The Unicorn Ring

Chapter Four-The Quidditch Game

    Hermione was sitting dully in the dark, tears rolling down her cheeks. Now came the worst part of it all-the beginning of the end. [A/N: Don't panic, there's still at least four chapters left!] She hated this part more than anything, but still, every day it came back. Why had Harry and Ron come after her? she wondered often. They went through so much pain, just to bring her home. It had all started with the first Gryffindor game of the season...

* * *

    It was a cool, clear, and crisp November day. Hermione was excited about the game, and definitely was trying not to think about Lavender's death two weeks ago. The game had nearly been cancelled in honor of Lavender, but they all knew she would have wanted it to go on, so they'd done it. Wrapping her striped Gryffindor scarf around her neck, she ran toward the door, leaving her ring on the dresser, so she could go to the common room to meet Ron. As she did, however, she got a reminder...

    There, on the bed where Lavender had slept, was the dead bouquet of irises that Ron had given Lavender on the day of the engagement. Crying softly, Hermione walked over to the bed and pulled an iris off of the pile. The petals were almost black, except for the deep streak of darkened yellow down the center of them. It made her think of Lavender...a light in spite of imminent death...

    Throwing it down, Hermione ran out the door, slamming it behind her. Making it out, she leaned against the wall, sobbing. Why, oh why had she been the one to find her body? Why couldn't it have been anyone else? And who had killed her? The pain of her death that she had known...was like a poison slowly killing her as she stood there, unable to move. Suddenly she heard a voice at the bottom of the stairs. Ron.

    "'Mione?" he called up anxiously. "Are you all right? We're going to be late." Straightening up, Hermione wiped her eyes on the edge of her scarf, making them feel, and undoubtedly look, more red. Taking a deep breath, Hermione went down the stairs, plastering a smile on her face so Ron wouldn't see her cry.

    "I'm fine, Ron. Really," she said, noting the dubious expression on his face. "Let's get to the game." He nodded, and together they went down to support, undoubtedly, the Quidditch game of the year.

* * *

    Arriving at the field, Ron and Hermione took seats up in the top row, waiting for Hagrid to come. The game would start any minute now, and he still hadn't arrived. "D'you reckon he's all right?" Ron asked, concerned. Ron had been nervous of someone not showing up exactly on time lately, with good reason.

    "Ron, I'm sure he's fine," she reassured him, and she was right, for at that very moment Hagrid came over and joined them.

    "Yeh all righ'? Ron, Hermione?" he queried, a concerned look in his beetle-black eyes. They both tried to nod their heads, but Hagrid gave them a smile and said, "Of course yeh're not, but yeh will be. I promise." At that moment, Madam Hooch and Professor Dumbledore came onto the field, looking solemn.

    "Before we begin the match," Professor Dumbledore said, his voice magically magnified, "I would like to pay tribute to a brave girl who lost her life two weeks ago in the fight against Voldemort." There were murmurs in the crowd, and Hermione stared at him. Voldemort? she thought to herself. Of course it was Voldemort, a little voice in the back of her brain chastised her. Who else would want to cause death and destruction at every turn? Dumbledore continued as though nothing had happened.

    "Lavender Brown was a kind, brave, and beautiful girl who had a real future in the field of Divination. She was one of the most promising young women to the Light Side, and she is a most unfortunate loss. I have no doubt that she knew what was coming, but she took it wisely and told few, if any at all." His piercing eyes seemed to stare in her direction, and she looked down, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Never forget Lavender. Never forget how she knew what was coming, and yet let it come for the sake of the future, that life might go on for the rest of us, that we might win the great battle coming against Voldemort. She was a true example of a Gryffindor, and I hope an example to you all." Dumbledore chose to stop talking at that moment, and Hermione took Ron's hand in hers. He was sobbing outright, and many people looked in their direction with sympathy. She could see Harry on the field, looking downcast, with Katie Bell holding his shoulder gently.

    "Let the game begin," Madam Hooch said solemnly as the silence ended. All the players launched off, hovering above the witch. The Quaffle was thrown in the air, and the Bludgers and Snitch let loose.

    Lee Jordan, now in his last year of commentary, began speaking. "And Alicia Spinnet takes the Quaffle, speeding toward the goal, passes to Johnson-Johnson to Bell-and Bell SCORES! Ten to zero Gryffindor."

    "So Baddock takes possession of the Quaffle, heads toward the Gryffindor goal post, passes to Zabini, who darts to the goal-BLOCKED by new Keeper Seamus Finnigan!" Cheers erupted from the Gryffindor end, an almost delayed reaction to the goal made by Katie.

    "Gryffindor back in possession, with Spinnet taking the Quaffle, passing to Johnson, who throws-and SCORES!" Everyone cheered again, but it was a solemn cheer, not uproarious as was usual to a Quidditch game. Hermione could now tell the Quidditch team was in the spirit to win it, just for Lavender. All of the Chasers looked determined, and she had no doubt as to why.

    "I believe-YES, Harry has seen the Snitch! He's tearing after it-Malfoy's on his tail-get it, Harry, get it! C'mon, Potter-Professor, I'm being fair! I am! Oh, bugger, Malfoy's gonna-NO! NO, Harry Potter gets the Snitch to win the game! 170-0, Gryffindor wins!"

    Hermione raced through the bleachers, dragging Ron by his arm. She hardly noticed that Ron was practically sliding on his behind because she was dragging him so fast and so hard-she only wanted to get to Harry.

    "Hermione!" Ron said weakly. "Do you mind letting me stand up BEFORE you drag me down to see Harry? There are enough hours in the day for you to flirt with him." Hermione stopped dead at these words.

    "What?!" she asked angrily, but blushing furiously at the same time. "I do NOT flirt with Harry!" However, the shrillness of her voice gave her away completely.

    "Yeah, right Hermione. What was that move last week?" He put on a fake falsetto. "Oh Harry, I don't understand how Viktor could have caught the Snitch but lost the match-or should I say Vikky?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

    Hermione gave him a whack upside his head, and marched down to the field. "Great game, Harry," she smiled as she came up next to him. He gave her his brilliant smile, the one that always made her melt inside. Gaining composure, she asked, "Hey, Harry?"

    "Yeah, 'Mione?" he responded, looking down at her with his gorgeous green eyes.

    "Could you meet me by the lake in about an hour?" she whispered in his ear. He looked a little startled, but nodded.

    "Thanks," was all Hermione could say as Harry ran off to chat with Ron.

* * *

    Hermione sat under her favorite oak by the lake, waiting for Harry to arrive. She tapped her toes impatiently, a very un-Hermione characteristic, but she was nervous. Could she really tell him how she felt? Her Gryffindor bravery suddenly came to her, and she nodded internally-firmly at that.

    But then, Hermione saw Harry coming across the grounds to her. She melted, and was ready to make a mad dash for it, but decided to stay right where she was. 'Okay, you can do this, Hermione Elaine Granger,' she thought to herself. 'Go for it!'

    Harry was now by her side. "What's up, 'Mione?" he asked, using his favorite affectionate nickname for her. "'Cause if it's nothing important, then I have something to tell you." She looked up at him, puzzled.

    "Well, it's pretty important, but you can go first," Hermione smiled.

    "No, you go, if it's important," he insisted.

    "Well-" 'C'mon Hermione, are you a Gryffindor for nothing? Spit it out.' "Why don't we tell each other at the exact same time-y'know, a one two three thing, okay?"

    He nodded. "Okay-ready, 'Mione?" She nodded. "One-"

    "Two-"

    "Three-"

    Both of them spoke. "I love you." They both stared.

    Hermione choked out a reply first. "You-you love me?" she gasped, looking at him.

    "And-and-you love me," he whispered. Both started laughing, and Harry swept her up in a big hug. "Oh, I should have known!" he smiled. All of a sudden, he started leaning toward her. Hermione knew what he wanted-she leaned in too. Just as they were centimeters from contact-

    "Oh, not Fawkes," Harry groaned, pulling a small piece of parchment off of the phoenix's leg. "Look, Hermione, I've got to go. See you back at the dorms?"

    "Absolutely," Hermione breathed, smiling at him. With that, Harry took off across the grass, undoubtedly headed toward Dumbledore's office.

    Sighing contentedly, Hermione began to stroll along the path by herself, looking across the lake happily toward Hogwarts castle. "Now that that's taken care of, I can get on with life with Harry," she muttered to herself.

    "Then again-" said a cold voice behind her. "You could be starting life as Voldemort's captive.'"

    Before Hermione could even whip around, she heard the voice whisper a spell, and Hermione fell to the ground, unconscious.