she reached the clearing where she felt her body being drawn to, did she notice the numerous cuts upon her arms and legs which were bleeding profusely. She did not care though. She was there for a purpose. She did not feel the pain – all she knew was the blood…she watched as the blood was flowing freely from every inch of her exposed skin. She watched it with some sort of amazement. It was as though she were in a trance. After a few moments, she looked up and realized that she was in the forest – she had no idea how she got there, but knew that she was there for a purpose. Out of everything that has happened, how could this not happen for some sort of reason?,..She was terrified and expectant at all the same time…what was to come now?

Will you let me know?