Dear Readers,
Here you have a new chapter in the exciting life of Hermione Granger.
I hope you like it!
(For your information: I don't own anything, everything belongs to JK Rowling)

Have Fun reading!
Saphire.x

Charlie left without another word, but with the shock and hurt etched in his face. I knew I was being hard on him, but I couldn't control it. I couldn't control myself and Ariel. I just hoped that he would be okay.

When he was out of the cage and out of sight, I turned towards Ariel and tried to make her more comfortable. I sussed her, petted her neck and whispered sweet nothings in her ear. Nothing seemed to work and I could feel that she, just like me, was still feeling riled up by everything that had happened.

Maybe staying here for four days is a mistake? Maybe we should make a run for it tonight? I know it would be hard on Charlie, but at least Ariel and I could get a decent day sleep in and have some freedom again…

I felt worn and I felt tired. The moon was nearing it's peak and it was pulling at me, making me stronger, more alert. I was scared about what it was going to do to the bond between Ariel and me. Hopefully she didn't get wild as I did. Hopefully we would be okay. Maybe all my symptoms were affecting her too, there was no way to know.

„Ariel, my dear. We are leaving tonight. We shouldn't have come here in the first place. It was a mistake. I'm sorry for putting you through this." I said to her petting her neck lovingly while she let out a huff of smoke in agreement.

„Tonight, when everyone's asleep, we will break free and fly away." I said again and this time her response was more extravagant. She stood on all-fours and roared into the sky. It looked and sounded like a warning to the other dragons or maybe a vow to come back for them? Few of the other dragons recognized the roar and responded in kind, it gave me the chills.

When I was sure everyone was asleep, I whispered a quick „bombarda maxima" against the fences that held us in. I knew there would be no other way for us to escape otherwise. Ariel lowered her neck for me an we flew into the beautiful night, reveling in the feeling of freedom and flying once again. But we had to be far fast and find a hiding place, because someone was sure to have heard the ruckus.

I'm really sorry Charlie, I really wish we could have stayed, but we need to move on. I'm sorry.

Those were my last thoughts looking back at the camp, before I saw the lights go on and I made Ariel fly faster. We needed to reach another cave or shelter before the night's end, otherwise we would be caught once again.

I looked up at the moon, it seemed like we were flying so close. But it also seemed like I had miscalculated. There weren't 4 more days left, but only one. Tomorrow night I would be going through hell once again.

And that wouldn't be the only hell I would go through. The future would be hellish too, only I didn't know it yet. Unbeknownst to me and Ariel, the big blast that had set us free, was also going to be our downfall in the end.

We flew until I could see the shimmer of the sun starting to rise above another pool of water. Ariel was slowing down out of tiredness and I was starting to get her vibes of sleepiness. I couldn't put her through much more than I already had, so I looked for a cave or tunnel. I found an abandoned mine-shaft near the lake and started putting up the protection-spells immediately.

„ Ariel, you have little time left, take a swim, drink, but don't go far, please." I told her, as I continued to whisper the spells to protect us against others. „Salvio Haxia, Cave inimicum, Repello muggletum, muffliato, protego totalum" and I repeated it again and again and again, until I found the barrier sufficiently strong.

„Ariel, hurry up girl, we need to scaddadle for the night, tomorrow is going to get tough and we need our sleep!" I shouted in the direction of the lake just as the sun was rising. Ariel immediately reacted to the stress in my voice and flew into the shaft, settling in the corner and going to sleep.

„That's my girl." I gave her a few loving pets against her neck and then made myself comfortable against it, as to leave me warm and secure.

My dreams were leaving me breathless and insecure. About Ariel's and my safety, about the horrible search parties, but there was something else. Something about the way the lights went one at the reserve after I left, just didn't feel right.

What I didn't know was, that my magic had been so emotionally powerful that it could be tracked. So that is what had happened.

At the reserve

Harry, Ron and their auror-friends had invaded the home of the dragon. They had blasted the lights and were met with not only angry dragons, but angry dragon-tamers as well.

Charlie in particular hadn't been able to speak to his kid-brother without giving him an earful.

Charlie had known Hermione wanted out, but the selfish prick that he was had tried to keep her anyway. Strengthening the cage, making sure they didn't lack anything, but it hadn't helped and he knew why. He just hoped Hermione was safe.