AN: As promised to all you lovely reviewers here's the next chapter. This one is going to be tough to read, I found it really tough to write but it has to be done. Although I've made changes that I think some of you might actually like. Thanks to Astarte_Lydianna and Gnoir for their unrelenting support. Not Beta'd.
Disclaimer: All recognized characters and situations belong to J. K. Rowling. I make no money from writing this and own nothing from the Harry Potter universe.
Fenrir Greyback had a tight hold on Hermione's neck as he dragged her up the long dark path towards Malfoy Manor. Two snatchers were each holding Ron and Harry. Harry was fighting the hardest, trying to get to Hermione and protect her and the baby. With every glimpse he got of Hermione ahead of him, Greyback had a hand on her stomach with his nails extended.
Ron continually kicked out at the two snatchers holding him, finally catching one in the shin and earning himself a punch in the face, the resulting bruise was purple by the time they made it to the entrance hall.
The foyer of Malfoy Manor was dark, the walls were a depressing grey and there were torches on the walls providing very little light. The trio was dragged down a long passage to a large dining room, where the snatchers handed them over to Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy.
Draco stood in the back of the room; he seemed almost unable to look up from the floor. His hair was unusually disheveled and his shirt was half hanging out of his suit trousers. He was almost unrecognizable as the boy the trio had fought with at Hogwart's for so many years.
"My my my, what do we have here" Bellatrix keened in her high cackling voice. Harry's head whipped around from Lucius Malfoy's excited stare to see that Bellatrix had Hermione in her grip and was focused on her rounded belly.
"Look friends, the filthy mudblood is on her way to spawning more dirty blood. Tell me mudblood, who did it? Potter or the blood-traitor?" Bellatrix continued.
Hermione looked Bellatrix in the eye defiantly and didn't respond.
"The Dark Lord will be so pleased" Bellatrix's voice was almost reverent as she spoke of Voldermort. "But until he gets here you're mine to play with"
Bellatrix's eye caught the sword in the Snatcher's hand and her playful stance changed instantly. "Where did you get that? How did you get it? Answer me!" she screeched pointing her wand straight at Hermione's bump.
Hermione flinched but still stayed silent.
"Right, if you won't admit it..." Bellatrix screeched, she shoved Hermione down on her back and straddled her legs, "Narcissa, put the boys in the dungeon, the Mudblood and I are going to have a little girly chat"
Ron and Harry kicked and shoved, trying to force Narcissa and Lucius to let go, but nothing they did would loosened their grips. They were forced down stone steps into damp dungeons with no light or ventilation.
As soon as the two Malfoys went back up the stairs Ron clicked his Deluminator and gave them some light. "Harry what do we do, she's going to hurt Hermione I just know it, the baby too"
Harry opened his mouth to respond and tell Ron that he had no idea but was cut off by Hermione screaming from above them.
Harry ran to the gate enclosing the room and rattled it. His wand may be in the hands of death eaters but maybe sheer force would work. "Ron come here, help me" he shouted, becoming more and more frantic as Hermione's screams got louder and more painful to listen to.
"That won't work, it's wrought iron" a voice came from behind them.
They turned and saw Mr. Ollivander behind them. "Mr. Potter, I had hoped I would never see you here"
"Mr. Ollivander, there must be something we can do, Wandless magic, something" Harry pleaded.
"No Harry, Mr. Ollivander has tried everything" Luna stepped out from behind the old wizard.
"Luna, are you okay?" Ron asked.
"I'm fine, I want to go home" Luna responded.
Hermione screamed again and Harry renewed his fruitless attempts at opening the gate by force.
A crack behind them made all four captives turn around. "Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends," the little elf said, bowing low.
"Dobby, I've never been so happy to see you. Can you get our wands? We can blast our way out with them" Harry frantically asked as Hermione stopped screaming. The silence from above was worse than the screaming, because now that he couldn't hear her, he didn't know if she was alive.
"Dobby can take you out of here himself" Dobby announced, puffing his little chest out.
"Fine, be quick, take Mr. Ollivander and Luna first, take them to..." Harry trailed off, as he couldn't think of a place that was safe.
"Shell Cottage, Bill and Fleur's house" Ron jumped in.
Dobby nodded and took each hand that was offered to him. With a loud crack they disappeared and Harry turned back to the gate. "She's gone quiet"
"What do you thinks happened?" Ron's voice was low and worried.
"I don't know but if anything has happened to Hermione or my baby I'll kill them all with my bare hands" Harry growled.
"Dobby's taking too long, where the hell is he" Ron whispered frantically.
They heard movement above them and stood back as feet began to descend the stairs. Ron clicked his Deluminator and the lights disappeared.
"Stand back" the person ordered as the gate opened. Wormtail walked in with his wand stretched out in front of him. "Get back against the wall" he ordered.
"Peter please. You and my dad were friends once, you have to let me out" Harry begged.
"Shut up! I can't. He'll kill me" Wormtail's voice was still the squeak of a rat, even after four years as a human.
"Do you really want to kill James' son? James and Lily's grandchild? Think about it Peter" Harry coaxed. "They cared about you. They trusted you. You let them down once, do you want to let them down again?"
Wormtail's wand arm shook. Harry could see the cogs going around in his mind. "Please Peter. My baby doesn't deserve to die" Harry pushed with what he had left in his arsenal of words and pleading.
Wormtail slowly dropped his arm. He stepped aside and removed himself from the path between them and the door, "I didn't want to kill your parents, you don't know what he did to convince me, I'm weak"
"You're doing the right thing, my dad would be pr-" Harry was unable to complete his sentence as Wormtail's silver hand shot out and up to wrap around it's owners neck. He went purple within moments and Harry and Ron's combined efforts to pull the hand away did nothing. Peter Pettigrew fell forward at their feet and lay still.
"Merlin's saggy left bollock, what the fuck just happened?" Ron exclaimed.
"No time, come on" Harry bellowed, he was already halfway up the steps.
They rounded the corner and made it to the doorway into the dining room and stood in the shadow's either side.
"Harry, we haven't got our wands, we can't fight them" Ron urgently whispered.
"Begging Harry Potter's pardon, I got them" Dobby squeaked next to Harry in the dark.
"That explains what was taking so long" Ron quipped as he caught his wand in mid-air after Dobby threw it to him.
"You freeze Malfoy's parents, tie them up, I'll fight Bellatrix and get to Hermione. Dobby be ready to get us out," Harry quickly and quietly ordered.
Ron nodded but Dobby was nowhere to be seen.
They looked into the room, trying to catch a glimpse of their intended targets. Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy were standing ten feet away from the door, against a wall. Lucius' eyes were lit up watching Bellatrix. Narcissa looked green. What she was witnessing was too much for her but she couldn't look away, it was like a train wreck.
Draco Malfoy was on the other side of the room, closer to Hermione. His eyes were on his aunt also, he had in fact been sick. Harry was almost afraid to look at Hermione but he fought his fear and looked down. She was unconscious and blood was streaming from her arm.
"My vault should be impenetrable you little shit" Bellatrix screeched at something they couldn't see. "The Dark Lord will gut you"
"It is impenetrable, I cannot explain how" Harry recognized the voice and as he turned towards Hermione's unconscious form Draco could see Griphook in Bellatrix' grasp.
"...useless mudblood. I think maybe I'll just rid her of the dirt growing inside her," Bellatrix said as she pointed her wand at Hermione's bump. Harry pelted into the room just as a loud crash came from right behind Bellatrix and one glance revealed that the chandelier had hit the floor not half a foot away from her. Harry looked up to see Dobby hanging from fastening on the ceiling.
"You rotten little rat. How dare you attack a witch?" Lucius bellowed at Dobby. With a crack the little elf was by Ron's side, already holding his hand ready to apparate him. "You will not hurt Harry Potter or his friends"
"Greyback, kill the girl" Bellatrix ordered as she crawled away, still holding the knife with Hermione's blood.
As the vicious werewolf swooped down to Hermione, Draco screamed "No" and shot a chain from his wand around Greyback's neck, choking off his air supply. He rushed forward and picked up Hermione's unconscious form, and ran towards Harry, Ron and Dobby.
Griphook took the opportunity to get away and followed in Draco's wake, clambering onto Harry's back.
Harry grabbed Draco's hand and got hold of Dobby's outstretched fingers. A loud crack came as the little elf apparated them away from Malfoy Manor.
…...
Harry found himself on wet sand with the sound of waves behind him. He sat up and just barely got his bearings as he ran over to Hermione, still in Draco's arms on the floor.
"I couldn't let her," Draco kept whispering as he rocked back and forward. Harry tried to move Draco's arms and get to Hermione but the blond wizard was completely out of his mind. He was continuously muttering and his hands were shaking.
"Malfoy for Merlin's sake pull yourself together, we have to get her inside" Harry yelled at the distressed wizard in front of him.
Draco snapped out of it after Harry lost his temper and gave him a hard slap across the face. He stood up with Hermione still in his arms and ran towards Shell Cottage, where the door was standing open. Bill was running towards him with his arms out.
"Harry quick" Ron yelled from behind Harry.
Harry spun on his heel and ran over, finding Dobby in Ron's arms. Ron gently placed the elf in Harry's grasp and pointed to Bellatrix's knife on the floor, covered in fresh blood. The little elf's pillowcase was slowly turning red.
"Bellatrix must have thrown it at us as we apparated out. I pulled it out of him but I don't know how to stop the bleeding" Ron explained in a rush as Harry cuddled the little elf to him.
"Dobby saved Harry Potter. Dobby saved Harry Potter and his friends. How wonderful to be with friends" he mumbled.
"Yes Dobby, you saved us. I'll never be able to thank you enough" Harry truly cried as he held Dobby to him.
"Don't cry Harry Potter. Dobby is happy to be with his friend" the little elf said with his last breath.
AN: I know it was tough. This is actually the last of the already written chapters, although I have half-written the next one already so there is still a good chance it will be up tomorrow. Reviews certainly help and if anyone wants to ask me any questions because of the content then feel free to PM, I'll answer all of them :)