"Get up, Avery. Stand up. You ask for forgiveness? I do not forgive. I do not forget. Thirteen long years…I want thirteen years' repayment before I forgive you." ~Voldemort, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Chapter 6

Ron instantly started pushing Hermione behind him, wand raised and a fierce, determined expression crossing his face. Hermione's first instinct was to scold him for thinking she couldn't handle herself, but this was most certainly not the time for that. So she merely sidestepped him and whipped out her own wand, ready to defend…or attack.

A soft laugh came from beneath the mask of the Death Eater that had first spoken. He took a lazy step forward, and then another, as if he had no fear whatsoever that the four people he had cornered could harm him at all.

"Look at you, so ready to fight us," he said in a voice that was almost fond—and was vaguely familiar. "As if you could ever win."

"I'll blast you through the alley if you don't back up, mate," George said in a calm but hard voice, brandishing his wand as well.

Hermione saw the eyes of the Death Eater through the slits in his mask as he gazed at George's threatening wand. Then, she could have sworn she saw them crinkle into a cold, amused smile. "I really can't help but commend your bravery," he said. "But I'm afraid that I have no choice but to bring you in to the Dark Lord."

Hermione felt a current of shock run through her, and sensed her companions stiffen beside her. Why would these Death Eaters want to take them directly to Voldemort? As far as she could tell, all of them were indeed Death Eaters, and not greedy Snatchers. It would be much more efficient to just kill their victims instead of dragging them back to their leader.

"I know what you're thinking," the head Death Eater said softly. Hermione was aware of his companions steadily closing in. "Why should we bother bringing you back to the Dark Lord? Have you forgotten who you are?"

"Only after a strong drink," George replied cheerfully. Ginny shot him a frustrated look, and Hermione shared her feelings. This was not a time for jokes.

The Death Eater ignored George's comment. "You are the close friends of one Harry James Potter. The Boy Who Lived. Well…until he died, that is," he said, a nasty note entering his voice.

Hermione bristled and had to hold herself back from cursing the insolent Death Eater until her wand ran out of magic. She didn't dare take her eyes off of their enemies to look at Ron, but she could feel him trembling with rage next to her.

"The Dark Lord would be very pleased with me if I were to bring you back," the Death Eater whispered, coming so close that Hermione could have prodded him with her wand if she'd had half a mind to. "He might even…" An odd tone entered his voice. "Forgive me."

One of the other Death Eaters barked a laugh. Hermione started; she had almost forgotten the others were there. She noticed with unease that they had advanced on them, and they were now trapped in a ring of Voldemort's supporters. "Forgive you, Avery? How many times have you failed the Dark Lord?"

Hermione knew that name. Yes, she remembered him as one of Voldemort's followers. She watched his eyes darken with anger as he turned on the other Death Eater.

"I have never failed him," Avery snarled, now pointing his wand at his companion. "I was not the only one who deserted him when he first fell. Did you go to find him, Rowle? I think not."

Hermione slowly brought her lips to Ron's ear and breathed, "We have to get out of here."

Ron gave a barely perceptible nod but continued watching the argument unfolding between the Death Eaters closely.

"Only five more years of service," Avery whispered, a hungry note in his voice. "Five more, and I will be free."

"You will never be free," Hermione found herself saying.

Avery, whose attention had been momentarily diverted from his victims, swung around to fix Hermione with a hate-filled stare. "Did I say you could speak, filthy Mudblood?"

Ron snarled and took a step forward, but Hermione gripped his arm and squeezed. The time wasn't right yet. "You say you will be free of Voldemort's service in five years," Hermione went on, trying to sound as calm as possible. "But he will never let you—"

Avery lunged forward with astonishing speed, grabbing a fistful of Hermione's hair and wrenching her head back. "You have no right to say his name," he hissed, eyes blazing beneath the skull mask.

"Take your hands off her!" Ron bellowed. "Petrificus Totalus!"

Avery was ready. He released Hermione and turned on Ron, roaring, "Protego!" Ron's spell bounced back and hit him instead. Hermione watched in horror as he went rigid and fell to the ground.

Too late for a genius surprise attack. George and Ginny had already jumped into action. George was dueling Rowle and another Death Eater, while Ginny handled another. That left Hermione facing Avery and the fifth Death Eater, with a very stiff Ron lying on the ground beside her.

Avery sent another spell at her, which she easily blocked. She spun around and pointed her wand at Ron, shouting, "Relashio!" Ron sprang back into life, leaping to his feet and all but tackling Avery to the ground.

Figuring that Ron could handle himself, Hermione turned her attention to the other Death Eater. The look in his eyes was nothing short of gleeful. He was enjoying this. Hermione felt a flood of anger and before she had even consciously made the decision, she was crying, "Stupefy!" The spell was cast with such force that the Death Eater flew back, hit the wall, and slumped to the ground, effectively Stunned.

Hermione whirled around. Ginny was holding her own against her opponent, but George was having difficulty fighting two Death Eaters at once. He had just blocked the curse of one when Rowle raised his wand to hex his undefended back.

"Expelliarmus!" Hermione cried, and Rowle's wand went flying. He took one look at her and her wand pointing menacingly at his face and made a mad dash for his wand. Hermione sent Stunning spell after Stunning spell at him, but he rolled and dodged with such agility that he managed to reach his wand before she hit him.

He scooped it up and sent a jet of green light at her. Hermione threw herself out of the way and it exploded into the wall behind her, leaving a small crater behind. She had just enough time to raise her wand and block the next Killing Curse he sent her way. "Stupefy!" she shouted, but he blocked it with ease. He was slowly advancing on her, blocking every spell she sent his way and getting in plenty of his own. Hermione began to feel overwhelmed. She could still hear the sounds of her friends fighting, but what if someone was hurt?

Then she heard a scream—definitely a woman's. Ginny. With a rush of panic, Hermione bellowed, "Locomotor Mortis!" Rowle's eyes widened in surprise as she sent the spell at him. His legs sprang together as if bound by invisible ropes and he toppled over.

Hermione didn't give him a second glance. She skirted his body and ran farther down the alley, where Ginny's duel had carried her.

Ginny was on the ground, twisting and writhing in pain but refusing to scream again. Her attacker stood over her, de-masked and with a bloody face. His eyes were filled with mad fire and he was pointing his wand at her fiercely. Hermione knew exactly what he was doing.

"Stupefy!" she screamed, throwing all of the magic she could into the curse. The Death Eater turned at the sound of her voice and got the spell full in the face. He crumpled to the ground, his wand skittering out of his hand and across the road. Hermione ran to Ginny's side, her heart pounding with fear.

Ginny was panting, sweat beading on her forehead. "Ginny?" Hermione said urgently, touching her shoulder. "Are you all right?"

Ginny turned her head so that Hermione could see her face. There was still pain in her eyes, but the rest of her expression was indignant. "He used the Cruciatus Curse on me!" she raged, hauling herself to her feet and ignoring Hermione's protests. "I'm getting bloody sick of these idiotic Death Eaters." She started to run back to where the rest of the fight was going, then stopped, turned to her Stunned attacker, and casually flicked her wand at him. "Furnunculus." Boils sprang up all over his body. Hermione wasn't sure whether to be amused or horrified. Ginny raced off to join the others, and Hermione followed, with a last look at the boil-covered Death Eater.

She was just in time to see George knock out the fourth Death Eater. That just left one. Avery.

She heard Ron's voice shout her name. "Hermione!" She started to turn, confused, but not fast enough.

Hermione was face to face with Avery, looming over her, already forming the words that would take her life away. "Avad—"

For the second time, Ron raced forward and lunged at Avery, tackling him right to the ground. Hermione stumbled backward, stunned by what had almost just happened. In her shock she tripped over her own feet; Ginny caught her before she could fall.

Hermione recovered, leaping back on high alert, wand poised to fire, only to find a terrible scene facing her. Ron was backed up against the wall of the alley, face white, and Avery stood over him. Hermione didn't even have time to draw the breath to scream Ron's name before Avery was roaring, "Avada Kedavra!"

Don't you just love cliff hangers? I happen to hate them...So this is me just being cruel. Anyway, I hope you're enjoying it, please review! Thanks!