Hermione's Journey

Chapter Nine

This took a while... Sorry everyone!
=======================
I spun around slowly in awe as we walked through the deep snow. The trees swayed slightly, as if they were enjoying the wonder we found in them.

I looked forward, and then realized I was falling behind the others, and began to jog to catch up. It didn't take long for me to catch up, but then I didn't feel like stopping. I ran quickly past the others, the long coat flapping around my legs, and looked back laughing.

"I thought you were athletic, Peter!" I called. Peter's face turned serious, and then he began to sprint to catch up with me. I turned around, just in time to realize there was a hill at my feet. I slowed to a stop, and then Peter sped past, slipping sightly down the hill. His arms flailed, and he reached out to me and grabbed my sleeve pulling me down with him.

We rolled down the small slope, laughing as we went.

"Oh God!" I shivered, "I've got snow down my shirt!" Peter chuckled and picked himself up as the Susan, Edmund, and Lucy carefully stepped down to us.

"It's your own fault," Peter smirked and held out a hand to help me up. I took it gladly, but rose with an indignant look on my face.

"It was not! You grabbed me!" I protested. Lucy walked past us, still leading the way, and she began to spout off about what Mr. Tumnus's place was like.

"You'll love it. It's very cozy. There's a nice fire and strange books-" I perked up at this. I could possibly learn more about Narnia! "-and tea and..." Lucy trailed off, and froze, staring ahead. I followed her gaze, and my heart nearly turned cold as I spied a door that was knocked off its hinges.

Lucy gave a frightened gasp and took off at a dead sprint towards the door.

"Lucy!" Peter shouted. We all took off after her.

I was terrified. There could have been anything lurking in there. I hung back a little from the others, and slipped my wand out of my sleeve. I was going take as much precaution as possible, but I didn't want to be noticed.

One by one, we passed through the demolished door, slowing down abruptly when we crossed over the threshold.

I flicked my wand discreetly, still hovering by the exit. The magic I had released spread through the faun's home quickly. I only put my wand away when I was sure there wasn't anyone else there.

"Who would do something like this?" Lucy asked, forlorn. The beautiful wood was shredded everywhere, and delicate pieces of furniture and glass had been overturned violently.

I heard a small shatter and looked over just in time to see Edmund stepping back from a framed picture with claw marks embedded in it.

What caught my interest was the shelf on the far wall. I carefully picked my way through the debris to get to it. At my feet were several books with torn paper here and about.

I gently plucked up a book that caught my attention and glanced at the title. I smirked slightly, and then took great care in returning it to the shelf where it obviously belonged. It was titled 'Is Man a Myth?'

Obviously not, I thought to myself.

"Peter, what is that on the wall?" I turned at the sound of Susan's voice. Peter's arm reached out and tore off a long piece of parchment that had been nailed to a post near the door. I walked over towards the Pevensies, who were gathering like birds around the paper.

"The former occupant of these premises," Peter began to read nervously, "the faun Tumnus, is under arrest and awaiting his trial on a charge of High Treason against her imperial Majesty Jadis, Queen of Narnia, Chatelaine of Cair Paravel, Empress of the Lone Islands, also to comforting her said Majesty's enemies, harbouring spies and fraternizing with Humans. Signed Maugrim, captain of the Secret Police. Long live the Queen." An unsettling atmosphere settled in the room and began to grow suffocating.