N/A: Well, finally the fifth chapter, what am I thinking, anyway thanks for all the supports, comments, reviews and lots. Anyway, I was planning to make Dino as a brother figure to Hermione, so what do guys thinks, and yes Harry and the gang will make their entrance soon, can't tell when…
Chapter 5: The Truth
Tsuna and the rest of the Vongola 10th family, except for Chrome, Bianchi, I-pin and Lambo, are sitting around the meeting hall, taking a short rest from their training that had been started since two days ago. It's been a week since they were arrived at the Vongola Headquarters. They have been thinking on how to improve their current strength and how to plan a good battle strategies, since the battle against Daemon Spade and the Shimon family, each of them begins to look upon their weakness and tries so hard to improve it; well it is not a problem for Hibari, and Mukuro, since these two are the strongest, and scariest among the Vongola Decimo's Guardians. But knowing them as the I-preferred-to-be-alone-so-screw-you is still giving Tsuna a headache, but yet he knew he still can relies on them even sometimes he had to face the consequences for it.
And Hermione, well Tsuna could say that she had getting a bit better for the last few days, with the help from Chrome, Bianchi, and Dino, and even I-pin and Lambo despites his playfulness. She managed to ease the pain in her heart, and they also assure to her that she is no longer alone. Yet not all of his guardians could accept that easily, especially Gokudera. His prejudice and bias against others' ability or talent still linger within him, even though he tries so hard to accept them. But one thing he thought he would never ever see is that Mukuro seems to show an interest with the young brunette for the past few days, well he could detect it since they have the first dinner together. Tsuna could see that the Mist Guardian will try his best to engage in a conversation with her when they got some free time. And he could sense that Chrome is playing her part too. Even though he is glad that the Mist Guardian had accepted her easily he still worries if the blue-haired illusionist had some other plan in his head.
Dino still coming to the Vongola Headquarters once in a while, to have meeting regarding their cooperation and training plan since the Vongola 9th asked him to be in charged as well and to check on Hermione, making sure that the brunette is getting along with the rest, in which he could see that everything is improving, and once in a while they will have their private conversation as he tries to help her to adapt her new environment and help her to build her confidence back. He even teach her some martial art so she could defend herself and how to use weapon since she only defends herself by using magic and spells. Even Yamamoto allows her to watch him during his training, and thus had created a friendship between the two.
And for Hermione, the former Gryffindor Princess known as being the brightest student in Hogwarts means she could easily learn, despite this time around she would take some time to adapt into it. Not only that, she also learns about the existing of the Vongola, from its first ancestor, or founder, till the latest successor of the family and the true intention of the family existence, it is just like reading Hogwarts: A History, except that the Vongola never write their family's history in a book, if not Hermione could read it like a novel and add it into her collections.
Even though Hermione is now glad that she could tag along with the Vongola 10th and his family, there's only one problem that still linger in her mind; how is she going to spill to them that she is in fact a witch. She knows sooner or later they will eventually find it out, but she preferred if she is the one to tell them, but she is afraid of what are their reaction might be. Well, she still surprised that the Vongola 9th knew about it even before meeting her, and she is still yet to ask him how did he knew or who did told him about her. Those questions still clouded her mind though when she got the chances, she simply forgot to ask.
It is on Sunday afternoon, and most of the Vongola 10th family are taking their time to stroll around, and some even use the free time to take a nap, you know who, while Hermione take this moment to have a walk at the nearby garden by herself but she did bring along her wand, and upon that saw a beautiful lake full with lilies in the nearby forest. It is beautiful scenery that has mesmerized her and she had fall in love with it.
She was amazed with the scenery that she didn't realize that someone was stood behind her, until he cleared his throat. Hermione who didn't aware of his present, jump and turn to him.
"Dino, you scare me," Hermione said as she held her hand on her chest, tries to calm herself as Dino put his hand on his head, tries to laugh and apologizes at the same time. Hermione then smiles and giggles as Dino tries to cover his embarrassment. Dino was stunned as he never heard her giggle before, and it sound so beautiful. He then laughs along with her for a few good minutes.
They sit on the lakeside next to each other, watches the beautiful scenery, Hermione had never felt this calm before and this had help her to ease the pain in her heart slowly. Sitting in yoga style with her eyes closed, Hermione slowly absorbs the calmness into her mind while Dino lay on his back, glance at her and a smile form in his face. He admits that he likes her and somehow she is like a sister he never had. Remembering of what her father had told about her past had him sworn to look after her, even though knowing that she will spend her time more with Tsuna and his guardians in the future. And among Tsuna's Guardians, he could see that Mukuro is tried to attract her, and she is also quite friendly with Chrome and Yamamoto.
Both of them didn't speak for a few minutes until Hermione decides to break the silences.
"Dino, can I ask you something?" Hermione's voice tone is slow and soft, she is a bit hesitates at first, but rather than keep it to herself, she would prefer to listen to other's opinion first.
"Yes sure, not a problem. Anything in your mind that bother your?" Dino could sense that Hermione tries to ask something as he could sense that she is bother with it.
Hermione bit her lower lip and slowly take a deep breath, telling herself that it is okay to ask. She turns to Dino who is eager to listen. He nods his head, telling her that he is willing to hear of what that had been playing in her mind.
"Do you think that I should tell them, you know, about me being a witch?" Hermione slowly spills to him thing that had been bothered her. Dino looks up at the bright sky, and he knows that she is right, sooner or later they will find out about it. And he prefers that they could accept it easily, well that's the tough part by the way, but he also knew that sooner is better than later.
"Well, by right you should, I know it is hard for you to do it but if you want to gain their trust, I believe that it is the only way. Besides, don't forget that they are not much of a normal people, for example Mukuro is an excellent illusionist, and seems that Chrome is learning fast to master hers." At the mention of Mukuro's name, Hermione could feel her face suddenly become warm and she could feel as if there are hundreds of butterflies in her stomach. Yes, for the past week since they first met Hermione could see that Mukuro often seek chances to talk and sometime she could sense that he is even tries to attract her, and compared to Dino who she sees as her brother figure whom she is quite close too, and Yamamoto as her friend, she admit that she enjoys being with the blue-haired illusionist as well. And both Dino and Yamamoto remind her much of Harry and Ron.
"Hmmm…I guess you are right, it would be better if they know about it, right?" Hermione is now feeling positive, and she glad that Dino help her to figure it out.
"Yeah, it would be," the Bucking Bronco is now beaming as he gets up and walks toward the lake, but since he is without his men, his clumsiness takes over as he trips on a rock and fall into the lake. Hermione can't help but laugh as she tries to help him but somehow Dino can't help to get himself out of the lake, instead he pulls her and together they are both in the water. Emerge to the surface both Hermione and Dino can't help but laugh as they splash water to each other.
Hermione manage to get herself out from the lake, well it's not that deep actually, but because Dino is being clumsy he keep on tripping and keep on falling back. Soaking wet, luckily Hermione had brought her wand along. After helping Dino to get out from the lake, and finally success in it, Hermione, forgetting that Dino is there with her, use a dry charm upon herself. It's been a while since she last used her wand, never after she had returns to muggle world. Dino watches her in awe, he had never before seen her using her wand to perform some magic or spell. Hermione, suddenly aware that she had used her magic in front of a muggle, drops her wand to the ground. Quickly picking it up, it was her new wand, a replica to which was almost the same as her old, missing one and Ollivander, the wandmaker, had made a new one for her, courtesy of Harry and Ron after they begged the old man to make a new wand for her after the war ended.
Hermione knew that a new law has passed after the war, where witch or wizard are allows to used their magic in the muggle world, but she didn't sure if they were allows to use in a present of a muggle or used upon the muggles themselves, although she had heard rumours that they are allows to do so yet she is not so sure herself. Well she had done once when she put a charm on her parents before she with both Harry and Ron went to search the Horcruxes on their supposed final year in Hogwarts. What Hermione didn't knew that after she finished her final year in Hogwarts and went to search for her parents, Kingsley Shacklebolt who had become the new Minister of Magic had granted a special law for certain people, especially for Hermione, allows them to use magic and spell on muggle, as he knew Hermione had cast a spell on her parents in order to protect them, still courtesy of Harry and Ron, the two third of the Golden Trio, and this law is forbid to others and it was kept as a secret between the Minister of Magic and both Harry and Ron along with the Ministry of Magic and Department of Magical Law Enforcement and the secret was forbidden to be taken out to the public.
Dino who is still in awe, walks toward her, and from the glint of his eyes, Hermione knew he was attracted with the magic she had performed. "Can you use that magic on me?" Dino beg her as Hermione was unsure whether she is allows or not. But then, seeing no harm she performs the dry charm on him.
"This is great, can you show me another charm or spell that you can conjure with this…," Dino pointed at the wand in Hermione's hand.
Smile at his I'm-excited-and-I-can't-wait-to-see looks, Hermione giggles as she nods her head.
"Let's see, okay watch this…Expecto Patronum," the brain of the Golden Trio conjure a Patronus Charm as a silvery mist slowly appear from the tip of her wand and slowly forms a silvery mist otter, her Patronus, and it swim gracefully in the air. Dino watches in amaze as the otter swims around Hermione and him, and his eyes never leave the silvery, misty otter.
"What is that?" asks the Bucking Bronco as the otter continues to swim in the air, his gaze turn to Hermione as she watches her Patronus swim around.
"The charm called Patronus Charm, when we, the witch and wizard, summoned it a creature or thing that reflects us will appear and this charm is our protector. To perform it, we must think of the happiest, joyous moment or feeling, or when we are in terrible danger, but this charm took hard work to perform when we first learn about it, but if you are getting better with it, you can conjure it anytime. The Patronus usually fade away after they are no longer requires."
The silvery otter still swim higher in the air as both of them watch in awe; it was very beautiful as Dino could see mist around the silvery otter.
Behind a bush not far from them, two sets of eyes, or should we say one of them is wearing an eye patch and another person who had eyes of different colors, watching them, quietly. And somehow they couldn't detect the silvery otter as the bushes blocks most of their view, so they could only see the two figures standing at the lakeside, and they arrived the moment the silvery otter swim higher in the sky and thus they didn't see Hermione conjure her Patronus.
Chrome could sense some anger and jealousy coming from Mukuro, even though he is trying hard to conceal it. She knew that Mukuro is fond of Hermione, and looking on how close Hermione and Dino are, Mukuro could only feel frustrated and almost giving up to pursue her. Chrome in the other hand could sense that Dino is just a brother figure to Hermione, because she could see of how protective he is of her, just like Ryohei on his sister Kyoko. Yes, Chrome know because she often peek or spy upon them when the two of them are together, well if she is not calls or summons for her training. And she did that for the sake of her beloved surrogate brother. But she never tells anyone, not even Mukuro though he could detects of her mischievous activities.
"Mukuro-nii, I don't think that they are together, maybe they just take a walk," Chrome tries to calm his anger, even if he didn't shows it but it is pretty obvious that Chrome could detects it very well.
"My dear sister, I don't know what are you talking about?" Mukuro tries to cover but Chrome is one smart girl, and she didn't buy it.
"I know what I'm talking about Mukuro-nii, your feeling for her." This shut the mouth of Mukuro as he gapes at his surrogate sister.
"Surely Tsunayoshi Sawada is a bad influence to you." Mukuro is now tries to blames other for her boldness, and it's a wonder for him because Tsuna is not that brave himself, not without his Dying Will Flame.
"Mukuro-nii, don't talk about boss like that, he is never a bad influence to me, he always looks after me," this time around Chrome is defending Tsuna, forgetting of what their main purpose there.
"My Nagi...," before he could finish his sentence, a silvery mist otter 'swim' above them, causes Chrome to let out a shriek.
Mukuro was dumbfounded of the 'new creature' as he is pretty shock himself as he hears footsteps run towards them. The silvery otter slowly fade away into the thin air and gone from their sight. He then lean on a tree, still wondering of what had just passed above them and fade away as Hermione and Dino approaches them.
"Mukuro, Chrome, are you two alright?" Hermione was worried if her Patronus scares them, well it was damn right they were pretty shock of it.
"You two saw something, did you?" Dino assumes that they had seen the Patronus as Chrome was still pretty shock while Mukuro, who managed to calm himself, he is as always, looks at them, and his eyes travel to Hermione's hand, not his intention by the way, and somehow he sees the wand.
"Oya oya…what is that, Hermione Granger? Is that some kind of a stick in your hand?" Mukuro is now concerning on her wand as Hermione and Dino glanced at each other. Dino nods his head; it is time for her to tell them the truth about herself.
"Mukuro, Chrome, I have something to tell you." Hermione is now ready to spills her secret.
"Heee…so Hermione-san (since Chrome is a Japanese so you know what I mean) what are you trying to say is that you are a witch," the young illusionist speaks in awe, her eyes, or should I say eye, is wide open, while Mukuro gazes at the gorgeous brunette, the one third of the Golden Trio, as she tries to avoid his and she could feel her face warm upon his gaze. She nods her head.
Dino could sense that Mukuro wish to be alone with her, glance at them and smirks.
"What is your problem, Bucking Horse Dino?" Mukuro questions him as he holds firmly on his trident; his senses are at high alert.
"Mhmmm..."
"Hmmm…."
"Nothing, anyway I had to go, I need to go back now, so I see you again next time."
Dino is already about ten feet away when he stop and turn around, look straight at Hermione.
"Hermione, just do whatever you think is right, no matter what I will always back up and support you, just trust yourself."
Hermione smiles and nods her head as Dino turn and leave the three of them. And in merely seconds they could hear a sound of him trips on a tree and fall, follows by his groan in pain.
The three of them flinches, but Mukuro doesn't care much while Hermione and Chrome wonders if he had injured himself.
Chrome then turns to Mukuro and she could see the glints in his eyes, and she takes it as her cue to leave the two of them together.
"Well, I think I should leave too, I have some work to do." Chrome gives her excuse so that she could leave them together, alone.
As she is about to leave, Hermione calls her.
"Chrome, please wait for a moment."
Chrome turns to her, and she could sense that the brunette had something to tell. Chrome slowly walks toward her as Hermione looks at the young illusionist with keenness in her eyes.
"Please, could you not tell them first about me. I would like to tell them myself, I feel better that way," Hermione speak as Chrome could see her honesty through her eyes. She then smiles at her and holds her hand.
"Don't worry Hermione-san, I won't and I too believe that if you tell them yourself you will feel much better, and like what Dino-san said, I too will back up and support you."
Mukuro couldn't help but smiles, Chrome is now has grown into a matured young woman, compared with the two monkeys who still didn't used much of their brain.
Somewhere in the Vongola Headquarters
Chikusa and Ken stop eating their food, and desserts, looking around at the garden, yes these two are having their afternoon tea. Shivers run through their skins as if there is something's scary and evil is nearby them.
"Did someone just curse us behind our back?"
Hermione and Mukuro are now left together, alone, in the lakeside. Hermione is still holding her wand, and Mukuro is standing not far from her.
"Hermione," called the blue-haired illusionist as the gorgeous brunette turns to him. Smiles form in his face, and he too could see a beautiful smile form in her face.
"Yes, Mukuro?" asked the brunette who had captures his eyes, and eventually his heart as well.
"Care to walk with me?" he asked as he offers his hand to her.
Hermione looks at him, still smiling and slowly nods her head as she slowly takes his hand. As their hands touch, they could feel a jolt of electricity in their touch and it sends shivers to their spine as he grasps her hand firmly and he could see a tint of blush appear in her face.
Hermione could feel as if there are butterflies in her stomach when Mukuro held her hand firmly as they take their walk at the lakeside. Her wand is now safe in her jeans pocket, as she feels secure being with him. And the truth is she like being with him, only that she didn't sure of how to express it, and this is their moment to be alone, together.
Not far, hiding in a bush, Chrome is busy taking their pictures, while Dino is capturing every movement with his video camera, and they can use this to blackmail them…quite evil those two.
But then, they are very happy with them, and Dino feels that he could trust Mukuro to looks after her if he is not around to check on her. And Chrome is happy that Mukuro is finally found his happiness, and all they could hope now is that it will last forever. But what about the future and they know that Hermione was brought to them for some purpose, and what will happen if she already fulfils the purpose.
This is the question that now playing in their mind.
Whoa…that's all for chapter 5, I will proceed with chapter 6 later, so how I am going to write for the next because Hermione already told Mukuro and Chrome that she is a witch, so any idea…anyway I already think an idea for the upcoming but not which chapter because I already think about the relationship between Hermione and Mukuro and plan on having their romantic relationship to the next (next) level, oh my dirty brain…and I will have Harry and the gang, again as I told earlier, and somehow I plan on having some chapter on them back in the wizarding world, without Hermione of course. And I already think of the wizard/witch that has told the Vongola 9th about Hermione and it is a surprise, so pls wait…