The Lonely Goatherd

5 - The Lonely Goatherd

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

It was still dark when Hermione woke up, memories of the previous night flooding her mind. Rain was pounding against the windows, and she snuggled deeper into the blanket. Don't want to get up just yet, she thought sleepily and started when someone knocked on the door.

Louisa walked in with a tray. "Severus sent me up. He said you must eat." She sounded stern.

"It's early, and I had dinner last night," Hermione protested, though as the scent of the carrot soup, delicately spiced with ginger, its aroma enhanced by coriander, reached her, she realised she was hungry.

Louisa laughed. "Hermione! It's gone four o'clock!"

Hermione blinked, then groaned. "I thought it was still morning. How long was I asleep?"

"Well, we got home around three in the morning. We all slept in, and you did incredible things last night, so the least you deserve is some uninterrupted sleep." Louisa handed her a bowl with the fragrant soup, and Hermione took it gratefully.

As her stomach gradually filled, her mind put the jumble of thoughts into order. I must go and see Minerva... As soon as the contemplation was complete, though, she knew she didn't have to go.

Hermione hurried through the remainder of her meal, noticing Louisa watching her carefully. "I'm fine, girl," she said.

"I know you are, Hermione. But there is something..." Louisa's voice drifted off.

Do they all have the Sight? Hermione wondered, exhaling. "Minerva is on her way. She'll be here shortly. In fact..." she threw the covers off "...I should get ready now to look presentable for the Lady."

Louisa rose immediately. "Did you have enough to eat?"

Hermione smiled. "Yes, thank you."

The younger witch picked up the tray and turned to leave, and Hermione determinedly left the warm comfort of her bed and headed for the bathroom.

Donning an undyed woollen robe, Hermione went to the kitchen to make some tea. She was thankful that Severus, too, preferred the Muggle method of brewing it; heating water with magic adjusted the taste in a manner similar to microwaves, something Hermione had never appreciated.

The tea was just ready when someone knocked at the door. She heard Snape's fast strides and reached for another mug.

Severus entered the kitchen with Minerva, and Hermione bowed to her. "My Lady. I hope your journey was peaceful."

"Child. It's good to see you." The priestess smiled and dismissed formalities by pulling Hermione into an embrace.

It was good to feel the elder's love. Hermione hadn't realised until then just how exhausting the previous night had been. She took a deep breath, trying her best to not fall apart. "Tea is ready." She motioned for Minerva to choose a seat at the table.

"We should go to the living room, you know," Severus stated, hesitance evident in his voice.

He was met with smiles. "Oh, no, thank you. The kitchen is the heart of a home; I will be most content here," Minerva said and sat down nearest to the hearth. "'Tis cold out, I must say. Even Apparating doesn't stop the chill from going straight to my bones." She shuddered lightly as she rubbed her hands in front of the lively fire. "But then, I doubt it's a natural chill..."

She motioned for Severus to join the table. "You may as well hear it, Severus." Her priestess status alone did not allow for refusal, and he sat down.

"Hermione, I take it you don't read Muggle papers." Minerva dug out a copy of the Sunday Times from her pocket, folded to show a picture of Hermione, obviously taken the previous night from one of the helicopters as she'd approached the children.

Hermione glanced at it, read, and did a double take. "What?" She laughed. "They call me a terrorist for saving two innocent children? That's ridiculous! And heavily armed? I didn't know carrying a wand when the magic is disabled qualifies as heavily armed!"

Severus shook his head and snatched the paper from her and read, a sneer spreading across his face. "Ludicrous." He faced Minerva. "You know more."

Minerva nodded gravely. "Yes, indeed. That's why I'm here." She took a deep breath, caressing Hermione's hand. "The current Muggle Prime Minister..." her voice turned to a whisper "...is a Squib. He hates our world and wants to take over and ban wand magic. In fact, I have reason to believe he was brought into the position to enable those dark powers to find our world."

Hermione gasped; Severus cast his eyes downward. "So my hunch was right."

"Indeed, Severus," Minerva confirmed. She turned to Hermione again. "He is the illegitimate offspring of one Guinevere Prince and Abraxas Malfoy."

Hermione's widened eyes met Snape's. "Oh, Merlin..."

"Yes, Miss Granger, an unfortunate union between my mother's sister and Lucius's father." His voice was grave, and her heart went out to him.

"It's not your fault, you know," she whispered.

His laugh sounded bitter. "No. But it leaves a stain nevertheless."

"Oh, please, Severus," Minerva said. "You know the old ways. It does not leave a stain on you at all. You've done more for the wizarding world than anyone I know except, perhaps, Harry Potter, but you do not wish to hear that."

"No. I do not." He looked mutinous.

Minerva smiled as she turned back to Hermione, but quickly turned solemn again. "So we have a Squib Muggle Prime Minster, who is hell-bent on banishing magic. He has enough funding to infiltrate our Ministry, and he's obviously done so already. He cannot, however, use that nasty Muggle technology to mess with the magic of the Goddess." She nodded at Hermione's widened eyes. "Yes. If we succeed in teaching earth magic, at least the basics of it, to all communities in our world, he will not succeed, no matter how many wizards he's bought in the Ministry."

Hermione took a deep breath. "What do you wish me to do? I will do anything needed."

Minerva touched her arm. "Yes. I know, Hermione. I want you to stay here for now. Teach the children as much as possible. I have no doubt they'll learn fast. After all, they, too, are children of the Isle."

She turned to Severus next. "I'll have Liesl go to Hogwarts to teach earth magic as an extra-curricular subject. I will go myself once a week as soon as I Summon protection for the most important places. You need to learn more and then share your knowledge with your friends."

Severus nodded curtly, and Minerva turned back to Hermione. "Will you please inform Ginny Potter if she doesn't know already? Potter is as much at risk as you are. Which brings me to another subject." She frowned and took a deep breath.

"Hermione, you are safe here. I ensured that as I came in. You are also safe, of course, in Avalon. But if you go out anywhere, be very careful."

Hermione nodded slowly. Why? Why me?

"Because you have chosen this task, Hermione," Minerva said, her voice filled with a brand of urgency Hermione had never heard before. "I will not ask you to teach Narcissa, but if you have it in your heart..." She didn't need to finish the sentence.

"Of course," Hermione whispered. She glanced at Severus. "Would you please tell Narcissa?" The thought of herself having to tell the blonde witch devastated her.

"Yes. I will. In fact, I'll Floo-call her now." Severus exited the kitchen in a hurry.

Hermione buried her head in her hands on the table.

"Hermione." Minerva's gentle voice penetrated her to the core.

"No. No, please, don't."

"You are a priestess, Hermione!" the Lady reminded her harshly. "Look at me!"

Hermione lifted her head wearily to face Minerva. "I..."

"Child... Love is never wrong," the Lady started.

"No... only futile." Hermione sighed heavily.

"Why do you think so?" Minerva asked, raising her eyebrows. "I was not under that impression at all."

Hermione was relieved as well as bothered to see Severus walk into the kitchen followed closely by Narcissa, who bowed deeply when she saw who sat at the kitchen table.

"Merry Meet, Narcissa," the Lady offered and stretched a hand over her head in blessing.

"Merry Meet, my Lady. It is an honour to see you again," Narcissa returned and straightened.

"I trust Severus has already told you."

The blonde nodded. "Hermione is in danger, as is the entire wizarding world. From Muggles no less." She sneered, and Hermione noted with a stab that even with such an unsightly expression the witch looked spectacularly elegant. "All courtesy of my father-in-law and his illegitimate offspring. May he rest in peace." She could not have sounded less genuine if she'd tried, Hermione thought.

Minerva bestowed a smile on her. "If we all work together, we'll rise triumphant once more." Her smile faded as she continued. "Hermione has agreed to teach elemental magic, and I suggest you'll find friends who are willing to learn from you. The more witches, and wizards, are capable of our magic, the better our chances." The Lady sighed deeply and added, "We may have to restore the full Beltane Rites, for their magic is more powerful than any other."

Narcissa's eyes widened, as did Hermione's. No. No! I will not lie with some stranger I'll never know!

Severus frowned deeply. "You mean the hunt for the stag? Only if we have not changed the situation by then, no?" The practice of crowning the hunter of the stag as the Horned One had long been abandoned; killing for merely ritual purposes was barbaric, it had been decided, something the uncivilised folk engaged in. The Gods had rewarded the abolition of the practise with hundreds of years of peace and continuous abundant harvests on the Isle. For reasons nobody save, perhaps, a high initiate knew, the deer population had never grown out of bounds, as if the Gods had shown their approval of the abolishment thus.

"Indeed, Severus. But I'll be pleasantly surprised if this situation resolves quickly." Minerva finished her tea and stood, facing Hermione. "Walk to the gate with me, child. I wish to speak with you."

Hermione barely managed to hide her panic and rose. "Certainly, my Lady." She exited the kitchen and waited at the front door until Minerva had said her good-byes; then, together, they walked towards the gate.

"When I invited you to Avalon, it was first and foremost because I thought you needed healing. Healing from a childhood lost to war, healing from your deeds where your parents are concerned...and I know you not only meant the best for them but it was the best solution...and healing from your ill-fated relationship with Mr Weasley. We women are vulnerable, even more so when we're young and haven't had time to grow up, Hermione, and you needed a period of healing." Minerva shot a sharp glance at her. "Did you not?"

"Yes... yes, I did. And I'll be forever grateful you provided that," Hermione said, her eyes now meeting her mentor's. "I had planned to take the vow, to live my life, every step of my life, in the service of the Goddess," she whispered. "How can I now? I..." sobs interrupted her words "...if I'd known I'd fall for him, I would not have come here." She straightened. "Alas, he and Narcissa seem to get along very well, so I'm sure I'll get over this silly crush."

"Don't be daft," Minerva said in her typical Head-of-Gryffindor voice. "What makes you think that?"

Hermione stared at her. "She is here almost every day. They spend hours together, talking, he cooks for her, they go for walks..."

"Did you ever see them kiss? Or be otherwise intimate?"

Hermione thought for a moment. "N... no... I have not. They laugh together, and she stands very close to him when he cooks her favourite meal, but no. They always behave properly."

"Look at me, Hermione. Does that sound like a couple having an illicit affair?" Minerva's face softened to a smile.

"I don't know," the younger witch whispered. "How can I know?"

"Exactly. You cannot. So what makes you believe they are?" She grabbed Hermione's shoulders. "Do not make excuses for your feelings, child. Watch Narcissa and Severus for what they are: very close friends. Lucius was not happy about Hermann entering his life, and Narcissa needed a friend who would not judge her for either past misdeeds or the decision to provide a family for Hermann. Severus fit that need. Now, I must leave." She cast a blessing on the younger witch and disappeared, leaving behind a young priestess with more questions than answers.

Being born with a complete memory is not easy at times. It breaks my own heart to see Hermione so crushed. She knows, somehow, that Severus has an interest in her, yet she is so misled about Narcissa's interest in him. I do not know why she can't see the truth. Narcissa was born to love Lucius, and she would die if she stopped. Her heart belongs to Lucius, and Severus is merely lucky Lucius likes him enough to share his wife's time with him. I suspect my arrival made him realise that just because Narcissa likes someone, or even loves someone, doesn't mean her love for her Lucius will deteriorate. It never will. He is lucky he is not aware of his true power over her; it could generate bad karma for him.

A/N: Grateful thanks to blue_paris for the beta.

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