Hello, darlings. No cross country today. No sitting in the sun sweating for me. Just going to lounge in bed and play Dreamlight Valley. While I do that y'all enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 13 Caille Agra
She slept in that morning, rising without time for breakfast. Lila brought her a piece of toast and an apple saving her a trip to the Great Hall. She ate on her way to Transfiguration. She sleepily slid into the spot next to Harry. Ron sat on his other side. She thanked every divine entity listening when Professor McGonagall announced they would continue with their practical work. She mastered Orchideous last class session. She produced a bouquet of yellow roses, another of tiger lilies, and a third of violets then leaned back in her chair and watched the others work. Supervising, McGonagall made her way around the room dispensing advice and praise. "Three diverse sets of flowers? Impressive, Miss Granger. Well done, twenty-five points to Gryffindor."
"Thank you, professor."
The deputy headmistress started to move on, then paused, "Are you feeling well? You look wan."
"I was up rather late last night," admitted Hermione.
"Try to avoid revising too late," advised her teacher.
"I'll try," Hermione promised, knowing many more late nights awaited her regardless of what she promised or didn't.
At the end of class, Professor McGonagall called for their attention, "Professor Dumbledore asked the staff to announce that the Yule Ball will be head this year on Christmas. Fourth years and up are invited to attend. Third years may attend if invited by an older student. We will be holding dance lessons in the coming days for those interested. Class dismissed. Mr. Potter, a word, please?"
Hermione and Ron waited in the hallway. Harry exited the classroom looking pale and slightly shaken. "The champions are opening the dancing. I have to find a date."
"That's not so bad," started Hermione.
"Not so bad? How can you say that?" demanded Ron. "Girls are terrifying." She rolled her eyes and left them to their lamentations. The rest of the day buzz about the dance filled their classes.
The next morning Hermione met Viktor for their usual workout. "Good morning," she chirped.
"Good morning," he responded. "You are well?"
"Um, yeah, why?"
"You missed yesterday."
"Oh, sorry, I was out on a ride until dawn. I barely made it to class."
"In that storm?" he looked appalled.
"It's the Wild Hunt. They revel in thunderstorm rides. It was amazing," she grinned broadly. "The closest I could come to compare the feeling is the look on your face when you're flying."
"If you say so," he shrugged and kept running.
"I do."
On the return run towards the castle Hermione sensed a change in Viktor. He seemed to be growing nervous. She started to ask if something was wrong, but thought better of it. If he wanted to talk, she trusted he would. As they slowed to transition into stretches, he cleared his throat. "Herminny, I have a question. Do you have a date for the Yule Ball?"
"Not yet, no," she answered, bending to stretch her hamstring.
"Would you do me the honor of attending with me?"
She straightened, staring in surprise, "You want me to go with you?"
"Yes. You are bright, kind, courageous, beautiful person. I know I am four years older..."
"Three and a half."
"Huh?"
She smiled, "You're three and a half years older. Not really your point, I know. I would love to go with you. As friends, as a date, whatever you're thinking."
He bowed formally, "Thank you for this honor."
"Thank you for asking," she curtsy She chewed her bottom lip, her mind whirling with thoughts. "Do you want this to be a date?"
"Da. Even with age difference and your calling, I would like to paramour for now. I know we are unlikely to last for all time, but we can just be."
"I like that idea. Whatever this is for as long as it is," she grinned. He took her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. "Want to meet here this afternoon to talk?"
"You have time?" he questioned concerned.
"We could have lunch in the gazebo."
"See you then," he promised.
She arranged for Lila to prepare a picnic for them. She transfigured a table, and began arranging the food while she waited. The scent of the thick ham sandwiches, crisp fruit, and cold butter beers made her stomach rumble. A certain house elf had been busy. Hermione settled on the bench and watched bird glide over the lake as she waited.
Any time she sat in quiet contemplation near the Forbidden Forest she felt its call. Amira confirmed she would until she completed the ritual connecting herself to it. Then she would still sense the energies within without the urgency. "What has you so deep in thought, mila?" Viktor's voice jolted her into awareness.
"Caille Agra, the Wood of Dreams they called it."
"I will pretend this makes sense," he said as he sat next to her.
She shifted herself to face at him, "If you like. The woods here weren't always so vast. Nor was it always called the Forbidden Forest. Just as Hogwarts wasn't always here. Names, like times, change." She shrugged and offered him a sandwich. "But that is a conversation for another time." They ate in silence for a few minutes. "Tell me about yourself."
"I have an older brother, Sven, and a younger brother, Alexander. Britta, my sister, is the youngest at 12. My extended family, meaning parents, siblings, grandparents, my aunt and uncle's family live together on the family estate south of Sofia up in the mountains."
"It sounds beautiful."
"It is," he sighed. "Where do you live?"
"In London, the Hampstead Garden suburb, so smack dab in the middle of a large metropolitan area. Which makes me laugh. Druids living in the city instead of some rural farming town. Though, to be fair, I think that is my parents' retirement plan. Or the plan when I'm done with school. They wanted better school opportunities for their children."
"You have brothers and sisters?"
She shook her head, "No, I'm an only child. My parents opened a dental practice in London years before I was born. At that time the number of children they would have was hypothetical."
"Will you live in London as an adult?"
"I have no idea. Honestly, I don't have any long term goals beyond helping Harry survive this year."
"Da. No one thinks he should have to compete. He did very well with the first task."
"Thanks." He gave her an odd look. "I taught him the summoning charm after I taught it to myself. Harry devised the plan, I worked out the logistics. I don't care if that is against the rules, he is three years behind the rest of you."
"No, I agree. He should have tutor. He is lucky to have such a pretty and talented one. And I cannot complain. I have similar advantage. Before I simply ran. Now I add exercises. I improve performance, too."
"Hmm, you make it sound like I should invite Diggory and Delacour to join us," she teased.
"No, I do not think I want to share my time with you."
"I see," she narrowed her eyes.
"If you want to offer advice, I cannot command you. But I enjoy that time alone with you."
"I enjoy it, too." She smiled sadly, "It makes me miss my Slytherin friends less. Theo and I still work on assignments for Arithmacy and Ancient Runes, but Marcus is so busy with quidditch and his girlfriend we rarely even talk anymore. I try to be okay with that, but it's hard. I miss hanging out with both of them at the same time." She brushed away the tears that threatened to fall.
"Yes, it can be difficult to balance those things," he nodded sagely and gave her a small one arm hug. He did not mention his suspicions about her feelings on the matter of Marcus Flint's girlfriend based on the change in her tone. He squashed down the flare of jealousy. If the younger boy made the mistake of ignoring the rose in front of him all the better for him, Viktor would not be making the same mistake.
They finished eating talking of nothings and lapsed into companionable silence. Hermione appreciated that. Sometimes Ron's constant need for noise, often the sound of his own voice, exhausted her and grated on her nerves. Once they finished she attempted to clear the mess. Lila appeared, "No, mistress does not clean. Mistress is a great lady. Lila cleans."
Hermione dropped the napkin with a sigh, "I keep losing this fight. Fine, Lila, please clear this for us. Thank you." Lila simply sniffed at her and began collecting the remains of the picnic.
The lack of speculation about the identity of the Druid in Gryffindor lulled Hermione into a false sense of security. In the other houses purebloods were still searching. She discovered this when numerous male students mobbed Fleur Delacour in the atrium of the Great Hall one afternoon, each seeking to be her Yule Ball date. The poor quarter Veela had barely gotten a moment of peace since the ball's announcement. She was just leaving lunch when Hermione heard Malfoy brag, "I designed a broom to fly to the moon."
"So," popped off Terrence Higgs, "I know the Druid."
"You do not!" Theo huffed. "You think you know, but you're wrong."
"How would you know?" Higgs elbowed him.
"Because I know the Druid." Hermione watched the color drain out of his face as the words left his mouth. She felt her blood run cold. Theo attempted to backpedal, but Malfoy latched on to those statements.
"Prove it. Tell us who it is," Malfoy demanded. Fleur took advantage of their break in attention to flee. Hermione would have felt happy for her if her secret wasn't on the line.
Theo shook his head trying to clear it, "Prove what, Draco?"
"That you know who the Druid is."
"I don't know who the Druid is," Theo lied.
Malfoy's eyes narrowed, "You said you did."
"And you claimed you made a broom that can fly to the moon. You lied and so did I."
Malfoy blinked, "I did, didn't I? Still, do you know?"
"Draco, if I did why would I say anything where just anyone can hear?"
Catching sight of Hermione, Malfoy sneered, "Good point. You never know what dirty ears could be listening." He led the others away. Hermione rolled her eyes as they brushed past her rudely. Malfoy was such a drama llama. She sighed and continued on her way to class.
"Why do girls travel in packs?" whined Ron later in the common room.
"We don't always," Hermione replied.
"Terrifying, that's what they are," he continued as if she hadn't spoke. Harry nodded silently. Ron slumped in his chair, Harry held his head in his hands. Ron turned his head to look at Hermione and Ginny. "Say, Hermione, you're a girl, and Gin's a girl."
"Well spotted, Ron," said Hermione sarcasm dripping from her voice.
He ignored her, "Ginny can go with Harry, and you can come with me. That way Gin gets to attend, and there is nothing sadder than a bird showing up without a date."
"I'm going with Neville," Ginny told him.
"I have a date," announced Hermione at the same time.
"Mione, you don't have to lie to us," chided Ron.
"I am not, Ronald. I have a date." She slammed her book closed and stormed off. Little sleep paired with having her teeth enlarged then shrunk had drained her patience that evening.
Long nights out with the Hunt left Hermione equal parts exhausted and exhilarated. Being out in the heart of storms and rides helped her control increase by leaps and bounds. "Only a matter of refining your technique, which comes with experience," Lyall told her. "We will, of course, continue with your weapons training. The ability to shift from magical attacks to physical and back again fluidly is an excellent skill to possess."
The night before the last day of classes, Lyall beamed at her, "Congratulations, little Tempest, tomorrow, or tonight really, the time is right for you to claim your grove beyond simply saying it is mine."
"Please accept my gratitude for your assistance in this," she said in response.
"Look at you, so little trust."
"Because my caution is misplaced?" she arched an eyebrow.
He roared in laughter, "With me and a few riders, perhaps, but best to keep your guard up."
"That's what I thought."
"Invite your friends."
"I'll see who can come," she said quietly. Harry and Ron still had detention with Snape over the fight with Malfoy. Malfoy had landed himself and Theo in detention with McGonagall through the next night. Marcus ran hot and cold answering her, often it took days for him to notice and respond. She felt hesitant about inviting Viktor. They hadn't know each other all that long. She liked him, but this felt too intimate to share. Not being a full moon she invited Sirius and Remus, hoping they might be able to attend. On the steps of the owlery, a scathingly brilliant idea occurred to her. Quickly she penned a note and sent it off before making her way to breakfast.
'M-
One of my long walks ends before beginning again. You were there at the beginning. I want you to be there for this end. T, H, and R are all unavailable. The only other person I have to invite is my guardian and perhaps his friend. If you are available please meet me at the Refuge at 7:30 tonight.
H'
She watched, her heart in her throat, as the owl delivered her missive. He read it, then reread it. He looked up, his eyes searching for her. Her heart lurched when his blue eyes found hers. He held her gaze for several heartbeats. Without breaking eye contact he nodded his head. She smiled. A weight lifted off her chest. She missed him. And she wanted to share this with one of the four people than knew her secret from the beginning.
Hermione tried to get a moment alone with Harry and Ron, but the latter kept bemoaning their lack of dates any time she got them alone for longer than a minute. She bid them farewell as they headed to the dungeons for detention. She made her way across the castle to the fourth floor. Marcus sat on the window seat, leaning back against the pale green cushions. He stared out over the grounds. "Have you been here long?" she asked.
He shrugged, "If I had gone back after training Gemma would have made leaving again impossible."
"I see."
"Are we waiting for Krum?"
Her forehead wrinkled in confusion, "No, why would we be?"
"Aren't you dating him?" the words rushed out of his mouth. His face tightened with annoyance.
"Uh, not quite. We aren't defining anything. We enjoy spending time together. We're just letting things happen naturally. But he's about to graduate, and I still have three years..." she trailed off as his face darkened rather than relaxed.
"So, why isn't he coming?" Marcus demanded angrily.
She scrutinized his face wondering why he cared so much. "I didn't invite him," she simply said.
The anger drained out of him. It was one thing if she invited Krum and he declined, it was another thing if she hadn't invited him, "You didn't? Why not?"
She made a face and bounced her head from one shoulder to another, "I didn't want to. I can't explain it, but I wanted to share this with the people who have been there along the journey. Three of them landed themselves in detention tonight, so you're the only student coming. Can't be helped." She checked her watch, "We should get going."
The snow crunched under their boots as they crossed the grounds and entered the trees. Marcus followed her to the grove, "When did you find the grove?"
"First year, when Malfoy got us detention with Hagrid."
"It feels like to woods at home," he remarked. At the edge of the clearing, Sirius and Remus waited for them. "Uh, Hermione?"
"Marcus Flint, my magical guardian, Sirius Black, and you know Remus Lupin," she introduced them. "Sirius, this is my friend, Marcus Flint."
Sirius held out his hand, "Nice to meet you." He gave Hermione a hug, "Who else is coming, kitten?"
"Theo and the boys got themselves detention, so just the Hunt members who want to attend."
"Who would miss this?" The four of them whirled to face the speaker.
"Well said, Sir Catan," laughed Finn clapping him on the shoulder, "who indeed?" Finn gave Hermione a dazzling smile. "Are you prepared, my lady?"
"I am." Hermione toed off her shoes. "Shoes off in the circle area." As she stepped inside her armor appeared. The magic of the grove caressed her skin. The hairs on the back of her neck and arms stood up from the energy surrounding her. The members of the Hunt stood along the edges. Finn instructed the others on where to stand. Focusing her thoughts on the feel of the grove, she tuned out his words. He nodded to her when they were situated.
"As the grove Caille Agra has claimed me, so I claim it and the trees of its forest as my own," she raised her hands and released a wave of raw power. Her skin shone. A stiff breeze raced around the clearing, branches whipping about. Throughout the forest animals called out, responding to the changes in energy. "As I will it, so mote it be." The energy ebbed away. She looked around the circle formed around her. "Kind of anticlimactic in a way."
"I wouldn't say that," Sirius said. "You were amazing, that was amazing." Remus nodded his agreement.
Marcus smiled, "That was brilliant. You look pretty when you glow like that. Not that you don't look pretty otherwise."
She tucked her hair behind her ears, "Thanks."
"Smooth," Remus whispered when her attention turned to the fae.
"Congratulations, little Light," said Lyall.
"Not so little anymore," injected Una.
Catan chuckled, "I think she will always be little."
Finn grinned, "Size is irrelevant, power is what matters. And that our Tempest has in spades."
"Now what happens?" asked Marcus.
"I continue as I have been: training with Lyall and Sabia and working to follow the path I chose. That's the hard part."
"For tonight we are concluded," Lyall announced. "Lady Hermione, honored guests, we wish you a fond farewell." Several of the fae raised their hands or called out. They moved out into the shadows fading from view.
"Thank you for coming tonight," Hermione said to Sirius, Remus, and Marcus.
"Wouldn't have missed it for the world, kitten," Sirius hugged her tightly. "I wish you could have shared this with your parents. They would have loved this."
"Congratulations, Hermione," said Remus. The pair made their way towards Hogesmeade and an apparation point, leaving the students behind.
"Congratulations, Hermione," Marcus said as they began making their way back to the castle.
"I'm glad you could come."
"Me, too. Sorry I've been so rubbish at being around lately."
"You're busy, I understand. You have quidditch, homework, and a girlfriend. Doesn't mean I don't miss you. You should write back more."
"Yeah. Gemma's clingy anytime I don't want to spend every second with her until I pass out asleep lately."
"That sounds unpleasant," she said quietly. She didn't like Gemma Fawley. She even had thoughts about why she didn't like her, but she ignored them. She had whatever it was with Viktor, and Marcus was her friend. She needed to support what he wanted, who he wanted.
They continued in silence for a bit before Marcus spoke again, "Can I ask you something?"
"Always."
"Do you think it's wrong to keep dating someone if you know there's someone else you fancy more?"
Her stomach twisted with guilt. "I guess it depends. Do you feel like you're leading her on?"
"I don't know. Sometimes, maybe. I started dating her because I didn't think I had a chance with the person I fancy more and I hoped it would make like them less."
"Do you?" she asked.
"Do I what?"
"Have a chance with the other person?"
"I have no idea," he kicked a rock. "I'm afraid to find out. I don't want to lose what I have with them."
Privately agreeing with his feelings, she asked the follow up question, "Do you like the other person less?"
"No."
Her heart skipped, but she stomped on those feelings. Instead she answered diplomatically, "Only you can answer your question. But this close to Yule Ball you should keep dating regardless."
"That's fair. Don't want to ruin it for her."
"That said, you shouldn't date someone just to date someone unless that's what you both want. If you don't like her the way she likes you I would suggest breaking up. But only you know the answer to that."
He nodded, mostly to himself," I'll think about it, take my time. No decisions until after New Years." She gave him a confused look. "Slytherin House is planning a New Year's Eve party since we're all here. If I shouldn't ruin Yule Ball, I shouldn't ruin that, either."
"I agree." She paused at Hagrid's hut. She glanced at her watch. "Bollocks. We're out after curfew. I'll dimension door you into your dorm. Hold my hand and think of some place that should be vacant."
Her hand tingled from contact with his. Butterflies danced in her stomach. She swallowed hard. "Okay," he said breathlessly.
"Focus hard on the place," she created the door. "Open it." He reached out with his other hand and turned the knob. He pushed it open. Hand in hand they entered the Slytherin common room. "Where are we?"
A massive wall of windows rose before them. Murky green water revealed and concealed plants and fish. "The lowest level of the common room. You can see into Black Lake. I like sitting down here when I want to be alone." She noticed that the way the larger room was shaped in a way to grant privacy in several smaller areas.
Hermione wandered over and peered out one of the window panes causing their hands to finally drop, "Simply stunning."
"Yeah," he agreed watching her.
"Okay, I need to go. Good night." She stared up at him. She felt loathe to leave.
"Good night," he stared back down at her. They stood in silence for several heartbeats. "Thanks for inviting me."
Eventually she answered, "Thank you for coming. Now I do have to go before someone sees me." She used another door to travel to her dorm room. She changed and slipped into bed. She tried not to focus on the last part of the night, lest she overthink anything. Just because he fancied someone more than Gemma didn't mean it was her. His presence made the night special for her, full stop. He was her friend, full stop. She would focus on that and her relationship with Viktor. She fancied Marcus, but she definitely had some level of romantic feelings for Viktor. And he had been quite clear in his desire to date her.
The next morning she managed to get Ron and Harry alone briefly after breakfast. Instantly, Ron began whining like a broken record, "Why is finding a date so hard?"
"Could we focus on someone else for a minute?" she snapped. "The rest of us have lives, too." She paused to ensure she had their attention. "I claimed the grove in the Forbidden Forest last night. I just wanted you to know. I tried telling you yesterday." She left why she couldn't unspoken.
"Congratulations, Hermione," Harry clapped her on the shoulder.
Ron looked over at her, "Say, Hermione, you're a girl."
"Yes, Ronald, we've been over this. I am a girl with a date."
"Sure you are, probably some loser. My point is other girls have mentioned their dates. Who doesn't have one?"
"I've had more important things occupying my mind. Ask Parvati or Lavender," she huffed. "I share monumental news with you and all you can think about it a date for a stupid dance? Get over yourself, Ron." Spotting Theo on his way out of the Great Hall she stormed off after him.
"Mental that one," muttered Ron.
"Mate, she claimed a grove. This is huge for her."
Ron rolled his eyes, "She picked a bunch of trees, big deal."
"No," said Harry, "she claimed the forest. She connected her magical essence to a grove and the forest surrounding it. She connected herself with the entirety of the Forbidden Forest. It is a really big deal."
"Oh," Ron said lamely.
"Yeah, oh. We've both been shite friends in the past. I'm trying. You've got to get yourself together and focus on someone other than yourself. We both do." Harry walked off. Ron stared at him before shaking his head and hurrying after him.
Hermione followed Theo towards the library. "Oi, Nott?"
"Granger," he greeted tersely.
"Have time to work on the Ancient Rune assignment?" she asked sounding bored. "I want to get it out of the way, and I refuse to do all of it myself."
He shrugged, "I suppose I do." Together they made their way to library. Theo busied himself arranging his things on the table. Hermione slid into the seat next to him.
She pulled out a scrap of parchment and tucked it under the larger roll. She started on the first paragraph of the essay. Then wrote on the scrap, 'I claimed my grove last night.'
'Wow. Kudos. Where?'
'Towards the front of the Forbidden Forest.'
'Sorry I missed it,' he wrote. 'Malfoy is a git often.'
'Marcus made it,' she added.
'Did he? That explains Gemma's bad mood, I suppose.'
'Sorry?' she replied.
'No, you're not. But neither am I. She's a pain.' Having shared her big news Hermione tucked the scrap into her bag. The two began to work in earnest returning to the fiction that they barely knew one another.