They left the entrance room and wandered down the halls. It was a fairly large stone building, made to last a long time. Harry and Sirius bounded through the halls pushing doors open and shouting out what each contained.
"Mione look! It's a broom closet!"
"Mione! It's a bathroom!"
"Mione! It's a library! Are we going to lose you in it?"
Hermione snorted,"Ok boys I think that's enough. I'll make it to the library once everything is sorted."
Harry turned around in shock, "But Mione...it's a HUGE library."
She just shook her head, "I'm quite sure it is, but let's see what else there is here, yeah?"
The two boys continued roaming the house anouncing their discoveries while Hermione trailed after them. As they reached the front door she sucked in a breath.
"You ok, Mione?" Harry asked.
She shook her head, "No, I'm fine, but can you feel that? It's magic like I've never felt before."
They pushed open the front doors and stood in awe at the sight before them. They had guessed that it would be an island but the sheer beauty of it astounded them.
"It's almost like seeing Hogwarts for the first time, isn't it?" Sirius whispered, and the other two nodded their agreement.
They could see a forest that stretched for miles, far past what their eyes could see. Rolling hills that melted into grasslands before coming to rest on the most perfect white sand beach.
"It's been untouched for centuries, no one has been here since my father. Can you feel all that wild magic? I wonder if there is anything even living here. I mean, there must be. There is just too much..." Hermione trailed off.
"Wild magic. I know, I can feel it too." Sirius murmered.
Harry looked back to the both of them, "I can feel it too. Do you feel that chill?"
Hermione nodded, "It feels like... like danger. Perhaps this place was aptly named."
She drifted past her companions towards the forest.
Sirius made to stop her, "Mione, we don't know what's in there."
She brushed him off, "I know, but something is coming. I can feel it." At his worried expression she clarified, "It's not bad. I think this is what they meant."
Harry gave her a puzzled look, "The gods?"
"Yeah, they said my companions were a what not a who. They knew that they would be here." She scoffed, "Of course they did, their gods." Hermione turned back to the boys, "They said they would make things easy for me here..." She trailed off and looked back to the forest.
"Because when we leave it will be hard." Harry finished.
She sent him a small smile, "Yes. It will be hard. You're not going to stay behind are you?"
Harry shook his head, "I want to. I mean, I want to have a normal life, but you're my sister now. I can't just let you go off alone."
"Who knows what sort of trouble you'll get into, Harry just might have to defend your honor. Beat off the gentleman callers and all that." Sirius joked.
They all cracked a smile before hearing hoofbeats in the distance. Hermione moved in front of the boys as a herd of horses broke through the trees. As they got closer they could see wings folded gently against their bodys.
"Mione, if those are what I think they are... they haven't been seen in over a thousand years." Sirius spoke in awe.
"What are they?" Harry whispered.
Hermione glanced at him, "They haven't an official name, mostly because they're believed to be extinct. They're Night Mare's Harry."
Harry's eyes widened in shock. "Night Mares?" His voice was a hissed whisper.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "They don't actually cause nightmares Harry. They're called that because no one knows what they can do. Those that did... well they say that the ones who could harness they power of a Night Mare, that they were dragged to hell. Of course it's all just legend and superstition." At Harry's fearful gaze she continued, "They're a myth even in our world Harry."
As the Night Mares drew nearer, Hermione could feel a sense of urgency thrumming in her bones. She started walking towards the oncoming herd before breaking out into a full out sprint.
Harry and Sirius could only watch in horror, expecting her to be trampled. One of the herd broke ahead as the rest slowed down, coming face to face with Hermione in seconds. It was like time stopped as the girl and the Mare stared at each other before the Mare kneeled before her. She placed a hand on it's head and it rose back up.
She looked back to the boys who were gaping at her, "It's ok. You can come closer. They wont hurt you."
Sirius was the first one to recover. "Not that I'm not happy about.. whatever just happened, but that was terrifying to watch. Almost gave this old man a heart attack."
She laughed, "Don't be so serious, Sirius. Besides, you're not that old."
The spell broken, Harry and Sirius made their way over to Hermione and the Night Mares.
"It was our bond." She murmured, gently stoking the Mare still in front of her.
"What was?" Harry asked.
She looked at him, "It was the bond between me and, " She turned the Mare, "What shall I call you? Ares." She glanced back at Harry, "It was the bond between Ares and I pulling us together. He understands me, sort of. I believe some of it is the bond, but I almost believe that they are highly intelligent creatures. Like Buckbeak. Sorry, that hasn't happened yet." She turned back to her first Companion, "I think that they're almost immortal, or live very long lives." She whispered, "I'm only getting glimpses, but that's what it seems like."
Harry hesitently moved closer to Hermione and Ares. Ares snorted and stomped his foot. Harry froze, unsure of what to do. He shot a look at Sirius who just shrugged, not wanting to get closer to the beasts.
The rest of the herd broke apart and began grazing except for Ares and one other Mare who was slowly making it's way towards Harry. He stood stock still, not knowing what to do.
Hermione giggled and walked over to where he was standing, Ares trailing behind her. "It's ok Harry. She wont hurt you."
He looked back and forth from his sister to the Mare that was making her way over to him, "Are you sure?" he whispered.
She laughed, "Of course, she'll be yours you know."
"Mine?"
She shrugged, "If you come with me."
Harry glared at her, "You mean when I come with you."
Hermione gave a soft smile, "Of course, she'll be yours when you come with me. She knows, you can't feel her yet, but she knows. I don't expect you to feel it for another four years or so."
Harry gently stroked her mane, "Why four years?"
"It's just a guess Harry, it may happen sooner." She turned to Sirius, "You ok Black?"
He let out the breath he had be holding, "This is just so surreal. I mean, they're myths! Which is just... I mean... we live in a world where myths are reality, but these. I'm ok, Kitten. I'm going to head back inside. Too much excitement for me."
She smirked, "Ok, old man. Bed time for you. I expect we'll be in shortly."
He nodded and headed back to the house.
She walked back over to where Harry was still petting his Mare, "What are you going to call her?"
"I.. I don't know. I want something fitting. Strong." Harry blinked up at her, "I don't know what I'm going to call her."
Hermione gave him a knowing smile, "Why don't you ask her."
He looked back at the Mare, "What do I call you then?"
The look that crossed his face nearly made Hermione break out in a fit of giggles.
Harry turned back to her wide eyed, "I heard her!"
She smirked at him, "I told you they we're intelligent."
His excitement seemed to bubble over, "I know that. I just meant... I thought you said... four years you said. The bond Hermione! I just... I thought..." he threw his hands up in frustration.
With that Hermione could no longer contain herself and she burst out laughing. "I said that four years was a guess, I said it could be sooner."
He glared at her, "I didn't think it would be this soon." Harry tried to keep his glare, but watching his sister laugh at him caused him to break out in peals of laughter as well.
When they both calmed down he nudged her, "Nyx," he gestures to his Mare, "She told me her name is Nyx."
"It's a good name, goddess of the shadows." She put her arm over his shoulders. "You ready to head in?"
"Yeah, I want to learn more about my parents. I just wish you were able to save them too."
Hermione looked at him sadly, "I know, I wish I could have too, but you know I could only change what I knew happened. If I went back too far..."
"I know... everything could've been all messed up. It was just a wish."
She squeezed his arm and pulled him closer. "I know, but I'm still sorry."
As they drew closer to their home they heard two bone chilling howls. Hermione grabbed Harry and looked him in the eyes, "Run. Go get Sirius, but stay inside. He doesn't have a wand yet and you just aren't trained yet. Please, Harry." She begged him.
He grasped the seriousness of the situation and ran to the house.
Hermione turned back to the the Mares and let out a piecing whistle. Ares galloped over to her as the others took flight to get to safety. She stroked his nose before jumping on his back.
"Sorry boy, no easing into this I guess." She whispered to him.
They turned towards where the howls came from, ready for whatever was crashing towards them. She could hear snarling as the beast or beasts drew closer. Hermione leaned forward, "Get ready to fly boy."
Ares stretched his wings and shot upwards as a two headed beast burst out of the forest.
Ares circled the beast in the air while Hermione struggled to wrap her mind around what it was. Finally she recalled a name, nothing more than a myth. With barely disguised horror she whispered it, "Orthrus." She shook her head, "We have to stop it. We need get closer."
The beast watched as Ares came closer and closer before it charged.
Hermione whipped out her wand and started shouting spells, "Incarcerous! Flipendo!"