The Runaway
Tick, tick, tick, tick.
Hermione tossed her head against the pillow. She was about to throw the clock out the window.
Tick, tick, tick, tick.
Where the heck was he? Ronald should have been here already. She kept glancing at the wall, eager to see her red-headed friend slip into her room through the secret door that she had together. It led outside, transporting her into the owlry, her favourite spot in the absolute world. That's where she was free to express herself.
Hermione liked helping Ronald with his chores. Together, they'd cast cleaning spells and told made-up stories of the Muggle world. Her parents disapproved of this, of course, ladies of the Granger family weren't supposed to do any manual labour.
She and Ronald had been friends since they'd met. She had been eleven, and he had been ten. That was a long time ago when Ronald's family had been hired by the Grangers to upkeep the estate years ago. The Weasleys occasionally brought Ronald and his sister over when they couldn't find a babysitter. Now, they were adults though, and he lived on the estate as part of the full-time staff.
There was a sudden creak, and Hermione sat up. Ronald's silhouette appeared in the shadows. "All is clear," he announced. "Let's go!"
Hermione hurried out of bed and slipped into the hidden, magical door. The bright light of the owlry pierced her eyes on arrival, and she shielded them until they adjusted.
"Hello, Silverdail!" she cooed at her favourite owl, approaching the animal. She reached into the pocket of her dress to give the owl a dead mouse.
Silverdail let out a small, excited screech and took the treat, crunching on it loudly.
"How's Levelfoot?" She turned to Ronald.
Ronald looked over at the tiny, baby owl who had recently broken her wing. "She's pulling through," he answered. "Bit stubborn, but I suppose that helps her spirit somewhat."
Hermione smiled. "It sure does." Then she frowned. A sudden thought came to her. In three days, she'd be moving out. Hermione wouldn't get to come here much anymore. "I'm going to miss her."
Ronald nodded. "I've been invited to the wedding— officially, I mean." Hermione had already invited him, but it was her parents who really got to decide who went to her wedding. Employees weren't allowed to come as guests, but they obliged only because Hermione wasn't too thrilled with being married off to some random stranger who'd been assigned to her when she was only four. They were trying everything to keep her content because she had been putting up quite a fuss about it lately.
Hermione felt she was too young to marry, aged nineteen, and she wanted the freedom to make her own choices. Her parents had been making all her decisions for her up until the current date in time, and she expected her husband would do the same.
"I'm thinking about sitting it out."
Ronald tilted his head at her announcement. "You're planning to miss your own wedding?"
She sat down on a bench, heaving out a sigh. Silverdail swooped off into the night to do his nightly hunting, one by one, the other owls followed him as if he was their leader.
"I just can't stand the idea of being caged up for the rest of my life."
"Missing the wedding isn't going to solve anything," Ronald pointed out. "The next day, you'll still be here— and all you'll have done is embarrass the entire family, and your future husband to boot."
Hermione groaned, dropping her head into her hands. "I don't want to ruin my name, and I certainly don't want to embarrass anyone!"
"Unless you actually disappeared into the night, I don't see how you can avoid this, Hermione."
Hermione lifted her head. Her eyes widened as a thought came to her. "You're brilliant!" she whispered. "That would absolutely work!"
"What?" he asked, completely confused.
"I just need to disappear!" She stood up in haste and touched a knot in the wood of the owlry that would apparate her back into her bedroom. Ronald followed her close behind, waiting for an explanation.
She magically turned on the lights and perched on a chair at her desk.
"What's your idea?" Ronald wondered, watching her write some things down. She stuck the tip of her tongue out of the corner of her mouth as she concentrated, but said no words until she was finished.
"What if," she whispered ever so softly, "Hermione Granger did really disappear?"
"Are you planning to just fly off the edge of the earth?"
She rolled her eyes. "I'm serious!"
"You can't run away; they'll find you, through your blood."
"I could fake something though, like a kidnapping."
"They'll still find you," Ronald advised her pointedly, "through your blood," he repeated with emphasis.
"Not if I'm warded off with a charm."
"So you can hide your blood ties?" he asked doubtfully.
"If someone else's blood is involved."
Ronald did one single nod. He was adding everything up that she had said and then his eyes widened in realization. "Me?!" he squeaked.
"Shh!" Hermione scolded. "Keep it down!"
"I'll be the first person they'll test— as soon as your blood shows no results! Everyone knows we are friends!"
Hermione chewed on her lip, having not thought of that. "You're right. I'll have to find someone else."
"I know someone," Ronald offered after a thought. "He will have no link to you. I can collect a sample by tomorrow— will the blood from anyone work?"
She nodded.
"Are you sure about this?" he questioned her. "This is a very serious thing to do."
"I can't live in a cage all my life," she said determinedly. "Will you come with me?"
He shook his head. "I can't. Remember, I've got my own family now."
"Right," she acknowledged. His wife was six months pregnant. "No, you have to stay here with Lavender."
"You shouldn't do this alone though," Ronald told her worriedly.
"I know," Hermione agreed.
"I'll see what I can do."
"You know of someone who can accompany me?"
He shrugged. "I might."
"Let me know as soon as you can. There's no time to waste."
*/*
Draco munched on an apple, scanning through a book on potions. He fouled up his last invention, knowing the mistake was linked to the newt eyes he had used. Draco wondered if it was because of the specific colour eyeball that was to blame.
The sound of a door shutting made him look up. "Ah, Harry, missed you at breakfast, mate," he greeted his friend. He noticed the young man had a sick look on his face. "What is wrong?"
Harry sat down with a sigh. "I really shouldn't say anything."
Draco snapped his book close. Harry never hid any secrets from Draco. Whatever was bothering him was serious. "Spit."
"It seems you're not the only one having regrets about your arranged marriage." Draco creased his eyebrows together, trying to come up with a name that he knew of. Harry, himself, didn't have to worry about arranged marriages. In all honesty, Draco's parents were the only ones old-fashioned enough to put their son through a rotten arranged marriage.
"Care to elaborate?"
"I just got through speaking with Ron," Harry said, speaking about his other friend. Harry and Ron's parents were quite close, so the two had been friends since they were in their nappies.
"Yes?" Draco prompted Harry to continue when the man hadn't said anything more.
"You can't say anything, if this gets out, the public will go bananas."
"Alright, I won't." Draco said, though, if it needed to come out, a mere verbal promise wasn't going to stop him from letting his tongue slip.
Harry took in a deep breath, and then he confessed in a rush of words. "Miss Granger plans to run away before the wedding takes place."
Draco cocked his head, slightly intrigued with the news. Lately, Draco had been having regrets about this whole marriage to the Granger woman, but he dared not say a word to his parents about it. His father would probably punish him to the point where he'd be stuck in his chambers until his wounds thoroughly healed. Now to hear that his bride-to-be was also getting cold feet? Interesting indeed.
"Why has this word gotten you so upset? It doesn't concern you in the least."
"They want me to help make it happen."
"Why would she need—" Draco's mind came up with his answer before he could even ask his question. "Oh," he drawled out, a smirk creeping to his lips. "She's brilliant. I admire her ingenuity! Miss Granger intends to use your blood to Charm over her own!"
"Precisely," Harry muttered. "Or she would have if I had accepted."
"You rejected the offer?"
"Of course I did! That sort of thing could get me locked up for a lifetime!"
Draco rubbed his chin, thinking deeply about this. "No, Harry, you're going to help Miss Granger. Tell Ron you've changed your mind."
"Are you mental?!" Harry demanded.
"No, but listen. I've got an idea."
*/*
Hermione sipped her hot chocolate, gazing at the beautiful holiday lights that lit up the Christmas tree. By this time tomorrow, she'd be gone. Sure she'd miss everyone, but since she had been planning a move anyway, she was already accustomed to the idea of leaving her childhood home.
She and Ron had discussed it earlier that day: his friend Harry was going to take her to a Muggle town, where he would help her settle with a new life. It was easier to hide in Muggle territory than that of the magical world. Harry had informed Ron through an owl that there was already a flat waiting for them.
Now Hermione only had to wait. Three in the morning was when Harry wrote that he'd come and get her.
She was excited, but at the same time, the idea of leaving behind everything she knew was daunting and overwhelming.
If she wanted freedom though, Hermione had to do this. She was tired of not being able to decide things in her life. She didn't get to choose her meals, she didn't get to choose her hairstyle. Hell, she didn't even get to pick out the clothing that she wanted to wear!
The first thing that she was going to do as a free woman was buy a new wardrobe! She was positively ecstatic over the thought.
"Hermione, dear," her mother called for her attention.
"Yes?"
"I found what you can use for your 'something borrowed'." Her mother showed her a gorgeous sapphire necklace, and for a moment, Hermione choked up with emotion. This would be one of the last things her mother would say to her.
"It can work for my 'something blue' too," she supplied, not wishing her last conversation with her mother to end up in a fight.
Mrs Granger beamed happily. Hermione hadn't said anything positive about the wedding for months now.
"You'll look fabulous in it, sweetheart." She kissed her daughter's temple before she clasped the necklace around Hermione's neck.
"Thank you, Mother," Hermione said truthfully. "I'll cherish this."
At 2:45 am that "night", Hermione began pacing the floor of her room. Her stomach was going mad with butterflies. Excitement and anxiousness were having a battle.
Finally, a figure appeared instantly out her window. Harry had arrived, using an invisibility cloak. Those things were extremely rare! She wondered how he had gotten one.
Harry flew inside on a broom and gestured to her to climb on behind him.
"No," Harry said firmly, snatching a hold of the bag she had packed to take with her. "You can't bring anything with you."
"But I—"
"If you truly intend to disappear, and you bring anything with you, they'll know you prepared to leave."
Hermione frowned, seeing his point. She unpacked the bag and magically sent all her belongings to their designated spots.
"Are you ready?"
Hermione bit her lip. She took one last look at her chambers before she nodded. Then she mounted the broom.
"I need you to hold onto me very tightly. I fly incredibly fast, and I can't have you slipping and falling off."
Hermione wrapped her arms around Harry's waist and tucked her face into his back, shielding the icy breeze from her face. And then they were off. Hermione Granger, was never to be seen again.