Chapter 8

As they dove deeper, and deeper into the Black Lake, both Hermione and Snape acutely felt the drastic change in temperature as they got colder, and colder. Their surroundings looked bleak, as if the world was devoid of color, even with the sun shining bright the lake was true to its name and was shrouded in darkness. Along the way, Hermione would collect the different types of algae needed for the potion while keeping an eye out for any potential dangers they could encounter. Hermione could swear she saw movements in the corner of her but each time she looked towards the movement; nothing was there. Hermione was officially on edge and could feel that something was close.

Snape had similar thoughts, with his years a spy, he had perfected his sixth sense and could usually determine if he or someone close to him was being followed or watched. He knew that if they were ever really in danger, he would step in, but he wanted to see how Granger handled herself. He had heard of the Golden Trio's endeavors when they were on the run and found himself impressed with Granger's quick thinking and skill. He wanted to see first-hand what the brains of the Golden Trio would come up with in the face of danger.

As they descended deeper, he could see the final ridge they would have to dive down from to get to the bottom of the lake. They both knew that this was where the true test would begin. As they swam down to the bottom of the lake, a figure loomed in the tall aquatic plants, preparing their next move.

Once they reached the bottom, Hermione could hardly make out her own hand if she were to extend her arm forward.

"Lumos"

With her wand in hand and the powerful light from her wand, Hermione could finally see and took a moment to asses her surroundings. There were still plants and different types of algae, but for the most part the ground was muddy and barren. As the two swam forward, Hermione could see a rather large shape starting to appear in the distance. Nodding her head towards the foreign object at Snape, he responded by inclining his head in approval. As they got closer, the object started to take shape into an old and very decayed ship. Before they got any closer, Snape gestured for Hermione to stop and look at him.

"Granger, there is a high probability there is at least one siren egg in the ship.

"I also feel a presence, I can't quite pinpoint where but I agree sir, we are being watched."

Snape nodded, the hairs on his neck raising as soon as they swam up to the ship. He could sense that something was wrong, that this was dangerous but he needed this ingredient for his potion. A potion that could very well change the entire wizarding world and beyond if he was correct.

Hermione could see a sizable crack in the bow of the ship, and signaled for Snape to follow her.

"I think we can pass through here, let me try and get inside" said Hermione as she peered inside the ship.

As Hermione shimmied herself into the crack, she realized Snape would not be able to fit through as she herself barely made it inside.

"What do you see so far Granger? From watching you struggle to get inside, I'm going to assume I will not be able to follow you" Snape said with a hint of humor to his tone.

Hermione had to stop herself from rolling her eyes at the mention of her "struggling to get inside"

"So far nothing but I'll need to go further into the ship" As Hermione turned around to take a look, she could have sworn she saw something big move in the darkness.

"Be careful Granger, should you be injured, Minevra will have my head mounted for all to see for getting her special little cub killed."

"Dully noted sir" Hermione said hiding her smirk as she swam away into the darkness.

As she swam deeper into the darkness of the ship, she couldn't help but compare her situation to the muggle saying "finding a needle in a haystack" as the ship was massive. She would have to narrow down her search somehow. Bottom first, then we'll make our way up Hermione thought to herself.

As she went to the gallows, the temperature dropped a few degrees more, indicating that the sirens would very likely hide their eggs here. As Hermione made her way through, she could see some poor unfortunate souls trapped inside the cages intended for rowdy seamen or prisoners taken onto the ship. They had clearly not been able to escape the sinking ship, drowning in their confinements. Hermione shuddered, drowning is already said to be one of the more painful ways to do, but to do so trapped would be that much worse.

Shaking her head and getting her mind back to her task, Hermione searched throughout the bottom of the ship, seeing nothing but rotted wood and more bodies of dead sailors. Finally, as she passed the gallows, something caught her eye. One of the prisoners had his skeletal hand resting on top of something. The body posture seemed off, especially his hand that looked to be resting on something. Hermione broke the lock in order to get inside, as she lifted the skeleton hand, she saw three pristine siren eggs hidden under some old clothes and algae. Hermione couldn't believe it, to find one egg would have been an immense victory but to find three was practically miraculous. She couldn't wait to tell professor snape about her discovery. She hoped he would be proud of her.

Just as she was contemplating her victory while putting the eggs in her underwater bag, she heard the most awful scream coming from behind her. A siren, presumably the mother, had clearly followed them and was ready to attack having successfully cornered her prey. Hermione froze for a second, before pulling out her wand and casting a stunner at the siren. The creature was momentarily stunned before lunging at Hermione, teeth barred and ready to bite at whatever it could take a hold of.

"PROFESSOR SNAPE!" Hermione screamed as the siren bit into her shoulder. The creature pulled its head back, angling its head to lunge for Hermione's neck. Hermione took the small window of space to angle her wand into the sirens face, casting the bubble head charm. To any other living mammal, this would make no difference, but for any amphibians this would mean almost certain death. Hermione watched as the siren choked and writhed, incapable of breathing. In its last moment the siren started clawing at its neck, hoping to find a way to burst the bubble around its head. Hermione stood frozen, watching the siren slowly suffocate to death. In its last moments, he two made eye contact, Hermione saw the life draining out of the creatures' eyes, she would later swear she saw a tear escape before the siren finally succumbed.

"GRANGER!" Snape called out, having heard her desperate scream for help

"In here professor Snape." Hermione replied in a demure state of shock.

Snape entered, wand drawn and ready to attack, only to lower it slightly upon seeing the sirens corpse floating next to Hermione.

"Granger...what happened?"

"It came out of nowhere, I had just found the eggs, I turned around when I heard a horrible scream behind me. It lunged at me and bit my shoulder" Hermione turned so he could see the gaping wound.

"I just reacted, it was getting ready to bite my neck and I pulled out my wand just in time. I didn't mean to kill it, maybe just to stun it, but it reacted to the bubble head charm so violently I didn't know what to do"

Snape swam towards her, pulling out a bandage from his waterproof bag and wrapping her shoulder as the young witch continued looking into the distance, clearly in shock of what had just happened.

"Miss Granger, we need to leave, the siren's scream must have carried through. There will be more coming soon." Snape gently took Hermione's arm to guide her through the ship. As they reached the exit Snape created, they immediately saw an enormous hoard of sirens coming right towards them.

"Fuck, hold on Granger" Snape said as he grabbed Hermione by the waist and used his want to propel them towards the surface.

They had just passed the ridge when they looked down to see the hoard rapidly approaching, but still far enough that they might just make it to the surface relatively unscathed. That, was until they heard a piercing scream coming from the depths.

"I think the sirens mate found them..." Hermione said, looking up at Snape through her bubble head charm. Snape did not respond, instead keeping his concentration on the task at hand.

Suddenly panicked, Hermione remembered they would need to decompress.

"Professor! What about decompression sickness!?"

"Granger, that is the least of our worries, look below you girl, you see that? That could very well be the last thing we see. Now let me concentrate!" Snape growled out, tightening his grip on her waist as she looked down.

The hoard had parted in the middle, one siren seemingly exerting more effort than others in catching up to them. Hermione guessed it was the deceased siren's mate.

They only had 100 meters left, but the sole siren was catching up to them and quick.

"Professor we have a situation" Hermione said, slightly panicked as the siren was so close, she could see the rage in the siren's eyes and its sharp claws, begging to rip into her skin once more.

"Then handle it and quick, we're almost there" Snape said firmly.

Hermione looked down again and realized she had made a mistake in waiting to react, the siren had caught up enough to grab her foot and yank her down from the professors grasp. Hermione screamed as she felt herself get dragged down to the depths yet again, this time she knew it was a losing battle. She needed to get out of its grasp before it could pull her down to the other sirens. Her mind raced, she had no time to properly think and so she did what the professor told her to do, she acted on pure instinct.

"Ignisieus!" Hermione cried out, watching as the siren let go of her foot. The creature started to writhe around, clearly in pain.

Hermione tore her eyes away from the writhing siren and found professor Snape swimming down to her.

"Granger, we need to get out of this water and quick, I'm projecting us out, consequences be damned."

With that, Snape grabbed her by the waist and aimed his wand down, a surge of red came out of his wand and before they were violently thrown out of the water, Hermione looked down once more to see that the siren was no longer moving.

As the pair were thrown out of the water, there was no time to properly maneuver their bodies. Hermione landed on her back with Snape landing directly on top of her.

"My shoulder!" Hermione screamed in pain.

Professor Snape quickly pushed off the ground, taking his weight off Hermione. He looked at the crudely wrapped bandage he had placed on her shoulder, now realizing how badly injured she was.

Hermione was quickly losing her battle with consciousness; the adrenaline was quickly wearing off. Professor Snape quickly gathered her into his arms and sprinted towards the castle.