Chapter 20
“The magic carpet shop seems sketchy,” Hermione said to an annoyed Rick.
“Well, maybe it is the same as your home. Looks like the outside of an opium den, but actually is the Taj Mahal,” Rick said with irritation.
“Yes, but if you were the one in charge of the LAST set of traveling arrangements; that isn’t the case,” Hermione said logically. That plane had looked like it was two seconds away from dying inside and out.
“She is not wrong,” Evelyn agreed. Rick had arranged many less than savory traveling situations. It had gotten to the point where Evelyn had begun booking their flights etc. before Rick was even aware they were going anywhere. That way he wouldn’t insist on taking the initiative. However, in a pinch, Rick could get arrangements faster than anyone she knew…. but you weren’t going to like them.
“We’ll be fine. He’s a professional. Izzy!” There was a strange little man with an eye patch over one eye. The minute that he spotted Rick he squeaked in alarm and shut the door closed behind him with a slam. “Hey!”
“Definitely remembers you,” Evelyn said with amusement.
“At least he has common sense,” Hermione smirked.
“He is just shy,” Rick said with a sheepish smile. “Jonathon, get the bags.”
“Oh, my hands are full,” Jonathon tried to say before Rick yanked Jonathon’s gold stick out of his hands. Hermione shook her head. Jonathon and his gold. Sometimes, he was so much like Ron; Hermione felt some serious deja vu.
“Now!” Rick said threateningly.
“Right. Well, I’ll get the bags,” Jonathon sighed.
“I’ll deal with the flight details,” Rick said confidently before shooting the lock off the door.
“Honey, you are not a subtle man,” Evy said wearily.
“We don’t have time for subtle,” Rick said as he kicked in the door.
“Ahhh… the ‘Make Him Wet Himself’ approach,” Hermione looked around. Her first assessment had been scarily accurate. There was a random man reading a newspaper in a bathtub. Junk littered the ground. A scrapyard pretty much.
“Izzy! Come Here!” Rick walked after the weird little man as he continued to flee.
“He doesn’t look happy to see you,” Evelyn said with a grin.
“He hasn’t turned me down yet,” Rick said with a shrug.
“Do you think that has more to do with actual desire or the guns?” Evelyn snarked.
“That depends,” Hermione grinned viciously. “... on whether Rick ever had an experimental phase in his youth.” Rick did a double take and gave Hermione an annoyed glare.
“Whatever it is. Whatever you need. I don’t care. Forget it, O’Connell.” Izzy sounded far more posh than his scruffy appearance would first suggest. “Every time I hook up with you, I get shot. Last time, I got shot in the ass.” Hermione began snickering. “I’ve been mourning for my ass. Remember that bank job in Marrakech?” Evelyn looked at Rick with a raised eyebrow.
“Bank job?”
“It’s not the way it sounds,” Rick tried to appease her.
“It’s exactly how it sounds. I’m flying high. Hiding in the sun. The white boy here flags me down. So I fly in low, the next thing you know I get shot. I’m lying in the middle of the road with my spleen out, and I see him waltzing up with a bloody belly dancer girl.” Oh, Rick was in for it.
“Belly dancer girl? Izzy, I think you and I should talk,” Evelyn was going to get every detail if it killed her.
“As long as I don’t get shot,” Izzy continued to gripe.
“I’ve actually pulled a bank job,” Hermione said serenely.
“How many more times are you going to do that? You can’t just drop a fact like that out of nowhere!” Jonathon said dramatically.
“How many times did you actually get shot while with O’Connell?” Hermione asked curiously and completely ignoring Jonathon.
“Seven,” Izzy he growled.
“What were you… just sitting still WAITING to get shot?” Hermione said with disbelief. Izzy pointed a finger at Rick in irritation.
“He…!”
“Quit your complaining. You’re going to get paid this time,” O’Connell threw a large pack of bills at Izzy, and even though he was still complaining away; Izzy was clearly going to accept when he started putting it in his pocket.
“O’Connell, you’ve looked around here already. What do I need this money for? What the hell am I gonna spend it on?” Hermione raised an eyebrow at him.
“Aside from four walls to put around the bathtub,” Hermione said with disbelief.
“I enjoy the view,” the old man in the bathtub said in a heavy accent.
“Nobody else does,” Hermione said to Evelyn.
“I’m gonna keep this short,” Rick got up in Izzy’s face. “My little boy is out there and I’m going to do whatever it takes to get him back.” And… Izzy completely ignored him in favor of looking at Jonathon’s golden stick like it was a treat and he was a puppy. Rick moved it back and forth experimentally and Izzy nearly snatched his hand forward each time it moved.
“You give me that gold stick there and you can shave my head, wax my legs, and use me for a surfboard,” Izzy sounded so unbelievably serious. Without ado, Rick tossed it to him.
“Didn’t we do that in Triblay? By the way, when did you… lose your eye?”
“Oh, I didn't. I just thought it made me look more dashing!” Rick tore off the eyepatch and Izzy stumbled.
“Now, get to work.” Izzy looked over to the two women and gave Hermione a once over. Hermione immediately followed after Rick with a snort.
“Sorry. You didn't exactly catch me at my best,” Izzy said to Evelyn.
“Oh I'm sure I have.” The Medjai stood waiting on their horses, and Izzy immediately gulped.
"Oh, I'm gonna get shot.” Hermione could hear the immediate regret, and she actually felt sorry for the poor sob.
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Ardeth had parted with the O’Connells after getting their next location from Rick and met the 12 tribal leaders, Uncle Terrance, and Ali.
“So you were unable to stop the creature from arising again,” Terence sighed after Ardeth had led him to the meeting point.
“We were outnumbered,” Ardeth said gravely.
“That is not the point, nephew,” Terrence’s obnoxious tirade was brought to an abrupt halt.
“Well, well, well… Mister Bay.” Terrence whirled around to see none other than Miss Evans smirking as irritatingly as ever. The tribal leaders whispered excitedly.
“Miss Evans is back,” Ali exclaimed happily. Hermione looked at him with surprise, but Terrence spoke over them rudely.
“I thought you died,” Terrence sniffed.
“Without irritating you one last time?” Hermione held a hand over her heart. “I would never!” Ardeth smiled fondly at the familiar exchange. “And for the record, it is Miss Granger.”
“Then why did you say it was Miss Evans?” Terrence said suspiciously.
“Well… because I’m a witch,” Hermione said frankly.
“Of course you are,” Terrence scoffed in disbelief. “And I’m a purple elephant,” he said sarcastically.
“Believe what you want,” Hermione said with a shrug and made her way back to the O’Connells. Ardeth shook his head at his Uncle and followed after farewelling his fellow tribal leaders. He would say something, but his Uncle wouldn’t believe without some form of proof; and Hermione was already gone. Uncle Terrence would find out soon enough. O’Connell stopped short when he saw their mode of transport.
“What the hell is that?!”
“Ah, it’s a dirigible,” Izzy said happily.
“Where is the plane?!” Rick’s voice was getting more and more squeaky.
“I traded it in for this beauty a couple of years ago.”
“Izzy. You were right,” Rick said grimly.
“I was?”
“Yeah you’re going to get shot,” Evelyn immediately started attempting to pull down Rick’s firearm and Izzy barely flinched.
“Hey! I know she doesn’t look like much, but she’s fast and more importantly quiet. Which is great for sneaking up on people. Unlike you, guns ablazing and getting your friends Shot. In. The. Ass.” Rick still looked angry, but Evelyn had finally succeeded in grabbing the gun and gave Rick a seriously pissed off look which he shrugged off sheepishly.
“Why can’t you people keep your feet on the ground?” Ardeth wondered out loud. They had nearly a day's travel ahead of them. Izzy nearly had a heart attack when Hermione set up her tent in a corner with a wave of her hand.
“What… what….” Izzy spluttered.
“Witch,” Hermione sighed. “Don’t be a moron and spread it around.”
“O’Connell?!” Izzy yelled accusingly.
“Don’t look at me. I just found out this morning,” Rick said while holding his hands up in surrender.
“If it really bothers you, I can erase your memory of me when we are done,” Hermione said with a resigned tone before walking into the tent. Jonathon was gaping after her like a fish. Evelyn didn’t know why, but that really bothered her. Hermione looked sad at the mere thought of having to do that. Evelyn carefully poked her head in the tent, but gasped at what she saw.
“You have to come see this!” Evelyn said with excitement to the rest of them and all but Izzy followed with puzzlement until they saw the inside.
“This is an entire house,” Jonathon said with wonder. Hermione was hanging her sooty coat over one of the dining chairs and unbuttoning the clasp on the wrist of her leather gloves. Hermione gave them a small smile at their amazement.
“Sometimes, I wish I could feel that way again,” Hermione laughed. “I’m far too used to it now. I forget how incredible magic is most of the time.” Ardeth looked around. It was an odd looking house. Everything looked different in tiny almost indecipherable ways. “I’m going to go take a shower, I immediately left the dragon sanctuary to meet you and I desperately need to wash up,” Hermione mainly said to Evelyn.
“Of course. We have plenty of time to talk,” Evelyn said almost as a warning before grabbing Jonathon and Rick but subtly signaling Ardeth to sit in one of the chairs. Hermione was already in one of the adjoining rooms and Ardeth didn’t need any other encouragement. They wouldn’t be at the Temple of Carnac until early the next morning… and he was not giving Hermione any more chances to avoid him. Ardeth sat at the table and waited.
“Did she just say dragons?!” A shocked Jonathon was dragged out by Evelyn.
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Hermione froze like a deer faced with a lion when she walked out of the shower to see Ardeth waiting for her and was especially glad she had NOT walked out in only a towel. She sighed. He was going to corner her eventually. Best to head off the inevitable discussion.
“Do you drink alcohol?” Hermione sighed as she pulled out a bottle of firewhiskey.
“I do not,” Ardeth watched her in a manner far too like the hawk residing on his shoulder. Hermione placed down her glass and sat down at the table. She looked at the hawk with a smile before rifling through her back and pulling out a sack. Ardeth couldn’t stop a laugh of disbelief when she pulled out a dead mouse.
“The baby dragons lost their mothers to poachers. Would he like one?” Hermione placed it on the table and the hawk pounced on it before carrying it to one of the couches in the tent.
“Always full of surprises,” Ardeth said affectionately before taking Hermione’s hand. Hermione took her hand out of his once she recovered from the shock.
“I can’t,” Hermione breathed hard.
“Are you married?” Ardeth said knowing the answer.
“No.”
“Then you can,” Ardeth was easily able to reach across the table to snatch a lock of Hermione’s hair to wrap around his fingers. Hermione let out a stuttering breath when he kissed it. She really needed to get a haircut. Wonder if now was a good time?
“Ardeth, you don’t know what you are agreeing to or who. We don’t know each other.” Hermione pleaded and attempted to reach forward and disengage her hair from his hand, but it just caused Ardeth to stand and move closer. Ardeth’s silence was powerful and Hermione didn’t know what to do. She could argue circles around anyone any day at any time anywhere, but Ardeth wasn’t just anyone. Only Dumbledore and Snape had ever had an effect even remotely close to this, and there was no way that those instances could even compare (for obvious reasons).
“I know you,” Ardeth said calmly. And he did. Hermione Evans or Granger. The woman who hadn’t hesitated to save his Father and the man who had tried to murder her. The woman who adopted a mangy cat with one ear and still kept the blanket gifted to her by his mother. Hermione had still made time for the O’Connell family even though she continued to try to avoid him at all costs. Ardeth was determined to have her or no one at all.
“No you don’t!” Hermione said a little desperately as she attempted to yank her hair out of his grip. Ardeth felt a sudden surge of uncharacteristic rage. He let her go, but immediately kicked a chair in angry frustration.
“Then you do not know me either!” Ardeth yelled angrily. He could feel that same energy that always left his Uncle on edge, but he kept going. “I’ve seen you reject men. You don’t run away. You cut them down ruthlessly! What is so different about me?” Ardeth got right in her face. Hermione had stood in surprise when Ardeth had kicked the chair over and shook as his hands cupped her face. Her emotions were coursing through her and her magic was swirling in the air. She needed to calm down.
“You…” Hermione attempted to calm the magic leaving her, but only succeeded in pulling in his scent which hyped her up even further. Ardeth grew impatient with her.
“Until you can give me a real answer, and that answer better be you are secretly married or engaged to the creature himself; I WILL pursue you, I will never marry anyone else, and I will use every tool at my disposal to convince you.” Ardeth abruptly let her go and walked out. Hermione raked her hands through her hair and dropped into the chair. She immediately poured and threw back a shot of awful firewhiskey. Merlin, Hermione was terrified. She couldn’t go on like this. They needed to have a conversation. He needed to know the problems for him that would happen if he married a witch.
Hermione had never understood as a child why witches and wizards didn’t marry muggles unless it was because of prejudice… but it was so much more than that. It was like… a bird marrying a fish. Hermione lived longer and in order for them to actually grow old together; it required a ceremony that was literally irreversible. There was NO going back. What if he changed his mind? Hermione couldn’t even sleep through the night. She was messed up and scarred and broken beyond repair and he would see that. And Hermione, it would break her heart to show him all that just for Ardeth to turn around and leave. Loving him wasn’t the problem, but… Hermione was just going to have to stop being selfish and let him break her. Then she could be alone and miserable without the hope that was slowly killing her anyway. Hermione let a tear escape. She would just have to tear it away like a bandaid. No more running. Ardeth would leave… and Hermione would try to survive it.
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Ardeth walked out of the tent angrily.
“I imagine it didn’t go well?” O’Connell was cleaning his weapons and Ardeth sat down next to him gracefully. “Did she reject you?”
“She didn’t accept me,” Ardeth said darkly.
“We’ll figure it out, Ardeth,” Evelyn comforted.
“We? What we?” Rick chuckled. “This is between the two of them. What are you going to do? Lecture her into a relationship?”
“She clearly loves him,” Evelyn said with profound irritation. “Hermione just needs a good shove.”
“You first,” Rick snorted.
“Yeah. Remember when I tried to push Hermione into the ocean?” Jonathan shivered at the memory. “I didn’t even know that Hermione was aware of my fear of beetles.”
“He was screaming like a little girl for weeks,” Rick said to Ardeth with a grin.
“Beetles in my shoes. Beetles in my bed. Beetles in the alcohol cabinet. Beetles everywhere,” Jonathon shivered in fear at the mere memory. Ardeth’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. Hermione exited the tent with Horus gripping her dragon hyde covered arm. Hermione looked at him with quiet intensity. ACTUALLY looked at him. She walked over and held out Horus to him. Ardeth took Horus, but was surprised when Hermione finally spoke to him.
“We need to talk after we get to Carnac,” Hermione looked determined, but sad. Like she was walking to a death sentence.
“Alright,” Ardeth said calmly. Hermione nodded and took a seat next to Jonathon.
` “What are we talking about?” Hermione let out a gusty breath.
“Your callous monstrous actions towards me and my fear of beetles,” Jonathan glared at Hermione when she grinned big.
“We need to get Alex back soon. He was great for sneaking beetles into your clothes when you were at your most vulnerable. Namely the bath,” Hermione grinned even bigger as Jonathon spluttered angrily.
“That was traumatizing! O’Connell had to save me because I was trapped in the bath water because there were beetles crawling everywhere!” Ardeth laughed out loud at Jonathon’s exclamation.
“Yeah. Thanks for that,” Rick winced. “He was not the only one who was traumatized.”
“Yes. Yes. Very traumatizing. Hermione,” Evelyn began. “You pulled a bank job?” Hermione laughed. That was certainly out of left field.
“Yes. From a goblin bank. And liberated a blind guard dragon in order to escape,” Hermione said with a grin.
“Tell me… EVERYTHING!” Evelyn said with excitement.