Disclaimer: My polyjuice potion did not work, and unfortunately, I still have the appearance of a single, slightly crazed teenage girl. Maybe it's because I couldn't get a piece of J.K. Rowling's hair. Damn it all.
Thanks to everyone who added this to their story alerts xD And for the review!
Also, still in need of a beta. Let me know if there are any glaringly obvious grammatical or spelling mistakes!
Chapter 3: The Rescue
Remus stepped out into the dark, silent hallway. With a quietly murmured "Lumos," the barrenness of the hallway was revealed. A single picture hung on the unblemished wallpaper. Voldemort stared unblinkingly at Remus. Behind him, he heard Harry let out an enraged hiss.
Nagini curled around Voldemort's shoulders, scales glistening with a dark red substance, and the dead man curled bloodless lips into a sadistic smile.
"Just a photo," Remus whispered unconvincingly. They continued down the hallway. The quiet murmur of voices grew steadily louder.
"We know exactly where they are. Why don't we just go and kill them all?"
A familiar voice growled. "No, you bloody imbecile. The Dark Lord left us under strict instructions. Perhaps if we torture the girl in front of him, he will cooperate."
Remus bared his teeth. He knew exactly who the man was speaking of.
"I will go and prepare them," the man snarled. His footsteps sounded, getting closer to the door. Remus cast a panicked look at the men standing behind him. Everyone was frozen in place.
The door creaked opened, and Lucius Malfoy stepped out. His silvery eyes widened and his mouth opened, hand flying to draw his wand.
"Imperio."
Lucius jerked. His eyes shined defiantly before they slowly faded to a dull, senseless gray.
"Come here."
Lucius walked mechanically over to where Kingsley stood, taller than a god, prouder than a phoenix.
"Good, very good," Kingsley breathed, ignoring the looks of bafflement and disbelief being sent his way. "Now take us to the cellar."
Lucius turned stiffly and wandered down the stairs. The remaining Death Eaters turned and gaped at the newcomers. Everyone froze, except for Lucius, who was still dazedly stumbling across the room.
Wands went up, and spells flew.
"Quick, follow him!" Remus shouted at the other Order members. He scrambled after Lucius, narrowly dodging a Conjunctivitus Curse. He heard Harry shout, "Sectumsempra!" and watched as a Death Eater, whom he recognised as Roldolphus Lestrange, fell to the floor, seizing as blood poured out of countless gashes in his chest.
Lucius pulled a large key out of his pocket, and stuck it into the padlock on a hefty metal door. He froze, emotion rippling over his face.Fuck, the stupid man was fighting the Imperius.
"Stupefy!" He yelled as the door swung open. Lucius's unconscious body tumbled down the stairs, taking out the Death Eater that had flung the door open in an attempt to see what all the commotion was about.
Remus, backed by Ron and Charlie, sprinted down the stairs. He froze in horror. The two redheads crashed into his back, but he didn't move.
Various torture instruments lined the walls, scalpels, daggers, butcher knives, swords, axes. The cellar was only around ten metres long, with a small cell at the opposite side. Remus could see a tiny lump of a body lying limply inside. Anger filled him, a white-hot burning fury, and he aimed his wand viciously at Lucius's body. Ron and Charlie were already engaged in a duel with two other Death Eaters.
"Expulso!" Remus roared. Lucius's wand exploded, sending him flying. His body collided with the bars of the cell, making a sickening crack.
Remus turned to find the two Death Eaters unconscious and bleeding, and Ron and Charlie staring at him. He flushed and mumbled something inaudible.
Cautiously, the three men approached the cell. Remus could make out tell-tale bushy brown hair. Ron let out a pained gasp as he saw his girlfriend lying limply on top of a pale, naked body. "Please, Merlin," he moaned as Remus hurriedly unlocked the door. "Please let her be alive."
They walked cautiously into the damp cell. It smelled disgusting, an atrocious combination of blood, vomit, and urine.
Ron gently pressed his fingers against her wrist, and breathed a sigh of relief when he felt her pulse, strong but quick, too quick.
He let out a sudden gasp. "Oh my God."
Remus and Charlie drew closer. "What?" Charlie inquired warily. Shakily, Ron gingerly moved Hermione away from the body on the floor. "Who is it?" Charlie asked, stepping closer.
Remus stared at the shock of dirty, but still recognisable, platinum blonde hair in disbelief.
"Malfoy," Ron said dazedly. "It's Malfoy. I think he's dead."
Remus took another step forward. As he did, the blonde's eyes snapped open. Glassy gray eyes stared around the room without recognition. His gaze landed on Ron, who was kneeling beside him. Close, too close. He recoiled, screeching incoherently. Ron fell backwards onto his arse with an "oomph" as Malfoy flung a bony elbow into his stomach. Hermione remained unconscious next to the blonde, who, after spitting at Ron, draped himself over her, giving a ferocious growl. Spit mixed with blood drooled from his partially opened mouth.
The men stared in complete shock.
Pounding footsteps were heard on the steps, and the other members of the Order skidded to a halt behind the three shell-shocked men.
Harry gasped in horror as he saw his best friend lying unconscious under a naked Draco Malfoy. A single piece of cloth was tied about his unnaturally thin waist, allowing him the smallest bit of dignity.
Fred went to grab George's hand, but the scarred redhead was already out of reach. George stepped forward silently. Draco's eyes flew wildly to focus on the new threat. He bared his teeth. George held his fingerless hand out peacefully. He remembers those gray eyes from the time of his imprisonment. The guilt they held, the hope. The love, the worry, and the fear. The mind-numbing, unconquerable fear. The kindnesses the pale boy had bestowed upon him. The punishments he had received for showing mercy towards a prisoner.
Draco stared at the deformed hand. His mouth shut with an audible click. He was still for a moment. Everyone held their breath. Then, Draco reached his hand out. It was swollen, purple, and bloody, his ring and pinky fingers bent and deformed to the point that the bones were poking out of his thin, paper-like skin. His middle finger was completely gone from the second knuckle up. Someone had taken the care to partially heal it, but the nub was still raw and slightly bloody. Fred stared on in horror as George made his way over to Draco.
Draco tensed when George got within a foot of him and Hermione. He glowered menacingly, and hissed a jumble of what may have been words. George couldn't make out what he had said. Hermione stirred underneath the blonde, letting out a soft moan. Draco lost focus for a brief moment, eyes softening as he stared down at the teenaged girl in concern. A shouted "STUPEFY!" caught him dead in the chest. He looked up, eyes bright with betrayal, lids already falling shut. His body fell silently onto Hermione's prone form.
George turned around, furious. His eyes searched relentlessly until they met Fred's guilty ones. He inhaled sharply and shook his head with disappointment. He refused to look at Fred again.
Everyone stood about awkwardly for a moment, before Remus took charge again. "Right, well, we'd best get them back to Molly."
Ron stepped forward, sliding Hermione out from under Malfoy. He cradled her thin body close to his chest, murmuring reassurances as he and Harry followed Kingsley out of the cellar. Remus and Fred started for Malfoy but George glowered at both of them. He scooped his skinny arms underneath the unconscious boy and lifted him up. When he staggered, Fred lurched forward to help his twin, but George just glared furiously at him. He cradled Draco close, similar to how Ron held Hermione, and started for the stairs.
The rest of them stared blankly, before rushing after him.
DMGWFWHPRWHGRLSSMWAWCWBWFDKSRH
Molly stroked her fingers nervously through Snape's newly washed and shorn hair. Oh dear, they've been gone for a while, she worried. Perhaps I should phone the Ministry.
Snape began twitching on the couch. His face scrunched up in pain, and his breathing became labored. Molly didn't notice, too absorbed in her fretting.
She did, however notice, when he started to cry, harsh, relentless sobs that shook his thin frame. Incoherent words burst from his mouth, jumbled pleas for help. Molly fluttered her hands uselessly about him. "Shh," she hushed gently, and brushed her fingers against his flushed cheek. "You're okay, Severus. Everything's alright now."
His sobs slowly died down, but his tears didn't stop. He gasped for air. Molly wrung her hands anxiously. Her maternal instincts kicked in, and she carefully gathered the shattered man in her large, warm arms. He hiccupped with surprise, and lay motionless as warmth filled his body.
Images of red hair, green eyes filled his mind. Then the memory transformed to brown hair, kind brown eyes, an easy smile. Severus relaxed into Molly's embrace, breath hitching every few inhales.
There was a pop. Molly jerked away, and started for the fireplace. "Oh, Hermione," she gasped as Ron stumbled into view, face pale and grim, arms trembling with residue fear and the burden of the unconscious girl.
Molly conjured up a cot, and placed it near Severus's couch. Ron gently placed Hermione on the table, and pulled away, touching his lips to her cheek. He sat down in the armchair nearest and stared worriedly as Molly began performing healing spells on the injured girl.
Two more pops sounded, as Harry and Kingsley appeared in the fireplace.
"Episkey!" Molly said for the fifth time, sounding desperate. She turned to Kingsley. "It isn't working. Why isn't it working?"
Kingsley placed a placating hand on her arm. "It is alright, Mrs. Weasley. We will just have to do it the old-fashioned way. Did the healing spell work on Mr. Snape?"
Molly shook her head dejectedly. "His injuries are more extensive though, I wasn't surprised. But the only physical injuries I can find apart from minor bruising are a minor concussion, her broken ankle, these awful gashes on her arm, and this odd little cut here." She pointed to an oddly shaped laceration on Hermione's wrist. It resembled a V.
"That is not a cut, Mrs. Weasley," Kingsley said gravely. "That is a brand. I have a feeling that while the injuries may appear to be mostly physical, it is the psychological ones that will have the lasting damage."
Molly's hands flew to her mouth in horror.
More pops sounded from the fireplace. "Help, we need help!" Remus shouted.
Molly spun around, and gasped in horror as she saw the mostly naked teen in George's arms. "Oh my God." Arthur conjured up a second cot, right next to Hermione's. George deposited the lifeless Malfoy onto the cot, then stepped back, eyeing the boy worriedly. Fred outstretched his arm to George, who just narrowed his eyes in warning. Fred's head dropped and his shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry," he mumbled pathetically.
George couldn't quite bring himself to turn away from his twin. With a despondent sigh, he shuffled closer and allowed Fred to wrap him in a warm hug.
TJBOTJBOTJBO
A/N: Awful ending, I know. Oh well. ; )
