AN: Hi, this is my first proper fanfic and it's an AU where when Ron tells Bellatrix to torture him instead of Hermione at Malfoy Manor, she accepts. This first chapter will cover that event and the following will branch out from there. I tried to keep as closely to the events of the book in this chapter, with some changes to accommodate for their characters of course, but after this there'll be more changes than just a mere place swap.
Disclaimer: Not JK Rowling, don't own this or the characters, etc. etc. please don't sue me, thanks
Harry broke the taboo and, hearing the voices outside, I knew we had little time. Thinking fast, I did the first thing that came to mind – I pointed my wand at Harry and cast a stinging hex, so that his face swelled up and became chubbier. If he was recognized, we'd all be killed, so he'd have to forgive me once we were safe.
…If we got to safety. The shapes that appeared outside the tent broke in and dragged us outside through the mud, sticks and leaves. Struggling was moot, there were too many of them and, without using my wand, there wasn't anything I could do against the strong arms that wrestled me to the ground. Even with my wand, which was slightly out of reach in my back pocket, I didn't know how well we could fare against them. I struggled to try and grab it and was immobilized once more, a strong figure holding my limbs to the ground.
"Get – off – her!" Ron shouted. I heard him struggle as well and tried to turn so I could see him, but all I managed was to hear the sickening sound of knuckles hitting flesh and his grunts that ensued.
"No! Leave him alone, leave him alone!" I screamed. I knew there was nothing we could do for now and that struggling further would only get Ron more hurt, so I tried to get their attention on me instead. He shouldn't be getting hurt just to protect me, especially when we don't know who we're dealing with yet. I wrestle against them further as a hand goes in my front pocket to take my wand, making me feel increasingly helpless. How powerful were they? Were they just snatchers, or a Death Eater capable of torturing us on the spot? Unfortunately, my questions were answered right away.
"Your boyfriend's going to have worse than that done to him if he's on my list. Delicious girl . . . What a treat . . . I do enjoy the softness of the skin. . ."The voice of my tormentor was unmistakable, as was the rough scratching of his nails on my arms. His breath was humid and numbing all of my senses, a wretched smell urging me to get away. Knowing that to be impossible, I try again to look for Ron, for a semblance of an assurance that he was okay, but the reply I got this time was his body falling next to me with a thud.
Voices kept flowing through the air – a few Death Eaters searched the tent and argued loudly, and someone else was interrogating Harry. We were all rolled together and I heard them trying to get a name out of Ron.
"Stan Shunpike"
"Like 'ell you are," said another of our captors "We know Stan Shunpike, 'e's put a bit of work our way."
Another fist hit Ron and a scream died in my throat. This wasn't the time to panic, think, think…
"And lastly, your pretty little friend . . ."
Greyback's voice shook me once again, and I started running down a mental list of names. Someone unassuming, a girl who I could get mistaken by, someone bookish? No no, that's-
"We'll see if she's a bit quicker at remembering her name than Barny. Who are you, girly?"
"Penelope Clearwater" I say after a moment of hesitation. The Ravenclaw who was petrified with me in second year was again with me in a moment of fear; who knows where she is now? Hopefully not captured already, I know she's a muggle-born too. Why didn't I pick a pure-blood?! I, I-
"Blood status?"
"Half-blood" If I told them the truth, either mine or Penelope's, it'd only make things worse.
They suggested checking, but Ron once again tried to distract them from me. Oh Ron…
Their dialogue about our origins and reasons for being there continued, but thankfully they weren't hitting Ron anymore. Glancing at Harry, his face is still visibly swollen and near unrecognizable, but I'm unsure of how long the effects of the jinx will last.
My thoughts were interrupted by them yanking Harry up by the hair and dragging him onto another group who was sitting down. Is that…Dean Thomas? And he was accompanied by a goblin too. Me and Ron got dragged as well and, soon enough, all were tied up together with the other group. Harry's interrogation continued and it seemed to be going well until Scabior came out of the tent, Prophet in hand.
"''ermione Granger,' " he spouted, loudly, after interrupting Greyback, " 'the Mudblood who is known to be traveling with 'arry Potter.' "
Oh no.
It's my fault. I should've used the stinging hex on myself as well! I knew they were looking for the three of us, not just Harry, and we had time.
"You know what, little girly? This picture looks a hell of a lot like you."
I panicked, and the following words out of my mouth came out with a guilty shriek.
"It isn't! It isn't me!"
My voice betrayed me and I knew I had only dug a deeper hole for all of us. My arm twitched nervously as I tried to come up with solutions, but nothing came.
Scabior brought Harry's glasses from the tent and put it on him, as they got a final confirmation that they had found the boy they were looking for. My head spun as they discussed the details of where we were going to be taken. I heard Greyback mention having me as a reward for capturing Harry and now not only did my head spin, but my stomach as well. Ron struggled silently beside Harry once more. The hairs on my arms rose in rows as I imagined my fate at his hands, shivering to imagine his claws ripping my clothes and skin apart. In the best case, I'd be mauled and crippled. And at worst…
I could feel my breathing get faster, my fear taking hold of me, as we were dragged onto our feet and disapparated.
We fell on the entrance to a big, Victorian-style chateau. It was imposing, painted in dark tones, as were the gates in front of us. With a rattle and a few words from the death eaters leading our group they opened, forcing us inside. On the entrance, Narcissa Malfoy awaited us, leading us in after a short argument with the death eaters.
All of us entered a very ornate mansion, though scarce was the chance to take in the details. All I retained was the huge amount of portraits on the walls and the expensive looking crystal chandelier that hung from the ceiling. I wouldn't expect anything else from the Malfoy's home, really, with their overwhelming worry with bloodline and status. The heavy mood broke as Draco was brought to examine Harry under the chandelier, to lift the doubts the death eaters had over the identity of their victim.
Draco was reluctant to confirm their suspicions…but why? What would he gain from not giving us away as soon as possible? He's hated Harry for years!
"What about the Mudblood, then?" growled Greyback. They spun us around violently, bringing me to where Harry stood as the others hit the floor.
"Wait," said Narcissa sharply.
"Yes — yes, she was in Madam Malkin's with Potter! I saw her picture in the Prophet! Look, Draco, isn't it the Granger girl?"
"I . . . maybe . . . yeah." What the hell is Draco up to? Is he just too scared he'll be wrong, or is he protecting us somehow?
"But then, that's the Weasley boy!" shouted Lucius, striding around the bound prisoners to face Ron. "It's them, Potter's friends — Draco, look at him, isn't it Arthur Weasley's son, what's his name — ?"
"Yeah," Draco's non-comital attitude showed through his voice as he turned away from us "It could be."
The door in front of me opened and Bellatrix Lestrange entered the room. Her high-pitched shrieks shook me while she argued with the rest, and then she turned to stare at me.
"But surely," she said quietly, "this is the Mudblood girl? This is Granger?"
Malfoy's father confirmed her assertion and her expression became an ear-to-ear grin, making me shiver once more. She was going to call the Dark Lord and I had no way to stop her, something that both of us knew and that amused her immensely. Then, the rest of the death eaters tried to stop her. They argued over who'd call Voldemort, who'd get to reap the rewards, and just when Lucius was about to summon the Dark Mark, she shrieked once more.
"STOP! Do not touch it, we shall all perish if the Dark Lord comes now!" she said, turning her attention to an object to the side of me. The sword of Gryffindor!
"Give it to me." Growled Lestrange commandingly.
"It's not yorn, missus, it's mine, I reckon I found it." The snatcher who said those words had no time to say anything else, however, as Bellatrix cursed him immediately with a bolt of red light. The other captors around the room withdrew their wand but she cursed all of them in a fit of rage, with even Greyback getting knocked down to his knees.
Their argument ensued, with a raging Bellatrix shouting orders and expletives at all others in the room. I was only now learning that the sword was given to her by Snape when Narcissa bellowed a new protest against her and ordered Greyback to take us to the cellar.
"Wait," said Bellatrix sharply. "All except . . . except for the Mudblood."
Greyback gave a grunt of pleasure.
"No!" shouted Ron. "You can have me, keep me!"
No! Ron, what are you doing?! I can't let you stay in my place! He was hit once more by Bellatrix and the sound of his flesh being bruised stung me inside.
"If she dies under questioning, I'll take you next," she said. "Blood traitor is next to Mudblo-"
"You'll only take her over my dead body you coward! I'm the one that stole the sword you bloody bastard! TAKE ME INSTEAD!" Ron screamed through tears, an almost primal tone to his voice.
His words made my stomach drop. He was willing to die for me?! "NO!" I tried to shout, but it was muffled by Lestrange's haunting laughter and another violent kick to Ron's face.
"Who do you think you are, Blood traitor?!" Her shift from cackling laughter to genuine rage was unlike anything I'd ever seen. "Silence! Of course a filthy Mudblood wouldn't have had the ability to take that from me. It'll be my pleasure to make her hear your screams." She finished, coldly.
My mouth opened in another scream, but no sound would come out. He can't…Ron…
He turned to me and gave a small smile through his swollen, bloodied lips. I can't believe him, is this still him trying to make up for leaving us? I need to make sure he knows he's forgiven, that I forgive him completely, that I…but the words fail me as Greyback drags me away with the rest of prisoners, my head painfully grinding on the Malfoy's wooden floor. The last I see of Ron is him turning to Bellatrix with the same smile he gave me and uttering a defiant "Thank you", to which she cackled once more.
Wand in hand, Greyback shoved the rest of the prisoners into the cellar, and held me by the neck. His tongue slid through his lips in a sickly fashion as he bent down and licked my neck.
"Once Bellatrix is done with you two, you and me are going to have a bit of fun…I'll get a bite or two, wouldn't you say ginger?!" he said to Ron, laughing, but before I could muster a response I was thrown back down to the cellar.
I can't leave Ron alone, not now!
Me and Harry were forced down a steep flight of stairs, still tied by our hands and in danger of slipping at any moment. At the bottom was a heavy door. Greyback unlocked it with a tap of his wand, then forced us into a dank and musty room in total darkness. The echoing bang of the slammed cellar door had not died away before there was a terrible, drawn-out guttural scream from directly above.
"RON!" I shouted, fighting against the rope that bonded me and Harry together. He staggered and almost fell over, but tried to hold me back. He's up there on his own and it's all my fault…Ron, why did you have to always have to sacrifice yourself for me?! My voice had died when I was facing Bellatrix, the fear took over me, but now that it was back I couldn't hold it anymore.
"RON! NO!" I was breaking down. I'm supposed to get us out of situations like this, but with Ron suffering the way he is my mind is drawing a blank. Scenes of his contorting face flash through my eyes. I can't take it, not him, please…
"Hermione, please! Please stop shouting, we need to find a way-" but Harry's protest fell on deaf ears.
"RON! RON!" I kept shouting as his screams filled the air. The volume of my voice fluctuated with my sobs and as those grew, I broke down further.
"We need a plan, stop yelling — we need to get these ropes off —"
"Harry?" came a whisper through the darkness. "Hermione? Is that you?"
Despite my desperation, my sobs slowed down and I stopped shouting. Get yourself together Hermione, you can do this, you're smart, let's think of something…but the images didn't stop, Ron lying on the floor in pain while Bellatrix's Crucio spell brought him to the brink of consciousness.
Luna and Ollivander emerged from the darkness, addressing me and Harry. Luna and Harry were finding ways of getting us loose, when another of Ron's yells made me lose my grip on our situation.
"RON! RON! PLEASE RON!" I shouted, not knowing what else to do. I always have a plan, I need to, think Hermione, think! But Ron! Oh why did you have to do this, it's all my fault...
Harry tried to hold onto me while they cut away at the rope but failed, as I couldn't control my sobbing. I heard them talking, but the words themselves were like I was trying to hear them underwater, under all of the pain I head from the man who'd saved me.
Harry shook me again and grabbed me by the shoulders "You need to stay still!" he said, firmly but softly. I breathed deeply and tried to stop as much as possible until they finally cut us free with a rusty nail. Not one second had passed since I had been unbound, Bellatrix's voice came again from above:
"I'm going to ask you again! Where did you get this sword? Where?"
"Like I'm telling you – you – YOU" Ron screamed hard again and I ran up against the wall of the cellar, attacking it with my bare fists with all of my strength, as if that could do anything. Why wouldn't you just lie Ron?! Why can't I…
"You are lying, filthy Blood traitor, and I know it! You have been inside my vault at Gringotts! Tell the truth, tell the truth!" her voice echoed once more, along with another blood curdling scream.
"RON!"
"What else did you take? What else have you got? Tell me the truth or, I swear, I shall run you through with this knife!"
I started to feel up the dark walls of the cellar around me, attempting to find some sort of hatch or escape. There must be something, there has to! I find a shovel and try to start hacking away at the hinges of the door we were locked behind, with no success. I shift the shovel and attempt getting the tip of it wedged in between the edge of the door and the wall, but even using the shovel as a lever it just won't budge.
"There's no way out, Hermione," said Luna, watching my fruitless efforts. "The cellar is completely escape-proof. I tried, at first. Mr. Ollivander has been here for a long time, he's tried everything."
Ron was screaming again: I got down on my knees, sobbing in panic, but this time it seemed to shake Harry too. He repeated some of my steps on the walls and I saw his desperation mounting.
"What else did you take, what else? ANSWER ME! CRUCIO!"
Ron's screams echoed off the walls upstairs and I couldn't help but curl myself into a ball and grab my knees. I'd done this, it's my fault he's up there and not me, it's all my fault, why did I let him, oh why Ron why would you do this! I heard Harry shift around again, messing with something.
"Help us!" Harry yelled at an object in mad desperation. "We're in the cellar of Malfoy Manor, help us!" Who was he talking to? Had he gone as mad as I had?
The screams became louder than ever and I couldn't help but reply as I had.
"RON! OH RON!"
I don't know why I kept bellowing, my voice hoarse and weak. Maybe it was all borne out of a faint hope that he'd listen to me and hold on. Maybe it's the only way I have to show him all of the feelings I've kept hidden all of these years, now that I doubt I'll ever be able to speak with him again. All of the chances, and I lost them, and now this amazing, amazing man had given his life for me, and I was useless to stop it.
"RON! PLEASE!"
"How did you get into my vault?" Bellatrix shouted again. "Did that dirty little goblin in the cellar help you?"
"We only met him tonight!" Ron sobbed, in tandem with me. "We've never been inside your vault. . . . I got it from a lake! It comes to Gryffindo-"
"A LAKE?! EVEN NOW YOU MOCK ME, YOU DISGRACE FOR A PURE-BLOOD?!"
"I swear, it was me, it was all me, no one else!" Ron pleaded
A small pop broke the silence in the cellar and a small figure with large orbs for eyes appeared in their midst.
"…Dobby?" Harry whispered, being the closest of the group to him.
"TELL THE TRUTH YOU INSOLENT!" Bellatrix's anger vibrated throughout the manor and I anticipated what was to come. But when Ron's voice reached my ears, it was much worse than I could've ever expected, and the tears replaced any kind of rational thought that might be forming in my mind.
Out of the sudden, Dobby and the others were gone in a loud crack, and it was just me and Harry.
"Where are they?" I asked, though my voice was so rough that I'd be surprised if Harry understood me completely, but he did not reply as Lucius Malfoy's voice boomed from above.
"What was that? Did you hear that? What was that noise in the cellar?"
Steps sounded over our heads as Harry and me looked at each other at each other.
"Draco — no, call Wormtail! Make him go and check!"
More footsteps and silence ensued, the absence of Ron's screams being both comforting and frightening simultaneously. He can't be dead, he can't!
"Let's hide behind that cabinet Hermione, in the dark he won't see us. I'll tackle him, and you'll have to grab his wand!" In a role reversal, I nodded at Harry's plan and stood ready for his signal to move.
"Stand back," came Wormtail's voice. "Stand away from the door. I am coming in."
Wormtail stepped into the dark cellar in expectation. A second or two after, we attacked. I muffled Wormtail's voice and tried to steady his wand arm while Harry held him from behind and kept his movement in check. Wormtail stepped backwards and rammed against the wall, Harry's head hitting the solid structure with a sickening sound. I finally get Wormtail's wand off but he's spun around and started chocking Harry. I hold my wand up to him, but Harry and Wormtail stare into each other's eyes, causing Wormtail to have a split second of compassion for the boy who had once saved his life. This split second allowed Harry to roll him over and knock him backwards into the cabinets, causing a loud noise. As soon as he collapsed to the ground, Wormtail's hand started gripping his own neck.
Harry seemed to notice and try to pry the cold, silver fingers off, but Ron's pained voice boomed above us once again and I grabbed Harry's other hand, leading him out of the cellar.
We walked up the steps slowly, attempting not to be noticed. Peaking into the drawing room, the Malfoys were sitting next to the hearth while Bellatrix's lanky figure kneeled near Ron's left arm with a knife, the rest of the death eaters holding him down. Ron's screams and her voice filled the room.
"After I'm done branding him, I think we can dispose of the Blood traitor. Unless we want to make that Mudblo-"
"NOOOOO!" I screamed, frozen in place. The sight before me was too much, and while my body was still, Wormtail's wand in my hand seemed to move out of its own accord. Bellatrix and the others holding Ron down let go of him to reach for their own wands, but they were too late.
"Expelliarmus!" I roared, hitting Bellatrix's wand and sending her and the others backwards, away from Ron. Bellatrix's wand flew into the air and landed in Harry's hand, who sprinted in Ron's direction. He yelled "Stupefy" and Lucius Malfoy collapsed onto the hearth; his family replied in stride to Harry's curses but he rolled behind a couch to avoid them.
"STOP OR HE DIES!"
Panting, Harry peered around the edge of the sofa. Bellatrix was supporting Ron, who seemed to be unconscious, and was holding her short silver knife to his throat.
"Drop your wands," she whispered. "Dropped them if you don't want to see your little knight bleed"
I couldn't move, but I'd swap places with him in a heartbeat. Admitting defeat, I drop Wormtail's wand, but Harry remains steady.
"You too Potter, I said drop them!" She shrieked pressing her blade against his throat, droplets of blood the same colour as his hair shining the edge of the blade.
"All right!" he shouted, and he dropped Bellatrix's wand onto the floor at his feet. I followed his queue to raise my arms in the air in defeat, which he also did.
"Good!" she leered. "Draco, pick them up! The Dark Lord is coming, Harry Potter! Your death approaches!"
As Bellatrix started shouting orders to her sister, a peculiar grinding noise from above made everyone in the room put their eyes on the chandelier. It trembled, and then, with an ominous jingling, began to fall. Bellatrix jumped aside with a yell, letting Ron take the brunt of the impact. The explosion of crystal had the Malfoys huddle together to protect from the flying fragments, an opportunity taken by Harry to run over and snatch the wands Draco was holding. As if getting released from a spell, I finally come to my senses and run towards Ron. His arms, face and neck are bloody, but I know better than to try and wake him violently. Feeling him warm in my arms drives away some of the despair I felt, but I know he's far from being in the clear.
In a rush, Harry cursed our captors, sending Greyback and two of the other death eaters flying. In the meantime, the small figure from before comes near me to try and remove Ron from under the chandelier.
"Dobby!" Narcissa screamed, and even Bellatrix froze. "You! You dropped the chandelier — ?"
He responded without turning away from the task at hand.
"You must not hurt Harry Potter or his friends," he squeaked in the effort to slide Ron away from the mountain of mangled crystal.
"Harry, we can't move him! Come to us!" I yell, knowing this is the opportunity we were looking for.
Harry vaults over a table that got knocked over in the explosion and joins us, but Bellatrix reacts just as we were about to turn to disapparate.
"Oh no you won't!" Her knife, still dripping with Ron's blood, flew through the room and disapparated with us.
We had disappeared into the unknown, but it seemed Harry knew where to take us – I assume, to the same place where Griphook, Dean Thomas, Luna and Ollivander got taken before.
Still shifting through the darkness, I finally felt Ron's weight on my arms, moving slightly under my embrace. His expression was oddly peaceful, and I could only hope that no matter what that vile woman had done to him, that we could have him back one day. That I could have him one day.
Feelings of regret fill my chest, as I realize how dumb I've been all of this time. He was ready to die for me with no hesitation, and I couldn't even muster the guts to tell him I forgive him, much less tell him how I've really felt all of this time. This wonderful, wonderful man that I don't deserve. I clutch him closer to me as tears fill my eyes once more, but all I know is after this, I'll have to not only tell him all of what I feel, but show it too.
And then we hit solid earth and crash in a large mound of grass. I look around me, still holding onto Ron, and see Dobby and Harry sprawled around us just the same, with Dobby lying face down on the grass. The area feels oddly familiar, smelling of fresh cut grass and flowers and-
A windmill of red hair ran in our direction, making with it fall an invisible barrier that stood around the area. I looked up and saw the several stories high of a crooked house built in the middle of the field, and realized where Harry had taken us.
We were at the Burrow.