Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Yet. Mwhahaha!
Chapter Five:
Hermione's mind had stopped reeling; she tried desperately not to show an expression on her face. Horror, disgust, dismay. She could tell Malfoy was watching her carefully, so Hermione scowled and covered her nose with her hand, crinkling it with revulsion unknown to her. "What is that Weasley scum doing here?" she demanded aggressively. "It reeks of blood-traitor!"
"The Dark Lord wants information. Apparently no amount of Finn's torture would loosen her tongue," Draco paced towards Hermione and snaked his arms around her, pressing his forehead against hers and nuzzling into her neck. "Since you knew her so well before, my love, He has entrusted you with this honourable task."
Hermione's mouth felt dry. "Me?" she whispered quietly. "Torture her?"
Draco removed an arm from around her and glared. "Don't sound so shocked. It's not like you haven't done it before."
Hermione swallowed her gut and stated with wavering confidence, "I know, I… I was just overwhelmed with joy."
He smirked at her, kissed her temple and headed towards the door, lingering by the handle. "Start in the morning," he said. "Dinner will be served soon. Your wands on the desk. Why haven't you had it with you the past week?" Hermione gasped as she spotted the recognizable vine-wood and dragon heartstring wand near the bottle of black ink on the coffee table.
"Oh!" she exclaimed with false yet true joy. "You found it! Thank you sweetheart, I had the House Elves looking for it but they were, of course, unsuccessful little pests – I will see to a week without their rations as a kind punishment for their failure."
"Why didn't you tell me you hadn't found your wand, Darling?"
"I… I just didn't want to bother you with the knowledge, honey… so much to think about already…" she trailed off. "Besides, the time without my magic has given me a great deal of insight on the world around us. Many wouldn't dare approach me, as it should be."
"Very well," Draco leered, he gestured his chin to Ginny. "Have your fun for now, but I expect you at the table in five minutes."As soon as he closed the doors behind him, Hermione lunged for the small coffee table in the middle of the room. She felt a wave of relief as she picked up her wand and held it in her hands, a tingling feeling stretched up her spine and the warmth in her fingertips.
She turned to Ginny with a heartrending sensation. "Oh Ginny… what's happened to you?"
Hermione cast Silencing Charms around the room before looking back at Ginny who appeared to be drifting in and out of consciousness, but fighting hard to keep her eyes from drooping. The brunette then walked up to the bound girl and loosened the tight chains around her wrists and legs, rubbing them gently to get the circulation flowing. She removed the gag from her mouth.
Ginny seemed more alert, gazing at Hermione with a somewhat curious expression. "Don't try to talk," Hermione said clearly. "Only listen. Can you hear me?" The girl hesitated, then gave a struggled nod - only when she had healed the worst of Ginny's injuries did she speak again.
"You're in the Malfoy Manor, in case you didn't know," she stated numbly. "I'm not going to torture you, so you can get that out of your head. Nor am I going to let anything happen to you. Listen to me Ginny," she stared at the redhead's swelled eyes. "I am going to get you out of here. Don't try to leave yourself – you'll get caught. Just trust me. I know I don't deserve it, but please believe that I'm on your side." Hermione stood to her full height and glanced at Ginny once more before exiting the room. "I will not abandon you again."
--
Supper at the Manor was rather different that night: Malfoy was willing to speak.
"Did you like the dress robes?" Hermione asked while she sliced into the honey-soaked ham.
"Yes," Draco answered. "Very much so. Thank you." She tried to smile, she always tried to appear happy in his company, but every time she looked at him she could see only the man that murdered her parents. The man that stared her in the eye and admitted it without falter. "Tomorrow," he began. "We have an extremely important meeting, if you do remember the months of planning. It's our turn to host, make sure the Manor is spotless and the House Elves know to prepare a feast."
"A meeting?" Hermione inquired before quickly adding. "Yes, of course! Certainly, everything shall be ready."
Malfoy stood from the table and kissed her. "Will you be joining me tonight?" he whispered hoarsely into her ear.
"I'm afraid I promised the Weasley girl…" she thought quickly. "That… she would not sleep. For her dirty blood will be acid burning through her skin till there is no flesh, and her screams of pain will never be heard. I… can't wait to get started!" Hermione wondered if she was acting a bit too crazy…
"That's my girl," Malfoy grinned, coiling a strand of her hair around his finger. "Death Eaters are on guard outside; don't be alarmed at their presence. Their just here to make sure that Weasley doesn't escape and give off our position."
"Okay," she stated, standing from her seat. "I should get back to it then. Healing all those wounds will… take time…" As soon as the words left her mouth she wished they hadn't.
Malfoy halted before the door. "Why heal them?" he asked. "Why not simply add to them?"
"Because," Hermione stated matter-of-factly. "It's not the same. Like taking a bite out of something that's already been bitten."
Draco smirked before leaving the room – it gave her a quivering feeling.
--
Back in the Drawing Room, Hermione put a few more Defensive Spells around them, as well as healing Ginny's minor scrapes and bruises. She then poured a glass of cool water and held it to Ginny's lips. "Go on," Hermione coaxed. "It's not poison or anything, and you're going to need your strength if you want to get out of here."
The redhead slowly gulped down the liquid – flinching as it hit her throat. Ginny looked up at her. "Why?" she croaked in a rasping tone.
Hermione gazed at her solemnly, but chose not to answer. "Come," she said. "We have to get outside the gates to Apparate. There's Death Eaters at the doors and patrolling in the garden, so we need to be quick, and I'll need to put a disillusionment charm on you to keep you out of sight." Hermione completely removed the chains binding Ginny to the chair and grasped her wand tightly, performing the spell on her with a few complicated flicks.
Ginny began turning different shades of colour until Hermione could eventually see right through her. Satisfied, she put one of Ginny's arms around her own shoulders so that the fragile girl didn't have to support much weight – also adding the help of a quick lightness spells so it didn't appear that Hermione was struggling with an unseen mass to any unwanted viewers.
Hermione then carried Ginny out of the room, locking the door behind them. They walked towards the front entrance and out into the gardens where she noticed shadows moving agilely through corners. The sway of the grass made her nervous – her heart beating against her chest. Every groan and whisper of the wind sent her in a panic, Ginny breathing heavily beside her made her body tense and her hands fidget under her cloak.
They reached the gate where two Death Eaters stood guard – watching her approach with an unnatural stillness. I feel queasy…
"Halt!" One of the Death Eaters called as they reached a few meters from their destination. "Who goes there?"
"Hermione Malfoy!" Hermione stated, acting impatient as she tried to stop her voice shaking. "I want to get past."
"No one gets in or out," the other Death Eater said, then added anxiously, "ma'am. We have orders."
I'm feared? I suppose this could work to our advantage… "Orders?" Hermione said in a deathly quiet voice. "Are you contradicting me?" Please be afraid…
The Death Eaters appeared uneasy, though their faces weren't shown over their white masks.
"No ma'am," stated the first. "We're just following –"
"Orders!" Hermione barked, advancing closer to the gate. "Move aside you pathetic little men, this is my house! I give the orders! I set the rules! And I say: let me pass or you'll both be sorry!" The Death Eater dropped the brass keys to the ground in what she assumed was fright. The idea of her being feared didn't settle the uncomfortable sensation in her stomach. What on earth could she have done to make men quake in fear at the very idea of angering her?
"Y-yes Ma'am."
Hermione smiled pleasantly as they scrambled to open the gateway for her. "Thank you, Gentlemen. Have a lovely night."She walked past them in as a dignified manner as she could muster, then grasped Ginny as firmly as she could without the two guards noticing and Apparated to the Burrow. I can't believe that worked… Hermione Granger, you're a genius.
--
They arrived outside the Burrow on top of a small hill where Hermione removed the charms she cast. Ginny appeared much more vibrant though Hermione couldn't see very well due to the darkness of the night. It became cold. Very cold. Like how she had been engulfed in icy water the last time she had visited the Burrow. But this time it was more dreading – a familiar sense of growing danger.
Dementors.
Something brushed past her, Ginny gave a sudden gasp for air and a frosty hand reached for Hermione's throat and clenched it tightly, choking her, sucking the life from her. Her eyes rolled back and a blood-curling scream echoed throughout her head, pictures and words flying through her mind.
"Please… have mercy… have mercy!"
Hermione let out a crackle of laughter. "Advada Kedavra!"
She saw a flash of green light – but the dementor wrenched away its hand and disappeared from the bright glow of a Patronus. Hermione and Ginny both fell to the ground, everything was fading and a voice echoed in the distance: "Oh Ginny!" she heard someone cry out. "Get them inside – quick!" Everything went black.
Thanks a bunch for reviews once again my loyal readers! You put a smile on my face, it really pays off the time and effort placed on this story! The next three or so chapters are already complete and ready to upload. Could I manage to snatch at least ten reviews before that? Thanks again!
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Hazel-Buttafly