A Race Against Time

Just as he crested a rise on the bottom of the lake, he noticed that the plant life cleared out and he could see a village below him. In the center of the village were four posts but they were empty. In a panic, Harry swam up to them and began looking for any sign of Hermione.

His heart was hammering in his chest as he frantically searched for her. He was about to head to another area of the village and begin searching when he caught sight of a black cloak floating limply near the doorway to one of the huts.

Putting on a burst of speed, he swam over to the entrance to the hut and blasted the door off its hinges. The sight that greeted him would stay with him until his dying day. Hermione was lying on the earthen floor of the hut, eyes closed. She looked deathly pale in the low light at the bottom of the lake.

Two very large mermen stopped Harry at spear point as he rushed towards her. "You are too late the hour has come and gone, return to the surface human!" the merman on the right said in a harsh tone.

The merman on the left had been backing away slowly from the angry wizard in front of him. He could feel the power beginning to radiate from the wizard and it made him fear for his life. Trying to get his comrade's attention he called out "Let him take the girl with him. There is no harm in letting them go."

"NO! She stays here. The elder said that she would come by later to retrieve her." The first guard spoke heatedly.

Harry had trouble following the conversation but he understood the gist of it. The guard that was backing away seemed to want to let him take Hermione with him. The other one was intent upon keeping her down here until the elder showed up or something.

His chance for escape came when the angry guard turned his attention away for a moment to retort.

It was over before the guard knew what had happened. One second of inattention would cost him his life.

Harry's silent Severing Curse struck the merman across the torso, separating his body into two parts that floated in the now red stained water. The shock was still plainly clear on his face.

The guard that had been backing away from the moment the angry wizard blasted the door open realized that said wizard was now pointing his wand at him and the tip was glowing faintly. Not wanting to meet the same fate as his foolish partner, the guard dropped his spear and raised his hands while continuing to back as far away as possible.

Harry slowly swam over to Hermione, never taking his eyes off the remaining guard, and began to pull her out of the tiny hut. He paused to take another dose of gillyweed when he was clear of the village. Then he swam as if the hounds of hell were on his tail.

He headed for the shallows, dragging Hermione's limp body behind him. Worry still burned in his chest because he was outside of the one-hour time limit. The water was getting lighter now and he knew that he was getting closer to the platform where help awaited.

When he reached the edge of the platform, he gratefully hoisted Hermione up into the waiting arms of Remus Lupin. Harry had to wait for another five minutes for his gills to recede before he could safely get out of the water.

He pushed aside a couple of people to get to where Hermione was being tended to by Madam Poppy Pomfrey. He was relieved when he heard her voice.

"Where is Harry?" Hermione asked; the desperation was easily detectable in her voice.

Stepping into the medical area he said "I'm right here love." and he pulled her into a hug. The enormity of what he had just done hit him now that he was holding her safe in his arms again and he began to shake.

"Oh Harry!" she cried into his shoulder as he held her close. "I don't know how I ended up in the lake. I went to bed last night and the next thing I know I'm in Remus' arms and you are still in the water!" she sobbed harder.

Remus Lupin had watched the entire exchange between Harry and Hermione. He knew that the two teens were definitely in love and that they had tried their hardest to prevent Hermione from ending up at the bottom of the lake. He wanted answers to her questions as well and he was in a position to get some of them answered. Making up his mind, he strode from the tent after patting them on the shoulder and went to find Professor McGonagall.

"Hello Minerva." Remus said coldly as he stepped up to his former co-worker.

Slightly taken aback by the tone in his voice she replied "Hello Remus. What can I do for you?"

"You can tell me how Hermione Granger ended up at the bottom of the lake against her parents wishes." his voice was just as cold as the water in the lake.

"The judges deemed her to be the thing that Mr. Potter would miss the most so she was taken from her dormitory while she was sleeping and placed into an enchanted sleep before being put down there." Minerva replied in a matter of fact tone.

"Why didn't you stop Albus from taking Ms. Granger per her parent's request?" Remus snapped.

"You know that muggles don't have any say in our world Remus. The headmaster acts in loco parentis for all muggle born students during the school year." McGonagall replied testily.

"And that is enough for you to go against the express written instructions of her parents, and I'm sure her own wishes!" Remus fumed. "This isn't over. I am very disappointed in you Minerva and that is nothing compared to what Harry is going to feel." Fearing that he would say something that he would regret in his anger, he spun around and left the teachers area.

Neither adult noticed the small water beetle that was perched on Remus' jacket as it flew off towards Hogsmeade.

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