Chapter Nine: Dead
"Now there's no turning back,
I'm making to attack,
My blood is singing with your voice,
I want to pour it out..."
Howl-Florence and the Machine
"We know he's got Horcruxes," Ron said as he paced around the Common Room, "but how many are there? And what exactly are they?" He dragged a hand over his face.
It was Saturday again, and the Golden Trio had assembled for a private meeting in the Head Common Room. Neville was out at the Greenhouse, so they had no need to worry about being overheard. The trip to Hogsmeade was in a few hours, which was what they were all waiting for, but for now, they had important matters to discuss.
"Dumbledore said he would have at least seven Horcruxes," Harry said, looking away when he felt the pang in his chest at his mention of his fallen mentor's name. "And we don't know what all of them are; from the memories we looked at, we found they're objects of great importance or value to him. One was obviously the diary, which we don't have to worry about, since I destroyed it before I even knew what a Horcrux is. The ring Dumbledore wore was also one; he managed to destroy it, though it ruined his hand. The Slytherin locket his mum had was another, and I'm willing to bet all my money on the cup of Hufflepuff, seeing as Riddle stole it after he had killed the woman who owned it."
Hermione and Ron exchanged grim glances.
"Where are we going to find all of these?" Hermione asked carefully. "They can't all be in the same place, can they?"
Harry shook his head. "Too risky. He's hidden them in different places. Luckily, the diary was practically thrown at us, and Dumbledore found the ring, and the locket. Even though it was a fake, it gave us clues as to where it might be now, so that's better than nothing. We'll have to look for them."
"Well that sounds easy," Ron said sarcastically. "They could be anywhere, mate! We might as well go and ask him where they are."
"Not quite," Harry said thoughtfully, repressing a smile. "Dumbledore said each item was hidden somewhere that probably meant a lot to him, or held some kind of significance. The locket was found in some horrid cave he used to go to when he lived in the orphanage. The ring he took from his last relatives. No doubt there's one hidden here in Hogwarts, seeing how much this place meant to him. And Malfoy Senior had the diary before he passed it on to Ginny. Malfoy's one of his best and most trusted Death Eaters, isn't he? So if he had it in his care, he might have another, unless Riddle's trusted one of the Horcruxes to Bellatrix."
"And where's the safest place to keep something?" Hermione asked slyly.
Ron turned away from the window, grinning at them, though his face had gone white.
"Gringotts."
It was time for the excursion down to Hogsmeade, so they, excited with their brilliant discovery and plans to go in search of the forbidden items, went down to the villa together.
"Fancy going into the Three Broomstick's first?" Ron asked. "I'm starved."
Hermione looked at him with wide eyes. "We just ate!"
"I'm a growing man," Ron said, laughing. "I need nourishment!"
They cheerfully walked into the establishment, and quickly found a booth at the far corner, where there were less people. Ron hurried off to place their orders. The general loudness of the place and cozy fires made for a welcoming environment, and Harry and Hermione settled comfortably together on one side.
"So when do we leave?" Hermione asked quietly.
"Spring. During the Easter hols."
Hermione's eyes widened again, and her face drained of colour.
"But our NEWTS exams!"
Harry tried not to laugh as he looked at her dismayed face. He cleared his throat and placed his hand atop hers, which lay on the table.
"What's more important?"
She sputtered. "I didn't mean it like that!"
Harry smiled affectionately at her, brushing the backs of his knuckles over her cheek.
"Don't worry, Hermione," he said. "With any luck, McGonaggall will let you go back to school once we're through with the war."
Before Hermione could reply, Ron arrived with their drinks and his order.
"Here you are," he chimed happily, setting their Butterbeers down on the table with muted clinks and set his own plate in front of him as he sat down.
They walked out of the Three Broomsticks sometime later, trying to decide where they should go next.
"Go to Zonko's," Hermione said lightly. "I think I'll look about and try to do some Christmas shopping, so I might be awhile."
"Sure you don't want us to go with you?" Ron asked, already heading off towards the joke shop. Harry wasn't far behind him, but he was looking at Hermione seriously.
"Positive." She smiled to reassure them. "If I'm not back in an hour and a half, you can find me by the Shrieking Shack."
"Why there in particular?" Harry asked.
"They've got some benches by there I can sit on, and I've a book I've been meaning to finish." The lie had come out of nowhere, but was just what she needed. The boys nodded disinterestedly.
"Alright then," Harry said, and squeezed her hand before he went after Ron.
Hermione waited until they were gone to head off to the Shrieking Shack, peering cautiously about her all the meanwhile to make sure no one noticed her.
She didn't know why she was doing this, to be honest.
She had decided she wouldn't come. It was too risky. She didn't even know if Cormac was being honest. He could be up to no good, really.
So why am I here? She asked herself once she found herself at the small, deserted clearing with the obscure path that led to the supposedly haunted building.
Hermione turned, looking in all directions. The area was bare and gloomy; she was alone. Sighing, she kicked at a pebble.
"I thought you wouldn't come."
She let out a startled yelp and jumped at the sound of the voice that came from behind her. She placed her hand on her heart, feeling her racing pulse as she gulped in air.
"Could you not do that?" she hissed, glaring at him.
"Nice to see you too, Granger," he chuckled.
"Can't say I return the sentiment," she said peevishly.
He ignored her comment, surveyed their surroundings.
"All the same," he said slowly. "You came to hear what I have to say, didn't you?"
She hesitated, and then nodded.
"What say you we take a walk?" he offered. "We're likely to be overheard here."
"By who?" Hermione protested. "There's no one around."
"Says the girl who went to a lonely pub to organize an illegal group, thinking they wouldn't be overheard," he taunted, grinning.
Hermione grit her teeth. She was starting to regret having come at all.
Cormac had already set off on the path, walking towards the Shrieking Shack.
Hermione looked around herself. It was eerily quiet around her; the shops were all full of students aiming to get away from the cold. As she contemplated, rain began to fall, scattering tiny dark spots all over her coat, and soaking into her hair.
"Coming?" he asked over his shoulder.
Clenching her fists, she stalked after him, cursing both him and herself along the way, until she finally caught up to him, and realized he had reached the shabby little building, and was running his hand along one of its sides.
"There's no way to get in, you know," she said haughtily, crossing her arms.
At least, none that you know.
And just as she finished her sentence, he pressed a loose-looking brick further in, and a door appeared to its right.
Cormac turned to her, grinning again.
"You were saying?"
Hermione looked in amazement at the door. How long had that been there? Even Harry hadn't known about this, or else they'd never have bothered to take the entrance under the Whomping Willow.
More importantly, how did Cormac, of all people, know about this?
"After you," he motioned for her to step inside. The door opened and a staircase was revealed, leading into an upper level.
"I think I'll ignore the decorum just this once. You go first," she said, eyeing him suspiciously as a fat raindrop splashed onto her nose.
He bowed. "As you wish." With a wink, he began to climb the stairs, and Hermione followed, but not before making sure the door was ajar; just enough so anyone passing by would notice it.
She stepped up onto the upper level, and found herself in the same exact room she, Harry, and Ron had been in when they had had their confrontation with Professor Lupin, Professor Snape, and Peter Pettigrew. A hateful shiver ran up her spine when she remembered the cowardly little man.
Cormac stood leaning against the wall, staring at her.
"Well?" she asked, pressing her palms against her thighs. "Talk. I'm on borrowed time here."
"How've you been?" he asked suddenly, his face stony.
Taken aback, Hermione bit her lip. "Um. Fine. But I'd really rather you tell me what-"
"And your relationship with Potter?" he asked. His questions came out as demands. Was she imagining the sneer on his face?
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. "I don't think that's any of your business."
"You're not afraid Malfoy will get at him?" Cormac asked. He began to walk towards her slowly, and uneasy, she began to move unconsciously away from the exit.
"Why would Malfoy go after Harry?" she asked impatiently. "Voldemort wants him, not Malfoy."
He ignored her question. "After the Ball last year, Malfoy found out about what I did to you."
Hermione was on the verge of asking how this was possible, when she suddenly remembered. Her hands began to shake as the memory of the assault inside her mind as Malfoy had forced his way into her mind and memory.
"He found me afterwards, and made me pay," he said, his voice void of emotion.
Hermione's insides turned to ice. "I'm so sorry, Cormac," she said, but her voice came out as a whisper. "I didn't tell him, he used Legimency on me and-"
"Cormac is dead, Hermione."
Hermione froze.
"What?"
"He killed me, and grabbed a few of my hairs in case they would come in handy." He laughed. "I guess they did."
"But you're right here, how can you be dead?" she asked, stumbling over her own words in a haze of confusion and increasing fear.
He took another step and she took one step backwards.
"Because," he said, smirking. "I'm not Cormac."
And Hermione stood, paralyzed with fear as 'Cormac' began to transform before her. She suddenly knew who it was behind the disguise, but the knowledge did not stop the sudden horrible shock that ran through her when Malfoy stood before her, still smirking.
How stupid she had been.
How very, extremely stupid.
She never should have come here.
"Hello, Princess," he crooned, and she almost swooned with terror.
"N-No…" she croaked, eyes widening with horror. Her knees threatened to give out.
"Oh yes," he said, his grey eyes practically sparkling with victory. "I've got you now, love."
A burst of adrenaline rushed through her, and in a split second she snatched her wand up and aimed at him, shouting 'Stupefy!' 'Locomotor motis!' and 'Impedimenta!' all in one breath with increasing desperation when he blocked each spell, advancing towards her as easily as though he were walking down an abandoned hall at Hogwarts, even though she kept firing a barrage of jinxes and curses at him to prevent him from doing so.
"Why are you here?" she shouted, slashing her wand through the air as she raised a shield to block his Imperius.
He knocked her to the ground with a tripping jinx as she had been busy blocking his former curse.
Hermione had no time to scream as she tumbled to the floor, slamming her head against the hardwood. She scrambled to get up as fast as she could, though her forehead was bleeding heavily and her mind threatened to succumb to the darkness beginning to engulf her vision.
In an instant, she was back on the floor, shouting and clawing and scratching at his arms as he tore her wand out of her fierce grip, pinning her arms to the floor with his own.
"I told you I'd be back for you," he said, staring hard into her horrified face.
"No!" she gurgled, tasting copper on her tongue.
"Of course I did," he chuckled. "And here I am! Can't have Potter and Longbottom taking what's mine, can I?"
"Not yours," she ground out, and yelped when he slapped her quickly afterwards. White exploded across her vision and faded away slowly.
Reaching out, he grabbed a fistful of her curls and angled her face so her neck was fully exposed.
"You are mine, Granger," he hissed, burying his face into her soft skin. "Mine, and no one else's."
"Go to hell," she twisted underneath him, angling to give him a good hard kick in the crotch.
"Only if you come along," he said before crushing his lips to hers.
"G-get o-umph!" she tried yelling as his lips repeatedly covered hers feverishly. He nipped at her lips, running his tongue over her bottom lip before delving inside her mouth as she sputtered and tried turning away.
"I've missed you," he muttered softly, trailing his lips down her neck, sucking and biting hard on her skin as she greedily gulped in air. He cast a quick sticking charm on her arms, binding them to the dusty floor before he ran his hands down her front, tearing open her coat.
"Please!" Hermione cried, fighting tears back. "Stop!" When he didn't move, she calmed her mind as best as she could and focused on using wandless magic, drawing the magic to her mind.
Expelliarmus!she thought frantically as he began kissing her neck once more.
With a startled cry, Malfoy flew off of her and landed on his back some feet away. Not caring if he had hit his head or not, Hermione attempted to jump up before she was yanked back by her arms, which were still bound to the floor.
Relashio! she thought with all her might, but nothing happened. She heard Malfoy swear and get up and she trembled with fear, screwing her eyes shut and focusing as best as she could on freeing herself.
He was back on her before she could, wrapping his hands around her slim white throat, snarling with anger.
"You stupid little cunt!" he growled at her, straddling her as she fought to buck him off.
The darkness was coming again, spotting her vision as her body weakened from lack of oxygen.
Her face was turning blue, fading into a dull grey as he squeezed her throat. She feebly shook her head, her eyes fluttering shut.
How could I have been so stupid? She asked herself, surprised to find how her own voice inside her head was growing fainter and fainter. At least I'm dying. I'd rather die than let him take me.
Draco loosened his hold, watching as she flopped limply back down onto the floor. For a precious second he was horrified, thinking he had killed her, and panicked, he checked her pulse.
She wasn't dead. Draco sighed shakily. He could still feel the faintest pulsing underneath his hands. As he watched, she began to breathe again, drawing in hoarse, whistling breaths that began to restore the colour in her cheeks.
"Ron?"
Ron looked up from his stance at the cashier, where he was paying for his purchases.
"Yeah, mate?"
"It's been longer than an hour and a half. We need to go get Hermione."
"She's fine, mate," Ron chuckled as he grabbed his bag of goods and stowed it inside his pocket.
"Probably, but it's getting dark out, and it's almost time to go back to the castle," Harry said, fighting the urge to run outside the shop and look for his girlfriend.
Something didn't feel right.
Because of Harry, they walked quickly to the area by the Shrieking Shack, but didn't find Hermione.
"Reckon she went off somewhere?" Ron asked, looking around.
The sense of dread was growing stronger. Harry quelled the panic rising up his throat, and looked around fervently before something caught his eye.
Footsteps.
He nudged Ron, and the two took a closer look. The path leading to the shack was made of a light dirt, and the rain from before had formed puddles in the form of feet that led up to the ugly building.
He easily recognized Hermione's footprints, but the larger ones baffled him. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
Without a word, he and Ron sprinted up the path.
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
She breathed, breathed, breathed again, more deeply each time as she filled her system with the much-needed oxygen. Some of it caught in her throat and she coughed, her thin body shook weakly.
Lips covered her own and tears spilled from her eyes once she opened them.
She was not dead.
He was still here.
"I'm sorry, sweetling," he murmured into her lips, "but you need to accept that you're mine."
She couldn't speak yet, so she shook her head, frowning deeply at him.
"You're asking for a repeat," he growled, and she flinched, involuntarily bucking her hips as she tried to scuttle backwards.
Her body accidentally came into contact with his, and he groaned, rolling his hips into her crotch as he sucked on her neck again.
She let out a hoarse cry of alarm when he began to unbutton her jeans, biting and licking her collarbone, sucking on the swell of her breast.
"Please," she rasped as he lowered her bra cup and began to suck on her nipple, all while still rocking his hips sensuously into hers, as his other hand attacked her other breast.
"Please what, pet? D'you want me to fuck you into the floor? Hm?" he pulled on her nipple with his teeth, earning a sharp cry from her. She could feel his arousal growing against her thigh, and she clamped her lips shut to hold back the vomit that was crawling up her throat.
"No, please, Malfoy! Don't!" she sucked in a shocked breath when his fingers brushed against her core, covered by her underwear.
"Shut up, Granger," he murmured, licking at her jaw.
She drew in a deep breath and screamed for all she was worth when he began to prod his finger inside of her. It wasn't because of the pain. She needed help. She prayed to whatever deity came to her mind as she screamed, praying that someone would hear her. Her throat was burning and felt so raw that it hurt to whisper let alone scream, but she had to take advantage of the fact that Malfoy had not silenced her yet. She screamed so loudly, she didn't hear the commotion exploding around her.
The floor vibrated underneath her, and Malfoy swore as footsteps were heard coming up the stairs in a terrible racket.
Suddenly, her arms were free, and she stopped screaming to pull in more air as she scrambled to escape the dark wizard.
He wasn't having that, however. He hauled her up and wrapped one arm around her neck and dragged her to the back of the room just as Harry and Ron burst into the room, wands raised and bloodlust on their faces.
"Hermione!" Harry cried at the same time as Ron let out a cry of outrage upon seeing the half-conscious witch struggling to breathe as Malfoy tightened his hold on her. His face reddened with anger as he took in the state she was in; her torn blouse, revealing more skin than he would have liked to see. Her jeans were unbuttoned and pulled down a bit, revealing a sliver of skin and her panties. His eyes trailed up and he saw all the marks and blood Malfoy had left on her skin and he began to shake with rage.
That bloody bastard.
"Hello, Potter," Malfoy sneered at his enemy.
"Let her go, Malfoy, or I swear I'll kill you," Harry said, his arm shaking as he leveled it at Malfoy.
"You wouldn't dare make a move as long as I've got this pretty little bird in my grasp," Malfoy taunted, pressing Hermione closer to himself. "You wouldn't want to hurt her, now would you?"
"Harry!" Hermione pleaded, trying to pry Malfoy's constricting arm from around her throat. "Just do it!"
"Shh!" Malfoy hissed, and with a jab of his wand she was mute, sobbing as he gripped her jaw forcefully.
"Put your wands down," he barked at the two Gryffindors. "Do it or I apparate now and take her with me!"
Without hesitation, the Harry and Ron dropped their wands on the floor and kicked them to the farthest corner of the room, glaring mutinously as Malfoy as they did so.
"That's better," Malfoy smirked.
Hermione dug her fingers into his arm, not caring in the least that her nails were tearing through his skin, leaving bloody marks.
"Don't fight me, Princess," he warned, never taking his eyes off the two males.
She only scratched harder, wrestling against his hold.
"Keep that up, love, and I will summon the Dark Lord," he threatened. "You want it to end it all like that? I'll oblige you."
Hermione's eyes widened and she ceased her attack at once. Harry and Ron made as if to move forward, but Malfoy turned to them quickly, brandishing his wand.
"Do not move," he growled.
"Malfoy, just let her go!" Harry said. "She hasn't done anything to you. Take me instead."
"You've no right to make a bargain, Potter," Malfoy spat. "I'm in control here."
He fisted Hermione's curls and drew her head back again, exposing her throat and all the marks he had left on her skin.
Harry clenched his fists.
Malfoy brought his nose to her throat and inhaled her scent, brushing his lips over her skin. Hermione shuddered with repulsion, and gasped when he suddenly whirled her around to face him, wrapping his arms tightly around her.
"What's wrong, Potter?" Malfoy asked Harry, whose fists were clenched so tightly, his fingernails were digging into his flesh, drawing small beads of blood, and his face was red with rage. But his expression was clear and stony; he knew Malfoy was taunting him, trying to provoke him to fight. If he made one move, Hermione would be in grave danger.
Ron was seething, he was absolutely livid and beyond. But one look from Harry was all it took to keep him still. He'd messed up too many fights by raging in. And this wasn't his battle anyway. But he took one look at Hermione, who was shaking and white as a bone and had blood on her face, and it set him to boiling again.
"You don't look all that angry that I've got your girl," Malfoy remarked, bringing his hands down to Hermione's waist and squeezing it painfully. Hermione tried to turn her head but couldn't; he was holding her so tightly, as a result, she was pressed against his body, and her arms were trapped at her sides. She could barely move.
She was dimly aware that Malfoy was speaking, most likely he was trying to provoke Harry, but she had to intervene before Harry made a move. Surely Malfoy had not been joking about summoning Voldemort. One wrong move from any of them, and it was game over.
She didn't have her wand, she suspected it was lying on the floor somewhere. She wouldn't waste time trying to use wandless magic. Her last attempt at it had been futile and look where she was now. No, this situation called for Muggle tactics.
Malfoy's voice broke into her train of thoughts.
"I guess you won't mind if I have another taste right now."
She looked up in alarm, but he caught her lips with his own, making a point to show Harry that he was using tongue. He was bending her backwards, intensifying the kiss as she tried to get away. She opened her eyes and caught Harry's eye, shaking her head slightly at him as he began to lunge for his wand. She sent him a pleading look with her eyes, wincing as Malfoy bit her lips, and Harry and Ron, confused, but trusting her, didn't make a move.
As soon as Malfoy began to pull away, grinning viciously, Hermione reared her head back and then snapped it forward to smash against his as she brought her knee up and planted a solid one on his crotch.
He let her go abruptly, howling with pain and rage as she fell backwards again and scurried away from him on her elbows and feet, nearly sobbing with hysteria. Harry and Ron rushed to her, wands at the ready as they helped her up gently.
But at feeling their hands on her, she panicked and tripped over her trainers, falling hard onto her bum as she scooted backwards, covering herself up with the torn remnants of her blouse. Harry's heart broke at seeing her react in that manner, but at the same time, a roar of hatred sprang up from somewhere inside him, demanding blood.
He and Ron turned just in time to hear the crack of apparition as Malfoy made his getaway.
"NO!" Harry roared, and Ron shot and 'Incarcerous' at the small flash where Malfoy's cloak had just whirled out of sight.
He couldn't believe it. They had let him get away.
Ron swore, ramming his fist into the wall, which gave way under his brutal knuckles.
Harry stood there, staring at the spot as hate and guilt raged inside his mind.
In a moment, he came to, and rushed to Hermione. Ron was already with her, kneeling beside her as she leaned against the wall. Her face was drained of coulour, the blood from the cuts on her forehead and lip had dried, and he spotted several bruises in a ring around her neck and cheekbones. She wasn't moving, and her eyes were closed. He dropped to his knees, taking her hands in his. They were cold and stiff.
"She's just fainted," Ron said quietly, and Harry's shoulders sagged with relief.
Without another word, Harry gently picked her up, carrying her bridal style out of the room.
"Thank Merlin we were in here. We need to get her to the Hospital Wing now." Ron sighed, picking up their wands from the floor. "We would attract way too much attention if we went out like this. The passageway that leads from here back into the school; it hasn't been blocked, has it?"
"Let's find out," Harry said, and they ran in search for the right door.
