Disclaimer, see chapter 1. Thanks to everyone adding the story, i hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2

Hermione heard voices. She was too tired to try and realize what they were saying. She laid there, eyes closed, thinking. She felt different. Something had happened, she shook her head. Moaning, she tried to move her body, but found that she couldn't.

"Oh, she's waking up!" A female voice said. "Someone go get Charlie."

Charlie? What about Charlie? Where am I? And why am I so sore? Hermione heard footsteps, and felt a light pressure on her arm.

"There you are dearie. Just take it easy, don't push yourself too hard." The voice said. Slowly, Hermione opened one of her eyes. As soon as it adjusted to the light, she opened the other. Looking around she saw the source of the female voice.

"Hello Hermione, my name is Isobell. I'm the healer on this reserve."

Hermione tried to speak, but couldn't find her voice. She touched her throat, and Isobell got the message. She conjured a glass of water and handed it to her. Hermione drank it quickly, loving the coolness it gave to her throat. Placing the glass down, she turned back to the healer.

"My name is Hermione, but you already seemed to know that." She smiled, being polite. Isobell nodded, "Charlie knows you. He was pretty worried about you." Hermione blushed, she didn't know Charlie that well but the fact that he was worried for her was very caring of him.

Charlie came running through the door, "Hermione, thank merlin you're all right." He walked over to the bed. "Isobell, Hemera just woke up as well. She's thrashing around again. People are getting hurt, they need you." Isobell nodded and ran from the room. Charlie went to turn to Hermione, but she was getting up out of the bed.

As soon as she heard Hemera was awake she ran towards the clearing where she knew the dragon would be. She didn't know how she would know this, and she didn't question it. She just ran, Charlie chasing after her. "Hermione, where on earth are you going!" She ignored him and ran faster. She made her way outside and saw the dragon trying to be tamed by men.

She stopped and Charlie finally caught up to her. He grabbed her arm. "What is wrong with you! Why are you even here?" Hermione didn't answer him, but struggled to get away. She needed to get to the dragon.

Hemera, sensing her distress, flapped her giant wings and flew over to her. She landed closer and began growling at... Charlie?

Hermione walked over to her, and touch her snout. Hemera leaned into her touch affectionately. Charlie, in the meantime, look as if he had been slapped in the face. All the dragon handlers looked on as Hemera began to hum.

"I'll be damned." Charlie said with a chuckle.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"Hemera here doesn't like anyone. Never has. But she obviously likes you." Charlie looked on curiously.

"Hemera," Hermione said. "It fits you, you know. Goddess of the daytime, of the sun. Perfect." She stroked her snout.

"I know."

Hermione turned to Charlie, "What did you say?" He shook his head, "I didn't say anything."

"It was me Hermione. Look at me."

Hermione froze, slowly turning to Hemera. "You?" The dragon nodded. "Charlie.. she can talk!" Charlie laughed, "No she can't. Dragons lost the ability to communicate with humans millenia ago." Hermione shook her head, "You're wrong, I can understand her." Charlie looked at her skeptically, "You can't. That would mean.. well. It would mean a lot of things. But it isn't possible."

Hermione turned back to Hemera. Can I really understand you? And you me?

"Of course child. I've been calling for you in your dreams. I'm glad to see you finally found your way back to me."

Back to you? What do you mean. Hermione was confused. She had never seen a dragon before this.

"Climb on Hermione, we have a lot of talking we need to do."

Hermione nodded timidly and climbed on. She sat on Hemera's back, despite Charlie's protesting. Hemera started beating her wings and Hermione clutched onto her, terrified. They took off, hearing a yelp from below. Hermione looke over and saw Charlie dangling from Hemera's leg.

"Stupid hatchling." Hermione chuckled. "Hemera, don't drop him please!" The dragon grapped Charlie in her hand on placed him on her back, behind Hermione.

"She said to hold on!" Hermione shouted over the winds. Charlie gripped her back, terrified. Hermione laughed, loving the rush of the wind rushing through her hair. "Where are we going?" Charlie shouted in her ear. She shrugged. "Hemera didn't really say. She just said we have a lot of talking to do." She felt Charlie lean his head against her back and groan. She chuckled.

Hermione had to admit, feeling Charlie's arms around her waist was nice. She blushed, glad no one could notice. She let her thoughts wander, how could Hemera know me already? I've never met her before.. This is all so confusing.

"Don't worry little one. Everything will become clear soon."

Hermione's eyes opened wide. You can hear my thoughts?

Hemera responsed in what sounded like a chuckle, causing Charlie to grab onto her even tighter, not that she minded.

Hemera flew them high into the mountains and landed in a small clearing. Hermione scooted off, her legs incredibly sore. Charlie hobbled off behind her. Hemera crouched onto the ground, watching Hermione and Charlie interact.

"Hermione, what are you doing here?" Charlie asked, facing her.

Hermione sighed, "Well, I'm not really sure. Hemera was contacting me in my dreams. I wasn't sure who she was or where but I just apparated and ended up here. I just knew, even though I really didn't. So, I really don't know." Hermione turned to Hemera. "Can you project your thoughts to Charlie as well?" Hemera rolled her eyes and then nodded.

All of a sudden, Charlie yelped. "She's in my mind!" Hermione laughed, "I told you I wasn't making it up."

"Hemera, can you please explain what's going on?" Hermione asked, sitting on the ground in front of the dragon, Charlie joining her.

The dragon looked at her.

"Hermione, this isn't the first time we have met. You probably don't remember though, but I'm sure we can find a way to trigger the memories." She paused, allowing Hermione to get a grip on what was going on.

"Please, continue. I want to know, I'm ready."

She continued. "Well, this isn't. How do I put this.. This isn't your first life Hermione."

Hermione gasped, that wasn't possible. "What do you mean? I.. No, that can't be right."

The dragon looked at her. "It is. Besides, a dragon would recognize her rider anywhere. And you Hermione, you are my rider."

Hermione's mouth was opened in suprise, and Charlie looked like he had been slapped in the face. "What happened to me? Did I...?"

"You died. You most likely now have a scar or a "birthmark" as it would have been called on your chest, right above your heart. That is where the arrow pierced you."

Hermione pulled her shirt down, revealing her cleavage. Charlie looked away, his cheeks red. Sure enough, there was her birthmark. Her parents told her it made her special, if only they knew how special she was. She gently ran her finger over, and felt a pain in her heart. She gasped, startled. Charlie turned back, touching her shoulder. "Hermione?" he asked tentively. She nodded, "I could feel the arrow." She shook her head. "Hemera, who was I?"

The dragon looked as if she were smiling. "Hermione, or as you were called then, Astraea. You were a great warrier, in a dark time. We gaurded our people, the humans, elves, and even the dwarves. Most of those creatures are now extinct, although there are some elves in gaurded areas. We were betrayed though. A young rider, named Galbatorix was your friend. He was foolish though, and got his dragon killed. He asked the council to give him a new one, but they refused. He stole another dragon and forced him to serve him through dark magic. Magic then was incredibly rare, yet you were one of the gifted few. I suspecct your past is why you excel well now."

Hermione nodded, it made sense so far. "My name was really Astraea? That's so pretty.." Charlie snorted, "Your name was a mouthful, even back then." She punched him in the arm, teasingly of course. "Please continue Hemera."

"Galbatorix was furious, he formed a group of riders, making them loyal to him, and him alone. With his followers, he attacked and killed all those who opposed him. Naturally, you were one of the ones leading the resistance. Galbatorix found us. Your father, Vrael, was the leader of the riders. They fought each other, and then it was the moment of truth. Vrael hesitated, and was mortally injured. You took him into hiding with you, to nurse him back to health. Hidden in the mountains, we began healing your father, but it didn't last long. Galbatorix found us. He decapitated him while we watched in hiding."

Hermione was crying. She didn't remember this happening, but at the same time, she did. She could see the scenes playing out in her mind while Hemera spoke. Charlie scooted a bit closer and out his arm around her to comfort her.

"We tried to escape, but Galbatorix saw us. He shot the arrow, knowing it would pierce your heart. I tried to save you, but I couldn't. You died. I...lost it. My mind, I, I haven't been right since. But when you were born again, I felt it. My heart finally felt whole again, after thousands of years have gone by, I knew you had returned to this world, and to me. Galbatorix is dead. But there is a new threat to this world. It is your duty as a rider to stop him. Are you able to accept that? Will you do now what we had failed to do so long ago?"

Hermione nodded, understanding the gravity of what she was doing.

"I accept."

With those words Hermione felt a burn on her hand. She looked down, it was beautiful. The markings added life and hope. She smiled. Hemera was right, she felt whole now too, now that she knew her dragon was whole and with her.