Redemption II

Chapter 96

The quiet of evening had fallen.  Hermione found herself relaxing in a hammock beside the dying campfire, the adults having decided to stay up and just enjoy the evening with a small bit of wine and meaningless conversation. Hermione had actually commandeered Firy, as the small kitten had been mewling for attention after Firas had long since passed out for the evening. The boy was nearly impossible to wake when he was exhausted and thus Hermione had taken the small kitten with her outside to enjoy the night air. Nips had been idly chewing on Amura's necklace but had otherwise not been a bother to the exhausted pre-teen.

Hermione was just enjoying the feeling of the gentle sway she'd charmed into the hammock when an odd feeling of being watched rolled up her spine. She opened her eyes for a moment to look out into the darkness but found nothing of concern. Deciding it was just the cool evening air she shifted her head towards the fire watching Ginny and Harry sitting beside the lake talking quietly. It was a perfect night, she only wished Severus had been there to enjoy it with her.

Suddenly, Firy stood up from where she'd been sleeping peacefully on Hermione's stomach, her fur raised, a low hiss coming from her mouth, "What's wrong Firy?" Before Hermione could even turn her head, in the direction the kneazle was looking, the small kitten jumped from her lap, running off into the darkness.

"Crisse." Hermione looked over at the lake for a moment before deciding that she could manage to catch the small creature on her own. Pushing herself out of the hammock, she lit the tip of her wand following the sound of the kitten crashing through the brush.

Inside the tent, Firas groaned softly reaching up towards his neck that felt oddly cold. Still heavy with sleep he lifted his head blinking through the darkness of the tent. As though sensing his familiar's distress, he turned his head towards his sister who was still resting peacefully with Nips chewing away at her necklace. The boy blinked slowly rubbing his eyes to try and see if he could spot his familiar in the tent but frowned when he couldn't sense their presence.

"Firy...?" His sleep heavy voice made his sister reach back to push his leg for him to be quiet. He mumbled a soft apology before pushing himself off the cot and towards the tent door. He rubbed his eyes as he came through the flap looking around the camp for either his mother or his familiar. Finding neither he settled on the couple relaxing against each other near the bank.

"Uncle Harry? Aunt Ginny?"

The couple turned in unison to the boy's sleepy words and slowly started coming to their feet to come closer to hear him better, "What's wrong Firas? Did you have a nightmare?"

"No...I can't find Firy..." He turned his head again looking around the camp once more, "Where's mum?"

Harry was about to answer that she was just over there before he realized the hammock was empty. Harry pulled his wand from his sleeve turning his eyes towards the woods, "She was right here..."

Firas let out a low noise before wrapping his arms around his chest, the woods were not a kind looking place at night and his imagination was already starting to run away from him. "I want my mum..."

Ginny moved closer wrapping an arm around the boy before looking to Harry, "I'm sure she'll be right back...come on...let's sit by the fire..."

Harry could feel the back hairs on the back of his neck standing up. It wasn't like Hermione to go off on her own. Something felt off, but he just couldn't place it. "Wand out yea?"