Weep No More

Percy felt as if he were drowning. Water splashed against his skin and down his throat. It was cold and poisoning. It didn't taste like water. Percy quickly sat up, opening his eyes and looking around. He didn't quite know where he was. All he knew was that it was raining hard.

"Like needles, like needles," someone whispered beside him.

It was Hermione, curled up into a little ball, rocking herself back and forth. Her hair had lost its curls because of the rain, and it stuck to her scalp in a wet mess. Her eyes were closed and she seemed to dread the rain.

Percy got to his feet and approached her. Touching her shoulder carefully, he said, "Hermione, are you all right?"

"The water, it hurts," she murmured, opening her eyes to look at him. "They're like needles piercing my skin. Make it stop, please, make it stop!"

Percy helped her onto her feet and pulled off his cloak, handing it to her. She took it, her hands trembling, and wrapped it around herself. Pulling the hood onto her head, she gave a relieved sigh.

Percy observed their surroundings. There were little trees scattered about, lots of grass, but no sign of shelter or civilization. A lump off to the side indicated Parkinson, but Malfoy wasn't in sight. Percy didn't know whether to be afraid or relieved. Taking his wand out of his pocket, he pulled Hermione to his side and walked over to wake Parkinson.

"Get up," he ordered, poking her ribs with his wand. "You'll catch your death if you don't get warmed up."

Pansy yawned and sat up, rubbing her eyes. She looked at Percy confused, then at Hermione and swore. "Where's Draco?" she demanded.

Percy shrugged. "Come on, we need to find a place to get out of the rain. You're soaked to the bone, Parkinson."

"Where are we?" said Pansy, looking around frantically. "What happened?"

"Malfoy messed up the spell. I have no idea where we are," Percy said. Hermione squeezed his hand.

"We aren't anywhere near Hogwarts," said Pansy. "There's too much green grass."

"Father!" Hermione shrieked, running to an approaching person.

Draco looked shocked when Hermione threw herself into his arms. He was as wet as they were and his boots were muddy.

"Where have you been?" Percy asked, retrieving Hermione from him.

Draco wiped his brow. "I was inspecting the land," he said. "There seems to be a village nearby. Southbire, I believe it's called."

"Brilliant. Let's go," Pansy said excitedly. "I want to get out of these clothes."

Percy nodded his agreement and the four set off. He pulled Hermione along carefully, making sure she didn't trudge into any puddles.

"Granger hasn't gone back to normal, has she?" asked Draco, as he helped Pansy cross a small stream.

"No, Malfoy, you screwed up the spell, remember?" Percy spat. "That's how we suddenly appeared in the middle of nowhere."

"I did no such thing to the spell, Weasley," Draco said. "You kept interrupting. Not my fault you can't keep your mouth shut."

"Just shut up!" snapped Pansy, when Percy retaliated. "I've had enough of you two. You both screwed up that bleeding spell and got us in the middle of a hellhole. If you want to make it better, I suggest just shut up and get us somewhere where we won't freeze to death."

Draco and Percy fumed silently. Hermione, on the other hand, abruptly sat on the floor.

"Granger, get up," Pansy spat. "I have no pity of you either. You're the whole reason of this mess anyway."

Hermione frowned and blinked at her. Then, suddenly, her voice full of curiosity and a bit of fear, said, "Parkinson?" She then looked around and asked, "Where in God's name are we?"

"Hermione?" Percy asked, looking at her with hope at the same time that Draco yelled, "Granger!"

"Yes," Hermione said, getting up. "Percy? What are you doing here? Where is here?"

"Oh, thank Merlin's beard you're back!" exclaimed Percy, pulling her into a hug.

"Back? Percy, where are we and why is Malfoy staring at me?" she asked.

"You - you don't remember anything," stated Draco. He felt as if the Chocolate Deity couldn't have given him a greater treat.

"Should I remember something?" Hermione asked. "All I remember is the Gryffindor first-year giving me a drink that Ron had sent me, and then I... I... I can't remember." She glared at Draco. "You did something, didn't you!?"

"He gave you a Marleese Potion by mistake," Percy said. "He had actually meant to give you a mere Shrinking Potion."

"You did what?!" shrieked Hermione. "You bloody bastard! Dumbledore won't be able to expel what's left of you once I set my hands on you!"

"Fuck off, Granger," said Draco, calmly. "I did after all bring you back to your normal self."

"And send us all off to some unknown place," added Percy pleasantly.

The rain had started to pour harder, but neither man seemed to care as Draco threw himself at Percy and both started a fistfight. Frantically, Hermione reached inside of the pockets of her cloak for her wand, but only managed to find a piece of parchment. The words were getting illegible as the rain soaked the paper, but it said: This cloak as a last gift. With eternal love, Penelope. Hermione looked at Percy, but didn't say anything. She shoved the parchment back into a pocket, and proceeded to walk, Pansy following slowly behind her. There seemed to be some silent agreement to let the boys keep fighting.

"There should be a town nearby," Pansy said, hoping that Hermione heard her over the sound of the storm. "We were heading there in the first place."

Draco and Percy had stopped fighting and were busy trying to catch up with them.

"I think I see it," said Hermione. "Let's hurry!" After a while, she added, "I don't seem to have my wand with me." Pansy merely shrugged.

Draco caught up with Pansy and grabbed her arm. Putting his back to Hermione, he whispered, "Come on, love. The village is nearby, can't you see it?" His words were chosen carefully, yet not as stiff as they usually were.

"I see it," Pansy assured him with a small smile.

"This is maddening," spoke Percy. "Will this storm never end?"

"Percy, where are we?" sobbed Hermione, looking distressed. "Are we near Hogwarts?"

"I really don't know, Hermione," he said, setting a comforting arm around her shoulders. "We have just a little more to go. When we get there I'll buy you the hottest drink they serve."

The four proceeded to fight the storm, cold and wet. Draco and Pansy walking with a little space between themselves, Percy pulling Hermione along with him. They ignored the field mouse that ran by them, seeking shelter. They ignored the wail of a cat from far away. And only Hermione flinched when a shrill scream sounded as they approached Southbire.

A tall, wooden wall outlined the borders of the village, indicating to strangers that they found themselves at Southbire. A guard patrolling the outside ignored them sleepily. The rain had finally started to subside.

Pansy was a second away from running past the gate and into the first house, when both Percy and Draco pulled her back.

"What is it?" Pansy asked angrily.

Draco pointed to the gate where a large figure had been drawn. It was a sort of cross with a skull in the middle of it. Latin words were displayed above it. It did not look like a sign of welcome.

"What does it mean?" said Pansy. She was getting more tired by the minute.

"We're not welcome here," Percy said coldly. Hermione looked pale and frightened.

"What? What does he mean?" Pansy asked Draco.

"That sign, Pansy," said Draco, just as coldly as Percy had, "indicates that any magical being to go inside will be killed. This is the sort of village where witch burnings are held."

Somewhere nearby another scream was heard and a crow cackled.