A/N Ummm....right, my comments...I want everyone to know, 
that I like my romance subtle. That's why there hasn't been 
that much yet, but it's still there, and trust me, I have the end 
all figured out and it IS romantic and all. Okay, that's done 
with...Hope you like this part, it was the hardest to write so 
far, so be sure to review, you have no idea how happy reviews 
make me. Thanks to everyone who reviewed last time, I love 
you all, really! Alright, I'll be quiet now, I'm feeling very 
talkative though. If anyone wants to chat, email me at 
snowydee12@aol.com Oh, right, the story...Here you go... 





"There's not much there," said Harry, emptying the gillyweed 
into his palm, "Barely enough for fifteen minutes down there, 
and only one of us can have a go."

Hermione shivered and pulled her cloak tighter about her, 
"Well, then I'll take it," she said quickly.

"I can't believe your missing this many classes, Hermione," 
said Ron as they all trudged down to the lake. 

"Despite what some people think, there are things I find more 
important then schoolwork," Hermione snapped. She took out 
her wand at tapped the ice. "Emsarium," she breathed softly. 
The ice bubbled in the center and then slowly gave way to 
water. She took the gillyweed in her hand and raised it to her 
mouth.

For a split second, Ron was overcome with the urge to knock it 
from her hand. "Hermione, do you really think you should go 
down there alone?" he asked.

"And how else would I get down there?" she said expectantly. 

"It could be dangerous..." 

Hermione bristled, "Really Ron, I can take care of myself," she 
said, "Ewww....Harry, how horrible does this taste?" 

"It's really slimy, sorta like you're eating worms," said Harry 
with a grin.

"Sounds lovely," Hermione said sniffily, she lowered it into her 
mouth and choked it down. Nothing happened for a few 
moments, she felt completely normal except for the wretched 
taste that the gillyweed had left in her mouth. "Harry, what's 
happening? I don't feel..." she broke off abruptly and began to 
cough. It was as if all the air had been sucked away around 
her. She gasped and heaved a deep breath but her lungs just 
couldn't draw in the air. She wasn't thinking straight. Just do 
something, quick! She thought to herself, and yet nothing was 
making sense! She felt frozen to the spot, and everything was 
darkening, spinning around her and engulfing her...

"Blimey, get into the water!" Harry yelled. His voice sounded 
far away and muffled. 

Right, you heard him, go on...Hermione bit her lip, trying to 
get a grip on her thoughts. Nothing made sense, she felt 
sick...

"Hermione, what the hell are you doing? Just get in!" Said 
Ron, she felt him shove her towards the water. 

She couldn't move at all...

Everything spun around as she hurled herself into the lake. As 
she dove down, her surroundings focused and she came to. 
The water was freezing, but as it flowed about her it only felt 
cool and comforting. The water was a crystalline blue, and 
icicles coated the lake bottom, jutting out all over. Hermione 
caught her breath and began to swim faster. She swam for 
quite a while without realizing where she was going...

The sky darkened above her and she heard the steady beating 
of rain. She felt her head collide with a solid wall of ice. 
"Lumos," she muttered, rubbing her head irritably, but only a 
bubble of air came out of her mouth. 

She let out a silent shriek as she saw what was in front of her.

A Pegasus.

It was posed as if in mid flight, its tiny wings beating against 
the water. Solid ice encased its body, and the look on its face 
was not one of fear or pain...

But regret.

Hermione touched her hand to the ice. She felt her face flush 
against the cold water. She drew out her wand and quickly 
recited a melting spell, but nothing happened. Spinning about, 
she noticed that she was in some sort of underground cavern. 
There were stacks of ice all about her, a single Pegasus 
suspended in each one. She felt a pang of guilt, and then a 
wave of fresh fury.

It was like a labyrinth, no matter which way she turned she 
saw more of them. Hermione shut her eyes and feverishly 
searched for a way out. How could no one have noticed this 
before her? Had no one ever bothered to find out? Had anyone 
even tried?

She had a strange ringing in her ears and everything seemed 
to be blurring together.

Right, that's it, I'm going mad, she thought. But then she felt a 
new wave of fear...her hands flew to her neck and she realized 
with a surge of panic that her gills had disappeared. She 
pushed against the wall and pressed against the ceiling to the 
cavern. It was solid, and not about to give way. She took a 
deep breath of water and choked on it. Steadying herself she 
swam forward. There was a pale light up ahead, if she could 
get there then maybe...

Hermione pressed up against the ice. If she could just melt it 
she'd be out, she'd be safe...There was the slightest bit of air 
between it and the water. She breathed in deeply trying to 
clear her head. Nothing helped. She fumbled for her wand but 
found that she couldn't concentrate, couldn't get a grip on it, 
couldn't breath...

It slipped from her grasp and swirled down through the water. 
She heard it land softly at the bottom of the lake, she couldn't 
reach it now. Her body slipped down, unable to stay afloat any 
longer, the water and ice blended together and began to spin 
furiously. Slowly, it began to fade into darkness She felt 
herself go limp, and then something grasped her around her 
waist. 

Everything went black.







"Hermione?" Harry's voice drifted about her. She winced and 
waved away the sound. 

"Harry?" she whispered.

"You alright?" said Harry. He had dark circles under his eyes 
and looked agitated, "You really gave us a fright."

"I thought I drowned..." Hermione said softly.

"Well, yeah, you almost did," Harry fidgeted a bit in his seat.

"Where's Ron?" she mumbled, sitting up abruptly.

"Ahhh....resting, he swallowed quite a bit of water," he said 
anxiously.

Hermione blinked at him. Her mind seemed to be on rewind. 
Everything that had happened was flashing before her eyes. 
"Water?" she repeated weakly. 

Harry sighed heavily and rested his head in his hands. "You 
were under there for a long time, and we figured you got into 
a spot of trouble," he paused, "Ron was er...really nervous 
after you'd been under twenty minutes. Made me go to the 
school and get help. By the time I got back, Ron was gone and 
well..." he shrugged, "Got you just in time though." Catching 
the look on Hermione's face he added hastily, "He's alright, 
mind, just a bit off."

Hermione squirmed in her bed. She couldn't think of anything 
to say. "Oh," she said flatly, "Alright."

"Hermione!" said Ron loudly, walking very quickly through the 
door. He looked pale and kept coughing. "You're alright!" His 
voice sounded anxious, but he seemed to be trying to keep his 
words even.

"I'm fine," said Hermione. She shifted again and stood up. 
Really, she was fine, she didn't need everyone fussing over 
her...

Ron seemed taken aback. "Ahhh....that's good," he said 
shortly.

Hermione felt herself go red, "Er...that's twice you've saved 
me. Thanks," she mumbled awkwardly.

"Oh...that's okay," said Ron.

There was a short pause that seemed to contain an eternity. 
Hermione broke it hurriedly and said, "Listen, when I was 
down there I saw the Pegasus, all of them. They're all frozen 
down there, in these great blocks of ice." Ron and Harry stared 
at her blankly.

"You still on about that?" said Harry, "Hermione, there's no 
way we can save them. Give it up."

"I'm not giving up." On the contrary, she looked more 
determined then ever.

"You want to go through that again?" asked Ron incredulously, 
"After all that? After we both almost drowned?"

"I can't let them all die!" Hermione insisted shrilly.

"Would you rather we died?" asked Ron.

"You don't understand," said Hermione, her face flushing in 
anger, "You just don't understand."

"What d'you mean I don't understand? Hermione, I don't think 
we should all risk our lives for those Pegasus, that's all!" 
replied Ron, "It's not worth that. Nothing's worth that."

"You just don't care, do you? Don't want to risk your life for 
anyone else," Hermione said swiftly, "All that matters to you, 
Ron Weasley, is you."

"Right, that's it!" Ron yelled furiously, "I almost drowned to 
save you, but I don't care about anyone but myself!" He spun 
on his heels and stalked out of the room.

Harry made as if to go after Ron, but stayed by Hermione and 
said quietly, "He does, you know."

Hermione glared at him, "Does what?"

"Care," said Harry shortly.

"Oh, leave me alone!" snapped Hermione, and she too got up 
and stormed out of the room, leaving Harry feeling both very 
alone and very confused.

To be continued...