She woke to the sound of him thrashing on the couch, his head moving so violently she feared his neck might snap. She stood and gently padded over towards him, gently whispering his name as she edged closer.
He stood in a dark, cavernous room. Shadows flickered ominously from the fireplace, the only source of light in the dank room. He looked behind himself, to reassure himself she was still there with him.
Suddenly, his vision was blinded for a few mere seconds as the room was illuminated completely. Hooded figures, is all he could see in his line of sight. And sitting quite comfortably on a large, high backed arm chair, sat Voldemort himself, a smirk on his face as he looked upon the boy who lived.
Hermione stood behind him, Harry's arm forcing her back, attempting to hide her from view. Yet, to no avail. A curse hit his body and he collapsed to the ground writhing in pain as he watched Voldemort edge closer and closer, his eyes not trained on Harry Potter, but on one Hermione Granger.
"Harry, Harry wake up. It's okay, I'm right here sweetheart. Wake up, come back to me." she whispered stroking his forehead.
"NO." he shouted when his snake like hand reached out to grasp a hold of her neck. He watched Voldemort wave his wand and her clothes simply melted away.
A noise of approval emitted from the dark wizards throat as he surveyed the trembling young woman. Harry couldn't move, couldn't hope to reach her in time to stop him from-"Harry, wake up…"
With a jolt he woke up, eyes wide and staring. He was taking in deep long breaths of air as he stared at her, immediately reaching forward and cupping her face with his hands, turning it from side to side, looking for any damage before pulling her into his tight embrace.
"Hermione, you're safe.. safe… with me, everything is okay, safe… Hermione." He sounded almost feverish as he mumbled into her neck.
"what did you see?" she whispered and Harry froze, it was as if his entire being was motionless, he could be dead, except for the thumping in his chest that Hermione felt against herself. "Harry."
"It was nothing, just a nightmare." He released her and stood, his back cracking as he straightened. Hermione found herself face to face with his bare chest, not that she was complaining, and Harry merely looked down at her a cheeky smile on his face, his glasses not yet adorning his face.
"Seriously Harry, you need to tell me these things." His smile immediately faded and he frowned walking away in a frustrated manner, walking toward the bathroom.
With a slam he shut the door and Hermione took a few deep breaths before following him. Fuming at his manner she strode in after him.
"Harry James Potter, you little git! Don't you dare walk away from me when all I have done is show some genuine affection and worry for you!" she said in a tone an octave above her regular.
He barely had time to turn around and face the shower wall when she burst through the door yelling at him. he allowed the water to continue to cascade down his sore back, her voice had suddenly stopped and he turned slightly to see her staring open mouthed at him.
"Hermione, didn't you hear the running water?" he queried and she merely stood there, an eyebrow raised in defiance.
"We are going to sort this out this instance."
"No, I am going to continue showering and you are going to drop it." He stated firmly.
"No! You will listen to me Harry Potter!" she stopped her eyes drifting from the back of his head to his shoulder blades. Shaking her head quickly she continued- "we need to talk about all of this, I do not want another incident like the one at Christmas!"
Harry froze, it felt like he had been gutted, he shut of the water and exited the shower shamelessly. "Is this what you want, me to bare all of myself to you. I never wanted to hurt you like I did, and I never want to ever hurt you ever again! Do you not trust me to be able to control myself!" Hermione took a step backward at his tone but kept up her argument.
"I just want to help you Harry."
"I don't need your help, I can do this myself, all of it, I don't need you!" he yelled in frustration.
Hermione picked up a towel and threw it at him whispering venomously "fine, next time bloody cover yourself."
He could tell by her tone that she was hurt. "Damn it." He chastised himself and exited the bath room, towel secure around his waist. Hermione sat at the edge of her bed, her back to him, curled up with her knees touching her chin.
"Hermione." He murmured, scratching his head awkwardly. " 'Mione I'm sorry." He whispered and she made a non committal noise which he didn't understand.
"Just leave me alone." She stated and dived under the covers curling up once more. Harry sighed, closing his eyes in frustration.
"Fine!" he half shouted and walked toward the door, magicing his clothing to his body.
"Fine!" she sobbed, as he slammed the front door on his way out, tears falling in steady streams down her face.
He strode forward, past their protective barriers and toward the smell of the sea, the almost tangy smell reached his nose, its fresh nature compelled him to draw nearer. He walked onto the rocky shore, his shoes slipping slightly on the wet rock as he begun a slow, yet purposeful walk.
Why couldn't she understand. He thought to himself. Why won't she just let him have his night mares… I can't tell her what constantly happens to her every night, every night it's as if he wants her more and more. I can't have her thinking… fearing that like I do.
Hermione waited… hours, for him to come back, she passed the time by reading, but even that, delving into the mysterious world of words could not distract her. She eventually positioned herself in the centre of her bed, cross legged and facing the closed door, her heart thumping in fear at what could happen to him. She had to protect him- at least until I kill him- she thought sadly, her hands writhing in her lap nervously.
She eventually collapsed into a pool of tears, eventually crying herself to sleep.
When she woke next it was late in the afternoon, Harry had left early in the morning, prior to daybreak, venturing into the darkness of the night with no protection. Hermione blew her nose and padded to the bathroom, splashing her face to help decrease the swelling around her eyes, which had come about due to the flood that had continued into her slumber.
Harry walked down the cobbled street, looking around curiously as the setting sun shone its last rays upon his face, the cold suddenly creeping upon him when its once bright golden self was reduced to mere embers on the horizon.
He sighed, thinking of her, always Hermione. Of the progress they had suddenly made together, a kiss, a mere glimpse into their potential, Harry knew he had just laid down a brick wall in their path. He groaned, running his fingers through his hair and turned around knowing that a little over ten kilometres away, up the hill and through the trees Hermione was waiting for his return- at least he hoped she was.
He sat outside within the overgrown grass staring at the small cottage before him, contemplating whether he should venture inside. A fire had been lit, he could tell by the soft amber glow the crack in the curtains revealed. He had been sitting, in the cold for about an hour now, wondering how his arrival would be received, wondering what on earth he was going to say.
Hermione had been half asleep on the couch, a book in hand, her back to the door when she heard the door knob turn with a creak. She immediately sat up smoothing the creases out of her pants nervously.
His footsteps were slow as the door shut behind him with a snap. He seemed to be approaching her as if she may explode at any moment, Hermione wasn't even sure what she was going to do.
" 'Mione." He whispered and she turned glassy eyes meeting his and he flinched at the hurt still shining in them. "I'm… you need to understand…. I just don't want to scare you." he whispered and Hermione sighed in a frustrated kind of way and stood up to face him fuming.
"I am not a little girl who's afraid of the dark Harry!" she exclaimed looking frazzled, Harry's brow creased in irritation and threw his hands into the air stomping away from her.
"You may not be a little girl Hermione, but you are a young woman with…" he trailed off, losing his nerve and Hermione rounded on him.
"With what Harry? Weaknesses? Flaws? If this is what you want to tell me, don't bother I already know!" she spat and he closed his eyes.
"You are powerful, mine and …. So damn beautiful." He whispered and she stared, gobsmacked as he continued- "and I dream about… about him… and he wants you so much… because of those things." She immediately understood what he had been seeing each night in his dreams, visions of her –and Voldemort.
"Harry, you aren't supposed to have this connection with him, you are supposed to suppress-"
"Do you think I don't know that already!" he retorted and she groaned.
"I know you know. It's just… He wants me? Well… when you look at the evidence it is quite likely… the way he acted before Christmas, acted through you, the horcrux and now these dreams…" she trailed off tapping her finger to her chin thoughtfully.
"What happened before Christmas, when they took you?" he questioned sharply and she flinched out of her thoughts and frowned.
"I.. I don't really want to talk about it." She said, wringing her hands together and biting her lip at the vivid memory of his tongue against her cheek that night. She cringed and he edged closer, fingertips twitching in his sudden urge to engulf her in his arms and never let go.
"Ok…" he trailed off awkwardly not really knowing what to say without starting yet another argument, something he realised he'd prefer to avoid- especially if I want to taste those lips again- he smirked as the thought came through his head before mentally slapping himself.
He watched Hermione walk tiredly into the bath room to change and sat down gingerly on the couch warming himself by the gently flickering fire.
When she exited, failing to hide a yawn she rubbed her eyes sleepily and walked to her bed where she collapsed in a heap on top, sighing in satisfaction. Harry stifled a snort of laughter as he noticed the shirt she wore reveal her naked bottom. Until another part of his body noticed. Not only was she without underwear… that shirt is mine.
He stood up and carefully removed his gaze from her delectable flesh to stare at the back of her head, its tangled mess fanned out around her as she slept. Pulling on the blanket which lay crumpled at her feet he pulled it slowly over her, noticing her smile in her sleep. He grinned and brushed a lock of hair out of her face.
He suddenly registered how small she appeared in the big old bed. He did not look forward to returning to her child hood one, his body edging ever closer to her. he froze when her eyes flickered open and she tiredly looked pointedly over her shoulder then back at him and nodded. He smiled sheepishly and walked to ward the other side of the bed- his side- he thought with a grin. Climbing in he heard a soft snore emit from her and fought a laugh, if only he could record this!
Chuckling he closed his eyes, and fell asleep like that, a large grin on his face.
He was hungry, hungry for something he had never yearned for before. A woman. But not any woman, one whom was almost untouchable, perhaps that was what made her that much more delectable. And the fact that she was the 'love' of the boy who refused to die life made it just that much sweeter. Sweeter was the knowledge that soon he would have his way, soon she would be his.
He cracked his neck to the side as the dark stone walls dimly reflected the almost overbearing fire which resided behind him. He waited. Mere seconds before they started appearing before him with soft cracks, like small twitches in the wind.
He waited several minutes before speaking, all the better to scare them. He looked up and perused their wary, frightened and false confidant faces. Oh, and the mad faces, yes mad, he thought as his gaze landed on Bellatrix, who smiled serenely up at him, her pale face, once beautiful, now haunted, reflected harshly on the polished black wood before her.
I am surrounded by imbeciles. "so, have we found her?" he questioned sharply and watched as a few cowered and others like Bella merely stared at him with crazed expressions. Then even fewer were those like Lucius, whom looked down his nose at everyone except his master. It was one such blonde haired wizard who spoke up at that moment.
"My.. my lord, wouldn't it be more productive in our time to be trying to kidnap Potter, rather than the girl... once he is out of the way surely you can-"
"Do not question me Lucius!" he whispered harshly. "With her in the picture Potter is basically untouchable, unless he does something stupid, which I must agree is likely. However capturing her, possessing her would bring about that child's demise all the sooner."
"But my lord, it would be much easier to kill her than capture h-"
"If you dare touch her I will make sure your death and your families deaths are long and painful Yaxley! You too Malfoy." He almost growled, his red eyes flashing dangerously in the dim light. "my motives for getting the girl are completely neutral, and logical if you dare to question them. But one thing must be clear amongst you fools, she is mine." He almost cried out in rage, his fingers twitching toward his wand, the killing curse on the edge of his thoughts, as another spoke up in question.
"But... she's a mudblood?"
"Mudblood or not, she is more brilliant than most of you put together, and..." he paused looking at them quickly. ".. graced with more lovely attributes." The younger of the Malfoy men seemed to half nod in agreement before catching himself, to which the master of the table smirked at.
She will be mine, she will be my Queen.
Harry woke, from a dreamless sleep, the first in months, feeling quite relaxed. It felt calming to have her soft body pressed against his, her warmth casting away any thoughts of rising.
Both of his arms were wrapped around her as she lay draped across his chest, how she was comfortable he had no idea.
A sad thought journeyed into Harry's mind at that very moment, soon they would have to leave this quiet sanctuary, soon they would have to leave and who knows what will change then. Will they be like they are now, balancing on a knifes edge, waiting for when push comes to shove.
To shove them off this beautiful path that is made of theirs combined. Really, he knew that it was highly dependent on him not being an idiot, which was very unlikely, he was hot tempered and quick to jump to conclusions and act rashly. It was just his makeup, it would be an almost impossible task for him to even attempt. But he would, if it meant that he could keep this, this little treasure whose hair gently tickled his chest.