This story is written for my own amusement and in no way is meant to infringe upon the amazing copyrighted work of J.K. Rowling.

THE RIDE

Prologue: present day

The ethereal glow of the sun's rays were cut off as his shadow passed over her. Her breath hitched sharply as she looked up, filled with panic as she recognized his face. Immediately her mind engaged her heart in battle to keep the rising feelings at bay. No, she silently pleaded with herself as her sight grew blurry with unwanted tears. Not again, please! But even as her lips formed a small "oh" and she moved her head almost imperceptibly from side to side, she knew it was already too late…

It was a beautiful spring day. Hermione had just showered and changed into a lightweight, yellow cotton sundress after planting in her garden all morning. Now she was sitting under her favorite shade tree, on top of the knoll overlooking her house, curled up with her favorite book and a glass of lemonade. On the warm breeze she could smell the recently turned earth and the succulent honeysuckle vine just out of sight on the far side of her house. The sun warmed her arms and the leafy shade from the tree gently filtered the light to bounce off the copper highlights in her deep chestnut hair. Anyone looking at the young woman might have had to double take after the first impression of an angel.

With each breath she felt her heart swell with an almost indescribable feeling of rightness. Everything in this moment was nearly perfect. A smile graced her lips and caused her eyes to sparkle. Her life was finally on track and she was happy with the direction she was going. Contentment was an elusive thing, which had never come easily to her. But she had finally found it…after all of these years. Only one thing could make her life happier, but it was a dream long ago lost…one she could never have back. And she had learned to live with that truth.

And then, without warning, he was kneeling in front of her. His eyes held hers captive as she tried to understand his being there. But she couldn't. It didn't make sense. Nothing about him ever had.

Before she could even wonder how he found her, she felt the pull of his gaze deep in the pit of her stomach. His eyes. She never could escape those eyes. They warmed her as they made her shudder. She was trapped inside a delicious hell each time she found herself falling into them. She tried to look away, to push him aside and run. But she was barely able to breathe. It was a sure sign that she was losing herself to him. Again. The problem was, this time she didn't want to go along for the ride.