If You Were Mine

Snatchers

Hermione ended up heading in the direction of Hogsmeade, there was nothing for her there, but it was somewhere she could walk to clear her head. The country air filled her lungs and she felt a calming sense of tranquility wash over her, banishing all thoughts of the horrors she had just witnessed.

Her foot hit a small stone and she stumbled, twisting her ankle she fell onto the dirt path. She sat staring at her legs, her shoes and trousers were splattered and stained with blood. That's when she looked at her hands, bruised and black with filth. The spoils of war, she thought, picking at the grime under her nails.

She heard some chattering from the woods across the path. Her heart began to race. What was she doing here? Did she have a death wish? Hagrid was right, the countryside was still crawling with monsters.

She scrambled to the edge of the path, behind a tree and tried to apparate; something was wrong. Her heart pounded in her chest. Shit, fuck! She screamed in her head. What's wrong with my magic? She clutched her wand tighter. Perhaps there was anti Apparition lines surrounding Hogsmeade? She tried once again to Apparate... nothing happened.

The chatter grew louder. She peered around the tree, a quick glance. Snatchers! Two of them. Most likely stragglers from the battle. Didn't they know the fight was over and Voldemort was dead?

'The boy who lived?' one of them said, then burst out laughing, 'Not for much longer!' he chuckled and the other snorted with laughter.

'One last lap and we can head back,' said the other. He made a disgusting hacking sound then spat on the floor.

Their foot steps sounded as though they were moving away and Hermione let out a slow breath of relief. She realised now how much of a mistake it was walking by herself, she should have stayed at Hogwarts or Apparated sooner, when she had the chance. She could be on her way to Australia to find her parents and restore their memories, not hiding from snatchers, endangering herself like a fool. She wasn't thinking straight.

She peeped around the tree to watch them head back into the woods, preparing to run back the way she came. There was a crunch under her foot and she gasped as the two men spun around.

'What was that?' the gruff one asked.

Hermione braced herself. Her heart started thumping in her chest. She heard one of them sniff the air loudly.

'Fee fi fo fum... I smell a blood traitor on the run!' he howled.

Before she could second guess herself, Hermione lunged from her hiding place, darting across the tree line, flinging hexes at the two men. She hit one in the knee, taking him down. The other dodged and barked with laughter.

'I love it when they run!' he shouted.

She sprinted through the woods, ducking branches, hopping over logs and zig zagging through the trees. The sun shone beams of light onto the thick mossy ground through the tree canopy above. The floor was wet and squelched under her feet, spraying the back of her legs as she ran. The air was thick with the sickly sweet scent of spring, her eyes were stinging and her lungs were burning with every breath.

Her pursuer, shot stunning jinxes at her. He wasn't trying to hurt her; he was trying to catch her! Immobilise her. This was bad, very bad, she thought. She shot spell after spell behind her shoulder, not looking back long enough to get a good hit. He bounded like a deer through the trees, clearly familiar with the woods. He shot at her feet mockingly. If she didn't pick up her pace, he was going to be on top of her soon.

With every ounce of strength she had left Hermione ran full pelt ahead, flailing her wand hand over her shoulder. She herd him yelp and hit the ground. She turned momentarily to watch him fall flat on his face unconscious. A smile peaked at the edges of her mouth and she slowed her pace. Walking backwards away, deeper into the woods. She held her chest, panting.