Hermione and Ginny had illuminated the tips of their wands and were making their way farther back into the caverns, the two of them panting like crazy. Surely there had to be another way out. Everything Pansy was hollering out to them only made them scamper deeper into the tunnels. Then a strange sound made them stop dead in their tracks, causing them to stare in alarm at the direction they were heading.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat IS that, Hermione??\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know, Ginny, but it can\u2019t be good!\u201d A moment later there was a rush of water that swept them off their feet.<\/p>\n
\u201cHOLD ON! IT\u2019S SWEEPING US BACK TOWARD THEM!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWHAT DID SHE DO \u2013 TURN THE WHOLE BLOODY LAKE LOOSE ON US??\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI DON\u2019T KNOW! DO THEY REALLY INTEND TO DROWN US??\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHANG ON!\u201d<\/p>\n
They were forced into a small curvature of cavern, something of a dead end. The two of them were spun around in place, tumbling over each other as water rushed on by. Somehow they managed to scramble to their feet and stay in place, hanging onto a chunk of rock for dear life as well as that of each other.<\/p>\n
The flow of water subsided somewhat as the tunnels were partially filled. The two of them ended up totally drenched in their school robes. How they managed to hang onto their wands was anyone\u2019s guess.<\/p>\n
In an instant Hermione knew what was happening. \u201cThey\u2019re trying to force us back!\u201d she blurted out in alarm. \u201cIf we go back now we\u2019ll be captured for sure!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t even want to guess what they might do to us!\u201d Ginny gasped, alarmed over how the water continued to rise all around them<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if the water is coming in from somewhere, that means there\u2019s got to be an exit out of here, right? Will we come out somewhere out in Black Lake?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI sure hope so!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGinny, do we go forward or head back?\u201d<\/p>\n
The Gryffindor girl looked at Hermione for a long moment. She used her lighted wand to look ahead and then look back in the direction they\u2019d come. Then she nodded grimly at her friend.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m with you all the way, Hermione!\u201d she proclaimed. \u201cI\u2019m willing to look for another exit out of here if you are!\u201d<\/p>\n
For Hermione there was no other option. She wasn\u2019t going back to risk ending up in Pansy\u2019s clutches again. Who knows what that Slytherin girl might be capable of!<\/p>\n
\u201cThen let\u2019s get going!\u201d she declared, pointing her lighted wand forward. \u201cThe water\u2019s rising fast in here! We\u2019ve got to find an exit and get out of here!\u201d And with that the two began slogging their way forward in ever rising water.<\/p>\n
It was not rushing through the caverns as swiftly as it had been previously. But with each step Ginny became painfully aware that it was getting higher and higher. It was getting difficult just trying to stay on their feet!<\/p>\n
It finally got high enough to where Hermione slipped into a depression in the floor and slipped under the surface. \u201cHERMIONE??\u201d Ginny gasped in alarm. The Granger girl came back up sputtering.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess we start swimming!\u201d she called out, coughing as she shook the water out of her eyes. Ginny Weasley nodded as she too was lifted up off the floor of the cavern. She was forced into a combination of treading water and trying to swim forward while at the same time awkwardly using her wand as a light source.<\/p>\n
Both lapsed into uncomfortable silence as they swam, tread water, and grunted from their exertions. They were intent on reaching the lake and finding some sort of exit out of the caverns. But each one contemplated the exact same thought as they continued moving forward, one they were quite uncomfortable sharing with the other\u2026<\/p>\n
What if they couldn\u2019t make it out and were forced back into Pansy\u2019s clutches? What would that nutter do to them then??<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the bloody hell?\u201d<\/p>\n
All the girls gasped and then turned to see Draco Malfoy standing there staring in complete astonishment. \u201cWould someone mind telling me what\u2019s going on down here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got Granger and Weasley back there!\u201d Pansy said proudly, pointing at the force field and the water rising behind it. \u201cNow we\u2019re going to find out the exact location of those illegal meetings they\u2019ve been having!\u201d<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve got Ron and that mudblood down here in the caverns?\u201d Draco asked with a scowl, shaking his head in amazement. \u201cAre you daft?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot Ron, Draco!\u201d Pansy protested indignantly. \u201cWe\u2019ve got his SISTER Ginny! She\u2019s down in the tunnels with that mudblood right now!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you\u2019re going to get the location of these meetings out of the two of them how? \u2026by drowning them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course not! They\u2019re going to be forced to come back so we can catch them! Then we\u2019re going to make them tell us where they\u2019re holding those meetings!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cForce them to come back, eh?\u201d Draco asked dubiously, staring beyond the force field at the rising water. \u201cWell I sure don\u2019t see them coming back, Parkinson! You expect to get information out of a couple of corpses?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll come back, Draco; they\u2019ve GOT to! There\u2019s nowhere else for them to go!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you SURE about that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure I\u2019m sure!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why don\u2019t I just wait here with you,\u201d he said sourly, folding his arms and planting himself firmly in place. \u201cThis I\u2019ve just GOT to see!\u201d<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
\u201cHermione, the water\u2019s getting higher! Are you sure this is such a good idea?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t go back now, Ginny! They\u2019ll catch us for sure! Who knows what they\u2019ll do to us! Maybe we\u2019ll get expelled for invading their common room!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan\u2019t we just tell someone how they kidnapped you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTell who\u2026 Umbridge?\u201d Ginny immediately nodded her head, knowing that was clearly not an option.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right \u2013 you\u2019re right! So what do we do now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re committed, Ginny! We\u2019ve got to keep going forward! The exit to Black Lake has GOT to be up here somewhere! All this water has got to be coming in from SOMEWHERE!!\u201d<\/p>\n
Ginny nodded\u2026 and then slipped under the surface with a burble. She came back up sputtering, \u201cJust a minute, Hermione!\u201d Then she slipped under the surface again.<\/p>\n
Hermione Granger paused as she turned and flashed her lighted wand around. But her friend did not resurface right away. \u201cGinny??\u201d she cried out anxiously, frantically waving the light around to locate her friend. \u201cGINNY??\u201d<\/p>\n
The Weasley girl came back up panting loudly for breath. \u201cI ditched my shoes, Hermione!\u201d she blurted out. \u201cThey keep dragging me down! I think I\u2019m going to ditch my robe too before I drown myself!\u201d Then she slipped back under.<\/p>\n
Hermione held her light over the area and was able to see her friend work her way out of her robe and tie until she was only in her bra and knickers. Then she came back up. \u201cIt\u2019s bloody cold, but at least I won\u2019t keep sinking!\u201d Ginny explained to her bemused friend.<\/p>\n
Hermione paused and then nodded. \u201cHold my wand,\u201d she asked, handing it over to Ginny. Then she took a deep breath and went under.<\/p>\n
Ginny waved both wands over the area, watching as Hermione struggled with her footwear. She finally got them off her feet, bubbling like crazy as she next fought with her robe. Then there was a big burst of bubbles that panicked Ron\u2019s sister.<\/p>\n
Ginny tucked both wands into her bra and then slipped under to help. She grabbed Hermione and struggled with her robe to help get it off. It finally came free and they both came back up, coughing and sputtering\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, Ginny! I think I\u2019m going to keep my shirt \u2013 oh bloody hell; just forget it!\u201d Then she slipped below the surface again.<\/p>\n
Ginny pulled both wands back out to keep a close eye on her. But she wasn\u2019t visible directly below the surface now! Where had she gone??!!<\/p>\n
\u201cHERMIONE \u2013 HERMIONE??!! WHERE ARE YOU??!!\u201d<\/p>\n
The soaked blouse popped up and started drifting back into the caverns. Then there was a sudden gasp as Hermione came up partway down the passage. She had to swim back to their position where Ginny handed over her wand.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a minute there you scared me!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a minute there I scared myself! Now let\u2019s get going! This water is bloody cold!\u201d Then Hermione turned and headed further down the darkening passageway.<\/p>\n
Ginny held her wand up and saw how close the ceiling was. Then she gulped nervously as she set out after her friend. The water felt like it was getting colder. Surely that meant they were getting closer to the exit and to the frigid waters of Black lake!<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Back near the common room Draco Malfoy impatiently tapped his foot while Pansy Parkinson and her girls waited with growing anxiety.\u00a0 \u201cWell, Parkinson?\u201d he finally sighed with contempt. \u201cI don\u2019t see them yet! Got any more bright ideas?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll be back here any moment now!\u201d Pansy protested indignantly. \u201cI\u2019m SURE of it! They\u2019re not going to go drown themselves, are they?? That would be stupid!!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t put anything past that mudblood nutter,\u201d Draco scowled. \u201cThis was a brilliant plan, Parkinson; simply brilliant!\u201d But the disgust in his voice clearly indicated he felt exactly the opposite. All Pansy and the others could do was watch and wait with growing apprehension, wondering if perhaps they had just inadvertently drowned a couple of Hogwarts students\u2026<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
\u201cHermione, we\u2019re running out of air!\u201d Both girls had paused up in a diminishing air pocket, their heads tipped back as they gasped for breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cI KNOW that, Ginny!\u201d her friend gasped in growing alarm. \u201cBut what else can we do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to go back!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve come too far! I don\u2019t think I can hold my breath that long; can you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know that bubble-head charm?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo I don\u2019t; do you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe either! Hermione; how are we going to hold our breath??\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know, Ginny! But this air pocket is going fast! We\u2019ve got to find another one! Come on; follow me!\u201d<\/p>\n
Hermione slipped under the surface and pulled with her arms, bubbles trailing out of her mouth and nose as she moved further down the cavern tunnel, all the while using her wand to help illuminate the way. The greenish walls helped reflect the light back to them. But it seemed they were rapidly running out of time\u2026 and options!<\/p>\n
Ginny tried to stay right on her heels, bubbling out of her nose as she followed along. The water was really cold; she was starting to get numb all over! If they didn\u2019t get out soon they were either going to drown or die of hypothermia! And if they disappeared in Black lake, Pansy might not tell anyone what happened! Their bodies might never be recovered!!<\/p>\n
Hermione found another air pocket and emerged up into it. She was forced to tip her head back even more, gasping wildly for breath. She was chilled to the bone and was starting to lose hope. But she felt she had to stay strong for Ginny\u2019s sake as her friend emerged up into the pocket with her a couple seconds later.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlmost\u2026 there!\u201d she gasped. \u201cWe\u2026 have to be\u2026 almost there!\u201d Ginny nodded bravely, but she didn\u2019t believe a word of it. She was already starting to wonder how her friends would react once they both turned up missing\u2026<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
\u201cUh-oh,\u201d one of Pansy\u2019s girls muttered in alarm as a Gryffindor tie drifted into view. It was ominously followed by a robe the current had pushed back toward them. But there was no sign of their quarry.<\/p>\n
Pansy gasped in horror. Then her shoulders slumped in defeat. She turned toward Draco but she couldn\u2019t bring herself to face him.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrilliant, Parkinson!\u201d he told her, shaking his head in disgust. Then he angrily pointed toward the caverns.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir bodies are drowned somewhere back there in our caverns\u2026 and it\u2019s YOUR OWN BLOODY FAULT! Now you\u2019d better drain all this water and then get rid of their bodies, ok? I\u2019m not taking the heat for this!\u201d Then he spun on his heels and angrily marched out of the caverns, muttering to himself about the stupidity of the female gender.<\/p>\n
Pansy looked at the other girls around her who were starting to slink away. \u201cWhere do you gits think you\u2019re going?\u201d she demanded. But she no longer had power over any of them, not after killing a couple of Hogwarts students. Soon she found herself all alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cBloody hell!\u201d she muttered under her breath. Then she cast a spell in the direction of all that water behind the force field\u2026<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
\u201cHermione; we\u2019ve got to get moving! The air is almost gone!\u201d<\/p>\n
Ginny\u2019s friend nodded tiredly and then gasped for breath, filling her lungs with as much air as she could. But she wasn\u2019t sure where the next air pocket was going to be. And she wasn\u2019t sure how much longer she could hold her breath anymore down here. The cold was really sapping her strength!<\/p>\n
She thought about heading back, but by now it certainly had to be much too far away to make it on one breath. She now believed they were either too far from the entrance to Black lake, or there was simply no exit to find. Hermione Granger firmly believed they were both going to drown down here.<\/p>\n
What would happen then? Would Pansy find them and bring them out? Not bloody likely. She would probably let them disappear in the maze of tunnels or end up drowned somewhere at the bottom of Black Lake. She would never get to see Harry again, would never get to tell Ron how deeply fond of him she had become.<\/p>\n
She looked at Ginny who was still gamely swimming with her. She felt sorry for her as she knew Ginny had feelings for Harry. Now those feelings would never be fully explored.<\/p>\n
Her lungs heaved and she lost a burst of air. Instinctively she headed upward for the cavern ceiling. But there was no air to be had. A moment later her lungs simply gave out\u2026<\/p>\n
Ginny bubbled in horror as she watched Hermione\u2019s body start to jerk and convulse in the throes of drowning. She cried out in horror and rushed over to her, scooping her up in her arms. But there was no air pocket to be had; nothing she could do for her as her own lungs were on fire! Soon she would be drowning too!<\/p>\n
She suddenly became aware of the current taking them both forward. Somehow her mind told her it was Pansy making sure their bodies would end up in Black Lake and not found somewhere in the caverns to incriminate the Slytherin house. She shuddered from the cold, bubbling weakly as Hermione continued to spasm in her arms.<\/p>\n
It suddenly grew lighter; were their wands brightening the tunnels? She looked around but the cavern walls were suddenly gone. Ginny began kicking upward with all her might, noticing that the bubbles she released were now going quite a distance upward.<\/p>\n
She kicked harder, her lungs on fire as her stomach heaved insistently. Her body felt numb all over; it was only a matter of moments! Remembering what Harry had done at the Tri-wizard competition, and with her arms clutched tightly around Hermione\u2019s body, she pointed her wand upward and cast a spell.<\/p>\n
Ginny Weasley was suddenly aware of movement as they both shot upward together. Then they were out of the water and arching back downward. They landed roughly upon a section of sand next to some rocks, an unconscious Hermione landing on top of her and knocking the breath out of her.<\/p>\n
She coughed and sputtered, all dizzy and disoriented. Then she realized Hermione wasn\u2019t breathing. She had to do something or she was going to lose her!!<\/p>\n
She remembered some CPR training she had taken so she started pumping on her friend\u2019s chest, trying to pump the water out of her lungs. Then she bent over her mouth and blew a couple of deep breaths into her. Hermione\u2019s chest rose and fell\u2026 rose and fell again\u2026<\/p>\n
\u2026and then she coughed once, spewing water out of her mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cHermione?? HERMIONE??!!\u201d But there was no further movement.<\/p>\n
Ginny tried pumping her chest again several times. Then she pressed their lips together and blew two more deep breaths into her lungs. Hermione\u2019s chest rose and fell\u2026 rose and fell again\u2026<\/p>\n
\u2026and once more water was coughed out of a set of lungs. Then the Granger girl\u2019s eyelids fluttered.<\/p>\n
\u201cHermione?? HERMIONE?? BREATHE! YOU\u2019D BETTER BLOODY WELL BREATHE FOR ME!\u201d<\/p>\n
Hermione blinked again\u2026 sputtered up more lake water\u2026 and then went into a coughing fit. Ginny grabbed her and lifted her up into her arms, immensely relieved as she hugged her tightly\u2026 only to realize how bitterly cold her friend was!<\/p>\n
With all her remaining strength she eased Hermione back down onto the sand long enough to go around and gather up any driftwood she could find, gathering it into a pile. Then she started what soon became a roaring fire. She got her friend as close as she dared without singing her, doing her best to rub warmth back into her terribly chilled body.<\/p>\n
Hermione coughed again but she was breathing better\u2026 breathing on her own now. She blinked her eyes in confusion before curiously looking at her friend. \u201cGinny, did you just\u2026 kiss me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s ALL you can think about??\u201d Ginny Weasley said with a laugh of relief as tears streaked down her cheeks.<\/p>\n
Hermione looked all around. Then her face registered her surprise at where they were. \u201cHow did we\u2026 get out of the caverns?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t really know,\u201d Ginny admitted. \u201cI think maybe Pansy figured we drowned so she reversed the direction of the water. I guess the current took us out into the lake.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat git!\u201d was all her friend could say.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said it, Hermione. So what do we tell the others?\u201d<\/p>\n
Hermione looked at the two of them sitting there wearing only their bras and knickers and looking quite bedraggled. Then she smiled wryly. \u201cI say we tell them nothing. I don\u2019t want any of the boys trying to imagine how we came out of the water looking like this! I say we find some clothes and then get back into Hogwarts without saying one bloody word!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBrilliant,\u201d Ginny agreed with a nod. Then she paused before asking, \u201cSo what do you think Pansy will do when she sees us tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf she knows what\u2019s good for her she won\u2019t say a word,\u201d Hermione surmised. \u201cShe\u2019ll probably treat it like it never happened. I say we do the same. And we never tell Ron or Harry what happened or they will be blooming mad and will want to seek revenge.\u201d Again Ginny nodded her agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s get warmed up,\u201d Hermione told her, finally able to smile a little now that it was all over. \u201cThen let\u2019s see if we can find some clothes somewhere and then get back into Hogwarts without having to explain ourselves.\u201d Then she shivered as she added, \u201cI\u2019d forgotten how bloody cold that water is! No more swims for me!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe either,\u201d Ginny replied. There was an awkward moment before she murmured, \u201cOh bloody hell!\u201d as she reached over and hugged her friend. Hermione warmly hugged her back, totally oblivious to the chill as well as their current state of attire…<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
At breakfast the next morning Pansy Parkinson nearly choked on her oatmeal when she saw Hermione and Ginny calmly walk to their table and then sit down to eat. Some of the other Slytherin house girls gasped and then started murmuring among themselves in utter amazement. \u201cYou are bloody lucky, Parkinson.\u201d was all Draco whispered to the girl who wanted to be his girlfriend.<\/p>\n
When they sat down to eat Harry wanted to know where the two had been all night long. \u201cGirl talk.\u201d was Ginny\u2019s coy response. \u201cAnd that\u2019s all we\u2019re saying on the matter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGirls!\u201d Ron Weasley sighed heavily in exasperation as he went back to his meal. \u201cI\u2019ll never understand them!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t even try, Ron,\u201d Harry said, shaking his head as he went back to his oatmeal. \u201cDon\u2019t even try.\u201d<\/p>\n
As it turned out, the incident would be quickly forgotten the moment Headmaster Delores Umbridge summoned another teacher to her office, seeking to use a special serum to loosen some lips\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a9 2015 (written for JQPublic Aug 2 \u201915 by riwa)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pansy Parkinson releases Black Lake on the two Gryffindor girls, who must find some way out of the caverns if they are to keep from drowning or being captured. Continue reading