The Rainbow Stone
Hermione was trapped. She had never thought a cellar could be so big but it seemed that Lucius was using it as a temporary prison because there were cells in it. Hermione was locked in one of the cells. Lucius had left her there what seemed to be three days ago. But she couldn't tell. She had no way of knowing what time it was. Nor was it terribly important.
For now she had to focus on a way to escape. She had to get out of here. She couldn't let Harry be drawn into a trap that would kill him. She knew he wouldn't survive this one if he came. This was Voldemort's territory and Harry wouldn't stand a chance here. Hermione had spent the three days she was in the cell for hoping that Harry would stay away.
"He won't come for me, he won't come for me, he won't come for me" she muttered over and over again, trying to convince herself that the inevitable would not happen. For Voldemort was right. Harry would come for her. Once he knew what danger she was in he would go to the ends of the Earth if it meant he would find her.
The only way she could prevent it is if she escaped before Harry came up with a way to rescue her. She would have to get her wand, though. No way was she leaving it in the hands of Lord Voldemort. But how could she get it? How could she get out of Lucius Malfoy's cellar, for that matter?
There must be a key…but why would there be one just lying around?
So far Voldemort had made sure she hadn't died from hunger or thirst. She had often talked to the house elf that brought her food and water every day. Maybe she could get the house elf to help her.
As if on cue the cellar door opened and the house elf appeared with her meal. "Hi Binky" she greeted the elf.
"Good afternoon, Miss. Binky has come to bring you your food" the house elf replied. He snapped his fingers and the tray teleported to the inside of Hermione's cell.
"Binky, could you please do me a favour?" she asked.
Binky shook his head. "Master has forbidden Binky from helping you, miss. Binky can not disobey orders".
Hermione wasn't ready to give up yet. "You wouldn't be caught for it, Binky. No one would know" she persisted.
"Binky knows what Miss wants. Miss wants Binky to set her free. Master has warned Binky of this and Binky cannot disobey his master" Binky refused.
"Please, Binky. You wouldn't have to use your magic. You could just find the key for me. I promise I'll help you keep it a secret" she pleaded.
"Miss has been kind to Binky. Master has never shown Binky kindness. Binky could help young Miss escape. But Binky would be in awful trouble if master found out" he muttered, weighing up his options.
Hermione tried one last time. "No one would find out. There's no one around" she told him. Binky nodded. "Ok. Binky will help young Miss. But Binky will have to punish himself afterwards. Binky will have disobeyed master" he said as he left the room.
Hermione waited for him to return. She did not touch her food. She was starving but she refused to touch anything that came from Lucius' kitchen.
Binky came back moments later with the key to the cell. "Master didn't see Binky. But you must hurry. Master said something about checking on you, young Miss" he warned, handing Hermione the key. Hermione nodded and unlocked the cell door. She smiled at Binky. "Thank you, Binky. You can come with me if you want. You don't have to stay here" she offered.
But Binky shook his head. "Binky can't leave Master until he is set free. And Master will never free Binky" he said sadly.
Hermione nodded. "Ok then. I have to hurry and get my wand" she said before leaving the cellar. She slipped through the house, careful not to make a sound. It would be easy for someone to spot her if they came past. She knew she couldn't afford to be caught again. She made her way to the room where Voldemort stayed. She was sure it was the biggest room in the house. She found the room but was afraid to open the door. What if Voldemort was in there? He would catch her immediately.
She sighed and peeked through the key hole. If he was in there then there was no chance of retrieving her wand. She couldn't see him in there. His chair was empty. She gritted her teeth and opened the door slowly. There was no one in the room. She slipped into the room. She thought it to be very unlikely that Voldemort would carry her wand with him. She began her search. There weren't many places in the room he could hide it. She searched behind the chair, under the bed and in the cabinets and draws.
But she could not find it. After rechecking every possible hiding place she was certain that the wand wasn't in the room. Voldemort could still have it, for all she knew.
She did a quick once over before deciding to leave. It definitely wasn't there. However something caught her eye before she left. She turned around to see something glittering inside one of the cabinets.
"Strange, there wasn't anything in there before" she muttered, walking over to it. She opened the cabinet and saw a stone sitting there. It was the most beautiful stone she'd ever seen. It shone with all the colours of the rainbow. She picked it up to examine it closer. Why would Voldemort want a stone like this? She wondered. She sighed and pocketed the stone. What she really needed was her wand. She was reluctant to leave without it.
Hermione jumped slightly when the stone began to emit a white glow. She took the stone out and studied it. Maybe there was some power in it after all. Then her eyes fell upon the cabinet she had found the stone in. Sitting on top of the cabinet was her wand.
"What?" she exclaimed quietly. She went to pick up her wand. She was even more curious when she found it wasn't an illusion. "Strange" she muttered. She wasn't going to complain, though. She'd found what she was looking for. Now she could leave. She hurried out of the room, being sure to close the door behind her.
As she made her to the stairwell she could hear voices coming from the hall. "I'm sorry, My Lord. I didn't think she would escape. There was no way she could" Lucius pleaded. Hermione found it amusing that Lucius could ever be intimidated or bossed around by anyone.
"You have disappointed me again, Lucius. Crucio!" he cried. Lucius screams could be heard echoing through the house. When the curse was lifted Lucius spoke again. "I'm sorry, My Lord. It won't happen again" he promised.
Then Hermione could hear Voldemort's laughter. "I can guarantee you it won't, Lucius. Especially seeing as she won't be locked in your cellar any longer" he informed him.
Then his footsteps could be heard coming towards the stairs. Hermione shrank back. She wouldn't let herself be caught now. Not when she was so close to being free of this place. She scrambled back as far as she could go, and hid herself in a small closet down the end of the hallway.
There was a small crack in the door, allowing Hermione to watch as Voldemort and Lucius came up the stairs. "Are you sure she'd come up here, My Lord?" Lucius asked hesitantly.
Voldemort smirked. "I'm sure of it. No doubt she'd come up looking for her wand. However she must've realized by now that I-"
He stopped suddenly. Hermione watched as he withdrew his hand from his pocket. She then saw an angry gleam in his eyes. "It's impossible" he hissed. He disappeared into his room and it was a moment before he came back out, now livid with fury. "The Mudblood has found her wand after all".
Lucius' eyes widened. "Then she'll be gone" he guessed.
Voldemort was silent for a moment. "No, I think she's still here" He said, looking around slowly. Hermione silently pleaded for him not to come her way. She wouldn't say any spells for fear of being heard.
"Search the house" Voldemort ordered. "She's here, I can feel it".
Lucius nodded and headed down stairs. Voldemort waited for a moment, surveying the hallway. He could feel her presence. He was, however, having difficulties in pinpointing her location. He then followed Lucius downstairs.
Hermione waited a few minutes to make sure Voldemort had gone before coming out of her hiding place. She crept to the stairs. No one was there. She was worried about going down there. Voldemort and Lucius had her cornered while they were searching the downstairs area. That is, while Lucius searched the Downstairs area. There was no way Voldemort would join the search.
Hermione sighed. It was the only way out. She crept down the stairs, careful to keep an eye out for anyone approaching. No one was there. No doubt they were searching all the rooms. She glanced around the landing once more before hurrying to the doors. She opened them silently and slipped out. But not before catching sight of Voldemort and Lucius coming out in to the hall as she closed the door.
And there was no denying it – They had seen her too.
Hermione ran. She didn't know where she was running to but she had to get out of there. She couldn't be caught again. She refused to go back to that cellar.
But running was useless. Both wizards knew how to apparate. She had forgotten this detail until she heard a loud crack. Then Lucius Malfoy appeared in front of her. Of course it would be Lucius. Voldemort wouldn't waste his time chasing after one muggle-born girl.
Hermione took out her wand but Lucius was faster than her "Expelliarmus" he shouted, disarming her. Hermione gasped and backed away from the Death Eater.
But before anything else happened, another voice was heard.
"Stupefy!"
The spell hit Lucius and sent him stumbling to the ground, unconscious
Hermione darted forward and snatched her wand from Lucius before looking around for her rescuer. Although she couldn't see anyone she knew who it was. She'd recognized that voice straight away. So, apparently, had Voldemort for he appeared behind Hermione a moment later and grabbed her around the neck, holding his wand to her with his other hand
"Come to save your girlfriend at last, have you Potter?" he called out mockingly.
Harry removed his invisibility cloak and glared at Voldemort but didn't say anything.
Voldemort smirked. "I knew you would turn up sooner, or later. Now you are mine, Potter". He pointed his wand at Harry but Hermione kicked Voldemort in the groin, making him double over in pain. Smirking, Hermione ran over to Harry. "Harry, you shouldn't have come for me" she scolded. However she was unable to hide the wide grin from spreading across her face.
But Voldemort had recovered quicker than expected and was now pointing his wand at the pair. "I told you he would come, Miss Granger. Now I have no use for either of you" he sneered, moving his wand from Hermione to Harry. "Avada…" he began. But before he could finish the curse Hermione disarmed him. "Expelliarmus!" she cried. Voldemort's wand went soaring out of his hand and Hermione quickly caught it.
Voldemort glowered at Hermione. He disapparated and re-apparated right behind Hermione. Harry tried to come to her rescue but Voldemort snatched his wand from Hermione and pointed it at Harry again. "Don't move, Potter. I will deal with you soon enough" he snapped. "Stupefy" he said softly. He watched Harry fall to the ground before focusing on Hermione. "You have something of mine, Miss Granger. I think it's time you gave it back" he whispered.
Hermione shivered. "I…don't know what you're talking about" she said very fast. Voldemort smirked and a murderous gleam entered his eyes. "Maybe I should prove you wrong, then" he sneered. "Accio Rainbow Stone" he muttered. Hermione felt the stone in her pocket react to the spell. It came out of her pocket and soared up to Voldemort. Before he could take it, Hermione snatched it back. She elbowed Voldemort in the stomach and stepped away from him, hurrying to help Harry.
"Ennervate" she muttered, pointing her wand at Harry. Harry instantly recovered and was on his feet in seconds. "Harry, are you ok?" she asked. But she had not noticed Voldemort move up behind her and she let out a yelp of surprise as she was yanked back.
"Hermione!" Harry cried. He pointed his wand at Voldemort but Voldemort merely laughed.
"You'd dare curse me now, Potter? When there is a chance your friend will get hit?" he goaded.
Harry hesitated before lowering his wand slightly.
"Petrificus Totalus…"
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ooh cliffhanger, lol. Stay tuned to find out who attacked who.
And yes that did sound rather lame. haha
