A/N: See the awesome manip sandra-sempra made on my Tumblr page crochetawayhpff! Also, drop a line and tell me your thoughts! Just a note there is an attempted sexual assault in this chapter. It doesn't get too graphic, but there is some discussion of it leading up to the scene.
"We'll fight them!" one of the Weasley twins shouted.
Hermione eyed them from her spot at the council table. Just that day, the Weasley twins, the Lovegoods, including Luna, and the Boneses had been banished from the Upper. The council was meeting to decide what to do about it. They could continue to take in people from the Upper, and they wanted to. But all could see that this was quickly coming to a head. And since Severus' capture a week ago, tensions were running high. Lily had tears in her eyes almost constantly and Harry was walking around angry, with balled fists and ready to hex anyone who looked at him funny.
Hermione had a plan though. She just had to get Tom to agree to it.
"All of you?" Tom asked, including the Lovegoods and Boneses in his gaze.
"I'm in," Amelia Bones replied. Her brother and his wife nodded their agreement as well.
"As long as we can get our younger ones out to the country," Edgar Bones said. He had several children, only Susan was of age and allowed to attend the council.
"Not me," Susan replied. "I'm fighting."
"That's easily done, Granger can take you," Tom replied, looking at Hermione.
Hermione blushed under his gaze, but nodded, "I'm secret keeper, so I can take you out. Professor McGonagall is out there, you'll like her."
"I'm not much one for fighting," Xenophilius Lovegood muttered.
"Minnie could use the help," Lily offered, looking at Tom pointedly.
Tom nodded, "He can help guard the infirm."
"I'm staying," Luna said.
Hermione grinned at her friend. Happy that she would be helping them fight.
"Not now, Daddy," Luna whispered to her father when he tried to argue with her.
"Alright, you're staying to fight. Good," Tom nodded. "Next, the plan to free Severus."
"He's in Potter Manor, right? That's what Ginny said," one of the Weasley twins responded. Hermione thought it might have been Fred.
"That's our assumption," Lily nodded.
"Let's use Harry," Hermione started.
"No!" Lily stood and glared at Hermione.
"Mum!" Harry said as he started whispering urgently to her.
Hermione couldn't quite hear what they were saying and while she felt a little bad, it just made the most sense to use Harry as bait.
"Granger is right," Tom replied. "Harry as bait would be perfect."
"I'll lead the raid," Hermione volunteered. "I have the best dueling skills. Besides, if Harry doesn't work as bait, well, I'm wanted too."
"Harry, please," Lily whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"It's done, Lily," Tom said with finality. "Tonks, you'll go with us. Any word on Lupin?"
"No," Tonks replied.
Remus Lupin had been missing since the last full moon, almost three weeks ago. Hermione was worried about him and Tonks especially. The Metamorphmagus was looking decidedly down since Remus had disappeared.
"Fine, Tonks, Granger, Harry and myself. Smaller group the better. Dismissed," Tom waved his hand and the rest of the council left.
"I'll find you when I'm done," Harry told Lily.
She nodded, and left the room, not looking at anyone else.
"What's the plan then, Granger?" Tom asked as he leaned back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest.
"We get to Potter Manor, Harry leading, the rest of us Disillusioned. Ginny's given us a layout of the Manor and where the dungeons are. While Harry stays on the lawn engaging Black and Potter, Tonks as his back up. We," Hermione gestured to Tom and herself, "go inside and get Severus. Then we get out and get back to the Under."
"Seems simple enough," Harry commented. "About time we did something," he grumbled under his breath.
Tom glared at him and Hermione cleared her throat, bringing Tom's attention back to her.
"It should be rather straightforward. Tonks, are you sure you're up for this?" Hermione asked.
"Yes. Maybe Remus will be in the dungeons too?" she asked hopefully.
"We'll look for him," Hermione assured her.
"Fine, when are we leaving?" Tom asked.
"At dark," Hermione responded with a glance at her watch. It was early afternoon now, they had several hours to prepare. Hermione had to take the Bones children and Xenophilius Lovegood out to the country house. Then she planned on a nap and a further review of the plans Ginny had drawn up. It was lucky Ginny had been able to sneak out earlier in the week with the twins and bring them. Apparently, James Potter was courting her. Hermione had laughed when Ginny had told them. He was pompous and twice her age. Ginny shrugged, it's how purebloods did things.
Hermione grumbled awake as someone banged on her door for the third time. She groggily wiped her eyes and checked the time with a Tempus charm. Only four in the afternoon, they had at least four hours before the sunset.
She opened her door to find Tom standing there.
"Granger," Tom greeted.
"Tom, hi," Hermione said, she stepped back and invited him inside.
He raised his eyebrow but came in and shut the door behind him. Since no longer being a student, Hermione's room had evolved. It was larger, with a sitting area, but it was still one room. Hermione led Tom to the couch in front of the fireplace.
"Tea?" she asked him.
He nodded, so she conjured the set from her small kitchen area and began steeping the tea. Tom had never come to visit her room before. Hermione was nervous, what was he doing here? Was he going to tell her the raid was off? She hoped not. It would ruin her plans if it was.
"What's the real plan tonight, Granger?" Tom asked casually as Hermione began pouring tea.
Hermione recovered better than she could have hoped. She didn't even spill his tea. She dropped a lump of sugar into it and handed it to him. He raised his eyebrow. Hermione blushed, apparently she paid too much attention if she knew how he took his tea.
"We've discussed the plan already," Hermione lied.
"Not the plan you want Harry to know. The plan you have in the back of your mind. The one you aren't telling me," Tom ground out as he glared at her.
Hermione gulped. "I don't think you want to know that plan," she whispered.
Tom very carefully set his tea on the side table and turned to her. Hermione sipped her own tea as she ignored the way his eyes bored into the side of her skull.
"Granger," Tom growled.
Hermione sighed and set her own teacup down on the coffee table. She turned toward Tom but refused to meet his gaze. Tom reached out and gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.
"Tom," Hermione pleaded. "I know what I'm doing."
"Do you? Do you know what Black would do to you if he got his hands on you?" Tom asked, his voice low and gravelly.
"I'm aware of what kind of man both he and Potter are," Hermione responded bravely. Braver than she felt, really. Why did Tom care so much? Hermione knew why she wanted him to care, but… he couldn't possibly? Could he?
"And if they use you and kill you?" Tom growled, his grip on her chin tightening.
Hermione bit her lip, it was a possibility. But she didn't think they would do it. Not before Tom could lead a raid to save her. That was the real plan. Get captured, Ginny would help Hermione fuel anger in the Upper, then get saved by Tom.
"I..." Hermione trailed off and slid her eyes to the side before Tom could see the tears in them.
"Fuck," Tom whispered.
Hermione was shocked when she felt his warm lips cover hers. She hadn't been looking at him, didn't know… her thoughts trailed off as she felt her nerve endings light up. Gooseflesh broke out all over as he molded his lips to hers. He snaked a hand behind her head, delving into her thick curls and tilting her head. Hermione moaned and he took advantage of the situation by diving his tongue into her mouth. She wrapped her own tongue around his, reveling in his taste. Tea and peppermint, fresh, clean. She couldn't get enough. She reached her own hands out to drag him closer to her. She wanted to feel his body pressed against hers. She hadn't kissed anyone in the two and a half years it had been since their last kiss. She knew nobody else could make her feel like this. Desire pooled low in her belly and she felt her core ache. She wound her arms around his neck, as the hand on her chin skimmed lower. Lower past her breast, barely touching it, down to her hip, pressing her backward.
Hermione found herself on her back on her couch with Tom pressed above her as he snogged her senseless. The kiss was heat and fire and Hermione's mewls and groans were swallowed by Tom. He thrust his hips into hers and Hermione felt his length press into her belly.
Oh, gods, she wanted more, more, more. Tom began kissing down her jaw to her ear.
"Mine," he whispered in her ear. "You are mine."
He punctuated it with a roll of his hips, his steel length pressing into her.
"Gods, yes," Hermione responded.
His hand bit into her hip tightly.
"I'll allow your plan to happen," Tom said raggedly and bit her earlobe. "But you are mine. Do everything you can to make sure it stays that way."
He trailed kisses down her neck to where her shoulder met her neck and bit, hard. Hermione cried out and arched her back, as he soothed over his bite, sucking the flesh. He was marking her. Part of Hermione wanted to push him off, but the other part of her reveled in the fact that he was marking her as his. She wanted to be his, desperately. But this fight with the Upper was more important and they both knew it.
The raid succeeded and failed. Harry was the perfect bait, luring both Potter and Black out of the Manor. Hermione and Tom had easily snuck in and found Severus. They'd looked for Remus, but he wasn't being held there. If he was a captive of the Upper it wasn't at Potter Manor. Severus was severely injured. He couldn't walk, so Tom had fashioned a portkey for him to go directly to where Lily and the healer, Madam Pomfrey, were waiting. They knew that he would be in bad shape and Hermione was pleased they had planned well for that at least.
As she and Tom exited the Manor, intent on grabbing Harry and Tonks with a second portkey, disaster struck. Tonks' disillusionment charm had failed and she and Harry were openly dueling Potter and Black. They were holding their own, but Black narrowed his eyes and shot the killing curse at Tonks. She'd been unable to duck in time and fell down, dead on the lawn of the Manor.
"No!" Harry shouted as he went for Tonks.
"Fuck!" Tom muttered and he and Hermione raced across the lawn to get to Harry.
"Stupefy! Stupefy!" Hermione shouted at Potter and Black's backs. The Under didn't use Unforgivables. It was part of their political plan. They never used the Unforgivables, and so the Upper wouldn't have anything to crucify them with.
Tom reached Harry and Tonks and pulled out the portkey.
"You going to wake them?" Tom asked Hermione.
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked wildly, tears in his eyes. "Where's Dad?"
"We portkeyed him to safety already," Hermione said. "I have to stay, Harry."
"What?!" Harry shouted as he made to grab Hermione's arm.
She pulled away, "Leave, Tom!"
As soon as they blinked out of sight, Hermione cast a slicing hex at her leg and rennervated Potter. She figured her chances of survival were better with him than with Black who seemed unstable.
She began army crawling away, her wand tucked into a hidden pocket in her robes, as Potter came to.
"Wha—" he groaned as he sat up and looked around him.
Hermione glanced over her shoulder and saw Potter climb to his feet. She made to go faster, but Potter stopped her with a spell.
"Immobulus!" he shouted, and she froze in place. "Your 'Under' friends leave you to us, Mudblood?" Potter asked cruelly.
Hermione glared as much as she could without being able to move.
"Rennervate," Potter whispered at Black and he too rose.
"Fuck! Where'd they go?" Black asked as he looked around. His eyes widened and a very cruel smirk appeared on his face when he spotted Hermione.
"Left the Mudblood behind, did they?" Black said as he stalked forward.
"Finite Incantatem," he mumbled, releasing Hermione from the spell.
Hermione began army crawling away again.
"I don't think so, Mudblood. If I am right, you lost me my bait. Guess you'll have to be his stand-in. Accio wand," Black sneered and her wand flew from her hidden pocket into his hand.
He leaned down and grabbed Hermione by her hair. Then he began pulling her back to the Manor, dragging her across the ground by her hair.
Hermione screamed. Fuck, she had not anticipated this level of torture. Tears formed in her eyes as her hair pulled her scalp. She scrambled her hands up trying to pry his hands free of her hair. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
"I'm going to enjoy beating the fight out of you," Black commented as he began dragging her down the stairs of the Manor to the dungeons Hermione had just freed Severus from.
This is worth it, it's worth it, Hermione chanted in her head, trying to keep her thoughts away from the pain. Ginny will be here soon, she'll help, Hermione thought as Black tossed her into a cell. He followed her inside.
"I knew you cost me my bait," Black growled.
Hermione whimpered and backed herself into the corner. She was scared. More scared than she'd ever been in her life, but she had to stick this out. This was part of the plan. Stick to the plan, Granger, she heard Tom's voice whisper in her ear. She sniffed, she would. She would stick to the plan.
"Hermione?" a whisper in the dark. "Hermione?" a little louder this time.
"Mghph," Hermione moaned as she rolled over.
Everything ached. She didn't know how long she'd been down here, but it could only be a few days. Even if it felt like a lifetime. Thankfully she hadn't been raped. Not that Black hadn't hinted at it. He had. Heavily. But so far, Potter had saved her. She never thought she'd feel grateful for Potter. But right now she did. She couldn't imagine the pain she'd be in, both physical and mental if she'd been raped.
"Hermione?" the whisper was closer.
"Here," Hermione whispered hoarsely.
"Oh, gods," Ginny Weasley breathed as she stood in front of Hermione's cell. "Alohomora," she muttered and the cell door swung open.
"Let's clean you up," Ginny whispered as she began tending to Hermione.
"Thanks," Hermione groaned.
"I don't want to clean you up too much," Ginny admitted as she pulled a camera free from her robes.
"S'alright," Hermione muttered.
"I'll heal what I can though," Ginny said casting charms and spells.
Hermione suddenly felt much better.
"General pain reducer," Ginny muttered. "Okay, let's get some shots. Then I'll start the interview."
Ginny took several photographs of Hermione. Then began asking questions. She had a Quick Quotes Quill taking down the conversation word-for-word. Hermione gave as much detail as she could. The food shortages in the 'Under'. The fact that she was being held and tortured by two pureblood wizards. Why she was being tortured. And she spoke in length about the Under's desires. How they didn't want to take over, they just wanted a seat at the table. She spoke about the old laws, the ones still on the books. And how it wasn't until recently that half-bloods and Muggleborns had been completely ostracized from society again. It was a good interview, Hermione only hoped it helped.
"Thanks, Ginny," Hermione whispered as the other left the cell and left Hermione alone again.
It had been several days since Ginny had been by last. Hermione had mostly been left alone. A small elf-like creature came and delivered food, but never spoke. Hermione assumed it was a house elf, she had read about them but never seen one before. They were primarily bound to pureblood families, so very few half-bloods had them.
"Rise and shine, Mudblood!" Black shouted through the dungeon, startling Hermione.
"Oh, gods," Hermione groaned.
She had been enjoying her reprieve. The last thing she wanted was more torture from Black. He opened her cell and seeing him standing in the doorway, backlit, Hermione began to tremble. She tried to calm it. Maybe he didn't know about the interview with Ginny yet? Hopefully, Ginny had been smart enough to keep her name out of it. But if Potter didn't get many visitors, it wouldn't take a genius to figure out it had been her.
"Up you get. You're getting a shower today," Black seemed almost gleeful.
Hermione cringed away from him, curling herself into a ball in the far corner of the cell. He hauled her up by her arm anyway and marched her down the corridor.
"Gods, you stink," Black wrinkled his nose as his grip tightened on her arm.
Hermione had no idea how long she'd been there, but she hoped Tom would be coming for her soon. She knew he had to wait for the photographs and article were published in the Daily Prophet. It would be stupid to act before then. Hermione could only hope that they had been. She was taken up a rickety back staircase, the servant stairs, Hermione assumed and shoved into a bathroom with a house elf.
Hermione thought it might have been the same house elf that had been feeding her, but the light in the dungeon was so dim, she couldn't be sure. Regardless, this one wouldn't speak to her either. The elf snapped its fingers and Hermione was naked. She didn't even bother trying to cover herself. When the elf filled the bathtub and directed Hermione to get into it, she obeyed. She was sick of smelling herself, and a warm bath would do wonders for her sore muscles.
Hermione's eyes fluttered as her skin hit the water, it was paradise after the week or so she'd spent in the cold dungeon. The house elf helped wash her hair and when the bath was over, snapped its fingers again and Hermione found herself dressed in a very sumptuous ruby red dressing gown. It was silky smooth on her skin and reached the floor. The wide sleeves were too long and covered her fingertips. The elf snapped its fingers once more and Hermione's hair was dried into thick ringlets, prettier than she'd ever managed to make it. Hermione looked at herself in the mirror and was suddenly worried. Why was Black making her wear clothes like these? And bathing? Hermione felt her stomach roll. That could only mean one thing. The one thing Hermione was most scared of. The one thing Tom warned her about. Oh, gods, Hermione dropped her head in her hands. She couldn't do this. She knew she couldn't. Torture, physical abuse, she could handle that. But sexual assault? Rape? It was terrifying on a level Hermione could barely comprehend.
"Ready yet, Mudblood?" Black asked through the door.
Hermione moaned sickly. When the house elf opened the door, Hermione scrambled back, trying to put as much distance between her and Black as possible.
"I knew you'd clean up nice," Black leered at her.
He strode forward and grasped her arm above the elbow, pulling her along behind him. Hermione struggled, digging her heels in and trying to pry his fingers off her arm.
"Struggle all you want, my dear. It's happening," Black grunted as Hermione attempted to kick him.
She pulled hard, trying to get him to stop, but he had size and mass on her. So far, her struggles had been mostly silent. Hermione began screaming as loud as she could. Maybe someone would hear her and intervene.
Black laughed, "Nobody's here, darling. Nobody will hear you scream. I like screamers." The wink he sent her way chilled Hermione's blood and she snapped her mouth shut. She wouldn't give him what he wanted. If he wanted a fight, she'd lay there like a cold fish. She wouldn't scream, wouldn't emote at all. But only if that's what she had to do. She'd much rather fight now, get him to stop if she could.
"Listen, Black, you don't want to do this," Hermione began. "Ever heard of AIDS? HIV? It's a sexually transmitted disease, I have it. Very nasty, it'll kill you."
"Wizards are immune to Muggle diseases. Didn't you know that? Course you didn't, you're a filthy, fucking, Mudblood," Black sneered at her.
"My vagina has teeth!" Hermione shouted.
Black laughed, "It isn't the '50's, darling. Nobody believes those old wives tales anymore. Trim is trim. And I'm betting Little Miss Virgin here is going to be one tight piece of trim."
"I'm not a virgin! I've had tons of guys. I'm loose as a goose!" Hermione tried as she pulled again, trying to get him to stop.
He did stop for a moment, but only to open a door and push her inside. It was a bedroom.
"Don't do this," Hermione begged as she backed away from him.
"You're going to love it. All the witches do," Black assured her as he began unbuttoning his robes.
"I'll fucking kill you," Hermione threatened. "I won't let you stick your tiny dick in me."
"I'm fucking huge," Black said as he grasped his crotch and shook it at her.
Hermione blanched.
"Come on, Mudblood," Black said as he backed her into a wall.
Hermione pushed and scratched him, but he just caught her wrists in one hand and shoved them above her head. She was trapped. She tried to knee him in the groin, but he moved his hips. Then kicked her feet apart, standing between her legs. He sniffed at her neck and Hermione began crying even as she bucked and wiggled, trying to dislodge him.
"Fuck, keep doing that," he breathed into her ear and she froze.
Then, she felt it. Her wandless magic that seemed to have been missing this last week. She had been so good at calling it forth, but all week, she hadn't been able to. She assumed they had spelled against it. But maybe, it was just the dungeons? Some sort of anti-magic spell on the bars or something? Hermione didn't care. She felt it swirl deep inside and fill her body. She concentrated hard on pushing Black off her, letting her magic build and build inside her.
She went limp in his arms, she controlled the shudder that wanted to break out at Black's low chuckle.
"Giving up already? Worthless fucking Mudblood."
Then she let loose. She screamed wordlessly and a brilliant purple light filled the air, extending from her body. Black was flung across the room. He hit the wall with a sickening crack as Hermione's magic push, push, pushed him away from her. She stood at the wall, panting heavily, gooseflesh broke out over her entire body. Her once gorgeous ringlets turned bushy and frizzy in a huge halo around her head. Her magic popping and crackling through her hair, purple and blue sparks.
"Don't you ever fucking touch me again," Hermione growled to Black as he slowly began to stand.
A look of fear crossed his face and Hermione grinned evilly at him. She wanted him to be afraid of her. Like he'd made her afraid of him.
Black narrowed his eyes, "Fine, I've got someone else who wants a go at you."
He left the room quickly. Hermione hurried to the door and found it locked and warded. As soon as she touched the handle, it stung her. It would take her time to bring down the wards wandlessly. But she would do it. It was the only way to get out of here. If she could escape before Tom came to rescue her she would. She sat on the floor in front of the door, folding her legs underneath her. She closed her eyes and held out her hands, feeling for the magic.
Hermione sighed, exhausted. She'd been slowly, slowly dismantling wards for hours it felt like. She was currently leaned up against the wall nearest the door, her head back and her eyes closed when she heard a huge boom from the outside of the house, and the Manor shook. She opened her eyes slowly. And then she felt the wards shift and change. She stood quickly and backed away from the door. She shouldn't have worn herself out as much as she had trying to peel back the wards.
The man who came through the door wasn't Black or Potter. It was someone Hermione had never seen before.
"Who are you?" Hermione asked.
"Your worst nightmare," the man grinned with a slight Russian accent.
"I don't think so," Hermione narrowed her eyes at him.
"I do," the man smirked. "Goret' vnutri," he intoned and slashed his wand.
A wave of purple fire flew out and hit Hermione before she could dodge to the side. She shrieked as it felt as though she was burning from the inside out and knew no more.
