With a shimmer and a loud crack and thud!, the four finally hit the ground. Harry was carrying Griphook under his arm while he was clutching Dobby's small hand…
Were they all safe? All of them? He supposed they—
"Where's Hermione?" Ron's shaking voice echoed. He then started yelling "Hermione! Hermione!" Harry met Ron's trembling eyes and recognized fear in it. He immediately let go of the goblin and in the elf in his hands. Even though he heard both fall hard on the ground, he paid the noise no attention, his mind already running through the worst possibilities that it could envision.
Both Ron and Harry delved into through the darkness and searched for Hermione, as they screamed her name. They had only been searching for a minute, looking through the shadows surrounding the shell cottage, when Ron had his little epiphany.
"Shit! Oh shit!" screamed Ron. As it was lit, Harry moved Draco's wand and directed it to Ron—there, he saw him sitting on a rock, his hands on his now crimson face. Harry scurried towards Ron and even tried to ignore the searing pain of his scar.
"Where is it? Just give it to me, my dear boy, and you shall not be harmed."
The old man, who looked to be in his late 60s, shook his head rigorously and said, "it's not with me! I swear! I swear to death!"
Voldemort's nails dug into his skin as he clenched his fist. His anger was easily apparent despite his attempt to keep it hide. "Very well, you are no longer of any use to me.. Nagini, do your work." And then Harry watched, unable to help, as the enormous snake slithered towards the man.
"Harry! Are you even listening!!" yelled Ron, with his eyes on Harry's face. Harry, who was abstractedly rubbing his forehead looked at Ron straightaway. It was not that time to dive into Voldemort's mediocre mind. At least, not now.
"What?" Harry watched as Ron fumbled on Wormtail's wand, unable to meet Harry's eyes.
"Her beaded bag's with me. I—I don't know why—what—fuck!" He faltered still with quivering voice. "I was holding her! Clutching her hand even," he added.
"What are you trying to say?" asked Harry. And then Ron's horror-struck eyes looked into Harry's.
"She's still in that Manor," he finally said.
It all happened very fast: when the chandelier dropped on the floor, Bellatrix pushed Hermione forward as she dived on the side. Ron was running for Hermione. Draco, leaping away from the broken chandelier with a bloody face. Harry grabbed both Griphook's head and Dobby's hand. Lucius shielding Narcissa from the flying sharp pieces of the chandelier.
"Ron! Get out of here—now!" Harry screamed before disapparating into thin air. Bellatrix, ever blinded by fury, threw her dagger towards Harry's disappearing figure, and thought she hit the elf.
Able to see that the boy had fled and knowing that the Dark Lord was on HIS way, she desperately needed someone she could hand over. Promptly, she grabbed Narcissa's wand—which she was holding at the time—and pointed it to Hermione. "Stupefy!" cursed Bella.
Hermione's body flew away form Ron's disappearing figure and landed on the other side of the hall. It was too late for Ron to realize Hermione was not with him, then.
"But you were holding her! I saw it! Before I disapparated you were holding her, I saw it!" bawled Harry. It was impossible! It could not be… this could not happen! "HERMIONE! HERMIONE!" He screamed louder. He started to walk away and searched in the darkness once again. Ron followed him—they were going back to where Dobby and Griphook was—
"I don't know what happened! I was really holding her hand, and then—I don't know!" He yelled in frustration. He heard Harry mumble unintelligent words as he sloshed on the puddle they walked through.
"We'll just ask Dobby to get her there," said Harry. "Dobby." He shook the elf's shoulder as he bent. No answer. "Dobby," repeated Harry. Still, no answer. "Dobby? Dobby! No! Shit! You can't—Dobby! Dammit! DOBBY!!!"
"Where are they?? Answer me, you filthy Mudblood!" Bellatrix bellowed as she punched Hermione on the face.
"I don't know! I don't know!" cried Hermione.
The broken chandelier on the floor was now gone, and the scene was back to Bellatrix torturing Hermione.
"You lying piece of filth! Tell me where they are! Or else—or else I'll kill you!" screeched Bella, "where!!!" Oh, blimey, like Granger would even tell.
"I don't know! I don't know!" Hermione blubbered.
It was excruciating; really. Yes, he loathed the mudblood know-it-all, but…this was different. Watching her being tortured by his Aunt Bella made Draco's insides twist…made him pity her.
With an exasperated sigh, Bellatrix said, "Very well. If that's what you want, you piece of scum. CRUCIO!"
Hermione's screams echoed off the whole Manor. Her screams made Draco want to yell in frustration. He did not want this. He did not want this kind of life. He ran his fingers through his disheveled hair, and gulped nervously. He damn sure hoped that Potter and Weasley managed to rescue Granger. And if they managed to beat the Dark Lord into the bargain, it would be all too good for him.
"Sectumsempra!" shrieked Bellatrix with Narcissa's wand. Hermione whimpered in pain as she begged the witch to stop. Bellatrix laughed hysterically at the broken image of Hermione.
"Stop it, Bella. It's too much." Narcissa's cold voice traveled through Bellatrix's spine. She stopped laughing that instant—as Hermione stopped begging and whimpering—and looked at her sister tersely.
"Excuse me?" she asked, quite amused.
"I said, stop," Narcissa simply answered.
"Cissy, this Mudblood is Potter's—"
"She's just a girl, Bella! She not your plaything!"
Hermione opened her mouth to talk, thank Narcissa, probably, but she met Draco's eyes instead. He shook his head and then looked back at his aunt. Hermione then shut her mouth and waited for the next thing to happen.
She leaned against the wall and watch both witches argue. She glanced at Lucius and Draco, who were watching the two arguing women with expressionless faces. Hermione pulled out her trembling hand and touched her wet bloody cheek, flinching at the throb of the raw skin. It hurt—it bloody hurt. She felt her face sting as droplets of her sweat passed through her open wounds. Her curls were wet and sticking everywhere: her face, her neck… And then her clothes were also torn: her shirt was ripped in its lower section, where her sliced stomach was shown; her jeans were already tattered, with the right knee bleeding, completely dying her blue jeans red.
"Fine," said Bellatrix curtly, "I will stop. Greyback, she's yours," she smirked. She dismissed Narcissa, the moment she walked out of the hall.
Hermione felt her insides screw the moment she saw Greyback smirk and come her way.
"Shut up! Shut up or I'm going to make things worse for you!" roared Greyback as he struggled to keep Hermione's legs apart.
"No! Stay the hell away from me, you filthy bastard!" Hermione forced a low blow on Greyback. But the werewolf's reflexes are faster. He grabbed Hermione's left leg and weighed his right leg on it. Hermione cried and Greyback smirked at his own disgust. He then tore what's left of Hermione's ripped shirt and pinned both of her hands above her head. She wanted to fight. She wanted to; but hell, she knew her body couldn't. It was too tired, and wounded. But, relief struck Hermione when she thought of her friends: Harry and Ron will surely come back for her, wouldn't they?
Greyback's growl turned into a nasty laughter the moment Hermione's flesh came into view. Her shirt was thrown on the floor; and her jeans were on her knees, which leaves her only in bra and knickers. "Your lack of response turns me on, mudblood. Keep it that way," Greyback purred in her ear. He pulled away and immediately placed his filthy hands on her body.
His lips searched for hers in the darkness, until they found them. Oh, this was too easy. Good thing she had to go through the torturing first, before this. She was bloody delicious.
Greyback swamped his mouth onto hers, greedily covering them with his own. He bit her lip, causing her to open her lips, Greyback gaining access to her now violated mouth. His right hand stayed above her head, pinning both her hands on the wall, while his left touched every part of her body. He traced circles on her chest, caressing the soft fabric that covered her breasts. Then his left hand slid down to her stomach. With a smug smile on his thick lips—as Hermione felt—he inserted his hand inside Hermione's knickers.
As his rank weight pushed her closer to the floor, she whipped her head forward, smashing it as hard as she could into his snarling face.
"Ungh! Ow! Mudblood—fuck!" Greyback covered his nose with both hands. He drew out a hand and slapped her hard on the face, and cradled his broken nose again.
Someone from behind cleared his throat and Greyback turned around immediately. He grabbed his wand which lay on the edge of the cellar and pointed it to the man. Irritation washed through his face upon seeing who the intruder was. "What do you want, little Malfoy?" asked Greyback aggravatingly.
"Aunt Bella asked me to watch," Draco answered annoyingly. He didn't even want to be there. Dammit. His eyes scanned the small room: Greyback was only in his boxers—he rolled his eyes openly in disgust—and then his eyes landed on the woman on the wall. Granger was a mess. She was on her bra, and knickers, and oh, bloody hell. The bastard was raping her.
"That'd be awkward, but be my guest," said Greyback as he approached Hermione. "Now, where were we, kitten? Ah, yes." He then sat on Hermione's legs and promptly, she poked his eyes using her fingers. "Agh! Bitch! Filthy mudblood bitch!" He caught Hermione's arm and pinned them once again on the wall. He then dug his teeth on Hermione's bare shoulder; she gasped audibly, and then screamed as pain sunk in.
Draco watched the scene unfolding in front of him and felt his stomach rising. How was he supposed to watch this? it would have been bad enough to watch any girl going through this, but now that it was Granger, someone he knew, it was near enough to torture. Draco swallowed his guts, and turned his back from the couple.
"Get…off…me!" Hermione screeched.
"Shut up! Shut up! Mudblood bitch! SILENCIO!" Greyback hissed. And then, finally, there was no sound. Dead silence. The thing only heard were the disgusting sounds Greyback made from kissing Hermione everywhere.
Disgusting. Draco thought. He could imagine Granger's face. Where the hell were Potter and Weasley? They were supposed to be here an hour ago!
Slap! Slap!
Finally, Draco came to his senses. About bloody time. And then, things happened in a blink of an eye.
Draco whirled around and approached the couple without hesitation. He pulled Greyback back and threw him at the other side of the cellar. He turned back around at Granger, who was looking back at him in despair and pain. Draco couldn't take his eyes away form hers. She looked wretched; no worse—abominable. Bruises on her chest, red marks on her arms, and her legs were blood red. Her face: contusions on both cheeks, and scratch marks everywhere. Her hair was a worse mess that it had ever been, and her lips, pink lips were swollen. Hermione's eyes were puffy and red, obviously form the crying. Meekly, Draco shrugged off his large cloak and placed it over Hermione's almost naked body.
Finally, Draco turned around only to meet a hard and large fist. He staggered backwards and once he regained his composure, he threw his fist on Greyback's nose—which caused him to fall backward. Immediately, Draco ran for the wand. He grabbed it and then pointed it on the werewolf.
"Bastard," said Draco as he spat the blood in his mouth. Greyback raised his hands before him.
"What are you doing? She's a mudblood! You're not supposed to—"
A devilish grin crossed Draco's face. Greyback could see it in the darkness.
"Duro!" he cursed.
"Nooo—!!!" Draco laughed viciously at the petrified werewolf. Then he looked at Hermione: she was staring at him, gaping. Her wide eyes showed how horrified she was of Draco.
Bewildered for all her life, she backed up the wall, forcing her aching and stinging body to move back further. Draco's amused expression turned anxious all of a sudden. He had given her the wrong impression? Dammit! What did she want!
"It came from the cellar! I heard it!" He heard Aunt Bella yell.
"Draco's there, he should take care of whatever it is," replied Lucius.
"I'm checking it. It could be something." Shit! There was no way out. If Draco would turn Greyback to his unpetrified form, surely, the bastard will tell his aunt. And there certainly would be no time for obliviating him… So screwed up…
"Draco? Draco?" Draco snapped his head towards the entrance. Anytime, Aunt Bella would be coming and when she finds out about this: a stoned werewolf and an almost raped mudblood, and a guilty nephew…it didn't bear thinking about.
Quickly, he ran to Hermione's side and held her hand. He closed his eyes and concentrated himself on his thoughts…
Somewhere safe. . . Somewhere hidden. . .
He thought over and over again.
They had vanished into the obscure. Draco did not know where the wand would bring them. Hermione's hand slightly pressed onto his. He shut his eyes tighter as panic started to conquer him.
His breathing quickened as he wondered how he had managed to put himself into this situation.
And then, finally, they hit the ground and felt warm air around them. Draco opened his eyes instantly and found himself facing the floor. He sat up groggily and scanned the place: they were in what it seemed like a flat. Bright lights all over the place, clean surrounding. He supposed they were in the living room—with the sofa and fire place…
He turned to his side and looked at Hermione who was also sitting up. Her body was covered with his cloak. Draco reached and touched her hand, which she jerked away instantly, and then covered her face with both her hands.
"Are you… okay?" Draco asked hesitatingly. Hermione dropped her hands from her face and looked at Draco scathingly. Right, still on the silencing charm, he thought. So then, Draco got the wand from his pocket and removed the spell on Hermione. "Granger… are you alright?" he asked once again, as he reached and placed his hand on hers.
Right away, Hermione yanked her hand away from him and drove backwards until her back was against the wall. From there, she started to cry. Quietly, she sniffed in the snot in her nose. "Don't touch me," Hermione ordered.
This took Draco by surprise. He was helping the Mudblood for crying out loud! He saved her from that disgusting-woman-raping werewolf! And here, all he got was 'don't touch me?' Cliché, very Granger-esque. No wonder he loathed her that much.
Draco stood up urgently and glared at the woman on the floor. A thank you would compensate on the efforts he did for her. But no, all he got were glaring daggers. He clutched his fists, nails digging through his skin, as he tried his hardest—Merlin help him—to control his anger. He needed to stay away—stay the hell away from this stubborn Mudblood.
Promptly, Draco turned to his heels and started to walk away.
"Wait!" Hermione chocked. Oh, goodie. What could she possibly want now? Draco sighed in exasperation and turned around finally. "Don't go," she stammered with a bit of uncertainty, "please stay."
It was as if his feet were firmly rooted on the ground. Draco stared at her uncomfortably. Was it supposed to be a joke, a trap? Something? He didn't know, but he found himself walking towards her again.
And then, Hermione spoke: "Don't leave me alone, please," she pleaded.
Ok ok! Don't ignore me yet! This was planned, so you don't have to say that it' going to be boring and stuff... It's the first chapter anyhow, we don't have to rush things that instant. Anyways, oceans of thanks to petitesorciere for the beta work! Seriously, my suckish grammar sucked a little less because of her :D But no, it's really good. So that, keep the reviews up! I promise something good for the second chapter. It's actually done. So... I'll be updating whenever then. And btw this story is kinda DH compliant; so we wouldn't have any problems on it being too much AU, except for Draco and Hermione being, well, together.
