A/N: Hello there. Here's chapter eight. It seems that I have a bit of a problem…I keep putting Hermione in Danger every week or so…I hope it doesn't bother you…If any of you think I'm taking it too fast, please don't hesitate in telling me that. There will be a bit of a 'pause' after this chapter, where I'll start on Harry's training, and Dumbledore's slow demise…so hang in there for more.
I want to explain why I asked you that question in the last chapter. Honestly I thought of Harry's parents at first, I didn't want Hermione's parents because they could cause a bit of a trouble with the Severus situation, so…I thought of Sirius first of all because he wasn't buried, so technically his body isn't damaged, and second, he is supposed to have passed trough the Veil in the spiritual world…a demon controlled spiritual world. I thought it would be a nice present for both Harry and Remus for Christmas. I know he was an idiot considering what he did to Severus and that they would never have a perfect friendship relationship, but I think they could work well together….what do you think?
Anyway, hope you like this chapter as well, and thank you all for the wonderful reviews.
Moi: Honestly, I find the Ginny/Harry pairing a bit disgusting. Ok, I understand that some percent of young boys seek in their girfriends a bit of their mother…but to have a girlfriend/wife that looks like your mother more than her own sister did…seems a bit disturbing…it's a bit cliché? Maybe, I mean he supposedly looks exactly like his father, with exception the eyes, and Ginny like his mother…Harry always wanted a family, but I don't see Lilly and James in the mayhem that is the Weasley residence.
Thank you all!
Chapter 8: One down...two to go!
It was about four in the morning when Hermione reached the Gryffindor common room. All the way from the dungeons she had been growling and snarling about how Dumbledore had spat at her that it was improper for a student to be in the professor's private chambers, let alone spend the night in his bedroom…although he had asked her to stay…and nearly thrown her out with his own hands.
''Old meddling goat…won't know what hit him when I'm done with him…'' Hermione mumbled to herself as she stepped trough the portrait hole.
''I take it Dumbledore was an ass?''
''Harry?'' damn she hadn't been paying attention, ''Why aren't you in bed? You should be sleeping…''
''So should you. You know what they say…old habits die hard, can't sleep knowing you're not here…now, why don't you tell me what happened?''
Hermione sighed and plopped herself on the couch beside him. ''Not much. One thing is for sure though…Dumbledore is officially an arse. He practically hauled me out of the chair I was sitting in. At first I settled on the couch in the sitting room, reading, but then I thought that it would be better if I were in the bedroom with him, you know, play the role. I was faking asleep when he came in. He roughly 'woke' me up and told me to get to bed. I started to protest, but he just shoved me towards the door. Honestly, he wants you to trust him, didn't he think I would tell you how he treated me?''
''Dunno Mione. What I want to know is what he has in store for Snape now that he can't spy anymore.''
''We'll find out soon enough. Do you think I should have stayed?''
''Nah, he's a grown wizard, he can take care of himself. Do you think he'll Obliviate Snape? I don't think he'll go that far…''
''If he does, he'll be dealing with me. I can undo any memory charm.'' Hermione answered, yawning. ''Off to bed now. We have about two and a half hours to sleep. We'll talk to him tomorrow.''
Hermione quickly got out of her clothes, not bothering to wear a nightgown since she was supposed to wake up in a few hours anyway, and settled between the covers of her bed. The image of Snape sleeping peacefully danced in front of her eyes. She'd never seen him so relaxed, peaceful even. Without his scowl, or snare he seemed years younger. Not that he was old, thirty-seven in the wizarding world basically meant he was still a teenager. She giggled at that. If he could hear her say he was a teenager he would go ballistic. The slippery snake had somehow managed to hide some of his emotions from her, but she didn't bother with searching more deeply. But there was something in his eyes…something she'd never before seen in the past. His mask had never faltered, and yet, now when he was very angry of disgusted she could see it plainly on his face. Was the evil, cold bastard of a potions professor starting to crack? Had the news of Dumbledore's manipulations shocked him so badly that his cold façade was falling?
She was itching to use Legilimency on him, but even she knew it would be a huge mistake. If she did that, any ounce of trust he had in her would be destroyed. Covering another yawn with her hand, she pushed the thoughts of Severus Snape out of her mind…for now…and greeted the sweet oblivion.
Tuesday morning breakfast started as a silent affair. Sitting side by side at the table, both Harry and Hermione kept stealing glances at Severus's empty chair at the Head Table, whispering in each other's ear…and ignoring the glares that a certain redhead was sending them.
Ronald Weasley was thoroughly pissed. His supposed best friend had stolen the girl he fancied from him. Ok, being Harry Potter's best friend brought certain attention to one, attention that he had enjoyed until now. And Hermione…she wasn't that bad looking, not beautiful like Lavender, but she was smart. The girl had a brain that he could use, besides, for five years now he had made use of it. It was much more easier to copy a finished essay than thinking it. And of course, being Harry Potter's friend entailed certain dangers…dangers of which Hermione could get them out pretty quickly without much of a fuss. He needed to be part of the Golden Trio once again, and he needed the girl to be his. But how?
''Well, well, well. What do we have here. Potter, for the praise you get from everyone, and the brain you supposedly possess, you seem to be more of an idiot than I thought. We got it that you're mature enough to have a girlfriend…but the Mudblood? Honestly, even the Weasley girl would have been better.''
Hermione placed a hand on Harry's wrist, knowing that if Malfoy continued, he wouldn't hesitate in hexing the blonde. Ignoring the figures behind them, she nudged Harry's leg, prompting him to get up. She could feel the blonde's rage for being ignored, and the puzzled feelings of his 'protectors', as to why they were ignoring them.
Throwing her bag over her shoulder and looping her arm trough Harry's, she started walking towards the doors. Hermione sensed a sudden change in Malfoy's feelings and stopped in her tracks, but before she could do anything Draco had fisted his hand in her hair and pulled her to him, his wand at her throat.
''Now, now Potter, you don't want your girlfriend to get hurt now do you?'' Draco asked as Harry pulled his own wand.
Harry looked desperately at the Head Table, but he knew Snape wasn't there, nor was McGonagall and Sprout and Flitwick were in an animated conversation. Where the hell was everyone? Looking back at Hermione he saw her wink at him and relaxed a bit.
''What the hell do you want Malfoy?''
''Now Granger, I don't think you're in a position to talk, so shut up. Potter, this little Mudblood is going to take a walk with me…and you are going to do nothing about it.'' Draco smirked, threw an arm over Hermione's shoulders and moved his wand from her throat to her side.
Seeing Hermione giving him a slight nod, Harry lowered his wand and stepped away, allowing them to pass. Wand still in hand, Harry discarded his bag and started following them but stopped short when he saw them opening the doors and stepping outside.
Hermione may have been powerful, but he wasn't going to leave her alone. Conjuring his Patronus, he sent it ahead with a message for Snape and started running towards his office. He was half way there when he saw Snape running towards him.
''What happened? Where is Miss Granger?'' Severus asked his steps faltering a bit when he reached the boy.
He was seated in one of the armchairs, sipping his morning tea and looking over some essays when the silvery stag pounced trough his door, shouting in Potter's voice that Hermione was in trouble. He didn't even think, before throwing everything on the floor, grabbed his wand and started running. Whatever the trouble was, she couldn't use her full powers, and if she did…he didn't want to think about it.
Still running, Harry told him what happened with Malfoy and was a bit startled at the loud growl that escaped his professor's throat, his face contorted in rage. The entrance doors hit the walls with a loud thud, startling a few first years that were walking towards their first class.
Outside, Severus shouted 'Point me' towards his wand, thinking of her. His wand started spinning quickly on his palm, stopping as it pointed towards the Forbidden Forest. ''That girl is going to be the death of me,'' he muttered as he started running again.
Harry wanted to laugh at Snape's remark, but finding Hermione was more important. Casting a warming charm over himself and his professor, he followed.
If she was honest with herself, Hermione would have to admit she was pretty amused by Malfoy's actions. Malfoy may have been a pureblood, but this was just something he would do, exactly what a spoilt, high society brat would do. Something extremely reckless. And in the Great Hall too, in front of Harry Potter. And to think subtlety was a Slytherin trait. She snorted.
''Something funny mudblood?'' Draco asked, still holding her and trying to avoid the slippery grounds.
''Yes actually. You.'' Hermione answered calmly.
''Well, you won't find anything amusing in a few minutes, trust me…'' he smirked, ''You know, my aunt Bellatrix told me something about you, but I find the information quite idiotic, if you ask me, seeing as you're a mudblood.''
''Oh? And what might that be?'' Hermione knew that Bellatrix would spill everything the moment she got back at the Voldemort's side, but she honestly didn't expect her, or Voldemort to tell Draco. First of all, it wouldn't suit them, if they wanted her, telling Draco could mean someone else finding out, no matter how…discrete…the boy was. Secondly, knowing Dumbledore, if he smelled anything suspicious about the boy and looked in his mind, he would try to lure her at his side with everything he could.
''Yeah…'' Draco talked away, planting a disgusted sneer on his face, ''…that the Dark Lord wanted you, can't imagine why, but that she wasn't able to catch you because you were too powerful. She's useless if you ask me, she's been a Death Eater for so many years and couldn't manage it, and yet I did it in a matter of minutes, in front of your precious Potter too.'' he laughed.
'That's what you think' Hermione thought. She could almost see the clearing they were heading to, the same clearing she and Snape had fought almost two weeks ago. Hermione's lips formed a smirk ''Did your precious aunt tell you why she is scared of me Draco? Why she fled that night?''
''Not exactly…'' Draco frowned.
''Thought so. How are your parents these days? Actually I'm more interested in daddy dearest…''
''What the hell do you know about my father?'' he asked, pushing her in the middle of the clearing and pointing his wand at her, Crabbe and Goyle doing the same.
Hermione knew the moment she stepped in that clearing that they weren't the only four persons there…or maybe persons wasn't the exact word for it?
''You know, Malfoy, you made a big mistake if you thought this was a chance for you to prove yourself in front of your 'lord'…'' Hermione sneered, ''…did you really think you could capture me…'' Hermione started slowly stepping back, ''…and take me to him…'' with a sharp snap of her wrist, her sword appeared from thin air in her hand, ''…without any help? Well, maybe you did, but Voldemort certainly knew better than that. Tell you what Malfoy…you're about to see why your aunt is scared of me…and why you should be too.'' With another wave of her hand the boys were each tied tightly to a tree, facing her.
With a few murmured words an electric field started forming around the clearing, keeping everything in, and anything out, including the three Slytherins.
''Master in sword combat…'' Hermione said turning slowly around, ''…Lord of Vengeance…'' she said griping the hilt with both hands, ''…I've been waiting for you…Lord Arioch…''
A cold, maniacal laugh echoed trough the clearing, causing goose bumps to form on Hermione's skin. Honestly, she'd expected Draco to do something stupid, like trying to bring her himself to Voldemort, or try to harm her or even kill her…but with Arioch here, the things were a bit more difficult. She was confident that she could take him on, the problem was that she would be using her powers, and in doing that came the bigger problem…the cold. Twice now Snape had been there, but now she was alone. Oh, she knew Harry would go strait to him after the show the blonde idiot put in the Great Hall, but they wouldn't be able to pass the protecting field without her permission, besides, they would be a distraction and she couldn't have that. Merlin, over a year had passed since she was chosen and nothing happened…and now she was taking blow after blow in a very small amount of time…
''So…Lillith has sent her Angel.'' the voice spoke again, this time though a tall, handsome, well built man stepped out of the shadows. Anyone would have been enchanted by the fair porcelain skin, blonde, shoulder-length silky hair, lean, muscled body, beautifully arched lips…hell, Lavender and Parvati would be drooling all over him by now…if it weren't for those crimson eyes and the evil smirk.
''Do you know Angel, why we are here?'' Hermione didn't answer. ''Of course you do…'' he laughed, ''…you know witch, I can't possibly understand why you think you can defeat us…me. A mere witch, dangling a sword as twice as heavy as herself. Tut, tut, honestly…what was Lillith thinking? Well, I'll give you a choice…''
Hermione's eyes were trained on his the whole time. Legilimency and feelings wouldn't help her now. For a start, demons didn't have feelings as strong as humans, and Occulmency was like trying to break a diamond wall with your fists. Hermione shifted her body slightly, still watching him, matching his strides as he circled her. It was irresponsible to let someone get behind you, even a wizard, let alone a demon.
''I've come to propose something to you…'' he continued, ''…to join us. Join us and enjoy the power. Rule with us. We can teach you everything you need to know…and more…''
Hermione wanted to laugh. If he only knew. Usually an Angel was chosen and trained for about six months. Only the basics. Not in this case though. Hermione had been trained by the best of the best. Amongst them Lillith herself. And what exactly made them think she would join them? How did they possibly think she could be manipulated so? They wanted to finish Voldemort so they could have all the power to themselves, and they wanted her to believe she would be by their side? Ha! Even so…she would never betray Harry…not in a million years…
''What do you say Angel? Join us…or die protecting these…humans?'' he asked tilting his head to the side. ''Also…it would be a shame killing you…you're a bit of an eye catcher you know…''
Hermione wanted to gag. He was handsome, yes, even beautiful you could say…but not for her. Knowing what this soulless demon could, and would do was preposterous. Not even the demon blood that flowed in her veins could tempt her to leave all behind and join them. Nothing could tempt her in abandoning Harry…not money, not power, not immortality, nothing. She narrowed her eyes as her nostrils flared in annoyance.
''No?'' he asked in mock surprise. ''Well…that's too bad now isn't it.''
Throwing down his cloak, Hermione could see shiny, beautiful black wings stretch behind him. In a flash, he had his own sword tightly clasped in his hands. Crimson eyes narrowed and triumphant smirk on his lips, he started advancing on her.
A thunderous sound reverberated trough the clearing as sword hit sword. Hoisting her foot on Arioch's chest, Hermione jumped backwards revealing her true appearance, and landing gracefully a few feet away.
''Oh…I see Lillith had a bit of fun this time around. No matter…all the better…a bit of a challenge never failed to bring me satisfaction.''
Fireworks were nothing compared to what you could see in the middle of the Forbidden Forest at the time. Hermione's severing curses weren't that useless, but they were inflicting little damage on the demon. It was quite convenient, she thought, taking them out one by one, better even. They were three demons with three types of knowledge…she was one with the same knowledge. She knew their every strength and weakness…but studying from a book didn't quite cover the practical part. She had been trained, yes, but everyone had their own battle style, and being in the presence of Voldemort and their minions for over a year meant they could have learnt something she didn't know, and being a full blooded demon meant much more power…In a tangle of hair, feathers and sparks they lifted off the ground, continuing the battle in the air, blade colliding with blade, flesh being torn apart or slashed by hexes and curses, blood dripping from their wounds like rain droplets.
Hermione started chanting as her sword connected with the upper part of Arioch's left wing, slicing right trough and throwing him to the ground. Seeing the pain on his face, and with his moment oh hesitation she swung her sword again, this time severing his right arm from the shoulder. She smirked as Arioch staggered backwards, a ferocious growl erupting from his throat.
Her eyes started glowing as clouds started gathering above. Still chanting, Hermione's hand shot upwards. By now, Arioch's eyes were wide and his breathing erratic. ''No…No, please…I'll do anything…don't send me back…NO!.''
''See you in Hell sweetie…'' Hermione said smirking, then she fell on one knee, slapping her palm in the frozen dirt. The ground started shaking as a lighting struck the man kneeling in front of her…What the Cruciatus Curse did to any human, that was exactly what the lightning was doing to the demon. Still kneeling, Hermione watched as the earth split open in front of Arioch, red flames engulfing him…burning him alive, his screams making her cringe.
Her vision blurred as she heard Snape and Harry's voices screaming her name frantically. Yelling at her to let them pass. The cold started creeping trough her body as she crumbled to the ground, shivering, her teeth chattering, her chest heaving, struggling with each breath, fighting to stay awake…
With one last tired wave of her hand she let the protection wall fall as the darkness overcame her…
A/N: Liked it? Hated it? Leave me your thoughts.