redemption - SOULBOUND I̲̅I̲̅ || SS/HG

3. Slumber

A/N: Advice, do not read this chapter at night 🙀🙈 🌙

The part in italic is either a dream...or a memory

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It felt like floating, the air caressing her tenderly, leisurely, meticulously circling her until all she felt was warmth. It burned her, tickled her, left her sleepy from the soothing sensation. She tried to move yet swiftly became a prisoner to her desires, trapped within her energy while battling to regain control. The longer she fought against this inviting sensation that urged her to let go - welcome the delicate thrill clashing around her - the more ambushed her felt. Fear soon took over her as muffled groans reached her safe place, their voices snickering as she flew past them. Crackling sizzled beside her, brushing her orb, leaving burnt trails wherever it touched making her whine in pain.

Where was she? What was this horrid smell that surrounded her? Burnt her flesh?

With a start Hermione woke up, jolting straight onto her bed, body shacking relentlessly. Reaching forward towards the blanket that laid wrinkled at the feet of her bed, Hermione pulled it on top of her body, ensuring her feet were covered before allowing the weight of her body to drag her back into the mattress. The plush sensation of the welcoming bed circled her, surrounded her with warmth and comfort. It should have soothes her, reassured her that it was all a dream, yet once awake, she knew there was no going back to the realm of her dreams.

Sighed in defeat, knowing that drowning herself in sleeping and calming draught wasn't having the desired effect on her neurological system, Hermione rolled onto her side and watched her friends sleeping form, resting while she battled with her mind. They looked peaceful, enjoying whatever images their imagination drew for them while all Hermione could do was wait for the sun to grace the world with its presence. Leaving her dorms had been an option, yet the instant she left her bed she felt compelled to run, escape, and never return. The sensation was horrid, taking control of every nerve in her body, enticing her blood as panic slowly drew on her face.

Studying had become her only obsession, protecting Harry from the evil monster awaited on his front porch to strike her biggest motivation. Nights in the restricted section had frightened her at first, stopped her from sleeping or even eating. The sin springing from the endless rows of old dusty books consumed her, twisting her dreams into horrid nightmares.

Yet this one felt different, real.

The unexpected sound of crackling drifted her attention to the opposite side of the room were the wardrobes stood. Gripping the edge of her bed while lowering her body until the blanket was securely laying right under her eyes, Hermione waited, begging for whatever it was to only come from her imagination. Yet it didn't. It came right back, but this time two loud banging resonated from inside the wooden cabinet, startling her. Lip now swollen as she nibbled on it nervously, Hermione fought the flashes that peered in the back of her mind.

All of a sudden it all stopped. The weightless atmosphere violently dragging Hermione down onto the mud a screech emitting from within. The instant she came into contact with the ground she screamed in pain, her body twisting on the ground as it stung her skin, biting every single one of her exposed flesh until it drew blood. It felt like a nightmare, yet the longer she struggled, the stronger the pain.

Another bang vented loud enough to awake all of the sleeping witches in the room, yet none stirred in their sleep. A tear slipped from Hermione's glazed peepers as she moved her hand from under the blanket, seeking for her wand safely tucked under her pillow. When the feeling of the magical wood brushed her fingertips, Hermione moaned in relief and pulled it out, brandishing it towards the noise as she sat on her bed, the blanket falling onto her waist.