A/N Hello :o) Thanks for the reviews – they are much appreciated!
Anyone who reads The Other Seven Horcruxes knows that WetOtterSoks is the name I share with my beta (I am Wetsoks and she is Otter). I just wanted to say that this fic is all Wetsoks no Otter. She's very busy catching fishes and things at the moment and couldn't commit to Beta-ing 2 fics. So I apologise if this fic is a little rough...
Also – Mad props to JK and the magical world she created for us to play in.
Chapter 4
"Hello Beautiful," Scabior said to her, she turned and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. She was tearing through the forest, jumping a fallen trunk as braches slapped her face. She looked to the left, then right and she knew that Harry and Ron were running with her. She threw a spell over her shoulder, trying to slow their pursuers if nothing else, as she ducked under a low branch. She had only been running for a minute and a half but her calves and thighs were burning along with her lungs, she pushed on. The boys were falling behind and somehow the snatchers had circled around in front of her, it was a trap and she was running right into it. She spun and threw a stinging jinx at Harry and fell beside him, he was rambling about what You-Know-Who and she was angry that once again he had let him inside his mind. Suddenly hands were grabbing her, pulling her to her feet, ripping her hair out. She swallowed a scream and willed her heart to stop thundering, a stench like wet dog filled her nostrils and her captor was licking her face, her stomach churned and something stirred in her memory; danger, something bad was about to happen.
Hermione let her reflexes take over as she began to writhe and fight, scratching the arms that were holding her as she screamed and cursed. Her mind was telling her she was in danger, she had to get away and nothing else mattered she closed her eyes to think and when she reopened them she was no longer in the forest, she also no longer had any clothes on. Hermione turned her head, it was the only part of her body that she could move the rest of it seemed to be pinned down, the room she was in was large, cold and dark. Someone was screaming and it took Hermione a full minute to realise it was her and that the reason she couldn't move was because someone was straddling her and what was that sensation on her arm? She began to struggle again desperate to get away when suddenly every millimetre of her body was aching as though a thousand needles were being slowly pushed through her skin. Nothing Hermione did eased the pain, no position made it more bearable and it just went on and on.
Suddenly Hermione was falling, a bump to her head disoriented her. She shook her head to try and clear her mind but it didn't work, all she knew was that she needed to get away so she began to scoot away and was surprised that she could. Hermione wedged herself into a corner and made herself as small as possible by pulling her legs up to her chest. She could hear someone talking to her but could not quite make out what they were saying, she shook her head trying to clear the fog from her mind. Hermione braced herself expecting the cruciatus curse to hit her again, she could not quite understand why the blows were not coming, why was Bellatrix not attacking her? She looked around, the room had changed again; now it was made of wood, well lit and warm. Someone was moving towards her, she tried to back away again but her back was to the wall. Hermione squinted at the person moving towards her, blonde hair was all that she could make out and this confused her. Bellatrix's hair was raven coloured, was it Lucius or Narcissa coming towards her? The thought terrified her, she was breathing very heavily and her heart was pounding it hurt, why didn't they just attack her?
Hermione took a deep breath in and tried to exhale slowly, willing her body to calm itself. She rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hand trying to clear her vision, forgetting for a moment that the fog was in her head not her eyes. The scared young witch looked at the person approaching her again and she saw blue eyes. Her body ached, adrenaline coursed through her and she could not help but tremble: all of it combined made it impossible to focus. Hermione began to rock, losing her will to fight, "please...just kill me" she begged as tears streamed down her face. She was so tired she begged again, noticing that her voice did not sound like her own, so hoarse. Then she heard another voice, it was soft and comforting she wanted to go to it but she was afraid.
"'Ermione, Ma Petite I am 'ere, I am not going to 'urt you. You are safe." The soft voice said.
"Still fighting Muddy?" The voice inside her head said suddenly. Hermione let a whimper escape from her as she raised her hands to cover her ears. She knew that Bellatrix was there, she was always there.
"'Ermione please, let me 'elp you," The soft voice pleaded, that actually made her laugh, how could anyone help her? She was beyond help, she was lost, and with that thought her laughing turned to sobbing, "I am lost" she whispered. Hermione looked down through her tears to see a hand was gently resting on her wrist, it was a soft hand and warmth came from it. Even though the hand did not move there was comfort coming from it and all Hermione could do was stare at it, finally something that she was able to focus on. Hermione focused on the soothing presence of the hand and as she did so she was able to throw up the occlumency walls that Harry had taught her, blocking Bellatrix out.
The hand resting on her arm moved and Hermione launched herself at the person, she liked the calm that came with the touches. It was the only time she was able to focus enough to calm down and keep her walls up. Hermione clung to person and was rewarded with feeling of arms encircling her. She snuggled into the person and the scent of coconut and vanilla caught her attention, Hermione liked scents they helped her remember things. It was at that point that she remembered why coconut and vanilla meant something to her, she pulled away slightly to look up at the person.
"Fleur?" Hermione croaked her throat hurting as she looked up and recognition dawned on her. Fleur stroked the scared young witch's head, "Oui Ma Petite, I am 'ere wiz you," Hermione nestled in to Fleur again knowing that she was safe and wanting to hide the fact that she was entirely confused. She sat there like that for a while and the world around her seemed to calm, she was exhausted, sore and felt filthy but nothing could make her want to move. Fleur brushed the hair out of her face and gently lifter her chin so that she could see her face. Hermione blinked up into Fleur's eyes and as she blinked some unshed tears spilled down her face and Fleur wiped them away. "'Ermione, can you 'ear me?" she asked. Hermione pondered the statement, after spending some time in Fleur's arms she was able to keep her focus and slowly the fog in her head was lifting, she nodded in response, it had been easier than she had thought it would be.
A sigh escaped Fleur's lips as relief flooded through her, she continued to stroke Hermione's head while the young witch trembled in her arms. Fleur decided to keep asking simple questions, "Would you like some water for your throat?" Hermione swallowed, her throat was incredibly dry she nodded again. Fleur smiled, progress was being made. She did not want to startle Hermione and so she decided that the best move would be to tell Hermione everything she was going to do first. "'Ermione I am going to stand up then I will 'elp you on to ze bed is zat alright?" Hermione did not move for a moment as she processed this, Fleur waited worriedly but did not press Hermione and her patience was rewarded with a nod and Hermione gently sliding out of Fleur's arms.
Fleur got to her feet and went to the jug that she had kept by the bed and began pouring Hermione some water. She had learned from her previous mistakes and only poured half a glass, less to clean up if there was another spill. Fleur turned to Hermione and was slightly startled to find the young witch standing behind her, she had not even heard her move, she smiled reassuringly at her and handed her the glass of water. Hermione took the glass in two unsteady hands and raised it to her lips gulping it down so fast that some spilled out the sides of the glass and down her chin. When she finished the glass she placed it back on the table and began to take in her surroundings. Fleur felt it was important for Hermione to feel comfortable in the cabin so did not interrupt her.
Slowly Hermione shuffled over to the door that led to the bathroom, then blushed as she realised she had clearly been here with Fleur for some time and could not remember going to the bathroom once, she pushed the thought away – at this point dignity was a low priority. The young witch turned to Fleur who had been watching her, "How long have I been here?" she asked more out of curiosity than anything else. Fleur smiled at her, "Zis is your third morning 'ere." She stated then, feeling as though she should take advantage of this lucidity out of fear that it may not last she began a little probing, "what do you remember 'Ermione?" Instantly Hermione's eyes fell to the floor as she pondered this question, she did not know how to answer this question, she had too many secrets to hide. "You found me in the boathouse." Hermione stated but as she did so she replayed the reasons why she was in the boathouse, Harry's death, Ron's betrayal, the battle at Hogwarts, Malfoy Manner, all of it hit her like a ton of bricks and with the hit her walls came down, though Hermione did not realise it straight away.
A dark look passed across the young witch's face and it did not go unnoticed by Fleur who to a slow gentle step towards her young friend and touched her arm, hoping to ground her in the present again. As a single tear slid down Hermione's cheek and she quickly wiped it away, Fleur's heart was breaking watching the stubborn brown eyed girl fight to control her emotions.
"Pathetic, filthy little mudblood."
Hermione heard the voice in her head and her eyes widened in panic, she knew what was going to follow if she did not get her walls back up soon. Fleur noticed the reaction but more so she could smell that musky scent in the air and realised that Hermione was about to be in trouble. Squeezing Hermione's arm softly she softly touched her face, "I am 'ere wiz you Ma Petite, tell me what you need, 'ow can I protect you?" Hermione made eye contact with Fleur and the Veela found herself and wondered if the intelligent young witch was trying to tell her something.
Hermione held Fleur's eyes, focused on her touch and worked to raise her walls. Occlumency was not only magically exhausting but seemed to use up all of Hermione's physical energy and as she fought to get the walls up and keep them there she felt her knees weaken. Sighing she stepped towards Fleur as she started to fall to the ground but, as she had suspected she would, Fleur caught her.
"I don't give up easy Muddy, I will find you and your Veela bitch too" Bellatrix whispered into her mind but before she could hit her with the Crucio Hermione had gotten her walls up. She let out the breath that she had been holding and felt her body shudder with a mix of relief, exhaustion and fear. She knew that she needed to explain to Fleur what was happening, she had put her friend in danger by allowing herself to get into this weakened state and the guilt was eating away at her.
Fleur looked down at the trembling girl in her arms, she still seemed lucid which was good. The Veela picked Hermione up and headed to the bed, fully intending for the exhausted witch to get some needed rest. Hermione shook her head, "could I have some soup please?" she asked in a whisper. Fleur nodded at the witch in her arms and felt that the fact that Hermione was asking for food meant that there was hope for her yet, and hope was something she wanted to hold onto and so she carried the young witch into the kitchen instead.