A/N:Ah! In my haste to post this, I forgot to mention what a brilliantly wonderful and amazing beta Lyr942 is! She puts up with my horrendous typos and the like, making my life much easier.
Thank you, all of you who reviewed! It means worlds to me that you took the time :)
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Trapped
Sunday, September 21
"It's about damn time," the man said in his compellingly deep Scottish accent. "We need to leave. Now."
Draco snorted. They still had their wands trained on his chest, but he seemed unfazed.
"Who are you?" Hermione demanded from his side.
"I am Absalom."
The name was unfamiliar to Draco, and a quick glance at Granger's face told him that she did not recognize it either.
"Right, fantastic," Draco said sarcastically, "Whenever you're ready, then."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "What my partner meant to say is why should we trust you? Other than your name and that you were friends with Snape, we know nothing about you."
Absalom cocked his head in Granger's direction, much resembling his Animagus form. "Were?"
Frowning, Hermione asked, "When was the last time you spoke with Snape?"
"Last Sunday night, around ten."
Draco felt his face twist into a scowl and an uncomfortably tight feeling wrap itself around his chest. "He was dead by midnight that night," he said, his voice thick. The past two days had been so full that Draco had hardly had time to think about his dearly departed Potions professor. This new sudden reminder brought back a lot of memories.
Grief and concern flickered across Absalom's face, which was definitely a shade paler than a moment before. He knocked back what remained of his drink, not even grimacing as the alcohol washed down his throat.
"We're sorry," Granger spoke for both of them, "we know you were friends."
He set his glass down and hopped off of the desk. "We really must be going now. Enough time has already been wasted."
"We're not going anywhere until you tell us why," Draco told him.
"Because if you don't, Potter and Weasley, barring some incredible stoke of luck, will be dead by dawn."
It did not sound like such a terrible thing to Draco, and he was about to say so, when Granger interrupted. All of the blood had left her face, and she had lowered her wand. Of course she would be on the edge of a freak out; Boy Wonder and Weasel-by's lives were in danger.
"They're in? Do they have it?" she whispered.
"They've been in for twelve hours. As to whether or not they have it, I couldn't say. I would like to think they do."
"Is it vampires again?" Granger asked.
Absalom shook his head. "No, Slytherin's hounds."
If it was possible, she blanched further. Draco watched, both curious and annoyed. He was being dragged into something again, but this time he was most definitely out of the loop.
"Anyone care to tell me what the hell you two are going on about?"
"You're right," she said, ignoring him. "We have wasted enough time. Make a Portkey."
Absalom nodded, glad to have convinced her to join him, and began searching for a suitable item. Draco, however, was not so easily persuaded.
"Speak for yourself, Granger," he hissed. "I'm not about to stick my neck out for Potter and Weasley, and frankly they don't deserve you putting yours out there either."
She wheeled on him, surprising him with her intensity. Her chocolate eyes were on fire. "Listen, Malfoy. I know you hate them and yes, you were right, I am angry with them. In fact, I am angrier with them than I have ever been with anyone, ever, but that is beside the point."
"What is the point then?" Draco interrupted. "Because everything you just said seems like excellent reasons to stay home tonight."
"Do you remember that Boy-Who-Lived, Chosen One spiel that we denied, and denied, and denied all through school? Well, we lied. It's true, all of it. There's a prophecy and everything. If Harry doesn't make it out of that castle – alive and carrying what he went in for – we might as well throw in the towel now. He is the only one who can defeat Voldemort."
By the time she finished, her chest was heaving and the blood had most definitely returned to her face. Draco was trying to absorb what she had just told him. He had never really believed in the whole Chosen One bit; he had just enjoyed annoying Potter. It was a difficult pill to swallow, accepting that the future of the world rested on Potter's clumsy shoulders. It crossed his mind that she was trying to trick him into going with her, but he quickly discarded the idea after searching her impassioned expression. If nothing else, she believed what she said.
Absalom returned with a half-used candle and turned it into a Portkey. "Are you two love birds done bickering yet?"
Hermione extended her hand, and he eyed it warily. Draco could not believe that he was going to rush headlong into a potentially life-threatening situation for no reason other than the fact that she asked him to.
How very Gryffindor.
With an exasperated sigh, he grasped her hand. "Fine, but you owe me one, Granger."
"Let's just call us square."
"From three," Absalom said as they joined him at the desk. He counted down to one and all three of them touched the candle at the same moment. Immediately, they vanished from Grimmauld Place.
Hermione, Malfoy and the ever-mysterious Absalom reappeared directly in front of Tullynally castle. It towered above them, gleaming eerily in the moonlight. She could hear the cursed hounds barking hollowly from inside. Her insides squirmed and she unconsciously squeezed Malfoy's hand, which was still in hers.
He squeezed back. "I can't believe I let you talk me into this," he muttered.
Hermione ignored him and addressed Absalom. "How do we get in?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "The doors and windows disappeared 'bout the same time the barking began."
Hermione caught her bottom lip beneath a tooth. They were waiting for her to figure out a way in. She released Malfoy's hand and walked closer to the castle's smooth façade, stopping where she reckoned the door should have been.
She thought for a moment. Considering blood was necessary to access the cave where Harry found the false locket, as well as the mausoleum in Ipswich, Hermione figured it was worth a shot. Flicking her wand out of her new holster, she pointed it at her palm and cast a slicing charm. She hissed at the sharp pain as her blood pooled black in her hand. Malfoy and Absalom drew up on either side of her to see what she was doing.
The stone was like a sheet of ice beneath her skin as she smeared the wall with her blood. It began to shimmer, revealing a large door-shaped gap in the otherwise flawless stone. They entered.
If the exterior was creepy, the interior was like something out of a nightmare. The walls and floor were made of dark obsidian, making the corridor they were in appear interminably long. Every few meters on both sides of the hall white marble serpents' heads protruded as if striking out at trespassers. An orb of bright green flame was suspended from each maw, illuminating the passageway. The effect was chilling.
As soon as they were inside the entrance sealed behind them. Hermione's heart was pounding in her chest and she could feel the adrenaline building in her blood like a drug. Yet, she was amazingly clear headed. Their task was set before them; they only needed to figure how best to go about completing it.
Absalom broke the silence that had descended over the trio. "I can't tell where the barking is coming from with the echo."
"I can't either," Hermione replied distractedly. There was something else she was hearing. It was underneath the noise, reverberating through the floor, the deep rumbling barely discernable. It was growing louder, the vibrations stronger.
"Do you guys hear that?"
No sooner had the words left her mouth the floor lurched, pitching Hermione and Draco to the dusty ground. Absalom maintained his footing, but only because he steadied himself on the wall. The entire corridor began swinging to the left, shortening before their very eyes. Some of the intersecting passageways disappeared while new ones appeared. They were now in a completely different hall, even though they had not moved a single step.
Hermione's heart sank.
"What the hell was that," Malfoy griped. He stood and brushed himself off; his white shirt was smeared with ancient dirt. Hermione's burgundy shirt and jeans were also filthy, but she really could not have cared less. There were more pressing matters at hand.
"The halls are like the stair cases in Gryffindor tower, except these are meant to trap us inside instead of allowing students to reach their dormitories," she explained. "It's an impressive bit of magic, really. Voldemort must have done it himself."
"I'm glad it meets your approval," Malfoy snapped, "but it hardly helps us get out of here."
"We need to come up with a plan," Absalom added, "or we're not going to be any help to anyone."
"We could try the Point Me spell," Hermione suggested. "Though, I don't know if it works on people – or moving targets."
"Well, get on with it." Draco was getting agitated. She did not blame him; they were in a tough spot - one he had been reluctant to get into in the first place.
Laying her wand flat on her palm, she muttered the spell under he breath. At first it did nothing, but then it began spinning in lazy, counterclockwise circles. She sighed.
"Either they're running in circles around us, or the spell isn't working."
Silence fell between them for a moment. Each was contemplating their predicament. Hermione felt her anxiety grow with each passing second.
"Do you think you would be able to track them if you were to transform into the hawk?" she asked Absalom.
He shook his head. "No, the hawk hunts primarily with its eyes. The hallways rob me of my advantage. If I were a mammal, say a canine or a feline, I might be able to help…"
Hermione looked at Malfoy, who was already shaking his head. He had guessed what was in her head almost before she thought it.
"I can do it, Malfoy."
"No, you can't."
"Don't ever tell me I can't do something. It just makes me want to prove you wrong."
"You've never done it before and I hardly think now is the time to practice," he argued, not willing to give up.
"You're wasting more time by bickering with me about it," she retorted, snapping her wand into its holster.
Absalom, who had caught on quickly, took Hermione's side. "Right before the transformation takes over, you will feel like you are made of water. As soon as you feel it, focus on it until it consumes your whole body."
Hermione looked at Draco one last time before closing her eyes to concentrate. His face was stoic - an expression she realized he removed only when they were alone together – but she could see traces of fear and anger in his eyes.
You can do this, Hermione.
Forcing her mind and body to relax, she began reciting the Latin words she had memorized in the past two days over and over in her head. After a minute, which seemed like an hour, an image flashed though her head, mingling with the spell, binding itself to the words. A great snowy leopard sat regally, bathing its shaggy paws. Its striped tail twitched at its side. Hermione felt as though she was staring into its eyes – her eyes.
Suddenly, her belly felt as though it was being filled with gelatin rather than organs. Her excitement sparked. Following Absalom's advice, Hermione embraced the sensation, giving it all of her attention. It was spreading, slowly, and she unconsciously sent forth a tendril of magic to speed things along. With the extra power she was putting into the spell, it really was not long at all before the transformation hit her, crashing into her body like ocean waves against a cliff.
The metamorphosis took her breath away. It had been much more intense than she had anticipated. Hopefully the overwhelming feeling would diminish as she mastered the process. After the jelly-like sensation passed, Hermione opened her eyes. She was looking up at the two men who, in appearance were complete opposites but, had similar expressions of disbelief on their faces.
Hermione peered down at herself and was most pleased to see a chest and forelegs covered in winter white fur with large, grayish-black spots. Her paws were massive and her retractable claws were razor sharp. A long, striped tail flicked back and forth on the ground next to her. It was strange, like having an extra limb that had a mind of its own. On the whole, it was all very surreal.
Hermione's senses were heightened far beyond her expectations. Her vision was sharper, clearer, more defined; her eyes made better use of what little light there was. Her ears were more finely tuned to her surroundings, making her hyperaware. Everything she heard – Draco's and Absalom's breathing, the hounds in the distance – was acute, though not necessarily louder.
She was ecstatic. She had become an Animagus, and it had only taken her two days. Had she been on two legs, not four, she would probably have been jumping up and down in a very girly fashion.
Malfoy cleared his throat. "Most impressive, Granger, really, but do you think you could do something besides stare at us? I like this place less and less the longer I'm here."
Hermione could not agree more, and Absalom was hardly about to object. He did not appear to be nervous or fearful, but rather severe. This man did not play games, and while he might have been impressed with Hermione's transformation, he was not one to waste time.
With a sniff, Hermione eased off her haunches and began trotting down the corridor. She liked being a cat. Her movements were sure and graceful; she could get used to it. Sirius had once mentioned that he loved being that large, shaggy, black dog, but she had never understood it until now.
Hermione allowed her ears and her instincts guide her through one eerie corridor after another. Malfoy and Absalom followed silently, keeping up with the brisk pace. Her sense of smell picked up no scent other than the stale air; Harry and Ron had not been in this hallway.
After a few minutes, the same low rumbling vibrated up Hermione's four legs. The passageways were preparing to shift again. She stopped and braced herself, splaying her legs and lowering he center of gravity, just in time. Draco and Absalom were not so lucky; they both tumbled to the floor.
"Thanks for the warning, Granger," Malfoy snapped. He was already standing and brushing himself off again. She thought it was amusing how he hated to be dirtier than necessary.
The trio continued. Not far down the newly re-arranged corridor, Hermione took a left and was immediately assaulted by an intense wave of mingled scents: dog, blood, and Harry and Ron, only stronger. The nerve-wracking cacophony was also traveling more clearly towards her ears. They were finally getting close.
She broke into a run – fast but not losing her companions in her haste. Hermione wanted to reach Harry and Ron before the castle decided to play musical hallways again.
Hearts pounding, they raced down the long black corridor. The smells assailing her nostrils were thick and oppressive. Especially the blood; the odor was so pervasive that she could almost taste its copper tang.
Hermione rounded one last corner and skidded to a halt. The sight she saw caused her heart to skip a beat, leaving her a little breathless. Then, with less than a second's hesitation, she broke into a dead sprint. Her muscles carried her easily. She opened her gait, closing the gap between Harry, Ron and herself more rapidly than she would have thought possible.
Fifty meters away the boys stood cornered with at least a dozen of Simeon Slytherin's cursed hounds barring their exit. Harry was leaning heavily on Ron for support, his jeans soaked with blood. As she drew near, she saw that Harry's face was ashen and his shoulders slumped, but he was still trying weakly to aid Ron in fending off the beasts.
Hermione let the leopard's instincts take over. It was weird, taking a backseat in her own mind. Like a spring uncoiling, she launched herself clear over the bunch of hounds and landed neatly next to Ron. The scent of Harry's blood was overwhelming.
Hermione's sudden appearance startled them. They looked prepared to hex her into next Sunday until she attacked an overly brave hound who thought it would take advantage of the distraction. She and the dog were of equal size, but Hermione still had momentum from her sprint behind her, and she used it to overpower her enemy. Before it knew what happened, Hermione bowled it over, and, sinking her teeth into its stale flesh, she shook her head viciously. The animal's neck broke with a crack.
The other dogs in front of her retreated a few steps, not sure what to make of the newcomer. Hermione let go of the dead animal when she heard Malfoy's voice carrying over the other sounds rebounding in the hallway. She hissed and growled, daring the other hounds to approach.
"Don't just stand there, Weasley, keep fighting!" Malfoy shouted.
Hermione did not turn around to see if Ron obeyed. She was currently staring down five of the ugliest things she had ever laid eyes on. They were Irish wolf hounds, or had been at one point. Their grey fur was dull and matted, giving them a mangy appearance. Their eyes were empty; the green light cast from the serpents' mouths gave their glassy black orbs an eerie luminescence. Foam and saliva dripped from their snarling muzzles. The taste in Hermione's mouth was enough to make her wretch, and their stench was as stale as a tomb.
A shimmer caught her eye behind the pack of dogs before her. Absalom appeared and fired a jet of red light at the nearest one. He must have flown over the fray, outflanking them.
"Granger!" he barked. "See to Potter!"
Hermione heard his words, and knew that Harry needed help, but a huge part of her wanted to keep fighting. Leopards were hunters, and there were so many of them waiting for her to end their miserable lives. It was with great effort that she climbed back into the driver's seat of her mind and reigned in her instincts. Absalom was right. Harry needed help – fast.
Focusing on the incantation meant to reverse the transformation, Hermione visualized her self-image until the same watery feeling as before stole over her body. Immediately she extended a bit of magic, not wanting to delay. In moments, Hermione was standing next to a gobsmacked Ron and a very faint Harry.
"Hermione?" Ron asked, not sure if his eyes were deceiving him.
"Yes, Ronald, it's me," she said sharply. A bubble of anger rose to the surface and burst before she could push it back down. She wrapped her arms around Harry, supporting him so Ron could fight unhindered. He was mumbling protestations, but she paid him no heed.
"Watch my back while I have a look at Harry." Ron hesitated. "Well, go on!"
As if coming out of a trance, Ron began firing hexes at the animals once more. They seemed to be fairly resistant to magic, but not terribly cunning either. With Harry in the state he was, a dozen hounds – cursed or not – should have been able to subdue the two boys rather easily.
Hermione laid Harry down on the obsidian floor and he winced in pain. There were bruises forming all on the right side of his face and his left leg and torso were sticky with blood. He was in as bad a shape as Malfoy had been one week ago to the day.
"Hermione, what are you doing here?" he ground out through clenched teeth.
"Saving your scrawny arse," she retorted.
"You shouldn't have come here."
"You can thank me later. Tell me what happened."
Harry nodded once, a grimace twisting his face; he was too weak to protest further. Using her wand, Hermione quickly split Harry's jeans from knee to hip and carefully peeled back the blood soaked fabric – what was left of it. The material was scorched and torn as well.
She inhaled sharply at the sight. His flesh was badly damaged and bleeding with lacerations covering him. His hip was dislocated, and his left femur appeared to be broken. Hermione pushed up his battered shirt, revealing broken ribs on both sides and more bruising. It was amazing Harry was still conscious.
While she performed her examination, Harry explained what happened.
"As soon as we found the wand, those bloody dogs appeared out of nowhere and started chasing us through the halls. Then the floors moved again and a wall appeared directly in front of us. I tried using a blasting spell, but it ricocheted and hit me, and I flew back into the wall behind me.
"Oh, Harry," she said under her breath. "How long ago did this happen?"
"I have no idea. I don't even know how long we've been in here."
"You've been in here for over twelve hours." Harry said nothing.
Hermione waved her wand over him to stop the bleeding. It would buy her some time to figure out how to fix the rest of him. He could not stand without support, and none of them could risk levitating him as they would all need their wands at the ready. She considered trying the trick she pulled in the Hospital Wing, but was not sure if she should risk incapacitating herself.
Hermione picked her head up and swiftly surveyed the scene. Ron was firing hexes to his left and right, attacking the hounds that surrounded them. Absalom was on Hermione's right and Draco was on her left. Both were attacking their respective packs from behind.
A familiar rumbling carried through the floor beneath Hermione's knees. Harry felt it too.
"The halls are about to move," he gasped, trying to brace himself.
"Malfoy, Absalom, get over here!" she shouted, not wanting to risk them becoming separated.
Absalom transformed, landed next to her barely a second later, then transformed back into a man, and began fighting next to Ron. Malfoy, however, was having some trouble. He had killed one hound and another was severely injured, but there were still four more separating the partners. Luckily Ron was too absorbed in what he was doing to realize that Hermione had just shouted to their arch nemesis.
"I don't have wings, Granger. A little help?" he said.
"Hold on to your wand," she said and pointed her own at him. "Levicorpus!"
Draco swore as the spell jerked him up by his ankle like a pig snare. Hermione steered him towards the group and gently deposited him on the ground.
"You could have told me what you were going to do," he complained.
The floor began moving, then. The hounds Malfoy had been fighting were mercifully cut off by a newly formed wall. The corridor moved backwards, maintaining the same angle, and then abruptly shot upward what felt like two stories.
Ron and Absalom, who had only stumbled, continued shooting spells at the five remaining hounds. Draco moved over to Hermione's side to see the damage for himself.
"Stop whining. Would you rather have been separated from us?"
Malfoy frowned, biting back a response. He changed the subject.
"Shite, Potter," he said under his breath.
"What the fuck are you doing here, Malfoy?" Harry spat. He was surprisingly vehement considering his weakened state.
Malfoy ignored Harry and turned to Hermione. "Can you fix him up well enough to get us out of here?"
Hermione shook her head. "There is too much damage." She explained to him Harry's various injuries.
"Could you do what you did-"
"I can try, but that did not end so well, in case you don't recall," she said uncertainly. She knew he was talking about the incident in the infirmary.
"What are you talking about?" Harry demanded. He was clearly annoyed, but too worn to commandeer their attention. Neither of them answered him.
Draco put a reassuring hand on Hermione's shoulder. She was surprised he would so something so bold right in front of Harry, but was too thankful to care. Their eyes locked.
"You can do it."
She still was not one hundred percent convinced, but what other choice was there? They were alive now, but how long would they remain so while trapped inside?
"You'll-"
"Make sure you don't lose control? Yes."
Hermione took a deep breath and released it. "Ok."
"One of you better tell me what the hell is going on," Harry said.
"Keep your knickers on, Potter," Malfoy snapped.
"I'm going to heal you," Hermione said. She snapped her wand back in its holster and placed her hand above Harry's hip. "We'll worry about the rest once we get out of here. Now lie still, I need to concentrate."
Turning her attention inward, she began searching for the magic like she had before. She found it easily enough and focused on drawing out only a small amount. Her hand felt warm and tingly, like pins and needles but less painful.
It grew in strength steadily; Hermione could feel it pulsing down her arm. Then Malfoy's grip on her shoulder tightened and his breath ghosted across her ear.
"Let it go," he whispered.
She did. Opening her eyes, Hermione found Harry gasping, eyes wide, and looking markedly healthier than a moment ago. She looked down at his leg and torso. Other than some blood, there was not a mark on him. Smiling, she repaired his pants.
"I told you that you could do it, Granger," Malfoy said as he released his grip, a rare smile on his face.
"Do you think you can go now?" she asked Harry, not bothering to explain.
"How did you-"
"Save it, Potter," Draco snapped, reverting back to his usual self. "How about getting out of here before you start playing twenty questions?"
Harry glared daggers at him. "Funny, I thought I was asking Hermione. Shut your mouth."
"He's right, Harry," Hermione said, furthering Harry's shock. "We need to get out of here. I'll tell you everything I can later."
"If you three are done catching up, I think we should be getting a move on," Absalom threw over his shoulder. Hermione heard a yelp followed by a sick thud. A hex had found its mark. She noted there were only two hounds left. Ron and Absalom made a good team.
Hermione and Draco stood. She swayed unsteadily on her feet. While she had been sitting down the after effects of using the healing spell had been hardly noticed, but they hit her as she rose. Draco put a firm hand on her arm, giving her support. Harry gingerly got off of the floor and tested his weight on his leg. He was also pointedly not looking at Hermione and Malfoy.
"I'm fine, Malfoy," she said. "Nothing a bit of adrenaline won't fix." He nodded, but remained close. "Harry?"
"It's a little sore, but I'll be fine. Let's go."
Hermione looked around. The direction they had come from was now a dead end, but behind them a new corridor had opened out of the stone. She began moving down the hall. Draco and Harry followed.
"Guys, let's go!" she shouted over her shoulder to Absalom and Ron.
Absalom hung back to cast one last spell. He fired a bright blue ball of fire towards the two remaining hounds. When it drew new to them, it began spinning rapidly and formed a small cyclone. It swept them up and carried them away from the wizards. Ron stood with his mouth agape at the interesting display of magic. Absalom grabbed Ron's arm and half-dragged, half-threw him towards the others.
"We need to keep close," was all he said.
They moved at a slow jog through the corridors; Hermione and Draco were in the lead, Harry and Ron in the middle and Absalom brought up the rear. Harry was moving stiffly, but was keeping up. Hermione could hear them whispering about her, but decided she was not going to concern herself with it at the moment. Now that she, Malfoy and Absalom had found the two boys, all she wanted to do was get back to the shabby safety of Grimmauld Place.
Choosing the directions mainly based upon her gut, they wandered around the third floor, weathering two hall shifts. However, they had not encountered any stairs, leading up or down, and the lack of windows gave Hermione little sense of direction. Finally after thirty minutes without any luck, Hermione slowed to a stop for a breather. She and Draco stood side by side on one side of the hall while Harry and Ron stood opposite. Absalom stood slightly removed from the teens, keeping an eye on the hall behind them.
Leaning against the wall, Hermione took in her companions' appearances. Absalom was blank; he might as well have been a statue. Malfoy had schooled his face into his classic indifference, masking his thoughts from Harry and Ron. A glance thrown in Hermione's direction told her that he was fully expecting them to begin cursing him at any moment. Harry looked both fatigued and angry, and was glaring with blatant hostility at her partner. Ron displayed a mixture of anger and confusion. He hated Malfoy as much as Harry, and did not understand how the three of them had gotten into Tullynally castle or why. Not to mention he had been running next to a perfectly unharmed Harry for the past half-hour.
Ron broke the silence, repeating Harry's earlier question. "What the hell are you doing here, Malfoy?" His voice was oozing venom.
"That's what I'd like to know," Harry added. They both had their wands gripped tightly, ready to curse Draco at the slightest provocation.
Hermione edged closer to Draco, a movement that was not missed by Harry. She was desperately trying to think of something intelligent to say. She knew she must choose her words carefully, but, for once in her life, her mind had deserted her.
"It looks like I'm saving your life," Draco returned. "A little gratitude wouldn't kill you."
"Gratitude? GRATITUDE?" Harry shouted. "You expect me to be grateful to you? After everything you've done to me and my friends?" He turned on Hermione. "What are you doing with him, anyways?"
"Harry, lower your voice. There's no need to shout," she said in a valiant attempt to sound rational.
"I'll lower my voice when I bloody well feel like it! You had better start telling me what the hell is going on!"
"Or what, Potter?" Malfoy snapped. "Are you going to hex her? I wouldn't suggest it, if you know what's good for you."
Hermione was at a woeful lack of words. Thankfully, her reflexes had not deserted her as well. Letting his anger gain control, Harry raised his wand and fired a jet of dark purple light at Draco. Hermione recognized the curse well. With Harry's emotional spike it might have done serious damage, maybe even killed him.
Instantly, Hermione leapt at Draco, tackling him to the ground. The curse scorched onto the wall where Malfoy had been standing moments before. They landed in a heap on the floor with Hermione on top, arms and legs all tangled up.
"Expelliarmus!" shouted Absalom, disarming Harry before he could cast another spell. His words were heated, showing a disdain for Harry he must have picked up from Snape. "What's in your head? Bloody idiot, firing a curse like that in a hallway. You could have killed someone."
Harry immediately began arguing with Absalom. "That's what I was trying to do," he said icily. "Give me back my wand."
"Not until you get yourself under control, Potter."
"I don't know who you think you are, but mind your own bloody business. This has nothing to do with you."
"It doesn't matter who I am," Absalom replied cryptically. "What does matter is that your complete lack of self-control has almost made a bad situation worse, and if I have to be the one to stop you, so be it."
His tone left no room for negotiations, but Harry was all worked up and was not going to just let it go. Harry continued yelling, but Hermione tuned him out. She was more focused on Draco's firm body beneath her. Their eyes locked for a moment and she blushed. Their faces were dangerously close together.
"Was that necessary, Granger?" he said quietly as they began untangling themselves.
"Trust me; you didn't want to be hit with that. It hurts like hell." She rolled off him and they stood up. He looked at her questioningly, but did not ask her what she meant by that.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"I'm fine," he said, brushing himself off.
Harry was still fuming at Absalom, but had not gained any ground with the stern man. Ron, however, had been watching Hermione and Draco, and was livid. He spoke, his voice dangerously low.
"Hermione, what's going on?"
She turned away from Draco and met Ron's angry glare head on. "It's really not important right now, Ronald. We need to focus on getting out," she said, hoping she sounded firmer than she felt. This was not at all how she had wanted to tell them about Malfoy.
"Not important? You show up here with Malfoy, who you seem mighty friendly with, and this bloke," he gestured towards Absalom, "as an Animagus. Then you heal Harry without a wand, and you say it's not important? I think you need to redefine 'important.'"
Their conversation had caught Harry's attention. "Yeah, Hermione, care you explain yourself?"
"You two are unbelievable," Draco jumped to her defense. "She shows up, saves your lives, heals you, and you think she needs to explain herself. You're both thicker than I thought. You should be thanking her right now, not giving her the third degree."
"Since when you do you stand up for her, Malfoy?" Ron demanded hotly. "To you she's just a Mudblood."
"You don't know anything about me, Weasel. And I thought you'd be glad someone was doing your job for you, lazy, incompetent arse that you are."
Although Hermione found it touching that Draco was trading barbs and insults with Harry and Ron on her behalf, instead of vice versa, she had a dreadful feeling that things were about to get terribly out of hand. Harry really did not have any control over his emotions or his magic, and Ron had become much more proficient at dueling. She and Absalom exchanged worried glances; he saw this ending badly as well. For the umpteenth time, she wondered what he was thinking. He was as unreadable as Snape had been.
Finding her tongue, she squared her shoulders and spoke up. "I will kindly remind all of you that I am perfectly capable of standing up for myself. Now, if you three are quite finished, we really must be going. Unless, of course, you want to go for round two with those horrible dogs."
As if to prove her point, the corridors began rearranging themselves again. Hermione and Draco caught their balance on one another; Harry and Ron did the same. Absalom, however, had apparently grown tired of dealing with the razor-tongued teens. He tossed Harry his wand and morphed into the hawk. Hermione felt slightly abandoned. Absalom had been the only other voice of reason in the bunch. Once the floor stopped moving, the hawk took flight and landed lightly on Hermione's shoulder.
"Bloody hell, Hermione, is that all you have to say?" Ron shouted. Hermione flinched, but did not back down. "What other secrets have you been keeping form us?"
She smirked at the comment. If they only knew.
Saved Malfoy's life, and would have saved Snape's had he been alive.
Declared war on Fenrir Greyback for Draco's sake.
Watched Snape's memories with Draco, and did not tell Harry and Ron about it.
Agreed to be partners with Malfoy, who might become a werewolf in two weeks.
Kissed Malfoy – twice.
She wisely kept her mouth shut. So did Draco, who was smirking as well. He was thinking the same thing she was.
Absalom interrupted by cawing loudly and flying off to the right. Hermione watched his progress down the hall, at the end of which was a newly revealed flight of stairs. Excitement took over again as she began jogging to catch up to the black bird.
"Hermione!" Harry shouted after her.
"Stairs!"
She ran and the boys followed. Barreling into the alcove, she practically leapt down the first four steps, but immediately spun around and began ascending once again. She almost knocked all three of them over with her sudden change of direction. The sound of several hounds barking could be clearly heard echoing up the stairs. She supposed it would have been asking too much to elude them forever.
"Quick! We'll have to go up!" she ordered.
As a group they sprinted up the stairs, the commotion below them increasing steadily. Absalom flew just ahead, circling back every now and then to shriek at them in haste.
Adrenaline coursed through Hermione's veins, giving her tired legs strength. They ran up at least three flights of stairs before an exit presented itself. Just ahead loomed a heavy oak door with iron filigree covering it. With a flick of her wand, Hermione opened it to find…more stairs.
Without waiting, Absalom continued leading them up the spiral staircase. They had entered a tower of some sort, and the air was markedly cooler and less stale.
"They're right behind us!" Ron shouted from the rear.
Hermione began taking the steps two at a time, fighting off the panic she felt welling up inside of her. Two stories up, she almost ran head long into Absalom, who had transformed back, and was opening another filigreed door. The blast of freezing cold air that hit her took what breath she had clear out of her lungs. Before them stretched a catwalk, no more than two meters across, running the entire length of the castle. There was another tower at the far end.
Hermione plunged ahead without delay. However, her heart sank into her trainers when she reached the tower opposite. There was no door, only smooth stone. They were trapped – seven stories above ground.
"I'm so sick of this fucking castle!" Harry shouted at the heavens. The moon was still shining brightly, giving everything a silver cast. Draco's hair glowed as he raked his hands through it. He was no longer trying to mask his agitation.
"What now, Granger?" he asked.
Harry and Ron were also looking to her for a plan. Absalom was watching the door they had recently come through, barely paying attention to the conversation. She was suddenly very, very annoyed.
"How the hell should I know!" she exclaimed. "Why doesn't someone else come up with a brilliant escape plan for once?" As Hermione spoke the words she was more than a little shocked to feel a familiar crackle of magic on her skin. It was her first taste of emotionally fueled, unsummoned, raw magic. It was scary. Mentally, she struggled to regain composure.
Then the dogs came. One by one they poured onto the catwalk, barking, growling, and salivating, anticipating the all too easy kills ahead. Hermione lost count; there were more than twenty.
Absalom fired the first hex. The stunning spell found its mark, but did little damage. The hound was knocked backwards, but it immediately scrambled back to its feet, undaunted. Hermione and the boys joined in, aiming their own hexes and curses at the pack of animals advancing upon them. The head of the pack was no more than three meters in front of them.
Hermione's brain went into overdrive. They needed an exit and they needed one fast, but the only one available included a seven story dive to earth. A feeling of detachment stole over her as she watched her companions fighting for their lives. So much was riding on them escaping, on Harry surviving to fight Voldemort. Being mauled to death by vicious dogs that refused to die was not how she envisioned her adventure coming to an end. No on even knew where they were.
Absalom could leave whenever he wanted. All he had to do was transform in the hawk and fly away. Despite this fact, he seemed determined not to abandon them in their last moments.
Too bad we all can't fly away…
Desperation welled up within her, mingling with the anger and panic Hermione was already feeling. Her magic sparked to life again. She had an idea. It might be a foolish idea, but it was all she had at the moment.
Perhaps if I can control it, just a little…
This is insane.
What other choice is there?
There was a chance she would not be able to and they would all die, but that end was looking rather eminent as it was. It was worth a try. Hermione cast one more hex before making her decision.
"Absalom, I need you to fly down to the ground and help me," Hermione said.
He threw her a questioning glance. "What do you need me to do?" he asked gruffly.
"Fly down and wait. You'll know what to do when you see," she answered vaguely. Hermione did not want to reveal her plan. She did not want him to try and talk her out of it. They were running out of time as it was and she desperately needed Absalom's help. Seven stories, after all, was a very long way to fall.
"Just trust me."
He nodded once before morphing into the hawk and descending towards the ground. Hermione slid her wand into her holster and climbed up on the ledge.
"What are you doing?" Malfoy shouted when he saw her.
"Saving us - I hope. Hold onto your wands!" She heard Absalom shout her name from below. He was ready when she was.
Taking a deep breath, Hermione closed her eyes and focused on the two spells she would need. She did not even know if she could cast two spells simultaneously, but she had to, or else this would not work. With the words Protego and Wingardium Leviosa revolving in her head, she let the magic loose. With both arms extended before her, Hermione felt the magic pour forth much like it had during her training sessions with Moody and Tonks. It was so intense; it almost broke her concentration.
When Hermione heard Draco, Harry, and Ron swear loudly, she opened her eyes. From her left hand a fait line of orange light was feeding into a magical shield separating her friends from their attackers. The Shield Charm was holding. The boys, however, were now floating about a meter above the stone floor. None of them were looking very pleased, but if this worked, they would be thanking her later.
Keeping the flow of magic feeding their only defense, Hermione focused on levitating them. She moved her right hand towards the edge. Slowly, as though they were in a giant bubble, all three of them floated over the ledge.
Harry and Ron were protesting loudly; Harry was saying something about a broom, but Malfoy seemed to have caught on. He too cast Protego, fortifying Hermione's shield so she could divert more power into not dropping them to their untimely deaths.
"Absalom!" she shouted. "Now would be a good time to lend a hand!"
Instantly, she felt his magic added to her own helping to steady Draco, Harry, and Ron's decent. With Absalom's aid, they were now moving speedily downward. It was a good thing, too. Hermione could feel her physical strength flowing out of her, mingled with the magic. Unfortunately, stamina was not possessed in limitless quantities like magic.
As if the hounds felt her weakness they began throwing themselves mindlessly at the shield, heedless of the pain it caused them. Every blow traveled along the magical connection and up Hermione's arm, jarring her concentration. She began to panic once again; she knew she would not last much longer.
Hermione stole a peek over the edge. Absalom was just lowering the three boys to the ground. Draco was already shouting up at her, his voice filled with urgency. Harry and Ron joined in a moment later. She could not understand what they were saying through the fog that was seeping into her mind.
A final blow to the shield broke the spell. With a cry, Hermione tumbled off the ledge and into the darkness.