AN:
Okay, so I'm not dead! All that happened was that my internet decided it wanted to stop working. I literally could not do anything for almost a month. Then when I tried to write on my laptop I realized that it had a virus that my anti-virus ware could detect, but not get rid of. So I had to deal with that. Second order of business, Shout outs!
666-HyuugaNeji-999: For always encouraging me to continue to write this. For being my beta. Also for being absolutely awesome. You rock! Do you know that?
Dramione123456789: There is a compliment in there somewhere. I'm glad you enjoy my story enough to make me afraid of a Misery reenactment: ) I'll look forward to more reviews!
CGinny: I feel like your name is a pun off "CGI" but I'm probably wrong. Anyways, I had to leave it like that! Do you not enjoy cliffhangers? Thank you for thinking my baby is good!
IG0TEAMEDWARD: Can we talk for a second on the fact that you reviewed my story?! My fellow dramione lover friends helped me celebrate because you review a lot of really good dramione stories. You're like Dramione royalty. Is that a weird thing to say? Do I sound like a fangirl? Don't answer that it's self-explanatory. Thank you for reviewing!
AimeeGrangerMalfoyxx: I'm sorry for making you wait even though you expressly stated that you couldn't : (I hope you enjoy this Chapter!
Guest: I really wish you would have signed in because then I could properly credit you. In answer to your questions though, yes I do watch Supernatural and no I do not read The Lunar Chronicles. Is it good? Should I check it out?
Princess of Mirkwood2: Why is your name familiar? Where do I know Mirkwood from?! I'm so happy that you took the time to review!
Thank you all so much for stopping by to tell me something! As usual if there is something you would like to suggest then PM me!
After a few more pointless questions for the still unnamed mountain guide, he finally left me to go and prepare the spot where I would be eaten. Apparently, there was a huge ritual for the turning of a new Wendigo and the proper consumption of Wizard flesh. I really needed clues on how to get out of this winding maze of cave complexes.
I looked around for anything that could help me navigate my way to freedom but to my dismay, there was absolutely nothing but cave walls. Any other time I might have found these caves fascinating, because there was no mention of them anywhere on the maps that I had been looking through when I started my search of these mountains in the first place. I needed to get free and actually start exploring; if I couldn't find cues on cave walls then the only way I'd find my way out of this place was to look for myself. Now, considering these Wendigos had supernatural powers and not magic, I was going to assume that the chains holding me in place were non-magical as well. I hoped they were.
Alohomora
With that, the chains unlocked and I was able to remove them and slowly stand up. I didn't know exactly how long I was on that floor, but I was sore everywhere from being unable to move. Oh, I am going to feel that after the adrenaline wears off completely. Can't think of that right now, though. I have got to escape.
"And how do you plan on doing that?"
By relying on all the resources around me and focusing on my control.
"That was very vague. I don't think you have a plan."
Of course I have a plan! I just haven't thought of it yet.
"And I think you're lying to yourself."
I'll have you know that I make it a point to never lie unneces- "Wait, who am I even talking to?!"
Great, you've gone insane Hermione. It's official.
Draco was seconds away from going completely insane. He had so many things running through his head that he thought he was about to burst. Hermione had been missing for an entire day now. She could be hurt. She could be defenseless. She could be…dead. That thought wasn't one he really wanted to think about.
After a few more minutes of contemplating, he realized that he had totally spaced out. He looked around and found himself looking at nothing but white everywhere. How are we possibly going to find Hermione in this mess? Draco spared a glance at Potter to see how he was holding up and honestly, it looked like Potter was about to lose it. There was this vein in his neck that was throbbing, his nostrils were flared, his jaw was clenched, his knuckles were white, and he was still. He was so still that if Draco hadn't known any better then he'd say that there was a statue in Potter's place. Okay, Potter can be a little scary.
"Why is she always getting herself into situations like this? What goes through her brilliant mind when she dives head first into dangerous situations? Sometimes I think she really is mental!" Then Harry looked to Draco. "Never tell her I said that." Potter looked a little scared at the thought of her finding out he called her crazy. As much fun as it would be to get him into trouble, Draco was too busy worrying about Hermione. Where is she?! A loud sound came from the right of them and the sense of foreboding that Draco had from the start intensified greatly.
"Potter, did you hear that?!" Draco yelled to be heard over the blizzard that appeared out of nowhere. I hate the cold.
"Yes, and it does not sound good!"
"What should we do? If it is a threat, then we are in a very vulnerable position!"
"Yes! I know that Malfoy! But I'm thinking on what do to!"
"Don't yell at me! I'm only trying to help dammit!"
"Fan-tucking-tastic job you're doing!"
"Captain! Malfoy! Whatever it was it's getting closer!"
Draco and Harry stopped bickering pointlessly and got serious. They both felt a thrill from the danger of the unknown sound and as the sound got louder and closer, the more excited they became. Draco got a creepy smile on his face and his eyes had a maniacal gleam. The poor Auror who saw this turned to look at his captain only to find a matching look on Harry's face.
"They're both mental…" the unnamed Auror whispered.
Sneaking around was a lot harder without Harry's invisibility cloak. How do people do this for a living? I was trying to be stealthy, but I was failing horribly. I was very aware of every sound I made and I was so sure I'd get discovered, but surprisingly I made it very far without running into anyone.
I'd say that I was getting closer after several wrong turns into dead ends because I could hear voices. On the one hand, I was almost free. On the other hand, I needed to get past them. I pressed myself into the wall and listened intently to try and hear if they said anything about just how close I was to the exit.
"Yes, she is chained. I made sure to take her wand away."
The answering voice was so soft that I couldn't hear anything. All I could hear were muffled sounds that vaguely sounded like the English language.
"Of course, Sir. I have the wand on me. There is no way she could get to it. A witch is defenseless without her wand."
Again, the answer was too soft for me to hear and it was starting to get upsetting. Maybe if I could identify the voice, then I could gather more information on how to get out of this freaky cave.
"There is a disturbance happening just a little to the north of our location. The others are handling it, but about a dozen wizards are here. They are probably searching for the bitch. I don't foresee a problem, but just in case I'm going to check on her."
I strained to hear the answer because I knew it would be soft.
"….girl…wizards…wand….problem…handle it….eaten…"
"Yes. I understand. Here is the wand. It will no doubt be safer with you."
Then footsteps sounded and I held my breath that they wouldn't be coming closer to me. Luckily, they seemed to be heading the opposite way. Wizards are here? That must be Harry! Shit, he won't have a clue what he is fighting against. I needed to get to them because he wouldn't know that only fire can kill the Wendigos.
With that firmly in my mind I started sneaking again. There seemed to be a cold breeze that kept coming my way and I decided that was probably the best way to go. The breeze had to be coming from outside. I took one more step to my freedom and predictably, my luck ran out.
"I know you are there. Come out, now."
I sighed because I was so close, but then was caught. It always happens. As the voice commanded, I stepped out fully. I saw a monster. I have no other words to describe the creature that seemed to come straight from one of my worst nightmares. It was easily nine feet tall and covered in fur. I imagined that the fur was probably once white, but it was horribly matted and the color of rust in certain areas. Particularly the areas around the mouth, hands, and right in the middle of the torso. I didn't need to think too hard to realize that it was dried blood. The mouth that stretched across the face closed its ugly black lips. It smiled as it saw me and I could see its teeth. I really could have done without seeing the teeth because there were at least three rows of sharp teeth all of varying size. I involuntarily imagined those teeth sinking into my flesh and I fought down a shudder. The eyes though were the worst. They were yellow and had a hungry gleam. They showed nothing but an insatiable hunger and that, more than anything, was what scared me. It scared me more than Voldemort ever had.
"You called?" Snark to cover the fear because false bravado is better than nothing.
"False bravado is nothing."
I thought you had gone away!
"You are either very brave, or very foolish. You do know that your death is inevitable, right?"
"You know, I've been told that before and I am still alive."
"A mistake that I will rectify and I promise you that you will not leave my grasp alive. My people and I will devour you and absorb the magical properties that your body contains. Your flesh will be the start of a new era."
"I don't think so. I heard my friends are here. Your man was very wrong to underestimate them because, undoubtedly, one of those wizards is the same wizard who took down a more powerful person than you could ever hope to be."
"I seriously doubt that a creature ever existed that was more powerful than me."
I started to laugh. I knew that seemed out of place, but it had to be done. This one's ego was huge and I was going to exploit it until he broke. Men with huge egos always break under humiliation.
"What is so humorous?" The nonchalant tone had left his voice and was replaced with an edge that I knew better than to underestimate.
"Oh, nothing really. Your joke was extremely funny. You know what? I bet you are the Chieftain I've been hearing about. Aren't you?"
"You are a clever one aren't you? You know, eating you would almost be a waste. We could use your cleverness in our army."
"Almost, but not enough. Yes, I've already heard this bit. God, evil people need to be more original. Fear of death, finding unnatural ways to circumvent this, lackeys to do all the hard work for you, and now repeating monologues. You don't have a pet snake around, do you?" I pretended to look around.
The monster before me narrowed his eyes menacingly. "Your mouth is trouble. I'm going to bite it off!" With that he charged at me and I ducked out of the way of his massive frame just in time.
Man, I need my wand. Fiendfyre would be the best thing right now.
He kept charging and I kept dodging. It seemed like the intelligence he displayed earlier was replaced by a volatile animalistic mind. He didn't seem to understand that this tactic was getting him nowhere. However, I was tiring and I knew that he wouldn't any time soon. While I was dodging, I kept looking for my wand and I still couldn't see it. I took too long and didn't dodge in time because he caught me. He backhanded me across the room and I hit the wall with a loud thwack, landing in a heap onto the floor. Movies and books lie, you don't slide down a wall. You fall. Sliding would at least slow you down, but you don't slide so you fall full force. I landed with a pretty satisfying thud.
I looked up to see him smiling wider and slowly making his way to me. I looked around for anything and I finally spotted it. My wand! It was resting on the arm of a crudely made rock throne. I reached my arm out and yelled, "Accio Wand!" Wandless magic works a lot better when it is verbal and not silent; I didn't want to take the chance of my spell not working by doing it silently. I needed my wand because it was the only way I would make it out alive. I finally felt the familiar feel of my wand in my grasp and I turned to the monstrous creature that really should have just killed me. Monologues just waste time. I unleashed the uncontrollable fire directly at the Wendigo leader.
It screamed. It screamed an unearthly shriek of pain and I smiled. That sound meant I was a step closer to completing my mission. I was not going to let anything stand in my way of becoming the next Head of my department. I took enjoyment in that scream and watched it burn and burn until it was nothing but ashes. Then I laughed because that was one down and many more to go.
I think I snapped, but I can't care anymore.
I walked toward the cold wind just as I planned before I was discovered. There was heat at my back from where I let the fiendfyre burn freely. I hope it burned this cave to the ground. I was only sad that I wouldn't get to watch the fucking bastard that brought me here burn in the fire. I was feeling poetic, because I couldn't help but think of my fire as a huge dragon that was burning everything with a furious frenzy. A beautiful mountain dragon that was exacting my revenge and its flames were my justice.
I looked back and I saw my flames take the form of the dragon I was envisioning and I was momentarily transported back to the disaster in the Room of Requirement, but this was different. I'm not Crabbe and this fire is under my control. I stepped out of the caves and into the cold, but I could no longer feel it. I looked to the north and sure enough I saw flashes of magic and knew that is where I should head. The fire spread to the entirety of the cave behind me and followed me forward. I hoped onlookers would see part of the mountain on fire because I wanted it all to burn. I ran to the flashes and saw about twenty Wendigos facing a dozen Wizards.
I took a second to find Harry and surprisingly he was fighting back to back with Draco. They were moving with ease like they had fought together like this for years. It gave me hope for a possible friendship, but that was the least of my worries right now. I had more evil to cleanse. I felt like a fiery avenging angel as I sent the fire after the rest of the horrifying creatures. They screamed just like the Chieftain had and I took just as much enjoyment in their screams as I did his. Those sounds were my freedom and as the last one faded away I knew it was over. I looked over and saw Draco running toward me. He looks really cute when he's all worried about me. Harry still looks scared though. Why? I looked down at myself and noticed I was naked. I must have burned my clothes off. Whoops.
I started to laugh again. I laughed and laughed as the fire still raged around me. It didn't burn me, it just kept me warm. Draco was getting closer so I stopped the spell and all the fire, my fearsome dragon, vanished. I was still laughing, though. I couldn't seem to stop.
Draco didn't know where Hermione had sprung from, but he was so glad to see her. She was laughing uncontrollably. If I thought Potter was slightly scary, then he must have learned it from Hermione. With the fire, the nakedness, and all the chilling laughter she was scaring his balls off. Draco kept running to her with Potter right at his heels. She seemed to notice them and she turned the fire off, but she didn't stop laughing. They just ran faster.
They finally reached her and simultaneously threw their outer jackets on her, but that didn't seem to pierce her mind. Potter threw his arms around her and Draco fell to his knees beside them with relief. The adrenaline suddenly left his body, leaving him drained as Hermione's laughter turned to sobs. Draco turned to put a hand in her hair to try and offer some comfort. He knew that comforting crying women, or anyone really, was never his strong point. That seemed to work because she wrenched herself from Potter's arms and clung to him fiercely. He was momentarily stunned and his body reacted without thinking. He enveloped her slight frame in his arms and one hand stroked her hair.
Harry had a brief thought, but stuffed it to the back of his mind. Now was not the time to think of those types of things. He turned to his team who had crowded around them by now.
"Did we lose anybody?"
"No, Sir. We have a few injured, but none dead." Harry sagged in relief. He had Hermione safe and his team all alive. He was going to count this mission as a success.
"Alright team, let's portkey away from here."
He watched as his team all grabbed one of the two portkeys. They were whisked away to St. Mungo's. He turned to Draco, who still had Hermione in his arms. She had quieted and looked about to pass out; Draco seemed to be enjoying the position a bit and Harry realized he was okay with that, but he still didn't want to think about it.
"Malfoy, let's get out of here. Grab a good hold on her. Make sure you and her have a grasp on the coke can." After some maneuvering, the three of them had a good hold on the portkey.
"Ready?" Draco nodded and Potter activated the portkey.
"1…2…3!"
Draco had one last look at the destruction Hermione had caused to the mountain before the portkey swept them away.
