DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Harry Potter or any of its characters. I also do not make any money from this.

WARNINGS: Yaoi (male x male), Yuri (female x female) adult topics, swearing, sexual scenes and violence.

This has not been Beta'd.

PAIRINGS: Ron x Hermione, Blaise x Cho

'text' is thought

"text" talking

Hidden Element

Chapter 13: Found and Lost

Elementals:

Ice and Void – [Name]

Fire – Pansy Parkinson

Earth – Blaise Zabini

Nature – Cho Chang

Light – [Name]

The Forgotten:

[Element] – Saito Blackstar (OC)

[Element] – Carsly Hendricks (OC)

[Element] – [Name]

Water - [Name]

Wind - Miya Hendricks (OC)

Sharp teeth tore at the birds jugular, growling with hunger. Red claws scratched at blue scales causing droplets to spill like rain. They were in a deadlock. Fire evaporated water, while water singed fire out.

It was a continuous cycle they had played out before. Many people thought of fire and water as enemies. The truth? They were exact opposites, two sides of the same coin. They could never kill the other without killing themselves. Water trumps fire, but at the same time, fire can trump water. When one was completely honest though, it took more fire to evaporate water than it did for water to dose out fire.

A cold tail lashed out at an unprotected stomach. The phoenix squawked indignantly, wings fluttering backwards, claws flinging upwards to strike at the dragons glittering maw.

The key to creating a figure of this solid intensity lay in the memories. It was the same concept as casting the patronus charm. However, where one could create a creature of protection by your happiest memory, one could create one just as solid for an unhappy one. Stronger, yet more dangerous, out of control, and took on a different form via your resentment, anger, disappointment and revenge.

Having too much fun to take it seriously, Yasmin used the memory of when she had met her best friend and brother's lover. Pansy, in a defensive effort to protect, couldn't attack in such an uncontrolled manner. She had opted for the subtle reminder of the love and care Dumbledore had given her. The day they finally used their hatred for one another, was the day this endless cycle of theirs would finally come to an end.

They had stumbled across each other on several occasions (even before they found out the other was an elemental), whether on purpose or not, Pansy never found out. Nor did she intend to. She did, however, know that Yasmin was assuredly complex.

Her blue highlights changed tone depending on her mood. The lighter the blue became, the more in tune she got with her element, much like the lighter the water, the closer to the shore you were. In this case, Yasmin had barely opened her jar of powers. She was exceptionally happy and animated about everything, even when the situation didn't call for it.

With influences or outsiders, however, a newer, more violent personality emerged like a tsunami. Gone were the games she had played with Pansy, instead inflicting serious damage to two of Fire's former classmates.

To be honest, Pansy wasn't sure why they had turned up, and she wasn't sure that she liked it either. She knew Granger worked for the ministry, though worked for the faculty of mysterious, so still didn't make much sense. She had probably showed up to investigate the appearance of the Death Eaters laying waste to the city of Phoenix. She had a moment of satisfaction when she thought of Ron's reaction at having seen the sight before him... were he awake, of course. He would have probably ended up on the ground unconscious again anyway.

She had half the mind to leave him there, but they had befriended Draco, well, Hermione had at least. He hadn't been as horrid when Draco and Potter had dated, so she would rather have him hurt instead of dead, he deserved that much.

There was a sudden rumble in the ground as before her eyes, a wall of earthy stone meters thick and high, erected itself around the city and into a dome. Blaise wasn't letting anyone escape his rocky temper.

With a sudden gasp and widening smile, realised that yes, Blaise was actually there. She had secretly known about him, and was happy that their paths would cross once more.

Yasmin couldn't help but smile softly in return at the red head's goofy expression. They had grown rather fond of each other, border-line friends who wouldn't hesitate to kill the other.

With a flip of her hair, Yasmin's watery platform lowered to the floor, the dragon turning into a sudden waterfall of rain that shattered to the floor, taking out the phoenix (now the least of Pansy's focus) in progress. She waved languidly to the red head, to which Pansy responded in turn, the fire seemingly melting off her own frame.

"Bye, Pansy, I enjoyed our fight today. A pity another elemental turned up, I was hoping you would fill my day with amusement. Oh, well. You've finally been found, though. I'm happy for you. Try not to say too much about me. And Pansy..."

"I know." She smiled whole heartedly. "I'm aware that our next battle will be the final decider. I'm looking forward to it."

"Good girl." With a spin of her black boots, she weaved her way through carnage and houses. There was no way she was fighting two elementals when she wasn't interested in being in a serious mood, especially if one of them was Earth. Mud was hard to overcome, and it was bound to be created if their powers clashed.

With a weary sigh, Pansy supposed she better go find Blaise. It proved an easy task considering the huge chasm the houses at the far left of the dome seemed to be falling into. So much for keeping her temporary home safe. She blamed it more on the Death Eaters than the elemental though. Where she had come specifically for Pansy, they had come to wreak havoc. But if Blaise was there, then so was Harry Potter, and that meant this whole mess would be taken care of by his beloved ministry.

She glanced around reluctantly, having grown to like this Sonoran desert city. Camelback East had proved to be a comfy lifestyle choice. Large open land, heat in the wind and fairly inexpensive housing compared to what she'd been used to. She was living on her own now, no comforts of her former life available to her. She had been happy though, a wonderful job, a home to call her own, all vanished before her eyes. She would have to find a new place to live. Perhaps another desert?

Dusting herself off here and there, she made a move to get Ron off the car, only to hesitate. She could feel her heat fluctuating, Ron's skin already a hot flush red from her proximity. Staring shakily at her out stretched hand, her vision blurred as a stinging sensation blossomed across her finger tips. She was close to the burning point. There was no way she could touch him now. There was no way her first meeting with Blaise in what seemed like centuries would be in this state.

She wanted to meet him, and that lovely new wife of his... on good terms, finally. She did, but Pansy had an issue about pride she had learned from Draco grown up with. Never let them see you weak, never let them see you looking less than perfect. It had been repeated so many times by him that it had become her own personal mantra in situations like this.

Pursing her lips, she thought of a way to let them know she'd been there. A simplistic way of saying everything but nothing in case Death Eaters were still on the prowl. First, she stared at Ron's chest for what seemed like hours trying determine if he was breathing without having to touch him. Not that she would ever want to anyway. Once his chest had safely risen up and down, she took it as a sign of his survival.

On the street in front of the ruined green car she created her hidden key. Blazing bright, yet safely at a distance from the car, the flames wrote only one word: 'Boiling.' She stared sadly into the distance of the dome, at both having to leave Camelback East and Blaise, before she followed the way she was sure to find a hole in the wall.

Grey, not white. Hermione was surely not in a hospital. Her vision was still slightly blurry. She chalked that up to the dull aching pain in her abdomen. Wincing as she sat up from the comfy, yet plain bed she laid on, she could clearly make out the bandages around her stomach peaking out from her t-shirt.

Someone had cleaned her wound, and had done a good job of it seeing as it had previously been impaled by a humongous claw. She held no pretenses that it was miraculously healed, however. Wounds this gapingly big took time to heal and needed many potions administered.

The room looked like a bunker. The walls were metallic, bolts pinned precisely across its shiny surface. There were no windows, light streaming in from two lamps on the ceiling and a lamp on the stand next to her bed. It was a sparsely furnished room. A desk sat at the one corner of the room and a table with three chairs in the middle. There was a small door on the right marked with a smiley face. She was sure they were the toilette's. There were shelves and shelves of food and bottled water filed away neatly. Someone restocked this place constantly.

She tried remembering what she had heard Pansy say before she felt a tug in her navel, and she was worried about her fiancé who had flown across the street. But there was a possibility that she needed to worry about where she really was. Was she being held hostage in an underground room?

No, that wasn't right, Pansy had seemed worried, and no capturer would heal their victim. The pendant which had been placed on her person was gone, however.

"Hello?" she asked awkwardly. She wasn't sure whomever healed her was still here or not, they could have left her in a safe place for her to heal on her own. Slowly, she slid her feet off the brown covers and onto the cold floor. It sent shivers down her spine as she tested the feel of the floor, trying to get used to it with her bare feet. Standing up shakily, she shuffled slightly over to a chair in which she found somewhat of a goodie-bag, with strict instructions neatly curled on a page.

A warm fluffy coat, a pair of socks and the flat boots she had worn, a bottle of water, an apple and a small bottle of an orange coloured liquid.

She sat down slowly at the table, setting her newly acquired objects on top, thankful to whomever had provided them to her. Phoenix had been warm, and she had been in no need of a coat. It made her guilty to think that apparition had spoiled her. Carefully, bringing her feet onto the table one by one so as not to bend down, she slipped on the socks and boots. Hermione then took a gracious swig of water and stared at the creased paper intently.

It told her to dress warmly, have a drink and food since she'd been out cold for a while, and then to drink the orange liquid that was part of the healing process. She did exactly that, drinking both liquids and enjoying her apple languidly. It had occurred to her that the note had purposely said she'd been there for a while, but she was not about to 'freak out'. She had had serious damage inflicted upon her because she had not listened to Pansy's warning. It would have taken a while to heal, and whomever had been overseeing this progression, had obviously stayed around to make sure she was OK.

Being fed and watered, she needed to return home so that Ron could properly take care of his wounded fiancé for once. She stood somewhat forcefully, making her wince once more in discomfort.

"The whole point of healing you wasn't so that you could injure yourself on a tiny thing like standing up." That voice! Nervously she glanced down at the note in her hand, and filled in the pieces to the puzzle. The voice and the handwriting matched perfectly, how had she not seen it before? She closed her eyes tightly with a disappointed sigh at herself. Perhaps the biggest clue had been the creature on the pendant Pansy had given her.

"Don't speak right now, listen. We don't have much time. I'm safe. Tell Pansy that. ONLY Pansy. You've been here for three days, your fiancé is worried sick! We need to get you back before they recklessly involve the order. I need your home address now."

"Shenfield road, 213."

"Thank you." Her eyes snapped open in surprise as a tentative hand brushed her cheek. "It's OK, 'Mione. It'll be OK. Give me some more time, and you will have all the answers in the world. How are you feeling?" Her breath was caught in her throat, tears tickling her eyes. This was a moment she had waited for, but it had been a situation she never thought of. He had nursed her back to health himself, even when he had been hiding. The value behind the gesture was not lost on her. Instead, all she could muster was a nod of the head, bringing about a warm smile from the blondes lips.

"There's a few more bottles of medicine in your left coat pocket, and a letter in the right. It's your eyes only, and perhaps Ginny when she's in the mood for keeping secrets. That's all I can give you right now. I need you to hold your breath. I'm going to apparate us as close to your doorstep as possible. I'm sure he'll be waiting for you like he always does with those puppy dog eyes." Hermione came out of her stupor long enough to smile at his timid perception of Ron.

Once again, all she could do was nod. All the topics she'd gone through in her head had vanished like smoke. He embraced her tightly, closing his own eyes, as the bunker was suddenly devoid of their presence.

They landed softly on the newly cut grass, Draco making sure to cushion Hermione's landing on the floor. He let go of her hastily as she steadied herself, suddenly anxious to get away. He knew what awaited him here, those he had left behind. Blaise, Pansy, Ginny, Luna... Harry. He needed to leave before he was found out, Pansy would never forgive him.

He was never going to stay past the drop off point, yet it made Hermione sad that there was still something that seemed off with her friend... apart from the very obvious. She patted her pocket in delight. She had been given a piece of information she craved to read urgently.

Turning towards home, she paused in shock before turning back to Draco in terror. She had forgotten all about this situation. Hand against the window sill to steady himself, stood Harry.

"You can go now, Draco. Thank you." He offered her a meek smile, and with one apologetic glance he knew he'd forget, he locked eyes with avada kadavra green. Just like he'd remembered them to be. He couldn't help but wonder how Harry had been doing, didn't one always wonder that when they suddenly came upon an ex?

Never taking his eyes away from him, Draco vanished with a slight pop, leaving Harry to question whether the blond had really been standing just a slither of glass away.

GhostLawsOfDoom: I did. In fact, XxHushHush is the water person you were talking about in your review. :p I don't mind if you want to be a character, I still have some OC slots to fill. Let me know if you want to be in it.

XxHushHushxX: As to the why protect Ron question, it is somewhat explained in this chapter, but all in all, it's a duty. As she is friends with Draco, who had dated Harry, it means that Ron in turn at least accepted Draco. That, and she's facing an elemental that can kill him, no matter how much she hates him, she doesn't want him dead.

As they are that element embodied, they never really run out of energy, especially to those who leak it. However, sometimes they can overload from overuse when they use a high amount of it for a duration of time (like the phoenix and dragon, they're large, so require more focus), like Pansy needing a physical outlet otherwise she burns herself. It'll be explained soon too.