𝙞'𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙧

chapter 17

"so...you and draco are really over?" hermione wondered, looking at talia as the two sat by the fire. it was night out now, and she was trying to make conversation.

not just any conversation, but the kind about boys and any drama she's missed out on. the kind she could have with a girl like talia that she couldnt have with harry or ron. a normal teenage girl one.

"we don't have to talk about it." she took it back when she saw the look on her friend's face. talia shook her head.

"it's okay. we actually, um..."

tal's eyes wandered to look at hermione's face, who had her eyebrows furrowed. she let out a small chuckle.

"actually, maybe it's better if we don't." she said, knowing hermione wasn't draco's number one fan. hermione shook her head, however, putting her hands out.

"no, nonsense. i may have my own opinions on draco, but i know you love him."

hearing hermione say that made talia feel better. so, she continued on.

"i actually think we're gonna try to make it work. we took a trip where he even met my parents...my adoptive parents and everything. and i know it sounds silly because he broke up with me trying to protect me and everything. but i guess when we saw each other at school again we just..couldn't stay away." tal thought. she looked at hermione, who was smiling.

"i'm really happy for you, tal."

talia could sense a feeling in hermione she wasn't familiar with. it was like a longing for something similar.

"what about you and ron? i mean, besides the fact your totally getting married and having a bunch of ginger babies one day." she joked, making herself and hermione laugh.

hermione shrugged.

"i don't know. he's..he's different. and i keep telling myself it's because of the locket, and all of the stress were under right now, but i can't be sure." she looked at the ground. tal nodded, understanding.

"it probably is. i mean, i see the way he looks at you when he doesn't have it on. totally smitten."

hermione blushed and laughed again. the sound of both girls' laughter faded out over the crackling fire, however, making them feel more comfortable then they were.

the snap of a twig was heard in the distance. hermione and tal's heads swooshed over, both of them making eye contact and slowly getting up to investigate.

the sound of leaves rustling pulled both girls further into the woods. talia didn't get a nervous feeling until she realized how far away they were from the tents, but she knew there was something out here. she could sense it.

both her and hermione stopped to look around. nothing was seen. they made curious eye contact.

"there's an enchantment over us to keep us hidden." hermione whispered tal's way, trying to calm both of them down. the slight comfort was quickly erased, however, when another twig snap was heard, followed by footsteps.

out of the darkness of the woods, three men were seen, one of them carrying a smaller body. talia quickly grabbed hermione's hand as the three men miraculously walked past the girls, unable to see them.

tal knew immedietly they were snatchers, hermione having filled her in earlier. men paid for by the ministry in gold if they rounded up muggle borns and blood traitors.

tal's heart dropped when one of the men stopped suddenly after he walked by them.

"what's that?" he asked.

he turned around and stepped eerily close to talia and hermione, his eyebrows furrowed.

"whats that smell?" the man thought out loud as he leaned in closer. talia held her breath, the man looking directly between both girls.

he did this for a long moment until one of the other men dropped the body he was carrying.

"what're you doing?" the man turned away from the girls, his attention being pulled. both talia and hermione let a breath out at the same time.

"it's heavy."

"oh, sorry. do you want me to carry it?"

"yeah. thank you."

"oh, don't be ridiculous. pick it up."

tal let out a relieved chuckle. she found it unbelievable how even when she was standing right in front of him, the man still couldn't see her. it was incredible.

the snatchers walked off. harry came up behind hermione and talia, watching the scene unfold.

"snatchers. good to know your enchantments work." he commented. talia nodded, slightly out of breath from anticipation. she looked in the direction the men where, only to see they had walked off.

"he could smell it. our perfume." hermione looked at talia worriedly. she shook her head, turning around.

"let's just go to bed. i'm exhausted."

the three started walking back towards the tents, crunching leaves under their feet as they did so. harry struck up conversation.

"when do you think we should be on the move again?" he wondered. hermione huffed.

"i've told you. ron isn't strong enough to apparate." she explained. talia bit her fingernail, trying to think of another way.

"we could always go on foot." she offered, even though she knew it would still be difficult, but it was risky staying with snatchers being so close by.

"and next time, try not to wear as much perfume. as much as i like your perfume." harry went on.

talia rolled her eyes as the three of them continued for the tents, ready to go to bed.