Not Yet (A Hermione Granger fanfic)

Chapter 10

A/N: Originally, I had only intended 10 chapters. But now, of course, my story is not complete. I'm not going to speculate how many more at this point, simply because I'm having too much fun writing this and I'm not ready for it to end. As a reward to you for enduring such a miserable cliffhanger last time, this chapter is extra long.

*********Chapter TEN*********

The only thing that saves Hermione is that the dragon still can't see her. She grabs the scale; it feels cold and hard in her hand. Then she concentrates on Orev and Apparates to his side. He's confused a moment as her hand grabs his and she again Disapparates, this time to take them into another part of the forest.

When they reappear in a clearing, she removes the Disillusionment Charm still on her. She drops the scale and puts her hands on her knees, panting. Orev's out of breath, too. He sinks to the ground next to her. In the distance, the dragon is still roaring.

"I think you . . . hurt it just enough . . . to make it angry," Orev says between gulps of air.

Hermione's face hurts. Her shoulder hurts. Really, her whole body hurts. She sits down, too.

Carefully.

"Alright," she says when she can, "spill."

Orev looks at her appraisingly, his eyes searching her face, then going down to her shoulder. He leans back to look at it.

"You're hurt." He reaches for her.

Hermione shrugs him off. "Not until you tell me how you know my name."

He looks amused for a moment, then scowls. Really, there is no keeping up with this man's moods.

"Because your charms wore off when the dragon blood hit you. I recognize you now."

Hermione gasps, then reaches into her bag for a little mirror. Sure enough, her own nose and freckled face stare back at her. Red blotches pepper her face where the dragon's blood and fire burned her.

"So where do you know me from?" she demands, dropping the mirror and looking him in the eye.

"Are you serious? Everyone in the wizarding world knows your face. Hermione Granger, one-third of the Golden Trio."

Hermione bites back a sob. Maybe it's because she's tired and injured. Or because he's mentioned a group that is made up of two now instead of three. Or because she's been on her own too long. Either way, she's relieved she doesn't have to pretend anymore.

Orev hesitates, a wary look in his eye. "I was sorry to hear about the death of Ronald Weasley."

She says nothing. What is there to say?

"I'm assuming you are here for him, then?"

Hermione looks out to the trees and sighs. "Yes."

They sit there a while, listening to the dragon create a fuss in the distance.

"You really need to let me look at your shoulder, Granger. It's bleeding."

"Some bait you turned out to be."

"It's not my fault you stayed longer than you should have!"

"Why you arrogant—"

"Wait," Orev says, standing. "Wait."

Hermione listens, but the woods have gone silent. "Where's the dragon?" she whispers.

A shadow passes over the clearing.

Hermione doesn't wait to find out if it's spotted them. She leans over, grabs Orev's ankle, and Disapparates with him in tow.

They land on another mountain altogether, just at the edge of the dragon preserve. Hermione was sitting when she disappeared, and she's still sitting when she lands. Orev, who's just had his feet pulled out from under him, lands right on top of her, his weight knocking her backward to the ground.