Chapter 5: Deep Water

What have I gotten myself into?

Everett was leading Hermione into the Black Lake, his whole body in tune to its surroundings, alert to every movement. Everett could hear the distant sound of students slowly making their way across the castle grounds, taste the always present threat of rain in the air, see the small wrinkles of worry forming around Hermione's eyes—and feel the tingling sensation that shot down his spine the moment Hermione's fingers had gently slid into his.

This is all so…wrong. But I can't back out now… Everett tried to conceal his guilty thoughts as the frigid water splashed up against his chest and Hermione's shoulders. I'll deal with it later.

Glancing down at Hermione one last time, and praying that she would be alright under the lake, Everett plunged into the murky depths, dragging Hermione along behind him.

As she felt the water pressure envelope her body, Hermione couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive. Not just because she couldn't swim, but because she was with him. Holding his hand.

Why do I so easily trust Everett? I mean, I barely know him. I don't know anything about him! …well… I know that he's kind…and thoughtful…slightly humorous… most of the students seem to like him…he definitely looks good under water…wait! What am I doing! No, no, no, no, no…

Hermione tried to focus back on the matter at hand, trying to propel herself through the silencing water. Now that she thought of it, everything did seem…quiet. Smothered, almost.

"Doing okay?" Everett called out to her. His muted voice reached Hermione's ears, pulling her out of her thoughts. Hermione nodded in reply. Gripping Everett's hand tighter, she imitated his movements and eventually was able to push herself through the water at a steady pace. She was swimming!

The two young professors dove even further into the depths, but dared not go where the light vanished. Hermione felt like they had been swimming for hours, years even, but guessed it to only have been about five minutes. Where were they going?

As Everett pulled ahead of Hermione, she couldn't help but notice how his muscles tensed and relaxed with the rhythmic motion of swimming, or the way his hair fanned out in the water, the strange yet striking silver streak wisping in the dim light…

And there it was again. Stop it… Hermione, you're being silly. You barely know him…stop it!

Hermione continued to reprimand herself as she blindly followed Everett through the murky depths. Focusing on his back was the only thing keeping her from totally and completely freaking out.

"E—Everett…where are we going? You seem to…know?" She stopped and awkwardly treaded water.

"Well, I figured we'd try to find a place where it wasn't quite so dark. I've heard of light pockets, so I thought—" As he turned around to face Hermione, Everett froze. The look on his face turned her blood cold.

Everett's eyes were fixed on a point somewhere behind Hermione's left shoulder. In an instant, a chilling noise reverberated through the water, flowing towards Hermione's ears.

Numb with fear, she slowly turned her head.

The quill snapped…again.

"Reparo!." Draco fiddled with the quill, again, trying to figure out how to put his thoughts on paper. The letter detailing to Hermione Professor Everett Landon's prank and deviousness was blank. He didn't know how to warn her of his—his wrongdoing! It was rather frustrating.

SNAP! Not again…

Draco sighed. He couldn't do this. He just wasn't strong enough. What would happen to him if Landon ever found out?...and he would find out. Draco was sure of it. But Hermione was always telling him not to doubt himself.

Fine then. Draco crumpled up the parchment. I'll just tell her. Letters are too much of a bother anyway…

But he glanced at the other letter to Hermione, the one he had forgotten to bring to lunch with him, and put it in his desk drawer…for later.

"Reparo."

The quill mended itself, and Draco pulled out a pile of essays to grade. Oh, the joys of the history of polyjuice.

What Hermione saw unnerved her. She shut her eyes.

Coming out of his trance, Everett grabbed Hermione to support her sinking weight, and began treading water like his life depended on it. Or hers…

"Hermione! Hermione you must open your eyes! Swim!"

But all she could do was cling to Everett, her fingernails digging into his back and her body trembling uncontrollably.

"Come ON! Hermione, you need to open your eyes! You need to swim!"

"I…I can't!"

"Yes you CAN!"

Behind Hermione, Everett saw the dark shadow stealthily moving towards them. The small bleak eyes glinting every so often. All he could think about was Hermione's safety, making sure she would not get hurt.

As he felt Hermione's feet begin to kick and her fingers loosen their death grip on his back, Everett started swimming as best he could, half supporting and half leading Hermione through the seemingly suffocating water, in the opposite direction of the…the squid…Everett could see it now, its tentacles arcing out in search of them.

Everett had no idea if the squid was harmless, curious even, but there was enough "what ifs" to cause him panic.

"Come on, Hermione! Kick harder!"

From amidst the shadows beneath their feet, something reached out and grabbed Hermione's leg.

Hermione! Everett lunged at the arm—wait…arm?! No time for questioning, Everett tried his best to wrench Hermione away.

Meanwhile, the squid loomed ever closer to the professors.

No, polyjuice potion is NOT strawberry-kiwi juice…nor is it the distant relative of Beetlejuice…

Halfway through essay grading, Draco was finding the task tedious and boring, his mind constantly distracted by his thoughts.

He decided, instead, to clean his office. As magic is very helpful in this matter, and seeing as Draco had cleaned his office the previous night as well, the job was done in no time at all—literally, and Draco went back to essay grading.

He desperately wanted to talk to Hermione.

Hermione was being dragged down. Everett was being dragged down in the process, as Hermione had once again anchored herself to his body in an attempt to feel safe.

As he struggled for a free arm, glancing down, Everett felt a wave of relief wash over his body. A merman!…it's just a merman…

A whole bunch of "mermans," to be correct. They were armed with spears made out of, well Everett couldn't tell exactly—but they were sharp, and that was all that mattered to him.

The horde of mer people shooting up from the depths lunged and pierced at the eyes and tentacles of the squid, which had since come within striking distance of Hermione. They appeared to be defeating it.

A short while later, Hermione almost unconscious from fear and Everett cradling her in his arms, the past minutes a blur, the two professors were in a….hut? Everett found that was the closest word to describe where he was as the present moment; underwater, in a hut, with a merman staring at him. Who knew… Everett pulled Hermione even closer.

I should never have asked her to do this. I should never have thought I could help her…I should never have come here! Why…why did I have to be so selfish

Hermione's eyes fluttered and opened. She sat up slowly, allowing Everett to continue to support her weight.

"Where…are we?" Hermione's muted voice caused Everett to smile feebly.

"I think we're…"

"You are in Corundum Village." The merman swam forward, holding his head up in a prideful manner, a staff held in his hand. A fixture on the end of the staff emitted a red glow, painting dazzling patterns on the walls in the gentle flow of the water.

Everett and Hermione just stared.

The merman continued.

"My name is Stark."

"Good to meet you, Stark." If Hermione hadn't been trying to overcome her bemusement, Everett might have laughing at the seeming hilarity of her remark. But it was not the time for that.

"I am the leader of the Corundum Clan of Black Lake, and you are welcome to remain here for now."

Everett was unsure when "now" would be over, but thanked the merman—Stark, for his generosity.

Stark interrupted him, informing the "foolish Professor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" that he and the lady should stay within the village, and that they were welcome to explore its many caves of rubies. Again, while they remained here for now.

Upon the merman's exodus, Hermione detangled herself from Everett arms.

"I want to."

"You want to what, Hermione? You've been through enough already, and I don't want to risk our remaining oxygen on perhaps getting into danger again."

"Everett, I'm…fine." She wasn't.

"I want to get over this…thing…and try—try to enjoy scuba diving."

"I think we can both safely say this is not scuba diving anymore, Hermione. We're in a mer-village, (A/N: did not realize this pun when I typed it) for Merlin's sake!" I don't want anything to happen to you.

"I know, but I think it's a way for me to… improve myself by—by overcoming my fear?" You deserve to have some enjoyment in all of this. It was a good idea in theory.

Everett gave Hermione a reprimanding look of "are you sure", but eventually gave in, and the two quit the room, swimming in the direction of a nearby cave.

"I can't see anything."

"Hold on…" Everett pulled his wand from his back pocket (he just now remembered it…moron!). Upon lighting his wand, the small chamber in which Hermione and himself treaded water came to life.

The reflection of the walls was almost unbearable, but eventually their eyes adjusted. Rubies covered the walls, rubies covered the ceiling, rubies even covered the floor of the cave beneath them.

"…it's beautiful…" Hermione stopped treading water and allowed herself to sink to the floor. She picked up one of the gems.

"Yeah…it's amazing." Everett followed Hermione's example, and they remained in speechless companionship for several minutes, sharing the moment together.

"Everett?"

"Yes, Hermione?" Everett held a ruby between his fingers, absentmindedly tracing the edges with his thumb.

"I—I can't breath..."

"Hermione!" Everett swam through the water to Hermione's unconscious form, the ruby dropping from his fingers, immediately forgotten.

A cold frenzy possessed Everett's body and mind. He swam out of the cave, pushing Hermione higher and higher towards the sunlight, the mer-village shrinking smaller and smaller beneath them.

But there was a problem. His own oxygen was running out. And quickly.

Everett kicked with every source of energy he could find, until at last, exhausted, they surfaced.

"Hermione!" Everett shook her and shook her until she coughed up water and opened her eyes.

"..yes?" He smiled.

"You okay?"

"Just dandy." She smiled back at him.

"Finally." Draco set his quill down, the graded essays piled neatly beside his desk. i Time to go find Hermione. /i He desperately wanted to inform her of Everett's roguish behavior before she caused herself more grief.

Draco paused and opened the desk drawer. The parchment to Hermione stared back up at him. He looked at it. I'll do it later. But as if the letter was arguing with him, Draco protested.

"I will!"

"I'm sorry, Hermione." Everett was helping her through the shallows to the shore, the touch of her fingers on his scarred arm stirring feelings in him he had previously thought himself incapable of.

"Everett, it's okay. I know it wasn't your fault that...that happened." Hermione held on to his shoulder as he led her at a quickened pace (she assumed it was because he felt like the water was now too dangerous). He certainly is strong.

"I even feel that I can swim well now. Well, fairly well." Thank you for that.

"Um, okay." What do I say? "I'm, uh, glad for you." …idiot. Well…I guess she is getting better, finally trying to be strong for herself again. He felt Hermione grasp onto his shoulder again as her hand slipped. Well, maybe just a little. But that's still an improvement.

As they reached the shore, Everett's last thoughts were that he needed to talk to McGonagall, soon, and release himself from any more guilt his trying to "help" Hermione might cause.

Outside the archway leading to the castle grounds, Draco's purposeful gait faltered.

He watched, in hurt silence, as Hermione gently stepped out of the lake's hushed waves, her hand holding on to the shoulder of…Everett.

Why?

You guys know the drill )

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