Somewhere beyond the sea
Somewhere waiting for me
My lover stands on golden sands
And watches the ships that go sailin'

'Beyond the Sea' written by Jack Lawrence, Albert Lasry, and Charles Trenet/performed by Bobby Darin

Hermione panted heavily as she gingerly lowered herself to the ground. Rubbing her chest, she bit back a cry of pain as the still-healing wound thrummed angrily with her breathing. The exertion wasn't good for it, but the girl simply had to get out of the cottage. Her parents hadn't been told what had really happened at the Department of Mysteries, under the impression that she'd been injured during a Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson gone awry. It had been strongly encouraged that she not disabuse them of that notion.

So, her parents had taken her on holiday by renting out a lovely cottage n the western part of Wales, about three miles from the shore. Today would mark a week since they'd gotten here and she'd made a break for the outside when the two adults had gone into town. Now, she found herself beside a rather large, deep lake, surrounded by lush forest that looked straight out of a tourist brochure. It was lovely and peaceful and everything she wanted at the moment.

Closing her eyes, Hermione tried to calm her breathing and push away the burning sensation spreading from the place Dolohov had cursed her. Madam Pomfrey had been unable to narrow down what the curse had actually been, so the girl was given a potion regime that seemed to be working extremely slowly-if at all.

The sound of water being displaced made her head snap up. Eyes wide, she was startled to find a large seal peeking its head out of the water, watching her. Heart beginning to pound painfully in her chest, she gritted her teeth and subtly grasped her wand. What on Earth was a seal doing in the lake? Moreover, why was it simply watching her?

"Alright," she nodded to the beast, "yes, hello. I'm going to get up and leave you to do whatever you were doing and you're not going to hurt me."

It cocked its head to the side curiously and drifted closer to the bank. Sweat broke out on Hermione's brow as she scrambled to her feet and held her chest at the resulting agony.

"N-no, you just stay right there."

She backed into a tree and nearly doubled over as fire exploded from her wound. Eyes slamming closed, she let out a whimper and then felt her knees buckle. As she fell, hands caught her shoulders and gently lowered her to the ground. Wheezing, she forced her eyes open to see a man leaning over her, concern in his deep blue eyes.

"You've been cursed badly," he told her, an unfamiliar lilting inflection in his words.

Gripping her wand, she struggled to get away from him. "Who are you?" she fairly snarled, the acid searing her chest lending her a ferocity she didn't normally wield.

The man held up his hands peacefully and made no move to stop her. "My name is Sidean. Your pain drew me here."

Where had she heard that name? Blinking away the spots in her vision, Hermione studied the man. He wore fitted trousers of some sort of leather with an animal skin around his waist. His hair was so black it was almost blue and reached to his rakishly stubble lined jaw, though he'd tied the top back. When his ears twitched, she noticed that they ended in a delicate point. All in all, he was possibly the singularly most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.

Connections snapping together, she glanced to the water, seeing no sign of the seal.

"Oh," she breathed, shakily stopping her rather pathetic retreat. "Lord Sidean of the Selkie Counsel," she named him.

Surprise flickered in his eyes before a beaming grin stretched his face. "Rare is the human who knows of my people, never mind me. You give me honor, lady."

Smiling weakly, she tried to push away the pulsing bite of the curse. "Hermione. My name is Hermione Granger. I didn't mean to disturb anyone," she said apologetically.

A serious mien settled over him as he waved that off. "Please, allow me to heal you."

If pretty much anyone else had found her like this, she would have balked at such a notion. However, her mind rapidly flipped through everything she knew of Selkies.

They were a race solely of men who revered women-all women. When they found their mate, no matter her race, she would bear them a Selkie heir. They had extraordinary power as guardians of all water and existed as seals when they were in water. Though they kept to themselves, they were highly respected-so much so that any person who'd simply met one was deemed blessed with good fortune.

But, most importantly for her at the moment: their magic was sympathetically prophetic and very skilled in the healing arts.

Slowly, Hermione put away her wand. "I would be grateful."

Moving to her side, he carefully pulled her torso across his thighs, supporting her shoulders with one arm and pressing his other hand to her heart.

"Here?"

"Yes. He was silenced when he cursed me, so we don't know what he used."

Humming noncommittally, he focused on the taint of pain radiating from the young witch. It was great to have drawn him the way it had and he was frankly in awe of her ability to remain conscious. Letting his magic sink into her, he hissed when he reached the source of the curse. This was Dark magic-very Dark-but was no match for his healing ability. Hermione sucked in a sharp breath as the last of the spell faded. Satisfied that she was well, he withdrew his magic and met her eyes.

"Who would do this?" he asked, brows furrowed in anger. He'd recognized something in her own magic and it only fueled his fury over the injury dealt her.

Shifting off his lap, she touched her chest and looked away. "Death Eaters," she answered.

Sidean tensed at that. "They follow the abomination," he recognized. "They are known to us, though we do not make habit of interfering in the affairs of wizards."

Arching a brow, she felt the corner of her lip quirk. "Just the affairs of witches?"

Laughing boisterously, he didn't deny it and Hermione was struck with how pleasant he was. It was so nice to have a conversation with someone that didn't seem to be silently urging her to finish whatever she was saying. Then again, it wouldn't occur to a Selkie to dismiss any woman like that, save for grave offenders.

"You are most knowledgeable, Hermione Granger," he said, the corners of his eyes crinkling with mirth. "I am surprised, as my people keep very much to our own company."

Shrugging, she brushed debris from her hair. "I'm a first generation witch. When I learned of the world of magic, I tried to study everything I could. It was fascinating to find so many races from my fairytales actually exist." She shot him an amused look. "Besides, a race of gorgeous men who keep chivalry alive? Very cool. My two best friends are male," she told him as he chuckled at her interest in his people's stories, "and trust me when I say that they're doing their utmost to kill chivalry stone dead."

Grinning, he watched her curiously, seeming to see something she couldn't; which was probably true, actually.

"You are very used to being alone and very used to handling yourself," he noted before pausing. "Yet, you didn't attack me when I was in the water."

Brown eyes narrowed on him. "With your abilities, I'm sure you've learned more about me than I'm comfortable with."

"Oh, undoubtedly," he laughed. "But, I can't help what your magic reveals to me. It's so vibrant; I could listen to it for years and still not know all your secrets. It is highly unusual, especially in one not yet seen twenty annuals."

"Age is just a number and doesn't account for experience," she countered softly. "I have a feeling I'm going to get more than my share, soon."

Slipping his legs into the water, Sidean sifted through the wealth of knowledge he'd gleaned from her. Carefully, he chose his words, not wanting to reveal more than what was prudent. No one should know too much about his or her own future.

"Yes, there is a war upon you. This peace you share in this place is the last you will know for much too long, Hermione Granger."

At her sigh, he clasped her hand and pulled her to sit beside him on the bank. Removing her sandals, she rolled up her trousers and plunged her legs into the lake.

"Do I make a difference?" she asked, so quietly he could taste the weight of the words.

Eyes widening incredulously, he tilted his head to stare at her. "Of course."

He said it like it was an unshakable truth-a foregone conclusion. Hermione smiled, content in that assurance. Selkies knew things. She'd be foolish to disregard his words.

"Thank you."

His gaze gentled as he understood all she meant to convey with those two words. Raising his hands to cup her cheeks, he leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead. Her magic pulsed with his and when he straightened, she was left with an awareness that something significant had just passed between them.

"May that keep you safe, little witch."

Blue eyes swirled in an enthralling storm, boring into her in a way no one else ever had and Hermione found herself blushing deeply. It meant something to look at someone like this and she suddenly wondered if she would ever see him again.

A small smile pulled his lips as he brushed her hair away from her face. "When your war is over, come back to this lake."

It was on the tip of her tongue to ask why, but there was a heady, secretive thing filling the air between them and it sealed her mouth. Questions swam in her eyes, but she agreed, prompting him to stroke her cheek and release her.

"The day draws to a close, my lady," he told her reluctantly as he stood and offered her his hand to assist her out of the lake.

Accepting the aid, Hermione got to her feet, unsurprised to find herself already dry. Nodding her thanks, she donned her sandals, and then faced him.

"The cottage isn't far."

His eyes flicked briefly to the side, in the direction she would take, before he inclined his head. "Aye, you should be safe enough in these woods."

Biting her lip, she shifted, reluctant to end this rare encounter but having no reason to tarry. Sidean's face filled with affection as he took her hand, cupping the back of it so that her palm was up.

"It would please me to give you this, my lady," he said, some unfamiliar feeling in his voice.

Dropping her eyes, the witch gasped. A large, perfect pearl rested in her palm, so white it was nearly translucent. It was a Selkie Shine, a jewel rare to the point they were thought to be a myth.

Her magic swelled and centered on the orb, twining with its magic until they were one. It boosted her power and focused it, making her shudder with the sheer intensity of it.

What drew her attention the most, however, was how aware of the Selkie lord she now was. She could feel his magic lapping against hers like gentle waters. It was vast and serene and exceedingly magnificent. Tears sprung to her eyes. She shouldn't accept this. She didn't even know him, but her heart clenched in panic at the thought of relinquishing something so precious it felt like a part of herself.

Instead, she met his sea blue eyes as two tears spilled down her face. Closing her fingers around the gift, she brought it to her heart.

"Sidean," she started, racking her mind to remember if there was anything she could give him in return that could even come close to the gift he'd given her.

Hitting upon an idea, she plucked three hairs from her head. Sidean's face went slack in shock when she brought the strands to her mouth and blew on them. A bit of her magic-her self-rushed out and infused the strands, making them glow with her power.

She'd never done anything like that-given something so personal to another, but her sense of fairness demanded it. Shyly, she offered the hairs to him and was gratified when he reverently accepted the intimate gift.

Curling them around his wrist, he watched as they braided themselves and the ends joined leaving a deceptively delicate bracelet. Something she could have sworn was glee skittered across his face, but was gone before she could be positive.

"My lady, you are a remarkable witch," he said with a smile, "and continually do me honor."

Giggling, she wiped her cheeks and blushed. "I'd better go before you ruin me for other men," she joked.

A gleam sparked in his eyes that was predatory and smug all at once. Smirking, he sketched a bow.

"Godspeed, Hermione Granger."

"Fare thee well, Lord Sidean," she replied formally, forcing herself to begin the journey back.

Just before she disappeared into the trees, she glanced over her shoulder. A large, sleek seal watched her steadily. With a bark of encouragement, he dove back into his water home.

One day-one day she'd be back. Smiling to herself, Hermione clasped the Selkie Shine tightly and left that separate peace.

AN: So, this idea wouldn't stop bugging me. Sidean actually showed up in a story I scrapped, but he demanded to live. I have a bit more of the story, if anyone would be interested in a bit of the changes this wreaks in Hermione and her eventually reunion by the lake. If not, I like where this stops. Let me know what you think! Love you all!