Chapter 9: But It's Better If You Do
Thank you for the reviews!
Author: commando Author's Note:
So, I know... I believe this is the quickest I've gotten a chapter
up in a long time. Sorry about the long long long wait for
chapter 8. But thanks to the continuous readers
and reviewers! Hope you enjoy yet another
chapter. Thanks!
Dumbledore sat in his office, staring out of a window into the night sky. His brain was shaken with images of Hermione's parents. He knew something was wrong; he could sense it. He stood up, breathing heavily and walked out of his office. He walked out into the night, on the grounds and headed into the Dark Forest. He kept his head high and eyes alert.
----
Hermione's head ached. Her eyes couldn't focus and she needed something to eat, desperately. She sat down near a small stream and took big gulps of the fresh water. She held her stomach as her baby kicked out again. She smiled and took more sips of water. She really was hungry – if only there was something edible in the forest. She thought, at once, of berries or some fruit, but in the darkness, they were hard to find.
Hermione yawned. She thought once more of sleeping but decided that it would be for the best if she continued. She stood up and stepped, carefully, on stones that led a path across the stream. She continued walking.
Hermione's heart leapt. She had yet to be afraid of the forest but she heard grumbling and rustling in a nearby bush. She had her wand, but was afraid to use it. She stopped, hoping if she didn't move it wouldn't see her. Whatever it is, she thought. Her heart was beating hard and she held her breath in fear it would distract "it". Her baby kicked again and she had to bend over. It wasn't painfully, just shocking. She nearly let out a yelp because of it. The rustling soon stopped and she continued, convincing herself that it was merely the wind.
But it was a still December night. Hermione sighed and shivered. There were random bits of snow still on the ground from the last snowfall and she began regretting only wearing a sweatshirt tonight as she had ran out of her house.
Wow, she thought. She couldn't believe that it was the same night. It felt like forever since she had been home, since she had seen her parents die. She had been knocked out in the "dungeon" and it had felt like it had been days later when she awoke. Maybe it was days later and Hermione just didn't realize. How would she know?
Then she remembered that it couldn't have been that long: she had seen Draco transform back into himself after drinking Polyjuice potion. But he could have had enough to last him a few days. Hermione's brain started aching again and she didn't want to think about that anymore. She just wanted to think about getting to a warmer place, somewhere people knew her and she could get help. She needed Dumbledore, Harry, Ron but she really wanted to see Blaise: to ensure that he was alright; that he was still alive.
Hermione let a few tears roll down her cheeks. It suddenly felt as if she was never going to make it. She was going to die out in this forest. She was giving up. She let her and her baby down.
She found a welcoming looking tree and sat beneath it. She wrapped her arms around her stomach, hoping it would keep her baby warmer. She sat there until her heavy eyes closed and she fell into a dream world, a world where it was warm and she was safe. She smiled in her sleep at the mere thought of this.
----
"Hermione?" said a distant voice. Hermione didn't react to it.
"Hermione!" the voice became louder and clearer. Hermione shifted. "Get up, Miss Granger! Please get up!" Hermione's eyes popped open and she was frightened by the sight of someone standing in front of her. She stood up, too fast, and had to back up against the tree to remain stable.
Her eyes focused and she recognized the tall, gray man standing in front of her. "Professor Dumbledore!" She sounded so excited and she leaped in for a hug. The warmth of the old man was incredible and Hermione held him close for a few seconds.
"Hermione, I'm so glad to have found you." Dumbledore said.
"How'd you know where to find me?" Hermione said, at once worried.
"I, oddly, do not know for sure. Something just led me to you." Dumbledore's brows were furrowed and he looked deep in thought.
"Professor? Sir?" Hermione looked up.
"Yes?" Dumbledore looked down at Hermione.
"Where are we?"
"It seems that we are in the very midst of the Dark Forest. Have you always been in the forest?"
"No," Hermione said and explained everything that happened as they walked in the same direction that Dumbledore had come from.
"It seems odd that they would bring you so close to Hogwarts. And, Hermione, you are quite sure it was Draco Malfoy?"
"Positive," Hermione said and shivered at the name. Malfoy had been Blaise's best friend, someone Hermione had learned to deal with – no matter how much they actually hated each other. She had even started to think that Malfoy could turn out to be a nice guy; but not anymore. She should have known that he wasn't what she thought he was. He was always going to be the dark one. He was always going to be "bad" and Hermione couldn't forgive herself for thinking otherwise.
----
Hermione and the Headmaster walked in silence for most of the way back to the castle. She kept her head low, making sure her path was clear. She looked up just as the sun began to rise and she saw the edge of the forest and in the distance the large castle.
"Ah, here at last," Dumbledore said, smiling at Hermione.
"Yes, here at last." Hermione felt such extreme happiness at the sight of Hogwarts; she thought she was going to be sick. Finally, a safe place.
----
"You've got a few bruises and cuts, but nonetheless are amazingly healthy!" Madam Pomfrey said, smiling.
Hermione lowered her voice, "And the baby?"
"It's doing just fine. Tough little thing," Madam Pomfrey smiled warmly. Hermione was so happy to hear that she jumped up and gave the nurse a hug. Madam Pomfrey was so shocked, she let out a little "oh" and jumped. Hermione laughed and sat back down on the bed. "You are allowed to leave today but remember to rest!"
"Thank you," Hermione said, gathering her stuff into her book bag and left. Instead of heading directly back to her dormitory she headed to Dumbledore's office. Saying the password, the gargoyle spun around to reveal the staircase. She knocked on the door.
"C'mon," said the voice of Dumbledore. "Hermione! You're out of the Hospital Wing, I see. Everything healthy and good?"
Hermione knew that by "everything" he was talking about the baby. "Yes, the baby, Professor, is doing great. I was actually stopping by to see if you've had any word from Blaise or his whereabouts yet?"
"Sorry, Hermione but we've had no news yet. But don't you worry… I won't stop until I have ensured his safety."
Hermione smiled warmly at the Headmaster, with tears in her eyes. "Thank you," she sighed and headed to her dormitory. She walked into her room and dumped her book bag on the floor. She was really tempted to go have a hot shower but first she wanted to check out the place and see if there was evidence of a struggle or something that would lead to Blaise. She walked around the common room and saw nothing.
The door to Blaise's room was closed. This frightened her, yet she remained calm and opened the door. No sign of anyone in the room. She walked over to the bed, where a suitcase sat open with clothes neatly placed inside. Hermione assumed this was Blaise getting ready to come to Hermione's rescue. Blaise's room was spotless. There was absolutely no evidence of a fight. Blaise's wand remained beside the suitcase.
Everything pointed to Blaise going along willingly. It was a possibility, considering Malfoy was a friend and all. Hermione sat on Blaise's bed and cried. She needed Blaise right now more than anything and she didn't even know where he was.