Greetings and Salutations, my beloved readers! This is the start of a new chapter in Hermione's life.
I know, I know! It's taken a while, but I'm making sure I've got this done right this time. The previous 20 Chapters had started when I was still a primary novice at writing. My writing style has changed and matured of postings of those chapters. So these will be put up after I'm happy with the flow of the story.
Other looked on in shock as Father took her champion away. "Daughter!" hearing Mother's call, she turned to face the Goddess Gaia.
Brother moved up next to her, slipping his hand into hers for comfort only a sibling could give. "Son! Oh, thank the stars you are both safe!" she was enveloped in a warm embrace. She did not return it.
"Why did you come here?" she asked coldly.
She felt Mother stiffen, "haven't our champions suffered enough? Haven't we?"
Her mother's beautiful face twisted into despair. "The fate that befell you both was not of my doing, not freely!" she sobbed, "it was only once my brother came to see me in the Garden that I came to my senses."
"Can you undo what is happening to the four of us?" Brother piped up. They were drawing a crowd now. Those that had come from Gaia had all returned with Genesis, having followed after him.
Mother shook her head. "I have not the power to do that. Not yet. But I swear, one day I will free you from this curse."
"By which time, Genesis and I will be long dead, Mother." Brother sneered.
"Watch your mouth, Nephew." Uncle growled, "your Mother and I still have unfinished business with your Father. Fear not. You and your champions need only suffer a little while longer. Then all will be well."
Other, unable to believe her ears, looked from Uncle to Mother and made up her mind. "Very well. But I do not wish to see hide nor hair from either of you until that time," she folded her arms, "I will not speak for my brother as his need is greater than mine at present." She turned her back on the two older deities of Gaia. "Now if you will excuse me, I must collect my champion's things."
Whist Other was grateful to her Mother for allowing these poor souls a place in the Lifestream, she was not going to forgive her for what she had allowed their father to do to them.
Spying Harry with McGonagall, she strode over, waving her hand to see into his mind. Finding everything that was once Hermione's was actually in the little beaded bag her champion had with her, Other nodded. Turning from the scenes around her, she closed her eyes and left the birth-world of her champion for the last time.
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Genesis flinched as he watched the place of his birth burning.
Eyes filled with angry tears, Genesis called for Brother and the two flew towards the horizon. She should have been here!
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The sensation of being tugged from her head followed swiftly by something cold washing over her made her twitch.
"Hermione!" she heard a deep baritone voice calling out to her. Splashing water told her that someone else was in the water with her.
She was being lifted, turned into someone's arms. "Come on!" the voice pleaded, shaking her.
Coughing, she was surprised to find water in her airways. "Oh, thank Gaia!"
The tugging sensation she had felt upon waking had been waves washing over her. Somehow she had landed in an ocean.
"Urgh…" opening her eyes, Hermione saw silver hair hanging in a curtain around them. "Seph-phiroth?" she choked, another wave of water hitting the two of them.
"Hold tight." He lifted her into his arms and she nuzzled into his chest as he waded back to shore. She could hear him talking to her as she slipped back into the blackness of sleep.
