Sunset
It was all going well for the moment, but as the day turned to night and Hermione arrived outside number four Privet Drive, she felt a twist in her stomach, something is going to go wrong, she thought as Mad-Eye explained to everyone what was going on.
“Okay, everyone into their pairs, and be quick about it! Granger!” Hermione spun round to face her once Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher (sort of), “I will not tell you again, take that blasted marble from around your neck!”
“Oh, leave her, Mad-Eye. It’s her good luck charm.” Kingsley soothed, giving Hermione a wink as he helped her onto the Thestral.
They had separated into twos, a guardian and a decoy Harry Potter, whilst the real one went with Hagrid.
Mad-Eye Moody had gone with Mundungus Fletcher, Fred had gone with his father, Arthur, George with Remus, Fleur with Bill, Tonks had gone with Ron and Hermione, herself, had gone with Kingsley.
No sooner had she gotten into the air with Kingsley, there were spells being fired in every direction. Clutching the Phoenix materia firmly attached around her neck, Hermione had started shooting off spells that she knew Harry knew and used often.
“Expelliarmus!” she shouted; the Death Eaters began to swarm around the two.
“Can you get rid of them?!” Kingsley called out to her.
“Do you even need to ask? Ha!” Hermione was standing up on the Thestral as the two spoke, the Death Eaters were getting closer, she leapt off of the Thestral summoning on her own Wiccan magic and sending it shooting at every Death Eater that was close enough to her.
Suddenly something grabbed her wand arm, turning she saw snake eyes, red snake eyes… “No!” She screamed, “let go of me!”
“Where is he?! Tell me now, Mudblood, and I will kill you quickly!”
“GET AWAY FROM HER!” Something dropped from the sky and landed onto Voldemort’s back, effectively dragging him to the ground… Hermione saw was a flash of crimson, Genesis…?
“But how?” she breathed as Kingsley caught her on the Thestral; she looked back, seeing Voldemort aiming from the others.
Kingsley and Hermione continued on their own path toward a safe house by the coast when one particularly nasty spell had shot past Kingsley and cut across Hermione’s right eye, she screamed.
“Hermione, are you alright?!” She gave a positive reply, not wanting to worry him, but really, she was confused, she was flying through the sky on a Thestral, wasn’t she? She wasn’t in a strange town by the ocean standing on what she could see was a canon staring at… wait was that Sephiroth?!
“Do you have him, Angeal?” He turned to face her, his brow furrowed in confusion.
“Yeah, he’s okay; I’m bringing him up now.” Angeal’s voice sounded faint to her, as though he as far away.
“Hermione we’re here, come one, let’s wait until the time…” The Thestral landed and jerked Hermione back into the reality she knew she had to be in, what had happened to Genesis? “Oh my god why did you not tell me you were hurt?” Kingsley tilted her head to the left and inspected the injury.
“I didn’t want to worry you; you had more important things to worry about than a little injury like this. Ow!”
Kingsley’s hand had jerked in shock and poked Hermione’s injury. He apologised and then pulled her over to the Portkey that was the take them to the Burrow. As soon as she was back, instinctive relief flooded her and she raced into Harry’s arms who greeted her with equal relief.
Once she had a minute to herself, though, Hermione clutched the Phoenix materia and sent a thought into it, if you can, tell Genesis that I’m okay, and thank him for helping me. The little glass ball became warm and the light shone a little brighter, somehow Hermione knew that he had heard her thought.
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Hermione’s emotions were a wreck and everyone left in the house knew it. Her eye hurt like hell, but she refused to let anyone treat it stating that George’s injury was far more severe than her own and should be seen to first. Add that to the fact that Mad-Eye was dead and everyone was blaming everyone else… until it calmed down, but by then Hermione’s stress had reached its peak.
“I’m going to bed.” She said suddenly, needing a comfort that she could only find in sleep.
“Night, Hermione.” Chorused through the room as she walked up the stairs.
“You had better be there Genesis, I really need someone to talk to…” she breathed, as she got into her pyjamas and clutched the materia in her hands and thought of her crimson angel.
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Now as far as the young witch was concerned, she was just simply falling asleep, but when Ginny came in to see if her friend was okay, she instantly went pale and ran back downstairs to a still grieving group.
“Hermione’s gone!”
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Genesis was going to be in the doghouse when he got home, he was on a routine mission with Sephiroth and Angeal, and all day he had been seeing two worlds at once, the world he was familiar with, and a world he had never seen before.
The only thing he knew was the slender figure of Hermione as she rode on what could only be described as a skeletal Pegasus.
He had followed the two (who were clearly flying) right up to the edge of the mako cannon, Sister Ray, and what he had seen had made his heart stop.
“What the hell is going on, Gen?” Angeal and Sephiroth had finally found their wayward friend, but his behaviour was odd. “What can you see?” Angeal asked, he and Sephiroth had come to learn very quickly when Genesis was seeing Miss Granger. Though he never let on that he was seeing her, after all he was the only one who could. His only saving graces were Sephiroth and himself, they had seen the girl and so knew that she was real. Granted that had only been yesterday, but usually Genesis only ever saw her in his sleep, so what was he seeing now?
“She’s in flight, on a strange creature, but that is not what bothers me.”
“What is it?” Sephiroth asked he was concerned; Genesis was too close to the edge of the cannon.
“I know it’s her, but it doesn’t look like her, almost as though she has a spell on her… oh sweet Goddess!” Genesis exclaimed, backing up to where Sephiroth was standing, he breathing was heavy, Sephiroth saw his eyes flickering this way and that, until his eyes followed one image in particular that soon found Sephiroth being pulled to the floor.
“What are they?”
“What are what, Gen? You are the only one seeing this!” Sephiroth looked over his friend’s shoulder, for a second he could have sworn he could see red eyes, with pupils like his…
“GENESIS!” The other two SOLDIERs shot after Genesis as he suddenly got up and ran to the edge of the cannon, his eyes angry, filled with pure hatred.
“GET AWAY FROM HER!” He jumped off the cannon.
Angeal and Sephiroth pulled to a stop seeing that he wasn’t there for a second, but found him in the water the next.
There was no way he hit the water that fast, Sephiroth thought as Angeal raced down the side on the cannon to his best friend.
“Do you have him, Angeal?” he called down, turning his head, he thought someone was watching him, but there was no one up here besides the three of them.
“Yeah, he’s okay; I’m bringing him up now.” A few minutes later Sephiroth was aiding his friend in pulling Genesis back onto the cannon before pulling Angeal up himself.
“What the hell was that all about Genesis?” Sephiroth snapped, concern quickly turning to anger.
Genesis turned to face him, his eyes wide in fear and caution. Suddenly Sephiroth calmed down and approached Genesis gently, “I’m sorry, that was uncalled for, but you scared us when you took a swan dive off the cannon.” He placed a comforting hand on his best friend’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s go and get a drink.”
Once they had got their drinks they sat in the corner where no one (that was smart enough anyway) would bother them, they began to talk in voices too low for unenhanced civilians and others to hear.
“Okay, tell us what happened, Gen.” The walk to the bar had been a quiet one with Genesis becoming withdrawn, deep in thought.
“I jumped off the canon because she was being attacked, by a humanoid creature with snake eyes the colour of blood. She was fending off several other monsters before then, her power was incredible.
When I tackled you to the cannon deck, it was because she had shot a creature out of the air and it flew in your direction, never thought about it, just didn’t want it to hit you. Turns out it went right through us anyway… heh, should have realised that when I found myself stood in mid-air.”
“But you were on the cannon.” Sephiroth interrupted. Genesis was doodling on a piece of paper as he had been speaking.
“Yeah, it’s strange, I knew I was stood on the Sister Ray but at the same time I knew I was stood in mid-air, watching her. Anyway, after Seph and I hit the deck I looked up to see her jump off whatever that thing was that she was riding, pulling on all of her Wiccan magic and throwing it at any creature stupid enough to go near her. The rider still on the creature was racing to catch her, that was when I saw those red eyes, eyes that sent a wave of cold dread through my body.
So, when I saw that thing grab her and threaten to kill her I just jumped.
I hit him and we fell, I was there long enough to hear him ask me who I was, before Angeal was dragging me to the edge of the cliff.” He had painted the picture perfectly, Angeal and Sephiroth looked at the piece of paper he had pushed in front of them, it was the scene he had been describing, the girl, the creatures, the rider and the snake-like creature holding onto the girl.
“Gaia, Genesis… was she okay?” Sephiroth looked up at Genesis, his eyes once again misted over.
“I don’t know. I didn’t get a good enough look at her.” He yawned, “Gaia I’m tired, I think that took a bit out of me…” Genesis stopped talking, staring at the door to the bar that the trio were currently in. There, stood in the street in her pyjamas with her back to them, was Hermione.
Genesis shot up out of the chair and raced out of the bar; once he got outside, he slowed to a walk, not wanting to scare her.
“Hermione?”
The young witch turned around to face Genesis, her hairstyle was different, the parting was wrong, it made most of her hair fall over her right eye. “Hello, Genesis.” She sounded tired, very tired.
Genesis felt Sephiroth and Angeal move out of the bar and over to the side, Hermione’s eyes swept over to the two, she gave them a smile. Genesis reached out his hand to put her parting back to the way he had found himself liking, stepping back, he realised why she had done it. “What happened to your eye?” he asked.
The girl was supporting a nasty looking cut stretching from the corner just past her right eye and disappearing into her hairline. Looking to the side, Hermione shook her head to pull the hair that framed her face from behind her ears, effectively hiding the cut from view.
“Shortly after I saw you drop from the sky, thanks for that by the way,” Genesis smiled, “a spell had been shot at my partner’s shoulder, but it missed and cut the area just past my eye…”
Genesis looked at her, other than the cut, she seemed unharmed, but he had spent a lot of time with the Turks thanks to Sephiroth’s friendship with Tseng, he knew when someone was nervous.
Seeing her shiver from the Junon wind, Genesis took off his beloved duster and draped it over her shoulders. “There’s no need to worry, you’re safe here. Come, we were just about to go and get some food; we’ll get you some new clothes and then go and eat.”
“New clothes?” Hermione looked up at Genesis as he led her over to Sephiroth and Angeal.
“Well, you can’t very well come to a restaurant in your pyjamas, nice though they are.” Hermione suddenly looked down at herself; it would appear that she was unaware of her dress code.
“Oh my god how embarrassing!” she mumbled turning almost to the same colour as Genesis’s coat. This was greeted with a chuckle from the trio as they led the way to the nearest clothes store.
Telling her that money wasn’t a problem, the three SOLDIERs sat back and watched the young witch go through the aisles.
“What happened to her eye?” Angeal asked once she was out of earshot.
Genesis explained what she had told him, “Who would want to hurt her though? I thought it was her friend that they were after.”
“That’s why they targeted me.” The three SOLDIERs looked up, not realising that she had been stood there.
“We had all agreed to the danger, but it was a safety precaution. We never expected it to actually happen, Ron and I would never have gone otherwise, his mother would never have allowed it. It was a frightening thing to be chased like that, and then to have him grab me as well…”
“But Genesis said that although he knew it was you, he said that it didn’t look like you.” Sephiroth cut in before she closed up.
“Polyjuice potion.” She giggled at the confused looks from the men before her, “When properly brewed the Polyjuice potion will allow a person to change themselves temporarily into the physical form of another.” She explained in further detail the events of the night before changing the subject.
“I can’t choose from any of these clothes they’re all too nice.” Rolling his eyes, Genesis got up and huffed dramatically.
“Honestly, I am never thinking that you are a typical woman again!” he stated playfully, earning him a swat across the arm by the witch in question.
“Oh, shut up!” she giggled as the four of them picked out an entire wardrobe for her, including something to wear tonight at dinner.
Genesis laughed at Hermione’s reaction to the price, when she stated that she’d pay them back, he shrugged it off.
Once the SOLDIERs had convinced Hermione to leave most of her things at the hotel (she was going to share their room, as nobody else knew she was here) and she had changed into the periwinkle blue dress that had been bought for her, Genesis followed on behind her back down the stairs and out into the night air.
The periwinkle blue suited Hermione perfectly, it was medium cut and strapless, it was knee length and belled at skirt, she had white shoes and a white shawl, and a white clutch bag that held her wand. Her hair was put up in to an elegant bun, held together with the clip that Genesis had bought her.
“So where are we going?” she asked, Genesis was broken out of his thoughts as they walked from the hotel to where they were going.
“Junon Oriental… a Chinese restaurant?”
“No, it’s a Wutaian restaurant,” Sephiroth replied holding the door open for her. He leant down to mumble in her ear. “What is Chinese?”
Genesis watched as Hermione giggled and told him she’d explain once they were sat down.
She never got the chance to explain though, as almost immediately members of their fan clubs pining for their autographs surrounded the trio. Ordinarily Genesis would have lapped up the attention, but when he saw Hermione take herself out of the crowd, he found himself getting angry.
His anger was noticed by Angeal and Sephiroth. They attempted to calm him down with looks, but they knew it wouldn’t work.
Calm down, Genesis, I’m still here, I can wait. Hermione’s voice was like a remedy for a nasty head cold, it was a sweet relief as he did as he was told and calmed himself down, allowing himself to act in his usual manner.
It took the three of them ten minutes to finish with all of their fans; it was only because of the intervention of the owner of Junon Oriental that Genesis was finally able to get back to Hermione. The Crimson commander looked at her as she watched in mild humour and fascination as the owner herded the gaggling fans out of his restaurant.
“Forgive me, General, Commanders, they came out of nowhere. Now then a table for three?”
“Actually, it’s a table for four.” Genesis signalled for Hermione to come back to him, the owner’s eyes widened at this.
“Of course, commander Rhapsodos. Forgive me for not greeting you properly, miss.”
“Not at all, it’s what I get for travelling with the Golden Trio.” Hermione took it all in her stride; Genesis was impressed by how fast she learnt. The owner showed them to the best seat in the house (usually reserved for the President and his son) and left them to order.
“Okay, now I’m out of my comfort zone.” She laughed; fortunately, her company was used to Wutaian food.
“I’d recommend these.” Genesis leant over the table to show Hermione what he meant, he wasn’t ordering them himself, but it was what he’d had on his first visit here with Tseng and Sephiroth.
“They’re great way to get you used to the foods here.” Hermione gave him that beaming grin of hers and he felt a swell of joy.
Three hours later and the four of them were laughing and joking around, Hermione asked for a gil to buy a newspaper to read once they got back to the hotel, Genesis could see the black bold the headline that read AVALANCHE STRIKES THE RURAL GONGAGA, SHINRA STRIKES BACK.
“Wow and I thought we had problems back home.” Hermione stated as she walked back to the others, stowing the newspaper under her arm.
They got back to the hotel and Hermione changed back into her pyjamas, Sephiroth had bought a bottle of wine to share with them and they sat talking about life in general. As the sun began to set, Genesis saw Hermione’s gaze turn to the window, her mouth open slightly.
Smiling to himself, he drained his wine glass and took her by the hand. “Come with me.” He said, pulling her up and leading her up onto the roof.
“Oh wow!” he smiled as she walked up to the edge of the roof, joining her there he, too, stared out at the sunset.
It was beautiful, the golden yellow turning burn orange as it set behind the water, turning it to liquid fire.
Genesis soon found his eyes wandering, however, to see what the setting sun’s rays did to her. His eyes did not disappoint, the setting sun coated her face and set her hair to a fiery auburn. Her eyes opened slightly as she basked in the light, Genesis saw them sparkle from the reflected water. “Beautiful.”
The word was out of Genesis’s mouth before he could stop it. Hermione looked at him and he tried to cover his tracks, “isn’t it?” he waved a gloved hand out to the sight.
Sighing, Hermione nodded, “it is. Thank you, Genesis, for bringing me up here and helping me to forget what I now have to go home to.”
Genesis blinked. “What?” Was she leaving already?
“I have to go; someone is calling my name. I’ve got to wake up.” Sadness filled those eyes as he watched Hermione walk up to him and kiss him gently on the cheek.
“I hope I see you again. Oh! And tell Sephiroth and Angeal that I said goodbye.” As she spoke, she was going transparent, Genesis’s eyes widened in horror.
“No! I don’t want you to go, Hermione wait!” Genesis reached for her but she had vanished before he did.
“NO!”
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Genesis’s pain was witnessed by his two friends and one other; this other was the one responsible for the two meeting each other, for now though, it would seem that Hermione’s journey on Gaia was over.
The Other wandered back to where Hermione was, knowing that the girl had returned from Gaia, she watched on eagerly awaiting the confrontation that was to come.