Hello, my freaky darlings. Since so many asked I have noted where the original chapter break was planned. This one might end before one might like, but for better or worse the outcome of the encounter is known.
Chapter 21 Wyverns
Neville shot Harry a grateful look when Harry shook Marcus's hand. Before the conversation could continue a younger guest burst from the nearby woods, "DDDAAAPPPPHHHHNNNNEEEEEE!"
Daphne Greengrass rushed forward, "Portia, what's wrong?"
"A-a monster," she wailed. "It attacked us! We ran away but the others got lost."
"Now, darling, they aren't lost, they just haven't gotten back yet," she soothed.
"No, they're lost. They ran off the path," she sobbed.
Harry moved over to them with Neville on his heels. "We can go look anyway," he offered.
Neville frowned, "The path makes a big circle with the cross paths. They should have reached the edge by now. Harry's right, we should go look."
Harry looked at the assembled teenagers, "Volunteers?" Most of the Gryffindors and Cedric Diggory raised their hands.
Marcus looked around and realized who one of the missing could be, "Portia, was Dahlia with you lot?"
"Y-yes."
"Bollocks. Felix!" He raised his hand as did his older brother and Theo Nott. "Our little sister is missing."
"Okay," Harry nodded, "Let's see. Neville, you take the twins, Seamus, and Lavender. Hermione, you take the Slytherins and Cedric. Ron, Dean, and Pavarti, you're with me."
Neville took over. "Harry take the right path. Hermione take the left, and I'll go down the center," instructed Neville.
Marcus and Theo moved to flank her in a move that felt right in her soul. Her shared nod with Harry, too, felt right, how it should be. The three groups entered the forest. They quickly reached the first branch of the path and separated. "Should we try calling for them?" asked Felix.
"No, if something is still chasing them we don't want to distract them, or alert it," she said. "Watch the path edges for trampled underbrush." Marcus caught her hand and squeezed it. The gesture asked a question rather than offer comfort. She shook her head. This was not an old forest. No sacred groves hid inside it. The growth did not impede them, but it also could not lead them to the children.
A decent distance into the trees they found signs of something large passing through. "This way," said Diggory, "the damage leads this way." They followed the path of destruction.
"Drat, we should have devised a method of communication before splitting up," complained Hermione.
"Too late now," replied Diggory.
Deep growls reverberated through the area around them. The forest went completely silent before filling with the sounds of fleeing animals. A female shriek spurned the five of them into a full run. Nature responded to Hermione's spike in fear by flattening the terrain. Roots sunk into the soil. Little bumps spread out. They ran without tripping or having to dodge. They found the gravel path and moved swiftly down it following the menacing sounds and frightened cries.
The path led to an open grassy field lined with sheer rock walls ending in a stone cave on the far side. Halfway to the grotto two figures huddled in a heap, a third stood in front of them. "Go, shoo, go away. Leave us alone," cried Dahlia Flint. A huge wyvern growled again and crouched menacingly. It towered over the children.
Original planned chapter break.
Three things happened simultaneously. Felix and Marcus shouted, the wyvern pounced, and Hermione yelled, "Cruia caim sciath!" A large stone barrier erected itself in front of the children. "Run for the grotto!" Felix grabbed Dahlia as he ran past. Diggory and Marcus each snatched a figure from the ground. They moved into the questionable safety of the rocky alcove.
"Everyone okay?" Theo asked trying to look them over.
"Y-y-yes," stuttered a small boy.
"I want Mummy," wailed the other little girl, the youngest by far.
"Soon, Larkin, I promise," soothed Theo. He looked up at the others. "Thoughts?"
Before any of them could speak, a yell and a crash drew their attention. Neville's group careened off one of the walls. They crashed to the ground, struggling to their feet. "Over here," called Diggory. They limped over just in time for everyone to watch a second wyvern follow them over the edge. It moved to join the other, both watching the humans.
"Oh good, you found some of the kids. Hopefully, Harry and the others find the rest," said George.
"Ideas on getting out of here?" asked Fred, eyeing the beasts.
Lavender clung to Seamus, "We're going to be eaten!"
"Foresee that did you?" muttered Hermione. She blocked out the others and communed with nature. She couldn't speak with the monsters, but she felt their rage. No one had threatened their nest, the two were not mates. Nor was this their territory. Something, or someone, angered them then herded them to Longbottom Estates. The two wanted blood from the soft two-legged prey before them. "Sneaking around isn't going to happen. Fred send up some sparks, the adults should be searching by now." As she feared the bright blue sparks also drew aggression from the wyverns.
"Oh sweet Merlin," wailed Lavender.
"Lav, get it together, you're scaring the littles, yeah?" said Seamus.
"Sorry," she wiped her eyes. "But what are we going to do?"
Hermione stepped off the stone floor, exiting the grotto. She squared her shoulders, "You're going to stay put. Cruia fál caim neart." Thousands of stones flew to the opening closing it. Cries of "Hermione!" and "Granger!" erupted behind it. She ignored them and began slowly moving to the right, never taking her eyes off the hunters, who now watched her intently. She let her armor replace her dress. Her athame and a dagger appeared in her hands.
Inside the grotto, Diggory created a light, "What the hell did she just do?"
"Something stupid," said Felix.
"She's distracting them. She's brave," shot back Neville.
"And stupid."
"Argueing doesn't help Hermione," injected Fred stopping them.
Marcus shoved at the stone wall and swore, "Hermione Jean Granger, you drop this wall!" He slammed into the wall with his shoulder. "Hermione!" He backed up and slammed into it again.
"Hold on, mate," said George, stopping him. "Great idea."
Fred nodded, "Wrong execution." He studied the wall, "Here, Forge." He stepped back next to his brother.
"Shall we, Gred?" In unison, the twins raised their wands and cast together their combined spells hitting the same spot. "Bombardia maxima." A crack appeared in the wall. "Damn, she's good. Again." George told his brother. They repeated the action two more times until the crack became an opening they could squeeze through.
"Coming, Diggory? Flint?" asked Fred.
Cedric raised his wand in response. Felix nodded, "Count me in." Marcus moved to join them. Felix halted him with a hand on the shoulder. "Stay here with Dahlia. We've got her." He squeezed emphasizing the her he meant wasn't their sister. "Underage magic and all that."
"Hurry," his brother urged, looking concerned at the wall when one wyvern bellowed in challenge and frustration. Felix followed the other three through the crack. He gave his siblings one last glance. He locked eyes with his younger brother. Marcus gave him a beseeching look. He tried to convey promise with his. He slipped from view.
Gale force winds swirled around the glade, pushing down on them. It made movement difficult but also prevented the creatures from jumping or flying. Bolts of lightning sizzled through the air. Hermione dashed about, dodging four claws and two tails as best she could. Her red dress was replaced by brown and dark green leather armor. The wind battered the four of them until she noticed them. Then it moved around them, ending the effects. "What should we do?" yelled Diggory over the wind.
"Distract one of them while she deals with the other," shouted Felix. One of the twins gave him a contemptuous look. "She can't properly fight if she has to divide her focus. And if she has to watch out for us she has to pull her punches. Three of us keep one of them off her while Diggory or I try to support Granger."
Both twins now glared, but Diggory nodded, "You two are a well-oiled machine used to working in unison. You need to stay together. I'll help Granger." They watched as she stunned one with a lightning bolt and slashed the other with a blade. "Somehow."
Felix and the twins began lobbing large rocks, or small boulders, at one. They spread out creating a wide semicircle on one side of the area. The wyvern twisted and turned trying to determine which one was the most dangerous. Occasionally it lashed out at one of them, landing a few blows. They would all feel this encounter later.
Cedric moved behind Hermione. He cast several shield spells to bear the brunt of some blows, cushioning charms to soften falls, and stinging hexes to try to blind it. He watched her flow around the larger clumsy animal. She still took numerous blows, but for every blow it scored she landed three. After what felt like an eternity, but was far more likely less than twenty minutes, the wyvern slowed enough that she was able to leap on its back and sink her blades through its eyes and into the brain. She hung onto the blade hilts as it bucked in death throes. When it finally sagged to the ground she slid down dislodging the daggers. Diggory steadied her on her feet. "You okay?"
"As okay as I can be." She looked across at the other one, her mouth a grim line of determination. She stalked towards it as the remaining one stomped in frustration. "Yep, let's finish this."
The four boys changed tactics, instead stinging and shielding in turn. Together they repeated Hermione and Diggory's actions with the other wyvern until it, too, fell. Hermione dismissed the winds and dropped the rock wall protecting the grotto cave. Raised voices reached her, but she couldn't focus enough to understand the words. She half turned to see the stunned faces of numerous schoolmates. She stood exhausted unaware of the heroic figure she made. Chest heaving, hair disheveled, and bleeding from multiple cuts, the falling leaves created a backdrop as she looked over her shoulder, the determination still showing on her face. Everything hurt. Her arms felt like lead. She couldn't take a step if she wanted to. She could barely stand.
Marcus reached her just as she swayed. He swung her up in his arms as her legs buckled. "So tired," she breathed.
"I've got you, little witch," he whispered back. She smiled and snuggled against him.
Fred and George slumped against one another feeling just as drained as Hermione looked. Diggory leaned into Felix. Their clothes were torn in several places, dried blood caked various superficial cuts. "That was... yeah," said Diggory. Felix could only nod. Theo and Neville rushed over to support them. Seamus and Lavender assisted the twins. At the end of the gravel path Draco Malfoy, Ernie Macmillian, and Blaise Zabini stood frozen in shock. "Uh," started Macmillan, "the others saved the kids from erklings. We were sent to find you."
"Well, you found us. Now go find help," snapped Lavender. "Flint, give Granger to one of them and help me."
"Like hell. Zabini help her," ordered Marcus. The younger boy leapt forward and took Fred's weight off Lavender's shoulder. "You two go get help." The two turned and hurried off still stunned.
In the back garden, the ministry officials praised the four Gryffindors for their quick thinking in trapping the erklings and saving the youngsters. Harry, Ron, Pavarti, and Dean grinned at one another. The parents of the children doted on them. Everyone relaxed now that the danger was over. Malfoy and Macmillian burst from the forest startling them. Silence instantly fell over the crowd. "Wyverns!" yelled Macmillan.
"The others killed them," added Malfoy.
"They need help," finished MacMillian.
Officials hurried in the direction the boys indicated. Harry jumped to his feet. "Hermione!" he started to follow, as did Ron.
"Now, boys, let the professionals deal with this," said Mrs. Longbottom.
"Please get Sirius," Harry requested. "He needs to know if something happened."
Linus Flint realized why Harry asked and he agreed, "Certainly, Mr. Potter." He hurried into the house heading for the floo.
Mrs. Longbottom frowned, "Ronald, go summon your parents as well, everyone else involved parents are present." She looked a touch guilty at that admission.
Linus, Sirius, and Arthur entered the gardens as the dragon-slaying group emerged from the trees. Marcus still carried Hermione. The blood covering her now stained his shirt. He refused to put her down until Sirius reached him. "Thank you, son, I've got her." He looked at Augusta, "I need to get her to St. Mungo's, please make sure Harry gets home."
"Of course, Lord Black, please keep us informed."
He nodded and looked at the officials. They seemed to be reeling from what they saw in the grotto. Sirius felt sure he was happy not to know what the carnage looked like. Hermione's limp bloody form was bad enough. "I will have St. Mungo's contact you when they determine she's ready to give a statement." He apparated away.
Arthur looked at the twins, "We should get you two looked over as well."
Mrs. Diggory agreed, "You as well, young man."
"You should go ahead and take the kids, Gwennie," Linus told his wife. "Dahlia and Felix need to be looked over."
"I'm fine, Daddy. They kept us all safe from the monsters."
Her mother smiled, "I'm sure they did, sweetie. But Daddy needs to work now. You and Marcus need to come with me regardless."
Dahlia glanced at her older brothers one slumped over exhausted, the other tried to hide his concern. She realized her mother was getting Marcus to the hospital without drawing attention to that fact. She could help, "Okay, Mum, maybe I can thank Miss Granger for helping save us." They followed Sirius's path to the floo.
Draco moved to his father's side. "Did you know about Granger?" he asked out of the corner of his mouth.
"Yes, the unspeakables swore those of us who knew to secrecy. But that fact is why I told you to try to befriend her and failing that not antagonize her."
"I've tried to, or at least, I hope I have anyway."
"Yes, well, after this I don't think it will be so closely kept a secret." Lucius watched the ministry workers talk to the children not swept off to the hospital. "Not that I think Black will allow an official announcement. But he won't be able to keep this completely quiet. Your instructions remain the same."
"Understood."
The Longbottoms showed the newly arrived officials to the grotto. Fallen branches littered the grass. The dark red blood pooled under the enormous bodies. A pile of rocks sprawled in front of the stone cavern. Augusta looked to her grandson, "You ran from one of these?"
"Yes. The other chased Dahlia, Oren, and Calliope here." She placed a hand on his shoulder and looked pale. "Hermione created the earth barrier over there and walled in the grotto."
"We will use the rocks to build something appropriate," she promised.
Linus Flint felt ill looking at the destruction. Three of his children had been in direct danger. He shook off his emotions, "Right, Madame Longbottom, we're going to need to search for a nest or something to explain this."
"Understandable."
"Hey, boss?" called one of the investigators. "These are both males."
"We'll know more once we speak to the combatants." reminded another. Linus wasn't sure he wanted to read that report, let alone taking it.
"We're still searching," was Linus's only response.
At St. Mungo's Sirius requested Hermione be treated by Andromeda Tonks. "Sirius, what's happened?" She looked down at Hermione's blood-covered body.
"Wyverns."
"Wyverns? As in more than one?"
"Yes," he turned her left arm over. "Two. Not all of this blood is hers."
"Can you remove her armor?" Andromeda asked.
"Maybe her house elf can? Kreacher?"
The house elf appeared, "How can Kreacher serve Master?"
"We need to remove Hermione's armor, do you think Lila could help?"
"If wise mistress's magic allows Kreacher can do it. Should Kreacher try?"
"Yes, please." Sirius stepped back to give the elf room to work.
Kreacher gently placed a hand on her shoulder, "Please go so the healer can work."
After a moment the armor faded back into a red dress. Andromeda changed that to a hospital gown. "Thank you, Kreacher. Now, both of you, out. A teenage girl needs her privacy." She made a shooing motion with her hands. Sirius stepped out into the hallway. At the end of it, he caught sight of Marcus and Dahlia Flint. One sat hunched over his head in his hands, his fingers gripping his hair. The other spoke occasionally patting his upper arm. A similar scene decades earlier tugged at Sirius's heartstrings. But it had been Remus sitting catatonic worrying about Marlene McKinnon while Sirius tried to comfort him. He prayed today ended differently for all their sakes.
Those emotions guided his feet to the waiting area. "Healer Tonks is examining her now. We should know something soon."
Marcus striaghtened and looked at him, "She went limp halfway through the woods, complete dead weight."
"She's still breathing and that is all Dromeda needs."
Tears stood in Marcus's eyes as he continued, "She's a healer, but she's not healing herself."
"She expended a lot of magic, it won't deplete her unless she's at risk from death, and maybe not even then. That doesn't necessarily mean that she will."
"I'm still scared for her," whispered Marcus.
"Me, too," admitted Sirius.
Dahlia smiled at them, "I'm not. She's going to be fine. I know it."
"Thank you for your optimism," Sirius told her.
"You're welcome," she chirped.
Gwendolyn and Felix found them ten minutes later. "Hello, Mr. Black." Sirius nodded. She addressed her children, "They gave your brother something for the magical exhaustion. We're ready to go."
Marcus tensed next to him, "Mrs. Flint, would you mind terribly if Marcus waited with me? I don't want to draw attention by calling anyone else, but this particular waiting game is bleak enough without being alone," Sirius asked half for himself and half for the teenager sitting next to him.
She glanced at her son. He looked at the floor to mask how desperately he wanted to stay. "If you're sure he won't be a hindrance?"
"I'm positive. Once we know she's out of danger, I'll send him home," Sirius promised.
Gwendolyn blinked, she never considered Hermione might be more than exhausted. "Perhaps once she's awake."
"I will be glad to have the company," Sirius said. "Thank you."
"Please keep us informed. Dahlia, let's get Felix home and in bed."
The girl jumped up, "Okay." She hugged first Marcus then Sirius. She followed her mother to the public floo bank.
"Thank you," said Marcus quietly.
"I should be thanking you. I wasn't kidding about how soul-crushing this could be. I've been here before."
"Does it get easier?"
"Fuck no." Sirius grinned briefly, "Now we wait." Marcus told him what happened in the grotto. Then they settled back in the hard wooden chair trying to get comfortable. Sirius lost track of time, but before he could grow stiff from sitting he saw Andromeda emerge, looking around. He stood, "Here's our update."
Together they walked towards the healer. She smiled when she saw them. "Such faces," she teased. "I am happy to report the patient is stable. Her broken ribs are knitting together nicely. She will be one big bruise for quite some time. Numerous cuts, a few claw marks. One or two might scar. She severely magically depleted herself. That girl poured everything she had into that fight. What on earth happened? Where was she that wyverns attacked and she couldn't flee?"
"Longbottom Estates with numerous other students and kids. Beyond that, I don't know. But no one speaks to her until you determine she's strong enough. I want anyone not authorized kicked out."
"She'll be asleep until tomorrow, at least," reported Andromeda. "But you give me a list and we'll follow it."
"Myself, Remus Lupin, Marcus Flint, Harry Potter, and Ron Weasley."
"Would you add Theo Nott in case she's here for a while, so he can visit, too?" asked Marcus.
"Certainly, add Theo Nott."
"Do you want to stay or head home? I can have someone summon you when she wakes."
"I'm going to update the others and take a power nap. I believe Flint will want to stay."
"Yes, please."
Andromeda smiled, "I'll transfigure a more comfortable chair for you."
"Thank you."
He left Marcus settled in a soft chair holding Hermione's hand. Sirius flooed home. Remus and Harry sat at the kitchen table clearly waiting for news. "What happened?" asked Harry.
At the same time, Remus asked, "How is she?"
Wearily, Sirius joined them. Kreacher served him a plate of dinner. "Thanks, Kreacher. What little I know is that two wyverns chased and attacked the two groups you and Ron weren't in. Hermione walled them in to protect the others, but the Weasley twins escaped and took Felix Flint and Cedric Diggory with them to help her. She managed to kill them. All five of them are magically exhausted. The boys have minor injuries and Hermione broke several ribs. Those have been repaired. She will be rather bruised and might have a scar or two. She is stable and sleeping off the worst of it. You're both on the approved visitor list if she ends up being there for a while."
Harry nodded, "Mr. Flint said someone would be by tomorrow to get your statements."
"What happened to your group?" Sirius asked.
"We found a small erkling colony that lured most of the kids in after they got spooked and ran. Sounds anticlimactic when compared to Hermione's adventures."
"But no less heroic," pointed out Sirius.
"If I hadn't sent Hermione that way she would be sitting here."
"And instead of some exhaustion and bruises we would be mourning multiple children," countered Remus.
"Oh yeah, didn't think of that," he replied sheepishly.
"Easy to lose sight of the bigger picture when feeling guilty," Sirius told him.
A/N: None of you actually thought I was going to kill one of them, did you?