AN: this is for the 7spells prompt 'the only adventure' for the pairing Hermione/Antonin. its also for the soulmate!au challenge, the up to 50 pairings challenge and december writing month. its 1304 words.

Hermione was trying to read Hogwarts, A History for the umpteenth time, but couldn't concentrate.

All she could think about was who her soulmate might be.

On the night of their seventeenth birthday a witch or wizard would dream of the one who was perfect for them. It wasn't often that they dreamt of nothing, but if they did then it meant their soulmate was dead.

"Are you okay, Hermione?" Parvati asked.

"Just a little nervous," she confessed.

The two had never been this close, but it was nice for Parvati to ask after her.

"I'm sure everything will work out for you. You're a good person," her housemate said.

Hermione mentally scoffed.

Whilst she could be good, she also had a darker side. You could see that through some of the things she had done over her time at Hogwarts; letting the Centaurs take Umbridge away, hexing the parchment for the DA, and even setting Professor Snape's robes on fire in first year.

She wasn't as bad as the Death eater's but she wasn't as pure hearted as Harry.

"Thank you Parvati," Hermione said.

After trying to read again, she gave up and decided to just lie down and wait for sleep to claim her.

She wasn't sure when it happened, but Hermione knew she was dreaming when she opened her eyes and saw where she was.

The Three Broomsticks looked exactly like it did in real life, but devoid of people. Except the man sitting in the shadows.

"I thought you would never come," he said in a thick accent that she couldn't place.

"How long have you been waiting?" she asked, curiously.

The wizard was obviously older than her, but she couldn't tell how much.

"I'm thirty seven. I know that's a big age difference,but I can assure you it won't matter. We are meant to be perfect for each other."

"I...thank you," she said, not quite knowing how to respond to his declaration. "What is your name?"

"Before I do, please promise me you will hear me out and give me a chance," he asked.

Hermione frowned, but said yes anyway.

"I'm Antonin Dolohov. I'm sure you've heard…rumours about me, but not everything is true," Antonin said.

Hermione froze.

She could not believe that the Fates would pair her with him. Especially after he attempted to kill her.

"I see you've heard of me."

"More than that. We've already met," she informed him.

"Come closer so I can see you," he demanded.

She stepped into the middle of the room so he could see her better.

"Hermione Granger," he said with recognition.

He stood quickly and moved towards her, and Hermione automatically took a step back.

"I guess saying I'm sorry won't do," he said, frowning.

"You nearly killed me! I was in the hospital wing for weeks, and even when I came out, I had to be careful," she exclaimed.

"I don't know what to say," he admitted.

"There's not much to say."

An awkward silence lingered between them.

Hermione had known that she would likely be paired with someone who had a questionable reputation, but she really didn't expect it to be a Death Eater. Especially not a Death Eater who had nearly killed her.

"I have seen many soulmate couples before, and they have all been happy. I know that in the beginning a lot of them disliked each other, but the more they got to know each other, they started to like and eventually love each other.

"I really hope that can be us someday. The Fates will have brought us together for a reason," he told her.

Hermione couldn't think of anything to say.

He was right about one thing, though. They wouldn't be soulmates if they weren't compatible.

"We are on different sides of the war," she said. "I will not abandon my friends."

"Why don't we sit down for this?" Antonin suggested, gesturing to the table between them.

After they both sat down and got comfortable he started talking again.

"I wouldn't expect you to abandon your friends. Loyalty is one of the traits I admire the most. You must understand though, it won't be possible to leave the Dark Lord's service. You serve him, or you die.

"If I tried he would hunt me down like Karkaroff. Although, I wouldn't face as many consequences due to not being a complete traitor," he explained.

"What are we meant to do?" Hermione asked.

"I will tell the Dark Lord and my comrades. As purebloods they will understand the significance of a soulbond and it will afford you some protection. I cannot influence the Dark Lord's orders, but I will ask him to reconsider rescinding the kill on sight order in favour of just capturing you instead. I would prefer if it didn't happen at all, but if it did you would be under my protection," he said, grimacing slightly.

"I wish I could say the same for my friends and the Order. I will tell them of course, but they will likely want to put you back in Azkaban," Hermione told him bluntly.

"I thought that would be the case," Antonin sighed.

Hermione realised at that point that her initial anger had dissipated and turned into curiosity.

She couldn't believe that she felt anything but disgust for the man in front of her. It wasn't just because of what he had done to her, but also the Weasley's. Molly was like a second mother and he had murdered her brothers.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

"How I should hate you but I don't. I don't know how to feel," Hermione admitted.

"That's the bond. Once your magic has recognised them you can't hate them. You can feel intense dislike, and other negative emotions, but not hate," he informed her.

"How do you know so much about soulbonds?" she asked.

She was interested to get to know the man in front of her. He was the definition of evil, but he seemed quite intelligent. In one way he reminded him of Professor Snape and Lucius Malfoy.

"I studied them. I was always interested in arcane magics and was recruited by Winston's straight out of Hogwarts. I was in my element there," he said wistfully.

"That does sound like heaven," she commented.

Winston's was the best magical research firm in Britain. They had infinite resources and departments for every kind of magic imaginable.

"It was. I was able to look at some of the rarest tomes in the world, and study them in depth."

"What house were you in?" Hermione asked.

"Ravenclaw. That surprises you, doesn't it?" he said, seeing the astonishment on her face.

"A little."

"Not all Death Eater's are Slytherin's," he said, shaking his head.

"I know that. It just seems as if the majority of them are though," she explained.

"You are right, of course, but you can never presume it."

Another silence fell over them but this time it was nowhere as awkward as the first one.

"I will be waking soon," Antonin said, softly.

"What are we going to do?"

"We will tell our friends and family, and try to meet each other. Perhaps we can arrange something through Snape," he suggested.

"That sounds like a plan," Hermione said.

Taking her hand, Antonin placed a kiss on his knuckles before vanishing.

When Hermione woke up the next morning, she could remember every moment of the dream and how she felt in it.

Antonin was right about one thing though. The intense hate she had felt for him the day before had changed to a great dislike with a touch of curiosity.

They said that life was an adventure and this certainly would be. Good or bad, she hoped that her friends would understand and stand by her.