Hermione Granger and the Year Hidden from Hogwarts

Chapter 25

Hermione Granger and the Year Hidden from Hogwarts

Harry Potter Fanfiction

Chapter 25

A/N: Onwards with the battle. Thank you for the reviews. I do apologize for still not revealing Hermione's heritage. I'd only planned for the goblin sections to last a chapter and a half, but they've gotten out of hand. Though, I would challenge you to try wrangling over a thousand ruthless, bloodthirsty creatures into any semblance of order ;-]

April 25th, 1992

The earth weaver, Bulwak, shifted, his sword, much fancier than her own, catching the light cast from the domed, enchanted ceiling. He moved with precision while never taking his eyes off her.

That didn't bode well.

She cleared her throat. "I don't suppose you want to share why they bestowed you with the name 'Bulwak the Bloody,' do you?"

Bulwak snorted but didn't get distracted from study her every move like a panther about to pounce. "Would you survive this, I would be inclined to tell, wand-waver."

He punctuated his words with a slash of his sword as a literal cracked trench in the crust of the ground raced toward her. She dodged out of the way, ducking into a side roll that had her springing back to her feet.

"First blood," Bulwak called with a terrible grin full of flashing, dripping teeth.

Hermione frowned, mentally assessing herself before feeling it. The fingertips of her free hand travelled to her temple where she must've scraped against something on the ground, and sure enough, they came away wet.

He must've guessed her thought process because he shook his head. "You would do well to think again."

She followed his line of sight down to the sword and saw the telltale red.

The announcer boomed with glee. "The asinine wand-waver cut herself on her own weapon!"

Jeers and points burst from the crowd.

Hermione squared her shoulders. If they weren't concerned in the slightest with offending her, why she shouldn't she do the same? She tossed the sword somewhere far behind her, where she wouldn't accidentally trip over it and chop off her own foot or something equally mortifying.

As she'd predicted, the action drew affronted gasps from the crowd, but it'd silenced their mirth enough that she could be heard when she called out, "I find it amusing that you call me wand-waver. I've never held a wand in my life. A sword, either, so you'll have to forgive me if I don't want to insult its maker by using it so ineptly."

Bulwak slashed his sword again and a hail of rocks shot in her direction. She managed to get a shield up, but not before one ripped through her jumper. Her arm went numb and then her bicep felt wet.

That cut had gone much deeper than the one on her face, and she worried it would hinder her movements.

"Second blood," Bulwak called out smugly.

This needed to end.

She used her powers to catch a couple of the projectiles and send them back, and really strained herself by simultaneously picking up three rocks from behind him and hurtling them at him as well.

As predicted, he dodged from the assault in front of him, the distraction, and it probably would've been the end of the fight if the crowd hadn't alerted him to the sneak attack from behind. He turned just in time to take two cuts across his hands before he blocked the third.