'Ello there!(:

So, I know this isn't the greatest excuse but I've been going through a tough breakup and I've become really sidetracked with trying sort all of that out. Forgive me guys? And thank you to all of those who reviewed! It means a lot to me! I'm glad you all like Alexander.(; Continue on with chapter three.(;

Chapter Three

May Silence Make You Strong

May the stars carry your sadness away,

May the flowers fill your heart with beauty,

May hope forever wipe away your tears,

And, above all, may silence make you strong. -

Chief Dan George

Peanut butter coated the roof of Hermione's mouth as she bit into her peanut butter sandwich, chewing slowly as she listened to Harry explain how no matter how much time he put into training the third formers, they just couldn't get the concept of preforming spells. Hermione opened her mouth to comment on his rant but the peanut butter that filled her mouth eluded her from speaking. Harry rose his eyebrows and laughed at the disgruntled look on her face. Forcing herself to swallow the peanut butter, she cleared her throat, opening her mouth a second time.

"They can't get the wand-waving movement correct?" Harry nodded and sighed, taking a sip of his water. Hermione thought for a moment and began to voice her idea when Ron flopped onto the bench beside her, stuffing his mouth with a ham and cheese sandwich. He grinned tiredly at his two best friends, revealing his food-coated teeth. Hermione grimaced and looked away, her peanut butter sandwich no longer appealing. After Ron swallowed his bite of sandwich he said,

"Nearly froze my fingers off this morning heading out to the training field. Merlin, it's gotten cold all of the sudden." Hermione and Harry murmured soft sounds of agreement when Alexander's voice came behind them,

"It's a sign, an omen. It's only the beginning of November, even for Europe this is a bit extreme." The three friends turned to face a solemn-faced Alexander, their brows furrowed in confusion. Hermione spoke first,

"What do you mean an omen, Alexander?" Alexander's jade eyes locked on his apprentice's.

"I mean that there's bad news coming, and soon. Early cold weather is never a good sign."

"I thought that was just an old wives tale?" Harry interjected. Alexander shook his head.

"I strongly believe in omens, and they've never been wrong before. Who's to say this one will be?" Ron snorted.

"Who's to say this is an omen?" Alexander's eyes hardened as he lay his gaze on Ron.

"I know an omen when I see one. This is one bad omen." Ron didn't reply, only took another large bite of his sandwich and looked at Alexander, his cloudy blue eyes filled with disinterest. But Hermione and Harry leaned forward, lunch forgotten, eager for him to explain. Alexander's face was upturned towards the sky, his face a hard mask as his wary eyes followed the swirling dark clouds. It looked as though a storm was brewing.

"What do you think the omen is trying to tell us?" Hermione asked softly, her eyes also on the clouds.

"Bloody hell, Hermione! There are no such things as omens! Only fools believe in them." Ron's eyes bored into the side of Alexander's face, directing his insult at the mentor. Alexander slowly tore his eyes from the mass of storm clouds above and brought his gaze back to Ron, a corner of his mouth lifted in a bitter smile.

"Only fools don't believe in omens. Perfect explanation for why all the ignorant blokes die far before anyone else." Silence followed his words. Ron glared haughty at Hermione's mentor but visibly snapped his jaw shut Harry elbowed him in the ribs. "And to your earlier question, Hermione, I've no idea. All I can pick up is that we need to prepare for the worst." Hermione's eyes widened and she quickly looked to see her friends reactions. Harry looked alarmed and had paled, making his black hair and bright eyes stand out against his face. Ron on the other hand looked unconcerned and scoffed at Alexander.

"This is ridiculous, you two are soaking up this ferrets lies like a tick on a mutt. Hermione, you remind me to be rational constantly, but look at yourself! This is irrational thinking." The expression on Hermione's face betrayed her thoughts of smacking Ron. Alexander lowered his muscled frame onto a boulder near the benches, his eyes fixated on Hermione.

"Ron, I think you should leave us for a moment." Ron's head snapped to face Harry, a look of complete shock marring his features. He abruptly stood, throwing his sandwich down on the tabletop and strode away, shoulders taught with anger. Harry flinched at Ron's retreated figure and glanced at Hermione. "I'm never going to hear the end of that one." Hermione gave a small smile and leaned against his lean shoulder, brushing her elbow against his in support. Harry nudged her gently back with brotherly compassion. "How do you propose we tell the others about this omen?" Harry asked, his attention tuned back into the issue at hand. Alexander sighed, and shrugged.

"It will be difficult to get the head Order to believe us, I have an idea that only a few will take it into consideration, let alone believe it. There's no evidence of it besides the early cold weather and the storm moving in, not only that but I'm getting woken up at night with dark dreams of this omen. It's not enough to convince them." Silence fell among the small group as they sat contemplating their thoughts. The silence was so evident that Hermione swore she could hear the gears turning in Harry's head.

"However we decide to tell them we need to do it soon, this storm is almost upon us." Hermione voiced, staring up at the dark sky between the breaks in the treetops. Harry stood, a look of determination on his face.

"I think I'll tell Lupin about this, he has more knowledge about omens than any of us." Without another word Harry took off at a jog, disappearing behind the trees. Hermione brought her legs up, crossing them on the bench and looked at Alexander.

"What did you see in your dreams?" Alexander leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees, shifting to find a comfortable position.

"It was so dark that it was hard to make out faces or people but I remember there was snow on the ground, so much of it that it exhausted you quickly to travel through it. There were figures running about, dashing between the trees calling out to one another. And nearly everything was on fire, the trees, the brush. You couldn't get away from it. It was magical-induced fire, regular fire does not travel that quickly. There were cloaked figures that appeared from the trees, they blended in with the night. I believe they were the ones that caused the fire. I can never make out who they are, though. Just when I think I'm about to figure it out I wake up." He ran his hands through his hair in frustration, a deep sigh whistling out of his lips. Hermione sat quietly, her chin resting on her knees, her eyes narrowed in thought.

"Could you make out where this was happening?" Alexander shook his head. "Hmm." She murmured, fingers twisting together as she racked her brain for ideas. A gust of freezing wind blew her hair about her face causing her to hurriedly shove it impatiently out of her eyes. When she had removed her curls from her eyes she noted that there were tiny snowflakes falling about her and Alexander, dancing in the now blowing wind.

When she looked at Alexander she couldn't help but stare at his eyes that were now framed with snow covered lashes. He unfolded himself from the boulder and stood, his gaze now looking down upon her. He bent at the waist, reaching around her to her jacket she had put on the table. Hermione swallowed hard and restrained from reaching out and brushing the snowflakes that caught in his dirty blonde hair. Alexander's face was nearly touching hers, his breath tickling her cheek, his warm eyes gracing over her lips. He pulled back with her jacket in hand and pulled her to a stand, his large hand cupping her elbow. Alexander helped her into her jacket, his calloused fingers pulling on the collar to straighten it, his body hovered near hers in an achingly sensitive way, as if he were pressed against her. Hermione stood frozen as she stared up into his face, the scent of cedar wood, nutmeg and a touch of a spicy ginger roses filled her nose as he stepped closer, the front of his cloak brushing her fingertips. His deft fingers brushed her jaw with the softest touch, leaving her head spinning. Alexander's eyes had taken on a light that was almost to bright to look at.

"Hermione," his Australian accent thickening his words, making his voice husky. Hermione sucked in a sharp breath at the melody of his voice, it reminded her of the sun, and pleasantly warm sand.

"Yes?" She nearly stuttered but managed to clamp on her control, and speak slowly. His nose grazed hers, his eyes swimming in front of hers. Hermione noticed with a jolt that ringing his pupil was a soft gold color, the jade mingling in with it in some sections. His pupils were dilated slightly, gazing into her own eyes.

"Would you like to come with me somewhere? It's a place I go to when I need to think." With him looking at her like that she'd do anything, Hermione thought breathlessly. She nodded, not daring to move too much, afraid that he'd pull away if she fidgeted. The smile that graced his mouth was like staring into the sun, the longer you looked the closer you wanted to get to it's warmth. Hermione forced herself to stare anywhere but at his lips. He stepped back, offering her his arm. Dazed, Hermione gratefully took it and they headed off deeper into the snow-laden forest, silence wrapping around them like a warm blanket.

There's chapter three! I hope y'all like it! I know, I know, I'm evil for stopping the chapter here but I couldn't help it.(; Review please, it makes me happy to know your opinions!

All my love,

Screamaahh(;