Chapter 11
The Ultimatum
Dumbledore was short, and to the point with the students in the great hall. He advised them that they had done a great service to the school by protecting there class mates, and awarded each house 100 points. He discussed in sadness the loss of those in Gryffindor, yet commended them for having the bravery to stand up to Voldemort.
After advising them that he was sending them home for a week in order to repair the school, and morn the loss of there loved ones. He lightened the mood by having breakfast ordered, and by reassuring them that teacher, and Aurors from the MOM were watching each door. Once he had finished addressing them, he waved his hands, and the breakfast arrived.
"Its about time, I was worried we would have to wait until we got on the train before we would get food. I'm starving." Ron said pulling a plate in front of him, and loading it up with ham, bacon, pancakes, and eggs. Harry on the other hand, just looked around at the doors and windows nervously. Something just didn't seem right to him, and he could feel it in the pit of his stomach.
"Hermione, since you're the only one here that saw one of those ghouls, can you tell me what they look like. I mean didn't you say they were in the school?" Turning to his friend, Harry watched, as Hermione seemed to shy away from his question, and start to mutter something he didn't understand. When she looked back at him, Harry noticed the blackness of her eyes, and realizing that this was not Hermione, reached into his pocket for his wand.
Before he had the chance to pull it on this intruder though, he felt himself forced to the floor by some type of charm. Completely immobilized and unable to move, Harry watched in horror as what he had thought was Hermione transformed into a huge creature.
Instead of moving directly for Harry, the eight-foot demon turned on Ron. Stunned by the sight in front of him, and unable to move from sheer fear, it only took a second for Ron to be captured, and disappearing into thin air, Harry closed his eyes in order to take in the sight.
"Get the hell away from him." He heard himself yell mentally to the creature that had now turned toward him. "HHHHAAAAARRRRRYYYY POOOTTTTEEEEEEERRRRRRR" the creature spoke, sounding almost like the wind. "IIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTT IIIIIIIIISSSSSS TIIIIIMMME." It continued, and Harry's eyes widened as a hand reached his immobile foot, and he felt as if he was being pulled into a warm liquid.
Without warning however the feeling vanished. Instead of looking into the black eyes of this creature, Harry was relived as he noticed it tumble over to the numerous, and powerful hexes sent toward it by Remus, and Sirius.
"Do not kill it, only capture the creature" Harry heard Remus shout, the effects of whatever charm he had had placed on him was beginning to fail. Just then however Harry cried out as the creature jumped out of the window, and escaped into the direction of the forbidden forest.
"What was that, and what did it do with Hermione, and Ron?" Harry shouted having fully recovered from the charm, and up on his feet. "Harry, That is what is called a Chameleon Ghoul. As for Hermione and Ron." Remus died off looking at Harry.
"They have been taken by it" Harry finished for him walking over to the window. "Severus advised us that Voldemort plans on trading there lives for yours Harry, like your father, he knows that you will give your life for your friends.
"What are we going to do? I mean, we cannot just let them suffer. I will not allow them to suffer on my behalf. He was right, I will not allow them to die because of me." "Harry, we were not going to let any of your friends die. First, we need to contact their parents, and then we will gather the Order, and figure out the next step. We don't know what Voldemort's plans are yet, however, I can assure you he will not kill them until he gets what he wants."
"How can you be so sure?" Harry asked looking at Sirius "Harry, until we know what his request is, we can't. For now, stay close to Cho. He is after her as well, and we must not allow anyone else to be taken." Sirius answered, and Harry felt the pain of losing someone close to him enslave him again.
Voldemort had once again brought harm to those he cared for the most. He swore to himself after the tournament last year that he would no allow anyone else to die on his behalf, but because of him both Hermione, and Ron were now at Voldemort's mercy, and he was once again to blame.
Furious at the fact the he knew something was wrong, and that he had not acting sooner, he turned from the painful expressions of Sirius, Remus, and Dumbledore, and made his way to a empty corner in the great Hall. Disregarding the stairs of the students around him, he took a seat in front of the fire, and threw his head into his hands. It was not until he heard Cho's voice that he finally looked up. When he did, he saw she was crying for him, and that she knew what he felt
"Harry, I know what you are thinking. It is not your fault. Do not let Voldemort gain that type of control over you again. Dumbledore will figure out a way to get them back. They'll be okay." Harry just buried his head into Cho's shoulder. She was now the only person who truly understood what he had been through, and she was the only one that could give him the comfort he needed now.
Clearing his throat, Harry muttered just that to her, and allowed himself to melt into her slender arms. After a few minutes of silence, Harry could not take it any longer, and stood up. "Lets go, we need to start working on a plan. Regardless if Dumbledore has told their parents or not, we need to start figuring out how to get them back."
Leading Cho across the room to the teachers' table, Harry walked up to Sirius and Remus, and interrupted them. "Do you have any ideas as to what is happening to my friends?" "Harry" Sirius said placing a fatherly hand on his shoulder. "Trust us we will get them back, but first help us get the students out of here. Its not safe for them, and the quicker they are gone, the faster we can get to work on bringing Ron and Hermione back."
"If it was my Mom, and Dad that were taken, and you were the one Voldemort wanted, would you wait?" "Harry, I would listen to Dumbledore. Last time we didn't, it was tragic. That will not happen again. He is a powerful wizard, and very smart when it comes to this. If anyone can stop Voldemort's plans, He can."
"I do not want them to suffer a minute longer just because I didn't act quick enough!" Harry yelled. The pain of losing them was eating at his very soul. "Harry, I plan on doing everything I can to help Ron and Hermione. We will act as quick as possible." Harry had not noticed Dumbledore come up behind him, and that he had heard the exchange of words.
"Let us gather in my office. It is time we put our heads together." Dumbledore said Leading Harry, Cho, and the rest of The Order of The Phoenix members past the fleeing students, and to Dumbledore's office.
When they entered, Harry saw both Mr. and Mrs. Weasley there, as well as Hermione's parents. Both the families were standing by the fire. They were both crying terribly. Hermione's father looked completely petrified. It seemed that Dumbledore had a passage in the Floo network opened to the school for a short while in order to get the Grangers there, however the fact they were Muggles made the trip difficult to handle.
Wasting no time Harry crossing the room, and hugged the crying Mrs. Weasley. "I am so sorry. I will get Ron back. He is my brother, and I will not allow him to be harmed on my behalf." "Harry dear, the last thing Ron or Hermione would want is you to place yourself in danger. How many times have they done everything they could to protect you?"
"I am not going to wait around while everyone else goes around protecting me. I AM NO LONGER A CHILD! I AM SICK AND TIRED OF BEING TREATED AS SUCH!" He let his emotions get the better of him for the first time. Turning to face Dumbledore, he again spoke up.
"WHAT IS OUR NEXT MOVE?" He half yelled, half pleaded. Looking at him with sadness in his eyes, Dumbledore bowed his head slightly to show his respect, and walked over to him. "We first need to locate them. I am sure that they are now in Voldemort's possession, and he will waste no time contacting us. Harry, no matter how much we want them back. We must first wait. It is the only way we can plan a successful attack." He said pausing for a moment as Harry's eyes registered what he had just said showing a little defeat.
"Now Harry, I must ask, do you have control over your unique gift? Your father never did understand it. He was very good at mind reading, but could not grasp the healing, or Parseltongue. I am hoping since you were able to grasp all three so quickly, that the other trait would also come easily."
"I have never tried. I don't know" Harry answered, he had gained no ground on learning his own heir trait, and the thought frustrated him. "Then regardless of how much you wish differently, you will remain protected by those in this room, and we will not allow you to willingly endanger yourself. You need to understand. Ron and Hermione both swore their lives to protect you. They will willingly give up their life to make sure you live to defeat Voldemort. It is not up to you to change that."
"They never would have done that if I hadn't asked. I am the reason they are in danger. I am the one Voldemort wants." "That's enough of that talk young man." Hermione's father said walking across the room, and placing a hand on Harry's shoulder. We cannot control Hermione any more than you can. If I know my daughter as well as I think I do, She is a little spark plug, and I am sure she will make it out of this just fine." He said, and Harry could see the truth behind his eyes, even through the tears.
"Harry, I know that you wish we could decide on what to do right now, and head off immediately, however you have gone without sleep for long enough. Go to the room in the back with Sirius. We will figure out what to do when we understand the situation better. Now say goodbye to Cho, her parents are waiting in Hogsmeade for her. They are taking her to America for a few weeks in order to protect her." Dumbledore said in turn moving to talk to the Grangers and the Weasleys.
"Is she safe leaving the school?" Harry asked Remus who had remained by his side. "Harry, here parents are well trained in the art of war. She will be perfectly protected by her family, and far away from Voldemort." Harry gave Cho a bone-crushing hug, and after a tearful goodbye kissed her ever so softly on the lips before allowing Remus to lead her outside.
Listening to Dumbledore's demands, Harry turned, and with Sirius headed back to the room in Dumbledore's office. Like the night before, Sirius forced some sleeping potion down him, moment later Harry's eyes begun to flicker closed, and soon he fell into a dreamless sleep.
*****Flashback to Ron*****
Ron watched as Hermione who was sitting just opposite of him blasted Harry to the floor. Quickly moving to Harry's side he felt himself suddenly grabbed around the waist by Hermione, and when he was turned back to face her he let out a horrified scream at the sight.
Hermione was changing right in front of him. The person who he thought he loved was transforming from a beautiful woman to a creature that reminded him of a mix between a mountain troll, and a blast ended skrewt. The ten- foot creature was staring at him; its eyes were such a dark blood red that he almost mistook them for being black.
Looking over to Harry, then back to the creature now holding him, Ron fought with all the strength to break the grip around him. Felling a sudden burst of warm liquid cover him, Ron felt himself being forced into some type of container. Fearful for his life he did the only thing he could think of, and pulled out his wand. Aiming it at whatever it was holding him.
Ron shouted what he thought would be a strong enough spell, and watched as his freezing spell bounced off the shelly skin of the creature, and hit Harry, paralyzing him where he lay. Just as he was about to curse the creature a second time, He felt his wand ripped from his hand, then the feeling of being thrown down with a dreadful force, Ron felt himself land on a stony surface with a thud. Jumping up immediately, in more pain then he could imagine he quickly started to check out his surroundings.
"Where am I?" He shouted, trying to get someone's attention, while looking around the room he was standing in. When he noticed there were no doors, and no windows he sat down in the dark. After he thought was an hour his eyes finally focused into the darkness, and he noticed what he thought was a small bed in the corner.
"Well, might as well check it out" he said walking over to it. When he was close enough to get a good look at it, he noticed something lying motionless next to it. Picking up his pace, he noticed that it was not something, but someone, and they were not moving. When he was even closer, he suddenly realized who it was, and the panic he had felt earlier was worse than ever. This person was dead.
"Hermione," He yelled running up to her lifeless body. When she didn't move, or say a word, Ron fell to the floor in tears. "No, this can't be," he said looking at her lying on the ground lifeless. The first person he ever loved was dead. Not having the strength to continue looking at her, Ron turned away burying his face in his knees.
Noticing again the darkness of the room around him Ron begun to imagine the horrible ways in which she must have passed. Screaming out in agony Ron pictured the last time he held her in his arms.
"This is not fair, this can't be true." He yelled, allowing the darkness of what just happened consume him. Turning to look at her Ron reached out a hand, and placed it on hers. "Hermione, I will always love you." He said again burying his eyes in his knees, but just then, he heard her moan. Scooping her body off the floor, Ron laid Hermione in his lap. "Please let there be life," He said placing his head to her chest, and listening to any sound, any sound at all.
Nothing, no life signs at all. Pulling her closer to him Ron checked everything. No heart beat, no breath. Her face had turned dreadfully white, and her skin was ice cold. Searching his heart for some type of comfort Ron laid her ever so softly back on the ground. Kissing her check softly, he made up his mind. "I love you, and I am not going to let you die without a fight." he said, working the panic he had earlier out of his mind. Placing one hand over the other, and finding the right spot, he began compressing her heart.
Screaming every so often with the failed compressions Ron went on attempting to revive her for over an hour. Finally, after nothing changed he decided the fight was over. Bending over to give her one last kiss Ron pulled her into him allowing her head fall back. Kissing the curve of her neck, and lifting her head into his chest Ron allowed the tears to freely flow down his face. Once he said his goodbyes, he placed Hermione back down on the ground, and stood up. "Now, where am I" he said. Trying to look around to see if he recognized anything Just as he was about to move, he though he heard the moan again. "Hermione" Ron shouted turning around pulling her into him once again. "Please tell me I am not imagining this." Still nothing,
"This can't be just my imagination..." but wait, there it is again, and this time it was much louder. Placing Hermione down, Ron realized he was not alone; someone else was in the room, but where.
Ron had no idea what to do. Listening intently to the sound, he began searching for its origin. Standing up, and walking blindly into the darkness, He listened to the moaning become mumbled words. "Hello, can you hear me?" he said in a shaking voice." When he heard the person cough, he knew he was getting closer. Suddenly a scream pierced the silence causing Ron to fall to the ground ears pounding with the pain the sudden burst of noise caused.
"Where am I" he heard. Shacking his head to clear the cobwebs now forming from the constant blackness, he once again focused his attention on searching out the person. The voice was that of a girl, but it was quite mumbled. Disregarding the danger, Ron jumped to his feet, and rushed to the place he assumed the noise was coming from. As he got closer, a shape began to form in front of him.
When he was only a foot away, he stopped dead in his tracks. "No it can't be." He said turning to look in the direction he had just come from, back to the girl now sitting up on the ground, Ron was petrified to move forward. "No, no. It's not possible." This room was playing havoc on his mind.
"Ron, it's me, but where are we?" Ron did not dare move an inch. "Ron, are you okay? What happened, where are we?" Still no response. Ron was standing in the same place he had come to a stop in, only the look of pure terror was spread across his face. Jumping to her feet, Hermione took Ron, and helped him to the ground. "Ron, can you hear me?"
"It can't be, you're, you're, BUT YOU'RE DEAD!" "Ron, what are you talking about, I'm fine, I just have a huge bump on my head, and am lost as to how I ended up here." Jumping to his feet, Ron moved slowly away from the person in front of him. "How could this be Hermione, I was just next to her. She's dead."
"Ron, what's wrong, what happened, are you okay?" Moving closer to her, Ron forcefully grabbed Hermione, pulling her up to where he could see in her eyes. When she returned his stair Ron let out a sigh of relief, and wrapped Hermione in a crushing hug. "It is you, but how, I don't understand."
"Ron, you're really starting to scare me." Hermione said pulling back from the embrace. "I'm sorry, well just, here, follow me." The two made their way back in the direction Ron had just come, and when they were close enough to the bed, Hermione let out a gasp. "Who is it?" "It's you. Well, someone who looks awfully close to you."
"No, it is a ghoul." She said, grabbing the head of the creature Ron for so long thought was her. "Look at its eyes." She said pulling back the eyelids of the creature. Just as she had expected they were as black as the night. I have read all about these creatures. If they are killed in any other shape then their own, they will keep that shape for a few hours.
"I thought I lost you" Ron said reaching out a hand, and taking Hermione's. "Ron, I'm still here. What happened?" She asked giving it a gentle squeeze. "I don't know. Some weird creature forced me in here; I am assuming a Ghoul like this one. It was sitting in front of me eating breakfast with Harry, and then next thing I know Harry is knocked to the ground by it, and when I went to help him, I was grabbed by this creature that had morphed from you to this scaly, horny thing, and I was forced in here." Ron said pausing for a minute
"I found this creature, and have spent the last hour trying to revive it. I thought it was you." He finished, and Hermione could make out the tear falling the length of his cheek. "All I remember is Harry saying everything will be alright, then I hit something hard, and I suddenly felt as if I was choking." Turning to her side coughing again, Hermione moved her hand in front of her mouth, closer to her. "Blood."
"Do you remember anything after Harry, and before the fall?" Actually, I remember now, I woke up in a room that looked to be some boys' dorm, and when I sat up, I remember seeing what looked to be me staring at itself in the mirror, I knew right away what it was, and hit it with the Aveda Kedavra curse. But not before it turned on me, and that's all I remember." Overwhelmed that she was alive, Ron reached behind her, and helped her onto the four-poster bed.
"I think you need to get some rest. In fact I feel quiet sleepy myself." Not arguing Hermione allowed herself to be picked up off the ground, and as soon as her head hit the bumpy surface of a bed, she was out. Overcome with a desire to sleep himself, Ron laid his head down on Hermione's lap, and allowed the darkness to come in around him, and after a very long two days, Ron fell into a very deep slumber.
"Wake up, Wake up you Muggle loving fool." Forcing himself to awaken from what he though was a nightmare; Ron shook the dizziness feeling from his head. Ron could hear voices around him, and could feel the presence of people, but the memory of what just happened to him had yet to come back. Attempting to open his eyes, he had to immediately shut them due to the pain the brightness of the light caused him.
He suddenly remembered the previous night, but he could tell by the smell and the sound that he was no longer in the small dimly lit room, but one much larger. Trying to move, and regain control was pointless, When he was unable to move any muscle other than his arms, Ron realized he in fact was slightly paralyzed.
Every limb was shaking with agony, and he could hear what sounded to be moaning coming from someone close to him. Forcing himself to open his eyes, and disregarding the pain he felt, Ron started looking around nervously for Hermione.
"I think they are waking up, go get our Master" Someone said from behind him, wiping the tears now rolling down his cheek, Ron concentrated on the voices. When he realized who it was, he was overcome with anger.
"Malfoy," Where are you, what's happening?" "Oh, the poor Muggle lover is finally waking up from his little nap" he said in a taunting voice. "Master will be pleased to know you survived your little trip. Now I get to watch as you and that Mudblood girlfriend of yours see the power of my lord."
"Draco, when I get free, your going to pay for this." "Oh, please. When the Dark Lord gets here, we will see who pays." Giving into the pain, Ron again felt himself fall into unconsciousness, only to awaken again by the sounds of screaming.
"Crucio," Hermione was screaming out in agony. She had awoken by a spell placed over her, and realized immediately something had happened. She remembered Harry talking to her just a little while before, comforting her, and letting her know she would be all right, and falling asleep with Ron, but something had drastically changed. She was not all right; she was trapped.
She felt herself being lifted into the air, and when she opened her eyes, she was looking straight into the demoniac eyes of Voldemort. "I look forward to the day I get to watch you die." She hissed, spiting into his face. She knew her comments would mean nothing to him, but she felt the fury of his ruthlessness consume her, and all she wanted to do was fight.
"Stupid girl" he said thrashing her against a near by wall. "If I did not need you alive for the time being, I would kill you for that comment. Time I think to teach you some respect." Pointing his wand directly at her Voldemort began his torture. "Crucio."
Ron did not hesitate a second. Waking up to screams was not his idea of a good time, but when he realized it was Hermione, he became infuriated. Fighting to stand, he saw Deatheaters surrounding Hermione in the corner, and all he could see was the serpent Voldemort holding her in the Cruciatus curse.
Disregarding his own pain, Ron lunged toward them knocking his way through the Deatheaters, and finding his way to Hermione. Throwing himself on the ground in front of her, Ron took the full force of the Cruciatus curse, and for just a short while screamed in agony. When the pain stopped, he looked down at the panting, blood stained face of Hermione.
"I lost you once before, I will never allow that to happen again" he whispered to her. Watching as the Deatheaters regained their positions around him, Ron's face grew pained, Draco had walked up to Voldemort and asked him something, and after what Ron thought was approval, turned to them. Bracing himself in front of Hermione, Ron looked Draco squarely in the eyes.
"Malfoy, one day I will make you suffer for this." "Crucio" Ron didn't know what happened to him. Never in his life had he felt so much pain, and was overcome with agony. He felt as if his body was being ripped apart and all he could think about was the ending of it. He was going to die here. To him the sooner it happened the better.
The pain of the Cruciatus curse was more than he had ever thought possible. He had heard Harry explain the effects of it, but never believed it to be as bad as it sounded. Straining to stay conscious, he could here the cries coming from Hermione for Draco to stop. Realizing that if he were to pass out they would turn on her, Ron concentrated on blocking out the pain, but noticing the change in his screams, and the sudden silence from him, Malfoy doubled the force of the curse, and laughed aloud as Ron begun to fade from reality.
He was slipping away. Feeling his eyes flutter, and lose of breath, Ron rolled over on his back, and looked straight into the eyes of Hermione. "I love you." He said, just before he blacked out.
"Throw them into a cell" Voldemort yelled, and put an end to Malfoy's fun. We need them alive in order to trap Potter. They are no good dead. Malfoy well done, I see you take after your father. He takes just as much joy in watching his enemy's suffer as you do. I think it wise you join him in Muggle torture. Yes, you shall enjoy that position."
"Thank you Master, I am honored, and I shall serve you faithfully." "I am sure you will. Now help your two friends there get this slime into that cell." Voldemort hissed. Hermione thought she was going to die at the sight of Ron being tortured. Screaming at Malfoy to stop, while doing everything she could do to break free from the Deatheaters holding her, Hermione could only watch as Ron thrashed, and screamed out in pain.
It was not until Voldemort stepped in to keep Ron from dying that Hermione was released, and fell to protect Ron. Looking down at him, she watched as his eyes fluttered, and he blacked out. "I love you too." She said, pulling him into her.
"Oh, how cute. Now get over there. Crabbe, Goyle, you take Weasel there, I got Granger." Hermione quickly stood up as Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle started their way over to her. Waiting for the room to empty besides the three Slytherin gits, she turned to face Draco.
"Don't even think I will do anything you say." She said moving into a defensive position, and preparing to charge him. She needed a wand. Right now, any wand would do, and Draco's was within reach. "Imperio," Malfoy yelled moving out of the way of the charging Hermione.
" Oh yeah? Try and stop this." Hermione knew what was coming when she failed to capture the wand, and did what she could to move out of the way of the curse. Draco hit her with the Imperious curse. "Move into that cell" she heard her mind tell her, but just as that thought entered another one came up.
"I don't want to go in there." "Move into that cell now," came the second commanded. "No, you can't make me," she shouted breaking the curse. "So, you seem to have good control over your mind. All right, if you wanted to do this the hard way, you should have said so. "Expelliarmus." Hermione felt herself lifted from the ground, and slammed into the back wall of the cell.
Looking back, she watched as Ron was dragged into the cell, and thrown into the corner. Stumbling to her feet she turned back to face Malfoy, only to feel a crushing blow from his fist on the side of her cheek. Falling to the ground again by the force of Malfoy's attack, she heard the door slam shut, and Draco turn the key.
"I rather enjoyed that, maybe we can do it again some time." He said walking down the hall with his friends. Hermione, realizing that she was now trapped, turned to Ron.
"Ron, Ron please wake up." She said nervously shacking his shoulders. "Oh Ron, I need you now, please wake up." When he didn't respond, Hermione started to get nervous. Struggling to hold back her tears, she heard the voices of a few people around her, and noticed for the first time, that there were other cells, and many more prisoners.
"Where are we?" she asked no one in particular. "Don't you know? This is Azkaban." Came the answer from someone close by in a separate cell "Azkaban, how can that be? How long have we been here?" Hermione had made her way to the edge of her cell to where she could now see the other men, hoping one would know.
"That's not important now. I think you need to get that friend of yours into a bed." "I will of course, but can you tell me, I need to know that's all." "Fair enough, you arrived her shortly after we did. I would have to say it's been close to five days now, I think it was two days after Halloween that you arrived."
"Five days, but how, I mean I remember Halloween night just like it happened ten minutes ago. How could it have been almost a week?" "If you were like us, you were captured when Voldemort attacked Hogwarts. You and that friend of yours over there were both attacked, then captured by Chameleon Ghouls. Their magic is very powerful. I assume the reason you can remember a week ago like it was yesterday is because you were unconscious until just a little while ago, and considering what you just went through, I wouldn't be surprised if it was another day or so before your friend wakes up again." The man said, and Hermione looked at the sleeping form of Ron.
"Now you need to do what I said, and get some sleep." "Alright, will you wake me if they come back in?" "Of course. They are normally loud enough to wake all of us, but just in case I will make sure you know." "Thank you, whoever you are." "Michael Gaffney, Defense Against the Dark Arts Auror at your service."
"Well Michael, thank you again." She said, turning, and moving over to Ron. Deciding that he was right in the fact she needed to try and get some sleep, Hermione forced Ron into a bed next to hers, and fighting off the overwhelming sense to stay awake, allowed herself to fall into an eerie daze called sleep.
****Back to Harry****
The next week for Harry was that of a nightmare. Besides the fact he was anxiously awaiting news about his friends, he was to stay at Hogwarts while the other students were gone, and the fact that he in no way felt safe just made it worse. Waking up Saturday morning to the sounds of the house elf's working on the entrance to Gryffindor tower, Harry quickly jumped out of bed, and got dressed.
Once down in the common room, Harry noticed Sirius sitting in front of the fireplace, and hurried over. "What is it? Have we heard anything yet?" Harry could tell by the haunted look in Sirius's eyes that something had happened, something was wrong. "Harry, follow us" He said pointing to Remus who was hiding in one of the deep back chairs.
"We need to head up to Dumbledore's office." Standing up, Both Remus, and Sirius made there way past the house elves, and wordlessly Harry followed. Harry walked in silence for most of the way. Worried about his friends, he really was not in the mood to talk to anyone. It wasn't until he noticed Sirius place a hand on Remus's shoulder that he was pulled from his thoughts.
"I miss them too, and yes I remember that day very well. It was the last day we were here as Gryffindors." Speeding up to get closer, Harry tried to listen to more of what Sirius and Remus were talking about, but they had stopped talking, and Harry had the funny feeling that they were talking about his parents.
When the three arrived at the statue of the gargoyle Harry was surprised at the password. It was no longer the name of a candy, but instead the name Merlin. "Merlin?" "Yes Harry, Dumbledore no longer feels using candy for his passwords is safe. Everyone knows that. He feels the time has come to where he needs to be a lot more careful."
Harry wanted to get on with it, so didn't ask any more questions, instead he walked past the two, and made his way up the stairs. After knocking only twice, Harry entered the quiet room, and took a seat next to Professor McGonagall. Wasting no time at all, Dumbledore got right to it.
"Harry, we know where Voldemort is keeping Ron and Hermione, we also know of his plans to use them to capture you, and we only have 3 days to comply." "Well, what's the damage, do you have an idea of what to do yet?" "Well, we did however we have run into a problem. You see Harry we were planning on Having Remus take a Polyjuice potion that would transform him into you for an hour to distract Voldemort, while we worked from behind to ambush him. The problem with this is that Voldemort is holding Ron and Hermione in Azkaban, and there is only one way in and out."
"Azkaban, but why?" "Simple Harry, when Azkaban was made into a prison, The MOM performed a series of complex spells on the building that would not allow anyone to Apparate in, Disapparate out, or even travel by Portkey within twenty miles. You see Harry the only way into Azkaban is by foot, and the way to the holding sales is very well protected."
"So what do we do?" Harry asked looking at the others. "We are working on that now. We are still going to need a diversion, but I am afraid I will need Remus to help in case we end up in a fight." "Why don't I just come, I can help." "Harry, Not this time. It will be much to dangerous, and I am worried as it is about the outcome." Dumbledore spoke, and Harry could tell he was fighting an inner battle.
"What happens if we refuse to meet him on Tuesday, I mean can't we negotiate a different location, and time." Harry asked praying for a good answer. "Harry, Voldemort was very specific in his ultimatum. He has captured 50 MOM officials, mainly Aurors, and unless we meet him Tuesday right before sunset, he is planning on killing one every hour until he either runs out, or we give in.
He has also demanded that we release his men from Arkamedes, and has stated unless they are, he will not hesitate to kill us when we arrive."
"Dumbledore, he will kill them anyway. There is no reason we should release his men." "No Sirius, I do not intend to do that. However, I do have an idea as to how we can use them. Here is what I was thinking."
Dumbledore went on to explain his plan Harry didn't catch as much as he would have liked, but he knew that a lot of Polyjuice potion was to be used, and overall the plan was very dangerous. When Dumbledore was done, Harry finally spoke up."
"What is my responsibility, you can't expect me to just wait here for you to return."
"Harry, That is exactly what I expect. I am not going to argue this with you. If I have to bind you to a chair in order to keep you here, I will." "But - " was all he could say. He knew that arguing this was helpless, and turned to leave.
"Harry, we will bring back Ron, and Hermione, and the day will come in which I will no longer argue with you about facing Voldemort, but until that time comes, it is my duty to your father to keep you safe." Harry just shrugged his shoulder, and bowed his head as he walked to the door. He knew that this plan was dangerous to say the least, and the fact he was helpless to change that just made him mad.
Making his way back to his tower, Harry walked straight to his room. Pulling out the picture book of his family, Harry opened it to the first page, and after memorizing his mom and dad's faces; he closed his eyes and started to speak to them.
Dumbledore was short, and to the point with the students in the great hall. He advised them that they had done a great service to the school by protecting there class mates, and awarded each house 100 points. He discussed in sadness the loss of those in Gryffindor, yet commended them for having the bravery to stand up to Voldemort.
After advising them that he was sending them home for a week in order to repair the school, and morn the loss of there loved ones. He lightened the mood by having breakfast ordered, and by reassuring them that teacher, and Aurors from the MOM were watching each door. Once he had finished addressing them, he waved his hands, and the breakfast arrived.
"Its about time, I was worried we would have to wait until we got on the train before we would get food. I'm starving." Ron said pulling a plate in front of him, and loading it up with ham, bacon, pancakes, and eggs. Harry on the other hand, just looked around at the doors and windows nervously. Something just didn't seem right to him, and he could feel it in the pit of his stomach.
"Hermione, since you're the only one here that saw one of those ghouls, can you tell me what they look like. I mean didn't you say they were in the school?" Turning to his friend, Harry watched, as Hermione seemed to shy away from his question, and start to mutter something he didn't understand. When she looked back at him, Harry noticed the blackness of her eyes, and realizing that this was not Hermione, reached into his pocket for his wand.
Before he had the chance to pull it on this intruder though, he felt himself forced to the floor by some type of charm. Completely immobilized and unable to move, Harry watched in horror as what he had thought was Hermione transformed into a huge creature.
Instead of moving directly for Harry, the eight-foot demon turned on Ron. Stunned by the sight in front of him, and unable to move from sheer fear, it only took a second for Ron to be captured, and disappearing into thin air, Harry closed his eyes in order to take in the sight.
"Get the hell away from him." He heard himself yell mentally to the creature that had now turned toward him. "HHHHAAAAARRRRRYYYY POOOTTTTEEEEEEERRRRRRR" the creature spoke, sounding almost like the wind. "IIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTT IIIIIIIIISSSSSS TIIIIIMMME." It continued, and Harry's eyes widened as a hand reached his immobile foot, and he felt as if he was being pulled into a warm liquid.
Without warning however the feeling vanished. Instead of looking into the black eyes of this creature, Harry was relived as he noticed it tumble over to the numerous, and powerful hexes sent toward it by Remus, and Sirius.
"Do not kill it, only capture the creature" Harry heard Remus shout, the effects of whatever charm he had had placed on him was beginning to fail. Just then however Harry cried out as the creature jumped out of the window, and escaped into the direction of the forbidden forest.
"What was that, and what did it do with Hermione, and Ron?" Harry shouted having fully recovered from the charm, and up on his feet. "Harry, That is what is called a Chameleon Ghoul. As for Hermione and Ron." Remus died off looking at Harry.
"They have been taken by it" Harry finished for him walking over to the window. "Severus advised us that Voldemort plans on trading there lives for yours Harry, like your father, he knows that you will give your life for your friends.
"What are we going to do? I mean, we cannot just let them suffer. I will not allow them to suffer on my behalf. He was right, I will not allow them to die because of me." "Harry, we were not going to let any of your friends die. First, we need to contact their parents, and then we will gather the Order, and figure out the next step. We don't know what Voldemort's plans are yet, however, I can assure you he will not kill them until he gets what he wants."
"How can you be so sure?" Harry asked looking at Sirius "Harry, until we know what his request is, we can't. For now, stay close to Cho. He is after her as well, and we must not allow anyone else to be taken." Sirius answered, and Harry felt the pain of losing someone close to him enslave him again.
Voldemort had once again brought harm to those he cared for the most. He swore to himself after the tournament last year that he would no allow anyone else to die on his behalf, but because of him both Hermione, and Ron were now at Voldemort's mercy, and he was once again to blame.
Furious at the fact the he knew something was wrong, and that he had not acting sooner, he turned from the painful expressions of Sirius, Remus, and Dumbledore, and made his way to a empty corner in the great Hall. Disregarding the stairs of the students around him, he took a seat in front of the fire, and threw his head into his hands. It was not until he heard Cho's voice that he finally looked up. When he did, he saw she was crying for him, and that she knew what he felt
"Harry, I know what you are thinking. It is not your fault. Do not let Voldemort gain that type of control over you again. Dumbledore will figure out a way to get them back. They'll be okay." Harry just buried his head into Cho's shoulder. She was now the only person who truly understood what he had been through, and she was the only one that could give him the comfort he needed now.
Clearing his throat, Harry muttered just that to her, and allowed himself to melt into her slender arms. After a few minutes of silence, Harry could not take it any longer, and stood up. "Lets go, we need to start working on a plan. Regardless if Dumbledore has told their parents or not, we need to start figuring out how to get them back."
Leading Cho across the room to the teachers' table, Harry walked up to Sirius and Remus, and interrupted them. "Do you have any ideas as to what is happening to my friends?" "Harry" Sirius said placing a fatherly hand on his shoulder. "Trust us we will get them back, but first help us get the students out of here. Its not safe for them, and the quicker they are gone, the faster we can get to work on bringing Ron and Hermione back."
"If it was my Mom, and Dad that were taken, and you were the one Voldemort wanted, would you wait?" "Harry, I would listen to Dumbledore. Last time we didn't, it was tragic. That will not happen again. He is a powerful wizard, and very smart when it comes to this. If anyone can stop Voldemort's plans, He can."
"I do not want them to suffer a minute longer just because I didn't act quick enough!" Harry yelled. The pain of losing them was eating at his very soul. "Harry, I plan on doing everything I can to help Ron and Hermione. We will act as quick as possible." Harry had not noticed Dumbledore come up behind him, and that he had heard the exchange of words.
"Let us gather in my office. It is time we put our heads together." Dumbledore said Leading Harry, Cho, and the rest of The Order of The Phoenix members past the fleeing students, and to Dumbledore's office.
When they entered, Harry saw both Mr. and Mrs. Weasley there, as well as Hermione's parents. Both the families were standing by the fire. They were both crying terribly. Hermione's father looked completely petrified. It seemed that Dumbledore had a passage in the Floo network opened to the school for a short while in order to get the Grangers there, however the fact they were Muggles made the trip difficult to handle.
Wasting no time Harry crossing the room, and hugged the crying Mrs. Weasley. "I am so sorry. I will get Ron back. He is my brother, and I will not allow him to be harmed on my behalf." "Harry dear, the last thing Ron or Hermione would want is you to place yourself in danger. How many times have they done everything they could to protect you?"
"I am not going to wait around while everyone else goes around protecting me. I AM NO LONGER A CHILD! I AM SICK AND TIRED OF BEING TREATED AS SUCH!" He let his emotions get the better of him for the first time. Turning to face Dumbledore, he again spoke up.
"WHAT IS OUR NEXT MOVE?" He half yelled, half pleaded. Looking at him with sadness in his eyes, Dumbledore bowed his head slightly to show his respect, and walked over to him. "We first need to locate them. I am sure that they are now in Voldemort's possession, and he will waste no time contacting us. Harry, no matter how much we want them back. We must first wait. It is the only way we can plan a successful attack." He said pausing for a moment as Harry's eyes registered what he had just said showing a little defeat.
"Now Harry, I must ask, do you have control over your unique gift? Your father never did understand it. He was very good at mind reading, but could not grasp the healing, or Parseltongue. I am hoping since you were able to grasp all three so quickly, that the other trait would also come easily."
"I have never tried. I don't know" Harry answered, he had gained no ground on learning his own heir trait, and the thought frustrated him. "Then regardless of how much you wish differently, you will remain protected by those in this room, and we will not allow you to willingly endanger yourself. You need to understand. Ron and Hermione both swore their lives to protect you. They will willingly give up their life to make sure you live to defeat Voldemort. It is not up to you to change that."
"They never would have done that if I hadn't asked. I am the reason they are in danger. I am the one Voldemort wants." "That's enough of that talk young man." Hermione's father said walking across the room, and placing a hand on Harry's shoulder. We cannot control Hermione any more than you can. If I know my daughter as well as I think I do, She is a little spark plug, and I am sure she will make it out of this just fine." He said, and Harry could see the truth behind his eyes, even through the tears.
"Harry, I know that you wish we could decide on what to do right now, and head off immediately, however you have gone without sleep for long enough. Go to the room in the back with Sirius. We will figure out what to do when we understand the situation better. Now say goodbye to Cho, her parents are waiting in Hogsmeade for her. They are taking her to America for a few weeks in order to protect her." Dumbledore said in turn moving to talk to the Grangers and the Weasleys.
"Is she safe leaving the school?" Harry asked Remus who had remained by his side. "Harry, here parents are well trained in the art of war. She will be perfectly protected by her family, and far away from Voldemort." Harry gave Cho a bone-crushing hug, and after a tearful goodbye kissed her ever so softly on the lips before allowing Remus to lead her outside.
Listening to Dumbledore's demands, Harry turned, and with Sirius headed back to the room in Dumbledore's office. Like the night before, Sirius forced some sleeping potion down him, moment later Harry's eyes begun to flicker closed, and soon he fell into a dreamless sleep.
*****Flashback to Ron*****
Ron watched as Hermione who was sitting just opposite of him blasted Harry to the floor. Quickly moving to Harry's side he felt himself suddenly grabbed around the waist by Hermione, and when he was turned back to face her he let out a horrified scream at the sight.
Hermione was changing right in front of him. The person who he thought he loved was transforming from a beautiful woman to a creature that reminded him of a mix between a mountain troll, and a blast ended skrewt. The ten- foot creature was staring at him; its eyes were such a dark blood red that he almost mistook them for being black.
Looking over to Harry, then back to the creature now holding him, Ron fought with all the strength to break the grip around him. Felling a sudden burst of warm liquid cover him, Ron felt himself being forced into some type of container. Fearful for his life he did the only thing he could think of, and pulled out his wand. Aiming it at whatever it was holding him.
Ron shouted what he thought would be a strong enough spell, and watched as his freezing spell bounced off the shelly skin of the creature, and hit Harry, paralyzing him where he lay. Just as he was about to curse the creature a second time, He felt his wand ripped from his hand, then the feeling of being thrown down with a dreadful force, Ron felt himself land on a stony surface with a thud. Jumping up immediately, in more pain then he could imagine he quickly started to check out his surroundings.
"Where am I?" He shouted, trying to get someone's attention, while looking around the room he was standing in. When he noticed there were no doors, and no windows he sat down in the dark. After he thought was an hour his eyes finally focused into the darkness, and he noticed what he thought was a small bed in the corner.
"Well, might as well check it out" he said walking over to it. When he was close enough to get a good look at it, he noticed something lying motionless next to it. Picking up his pace, he noticed that it was not something, but someone, and they were not moving. When he was even closer, he suddenly realized who it was, and the panic he had felt earlier was worse than ever. This person was dead.
"Hermione," He yelled running up to her lifeless body. When she didn't move, or say a word, Ron fell to the floor in tears. "No, this can't be," he said looking at her lying on the ground lifeless. The first person he ever loved was dead. Not having the strength to continue looking at her, Ron turned away burying his face in his knees.
Noticing again the darkness of the room around him Ron begun to imagine the horrible ways in which she must have passed. Screaming out in agony Ron pictured the last time he held her in his arms.
"This is not fair, this can't be true." He yelled, allowing the darkness of what just happened consume him. Turning to look at her Ron reached out a hand, and placed it on hers. "Hermione, I will always love you." He said again burying his eyes in his knees, but just then, he heard her moan. Scooping her body off the floor, Ron laid Hermione in his lap. "Please let there be life," He said placing his head to her chest, and listening to any sound, any sound at all.
Nothing, no life signs at all. Pulling her closer to him Ron checked everything. No heart beat, no breath. Her face had turned dreadfully white, and her skin was ice cold. Searching his heart for some type of comfort Ron laid her ever so softly back on the ground. Kissing her check softly, he made up his mind. "I love you, and I am not going to let you die without a fight." he said, working the panic he had earlier out of his mind. Placing one hand over the other, and finding the right spot, he began compressing her heart.
Screaming every so often with the failed compressions Ron went on attempting to revive her for over an hour. Finally, after nothing changed he decided the fight was over. Bending over to give her one last kiss Ron pulled her into him allowing her head fall back. Kissing the curve of her neck, and lifting her head into his chest Ron allowed the tears to freely flow down his face. Once he said his goodbyes, he placed Hermione back down on the ground, and stood up. "Now, where am I" he said. Trying to look around to see if he recognized anything Just as he was about to move, he though he heard the moan again. "Hermione" Ron shouted turning around pulling her into him once again. "Please tell me I am not imagining this." Still nothing,
"This can't be just my imagination..." but wait, there it is again, and this time it was much louder. Placing Hermione down, Ron realized he was not alone; someone else was in the room, but where.
Ron had no idea what to do. Listening intently to the sound, he began searching for its origin. Standing up, and walking blindly into the darkness, He listened to the moaning become mumbled words. "Hello, can you hear me?" he said in a shaking voice." When he heard the person cough, he knew he was getting closer. Suddenly a scream pierced the silence causing Ron to fall to the ground ears pounding with the pain the sudden burst of noise caused.
"Where am I" he heard. Shacking his head to clear the cobwebs now forming from the constant blackness, he once again focused his attention on searching out the person. The voice was that of a girl, but it was quite mumbled. Disregarding the danger, Ron jumped to his feet, and rushed to the place he assumed the noise was coming from. As he got closer, a shape began to form in front of him.
When he was only a foot away, he stopped dead in his tracks. "No it can't be." He said turning to look in the direction he had just come from, back to the girl now sitting up on the ground, Ron was petrified to move forward. "No, no. It's not possible." This room was playing havoc on his mind.
"Ron, it's me, but where are we?" Ron did not dare move an inch. "Ron, are you okay? What happened, where are we?" Still no response. Ron was standing in the same place he had come to a stop in, only the look of pure terror was spread across his face. Jumping to her feet, Hermione took Ron, and helped him to the ground. "Ron, can you hear me?"
"It can't be, you're, you're, BUT YOU'RE DEAD!" "Ron, what are you talking about, I'm fine, I just have a huge bump on my head, and am lost as to how I ended up here." Jumping to his feet, Ron moved slowly away from the person in front of him. "How could this be Hermione, I was just next to her. She's dead."
"Ron, what's wrong, what happened, are you okay?" Moving closer to her, Ron forcefully grabbed Hermione, pulling her up to where he could see in her eyes. When she returned his stair Ron let out a sigh of relief, and wrapped Hermione in a crushing hug. "It is you, but how, I don't understand."
"Ron, you're really starting to scare me." Hermione said pulling back from the embrace. "I'm sorry, well just, here, follow me." The two made their way back in the direction Ron had just come, and when they were close enough to the bed, Hermione let out a gasp. "Who is it?" "It's you. Well, someone who looks awfully close to you."
"No, it is a ghoul." She said, grabbing the head of the creature Ron for so long thought was her. "Look at its eyes." She said pulling back the eyelids of the creature. Just as she had expected they were as black as the night. I have read all about these creatures. If they are killed in any other shape then their own, they will keep that shape for a few hours.
"I thought I lost you" Ron said reaching out a hand, and taking Hermione's. "Ron, I'm still here. What happened?" She asked giving it a gentle squeeze. "I don't know. Some weird creature forced me in here; I am assuming a Ghoul like this one. It was sitting in front of me eating breakfast with Harry, and then next thing I know Harry is knocked to the ground by it, and when I went to help him, I was grabbed by this creature that had morphed from you to this scaly, horny thing, and I was forced in here." Ron said pausing for a minute
"I found this creature, and have spent the last hour trying to revive it. I thought it was you." He finished, and Hermione could make out the tear falling the length of his cheek. "All I remember is Harry saying everything will be alright, then I hit something hard, and I suddenly felt as if I was choking." Turning to her side coughing again, Hermione moved her hand in front of her mouth, closer to her. "Blood."
"Do you remember anything after Harry, and before the fall?" Actually, I remember now, I woke up in a room that looked to be some boys' dorm, and when I sat up, I remember seeing what looked to be me staring at itself in the mirror, I knew right away what it was, and hit it with the Aveda Kedavra curse. But not before it turned on me, and that's all I remember." Overwhelmed that she was alive, Ron reached behind her, and helped her onto the four-poster bed.
"I think you need to get some rest. In fact I feel quiet sleepy myself." Not arguing Hermione allowed herself to be picked up off the ground, and as soon as her head hit the bumpy surface of a bed, she was out. Overcome with a desire to sleep himself, Ron laid his head down on Hermione's lap, and allowed the darkness to come in around him, and after a very long two days, Ron fell into a very deep slumber.
"Wake up, Wake up you Muggle loving fool." Forcing himself to awaken from what he though was a nightmare; Ron shook the dizziness feeling from his head. Ron could hear voices around him, and could feel the presence of people, but the memory of what just happened to him had yet to come back. Attempting to open his eyes, he had to immediately shut them due to the pain the brightness of the light caused him.
He suddenly remembered the previous night, but he could tell by the smell and the sound that he was no longer in the small dimly lit room, but one much larger. Trying to move, and regain control was pointless, When he was unable to move any muscle other than his arms, Ron realized he in fact was slightly paralyzed.
Every limb was shaking with agony, and he could hear what sounded to be moaning coming from someone close to him. Forcing himself to open his eyes, and disregarding the pain he felt, Ron started looking around nervously for Hermione.
"I think they are waking up, go get our Master" Someone said from behind him, wiping the tears now rolling down his cheek, Ron concentrated on the voices. When he realized who it was, he was overcome with anger.
"Malfoy," Where are you, what's happening?" "Oh, the poor Muggle lover is finally waking up from his little nap" he said in a taunting voice. "Master will be pleased to know you survived your little trip. Now I get to watch as you and that Mudblood girlfriend of yours see the power of my lord."
"Draco, when I get free, your going to pay for this." "Oh, please. When the Dark Lord gets here, we will see who pays." Giving into the pain, Ron again felt himself fall into unconsciousness, only to awaken again by the sounds of screaming.
"Crucio," Hermione was screaming out in agony. She had awoken by a spell placed over her, and realized immediately something had happened. She remembered Harry talking to her just a little while before, comforting her, and letting her know she would be all right, and falling asleep with Ron, but something had drastically changed. She was not all right; she was trapped.
She felt herself being lifted into the air, and when she opened her eyes, she was looking straight into the demoniac eyes of Voldemort. "I look forward to the day I get to watch you die." She hissed, spiting into his face. She knew her comments would mean nothing to him, but she felt the fury of his ruthlessness consume her, and all she wanted to do was fight.
"Stupid girl" he said thrashing her against a near by wall. "If I did not need you alive for the time being, I would kill you for that comment. Time I think to teach you some respect." Pointing his wand directly at her Voldemort began his torture. "Crucio."
Ron did not hesitate a second. Waking up to screams was not his idea of a good time, but when he realized it was Hermione, he became infuriated. Fighting to stand, he saw Deatheaters surrounding Hermione in the corner, and all he could see was the serpent Voldemort holding her in the Cruciatus curse.
Disregarding his own pain, Ron lunged toward them knocking his way through the Deatheaters, and finding his way to Hermione. Throwing himself on the ground in front of her, Ron took the full force of the Cruciatus curse, and for just a short while screamed in agony. When the pain stopped, he looked down at the panting, blood stained face of Hermione.
"I lost you once before, I will never allow that to happen again" he whispered to her. Watching as the Deatheaters regained their positions around him, Ron's face grew pained, Draco had walked up to Voldemort and asked him something, and after what Ron thought was approval, turned to them. Bracing himself in front of Hermione, Ron looked Draco squarely in the eyes.
"Malfoy, one day I will make you suffer for this." "Crucio" Ron didn't know what happened to him. Never in his life had he felt so much pain, and was overcome with agony. He felt as if his body was being ripped apart and all he could think about was the ending of it. He was going to die here. To him the sooner it happened the better.
The pain of the Cruciatus curse was more than he had ever thought possible. He had heard Harry explain the effects of it, but never believed it to be as bad as it sounded. Straining to stay conscious, he could here the cries coming from Hermione for Draco to stop. Realizing that if he were to pass out they would turn on her, Ron concentrated on blocking out the pain, but noticing the change in his screams, and the sudden silence from him, Malfoy doubled the force of the curse, and laughed aloud as Ron begun to fade from reality.
He was slipping away. Feeling his eyes flutter, and lose of breath, Ron rolled over on his back, and looked straight into the eyes of Hermione. "I love you." He said, just before he blacked out.
"Throw them into a cell" Voldemort yelled, and put an end to Malfoy's fun. We need them alive in order to trap Potter. They are no good dead. Malfoy well done, I see you take after your father. He takes just as much joy in watching his enemy's suffer as you do. I think it wise you join him in Muggle torture. Yes, you shall enjoy that position."
"Thank you Master, I am honored, and I shall serve you faithfully." "I am sure you will. Now help your two friends there get this slime into that cell." Voldemort hissed. Hermione thought she was going to die at the sight of Ron being tortured. Screaming at Malfoy to stop, while doing everything she could do to break free from the Deatheaters holding her, Hermione could only watch as Ron thrashed, and screamed out in pain.
It was not until Voldemort stepped in to keep Ron from dying that Hermione was released, and fell to protect Ron. Looking down at him, she watched as his eyes fluttered, and he blacked out. "I love you too." She said, pulling him into her.
"Oh, how cute. Now get over there. Crabbe, Goyle, you take Weasel there, I got Granger." Hermione quickly stood up as Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle started their way over to her. Waiting for the room to empty besides the three Slytherin gits, she turned to face Draco.
"Don't even think I will do anything you say." She said moving into a defensive position, and preparing to charge him. She needed a wand. Right now, any wand would do, and Draco's was within reach. "Imperio," Malfoy yelled moving out of the way of the charging Hermione.
" Oh yeah? Try and stop this." Hermione knew what was coming when she failed to capture the wand, and did what she could to move out of the way of the curse. Draco hit her with the Imperious curse. "Move into that cell" she heard her mind tell her, but just as that thought entered another one came up.
"I don't want to go in there." "Move into that cell now," came the second commanded. "No, you can't make me," she shouted breaking the curse. "So, you seem to have good control over your mind. All right, if you wanted to do this the hard way, you should have said so. "Expelliarmus." Hermione felt herself lifted from the ground, and slammed into the back wall of the cell.
Looking back, she watched as Ron was dragged into the cell, and thrown into the corner. Stumbling to her feet she turned back to face Malfoy, only to feel a crushing blow from his fist on the side of her cheek. Falling to the ground again by the force of Malfoy's attack, she heard the door slam shut, and Draco turn the key.
"I rather enjoyed that, maybe we can do it again some time." He said walking down the hall with his friends. Hermione, realizing that she was now trapped, turned to Ron.
"Ron, Ron please wake up." She said nervously shacking his shoulders. "Oh Ron, I need you now, please wake up." When he didn't respond, Hermione started to get nervous. Struggling to hold back her tears, she heard the voices of a few people around her, and noticed for the first time, that there were other cells, and many more prisoners.
"Where are we?" she asked no one in particular. "Don't you know? This is Azkaban." Came the answer from someone close by in a separate cell "Azkaban, how can that be? How long have we been here?" Hermione had made her way to the edge of her cell to where she could now see the other men, hoping one would know.
"That's not important now. I think you need to get that friend of yours into a bed." "I will of course, but can you tell me, I need to know that's all." "Fair enough, you arrived her shortly after we did. I would have to say it's been close to five days now, I think it was two days after Halloween that you arrived."
"Five days, but how, I mean I remember Halloween night just like it happened ten minutes ago. How could it have been almost a week?" "If you were like us, you were captured when Voldemort attacked Hogwarts. You and that friend of yours over there were both attacked, then captured by Chameleon Ghouls. Their magic is very powerful. I assume the reason you can remember a week ago like it was yesterday is because you were unconscious until just a little while ago, and considering what you just went through, I wouldn't be surprised if it was another day or so before your friend wakes up again." The man said, and Hermione looked at the sleeping form of Ron.
"Now you need to do what I said, and get some sleep." "Alright, will you wake me if they come back in?" "Of course. They are normally loud enough to wake all of us, but just in case I will make sure you know." "Thank you, whoever you are." "Michael Gaffney, Defense Against the Dark Arts Auror at your service."
"Well Michael, thank you again." She said, turning, and moving over to Ron. Deciding that he was right in the fact she needed to try and get some sleep, Hermione forced Ron into a bed next to hers, and fighting off the overwhelming sense to stay awake, allowed herself to fall into an eerie daze called sleep.
****Back to Harry****
The next week for Harry was that of a nightmare. Besides the fact he was anxiously awaiting news about his friends, he was to stay at Hogwarts while the other students were gone, and the fact that he in no way felt safe just made it worse. Waking up Saturday morning to the sounds of the house elf's working on the entrance to Gryffindor tower, Harry quickly jumped out of bed, and got dressed.
Once down in the common room, Harry noticed Sirius sitting in front of the fireplace, and hurried over. "What is it? Have we heard anything yet?" Harry could tell by the haunted look in Sirius's eyes that something had happened, something was wrong. "Harry, follow us" He said pointing to Remus who was hiding in one of the deep back chairs.
"We need to head up to Dumbledore's office." Standing up, Both Remus, and Sirius made there way past the house elves, and wordlessly Harry followed. Harry walked in silence for most of the way. Worried about his friends, he really was not in the mood to talk to anyone. It wasn't until he noticed Sirius place a hand on Remus's shoulder that he was pulled from his thoughts.
"I miss them too, and yes I remember that day very well. It was the last day we were here as Gryffindors." Speeding up to get closer, Harry tried to listen to more of what Sirius and Remus were talking about, but they had stopped talking, and Harry had the funny feeling that they were talking about his parents.
When the three arrived at the statue of the gargoyle Harry was surprised at the password. It was no longer the name of a candy, but instead the name Merlin. "Merlin?" "Yes Harry, Dumbledore no longer feels using candy for his passwords is safe. Everyone knows that. He feels the time has come to where he needs to be a lot more careful."
Harry wanted to get on with it, so didn't ask any more questions, instead he walked past the two, and made his way up the stairs. After knocking only twice, Harry entered the quiet room, and took a seat next to Professor McGonagall. Wasting no time at all, Dumbledore got right to it.
"Harry, we know where Voldemort is keeping Ron and Hermione, we also know of his plans to use them to capture you, and we only have 3 days to comply." "Well, what's the damage, do you have an idea of what to do yet?" "Well, we did however we have run into a problem. You see Harry we were planning on Having Remus take a Polyjuice potion that would transform him into you for an hour to distract Voldemort, while we worked from behind to ambush him. The problem with this is that Voldemort is holding Ron and Hermione in Azkaban, and there is only one way in and out."
"Azkaban, but why?" "Simple Harry, when Azkaban was made into a prison, The MOM performed a series of complex spells on the building that would not allow anyone to Apparate in, Disapparate out, or even travel by Portkey within twenty miles. You see Harry the only way into Azkaban is by foot, and the way to the holding sales is very well protected."
"So what do we do?" Harry asked looking at the others. "We are working on that now. We are still going to need a diversion, but I am afraid I will need Remus to help in case we end up in a fight." "Why don't I just come, I can help." "Harry, Not this time. It will be much to dangerous, and I am worried as it is about the outcome." Dumbledore spoke, and Harry could tell he was fighting an inner battle.
"What happens if we refuse to meet him on Tuesday, I mean can't we negotiate a different location, and time." Harry asked praying for a good answer. "Harry, Voldemort was very specific in his ultimatum. He has captured 50 MOM officials, mainly Aurors, and unless we meet him Tuesday right before sunset, he is planning on killing one every hour until he either runs out, or we give in.
He has also demanded that we release his men from Arkamedes, and has stated unless they are, he will not hesitate to kill us when we arrive."
"Dumbledore, he will kill them anyway. There is no reason we should release his men." "No Sirius, I do not intend to do that. However, I do have an idea as to how we can use them. Here is what I was thinking."
Dumbledore went on to explain his plan Harry didn't catch as much as he would have liked, but he knew that a lot of Polyjuice potion was to be used, and overall the plan was very dangerous. When Dumbledore was done, Harry finally spoke up."
"What is my responsibility, you can't expect me to just wait here for you to return."
"Harry, That is exactly what I expect. I am not going to argue this with you. If I have to bind you to a chair in order to keep you here, I will." "But - " was all he could say. He knew that arguing this was helpless, and turned to leave.
"Harry, we will bring back Ron, and Hermione, and the day will come in which I will no longer argue with you about facing Voldemort, but until that time comes, it is my duty to your father to keep you safe." Harry just shrugged his shoulder, and bowed his head as he walked to the door. He knew that this plan was dangerous to say the least, and the fact he was helpless to change that just made him mad.
Making his way back to his tower, Harry walked straight to his room. Pulling out the picture book of his family, Harry opened it to the first page, and after memorizing his mom and dad's faces; he closed his eyes and started to speak to them.