Hello, my lovelies, I have Saturday plans so you get your chapter early. It this is truly an issues, just wait and read it tomorrow. I promise my feelings won't be hurt.
Chapter 6 The Hunt
The use of the time turner dragged Hermione's energy. She struggled at times to keep juggling everything. She questioned why she even suggested this insanity. She couldn't remember exactly how it happened. One weekend she retreated to the Druids Refuge and slept in the bedroom there for forty-eight hours. It helped take the edge off of her exhaustion. By October she questioned the wisdom of continuing.
Halloween evening before the feast, Hermione slipped out of the castle. She made her way down to the grove in the Forbidden Forest. Ron was giving her the cold shoulder over Crookshanks chasing Scabbers again, which caused Harry to be less chummy. She tried to understand Harry's side, but the snubs hurt. She couldn't find a way to invite Marcus or Theo, so, she was celebrating alone.
She slipped off her shoes and summoned her athame. She padded silently to the center. She turned to the north and raised her arms, "Hail to the guardians of the watchtowers of the North and the element of air." She made a quarter time, "Hail to the steadfast warriors of the East and the element of earth." Another quarter turn, "Hail to the flames of the South and the element of fire." On the last turn, she said, "Hail to the oceans of the West and the element of Water." She lowered her arms, "On this night I call to thee. I stand in my grove to welcome thee in peace."
Hermione stood enjoying the thrum of power resonating around her, connecting generations of druids. She looked about and noticed their spirits within the grove. Amira nodded to her but remained silent. They all did. Just as she raised her arms to dispel the magic, a voice stopped her, "Hold, little light, we would speak with you."
Two figures stepped from the surrounding darkness into the moonlight. Tall, lithe, impossibly beautiful, they could only be fae. "Welcome to my grove."
"Thank you. I see what you mean, Lyall, there is fire in this one."
"I am glad you agree, Finn. She will need that spirit."
"She is standing right here," Hermione said.
"So you are. You are acquitting yourself splendidly. When you complete your druidic training seek me here. I have an offer for you. I wish for you to become our Tempest. But that is in the future."
Finn smirked at her, "I have an offer for now. Join the Wild Hunt. You blinded the basilisk and slayed it. You show great promise. We would claim that promise as our own."
"What would that entail exactly?" she inquired cautiously.
"When called to ride you would attend. You lend your aid to us, we, in turn, would aid you. We do ride at times other than Yule. Though that is the longest period that we are abroad."
"What would I do on these rides?"
"Like all riders, what you wish to. No one will force you to steal babies or sour milk," answered Finn.
"We also mete out the punishment of the Fae courts when warranted. It is not all chaos."
Hermione considered it then stopped herself before she could overthink it. She went with her instincts for once, "I accept your present offer and look forward to the future one."
"Excellent," Lyall smudged her forehead. Then Finn marked the inside of her left wrist. "Welcome to the Hunt, my lady."
"Go now, your feast awaits. We will gather others and revel here in your stead," said Finn. She did as he suggested.
Unlike the mark on her forehead, the sign denoting her membership in the Wild Hunt remained visible. She rubbed it as she hurried back to the feast. She paused to watch the large grim lope through the forest not far from the edge of the forest before continuing. The emerald, sapphire, and silver ring spiraled like a breeze. She kept looking at it under the table while Dumbledore spoke, then as she ate. She joined the Wild Hunt without overthinking matters. She felt terrified and elated in equal measures. She didn't even care Ron kept making a big deal about finding Scabbers other than to point out, "Oh, so, Crookshanks didn't eat him? Imagine that." Seamus snickered at the sarcasm dripping from her tone.
"Yeah, I guess he didn't," responded Ron. He went back to eating and recounting finding the rat. Most Gryffindors rolled their eyes as well. The table carried on joking and enjoying the feast. Ignoring the fact that Ron failed to apologize.
Talking loudly, the Gryffindors trooped up the Fat Lady only to bottleneck in the hallway. Hearing that Sirius Black had been in the castle attempting to gain entry to the tower drained the jovial mood from the group. Dumbledore sent them back to the Great Hall. The other houses soon joined them. As the rumors circulated the Head Boy and Head Girl attempted to maintain order. Both Theo and Marcus looked at her worriedly. She tried to smile back reassuringly. She wasn't sure if she succeeded, but they both turned to talk to the students next to them. She turned her attention to Harry and Ron and her sleeping bag.
"Are you okay?" asked Marcus concerned. They met the next day in the Refuge to be able to speak freely.
"Why wouldn't I be?" she asked confused.
"Sirius Black tried to break into your common room."
"Yeah, to get Harry, not me."
Theo snorted, "Because you wouldn't defend him?"
"Okay, good point. We didn't even see him. It's fine for now." She rolled her sleeve exposing her mark. "In bigger news, I joined the Wild Hunt."
"You what?" cried Theo. "Willingly? Knowingly?"
"I joined the Hunt. I was asked. I accepted. I let my instincts guide me. It feels right."
"Then good for you," Marcus told her. He examined her wrist. "Wicked."
"Thanks." She told them what occurred in the grove and her decision not to overthink. "I need to trust myself more. Which can be hard for me."
"How is your training going?" asked Theo.
"Slowly, well, slowly for me. I know my forms: a golden eagle, an adder, and a wolf. I just haven't managed a shift yet. Amira warned me about this. Most," apprentices take longer to complete their studies. They are older than I am when they reach this point. She has two theories. One, formal schooling accelerated my learning. Even when she was headmistress if someone showed druidic promise she would send them to a grove not keep them at Hogwarts. Two, great Druids learned the basics quickly and move on to greater training."
"The discipline of formal education can be remarkable," admitted Theo.
Marcus watched her face, "You don't think that's it, do you?"
"Voldemort isn't gone. Twice we faced an aspect of him. Lyall already implied he would offer training to be the Tempest. I'm afraid it is the second option."
"You don't want that?" he questioned.
"Scary to contemplate a great destiny at fourteen."
"That's true." He smiled, "But we'll be here for you."
"Thanks," she returned his smile.
Amira suggested focusing on one form at a time. Once she managed the first shift, it would be easier to complete the others. Hermione chose the adder. As the smallest, it would be the easiest to do in her Tower room. She could feel it, just out of reach. The key to the transformation remained just out of her reach. She intended to check out some books on animal transfiguration to read over the holidays. She and Ron choose to stay behind over Christmas with Harry this year. She intended to do some research for herself for a change. Neither Harry nor Ron had been helping Hagrid with Buckbeak's defense. She was also still using the time turner for classes. She could hardly wait until the break.
On the last night of classes, her wrist burned briefly three times in rapid succession. The Hunt must be riding. It was the right time of the year for it. Hermione stored her books and slipped out of the common room. She hadn't found the time to tell Harry and Ron about it. Even though her familiar had NOT eaten his stupid rat, Ron had barely forgiven her. Not, she thought viciously, that there was anything for him to forgive. He neglected to apologize for what he said and how he acted. That annoyed her. But she set it aside for Harry's sake. She pushed her annoyance down, the Hunt awaited.
A faint tug at her wrist guided her down the stairs to the old boathouse on Black Lake. On the dock looking out over the water waited Lyall. "There you are. So, step one, teach you to create dimensional doors. Step two, get you equipped." Much like Beric did years before, Lyall touched her forehead. "There. Create the door and think of the Hunt. It will bring you to us. You can use it to return here the same way. You can use it to travel most anywhere." He examined her clothing. "No, this won't do. You are a warrior, a hunter, not a child. You need to be dressed as such." He pulled a parcel out of thin air, "Anwen," he called. A teenage fae appeared. "Assist the Light-Amid-the-Dark to don her armor." The female dipped in a curtsy and looked to Hermione for instruction.
They ducked into the boathouse for privacy. Hermione stripped off her jumper and jeans. She kicked off her trainers. Anwen deftly helped her pull on the sleeveless hard leather corset. She laced it up tightly. Hermione pulled on the leather pants. Small metal plates sewn into them provided protection but still allowed for movement. Anwen helped her secure the leather bracers. Hermione sat on a crate and pulled on the leather boots. Anwen handed Hermione a forest green cloak with a triquetra broach, "Lord Lyall enchanted your armor. Much like your other tools you can pull it on whenever you desire. When you wish to change back, dismiss them similarly."
"Thank you, Anwen,"
She bobbed again, "My pleasure, my lady. Good hunting." She returned to where she came from.
Hermione rejoined Lyall. "Don't you look a treat, my lady?" He pointed to the end of the dock. "Create the door and off we go."
Concentrating on joining the Wild Hunt, Hermione drew a door in the air with athame. When it glowed blue, Lyall offered
his arm. She took it. They stepped through. Black Lake vanished. They emerged outside a stable illuminated with firelight burning in brazers. Dark stallions stamped the ground waiting for riders. Armored fae, male and female, stood about chatting. "Question, or rather, confirming my understanding, we were able to use the dimensional door because it is fae magic even though wizards cannot apparate on Hogwarts grounds?"
"You are correct. Well done. Come, I will make introductions." He escorted her to a small group. "May I introduce our newest member, Lady Hermione Granger, the Light-Amid-the-Dark. Hermione, Lady Sabia, Sir Catan, Lord Branan, and Sir Osgar."
"Good evening," greeted Hermione with a small nod.
"Look at you, young one," purred Sabia. She looked at Lyall. "Finn wasted his invitation on a human?"
"She's a Druid. One who blinded then slayed a basilisk."
The dark haired Catan looked her up and down. He looked barely older than herself. "How old were you?"
"Thirteen."
"How old are you now?" asked Sabia.
"Fourteen."
"Impressive," remarked Osgar. "So early in your into your training, too."
"I've reached shape-shifting. It is slow going, though," she confessed.
"Try thinking of the form and pouring yourself into it," he suggested.
She thought about the idea, "Like this?" She visualized the adder then liquefied herself and flowed into it like water into a mold. Suddenly, her line of sight dropped to ankle level. She slithered sideways in shock. She did it! She shifted. Hermione focused and snapped back.
"Well done, wise one," praised Osgar.
"Thank you."
"It is time, my friends," said a large man.
"Lord Lachlan, leader of the Hunt," supplied Lyall.
"Prince Finn, as the newest member your initiate chooses first."
"Choose the fiercest mount you can control," Finn told her. "But be confident you can. There is more shame in losing control than choosing the tamest mount." She nodded and stepped forward.
She eyed the horses. The tallest stood calmly, he would be the tamest. His eyes were placid. Three horses back a shorter mount snorted and pawed impatiently. His eyes blared with fiery energy. She held up her hand to give him her scent, then blew across his nose, "Be my friend and we will run with the wind. Fight me and we will trail behind the rest. Let's be friends, shall we?" The horse eyed her, tossed his mane, and neighed. While she could not speak to animals other than snakes, to her dismay, she understood him. "I chose this one."
"So be it. Lady Hermione shall ride Stormbringer," boomed Lachlan. "Mount up!" Once everyone sat in a saddle he spoke again. "Tonight we hunt the White Stag." Someone blew a hunting horn. The group exploded into motion, hoofs thundering into the woods.
Hermione gave Stormbringer his head and leaned low over his back as he galloped forward. She gripped his sides with her knees and put her weight on the stirrups. He easily passed most of the riders. She laughed enjoying the adrenaline rush. She could hear Theo calling her a foolish Gryffindor in her head. A flash of white caused another blast of the hunting horn. Stormbringer crashed through the underbrush after it. Lyall and Finn soon flanked them. The entire hunt closed in on the majestic stag. She couldn't tell who fired the crossbow bolt but she saw the forest king fall. An immortal, she knew he would return. Still, she felt a pang. A fae being, he would not be the main course at any feasts. It felt wasteful to her, not that she would ever say that to any of them.
The riders came to a stop at the stag. Lachlan completed the ritual and declared the Hunt completed. Hermione dismounted and thanked her mount. She patted him before the stable hands took him off.
"Well done, wise one," complimented Lady Una. "You did well."
"How did you manage to tame Stormbringer?" inquired Catan.
"I promised if he cooperated he would get what he wanted, a wild run."
The fae roared with laughter, "Well played, Druid, well played." The merriment continued throughout the night.
Hermione stumbled to bed at dawn. She slept herself out, rising only to attend dinner before returning to bed. Neither Ron nor Harry remarked on her absence. Neville told she looked well rested when she finally attended breakfast again. She thanked him.