Left Behind 3: Curses

Reaching Out

I really enjoy this chapter and I hope you do as well. Nice long one for you.

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Hermione found herself at the mouth of cave. Her one arm was tied tight to her chest in bandages and the hem of her medieval dress was shredded from walking. She didn't know how long she had been walking only that she had make it to the cave.

She stood looking at the black abyss of the cave before her. She had never been afraid of the dark before taking the curse from Draco, but now looking into the black she felt a tremor run down her spine.

She knew the horrors that the dark could bring.

Fire blew outwards from the mouth of the cave in a giant plume and and she stepped backward. The blast went wide to the side, clearly designed as a warning instead of an attack.

Draco...

She picked up a burning branch the dragon had lit with its breath and stepped into the cave. The light from her makeshift torch glistened off of the great white Dragon in front of her. He watched her with wary familiar eyes.

"Draco," she said his name out loud and he roared. The force of the sound blowing her hair backwards and blowing out the torch in her hand.

Hermione found herself in the dark again.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood to attention.

"Draco," she called out for him again, this time her voice full of fear.

"I'm here," he answered and suddenly very human arms were around her pulling her in close. "I'm here," he said stroking her hair. 

She needed this.

She needed him.

She could not see him, but she could feel him, his heart beating next to hers.

"Why did you go?" she asked.

"I hurt you, I had to go."

She remembered the dream from before. Seeing Harry and Draco fight the great black dragon together and then Draco turning into the dragon himself. When he had picked her up he had accidentally held too tightly.

That was why she was injured.

That was why he had run.

"I forgive you," she said. "I know you didn't mean it. Please stay with me."

She needed him to stay. She didn't want to be alone.

"I will," his voice was gentle.

"Promise me."

"I promise."

Their lips met and Hermione hated that it was a dream and she couldn't feel them in the way she wanted to. She pressed herself closer to him trying to get close enough to be able to feel him for real, how she needed to.

All at once were voices at the edge of the cave.

Angry voices.

"They've come for you!" she said. "You have to run."

"Not without you."

"But you must," she pleaded.

"I would rather die than live without you," he said and she knew he meant it.

Suddenly they were surrounded by villagers. Ron was at the head of them. They grasped hold of Draco by the arms and put shackles on him. 

Draco tried to push them off.