Chapter 2: Warm Water
Dear Harry,
How are you? I just got home, myself. I know that when we agreed to write you probably didn't mean the moment we separated on the train but I just can't help it. I already miss you. My mum is cooking dinner and it just keeps making me wonder about what you might be eating, who you're eating with. When we parted at Kings Cross I didn't see you going to meet anybody and I just keep worrying that your somewhere in some place I don't know eating all alone. It's making me sick to my stomach since I know how much you hate eating alone. I have to admit I might be over reacting because I'm projecting my emotions onto you. I know that I'm not eating alone but I just miss you so terribly that not eating with you feels just as bad as eating alone. It's a very lonely feeling. As soon as we begin dinner I'm going to ask my parents to let me eat at my seemingly mysterious friends' house. Seemingly mysterious because I'm going to try and be as nondescript about you as possible so they won't think you are a boy. I'm really going to try to convince them without lying but if push comes to shove I'll do what I need to because I want to eat with you. I'm hoping that I'll convince them so that we would only have to go maybe six meals without each other. I'll be eagerly awaiting your response.
Sincerely,
Hermione
Dear Hermione,
I actually beat you at writing first. Check your Hogwarts, A History book. I miss you too but you don't have to worry about me. I'm not eating alone like you feared but you are right, it doesn't matter who I eat with, the food tastes shitty without you. I hope your next letter has a positive response from your parents.
And really, Hermione? Sincerely? Who even uses that anymore? Use love. Here, I'll show you how it's done.
Love,
Harry
P.S. I love that you're blushing right now.
Dear Harry,
I am glad that you are not eating alone as I feared. Three meals have passed since my letter and I will admit they were the three worst meals I've ever had and I'm afraid it will only get worse. Like you had hoped, I have my parents decision and well, it not a yes nor is it a no. My parents have decided that we should all take a trip to France. I have a cousin that lives there that's getting married and my parents decided to make a vacation out of it so well be gone for two weeks. We leave the day after tomorrow. I've spent most of today arguing with them to let me see you before then but I prepare for the trip instead since they've given me such short notice. I'm a little suspicious about that too. Normally my parents are very organized and prepared people and thus strive to make me one as well so it's unlike them to not make me aware of this vacation. I mentioned this while I was arguing with them and then they got on me for thinking ill of them. I know they're only trying to make me feel guilty but it didn't work, not really anyways. Sorry to carry on like this, I must sound like a whiny ungrateful little brat.
I got your letter from my book. I was very touched, to say the least. I'm glad that I'm not the only one going a little silly at being separated.
I'll try to write to you tomorrow. Most likely I'll be able to get a letter out tomorrow night since I have to spend the day getting things and preparing but please, don't wait up for a response.
To redeem myself for daring to use sincerely in my last letter, I'll go even further than your love.
Love always,
Hermione
P.S. Since I am not a liar, I will admit that I did blush. Now you must tell me how it is you knew that I was. Are you somehow spying on me, Harry Potter?
Dear Hermione,
So your six meal time frame is well up. It royally sucks that we won't be able to see each other but I don't like to hear that your fighting with your parents because of it. Don't do that. Besides, there's no need to fight with them, just sneak out. Don't look like that, Hermione, it's really not a big deal. After all, you're a witch who has her apparition license, just say you're going to the library one day and pop over to Diagon Alley instead. I can meet you there and we can floo from the Leaky Cauldron to my place. Sorted. Now try to have fun in France, I'll see you when you get back.
Love always is pretty good so I won't change it,
Harry
P.S. You would probably like it if I were spying on you, would you? No? Too stalkerish? Well, relax I haven't been spying on you, I've just made you blush so many times that I know now what makes you tick. But if you are into spying, I'm not at all opposed to some voyeurism action. In fact, I'm not at all opposed to getting any action if it's with you.
Dear Harry,
Since I would hate to disappoint you, I am writing as I stated I would in my previous letter. I leave for France in six hours and only just finished getting everything done. I know you said not to fight with them but I found out that the reason why my parents scheduled this surprise vacation was because of the events that took place at the end of the school year. It's frustrating because although I keep telling my parents the truth that I wasn't raped they keep treating me differently, like they've already decided that I'm broken or something. It's utterly wrong. It's made me completely unopposed to the idea of sneaking out. I will admit that you pinned me right at first and I was a little incredulous at the idea but that's changed now. I'm hoping that I can prove to them while in France that I'm quite alright and that its thanks to you. I know what you're thinking Harry, I can play that game too. You're thinking 'Me? I didn't even do anything.' but you're wrong. You are the first and only person that has done everything right. I've never been happier and it's all because of you. You make me very, very happy so much so that I miss you like crazy. I'll be sure to write to you as soon as I land in France. By the way, why don't you tell me what you've been doing so every day? I don't care if it's not exactly exciting, I just want to visualize your day to day goings. I know it's weird but it would comfort me. What are your parents like? Do you have pets? A backyard? I just want to know everything about you and I feel like our letters so far have mostly been about me. Just tell me anything, I don't care what, just so long as it's about you.
Love always,
Hermione
P.S. Your postscript was so improper I don't even know how to address it. Considered me so ticked, I'm speechless. The only thing I can say is that I wouldn't be opposed to anything you do either, even if you were to stalk me. Now, no more of this because I might explode.
Dear Hermione,
I know you get upset with things involving Barty Jr's attack on you but this time I think your parents mean well. However, as fucked up as it is to say, if your anger with them gets you to me then be mad all you want. I would never treat you like you are broken, I know how strong you are. You make me really happy too, you know, and since you make me happy I guess I'll indulge your weird tiff with my day to day life. I live with my guardian, Severus. He's a potions master that invents new potions and works a lot. Most days I cook breakfast for us before he leaves for work and then the rest of the day I laze about the house, which you'd definitely disapprove of. Sometimes my mates come over or I go over there. I don't have any pets but I do have a backyard that I play Quidditch in. And that's basically it for me. You wrote that we've mostly been talking about you but your wrong. I don't know much about you either beside you have two parents and a cat named Crookshanks. It's your turn now to write about you.
Love always,
Harry
P.S. Be prepared to explode, Hermione. I'm not nearly close to being done with you.
Dear Harry,
I've landed in France! We're at the hotel now and I have to admit it's truly gorgeous here. I keep wishing that you were with me. I know it's mean to say but this place would be really worthwhile with you instead of my parents. I know you wouldn't treat me like they are. You've treated me the best I've ever been treated in the two weeks we've been friends than I've ever been treated by anyone, including my parents, in my entire life. You can't imagine how happy I felt reading you last letter. I don't care however minute the detail might be, I love learning more things about you, It's a part of my swotty nature. Yet, I feel even more curious about you with what you wrote. What happened to your parents? Who is Severus to you? A cousin? A brother? It is seriously impressive that he is a potions master. Do you have any idea how hard it is to become one? Not just anyone makes it, they go through a lot of schooling and work and they have to be accepted by not only the current head of the Department of Brewing, the minister himself has to approve of him. That means he's met and worked with Albus Dumbledore! Does that mean you might have might him too? I wish I can meet him. Severus, not the minister, though I would be ecstatic to meet him too. Will he be home when I come to see you? I hope he is, I have so many things I would like to ask him if he were to be there. As for you saying you think you don't know much about me, I'd like to concur. I feel like you know everything about me. I don't have anything else to add besides what you already know. I don't have any siblings and no friends to speak of besides you. I had I guess what you would call a close acquaintance in primary school that lived across from me. Occasionally, I still see and talk to her but its different for me. I no longer fit in with muggle— not that I think I ever really did— and I definitely don't fit in with magic folk. I guess one thing I could add is that every year since I've started Hogwarts I've been taking muggle summer schooling so I can keep up with things like mathematics, literature, science and technology. My favorite subject would definitely be science, it's very similar to magic. Anyway, I bought a muggle camera so the next letter I'll send, I'll include some photos too.
Love always,
Hermione
P.S. Should I be nervous? I get the feeling that I should be but I'm not— quite the opposite actually.
Dear Harry,
I don't know if you've gotten any of my letters yet that I sent while I was in France but since I didn't get any from you, I'm going to assume you didn't. I'm back home now and I really want to see you. The last two weeks without any word from you were bad, to say the least. I can't believe how much a craved just one word from you. I was constantly searching for any owls that might finally deliver a letter to me. I fully convinced my parents that I'm far from alright with how anxious I was. I tried to explain to them that I was just waiting for your letters is all but they didn't believe me. They want me to go to counseling now! It's made everything for us rather tense. God, I need to see you, Harry. I miss your smiles and the feeling of your hand in mine. Actually, I miss everything about you. Please tell me a time and I'll apparate there in the next heartbeat.
Love always,
Hermione
Dear Harry,
I finally got one of your letters that you must have sent while I was in France. I'm trying not to be anxious about getting one from you now but I don't understand what's going on? Are you still not getting my letters? I keep thinking the worst stuff like your hurt or something's happened to you or perhaps you are upset with me? Did I do or write something wrong? I need to hear from you.
Love always,
Hermione
Dear Harry,
It's been a week since I've been back. Officially a whole month since I last saw you and two and a half weeks since I've gotten a letter. I'm going rather mad to be honest. So if you get this letter, I'm going to apparate to Diagon Alley in one hour and I'll stay there until six. I'm going to ask around if anyone has seen or heard anything from you. I really hope that this has all just been a mix-up and I see you there.
Love always,
Hermione
...
"Get up," Harry blinked, snapping to awareness with tension already lining his entire body. His green eyes shot to glare at the tall handsome figure standing next to the bed. "You're leaving."
Harry slowly sat up with a wince, his movement causing the silk sheet to slide off of his naked body, marred with bruises, welts, bites and hickeys.
He ignored the way the figure's eyes raked over his body and the proud little smirk that came on his mouth at his handy work. Instead, Harry focused on breathing through the excruciating pain radiating from his back from the latest whipping he received.
Suddenly, the man before him grabbed his wrist to harshly haul him from his bed to the cold wooden floor. Harry felt the wind get knocked out of him as he landed on his back. "Fuck!"
"You have five more seconds to get out before I curse you. One," Harry grit his teeth but sat back up reaching for his clothes. "Two," Not even bother to put them on, Harry quickly made his way out of the huge bedroom and down the long dark hall. "Three," walking faster, Harry swiftly maneuvered his way around the eerily quiet mansion until he reached a set of grand staircases, "Four," breezing down them Harry finally made it to the entrance and reached out for the doorknob.
"Harry," Turning his head with his hand still on the door, he gazed upon the darkly smirking form of his Professor, Tom Riddle. With a flick of his wand, a package came soaring over to Harry. "You might want these back."
Taking the package from the air, Harry quickly turned around and opened the door before stepping out completely nude. He stood at the entrance for a moment, eyes unseeing as they stared out into the darkness before him. Slowly, as if in a trance, he put on his pants and, without putting on his shoes, he walked forward down the path leading to the gates of the Riddle mansion. Since Riddle had apparated him there, Harry had to somehow get home on his own. Fingering his wand, Harry debated on whether he should summon a broom or take the night bus. Deciding he wanted a fly, Harry summoned a broom and took to the sky. It didn't take him long at all to get to Spinners end and he noticed as he landed the darkened windows and stillness that alluded to the house being vacant.
Numbly, Harry entered his home and made his way passed darken rooms.
"Where have you been." Harry froze at the sound of his voice, his whole body suddenly coming alive with different contradicting emotions. At first, his heart sped up with excitement then immediate anger, he felt pain and guilt distantly as well as something much darker he had to suppress.
"Nowhere." He answered before he continued on as if he hadn't been interrupted in the first place.
"Don't walk away from me, Harry. You have been gone for weeks and I deserve an explanation." His stuff suddenly clattered to the floor as he moved before he even made a conscious decision to do so, striding forward to where Severus stood on the threshold between the living room and the bookshelf hiding his potions lab.
Grabbing onto the labels of Severus robes, Harry pulled him flushed against him, staring him into those impenetrable dark eyes defiantly.
"I'll only tell you if you fuck me." If he was hoping his crass words would warrant some reaction, he was disappointed as Severus continued to stare down at him, unimpressed. Reaching up, Severus grabbed onto the hand gripping his clothes to tear it away before he suddenly and swiftly flicked out his wand, lighting up the room and petrifying Harry.
Fury welled up in Harry as he struggled futilely to control his own body, eyes on Severus who prowled around him, taking in every mark on his naked upper body. Harry's breathing became labored with a mix between anger and lust as he felt Sev's eyes on him. He expected the older wizard to say something at the sight of his back but Sev said nothing. However, he could feel it, the furious energy in the air as Sev remained behind him for a prolonged moment. It made his hair stand on end and the lights flicker.
In the next second, Sev swished past him without so much as a word. Harry watched him his fury turning to shock then back to fury. Surely, Severus wouldn't just leave him like this. Surely, he cared more about his well being. Surely he would have more of a fucking reaction!
Harry stared at the entrance, heart pounding in his chest, niggling doubt prickling his conscious. No, Harry argued with himself, he cares, I know he does. Even if it's only because I'm her son.
He waited and a second later Sev slowly ascended the staircase that led down to his labs. Harry's heart spiked in his chest as Sev's hair moved away from his face, unveiling the blazing expression underneath. Harry swallowed hard as Sev moved to stand in front of him, a jar in his elegant hands and his dark eyes never leaving his own.
Slowly, Severus withdrew his wand again, flicking it so that the jar now hovered before him before he placed the tip onto Harry's naked breath. Feather light, Sev trailed his wand over the bruises murmuring healing spells as he went, his eyes trailing to each mark attentively. A new feeling suddenly hit him as he watched the older man work, making his heart squeeze and break at the same time, a stinging sensation building dangerously behind his eyes. Harry hated it, hated that Severus never rose to his provocation, never stooped to his level. Always, always he just easily cut through it all without even doing anything. It's not fucking fair!
Quietly and meticulously, with a care usually reserved for his potions, Severus fixed him so the aches in his ribs were gone and there were no more marks except for the ones on his back. Harry's lower belly jolted at the sudden feeling of Sev's cold fingers on his back. Fuck! Harry thought, goosebumps rising all over his body. Breathing heavily, he reveled at the gentle touches as he spread the paste on his wounds, aching for more, more of his touch, more of his skin, more of him. He let a moan, guttural and wanton wishing he would release the spell so he can act on his desires.
When he was done, Severus returned to stand in front of him and Harry hated vehemently every inch of space separating them. Actually, Harry just hated everything, he hated himself, hated Severus, hated the past and the present and everything that ever was that created this moment; this love, this lust, this depravity, this monster.
"Have you calmed down?" Sev's voice was low, almost like a whisper, it caressed Harry. Far from calm, he thought sarcastically. Sev met his eyes for a moment longer before he released his spell. Free, Harry's limbs trembled and his knees momentarily weakened. Lightning fast, Sev grabbed him to steady him Harry wasn't having it. Sharply, he slapped Sev's hands away and glared at him. Then he lunged at him, fisting his robes and dragging him harshly down to the floor. Severus grunted as his head smacked against the floor. While Sev blinked all disoriented, Harry quickly straddled him and press his erection against the older man's.
"Do I seem calm?" Harry asked as he gave a hard thrust. He had a second to register the dark look on Severus's face before their positions were suddenly reversed, Harry now grunting as his head hit the floor.
"Listen to me well, Harry," Severus growled through gritted teeth, "you will stop this behavior, all of it. Immediately." Harry bared his teeth, reaching out and grabbing his wrists in a vice-like grip.
"Or what?" Harry hissed challengingly, his eyes boring into his black ones, heart pounding in his chest.
A shuttered look came over Severus's face, he released his grip as if scaled and quickly climbed up onto his feet. Harry remained on the floor staring up into his face with defiant eyes. "Or what?" he repeated daringly, dread filling up his chest. Say it. DO it! He sat up, hands curling into fists. Severus's face went blank as he stared at him, betraying nothing.
"Remus has agreed—" Harry shot up, quickly turning away and heading down the hall. Severus said nothing as he went and Harry didn't expect him to. He already said enough. Once in his room, Harry slammed his bedroom door causing the whole frame to tremble. In another instant, another bang sounded as he upturned his dresser and then another and another until his room was destroyed. Wildly, he gazed around at the wrecked surrounding him and felt a sick satisfaction.
"Fuck this. Fuck all of it." he said to no one before he walked over to the window opened it and climbed out.
And then, quite illegally, he apparated away.
...
"Excuse me. Pardon me." Hermione diligently said as she weaved through the crowded Diagon Alley streets.
Did I make it all up? She wondered not for the first time. This had been the second week she had come to Diagon Alley searching for Harry, trying to reach him with nothing to show for it. Maybe I have lost it like my parents think. She shook her head against those thoughts. Harry is real and he's my friends. I have letters.
Then again, if my mental break is really as bad as it would seem then I could have written the letters myself and not even know it.
Hermione stopped walking, horror paralyzing her for a moment. He did suddenly appear right after the attack! Maybe I d—
Her thoughts suddenly cut off as she slammed down to the ground.
"Oi! Watch where you're going!" someone hissed as they stepped over her. Hermione stared at the person with disbelief at such rudeness before she snapped out of it and stood. She moved off to the side, the palms of her hand and her knees stinging. She raised them to her face to find them all bloody and dirty. Giving a long-suffering sigh, Hermione turned her head up to the clouds as if calling for a higher power when she realized that it was twilight. She did not want to remain in Diagon Alley in the dark.
Quickly withdrawing her wand, she pointed it at her palm and quickly healed her scrapes when she heard her.
Immediately her breath left her in a whoosh, her whole body seizing up in fear as that laughter rang in her ears.
How many times has she heard that laughter, had it ringing in her ears? Had her thinking it would be the last thing she ever heard? That horrible high-pitched mocking laughter.
Slowly, her head turned, her eyes dreadfully raising and spotting her all the way on the other side of the street.
Bellatrix Black.
And she was not alone.
Her knees trembled and she took a step back, her body shrinking into itself as she stared at them; Bellatrix and Barty Crouch Jr. They stood together on the threshold to Knockturn Alley, talking and laughing. There were others around them but Hermione's eyes suddenly had tunnel vision, fixed on the two figures that had tormented her her entire Hogwarts career. Something in her snapped seeing them there, daring to look so normal, daring to be so beautiful and rich and popular and cruel. They should look like monsters.
They're only monsters to you. Her mind whispered as she shook and quaked, her hand subconsciously going to her scar. Mudblood.
Mudblood
Mudblood!
MUDBLOOD!
XxXxX
"Ohhhhh, mudblood…!" Her voice rang out in sing-song. Hermione clapped her hands over her mouth, shrinking further into a ball as she pressed herself harder against the tree, hoping that the cover of night and the bushes would be enough. Oh God, please, please don't let her find me! "Come out, come out…!"
A hand suddenly whipped out and grabbed her arm, wrenching her from her hiding place as her shrill scream rang out in the forest.
"I've got her Bella!" Barty called excitedly, His face flushed as he looked at her with big twinkling eyes and a stretched grin, his tongue flicking out periodically. "Over here!"
Pure terror hit Hermione as he gripped her tightly. For a second all she could do was stare at his mad face and that tongue.
A ferocious need to escape swarmed through Hermione. She threw all her weight back, hoping to wrench herself out of his grip. She had a moment of triumph as she hit the ground and scrambled up to run but it was quickly squashed when Barty launched himself on top of her, his weight crushing her into the ground. She dug her hands into the dirt and tried to push him off of her but he didn't budge. She could feel the length of him over her, his fourteen-year-old body surprisingly so much bigger and stronger than her thirteen year old one. Something kept poking her back but she had no idea what since his wand was digging painfully into her neck. Before she could do anything else, Bellatrix came running into sight right in front of her. Clutching the tree with one hand to stop her momentum, Bellatrix smiled down at her, hair wafting around her beautifully as she pointed her wand at her face.
"Ah! There's my favorite mudblood!" Bellatrix beamed as she shot off a spell. Hermione's body suddenly felt boneless and her face slammed into the dirt like a rag doll. "That was fun, huh, Barty? I love it when she struggles. It would be so boring if we couldn't hunt her down." Barty sat up and turned Hermione over, keeping her in between his legs as he grinned down at her.
"It's bloody fantastic!" He breathed, his wand tip sliding over her neck, cutting her as it went, making her blood run. "What should we do with her this time?" he asked, tearing his eyes away to stare up at Bellatrix.
Tapping a finger pensively to her lips, Bellatrix kicked dirt on her as she contemplated.
"Well, she does look filthy just like the dirty mudblood she is," Bellatrix stated as Barty stared down at her again. "Maybe we should wash her." A slow smirk came over Barty's face as he stood up and went to stand next to Bellatrix, the both of them towering over her.
Something tight coiled in Hermione's stomach the both of them laughed, Bellatrix pointing her wand at her again and levitating her dead weight. It hurt, floating like this without being able to control her own body.
"You know, mudblood," Bellatrix began conversationally as they moved out of the forest. "I heard a rumor that there are grindylow's in the black lake. Do you care to find out?" she asked tauntingly.
"I bet she doesn't even know what a grindylow is." Barty chimed in snidely. Hermione couldn't even feel indignant at the slight against her intelligence, all she could feel was pure terror as the two talked about plotting her death as if it was nothing at all.
"Oh, I don't know Barty. I heard the mudblood is actually clever if you can believe it. Surely, she knows that the grindylow will tear into her flesh with those tiny sharp teeth until she's nothing but a half-eaten carcass."
"You hear that, mudblood?" Barty hissed, moving close to her so that he spoke into her ear. "You're going to die a slow and painful death."
Hermione wished that she could scream for help, it didn't matter who. She knew a clan of centaurs lived in the forest, if she screamed then maybe they would get her away from these monsters. But she couldn't do anything, she could only dangle like a broken puppet.
"Maybe, if you're lucky, you might die from hypothermia before that. Or maybe the grindylow will drown you first, though, to be honest mudblood, I doubt it. Grindylow really hate humans, you know." Bellatrix said conversationally before shrugging. "Either way, you die."
"I think I might actually miss the mudblood." Barty said laughingly, wiping a fake tear from his eye. Bellatrix shot him a smirk.
"Come off it, Barty, there are and will be plenty of other mudbloods."
Hermione tried to struggle, tried to speak but everything felt like lead. She could hear the water now and panic began to seize her. She didn't want to die like this. She couldn't die like this. It seemed so absurd. They had to be joking. They couldn't actually mean to kill her. They would get caught, they would go to Azkaban. Surely, they realized this.
"By the way mudblood, I'll be sure to take good care of your wand. A sort of keepsake to remember you by." Bellatrix laughter rang out and it was the last thing she heard before she was submerged in the icy waters. She couldn't even scream at the shock of how cold it felt, couldn't try to swim to the surface. She could only sink at an alarmingly fast rate. Her limbs drifted before her and bubbles emerged all around her as she continued down, seaweed rising to embrace her.
A frenzied sort of desperation welled up inside of her as her heart pounded wildly in her chest. I am going to die. She thought as her last breath escaped her. She envisioned her parents and felt a pang that she would leave them behind in such a way. They would be so devastated. She didn't want that for them. Her vision darkened. She was really dying. She suddenly felt tranquil with the realization. Yes, it would hurt her parents and for that she was regretful but this peace…
XxXx
Hermione snapped back to reality with a shaky breath. She would have died that day if the giant squid hadn't brought her back to shore. Worse still, she had told Headmaster Dippet everything and he hadn't done anything to Bellatrix or Barty. Not expulsion or suspension just one measly detention. And he had continued to do nothing as Bellatrix tormented her until finally, she graduated in Hermione's fifth year.
But Barty was still around.
She looked at him and her scar positively burned. His tongue kept flicking out periodically as he talked, chiming in to whatever Bellatrix was saying like the stupid lap dog he always was and always will be.
Headmaster Dippet was forced to finally do something last year since Barty permanently etched his abuse into her skin. For so many years she had been trying to prove all the horrible things the two had done to her. How they cursed her with unforgivable's and used her as a dummy to practice new dark spells they discovered. Yet, every time an inquiry was made and they confiscated their wands, there was no proof of those spells. Hermione had tried to tell them they used different wands but when they searched nothing showed up. She had become the girl who cried wolf to Hogwarts. A bitter mudblood trying to take down their precious pureblooded elite.
Hot, fierce rage boiled her blood stopping her shaking as she straightened to her full height. I'm not bitter anymore, she thought with a poisonous glare, I'm vindicated now. Vindicated and vengeful.
Slowly, she raised her arm, feeling heavy like she was moving under water. Fire burned in her veins as she thought of all the cruel things they had done. Watched them laugh without a care in the world. She wanted them gone. She wanted them to pay.
I don't care if it means going to Azkaban, she thought viciously as Bellatrix tipped back her head and let out another piercing laugh, I want them to feel how I felt. I want them begging and screaming like the scum they are. I want to see the desperation in their eyes as I take away their pride and leave them gutted on the floor!
She took a step closer, moving away from the shadows, her eyes focused on their faces. Passerby's eyed her as she moved as if in a trance. The sky darkened, the last touches of light quickly fading behind clouds. Her eyes made a minute adjustment to the lightening and in that second, the lot had disappeared. She had no doubt that they had finally entered Knockturn Alley.
"Hermione!" Hermione froze, her head turning with disbelief.
Without a second thought, Hermione lunged herself right into Harry's arms, her heart pounding in her chest as he folded his arms around her in a tight embrace. It that moment, in his arms, it felt all the chaotic emotions from a moment ago washed away. She closed her eyes breathing him in, taking comfort in the hardness underneath her. She didn't want to speak—though she had so many question—didn't want to move. Finally, finally, he was here. That's all that mattered.